Chapter: 787
Recently, I’ve found myself spending more time alone than with the kids.
Perhaps it’s because of the two new friends, Anrietta and Helen, but the children’s attention towards me has diminished somewhat. Even when Anrietta visits, her nanny tags along. I don’t even have to step in to take care of the children; there’s always an adult around to watch over them.
‘Good times are passing by.’
I felt a bit bittersweet yet proud at the same time.
Parents only need to be there for their children 24/7 when they’re little. Naturally, I don’t plan to neglect them just because they’re getting older, but I have to treat my three-year-old different from my thirteen-year-old.
That moment is slowly, very slowly, approaching. The time when the kids will prefer to play with their friends instead of needing their dad’s protection.
So, this situation is certainly a joyous sign of their growth. It should be.
‘I want to be with them…’
A tangle of joy and sorrow swirled within me.
Even now, my children still need their dad. I should be there, playing with them earnestly. After all, our eldest, Pedi, is only four years old. It’s perfectly normal for a kid that age to want to be in their parents’ arms.
But it would be wrong to confine a child who’s interacting with friends to their parent’s side. It’s not right in terms of their future either.
…
“Titi.”
– Woof.
“Don’t you think it’s okay not to have friends throughout life?”
Titi quietly approached and gently licked my face in response to my nonsensical question.
That warm lick hurt more than a loud howl. To Titi, it probably meant that her owner looked sad or something.
‘The more friends, the better.’
Letting out a small sigh, I patted Titi’s head.
Yeah, let’s stop overthinking. If I truly love my kids, I need to refrain from being overprotective and welcome their friendships. No matter how sad or lonely it feels, I shouldn’t deny their changes.
Even if the change came at the age of four.
Even if they’re still just wobbling around.
“Titi, wanna go fishing with me?”
– Woof?
“Just to watch. It’d be lonely to go alone.”
– Woof woof!
It was a sudden request, but Titi wagged her tail vigorously and barked cheerfully. She definitely agreed.
Now that I think about it, we’ve walked around various places together, but never once went to the lake. The academy is so vast that we didn’t even need to go outside.
‘A retriever likes water, right?’
Although it’s not the ocean, the lake where we’d go fishing is fairly substantial. It can easily serve as Titi’s new playground.
While I’m fishing, I’ll let her play in the water. That way, everyone will have a happy time.
I didn’t expect her to be this excited.
“Titi! Don’t go too far!”
– Woof!
With a quick bark, Titi shot across the lake like a fish, her movements breathtakingly fast. I was completely taken aback; the lake is large enough to be a secret hideout for council members, yet without hesitation, Titi dove right in and quickly reached the center. I doubt even real fish swim that fast.
You’d think I was at a bathtub or a pool instead of a lake. Our Titi is not just a pro at handstands but also quite the swimmer.
‘How could I have kept such a creature on land until now?’
Time for a little reflection. I knew retrievers loved water, yet only now did I bring her to the lake. I was slipping up on pet welfare as a pet owner.
Even the saints had been here before. Well, they wandered around after being chased by their wives, but still, it’s embarrassing that Titi hasn’t even been to a place the saints have been.
‘From now on, we should come often.’
At least once a week. That should make Titi happy.
“Brother.”
“You made it?”
While I was watching Titi float around like a creature from the lake, I heard Erich’s voice from behind.
“What’s that? Is that Titi?”
“What do you mean ‘that’? That’s our precious Titi.”
As Erich casually plopped down beside me and made that dreadful remark, I kindly pointed out his blunder, and he chuckled and nodded.
“Is that swimming thing Titi?”
“Yep. Isn’t she super fast?”
“I never knew Titi was so friendly with water.”
Saying that, Erich pulled out a fishing rod from his bag and took the bait that was in front of me.
“Use yours. The bait isn’t that expensive.”
“I only grabbed the fishing rod because you called me in a hurry.”
I couldn’t argue with that sound logic, so I just clicked my tongue quietly. He had a point; I did call him in a rush.
“So why did you call me?”
“Just because.”
“Huh?”
Erich’s eyebrows furrowed at my flat reply.
He’s not angry. After all, he’s been on vacation, so he shouldn’t be too busy. He rushed over the moment I called him.
“I was kidding. I have something to tell you.”
Of course, I didn’t call him for no reason. We’re not close enough for me to invite him for a fishing trip out of the blue.
“You’re heading to Yuben soon, right?”
“…Yeah.”
Erich’s previously furrowed brows relaxed significantly, only to be replaced with worry instead of irritation.
This is information we only recently learned. The recent news is that the wedding of Lather will take place on the last day of November.
Moreover, Tannian’s wedding is scheduled for mid-December. What a coincidence that their dates were so well aligned, as if they were plotted.
“Still, it’s good that it’s at a time when Via’s not too far along. She’s not showing much yet anyway.”
“That’s true.”
