Ryan turned his head and avoided eye contact.
“No, what...”
“Have you thought about what I said yesterday?”
“..."
Ha, yeah. I knew you'd come at me like this.
Ryan smiled, pretending to be calm.
"What's there to do but worry about it? I'm not stupid, so of course it's okay."
“Wow, really?”
Vania cleared her throat.
“I was worried! I was worried Dad wouldn’t do anything stupid.”
"Bunny."
"Nothing's difficult! I'll think it over and consider everything, so you just focus on hunting!"
“...”
Ryan felt a lump in his throat as Vania spoke excitedly.
Something, he has to answer.
After much deliberation, he finally got the words out.
"...Sorry."
An apology that cuts both ends.
In the silence, Vania paused for a moment and asked.
“...What all of a sudden?”
“Oh, just... this and that. I feel a little bad about asking a child to do all these things...”
“...”
Ryan muttered something like that. Vania looked at him silently.
This time, Ryan didn't dodge, so the two were able to look into each other's eyes.
'What are you thinking?'
Ryan smiled weakly and tried to guess.
Since she's a smart kid, she might figure out what this sudden apology means.
Maybe he even killed her beloved brothers. And she might have fled to the past to survive.
If that were the case, even if it had been erased, it would still remain vivid in that child's memory.
"...No."
After a long time, Vania smiled faintly.
“Um... I’ve never resented or been angry with you, Dad, so you don’t have to feel sorry.”
“...”
"There are bad and hateful people. Rather, I'm sorry for placing such a terrible burden on you, Dad..."
Yes, no matter how prepared you were, how could it not be horrific to take the lives of your blood brothers with your own hands?
His throat tightened, and Ryan turned his head away again.
And said.
"Thanks."
For understanding. For comforting me. For coming to see me. And for erasing me, who, perhaps without knowing anything, killed you and others like you.
“...”
He felt warmth in his hand resting on the table. Turning around, he saw Vania, her hands clasped tightly together, smiling bashfully.
“Dad, come here.”
She was quietly waving her other hand, so he gave her his ear, and she whispered.
“...When everything is over, let’s date.”
"What?"
What the... out of the blue...
"Ah."
“No~! Do it after you’re done with your revenge!”
The reason why she suddenly issued a dating ban on the first day they came to Belzer.
‘...Now I know what you mean.’
If they go according to the new plan, they'll catch Wassenberg's eye at some point.
It was meant to be a warning not to create a weak point in that corner of the house.
"Yes! When it's all over, I'll date too! I'll make you a mom!"
“Wow, great!”
“Ahaha!”
The two people who had been exchanging words laughed loudly.
“...It’s really nice to see the deep love between siblings disguised as father and daughter.”
“Yeah. I don’t know what they were talking about, but it was really nice to see.”
Looking at them affectionately, Revan and Merchen each said a word.
The end of November.
The eastern coastal territories of the central continent begin to get cold around this time.
“Should you go in? It’s cold out here. Why are you out here?”
“No. If Dad gets hurt, I have to heal you.”
I pulled the red coat I was wearing tighter around me.
“...”
“...Why are you looking at me like that?”
In the front yard. Ryan, who was training with two swords the length of his forearms in each hand, looked at me incredulously.
"Am I an idiot? I'm just swinging it around in the air. What can I do wrong to get hurt?"
“You could get hurt. I’m worried, but you’re still going to say something.”
Ryan has since competed on Wolf Lehmann's Fight Show! twice more and remains the champion.
With Wolf's help, he obtained an Imperial Mercenary Certificate and registered as a private mercenary in his hiring guild.
When the Demonic Crisis begins, a punitive force is organized... because to be assigned to that force, you need mercenary status.
Yes, there are about two months left.
Until the cursed land of 'Shacht', east of the continent bordering Belzer, begins its evil reign!
"Ha."
Ryan looked out into the quiet forest with a nervous sigh.
