Chapter 43 – Father and Daughter, and a Guest

Much preparation had been done. Namely, preparing answers to the Duke’s questions.

From the moment he entered the academy, Deus himself had been at the center of every incident.

The initiation ceremony. The inter-club friendly matches. The Gate manifestation. And recently, the menagerie affair.

Naturally, he had attracted the attention of others, and a barrage of questions was only to be expected.

Especially since he was known as the very one who had defeated the new enemy, the ‘Demon’.

So, he was certain the Duke would undoubtedly ask about that.

Even if it wasn’t that, he could express deep interest in various other areas.

At least, until the pre-dinner conversation, that was what Deus had expected.

“Student Deus. You said you defeated that Demon fellow?”

“That is correct.”

“You must have suffered greatly. So I ask, how much help did our Nefertiti provide?”

“…”

It wasn’t until then that Deus realized the Duke’s question was different from what he had anticipated.

“Not to brag, but our Nefertiti is the best of the best when it comes to wind-type abilities. This is a fact that many ability users have acknowledged. I’ve asked everyone I’ve met, you see.”

“I see.”

*Your Grace, if a person, that is, a Duke asks you, ‘How is my daughter? Is she okay?’*

*Wouldn’t someone with a proper head on their shoulders naturally give a positive answer?*

*Who in their right mind would say to their face, ‘She was damn weak, you know.’*

After all, the dispatch team was already publicly known to have been active.

Deus decided then and there not to spoil the mood of this father, so devoted to his youngest.

“Though I brought things to a close, the student council president also played a significant role.”

“Oho!”

“I didn’t see everything, but she managed to wound the demon and even altered the trajectory of attacks headed for the dispatched team. A remarkable contribution, even though she isn’t a field agent.”

No clue. Guess I can just cobble together what I vaguely heard.

Sneaking a glance at Nefertiti, her face was flushed red, clearly mortified.

Being praised for something she barely did seemed to be weighing on her.

“This, this is wonderful! To have such a fine student following in my daughter’s footsteps, it puts my mind at ease. Some nobles are grumbling about the exorbitant taxes for the Cradle. I dare them to utter such nonsense in my presence again, I’ll grind them to dust!”

“Your words alone are more than enough…”

“Words alone? I truly mean it! Aye, that’s what I’ll do!”

I don’t know. I really don’t. I’ve definitely grasped this old man’s character, right?

But I can’t quite figure out how much of this is actually his real intention.

Throughout the rest of the banquet, the Duke of Chester continued his barrage of questions.

Some were directed at Deus, but most concerned Nefertiti.

It wasn’t as if she never contacted home, so why this fuss?

“Father.”

“Ahem!”

“Papa.”

“Hrmph!”

Only after Nefertiti glared at him did the Duke finally cease his interrogation.

“Well then, is the food to your liking?”

He asks now, when the banquet is almost over.

“Yes, Your Grace. A feast unlike any I’ve ever tasted.”

“Do visit us again sometime. How could I not treat a hero of the Cradle, the same as my youngest, to a meal?”

“Your words alone are a blessing.”

—*slide*—

The Duke turned his head slightly, addressing Nefertiti this time.

“Nefertiti, you’re in your third year now, correct?”

“Yes, Father.”

“….”

“Haa. Yes, Papa.”

“Good, good. So, next year will be your last. After completing your fourth year, you’ll return to the family.”

Huh? At the Duke’s words, Deus raised his own head to look at the father and daughter.

Nefertiti would return to the Maenheim family after her fourth year?

Not become an Empire Adept, working in the field?

With her level of ability, she’d become a quite formidable Adept.

“I’ve told you this countless times.”

With a frustrated sigh, Nefertiti spoke.

“I entered the Cradle not just because I awakened my Adept powers, but because I intend to become an Adept for the Empire, for this world.”

“And your Papa has made it clear. It is not allowed. I will not permit it.”

“Why do you get to decide that, Father?”

What is this. What’s going on. After a nice dinner, why are you giving me indigestion.

I glance around cautiously. Even a would-be god like me treads carefully before a father-daughter quarrel.

“Why are you doing this again. I told you when you enrolled. Just because you’re entering the Cradle doesn’t mean you need to become an Awakened. You can just take the mandatory training and return to where you belong.”

“Where I belong is in front of the Gate. And facing the monsters. Alongside my seniors, my peers. And my juniors.”

“No. Where you belong is here, in the Chester duchy. Within our Maenheim family.”

A fissure, a crack, spreads across Nefertiti’s face.

A side of her I’ve never seen before. An expression she never wore in the Cradle.

“Don’t force me. I’ve already made up my mind.”

“I cannot allow it.”

“What if I don’t need your permission? Are you going to stop me?”

“Yes. By any means necessary. I will block your field support.”

