Ending Maker Chapter 14
Ending Maker Chapter 14
Chapter 3 - Count Chase Household #3
Mornings at the Count Bayel household were ordinarily quiet.
But today was different.
Led by Baron, the head butler who had served the Count Bayel Household for many years, every servant in the household had been bustling since early morning.
Word had arrived that Count Bayel, who had been away on an expedition for over two months, would be arriving three days earlier than scheduled.
The expedition to thin out the monsters around Baylun ahead of winter might have been an annual event, but this was the return of the head of the house.
They could not afford to be careless with the preparations for the welcoming banquet.
Yuder, who had been sitting in a sunny spot watching the servants hurry back and forth, turned to his side and asked.
"But why are you here?"
"Right?"
Cordelia, who was sitting beside Yuder all dressed up, answered in a slightly dazed voice.
In truth, both of them knew the reason Cordelia was here right now.
"Father is as great as ever today."
"He is great."
Count Chase.
It was because he, a comrade-in-arms who had shared life and death with Count Bayel on multiple occasions, had shown up bringing Cordelia with him.
'So she's here to greet her future father-in-law.'
It was the sort of phrase that would make Cordelia throw a fit if he said it aloud—and probably give Yuder hives too—so he kept it to himself and looked toward the wide-open main gate awaiting Count Bayel's return.
"But hey."
"Yeah."
"Aren't we being a little too peaceful?"
It had been about a month since they had awakened the memories of their 'previous lives.'
At Cordelia's words, Yuder turned his head, then let out a snort.
"Child, enjoy the present. You know the main scenario hasn't even started yet, right? Once we leave home, it's hardship. Hardship, I tell you."
"Hmph, I know that too, okay?"
"And someone who knows that is saying this?"
When Yuder clicked his tongue, Cordelia wanted to argue back, but since she had nothing in particular to say, she just pouted her lips.
As Yuder said, once the main scenario began, the gates of hardship would swing wide open.
'Because the attack by the Devil's Hand alone is insanely hard.'
It was a brutal event in which several children of the Twelve Northern Houses were killed or kidnapped.
Even in the game, Cordelia had only three routes prepared: being kidnapped by the Devil's Hand and turned into a sacrifice, being killed on the spot, or barely escaping and struggling to survive.
Yuder's main scenario itself began with him setting out to find Cordelia after she disappeared in Baylun. If events followed the original story, Cordelia's future truly was a road through fire beyond a road of thorns.
'But I won't leave it like that.'
They would change the original story and create a new ending.
Making changes to Cordelia's main scenario could be called the start of that.
'Well, it's not because of that, though.'
When Yuder suddenly gave a small smile, Cordelia flinched and asked,
"What? What's with that sleazy look?"
"The look of Yuder worrying about the Lady Cordelia he adores?"
"Hey, that gives me goosebumps, okay? A-and, aren't you getting too used to this?"
"Used to what?"
"That."
"That what?"
"That, you know, that."
"Adores? Loves? The cute and lovely Lady Cordelia who's the apple of my eye?"
When Yuder said it with a shamelessly sly grin, Cordelia shuddered and turned red.
"Wh-what the hell is this crazy bastard talking about?"
"Father is coming."
"Huh?"
"Father is."
Cordelia understood too. She whipped her head around and saw Count Chase walking toward them from a distance.
"Lady Cordelia, you are beautiful again today."
"Oh, oh my, how embarrassing. Thank you, young master."
Around the time Cordelia responded with an awkward smile, Count Chase, who had arrived in front of the two, glanced at Yuder and then spoke with a disapproving expression.
"Tsk, still skinny as a rail."
A disapproving expression, a dissatisfied gaze, and even a click of the tongue.
But Yuder wasn't afraid in the slightest. He knew what would come next.
"It's nothing much, but eat up."
"Thank you, Father."
When Count Chase held out a small box, Yuder quickly accepted it and expressed his thanks.
He truly was a treasure of a father-in-law.
Meanwhile, Cordelia blinked blankly. She had heard about it before, but seeing it for herself still felt strange.
"Hm."
Count Chase, who may or may not have known what was going on in Yuder and Cordelia's minds, quietly gazed at the two for a moment, then turned his gaze and said.
"He's coming."
It was an abrupt statement, but Yuder and Cordelia understood immediately.
Beyond the main gate in the distance.
Count Bayel was returning.
* * *
Normally, Count Bayel would have returned in triumph leading his knight order, but today he had brought only a few subordinates and his eldest son, Gale Bayel.
It was because he had hurried his return after hearing the news about Yuder.
The servants of the Count Bayel household lined up in front of the main gate, and Yuder took his place beside Cordelia in front of the gate.
And how much time passed?
"Yuder!"
Along with a resounding call, a knight riding a red horse increased his speed and arrived in front of the gate.
It was Gale Bayel, Yuder's older brother and the one already designated as the next Count Bayel.
With blue hair and blue eyes, he leaped off his horse in one motion and looked ready to embrace Yuder at any moment, but he still did not forget his manners.
"I greet Count Chase."
"It has been a while."
The tone was stiff and stern, but Gale was even more familiar with Count Chase than Yuder was.
Gale brushed it off with a good-natured smile, then turned back to Yuder.
"You really have gotten healthier. I can tell just from your face."
There wasn't a trace of ulterior motive on Gale's face, which resembled Yuder's.
Gale Bayel.
