Chapter 495: The Results
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 495: The Results
“Who did you vote for?”
“I’ll tell you later.”
“This is an important vote. The fate of the Blood Dagger Clan hangs on it, so you must be prudent!”
“Ahem. I know.”
“None of them are lacking. It’s incredibly difficult to choose. I cast a blank ballot.”
“Hmm. I can understand that. It’s certainly a possibility. But… still…”
Election day arrived swiftly. The voting took place from early morning until just before dinner, a period that was by no means short. Of course, the festival wasn’t put on hold for the election. It was still ongoing, but the election blended in naturally, as if it were just another part of the festivities.
This was what I had wanted, and this method of voting seemed better than I’d expected.
Of course, no one was drunk off their minds.
To them, casting their vote was an incredibly honorable act, so even in the midst of a festival, they approached the election with the utmost seriousness. You could tell by the fact that not a single cask of alcohol was served yesterday, the day before the big event.
“Hmph!”
A sense of pride spread across the face of an Orc as he emerged from the polling booth after casting his vote.
‘Zoroark.’
It was Zoroark of the 5th Squad.
I never thought he was that kind of character, but the way he was acting was quite cute. I didn’t know why he needed his beloved swords to go vote, but he definitely entered the booth carrying all three of them. In fact, he wasn’t the only one. All the elite Orc swordsmen were dressed in their full battle gear.
“Zoroark.”
“Hazaku.”
“Who did you vote for?”
“It’s a secret. Ahem. I’ll tell you over drinks later.”
The pride of having cast his rightful, precious vote… He wasn’t going into battle, but seeing his muscles bulge, it was clear he was immensely proud of having voted.
It was the same for the Minotaurs and Goblins. Even the noisy Three Sisters were chattering in hushed voices, respecting the solemn atmosphere, while the Minotaurs went in and out of the polling booths with their shields.
The most amusing part was the children’s reaction. Toddlers, not even three years old yet, were gathered in a small group, each chattering about the glorious moment.
“Wh-when do we get to do it!”
“I heard you have to be over three! We need to get older, fast!”
“I heard drinking Half-Minotaur milk makes you grow tall!”
“For Bwood Dagger!”
“For Bwood Dagger!! For being three!”
“Strong body! Strong heart!”
They watched those emerging from the vote with more envy than anyone. It wasn’t just a simple feeling of wanting to be adults. They must have noticed the immense pride on the faces of those who had voted.
Since it was such an honorable act, it was natural for the children to want to participate. They would probably dream every day of the time they could stand in the polling booths like the adults.
Naturally, not a single eligible voter was missing; all were waiting to vote. They understood that refusing to exercise their right was dishonorable.
I found myself thinking of Earth for a moment, but what happens on Earth is no longer my concern. I was gazing ahead with a pleased expression when…
“Agh… my head… Ugh… It’s been a long time since I’ve had a hangover.”
“Not drinking today?”
“How could I drink on such an important day? I think I drank like a madwoman recently because I was so stressed. I feel like I spent more time out of my mind than in it. Did I do anything stupid?”
“…”
“Hayeon unni seemed to be avoiding me a little… I definitely did something… Fuck, I did it… Augh… I’ll have to ask her later.”
“You had it coming. I’d recommend not approaching her for a while.”
Jung Hayeon certainly had good reason to run and hide from Choi Seulgi.
From demanding to inspect someone’s back to her inquiries about honey, I recalled she’d been quite the drunken mess. She had relentlessly tormented Mev and Jung Hayeon. She’d particularly targeted Jung Hayeon, so if Hayeon had even the slightest memory of it, avoiding Choi Seulgi was the natural thing to do.
“Augh… Do they have anything like honey water here?”
As if she’d heard that, Jung Hayeon, who was some distance away, subtly edged even farther back. I caught the movement in my vision.
“There’s probably a hangover cure made from magical beasts. You could try that.”
“Augh… retch… Ah, okay. Ugh, I keep feeling nauseous. This isn’t morning sickness, is it?”
“…”
“Right… Fuck, no way it would happen that easily.”
“Retch… Haa… I wish it were morning sickness… I’d like to feel this way a little longer. Well, I’ll be right back.”
“Take care.”
While Choi Seulgi was off looking for a hangover cure, the voting continued without pause. Since everyone aged three and older was given the right to vote, the line was endless. I could see Mev and Jung Hayeon heading to vote as well, their faces tense with nervousness.
Jang Ye Ri and Choi Seulgi couldn’t participate as they didn’t have the right to vote, but Choi Eunju and Baek Ahyeon also voted with trembling hearts. Of course, it was the same for my children.
Contrary to my expectation that it would take longer, the voting was over in a flash. This was thanks to everyone gathering and waiting at the designated place since early in the morning. The children were waiting for the results, each with a stern expression.
Needless to say, everyone’s faces were tense.
