I Will Try to Save My Dad - Chapter 45

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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 45

After touring Leaf Village with Baron Voltman and grasping its general geography, Reytan decided to meet the young men of the villages.
The destination was a watermill by the Stream outside the village.
“Right now there are only a few youths who could be called leaders. The total force is around fifty.”
“Fifty men. That’s quite a number.”
“Four villages combined, and seeing as I’m lending a hand myself, what do you expect? Anyone who can lift a hoe counts as a youth here.”
Reytan let out a soft chuckle at Baron Voltman’s jest.
“Have you assessed the Wild Dog Tribe’s forces?”
“I have. The Wild Dog Humanoids have an uncanny sense for human scent, so I asked Kija—a Chameleon Humanoid—to help. We crossed paths when I was working on a newspaper article.”
Though the fee wasn’t insignificant.
Baron Voltman asked, gauging Reytan’s reaction.
“But tell me, do you truly need no compensation?”
“Will you be giving me any? If you are, I’ll name a steep price.”
“Ahem, if you’ll wait, I can somehow—”
“Never mind. So what about the forces?”
“Around six young individuals capable of fighting. The hostages are being held separately in a nearby cave.”
“Fewer than expected.”
“The Wild Dog Tribe here doesn’t produce offspring with humans. Without hybrids, they must maintain their numbers through the tribe alone—not an easy task.”
“I see.”
“Are you worried? Thinking you’ll have to fight alone?”
“Not at all.”
Reytan rolled his neck lightly. His neck felt stiff for no apparent reason. Based on his parenting experience, it wasn’t a good sign.
Reytan paused mid-step and turned to look back.
In the distance, atop a hilltop, the ancient Oak Tree of the village came into view.
Beneath it, a flash of pink caught his eye.
Berry’s hair wasn’t a common color, so it was certainly his daughter. Theon appeared to be with her as well.
‘What are they doing?’
Reytan’s eyes narrowed.
“Still, don’t worry too much. We have some strong ones on our side—wait, who am I even talking to? What are you doing? Stand still.”
Baron Voltman chided the stationary Reytan. Reytan waved his hand dismissively as if to say he’d heard enough. His gaze remained fixed on the direction where Berry was.
“You’ve become quite the worrywart in my absence. Is being apart for a moment really so unsettling?”
“It’s not.”
Reytan’s favorite book, Raising My Child Independently, emphasized a particular point.
If you shelter a child too much, they won’t become independent as adults. Rather than keeping your child perpetually young, it’s better to step back and watch over them.
‘I’m not being overprotective.’
That’s what Reytan believed. He wanted to give Berry whatever she desired, but he was also strictly restraining himself to foster her independence.
“You seem to be mistaken, sir. I don’t raise Berry by sheltering her.”
Reytan turned back to face Baron Voltman, his expression confident as he stood with his back to the oak tree.
“…I see.”
Baron Voltman made a clicking sound and fell silent.
‘He’s completely wrapped around her little finger.’
Images of Reytan from the past day or so flashed through his mind.

“Berry, your twin tails look absolutely perfect today.”
“Berry, you can’t use a knife yet. Father will cut it for you.”
“…Didn’t you say you’d give Father the sweets first last time? Should I ask Callet if you’ve forgotten?”

He’d seen it with his own eyes, so there was no doubt about it. Reytan was utterly doting on his daughter.
In any case, that wasn’t the priority right now. Baron Voltman quickened his pace and spoke.
“Let’s hurry. Everyone will be waiting.”

***

To prevent the villages from suffering immediate harm, we had to stop the Wild Dog Tribe from attacking the settlements.
Dealing with Marquis Ash and Count Roslyn could wait until after that.
“Stop the fighting?”
“Yes!”
I stood up and answered brightly. I had conviction about this. If we followed this plan, we could protect the villages without anyone getting hurt.
“How?”
Theon asked in return.
“How are you going to do it?”
He asked twice.
This was somewhat surprising. I’d expected Theon to object first.
Moreover, there was a glimmer of anticipation in his eyes as he looked at me—as if he believed I had a solution.
‘He’s more cooperative than I expected?’
Theon wasn’t opposing my words and was listening seriously. That fact made my heart soar.
“I’m going to negotiate with the Wild Dog Tribe!”
“No.”
“Huh?”
Theon spoke firmly. The anticipation that had been in his eyes vanished in an instant.
“It’s dangerous. Berry, in Leaf Village, children are absolutely forbidden from entering the mountain where the Wild Dog Tribe lives. The Wild Dog Tribe doesn’t spare even young humans. I’m still not strong enough to protect you from them.”
Theon was being unusually talkative. His determination to stop me at all costs was evident.
“Ugh, I know that too. Negotiating isn’t something a child should do.”
“You really know that?”
“Just listen to me, okay, Theon?”
I sat back down on the picnic mat. I tapped Theon’s arm beside me to signal he should hear me out. He flinched, but his eyes still held that cautious wariness, as if he expected me to cause trouble.
“The Wild Dog Tribe hates humans, so they don’t come down from the mountain, right?”
“Yes.”
“But their habitat is disappearing due to land development. Where will they find food?”
“So you’re planning to negotiate by providing food to the Wild Dog Tribe.”
“Oh, exactly.”
My eyes lit up at Theon’s words. I had some experience from my adult memories, but Theon didn’t.
Such sharp insight at only ten years old.
“The Wild Dog Tribe must be cornered right now because they’re starving.”
A different memory surfaced from yesterday’s conversation with Baron Voltman.
The conversation with the coachman from Leaf Village had more to it than I’d initially recalled.
The other me had been shocked that Baron Voltman faced the Wild Dog Tribe alone and asked the coachman about it.

