Chapter 363
Chapter 363
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 363
Chapter Title: Side Story 48. Guardian of the Home (7)
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"So... it was for revenge. Those scum who looked down on me for handling necromancy... Grk, I was going to turn them all into zombie chow... They've been mocking me ever since my days at Phileon Academy."
"I see. The records show you handled a huge number of undead with impressive skill. Was there some special trick? There were a few differences from the necromancy that's commonly known."
"Heh heh... Of course... Do you think my magic is ordinary? I didn't waste over fifty years of my life."
"Impressive. Then, could you tell me everything? Don't leave anything out."
Adeshan flashed a sweet smile.
In front of her, Kiersaji sat bound to a chair, his limbs severed.
Drool trickled from his mouth as he grinned, his eyes dyed the same ashen gray as Adeshan's.
"Of course... Grrrk, it's not that difficult..."
Kiersaji began spilling everything he knew.
His face, glowing under the interrogation room lights, looked surprisingly happy.
Imperial Army officers in uniform took down the confession from behind the glass window.
"It's... chilling no matter how many times I see it. The Grand General's power."
"It's the most dangerous power in the world. Thank goodness the one born with shadow mana is her."
A female lieutenant let out a sigh of relief.
Mind domination stemming from shadow mana couldn't be replicated by any magic.
Fortunately, this power that could destroy the world in a villain's hands was being used properly by the righteous Adeshan.
"...Every time I see the Grand General, my heart races. I wonder if it's because of that power."
A nearby ensign murmured dreamily.
His gaze lingered on Adeshan's profile.
Her snow-white skin and high nose bridge.
Deep eyes that seemed to hold ashes within.
She was already a mother of two, but she'd never fallen below third place in the secret Imperial Women's Army popularity poll.
The startled lieutenant raised an eyebrow.
"You're spouting dangerous nonsense. Don't you know who the Grand General's husband is?"
"Of course I do. My number one idol. It's Ronan, the hero who slew the giant."
"You know that and still think like that? A grunt like you wouldn't even register to him as orange peel."
"Let a guy dream a little. Be honest, Lieutenant—you spaced out staring when Schlieffen or Ronan came for a visit. You like handsome guys too."
"...Shut up. That's insubordination."
The two bickered.
Of course, they didn't forget to take perfect shorthand notes amid it all.
How much time had passed?
Adeshan, who had been facing Kiersaji, stood up.
"Eek, she's coming out."
They hurriedly straightened their uniforms.
Soon, Adeshan emerged from the interrogation room.
The lieutenant snapped to attention and saluted.
"Loyalty. Well done, ma'am."
"Thanks. You all worked hard too."
"No, ma'am. Is the interrogation over?"
"Yes. Doesn't seem like there's more to get. Thanks to you, we got some great intel."
Adeshan smiled with her eyes.
She had used mind domination to extract everything from Kiersaji's head without leaving a trace.
Magical knowledge, wicked schemes, even the filthy details of his life he hadn't told his own parents.
Now, the man called Kiersaji would become a single book on a shelf.
"Oh, and like I mentioned, I'm heading home right away today."
Adeshan checked her wristwatch.
It looked like she'd make it just in time.
"Understood, ma'am. What about him?"
The lieutenant nodded toward Kiersaji.
He was still lost in mind domination, chuckling vacantly.
Adeshan glanced back through the glass and spoke.
"Dispose of him."
Her voice was chillingly matter-of-fact.
Not a shred of pity showed in her ashen eyes.
The lieutenant nodded and drew her sword.
"Yes, ma'am."
"Thanks. He cooperated so well, no need to send him to Rodolan."
She had originally planned prolonged torment, but changed her mind midway.
He provided such high-quality info, and thanks to it, her husband gained the kids' respect.
She, who loved her family more than anything, decided to show her own mercy.
"Why don't people understand the value of peace?"
Adeshan muttered to herself.
Even with Nebula Klazie gone, the military remained.
Somewhere on this vast star, wars raged and memorials were raised.
She draped her coat over her shoulders and walked away.
