Chapter 80
Chapter 80
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 80
Chapter Title: Doting Fathers
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"Ah, Count! You've come."
"Pedro. On duty, I see."
"Yes, sir! Gotta work hard to feed my little girl!"
A diligent soldier.
He was a citizen and soldier who revered the sword and loved the kingdom of Carpe.
On top of that, like Kallias, he was a father with a daughter, and since his wife had passed away long ago, they had quite a bit in common.
"I'll show you the way."
"No need for an escort?"
"Of course. If we didn't guide the Count himself, we'd get chewed out for it."
"I see."
"Besides, hardly anyone comes here, so one guard is plenty. The pay's decent, the work's easy, but man, it's boring. I like it, though."
"Boring, yet you stick with it. If you're volunteering, there are plenty of other jobs."
"No choice, even if it is boring."
"For your daughter, then."
A total doting dad.
"Yes. If I go off and get myself killed in some dangerous business, who's gonna raise her? I'm all she's got for family, so I have to watch myself."
"You love her dearly."
"I could put her in my eye and not mind a bit. She's that cute. When I get home, that little thing clings to me and won't let go. She takes after her mom, so pretty..."
A hint of bitterness touched Pedro's lips. He seemed to be thinking of his late wife.
"How old is she?"
"Twelve this year."
The same age as Emily, by coincidence.
Kallias chuckled, naturally thinking of Emily.
"What do kids these days like?"
"You have a daughter too, Count?"
"Yeah, she's twelve this year too. Stubborn kid, though."
"I see. Feels kinda nice somehow. But sadly, mine won't be much reference."
Why was that?
"This one... she's different from kids her age. She's really into swords..."
A girl interested in swords.
Just like a child from the kingdom of Carpe, where Valterus was the state religion.
Kallias knew another girl obsessed only with swords.
It piqued his interest even more.
"Let her try it."
"Maybe she figured out early that I'm sword fodder for a living since her mom's gone. Now she's throwing tantrums to learn the sword herself. Wants to be a knight..."
He seemed troubled by it.
He didn't want to raise his only daughter as a knight, but she was so insistent that he'd at least given her a wooden sword.
"There's the pilgrim path too."
"Ugh... If she becomes a pilgrim, I'd hardly see her face. And pilgrims are dangerous even after. Perfect for dying on the road somewhere. No way."
Kallias swallowed a grunt and nodded unenthusiastically.
Honestly, pilgrims weren't a preferred profession for nobles or most folks. It was a thorny path with more deaths than even knights faced.
With the church's reputation in the gutter now, you might even get pelted with stones if luck was bad.
Who'd choose it?
"You thinking of raising her as a knight?"
"Eh, not sure. She seems to want the Royal Academy... But with my status, no chance."
Royal Academy.
A royal school for training kids into knights.
"Graduate normally, you get a knighthood and a famed sword bestowed. Top three cadets even get choices: join the Royal Knights or become a church paladin."
He hadn't known about those perks.
Sounded good on paper.
"Not a bad idea to let her try."
"Sigh, don't even. She takes after me and can swing a sword decently, but you need connections to get in. Waitlist is endless, can't even dream of it. And the enrollment fee? No way with guard pay. Pathetic dad, sorry."
Royal Academy, huh.
'Emily would love it.'
Not as good as real northern combat experience, but it'd be valuable.
Kallias could write a recommendation easily, and with northern blood, admission wouldn't be an issue.
'She had talent with the sword, but no friends.'
Last time he saw her, he'd promised a sword next time, but she said no need. This could be a fine gift instead.
'Wonder if she's doing okay.'
Two months since leaving the north.
Suddenly worried about her in that cold white land.
Was he slowly turning into a father?
First time since rebirth in this world that he thought of someone and missed them.
Though he still lacked true parental feelings.
"Here we are. I'll wait, so take your time."
"Right."
Lost in thoughts, they were already at Beatrice's place.
No, her lab maybe.
Knock knock. A faint "come in" from inside.
"Pardon the intrusion."
He opened the door to a mess of scattered papers, artifacts, and research materials greeting him.
"You're here."
Beatrice lounged in a chair, long dark purple hair cascading down, legs crossed on a leather sofa. It was fairly provocative. What she wore barely qualified as clothes—just scraps of fabric.
Black silk slip.
The kind where a breeze would reveal everything.
"You got exhibitionist tendencies?"
"I put this on 'cause you came, Count. When I'm deep in research, even this comes off. Fabric irritates my sensitive skin. Wanna join the experiment?"
Pretty disarming words, but he refused without a flicker.
Kallias had no interest in such things.
"Heading to the Altemion Count's estate. Alert the church or royals, word gets to him, he spirits away the magic crystals and beasts. Better to hit 'em by surprise."
"Sounds good. Let's head out now."
"In that getup?"
"Hang on."
