Contract Relationship (3)
Truth be told, I had been agonizing over it. If I went to the Imperial Capital, I'd be away from home for at least three days—could I really leave Beatrice alone? I had made some preparations to ensure her safety even in my absence, in case of any intruders, but those were just stopgaps at best.
No matter how meticulously I'd woven magical wards and barriers around the mansion, what if a powerhouse of the 7th Hierarchy or higher came charging in with real intent? I'd learned some magic and could use it practically enough, but at my core, I was a swordsman. I wasn't some grand archmage like Cheon of the Seven Strongest, who had ascended to the 8th Hierarchy.
Frankly, anyone at the entry level of the 7th Hierarchy could tear through my barriers without much trouble. It might be fine for casual outings around Handel to shop at the market, but heading all the way to the capital? I couldn't help but worry.
"Hm……."
Beatrice stood there, shouldering a bulging backpack so stuffed it looked ready to burst. I shot a glance at her—she was tense, watching my every move despite my feigned nonchalance—and pondered for a moment.
Should I take her or not?
‘It might be okay.’
Surprisingly, the decision came quickly. Ultimately, I just didn't have the confidence to leave her alone for three whole days.
The Black Lotus Society had been eerily quiet for the past ten days, which nagged at me. Knowing the Dark King's personality, it wouldn't have been strange if he'd sent more underlings by now. Who knew? They might be biding their time, waiting for me to let my guard down and step away.
Instead of exposing Beatrice to that risk, it was better to bring her to the capital. Those empire-overthrowing fanatics wouldn't dare rampage there, after all. And if something did go wrong, the Imperial Knights would swarm the scene within ten minutes.
The decision was made. I turned to Beatrice, who was still holding her head stiffly high to meet my gaze.
"Let me ask first, Beatrice. You could stay home obediently for three days, so what's this reason you insist on following me?"
"O-Of course."
Did she even realize she was throwing a tantrum? Beatrice was even more frozen than I'd expected. Still, she didn't avert her eyes from mine and boldly laid out her thoughts.
"Three days isn't that long, but I've never been left alone for so long before. What if the Black Lotus Society takes advantage of that?"
"Hmm."
Her first argument was the very concern that had prompted my decision. Unexpectedly logical.
I nodded lightly and gestured for her to continue. Beatrice cautiously placed a hand over her chest and pressed on.
"It's true that thanks to you, Dad, I'm growing stronger at an incredible pace. But I'm still only around the 2nd Hierarchy at best…… With this level of power, I couldn't even handle one of that man's underlings from back then, let alone the man himself. Right?"
"Well, yeah."
She wasn't wrong. Beatrice had remarkable talent, but she still had a long way to go. If her blood powers had awakened, she might scoff at the hierarchy gap…… but that time hadn't come yet.
She was unmistakably weak. Forget that 6th Hierarchy guy—even a random adult man at the 3rd Hierarchy would have her begging for mercy.
Not that a fifteen-year-old girl could be all that strong at this point anyway.
"You're trying to protect me, after all. So when you go on a trip like this, shouldn't you naturally take me with you?"
"……."
"I don't get why you'd risk it. I'm not a little kid anymore, and whatever you do in the capital, I won't get in the way……."
Beatrice looked a touch anxious. She seemed genuinely worried about some freak accident happening while I was gone.
There was nothing wrong with her words, and since I'd already decided to bring her, I was about to brush it off casually—
"A-And……."
Beatrice mumbled softly, her face faintly flushing as she avoided my gaze.
"W-We’ve been together every day until now, and thinking about being apart for three days…… it makes me lonely…… Can't you just let me come with you?"
"……."
That one line was the finishing blow.
I reflexively swallowed hard and closed my half-open mouth.
Of course, I'd planned to take her anyway…….
‘……What kind of adorable creature is this?’
That expression and those words were downright hazardous to my heart. It was cheating, plain and simple.
*****
"Imperial Capital Dersia. One adult, one child."
In the end, at Handel's railway station, I bought tickets for both my share and Beatrice's.
Beatrice was clearly thrilled about her first trip outside the city, no matter how she tried to play it cool.
"Pull it down lower."
"……Eek."
I followed right behind her quick steps onto the train and tugged her hat down as deep as it would go. Beatrice grabbed the wide brim of her fedora with both hands and shot me a grumpy glare.
"This is enough already, really. How messed up do you want to make my bangs?"
"You don't seem too worried about the Black Lotus Society's eyes on you."
I clicked my tongue and met her gaze. She'd followed me here fretting about them, yet she resisted hiding her appearance fiercely.
I was already stressing over what to do with that distinctive deep blue hair of hers.
"It's fine, it's fine."
