I Awakened My Game System! Now Three Great Houses Want Me Dead!-Chapter 108: New

"Don’t you think you were a little TOO risky, boy?"

A familiar man, similar in height to Xenos, complained from his desk.

The voice came before the door to his office had even closed.

"Awww... are you worried about me, Father~?"

And indeed, that man was his father, Veynar.

Xenos had come here straight after hearing about the Colosseum Game.

He had a few things to talk about and a few things to confirm.

"I’m worried about the House name."

Veynar straightened his robes, which were neat as ever, and steepled his hands.

He wore the same expression as last time, a tired disapproval that made him look like he’d been scolding Xenos since birth, which... wasn’t entirely wrong.

A ’look’ that had Xenos lean on the doorway with a grin.

"Hm, really?"

"Yes."

Veynar sighed and looked down.

"You seem to be working very hard to erase it."

"Well..."

Xenos stepped in, his boots dirtying the polished floor.

"You’ll be happy to hear that I’ve already started on that."

He took a seat without asking and crossed his legs.

The smell of ink and burning incense filled his nostrils.

It was an unfamiliar office, as this was in their manor, yet it had that same oppressive aura.

Somehow, however, Xenos felt oddly comfortable here, much like he did when he was facing the High Elder himself, probably because annoying his father had become a personal hobby.

"I take it you saw me jump into Tartaros?"

Veynar finally glanced up, unimpressed by his son’s deduction.

"It’s hard to miss your stupidity when you don’t bother to hide it."

Xenos laughed.

"So you were watching."

That explained a lot. The reason Hieron or any of the other Houses hadn’t swooped in on that hole? They’d been kept away, probably by Veynar’s unseen hands.

"Thanks for the help."

"It wasn’t me."

Veynar waved his ’hand.’

"Thank the two rogues that I thought were dead. Otherwise, I might’ve... looked away."

"Hm. That’s the same as helping."

"Not legally."

Xenos shrugged.

"Then let’s keep it illegal."

Veynar gave him that parental look, but Xenos ignored it, already moving on:

"Anyways, I’ve registered the name. Did you send the land and manor deed?"

Without a word, Veynar pointed at a few neatly stacked documents on his desk.

Xenos grabbed them and flipped through the contents.

His brows twitched.

"This isn’t the land you told me about."

Ignoring him completely, Veynar gestured at another document.

"Hieron already sent one of theirs over to that location. Gaia received them."

Xenos blinked.

"...Ah."

So that was how it was.

The old man was planning something.

"Hm, so she’s there already?"

"Yes. And she’s waiting for you."

Of course, she was. Of course.

Veynar leaned forward slightly.

"Let it be known..."

The movement was small, but it led to something important:

"From this day onward, Xenos shall no longer bear the name of Kharon."

Xenos stared at him blankly while Veynar continued, ignoring his reaction:

"He shall be denounced as of Kharon and announced henceforth as of Eris."

Xenos tilted his head.

"You practiced that, didn’t you?"

"I’m giving you your freedom."

Veynar’s voice was flat.

"At least pretend it’s ceremonial."

"Fine, fine..."

Xenos stood and bowed his head a little too dramatically.

"I, Xenos of Eris, humbly thank you for this act of exile."

Veynar’s lips twitched, and before Xenos could turn the moment into another sarcastic jab, he quickly added:

"However, I’ll extend one final offer. House Eris may, if it wishes, become one of our vassal Houses."

Xenos paused.

He rubbed his eyes a few times.

He did the same to his ears a moment later.

Then he tapped his head and shook it a few times.

"Hm."

Finally accepting what he heard, he took a deep breath and...

"AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH!"

Laughed very loudly.

"I left for ’freedom,’ and your first idea is to chain me again?"

Xenos couldn’t believe the balls on his father.

Well, he came from him, so it was to be expected.

Or maybe not, because he was transmigrated.

’Ah, whatever.’

Xenos shrugged off that thought while Veynar did the same to his laughter.

"It was worth a try."

"Yeah, sure."

Xenos’s grin widened.

"Keep trying; you might even trick me one day."

That earned a small exhale from his father.

What was a laugh? He didn’t know.

Anyhow, the tension eased for a moment, and the talk shifted.

"The Game. What’s the theme this time?"

Veynar didn’t ignore his son’s question for once.

"To cleanse Corrupted land and to push back Tartaros. All participants are required to wear a Divine Mask."

His gaze flicked to Xenos’s face.

"Though it seems you already have one."

Xenos rolled his eyes.

"I get it, I get it; you’ve been watching me."

Veynar continued as if he hadn’t spoken.

"The Corrupted zone borders your newly granted land. It encompasses four regions, so four victors will be declared."

Xenos didn’t immediately respond.

Instead, he glanced down at the documents again.

Right, the location of his new "manor" wasn’t a coincidence.

It sat right in the middle of highly Corruptible ground.

A risky, cursed, probably half-sinking piece of terrain.

He clicked his tongue.

"Ah. So that’s what this is."

Veynar looked at him with mild curiosity.

"What?"

"You really don’t like me, do you?"

"I tolerate you."

Veynar corrected.

"For now."

"Touching."

The man ignored that too, calmly rearranging the papers on his desk.

"You should visit soon. Leaving a wife waiting too long tends to ruin a marriage."

"I’m sure those were words of experience..."

Xenos flipped him off.

"Bastard."

...

...

...

Indeed, it was Gaia.

Xenos found her waiting outside the manor gates as he approached, sunlight scattering across her blonde hair. Perhaps she’d been notified of his arrival, or maybe she just knew he’d show up.

Either way, she stood there in a formal white-and-green dress, surrounded by her people.

And yes, there were many of them, dozens of her attendants and guards, all kneeling behind her, with Medea standing at the front, her head lowered in respect.

It was a picturesque sight with lush hills rolling behind them, vines climbing along stone walls, and the new manor itself glowing under the midday sun, having been recently cleaned.

Someone had clearly gone overboard trying to make this place look special.

’That "bastard" really moved fast.’

The entire estate had been moved here, furnished even, in just a few days.

Many a Runebearers’ work, no doubt.

’They have my regards~.’

Xenos approached them with an easy smile, raising a hand.

"Thanks for the grand welcome."

Gaia, who had been trying to look composed, went a little red when he took her hand in his.

"I—it’s only right, my Lord—I mean, Xenos."

"Yes, there’s no need for that. Xenos is fine."

He squeezed her hand lightly before letting go.

"Otherwise I’ll feel old."

Her face turned an even deeper shade of pink.

Medea coughed softly to hide a laugh while the rest of the guards tried very hard to look at anything except their lady’s expression.

Meanwhile, Xenos, acting like he didn’t see or hear them, glanced around.

"You’ve outdone yourself. This place looks incredible."

"W-we had help."

Gaia replied quickly.

"Your father sent builders... His people did most of the work, actually."

"Of course he did."

After a few moments of polite introductions and formalities to the rest of her—now also his—people, Xenos looked at her again.

"Do you mind giving me a tour?"