She threw on an outer coat and a full-body hood.
* * *
The sun began setting outside the window.
Crimson light burned fiercely in its final blaze. Shadows stretched long as the world filled with encroaching darkness.
In the rising gloom.
Scratch scratch scratch.
Eeeeeek— the scraping grated on his ears.
"Gonna go insane from the noise."
Kallias's arranged lodging.
Orkal, quietly tending his spirit sword Chongryeong, scowled at Vivi clawing the door.
Kallias was out.
Fine so far.
But using a Heresy Inquisitor captain like a glorified pet sitter? Infuriating.
Brans was off somewhere, so he had to watch Vivi.
"Not house-sitting a dog. Ridiculous. How'd it come to this?"
Scratch scratch scratch scratch.
Vivi kept at it regardless. Maybe 'cause she saw Kallias vanish through that door.
Clawing all day.
"Argh! Shut it! Enough already!"
Kallias doted on the thing, but not Orkal.
Not one bit.
Bruises from the brainwave dragon still lingered on him.
Plus, it was a baby beast.
Instinctual revulsion ran deep.
Especially since Orkal had lost family to beast raids.
-King! King! Grrrrowl!
"You little shit, think I'm easy prey!?"
Perfect timing—no other outlet for his frustration.
Furry beasts learned best from a good thrashing.
Clang!
Orkal irritably sheathed Chongryeong, gripped it like a club, and approached Vivi.
Sensing something, Vivi bolted suddenly.
"Won't get far in here..."
Crash—!
It smashed through the window and fled.
"What the—! No, crazy what?!"
The hotel was third floor.
Even beasts died jumping that.
Or got badly hurt at least.
Kallias treasured Vivi.
Dread hit him—Kallias's wrath turning on him.
He'd be the one thrashed.
Realization sank in.
"Please, please!"
Orkal leaped from the window too.
Thud!
Landing sword at his hip, he scanned around.
"Where—why gone!!"
No Vivi. Just dark night streets.
Sparse streetlamps flickering.
Orkal realized.
'I'm screwed.'
Lost Vivi.
"No way it vanished that fast from that height?"
Kallias fed it weird stuff, figured.
Thunder wyrmling alright. No ordinary.
Could've done that ages ago—why claw the door?
No time for regrets.
"Gotta find it before Kallias returns."
No thanks to another beating. Orkal half-drew Chongryeong.
Insects buzzed out, manifesting.
"Find Vivi."
Thwip!
Up on a high rooftop, Orkal closed his eyes, focusing.
Moments later.
His brow furrowed as he opened them.
"Why there?"
Vivi headed to the count's mansion.
Count Altemion's estate.
* * *
Altemion estate basement.
"You want it? Lick it up like a dog."
"You bastard!! I'm no plaything! I'm the servant of Kallias, future lord of the north, a man of pride!"
"Eat this, get an extra steak."
Too good to refuse.
Chomp chomp!
Not even on the floor—served in a dish. Fine.
Damn good meat too.
'Might not be bad living like this.'
Three square meals of meat, sleep and shit whenever.
Beast cage was spacious enough for anything.
Being a noble pet didn't seem half bad.
"Wanna be my pet now?"
"W-what nonsense!! Glory awaits serving the future north lord!! Release me, you insolent wastrel!"
"Wastrel? What?"
"Y-yeah! Wastrel! If not, what is it? Kingdom's top wastrel ain't me—it's you, coward! Man up, fight with swords! No more sneaky beast tricks!!"
"You worm worse than bugs dare...!"
"Whatcha gonna do? Huh!? Gotta keep me safe to lure your lord, right? Idiot! Can't do shit? That's your future!"
Brans smirked smugly after the taunt, but flinched at Violle's chilling face.
"Starting to wonder why I kept you alive. No harm killing you. Kallias dies here anyway."
"Uh..."
That so?
"Kill him. Was gonna make an example before Kallias, but changed mind. Cocky servant scum. Waste of air—just die."
"Eek! Mercy! Waaah! Please spare me! I was wrong, fuck!!"
Bang! Boom!
Beasts batted the cage like a toy, rocking it like a ship in waves.
Brans wailed tears and snot, but Violle's lips curved in a sharp smile.
"Young master!! Trouble!"
"What."
"Someone's coming!"
"Eeeeeek!!"
Boom—!
Massive explosion shook the underground chamber.
As Violle staggered to steady himself.
Wall burst again, sand and dust rolling in low with the intruder.
Jet-black hair.
Ashen eyes devoid of emotion.
Rosary at neck, clear divine stigmata on handback.
Brooch on chest symbolizing north's lord.
Kallias von Jervan.
"My lord!! You came to save me!! I, Brans, believed in you steadfastly!"
"Brans? Why are you here?"
"Pardon?"
Brans's flowing tears dried up instantly.