Chapter 93
Chapter 93
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Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter: 93
Chapter Title: Chapter 32: Home (4)
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The procession heading to the Grand Cathedral departed.
Jamie watched the receding line and let out a short sigh. Then he looked at his younger sister, who was sobbing in their mother's arms.
The farewell with Anna must have hit three-year-old Sara hard. It was understandable—she'd become close to her first peer, and she'd never experienced a parting before.
'Wonder when we'll meet again.'
He didn't know when it would be, but by then, Riki would surely be capable enough to handle his own role.
But that wouldn't be enough.
To stand by his side, simply doing one's part wasn't sufficient.
'You'll have to work hard. If you want to catch up to me no matter what.'
Since he'd resolved to take a different path from his previous life, his comrades had to be the best as well.
Only then could they defeat their mortal enemies.
"You know I'm going to drill you hard as soon as we get back."
-Hing...
Vena, perched on his shoulder, drooped her tail limply.
Still, since she'd reached that realm once before, getting there again wouldn't be too hard.
And it wasn't just Vena.
'I'll have to pay attention to the undead soldiers again.'
Because of his young age and rare alone time, he'd neglected the undead soldiers.
Azad and Raiza had surprisingly managed them well, but it was no substitute for the master's personal oversight.
'And now I have Gremia too.'
An artifact that perfectly recreated imagined spaces could easily produce a large-scale training ground.
Plus, he could add all sorts of extra elements, making it an intensely grueling one.
"Heh heh heh."
-M-Master, why are you laughing like that...
Vena shuddered at Jamie's eerie chuckle. She seemed to sense her own future.
"Let's head back now."
Just as Jamie was envisioning the training ground that would splendidly(?) forge his subordinates...
The Bell Marquis, who had been watching the procession from the front, turned to everyone and spoke.
His expression looked utterly bitter. It seemed the reality of sending off his longtime retainer was finally sinking in.
The marquis household's servants prepared to depart.
To Sara, exhausted from crying, Jamie carried her in his arms and tucked Vena into her embrace.
-Master!
'Just comfort her for today.'
-Gruk...
If sacrificing one Vena could make his one and only little sister happy, wasn't that more than enough?
The servant arrived once the carriage was ready.
"Preparations are complete, Marquis."
"Understood."
As the marquis family was about to board the carriage, the sound of noisy hooves approached from behind.
Everyone turned to see a familiar face riding toward them.
'That man's definitely...'
The holy enforcer whom Ras had called his senior.
His name was...
"Sir Ayrac Tedley?"
The marquis recalled his name and spoke it naturally in full.
"Whoa there—"
Ayrac calmed his horse and dismounted.
He bowed his head in greeting to the marquis.
"Sorry I'm late. I'm Ayrac Tedley, coming along to Hys in place of Sir Armetic."
"You're joining us, then."
"Yes."
The Welton family had decided to invite the Pyro Church to their territory, Hys.
Originally, Ras was set to go as bishop's proxy, but that changed to him accompanying the group to the Grand Cathedral as Riki and Anna's guardian.
Thus, Ayrac was going to Hys in Ras's stead.
"We look forward to traveling with you, Lady Welton."
"The pleasure's mine."
Sears smiled in welcome, and Ayrac smiled back. Then he looked at Jamie, standing blankly to the side, and bowed deeply.
"The holy enforcer offers his belated respects to the saint."
"No need for such formalities each time. And please take care of us."
"Don't worry."
Ayrac was a guard knight dispatched by the Pyro Church both to stand in for the bishop and to prepare for any potential Zenith Church ambushes.
One might wonder if a guard knight was necessary, but if the Zenith Church sent Seven Knights like last time, things would get messy.
'Though that's unlikely.'
By now, political pressure would have them tied up.
"Then let's be off."
The carriage carrying the marquis family set off.
Time flew by, and a week passed in the blink of an eye.
With all matters in Uptown settled, Jamie's family enjoyed peaceful days.
And soon, the day to return to Hys arrived.
The Bell Marquis gazed at his adorable grandchildren with a benevolent expression.
"Next time we meet, Jamie and Sara will have grown so much you won't recognize them."
The marquis's face looked haggard.
He'd spent the week extremely busy.
According to Jamie's eavesdropping on the marquis's room, the Zenith Church's political pressure was coming at a national level.
It would have been stranger if the marquis at the center wasn't busy.
Sears gently rubbed her father's wrinkled hand with a worried face.
"Take care of your health too, Father. We'll visit again, so stay well until then."
"Don't worry. I'm eating properly every day."
"Ease up on work a bit."
"The urgent matters are mostly done."
There was still much left, but he lied to avoid worrying his daughter.
Sears knew this but pretended not to and nodded.
"That's a relief, then."
The father and daughter gazed at each other fondly before sharing a brief hug.
"Give my regards to the count as well."
"I will."
"Let me hold my grandchildren once more."
Jamie and Sara were enveloped in the marquis's arms.
Jamie grimaced inwardly but smiled brightly on the outside.
Sara, meanwhile, sniffled desperately, trying to hold back her tears.
"Why is my granddaughter crying like this? What's making you sad?"
"Uu... Grandpa, can't you come too?"
"Hahaha. You're sad to part from Grandpa, eh, Sara?"
"Don't goo... Hng..."
"We'll definitely play again next time."
The marquis stroked Sara's head with a happy smile.
Sara pouted and stuck out her pinky.
"Pinky promise!"
"Alright. Pinky promise."