Once she'd come along, Beatrice acted utterly shameless, like there was nothing left to hesitate about.
"Even if the Black Lotus Society comes at us, you'll block them all, right, Dad? Tell them to bring it on if they've got the guts to face one of the continent's Seven Strongest, the Sword Ghost Kyle…… Mmph, mmf!"
"Don't go blabbing your father's title anywhere…… It'll pinpoint our location, and that's no good."
Oblivious to my senses spread wide, wary of any tails, Beatrice chattered on carefree. I almost missed that Black Lotus graduate who'd died by my hand ten days ago—if only he hadn't uttered my epithet before kicking the bucket.
I wondered if she even grasped how many enemies the name Sword Ghost had racked up. Well, she probably didn't, which was why she could prattle so innocently.
In a mix of exasperation and punishment, I clamped a thick hand over her mouth.
But—
Lick—
"……!?"
The sudden soft, sticky warmth on my palm made me yank my hand away in shock. Beatrice tilted her head playfully, giving me a mischievous look.
"Hee."
She even stuck out her bright red tongue tauntingly.
This girl, really.
I furrowed my brows and glared, but it was pointless. Far from shrinking back, she shrugged with leisure, shoulders rising smugly.
My daughter was growing more brazen by the day.
"Sigh."
Resigned, I let out a breath to cool my irritation and pulled out a handkerchief to wipe my palm. Beatrice puffed her cheeks slightly, displeased with the gesture.
"Come on, in we go. Departure's soon."
"Yesss, yesss."
I nudged her back into the cabin, and to her credit, she sat obediently in her seat.
I settled her by the window, took the seat beside her, and laid my sheathed sword from my belt across my knees.
The train from Handel to the capital took about seven hours. Unlikely as it was, I couldn't rule out an attack inside the train.
Alone, I'd have trusted my sharp senses and napped with my back against the seat. But traveling with Beatrice changed that.
"……It's a long ride to the capital, so don't get cocky—just get some proper sleep. Staring at the scenery for hours will bore you anyway."
Even before the train departed, Beatrice was plastered to the window, eyes sparkling. I glanced at her and spoke, but she showed no sign of listening.
"When we went from Edenberg to Handel, I was too tense to really look around. Don't worry about me—sleep if you're tired, Dad. I'll wake you when we arrive."
"Heh, right."
Who was waking whom? I let out a baffled chuckle but didn't press further.
Seven hours trapped in a rattling iron box would wear anyone down eventually, willing or not.
I grabbed a newspaper from the seat pocket in front, unfolded it, and leaned back comfortably.
Woooosh—!
With the hiss of the steam engine firing up, the train lurched forward along the tracks.
*****
"We're here. Time to wake up."
"……Eh, ah?"
Seven hours flew by. Having long adapted to this world, long-haul train trips no longer fazed me.
A quick scan of the newspaper, flip through a magazine, snag some boiled eggs or coffee from a passing attendant, and suddenly you're there.
Of course, that was just for me.
"W-What? We're already here……?"
Beatrice had dozed off with her forehead against the window midway, then slumped back to use my shoulder as a pillow. For her, the trip must have felt shockingly brief.
She shook off her sleepiness and whipped her head around, stunned. This train's terminus was Imperial Capital Dersia, so the other passengers were gathering their luggage and filing out.
"N-No way. Did I really sleep?"
Beatrice pouted in disbelief, but reality waited for no one. I fetched our bags from the overhead rack and handed her backpack.
"Up you get. Shake it off and shoulder it."
"……Urgh."
Regret or not, there was no helping it. The train had arrived; we had to disembark.
Lip jutting, Beatrice slung on her pack without much fuss and followed me out of the cabin.
We stepped into the imperial railway station—grand beyond comparison to Handel's.
The architecture differed, but the massive platform rivaled the major stations from my past life. Beatrice's eyes went wide as saucers, staring up at the overwhelming sight in awe for a good while.
"Hm."
I felt a familiar nostalgia stepping onto the capital's soil after so long, a faint smile tugging at my lips.
As a mercenary wandering the continent, this had been my main haunt—a second hometown of sorts.
I took Beatrice's hand—she was still gaping blankly—and started walking.
"Stick close from here on. The capital's a madhouse. A kid like you could get lost in a blink."
"W-Who're you calling a kid who gets lost……."
Beatrice bristled at being called a kid again, but her body betrayed her. Intimidated by the capital's grandeur, she gripped my hand tight and scurried along.
Her honest reaction drew a small laugh from me as I faced forward.
"Alright, let's go. Time to fetch those precious medicines to ease your suffering."
Our destination: the Netina Alchemical Workshop, at the edge of Imperial Capital Dersia's commercial district.