Laveua seemed to be trembling, which was unlike her, and Ratga also looked extremely anxious.
- Now, we will begin counting the votes.
“Woooooooooah!”
“Hmm… It’s finally begun.”
“Aren’t you curious about the results?”
“O-of course I am.”
The vote counting also proceeded quickly. Under Isaac’s direction, they began sorting the ballots with magic. What was surprising was that there were more abstentions than expected. The reason wasn’t that there was no one to choose, but that it was too difficult to choose.
This was proof of just how well the children had performed.
They had also prepared quite a bit to make the vote-counting broadcast exciting. Judging that simply reading out the votes one by one would be boring, they created magical effects, which proved to be quite effective. These were people who got excited over a simple bar graph, so it was only natural they would cheer for effects like these.
“Please… please! Oh gods! Please!”
“…”
Whether they were watching the situation quietly or cheering loudly, everyone’s hearts were probably feeling the same thing.
Cheers erupted whenever an upset occurred, and groans of disappointment broke out whenever a vote for their favored candidate didn’t appear. Their reactions were so immediate that it was quite enjoyable for those of us who had prepared it.
It was because their thoughts seemed to be written all over their faces.
However, as time passed and the gap widened, as the results became clearer, more and more people began to accept the outcome and nod their heads. Regardless of who they had supported, they respected and understood the will of the clan as a whole.
Mev, who had been chanting prayers, eventually nodded her head, and Jang Ye Ri, as if she had expected it, patted the shoulder of the person standing next to her.
As with the results of any election, a winner is decided.
It was only natural that a great roar echoed from the clan members.
Even I, who had led this clan for a long time, had never heard them shout this loudly.
The sight was incredibly impressive: Green Skin mothers weeping with joy and embracing one another now that a successor had been chosen; Minotaurs drumming their shields with their hands to send a message of congratulations; Orcs raising both hands and waving them in the air.
But the winner herself did not look comfortable. Even as she received congratulations from her older sister and brother, her expression was somewhat hesitant.
Contrary to how much she had wanted the position, she looked rather anxious, as if there was something she wanted to say.
“………!”
“……!”
“...!”
I could see the children saying something. Their words were lost in the roar of the crowd, but I didn’t bother to channel magic into my ears. I could guess what they were talking about, and I didn’t think there was any need to listen.
However, I saw Lapura slowly walking out onto the platform, perhaps pushed forward by her sister and brother. It was a moment deserving of celebration. I, too, slowly began to stand before the others.
“Hooo…”
A cheer even louder than before erupted. This was what everyone had been waiting for.
“F-Father…”
“Congratulations.”
“I… I… I… well.”
This is my daughter we’re talking about.
I know what she’s trying to say, what she’s thinking right now.
Perhaps anyone else in her position would be thinking the same thing. Am I really qualified? Is this really okay? Can I do this? She would be thinking about it endlessly. Lapura, who had injured her sister, would be having similar thoughts.
She was surely wondering if she was truly suited for this, and she must be constantly replaying that final attack in her memory. She still carried the burden of having injured her sister and, for a fleeting moment, almost causing a disaster. Of course, I knew what she was trying to say.
But this was a burden she had to carry.
I didn’t answer, turning my head slightly instead. Naturally, she would see the Green Skins cheering for her.
The Goblin Three Sisters were standing on Orbo’s shield, shouting, and Orbo himself was filling the space with a voice more powerful than ever. The brothers Gark and Hark nodded silently, and countless others were celebrating the birth of the next successor in their own ways. As if his hiding from Jang Ye Ri like a ghost until now had been a lie, Lee Wanyong was at the very front, shouting louder than anyone.
“I pledge my loyalty, Lady Lapura! Hehe… My loyalty! For Lady Lapura!”
Among all those voices, I had no idea why that bastard’s sycophantic tone was the only one that reached my ears so clearly. It was enough to make me suspect he had some kind of unique ability related to it.
Watching the reactions of all the clan members, it didn’t take long for Lapura, who had been hesitating, to press her lips firmly together.
It wasn’t exactly a substitute, but large tears began to fall from her eyes, drop by drop.
“Hic… sob…”
“Congratulations.”
“Sob… F-Father… I… I…”
“…”
“Hic… sob…”
I gently stroked Lapura’s head.
It was then that a rather unexpected voice burst out.
It was what she finally managed to say after hesitating for so long.
“Hic… hic… sob…”
“You should greet them.”
“Ah… ah… hic. Father… hic.”
“Yes?”
“M-more… hic… Please pat my head more.”
“Of course.”
“Hic… sob… Hug me. Hug me tight. Hic…”
“Of course.”
“Hic…”
“K-ki… kiss… Give me a kiss, too.”
“Of course.”
Naturally,
the cheers grew even louder.
It seems the youngest of our family,
becomes a spoiled child when she grows up.