Life in Vain: Jobless Reincarnation

201 – Trap Card

Ena fell into Cliff's arms, the crystal shattering around her.

Cliff held her close, trembling as he muttered apology after apology.

Ena let out a serene smile and simply leaned against him, holding him close.

It was a touching sight. And one that I would whole-heartedly approve.

...If not for the fact that my beloved daughter was naked now.

Ena had been fully-clothed while in the crystal, but apparently whatever Cliff had done to take her out caused her clothes to shred.

...Though considering how Ena routinely wore clothes made from her own mana when she was relaxing, maybe that wasn't too surprising.

But anyway, good to see that my eldest daughter was okay.

Although her pure white wings had a faint tinge of black around the edges now (which made me dock a few points from Cliff's reputation in my books) she seemed fine, if a bit dazed.

And from how happy she looked, plus the way Cliff was acting, it looked like my daughter was in good hands.

Oh, and he finally realized she was naked and immediately covered her up with his robes.

Cliff reputation points, recovered.

Now, if only I could find someone to entrust Eos with.

Considering how my second daughter was both bold and oblivious enough to pluck a strange out of the crowd for a date, I worried for her.

But speaking of Eos...

I shifted my gaze over to the battlefield.

The behemoth whose corpse had been over Lapan had been resurrected, and it kept trying to use Ena as its core.

Of course, Roland and Eos vehemently denied the stubborn monster and beat him into the ground repeatedly.

But again, the behemoth was stubborn and kept getting up even when it was blown apart.

Thankfully, it seemed to finally be over now that Ena had been freed.

And as a result, Eos and Roland were heading back up.

I waved at my children as they landed on the roof.

Well, as Eos dropped Roland off after carrying him up before landing next to him.

"Good job, you two."

Roland sheathed his sword and said, "It's only natural, Father." He turned to look at Ena and said, "An older brother has to protect his younger sister."

Eos turned to look at Ena as well, and then raised an eyebrow. Looking at Cliff and back at Ena, she chuckled and said, "It looks like Cliff finally won her over, huh?"

I gave her a side-eye and said, "Jealous?"

Eos scoffed. "I like handsome and capable men, not pretty boy nerds like him."

...Duly noted. My daughter likes trashy and unreliable men... who are probably in the same vein as her grandfather.

Or in other words, people that both me, Dad, and just about everyone in our family would heavily disapprove of.

...And likely beat up if we found out he was anywhere near Eos within a mile radius.

Roland sighed and looked at Eos. "That's going to get you into trouble later on in life, Sister."

Eos waved her hand. "I'm a smart woman. I've already taken steps to avoid that... And besides, I'll have Father and all of our Mothers vet them first."

Roland blinked and then said, "Does anyone exist who would earn all of their approval...?"

Eos shrugged. "I'm in no rush."

Roland sighed and then turned to look at me. "In any case... is that all, Father?" He glanced back at the city and said, "There aren't any other unexpected variables, are there?"

I chuckled. "They wouldn't be unexpected variables if we were expecting them, would they?"

Roland paused. "...True."

I smiled and said, "No worries." I looked up at the sky and said, "Although that guy cheated, we won."

And he also didn't have as many ass-

'Trump cards' like me, so this would be the end of it.

"...Can't wait to bash his head in though."

Eos looked up at the sky and cracked her knuckles. "I can't wait either. To take advantage of Ena like this..."

Roland tapped his sword, letting out a fierce grin. "Neither can I. I am... quite looking forward to speaking with that man."

I laughed and said, "We can make it a whole family-"

A sudden roar echoed in the distance. The ground split open and a thousand headed hydra began to rise from the sand.

Roland looked at it and said, "You have fucking GOT to be kidding me."

Eos glanced at Roland and said, "You broke character, Dear Brother."

"Like I fucking care." He pointed at the hydra and said, "How the FUCK do we kill something like-"

I snapped my fingers.

A flash appeared in the sky.

At the same time, barriers flashed around Lapan and the tower.

And then a meteor crashed into the desert, turning the remaining sand into glass and the hydra into dust.

Silence.

Then Roland slowly turned to look at me. "Father. Please do not tell me you could have just done that this whole time."

I held up my hands and said, "Hey, AOE spells are dangerous, and something like summoning a meteor from orbit requires precise calculations. Something I can't do while keeping your sister from being pulled away."

"..."

Roland stared at me.

Eos stared at me.

Even Cliff and Ena stared at me.

I coughed and then snapped my fingers again.

The hydra's corpse slowly sank beneath the sand. At the same time, water burst from the ground and lush grass began spreading.

Before long, coursing rivers and ponds began to form... and then the Begaritto Continent, famous for its desert and heat, had now become a lush savanna.

...This would COMPLETELY wreck the ecology, climate, and ecosystem here, but considering the mythological-grade events that just occurred, I think the people would forgive me.

