"Scoundrel Deus?"

Hearing Deia’s words, Deus immediately furrowed his brows and narrowed his eyes.

"You..."

He wanted to say something, but he couldn’t find the right words.

"So..."

Feeling like he was trying to loosen up his stiff mind; Deus tried to say something, but unfortunately, he was unable to do so.

Because…

BAM!

Deia slammed her fist directly into his face first.

"You crazy bastard! Why are you the one who showed up?! We never wanted you here!"

"Keuoghh!"

"If you’re dead, you should have stayed dead, shouldn't you?!"

As Deia continued beating him up, Erica hurriedly grabbed Deia from behind to stop her, while Findenai stepped between the siblings to create some distance.

As Erica and Findenai still didn't know about Kim Shinwoo, they wondered why Deia was behaving in this manner.

"Master Bastard just woke up! So what the hell are you doing!"

It didn't make sense to greet someone who had barely recovered from the brink of death with a fist to the face.

Findenai approached Deus with a worried expression.

"Master Bastard, are you okay?"

"Ah… Ahem. Um…"

As Deus pondered over what to say, Findenai's expression immediately twisted and became fierce, like that of an evil ghost.

"Who the fuck are you?"

Click.

As soon as her hand touched it, the club on Findenai’s waist immediately transformed into an axe.

Thud!

The axe grazed Deus' face and embedded itself into the bed. Forgetting what she had just said to Deia, Findenai pressed her foot on his chest to pin him down and looked down at him.

"How dare a bastard like you occupy his body!"

"N-No, it's not like that!"

"Shut up! One more word and I'll really tear you apart."

Findenai's menacing mana pressed down on Deus roughly, her eyes filled with the desire to kill her opponent right then and there.

If it weren't for the fact that it was Deus' body, her axe would have already been lodged in his neck.

"Wait!"

Pushing away Findenai's mana, Erica's light magic enveloped the entire room.

Erica then pushed away Findenai and Deia and stood besides Deus.

"What in the world are the two of you doing?! And that too, to someone who requires absolute stability!"

Erica rarely raised her voice, but now, she was scolding and glaring at Deia and Findenai, threatening to cast magic the moment they did anything strange.

"T-Thank you."

Hearing Deus' voice from behind, Erica’s eyes widened and she immediately turned her head.

"Oh."

The light swords that were aimed at Deia and Findenai instantly turned in the direction of Deus.

Clench!

The light swords flew at Deus with precision, binding him like restraints. And then, Erica spoke in her coldest tone.

"You have taken over his body… again?"

"Kaarrrrghhhhh! It hurtssssss!"

This time, Erica's reaction was even stronger than Findenai's. Having already witnessed Deus struggle against someone for control over his body at the Loberne Academy, Erica found it hard to keep her emotions under control.

Thinking she could no longer bear to see such a sight, Erica looked down at Deus and spoke with a voice cold enough to rival the chill of Norseweden.

"Never again will I allow someone to treat his body recklessly."

The light magic binding him gradually tightened. Despite screaming in pain, it seemed like he finally regained his senses due to the urgent situation and shouted.

"W-Wait, someone just... asked me to take care of this body for a while!"

"Hm?"

Hearing his response, the three of them looked at each other and then back at Deus.

Deus, on the verge of tears, cried out while sobbing.

"Also, this was originally my body, you know! Ssshhiiiit! What the hell is this? I didn't even volunteer to help!"

"..."

"..."

"..."

***"Huh, really."

Outside the Verdi mansion, caught up in complex emotions, Findenai leaned against the wall, staring up at the white sky with a lit cigarette in her mouth.

A situation where words failed due to sheer absurdity was precisely what that meant, wasn't it?

"He’s actually someone else?"

Crush.

She unknowingly crushed the cigarette she was smoking. Despite her regrets, she knew she had to discard the broken one, so she took out a new one and put it in her mouth.

The ground was already littered with cigarette butts she had smoked, yet, only now did she notice that some of them were crumpled and only half-smoked, just like the one from a moment ago.

"Kim Shinwoo?"

So, the Deus Verdi she knew was not actually the real Deus Verdi? She couldn't deny that she was in considerable shock upon learning about it.

But, wasn’t he also the first man she had ever loved?

Even though the situation was difficult to articulate, Findenai's mind was clear.

So, that Deus was the one they called a scoundrel playboy in Norseweden.

Frankly speaking, she found it too strange.

The Deus Verdi she knew certainly didn’t seem like someone who lived a life like that from the rumors.

However, with Illuania as a living witness, she had no choice but to believe them.

"Of course, it was someone else."

So, the Deus she knew and the man who used to live recklessly and sleep around were completely different people.