The marquis hooked his finger around Sara's tiny one.
Only then did Sara beam.
"If you cry and then smile, horns grow on your butt."
"Eeeeng!"
At the marquis's joke, she burst into tears again.
Not expecting such heartbroken sobs, the marquis panicked greatly.
The people around burst into loud laughter, teasing him.
After barely soothing Sara, the marquis sighed deeply and looked at Jamie.
"My reliable Jamie."
"Yes, Grandpa."
The marquis eyed the necklace of Tina around Jamie's neck.
Now just an ordinary necklace without power, its mere existence would serve as a fine talisman.
"Don't forget that your grandma and I are always watching over you."
"I won't."
"I'm looking forward to seeing how amazing you'll have become next time, my boy."
"I'll be a grand archmage by then."
"Uhahaha! Such a dependable lad!"
Pleased with Jamie's response, the marquis laughed heartily.
With a satisfied face, he ruffled his grandson's hair roughly. A child whose future was promising. There would be many threats, but he'd confirmed this time.
'He'll overcome them well.'
He didn't know if years would pass before they met again, but the marquis prayed it would come soon.
"Now go on."
"...I'll definitely come back."
"I'll be waiting. Take care, Sir Tedley."
"No need to worry."
Ayrac smiled reliably.
The marquis patted his shoulder and stepped back.
"Hyah!"
The coachman started the carriage.
The carriage bearing the Welton family began leaving Uptown.
Sears, Sara, and even Jamie leaned out the window, waving to the marquis.
The marquis waved endlessly at the departing carriage.
He didn't stop until it was completely out of sight. Only then did he lower his hand.
"I already miss them."
Though barely minutes had passed since parting, he already longed for his children.
Who knew when he'd see them again.
The marquis clicked his tongue and shook his head.
His attendant draped a coat over his shoulders.
"Shall we head inside? It's getting chilly."
"Yes."
Summer had passed, and autumn was setting in.
But the marquis couldn't rest.
He missed his departed children, but more pressing matters piled up like mountains.
At the center was the Zenith Church, now his sworn enemy.
"Now, let's go crush the Zenith Church again."
The battle had just begun.
With his children gone, there was no reason to act cautiously.
He would swing even more fiercely.
'I'll show you why Bell is called great.'
With a cold face, the marquis headed to his study.
That was his battlefield.
Another fortnight passed.
The Welton family's carriage entered Hys.
Thankfully, nothing had happened along the way.
"Familiar sights, huh?"
"Yes!"
Sara answered Sears's question energetically.
Vena, nestled in her arms, looked half-dead. She'd been tormented by Sara for a fortnight.
Thanks to that, Jamie occasionally cleared his throat under Vena's fierce glares.
"Dad's waiting."
"Wanna see Dad."
"Don't you want to see Jamie?"
"Of course I do."
He actually hadn't thought much of it.
But he couldn't say that honestly, so he put on a childlike innocent face and said he did.
Sears clutched her chest at her children's cute responses.
"Ah, whose kids are these? Too adorable."
'You're embarrassing, Mother.'
Jamie thought inwardly and looked out the window again.
The carriage passed the main road and climbed the hill to the Welton estate.
In the distance, the mansion gates and guarding sentries came into view.
"Welcome back, Madam."
"Everyone's worked hard."
"Not at all. We'll open the gates right away."
The sentries opened the firmly shut gates.
The carriage entered the count's estate.
Passing the vast garden, the family mansion appeared ahead.
A familiar face awaited them there.
As soon as the carriage stopped and the door opened, Sara dashed out.
"Daddy!"
"Whoa, my princess!"
It could have been dangerous, but the Sword Master Welton Count caught his daughter effortlessly.
Sears, descending behind, sighed in relief, looking a decade younger.
"Haa— Sara! What if you jump down like that?"
"Sorryyy..."
"Haha. Don't scold her, dear. It's fine, Sara. Daddy can catch you no matter how you come down."
"Heehee!"
Sara tightly hugged her sturdy father's neck at his words.
Sears descended from the carriage with a resigned face.
The count wrapped his remaining arm gently around her waist and gave her a quick kiss.
"You must have had it rough."
"Sorry for leaving you alone over a month."
"I was wondering how to bear the loneliness. Felt like I might die."
"You too."
The count couple showed off their affection shamelessly, heedless of the servants' gazes.
Jamie, caught up in his parents' PDA, missed his chance to get down.
He cleared his throat loudly for no reason.
"Ahem!"
"Ah. Our Jamie. Come down."
The count belatedly noticed Jamie and awkwardly extended his hand.
"I'm back."
Jamie smirked and took his father's hand.
The count's embarrassed smile froze.
"Jamie, you."
"Can't be surprised at this level. I'll grow even faster from now on."
"Heh."
The count was speechless at Jamie's words.
He'd gauged Jamie's capacity the moment their hands met.
To such a count, Jamie said,
"Kids grow like weeds, after all."
"...Shouldn't a kid like you be saying that?"
It felt like déjà vu, but the count seemed unbothered, nodding with a pleased expression.
"That's my boy."
Father and son smiled at each other with similar faces.
Sears and Sara tilted their heads at the sight.
"What are they talking about?"
"Dunno."
"It's a guy thing. Now, let me hug you all at once."
The Welton Count embraced his wife and two children together.
"Everyone, you must be tired from the long trip."
Jamie grimaced slightly in his father's arms.
But it wasn't all bad.
Finally, they were back.
Home.