Dad is Back From a Deserted Island - Chapter 51
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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Father has returned from the Deserted Island
Chapter 51
The Goose possessed a remarkably stubborn disposition.
Vivian swallowed her exasperation and asked Emil again if he had tweezers.
“Ah… tweezers, I have tweezers… Goose, let me pull it out for you… Ow!”
Emil fumbled through the scattered items and quickly produced a small pair of tweezers.
As Emil hastily reached toward the bird’s foot, the Goose—which had been lying limply—suddenly surged with vigor, eyes rolling back as it lunged at him.
“Squawk! Squaaawk!” [You insolent Emil…!]
“G-Goose! I’m trying not to hurt you… This is how you’ll get better…!”
Chaos. Or rather, goose chaos.
White feathers scattered in all directions as Emil shrieked and covered his head, the Goose honked wildly, and the Manager—witnessing the bird’s rampage for the first time—cried out in alarm.
The commotion only subsided after Kiki, unable to bear the pandemonium any longer, leaped up and struck the Goose across the face.
[Have you ever seen such a mad creature? What safety concern makes it thrash about so?!]
“Squawk… squawk…”
“Ah, no… it mocks me but cowers before that tiny monkey…”
Emil muttered in grievance, though no one paid him any mind.
It was remarkable how the Goose—ferocity incarnate—had become docile as a different soul possessed it after receiving a blow from the monkey.
“Let me try.”
“Young Lady!”
As Vivian picked up the tweezers Emil had dropped during his beating and approached the Goose, the Manager jumped back in alarm.
Yet Vivian was far closer to the Goose than the Manager was, and he squeezed his eyes shut, dreading the catastrophe that would surely follow.
“…?”
‘Wait, why is it quiet? The Young Lady is one thing, but Father is so overprotective—there’s no way he’d stay still…?’
Cautiously, he cracked open one eye to assess the situation.
“Well, it’s being docile?”
The Goose, which had been so ferocious toward Emil, now lay quietly before Vivian, submitting its foot to her care as if nothing had happened.
“Squawk-”
[Silence.]
Kiki glared with piercing eyes, and the Goose dared not attack Vivian. Of course, the Manager and Emil, unaware of these circumstances, perceived the situation quite differently.
“So animals really do judge people by their appearance…!”
“J-Judge by appearance? What do you mean…”
“I know a ranch owner, and his sheep flock around when a handsome shepherd comes by. I heard it as a joke and didn’t think much of it, but it seems it was true after all.”
Emil regarded the Goose with eyes full of betrayal.
His gaze shifted to Vivian, who was concentrating intently on extracting the thorn lodged in the Goose’s foot, and soon Emil began nervously gnawing at his fingernails.
“J-Just a little more… I think I can actually get it… Oh, oh! I got it! I got it out!”
Vivian looked up with a bright smile and a satisfied expression, but she was startled to find the old man staring at me with eyes full of resentment.
“W-why are you looking at me like that—”
“Our Goose cannot go.”
“Pardon?”
“The Goose cannot be taken away… I-I am grateful that you removed the thorn, but….”
“Take the Goose? Who would?”
“Ah, the Young Lady….”
“Me?”
[Why are we having this foolish conversation? Listen, Goose. Thank Vivian. The thorn was small, but it seems you’ve been suffering from an infection. Now that our girl has removed it, a simple herbal treatment should see you right.]
“Quaaaack….” [Thank you… Vivian? Young Lady? I’m not sure what to call you….]
“I’m glad.”
At Vivian’s gentle touch, the Goose honked happily. Emil watched the scene with jealous eyes, but was startled by the question suddenly directed at me.
“So, this is all resolved now, isn’t it? Sir?”
“Y-yes…?”
“Now you can make my necklace, right?”
Since the reason you couldn’t make it has disappeared, hand over my necklace.
Vivian would never speak in such a manner, but Emil felt an odd pressure nonetheless.
