Chapter 195 : Chapter 195
Chapter 195 : A Love Never Seen Before
***
Isaac Windermere left.
The lights in the reception room of the Theodore mansion did not go out until late at dawn.
The heads of the two families and their closest aides gathered again after finishing their respective dinners.
Everyone put their heads together to read Isaac's inner thoughts.
"Bringing in foreign influence even while knowing it is taboo― huh."
Count Theodore muttered.
Declen said from the side.
"There is a high possibility that Isaac was not officially dispatched from Windermere in the first place, Father."
There was no particular agitation.
It was what everyone gathered at the seat had already guessed.
"So, what on earth is that fox-like bastard trying to gain by doing this bullshit."
Count Theodore was about to slam the table but stopped. His clenched fist trembled.
He was a martial artist by birth. He hated racking his brains.
If it weren't for Adeline, he would have stormed out of the seat long ago.
"......The annihilation of Windermere."
Adeline muttered lowly.
She was quietly looking down at the white rose placed in front of her.
It was the flower Isaac had left behind.
"That makes no sense, Your Excellency. What noble in the world would destroy the family where they were born and raised with their own hands?"
Declen asked argumentatively.
He had known Adeline since childhood.
If it were a private setting, he might have raised his voice.
"Why do you think so, Declen?"
"Why, wh...... Why, you ask? Of course―"
Adeline's eyes sank.
"If I had lost to Callence, I would have destroyed Conwell by any means necessary."
"......."
"With my own hands directly."
Declen clamped his mouth shut.
The words 'isn't that a bit different from this?' rose up to his throat but he swallowed them hard.
"It is not different."
Adeline spat out abruptly.
Declen coughed as if something went down the wrong pipe.
He wondered if she had even developed the ability to see through people's insides now.
"Isaac holds a deep grudge against Windermere."
Adeline closed her eyes for a moment.
A scene stuck in her brain suddenly came to mind.
―......It is disgusting as well.
It was Isaac's face trembling with loathing.
Hatred toward blood relatives is deeper and much heavier than hatred harbored toward strangers.
Because it is a connection tangled with blood. Adeline remembers the temperature of that blood.
So she was certain.
"Just how deep the grudge is, we cannot know that far right now, but―"
Adeline lifted the white rose.
The scent lingered at the tip of her nose.
"First, grow the fight large, and throw all the guests into that board."
She shook the hand holding the flower lightly.
It was an act without much meaning, but somehow it was making everyone focus.
"Like that, he annihilates Springeus first, and destroys even Windermere by putting the stigma of bringing in foreign influence on them."
Adeline put the flower down again.
Somehow, the color looked faded as if it had withered in that short time.
"This must be the revenge Isaac planned."
"......."
"In this fight, there might be more guests invited besides us."
Count Theodore, who had been listening quietly, let out a deep sigh.
Fatigue and irritation were smeared all over.
"Where is Bihen right now?"
Linda, who had been dozing off secretly, opened her eyes wide.
Henry answered.
"The last confirmed location was Aldenfort. Although his whereabouts are unknown after that, the possibility that he headed south is high."
Linda opened her eyes even wider.
"South?! That's dangerous!"
"Most nobles on the route from Aldenfort to the Imperial Capital are relatives of the Royal Family or pro-Royal factions. In short, they are under the influence of the Imperial Capital. So Bihen must have chosen a detour. Whatever the reason, that is the best for establishing the Elzerus Alliance. Even if they are bandits of the South, there is no way they would be a threat to Bihen."
Linda agreed fiercely with those words. Declen glared at Linda and clicked his tongue.
"Tut-tut, acting frivolously again....... Tsk. If Bihen moves north from the South, it could be a good connection, Father."
Count Theodore stroked his finely grown beard.
The white and glossy beard was a symbol of a peaceful old age.
It was also a reward for the past days when he roamed the battlefield risking his life.
Of course, the vigor of those days had cooled long ago.
'.......'
Count Theodore's eyes shone quietly.
It was as if a small spark had transferred to burnt-out firewood.
"Adel."
Spirit was imbued in his voice as if mana dwelled in it.
For a moment, everyone's shoulders trembled minutely.
It was as if the Tiger of Theodore, who dominated the battlefield in his youth, had returned.
"Yes, please speak."
"The moment our troops appear in the West―"
Because the situation in the Imperial Capital is unstable, the Elzerus Alliance was formed to prepare for it.
After receiving that proposal from Bihen Benkou, Count Theodore secretly dispatched spies to the Imperial Capital to know the detailed circumstances.
None of the spies who left like that were able to return.
'Like a warning.'
The senses of the veteran general reacted first.
The clouds of war were felt.
"The world will come to know the existence of the Elzerus Alliance."
"They will probably take it as a declaration of war toward the Imperial Capital."
Count Theodore closed his eyes gently and opened them.
"Are you prepared?"
"Of course."
The world has no interest in who is right or wrong.
Process and justification are only determined by the mouth of the winner after the victory and defeat are decided.
"Henry, assemble the guards."
At this moment, disguised in the name of a great cause―
Like Adeline's revenge.
***
When I asserted Roxy's pregnancy, Noser snorted.
He seemed quite displeased that a swordsman was imitating a doctor.
'Hmm.'
Come to think of it, there isn't a decent doctor in Brackenport.
Now that it came to this, that fact approached me anew.
I scanned The Way of Medicine in my hand indifferently.
It is written entirely in the Imperial language.
'It wouldn't be bad to leave a translation.'
Of course, speaking and reading/writing characters are different.
But the years lived in the Kingdom throughout my past life naturally filled that gap.
Now I read and write most sentences without blockage.
Copying and transferring The Way of Medicine would also be a study in its own way.
'Ah.'
I forgot something important.
Even if I make a translation, isn't it useless if they can't read it?