And if not, well... it's a net positive, so I didn't care too much.

Beggars can't be choosers and all that jazz.

But anyway...

Since we were done here, let's wrap up and go check on the captured idiot heroes back in Arcadia.

-LIV-

A beautiful courtyard with a marble water fountain in the center. Flowerbeds lined the path around the water fountain, while lush white trees with fluffy white leaves and golden trim provided shade for any visitors.

...Ordinarily.

But right now, that peaceful courtyard had been devastated, turn into a warzone.

The water fountain was split clean in half, a geyser spraying water in its place.

The flower beds were trampled and torn apart.

The trees were severed with haphazard slashes and laid on the ground in various branches and chunks.

Even the paved paths and neatly manicured lawn was ripped up from heavy combat.

Even so, while the peaceful setting had been turned chaotic with combat, a single person remained serene.

Orsted stood in the center of the courtyard, a shimmering katana in his left hand. His white coat was unblemished, with not even a speck of dust on it.

His opponents on the other hand...

In front of Orsted, three people who dared to call themselves 'Gods' knelt.

Aleksander Ryback, the North God of the North God Style, also known as Kalman III.

Gal Farion, the Sword God of the Sword God Style.

And Reida Reia, the Water God of the Water God Style.

Of course, they weren't the only ones who had dared to invade <Zenithia> where Rudy's family was staying.

But they were the only ones strong enough to reach so far.

Even so, it wasn't enough.

Orsted stared at the three before him and assessed the situation.

Aleksander's legs were severed, and the tendons in his arms were cut and seared, preventing him from moving. He was only kneeling because he had stubbornly gripped his sword before then and used it as a crutch.

Of course, that was temporary. Since he had Atofe's bloodline as her grandson, he would recover soon enough.

Behind Aleksander was Gal Farion.

Unlike Aleksander, the man only had two wounds. But both were ruinous for a swordsman.

A deep gash on his left arm had severed the muscles needed to raise it. And his right hand had been completely severed.

Unless he met a God-ranked healer willing to heal him, his time as a swordsman was finished.

As for the last opponent, Reida Reia knelt on the ground next to Gal Farion.

Like him, she only had two wounds. And like him, they were ruinous for a sword user, especially a Water God Style user like herself.

Both of her legs had been severed clean at her shins with the wounds seared shut.

A simple reattachment wouldn't work, and she'd need a God-ranked healer as well.

Still, although they were in this state, it wasn't that they were weak.

Orsted had to admit that it would have been troublesome to deal with them all while also protecting Rudy's wives and unborn children. As a single person, even though he no longer had a limit on his mana, it still would have been a tense situation.

But he hadn't been alone.

Orsted glanced off to his right at his helper.

There stood a white-haired muscular woman with blue skin, crimson eyes with black sclera, a horn on her forehead, and a maid outfit.

...Orsted thought it was a strange outfit, but he acknowledged that this loop was stranger than most, so he didn't comment on it.

Atofe spat on the ground and said, "You damned brat!" She stomped towards Aleksander and then kicked the sword away.

"Grand-"

"Shut up!"

Atofe swung her heel down on the back of his head, slamming his face into the dirt. For good measure, she ground her heel into the back of his head and said, "I swore to Emperor Rudras and his crazy wives that my entire bloodline would work for him, and you pull of this crazy shit? What the hell were you thinking!?"

Aleksander turned his head to the side and spat out a mouthful of dirt. After that, he looked up at Atofe and said, "I wanted to be a hero! And I had a divine revelation! If I gathered up the other sword gods-"

Atofe pulled her heel back and then twisted her body, slamming her other foot into Aleksander's ribs. "Divine revelation my ass!"

Aleksander winced and then immediately curled up into a ball, tears streaming down his face.

Atofe clicked her tongue and then brushed the dirt off her maid outfit. After that, she turned to Orsted and pulled out the sides of her skirt for a curtsey. "Sorry about that, Lord Orsted."

Orsted let out an amused smile.

Although he had good feelings about this loop, even if it failed, Orsted had enough memories to last for a thousand more from this time alone.

After all, when else would he see the prideful Atoferatofe Rybak so demure?

"It's fine." He glanced at Aleksander and said, "You helped save me some trouble."

At those words, Gal Farion let out a bitter laugh. "Trouble?" He shook his head and looked at Orsted like he was staring at a monster. "Just you alone would have been enough. But to face the Immortal Demon King as well..."

Reida Reia let out a deep sigh and said, "I had honed <Deprivation Kingdom> after clashing with that man before... But I see that it's meaningless before the true Dragon God."

Orsted didn't respond. Instead, he spread his awareness around the surroundings to check for hidden assailants.

Inside the palace, there was Eris, Roxy, Rika, and Sylphy all resting in a hidden safe room beneath the entrance hall and layered with myriad protective measures.

