Chapter 59
Chapter 59
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 59
Chapter Title: Dia's Homecoming
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“Dia!”
How many people wouldn’t smile upon seeing that child? Dianne scooped up Charlotte, who had come running with all her might.
“You’ll fall if you run like that.”
“It’s okay. Dia will catch me.”
“What if I mess up?”
“Then there’s nothing to be done.”
She planted a deep kiss on the little lady’s forehead.
“Did you behave while I was away?”
“Yeah. I studied with the nursemaid and tended flowers with Butler Grandpa, and we had lots of fun.”
“You’ve been busy.”
“I’m a busy person now too. Just like Dia.”
“Then you won’t have time to play with me anymore?”
Charlotte shook her head vigorously.
“No, I can make time to play with Dia. I’m busy, but I know how to carve out time. Unlike Daddy.”
“Daddy didn’t play with you again?”
“Yeah! He promised five times a week, but only did it three times. He promised to go see the traveling troupe that came to town, but he didn’t keep that either. Daddy’s full of lies.”
“But you don’t hate Daddy, right?”
“If he keeps this up, I might.”
“He’d be really hurt if he heard that.”
“Daddy should be hurt. He broke his promise to me.”
“You’re right. Daddy’s the bad one for breaking his promise to Charlotte.”
She set Charlotte down and took her hand. Pablo, who had been waiting at the main gate, offered a greeting.
“You’ve returned. Did you handle your business well?”
“There was a minor issue, but I took care of it. By the way, Butler, it looks like Charlotte wore you out. Your white hairs seem to have increased.”
“I am a bit tired.”
Charlotte, overhearing, immediately looked crestfallen.
“Butler Grandpa, am I making things hard for you?”
Those big, round eyes were utterly adorable. That’s why it was impossible not to tease her. Dianne knelt down to meet Charlotte’s gaze.
“Charlotte’s still too young. She can’t understand adult jokes.”
“Hey, that’s not true. I get it.”
“Then why do you look like you’re about to cry?”
“I don’t know.”
Charlotte puffed out her cheeks like an angry frog. It was so endearing. Even the watching butler let out a low chuckle.
“Little Lady, I’m not worn out at all, so please play with me anytime.”
“You’re both teasing me! Just wait.”
Wrinking her pretty nose, Charlotte stomped off toward the nursemaid. She glanced back over her shoulder on the way, making Dianne smile again.
“When Charlotte grows up, I’ll cry for sure.”
“Then I’ll pull out my handkerchief and dab my eyes too.”
Let’s go inside, the butler said, pointing toward Silder’s study. As they walked the short corridor to the study, she heard unexpected news.
“Inevil left?”
“Yes. He even returned the sword the master bestowed upon him.”
“That child too. What did Silder say?”
“He said it was inevitable since the event that needed to happen finally did. In my opinion, it was a miracle he stayed quietly for half a year. Especially here without you, Lady Dianne.”
“I should have made time to visit.”
“No, it might actually be for the best. As you know, he’s like a frisky colt full of energy. After galloping across the open plains, he’ll come trotting home exhausted.”
“He’s not a fool who doesn’t know where he belongs. Like you say, Butler, he’ll come back after having his fun. But what was the reason? He hated the commander position fiercely, but he’s not the type to bolt without cause.”
Inevil never hesitated to follow his emotions, but he wasn’t one to shirk all responsibility and run off to play. That’s why she had entrusted him with command, even temporarily.
“He seems to have met an extraordinary person.”
“An extraordinary person?”
The butler paused and explained what had happened four days prior.
The scheduled battle with Anke’s forces, during which two mysterious men were captured. One of them displayed strength beyond common sense. That was the summary.
“According to the report, he subdued nearly thirty of our soldiers without killing a single one. Quoting a soldier who was there... ‘A sound came from the darkness, and when I came to, it was all over.’ Something like that.”
“I see. What did Inevil say about him?”
“Well, he didn’t even return here—he chased after the two men straight from the camp. Taking Ran with him.”
“Thirty frontline soldiers are something even a 1st Knight Order grunt could handle, but subduing them without killing is tricky. And since Inevil followed immediately, it must have been a man impressive enough to captivate him at first sight.”
“Seems so. I at least thought he’d report to the master in person before going.”
“That man’s strength must have been so alluring he couldn’t waste even that short time. That child is pathologically obsessed with growing stronger. It’s not a bad thing, but it’s troublesome at times like this.”
Inevil had changed his fate with his own hands, using violence as the tool.
Physical strength had restored his life. Pursuing strength was like that child’s destiny.
“With Inevil absent, what happened to the plans? We were supposed to continue local skirmishes with Anke.”
“The plan to occupy Anke territory has been suspended for now.”
“As expected. Silder wouldn’t welcome variables right before the big event.”
“Since it’s not urgent, we decided to take our time. It won’t be too late to move after he returns.”
“Right. What matters is whether the thing below is ready or not.”
She glanced at the floor. Even now, mages were surely researching magic in the mansion’s basement.
