I Will Try to Save My Dad - Chapter 139

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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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Chapter 139

I called out Yuraha’s name faster than he could even look at me. In that instant, my heart raced just as it had this morning after we parted ways.
“….”
No emotion flickered in Yuraha’s silver eyes as they gazed elsewhere. For a moment, I wondered if this was truly the same man who had smiled so brightly at me this morning. When our eyes finally met, he studied me briefly before his lips moved.
“Berry Quartz.”
His expression brightened instantly. I found myself questioning whether that cold face I’d glimpsed moments ago had been merely my imagination.
As Yuraha spoke to me with such warmth, the mercenary who had been so boldly assertive moments before sensed the shift and quietly stepped aside.
“What a coincidence, meeting again so soon.”
Yuraha stepped into the inn, while Theon Phil Voltman remained where he stood, merely angling his body diagonally to avoid brushing past him. As a result, the three of us formed a triangle, facing one another.
“I’d prefer this wasn’t mere chance.”
“It is chance, yet here we are again.”
Perhaps because I hadn’t mentioned Yuraha to Theon, I felt his gaze upon me. I answered Yuraha with feigned composure while stealing a glance at Theon standing beside me.
Theon stared quietly ahead at Yuraha. From his profile alone, I couldn’t discern what thoughts occupied his mind.
‘Should I introduce them properly? Wait—can I introduce Yuraha as a Priest?’
He’d told me he was a Priest this morning, and seeing him travel with the mercenary from yesterday suggested he wasn’t particularly concealing his identity.
I was still deliberating when Yuraha spoke to me.
“Do you have time now? I was disappointed we parted so quickly this morning. Didn’t we agree to meet again?”
“Yes, I—?”
“….”
His phrasing could easily be misunderstood as suggesting an improper encounter between us. Even without Father and Windis present, I felt as though a chill wind had swept through.
“That is, your choice of words carries some risk of misinterpretation—”
“Is the person beside you a friend?”
Yuraha showed no inclination to clarify his statement, instead redirecting the conversation toward Theon. I opened my mouth to introduce him, though I worried about Theon’s reaction.
“Ah, yes. This is….”
“Theon Phil Voltman.”
Theon introduced himself directly in a clipped tone. His expression appeared composed, yet a hint of irritation seemed to linger. Yuraha’s gaze shifted toward him, and as his eyes moved, his expression momentarily faded—only to bloom into a smile once more when he met Theon’s gaze.
“Theon Phil Voltman. Three names suggest nobility.”
“Indeed.”
“I am called Yuraha. My existence belongs to the Aubaut God, so I have no family name to offer. I hope you’ll understand.”
Though no one approached our location, the first floor of the inn remained crowded with patrons.
The moment those around us witnessed Yuraha’s gesture—a sacred hand symbol over his chest honoring the divine—the atmosphere grew hushed.
Theon’s eyes fixed upon the pendant hanging from the bracelet visible at Yuraha’s wrist: a white World Tree intertwined with golden bands. Only high priests were permitted to wear such insignia.
“Are you a High Priest?”
“Though unworthy of the title, yes. I serve the divine from a lofty position.”
“What?”
I couldn’t help but echo his words in shock. In the Aubaut Religion, “a lofty position” was the euphemism for the Grand Temple.
‘A High Priest of the Grand Temple?’
Since I was close with the High Priest, it wasn’t unusual to see a high-ranking clergyman from the Grand Temple standing before me.
What surprised me was that Yuraha was around our age—at most, perhaps a year or two older than Theon.
Following the standard path, one could become a high-ranking clergyman of the Grand Temple at the earliest around thirty-four. Any other possibility had only one explanation.
‘The next High Priest?’
The Church’s silence on the matter meant they still wished to conceal Yuraha’s existence. Even in my other memories, the identity of the next High Priest remained unknown.
Fortunately, his voice wasn’t loud enough for those nearby to hear. Yuraha, who spoke with such casual confidence, drove home his identity with his next words to Theon.
“There are so few people my age in that place that I rarely meet anyone close to my years. It’s a pleasure to meet you, Voltman.”
Theon’s fingers twitched. An unmistakable tension seemed to ripple through the air. Though I couldn’t discern his intent, Yuraha was clearly pressing down on Theon—a warning of his superior position.
But Theon disliked such power plays and would likely brush past it gracefully—
“It must be exhausting to hold such a high position as the youngest priest.”
Theon furrowed his brow with what seemed like genuine sympathy and nodded. I was slightly taken aback, and the smile faded from Yuraha’s lips.
“Do I appear to be suffering so much?”
“I’ve heard that in any organization, youth brings its own hardships. I imagine the priesthood is no different.”
Theon spoke with an expression of genuine concern for Yuraha.
“That’s unfortunate.”
….
Yuraha fell silent for a moment at Theon’s words, then smiled faintly.
“Showing concern for someone you’ve just met. You’re quite kind.”
“I’m not.”
“I’ve kept busy people occupied. I got excited meeting Berry Quartz after so long—she’s an old friend of mine.”
….
“Well then, Voltman, I should be going.”
Yuraha ended the conversation and turned to leave. Just as Theon and I exchanged farewells and began walking toward the door, someone grabbed my arm and pulled me backward.
“Wha—!”
“Berry!”
*Shing. Clang.*
Theon instantly drew his sword halfway from its sheath in response, but I grabbed his arm and stopped him. I couldn’t let the blade be drawn on this person—after all, it was Yuraha, the next High Priest, who had seized my arm.
Theon’s eyes widened as he saw my arm in Yuraha’s grip. Behind my ear, I heard Yuraha chuckle softly.
“See you again, Berry Quartz.”
As Yuraha whispered directly into my ear and released me, Theon pulled me into his embrace as if reclaiming what was his. He stared at Yuraha with a warning in his voice.
“Leave.”
Yuraha laughed and walked away. Theon held me tightly in his arms until Yuraha was completely out of sight. The surroundings stirred with commotion. Someone’s loud voice caught my attention clearly.
“I told you they weren’t just friends.”
*Thump. Thump. Thump.*
My heart raced wildly. Theon’s embrace was firm and carried a pleasant fragrance.
“Berry.”
Theon, his head bowed, whispered to me.
“You had a friend I didn’t know about?”
He spoke as if interrogating someone who had been unfaithful.

***

“I’ve only met Yuraha twice at the Grand Temple. I happened to run into him this morning when I went to fetch the newspaper.”
The journey to the restaurant had been exhausting. Theon, seated across from me, listened to my explanation while moving his knife and fork with practiced elegance. As he placed a peeled shrimp onto my plate, he spoke.
“I thought he was someone close to you.”
“You know all the people close to me.”
“Do I?”
Normally, Theon would have agreed. His unexpected response made me study him carefully.
‘Hmm? What’s bothering him?’
I nudged Theon’s foot beneath the table. His foot tapped back against mine. Since he was playing along, he didn’t seem angry.
The cause was surely what had just happened with Yuraha. I knew I shouldn’t feel this way, yet my chest tingled with a delicious sensation. I asked Theon with deliberate mischief.
“Were you disappointed? That a stranger seemed close to me?”
“…No.”
I had been hoping to see Theon embarrassed for once in a long time, but then he met my gaze directly. His neat, dark eyes fixed me with an unwavering stare.
“I was jealous.”

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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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