Chapter 39
Callius was frozen stiff.
'I'm... a father?'
He was staring at the ceiling of the tent with unusually unfocused eyes.
"...Did you not know?"
"...No."
How would I know that?
Even hearing it directly like this, I can't believe it.
"Uh... Forget what I just said."
"As if I could forget!"
At the sarcastic remark, Bernard let out a dry cough. Even he thought it was ridiculous, letting out a hollow, meaningless laugh.
"I was going to tell you when the time was right... Why did you have to do something so unnecessary."
"What was unnecessary?"
"True, it wasn't unnecessary. You pierced Emily's holy blood, which no one else could! Since her own father pierced it for her, how overwhelming must it be! Now that child can rest easy too."
Bernard tried to change the atmosphere by exclaiming, 'Great! This is great!' to cover up his own mistake.
However, Callius was not swept away by the atmosphere Bernard created.
"Are you sure she's my child? She's a child I don't even know, so how is she mine?"
"...It is certain that she is your child. I've finished talking with the Count."
Grabbing his pipe again, Bernard exhaled a puff of smoke and slowly began to speak.
"It was a dawn before the sun rose. A bleak gale swept through the North, just like today."
"Cut the crap and get to the point. You shouldn't trust my patience too much."
"You insolent brat."
Spitting out a curse, Bernard skipped the formalities and answered from the main point.
"About ten years ago, someone left Emily behind, they said. The Count immediately searched for the child's mother who had abandoned the child and disappeared, and uncovered her identity."
"Who was it?"
"A retainer of a noble lady named Ailly left Emily behind, they said."
Ailly? That's a pretty common name.
"Lady of which house?"
"Veriaren. They said she was a lady of a baron family, Ailly de Veriaren."
Ailly de Veriaren.
"I heard it's a noble family in the South famous for their blueberries. How on earth did you meet such a lady?"
"......."
That's what I want to ask.
Just how old was this bastard Callius when...
'Callius's current age is...'
Twenty-six.
Then does that mean he knocked down a lady around the age of fourteen?
A bastard is truly a bastard.
Worthy of being called the Order's black sheep.
But the feeling isn't exactly pleasant.
'Responsibility without pleasure. What bullshit.'
A single night with a lady he couldn't even remember.
And from that, Emily was born.
"Ailly... ugh."
Memories that aren't mine suddenly flood in.
The face of a certain woman.
Her features creepily surface, aggravating the confusion.
My head hurt as if it were going to split open.
I suspected as much, but it seems it's really true.
Damn it, Callius.
"...Does Emily know?"
"She knows. She knows everything—that her father is a rogue who disgraced the family, and is called an incorrigible black sheep even within the Order."
"Damn it..."
Callius covered his face with both hands. Only now did he newly understand Emily's reactions all this time.
'No, honestly, she's not my child.'
She's Callius's child.
So there's no need for me to harbor this guilt and sense of obligation.
Certainly.
However.
'I am Callius now.'
Phew—
Letting out a deep sigh, wiping his face with his hands, he looked down at Bernard.
"What do I do now?"
"Why are you asking me, you punk. Now that you know, treat Emily well. She grew up for ten years without a father or mother, so you should at least act like a father now."
"What about that Ailly... no, where is Lady Ailly?"
Inhale.
Exhaling a puff of smoke, Bernard looked at Callius with bitter eyes.
"She must be dead."
"Unfortunately, so I'm told."
If that's the case, there is only one person in this world Emily can rely on.
Only Callius.
'That Count Zervan wouldn't have played the role of a grandfather either.'
He could understand why Emily had been close to Bernard. And why Bernard cherished that child.
'Because she's my child...'
My head is complicated.
I don't know where to start untangling this knotted thread.
"What are you going to do?"
"What am I going to do?"
"It might not be the right time, but you found out anyway. If so, you have to act like a father in some way!"
"...A twelve-year-old child suddenly shows up claiming to be mine. Do you really think I could easily accept that?"
