Chapter 42 – Father and Daughter, and a Guest

They say humans are creatures of adaptation. Meaning they blend well into their given environment, or changing circumstances.

In that respect, the ‘Portal’ that Deus was about to use was a fitting embodiment of that result.

While spells to move short distances existed, long-distance teleportation magic was still nonexistent.

Teleportation magic was already no simple feat to begin with, so perhaps it was only natural.

In the midst of all that, a Gate that warped dimensions and the world itself appeared.

Subsequently, researching that Gate revealed possibilities distinct from simple teleportation magic.

Furthermore, they even succeeded in elevating magic by a stage, using monster byproducts.

Born from all that was what was called a ‘Portal’. A type of spatial teleportation magic circle.

“So this is that Portal. I heard it’s far more stable than pure teleportation magic.”

“Yes. It doesn’t require complex calculations or formulas. Thanks to it, it became an invention that marked a turning point in the Empire’s history. Though, its drawback is that it’s quite expensive.”

“…Yes. I would agree.”

The Duchy of Chester lay in the southern region of the Empire. It was quite a distance, necessitating the use of a Portal.

However, the usage fee was no joke. No, it wasn’t just a joke, it was simply insane.

‘Is it for real that a single trip costs about as much as all the exercise equipment I bought…?’

And what’s more, that’s a one-way ticket. One way! How does that even make sense?!

No matter how far the southern region of the Empire might be, this kind of price is really unacceptable.

“Ah. Of course, Imperial Ability Users can use it for free. Aside from deployments due to emergencies, they can also use it for personal matters, provided they’ve received approval from the higher-ups.”

“That’s an incredible benefit.”

There were so many tasks Ability Users needed to perform. The burden they carried was so heavy.

Therefore, the Empire was providing them with numerous benefits, striving to maintain their morale.

That applied to anyone, regardless of whether they were commoners or nobles, as long as they were Ability Users.

Deus thought that this kind of setting was better than in ＜The Mercenary Corps, First Day the Gate Opens＞.

In that story, the world was falling apart, but the higher-ups simply couldn’t come to their senses.

Because of that, they suffered endless frustrating situations, and tremendous sacrifices inevitably followed.

‘Though instead, this place has a demon appearance event.’

Since the appearance of the first boss, there hadn’t been any situations that he could easily foresee.

There was the incident at the breeding ground, but demons didn’t appear there.

Yet, to view it as a simple Gate surge would also be strange, since there were too many odd aspects.

Just what the heck was going on? How was this world warped?

As Deus’s contemplation deepened, his upper body suddenly leaned forward slightly.

“…President?”

“Don’t worry too much, junior.”

Fanning herself with a fan. Nefertiti shattered Deus’s thoughts with her breeze.

More than that, don’t worry? Could she have somehow grasped even his inner thoughts?

“While my father is a Duke, he’s not the type to treat people carelessly.”

“…?”

“Even if junior isn’t some hero from the Cradle. Even if they’re just a commoner, not some Ability User. There’s no need to be nervous.”

Hang on. That’s not what I was worried about at all?

Seeing Nefertiti completely miss the point makes her burst out laughing.

“Really! Just because he’s a Duke doesn’t mean he’s some authoritarian!” she adds.

I nod. But I don’t intend to take that at face value.

What child would badmouth their own parents? They’d only ever speak well of them.

Even if he’s not authoritarian in front of his children, could that really be the same in front of ‘status’?

This isn’t some modern drama, it’s fantasy. A world where the class system blatantly exists.

And he’s a ‘Duke’, practically at the very top of that class system!

‘A character who acts nice in front of their children but is the complete opposite to others… wait a second. Could it be, the Duke is actually the villain? Is that the kind of setup we’re dealing with?’

This is bad. What happens if that’s really the case?

Is the Student Council President going to turn out to be an ally-turned-enemy?

All sorts of wild thoughts continued even as Deus stepped through the portal.

And they only intensified as he arrived at the Duchy of Chester, the Maenheim family estate.

“… .”

No, hang on a moment. President? You’re telling me there’s no authoritarianism here?

Looking at the castle before my eyes, I guarantee that kind of thought would vanish in an instant!

It would take at least five of the Cradle’s buildings combined to reach its scale.

It could clearly house and feed hundreds with ease.

The castle soars high into the sky, causing anyone who sees it to gasp in admiration.

A classic, antiquated castle that you might see in a fantasy world.

Isn’t it a presence that all too perfectly demonstrates power and influence?

“Wait here for a moment, junior. The servants said they’d come to greet us.”

I thought you said that coming to the family estate wasn’t very pleasant?

Now, Nefertiti’s constantly twitching at the corners of her mouth.

She must be happy to be back at her family home after so long.

“Ah, there co-“

Nefertiti started to say, but suddenly made a face.

She quickly turned her head, looked at Deus and continued.

“Junior. Um, would you mind looking somewhere else, if you can?”

“Huh?”

