Chapter 37
Chapter 37
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 37
Chapter Title: Do You Need a Dad?
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***
Diego, visiting Elbadin in his office, lifted a teacup to his nose and inhaled its fragrance.
“This smells wonderful.”
“…”
Diego leisurely savored the rich aroma of the tea.
Watching him with a look of disbelief, Elbadin rose from his desk and walked over to the sofa.
Elbadin sat across from Diego and spoke.
“You said you were leaving today.”
Diego beamed, still holding his teacup.
“I did. Why? Should I stay? We could keep each other company, two widowers all alone.”
“Maybe I should just move in,” he asked playfully. Elbadin’s expression hardened as he commanded Riat.
“Riat, fetch my sword.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
“I'm joking, I'm joking!”
Diego let out a bright, boyish laugh.
Elbadin and Diego had been friends since childhood.
Their estates bordered each other, and their fathers had been exceptionally close, so they had visited one another frequently.
As a result, Elbadin and Diego had grown up to be just as close.
When they became adults and fell in love, they were the first to introduce their partners to each other.
Through their weddings, the births of their children, and even…
…when their wives were lost, one after the other, to tragic accidents.
They had been by each other's side longer than anyone and had suffered a similar pain.
That was why Elbadin knew the weight of the sorrow Diego concealed behind his smiling face.
Elbadin let out a short sigh, and Diego’s smile softened as he set down his cup.
“Please take good care of Reiden.”
“You don't have to worry about that.”
At Elbadin’s short but firm reply, Diego smiled at him.
“Good. I hope he and Serdian grow closer this time. Why are our boys so awkward with each other? Especially when you and I cherish each other so dearly.”
“…”
Elbadin’s brow furrowed at Diego’s playful teasing. Ignoring the comment, he asked.
“Will you begin the investigation immediately?”
“I have to. Now that I’ve secured the body, I plan to request the Magic Tower’s assistance as soon as I return to my estate.”
“The old master will be getting involved, then.”
“Speaking of which, I ran into Noa outside. He shot me a sharp glare for dragging the Master of the Magic Tower into this.”
“Noa is just deeply protective of him. The Master is like a father to him.”
“I know…”
Diego had a deep connection to the “old master”—the Master of the Magic Tower, Noa’s teacher.
His family had produced mages for generations, and his late wife had been one of the Master’s own disciples.
Elbadin crossed his legs and asked.
“So, you plan to investigate this with the Magic Tower?”
Diego nodded.
“It seems magic is involved. I hope it’s just my imagination, but I’m worried that perhaps…”
A shadow crossed Diego's kind eyes.
“…it might be related to black magic.”
“…”
At the mention of black magic, the atmosphere in the office grew heavy.
Traces of that vile power, which had vanished centuries ago, had reappeared.
That was why Diego had come to the Descartes estate.
*People were coming back to life.*
In the Marquisate of Sidrat, the dead had begun to rise.
Some had died from long illnesses, others from sudden accidents—all of them young souls.
It had happened five times already.
At first, everyone called it a miracle and praised the gods.
Then a second time, and a third.
Yes, up to the third time, it was still considered a blessed miracle.
But when the fifth occurred, people began to feel afraid.
“The ones who returned were exactly as they were before they died. No signs of mutation.”
The only oddity was that the wounds or illnesses that had killed them had vanished completely.
It was as if time had been reversed to a point before their cause of death ever existed.
So he had requested help from the temple, but, as usual, they just told him to wait, citing that they were busy.
“It can't be helped. Who would dare defy the temple? If they tell you to wait, you wait.”
Elbadin scoffed at that.
“As corrupt as the temple is, I doubt they have the ability to detect traces of black magic anyway.”
Diego nodded in agreement at Elbadin's derisive words and chuckled.
While he was waiting for the temple’s response, a case of someone ‘dying and coming back to life’ occurred in the Descartes Grand Duchy as well.
However, this case was slightly different from those in the Sidrat marquisate.
Unlike the others, who were still alive and well, the one who had returned in the Grand Duchy had died again within a week.
Diego had come to retrieve the body to investigate that difference.
“Are you heading straight to the Magic Tower?”
“No, I'm going to the temple first.”
“Ah, for your daughter.”
“Yes. I'll ask about the body and check on my daughter’s condition.”
The corners of Diego's eyes drooped slightly.
