Chapter 164

“The hats and people don’t listen… and on top of that, they make busy people even busier… Really, all the apostles seem to know jack shit about anything…”

I thought he was a calm person, but surprisingly, he had a nasty temper.

“Um…”

“Ah, I forgot to introduce myself. I am one of the ten apostles who serve the Goddess, bestowed with the power of dreams… Hadaesu, the Apostle of Dreams.”

If he’s the Apostle of Dreams, he must indeed be the strongest among the apostles of God. At least, that’s how I remember it. The fact that he subdued me with a single clap earlier and the overwhelming strength I felt made me worry if I could even beat him.

“Your name is surprisingly… earthy.”

“…It seems you’ve made peace with your mother now, Young Master.”

“But why do you keep calling me ‘Young Master’?”

“That damn… I mean, the Goddess entrusted me with your upbringing.”

“So you were my caretaker? I don’t remember any of that…”

At that moment, the apostle suddenly swung his arm. It was a swift strike, and I barely managed to block it. If I hadn’t, my heart would have been pierced in an instant.

“See? You remember my movements. Even if you’ve lost your memories, you still remember sparring with me.”

He was a madman. Seriously, if I had been even slightly careless, I would have been dead. It was my mistake not to realize that a crazy mother would naturally have crazy subordinates.

“Raising you was tough. Thanks to you, I suffered a lot, and even now, it’s still hard in many ways.”

“What did I do to make it so hard for you? I was always a well-behaved child.”

“First, rumors spread that I had a child, then you peed on the documents I painstakingly finished, and during a meeting with the apostles, you bit some random woman’s chest, causing the meeting to go haywire. And then you messed with the system I was managing, forcing me to pull all-nighters for three weeks…”

“I’m sorry.”

“Well, there was one other guy who helped raise you and suffered just as much… but let’s stop this story here.”

Hadaesu placed his hand on my shoulder. I didn’t know much, but he felt somewhat familiar. It seemed the story about him being one of my caretakers wasn’t a lie.

“Don’t hate our… I mean, the Goddess too much. Despite how she seems, she really cares about you.”

“Her? That damn brat cares about me? What nonsense…”

“Children don’t understand their parents’ hearts… and here.”

Hadaesu took a bead from his pocket and tossed it to me. I thought the madman was up to something again, but I could feel an unusual energy emanating from the bead.

“…It’s a bit late, but consider it a gift. One of your caretakers wanted to give it to you… just take it.”

I didn’t know what it was, but I accepted it anyway.

“And that Lancelot guy… make sure to kill him. I’ll play with him in the afterlife… Oh, and the Goddess didn’t say to destroy that Black Round Table thing within a week… just figure it out. It wouldn’t be fair to say more.”

“What the hell kind of explanation is that…?”

“Let me explain it in a language you understand: go kick some ass.”

“You bastard!!!”

Both the boss and the subordinates were complete lunatics. If I had my sword, I would have stabbed them all to death. Next time I see the blacksmith, I’ll ask him to make me something similar.

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When I returned to the hospital room, that fox-like doctor was still waiting for me. Considering he treated all my injuries, his skills were undeniable… but something felt off. He smelled like some ancient relic… This is why I hate people with squinty eyes.

“Ah, it seems your visit is over. Honestly, I wasn’t sure if you should be visiting, but it seems my worries were unfounded. If you’re recovering this well, it should be fine to go downstairs for a visit… I’m very pleased to have obtained new experimental results.”

You said it was fine to visit, you lunatic. Did you just use me for an experiment?

I was about to punch him when suddenly a bunch of kids burst through the door. Did he call for backup? This damn mad scientist even mobilized child soldiers.

“Teacher, we found you!”

Ah, they were the chosen student soldiers here to capture the mad scientist. Well, I’ll join these kids and take down this bastard…

“Hahaha, you caught me. But you shouldn’t barge into someone’s hospital room like this. Today, this handsome gentleman is kind enough to let it slide… but you could disturb someone who’s really sick. Got it?”

Ares, the mad scientist, was patting the kids’ heads.

“Yes, Teacher!”

“Then go hide now. I’ll come find you.”

As he said that, the kids rushed out. He watched them with a satisfied smile.

“You seem to really like kids.”

“…It reminds me of my own children, whom I can’t see anymore. I end up playing with kids even though they’re not mine… It’s quite foolish and pathetic, isn’t it?”

Then, he revealed his red eyes, not squinty, and showed a look of sadness. Those eyes… reminded me of Tristan when he thought of his disciple.

“It’s not pathetic.”

“Huh?”

“How can you call it pathetic to think of your children like that? There are trashy parents in this world who abandon their children. How can you call it pathetic to miss your children and play with others?”

He was a hundred, no, a thousand times better than the trash who abandoned me. I won’t indulge in any forced glorification of love. The fact is, that woman abandoned me. No matter how much you try to pretty it up, that’s the undeniable truth.

“I’m glad you said that. I thought all sorcerers were cold-hearted, only caring about their own goals and not listening to others.”

It strangely reminded me of Tristan, but it must be my imagination. It’s not like he’s the only sorcerer in the world.

“Well, I do have that side too… but you seem older than you look.”

Despite looking like he was in his early twenties, the fact that he had children was quite surprising.

“I do look younger than my age.”

“How old are you really…?”

“Over 50. People don’t believe it, though.”

Oh, I’ve been incredibly rude to an elder. How could I, a guardian of Confucian values, make such a mistake?

“Ah, and your disciple has woken up. Room 609 is right upstairs, so go see her. I need to find the kids.”

Airi had been unconscious for days, even though she wasn’t seriously injured. I asked, but they said there was nothing wrong with her body, so I was worried.

“Ah, yes… I’ll go see her now, Dr. Ares.”

“Haha… you don’t have to call me ‘Doctor.'”

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After Werner left, Ares’s expression changed.

“Come out now.”

Then, the shadow behind the curtain grew larger, taking on a human form. Soon, a man emerged from the shadow.

“Hide and seek, playing doctor, and a tear-jerking melodrama… quite the performance.”

The owner of the shadow was Lancelot.

“You’re the one who lost an eye and still acts like this. Don’t you think it’s a bit pathetic? I couldn’t even treat whatever attack you suffered…”

“You’d better watch your mouth, Bedivere.”

“Sigh… perfectly fine adults, throwing away the good names their parents gave them, calling themselves Lancelot and Bedivere… what nonsense is this?”

Bedivere smiled brightly as he spat out harsh words.

“Watch your tongue. Unless you want to be separated from your wife and children forever.”

Bedivere clenched his teeth.

“What’s the mission this time? I’m supposed to be seeing patients, so I’d rather not touch filth.”

“Take this.”

Lancelot handed him a mission order.

After reading it, Bedivere couldn’t hide his disgust.

“Really… this is a disgusting order.”

“It’s just kidnapping the soon-to-be-born child of the Crown Prince. You, who hate killing and play at being a doctor, should find it suitable, no?”

“…You will go to hell.”

“And you, if you want to see your wife and children again, don’t mess with the grand plan. You who won’t even go to hell.”