Galaxy's First Ruler

A few hours before

Just after arriving at the Manor, Aldrich had two hours to spare before the first arrival of guests. Two hours weren't much for the task he had in his mind, but there was a way to congest it within that time.

Aldrich hastily went to a spacious room and ordered Trifon to not let anyone come near. He sent a trace of Mana in the FIR and took out the Mana Cores he had got from his expedition into El Cid's Dungeon. With a gesture of his hand, the two Viscount Mana Cores hovered in the air in front of him. The most important task right now was to let Sha out of Mask's influence.

But at the first glance, there were many things wrong with Aldrich's decision.

Even though Aldrich had an outline of the Rumok, a duration of fewer than two hours wasn't nearly enough to carve a Baron-Ranked Rumok. The second issue was even bigger and serious.

As per his experience, after completing the engraving of Rumok, Aldrich would be in his weakest state. This was a time Aldrich used to abhor in his life. For many hours, not only he would be defenseless, but Aldrich would also struggle to even think properly.

Aldrich had yet to know about Tyra, Amalia, and Nicholas' arrival. But even then, he would never want to attend a ceremony full of strangers in that weak state. There were no cutting corners, and there were no roundabout ways to make Rumoks. It seemed a Divine Engraver was destined to lose all strength in exchange to get his hands over these sole RECORD defying things.

But…

Times and Aldrich both had changed since the last time.

Aldrich had got his hands on something that he could use to speed up Rumok making process without losing his thoughts and Divine Sense. He spread his Divine Sense, making sure that none was spying on him, and extended his hands out.

A heavy and grunting voice came out of his mouth, darkening the space in front of him.

"From the ashes of my Dreams…

… ARISE!!!"

As the space parted, a masked man wearing a spacesuit walked out. The spacesuit lacked the helmet, and the mask had a single curved horn. From the eyeholes, Aldrich could see a pair of black dull eyes looking straight at him.

This was Aldrich before dying after taking off his helmet in space.

This was Aldrich Guo before gaining the authority of a Boss of a Dungeon.

As both Aldrich nodded at each other, the white-haired Aldrich slowly worded out.

"I will think of the first half."

The black-haired Aldrich also simultaneously spoke.

"I will take care of the latter half."

Both Aldrich sat down in a meditative state, facing each other. The minds of two more than millions of years old beings raced together to complete the Rumok's outline Aldrich had already planned.

One hour passed in a blink of an eye, accompanied by nothing but slight breathing sounds.

The white-haired Aldrich opened his eyes. And not more than a few seconds later, the black-haired Aldrich opened his eyes, too. Both Aldrich again nodded their heads, realizing the discrepancy of their computational powers.

"The Evolution to Viscount has some effects."

"Indeed."

Both Aldrich smiled at each other and stood up. As the black-haired Aldrich prepared parchment for Rumok, the white-haired Aldrich ordered Sha to take out the Scholar's Pen Item. This was an Item he had fed to the Shadow Homunculus.

Aldrich melted the two Viscount Mana cores and filled the barrel of Scholar's pen. As he held the pen in his hand, the black-haired Aldrich put the parchment in front of him. Aldrich handed over the Scholar's Pen to the undead Aldrich. And Upon seeing the Pen not vanishing, both Aldrich nodded to themselves.

"When you meet them…"

The black-haired Aldrich touched the tip of the Pen on the parchment and muttered.

"… give them my love."

The white-haired Aldrich turned his head and stared in a senseless direction before slowly replying.

"… I will."

*

Current Time

The Great Hall of the Manor

"Daddy… I… am in."

Sha's voice rang in Aldrich's mind.

The low and fine-tune music had cleared away both the gloomy and cheery atmosphere of before. It was customary during a ceremony to hold a Ball after dinner. Aldrich was sitting beside Amalia on one side of the Harold. And even though all Dreamers were busy dancing, the sudden announcement of the engagement was still on their minds.

Now that he had taken care of Sha's Rumok, she could function by herself. This was also the reason that though Aldrich had sent her on a mission, she wanted to come to the ceremony for the exchange of pointers.

'Ok, now listen carefully."

Aldrich gave a perfunctory smile for others to see and commanded Sha through the bond they shared in his mind.

"Yes… I.. listen… AHHHHHH!!!"

'What happened?!!'

"Daddy… rat."

'…'

"… Sorry…"

'Sigh! Listen…'

As Aldrich sent out commands after commands in his head, he saw the inconsequential girl, Tyra, approaching him.

The Ingegerds had become quiet after Aldrich's and Enok's fight. Earl Frida was an excellent Dreamer, who had shown her might in Galactic Wars, but in front of a Marquess, she was nothing. There were many such Earls under Marquess Harold. And if it wasn't a matter related to fallen Duke House, the Ancient Oracle, and Aldrich's unknown maternal background, Harold would have already annihilated everyone to get the Ancient Relic.

Harold briefly gave Tyra a look and continued munching on cakes and pies. And Nicholas was unusually silent after Harold had accepted Aldrich as a personal student.

The black-haired and black-eyed girl came to a stop in front of Amalia and courteously bowed.

"Miss Amalia, congratulations!"

As Amalia nodded in response and smiled, Tyra looked at Aldrich. Aldrich couldn't feel anything as he tried to prod her feelings. Not a single emotion, and not even a trace of hesitation.

The dull-looking Tyra gave Aldrich a bow and genuinely asked.

"May I have the honor of having a dance with the star of today's ceremony?"