Chapter 53
Chapter 53
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Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter: 19
Chapter Title: Bell (2)
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Jamie watched his sobbing mother and thought.
'What is this thing called love?'
He had possessed it once in the past too, but so much time had passed that he couldn't even remember it now.
From right after his reincarnation up until now, he had received so much affection from Sears, but aside from the discomfort he felt from that warmth, he hadn't sensed any other emotions.
It was only natural. Back in his Diablo Volpir days, to kill the 12 Gods, he had discarded everything except his thirst for revenge.
But what about now?
'It started when I first met Riki and Anna.'
Jamie frowned at the inexplicable emotion rising from the depths of his chest.
The first time he saw those siblings, along with the impulse to kill them, he had felt something like pity, which he shouldn't have.
And when Riki threw himself in harm's way for Jamie's sake, emotions besides anger had welled up inside him.
Jamie didn't know what they were, but he knew they were one of the things he had discarded in the past.
It had been the same when Mayatre shed tears for her lover who no longer existed in the world.
And when Vena overcame her own issues?
'I still don't get it.'
He couldn't empathize with Sears's state.
But watching her sob in her father's embrace after seven long years apart strangely made his chest ache.
Unable to remember love, he had no way of identifying what he was feeling now, but Jamie still sensed a strong discomfort.
And disgust as well.
But that disgust wasn't directed at Sears.
'I'm disgusted with myself.'
Had seven years been enough time to change even Jamie's fundamental nature?
No, that couldn't be.
Even through eons of time, he had never once forgotten. Amid endless suffering, he had craved revenge, lying in wait for whatever opportunity might arise.
"Don't cry, my daughter. Everything's fine now."
"I'm truly, truly sorry..."
Emotions were still unnecessary.
This conviction hadn't changed.
A mind worn down by comrades' sacrifices and betrayals would eventually drive one mad.
So one had to navigate everything alone, in a state of emptiness.
'Then what happened to me?'
Joy was evident on the old man's face as he comforted his daughter.
'I failed.'
Diablo Volpir, who had abandoned everything to stand alone, hadn't been able to surpass the stronghold of the 12 Gods.
'Why did I reincarnate?'
Why had he been granted another chance?
Jamie didn't know. Ever since reincarnating, he had pondered it endlessly but found no answers.
But looking at them now.
And seeing his own changes, a thought suddenly struck him.
'To avoid repeating the mistakes of the past.'
Jamie gazed at the marquis and Sears.
"Daddy! Hic-!"
"Yes. My daughter, my daughter."
"Mommy, don't cry-! Waaah!"
Sara, who had been holding back her tears beside him, finally couldn't anymore and ran toward Sears.
Jamie watched the scene and murmured.
"I don't know."
He couldn't yet judge what was right or wrong.
There was still plenty of time.
'What I need is more experience.'
He would savor in this life what he hadn't in the previous one.
Then perhaps he would understand.
Jamie chuckled softly as he looked at Sara crying while clinging to Sears's waist.
The marquis and Sears were soothing his sister with flustered expressions.
Once the brief reunion between father and daughter ended, Sears stroked the head of Sara, who was sobbing while clinging to her leg.
"Mommy won't cry anymore."
"Uwaaaang- Don't cry! Don't cry!"
"This girl."
Sears rubbed her reddened eyes and smiled awkwardly.
The Bell Marquis also awkwardly comforted Sara with a sheepish expression.
"Grandpa's sorry."
"Grandpa made Mommy cry! I hate Grandpa!"
Sara dodged the Bell Marquis's hand and moved to the opposite side of Sears. The marquis, shocked, couldn't close his gaping mouth.
"Sara. That's not allowed! Apologize right now."
"But..."
"Sara!"
As Sears scowled, Sara made a tearful face and apologized to the marquis.
"Sorry..."
But her pouting lips and furrowed brow showed she wasn't sorry at all.
The marquis laughed heartily.
"Heavens, I've really earned her dislike."
"I'm sorry."
"What do you have to be sorry for? Sara and I can sort it out later. Right, Sara?"
"......"
Sara, who had moved behind Sears again, peeked out without answering.
When Sears said, 'Sara, that's not allowed!', the Bell Marquis assured her it was fine and stopped her.
Then he turned to look at Jamie, who had been quietly observing.
"So you're Jamie."
"Hello."
Jamie had stayed silent until now, as there hadn't been an opening to join in.
He lifted his bowed head and looked at the marquis's face.
'This old man is the head of the great Bell family.'
Unlike when he had been comforting Sears earlier, the marquis now exuded strong charisma beneath his generous demeanor.
As expected of the founding merit family that had designed the entire Seldam Kingdom.
The Bell Marquis bent his knees slightly to meet Jamie's eyes.
"I've wanted to meet you."
"I've wanted to meet you too."
The marquis burst into hearty laughter at Jamie's bright smile.
"I'm glad you seem to like me."
"You're my mother's father. No reason not to like you."
"To hear such words from a seven-year-old... Haha!"
For some reason, the Bell Marquis kept laughing heartily.
Then he casually spread his arms wide.
Jamie knew what that gesture meant and nearly grimaced.
"Come here."
"......"
"It's okay."
Jamie glanced at Sears.
She nodded with a smile.
'...I still hate this.'
His feelings had changed somewhat after seeing Sears and the marquis, but this was still uncomfortable.
"My grandson. I'm so happy to meet you."
