Chapter 76
Translator: crow
Chapter Title: Promoted to Dad
Beastkin society reveres the strong above all. Sure, what society in this world doesn't to some extent, but beastkin take it to another level.
In that sense, the Black Cat Tribe where Tsukiyo was born was no better than the lowest of the low as a whole.
Unlike humans, beastkin don't look down on or mock the weak. If anything, they view them as the ones the strong warrior class has a duty to protect.
You might wonder what kind of "might makes right" that is, but you can't equate humans and beastkin.
They're born aggressive by nature. Warrior folk through and through, they feel humiliated at the idea of being protected by someone.
In a way, the goodwill of the strong protecting the weak is the greatest insult of all to them.
Tsukiyo was born and raised in that kind of society. Both her parents were Black Cat Tribe beastkin, and naturally, so was she.
They were weak. They had innate agility, but that was it.
Yet Tsukiyo, born between them, wasn't weak for long. Blessed with talent so overwhelming it was almost embarrassing to call it "standing out," she rose to become the tribe's strongest by the tender age of fifteen.
Her frail parents felt ashamed facing such a daughter. For healthy beastkin in their prime to be weaker than their own child was utterly unbearable.
So her parents left to train, determined not to be a disgrace to their child.
Tsukiyo spent three years alone like that. Born a beastkin but oddly lacking their combative streak, she simply waited desperately for her parents' return.
The day her long-awaited parents came back, Tsukiyo broke down and sobbed her heart out.
She clung to their two cold, lifeless bodies for three days straight, weeping endlessly. The tribe elders handled the funeral rites, comforted her, and led her back inside.
Tsukiyo understood. The moment she lost her parents, she was no longer someone to be protected.
She had to become the one who protected the tribe as its strongest warrior.
Warrior Tsukiyo quietly fulfilled her duty. The adults around her didn't worry much about her.
After all, she was a beastkin too. They figured she'd shake off her grief soon enough with their innate fiery spirit.
Tsukiyo knew that too. She knew her fragile heart made her the odd one out.
So she learned to hide it. She learned martial arts, sorcery, smoking, and how to wear a mask.
That's how she'd lived until now.
*
"What's the problem, nyang! I'm offering to call you Dad!"
"How old are you, Choco?"
"Ah, not even eight hundred yet, nyang!"
"Dear me. That's forty times my age."
Tsukiyo clapped a hand over her mouth.
"How can you say something so cruel...!"
[...Um....]
Eri dragged her weary body up onto Enoch's head.
[So does that make Tsukiyo my little sister now?]
"W-What!?"
[I call you Dad, Tsukiyo calls you Dad. So the one who came later, Tsukiyo, is the little sister, right?]
"I'm how old, and you're spouting nonsense like that, nyang!"
[...Where am I supposed to play along here.]
Eri sighed. Pouting, Tsukiyo plopped down on the ground in protest, lips pursed.
Enoch stared at her in bewilderment for a moment before turning at the gaze from beside him.
"What's up, Rionne?"
"Hm? Hehe, nothing. It's just... you all look like kids playing around."
"...Kids?"
Rionne giggled as he stared at her blankly.
"I'll exempt our Enoch from that."
"Feels like I'm prostrating myself in thanks."
[Of course, you're the Brain King! Let me bow and—owf!]
Undine went flying after catching Enoch's palm. Rionne, bursting into delighted laughter, plopped down beside him, forming a pretty flower bud with her hands and resting her chin on it.
"Anyway, Enoch. What happened all of a sudden? I already knew your martial prowess was Grand Master level, but in terms of realm, you seemed pretty far off."
"Choco said it: focus on one thing."
"Yeah. But it didn't feel like that."
"If you gather everything into one and pull it upward, that's focusing on one. Convergence in the end."
Tsukiyo, listening from the side, scrunched up her face grotesquely.
"...What nonsense. Holding four weights in one hand doesn't make it one weight, nyang."
"It worked anyway."
"But that's..., still..."
Tsukiyo spun her head around, as if her common sense was in turmoil. Enoch continued explaining.
"Anyway, that led to me creating a world inside myself. Not harmonizing with nature, but dominating it—an independent little world separate from this one. Hmm... 'Lesser World' or something?"
"Lesser World?"
"Yeah. Convergence again."
Rionne pursed her lips and tapped them thoughtfully with her index finger, lost in thought.
Had he helped somehow? She was higher realm than him, but if it could aid her even a bit, that was great.
"Uwaa...."
