Chapter 226

Right after that incident, I tried my best to calm myself down. Of course, I slept with my lover, drank alcohol, and even picked up the cigarettes I had quit long ago. Of course, my mood didn’t improve at all.

Lorcha, who got up from the bed, dressed herself and put a cigarette in her mouth. Come to think of it, Lorcha was always a smoker.

“Ah, I should quit.”

She said that and crushed the cigarette.

“Suddenly decided to quit smoking?”

“Lately, I’ve been feeling tired and my stomach’s been upset.”

“Is that perhaps because of dark magic…”

I was worried it might be a side effect of dark magic. I’ve heard all about how dark sorcerers are treated in the afterlife when they die. I didn’t want her to suffer like that.

“…….. Haa, you’ve always had this annoying side to you.”

“I’m such a fiery and straightforward man, though.”

“If you’re serious about that, I’ll hit you.”

“Why?”

“Since I was 10… no, let’s not talk about it.”

Why is she like this…?

At that moment, a knock came from outside, followed by Ares’s voice.

“Um… a guest has arrived.”

“Huh? Who could it be? I wasn’t expecting anyone.”

“I’m not sure either.”

“Send them away. I’m in seclusion right now. I don’t have time to deal with some random bastards whose faces and names I don’t even know.”

“Well, I tried to send them away. I told them the master is in seclusion and to come back later.”

“If they still came in, you should’ve stopped them.”

Lately, I’ve gotten much closer to Ares, so I’ve been speaking more casually. He’s 300 years old or whatever, but I’ve covered up his crimes and even pay his salary. Who’s going to say anything if I talk back? Unless it’s some Confucian villain, no one would dare protest against me. Of course, if there’s a Confucian villain who talks back to me, I’ll blow their head off on the spot.

“I tried to stop them, but…”

“But?”

A butler talking back?

“I got punched by one of them, and my body shattered into pieces. It’s the first time regeneration has taken this long… Honestly, even now, my left upper body hasn’t fully regenerated.”

“Then they’re enemies, you idiot!”

“No, they’re just sitting in the reception room drinking tea.”

“What? Who served them tea?”

“They made it themselves. They even took out the cake from the cupboard and ate it.”

What the hell? Are they some lonely, ridiculously strong gourmet? If they’re such a strong gourmet, they should go to the gourmet world. I don’t know why they’re doing this in my house.

“But the combination is a bit strange.”

“Combination?”

“A silver-haired girl who looks like a middle schooler, a gentleman who looks like he’s fed up with everything, and a beautiful woman in a strange dress.”

The first two were people I knew well. I don’t know why they came to my house, beat up my butler, and caused a scene. But they wouldn’t come without a reason, so I’ll have to go down. If they were like those annoying couples from Crayon Shin-chan, I wouldn’t have bothered dealing with them.

“Alright, I’ll go down to the reception room myself. Call Airi, Glacia, and Camelian Peony too.”

“Yes, understood.”

But I don’t know why they suddenly came. Are they here to act all high and mighty as my mother? After all this time of neglecting me?

“Seems like something important. Should I come too?”

“Well, if you want, I won’t stop you. But they’re all quite self-centered.”

Of course, she also knew who my mother was and roughly understood the current situation. No need to worry too much.

“But according to you, one of your mother’s subordinates is the father of one of the demons Damian contracted with, right?”

“Yeah, why?”

“….. You’ll find out later.”

I just hoped they wouldn’t do anything weird. Well, she’s rational, so no need to worry.

====================================

My mother was holding a candy stick like a cigarette and drinking black tea. But I don’t know why she puts so much sugar in her tea. I’ve never seen anyone put more than 30 sugar cubes in one cup of tea. She’s going to get diabetes and really die.

“So… you decided to fight the Black Round Table for the last time?”

Zick, who was staying at our house as a guest, tried to answer that question.

“Yes, but due to circumstances, we’ll be going with a small elite team…”

“I wasn’t asking you. And I expected that situation. Even if you led a large army, it wouldn’t make a difference, so I would’ve stopped you.”