It's beyond that forest.
The cursed land, Shacht...
“Oh my, those kids are really!”
Then Ryan shouted.
Just as he was setting the mood, a group of royal knights in full uniform was passing by in front of our house.
“It’s annoying how they come into other people’s land without permission and mess around!”
“No, Dad. Hold on.”
“I can’t stand it!”
I stopped Ryan from swinging his sword around.
Well, those knights are on their way across here to set up camp in the cursed land of Shacht.
“Besides those people, in two months all the punitive force members will be crossing our land...”
Belzer is the last line of defense when subduing the demons.
It is imperial law that this land is always open during the subjugation season, regardless of who owns it.
The 'punitive force' consisting of noble private soldiers, imperial knights, and private mercenaries from surrounding territories who were drafted by law will all pass by our house in two months and head to Shacht!
“Hey, Ryan. Let’s talk.”
Then a familiar face, called Ryan, appeared at the front gate.
“Hello, Sir William!”
"Yes, Vania. Long time no see."
Sir William Saxon, a knight of the Imperial Household and commander of the Eastern Last Line of Defense Garrison.
He is a person who usually sits at the entrance of Belzer and works hard to protect civilians.
This is the same guy who gritted his teeth and tried to stop us when we first tried to enter Belzer...
“I’m so busy, what’s wrong?”
He doesn't get along very well with Ryan.
I've been seeing him so many times every time I go out that I feel like I should become a little closer to him.
"In two months, the Shacht incident will begin. You should leave now."
“If anyone saw this, they’d think it was your house. Why are you telling us to get out?”
“...”
William shut his mouth. He looked like he wanted to punch Ryan.
But he is an imperial knight...
Hold it in and keep talking.
"The date of their appearance is expected to be two months in the future, but there are always variables. That's why our garrison soldiers began preparing for the suppression at Shacht two months in advance."
"Are you here to scare me? Don't worry. If any of you jump out, I'll catch you."
“Ugh, you guy!”
William couldn't stand it this time and pointed at me.
“Aren’t you worried about your daughter? Do you even have any sense of purpose...?”
“...That’s right.”
“If you’re done nagging, go now.”
William closed his eyes tightly, sighed, and said.
"If you won't leave, I'll have guards stationed at your residence. That's what I came to talk about."
“Yeah, I don’t need it.”
“This kid?!”
William gritted his teeth, cooling his flushed face.
“The superior personally ordered the escort of the Belzer Territory people... If you refuse the offer, I will be in trouble too...”
Uh?
“Hey, Sir William! Who is your superior?”
"Yes?"
“That superior who ordered you to put a guard on our house! Who is he?”
“My superior? The commander of the rifle division.”
"Wow!"
I was so moved that I covered my mouth.
And then I thought of Nike.
“Is his residence in Belzer?”
I don't know how he knew, but I'm sure Nike knew I lived in Belzer.
‘Seo, are you worried about me...?’
Of course, the purpose is probably to protect the crazy guys living in Belzer, as this is the first time for Nike.
Think of it in my own way!
“Why is she like this?”
Ryan looked at me excitedly and asked William,
“Who is the commander of the rifle division?”
“Don’t you know that? His Highness, the Third Prince of the Empire, who assumed the position of Commander of the Imperial Knights as soon as he came of age.”
“Oh? That’s right. Why would someone of royal blood be a knight who just wanders around a field of monsters... Oh, wait a minute.”
Oh, wait a minute.
A thought suddenly occurred to me, and I grabbed the front door bars.
Bang!
Bang!
“Commander of the Imperial Knight Division, is he coming here for this suppression?!”
“Is the Third Prince coming here during this expedition?!”
William flinched and pulled away as he saw Ryan and me clinging to the front door in excitement.
But what is it?
“...?”
“...?”
Ryan and I looked at each other.
“Why is Dad excited?”
“Why are you so excited?”