"Kim Shinwoo. Hmm… Kim Shinwoo."

With the cigarette in her mouth, Findenai got lost in thought only snapping out just before the smoldering tip touched her lips.

"He has a pretty name."

With a slight smirk, Findenai became curious: how would Deus react if she called him ‘Kim Shinwoo’ instead of ‘Master Bastard’ once he returned?

Obviously, he would hate it. However…

"So, the only ones who he only didn’t tell were his fiancée and me, right?"

Findenai felt really annoyed because Deia and Aria already knew about it. Yet…

"I'll call it even since he came to rescue me this time."

Findenai dusted her clothes to get rid of the odor of cigarettes. However, she unknowingly found herself chuckling.

"Geez, what a pity, he has such a handsome face."

Was it because the person possessing the body had changed?

It was amusing that one’s mood could be ruined just by looking at someone.

It wasn't just an uncomfortable feeling; it felt more like someone had taken something precious from her.

Therefore, if possible, Findenai thought it would be best not to see Deus in his current state and mulled over his original name again.

"Kim Shinwoo, Kim Shinwoo. Hmm… it's quite a catchy name."

***Inside Deus' room.

Deus had just realized that Kim Shinwoo had already rearranged all the furniture in the room and had also changed the structure. Then, while still lying on the bed, he glanced at Erica.

A rather lengthy silence ensued.

However, it was Erica Bright who eventually broke the silence after getting herself together.

"Is your arm okay?"

“I-it just feels like it’s throbbing for now."

Looking at the spot where Deus' now missing right arm was supposed to be Erica asked, as if resolving herself.

"So, you're saying that you’re the original Deus Verdi?"

"...Uh, uhm, yes."

"And this is the first time we have met."

"Yes, I heard that I was engaged to someone from the Bright Household."

Since Deus just had a rather unpleasant experience with Erica, he kept avoiding eye contact, feeling somewhat dispirited.

Erica felt awkward seeing him behave like that, but ironically, it allowed her to discern the difference between Kim Shinwoo and Deus more clearly.

Whenever she saw him before, her heart used to race.

Yet, now, let alone a moment of flutter, all she felt was a chilling coldness, which was truly a mysterious experience.

"So you came back briefly to prevent your body from dying for De— I mean, for the sake of Kim Shinwoo?"

"A Saintess with horns on her forehead woke me up while I was in repose. She said he's in danger and needs some time."

"..."

"S-so, I came to buy him some time. Because I also felt..."

Clutching the blanket tightly, Deus expressed his feelings.

"Indebted to him."

"..."

Erica understood very well what he meant by that. Though confused by the sudden revelation of truth, there was only one thing that mattered at the moment.

As long as he has time, he'll eventually return.

Just knowing that alone made Erica feel as if a heavy burden on her chest had disappeared, like water flowing away.

"Huff."

Erica bowed her head and covered her face with both hands as she wiped it.

For now, she intended to leave because, frankly speaking, she didn't even want to talk to the current Deus Verdi.

"Um, w-wait."

At that moment, Deus cautiously spoke up.

"Is... Illuania... doing well?"

"Ah."

Knowing the relationship between Illuania and Deus, Erica hesitated for a moment before nodding.

"Yes, she and her child are doing well. The child’s name is Sevia and they’re currently in Norseweden."

"They’re in Norseweden now?!"

Deus' eyes sparkled and he was about to make a request, but Erica shook her head.

"You can't show your current self to others. And I'm not sure if Illuania would want that either."

"Ah, alright...."

Though he showed a bitter expression, Deus didn't deny it, nor did he try to force the issue because he clearly knew what his role and position were.

"...Please stay here for a moment. I'll call another caregiver for you."

Deus turned his gaze towards the window and replied that he understood. Erica then slowly stood up and was about to leave the room.

However, before Erica could even place her hand on the doorknob, the door opened, and two people stepped in.

It was Darius Verdi, the head of the Verdi Household, wrapped in bandages as the wounds he had received in the fight against Doberman were not healed yet.

Along with Deia Verdi, who was glaring at Deus with a look of disgust.

Upon seeing Erica, Darius greeted her with a slight nod and then spoke.

"Could you please vacate the room for a moment?"

"Ah, yes. I was just about to leave."

After Erica left in that manner, the two just stood in front of Deus Verdi.

Deia clearly showed that she was forcefully dragged to this place, despite not wanting to engage in the conversation. Next to her, Darius simply gazed at Deus with a troubled expression.

Even though the three of them had already taken a seat, they remained silent for a moment to gather their thoughts.

"We need to talk."

The first to break the silence was the eldest son, Darius.