Chapter 65
Chapter 65
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 65
Chapter Title: Daughter's Challenge
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"Word has spread far and wide that Emily is your daughter, my lord."
"Is that so."
Even as Brans spoke, Kallias calmly continued preparing to depart.
Light chainmail armor made of leather.
It appeared simple at a glance, but worn by Kallias, it made him look like a noble knight to anyone who saw him.
An artifact from the treasury.
「Inos's Chain Light Armor」
The inside was made of chains, making it sturdy yet lightweight.
Kallias's swordsmanship focused on quick strikes and erratic changes.
Thus, he didn't favor heavy plate armor.
He had mostly worn leather armor before, but the treasury happened to have suitable armor, so he took it.
It was light, didn't hinder movement, and surprisingly tough—resistant to most attacks.
He now knew the reason.
The monster called Inos grew hard minerals on its back, and the chains were made from those.
The leather was also from an Inos, hence the name 「Inos's Chain Light Armor」.
It had already been confirmed that even a Carcass-grade weapon couldn't scratch it.
At least he wouldn't suffer major injuries like before.
"Are you all right?"
"That's not for you to worry about."
The fact that Emily was his daughter could be revealed anytime without issue.
It was just a matter of timing.
"Won't there be people approaching Emily now?"
"She's a clever girl. She'll handle it herself."
Even if they approached.
It wouldn't harm her.
Who would dare harm the daughter of the man who would one day rule the North?
Of course, some might approach with ill intent.
‘Elbton will take care of it.’
Emily was his granddaughter.
There was no reason he wouldn't cherish her.
Unlike himself, she would grow strong under his shadow.
"Won't you meet her?"
"The chance will come when the time is right."
He said that, but the words "daughter" and "father" still felt awkward.
‘At least now the world knows she's my daughter, so it should ease her a bit.’
It would lighten the burden on a child who couldn't call her father "Father." For now, that was enough.
Kallias was the North's successor, and in time, he would naturally become its lord.
She had lived harshly until now, so it was fine for her to enjoy some comfort.
"Oh, and one more thing."
"What is it."
He donned the chainmail and reached into the air to pull out his cloak.
His favored Twilight Cloak.
Attaching it to the chainmail gave him the refined look of a knight.
"You said to leave the handling of Rivan and Rini to you, my lord."
"Hmm. He's dumping it on me."
Handling them, huh. Leaving the traitor’s son and daughter to him.
He was starting to offload all the troublesome matters.
‘Something about my knight order.’
It seemed like Elbton's way of training his successor or whatever.
Annoying.
"What will you do?"
Rivan aside, Rini would grow into a fine knight.
She would become a knight to steadfastly defend the North, and with proper guidance, she could rise even higher.
Rini had special eyes.
"No need to 'handle' them. Just leave them be."
Of course, their lives would change from before.
As the traitor's children, they would face plenty of glares.
But that didn't mean he had any reason to help. They needed to overcome that mountain on their own.
"Have you prepared the smithy?"
"Yes. Dexter will be over the moon when he arrives. He'll prefer this place over Trista."
He left the broken Divine Spirit Sword behind.
When Dexter came, he'd inspect and repair it or whatever.
Repairing it would be great, but if not, there was no helping it.
He had plenty of swords even without a Divine Spirit Sword; he could just find another good one.
‘Spirit Swords and above don't vanish when broken, so shattering them finely to make artifacts wouldn't be bad either.’
He already had four swords in his possession.
More excellent swords were always better, but he wasn't in a rush.
It was a far cry from his old mindset of carrying famed swords everywhere.
"Hmm."
Kallias pulled four swords from his Subspace.
Two were sheathed.
The other two were not.
『Predatory Sword - Roas』
『Thunder Clarity Sword - Rakan』
『Judgment Sword - Mida』
『Tyrant Sword - Karakto』
Just looking at them brought a satisfied smile.
After a moment's thought, Kallias tore cloth from his Subspace and wrapped it around the Judgment Sword and Tyrant Sword.
He hooked them into the slots on his belt and stowed his prepared rations and items into the Subspace.
"Preparations are complete."
"I'm sad there's nothing left for me to do."
The Subspace meant no more porter work. Brans was glum, but it was none of Kallias's concern.
"Enough idle talk. Let's go. The road is long."
He had spent more time than expected.
Since Helena arrived, these past few days.
The succession ceremony had been a simple affair.
Normally, inheriting a kingdom's title required an audience with the king, but the four great nobles' titles were special.
Especially for the North.
The North held ruling authority akin to a separate kingdom, so no one's permission was needed for succession.
「All of the North belongs to House Jerban」
True to that prestige, the count's title succession was handled simply within House Jerban.
They had sent the documents to the kingdom as well, so from now on, Kallias was a count.
"Should I call you 'Count' instead of 'my lord' now?"
"Do as you like."
A title was just a title.
He had inherited the title but had no desire to rule the North yet.
Thus, he took only the title.
He hadn't become the official family head.
It had taken quite some time to persuade Elbton, but he got the title in the end.
Even if he went to the Church now, they couldn't harass him with pointless interrogations.
Being a Heretic Inquisitor with a count's title would bring many advantages.
"Shall I bring the carriage?"
"No, we'll ride horses."
