48 – Be My Reason
“How! How! Isn’t my son so cool?”
“Hmm. You are a proud son.”
“Right! Right!? When did you grow up to be so reliable!”
While acknowledging Litria’s bragging about her children, she slowly moved her feet to the mansion she had purchased right next to her academy.
It was a truly satisfying time.
I’m happy that my son came to us safely, but he was even treated to a dish he made himself.
“I did my best to give it to my mother and father!”
It was a very kind word. Even if you resent this ugly father, you care so much when it’s not enough.
Sorry for Tyr, but she honestly can’t quite remember what it tasted like.
Just… Just so happy. A surge of emotion surged up and paralyzed all my senses. But I will remember the tteokbokki that my son made with all his heart.
Someday in the distant future, when you think of today’s events, you will reflect on it as the day you ate happiness.
As I thought about happiness, I arrived in front of the mansion before I knew it. Litria’s back was gently pushed.
“Litt, go in first.”
“Hmm? Where are you going?”
“I have some business to do.”
I didn’t tell Ritt, but there are other reasons for coming here besides meeting her son. I still have time, but I can’t afford to relax.
Lit, who believes in my words, smiled kindly and kissed her gently on my cheek.
“Please be careful.”
A person who always believes in me and waits for me. After expressing my gratitude in my heart once more, I left the mansion.
Then, a vassal who was waiting outside approached and bowed.
“What is the situation?”
“We are watching. There is still time.”
I nodded slightly in relief, and he asked with a slightly playful smile on his face.
“How was the food your son cooked for you, Marquis.”
You are one of the few people who can joke with me like this. It can be said that trust is strong.
“Excellent.”
“You must have been satisfied.”
What are you saying for granted?
“I am not yet a marquis.”
“Wouldn’t it be soon? Even with your son.”
“Hmm.”
I tried to turn away from him so as not to show any sign of joy. If you see me smiling, you might want to joke around again.
It was not enough to become a great magician and surpass his father, and he rose to the rank of marquess at once as an aristocrat.
How can you not be happy?
Now you use the same surname Peerosis as me, but after graduating from the academy, you will create your own surname.
Perhaps a new ducal family will emerge.
Oops… I shouldn’t have expected it already. It is said that waiting is a poison that slows down the flow of time.
“Please take good care of the mansion.”
“Yes, I will definitely keep it.”
After entrusting the defense of the mansion to a vassal he trusted, he slowly returned to the academy, touching the ground with his cane.
A bit far from the academy. Arriving at the place where thugs aiming for the life of the prince, the saintess, and the arch witch were scheduled to appear, I let out a short sigh.
They are not the only ones at the academy. There are Louisa and Luatir.
‘This time…’
While waiting for the assassins, I was lost in thought for a moment.
Six years ago, the day Yongin hid in the mansion. He almost lost his beloved son and wife at the same time.
And he lost even his right as a father, which is quite natural, to watch his son grow.
How heartbreaking it was.
If I had torn my raw flesh, I would have suffered less than that.
Realizing that I was such a foolish and weak human being, how much I lamented and howled inwardly.
After Tyr went to the ice castle, Litria took only a minimum amount of water and food for a week until she regained her composure.
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Moreover, because of Tricia’s example, she was almost morbidly suspicious of the maids.
She didn’t last long because she was a very soft-hearted and kind woman, but it was a shocking event for us to the extent that Litria acted that way.
To be honest, I was no different.
When I thought of Tyr, the rice didn’t go down my throat. There were many times when she got up from sleep and wiped her nasal discharge. She only pretended to be calm on the outside.
“I heard that your son has become a disciple of the Archwitch! Congratulations, Count!”
When I listened to such well-intentioned congratulatory speeches, it felt like my heart was torn into a thousand pieces. It’s never something to be celebrated.
I just lost my son because I couldn’t protect him.
With a smile on his face from the sharp blue dagger, he endured the pain of having his heart pierced and politely received it each time.
But at some point, the person who said that to me disappeared, as if my feelings overflowed.