No, it wasn’t magic. Nor sorcery, witchcraft, or divine ritual borrowing a god’s power. It was a mysterious force never seen before. A true miracle.
“Any suitable candidates yet?”
“Unfortunately, not a single one.”
“Still? Silder must be troubled.”
“It seems we’ll need ‘that man’ to return before a solution appears.”
“Now that I’m back, he’ll show up soon enough.”
“Indeed.”
The butler knocked and opened the door. She entered. Silder was leaning against a bookshelf, reading a book.
“Should I come back later if I’m interrupting?”
Silder closed the book with a smile.
“Don’t say things you don’t mean.”
“I’d gladly wait if that’s what you want.”
“I’d be too anxious leaving you waiting.”
The butler outside said he’d bring tea and closed the door. She removed her gloves as she approached Silder.
“What are you reading?”
“I suddenly wondered how many dynasties have risen and fallen in this land. I found this while looking into it.”
Silder showed her the cover. The title was *What Is a Wise Parent?*
“That has nothing to do with what you just said.”
“Reading it made me think. Rather than dynasties, soothing an upset Charlotte is more urgent.”
Silder approached and wrapped his arms around her waist. She let out a languid breath.
“I haven’t bathed yet, so I don’t smell great.”
“Still, greetings are in order.”
After a brief kiss, Silder released her waist.
“We’ll continue the rest tonight. For now, let’s hear your report.”
Silder gestured to a chair. She sat and said,
“Three of those who crossed the Unstable Realm survived.”
“Improving survival rates is tough. Their condition?”
“A mess. They were fine at first when they regained consciousness, but they quickly lost their minds.”
“Mass-producing them explosively is impossible after all.”
“Unless the Master below comes up with a new method, it’ll be hard. Still no suitable candidates?”
“Not one. We’ve secured quite a few women who can open stable Realms, but Unstable Realms are unusable, so it’s a problem.”
Silder lit a cigarette. She extended her hand, and he handed it over.
“Charlotte will hate it.”
“Anxiety makes it a habit. Did you test those three’s combat prowess?”
“I pitted them against an Orc tribe warrior. Low rank, but still an Orc.”
“Results?”
“The three of them severed one arm from the Orc warrior. Of course, all three ended up with their heads smashed.”
“Combat strength is guaranteed, for sure.”
She nodded.
Orcs overwhelmingly surpassed humans with their innate physiques, even if inferior to Tarin tribe warriors akin to martial masters.
They weren’t opponents three untrained adult men could defeat by charging in.
Yet those three, simply by entering and exiting the Unstable Realm, had severed an Orc warrior’s arm. Miraculous power.
“What was their fighting style?”
“Pure beasts. They charged on all fours like fighting dogs, biting and clawing. Right before dying, the three tore off the warrior’s arm. Quite the sight.”
“They’ve developed a sense of camaraderie.”
“The mages below are making efforts in their own way. If they were just burning money without results, they’d be dead by now.”
Silder lifted his head. His sharp jaw and toned chest stirred her desire.
She wanted to pounce right then, but with Charlotte awake during the day, she had to hold back. That adorable child was still too young to witness beasts mating.
“I can’t think of a way to utilize the Unstable Realm. It’d be ideal if they could retain sanity while gaining power, but results so far say it’s impossible.”
Silder looked weary. He had worried and prepared more here than she had in organizing outdoor experiments or the mages holed up below.
“Why not rest? We can finish the rest tonight.”
“No. I don’t want to talk business after sunset either. More importantly, I’d like your opinion. Should we continue the Unstable Realm research?”
“It was a side project from the start. If no path appears, shelving it is an option. What we need most are people like you, me, and the 1st Knight Order who’ve fully crossed into stable Realms.”
“I thought we’d easily get elite soldiers, but the world doesn’t work that way. As you say, we’ll suspend Unstable Realm research for now and invest more in finding suitable candidates.”
A knock came as Silder exhaled slowly. The butler brought tea. The subtle aroma seemed to ease the fatigue.
“I’ll enjoy it.”
She said.
“I’ll check on the Little Lady. She’ll barge in here if left alone.”
“Please do.”
The butler left after Silder’s words. They sipped tea in silence for a while. Tea brewed by the butler personally was worth delaying reports for.
“Mind a side topic? I heard from the butler. Inevil finally left.”
Silder chuckled lowly.
“He found someone better than me and took off without reporting.”
“I doubt it. That child adores you. Still, I’m curious. A man strong enough for Inevil to chase after. Sounds boastful, but that child’s seen me for years, right? It’d take no ordinary expert to satisfy him.”
“This land is full of things beyond common sense. Sky stones, world-covering birds, one-man armies, the first automata, Magical Beasts, roots... Just off the top of my head. It’s not strange if a powerhouse intriguing Inevil popped up.”
Silder set down his teacup.
“Lander and Guchi, was it? Lander’s the one who subdued the soldiers. Never heard of him. You?”
(To be continued)