Chapter: 185
Benedict, hearing the news that Lucy would arrive, exited his office and sought the storage room of the Count family.
“It’s been a long time since the lord came here, hasn’t it?”
“Is that so?”
“Yes. The lady hasn’t left the house since the mistress went on her long journey.”
Receiving the key handed by the housekeeper, Benedict opened the door and entered.
The entrance was adorned with various luxury items.
Things that Lucy, who used to love expensive and flashy things, threw a tantrum over when she shouldn’t have taken them.
Since that day everything changed, Lucy would be given things, but she would question where they would be used.
Benedict passed by without even looking at him.
Countless jewels that Benedict had once received while working for the kingdom.
Various weapons and armors obtained from dungeon strategies.
Magical scrolls.
Rare potions.
Benedict passed all of these, and at the end of the storage room, there was armor.
The armor, painted a deep black as if to absorb even light, was massive.
One might think that a grown adult man would be crushed beneath it if he tried to wear it.
“You’ve kept it well, housekeeper.”
“Haha. I’ve had quite a bit of trouble with it. To move just one part of the armor, at least four people were needed.”
Benedict began to don the armor like a toy.
Though it had been nearly ten years since he last wore this armor, his hands showed no hesitation.
Once, it was something he had felt like his own skin. There would be no awkwardness after such a long time.
Before long, having donned all the armor, Benedict walked further and gazed at his sword.
One of the weapons handed down through the Allen family.
A greatsword once used by a distant ancestor, covered in dust for many years, now held in Benedict’s hands, reclaiming its former glory.
Benedict examined the sword, which was so long and thick that it nearly touched the ground despite having the handle right in front of him, and let out a long breath before gripping the hilt.
The heaviness conveyed through the gauntlet brought a light smile to Benedict’s face.
“It’s a rare thing. To think Lucy would meet Karia, who was thought lost. Is this also the guidance of God?”
“It must be. It seems the great Lord Jushin loves the young lady.”
“While it’s blasphemous to say, as a father, it’s truly an unpleasant tale. I wished for Lucy to live a peaceful life.”
He didn’t deny the grace of the Lord in the transformation of his wandering daughter.
Of course, he was grateful for what the incompetent father couldn’t achieve but wanted her to leave without wanting anything more.
Or rather, he wished that she would ask him for the price instead.
Even knowing that the world doesn’t work that way.
“Haha. Lord, do you really think the words ‘peace’ and ‘our daughter’ fit together?”
“Of course not. Our daughter can’t seem to live without causing trouble.”
Chuckling at the housekeeper’s joke, Benedict gripped the sword’s hilt with both hands.
He didn’t take it lightly that Lucy rushed off to Menestel as soon as vacation started.
It was true that she had begun to obsess over strength after receiving the grace of God, but he knew she was equally obsessed with efficiency.
If she wanted to gain experience in dungeon strategies, there were countless better ways than going to distant and dangerous Menestel.
Yet, there had to be another reason for her stubbornness to go there.
With a high probability, that reason was what is commonly known as an oracle.
“Well then, I must do my best as a father.”
Had Karia been simply discovered in the Menestel dungeon, Benedict wouldn’t have moved.
It was a fact that she was once a close companion, but that was all in the past.
In his current life, something far more precious than her existed.
There was no reason to risk political burdens and substantial dangers by going there.
However, this time was different.
It was Lucy who found Karia, and she wanted to save her.
And to fulfill her wish, she had asked her father for help.
As a father, how could he refuse his daughter’s request?
Benedict ended his brief silence and decided to take action.
With ease, he drew his sword and slung it over his shoulder before turning around.
“For the peace of our daughter.”
Just then, while Benedict was smiling with the housekeeper, one of the attendants rushed into the storage room in a hurry.
“Lord!”
“What is it?”
“The young lady has returned!”
“Lucy?!”
“Yes. That’s…!”
Before the attendant could finish, Benedict dashed out of the storage room.
To see the face of his precious daughter, who had returned after a long time.
And to see that cute affection as she called him “Papa”!
With a gleeful expression indicating he was bubbling with excitement, the housekeeper chuckled before helping the fallen attendant to his feet.
*
When I first saw Benedict charging out of the family’s door, I thought to myself, “Wow, he looks so cool!”
His figure clad in dark, thick armor that seemed to block out all light, with a giant greatsword on his back, looked just like the hero of some epic tale.
This is how he looked when he roamed the battlefield back in the day.
No wonder everyone gets nervous at the mere mention of Benedict’s name.
Just imagine that monstrous figure swinging a greatsword as big as himself on the frontline. It’s truly terrifying.
However, that cool impression vanished the moment I saw Benedict’s face melting with delight as he recognized my presence.
