Esper Harem in the Apocalypse

Chapter 982 Convergence

In the hushed ambiance of the nearly empty restaurant, Eric and Erika occupied a corner booth. The threat of the monster attack had left most customers fleeing for safety, leaving the siblings with an almost private dining experience.

Eric ordered his chosen dish, as did Erika, and as they awaited their meals, their attention was absorbed by their smartphones.

Erika glanced up from her phone and shared the recent message with Eric. ”Aunt Rebecca agreed to move to the castle,” she relayed the news, her voice tinged with a mix of acknowledgement.

Eric nodded, his eyes never leaving the screen of his phone. ”Yeah, she sent me a text too.”

Erika pondered for a moment, a hint of sadness in her voice. ”I guess... itʼs safe to assume she has also given up hope of Rudyʼs return. Everyone has finally moved on,” She couldnʼt help but inquire further, her voice laced with a touch of melancholy. ”Isnʼt it sad?”

Eric, his eyes flicking up from his phone, shook his head as if to brush away unwelcome thoughts. ”Donʼt ask me.”

Erika was not easily deterred. She was well aware of the complex feelings that surrounded the situation. ”Rudy was our father. Even if you donʼt want to accept that, the reality wonʼt change,” she stated firmly, her gaze unwavering.

Ericʼs tone was harsh, reflective of his internal turmoil. ”Yeah, I donʼt want to accept that my best friend... is my father. Just thinking about it makes me want to kill him!”

Erikaʼs response was softer, her words carrying a weight of understanding. ”Heʼs already gone,” she sighed, recognizing the pain and confusion that had accompanied the revelation.

Erika sighed, realizing the complexity of her brotherʼs emotions. A few months after Rudyʼs mysterious disappearance, Elena had gathered everyone in the castle to reveal the truth. It was during this emotional meeting that she finally disclosed to Eric and Erika the startling revelation that Rudy was their father.

”Why are you so upset about this? Itʼs not like he and mom were having a secret affair behind our backs. They were in a relationship even before we were born,” Erika stated matter-of-factly, her voice carrying the wisdom of acceptance.

Ericʼs frustration simmered just below the surface, and he spoke with a mixture of perplexity and annoyance. ”That changes nothing. I still donʼt understand why youʼre so chill about this, but itʼs too much for me. Iʼd rather not talk about it.”

Erika, however, refused to let the matter rest. ”When we were kids, Mom had told us that our father would return one day. She could have said our father died, but she didnʼt. Of course, I would have hated our father too if he had left Mom for no reason, but that wasnʼt the case. Rudy had time-traveled in the past, and thatʼs why he couldnʼt stay. It wasnʼt his fault.

It wasnʼt under his control. Besides, itʼs not like we had a terrible childhood or anything. Mom was wealthy, and we had a fair upbringing. In fact, it was Rudy who had a struggling childhood.”

Eric brushed her words aside, his discontent clear. ”Yeah, yeah. Rudy was the victim of everything. I bet he only came to play at our house for Mom. Maybe whenever he had sleepovers at our house, he and Mom were doing things behind our backs. Iʼm as angry at Mom as I am at Rudy.”

Erika, however, remained steadfast in her defense of Elena and Rudy. ”Mom already clarified that Rudy had no memories of that. He remembered everything after the plane crash incident.”

Ericʼs skepticism persisted. ”Why should we believe that? Iʼm honestly having a hard time believing everything. Rudy could have chosen not to impregnate Mom. He knew she was our mother, and still, he...” Ericʼs voice trailed off, ending with a frustrated sigh.

Erika met her brotherʼs frustration with a calm assurance. ”Had he not impregnated Mom, we wouldnʼt have been born. If anything, Iʼm glad that Rudy is our father.”

Their meals arrived, but the twins continued to grapple with the complexity of their origins and the emotions that accompanied it, their conversation reflecting the tension between a past shrouded in uncertainty and the unspoken desire to find closure and understanding.

In the midst of their meal, Eric, in a teasing tone, suddenly asked Erika, ”Well, didnʼt you use to have a crush on Rudy? How does it feel to find out that the boy you grew up with, the one you loved, turned out to be your biological father?”

Eric had thought his playful teasing would provoke some reaction from Erika, but to his surprise, her response was unexpectedly calm and composed.

Erika calmly replied, ”I feel the same way I have always felt about Rudy. The problem with you is that you now see Rudy as your father, while I still see him as my childhood friend.”

A momentary silence followed, as if the truth they had learned was heavy enough to suppress any immediate emotional reaction.

Erika continued, her voice unwavering, ”I think the same about the apocalypse he caused. He was left with no choice. He lost his life to fulfill the Lordʼs duty. I see Rudy and the Lord as two different people. I hate the Lord, but I love Rudy.”

Eric, in the face of Erikaʼs composed perspective, was left without words. He couldnʼt find any flaws in her logical and heartfelt explanation. The weight of the revelations hung in the air, but they continued to eat their meal.

Meanwhile, in the far reaches of space, Shadow Rudy, now transformed into a hardened, statue-like structure, suddenly opened his eyes. He found himself staring at a mysterious figure, a beautiful girl adorned in ancient garments with a veil concealing her face.

Upon seeing her, Rudy experienced a strange sense of nostalgia. It was as if he had encountered her in some distant memory, yet he couldnʼt place when or where. He had a peculiar sensation of knowing her, yet he couldnʼt recall any previous encounter.

Rudy couldnʼt see her face as it was under the veil, but he still felt as if he knew her. With a calm and emotionless tone, the girl spoke, ”Oh, you are awake.”

Her words held no trace of surprise or elation, and she continued, ”I will be honest; I didnʼt expect you to wake up.”