A brother ten years older than Yuder Bayel.
As Outboxer009, Yuder recalled Gale Bayel from Hero Legend 2, but only for a moment.
Because he was Outboxer009 and at the same time Yuder Bayel.
A smile spread across Yuder's face too.
Because Gale Bayel really was a good older brother.
'Yuder Bayel' remembered countless moments Hero Legend 2 had never shown.
A real older brother.
Someone he had known throughout all seventeen years of his life as Yuder.
"You were lucky. Really lucky. No, now that I think about it, is this all thanks to Lady Cordelia? They say you went flower viewing together and discovered the Sun's Necklace."
Gale spoke cheerfully, then turned to Cordelia and gave her a picture-perfect smile with a face that resembled Yuder's, only more masculine.
"Truly, thank you, Lady Cordelia. Meeting you must be Yuder's greatest stroke of fortune. To the Count Bayel Household, you are a goddess of fortune."
"You flatter me. Ah, brother-in-law."
When Cordelia barely managed to answer, Gale smiled again. It was because her shy response was very cute.
"Truly fortune itself. You lucky bastard."
Gale even sent a wink to Yuder, then laughed heartily and stepped aside.
Because the true protagonist of today had arrived.
"Yuder."
Count Bayel.
Count Bayel, who had arrived riding a black horse, leaped down from his mount.
With a tall stature and broad shoulders not inferior to Count Chase, he was a handsome man with black hair and blue eyes.
He did not make a fuss like Gale, but Count Bayel's eyes were also full of joy.
"There is much I want to talk about. Let us go inside quickly."
"Yes, Father."
Yuder answered reflexively, but the moment he did, a strange tingling stirred near his chest.
It was because he could clearly feel the heart of Count Bayel—of his father—who worried about and cherished Yuder.
"I suppose I'm invisible."
"How could I fail to recognize a man as large as you? Thank you for coming."
Count Bayel, who laughed heartily and clapped Count Chase on the shoulder, did not forget Cordelia either.
"Gale already said it, but truly, thank you. Truly, thank you."
After all, if not for the daytime escape, they would never have discovered the Sun's Necklace.
Gale nodded as if in agreement and said.
"Father, the love between Yuder and Lady Cordelia worked a miracle."
"Hoho, this boy. Stop it. Won't Cordelia be embarrassed?"
As the father and son went back and forth, Cordelia really did look like she was dying of embarrassment.
Her face flushed bright red, and after a moment of helpless embarrassment, she finally tugged at Yuder's sleeve.
'Hey! Do something!'
'Hoho, this too shall pass.'
Yuder met Cordelia's desperate look with the serene gaze of an enlightened sage, and everyone who witnessed their little exchange smiled warmly.
"Let's stop here and go inside. Baron?"
"Yes, my lord. The banquet is prepared. We sincerely welcome your return."
When Baron, the head butler who had been standing a step back, came forward, things moved quickly.
Inside the banquet hall of the Count Bayel household.
Like the rest of the place, it had a stiff, fortress-like feel, but with all sorts of delicacies laid out on the large table, it looked quite presentable.
Count Bayel took the seat of honor, with Count Chase and Gale seated on either side of him.
Yuder and Cordelia took their seats next to Gale, and with a pretty boy and girl sitting side by side at a table full of rugged men, they stood out even more than Count Bayel in the seat of honor.
"Truly a happy day. A happy day."
Count Bayel, who had shared a drink with Count Chase, spoke with a pleased face, and everyone around nodded—but their gazes were gathered not on Count Bayel, but on Yuder and Cordelia.
'Ugh...... I can't even eat in peace.'
'Hoho, this too shall pass.'
Yuder, who once again answered Cordelia's desperate gaze with the eyes of an enlightened sage, looked at Count Bayel and said.
"Congratulations on your safe return, Father."
"Yes. There were wounded, but no dead, so this expedition was a great success. Your brother Gale also performed brilliantly."
"Haha, Father, please. You're embarrassing me in front of Lady Cordelia."
He said that, but the way the corners of his mouth rose made it obvious how pleased he was.
'Hm, Gale doesn't like Cordelia, does he?'
For one thing, according to the original, Gale had a separate woman he liked.
Around the time Yuder was being wary without being wary, Count Bayel looked at Yuder again and opened his mouth.
"Yuder, I heard from Victor. You said you want to participate in this gathering with Cordelia?"
"Yes, Father. I want to go with Lady Cordelia."
When Yuder answered decisively, warmth filled the eyes of the knights who were vassals of the Bayel house again, and Count Chase also let out a small smile with a snort.
Count Bayel nodded.
"Yes. You are a child of our Bayel house, so it is only right that you participate. But Yuder, our Bayel house is a martial house. Therefore, to leave the house, you must pass a test proving that you can protect yourself. You know that, don't you?"
"I know, Father."
The father's test quest.
When Yuder answered readily again, Count Bayel, even more pleased, rose from his seat.
"Normally we would set a date for the test, but that would delay your journey. What do you say, Yuder? Will you take the test from me here and now?"
It was a sudden proposal in the middle of a meal, but Yuder was not flustered. He was already prepared; if anything, the sooner the test was moved up, the better.
'Can you do it?'
'I can do it.'
Yuder answered Cordelia with a look, swallowed hard, and rose from his seat.
"I will take the test, Father."
The final gate before starting the main scenario.
It was an obvious statement, but Yuder knew the answer.