Chapter 101
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Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter: 101
Chapter Title: Epilogue of the Calliope Family (2)
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The World Tree's Seed awakens from its slumber!
The 'World Tree's Seed' absorbs nutrients from the 'Frost Essence'!
─The World Tree's Seed has evolved into a World Tree Sapling.
─The grade of World Tree's Blessing increases!
─Recovery ability increases significantly.
─All stats increase slightly.
The moment I checked the messages, the bone-chilling cold that felt like it would freeze my heart solid vanished in an instant, replaced by a surge of vitality unlike anything I'd ever felt before.
"How...? I clearly saw the essence rejecting you."
Seeing my sudden recovery, Edard muttered blankly for a moment before snapping back to his senses and patting me down.
"Are you okay! Anywhere hurting or feeling off?"
"I'm fine. Looks like the essence took a liking to me."
In truth, the World Tree had devoured the Frost Essence, but explaining every detail would take all night.
"There's no way a ridiculous thing like that would eliminate the side effects..."
"I didn't know my charm was this potent either."
"...Tch, you fool. You've got a real talent for startling your old man."
"You're too kind."
Edard clicked his tongue as he said that, but I just smiled softly in response.
"Foolish on top of being worthless. That wasn't praise—it was an insult."
"If you say so, then so be it."
Despite his words, I knew well that when the side effects had hit, Edard—aware his own life was at risk—had still tried to stop it.
"...Enough talk. ...Well, with this, I've wrapped up my final duty as family head. Can't wait to hand the reins to Erden and retire."
"What do you plan to do after retiring?"
"No intention of rotting away as some backroom geezer. Thinking of traveling."
"What about Lady Garcia?"
At my question, Edard gave a wry smile, as if I'd hit a nerve.
"You already know there's nothing between Garcia and me. Traveling together would just make us both uncomfortable, so I'll leave her here and go alone."
Edard's face was already brimming with anticipation for the journey ahead.
He might come off as a bit immature, but Edard had always been an exemplary 'knight'—just never a good 'father'.
Not that he didn't care for his family; he simply lacked the talent for fatherhood.
Still, he'd endured this long on the sense of responsibility as head of the Calliope family. Now that even that was off his shoulders, it was only natural he'd want to savor his freedom.
"Then take a look at this."
I pulled a small notebook from my pocket and handed it to Edard.
It was info from my days playing Academy's Tamer, when my sanity snapped, I gave up on the heroines, and roamed villages seducing women.
"...What's this?"
"Local 'specialties' from various regions. Thought it might help you out, Father, so I jotted them down."
"...How did you get this? You haven't had time to travel."
"...."
I just gave a bright smile without a word, and Edard shook his head.
"Never mind. You won't tell me anyway, so I won't ask. So what am I supposed to do with it?"
"Not telling you to use it anywhere specific. Like I said, 'specialties'—eat plenty of the good-for-you ones on your trip."
"Hm..."
Edard stroked his chin thoughtfully before slipping the notebook into his pocket.
As I headed up the stairs, I tossed out a casual remark.
"...I'm counting on a generous allowance this time."
"Not enough after taking the essence?"
"I earned that fair and square. Calliope's all about clear rewards and punishments, right? You'll have to pay separately for the notebook."
Edard shook his head at my cheeky reply.
"Carnea's turned you into quite the smooth talker. Sigh, it was nice chatting with my son after so long, but you've squeezed me dry—I'm worn out."
"Isn't that what kids are? Miss 'em when they're gone, headache when they're around. Well then, Father, I'll take my leave."
"Oh, before you go—your partner for the banquet... Never mind, pointless question. Already decided, huh."
His mention of a "partner" made me frown.
"Partner? You mean Emma?"
Edard wouldn't mean Garcia or Reika, so Emma was the obvious pick.
But Edard shot back as if I'd said something absurd.
"Emma? That maid? I know she's clever and you dote on her, but she's not suitable as a banquet escort."
Obvious, really.
