I Will Try to Save My Dad - Chapter 69

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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 69

The next day, we gathered once more at the Blue Company.
The Grand Master would have to visit the Grand Temple in person to retrieve the highest-grade recovery potion.
We contacted the Grand Temple using the Investigation Bureau’s telegraph, and it was Demian who brought back their reply.
Upon hearing from Father about the planned visit, the Grand Temple readily granted permission.
However—
“Please leave a guarantor behind. If Reytan doesn’t return, it will be difficult for me.”
According to the merchant company’s director’s request, either I or Theon had to remain at the Blue Company.
“I’ll stay.”
“Theon? A ten-year-old can’t be left alone without a guardian!”
“I’ll be his guardian. I can stay at Branch 17 a bit longer anyway.”
“Oh.”
Having a guardian with public authority was reassuring.
For that reason, Theon decided to stay in Goldport with Demian.
The guest room provided by the Blue Company was remarkably comfortable—even more spacious and luxurious than the rooms at Stone House.
As I looked around the room, I spoke to Theon.
“You can rest well here~ We’ll do training once we get back to Stone House!”
“…”
Theon couldn’t lie to me. That’s why he had no response. His face was full of distress.
“Theon, Theon.”
“Yeah?”
“This is a gift.”
I handed Theon the recovery potion I’d requested from the Blue Company’s manager.
“Father bought it for you! It’s mid-grade, but when you apply it to your hands, wounds heal much faster.”
“…”
Theon was using ointment prescribed by the Trabel Estate’s physician, but that level of efficacy couldn’t keep pace with how quickly his wounds formed.
He needed to use recovery potions.
“This is too expensive.”
“Right! So use it only until calluses form! Father says wounds need to heal quickly so the palms become tougher.”
But Theon wouldn’t use it, would he? He’d think the recovery potion was too precious to waste on himself.
I opened the medicine bottle in my hand and applied it to Theon’s palms.
Indeed, it worked far better than ordinary ointment. The wounds were already healing so well that the raw flesh was no longer visible.
“Since it’s mid-grade, the wounds won’t disappear immediately, but they should be completely healed by tonight!”
“…Thank you.”
Theon, who had been staring down at his palms, went to his bundle of belongings and returned with something.
A familiar paper envelope. The one Theon had bought from a vendor in the Shopping District yesterday.
“This is my gift.”
“Huh. Really? You’re giving it to me?”
“Yes. It’s nothing special.”
Theon gave me a gift!
My heart racing, I opened the paper envelope. It was a ribbon for tying hair—a pale green that matched my eyes perfectly.
“Wow! Today it matches Theon’s necktie!”
“My necktie?”
“Your necktie is green too. It’s just a bit darker than this.”
Theon mumbled that he hadn’t noticed at all, but I didn’t hear him. I held out the ribbon to Theon.
“Tie it for me.”
“Me? I’ve never done it before.”
“Still. The person who gives a gift should be the one to do it.”
Theon grasped my hair with clumsy hands and fumbled for a while. He twisted the ribbon, tied it, undid it, and repeated the process until he seemed to think it was taking too long, then let go.
I quickly stood in front of the mirror.
“Oh.”
My hair in the mirror was in two pigtails. Theon looked at the uneven ribbon ends and spoke timidly.
“Just undo it and ask someone else to—”
“No, I love it like this!”
“It’s a mess.”
I dodged Theon’s hands and ran away. The ribbon Theon had given me, my hair tied by Theon’s own hands.
“I don’t want to undo it~”
Then my body collided with someone. It was Father, entering the room.
“Oof.”
“Berry, you should look ahead when you run. Look at you. Are you alright?”
“Yes. Father, look at this! Theon tied it for me!”
“Theon did?”
“W-well—!”
Theon desperately tried to stop me from showing off my hair.
Oh my. Such a strong reaction. It was rare to see Theon like this.
Father and I exchanged glances in an instant.
I wanted to tease him. Very much.
“Father, there’s a photographer nearby! Should the three of us take a picture together?”
“That’s a good idea. Let’s go. Theon, Berry.”
“M-Master—!”
“What?”
“Are you really going like this…? Berry’s hair….”
“Berry’s hair? It’s pretty.”
“Exactly! It’s pretty!”
“Surely you’re not saying my daughter’s hair looks strange, are you, Theon?”
At Father’s words, Theon looked at my clumsily tied hair and slowly shook his head.
Father and I took photos to our heart’s content with the flushed Theon between us.

