Chapter 315
Translator: crow
Chapter Title: Ten Years Later (16)
Beck's jaw dropped as he faced the Empire's seven captains.
"These are the Empire's heroes...."
The Emperor's eldest son, Crown Prince Leon, who had mastered countless grand magics.
And his close aide, Valderian, caught his eye first.
"This must be Veil's son."
The captains gazed at Beck fondly.
"You're already an awakened Sword Expert at ten?"
"Y-Yes, that's right...."
As Beck mumbled his response, three female knight captains chuckled.
Camilla and Ekina in particular teased him by pointing back and forth between his eyes and mine.
"Look at those sly fox eyes. How does he resemble you so much?"
"Don't end up just like your dad when you grow up~."
The atmosphere was one of close friendship with all the captains.
But this was just the beginning.
I looked leisurely at Richard, Batsu, and Allen, famed as the Empire's strongest.
"Greet them. This is my son~."
"Wow.... He really looks just like his master. Maybe it's the black hair?"
They all called my father 'master.'
Beck stared up at me in stunned bewilderment.
As if wondering what kind of 'life' his father must have lived to be so close to all these people.
"Heh heh.... How about it? He's grown a lot, hasn't he?"
I sidled right up next to my son.
I kneaded his tense shoulders firmly and said,
"You're going to live here in the Empire as an exchange student for the next few years."
I addressed the seven captains.
Of course, when looking at Valderian and Leon, I flashed a fawning sycophant's smile.
"So please take good care of him from now on~."
"Veil, isn't this nepotism...?"
Crown Prince Leon smirked at me.
I pressed my palms together and rubbed them obsequiously with a sly grin.
"Aw, come on—. He's not just protecting the Kingdom of Bakal—he wants to safeguard this entire continent~."
I sidled up to the Empire's heir with exaggerated nonchalance.
I smoothed out his epaulets while acting cute.
"He's got such noble ambitions. Isn't that commendable~?"
"A real man needs ambitions like that."
Valderian nodded in agreement.
Now in his sixties, he peered down at Beck with his rugged face.
"I'll help you achieve those ambitions, Beck Mikhail!!"
"H-Hiiik......!! Yes, sir! Thank you!!"
Even in old age, the great general's intimidating face was unchanged.
Still, he was a good man at heart.
While the captains doted on Beck,
voices of women chatting drifted in from outside the terrace.
Then came the servants loudly greeting them.
Crown Prince Leonhardt heard it and called to me.
「Go check the garden, Mikhail.」
Standing with hands clasped behind his back, the emperor wore a relaxed expression.
Having seen Beck seemed to have softened his mood; his face was kindly.
「Looks like your daughters have come to see you.」
"Understood, Your Majesty. I'll wrap up the audience here."
I beckoned Beck toward the door.
My son, who had been having his chubby cheeks tugged by Camilla and Ekina, hurriedly followed.
"Take care, Beck."
"See you in class~."
The two beautiful female knight captains waved lightly.
Beck bowed deeply, his face flushed by their radiant beauty.
"It was an honor to meet you, Captains...!!"
"Manners opposite his father's, huh."
Camilla chuckled as she said it, and Ekina agreed.
Rozanna too.
The three beautiful women gave me strange looks.
"Opposite? How proper have I been lately!!"
As I glanced at Leonhardt and Valderian, the two men turned icy.
The prince covered his mouth with his fist to hide his laugh at his father and the general.
"Ahem...!! Until next time, then~!!"
I grabbed Beck's hand and bolted from the emperor's office.
Then, the last knight captain, who had been waiting alone by the door, followed.
Gray eyes gleaming faintly amid long black hair.
Her calm, serene aura made one feel reverent unconsciously.
"Did everything go well?"
When she spoke, her voice—quiet as her presence—filled the corridor.
"Yeah. Nothing out of the ordinary for you?"
I gazed at her, now an Imperial Knight Captain, with calm eyes.
A far cry from the obsequious act I'd just put on.
"Same as always. Peaceful."
