Chapter 212
Translator: Vine
Chapter: 212
Chapter Title: Blade of Loyalty
“This is the front yard!! They say people even got lost here back in the day?”
“What country do people get lost in their own front yard?”
“Me!!”
I shut my mouth. Shaking my head, I followed behind Shin Ga-yeon, who was beaming brightly alongside Sion.
We were quietly trailing her as she gave us a tour of the house.
But why were there only three of us? Simple.
After that meal that nearly sent me flying, their father had vanished to prepare for a spar, dragging Shin Chae-yeon along with him.
Mikael had muttered something like “How intriguing” and followed suit.
Where had the Blade of Loyalty gone, the one who vowed to guard me all day?
Contract workers really can't be trusted.
In this world, the only one I can rely on is our daughter. Thinking that, I glanced down, and Sion's eyes sparkled as she looked around, meeting mine.
“What?”
“Nothing. Glad we came, right?”
“Yeah!! I love it so much!!”
Where had the hesitant girl from before we arrived gone? Now there was only the excited kid overflowing with joy.
I stroked her head and scooped her up into my arms as I walked.
“Ah, I'm not heavy, right?!”
“Nah. You're light.”
“Good.”
Considering how much she scarfed down, she was surprisingly light, so I just carried her. Her head bobbed cutely with each step.
“By the way, why does he keep wanting to spar? Something like 'I need to gauge the power of the family that will soon be mine...'?”
“Hm. With your dad's personality, straight-up asking to open the treasure vault would rub him the wrong way, so I phrased it indirectly.”
“Ah. You should've just told me. I could've snuck a few out for you.”
She didn't realize that would backfire even worse. Still, no malice there.
She just wanted to help me out a bit, so I couldn't scold her. I just smiled.
Suddenly, Shin Ga-yeon's face flushed bright red, and she whipped her head forward.
“N-next is the backyard!!”
How many yards does this place have? Looked like we'd be touring yards all day.
Well, with all these mountains, it made sense. Nature-friendly and nice.
The air was fresh, and even Sion, used to living in the wild, seemed to love it.
“Nice. Not bad at all. This is a great spot.”
“R-right?! Makes you wanna live here forever, huh?”
Not quite that far.
“But with all these mountains, doesn't it get easy to get lost?”
“I'm not sure, but they say servants have gone missing a few times after wandering in cluelessly.”
I knew the feeling—I'd gotten lost in the mountains as a kid. Even a little carelessness leads you astray, and in mountains that big and vast—
“Stray from the man-made paths, and you're done for.”
“Huh? What?”
“Just a thing.”
I gave a wry smile and gazed at the distant peaks. Felt like I heard an echo.
Or not.
People bustled about. At a single gesture from the fierce-looking blue-haired man, they moved with frantic energy.
Something was taking shape. Watching a professional sparring arena materialize from nothing on the bare training ground, Mikael sensed something off, but he didn't voice it.
He simply observed in silence.
“What's with those eyes?”
He'd planned to stay quiet and just watch, but the voice beside him forced his mouth open.
“It's impressive. Creating something from nothing with a mere gesture—who wouldn't be amazed?”
“No choice. It's Father's rule. Keep the dojo spotless. He'll probably dismantle that arena after one use.”
“Hm. Commendable mindset. Environment shapes people, after all. Good surroundings breed good folk.”
“Is that praise?”
“It is. Though a tad excessive.”
It was excessive, for sure. Just build a sparring ground and maintain it.
No reason to erect and demolish it every time.
“It's just to show off. The family head's dignity.”
Overworking people for that? In the old days, it'd be settled with a single severed head.
Mikael shook off the thought.
He'd nearly voiced it, imagining the black-haired man looking at him with contempt.
'Have I gone mad?'
Why was he suddenly thinking of that guy? Mikael cleared his mind and settled into meditation.
Calming the sudden heat, steadying his racing heart.
Perfect meditation technique.
He ended up in the exact same pose as the blue-haired woman meditating beside him, but he had no intention of changing.
Couldn't now, anyway. Whatever.
Mikael closed his eyes and waited until his emotions fully subsided.
“You're fighting in Lee Seong-hoon's place, right? That's why you're here.”
“Well, I have no such intention, but if ordered, I will.”
“Why?”
“Because I vowed to fulfill my loyalty to him today.”
“What does that mean?”
“Nothing you need to know.”
I see. Their conversation stuttered awkwardly. Neither was much of a talker, and they weren't even looking at each other.