He had the Humasis saddle too.
He had no fear of riding anymore.
The road to the Black Forest wasn't smooth, so horses were better than a carriage.
At the castle stables, there were temperamental prized steeds.
The North saw heavy snow, so dogs outnumbered horses, but horses were still kept.
Horses were a knight's symbol.
As he entered the stables, a groom emerged as if waiting and bowed politely.
"This one."
He picked a suitable horse.
He scanned it with Triple Sight, but nothing special.
All blue.
"I'll prepare it."
"Use this saddle."
"Pardon?"
"It's mine."
"Ah, yes. Understood."
While waiting for the horse to be readied.
A woman with flowing red hair sidled up to him familiarly.
"Off to hunt?"
"......How did you know."
"My ears are sharp."
Nonsense.
Shadows within sword range became her ears.
It was Helena's sword ability.
"Coming along?"
"Sure, why not?"
"I don't mind."
He had to process the Thunder Wyrm Dragon's byproducts after the hunt anyway.
She would buy them.
"But are you okay with that?"
"I said I am."
"No, you can't ride a horse."
He flinched for a moment, but only briefly.
Kallias kept his composure.
"Ancient history."
"It's famous. The eldest son of a great noble house famed for swordsmanship can't ride a horse. Not a common tale."
Ignoring Helena's teasing, Kallias took the reins of the prepared horse.
He placed his foot in the stirrup.
Just before mounting, he took a deep breath.
A tense moment.
"Why so nervous over one horse."
Ignoring the mockery, he mounted in one smooth motion. The horse neighed shrilly—hiiing!
It reared up on its front legs, but Kallias's riding had already improved greatly.
Such antics were laughable.
"Whoa, whoa."
He seized the reins firmly, balanced, and calmed the horse.
He sweated a bit fearing an embarrassing fall, but it was a success.
A slight smile, and Helena laughed, calling his pride cute.
Annoying woman.
"You don't need to come hunting."
"Are you sulking?"
"You should see a healer. That level of delusion might mean mental illness."
Her eyes widened in disbelief at his sharp words.
"Your speech is so blunt. You're heading to the Church after the hunt anyway, right? Same road, so let's go together. And I came all the way to the North; can't just work and leave. As a native, give me a tour."
"Do what you want."
He turned the horse and passed through the gates.
Along the way, the territory folk bowed to Kallias.
Children waved cheekily, but he ignored them.
"Surprising."
"What is?"
"You used to scold naughty kids, saying it's a noble's duty to educate the lower classes—drawing your sword and all."
"......Ancient history."
"They say people change near death. You aren't ill, are you?"
"If you're just going to spout nonsense, leave."
"Oh. That's her over there."
Looking where Helena pointed.
Among the gathered crowd.
A familiar girl was visible.
"There, there. That's your daughter. You're not skipping a greeting, right? You're leaving today and won't be back for a while."
"It's best not to make a habit of eavesdropping like a rat."
"Calling a lady a rat...... Your words are too harsh."
Leaving grumbling Helena behind.
Kallias glanced at Emily, who watched quietly.
Emily held a sword in her hand.
The one Kallias had given her.
Spirit Sword - Lusen.
What should he say.
Or wave at least.
But words and hand wouldn't come easily. It was still too awkward; he didn't know what to say.
Then.
Emily burst from the crowd. Silver holy power enveloped her as she swung her sword at Kallias in one go.
Clang—!
A sudden ambush.
But Kallias calmly parried Emily's sword.
The startled horse reared wildly, but Kallias didn't fall.
"What are you doing."
As expected of Kallias's daughter.
Her actions were just like his.
"If you're leaving, say so. Why go without a word."
She raised her sword overhead and charged again. With a single stomp, Emily leaped her own height and struck at Kallias's head.
A refined, erratic sword beyond what you'd expect from a child.
In one leap, she shook the blade countless times, launching four attacks.
Fast and ever-changing.
‘Already at this level.’
She had mimicked his swordsmanship; her technique had improved.
A sword blending speed and variation.
It was Kallias's sword.
Against Emily's assault, Kallias responded with straightforward swordplay.
Block, thrust.
Simple yet heavy, the mid-weight sword halted Emily's blade.
A single exchange of blows.
The crowd marveled at the girl's swordsmanship, then even more at Kallias's calm reception.
Forgetting it was father and daughter crossing blades, they were entranced by the sword dance.
Even against Emily's flurry, Kallias blocked and thrust with minimal motion.
Precisely striking Lusen's center, Emily fell emptily from the air and landed.
Silence hung over the open space.
"Take this."
Clunk.
"What is it."
"A spirit stone. Take it. Next time we meet, I'll give you a new sword."
"This one's enough."
"Is it."
"......"
"......"
Silence settled between them.
Kallias simply looked down at Emily, and Emily lowered her sword to look up at him.
Finally, Emily spoke first.
"......When will you come back."
"When the time comes."
"......Okay."
It lacked warmth for a father-daughter talk, but Helena watched with a rising smile.
Dishonest father and daughter, somehow heartwarming.
"You're both so bad at being honest. Just say 'I'll be back soon' or 'wait for me' sweetly."
"Giddyap."
Kallias ignored Helena and urged his horse forward.