Damn, I Have to Marry the Strongest Antagonist at the Start? - Chapter 552

Chapter 552: Chapter2-System Upgrade
What the cosmic will hadn’t realized… was that Owen was a transmigrator!

Because of that oversight, Owen retained all of his memories after reincarnation—memories that hadn’t been overridden by the local soul of this mountain farmer, who happened to also be named Owen.

He might have gotten off easy, but he couldn’t say the same for Leslie. She hadn’t been so lucky. This was technically her second reincarnation, and Owen was almost certain her memories had been wiped clean. Worse still, he had no idea where she had been reborn.

The more he thought about it, the more anxious he became.

According to the original owner’s memories, this plane was anything but peaceful. Empires and factions warred constantly—ceaseless conflict, invasions, power struggles… This world was teeming with danger.

And this wasn’t a low-magic realm either—mages existed here, and powerful ones could shake the heavens with a wave of their hand.

If he were at his peak, he’d have nothing to fear. But now?

That plane-level consciousness had been too powerful. His [Order]… his elemental power… everything had been wiped clean. He was, for all intents and purposes, a regular man now.

And Leslie? He didn’t even know what identity she’d taken on. In an era as chaotic as this one, it was unlikely she’d been reborn into a safe or comfortable position. And with her memories gone, it was even more worrisome.

Driven by urgency and guided by the original owner’s memories, Owen quickly began searching the nearby regions.

They had entered this realm together—Leslie couldn’t have reincarnated too far away.

His search was relentless, and soon his persistence paid off. In the depths of an uninhabited mountain forest, he found a woman lying on the ground, unconscious, clad in noble garments now tattered and dirt-stained.

The moment he got close, Owen’s heart began pounding.

Even though half of her face was marred by burn scars, the other half carried that same icy beauty, that same noble pride—just like Leslie.

Exactly like the day he had first met her.

…

Glacier Empire

Spellbeast Mountains

In a hidden valley nestled deep within the spellbeast mountain range, a small house stood—built from wood and stone. Though simple, it was clean, well-organized, and radiated the warmth of home.

In front of the house, a peach tree bloomed, its delicate pink flowers fluttering in the mountain wind.

Beneath the tree stood Owen, now sporting a thick beard and the calm demeanor of a man matured by time. His eyes were distant as he stared at the tree he had once planted, his thoughts adrift.

“Eight years,” he murmured to himself. “Eight years living side by side… and still, her memories haven’t returned?”

“Even Elena… that little rascal… she left me too. Just a letter. That’s all.”

A sigh escaped him—quiet, bitter, and laced with longing.

Eight years ago, after rescuing the disfigured woman who looked so much like Leslie, he had tended to her with unwavering care. Something in his soul told him: this woman was Leslie. She had simply forgotten.

And as time passed, under his devoted care, the scars on her face slowly healed. When her full face was revealed—it was undeniably Leslie.

That same unparalleled beauty. That same icy pride. He could never forget that face.

But her memories… were gone. She didn’t know her name. Didn’t recognize the name “Azure Kingdom.” Even when Owen mentioned himself and little Leslie, she showed no reaction.

But Owen had expected as much. He never tried to force her to remember. Instead, he began recounting their past as if it were a love story—beautiful, gentle, and sweet.

Perhaps it was the sincerity of the tale. Perhaps it was his tender care. But the woman, now calling herself Yevna, began to warm to him. Her heart, once a blank slate, slowly filled with Owen’s image.

And so it went. A man and a woman, living in isolation, growing close through the days and nights.

Eventually, passion blossomed. On a moonlit night months later, the two became husband and wife.

As their lives intertwined and their harmony grew, Yevna became pregnant.

During those ten months of waiting, Yevna tended to small animals around the house and wove linen into clothes. Owen hunted, cooked, chopped wood, and made their humble home as beautiful and livable as possible.

To ease Yevna’s emotions during her pregnancy, Owen transplanted a peach tree into their yard. He knew—Leslie had always loved trees.

And just as he expected, Yevna loved that tree dearly. She fertilized it and cared for it every day.

In that simple, peaceful life, Yevna gave birth to a daughter—Elena.

But not long after Elena’s birth… Yevna left.

When Owen returned from a hunt one day, all he found was a letter.

Its content was heartbreakingly short:

“Husband, wait for me. I’ll be back.”

The graceful handwriting, with its familiar strength and elegance, made his heart sink.

He had once believed that even if he had lost all his power, even if they were reborn into a new world… as long as Leslie remembered, as long as they could live a peaceful life as a family, he would be content.

But Yevna left. Just like that. No trace. No explanation.

Owen searched everywhere—mountains, cities, ruins—but it was as if she had vanished from the world.

So he stayed. He raised Elena, waited for Leslie to return.

Eight long years.

This very morning, just as the sun rose, Owen woke up to find another letter waiting for him.

This time… it was from Elena.

She was only eight years old.

Reading the note, he felt as though the sky had collapsed. His heart had never suffered such a blow.

With trembling hands, he read:

“Daddy, by the time you see this letter, I’ll already be gone.”

“I know I’m still young, but every day I see you staring at the peach tree, missing Mom… I want to help. I want to find her. For you. For myself.”

“I want to ask her, face to face—why she left us.”

“If I can’t find her, I’ll bring home lots of amazing aunties instead! Just like you told me, back when you were young, you had lots of strong girlfriends, right?”

“And don’t worry about me. I’m your daughter! Nothing in this world can stop me! I’ve got the treasure pouch you gave me—whatever I need, it’s in there!”

“You once stood at the peak of the world. Even now, you’re a legend in my heart. I’m your daughter, so I won’t bring shame to your name!”

“And when I’m out there… I’ll go by a different name. For safety. But if you hear about a genius girl named ‘Dove’—don’t doubt it. That’s me.”

Tears welled up in Owen’s eyes as he finished reading.

Sorrow. Worry. And a deep, heartfelt pride.

She was only eight, yet she already cared so deeply about him. She really was his precious little girl.

But still… she was too young. The outside world was dangerous beyond words!

If he had known, he never would have told her those stories about him and Leslie.

He had truly been strong once—standing at the pinnacle of the world.

But after reincarnation… he was just an ordinary man now.

Wait!

The system!

Though it had been undergoing an upgrade since his reincarnation, the countdown was nearly over.

It was almost done.

And when it finished… everything could change.