Chapter 99: Enigma [1]

'Resent?'

Just what did the original Brandon do for Belle to feel like he resented her?

Another opportunity presented itself.

Therefore...

"...What do you mean?"

"So you don't remember?"

"It's been six years."

"It's been plaguing my mind these past few months. But turns out, you actually forgot."

Cold sweat started beading from Brandon's forehead.

Looking at Belle, she seemed anxious.

'So their relationship ended off on the wrong foot then?'

Belle then shook her head.

"Since you've forgotten about it, that means you actually don't resent me then."

She smiled.

"That's good enough for me."

"..."

Where the hell is this conversation going?

"It's funny."

She snapped him out of his thoughts as she spoke while looking at the distance.

"You were begging for me not to go. To the point where you cried. You begged for everyone not to go, to stay at home. You even told Mom and Dad to retire."

"..."

"You were eight, and yet you looked so tired. I could still vividly remember it. You spoke as if something bad was about to happen to all of us."

Something bad?

This...

"Mom and Dad found it cute, I myself felt the same way. But when I looked into your eyes, I realized there was nothing cute about it."

It was all starting to click.

"Hey,"

She turned to look at Brandon as he looked back at her.

"If it was as irrelevant, to the point where you've forgotten about it, then what was all that about?"

"..."

He couldn't respond.

He couldn't formulate any words, much less be able to give Belle a reasonable explanation.

But he had an inkling.

The last page on the tome clearly stated Time affi...

Though the last page was torn in half, it wouldn't take a genius to know that it was supposed to be affinity.

So...

Did it have something to do with time?

Did the original Brandon have the time affinity?

Was he really just a mere extra?

Did he know what was about to happen in the future, which is why he had begged for his entire family to stay...?

Stay away from harm?

So that meant...

The novel's ending was just as he feared then?

A bad ending.

It was a plausible theory.

Then...

'Why did I replace him?'

Why did he suddenly inhabit Brandon Locke's body?

Ah.

The notebook.

The one that was hidden away with a magic circle.

After all, it was none other than their children's report card.

It would usually be sent to the guardians, whenever a term ended.

In other words, it was Brandon and Belle's report card for the preliminaries.

Opening it, he took out the two documents.

Firstly, Belle's report.

Scanning it, he wasn't surprised.

His daughter had been consistent in her entire first year in the Academy.

It wouldn't be a surprise to see that she still remained at the top.

Especially because of her credentials.

Sending her to Britannia to master her [Light] affinity was definitely worth it.

"Mhm."

He nodded and placed the document back on the table.

And for the next document. The reason why Brianna was acting differently.

Brandon's report card.

Swallowing, he thoroughly scanned the document.

As he did so, his eyes widened.

Noticing his reaction, Brianna's voice reached his ears.

"What do you think? Is there some kind of err—"

"No."

He cut her off decisively.

"This is no mistake."

"What makes you say so?"

That was when Omar recounted everything that had happened in the arena.

Though Brandon had some kind of episode at the end, he had still proven his prowess.

Brandon was old enough to handle whatever plagued him.

He also had the support of his older sister, Belle.

Truth be told, he was only overprotective of his children on the surface.

But he was mostly overprotective of his son, Brandon.

That was because, from what he remembered, his son was weak.

Since Omar was a General, it was highly likely that his son would be exploited by his enemies and would be used against him.

He couldn't allow that.

No one messes with his family.

Not the Academy, not the rankers, not the guild, not even the strongest, Lucian Frost.

As he finished recounting all the details, there was still some hint of doubt from Brianna.

"...I can't believe it."

"Then believe it. Our son will become quite the figure in the future."

But surprisingly, Brianna allowed his words to digest and she shook her head.

"No, both our children will."

Omar smiled.

"Top one, huh?"

Brandon would have to face a lot of problems in the future, given his current standing.

"We have to support him as much as we can."

"Obviously, he's our son."

Brianna then inched real close behind his back and wrapped her arms around him.

She seductively whispered in his ear.

"Our children are quite something, aren't they?"

Omar then grasped Brianna's hand and softly pressed his lips on it.

"This calls for a celebration."

Just like that, the two 'celebrated' inside Omar's office.

"...Wait, lock the door first."

Brianna sighed.