金瓶梅第2部

Tanamar, real name Athanasius Mors, dipped his head in shame... "Tancred... My brother. He's the one that's supposed to be--"

"THAT? Idiot?" Tycondrius shouted in disbelief, "No. Nooo. Absolutely not. I refuse to listen to such nonsense. You can't seriously be telling me that that.... toxic... garish ABSURDITY..."

His heart pounded painfully in his chest. His mana had begun to circulate rapidly, similar to if he were in a life-or-death battle. If he didn't fear obliterating the servants' quarters, he would have immediately begun strangling the fool, crashing his weak Iron-Rank body against the walls.

The notion he proposed was ridiculous.

Tycon's senses for emotion were... pathetically weak. Still, the level of trust that Athena had for her footman was... exceedingly clear. And that Tanamar cared for her was obvious as well.

On top of that, Athena openly rejected Tancred's company-- like ANY rational female would.

Tanamar had grown silent, receiving Tycon's insults and shouts without complaint. Finally, the young man took a deep breath... and spoke in a small voice...

"I've seen it."

"Via your prediction ability?" Tycon growled, "Then your ability is STUPID and you can't rely on it!!"

"Nah..." Tanamar shook his head... "I know how Athena's story goes... This isn't the first time I've lived this life."

The Holy Lancer's bottom lip quivered as if he were about to cry.

Tycon was too upset to care.

Tycon took a deep breath, thinking over the situation. It had come to light that Tanamar was a special type of transmigrator: a reincarnator. He had previously lived a very similar life, with very similar persons... and thus had the advantage of knowing persons, personalities, and motives-- information he should not have.

However, that knowledge was flawed.

"Tss... Hah... Hahaha!" Tycon scoffed, "You are a fool, Athanasius!!

"Hey, I'm serious," Tanamar whispered. His voice cracked, revealing his uncertainty. "You're the only one I've told about this..."

"The future can be changed," Tycon insisted, each word dripping with annoyance.

"It... changes, yes..." Tanamar softly admitted, "But the results don't."

"If that's the case..." Tycon scowled, "How many times have you met me, prior to this life?"

When they'd first met, the young man had acted with zero familiarity to him. Tycon had surmised that the answer to his question was 'zero.'

Tanamar grew quiet... "That doesn't prove anything."

Tycon rolled his eyes.

He was, in actuality, not the same Tycondrius of Charm that belonged to this Realm. His circumstances were so peculiar that-- though he could very easily be wrong, he assumed that they were unique.

If Tanamar was re-living a life previously lived... then even if he had previously met 'Tycondrius' before, that experience would be vastly different to the one in his current life.

Tycon shrugged, "It proves your *cowardice*... Deny me all you want, but I stand in front of you. I am proof that entropy exists-- that time does not flow in a linear direction. The life you live now is different than the one prior."

Tanamar stood, frowning... unmoving.

"Ahem..." Tycon cleared his throat, crossing his arms. He had had more than enough of the footman's wishy-washy impotence...

"How about this..." Tycon took a deep breath, trying to calm himself. He could barely restrain his fury... "You... Athanasius Mors... Will go to her... Or I. will. kill you."

Tanamar's eyes shot open... then narrowed into suspicious slits, "Tycon... are you threatening me?"

"YES!!" Tycon shouted, allowing both his mana and his killing intent to flow outward. "Yes, I'm threatening you, you ignorant buffoon! Now, GO!!!"

Tanamar took a step back, stunned. His jaw hung open like the fool he was-- either trying to comprehend Tycon's mana or the fact that he was going to be killed.

Tycon pointed angrily at the door, "I'm a Gold-Rank!! Therefore I am STRONGER, SMARTER, and more HANDSOME than you are!!! NOW!! SOD!! OFF!!!!"

"Wait--" Tanamar hesitated, "You're a what?"

Tycon grabbed Tanamar by the collar and screamed in his face, "GO!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

Then he opened the door and tossed the grown man back into the hallway.

...

Tycon, the other members of Sol Invictus, and a few choice members of Guild Letalis woke up early in the sun to see the Sea Wolves off. Lieutenant Shao Ran had performed his duty admirably, instilling basic combat training, tactics, and professionalism to Guild Letalis.

Invictus Leader Tycon could not have asked for finer Marines and Sailors than the men and women who crewed the Spear of Selene.

...As the various goodbyes and well-wishing were going on, Tycon scrutinized the face and form of Barza Keith, the Lone Shadowdark.

Several suns prior, Tycon had beaten him until his class reverted from Iron-Rank Gangster back to Bronze-Rank Ranger. With magical assistance from his healing spells, he'd convalesced well, since then... but currently, the side of his broad face sported a discolored bruise.

"Mister Lone... what... happened to your face?" Tycon inquired.

"Oh..." Lone grinned sheepishly, "I cut myself while shaving. I really need to replace my razor."

"Yes. Yes, you do. However, I was referring to your..." Tycon gestured at Lone's face, "--injury."

Out of a sadistic whim, Tycon prodded at Lone's bruise, causing the Ranger to wince in pain.

"Ow!" A look of realization abruptly dawned on Lone's face, "Ohhh, this? Ooh, it's swollen..."

"...Yes. That."

"I got attacked last night!" The bronze-skinned Ranger declared... He was smiling as if he were proud of it.

"By... what, might I ask?"

Knowing Lone, it was likely he had walked into a wall trying to find a pisspot in the evening.

"Well..." Lone rubbed the back of his head... "I looked for Sorina the other night... I was gonna ask if... uh... she-- if she wanted to go eat or something."

Tycon could vaguely see where the conversation was headed... "Go on..."

Lone furrowed his brows abruptly, "She used a SKILL on me!! Boss! That's assault!!"

Tycon lazily turned his head to see what Sorina was doing. She appeared to have... attained a myriad of knick-knacks and charms and was trying to hawk her wares to the departing Sea Wolves.

Clever girl.

"Miss Capulet! Come over here, please."

Sorina waved in acknowledgment, finishing up one last transaction. Giddy and energetic, she skipped over to Tycon and Lone, her drill-shaped ponytail bobbing up and down as she did so, "Sup?"

"Two questions, young lady," Tycon smiled politely. "Concerning Mister Barza Keith, the--"

"Lone ShadowDORK, right." Sorina nodded. "Go ahead, Boss!"