Chapter: 587
Is it because my vessel has grown larger compared to the past? Even after several days, the exposed divinity showed no sign of recovery.
From my perspective, having to clear the quest as soon as possible, it was utterly bewildering.
The dungeons that seemed bizarre even from outside the monitor are all over that island! Even if I were to go in perfect condition, how could I be sure what would happen on that island looking like this?!
[So just take a proper rest and go. It's not like there's anything urgent.]
‘I mean! There is something urgent! A matter of life and death!’
[So what if one person disappears? It's just bad luck.]
‘That’s not something to brush off!’
On the same day, I learned that the First Queen ordered the First Prince to seduce me. I had to block the chaos around me, struggling for breath simply by walking.
Not only the people within Soladin Kingdom but a perverted apostle saying he would defame the First Prince across national lines.
Or the sloppy fox who suggested that lightly destroying my mind wouldn’t be too bad.
Or Phoebe, who said she’d outright declare her position at the church.
Or the Fairy Queen claiming she could make me disappear in a daze.
Every single phrase was chilling, and it was truly scary because it didn’t sound like a joke at all.
If I nodded without saying anything, it felt like they would just go ahead and cause chaos!
But this wasn’t the worst of it. Anyway, I could somehow manage to control these folks.
‘Lucy. Did you happen to meet the First Prince today?’
As I thought about wanting to flop onto the bed and sleep, I was greeted by Benedict as I exited the Fairy Forest.
His face wore a smile just like any other time, but his eyes were not smiling at all.
‘W-why are you asking that, dear father?’
‘Has he done anything?’
‘W-would someone who looks like he’s merged with mold come near me?’
‘I’m glad to hear that. But if—just if—he tries to do something, tell me. This Papa will turn even the gods into enemies for Lucy’s sake.’
Benedict, delivering that line, felt like he was desperately clinging to the fraying thread of sanity.
Worrying about getting ravaged by a revolution! Now I was worried about starting one myself, and it truly felt like a huge culture shock, but a real revolution happening would be troublesome.
I’m not some tragic heroine! Why should I shout, ‘Don’t fight because of me!’ in the middle of a battlefield?!
No way I’d shout such noble words. It would be more like, ‘Puhaha! How disgusting to see a guy going crazy just to grab a girl!’ It could even be worse than that.
Anyway! I absolutely can’t watch others get killed because of me!
So even to prevent that, I need to recover quickly, but why isn’t my stamina coming back?!
[Does being impatient help in any way? Waiting is the best for injuries like this.]
‘Isn’t there something we can do?’
[If it takes you time to solve the problem, then what can we do? You need to release the heat from the bomb.]
*
Since the battle in the Fairy Forest, Benedict had not been able to sleep peacefully.
It wasn’t just a day or two he couldn’t sleep well, but recently, the times when he fell deeply asleep were increasing.
His daughter’s bright smile was gradually erasing the lament that rested on his shoulders.
However, after facing the Evil God in the Fairy Forest, he felt that the despair resting on his shoulders had returned to its original state.
In fact, he might say it had worsened in a way.
What should have ended with lamenting over his missing wife had now turned into a fear of potentially losing his daughter.
Even now, the image of Lucy, soaked in blood, remained in front of Benedict’s eyes.
That day, when he met Lucy in the Fairy Forest, Benedict did his best to suppress his feelings.
No matter how much pain was carved into his heart, he knew it could not compare to what Lucy had endured, so he exaggerated his actions, hiding his own sorrow. He had no other choice; otherwise, he felt he would crumble before facing the Evil God.
After the battle, when he brought the soundly sleeping Lucy back, he had believed that everything would be alright. But reality had proven otherwise.
The unease clinging to his heart only grew stronger with time.
It wasn’t an authority of the Evil God that struck him. Lord Erginius, who later ascended to divine rank, had assured him that.
This unease was simply his. It was a fear stemming from the fact that he might lose the person he loved most and potentially lose another dear person again.
“Hoo.”
Benedict’s excessive reaction to an unformed marriage proposal was indeed due to this fear.
In a situation overwhelmed by the unease of potentially losing his daughter, how could he remain calm upon hearing such words?
Fortunately, Possell caught me at that moment. Without him, I would’ve stormed into the First Queen’s room, ready to explode in rage.
