Chapter 99: Chapter 99 – The Secret of Valentine Family

A heavy silence loomed in the grand study room, the tick of the ornate wall clock the only sound filling the space. Darian Valentine’s words still echoed, lingering in the air like a ghost that refused to leave.

“Our Valentine family is the descendant of a hero… who fought against the Devil Cult 7000 years ago.”

Luca stood frozen in place, his breath caught in his throat.

“W-What?” he finally managed to whisper, though it sounded more like a breathless exhale than a question.

But inside, his thoughts were in turmoil.

What the hell…?

All this time, in every playthrough, every route… there was barely a whisper about the heroes who fought the Devil Emperor.

And now—now I find out I’m living in the body of one of their descendants?

He stared at his father in disbelief.

Darian, composed yet somber, continued. “Yes, I know it’s shocking. But it’s the truth. The hero’s son… he wasn’t a man who chased power or glory. He chose a quiet life, founded our family far from politics. For generations, we’ve remained hidden—minor nobles in rural lands.”

Luca swallowed. His throat felt dry. “How many people know this?”

“Very few,” Darian replied. “Just me, your mother, Vincent—and now you, in our family. Outside of that, only a handful in high positions.”

Luca opened his mouth, a question tumbling forward. “But… then how do we have this kind of mansion, this much influence—?”

He stopped mid-sentence.

A memory flashed.

“I would have thought so… if you were not a Valentine.”

The Empress’s words.

“So… Her Majesty knows too,” he muttered.

Darian nodded. “The royal family… they too are descended from a different hero.”

This time, it was like a fuse blew in Luca’s brain. His eyes widened.

“The royal family too…?”

“Yes,” Darian said calmly. “After the Devil Emperor was sealed, the continent was in chaos. One of the heroes’ sons rose to bring order. He established the first Empire—one that stretched across the continent. That was the beginning of what eventually became the Astravian Empire.”

Luca couldn’t speak. He stood still, the weight of his family’s history pressing on his chest like an avalanche. His legs felt heavy. His mind struggled to keep up.

A descendant of a forgotten hero…

A bloodline tied to the ancient war that changed the world…

Why was this never mentioned in the game? How did I miss something this huge…?

“I know this is a lot,” Darian said, his tone softer now. “But I thought you deserved to know. Do you… have any questions?”

Luca’s thoughts scrambled. But amidst the shock, a spark of something else lit inside him.

This… this might be the key.

If there’s a way to prevent the calamity—if there’s something the heroes left behind—this could be it. A path the game never showed me.

“Do we have any records?” Luca asked quickly, eyes lighting up. “Anything about the heroes? Their names, relics, stories—anything?”

Darian’s expression darkened slightly. He gave a regretful shake of the head. “It’s been seven millennia, son. Records have faded. Stories twisted or lost. Most of what we know is oral or fragmented. There are no relics left in our possession… no tomes, no memories strong enough to trace.”

Luca’s shoulders sagged, his face falling.

“Don’t dwell on it too much,” Darian said, offering a small smile. “The past is important, but it’s still the past. What matters is your future. Get some rest—we leave for the Academy at dawn.”

Luca nodded numbly and turned toward the door.

As he stepped out, the hall felt emptier than before.

His feet moved, but his thoughts remained trapped in the study, replaying everything.

The hero bloodline… the Empress… the Devil Emperor…

Everything I thought I knew… might just be the surface.

He wandered through the moonlit corridors of the mansion, lost in thought.

The hallway was quiet. Cold moonlight filtered through the stained-glass windows, casting dreamlike colors on the walls of the Valentine mansion. Luca walked without aim, his mind a storm of questions and revelations.

A descendant of a hero…? Of one who fought the Devil Emperor?

It didn’t feel real. Nothing about this world did anymore. Not since I first woke up in this body.

He found himself at the door of his bedroom without realizing it. With a long sigh, he pushed it open—only to pause.

“Papa~”

The soft, almost squeaky voice snapped him out of his thoughts.

Luca blinked.

Sitting right in the middle of his large, plush bed was the tiny baby dragon—her golden hair all messy, red eyes shining like rubies in the dim light. She tilted her head and repeated in a sleepy mumble, “Papa.”

Next to her, Lisa was giggling, braiding a tiny tuft of the dragon’s hair with a ribbon. She looked up when Luca entered.

