Chapter 464
Chapter 464
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 464
Chapter Title: 2-134. A Story for You
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I met Sechika several hours after hearing the baby's cry.
Adeshan and I stood by her bed, dressed in ridiculous sterile suits.
"You did well, Sechika."
"Father-in-law. You came?"
Sechika greeted me as she propped herself up. I'd told her to just lie there, but she was as stubborn as ever.
Asel and Marya had planned to come too, but they'd both collapsed from exhaustion the moment the tension broke, so we arrived first.
"Ugh. I'm still not used to that title. Father-in-law..."
"Ahaha, you need to get used to it soon. Calling you uncle forever would be weird."
"True... How's your body holding up? Looks like you went through hell."
I asked worriedly. Sechika's face had changed completely overnight.
The red hair she'd inherited from Asel was a tangled mess like wild bushes.
She shook her head firmly.
"It was tough giving birth, but I'm fine now. Lanse suffered more."
"It was nothing."
"Nothing? You screamed when I grabbed your hair."
"I didn't scream. You must've misheard."
Lanse emphasized that he was fine. Pure bravado, of course. He looked like a war POW barely released after capture by the Cat Coalition—not the Cat Thieves.
His patchy bald spots were no different from alopecia. Sechika's handprints were still vivid on his wrists and face. Must've hurt like hell. She'd inherited Asel's magical talent and Marya's brute strength in full.
"Son."
"Yes?"
"You got wrecked. I'm proud of you."
I chuckled and patted Lanse's shoulder. A reward for his fine husband duties. He'd stepped out once midway, but he'd stuck by Sechika to the end.
"...Thank you."
Lanse turned away and rubbed his eyes with his sleeve. Emotions overflowing.
Adeshan hugged him too.
Lanse spoke haltingly.
"The doctor said it was the worst labor in hospital history."
"Looked like it. Head turned backward or something?"
"Yeah, that and a bunch of other issues. The mother was in critical danger... If things hadn't improved at the last minute... I don't even want to imagine."
"Damn, it's a miracle nothing went wrong."
I sighed in relief. Far more dangerous than I'd thought. The baby seemed determined not to come out.
Her condition improved rapidly about twenty minutes before birth ended.
Right when I'd muttered my vow to protect her no matter what.
'Weird coincidence.'
Just chance, but it felt good.
Suddenly, I remembered something. I handed Lanse the manuscript I'd been holding.
"Here, take this."
"Huh? What's this?"
"A fairy tale I wrote. Not fully polished, but readable. Hold onto it and give it to your kid when they can read. No copies yet, so handle with care."
"Dad wrote a book?"
Lanse gaped. His wide eyes were downright rude.
Like an explorer spotting a fire-wielding monkey.
"What, I can't write books? Gotta swing a sword till I shit on the wall?"
"N-no, just unexpected. Thanks, Dad."
"I wrote it for fun—no need to thank me. Told you, it's for the grandkid, not you."
"I'll deliver it for sure. Time to see the little one's face."
"Right. Forgot the important part."
Completely slipped my mind. I turned to Sechika.
A swaddled newborn lay peacefully beside her. My grandchild.
Adeshan was already clasping her hands, beside herself.
Sechika said,
"Look, Father-in-law. She's so, so beautiful..."
"She looks more like you than me. Especially the eyes."
"Hm. Really?"
I approached the bed slowly. The grandkid was a total newborn, eyes barely open.
Worried she'd wrecked her mom too much, but no horns or tail—thank goodness. Staring at her, I chuckled softly.
"Like me? She's a sweet potato."
"Dear."
Adeshan poked my side. I laughed and picked up the baby. Light as a feather. Her fontanelle hair was perfect black like mine and Lanse's. Sharp features for a newborn—wouldn't get teased as ugly.
"Boy, huh? Slanted upward eyes... thick lashes... total Grand General material."
"It's a girl."
"Knew it. That's why she's pretty. Heard girls with upturned eyes like hers are popular these days. Cat-eyed beauties? Haha."
I hurriedly backpedaled.
The granddaughter made displeased grunts, eyes closed.
I cleared my throat and changed topics.
"Ahem. Name decided?"
"Not yet. You name her."
"Me? For real?"
"Yes. We agreed on it. Lanse kept saying he wanted you to name her. He admires you so much."
"S-Sechika...!"
Lanse flushed in embarrassment. Surprising. The brat who'd rebelled daily respected me that much. Felt good, so I accepted gladly.
"Alright. Got one."
"Make it pretty."
"Don't worry. Who else for names? Wait a sec."
Thinking began. I'd boasted, but naming was tough.
Kain for fatherly respect? Or dragon-style five letters?
Candidates flashed by.
A light vibration from my coat pocket.
"What?"
Odd. Sarante's gift longcoat hadn't been worn since the adventure. Maybe something got mixed in during laundry.
I reached in casually. Pulled out a beaded orb on a thin chain. Inside the crystal: a compass-like needle.
Familiar item.
I forgot to breathe for a moment.
"This...!"
Mana Tracker from the third parallel world.
Hadn't activated since returning. Vibration meant one thing: imprinted target's mana detected, or within three meters.
The needle pointed to the grandchild in my arms.
Last imprint in that world was...
Definitely.
"...Akasha."
"Akasha?"
Sechika and Lanse tilted heads. Adeshan pursed her lips.
The couple's faces lit up.
"Sounds good. Meaning? Heard your late grandma was Kasha—related?"
