Chapter 44
Our home, after nearly three months away. It felt like a lot had happened—intense, exhausting stuff—but now that I was back in my peaceful hometown, I figured I could finally let my guard down a bit.
“……”
“……”
Ssshh—
“Uh, Luna? Did I do something wrong?”
“……No. Nothing at all.”
Hmm. Whatever it was, I must've screwed up.
Thanks to our scary maid, it looked like I wouldn't get much rest even in my own home after all this time.
“Greetings. I am Yupit Noctus, current head of the Noctus Territory.”
Standing at the entrance of our modest manor to welcome us was just one man. A handsome one, at that—my father, and the lord of this territory, Yupit Noctus. His neatly pomaded dark brown hair was striking, and though age lines and the rough skin of middle age had set in, it all lent him a refined charm. He came off as a sophisticated, good-looking guy overflowing with mature appeal. Like an elite middle-aged exec who'd skyrocketed up the ranks at some massive corporation thanks to killer skills.
“A pleasure, Baron Noctus. I am the Empire's Second Princess, Astraia von Kailum.”
The princess followed up with a graceful curtsy, her impeccable etiquette reminding me all over again that yeah, this was royalty.
“Haha, it's been ages. To think the little princess I remember has grown into such a fine lady, gracing our humble house... What an honor.”
“Huh?”
What the hell was that about?
“Um... Baron? I don't believe we've met before...”
“Ah, you were too young to remember. It was right after you were born, when you were just a newborn.”
“How do you even know the princess, Dad? What's a rural baron got to do with meeting the emperor?”
“Of course I know her. Your old man was in the emperor's personal guard.”
“???”
“Ah, we specialized in covert ops, so I wasn't on many public gigs, but I did pretty damn well. Met your mom on one mission, fell head over heels at first sight, came back home, and took over as lord right away.”
“????????”
Just spilling all our hidden family history like that? Wait, more importantly—you did stuff like that?
“Mars, why are you the one freaking out?”
“Because I never heard much about your guys' past either. Mom's got that Eastern look, so I figured something big went down, but I just assumed it wasn't a huge deal and let it slide.”
For reference, our mom—who wasn't here right now—is from the East. Full-on what you'd call East Asian features, pretty rare in this empire where I was born and raised. I always thought she and Dad must've had some epic meet-cute, but I never imagined that kind of job for him...
“But with guests like this at our place, shouldn't everyone come out to greet them or something?”
“Quit your yapping. Our only staff's Alfredo and his wife Flora. What kinda welcome party you expecting? You wanna make the old folks stand around? And nobles like these ain't gonna care about some backwater baron anyway~”
Apparently, Mom took one look at the women I brought home, realized they weren't future daughters-in-law, muttered something like 'Figured as much,' and went off to gossip with her lady friends from town like always.
Classic parents. Zero worries or tension—just pure steel nerves, tossing that crap to the dogs.
Wait, Mom. 'Figured as much?' You can't say that to your own son.
“What a relief. We were worried we'd be imposing on busy folks like yourselves.”
The princess brushed it off lightly, saying she'd have felt bad if they had come out. Celine and Hertia seemed to agree, going with the flow. Surprisingly chill about this stuff, they just rolled with my parents' bizarre antics like it was no big deal.
“Now I see who Mars takes after...”
“Totally. That bold attitude reminds me of how Brother Mars stared us down at first.”
What'd I do?
“Let's head to the study first and chat a bit. Gotta hear about your academy life, right?”
“Sure thing.”
And so we all piled into Dad's study. Polo was soaking in the nostalgia of our house after so long, while the three ladies curiously poked around. Our place felt cramped compared to what they were used to.
“New sofa? Haven't seen that before.”
“Picked it up recently. Thanks to the cash you sent a few times, we paid off debts and splurged on a proper guest couch.”
Unprecedented luxury for our house, and it was all thanks to me. Dad was flexing for once.
The ladies looked shocked at him bragging over a single sofa like it was a big deal, but hey—this was normal baron life. Hope they get that.
