Chapter 14
Chapter 14
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 14
Chapter Title: The Day Departing for the Academy
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* * *
The day she left for the academy.
Today was the anniversary of her father's death.
Her father was an illiterate old man with no family name.
To make ends meet, all he could do was chop down nearby trees and sell them where they were needed, or carry heavy loads for others.
With the meager pay, whenever he bought potatoes, he always gave her an extra one.
It wasn't just potatoes. Whether carrots, turnips, or eggs, he always brought back three on his way home from work and gave two to her.
She later realized he was buying two with the money for two and somehow getting three.
"Father, you eat both potatoes. I'm not hungry."
"No, Luca. Children need to eat more while they're young. Your old man already ate while working outside."
If she had been a bit more perceptive, she might have refused, but at the time, she was only seven.
Believing "Father said he ate" was far easier and simpler than yielding the food to him.
He was always kind to her, but there was one time he scolded her so fiercely it felt like the heavens would split open.
The day she stole bread because she was hungry and he hadn't brought any food home.
He hit her a few times before collapsing and sobbing like a child.
Then, wiping his tears, he took her small hand tightly and led her to the dockside where the sunset fell beautifully.
—Someone up above is always watching.
Who? —God.
Her father, who didn't even know God's name, repeated it with eyes full of conviction.
"Someone is watching everything. Always, at all times. Day or night, watching us. That's why there's no such thing as a misdeed that goes unnoticed by anyone. And no good deed that no one acknowledges. Got it, Luca?"
The one watching everything from above, God.
So, was it because God was watching from above that Father didn't take pay when working at the orphanage?
She wanted to ask, but as a child, she was overwhelmed by his eyes before she could even speak.
Clear, transparent eyes. Like a cat's, so pure they seemed they might burst at a touch.
After that day, she never did bad things again, not even stealing.
She avoided even trivial actions anyone might do. Because God was always watching from above. In the end, God saw everything.
While her father worked, she went to the orphanage where he often helped for free and did odd jobs in exchange for lessons from the nuns.
She started with reading and writing, but for an ordinary child, it was never easy.
She could read letters to some extent, but her body naturally wanted to run and play.
One day, after she threw herself into stopping a fight among the orphanage boys and sorted it out, a nun said in a serious tone.
Luca, why don't you learn how to use a weapon instead?
Whether sword or whatever, learning to wield one seemed enough to put food on the table.
Still, she couldn't decide easily. Even though it had been a long time since the last war, becoming a soldier was a fantastical notion back then.
She wanted to be a mage instead. One who was respected and earned good money, so she could buy lots of potatoes or eggs and share with Father.
Then Father got badly hurt.
She was thirteen.
It was an accident. A landslide, apparently. He got injured while chopping wood.
People offered condolences for the misfortune, but she couldn't understand. —Wasn't God supposed to see everything from above?
Father always yielded food to her.
He volunteered for free at the orphanage. So why?
Dragged to the hospital attached to the orphanage's church, he had a few priests tending him, but... with wounds that deep, it's hard, they said. Prepare your heart.
When she entered the room after hearing "Say your final goodbyes," Father was barely breathing in a horrific state.
"Father. It's me. Luca. Can you hear me?"
She asked several times, but no answer.
She got her answer only after crying herself to sleep by his side.
"Luca. Truth is, I'm not your real father."
Was it a dream, or did she wake and talk to him?
Either way, in the dream, Father said something quite shocking.
"You were abandoned in front of the orphanage that day. I just had a strange feeling and brought you home. I tried to ignore it, but I couldn't. Because God is always watching us... Sometimes, you just have to do what's right..."
"I felt raising you was the right thing. So don't worry, chase your dreams freely. You didn't inherit my blood, so you can become far greater than me."
She sobbed but instinctively knew, even as a child, it was her last chance to speak to him.
"Father. No matter what anyone says, you're my father."
She gripped his hand tightly in the dream.
It was warm. Even in the dream.
"I..."
My blood might not flow in me.
But Father's noble soul does. The soul he passed to me, one that lived without shame before God, even without recognition.
Father. I'll never forget. That your soul is etched in me.
I'll never forget God is always watching...
She should have said that.
But as a child, she wasn't mature enough to think of those words.