After Camilla had served as Imperial Captain and then stepped down to head the training order,
Rin—second only to me in strength in the Empire—naturally became the palace's guardian.
"You look better."
"Really? I thought I looked the same as usual."
The captain unconsciously touched her cheek.
She no longer wore a bandage over her left eye.
The blindness and scar were unavoidable, so she covered it with her hair.
"Want to head to the garden together?"
As we reached the corridor's end, voices carried from ahead.
I pointed there and asked the black-haired knight.
"Can I join?"
Rin gazed at the sunlit blue lawn with her hollow gray eyes.
Even after ten years, the void within her remained unfilled.
But.
"Of course."
I extended my hand to such a Rin.
Just as I had lifted her after our final duel ten years ago.
"...."
Rin silently regarded my hand.
Then, slowly approaching me...
"......!"
She lightly pressed her lips to mine.
"We can see each other tonight."
Her black hair brushed my nose.
Afterward, Rin stepped aside with lighter steps.
Beck stared at her, eyes wide in shock.
Then he witnessed life gradually returning to her once-hollow eyes.
"Dad, who is she...?"
"Who do you think?"
When I asked back, the young fox pondered deeply.
Then, he quietly unpacked his impressions.
"I heard she's a captain, but her vibe was different from the others."
Just like me, Beck had sharp instincts.
With a serious face, he added,
"She felt like you before a duel."
Just as I had killed countless people before my regression.
Rin had faced innumerable foes to survive.
"Is that so...? Wonder who my son takes after for such good instincts."
I covered my mouth with my fist.
Clearing my throat awkwardly, I told him who she was.
"Your little... little... little mother, I guess...."
Beck blinked his round blue eyes at my words.
Then, mouth agape, he hurried after me.
"You know the other mothers too?"
"What do you take me for.... They all accepted me five years later."
Only then did Beck sigh in relief.
He fell in step beside me as we entered the sun-drenched Imperial garden.
「――――――」
"Veil, you're back~?"
Irina greeted me first.
Her silver hair neatly combed, she was arranging watermelon on a tray with our second daughter, Iel.
"Yeah, made it back early this time?"
"Yeah, Princess Tina told me. You recommended Beck as an exchange student?"
My silver-haired imperial cousin approached, gracefully brushing back her bangs.
She seemed in high spirits, like something good had happened.
"Yep. Looks like Tina and Beck will be staying in the Empire together from now on."
"That's great, Father. It'll be a fine example for exchanges between our nations."
Helena, helping Irina transfer the watermelon to plates, spoke in a mature voice.
Lili and Mika were with her.
"Still, academy top spot is mine~."
"Lili, move the watermelon first, then talk."
Twin-tailed Lili shrugged, and the watermelon slipped.
A bob-haired girl identical to Miya caught it cat-quick.
"I got it~."
Mika took after her mother with excellent reflexes.
But her real strength was her friendly personality.
She'd become class rep among the nine-year-olds at school.
"Beck, sit with your siblings. Little Mom will bring fruit~."
Irina smiled brightly as she said it, and Beck nodded lightly before heading to the table.
Truth be told, he felt awkward with them.
He only visited the Empire twice a year, and his shy nature made it hard to chat.
At the table sat three boys who caught his eye.
Blond Leo reading a magic tome even during a garden picnic.
Silver-haired Ian waving faintly at approaching Beck.
And Lion, dozing with his soft cheek smooshed against the table.
"Welcome, Beck. Long trip?"
"N-No.... It was quicker than I thought."
He flashed an awkward smile at his same-age brothers.
Their resumes were already dazzling, unlike his own.
Ian topped the academy.
Leo was already the youngest mage at the Magic Tower.
Lion was lazy and disinterested in knighthood, but like Lydia, he excelled at management.
He already showed talent leading her plantations.
Sibling rivalries were fierce too.
Helena occasionally handled palace affairs.
Lili led in athletics, Mika was class rep.
Finally, Mago's daughter Marie had witchcraft talent, levitating plates herself.