I'm happy too, Grandpa.
'But please let go already......'
Please.
The Bell Marquis had prepared a banquet for his long-lost eldest daughter and grandchildren.
He had stopped in several cities on the way and received lavish treatment, but this was on another level.
The enormous table seemed ready to buckle—no exaggeration.
The marquis had even said outright, 'I need to replace it with a sturdier, bigger one!'
They truly ate until their stomachs nearly burst.
Especially the steamed shrimp coated in special sauce and grilled—it was the best dish Jamie had ever tasted.
"Why did you prepare so much?"
"It's only natural for your visit. It would've been nice if the count had come too."
"He's just so busy."
"As the lord of a territory."
They had finished the banquet and moved to a separate spot for tea time.
"By the way, I thought you'd like me after the meal, but Sara still hates me, I see."
Sara was currently glued to Sears's side, wary of the marquis.
He thought her good mood from the delicious food would have lifted it, but no.
"Sara. Do you still hate Grandpa?"
"......I hate Grandpa."
With that, she wriggled behind Sears's back.
The Bell Marquis wasn't hurt like before, but he sheepishly scratched his cheek.
"This girl."
Sears shook her head, saying she couldn't do anything about it.
"She'll warm up soon. She's just straightforward."
"Hm."
The marquis pondered for a moment, then snapped his fingers as if struck by a good idea.
"Wait here a bit."
He called over a servant waiting outside and gave some instructions.
Moments later, the servant returned with a gold-plated box about the size of a hand. The marquis grinned wickedly, like he was unveiling his secret weapon, and called to Sara.
"Sara. Do you like candy?"
"......Candy?"
She looked at Sears.
Sears gave a gesture of permission, and Sara nodded at the marquis.
"I like candy."
"Ta-da!"
The marquis opened the gold-plated box, revealing it packed with beautifully wrapped milk candies.
He took one out and handed it to Sara.
"Sweet candies personally procured from the Milky Kingdom. Take it."
"Mm."
Sara stared at the candy the marquis offered, unsure what to do.
Then Jamie spoke to her in a stern voice.
"Grandpa's giving it to you. Take it."
"Oppa?"
"Now."
Startled by Jamie's scary expression, Sara slowly approached the marquis and took the candy.
Jamie called her back as she tried to return without thanking him.
"Say 'thank you'."
"......Thank you."
Overcoming her fear of her unusually stern brother today, Sara gave her thanks without backtalk.
She returned to Sears's side and unwrapped the candy.
The translucent candy sparkled beautifully.
Sara quietly admired it before popping it into her small mouth, and her eyes flew wide open.
"So sweet!!"
In her three years of baby life, she had eaten many(?) candies, but none as delicious as this.
Sara's eyes sparkled as she rolled the milk candy in her mouth.
"Hahaha. I knew you'd like it."
"What kind of candy is it that she's loving it so much?"
"Candy made from the sap of the World Tree."
At the mention of World Tree, Jamie's eyes widened.
The 'Source of Life' that elves called their mother was the World Tree. But it existed under elven protection and never allowed human access.
'Humans obtained a World Tree?!'
The elves were few in number, but their homeland was harsh wilderness—a natural fortress in itself.
Humans had invaded elven territory multiple times to claim the World Tree but never breached it once.
Instead, they suffered devastating losses to high elves who had reached 9th class.
That was centuries ago, and humans hadn't attacked elves since.
'How in the world?'
As Jamie's mind grew complicated, the marquis added an explanation.
"It's an artificially cultivated World Tree, but the sap tastes exquisite."
'Ah, an artificial World Tree.'
That made sense. No matter how he thought about it, it hadn't added up otherwise.
How could humans covet a World Tree in elven territory?
But this was equally unbelievable.
'They artificially created a World Tree?'
Not as potent as the real thing, but the fact that they produced it artificially was astonishing.
"Anyway, thanks to Jamie, Sara seems to like Grandpa a little now. I might've waited until my arm fell off otherwise."
The Bell Marquis patted Jamie's head gratefully.
Jamie tried not to grimace.
"By the way. I hear our Jamie has amazing magic talent?"
The marquis smirked and asked him.
The Bell family wasn't a traditional mage lineage, but they did have some mage blood.
One could imagine his excitement upon hearing about his grandson.
"Mind if I touch your hand for a moment?"
"Sure."
A hand was fine.
As Jamie extended his small hand, the marquis gently caressed it.
A bit of mana flowed in from the fingertips.
It was the marquis's.
After a few minutes, he pulled away, his expression stiff.
"What's wrong, Father?"
"......No. It's nothing. Just shocking."
The marquis looked at his grandson with a calm face.
'The rumors weren't exaggerated.'
If anything, they were understated.
'How was a child with such power born between my family and the Weltons?'
The Weltons had long been a swordsmanship prestigious family, and the Bells weren't specialized in martial prowess to begin with.
If anything, they leaned toward magic, but no remarkable mages had appeared among their ancestors.
Normally, one would rejoice at birthing a genius, but this was too much to simply celebrate.
The marquis silently rose and walked to his desk. He retrieved something from a drawer and approached Jamie.
"Take this."
As he opened his hand, a necklace dangling from his fingers swayed in the air.
"What's this?"
The marquis smiled faintly at the question.
"An artifact that will aid you greatly—just once, someday."
Jamie looked at the blue gem embedded in the necklace.
The power contained within felt extraordinary even to him.