Chapter 12

“Shall we change the location for a moment?”

As soon as Zick, Airi’s father, said that, the surroundings changed.

The scenery of the narrow alleyway was instantly replaced by the view from the highest tower in the city of Bekem.

The cool wind at the top of the tower brushed past my hair.

“Here, we can talk without worrying about prying eyes.”

Zick said that and turned around to look at me. His handsome face from Part 1 was gone, replaced by a beard, completely turning him into an uncle. No wonder the female fans who used to like Zick treated <Draghinty Fantasy 2> like a landmine. Though, there were some who liked that look.

“What’s the matter, brother? As you can see, I’m busy with childcare…”

“Airi…”

Zick hesitated for a moment. In <Draghinty Fantasy 1>, he was cheerful, but as he aged and went through various things, his personality turned into that of an uncle too. His appearance and personality both became that of an uncle—truly, he had fallen into the abyss of uncle-dom.

“It seems Airi is doing well, so I’m relieved. I guess I made the right choice entrusting her to you, Werner.”

Instead of asking how Airi was doing, Zick gave his own assessment.

“Huh? Did you meet Airi or something?”

If they met while I was away from home, I’d definitely be chopped into pieces.

“No, when I came to this city, I saw you two and followed you for a bit.”

Ah, so the piercing gaze I felt in the slums was Zick. I thought it was some creep at the entrance, so I punched him on the way out. Well, I’ve done a lot of bad things, so that’s just karma.

“It seems Airi relies on you a lot.”

Why are you smiling so warmly while saying that…? Does it sound like, “My daughter is clinging to you, you better not get any ideas,” to anyone else?

Is this the auditory hallucination of guilt?

“It must be because you’ve been taking such good care of Airi. You’ve worked hard doing the parenting I couldn’t.”

His voice was undeniably warm, but the little demon of guilt in my head twisted his words into, “Just be a parent, kid. If you act like a lover, I’ll kill you.”

“That child is a tomboy, just like I used to be… You must have had a hard time. I’m always sorry to you, Werner.”

Why does it keep sounding like, “You owe me, you bastard”? I guess I need some healing.

To get out of this situation, I had to change the subject.

“I’m fine, brother. By the way, what brings you to this remote area?”

Zick must have a lot on his plate right now. What could possibly bring him all the way out here? He’s probably busy fighting elsewhere.

“I heard there’s information about something I’ve been looking for.”

Zick made a bitter expression.

If it’s that story, I can guess what information it is.

“…Is sister-in-law still not awake?”

“Yeah… Before she collapsed, she really wanted to see your engagement ceremony.”

“Just so you know, I didn’t have the hobby of holding engagement ceremonies with a nine-year-old back then.”

Of course, I still don’t. It’s common sense—how could anyone hold an engagement ceremony with a nine-year-old?

“Well, I didn’t particularly agree or disagree… I think she was just trying to find you a good match in her own way.”

Of course, even if you’re a hero’s companion, you’re still just a lowly orphan. A marriage between a lowly orphan and the daughter of a duke? That’s something that just doesn’t happen in common sense.

“But you know, brother? If it’s about nobles or that kind of thing, I’m just not cut out for it…”

“She said she never wanted to see you crying alone again. So she wanted to create a replacement for herself somehow.”

That must have been from when Werner was still an orphan. Airi’s mother cared deeply for Werner. She praised him when he did well and scolded him harshly when he messed up.

“Before she collapsed, she made a fuss about wanting to see you settled… But in the end, she collapsed before seeing the engagement ceremony.”

Even though I wasn’t the one who ran away, my chest tightened for some reason.

“…Of course, sister-in-law has been in a coma for 12 years since then.”

“Yeah, I can’t show that to Airi… She didn’t want you to be alone.”

Airi’s mother worried about Airi and Werner until the very end. Even though she was suffering from an incurable disease and could barely take care of herself, she blessed Airi and even looked for a fiancée for Werner.

“Brother… If it’s about sister-in-law, I’ll do anything. I’ll help.”

“Werner… Just take care of Airi. We’ll handle that matter ourselves.”

That meant the <Draghinty Fantasy 1> members would handle it without Werner.

They really treated Werner like the youngest until the very end. No wonder Werner wanted their recognition.

“Even if I can’t go because of Airi, if there’s anything you need, I’ll help…”

“Just being with Airi is enough, Werner.”