"Pretty name, Father-in-law. Akasha de Baltua. Rolls off the tongue."
I was speechless. Needle fixed on granddaughter. She smacked her lips and opened her eyes.
"Aww."
"Already? So soon?"
"Sh-she opened her eyes?"
Adeshan marveled. So did the couple. Impressively fast—babies usually take a day to three.
Her irises sparkled sunset-orange like mine.
Lanse raised a brow.
"Oho, likes the name."
"So pretty... Eyes just like yours, Lanse."
"More like Dad's. Mine aren't that sharp."
"Oh, you're right. Exactly like Father-in-law's. Hereditary skip."
Sechika clapped in delight. I gazed at my granddaughter.
True. Similarity shone through despite soft lines. Liked my father Kain too. Others chattered excitedly.
"Good. From today, you're Akasha. Stay healthy, Akasha."
"Akasha. Say mama. Mama!"
"Come on. Newborn can't talk."
"Eyes open—why not? Kyaa! Too cute!"
"I'm your grandma, Akasha... Ahaha, grandma makes me feel old suddenly."
Adeshan laughed, slapping my arm. Granddaughter's name: Akasha.
While I stood stunned...
Akasha reached for me with chubby arms.
"Waa."
"Oh my, look at her."
Sechika and Adeshan fawned. Her hand was unbelievably tiny. Wriggling fingers grasping at air.
Entranced, I offered my index finger. She gripped it instantly. Small, warm hand clutching my scarred finger.
"...!"
Indescribable thrill. Like a thousand lightning bolts. In that grasp, I knew: this child was the same Akasha I'd opposed across parallel worlds.
I held the calamity destined for the future.
"...Heh."
Hollow laugh escaped.
I don't know.
How this sweet potato grows to a 3-meter monster.
Why she tours parallel worlds, crafting time-reversal orbs.
Why she destroys the future world after opening the story's start.
Nothing clear now.
But.
"Yes, Akasha."
"Au?"
"This body's your grandpa."
I'll protect her. No matter how the future twists.
Like Schlieffen said, vows must be kept.
Akasha stared, then burst laughing.
"Kyahaha."
"Nice to meet you. Welcome."
Warmth spread finger to finger. I carried her to the window. Drew curtains—sunlight poured in. Cloudless sky over the radiant capital.
"F-Father-in-law?!"
Sechika panicked. Lanse and Adeshan too. Ignoring them, I lifted Akasha high. World reflected in her fresh eyes. Mine too.
Gazing beyond blue sky, I finished.
"This world is filled with stories for you."
The sunset blazed across the sky.
『■■■...』
Akasha sat atop a gentle hill. Cool evening breeze whipped her hair. A massive oak served as backrest.
He slowly looked up. Countless shooting stars streaked the darkening sky.
Souls freed from the giants' origin's destruction. Likely visible to all on this planet.
No giants left in any world now.
Akasha stared blankly, then removed his mask.
"Ahh, stuffy!"
Mask off, the eerie voice turned soft soprano.
A beautiful girl's face emerged. High nose, sharp eyes burning sunset-orange.
Glancing skyward again, Akasha grinned.
"Mission complete."
Long and grueling, but somehow done.
Suddenly, sparks crackled from the mask.
"Eek?!"
Akasha flinched. Before reaction, smoke billowed. Hastily redonned—voice modulation and display failed.
"Uwaa, what now? Uncle Didikan just fixed it...!"
She tossed the mask, clutching her head.
Not enough to lose special outer shell in battle—now ruined the capital-building-worth mask. Imagined white-haired werewolf clutching neck, collapsing. As Akasha flailed...
"Who're you?"
"Gah...!"
Akasha whipped around. Black-haired man climbing hill from Nimbuton side. Sharp-eyed, in tattered Imperial uniform.
"That's my spot."
"Ah, sorry. Leaving now."
"Kidding. Stay."
Man said. Approached boldly, flopped down. Pipe in mouth. Stranger, yet zero distance.
Akasha nodded dazedly.
"Uh... okay."
"Name's Ronan. Yours?"
"Akasha."
"Akasha. Cool name, whoever picked it."
"Th-thanks."
Ronan lit his pipe. White smoke soon billowed.
As introduced, he was Ronan—from the parallel world where Adeshan got the regression orb.
Now living in Nimbuton with sis. Possible because Akasha offed the three giants early.
Staring at her, Ronan spoke.
"Looks like you had it rough."
"Huh?"
"Wearing a sackcloth rag. Got time? Village below—my sis sews like a pro."
He pointed at her robe. Definitely wrecked.
Traces of bloody fight with original-world Ronan. Later stages needed some sincerity as her skill grew.
"Ahaha."
Akasha giggled at Ronan.
Despite nonchalant tone, eyes dripped worry. Follow him home? New clothes plus hearty potato stew from angel-like Aunt-Grandma Iril.
Ronan shrugged.
"Nervous? I can just bring clothes... Huh? Why laugh?"
"No reason. Just... same in every world."
"Eh?"
Before Ronan replied, crouched Akasha kissed his cheek.
Ronan jolted like struck by lightning, scrambling up.
"What the hell, suddenly..."
"Thanks for worrying."
Akasha smiled with eyes. She waved hand—massive rift yawned open. Ronan froze.
"You...!"
"See you again. Grandpa."
Akasha hopped into rift.
Before Ronan spoke, rift closed—scene normal.
Stunned Ronan touched kissed spot.
"...Grandpa?"
The sunset blazed across the sky.