Chapter 382: World Domination and Romance Tropes

[The Second Origin of the user has been unlocked.]

[The Magic Power of the user has drastically increased.]

"Then, I’ll be seeing you."

Finn turned and left the very second Ultear finished unlocking his Second Origin.

Was it painful? Immensely. But frankly, the temporary agony was absolutely nothing compared to the massive permanent surge in his magical reserves. He also didn’t want to waste another second; Lisanna was waiting for him.

Without so much as a flinch, Finn manifested his magical wings, launching himself into the sky and vanishing with blitz-like speed.

Ultear and Meredy were left standing on the beach, utterly speechless at his sheer resilience. They both knew exactly how agonizing the process of forcibly prying open a Second Origin was. Most mages would be writhing on the ground, begging for death, yet Finn had just kept his cool, adjusted his suit, and flown off as if he’d merely suffered a mild headache.

As his silhouette disappeared over the horizon, Ultear noticed the surrounding environment shifting back to normal. The localized mist and the labyrinth-like sensory barrier Finn had erected entirely dissipated.

Just who exactly is he? Ultear wondered.

Finn Hoen was a terrifying enigma, a man who had rapidly ascended from the absolute bottom of society to a position of untouchable power in just seven years.

"Are you really going to help him rebuild the Devil’s Heart, Ultear?" Meredy asked, her voice quiet.

"Do I really have a choice?"

"But... what if he becomes a second Hades?"

Meredy shuddered, thinking back to the previous master of Grimoire Heart. Aside from Ultear, Meredy hadn’t been close to anyone in that dark guild, and Master Hades had always terrified her with his overwhelming, oppressive might.

"Well... would that really be so bad?" Ultear mused, crossing her arms. "Unlike Hades, Finn isn’t leading a Dark Guild. He is a high-ranking official of the Magic Council. With a magical core like the Devil’s Heart fueling him, what is the absolute worst thing he could possibly do with all that power?"

They paused, genuinely considering the absolute worst-case scenario.

"World domination?" Meredy suggested.

"Yeah, that sounds about right," Ultear nodded.

The two women looked at each other. Honestly, there was only one logical reason a man like Finn would demand such a catastrophic amount of power: absolute control over the continent. Even though this was their first time speaking to him face-to-face, they had been observing him from the shadows for years. They had watched him pivot from hunting them to manipulating them, using every piece on the board to consolidate his authority. If Finn wanted the ultimate magical power source, it was for world domination.

"But... you don’t seem to hate the idea, Ultear," Meredy pointed out. She knew her adoptive mother well. If Ultear genuinely believed Finn would destroy the world, she would have fought to the death right here on the beach to keep the Devil’s Heart out of his hands.

"You know what? The world isn’t black and white, Meredy," Ultear sighed, looking out at the ocean. "A man who can be ruthlessly pragmatic, yet entirely fair and fiercely protective of what is his... I don’t think a world led by someone like that is necessarily a bad idea."

"Why was I just thinking the exact same thing?" Meredy giggled. "Also, he totally reminds me of the ’Cold Duke of the North’ or those ’Overbearing CEO’ romance novels you secretly collect in your room."

"H-How do you know about those?!" Ultear stammered, a rare blush coloring her cheeks. "And have you been reading them, too, Meredy?!"

"Well, the stories aren’t bad!" Meredy defended herself.

"Right?" Ultear coughed, quickly regaining her composure.

"Exactly!" Meredy nodded enthusiastically. "I think he might actually be a massive tsundere. He acts all cold and terrifying because he had to survive a brutal past, but deep down, to the people he cares about, he’s probably incredibly gentle. Like a giant, grumpy cat."

"Right? Why do I get that exact same feeling?"

Achoo!

Mid-flight, Finn sneezed violently. He rubbed his nose, completely bewildered as a sudden chill ran down his spine. Is someone talking about me?

"Still, what do you think of him?" Ultear teased, poking Meredy’s cheek. "He isn’t bad, right? If you marry him, your future is basically secured, you know~?"