While she was relieved on the one hand, the fact that she did not show an aristocratic appearance placed a heavy anchor on her heart again.
Then one day, news like a thunderbolt came to me.
“It is said that your son… Participated in… The war against the dragons.”
It was a private meeting with His Majesty the Emperor. On the spot, I did my best not to lose strength in my legs, not to lose the glory of His Majesty, and not to lose my aristocratic dignity.
However, it was impossible.
‘aaa’
Why are you giving us such hardships when we are already having painful days? Raen couldn’t stand it.
I trembled silently with my head bowed in front of His Majesty, who took great care of me. Because if I uttered even one word, it felt like resentment and tears soaked in solitude would pour out.
His Majesty also understood my pitiable feelings and waited patiently for my tremors to subside.
When I returned to the mansion and told the story to Lit with a heavy burden on my heart, it was the most exhausting time.
“Ah…! Baby! My baby… On the battlefield…!”
Litria fainted and suffered for five days. Day after day followed by her shrieking breath, losing her consciousness, then waking up and passing her out over and over again.
I didn’t go to Jedo, I stayed in her mansion and took care of Litria, and the imperial family allowed it.
And while quietly standing by her side, he prayed endlessly.
‘Please, may Tyr be safe. Please save my son from the merciless dragons.’
Days continued like an ancient hell, as if time had frozen under the pressure of layered concerns.
One year later, an opportunity arose to join the troops heading to the Ice Castle to support the Cold Blood War. Isn’t it an opportunity to see Tyr!
However, things were not going well.
It was because His Majesty’s health deteriorated rapidly just a few days ago. It was a time when the power of dukes was strong, so I couldn’t leave my seat recklessly.
“Don’t worry, Count. Count So says he’s safe. Please watch over his father as I will send my utmost support.”
At the words of the 2nd prince, I had no choice but to swallow Biru and desperately suppressed my desire to go to the ice castle.
From then on, I started to get acquainted with the 2nd Prince, who was acting as a proxy. Because he knew my situation in advance, he paid a lot of attention in many ways.
Although His Majesty’s health gradually recovered and he was able to take care of state affairs again, the 2nd Prince’s deputy administration continued.
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Meanwhile, good news was finally delivered from the Ice Castle.
“The war is over. It is said that the Countess So and the Great Witch of the Great Cold directly obtained a semi-permanent peace agreement.”
The 2nd Prince said something more after that, but I can’t remember. The only thing left in my mind was that the brutal war had ended and that my beloved son was safe.
On that day, I returned to the mansion with a happy heart and held a grand dinner with everyone who had passed away.
‘Tyr survived the battlefield!’
For me, that was the only thing that mattered. On that day, I took the lead in lifting the toast wine and got drunk.
Then another long time of three years passed.
In the meantime, I devoted myself to fulfilling my weakness, to become a father who was not inconsiderate to Tyr, and took on the unexpected role of a court mage.
Time flew by as His Majesty had to take charge of the secret plan that was in progress.
“The Countess Peirosis and the Great Witch of the Cold are planning to head to the academy.”
When I heard that from the 2nd prince, my body trembled with joy without realizing it.
Finally! It’s been a long time since I’ve been in the middle of a long time since I’ve been in the middle of a long time.
However, following the joy and joy, worries and fears preceded them with even greater momentum.
I was afraid that the father, who couldn’t be by her side during this difficult time, would pour out words of resentment toward us. Because of that, Lit and I couldn’t sleep the night before we met Tyr.
“Father! Mother!”
But instead of holding her resentment, Tyr was genuinely happy to be with us again.
Such joy was conveyed in every word Tyr spoke and in her attitude.
When I saw my son like that, I secretly swallowed my tears while hiding my hot eyes.
‘You’re all grown up.’
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My son, whom I haven’t met in a really long time, has become a more dignified and reliable man than anyone else.
I could feel the confident appearance that can only be seen in Jaman who has overcome all kinds of adversity and the strong eyes with incomparable wisdom.