I willingly agreed with Erich’s little victory. If the person at the center can take even a little comfort, that’s a good thing.
And it’s not entirely wrong. If it’s a trip abroad that must happen, avoiding the baby bump should be prioritized. Zenobia and Serra will enjoy the trip much better if they aren’t too far along.
“I’m going to Yuben too.”
“Huh?”
Yet suddenly, I found myself in a position where I couldn’t tease Erich at all.
“I’m heading to Yuben too.”
Just like Erich, I’ll be traveling all the way to Yuben on the opposite side of the continent.
“Why would you go, brother?”
Looking at Erich, who was genuinely puzzled, I turned my gaze back to the still swimming Titi.
Honestly, I didn’t expect to go to Yuben either. I thought I’d be stuck wandering around central continent at most.
“Lin wanted to go to Yuben for our honeymoon.”
Of course, it was completely unexpected, but it wasn’t unwelcome.
It’s a country that my wife herself wanted to visit. It’s for no other reason but our honeymoon. Doesn’t matter if it’s on the opposite side of the continent or even the opposite side of the planet, I must go.
“Oh, the fourth sister-in-law.”
“Don’t get cheeky and call her sister-in-law without a title behind it.”
“Cut me some slack. Calling a friend sister-in-law is hard!”
Once again, he hit me with a point I couldn’t argue against, and I quietly sealed my lips.
Sometimes I wonder if this guy is doing it on purpose; he sure knows how to strike a vital blow. It’s not like he lacks intelligence or awareness.
‘If only he spent that talent on his own love life.’
I’m not going to lecture him—he’s already married and has kids—but how can I not think of it every time I see him? The “Erich from the 77th season” is a monster I’ll never forget until I die.
“But why Yuben all of a sudden? Was the fourth sister-in-law really into magic?”
“I’m not going for magic, it’s more because Yuben is on the opposite side of the continent, it has a lot of unique things. It’s been on her mind for a while.”
She isn’t fascinated by the magic in the Magic Powerhouse Yuben but about the resources and items from countries across the continent. To put it simply, her inner merchant genes are kicking in.
I’m not much for foreign affairs, so I figured that’s how it is, but it makes sense that a merchant sensitive to trends and culture would find charm in Yuben. Finding a good item there could easily be packaged as “exotic flair from the opposite side of the continent.”
“Anyway, we’ve planned to go around mid-November. If we leave any later, the wedding will get chaotic, and if we go too early, we might miss seeing Lather’s face.”
“I mean, if you’re going, you should at least see him.”
That made me chuckle for some reason.
After graduating from the Academy, I honestly thought I wouldn’t have much chance to see him again. Who would’ve thought I’d run into him again in less than five years?
At least, it’s not a bad thing that our next encounter isn’t for bad reasons but rather good ones—
“Hey, brother.”
“What?”
“If you’re going to Yuben, I don’t have to go too, right—”
Before Erich could finish his sentence, I chucked him into the lake.
Who does he think he is trying to offload his responsibilities on me? Not happening!
“Thanks, Titi…”
– Woof!
Thus, Erich, who ended up taking a plunge in the autumn lake, was promptly fished out by Titi, who was swimming nearby.
I didn’t intend to think this way as an older brother, but comparing brains, Titi definitely seems like a more intelligent and helpful presence than Erich.
*
Krasius’s next travel destination is set for the United Kingdom of Yuben.
I had presumed I’d visit the Holy Kingdom, Jerano Kingdom, and Balkros Kingdom before ultimately exploring the southern continent, but Lin surprisingly chose the United Kingdom of Yuben.
“The environment in Yuben is so different from the Empire. They have beasts roaming around that you might only see in a zoo back home, and so many unique items. I’ve always wanted to see it.”
Still, considering that the blood of the Yurin Count family runs in her veins and that Yurin is a key player in the Gold Duke faction, her choice is understandable.
But soon, there’s going to be a wedding for Prince Lather. Lin also has quite a friendship with Prince Lather, so this could be a visit to congratulate him.
‘Can’t send the family off empty-handed.’
The Magic Powerhouse known as the United Kingdom of Yuben. True to Yuben’s fame, Prince Lather has a talent and passion for magic.
Thus, I needed to prepare a suitable present for him. Since the gifts are for a magician, it’s better that I handle the preparations than Krasius and Lin.
‘Found it.’
Thanks to that, I headed for the ducal residence of Servette County after a long while, where I discovered the gift buried deep in a drawer.
My thesis papers that I wrote while attending the Imperial Academy, along with research notes from when I was newly part of the Magic Tower.
‘Old stuff, but it’s got value.’
Or maybe even more value, considering it’s something that can’t be found anywhere else. Recent papers may be available to everyone, but century-old data is mine alone.
‘…Copying will take a little while.’
But looking at it now, I realized there’s way more than I remembered.
I’ll need at least an hour to copy all of it.
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