Something, something deeply unsettling hangs in the air between father and daughter.

Caught in the crossfire, Deus can only keep swallowing his drink.

“My future is my decision. Don’t interfere.”

“To call this interference wounds me, daughter. What parent would willingly watch their child walk into the jaws of hell again?”

“I’m not like Little Brother.”

“That doesn’t mean we can risk it. Losing your little brother was enough.”

―*Thwack!*

Nefertiti slams her hand on the table, pushing herself to her feet.

“…I’ll head out first. Listen well, Junior. I’m leaving.”

This is why I didn’t want to come. Nefertiti’s final words linger for a moment before fading away.

“…”

“…”

The Duke of Chester stares silently at the space where his daughter stood.

And Deus, seated beside him, continues to sip his drink without a word.

‘Shit. Shit. What am I supposed to do now? You can’t invite a guest and then start fighting with your daughter!’

And it’s not just a simple fight.

That conversation just now. It seemed like something internal to the family.

As an outsider, hearing all that just makes it even more awkward.

In the silence, the Duke picks up the glass in front of him and throws the contents back in one gulp.

The aftertaste must be bitter, judging by the way he purses his lips before turning his gaze back to Deus.

“Tell me, Student Deus.”

“Yes, Your Grace.”

“Do you partake in alcohol?”

Alcohol. Of course I do. When did I learn… Ah, right. That damned geezer.

Whether he took me in to turn me pro, or just needed a living punching bag.

I remember learning to drink for the first time from the man who beat the hell out of me.

“Yes, Your Grace. I do.”

“Then I have a favor to ask, though I apologize for springing it on you. Would you be willing to be my drinking companion tonight?”

“It’s a bit much, I think, for me to share a drink with Your Excellency….”

“My eldest son is away in the capital for a time. And sadly, my younger one cannot share a drink with his father. Since you’re here, I’d be grateful if you would.”

That’s foul play, Your Excellency. Bringing up your children like that, how could I possibly refuse?

Though I groaned inwardly, I had no choice but to agree.

*

“Sit.”

“….”

Not the dining room where we’d eaten earlier, but a liquor table prepared in a corner of the back garden.

The sight of the dishes prepared nearly made Deus burst into laughter.

‘Are you kidding me? Scallion pancakes? This world’s logic is completely insane.’

And the liquor the Duke was pouring was, judging by appearance, soju.

A familiar scent. A familiar clarity. Yup. One hundred percent.

“Now then. Let’s have a drink.”

—Clink

The all-too-familiar soju glasses chimed with a clear sound.

My head throbbed. Is this really fantasy, or modern day?

While Deus was lost in a whirlwind of confusion, the Duke threw back his drink in one gulp.

“Ahh.”

Emptied his glass with incredible speed, and immediately moved to pour himself another.

Deus swiftly stopped him, refilling the Duke’s empty glass instead.

“Heh heh heh. Thank you. Young hero of the Cradle.”

Looking at you now, you have quite the presence. A manly figure, indeed.

The Duke roared with hearty laughter, then emptied his glass neatly before continuing.

“I’ve shown such a shameful sight to a guest.”

Were you ashamed? I thought I was going to die from discomfort.

Congratulations, Your Excellency. You almost accomplished what even the devil couldn’t.

“It’s always like this. I tell myself not to, not to. And yet, I end up bringing up that story after all.”

“….”

“If I don’t speak my fatherly wishes, then it truly feels as though my youngest daughter, Nefertiti, will become an ability user like her little brother and run off to the front lines.”

There’s something there. Again. Like with Yurishia not long ago.

Something I was curious about, but couldn’t bring myself to ask about directly.

“Now that I see it, your glass is empty too. Quickly, receive.”

As the Duke picked up the bottle, I hastily raised both hands, politely taking the glass.

Maybe it’s from getting hit so much. Everything I learned from that old codger is ingrained in my body.

“Come to think of it, the anniversary of my second son’s death is approaching.”

The anniversary. The day someone died. A memorial day. And without realizing it, I gulped.

Facing the parents who had lost their children was a very hard thing to do.

“Since you go to the Cradle, you will soon know it. About the glorious end of people who were put into the field. About the great heroes, which The Empire has lost forever. Heh heh heh. Silly boy. That wasn’t what I supported him for, when I was encouraging to become ability-user so he could leave his name in such place.”

Listening up to that point, I think I understand why this father and daughter, who are close to each other, fight.

Nefertiti, who is determined to become an ability user. Chester, who is trying to stop it.

And between them, her brother – *also* his son – once an Awakened, now fallen.

“…”

Deus turned his head, emptying his glass with a practiced ease.

That was the nature of liquor, wasn’t it? Though tonight, the aftertaste felt particularly bitter.