Chapter 314
Translator: crow
Chapter Title: Ten Years Later (15)
“Was your trip to Bakal, leaving your daughters behind, enjoyable...?”
Leonhardt's sculpted physique stood out with his shirt off.
Each time he exhaled roughly, it felt like a dragon's breath was billowing out.
“I heard you were grinning the whole way there...!!”
“Y-Your Majesty...!! There's no way that happened. He was frowning the entire trip!!”
With every step the situation advanced, the sturdy marble floor vibrated faintly.
Startled by the echo, Beck retreated toward the curtains.
Thanks to that, from the emperor's perspective, the boy was out of sight.
“It's been a while, so we should share some intense physical training...!”
The emperor unclenched his massive fist.
I swallowed hard at the menacing crack of his knuckles.
‘At this rate, we'll be filming an all-day chase scene again...!’
Leonhardt strode toward the office.
“Ready, aren't you!!”
Just as he reached out his enormous hand toward me.
“Hm...?”
A black-haired boy caught his eye.
Handsome, just like me...
Beck, who had mastered Sword Expert at the tender age of ten.
“You... who are you...?”
The emperor blinked his blue eyes and asked the small boy.
Beck glanced back and forth between me and the situation, then forced a bright smile.
“Grandpa—.”
The boy approached slowly, speaking in a childish voice.
The emperor froze like a malfunctioning machine at that cute yet sturdy gaze.
“Ahaha... Father-in-law, this is my son, Beck.”
Whenever Beck, who usually stayed low-key, visited the empire, he spent most of his time in Norton.
So Leonhardt, who resided in the capital, had never met him.
This made it the first time he was meeting his third grandson.
“Uh, uh... Right, you're Beck. Christina Princess's son...”
Seeing the flustered emperor, I came up with a clever ploy.
With my signature sly smile, I subtly began praising my grandson.
“Yes, he just awakened Sword Expert. I brought him straight here to report to you, Father-in-law.”
“Indeed, I can sense the flow of mana...”
Beck, who only came up to Leonhardt's waist.
He stepped lightly in front of his grandfather and looked up with sparkling fox-puppy eyes.
“Father's always told me how amazing Grandpa is.”
‘Good job, Beck...!!’
Unlike Ian, my third wasn't born strong, but he took after me in one more way.
Quick wits and adaptability honed from being looked down on in Bakal!
“So, he said he wants to become a strong man like ‘Grandpa’ to protect people. He's working really hard at it!!”
“That rascal Veil talked about me...?!”
The emperor stared blankly down at Beck, who seemed commendable just from his words.
The killing intent pouring from his body began to fade.
“Yes!! He taught me you're the hero who conquered this vast continent and ushered in an era of peace.”
In Bakal, they mainly teach the glory of the homeland.
For Beck, raised in such a place, to say this.
The emperor, convinced by his grandson's words, glanced at me with slightly softened eyes.
“This time, I'm thinking of bringing him as an exchange student to the empire for rigorous training, Father-in-law.”
I flashed a cheeky smile at him.
But ignoring my smile, the emperor stared back down at his grandson.
“Right, so what is it you want to become?”
Leonhardt asked Beck with a serious gaze.
No matter how impressive he seemed now, he was still the child of me and Bakal's princess, Tina.
‘You have to answer this right, Beck...!!’
What do you want to be when you grow up?
This question tested his grandson's aspirations.
If he casually said something like the kingdom's top swordsman who protects Bakal.
It would only reinforce the idea that he was “too much like a man from there.”
But who was Beck's father?
The beautifully foxy boy shouted proudly to the empire's ruler with a respectful expression.
“I want to become the Continent's Greatest Sword who protects everyone...!!”
His cute stature making declarations with crisp enunciation.
At that sight, the emperor clutched his chest, speechless for a moment.
As if the adorableness of the little life before him was straining his heart.
‘Heh...’
I watched it all with the sly grin of a scheming minister.
Who could resist?
A boy just turning ten, saying he admires you and dreams of becoming just like you.
And not just talk—he'd even mastered Expert.
Talk about prime talent-rearing material!
“Right, I see... Holding such a profound dream at a young age.”
Leonhardt gently stroked Beck's head.
Between the black locks, the boy's blue eyes sparkled like a snowy field.
Though their births differed, sharing the same blue eyes made it feel oddly like watching a real grandfather and grandson.
“How did you master Sword Expert? Did your father teach you directly?”
“Yes, he helped a lot.”
Beck nodded at the emperor's question.
But I smiled and added a word for His Majesty.
“No, I merely gave advice to a boy already prepared through countless trainings.”
I approached the two slowly.
Patting Beck's shoulder softly, I said.
“Expert was something Beck awakened on his own.”
“Is that so.”
Leonhardt let out a deep breath, relieved about the bright future of the empire, including Ian and Leon.
Kneeling before him, I shot him a meaningful glance.
“Come on, Beck. Want to show Grandpa your skills?”
“Yes, Father!!”
The black-haired boy drew the sword at his waist.
In front of his grandfather, he assumed the salute and struck a spirited pose.
“...!!”
The emperor's lips parted involuntarily at his grandson's continued antics.
If it were just the boy's cuteness, he might have chuckled it off.
But.
“Beginning now, Grandpa!”
Beck's eyes sharpened as he gripped the hilt.
And the flawless sparring stance honed through endless practice.
Leonhardt, Grand Master and Conqueror King, couldn't miss that.
“You've really prepared diligently...!”
If it were simply outstanding talent like Ian or Leon, it might have ended in mere pride.
But will and passion forged through effort.
To the man who toiled to the death for continental unification, it was moving.
“Haat—!!”
Beck thrust his sword, unleashing Bakal swordsmanship.
