Chapter 96
Chapter 96
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 96
Chapter Title: Choco's Grudge and Family Reunion
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96
10
"Take it well."
I tossed the fluffy ball slowly.
The ball traced a gentle arc and fell straight toward Choco.
Choco had already raised its front paw to head height, waiting.
It tried to catch the falling ball at the perfect timing...
But it missed.
Choco's paw grasped at empty air, and the ball bounced right off its head with a thunk.
"......"
Choco wrapped its paws around its head with a dejected expression.
It was a soft ball, so it shouldn't hurt.
Guess its pride took a hit.
"I'll throw it so you can catch it this time."
It was so cute I couldn't help but laugh.
That must've rubbed it the wrong way, because Choco rolled its eyes and turned away.
It showed me its back and didn't budge.
"Choco?"
Correction: it wasn't responding at all.
It must've had high expectations since it was rare for me to get out of bed and play.
They say high expectations lead to big disappointments.
It seemed even more sulky than usual, so I pressed its shoulders with my fingertips.
Choco stayed perfectly still, like a doll.
"Sorry for teasing you, Choco."
No reaction even to my apology.
It had completely turned its ears away from me.
It was seriously pissed.
Hmm, no choice then.
Time for a little cheat code here.
"I'll buy you ice cream later."
At the magic words, Choco's ears perked up, and it glanced back at me.
From the way it rolled its eyes, it wasn't fully over it yet.
Still, ice cream should melt that grudge away.
"Come here."
Pretending to be reluctant, Choco hopped onto my shoulder.
I sat on the nearest bench and stared blankly at the blue sky.
Choco was clearly a raccoon, but it felt oddly like childcare.
Childcare involving ball games in a wide-open garden on a late weekday morning? Count me in.
Of course, this was the peaceful life I'd always dreamed of.
"As expected of a ducal house..."
Even the garden was ridiculously huge.
A stroll would take the whole day.
I could roll around all day and never get bored.
Right, I was at the Hilfenberg Ducal House right now.
Esterro Academy had resumed classes, but I was officially on medical leave for recovery.
I'd been seriously injured, and with Lucius's offer, I was recuperating here.
On top of that, Precursors could pop up anytime, anywhere, so it was safer to rest at the Hilfenberg Ducal House with its tighter security.
There might be some Precursors' lackeys hiding somewhere in this mansion...
But at worst, they'd be underlings. Any reckless move would get them spotted by the sharp-eyed Lucius and dealt with first.
It was nearly impossible for insiders to touch me, and no one would attack the Hilfenberg Ducal House itself from outside.
So yeah, it was safe.
Lucius hadn't said it outright, but this was probably for the territory's sake too.
If I stayed in a regular hospital room, Precursors might barge in anytime.
The biggest victims wouldn't be me, but Riverflow's citizens, so this was the best choice.
He didn't seem like a duke at first glance, but Lucius was undeniably one.
Moments like this showed he was a wise leader.
-Yaaawn... You seem to have recovered quite well...
The magic sword yawned lazily and whispered.
Of course. I wasn't lifting a finger and getting VIP treatment, so naturally I felt better.
I was starting to think I could discharge soon.
-I thought at least one organ might've failed.
...Hey, don't casually say scary shit like that.
-The power you used against Helgaru was no joke. Don't use it for a while. Abuse it, and you might drop dead anytime.
Dropping dead after exploding? Great.
What exactly shouldn't I use?
The sky-dyeing thing? Or the mana burst?
-Both.
"What a shame..."
There was a time limit, but I could've used the magic sword during the day and boosted firepower with mana bursts.
Oh well, better than keeling over.
I could use the abilities absorbed from Helgaru instead?
He was a flame-wielding demon, so maybe the magic sword could shoot flames.
Black flames to match its signature black mana. That'd look pretty cool.
-I know what you're thinking, but give it up. Helgaru's hellfire was a bloodline trait. All he built was raw strength. Your total power capacity increased a bit, that's it.
Tch, too bad.
I wanted a cheat ability to solve everything without effort.
Guess I'd settle for Leon unsealing the holy sword's second form this time.
"Oppa..."
Suddenly, I heard Erica's voice.
Hallucinations? My condition must still be iffy.
Better head to my room for a nap.
"Oppa!"
Huh?
Not a hallucination?
As I turned, Erica slammed into my leg with a body tackle.
More precisely, she ran up and hugged my leg, burying her face in it.
I could feel her against my leg.
No illusion, no auditory hallucination.
Real Erica was right there.
"Erica...? How did you...?"
"I couldn't just sit still with my worrywart brother causing trouble."
It wasn't just her familiar voice.
I turned to see Bellisa and Johan walking side by side.
They wore simple dresses and formal attire, but in the Hilfenberg Ducal House, it felt out of place.
"Mother, Father... have you been well?"