Not that Edard was some elitist; it was just how this world worked.
Even when I'd casually sounded Emma out, she'd never dreamed of becoming a concubine—just asked to be hired as staff later.
"...Then who do you mean?"
With me completely clueless, Edard looked at me like I was the weird one.
"Lucia Ursula, obviously?"
"....?"
Lucia?
Why was Lucia coming up here?
"Lucia... I mean, why would Miss Lucia come here?"
"...Did the essence's side effects hit your head too? Even before you enrolled at Calliope, didn't Lucia visit the great houses and the imperial family every year-end to build rapport?"
Edard's words made my head spin even more.
What?
In the Academy's Tamer I knew, there was no setting where Lucia visited great houses to build alliances.
"Well, she usually starts with us since we're closest, but this time she's hitting the southern Amelia family first, for some reason."
"...Now that you mention it, it does ring a bell."
"Yeah. All that chatter must've worn you out too. Enough. I'm tired—off with you."
"Yes, Father. Rest well."
I bowed to Edard and hurried down the corridor.
One thought filled my head the whole way.
Lucia! What the hell are you up to...!
Lucia was plotting something.
Whatever my tangled feelings, time marched on, and the banquet began.
Officially a New Year's celebration, but everyone here knew Erden was succeeding as family head tonight.
It's all a scripted show...
Unavoidable, really.
Springing it as a surprise would leave nobles who'd backed Kail to suffer—who knows what they'd face.
Leaking info early gave the wrong-side folks time to beg forgiveness. Tradition, in a way.
I leaned against the banquet hall wall, sipping wine from the corner.
Couldn't endure the headache without it.
...Lucia. A letter before you left would've been nice...
Whatever Lucia was doing probably wouldn't harm me, but it was still frustrating.
Probably tied to the princess.
From Edard, her usual route was 'Calliope > Amelia > Imperial Palace.'
But switching to 'Amelia > Calliope > Imperial Palace' screamed me and the princess.
Maybe first-playthrough memories had her ultra-wary of the princess.
...But was the princess that dangerous in the first playthrough?
I frowned, digging up memories.
My fear of her stemmed from countless gruesome deaths before—not specifically the first playthrough.
Sure, she was a top-tier dangerous boss, but back then, she stayed meek until revealing her true nature.
Her overreaction at this stage, when she was still hiding it, nagged at me.
O~ra~ver~ni~
Spotting me from afar, Reika mouthed the words and approached.
To others, she clung just shy of improper sibling distance and whispered.
"Brother, how do I look? Falling for me? Wanna pounce? Wanna devour me?"
"...."
I stepped back, giving Reika in her green dress a once-over.
Objectively, Calliope blood meant stunning looks across the board.
Dressed to the nines for the banquet, "beautiful" didn't cut it for Reika.
"Quick, what do you think? Dying to claim Reika as yours?"
"Watch your mouth—someone hears, acting all vulgar like that, Reika."
Garcia appeared out of nowhere, fanning her mouth as she spoke.
Matching Reika's green dress, she exuded pure 'noblewoman' elegance.
"Well? I wore it to show Brother anyway. And didn't you change dresses a bunch to impress him, Mother?"
"...What nonsense? I just picked the most fitting as Calliope's lady..."
"That revealing one? At your age, Mother, maybe something more modest?"
"Reika...!"
"...Oopsie!"
As Garcia bristled, Reika deliberately stomped loudly and retreated.
Spotlights turned our way; Garcia froze with a stiff smile.
"Oh, long time no see. Duke Harris. Have you been well..."
"Mother's handled... So, Brother, how do I look? Comparable to the 'Empire's Moon'?"
While Garcia schmoozed nobles, Reika batted her eyes.
Her over-the-top glam for a banquet made sense now—Lucia rivalry.
...Hmm.
Done up right, Reika was peerless beauty material, but truth be told, she fell a hair short of Lucia.
I pondered how to compliment without bruising her ego.
"...Eugene."
A low voice came from beside me.