Chapter 270
Chapter 270
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 270
Chapter Title: Nephew (2)
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The word "uncle" kept echoing in his mind.
Demian was too flustered to think straight.
"Uhahaha! Demian, you can't believe it either, huh? I was the same at first."
His father said with a hearty laugh.
"While we're on the topic, you should go see Luise. I don't know if she needs anything!"
With that, his father bolted out of the drawing room like a shot.
"Instead of standing around, let's go see Luise right away."
His mother grabbed Demian's hand and led him along. Demian shouted in panic.
"M-Mother, wait a moment. I need time to think..."
"Look at this boy? Are you the one who's pregnant?"
His mother's grip was surprisingly strong. Demian was dragged by her into Luise's room.
As they entered, Luise was lying in bed. Beside her sat her husband, Balrag, in a chair.
"Oh, Demian! You're back!"
Luise sat up in bed the moment she saw him. Demian hurriedly tried to stop her.
"Why are you lying down? Is something wrong with you...?"
"The doctor recommended bed rest for the early stages of pregnancy. So don't worry too much."
Balrag explained to Demian, who let out a sigh of relief.
"Demian, was the trip hard? You're not hurt anywhere, are you?"
Luise took Demian's hand and asked. Demian assured her he was fine.
"Sister... I... I heard... so... congratulations."
Demian managed to say with difficulty. Luise beamed at him.
"Thanks for the congratulations. You're the only one for me, little brother."
Demian felt at a loss for words.
His sister would never know for the rest of her life. That he didn't deserve thanks.
In his previous life, Demian had killed his entire family with his own hands. He had stolen their happiness and trampled their future.
All of it was what his family deserved to have. Demian had only given it back to them. So he had no right to receive thanks.
But why?
His eyes grew hot. His throat tightened, leaving him speechless.
"Demian? Why are you crying?"
Luise asked in surprise. Demian covered his eyes with his hand.
"It's nothing..."
"Becoming an uncle makes you that happy? Still, stop it. What kind of man cries so easily?"
Luise wiped his tears with her thumb.
But once the tears started, they wouldn't stop easily.
"Exactly. Crying over something like this—what's the point?"
Then a familiar voice came from the side. Demian turned his head.
In one corner of the room sat a young woman gnawing on jerky.
Soul Reaper, Veronica Sanchez.
The moment he saw Veronica, his tears dried up instantly. It was just too absurd.
"Why are you here?"
"Mother held me back."
"M-Mother?"
Demian made a baffled face. How long had she been here to use such a term?
"She held me back, and I actually stayed?"
"And the food was delicious."
"What nonsense..."
"Benny! Was it that good?"
At that moment, his mother chimed in with a delighted face. Demian was dumbfounded once more.
Benny? Benny?
They'd gotten so close she had a nickname like that?
"I don't say empty compliments. Everything you made was delicious."
"That makes me so happy. Anything else you want to eat? Just say the word."
"I want that pumpkin pie from last time."
"Got it. We'll have it for dessert today."
Veronica grinned widely in delight.
"Mother, when did you get so chummy with her?"
"Her? Nothing rude about our Benny."
Every time he heard "Benny," Demian felt goosebumps rising.
"I always wished for another daughter. I never dreamed that wish would come true like this."
Demian was speechless.
Veronica Sanchez? The murder-crazed woman—as a daughter?
"Oh, and Mother, I chased off the wolves in the forest like you asked."
"Oh, thank you. The castle folk were getting anxious because of those wolves."
Even more absurd was Veronica Sanchez, tamed by his mother.
"Eh, whatever."
Demian decided to let it go.
* * *
That evening.
Demian enjoyed a meal with his family for the first time in a while.
"Brother! You disappear for so long and send just one lousy letter? That's too much!"
Abel, back from inspecting the territory, grumbled at Demian.
"You too—you're a busy guy."
Olivier took Demian's side. Still, Abel's expression didn't soften.
"Yeah, your brother's busy. But he's back safe, so forgive him."
It wasn't just Olivier. His father took Demian's side too.
"Still, more frequent letters would have been nice..."
Demian savored his mother's cooking while listening to Abel's complaints—a rare treat.
Now that he was a great noble, he could easily leave meals to the servants.