There was also Norn, Aisha, and Stella, who were stubbornly patrolling the palace despite repeated warnings by himself and others.

The twelve remaining captains of the White Knights were also patrolling, led by Astolfo...

But there didn't seem to be anyone else.

Even so, Orsted didn't lower his guard.

Like Rudy said, and like Orsted had experienced, Hito- No, 'Being W' was a tricky god.

He always struck at a moment of complacency.

So even though it seemed they were in the clear, Orsted stayed wary.

Silence filled the air.

And then eventually, Gal Farion looked up at Orsted and said, "Are you going to kill us?"

With those words, everyone else turned to look at Orsted as well.

Orsted was quiet for a moment, thinking. And then he said, "I would. You are that being's apostles, and you are Rudy's enemies." He narrowed his eyes and said, "Were I to face you alone on my own volition, you would undoubtedly perish."

A pair of faint presences from the distance. Two young girls frantically running towards the courtyard.

It caught Orsted off guard, but then he saw Norn, Aisha, and Stella huddled together in the palace with a magic artifact.

Seeing that, Orsted smiled and shook his head. "You are fortunate that I am only here to protect at the will of another."

Gal Farion looked confused.

And then a female voice echoed from the far side of the courtyard.

"DAD!"

Gal Farion flinched and glanced back.

At that time, another female voice called out. "GRANDMA!"

Reida flinched as well and looked back too.

Nina and Isolte.

Norn's friends, and Ruijerd's disciples who had been teleported to the Magic Continent for all these years and training.

They had grown up, becoming competent young women.

But at that time, they were nothing more than children, running up to their family members with tears in their eyes.

Seeing that, Orsted looked at Gal Farion and Reida before saying, "I do not wish to see children in pain. And I am sure that you two do not either."

Gal Farion sighed. "...You win."

Reida sighed as well and then hugged Isolte. "I'm sorry, Child."

Nina and Isolte were inconsolable, still crying even as they were reunited with their family.

But it was understandable.

Unlike in many other times, from what Orsted heard, Nina and Isolte had been swept away to this foreign land without any friends or family at a very young age.

And as it had been impossible to return until recently...

Well, it was indeed emotional.

...Seeing that made Orsted wonder a bit.

If his mother and father were alive and he were to meet them... How would he feel?

Laplace- Or rather, 'Pierre' didn't count. Adoptive brother he may be, Orsted had only learned the truth recently, so there were mixed emotions there.

Particularly considering the number of times they fought each other to the death.

And the number of times he had died to Laplace in the early days.

And...

Hm.

Was this because of Rudy?

Orsted recognized that he was thinking in a way that he never did before.

And on realizing that, he let out a light chuckle, letting his attention lapse for a brief moment.

"Gisu!" Aleksander ripped his head away from beneath Atofe, blood spraying as he did. But then he raised his head to the sky and shouted. "Now!"

Orsted froze and quickly spread his awareness.

An ominous white magic formation appeared in the sky above.

At the same time, Gisu appeared on a nearby tower, waving.

The moment that appeared, Gal Farion and Reida broke away from Nina and Isolte, as if possessed.

Orsted glanced over at Atofe.

Atofe clicked her tongue and then grabbed Nina and Isolte.

And not a moment too soon.

Black tendrils emerged from thin air and pierced into Gal Farion and Reida, sealing their wounds and regrowing their severed body parts.

The same was true for Aleksander, who suddenly stood, grabbing his sword from the ground.

Staring at Orsted, Aleksander grinned and said, "A Hero always has a trump card in play to save the day! Now!" He pointed his sword at Orsted and said, "Today, we slay a dragon! For justice!"

Orsted clicked his tongue. "That is not how a hero acts."

He had seen plenty in the past. Brave men and women who laid their lives down to protect others. Those who charged against Laplace in the future knowing they were no match.

Compared to them, Aleksander was just a child, throwing a selfish tantrum.

Aleksander laughed and said, "It's for the greater good! Now... Have-"

Gal Farion and Reida suddenly collapsed.

"H-Huh?" Aleksander looked surprised.

Orsted ignored him and looked up at the sky.

It was a man floating in the air. Silver hair, ominous green eyes... With silver mana emanating from his body and a tattered white cloak floating around him, he looked like someone who had just stepped out of ancient times.

And he was someone that sent every instinct Orsted had on overdrive.

This man... he was dangerous.

The silver-haired man idly looked around the surroundings before locking eyes with Aleksander. After that, a crooked smile crossed his face and he said, "Greater good... I've fought for it, but I've always hated that term."

It was different. The face, the voice, the demeanor.

But Orsted could tell.

The man standing there...

"Laplace?!"

Atofe spoke first, her eyes wide in shock.

'Laplace' looked at her but didn't respond. Instead, he shifted his gaze towards the magic circle and held out his hand. After that, he said two words.

"<Mana Drain>."

And then everything ended.