Chapter 394 – Lokhan Jarnshard (2)

“After realizing that Laura had been assassinated, I frantically searched for the beast. However, even after using Jarl’s power, I still couldn’t find out who it was.”

Jarnshad is a considerable domain. If it were the Levantine Empire, it would boast a size and economic power comparable to that of the Marquess.

Of course, Jarl’s power was strong, but the fact that he couldn’t find it in the end meant that it was simple.

“Anyway, outside of the Jarnshad Territory, I was assassinated out of a grudge for an unexpected reason…”

“… He did it because he was confident that his father, a Jarl, would not find out.”

“Right. And with a very high probability it was the latter. Laura’s parents were foreigners, but she herself was a native who had never moved.”

If he couldn’t find the culprit, he needed to know why Laura was assassinated.

A reason to kill Laura when she knows that she is her own lover and even fathered her illegitimate child.

“I can guess two things. One is that he is a human alchemist who has never held a hammer, which is the reason why Laura and I were not officially married. He must have thought it was a family flaw. The other would have been the issue of succession. Astrid is a capable woman, and she was quickly taking control of the family as hostess. In other words… She’s not her faction, she’s just driving them like a rat.”

The situation was exquisite.

Son of Rokan and Astrid. Svid was smart but had a weak personality. He doesn’t even have much interest in either crafting or fighting.

It doesn’t look like a dwarf, but… How could all dwarves be the same? Sometimes people like Svid come out.

The problem was that he was the son of Jarl and no one else.

In another country, Svid would have been a pretty good lord. However, this was not the kind of leader Nidavalir wanted.

A warrior who fights hotly, and a craftsman who is admirable. Because only these two are treated with dignity in Nidavallir.

In that sense, it was not publicly known, but the eyes must have been focused on Faye, an illegitimate child that everyone knew.

Half-blood, but half-dwarf blood. He is a child born between Rokan, who is even a meister, and Laura, who is quite talented even though they are in different fields.

“The reason I was able to become a Meister was because I combined blacksmithing with craftsmanship. Thanks to that, I was able to make special equipment equivalent to magic tools. What if Faye could do that too?”

If you become a hybrid artisan who makes alchemy steel by yourself and taps it to create a special weapon… The Jarnshad family will be the family that has produced meisters for generations.

Even if that’s not the case, Rokhan’s heart still goes to Laura, so he must have thought Fay would have a chance.

What… There is a lot of feeling that the happiness circuit has been turned around, but isn’t the succession fight a happy circuit fight in the first place?

He is the eldest son of many, the illegitimate lottery illegitimate son who receives Jarl’s affection.

If it’s traditional, it’s a traditional confrontation.

… To be honest, from my point of view, the reason for the defect is a bit absurd, but it must be the difference in the way of thinking between races.

In the Levantine Empire, where pedigree and boys are valued, they would be dumbfounded at how you compare a son born from a royal family to an illegitimate daughter.

If it was Alfheim, they would judge who was more blessed with the protection of the World Tree.

Krasius is a country that will keep fighting over who is stronger until one of them dies.

It must have been a serious problem for the Dwarves. At least enough for Rokhan to make up his mind.

“Once I got to that point, it felt like a miracle that Faye survived. Regardless of whether it was a family stain or to prevent a fight between her successors, the beast must have intended to kill Fei as well. Although Laura’s desperate resistance failed. … So I thought I couldn’t leave it like this.”

On that day, Buro Lokan brought her vassals and elders together and informed them that Fei was out of his sight.

Rokan declared only two. No matter what, he is his own blood, so he will provide the minimum amount of food, clothing and shelter, and even if he changes his mind, he will never be the next one, he said.

Of course, this story never reached young Fay’s ears. In the end, she was forced to leave for the academy as soon as she turned 20 years old.

After that, he met me while going through life in poverty… So it leads to now

At first glance, it sounds plausible, but the more I listen, the more strange it is.

Perhaps it was because she was talking too much, she opened her mouth, looking directly at Lokhan who coughed up blood again.

“One thing. I have a question for you, are you okay?”

“Cool… Speak.”

“I understand that after noticing that senior Fei might be assassinated, she tried to stop it somehow. But isn’t it the wrong way? She has to attach her escort there and make her equipment for self-defense. Why not ruin her life without even needing to touch it.”

“…”

Lokhan kept his mouth shut at my point.

“Oops!”

Iris, who was accused of trying to attach her elemental to Elisha as her escort, received a spade damage and grabbed her chest… It’s not very important right now.

As I was glaring at him with the intention of hearing what he would explain, Rokhan’s mouth slowly opened shortly thereafter.