“While you’re at it, maybe cover your ears… ah, too late.”

Why is Nefertiti suddenly acting like this? The reason became clear soon enough.

“Kuh-HUaaa! Our youngest has arrived! Why are you only coming now! This Papa missed you so much!!”

“Ugh.”

A middle-aged man, slightly smaller than Deus, embraced Nefertiti tightly.

And then, he rubbed his face all over Nefertiti’s horrified cheeks, even starting to sniffle.

“T-That’s enough! Please let go for a moment! Ugh!!”

“I missed you so much! Our youngest!”

“Just put me down! I’m getting dizzyyy!!”

Whether such screams were heard or not. The middle-aged man did not cease.

Rather, he laughed wildly, embracing Neferti and twirling her around.

“Ah.”

Deus could immediately grasp the nature of Duke Chester from where he stood.

A quintessential doting father. The kind who, if one maintained a good relationship with his children, would become a stalwart ally.

Conversely, if he became an enemy, he’d be the worst sort, one who wouldn’t stop until one of them was dead!

“Father! We have a guest! Must you behave like this?!”

“Kuh-heh-heh! ‘Father’! I told you not to call me that!”

“My elder brother and sister can call you ‘Father’ and you don’t say anything!”

“Keo-heo-eong!! So you’re saying you won’t call me ‘Papa’ anymore!!”

“…”

Hmm. Well, seeing as Neferti calls him “Father,” he must indeed be the Duke.

Yes. Duke. A Duke. Possessing power second only to the Imperial Family, the apex of the noble world.

A being who holds a vast territory, countless servants, and even a private army.

‘The Duke is one of only five in the Empire, wasn’t he? And one of them is the Duke of Chester, the head of the Maenheim family.’

Deus observed the Duke of Chester for a moment.

“Come on, call me Papa. ‘I’m home, Papa!'”

“I’m a young lady now! I’ll call you ‘Father’!”

“No! No, you can’t! The youngest will always be the youngest!”

Why the Duke was behaving in such a manner, well… that could be figured out later.

Right now, helping Neferti seemed to be the priority.

“Greetings, Your Grace, Duke Chester.”

He approached the father and daughter, who were still bickering over “Father” and “Papa.”

And, bowing as respectfully as he could, he continued.

“I am Deus, a first-year student of Yoram, invited to your Duchy by Neferti-senpai.”

“We have a guest! Father! Say hello!”

“Euuung!”

Judging by that groan, he seemed torn between his role as Duke and his role as Father.

As the head of the household, he should acknowledge the greeting, but he also desperately wanted to hear “Papa.”

“Ahem. Ahem. I’ve shown quite the embarrassing spectacle in front of a guest.”

Eventually, Duke Chester put Neferti down and cleared his throat.

“Welcome. Any student of Yoram is welcome here. Especially the cute junior of our youngest.”

“I am grateful for your hospitality, Your Grace.”

“Which brings me to the point. What do you think of our student council president? Isn’t she the most beautiful, dignified, and strong of all the Yoram student council presidents in history?”

“…?”

Dignified? Uh, Your Grace. Are you… aware that your daughter falls down every single day?

I’m not exaggerating, she falls at least twenty times a day, forward, backward, sideways, everywhere.

“Well, I haven’t had the opportunity to meet any other student council presidents…”

“Haven’t?”

“…Neferti Student Council President is, I believe, the best student council president in Yoram’s history.”

“Puhahaha! Indeed! Just so! Of course! Our youngest is the best. Aye!”

It seemed the initial likability test was a small, roaring success.

“Aish, really! Father!!”

Nefertiti, finally unable to bear it, let out a sharp yell.

But for Duke Chester, such a shout was nothing.

Rather, he was chuckling, “She called me Father! She called me Father! Hehehe!”

“…”

Deus, suddenly sensing a presence, glanced at the Duke’s rear.

There stood what appeared to be servants and knights of the Duchy.

Each of them had their head bowed low, in a way that screamed they had half given up.

Such a sight was now so familiar, it was hard to even comment on it. It was their usual reaction.

Nefertiti’s words seemed to ring true. He didn’t seem like an authoritarian person at all.

Just… well. To put it nicely, down-to-earth, or a bit meddlesome if you were being less generous.

“Alright, alright! We can’t just stand here! Our youngest has arrived, so let’s prepare a feast right away! You lot, hurry on ahead and tell the chef.”

“Understood, Your Grace.”

“Deus, was it? You come this way! Quickly, tell me a bit about our youngest. Ah, yes, the student council president who is showered with love by the students, eh?!”

“…Yes. I’m still a freshman, so I don’t know for sure, but. I imagine so. I’ve received a lot of help from the president as well.”

“Ehehehehe! That’s right. That’s right. Our youngest has a very generous heart. You can be impressed! Kehehehe!”

Halfheartedly playing along, Deus made an assessment of the Duke.

Easy yet difficult to deal with. Normal yet abnormal.

*