The Workshop, reached by a sideways shuffle, was meticulously organized unlike the chaotic house—everything was in a state ready to resume work at any moment.
“That’s right! Since the Young Lady has treated your Goose, you must repay that kindness with your work! Will you be charging a fee for this?”
The Manager, executing a flawless tactical shift, began to coax Emil. The Manager took a percentage commission from Emil’s work, so if he didn’t charge a fee, the Manager would also lose out.
But maintaining good relations with Baron Jean de Lamber was far more important than a few coins.
Customers of Jean’s caliber never haggle over price!
He was a client one could never afford to offend if one wanted a steady supply of fine diamonds.
“What? Are you truly such a shameless man?”
“N-no, I haven’t even said anything yet….”
Under the Manager’s pressure, even Vivian behind him felt compelled to read the mood.
‘Why isn’t Father saying anything?’
Normally in such situations, Jean would step in to mediate, but for some reason, he kept his mouth firmly shut.
‘The Manager’s manner is rough, but he’s right. We nearly ruined our princess’s first ball.’
Jean stood with a cold expression, arms crossed, watching Emil and the Goose alternately as if they might kneel before the Manager again.
‘Before the regression, that Goose would have simply died, wouldn’t it? That’s why I couldn’t hear any news of him afterward.’
But since Vivian had treated and saved the Goose, his disappearance—his retirement—would never have happened.
‘Difficult to handle, it seems….’
He was the Empire’s finest craftsman, second to none in skill. Since things had come to this, why not make him Vivian’s exclusive jeweler?
“Father!”
Vivian’s voice pulled Jean from the depths of his thoughts.
“Hmm? Oh, Vivi. Did you call?”
“What are you thinking about so hard?”
“Mm. Nothing much. Why?”
“He says it can be finished by tomorrow. That’s fine, right?”
“Tomorrow?”
So soon? Surely he wasn’t just hastily putting something together because of time constraints—
Emil shook his head rapidly under Jean de Lamber’s gaze as he explained.
“W-well, you see. I’ve already completed more than half the work…. It’s absolutely not something I’m rushing through carelessly…. I do understand what gratitude means….”
“That’s no problem then. I’ll see you again tomorrow.”
“Eh? Y-you’re coming here again?”
He sounded as though he despised having his sanctuary invaded once more.
Seeing this, Jean de Lamber reconsidered.
Vivian’s exclusive jeweler? No. If he kept contacting him, his own patience would surely snap first. He should simply be grateful that this commission would be completed without incident.
The Manager, sensing the tension, gave Emil’s shoulder a reassuring pat.
“What are you saying? I’m simply receiving the item from you and bringing it to your residence.”
“Ah….”
Only then did Emil’s shoulders relax from their rigid tension.
“Shall we be on our way? This time, I’ll have someone oversee the completion to ensure it’s done properly. And you—stop making that sour face. I’ll bring some good medicine for my wound and have you apply it to that Goose.”
“Oh, medicine….”
“Yes. At the very least, I’ll ask you to wrap a bandage around it, so you focus on your work.”
Hearing this, Vivian secretly exchanged a glance with Kiki. Though Kiki made obvious signs of reluctance, she chirped softly to the Goose.
[Don’t attack even if another human touches your feet. Your wound is quite severe and won’t heal on its own.]
“Quaaaack….” [Y-yes, Divine Beast…. I’ll bear it….]
“Then, Goose. Take care. Don’t hurt anymore.”
At Vivian’s gentle farewell, the Goose’s hindquarters drooped weakly. Emil, who had come to the entrance to see them off, also bowed his head listlessly.
Inside the carriage on the way back, the Manager eagerly offered his assurances.
“Don’t worry! This time, I’ll truly oversee everything so you have nothing to be concerned about. He has a peculiar temperament, but I dare say his craftsmanship is unparalleled. Had it been otherwise, he would have starved long ago.”
I couldn’t bring myself to disagree.
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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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