“Hah.”
How did Lucy become such an incredible person?
Just recently, she was just a girl who only knew how to pout and complain. Now she holds back her own pain, smiling to reassure others.
This indeed must be the right kind of growth. If you ask anyone who is better between the old Lucy and now, they’d surely say the current Lucy. I feel that way, too.
But still, when I think of Lucy, bloodied and cold, I can’t help but wish the old Lucy back.
Before losing another loved one, I’d rather hold the past Lucy close forever.
I know I shouldn’t think that way, though.
“Papa~”
Startled by the knocking sound that followed Lucy’s voice, Benedict sprang up, breaking the chair back.
Losing his support, he tumbled to the ground, and the papers on the desk fluttered from the impact, making the eyes of Allen’s branch members, who had just begun working with Benedict, keenly glance at the flying papers.
“What’s up? What’s with the perverted Papa that made you jump like that? Is something strange? Is cute Lucy not allowed to see?”
“Ah, n-no! It’s not like that! Lucy! If you come in, you’ll understand! Papa was just working hard!”
“Really? Should I come in and see?”
With her red hair flowing, Lucy entered the room, effortlessly ignoring the gazes from others and making her way to Benedict.
Seeing Benedict lying awkwardly with an uneasy smile, Lucy grinned broadly.
“So what’s this? A girl?”
“Of course not! There is only one love for me!”
“Hmmm, really? So I’m not loved then? What a disappointment.”
“Th-that’s not it.”
“Choose. Mama or me?”
“Is there even a choice!? Both are infinitely precious to me!”
Where did the earlier sigh go? As he struggled to handle his daughter, Benedict felt relieved by Lucy’s willingness to let this slide.
“So, what business do you have?”
“What’s this, silly Papa? I…”
“It’s fine to come without business, but not this time, right?”
“… Tch, boring.”
“Haha, I’m really sorry.”
“Well, whatever. I don’t want to waste time in this dull place anyway.”
“Thanks for considering! So, what is it?”
“Seeing Papa so pathetic, clinging to his possessiveness made me feel sick. So, I’m giving you a special chance to escort me.”
The moment she suggested escorting, Benedict’s stomach dropped.
“What? No!? Then what can I do? Silly Papa, too busy with work to care about his cute daughter?”
“What are you talking about!? Of course I will go! How can I sit idle while Lucy wishes to have an escort?!”
Had it been in the past, he would have hesitated a bit. The role of handling family affairs was essential for Benedict.
But things had changed a bit now. After reconciling with Allen’s branch, they could bring their children back, making things somewhat easier for Benedict.
Noticing how neatly things were in order after visiting the Fairy Forest, he realized they were indeed often chosen by Karia.
So even if he left these matters to them for a bit, nothing should go wrong.
It might even produce better results than when he handled it himself.
“Then I’ll step out for a bit, so please take care of everything!”
“Yes, have a good trip, Lord.”
“Enjoy yourself!”
“Not allowed! Lord! If you leave…! You’ve already gone!?”
Excited by the fact he would be with Lucy, Benedict vanished at a speed ordinary folks couldn’t catch.
With only the remaining staff in the room, the head attendant began organizing the scattered papers left by Benedict while chuckling at the earlier shouting.
“Alright, everyone. It’s time to enjoy working.”
The moment the hustle resumed during Benedict’s absence was about to begin again.
*
With smiles painted on his face, Benedict completed the preparations for the date with more effort than when he attended the Partlan family party.
It felt like the last time he cared about himself so much was when his wife was still alive.
Humming to himself as he stepped outside, his eyes widened at seeing Lucy adorned in armor less than modest.
“Cough! Silly Papa, feeling all pumped up? Is it that exciting to have your cute daughter playing with you?”
“L-Lucy! Where are you off to wearing that armor?”
“Of course, going to fight! There’s no way I’d drag a silly Papa like you along if it’s not for a fight!”
“Y-yeah. That’s right.”
With clear disappointment etched on his face, Benedict watched Lucy laugh for a while before she slyly dove under him and pinched his nostrils.
“If you work hard this time, I might just overlook your unnecessary size, silly Papa.”
“…I understand! Whatever it is, just say the word! This Papa will wield his sword for our Lucy with his life on the line!”
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