“No, what...”
“Have you thought about what I said yesterday?”
“..."
Ha, yeah. I knew you'd come at me like this.
Ryan smiled, pretending to be calm.
"What's there to do but worry about it? I'm not stupid, so of course it's okay."
“Wow, really?”
Vania cleared her throat.
“I was worried! I was worried Dad wouldn’t do anything stupid.”
"Bunny."
"Nothing's difficult! I'll think it over and consider everything, so you just focus on hunting!"
“...”
Ryan felt a lump in his throat as Vania spoke excitedly.
Something, he has to answer.
After much deliberation, he finally got the words out.
"...Sorry."
An apology that cuts both ends.
In the silence, Vania paused for a moment and asked.
“...What all of a sudden?”
“Oh, just... this and that. I feel a little bad about asking a child to do all these things...”
“...”
Ryan muttered something like that. Vania looked at him silently.
This time, Ryan didn't dodge, so the two were able to look into each other's eyes.
'What are you thinking?'
Ryan smiled weakly and tried to guess.
Since she's a smart kid, she might figure out what this sudden apology means.
Maybe he even killed her beloved brothers. And she might have fled to the past to survive.
If that were the case, even if it had been erased, it would still remain vivid in that child's memory.
"...No."
After a long time, Vania smiled faintly.
“Um... I’ve never resented or been angry with you, Dad, so you don’t have to feel sorry.”
“...”
"There are bad and hateful people. Rather, I'm sorry for placing such a terrible burden on you, Dad..."
Yes, no matter how prepared you were, how could it not be horrific to take the lives of your blood brothers with your own hands?
His throat tightened, and Ryan turned his head away again.
And said.
"Thanks."
For understanding. For comforting me. For coming to see me. And for erasing me, who, perhaps without knowing anything, killed you and others like you.
“...”
He felt warmth in his hand resting on the table. Turning around, he saw Vania, her hands clasped tightly together, smiling bashfully.
“Dad, come here.”
She was quietly waving her other hand, so he gave her his ear, and she whispered.
“...When everything is over, let’s date.”
"What?"
What the... out of the blue...
"Ah."
“Dating? Dating is out of the question.”
The reason why she suddenly issued a dating ban on the first day they came to Belzer.
‘...Now I know what you mean.’
If they go according to the new plan, they'll catch Wassenberg's eye at some point.
It was meant to be a warning not to create a weak point in that corner of the house.
"Yes! When it's all over, I'll date too! I'll make you a mom!"
“Wow, great!”
“Ahaha!”
The two people who had been exchanging words laughed loudly.
“...It’s really nice to see the deep love between siblings disguised as father and daughter.”
“Yeah. I don’t know what they were talking about, but it was really nice to see.”
Looking at them affectionately, Revan and Merchen each said a word.
***
The end of November.
The eastern coastal territories of the central continent begin to get cold around this time.
“Should you go in? It’s cold out here. Why are you out here?”
“No. If Dad gets hurt, I have to heal you.”
I pulled the red coat I was wearing tighter around me.
“...”
“...Why are you looking at me like that?”
In the front yard. Ryan, who was training with two swords the length of his forearms in each hand, looked at me incredulously.
"Am I an idiot? I'm just swinging it around in the air. What can I do wrong to get hurt?"
“You could get hurt. I’m worried, but you’re still going to say something.”
Ryan has since competed on Wolf Lehmann's Fight Show! twice more and remains the champion.
With Wolf's help, he obtained an Imperial Mercenary Certificate and registered as a private mercenary in his hiring guild.
When the Demonic Crisis begins, a punitive force is organized... because to be assigned to that force, you need mercenary status.
Yes, there are about two months left.
Until the cursed land of 'Shacht', east of the continent bordering Belzer, begins its evil reign!
"Ha."
Ryan looked out into the quiet forest with a nervous sigh.
It's beyond that forest.
The cursed land, Shacht...