My mother, who was drinking that liquid sugar, quietly moved her fingers. But I don’t know why Airi and Camelian Peony were so restless. Unless they insulted my mother by calling her a brat, there’s no way they’d act like that.

“So, do you have anything to say to me?”

“Well, um…”

Airi was even trembling. Is that the kind of pressure a mother-in-law can exert?

“I’m really sorry for all the nonsense I’ve said. I must’ve been out of my mind…”

Wait, have they met my mother before?

“Huh? No, that’s not it… I came to point out how weak you all are. I actually like rebellious people, so I quite liked your tone.”

Wow, what a unique taste. Zick seemed more surprised by that. Well, if my child cursed at my superior, I’d be shocked too.

Glacia politely spoke up.

“Mother. If I may be so bold, could you tell us in what way we are weak?”

Glacia seemed quite displeased with the term “weak.” Well, she’s quite prideful despite her obedient appearance, so it’s natural she wouldn’t like being called weak.

Of course, Sister Camelian Peony, with her years of experience and pride in her swordsmanship, also responded defiantly.

“Yes, Mother. I admit my skills are lacking, but I’m confident I’m not weak enough to be called that.”

“Haa…”

My mother, after drinking all that liquid sugar, sighed while holding her forehead. Honestly, seeing her stressed like that was quite satisfying. If she got more annoyed, I might’ve even considered it. Next time she comes, I’ll replace the sugar cubes with salt disguised as sugar.

“Chunja.”

Then, a beautiful woman with ivory hair and golden eyes smiled and responded.

“It’s Persephone, my god.”

“Ah, right. Bring out my spare swords.”

“Yes, Mother.”

She took out two swords from the luggage she brought. They didn’t look good at all. The blades were chipped, and while they weren’t rusted, they were practically unusable scrap.

“Then, anyone who disagrees with me, come to the training ground outside. Oh, the door’s far…”

My mother swung the chipped sword, and the wall was cut as smoothly as tofu. And in a perfect square shape.

“The door’s far, so let’s go out this way.”

Of course, as the homeowner, I felt differently.

“Are you saving the door to make soup later? You could’ve just walked a bit. Why destroy the wall…”

“But it’s far.”

Look at that attitude, as if nothing’s wrong. I really want to smash that… No, just dealing with her for a day is exhausting. I wonder how tired the people who serve her must be.

“Ah, Chunja.”

“It’s Persephone, my god.”

“Right, I’m going to exercise for a bit, so you handle the small stuff.”

“Yes, understood.”

“Then, since I’ve left my business to Chunja, please follow me.”

And just like that, my mother took Glacia, Airi, and Camelian Peony to the training ground.

Only me, Lorcha, Hadaesu, and Chunja remained in the reception room, breathing in the awkward air.

Chunja slightly lifted the hem of her dress in a traditional, noble greeting and introduced herself.

“Long time no see, Young Master. I don’t know if you remember, but I am Persephone, an apostle who serves your mother and has been granted the power of time by her.”

“Um, Chunja…”

“It’s Persephone. Chunja is just a name she calls me. My name has always been Persephone.”

Hadaesu silently shook his head behind her. It seems Chunja really doesn’t like her name.

“First, I’ll tell you some information you might be curious about.”

Chunja continued calmly.

“First, about the king who leads the Black Round Table…”

“Wait.”

It was information I really wanted to hear, but Lorcha suddenly interrupted.

Lorcha approached Uncle Hadaesu with a displeased expression and said.

“So, is it true that among your children, there are demons? The kind that take lives as payment for power from dark sorcerers? And not just that, but also those who demand sacrifices?”

“Well, there are. They have peculiar tastes, so I scold them whenever I see them…”

*Slap!*

Something unbelievable happened. Lorcha hit Uncle Hadaesu with a hand imbued with dark magic.

“Do you know how many people suffered because you gave them power like that? My mother died because of a dark sorcerer, and do you know how many others suffered because of dark magic? And because of those unfair contracts…”

She couldn’t finish her sentence and swallowed her words.

“Um… Young Master… Can I just go back…? I mean, today’s my day off… I only came because of my superior’s orders… This is a bit… um… very awkward…”

My maternal grandfather looked truly wronged.