From behind, Kiersaji's voice echoed.
"W-wait... where is this...? Gahk!"
He'd barely regained his senses, but no chance for last words was given.
The sound of a swinging blade was followed by silence.
Adeshan checked her clothes for blood the whole way out of the headquarters.
Honestly, when Lanse said he wanted to follow Ronan instead of her, she had felt a bit relieved.
****
Imperial Phileon Academy.
Martial Arts Department classroom in Gallerion Hall.
"Whoa..."
"Lanse's dad is the best..."
The students' eyes sparkled.
Their gazes were fixed on the video hovering at the front of the classroom.
The footage showed Ronan, Asel, and Orse battling an undead legion.
【Disappear! You worm-like bastards!】
The video's climax began with Orse unleashing his breath.
The ground crumbling under Asel's telekinesis, the undead horde burning in the dragon's fire—it was enough to ignite the hearts of the boys and girls.
"He was even close with that dragon Orse?!"
"And that's Grand Mage Asel floating beside him. I heard he's a childhood friend, but they're still hanging out."
The students marveled not just at Ronan's skills, but his connections too.
As the hero who saved the world, even his friends were figures straight out of history books.
Lanse, watching the video with them, suddenly dry-heaved.
"Urp."
"You okay, Lanse?"
"I'm fine. Just a stomachache."
Lanse wiped his mouth.
He'd nearly hurled for real.
Truth was, the footage he used for the presentation was a cleverly edited version.
Possible only because he had Sechika's first-person footage.
'The original? Absolutely not. No way in hell.'
Lanse swallowed hard.
This incident made him truly respect Ronan, but that was separate.
The moment even 30 seconds of the raw footage played, every student here would be puking or screaming and bolting out.
"Dad... I respect you. For real."
Lanse murmured.
He could never fight covered in that much blood, even in a thousand lifetimes.
Soon, the video reached its finale.
And as expected, Ronan delivered the finishing blow.
High in the sky.
Ronan descended from Orse's back toward the ground.
Shwaaaaa!!
The students went wild at the crimson crescent moon slashing through the battlefield's center.
"Kyaaaa! So cool!"
"Last time I saw him, he was watering flower pots in his underwear... Is this really the same guy?"
"Fuck yeah, that's it! That's what a hero looks like!"
"The one who just cursed, step forward. Yeah, you, Sen Sen."
Applause and cheers erupted from all sides.
Willumph, who had begged to film Ronan's workplace, was spinning headspins on his desk.
Even if the Emperor declared continental unification, it wouldn't get this reaction.
Lanse forced an awkward smile as he gave his closing remarks.
"Thank you for watching. Doing this project taught me a lot. Honestly, until three days ago, I had no idea what my dad did for work. More honestly, I thought he didn't have a proper job. But I wasn't complaining. After winning the mounted duel tournament and getting a lifetime stipend for playing around, saving the world earns you some playtime, right?"
Laughter burst out here and there.
Lanse's expression turned serious as he continued.
"But that wasn't it. My dad's job is hunting down the shadows that still linger in this world. He hid it from me because he was afraid I'd get hurt. Hero Ronan is still a hero. He just swings his sword where no one can see, unlike before."
Lanse trailed off.
He'd gagged from the gore, but he genuinely respected his father.
This world was structured so someone had to get blood on their hands inevitably.
And because people like his father got far more blood on theirs, peace could endure.
That was Lanse's takeaway from the project.
His lips, silent for a moment, parted again.
"...I'm prouder of that dad than anyone. That concludes my presentation."
"Wooooaaah!!!"
Cheers poured out once more.
The roaring applause echoed through Gallerion Hall.
The professor who assigned the project clapped with a very satisfied smile.
"I mean it."
Lanse, standing still, murmured just loud enough for himself to hear.
****
"I'm home."
Lanse returned around sunset.
Though Phileon used dorms, going home was allowed Friday evenings and weekends.
Sunset filtered through the windows, dyeing the living room red.
"No one's here?"
Lanse tilted his head.
Normally, Erin would be bouncing out with her usual cheer to greet him.