Yawning lightly and stretching, he noticed the rangers—who'd been watching awkwardly from afar—edging closer cautiously.
"Choco."
"Why, nyang? Finally warming up to the idea of me as your daughter, nyang?"
"Take care of the aftermath."
"......?"
Enoch passed out on the spot.
*
Cradling the collapsed Enoch as she walked, Rionne pondered deeply.
'Lesser World. I've definitely heard something like that before.'
Her dad had mentioned it offhand once. To ascend beyond demigod to true godhood—and even transcend that to become a truly solitary, complete being—one needed to construct their own world.
Only when that nurtured world surpassed the one they inhabited could they break free of the world's will and be reborn as a transcendent.
"Hmm.... A world, huh...."
[What're you fretting over? It's his enlightenment—how's it gonna help you?]
"Somehow, it feels like it's clicking."
[......!]
Undine widened her eyes and lowered her voice.
[For real? Then....]
"Yeah. If I play it right, I might actually reach it?"
Undine clamped her mouth shut. But only for a moment before she snickered and smacked Rionne's shoulder.
[You'd better take good care of him. Gobbling up enlightenment all the way to demigod? You owe him a lifetime of service.]
"Of course. I've always treated Enoch well."
If their relationship deepened over time, she'd treat him even better. Considering the centuries of backlog, she might pamper him to death....
"Ahem!"
Rionne hugged the Enoch in her arms a bit tighter for no reason. He was getting too big for carrying to look graceful, but she had no intention of handing him off.
"Hehe."
His sleeping face was just too adorable. She wanted to squeeze him and roll around right there.
"Might be uncomfortable—want me to carry him on my back?"
When a ranger dared suggest taking Enoch from her, Rionne shook her head firmly.
"Nah. Let's hurry back and rest."
*
Chirp-chirp—
He opened his eyes to the sound of crickets. Squinting at the faint moonlight filtering through the window, the hazy room came into dim focus.
"Mm...."
A quiet murmur in her sleep. Rionne mumbled with her mouth as she slumbered soundly.
Reaching out habitually to stroke her soft hair, she let out a satisfied huff and burrowed deeper into the pillow.
Suddenly—!
"Butler."
Tsukiyo's face popped up abruptly, nearly making him yelp. Enoch blinked wide-eyed, caught his breath, then furrowed his brow.
"...What?"
"I'm asking seriously."
"What right after I wake up...."
Now scanning his surroundings, he realized it was a familiar space—Rionne's house in the Elf Alliance territory.
"I know it'll sound weird, and I'm not joking at all. I hate dragging out the backstory since I know shame too, so it'd be awkward..., but at least acknowledge I'm serious, nyang."
Her calm, subdued voice drew his gaze; in the pale moonlight, her pupils gleamed softly.
Jet-black irises with golden pupils—like a crescent moon in the night sky. Swept up in the mood despite himself, Enoch nodded.
"What is it?"
"Be my da—ghrk!"
Enoch yanked her in, buried her under the covers, and pressed her head firmly into the pillow, sealing her away.
"Got it, so just go to sleep already."
*
Enoch woke to faint sunlight seeping in. He must've been exhausted; he'd stirred briefly last night but fallen right back asleep, and now it was morning.
Snore.... Tsukiyo slept beside him, snoring softly. She must've been tired too.
As he sat up rustling, Rionne sensed it and opened her eyes.
"Mm...? Awake already, Enoch...?"
"Yeah. You okay?"
"Totally. Fit as a fid—what, what is this...!"
Rionne jolted in shock at Tsukiyo, sprawled face-down with her butt sticking up in the air.
"...Hieeek!?"
Startled by the noise, Tsukiyo bounced off the bed.
"S-Scared me, nyang...."
"Why are you sleeping here! I gave you your own room!"
"What's wrong with a daughter sleeping next to her dad?"
"Ugh...! I just can't comprehend this!"
Ignoring Rionne's puffed cheeks, Tsukiyo rubbed her eyes and waved sleepily at Enoch.
"D-Dad.... Sleep well, nyang...? Hehe...."
He'd said he got it last night, but she'd taken it at face value. About to say something, Enoch bit his lip and sighed instead.
"Daughter."
"Yeah!"
"Just go back to sleep."
"Got it, nyang!"
Tsukiyo dove back into bed.
"Whew."
This was no joke.
*
Rionne, getting out of bed, declared:
"You probably shouldn't use any strength for a while."
She didn't know how long, either. So the spar they'd planned soon was off too. Enoch tilted his head curiously.
"Why?"