“She refused to sleep with me,” Lisa said, stifling another giggle. “Climbed off and waddled here all by herself like she owned the place.”

Luca exhaled, rubbing his temples. “Go back to your room. I’ll put her in the beast space.”

“Okay~ ’Papa.’” Lisa winked, bursting into laughter as she skipped past him and shut the door behind her.

Luca ignored the teasing and walked over to the bed, crouching down. “Alright, back you go.”

He extended his hand, willing the beast mark on his chest to summon her back.

Nothing happened.

He frowned. Tried again.

Still nothing.

“…Huh?”

He muttered under his breath and summoned Kunpeng, who appeared in his chibi form—wings the size of fans, eyes sleepy but amused. The moment he appeared, the baby dragon perked up, crawling toward him with eager curiosity.

Kunpeng tilted his head as she sniffed at him, then started patting his head with both hands.

“Hey,” Luca said. “Why can’t I summon her back?”

Kunpeng hovered a bit, then lazily responded, “Because she doesn’t want to go back.”

“What?”

“She doesn’t like the beast space,” Kunpeng yawned, barely dodging a small playful fireball from the dragon. “Some beasts—especially ones with strong wills—just refuse. And remember… She’s a dragon in human form. That makes her more complicated.”

Luca stared at the two playing like toddlers. “…So what am I supposed to do now?”

Kunpeng landed on his shoulder, a smug gleam in his eye. “Let her sleep here. What, afraid she’ll burn your pillow?”

Luca groaned but gave in, collapsing onto the bed. “This is insane…”

But the next moment, a tiny weight plopped onto his chest. The baby dragon curled up against him like a cat, letting out a sleepy little hum. Kunpeng nuzzled into the blanket nearby.

Luca looked down at her and sighed. Her tiny hands clutched his sleeve. Her soft breathing synced with his.

“…You’re just a baby,” he muttered.

A warm puff of heat escaped her lips, almost like a response.

Luca chuckled softly.

The mansion outside may have held secrets, and the world may have grown heavier with destiny—but for now, in the quiet of his room, it was just him, a baby dragon, and a slightly sassy sky-beast.

“Fine,” he whispered, eyes fluttering shut. “Just for tonight.”

Laughter, soft chirps, and gentle breaths filled the room… and somewhere in the heart of it, the burden of destiny felt a little lighter.

The skies were still tinged with soft morning hues as Luca and Vincent soared through the clouds on their beasts. The wind whistled past, carrying with it the lingering warmth of the farewell.

Below, Selena stood in the courtyard, her hands clasped before her heart, offering a mother’s gentle smile despite the sting in her chest. “Take care of yourselves,” she called out, her voice carried by a gust of wind. The baby dragon in Luca’s arms chirped back playfully, as if answering on his behalf.

Darian stood beside her, his eyes following the boys’ ascent before he called out with measured calm, “Remember what we talked about, Luca. Be watchful. And stay true to who you are.”

Lisa stood slightly apart, arms folded and lips trembling despite her effort to appear strong. “This time,” she shouted with misty eyes, “don’t forget to call me, okay!?”

Luca turned back mid-air, a soft smile on his lips as he nodded. “I won’t. I promise.”

The baby dragon on his lap chirped with joy, her arms raised to feel the wind as Kunpeng gracefully glided above the trees and hills. The flight back was a quiet one, lacking the playful banter of the usual group. It was just Vincent and Luca this time—and Luca, caught within a web of emotions he couldn’t untangle.

When they finally landed just outside the towering gates of Arcadia Academy, the sun was higher now, casting golden ripples on the lake’s surface nearby.

As Vincent stretched with a yawn and started toward the dorms, Luca remained still. The baby dragon looked at him curiously.

Luca sighed, brushing her warm forehead. “Can you please go back now? We’re entering the academy, na?”

She pouted slightly, letting out a stubborn, adorable “Pa.”

Luca groaned, rubbing his temple. “Fine, fine. I’ll play with you all day once we’re inside, okay?”

Her eyes lit up, and she giggled before finally allowing herself to be summoned back into the beast space.

Luca turned and walked away—not to the dorms, not yet. His feet carried him, almost by instinct, to the same quiet lakeside, where water danced softly under the sun.

As he stood there, thoughts still swirling like mist, a serene voice reached his ears, calm and gentle like the surface of the water.

“Why does it feel like whenever you come here… you are more and more troubled?”

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