Honestly, I do feel a bit wronged.
Emily is a child Callius caused, not my own child, isn't she?
"Bah! How can such words come from a father's mouth! If you're a man with the equipment, you must take responsibility!"
"...How do I act like a father? What should I do?"
"I wouldn't know that."
"Shouldn't you know a bit?"
"I don't have any children either, so I don't know."
"Huh? What were you doing until that age without getting married?"
"I dedicated everything to God Valterus."
"Damn it."
Since he was talking so much, I thought he'd give me some proper advice...
"Hmm... If it's really like that, why don't you try eating a meal together? Eating something delicious naturally leads to all sorts of conversations, wouldn't it?"
"In this crisis where we don't know what will explode?"
"Even if war breaks out, you still eat. You still shit and piss. What's the difference?"
And.
"It's a war where you don't know what will happen. In my eyes, Emily is..."
She isn't the type to hide and avoid the war. Having just had her holy blood pierced, she must be itching to test her own strength.
A mere twelve-year-old girl.
Of course, if she were to go inside the castle, I would strongly stop her, but until then, there's nothing I can do.
"Alright. This isn't a problem for me to interfere in. It's late, but you're her only father. Try to do well."
Pat, pat.
Patting his shoulder, Bernard went out, saying he'd go for a walk or hunt.
"I'm going crazy..."
Just as he was falling into thought for a moment.
"Why did you call me again?"
Emily had come.
"......."
"Why are you looking at me like that? Grandfather said he called for me... Is it not true?"
That damn old geezer.
What am I supposed to do when he calls Emily so abruptly without giving me time to prepare myself?
"What, why are you staring?"
Looking closely, I think she does resemble me.
Perhaps because Callius isn't a face that lacks in good looks anywhere, Emily also has quite a pretty face.
Bright, intelligent eyes and thick black hair.
And her ash-gray eyes represented that the girl had inherited the direct bloodline.
She is young now, but she has a promising future; she will be a strong flower that blooms while enduring the fierce winds of the North.
"How's your body?"
"Body? My body is good. It's much lighter and better than before. Even now, I could win against the orcs without poisoning them."
That's not what I asked.
I don't know what to say.
She said she already knew.
But suddenly calling her my daughter is a bit strange, isn't it?
"Then... that's a relief."
"I won't hold you back, so don't worry."
"That's not what I meant."
"Huh? Then what?"
Uncharacteristically flustered, Callius scratched the back of his neck.
"Um... have you eaten?"
"...No. Not yet."
"Then let's have a meal together."
"Suddenly? You usually tell me to stop bothering you and get lost. I thought you liked eating alone."
Come to think of it, that was true.
The only enjoyable thing in this world was fine dining, so that's how it was.
'Damn it.'
I wanted nothing more than to go back to the past right this instant, but what could I do.
I never even dreamed she would be my daughter.
"I'm giving you a special opportunity to join me."
"What a surprise..."
Emily seemed to be deep in thought, perhaps sensing a strange atmosphere.
However, after twirling her hair, she nodded with a prim expression.
"Wait here."
Callius went out of the tent and hurriedly looked for Brance.
"Brance!"
"Yes, yes! What is it?"
"Where's the double backpack?"
"It's right here. But what for...?"
"I need to have a meal. Is there anything suitable inside?"
"Uh... Yes. There's some of the deer and wild boar you caught last time, sir."
"That's enough."
"Shall I help you?"
"No, just keep doing that."
Brance was tanning the hide of the one-horned beast Emily had caught.
Because of its large size, he was working on it with a few idle knights, and this time, he couldn't just leave it to Brance.
'I should do it myself.'
Given the situation, I couldn't treat her to anything too grand.
But still, isn't this the first meal between a daughter and a father?
It's better for the father to prepare it himself.
"It's not a difficult task."
He had cooked well for himself while wandering the entirety of Carpe during that time.
This much isn't difficult.
Callius immediately started a fire.
And placed the whole meat over the campfire and secured it.