On the other hand, I was very happy that I was flying, but I was left with regret that I had grown up in a place I didn’t know.
To be honest, I never dreamed that I would develop such a relationship with the Archwitch, but whatever.
As long as her son is the woman she loves, she is willing to give permission to anyone. If the lover is the Archwitch, she is willing if she is willing, it is not something to be displeased with.
That’s it.
I thought that in the future, only the blissful days would continue as our family would come together.
She’s been through the hardships that Raen gave her for six years, so even if she’s a poor father, wouldn’t it be okay to accept such a small reward?
However.
“A dissident group called the Swamp of the Five Elements is plotting an assassination attempt at the academy.”
I heard something completely unacceptable.
I felt the signs of those slowly creeping into my realm, so I slowly turned my head away from my thoughts.
There were dozens of people there, all of whom were camouflaged in black.
“It’s you guys. Those who are called the Swamp of the Five Elements.”
They were quite skillful at hiding their presence. Most wizards probably wouldn’t even know that these guys had infiltrated them.
If you’re a person at the level of a principal, you’re probably aware of it by now.
Of course, it will all be over by the time he is active.
One of them asked me.
“What are you? How did you figure out our route?”
“That is now. It’s not that important.”
Yes. It’s not that heavy
I stood alone in front of them with a cane.
“It only matters that I am here and that you guys are there.”
After spitting out the words, emotions followed a step later. The hands holding the cane began to tremble violently.
Now… Now!
The torn family gathers in one place to lick each other’s wounds… But there are people who get in the way.
I can’t forgive.
‘I’ll rip off his limbs and throw him alive as animal food.’
The man who seemed to be the leader shouted as if he had grasped the mana that was beginning to rise from my body.
“A royal mage! Be vigilant and deal with it at once!”
As soon as those words were spoken, the black figures followed the order and quickly closed the distance. It was so fast that it was incomparable even compared to the advanced swordsmen.
Compared to the amount of mana in his body, his movements were strangely agile. After carefully examining their movements, I was convinced.
‘Surely.’
Is this the ‘strange trick’ the prince was talking about? It was something I would do.
“Lu, L, Urz, Rem…”
“Kill before chanting!”
It’s already too late. I’m not to the extent of the Archwitch or Tyr, but I’m also a member of the court mages. The memorization of runes and the degree of compression of chanting are basic.
“Those who are oblivious. Keep your dignity.”
Nobles must not lose their dignity under any circumstances. Even during a life-and-death battle.
“Terra Spina.”
With his back straight, he tapped the ground with his cane.
Then, the whip of the earth’s thorns, made of fragments of soil and stone, wrapped around the bodies of those who approached and tore their skin.
Ugly flesh and screaming deaths are scattered, and the thick scent of blood rises thickly. A sticky mist of blood wrapped around my body as if caressing it.
‘It’s fortunate.’
Tyr is not here.
‘Even if I don’t step out, this level of danger can be easily dealt with.’
I knew at a glance that my son had become a greater wizard than me. My proud son wouldn’t be bothered by enemies like this.
Perhaps even I, who became a court mage, could be easily defeated.
But even so.
‘That is not a reason for a father not to protect his son.’
“Petra Cassus.”
As he struck the ground with his staff and chanted, hundreds of stone fragments filled with mana flew and mercilessly tore their skin.
“Parus Meteor.”
Subsequently, meteorites the size of a human head formed in the air, taking the shape of the sun, were shot and burned the bodies of the enemies.
Nevertheless, there are still more than 20 enemies left.
Rather good.
This is the first opportunity given by Raen to not become a shameful father to his son. Don’t let it end too easily.
“Uh, ah… Ugh…!”
Seeing the overwhelming difference in skill, the enemies were already begging me for mercy with fear-encroached eyes.
I spoke to them quietly, as if reciting an epitaph.
“Be my reason.”
Please become an obscene pretext and excuse for my insignificant atonement.
Wait six years for that.
Now that I’m standing here.
Again the wand scolded the earth.