***

From Goldport to the Grand Temple took two days by carriage. During that time, Father and I were alone together.
“So, Berry.”
“Yes?”
“What’s this about Blue Company stock that Serber mentioned?”
The moment I’d been dreading had finally arrived. I decided to reveal what Father had discovered while investigating Blue Company for potential investment.
“You remember when the merchant came to Uncle Hevanth asking for investment, right?”
“I do.”
“Well, it seems Serber overheard that conversation. When I went to submit my assignment, he asked me if I could inquire with you about whether investing in Blue Company stock would be wise.”
“…Why would he ask you that?”
“Because Serber thinks you’re an investment genius! He believed the information that caused the Ink Company’s stock to collapse came from you.”
Father’s brow furrowed at my words.
“The Ink Company? …Ah, that.”
He murmured as though something had clicked into place.
The Blue Company stock matter was essentially already concluded.
What mattered was that Father now knew Serber held him in favorable regard.
‘That way, Father can use this information when he needs to.’
Uncle’s influence over Blue Company, and my private audience with Grandfather.
Unlike my other self—the one who’d lived until sixteen in the small world of Stone House—Father and I were increasingly becoming entangled in the affairs of the Trabel Family.
‘Since I don’t know when we might clash with relatives, the more tools at our disposal, the better.’
Sigh. If only I weren’t ill, I wouldn’t have to worry about such things.

[You were sick? But you were fine on Trabel lands?]
“Yes. I think Grandmother Quartz probably had the same illness. That’s likely why Father can’t leave here.”
[Quartz had such an illness? I can’t think of anything specific right now, but let me consider what might be the cause!]

Even Akum didn’t know the exact cause.
In any case, I had steeled myself to be scolded by Father before telling him about the incident with the Manager, but surprisingly, Father only warned me to tell him immediately if something like that happened again.
With the tension lifted, I chattered away beside Father.
“Demian is so cool, right? I’ve never seen a Grand Master before except for Father! So there are Grand Masters chosen by the Holy Sword of Light and the Holy Sword of Fire too? Are those adults close with Father?”
“Berry, why is Demian your uncle?”
“Because he’s Brown’s friend! He told me to call him that!”
“…Berry.”
“Yes?”
“Do you want to know what that’s called?”
When I looked up, I saw Father’s exasperated face.
“Nonsense.”
“Oh….”
Father spoke firmly to me as I blinked.
“Call him Demian.”

***

“Hehe, we meet sooner than expected.”
And according to Father’s words, here was another adult spouting nonsense.
The High Priest, having heard that Father and I had arrived at the Grand Temple, came out to greet us with the priests.
“I apologize for the sudden visit.”
“Since it belongs to Reytan, it’s no great matter. How have you been, Berry?”
“Yes! High Priest—”

“Don’t call the High Priest grandfather.”

In that moment, Grandfather’s warning flashed through my mind.
“Grandfather, is the Aubaut God doing well?”
But right now Grandfather isn’t here—.
The Aubaut Order was one of the world’s three major religions, with believers not only throughout the Heishal Empire but across the entire world.
Being able to call its leader grandfather was a privilege only a seven-year-old child who knew nothing could claim!
I had to act friendly whenever the High Priest was kind enough to indulge me.
It was just as laughter spilled from the High Priest’s lips at my greeting.
[Ugh. This is terrifying.]
Akum shuddered in my pocket.

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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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