But Werner had a reason to help. Even though the age difference wasn’t much, Airi’s mother was like a mother to Werner too.

“But brother!”

Then a shocking pain shot through my forehead. Damn, did everyone have a grudge against Werner’s head or something?

“Cool your head, youngest.”

“Okay, brother…”

“Leave the hard work to us brothers and sisters, and you just take good care of Airi. Honestly, your job seems the hardest.”

That was true. Raising someone else’s child for 12 years isn’t easy. It’s been mentioned in various works how much Werner suffered for 12 years.

“Oh, and someone asked me to deliver this note to you.”

I took the note and asked.

“Who? Did one of the brothers or sisters send it?”

Zick shook his head.

“No, your fiancée. She seemed pretty angry.”

A chill ran down my spine at those words.

Zick eventually blended into the surroundings and bid me farewell.

“Anyway, it’s good to see you’re healthy. I can rest easy now.”

“Wait, brother! You should at least meet Airi before…”

“Now’s not the time, Werner. I want the family reunion to be perfect.”

So, until Airi’s mother’s illness is cured, he can’t meet his daughter. Even in the original work, he was stubborn like this. Truly, stubbornness is stubbornness.

Zick disappeared without a trace, leaving me alone at the top of the tower.

“Wait, damn it! At least take me down before you go!”

—

As the sun began to set,

I finally escaped from that damn tower. I could now cast one of the spells I had prepared for this turn.

I opened the door and entered to find Airi lying face down on the dining table.

“Master, you’re back.”

As soon as I said that, Airi rushed to me like an arrow.

“Master, I was wrong earlier! I even went to apologize to Camelian Peony! So please forgive me!”

“Alright, as long as you’ve reflected.”

“I won’t do it again…”

“Good, let’s have dinner.”

“Yes!”

I was planning to make pork schnitzel for dinner. You know, just pound the meat and fry it…

Wait, damn it, where’s the meat?

“Ah… Damn it…”

I left the meat on that damn tower. I thought about using the power of the arcane—Archmage Bargos’s power—to retrieve it, but there’s no arcane attribute in this world. Damn it.

“I bought some ingredients for dinner, but I think I lost them, Airi… Damn it.”

Then Airi smiled and tied on an apron.

“Master, you’re so clumsy without me that you can’t even make a proper meal! Just wait a little!”

After waiting for about 15 minutes, there was a screaming yellow slime and the corpse of a red mouse beneath it.

“What… What kind of food is this, Airi?”

“Can’t you tell? It’s omelet rice.”

“Huh, I can’t tell.”

I tried a bite, and it was surprisingly decent. Soft eggs, sweet ketchup rice, and the vegetables and chicken mixed in were all cooked just right.

Her cooking tastes decent, but the visuals are always trash. Is this some kind of strategy to lower expectations and then score high?

“How’s the food made by your cute disciple? Delicious, right?”

“Yeah, it’s edible. It’s just scary-looking.”

After finishing the meal, while Airi was doing the dishes, I stretched because my shoulders were stiff.

A groan escaped me, and a note fell out of my pocket.

“Ah, this is…”

Oh right, the note Zick gave me. The note from Werner’s fiancée.

Is she declaring a breakup? If so, things would get easier.

With that thought, I unfolded the note.

The first line was…

[My patience has reached its limit.]

Phew, it’s a breakup. Thank goodness.

[I thought about breaking off the engagement… But my pride wouldn’t allow it.]

No, explain yourself, damn it.

[You didn’t even tell Lord Zick where you are. Today, I’m sending this note, but…]

Thank you, Zick, for not telling her where I am. I’m grateful.

[Someday, I will definitely find you and take revenge for the broken engagement and my wounded pride.]

Wow, that’s intense. Well, let’s just stab me in the gut and call it a day.

[I’d like to execute you, but revenge is best served in the way that causes the most pain to the other person.]

No, just stab me in the gut and be done with it. I’ll even give you a special discount—two stabs for the price of one.

[I will definitely make you marry me, Lord Werner, even if you hate it so much.]

Wow, in all my life, I’ve never seen a crazy woman who wants to marry me because she hates me.

A sigh escaped me.

“Haaa… Damn it.”

“Master, what’s wrong?”

“Nothing, Airi. Your master is just tired.”