Then, flawlessly demonstrating the empire's swordsmanship I'd taught him.
The emperor couldn't hide his awe at his grandson's determination to master both nations' techniques.
“Unbelievable. Learning both countries' sword arts at just ten...!!”
“He was so insistent on showing you—I can't even tell you.”
Sticking close to his ear, I chuckled and sweetened the words.
The emperor, his earlier heat completely cooled, blankly admired his grandson's display.
“This... is too good to keep to myself.”
Leonhardt muttered unwittingly.
He rose hurriedly and pressed the summon button on his desk.
“Send the nearby Knight Order captains here right now.”
Servants' voices asking if he meant all of them.
The emperor bellowed into the button.
“Of course! Do you intend to ignore the empire's next hero's bold first steps?!”
In truth, that was probably an exaggerated excuse.
His real intent right now...
‘Grandson bragging.’
“Beck, do you know why you take that stance when swinging the sword?”
“Yes, when receiving an opponent's blade, stepping one foot forward maintains lower body stability.”
Beck was terrible at studies but had an uncanny memory.
He answered the basic swordsmanship knowledge instantly.
“Right!! When practicing any stance, you must understand the reason...! Now, follow your old grandpa here.”
Leonhardt assumed a stance with a serious expression.
Beck watched with sparkling eyes, then mimicked it diligently.
Watching leisurely.
I met Beck's eyes.
He winked at me.
‘Don't worry, Father!’
Reassuring me with his gaze.
“My son indeed.”
I nodded silently at him.
Later, stepping quietly out to the corridor to watch them.
I sensed a presence in the dark shadows.
“That child is Beck, I presume.”
An elegant yet sensual voice.
From the darkness behind, lustrous golden hair emerged.
“I greet Your Imperial Majesty, the Empress.”
“Yes, Mikhail. It's been a while.”
Creamy skin highlighted her soft jawline.
Then, the beautiful eyes and lip mole just like Leah's.
“Our Leo is the same age, isn't he?”
Rozanna, whose appearance remained unchanged after ten years, stood beside me.
She wore a form-fitting black lace dress.
“Yes, born in December.”
“It suits Bakal's winter perfectly. He'll make a fine warrior.”
To her drawing a clear line, I elegantly countered in kind.
“No, my son will become a knight. Not just for Bakal and the empire, but the continent's guardian.”
“Hmm— So that's how you charmed my Leonhardt.”
The First Imperial Consort chuckled and opened her fan.
Covering her red lips, only her sensual eyes gleamed.
“Your Imperial Majesty looks unchanged by time.”
Leah, entering her thirties, retained her beauty.
If anything, her matured allure gave off a richer feminine scent.
Perhaps because she was her mother.
Rozanna's looks hadn't changed at all from ten years ago.
“You still have that smooth, youthful face from your twenties.”
She poked my firm cheek with her finger.
“Grand Masters age slower, it seems.”
The consort glanced at her husband, Leonhardt.
Also at Grand Master level like me, but past seventy...
The toll of his countless hardships was evident.
“Poor man, my husband.”
Rozanna's gaze turned distant.
Despite the years, she lived quietly, rarely appearing in public.
As if still feeling guilty toward the empire and her husband.
“He endured eons for someone like me.”
I gazed steadily at the consort.
Watching the Conqueror King play with his grandson, I said.
“His Majesty won't regret it.”
“Yes...”
I've glimpsed his life, so I know.
No matter how the world shook, Leonhardt protected his consort to the end.
“So I'll stay by his side for the rest of his days in this world.”
Unlike when we first met, Rozanna spoke in a very feminine voice.
With graceful poise, she opened the office door.
Approaching the two with a rose-like beautiful smile.
“Beck, I'm your grandma—.”
At "grandma," the black-haired boy turned.
In that instant.
The grandson froze with a dumbfounded, fox-kit expression.
“You've grown so adorably.”
The woman claiming to be his grandmother before his eyes.
She resembled Emperor Leonhardt and looked incredibly young at first glance.
“G-Grandma...?”
Beck looked to Leonhardt to confirm if it was true.
Seeing his grandfather still smitten with his wife, he accepted it immediately.
“Aren't you sis? You look just like Her Majesty Leah.”
Sis.
Rozanna chuckled at the cheeky word.
“The kid takes after his father—such a little fox.”
I gave Beck a thumbs-up.
But this time, it wasn't the intended praise, so he tilted his head.
“Soon, many from the empire will come to see you.”
The emperor smiled gently between his lovely wife and grandson.
Utterly different from when he saw me.
‘A bit hurtful...?’
“R-Really...? I thought since I'm not imperial blood, everyone would hate me...”
Beck scratched the back of his head awkwardly.
Rozanna tilted her head and stroked her grandson softly.
“Who said that?”
“My Bakal relatives...”
The emperor laughed heartily at his mutter.
“Haha, see for yourself. Who would hate you?!”
I flung open the office door wider at the approaching footsteps from the corridor.
At the same time, I asked my precious son.
“Anyone you wanted to meet in the capital?”
Beck's eyes sparkled at my words, his signature blue glint.
“The Captain of the 7th Knight Order who protects the empire!!”
The seven Knight Order captains rarely gathered in one place.
But right now.
Beck faced a tremendous privilege only he, my son, could enjoy in his life.
“Your Majesty, the seven Knight Order captains have responded to the summons!!”
Seven heroes gathered just to see Beck.
Richard.
Allen.
Batsu.
Ekina.
Lin.
Prince Leon.
General Valerian.
“Woooow...!!”
Beck's jaw dropped at the heroes entering the office.
The emperor and I watched our priceless boy with warm smiles.
“The captains of the Seven Knight Orders greet Your Majesty!!”