The meat's texture isn't bad.
Then what determines the taste?
The answer is spices.
The taste of food largely depends on its aroma. And Callius held the highest-quality spices brought from Trista.
Precious salt, pepper, and various other spices would delight the mouth and nose.
"Perfect."
Now all that's left is to wait.
With this, I would be able to conquer Emily's taste buds first.
No, I can.
"Oh, Lord Callius. Are you preparing a meal?"
"The smell is already amazing. It looks delicious! Can we get a bite?"
It was Allen and Aaron.
Thinking they had gotten quite close, they approached him with smooth-talking gusto.
But today was not the day.
Callius looked at them with cold eyes.
"It would be best if you get lost."
"Ah, yes."
Allen immediately turned around, and Aaron also hurriedly turned but tripped and fell.
"Ouch."
Thanks to Aaron's massive bulk, a cloud of dust was kicked up into the dry wind.
"Useless fools. Get lost right now."
"Y-yes! I'm sorry!"
The dust swirled, but as if he had already anticipated it, Callius was holding the smoked boar and standing far away.
"What's going on?"
"Nothing."
"It doesn't look like nothing."
"...Just eat this."
Callius sliced the meat with fluid knife work and handed it to Emily.
"T-thank you."
"Eat."
They sat side by side on a fallen log to eat.
There was no conversation.
Only the dry wind and the sound of forks and knives cutting meat echoed desolately.
'What am I supposed to say?'
Emily was also strangely quiet.
She didn't even meet his eyes and only stared at her own plate.
'This kid must know I'm her father... what is she thinking.'
The more I think about it, the less I know.
It felt like it would be easier to fight an Orc Warlord.
I should have just asked Emily's servant what she liked.
"Where did your servant go? I haven't seen them for a while."
"They died. They were hiding and got hit by an orc's stray blade."
"...I see."
I didn't know because I wasn't interested.
"Must not have been a child you cherished."
"They grew up with me since I was little. Nia was with me since I was five, and Wendy since I was seven."
They aren't here anymore.
"...Is that so."
Yet she didn't show it.
I'm only realizing it now.
With that small body, she had witnessed and endured the death of someone close to her.
Nevertheless, she didn't give up, swinging her sword and tempering herself.
'She's strong.'
A strong child.
Why is a child who accepts the harsh trials of the world and the death of loved ones, and endures it so painfully, so dignified?
A child who doesn't even call her father 'Father', fearing abandonment, yet still tries to prove herself with the sword.
And such a child is my daughter.
'If it weren't for the old man, I would have never known even if we spent a lifetime together.'
Who would have thought such a commendable child could be the daughter of a rogue?
They would never think so.
"It's still okay. Because I won't let my people die in vain from now on."
Poke.
Piercing the last piece of meat with her fork, Emily put it in her mouth and swallowed.
The child who had been captured in the bandit den had become an adult in a brief span of time.
A child who experiences many things at once is bound to grow up according to their environment.
But for some reason, a corner of Callius's heart ached faintly.
"Thanks for the meal. It was delicious. Make it again next time if you feel like it."
"Alright."
"Yeah."
Handing over her plate, Emily grabbed her sword and stood up.
"What are you going to do now?"
"Training!"
Is there another twelve-year-old girl in this world who says 'training' with such a bright smile?
"Then I will..."
That was when.
Suddenly, the knights became noisy.
"What's going on?"
"I'm not exactly sure either. However, they said Sir Bernard's signal has been dropped..."
"The old man?"
Making eye contact with Emily, Callius immediately grabbed his sword and dashed out.
Expanding his aura detection to find Bernard's energy, a plain unfolded as if it had been waiting.
And there, Bernard was.
Slowly drawing his sword.
"What's going..."
Puu—!!
What resolved Callius's question was not Bernard's mouth, but the sound of a horn blowing from the battlefield.
"It's starting."
A green wave trampling over the pure white snowfield began its march to invade the gray castle.
The war.
Was just about to begin.