Weird.
Everyone should be home by now?
The moment he loosened his tie and entered the master bedroom—
"Welcome home, son."
"...Huh?"
Lanse froze.
Every hair on his body stood on end.
Turning slowly, there stood Adeshan, beaming sweetly.
Still in uniform, she must've just gotten home.
"M-Mom? You're home early today...?"
"It worked out that way. It's a happy day, so we should all go out to eat as a family."
"...Happy day?"
"Yeah. I heard from Instructor Naviroje. You nailed the presentation. I'm so happy that you and your dad understand each other better now."
Adeshan clapped her hands with a smile.
It was her usual warm smile, but something felt off today.
As Lanse breathed raggedly, a familiar voice rang out.
"O... O-oppaaa..."
"E-Erin?!"
Lanse whipped his head around.
Tension had made him miss her.
In one corner of the massive bed lay his sister in pajamas, face-down.
She continued in a voice like she might pass out any second.
"R-run... awaaay..."
"You...!"
Lanse's eyes widened.
An ice pack wrapped in cloth rested on Erin's butt.
Tears streamed endlessly from her moist eyes.
"M-my butt... I can't feel it..."
Erin sniffled.
Only one reason came to mind.
Suddenly, Lanse's tailbone throbbed in warning.
"Eek!"
"Mom didn't want to do this. But you broke the one and only rule. What was it, Lanse?"
"I-I absolutely... won't do anything dangerous. Especially not anything life-threatening."
"Right. You knew that, so why?"
"M-Mom, I don't know what you're talking about... I didn't do anything...!"
As the terrified Lanse babbled incoherently—
Adeshan pulled something from her pocket.
A familiar orb engraved with a magic spell.
It glimmered, and a video appeared in the air.
- If we don't go, those people really die. You and Sechika stay here.
- I do like guys with big butts too.
- Take Erin too!
It was footage of Lanse's group, shot from above.
Judging by the dialogue, right before jumping off Orse's back.
How?
From where?
Lanse's face drained of color.
"Huuuuh?!"
"Do you know how shocked Mom was? I nearly collapsed crying in the middle of a full military review."
"M-Mom, that was, um..."
"I don't want anything else, son. There's only one rule. I don't even want to think it, but... what if. What if something happened to you... Whew. No, I won't think about it."
Adeshan steadied her quickened breath. Recalling it made her heart sink again.
She'd received the magic device while working at headquarters.
If Asel had reported even a bit later, she would've mind-dominated Principal Kratir and rushed south herself.
Suddenly, Lanse, figuring out the culprit, cried out in dismay.
"N-no way, Sita...!"
"Sharp as ever, son."
By the circumstances, only that dream bird could've been the culprit.
Mom had cast the same magic on Sita that she'd used on him before.
'No wonder it popped out of nowhere like that.'
Resentment welled up, but that wasn't important now.
Adeshan clenched and unclenched her fist, then stepped forward.
"Then... time to pay for breaking the rule. Let's get it over with and go eat."
"W-wait, Mom! I was wrong!"
"No. That's why you're getting punished. Sechika's probably getting it from Aunt Marya right now too."
"J-just once! Forgive me once! Cut my allowance, ground me, anything! Please!!"
Lanse dropped to his knees, begging for mercy.
Whether Erin was watching didn't matter.
Tears and snot streaming as he groveled—it was far from the son of a hero.
"Sorry, son. But rules must be followed. It'll be over in one go like specified, so don't worry."
"Eek! Nooooo!"
No miracle occurred.
The current Adeshan wasn't the gentle mother, but the cold enforcer of the law.
The same one who had just interrogated a vicious criminal.
As she scooped him up effortlessly, the bedroom door shut.
"GyaAAAAAHH-!!!"
A bloodcurdling scream, unheard even in the interrogation room, echoed through the mansion.
In the garden, Ronan chuckled while watering with a hose.
He had been watching Lanse's presentation footage, filmed by Naviroje, with Sita.
"Yeah. I'm proud of you too, son."
"Oink!"