"I'll become a wonderful person just like you, Father."
With those final words—
—Never forget that someone is always watching.
Even in injustice, even in swirling trials... Always, always, God will watch your choices.
'……!'
When she woke from the dream, what entered her eyes was—a hand.
Father's hand.
He was pointing to the sky with a finger, eyes closed.
And soon after... it dropped limp onto the bed like falling water.
Even at this moment, never forget God is watching—
Those were Father's last words, resounding not in her ears but in her heart.
* * *
After learning to read, Luca finally learned the name of the orphanage she frequented.
Hevnisian Adelia.
After making Father's grave and being left alone, Luca was pitied by the orphanage director and adopted, gaining the name "Luca Hevnisian."
It was the surname given to all orphanage children.
"Sister. I want to learn the sword."
Fortunately, Luca had considerable talent for the sword.
Older than the other children by about five years, she naturally took the big sister role and soon handled disciplining them too.
It wasn't hard. They were like family, but ultimately, because someone above watched everything.
She naturally passed on Father's teachings to the orphanage kids.
"No stealing. God is always watching from above."
"God? Lord Igugwoden... or something?"
"Yeah. So always live kindly. Got it?"
"How do you forget God's name? Uncle Repiton said it! Plain Fact or whatever."
"I don't know plain facts! I like edible bread more!"
The kids listened to Luca well, and her swordsmanship improved daily.
Then one day.
At eighteen, great news reached her ears.
"Free enrollment... really?"
"I told the academy about you, and they said if you have the talent to pass the test, they'd like to take you in. Isn't it wonderful, Luca?"
It wasn't a top academy, but one renowned for swordsmanship, and a letter came.
No, free enrollment anywhere was amazing.
'Really... You were watching!'
Yes.
God had always been watching her, who kept her dream and worked hard even in this situation!
"Big Sis Luca! Come back safe! A gift!"
"This is..."
A pure white ribbon.
A bit old-fashioned, but sturdy-looking.
Something twinged in her heart. What was this feeling?
Family?
The kids, now grown tall, wiped their noses and said.
"Hair can't get in the way when swinging a sword!"
"It's not stolen, Sis! We saved allowance. Hehe."
"Thanks, Ammon. Freya. I'll treasure it."
Tying the ribbon tightly in her hair, Luca visited Father's grave.
Father. You were right about God watching.
Living kindly and righteously really brought opportunity.
I won't get arrogant. I'll never forget God is watching... Chattering to Father like the little girl she once was.
And today was the day she departed for the academy.
That day was the anniversary of Luca's father's death.
* * *
Luprantia Academy.
Luca fortunately passed the exam prepared by a place that produced notable knights.
There, she met her roommate Irina.
"Luca! Let's get along from now on!"
Irina was different from Luca in many ways.
A pretty blonde beauty.
Raised in a bright family without a wrinkle, she happily whispered repeatedly about her dream: to join the Imperial Knight Order and become its captain.
Luca thought becoming roommates was lucky too. Irina knew a world beyond the rural orphanage.
She learned joining the Imperial Knight Order meant good money and honor.
With talent, even lowly birth could land a position as imperial guard, which meant grasping all a knight could want in wealth and fame.
Money.
Survival was one thing, but she wanted to repay the orphanage that raised her...
"Shall we both join the Imperial Knight Order then?"
"Sure!"
Every talk with Irina was a lesson for Luca. You need knowledge to live without shame before heaven.
Because God always watched from above.
* * *
Time flew by.
Over three years at the academy, what Luca realized was—she had lived a terribly unlucky life, and it continued.
Her broadened view after enrolling revealed it.
In those three years, almost nothing went her way, from trivial to important matters.
But Luca didn't despair.
In the end, God watched everything, from one to ten.
So, perhaps that's why? Before long, Luca overcame misfortune to become an academy standout, grade-topper.
Her sword talent was genuine, proving the nun's eye who recommended it.
Her roommate Irina grew alongside her into another standout, grade runner-up knight.
Word of the two knightesses spreading in the academy was natural.
Then, on the path to success.
At twenty, in her senior year, graduation age.
"Is that really true...?"
As if to prove once more that God kept watching despite her unlucky life—
Perfect timing, a message from the nation arrived.