"Of course not. It's only been days since classes started, and the Duke of Hilfenberg personally sent a letter."
Bellisa smiled brightly.
But her eyes weren't smiling.
Her green eyes held a loving glow, yet beneath it, a fury laced with ghostly resentment poked at my shoulders.
Ah, dangerous.
More dangerous than Helgaru.
"...I'm sorry."
It was my fault for making them worry.
No excuses, so I bowed my head.
Bellisa let out a soft sigh and hugged me and Erica warmly.
"Are your injuries okay?"
"Thanks to your concern, yes."
"You sure can talk."
Her hand gently patted my back, bringing back old memories.
My real mom would scold me harshly but pat my back when things calmed.
"But if anything like this happens again, you won't set one foot out of the mansion, got it?"
Of course, she never said stuff like that.
It was just a warning... but her voice brimmed with unyielding sincerity.
"Ahaha, haha, yes, of course. I understand."
I laughed it off for now...
But these past few days at the ducal house made me realize pension life at the count's place might not be so bad...?
11
"......"
"......"
In the Hilfenberg Ducal House's drawing room.
Silence hung in the space Lucius had graciously provided.
It had been 30 minutes already.
Johan and I, alone, had stared at our teacups without a word for 30 minutes.
This was its own hell.
The awkward silence was pure torture.
"...I'm sorry for worrying you."
I finally broke the ice.
But Johan just twitched an eyebrow.
At least there was a reaction?
"...I'll make sure nothing like this happens again."
"Is that true?"
I hesitated, unsure how to respond.
I couldn't promise definitively.
It was impossible to say nothing like this would ever happen again.
Life would bring more injuries.
Breaking promises each time would hurt Johan, Bellisa, and Erica beyond measure.
Of course, I wasn't getting hurt on purpose.
With so much unavoidable stuff, I struggled to reply.
"Theo Agrit."
Johan's grave voice came with his black eyes staring straight at me.
"Yes, Father."
"Your mother lost sleep for days after the letter. So did I. You're an adult now, so we can't meddle every time, but if it's dangerous, step away."
His blunt tone hid genuine worry.
That's why it was so hard to answer.
After some thought, I slowly spoke.
"Honestly, I don't want to do it either. But the situation demanded it. If I didn't step up, someone would've gotten hurt... no, killed. I couldn't just stand by."
"It didn't have to be you."
"I wish, but this time, it had to be me."
I met Johan's gaze.
His bottomless black eyes pierced me.
I'd love to hand everything off to Leon.
But if even he couldn't handle it, especially if it involved me directly, I'd have to deal with it, like it or not.
"I..."
Johan looked away first.
Worry mixed into his black eyes as he stared at his teacup.
"I'm worried my only son will get hurt."
"I can't promise I won't get hurt at all. But I'll avoid worrying you as much as possible. And me? I'm pretty strong."
Magic sword user, once-in-a-millennium dimensional magic aptitude, and rune user too.
In most games, it'd be overpowered.
"Hoo... No bending your stubbornness, huh."
"It's non-negotiable."
"Fine. You've never backed down from a decision since you were little. As your father, I'll trust you. Come back anytime if it's tough."
"Understood."
I nodded, and the words came naturally.
Not for show—sincere.
My worrying little sister and parents, the things that vanished from my life after that day, flashed before me.
I wasn't trying to replace my lost past.
I wasn't even originally Theo Agrit.
But I'd taken on even the responsibilities Theo was meant to bear.
If I was living as Theo, could I make the Agrit family my home?
Just that much.
"If you're dragged back injured, it'll be just like your mother said."
Johan smiled at me for the first time.
The content was so brutal, though... I couldn't smile back.
12
"It's been a while..."
The Esterro Academy main gate after two weeks looked exactly as I remembered.
The academy staff had restored it near-perfectly in that short time. Impressive.
Choco and I passed through the gate.
Walking the neatly maintained path back to the dorm felt bittersweet.
During term, I'd only wait for weekends, but after two weeks off, I missed it.
Back in college, I'd think that during factory part-time shifts in breaks.
Half-jokingly, I'd say five straight first-period classes without free slots were better.
Guess that's how adapted I'd become to Esterro Academy.
Of course, grad student recruitment and all the unhinged incidents? Pass on adapting to those.
"Anyway, time to take it easy for a bit..."
Leon had unsealed the holy sword's second form, and Ethan and Noel were with him.
If I asked, Lewis and Kyriakos would help too, so anything not needing me would be handled by Leon.
For a while, peaceful academy life...
Maybe check out Tartarus Hall's easter egg.
It'd nagged at me even during rest.
-Do you know the saying about inviting trouble?
Shut up.
This isn't trouble.
Easter eggs are just fun to investigate, not self-inflicted suffering.
-Tsk tsk. Are you cursed to stay busy to the bone?
It hit too close, so I ignored it and hurried to the dorm.