“Oh my, those kids are really!”
Then Ryan shouted.
Just as he was setting the mood, a group of royal knights in full uniform was passing by in front of our house.
“It’s annoying how they come into other people’s land without permission and mess around!”
“No, Dad. Hold on.”
“I can’t stand it!”
I stopped Ryan from swinging his sword around.
Well, those knights are on their way across here to set up camp in the cursed land of Shacht.
“Besides those people, in two months all the punitive force members will be crossing our land...”
Belzer is the last line of defense when subduing the demons.
It is imperial law that this land is always open during the subjugation season, regardless of who owns it.
The 'punitive force' consisting of noble private soldiers, imperial knights, and private mercenaries from surrounding territories who were drafted by law will all pass by our house in two months and head to Shacht!
“Hey, Ryan. Let’s talk.”
Then a familiar face, called Ryan, appeared at the front gate.
“Hello, Sir William!”
"Yes, Vania. Long time no see."
Sir William Saxon, a knight of the Imperial Household and commander of the Eastern Last Line of Defense Garrison.
He is a person who usually sits at the entrance of Belzer and works hard to protect civilians.
This is the same guy who gritted his teeth and tried to stop us when we first tried to enter Belzer...
“I’m so busy, what’s wrong?”
He doesn't get along very well with Ryan.
I've been seeing him so many times every time I go out that I feel like I should become a little closer to him.
"In two months, the Shacht incident will begin. You should leave now."
“If anyone saw this, they’d think it was your house. Why are you telling us to get out?”
“...”
William shut his mouth. He looked like he wanted to punch Ryan.
But he is an imperial knight...
Hold it in and keep talking.
"The date of their appearance is expected to be two months in the future, but there are always variables. That's why our garrison soldiers began preparing for the suppression at Shacht two months in advance."
"Are you here to scare me? Don't worry. If any of you jump out, I'll catch you."
“Ugh, you guy!”
William couldn't stand it this time and pointed at me.
“Aren’t you worried about your daughter? Do you even have any sense of purpose...?”
“If I had any sense, would I have gotten a baby at twelve?”
“If you’re done nagging, go now.”
William closed his eyes tightly, sighed, and said.
"If you won't leave, I'll have guards stationed at your residence. That's what I came to talk about."
“Yeah, I don’t need it.”
“This kid?!”
William gritted his teeth, cooling his flushed face.
“The superior personally ordered the escort of the Belzer Territory people... If you refuse the offer, I will be in trouble too...”
Uh?
“Hey, Sir William! Who is your superior?”
"Yes?"
“That superior who ordered you to put a guard on our house! Who is he?”
“My superior? The commander of the rifle division.”
"Wow!"
I was so moved that I covered my mouth.
And then I thought of Nike.
“Is his residence in Belzer?”
I don't know how he knew, but I'm sure Nike knew I lived in Belzer.
‘Seo, are you worried about me...?’
Of course, the purpose is probably to protect the crazy guys living in Belzer, as this is the first time for Nike.
Think of it in my own way!
“Why is she like this?”
Ryan looked at me excitedly and asked William,
“Who is the commander of the rifle division?”
“Don’t you know that? His Highness, the Third Prince of the Empire, who assumed the position of Commander of the Imperial Knights as soon as he came of age.”
“Oh? That’s right. Why would someone of royal blood be a knight who just wanders around a field of monsters... Oh, wait a minute.”
Oh, wait a minute.
A thought suddenly occurred to me, and I grabbed the front door bars.
Bang!
Bang!
“Commander of the Imperial Knight Division, is he coming here for this suppression?!”
“Is the Third Prince coming here during this expedition?!”
William flinched and pulled away as he saw Ryan and me clinging to the front door in excitement.
But what is it?
“...?”
“...?”
Ryan and I looked at each other.
“Why is Dad excited?”
“Why are you so excited?”
Comments
Post a Comment