One day, the girl he had adopted suddenly fell ill.
“She was already quite frail, but neither medicine nor magic could make her better.”
He had been so focused on her health that he had only belatedly discovered the faint special ability she possessed.
And he confirmed that this power was neither mana nor aura.
Which meant, ultimately…
“It must be divine power.”
“Exactly.”
Diego nodded.
When divine power couldn't be controlled and ran rampant, it often manifested as a severe illness.
If they received the temple's help in time, they could live as priests, but children who didn't usually died at this stage.
“I suppose it's a relief she fell ill after I adopted her.”
If her power had run rampant before her adoption, she would have collapsed in some cold, dirty alley and died.
Elbadin stared at Diego.
“If it really is divine power, you may have to send her to the temple. Are you prepared for that?”
“…”
Diego gave a bitter smile at the question.
“Of course not. It hasn't been long, but I've come to think of her as my own daughter.”
The little girl had filled the void his wife had left behind, Diego said, his voice subdued.
“But what can I do? My family is one of mages; we know nothing of divine power. To learn to control it properly, it's best for her to stay and learn at the temple.”
“…”
Just then, a knock came at the door.
*Knock, knock.*
“Your Highness, it is Anton. I have brought the young lords.”
“Enter.”
The door opened, and in walked Serdian, Reiden, and Lucillea.
Diego immediately stood, moved to sit beside Elbadin, and gestured to the sofa.
“Sit over there, all of you.”
The three children scurried over and sat in a neat row on the sofa.
As Serdian and Reiden placed the walnut pies they were carrying on the table, Lucillea smiled to herself in triumph and shot Serdian a pointed look.
*What are you waiting for? Tell them!*
At her insistent gaze, Serdian wore a troubled expression for a moment before speaking.
“We made these walnut pies ourselves.”
Diego’s eyes widened in surprise.
“You did? For us?”
Serdian gave a hesitant nod, and Reiden beamed.
“Yes, Father.”
Seizing the moment, Lucillea glanced at the two fathers.
Both Elbadin and Diego were staring at their sons, their expressions full of surprise.
*The marquis looks like he’s about to cry.*
Next to Diego, whose eyes shimmered with emotion, Elbadin’s own eyes had merely widened slightly.
*Say something! Your son baked a pie for you!*
It was Lucillea who felt a pang of disappointment at Elbadin's perpetually stoic expression.
Just as Lucillea was glaring at Elbadin, unable to hide her sharp gaze…
…Elbadin was the first to reach for a plate.
He silently regarded the pie on his plate, then picked up his fork and began to eat.
Once Elbadin started eating, Diego, as if not to be outdone, picked up his own plate and dug in with gusto.
“Wow, son, this is delicious! How did you ever think to make this?”
Reiden smiled brightly and replied.
“It was Lucillea's idea. She said you would like it, Father.”
At his words, both fathers turned their gazes from their pies to Lucillea.
Lucillea gave an awkward laugh.
*I told you not to say that!*
Reiden continued.
“She also said that seeing you so happy would make me happy, too.”
Reiden looked at Lucillea.
“You were right. I'm very happy right now.”
“Oh? Ah... well. Y-yes, of course.”
As Lucillea laughed awkwardly, Diego, who had been watching her, set his plate down on the table.
He then turned to Elbadin with a serious expression.
“Listen to me, Elbadin.”
Diego continued.
“Do you have any idea how different life is with a daughter versus without one?”
Elbadin set down his now-empty plate and tilted his head.
“Why would I need to know that?”
Despite the brusque reply, Diego answered without losing his smile.
“A situation like this. Right now. Don't you feel it, just a little?”
“…”
“Of course, having a rough-and-tumble son is wonderful in its own way.”
Diego glanced lovingly at Reiden and gave him a wink before continuing.
“But there’s a certain warmth that only a daughter can bring.”
Elbadin’s brow furrowed faintly at his words.
“So? What's your point?”
Diego continued, a gentle smile on his face as if thinking of his own adopted daughter back at his estate.
“Every day, I regret not adopting her sooner. It’s made me think how wonderful it would be to have another.”
“Which brings me to my point.”
Diego’s gaze fell upon Lucillea.
“Lady Lucillea, by any chance…”
After a brief pause, Diego beamed and asked.
“Do you happen to need a father?”
He then added, “How about me?”