I Will Try to Save My Dad - Chapter 38

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————

Chapter 38

“Seeing Windis go to Reytan Quartz Trabel brings this old heart such peace.”
Hahahaha. Hahahaha.
The Priests burst into laughter at the High Priest’s words.
The day that sacred blade would leave the Grand Temple had finally come.
The Priests’ sentiments were unanimous.
‘It was sacred to meet, and let us never see it again!’
Though “never” was perhaps too much to hope for, at least from today onward they could sleep with their legs stretched out without worrying about their remaining holy power reserves.
The High Priest grasped both of Reytan Quartz Trabel’s hands firmly.
At the sudden physical contact, Reytan Quartz Trabel’s eyes twitched. The High Priest smiled with such warmth that the wrinkles around his eyes deepened.
“May the mercy of the Aubaut God forever accompany you.”
[Kkhkht.]
A sharp laugh burst forth.
It was a sound only I could hear.
[The mercy of a god, you say.]
The wind was a chatterbox.
My life, too, had been as capricious as the wind, never knowing where it would go, but at least it had never been talkative.
I truly could not understand why I had been chosen by the wind’s sacred blade.
[You don’t even know how great an honor it is to be chosen by a sacred blade.]
Chattering away since earlier.
It would be better to leave the Grand Temple quickly.
Windis could only use enough power to speak when I opened my authority or when I was in the Grand Temple.
Windis harbored considerable resentment toward me for abandoning her.
The Aubaut Order thought the sacred blade was suffering from lovesickness, but in truth it was a battle of pride against me for casting her aside.
[You’re the first human to treat me this way, you know?]
Even as I exchanged farewells with the High Priest, Windis did not cease her words for a moment.
As if determined to hammer as many words as possible into my eardrums before leaving the Grand Temple.
[That woman’s daughter, isn’t she?]
A flinch.
“Why do you ask?”
“It’s nothing.”
The High Priest was startled by my suddenly fierce demeanor and asked.
[Pink hair. There was no one else around you but that woman.]
‘Shut up.’
I struck Windis’s hilt with my elbow. The wind was a chatterbox with no sense of discretion.
Windis continued speaking and clawed at my insides.
[Why does no one know? Your daughter-.]
“High Priest, the road ahead is long. I should take my leave now.”
My foot crossed the threshold of the Grand Temple. Windis’s voice ceased.
“Heh heh. Of course. You mentioned visiting your disciple’s home, yes? Travel safely, and we shall meet again soon.”
I made my way toward the carriage waiting outside the Grand Temple, escorted by the High Priest and the priests.
Berry and Theon were already seated inside.
“….”
It was a question that consumed everyone’s curiosity.
How had Reytan Quartz Trabel met a certain woman and fathered a daughter?
Yet everything remained shrouded in mystery.
The sudden appearance of a daughter. And then, retirement.
No one knew anything beyond that. Among the people, the hypothesis that the biological mother was already deceased held the strongest sway.
The biological mother.

“I will raise her myself. Rather than entrust her to you.”
“….”

Even as I departed with Berry in my arms, she remained lying in bed, staring at the wall.
An irresponsible mother who abandoned her daughter. I despised her.
“Dad~ Theon says he wants to see Grandfather soon~!”
My daughter’s face poking out from the carriage window.
Piercing blue eyes, cold as ice, yet brimming with tenderness.
“It doesn’t matter if that woman is her biological mother.”
I spoke to myself as if Windis could hear me.
“I will never let Berry be taken from me.”

