The Villain Rising: Ascension of Arcane Trickster.-Chapter 234: Eidolon.

It had been half an hour since I met Eidolon's current consciousness and it didn't take me long to understand what had happened.

Although I had given my card to Winter to forge the soul container, my connection with it hadn't vanished and instead, it had manifested into an assistant bond.

When I realized that, I wanted to jump in joy.

I mean, it wasn't every day I was about to get a Demi-god ranked slav—I mean assistant.

I could even feel that if I refused the bond, my Card wouldn't be able to accommodate his soul anymore… and he would vanish.

Only now did I understand, the manifested skill card itself wasn't special and it only had special effects as long as it was connected to its source of power, the True Card of Arcana within me, and once I refused any kind of connection, it would become nothing more than something ordinary.

Maybe even Winter knew that and that's why he said this was the most important stage… Once I explained everything that was happening to Eidolon, who had been staring at me as if I were his hallucination or perhaps a reaper sent to torment him, he calmed down significantly.

"So… you really aren't a reaper…?"

Eidolon muttered, still confused.

"Yes, as I said before, Winter, your son, ascended as a God and was trying to revive you through my special power but somehow it bound you to me as an assistant."

My voice was calm, benevolent and as humble as the humblest person in the world. After all, I had to maintain my image in front of my future slave—I mean assistant.

"And think about it. Would someone as weak as me even be a reaper meant to carry a Demi-god…?"

I added to reassure him further.

Eidolon seemed to fall into thought for a moment before replying.

"Although most of my memories are foggy, from what I remember… I gave everything I had when the Trickster absorbed it to revive my son. So at the time of my death, I was at the strength of E-Rank at most." He continued calmly. "So having a weaker reaper actually makes more sense…"

He scratched the back of his head casually.

Meanwhile my body froze for a moment.

World… Oh world, what has the poor lamb like me done to offend your greatness that you refuse to show me even the slightest hint of fortune…

Fuck you, world…

I cursed inwardly, my smile stiffening for just a moment.

So much for hoping for an overpowered subordinate.

I let out a sigh.

In any case, I had no intention of refusing him as an assistant, even then. I mean, if he, the beloved father of a literal god, was my subordinate, then I more or less had a leash on Winter and that didn't sound too bad for using the assistant slot that had opened up when I reached D-Rank.

"So… do you agree to be my assistant…?" I asked him.

His consent was as necessary as mine and if he resisted the energy, it might even adversely affect me, so I had to ask him first.

Though I doubted anyone would willingly give up their life a second time especially since Winter wasn't even in danger now but Eidolon had to defy my expectations.

"No." He said, his voice firm and determined.

"Sorry, what…?" I couldn't help but ask in surprise.

"I said, I do not wish to be revived." He repeated with even more conviction in his eyes.

Did being dead for so long fry his brain or something…?

I mean, what kind of idiot refuses life…?

"I think you aren't understanding. This is your opportunity to finally be with your son and to have a second chance at life." I tried to reason with him.

"No, I understand everything quite well but I still do not wish to be revived." His voice was heavy.

I looked at him with a frown. "But… why?"

He gave me a small smile. "I have never been a good father. I was the reason he died once and I do not wish to burden him anymore."

"Burden, huh…?" I let out a short chuckle. "You know what you are doing right now…? It's not because you're afraid of becoming a burden. It's because you're too much of a coward to take responsibility."

I yelled at him.

"I have always found it laughable how people like you talk about such grand things, when in reality you are doing nothing but running away."

My eyes narrowed at him as I clenched my jaw.

"Do you know what your child has suffered in the countless years you have been gone? What did he have to do to reach where he is now? The lengths he went to just to revive you? And now you are running away from all of that, shattering the hopes of that poor boy who is still helplessly clinging to you."

There were two reasons why I was being so straightforward.

Firstly, my humble life depended on this. I mean, who knew what kind of things that bastard Winter would do if his father didn't come back to life? Although I did have a contract with him to ensure he couldn't harm me… but after what happened back then, when I almost thought he had killed me, I wasn't sure anymore if I could trust that guy to value his own life.

And the second reason was actually far simpler.

Well… I genuinely hated people like this.

People who tried to act selfless when they were the most selfish of all and yet deluded themselves into believing it was for the greater good of those they cared about.

I was selfish too but at least I didn't deceive myself into thinking I was doing something noble.

Eidolon didn't say a word as I continued.

"Do you think Winter sees you as a burden? Do you think he's reviving you because you'll be useful to him? He doesn't want a tool, he just wants his old man back and you don't get to decide what burdens your son is willing to carry."

I paused for a moment.

"In any case, I don't care. Do whatever you want but at least don't pretend it's for Winter's sake because for him, the bigger burden would be you choosing death to 'save' him and if this revival fails now, he'll have to carry that guilt for the rest of his life…"

Eidolon took a deep breath and for several long minutes, neither of us spoke.

I didn't rush him either.

Eidolon had once been a Demi-god who had lived far longer than me and no matter how much I tried to manipulate him, he would understand. So the only way to truly convince him was through sincerity and that was what I had just done.

No matter how much I shifted my arguments or leaned on logic, all my words carried sincerity even if it had subtle amounts of push towards the outcome I wanted.

That was the best I could do and if he still refused… Then I would just have to give up otherwise, forcing it would only make things worse.

It didn't take long before Eidolon finally spoke.

"Fine, young Trickster. You truly have a way with your words just like your predecessor."

He continued.

"I believe it's about time I start acting like a father…"

He paused for a few seconds before letting out an exhausted smile.

"I accept."

The moment those words left his mouth, my smile widened as I accepted the pull of my skill as well.

Mana surged through the golden thread connecting us and I felt something solidify between us as my connection to Eidolon's soul deepened.

For a brief moment, I even glimpsed his emotions, the grief, the nervousness, the fear, the anger and the helplessness, before the process was finally complete.

[CONGRATULATIONS!!! The Bond Has Been Established]

[Eidolon Is Registered As An Assistant]

[As a Tribute, a Skill Is Being Recieved…]

And immediately I felt it…