“… I was afraid.”

A glance turned towards Fay. Rokhan’s face contorted with regret and remorse.

“Haven’t I already failed to protect Laura once? What if she loses Fay as well? I was so afraid that I couldn’t stand it. At the time, I was a coward who couldn’t take any risks.”

“That…”

“Okay. I know. I hurt Faye a lot because I was not confident. … She realized it belatedly, but by then it was too late.”

Faye had already closed the door to her heart, and she was waiting for the day she would leave this mansion one day.

“Now that this is the case, I thought I had no choice but to stick to the current way to the end. That’s for the best, if it’s her life anyway, she’ll just have to start over from afar, and if it’s Fay, she’ll be able to live well… I thought so.”

“Come now! No… You got it wrong, Dad. I am… How much i… !”

Faye, who had been listening silently, raised her voice as if she was crying, but she eventually couldn’t utter her next words and only breathed out her breath.

I know Faye’s future at H&A. What is the next word after that?

There was no next chance for Fay. Fay was alone in her academy because the students who did not want to cause her trouble with the Jarn Shard family turned away from her Fay.

There is nothing to become one, and there is no one to comfort her by her side.

Faye, who has always been alone since her mother died. Her life is even more difficult because there is no hope that she will get better in the future than her immediate hunger or humiliation.

All of this was an ordeal that was full of cold because her heart broke Faye…

In the end, with no help from anyone, Faye chooses her own death.

No, I wouldn’t call it a choice.

Fay had no choice because everything in the world had driven her Fay to her death.

Of course, this is the future without me. It’s something that hasn’t happened yet, and it’s something I won’t let happen.

So I know that Faye will never commit suicide, but… Why is it that the memories of the first time we overlap each other come to mind?

Faye, who begged for her to be accepted and loved, because she would give up her body, mind, soul, future, and everything.

Isn’t it a very unfair transaction for an equivalent exchange? But it must have been that desperate for Fay.

But right now, I am by Fei’s side.

When she puts her hand on her shoulder without saying a word, Fei reflexively overlaps her hand.

It may have helped a little, but the breathing that had become intense slowly returned to its original form. Once, Fei, who firmly grabbed the back of my hand, lifted her head.

The bangs are still messy and cover half of the face. But beyond that, the eyes were shining transparently.

과거가 아닌 지금을 살아가는 사람의 눈이다.

“아버지가 무슨 생각이었는지는 알겠어. 방식이 잘못됐지만 나름대로 나를 위해 한 일이라는 것도 알겠어.”

“Pay.”

“다만 그렇다고 해서 내 기억이 사라지는 건 아니잖아. 전부 없었던 일이 되는 건 아니라고.”

“Sorry. 네 말대로 이제 와서 이런 소리를 해봤자 아무런 의미도 없다는 건 잘 안다. So I thought I wouldn’t tell you until the day I die…”

“Did you think that juniors would be able to keep me safe no matter who targets me?”

“… Right. 다시는 얼굴을 보지 않을 생각으로 너를 몰아넣었건만, 죽을 때가 되니 한 번이라도 보고 싶더구나.”

페이를 눈에 담으면서도, 페이의 눈을 차마 쳐다보지 못하는 로칸. 그런 그의 모습에 페이가 짧게 고개를 끄덕였다.

“I understand.”

“What now… ?”

“I cannot forgive my father. I don’t even want to … But I can understand. 나도 좋아하는 사람이 생겼고, 그 사람이 위험하다는 소식을 들으면 심장이 철렁하곤 하니까. 후배님을 위해서라면 뭐든 할 수 있으니까.”

그리 말하고는 어깨에 있던 내 손을 잡아끌어 깍지를 끼는 페이.

절대 놓치지 않겠다는 듯, 꽉 움켜쥔 페이의 입가가 희미한 호선을 그렸다.

“Let’s do it here. 나는 아버지와 다시 사이 좋게 지낼 생각은 없지만 더 이상 미워하진 않을 거야.”

So you don’t have to blame yourself anymore.

그 의미를 알아챈 로칸의 눈에 마른 눈물이 맺힌다.

“Ah. Ah… !”

페이는 잠시 그런 로칸을 바라보다 고개를 휙 돌렸다.

“… Let’s go, junior. I have nothing to say or hear anymore.”

“Let’s go together.”

Fay put an end to her own past. She doesn’t have to stay here any longer, so she can leave early tomorrow morning.

Without letting go of her hand until the end, she left Lokhan behind.

“Mrs. Astrid has summoned an army of evil spirits!!”

“Nimi.”

I’m leaving tomorrow, so I’m going to attack you this morning.