***

After Reytan Quartz Trabel and his party departed from the Grand Temple.
The High Priest summoned the priests.
“You should have seen how that boy, barely ten years old, stood there with such composure.”
It was a lecture.
The priests, who had hoped to rest well today, felt their shoulders grow heavy with burden.
“I fully acknowledge the fault and deeply reflect upon it. We have enjoyed a prolonged era of peace. To correct our dulled spirits, beginning tomorrow I shall institute special dawn prayers—”
Thud-thud-thud! Crash!
Someone came rushing into the main hall. They collided with the closed door so forcefully that their entire body struck it as they burst it open.
“High Priest!”
It was Priest Holte. He appeared startled by something and sought out the High Priest with visible urgency.
Just moments ago, I had urged everyone to maintain composure in all circumstances.
The High Priest wore a smile, but his teeth were clenched as he addressed Priest Holte.
“What is the matter? I thought the chapel doors were being destroyed.”
“You must come see this!!”
At the unusual cry, the High Priest followed Priest Holte’s guidance. The other priests trailed behind them.
Along the rear path of the Main Holy Temple. Past the fork in the road of choices, past the Waterfall Plaza, and upon ascending Blessing Hill.
“….”
A gentle rushing sound.
The Grand Temple carried a history spanning a thousand years.
When the Aubaut God descended briefly to the human realm, he took pity on humans suffering from drought and gifted them an eternal spring.
But through human transgression, the spring dried up, and humans built a temple to seek the god’s forgiveness, constructing an artificial waterfall beneath it.
That was the Aubaut Grand Temple.
Yet the spring had never refilled.
There had only been prophecies.
“The spring….”
When the parched spring refills with water, the world transforms.
“It was so radiant.”
The shimmering spring water. The flowing water met the beginning of the waterfall and scattered like mist.
Water droplets reflected light, and a rainbow unfurled across them.
Witnessing the miracle, the High Priest’s legs gave way beneath him. Two nearby priests rushed to support him. Their eyes burned with tears.
‘What could this be.’
The grace of the god? Or a miracle performed by someone?
‘Who came here today?’
The High Priest retraced his confused thoughts. Soon, as a certain voice came to mind, a chill ran down his spine.
About an hour ago. That adorable child being scolded by his father in front of the Main Holy Temple.
Surely it was Reytan Quartz Trabel.

“You said you would only observe the statues. Did you go all the way up to the waterfall?”

Surely not.
That boy couldn’t possibly be connected to this phenomenon. And yet, the High Priest’s aged heart trembled.

***

We departed from the Grand Temple, heading toward Theon’s grandfather’s estate.
The destination was a rural village—Leaf Village—roughly three hours away by carriage.
We stopped the carriage briefly in the forest that connected to the village.
We’d stopped at another village along the way to purchase gifts and enjoy dessert, but the timing felt awkward.
My eyes met Theon’s, who sat across from me.
“How much farther to your place, Theon?”
“About twenty minutes by carriage from here.”
We’d arrive right at dinner time.
“How many people are in our party total?”
Father, who had stepped out of the carriage, posed the question, and the vice-captain of the 2nd Knight Order answered.
“Sixteen people, sir.”
“Horses?”
“Twelve, sir.”
It was quite a large group.
Father had sent word ahead to announce our visit, but more than ten people descending upon Baron Voltman would surely be a burden on his household.
“Your grandfather was a knight too, right? Is he strong?”
“Yeah. He served in the late emperor’s Knight Order when he was younger.”
“Wow.”
Jeffrey, seated beside Theon, wagged his tail eagerly.
While Anne was organizing provisions from the supply cart, Jeffrey, who had been sitting in the driver’s seat, climbed into the carriage.
Jeffrey seemed just as interested in swords as Theon was. Their conversation deepened as they discovered their shared passion.
Hmm.
Since sword talk didn’t particularly interest me, I turned my attention to the conversation outside the carriage.
Father was still speaking with the Knights.
“You all will rest at the inn in the neighboring village. You can rejoin us on the day we depart.”
“Sir?! We came here to escort the young master!”
“Windis is sufficient.”
“But Windis is there, and we’re here too, aren’t we?”
“Miss Berry will need protection as well.”
The Knights gathered around Father, adding their voices to the argument.
Their determination not to be separated was evident.
Father narrowed his eyes, regarding the Knights with suspicion.
“…You’re quite talkative. It’s as if someone ordered you to stick around and keep watch.”
“No, no, sir. We’re simply concerned for the young master’s safety…”
“We’re different from those dark-hearted 4th Knight Order bastards, sir!”
“Young Master, if you don’t need an escort, would it be alright if I followed along as a porter?”
“Didn’t you mention your shoulders were stiff today? Allow me to become your masseuse!”
“But Young Master, couldn’t you just take out Windis and show it to us once?”
The Knights of the 2nd Knight Order, who had been making excuses, revealed their true colors.
They were Father’s devoted followers.

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————