Campione: Strongest# 492: I'll Make Her Cry

Hearing that gentle male voice, Lorelei's pupils contracted, her face showing disbelief.

In her view, Haru should have been the least likely person to appear here.

Lorelei hesitantly raised her head, looking at the silver-haired youth standing on air above. Her tense expression slightly relaxed.

'Not the dummy I use for stress relief—it's really him. But why would this guy come to save me?'

Lorelei gritted her teeth. She hadn't expected Haru to arrive at this critical moment. Inexplicably, something in her heart softened slightly.

However, seeing the cyan-haired girl in Haru's arms curiously studying her, Lorelei's face immediately darkened like a pot's bottom.

Suddenly, Lorelei's brown eyes carried an indescribable meaning. Remembering Haru's previous words, a blush spread across her heroic features. "You know about her existence?"

At this, Haru's gaze immediately flickered uncertainly. Though he'd discovered that developing existence the moment he saw Lorelei.

Unlike with Rin—facing that face extremely similar to a paper waifu from his past—Haru could somewhat maintain a ghost-father mentality toward this 'unknown' child.

Haru's feelings were deeply complex, especially since it was Lorelei who'd conceived—someone he'd treated like a plaything. After reading Lorelei's thoughts from her chaotic mental fluctuations, his emotions grew even more complicated.

"Your mental fluctuations are spilling out. How could I not know about her existence?" Suppressing his mixed feelings, Haru spoke flatly.

Hearing Lorelei's words, Haru's expression turned strange. After a moment, he spoke oddly: "A girl, huh..."

"Don't you dare touch her." At this, Lorelei's face changed drastically. Clutching her abdomen, she retreated several steps, watching Haru warily as violent magical winds surrounded her Mystic Code.

Haru's exploits in Japan these past years weren't secret to Lorelei, who'd been watching constantly. With girls like Akiha Tohno and Kohaku as precedents, who knew if Haru might target her daughter?

Watching Lorelei retreat before him, Haru's mouth twitched.

If someone called him a ghost-father now, sorry—he really couldn't do it. After all, in his heart, he'd almost recognized this unborn child as his own flesh and blood.

But letting this child marry someone? Sorry—daughters only need fathers, not boyfriends.

Indeed, letting his daughter be an elegant single aristocrat was the proper path~

Haru ignored Lorelei's wariness, not bothering to explain to this Clock Tower Queen who treated him like a plague. He simply spoke to himself:

"Your body isn't suited for combat. I don't know how you deceived Lord Barthomeloi, but now—fall back to the rear lines."

As Haru's words fell, the space around Lorelei suddenly cried out. With piercing shrieks, space slowly distorted.

"No Barthomeloi avoids battle." Lorelei's face turned ashen. Gripping her Mystic Code, the fury in her eyes seemed ready to burst forth.

"You retreat, Barthomeloi survives. You don't, and I'll exterminate all Barthomeloi except you right now!" A cold light flashed through Haru's eyes as he spoke with dark intensity.

At this, Lorelei's body trembled. She wordlessly lowered her Mystic Code, abandoning all resistance.

Years of family education had ingrained putting family first. While this made her will incomparably strong, it had invisibly become her weakness.

So she had no choice.

As Lorelei's form was about to transfer, a quiet sigh slowly reached her ears:

"That child is destined to be the Mage's Association's king. This is my promise. If she wants it, this world is also her possession."

Hearing this promise, Lorelei's face showed shock. Before she could question it, space suddenly returned to calm.

Having sent Lorelei away, Haru surveyed his surroundings, looking at the Dead Apostles who'd been watching Lorelei. His brow furrowed slightly.

His toes tapped lightly on the void. The air became like a lake's surface as massive force exploded the atmosphere. The enormous noise exceeded human hearing range, invisible shockwaves suddenly spreading.

Instantly, all skyscrapers within several miles—along with nearly a million Dead Apostles inside—suddenly shattered when the invisible waves spread, becoming fragments of various colors floating through the air, scattering with the following gale.

In moments, half the city seemed wrapped in a sandstorm. Some Dead Apostles were even choked to death in the dense dust.

"Why aren't you hiding anymore? Weren't you going straight for the dragon's lair?" Kiyohime raised her small hand before her lips, blocking the dust that couldn't reach her, speaking to Haru with slight confusion.

"No need. The Dark Six must face me to achieve his goal. Just wait for him to come." Haru's lips curved upward.

The spatial fluctuations from sending Lorelei away weren't like his previous attacks against Dead Apostles. He couldn't believe the Dark Six hadn't noticed.

But whatever—his own flesh and blood's safety took absolute priority. Nothing to regret.

Since he'd been discovered, why hide? Just wait for the enemy to deliver themselves. But first, he needed to protect important people.

With this thought, Haru directly expanded his perception, sweeping the surrounding city.

"Speaking of which, is this fluctuation Altrouge? Seems she's lost in the labyrinth. I'll take you to meet her." Haru grinned wickedly at Kiyohime in his arms.

"Isn't my lord husband afraid we'll fight like cats?" Kiyohime looked at Haru in shock. He should know how much she hated cheating cats—they'd been fighting for four years whenever they met.

Even the good-natured Illyasviel and Aoi Zenjou had argued with her, let alone the prideful Eclipse Princess of the Black she was about to face. She didn't think the other would graciously defer to her.

"Let them fight. Whoever fights hardest, I'll breed. Won't stop until they're pregnant!" Haru's face showed a mischievous smile.

"Ehhh?? Children?? Kiyohime will definitely make her cry!" Kiyohime clenched her small fists, her face flushed with intoxicating red, speaking with delight.

—————

Imperial Palace.

Beneath the blood-red cherry tree that was Einnashe's main body.

The Dark Six looked gravely at the dust-wrapped city in the distance.

"What's happening? Why did that deity suddenly appear there, attacking and blatantly exposing his location? Walking openly through the streets—what's his purpose?"

"Could it be... he's got me figured out?" The Dark Six' expression turned ugly, red light flashing through his eyes.

"The plan must accelerate!"