But Mrs. Haksen always made the food herself.
Since she said it was her joy, Demian no longer tried to stop her.
"Demian, come with me for a bit."
After the meal, his father called him.
Demian popped the last bite of pumpkin pie into his mouth and followed.
"The night air is nice and cool tonight, isn't it?"
His father said, looking up at the night sky. Just as he said, the cool breeze felt wonderful.
"Your mother really showed off her skills. I ate my fill for once."
His father patted his belly contentedly.
"You're not going to ask what I've been up to?"
"I want to."
His father said plainly.
"But you have no intention of telling me."
"I'm sorry."
"No need to apologize. At your age, everyone keeps a few secrets from family. I did too."
His father's voice rang sincere and straightforward.
"But that doesn't mean I don't worry."
His father turned to look at Demian.
"Demian, promise me just one thing. That you'll never do anything dangerous, that you'll always come back safe."
Demian was silent for a moment. His father pressed him.
"See, not answering right away means you don't want to promise."
"N-No... I promise. I'll... come back safe. Always."
"You have to keep it."
His father patted Demian's shoulder and returned to the castle.
Left alone, Demian silently gazed at the sky.
"...A nephew."
It was something that never happened in his previous life. His actions had changed the future.
Maybe that's why. No matter how much time passed, he couldn't believe it.
"Since it's Sister's child, it'll be smart and cute for sure."
The more he thought about his nephew, the more his heart swelled.
He was happy. Joyful. A radiant emotion bubbled up from deep within, beyond any words.
He wished these days could go on forever.
But Demian knew. It was still too soon to dream of happiness.
"Dorgo."
Just saying the name made his blood boil. His chest felt crushed with frustration.
Demian gripped his shoulders with both hands. Hard enough to draw blood.
Otherwise, he couldn't suppress his rage.
"I haven't... killed you yet."
As long as Dorgo and Pandemonium remained, Demian couldn't dream of happiness.
He was anxious. Afraid. Terrified.
If he made a single mistake, this hard-won happiness would vanish.
Like in his previous life, his family would all die, mocked by the black mages.
Even his unborn nephew would lose his life and suffer a gruesome fate.
"Killo."
Demian murmured lowly. Killo and the dwarves emerged from his shadow.
-You called?
"You have work to do."
-Just say it. We'll follow any order.
"From today, remodel this castle."
At the word "remodel," Killo's eyes gleamed.
-Hoo, remodel... To what level?
"The highest level. Make it a fortress solid enough to repel any enemy."
-An interesting request. Don't worry. We'll pour every bit of the Hammerfall Dwarves' skill into it.
Killo flexed his fists. His hands were itching, it seemed.
"And one more thing: do it without the castle residents knowing."
-Huh? Why add such a hassle?
"Because the family would worry."
Suddenly fortifying the castle's defenses would likely alarm them.
Explaining the dwarven souls to his family would be tricky too.
"This is just in case. I have no intention of letting enemies set foot here."
-If the master commands, we obey. We'll start today—hand it over?
At Killo's request, Demian pulled two items from his subspace.
They looked like miniature building models.
But they were real buildings.
The dwarves' facilities and warehouses, shrunk down. Dwarf technology at its finest.
Made portable long ago, in case they had to leave the city.
-We scraped up all the materials left in the city, so no worries. We'll make it so not even a master-class can set foot.
Killo said as he took them.
-Lads! Time to work! We're dead anyway—let's go wild!
At Killo's words, the dwarves cheered.
Even in death, they were dwarves. They couldn't shake their artisan spirit.
The dwarves vanished, leaving Demian behind.
Alone again, Demian looked up at the night sky.
"Guess I should think about a nephew gift."
The thought crossed his mind. His heart swelled once more.
But Demian's wish didn't come true.
"Lord Demian, I'm sorry to come so suddenly."
Cheongyeom's direct disciple.
Agnes had come to see him.
Demian had to interrupt his card game with Abel to greet her.
"Pandemonium has begun a large-scale demon summoning ritual in the Tart Kingdom."
At those words, Demian felt the blood in his veins turn ice cold.
It was something that never happened in his previous life. The future had changed again.
But there was one more shocking revelation.
"Master Cheongyeom set out to suppress this incident but has gone missing."