The Second Son of The Marquis Runs Away from Home ~ Lacking Talent, He Abandons Everything and Becomes an Adventurer ~ - 73

Chapter 73: The Reason for Seeking Power

“Ka-ka-ka-ka, you caught me off guard, and I scattered without thinking,”

The Eight Thunder Gods spoke as they rose, no longer exuding any intent to fight. I lowered my fists and faced them.

“Impressive, truly impressive. To not only overcome our lightning but to land a strike on us—this, we must acknowledge.”

“Then…”

“Indeed. But allow us to ask you one question.”

The Eight Thunder Gods turned fully toward me, their flickering ghostly flames dancing in their empty eye sockets, as if testing me.

“Why do you seek power? Despite harboring such strength, what are you trying to accomplish by seeking even more? Do you intend to become a ruler who dominates the world?”

Faced with their question, I remained silent for a moment. Placing my hand over my chest, I resolved to give my answer.

“It’s true that I’ve grown stronger—strong enough to imagine winning even if the entire world became my enemy. But that doesn’t mean I can stop here, satisfied.”

“…”

“I haven’t lived enough to say I’m strong enough, or that I’ve achieved all there is. I don’t know everything, nor can I claim there’s no one stronger than me out there.”

I spoke from the heart, voicing my thoughts. Serena and the others, who had released the barrier, listened quietly as well.

“If I became complacent with my current strength and stopped, what would happen if someone stronger appeared? All that I’ve gained, all the precious connections I’ve made, could be taken from me. I don’t want to be a fool who becomes arrogant and stops moving forward.”

Above all else…

“I’ve chosen my own path—a path to uphold what has been entrusted to me, to protect what I can’t afford to lose. And for that, no amount of strength will ever be enough.”

I will walk this path until the day I die. I vowed as much on the day I bid farewell to my dreams.

“Ku-ku… As I thought, you’re different.”

Hearing my answer, the Eight Thunder Gods laughed. Then, their laughter echoed in unison.

“Ka-ka-ka-ka! To say even the power to destroy the world isn’t enough? What boundless greed! You’re nothing like Taketo, who claimed he only needed enough power to protect what mattered to him!”

“Indeed, indeed! Compared to him, you’re selfish and true to your desires!”

“But that’s a good thing! It’s far better than the fools who spout hollow, noble words about doing things for others!”

“The endless depths of your greed and the path you walk seem most entertaining!”

The Eight Thunder Gods merged into one form once again, standing before me. Their demon mask twisted into a grin, their tone brimming with excitement.

“Very well! We, the Eight Thunder Gods, shall lend ourselves to you!”

As soon as they spoke, their form transformed into a bolt of lightning that shot toward the small blade embedded in a stone. The lightning was absorbed into the blade, which began to glow and change shape.

The blade elongated into a sword, and it flew toward me. I instinctively reached out and caught it.

What I held was a strange weapon resembling a Seven-Branched Sword, with a central blade serving as the core and seven smaller blades extending like branches.