“And Bro?”
“Your brother? Still abroad studying. Got roped into some big project, so he won't be back for a while.”
“Bummer. Wanted to say hi before heading out.”
They say siblings don't always get along, but mine's always been super kind to me, his little bro. Sharp business sense, great at handling stuff—beloved by the townsfolk as next lord material. Sucks I won't catch him before break ends.
Chin—
“Yeah, I heard. You're an Aura Lord now?”
“Yep.”
Dad's face shifted dead serious in an instant, tensing everyone up—including me. The air grew heavy with pressure I'd never felt from him before. Made me wonder if that imperial guard story was BS. Sweat beaded on the back of my hands.
“Ahem... Kahahaha!! Next thing you know, even Sophia's dog from the tailor's will be an Aura Lord!”
“I'm your son, y'know?”
Is that the right reaction when your kid joins the ranks of humanity's strongest?
“Heh. A clueless blockhead who can't read a girl's heart? Lord, my ass.”
“What does that have to do with anything? And I'm plenty sharp when it comes to noticing stuff.”
I felt a glare from somewhere, but Dad's smirk pissed me off so much I couldn't focus.
“Must be tough.”
“!”
“Those Heaven God Cult bastards... Even when I was on the front lines, tracking 'em was a nightmare. Ruthless killers as a baseline, but they get off on ruining lives just for kicks. And paranoid as hell—erase every trace, so intel was always scarce, even for us.”
Makes sense. As ex-imperial guard, he'd know about that exec's atrocities against the royals. No idea his exact skill level, but guarding the emperor? Gotta be top-tier.
“Ha, but the one who kidnapped me seemed kinda sloppy.”
“Checked around with my contacts—that guy's more researcher than fighter. Exec, sure, but not combat-focused, and he got cocky since his crimes stayed hidden so long.”
Dad answered Celine's question earnestly. Yeah, everyone I've fought so far was lab-rat types, and Taurus the prince? Mid-tier cult, not high-up despite royalty.
Not enough to gauge the cult's full strength.
“Oh, right—reminded me from what you said, Lady Celine...”
I explained our hypothesis from last time with her. When I mentioned Taurus dodging Hertia's handshake as the clue, she recalled the moment and looked stunned.
“...So you're saying... that ridiculous myth-figure demon king is the head of this Heaven God Cult?”
“Head? C'mon, word choice...”
“Hmmm...”
Dad pondered deeply. A myth-guy from thousands of years ago still kicking? Starting a cult, twisting folks into villains with his power? Sounds like kid's fantasy.
“I'd love to call it bullshit... but can't ignore it.”
“Really? Even I think it's nuts...”
“We've dug everywhere—no leads. Hard to swallow, but right now, it's the most plausible theory we've got.”
He said he'd tap his network for info first and begged us not to stir shit with the cult yet. Fighting blind against monsters like them? Like charging a beast unarmed. Don't rush in.
“Don't show off in front of the ladies.”
“I'm not.”
“Then explain why every girl you've saved so far is a girl?”
“Coincidence.”
Like I'd skip saving a guy? I'm not that rotten.
“Ever since I saved Sophia from that dog bite as a kid, she bolts when she sees me. Nina, abused by her dad? Blushes and snaps every time. Luna, after I rescued her from getting lost in the mountains? Constant attitude. You think I'd save 'em with ulterior motives when I know the backlash?”
“Sigh... Idiot.”
Dad let out a long sigh, blaming himself. Celine, Astraia—even Hertia shook their heads. No clue why, but it soured my mood.
After the chat with Dad, a familiar face waited outside the door.
“Oh, Luna! Long time no see?”
Luna—daughter of butler Alfredo and maid Flora. Childhood friend who grew up with me and Polo.
“...Why're you here.”
“Huh? You don't want me back?”
“No letter once, thought you'd never come home. So why now?”
“Ah.”
Too slammed to write, guess that pissed her off big time. She huffed and stormed off as I stood there speechless. Once she sulks, it lasts forever—now I was agonizing over how to fix it.