Meredy’s face flushed a brilliant shade of red. "W-What about you, Ultear?! Don’t you think he’s handsome?"

"Me? I’m already an old lady," Ultear sighed self-deprecatingly. "Why would he find me attractive? His eyes were totally clear when he looked at me. He only cares about my utility, not my body. My charm must really be deteriorating as I get older."

"That is not true at all! You’re incredibly beautiful!" Meredy huffed, crossing her arms over her chest. "Like I said, he’s a tsundere. He probably has a massive thing for mature, older women, you know?"

"Stop with your silly guesses and let’s just go home," Ultear sighed, lightly flicking Meredy’s smooth forehead.

Meredy snorted, rubbing her forehead, feeling slightly annoyed that Ultear was still treating her like a child. Meredy knew her tropes. In all those slightly tragic NTR novels they read, the young, hyper-competent protagonist was always the most dangerous creature alive—especially when placed near an attractive, deeply flawed older woman like Ultear.

Achoo! Achoo!

"Did I catch a cold?" Finn muttered to himself as he finally descended toward his secluded mountain villa.

He pushed the ridiculous thought aside as he stepped through the front door. The rich, savory aroma of a home-cooked meal drifted from the kitchen.

There, Lisanna was humming a cheerful, silly tune. She was dressed in a pair of short denim cut-offs, a tight tank top, and a frilly apron, looking exactly like a picture-perfect newlywed waiting for her husband to return.

The way her smooth, plump thighs shifted, the elegant curve of her white nape, and the mesmerizing sway of her hips as she hummed instantly made Finn’s throat go dry.

Without a word, he stepped up behind her, wrapping his arms securely around her waist and pulling her back against his chest.

"H-Hey! I’m still in the middle of cooking!" Lisanna yelped, startled.

Yet, even as she complained, her body betrayed her. She melted instantly into his embrace, her back arching perfectly into him.

"Sorry," Finn murmured, burying his face into her neck, inhaling her sweet scent. "I couldn’t wait."

"Geez..." Lisanna sighed helplessly.

Feeling the way he clung to her—the heavy, cold armor of the Chief momentarily dropping to reveal the needy, almost spoiled boy underneath who just wanted to be comforted—she couldn’t refuse him. Reaching forward, she turned off the stove.

She leaned over the kitchen counter, looking back at him over her shoulder with a flushed, teasing smile. "Don’t take too long, okay? I still need to finish cooking."

Isn’t that asking for the impossible? Finn thought.

He knew perfectly well that with his newly unlocked Second Origin, his stamina was going to be completely unreasonable. But he didn’t say a word. If he pointed that out, she might change her mind.

Instead, he simply reached down, hooking his fingers into the waistband of her shorts. With a breathless gasp from Lisanna, the quiet mountain villa was entirely cut off from the rest of the world.

Meanwhile, back at the Fiore Branch headquarters, Cana, Elfman, and Mirajane had finally returned from their grueling S-Class mission.

Cana and Elfman were completely exhausted. The moment they stepped through the doors, they practically collapsed, fully intending to sleep for the next twelve hours.

Mirajane, however, was wide awake.

Her sharp blue eyes scanned the main office, the lounges, and the training grounds. Finn wasn’t at his desk. And more importantly, her little sister wasn’t anywhere to be found.

Mirajane’s expression darkened, a chilling aura leaking from her body.

"Where are they?" Mirajane asked, her voice dangerously sweet.

"...."

Sitting in the corner of the lounge, Flare and Sorano rigidly avoided eye contact, breaking out in cold sweats.

Yeah, Mirajane thought, her smile widening into something terrifying. Where exactly are Finn and Lisanna?

---

By the way, I might have said this before, but I have uploaded my new original story. The title is "Checking Out at 5:15 PM" with the name "OnlyPureLove44," or I might change it to Akikan in the future.

Regardless, there are more than 30 now.

You can check when you want to read more of my work.

Thank you!