– How did you endure for over ten minutes? Baron Voltman had been retired for a long time and was advanced in years. How did you manage to hold out so long against the Wild Dog Humanoids rushing at you?
– The Wild Dog Tribe had a problem.
– A problem?
– They were so starved they couldn’t use their full strength.

I understood why the memory surfaced so late. The other me hadn’t considered this conversation particularly important.
It was already in the past, and after speaking with the coachman, we’d changed our destination away from Leaf Village anyway.
‘But isn’t that strange?’
While there were variations depending on the race, humanoids could fight even if they hadn’t eaten properly for a month on the battlefield.
Marquis Ash’s land development began encroaching on the Wild Dog Tribe’s habitat around the same time they were holding hostages.
So the habitat encroachment had only been happening for about a week to ten days.
That wasn’t enough time for starvation to significantly diminish their combat ability.
It meant the food shortage had been ongoing before the development began.
‘I’m offering a way to protect their dwelling and solve their food shortage to a tribe like that?’
The negotiation couldn’t possibly fail. Even if they showed initial resistance, the Wild Dog Tribe would eventually take the hand I extended.
I didn’t know why, but I felt a strong conviction about it. And I had good instincts about these sorts of things.
“You said it yourself, Theon. The Wild Dog Tribe hates even encountering humans. We’re helping a tribe so cornered they have to make contact with humans they despise!”
“….”
“Isn’t it a fair deal? We can give them what they want, so we ask them to give us what we want in return. It’s a mutual promise, isn’t it?”
Theon asked after hearing my scheming.
“…But who will conduct the negotiation?”
“Our Father!”
“Does Master know about this?”
It was a sharp point. Since there was nothing else to say here, I answered honestly.
“No.”
Theon was at a loss for words at my honesty. After thinking for a moment, he spoke as if laying bare his true feelings.
“…I just hope you won’t be in danger.”
“For the greater good, one must accept some risk—”
“Berry.”
It was Father.
I hurriedly brought my face in front of Theon’s. Having two fathers would be problematic.
“I don’t want to hear any lectures. We’re friends, so you’ll help me, right?”
“…You’d do it anyway, wouldn’t you?”
“Of course. I’ve made up my mind to save Leaf Village.”
Theon blinked. My expression reflected perfectly in his dark eyes. Looking at it this way, I appeared quite resolute. Since Theon saw that, he wouldn’t be able to refuse. Right?
“You’ll help me?”
Theon let out a light sigh. A child sighing like that.
It suits him perfectly when he does it.
“I’ll help.”
“Hooray!”
I raised both my arms. Theon grasped my arms with both hands and added something.
“But I’ll handle the dangerous parts.”
“Is that so?”

***

To negotiate with the Wild Dog Tribe, what was the first thing I needed to do?
‘I need to make them come down from the mountain.’
And I had to make them meet Father. Somewhere far away from the village.

Woof! Woof!
At the house of the Countess who grew tomatoes in Leaf Village.
I watched the dog that the Countess raised and thought.
‘…It looks like Calips.’
It was a Chihuahua.
The way it barked fiercely at me from inside the fence resembled my aunt’s only son, Calips.
Now that I think about it, wasn’t there a monthly evaluation next week? Well, it’s not my concern since I’m aiming for last place anyway. Hehe.
“It would be nice if the young master took it for a walk. My knees have been hurting lately.”
The neighbor’s grandmother tapped her legs.
Theon, who had taken the leash, walked toward me and spoke reluctantly.
“Is this the dangerous work?”

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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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