Excluding the much younger siblings, they were all elite prodigies.
"Everyone's amazing...."
By comparison, Beck had only just awakened as a Sword Expert.
His achievements seemed the most meager.
"Wait, then all those compliments from the captains earlier were... just polite?"
Doubts crept in about their encouragement.
As they swelled, the gloom from before seeing his father resurfaced.
But then.
"Beck, you achieved Sword Expert?"
Ian fixed his black eyes on him from beneath silver hair and asked.
"Congrats. Dad said you figured it out yourself— that's impressive."
"Uh...?"
Beck froze at the praise from the Empire's strongest ten-year-old.
Ian then signaled Leo, who had been focused on his book through a monocle.
"Right, Leo?"
Leo nodded, winking back.
"Impressive. They say knight Expert takes desperate will and effort—unlike magic."
He set aside his monocle and book.
Gazing at black-haired Beck, he smiled lazily like Lea.
"You worked hard, huh?"
Lion, melting into the table, peeked up.
With Lydia-like red eyes, he added softly,
"Bakal runs on raw strength. You gave it your all to survive there."
He dragged his limp hand onto the table.
Then thumbs-upped Beck encouragingly.
"Totally like Dad. Cool."
He'd thought himself the worst until now.
But with everyone's support, Beck was speechless.
He just stared silently at the bright red watermelon placed before him.
"Hi, Beck?"
Helena elegantly swept back her golden hair as she set down a plate.
"You've gotten even cooler since last time."
"Y-You too... you look more beautiful, Helena...."
Unlike in Bakal, the non-royals treated him warmly.
Beck picked up watermelon with a genuine smile.
This is 'family.'
His face showed realization.
'Good thing the kids are treating Beck well.'
I gazed fondly at my kind-hearted son and children.
Then I locked eyes with Lea, Lydia, and Miya, who had joined the garden.
"How was Bakal, dear husband~?"
Miya lightly draped an arm over my shoulder.
I nearly dropped my watermelon in shock.
"Aigoo—. Don't ask. How I missed you all...!!"
Thank goodness Christina was napping in the annex!!
I flashed a fox-like sly smile to defuse things.
"Really?"
Lydia twirled her twin tails and snuggled close.
Our Emperor did the same.
The two beauties placed hands on each of my thighs.
"D-Dears......!! I'm home today!!"
I forced a smile, glancing between them.
But then.
A soft hand reached from behind, like grabbing my nape.
Silver wolf Irina whispered seductively.
"If you missed us that much, shall we do that thing again after so long, Veil...?"
While the kids focused on watermelon,
Irina drew breath-close and parted her red lips.
"Like at the theater."
A familiar aphrodisiac rested on her sensual tongue.
I knew what it was.
'The Dashuvik, no way......!!'
I later learned he traded it for lifetime access to Nostun hot springs.
"I'll look forward to it."
Irina wrapped her soft tongue around the aphrodisiac and swallowed deeply.
Her thick saliva carried hot breath tickling my cheek.
Miya startled at Irina's erotic display.
Sensing danger, she wrapped my waist and cried,
"Now, now, everyone eat fruit!"
Miya hissed cat-like.
Her beauty mark creased in a frown.
"And today's Veil turn is mine!!"
Her frank shout startled the kids.
Especially her daughter Mika, who sighed and squeezed shut her kitten eyes.
"Haa.... Mom...."
She covered Mago's daughter Marie's ears tight and shook her head.
"Hey kids, anywhere you wanna go play? Since we're all together, let's spend a full day...!!"
I urgently signaled the kids for rescue.
Irina covered my mouth, while Lea and Lydia perched lightly on my thighs.
"Mmph...!!"
"Kids, Dad's busy today, so ask to play tomorrow~."
Empress Lea called elegantly, and the kids nodded wisely.
「Yes--!!」
Warm sunlight poured into the Empire's lofty palace.
Children growing in that warmth.
And one still-fiery man with his fiery wives.
All basked in blessed peace that afternoon.
Thus, we savored our undeserved happiness through the day.