With a thud thud echoing from his heavy armor, he arrived in front of me and carefully pulled me into his arms like a small creature while letting out a sniffle.
He was lonely all because I wasn’t there.
Every time he heard dangerous news, his heart ached, wishing to rush to me.
He had never expressed how happy he was to hear that I made a friend.
Though we had shared quite a bit of conversation through communication magic, it seemed that wasn’t enough for him.
He was holding me tightly without a hint of wanting to let go, just like the doting father I always saw in him.
That didn’t change even when people gathered for the meeting about the dungeon strategy for Menestel.
“Lucy, why don’t you call me Papa? The last time we spoke through communication magic, you called me Papa. Why not now?!”
Benedict, throwing a tantrum to be called “Papa”, left Count Georg in utter disbelief.
‘Benedict?…’
“Oh, silly Father? I’m about to get embarrassed calling you that! Can’t you stop with that gross voice?!”
“Ah, you’re doing it again. Come on, say it with me! ‘Papa’, ‘Papa’.”
Seeing him stubbornly trying to get me to say “Papa”, perhaps it was too much for Johan, who had been frowning.
“Lord Benedict, what on earth are you doing? You do realize this isn’t just a social gathering?”
Despite Johan’s advice that there were plenty of serious matters to be discussed, Benedict stood defiantly.
“Don’t worry! It won’t take long!”
“Is that so… sigh. Do as you please.”
Power that doesn’t need to care about others.
Overwhelming force that no one could control.
A blatant audacity that allows one to act boldly no matter what.
These three elements converged to make Benedict a truck with its brake line cut.
Was this the reason Lucy had become such a rebel?
Raising my hands in surrender, I sighed.
“Goofy Papa♡ Shut up♡”
Benedict’s face lit up with delight at finally hearing me call him “Papa”, and a resigned sigh escaped my lips.
With this man acting like this, no wonder people around keep praising Benedict. It’s hard to take it seriously.
To me, he’s just a silly Dad who can’t function around his ridiculously cute daughter.
Maybe it was thanks to the chaotic antics of Benedict.
The initially tense atmosphere of the meeting room softened considerably.
Did he act foolishly on purpose, knowing this would happen?
While grinning and looking around, he stood up from his seat and positioned himself in front of the table.
“Lucy! I’ll stay quiet as you wish, but before that, there are a few things we need to sort out. The other two?”
The voice that had just been throwing a tantrum had disappeared, replaced by a heavy and serious tone as he gripped the air in the reception room tightly and called for Johan and Count Georg.
“We three, who are in different places, have come together for Lucy’s request. Do you agree?”
“Yes, that’s right.”
“Of course, Lord Benedict.”
“Then it’s proper for Lucy to have the say in this matter. What do you think?”
When Benedict made his statement, the other two looked puzzled, but I was the most shocked.
I was the one who led this effort, but I never intended to lead this meeting.
If I were at the Academy, it would make sense for me to take the lead.
There, I was at the top, after all.
There was no one who surpassed me in achievements or abilities, so my words held weight.
However, here it was different.
Benedict. Johan. Count Georg.
All were individuals who had achieved greatness in their respective places.
There was no reason to listen to the words of a girl who had just enrolled at the Academy.
Even if I raised my voice here, earning trust quickly would be difficult.
So, I planned to share the information I had and leave the overall framework to Benedict, stepping in only at crucial moments.
But Benedict didn’t do that.
He gathered them all and told them that they should delegate everything to me.
“Lord Benedict Allen.”
The first to raise an objection was Count Georg.
“Your daughter is undoubtedly capable. However, she still has much to learn. Perhaps in the future…”
“Count Georg, my daughter is more capable than you think. Lucy is loved by the Lord.”
At Benedict’s words, Johan’s gaze turned to me. After a moment, he nodded as if he had understood something and spoke up.
“I see. It would be wise to entrust the authority to Lady Allen. Even if she has shortcomings, we can make up for them.”
“Bishop Johan, I thought you would understand.”
With both gathered making the same case, Count Georg couldn’t voice any opposition.
Reluctantly nodding, the three of them turned their eyes toward me.
“Now then, Lucy, tell us your plan.”
I didn’t know exactly what Benedict’s intentions were.
I lacked the experience to deduce such things.
But I understood what was needed moving forward.
“Alright, Benedict.”
“You big silly Papa, you’ve lost your confidence, so I suppose I have no choice but to lead. I’ll handle the command.”
As I shrugged my shoulders and spoke, Benedict looked at me with a satisfied smile.
This was what he wanted, wasn’t it? Benedict?
“Lucy, you should call me Papa.”
Really?!
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