Meditating with eyes closed, it was bound to be choppy.
Yet, strangely, the exchange continued. Shin Chae-yeon would prod again, and Mikael would respond.
A peculiar dialogue only those two brusque types could manage.
“No matter what Lee Seong-hoon says, don't throw the fight on purpose.”
“Why not?”
“I wanted to spar with you. See how much stronger I've gotten.”
“Hm. We can fight later.”
“I want to today.”
Her aura was different, commanding respect. Not the girl who'd been blown away without resistance last semester.
And the reason she'd grown stronger was probably—
“I learned a lot thanks to Lee Seong-hoon. Wanted to test if it'd work on you too—why the face?”
“......”
Lee Seong-hoon. Imagining him smiling and doing something with this woman made Mikael's eyes snap open unbidden.
Opening his eyes and staring intently, she naturally opened hers too.
“No matter what, I'll fight you.”
“Huh? Thanks— ”
“With everything I've got. My full power.”
“Uh, yeah? Thanks.”
Should he unfurl his wings? Mikael pondered seriously.
Of course.
“Who decided that?”
“Eek?!”
It fell apart with Lee Seong-hoon's arrival. Mikael clapped a hand over his mouth at the startled squeak that escaped.
In the impeccably constructed sparring arena, Mikael twirled his sword as if warming up, replaying the recent scene.
Lee Seong-hoon's entrance was fine. Even letting his startled mouth blurt something weird could be excused, generously.
Even Sion saying, “Was that noise from Auntie just now?” was tolerable,
But what he'd said before stepping into the arena? Not okay at all.
—Huh? I was gonna make you lose, but you wanna fight her?
—No, I planned to win moderately then lose. That way, you wouldn't get bothered.
—Just show some sincerity and it'd be fine, but whatever. Go ahead.
And like that. That's what the man said.
Win halfway then lose. If he won outright with full power, this family would take notice and hassle him.
A casual victory followed by a loss, and the family head would open the vault on his own.
He'd said that, but then caught the flicker of emotion Mikael had let slip and added,
—If you want to, go for it. But one promise.
—Pretend to barely win. Don't dominate. Got it? Just promise that.
“.....”
How did a brief glance reveal so much? How did he know him so well?
This treasure-obsessed man, why forfeit immediate gain to take his side?
Mikael suppressed the leaking emotion and spun his sword.
“Then let the spar begin!!”
With those words, he gripped it properly. The mere grasp sent a chilling metallic ring piercing his ears.
Not just this time.
Always. Every time. Consistently. Eternally.
—Stay for dinner at our place.
That was the start. When he first thought, maybe this guy's not so bad.
“N-next!! Next match!!”
—Come on our trip.
He'd refused, but inwardly rejoiced. Grateful for the invite. A spark of fondness began then.
“Next!!”
—Wanna join?
Casually tossed out. But every implication was for Mikael's benefit.
From then on, he couldn't rashly say “don't hit on me.” It felt like admitting something, like he shouldn't.
So he only said it when truly needed.
“Next!!”
—Does it hurt? Hate pain? Then stay put.
Last, trapped in the lair. First time he thought, a reliable human.
In a whole new way, like, what kind of person is this?
“Next!!!”
After that, as expected. He visited Lee Seong-hoon's place often, despite the reluctance.
Saw how happily Raphael lived, ended up eating tons of free meals.
Gained gaming as a hobby, filling idle time, changing much.
In a word: joy. A sensation first felt since descending to the mortal realm.
What to call this beyond mere pleasure—
Feeling this novel sensation since creation, heart pounding wildly from battle.
Mikael—
“Daaaaaahhh!!!!”
A mad roar snapped him from reverie.
“Huh?”
Regaining senses, he saw swordsmen collapsed everywhere. One-shotted, beaten like ragdolls—
“Ah.”
Realizing what happened, Mikael let out a short groan. My doing.
Lost in thought, he'd flattened the charging swordsmen in single strikes. So much for pretending a narrow win.
Turning back—
“Mikael.”
Black hair glared with immense intensity.
“No, that is—”
“You said you'd fulfill your duty perfectly!!! Blade of Loyalty, right!! Do whatever I say today!! You pick and choose your jobs?! Is that it?! Should I report you to labor board?! Huh?! Let go, Shin Ga-yeon!!!”
“Hold it in!!”
“..........”
Mikael. Age indeterminate. Seraphim with ten wings.
First failure since creation.