'.......'
I looked at the guys running around noisily nearby.
Everyone was bright.
'......Should I build a school before that.'
To the people of Brackenport, the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult is already a symbol of awe.
Even without establishing a new institution, the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult can soon become a ground for rehabilitation and learning.
'Although the Cult is not that School.'
Anyway, the sound of the character is similar.
The meaning too.
"Since we have to go to the Imperial Capital now anyway, we can just take them on the way."
Bolero said.
He seemed to be asking for Noser's opinion.
"That would be better."
The two people were also thinking the same as me.
Noble young ladies in Brackenport.
It is like harboring embers that don't know when or how they will explode.
"No!"
Roxy and Masa ran over holding hands, pitter-patter.
It seemed they overheard our conversation the whole time while pretending not to.
"We won't go back!"
"Right! Don't order us since we aren't cadets anymore!"
Noser made a troubled expression.
Come to think of it, Noser had a corner where he became strangely weak to girls.
Leaving status aside, it was like that.
"You are still reckless as ever. But since I know, not anyone else, I cannot just overlook it and pretend not to know. Count Springeus and Count Windermere, both are my close friends as well."
Roxy and Masa looked askance and quickly exchanged whispers.
They seemed to be gauging if they could take down Noser if they combined their strength.
"I can hear everything."
"Ah!"
Although they look similar in age to the current me―
*They are undeniably kids.
Suddenly having such thoughts must be because the memories of my past life are reviving vividly as I get closer to the Imperial Capital.
'......War must be stopped at all costs.'
Blood Devil, Poison Demon, Phantom Demon, with this I have obtained three Remnant Orbs.
Since it is said the Saintess of the Solari Main Headquarters is sealing another one, exactly half of the Eight Demons are left now.
"Our fathers are only thinking of fighting each other using us."
Roxy dropped her head.
Her voice became dispirited quickly.
"I am carrying a child......."
"I have to protect Roxy. Because we are lovers who love each other."
Masa and Roxy hugged and pressed their foreheads together.
Somehow it was unpleasant to watch, but I didn't show it.
"It will be fine if only we disappear. Then both families won't have reason to fight because of us."
I hate wasting mental energy on children's tantrums, but the problem is that these kids are not ordinary children.
It doesn't seem like they would understand if I just kick them out or drag them out blindly, nor can I just leave them be like this.
"This place is safe. They won't bother sending people all the way here to find us."
Looking at it now, they came to Brackenport determinedly.
There was a calculation laid out that the elders of the families wouldn't bother poking into a lawless zone.
Indeed, it is hard to think that young ladies raised preciously would walk into the worst lawless zone of the Kingdom on their own feet.
Although they look clumsy, they rolled their heads quite cunningly in their own way.
'But even so, to go this far.......'
Is having a child really the problem?
"Tell me who the child's father is. Then I won't press you further."
There is no choice but to have the child's father's family take responsibility and take them.
It seems like getting twisted into troublesome work, but this is the best way to remove future trouble.
And well, it's not like I'm stepping forward directly.
"I am the child's dad."
"......Don't joke."
"It's real? I told you we are really in a loving relationship!"
Irritation and fatigue rushed in simultaneously.
I just turned my head away as if ignoring them.
I met eyes with Noser who shrugged his shoulders.
At that moment, Bolero patted my shoulder lightly.
"Calm down, brother. Let's solve it step by step with conversation."
His eyes looking at Roxy and Masa were somehow affectionate.
To the point where warmth was felt.
'......Are you saying you understand because you are in the same situation?'
It was the moment I let out a sigh.
Tiaro rushed in like a crazy guy.
"Are these bastards kidding― Should I teach you how babies are made?!"
The guy grabbed his pants.
He was poised to take them off right away.
Bolero's fist flew in like lightning.
Whack―!
Tiaro clutched his head, staggered, and fell flat on his face.
The sound was quite heavy.
Noser looked around the surroundings.
"Where did Ellen go?"
***
"You say he didn't come?"
"Yeah. Come to think of it, it's been a while since I saw the old man's face."
Ellen bowed his head weakly and closed the shop door quietly.
It was a grocery store Luke frequented.
Fortunately, the owner had compassion unlike a Brackenport merchant, so he often put snacks in Luke's hand without much complaint.
'Just where did he go.'
Luke had continued homeless life without a decent dwelling.
He urged him almost to the point of begging to stay at the hideout, but he refused adamantly.
The reason was unknown.
It was resentful to the point of wondering why he was being so stubborn.
'Damn it.'
Ellen's shoulders slumped. He had already looked everywhere worth going.
In the end, perhaps things came to this because he had been too indifferent all this time.
―You have no family? Tut-tut, pitiful.
―It's not anything special. But who is Grandpa? It's a face I'm seeing for the first time.
It was the first time.
―My name is Luke Spring― No, just call me Luke comfortably.
An adult who spoke to him warmly first.
―I have no family either.
Ellen was having these thoughts.
Family, friend, teacher.
If he had known what those meant, and how precious those things were earlier.
'If I had.'
Someday Luke said this.
That what the head knows and what the heart knows are different.
He said the way of remembering and the vessel containing it are completely different.
Knowing only with the head is empty, and knowing only with the heart does not last long.
He said being caught ambiguously between the two is eventually no different from knowing nothing.
Ellen stopped walking.
Luke's empty space was felt with his whole body.
―Ellen, you are already enough.
'.......'
―Because you are a person never seen before.
Even then, and now, Ellen was annoyed.
The world is still full of difficult things, and there are few places where one can lean and rest comfortably.
What is it, damn it.
I asked what I have to do to become the Kingdom's best knight.
―The Kingdom's best knight or whatever, it is nothing. Really.
Even then, and now, sorrow rushed over Ellen.