I Will Try to Save My Dad - Chapter 72

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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 72

“I have one troublesome matter. If you resolve this problem, I’ll appoint a representative to act on your behalf outside.”
“A representative?”
“Something like an aide. Someone who shows your face in the outside world and acts according to your wishes.”
My eyes lit up at Count Trabel’s words.
“And their identity is certain?”
“I have someone trustworthy. Even Callet doesn’t know about them.”
Intrigued, I leaned forward, and Count Trabel, though exasperated, seated me back on the sofa and unfolded a map across the table.
“A map of the Heishal Empire?”
“Yes. Do you know what the Trabel Count Family initially built their wealth upon?”
“The Mines.”
“Sharp as always.”
Count Trabel smiled with satisfaction.
“You see here—near the Mines owned by the Trabel Count Family, there’s a village where Dwarves live. From the early days of the Trabel Count Family, our interests aligned, and we exchanged resources and techniques. But three generations ago, a Trabel Count deceived them about mineral grades, and relations deteriorated.”
“I see.”
“Since then, the Dwarves have rejected every order coming from the Trabel Count Family.”
My ears perked up.
This was something I already knew from my other memories.
Even Count Trabel, my grandfather, who seemed to possess everything, had a few long-cherished ambitions he wished to accomplish.
One of them was resuming trade with the Dwarves.
The items crafted by Dwarves, with their superior understanding of minerals, were far superior to those made using the same methods elsewhere.
“Grandfather, you wish to trade with the Dwarves again?”
“I’m thinking of starting a business venture.”
“A business venture?”
“The clientele would be the imperial family, nobility, and the wealthy.”
“A luxury strategy?”
“Hah, you know such terms? Yes, but—.”
Count Trabel’s hand rested upon my head. He seemed to be contemplating something.
“For over twenty years, I’ve tried, yet there’s been no response from them. Before I pass, I wish to establish at least some foundation for this.”
“Don’t say such things….”
I pouted slightly.
In my memories, Count Trabel suffered from illness for three years before passing away in the same year as the other me. That meant seventeen years from now.
For the other me, Count Trabel was a family head who turned away from Father’s death, so his passing didn’t bring great sorrow. But I learned only after he was gone.
‘Grandfather was actually investigating Father’s death too.’
Until just before his passing, Count Trabel attempted reconciliation with the Dwarves, but there was never news of trade resuming.
“What would you do? How might the Dwarves open their hearts?”
“Hmm—.”
I stared at the map, lost in thought.
Grandfather’s lifelong ambition. The project that had haunted him even as his eyes grew dim.
“If the Dwarves agree to trade with the Trabel Family again, that counts as success? Then you’ll appoint me as your representative?”
Grandfather answered my question.
“I shall do so.”
“Grandfather.”
I brushed away his hand resting on my head and looked up. A representative was fine, but no matter how I calculated it, the compensation didn’t match the value.
“Give me one iron mine in addition to that.”
“What?”
“I’m already giving you a discount on this.”
Opening the first door to that lifelong ambition, and the reward is merely appointing a representative?
Even with a family discount factored in, it was far too cheap.
At my serious words, Grandfather’s golden eyes wavered slightly, and his lips pressed firmly shut.
‘Oh no. Is he angry?’
No, surely Grandfather knows the value doesn’t match either?! If he gets angry, I’m the one who’ll feel wronged!
I swallowed nervously as Grandfather’s lips began to tremble.
Then came a stifled laugh.
“…Heh.”
“Huh…?”
Grandfather slapped the armrest of the sofa and burst into hearty laughter.

***

Stone House.
Reytan was recalling events from a few days prior in his room.
It was when he and Demian had questioned Victor about witnessing Brown’s accident at the Mines.
Contrary to their expectations, Victor said he didn’t know why Brown had entered the Mines. However.

“There is another witness whose name doesn’t appear on the list. Someone who came unnoticed and left the scene before the Mines collapsed.”
“The formal speech suggests a noble. How did you know that person came and went?”
“I happened to see them from a distance. One couldn’t forget such flamboyant attire.”
“…Flamboyant…?”

Victor smirked at Reytan’s murmur, as if something had clicked into place.

“Precisely. Your younger sibling, Reytan.”

Yosel, the owner of the third-ranked Emerald House, had been present at the scene of Brown’s accident.
Yosel was twenty-one years old at the time.
He was a naive young master from a wealthy family, only a few years removed from graduating the Academy. Of course, Reytan had already made a name for himself on the battlefield at that same age.
‘He doesn’t have the guts to kill someone.’
Objectively speaking, Yosel lacked the nerve for such a thing.
Yet he was the only blood relative of mine to appear on the witness list.
‘What a mess.’
I stroked Windis absently.
Seven years ago, I would have drawn my sword and gone straight to Yosel, demanding he confess honestly.
‘But the children are involved.’
Yosel lacked the courage to kill with his own hands, but he felt not the slightest guilt in tormenting creatures weaker than himself.
Knock, knock.
“Young Master Reytan, do you have a moment?”
After the knock came a voice from beyond the door. It was Sherry.
“What is it?”
“Callet has come to see you.”
“Callet?”
Though we called each other childhood friends, Callet had little reason to visit the Stone House except on Count Trabel’s errands.
What could it be this time?
I rose from my chair and walked to the door. When I opened it, Sherry and Callet stood together.
“What brings you here?”
Callet opened his mouth with his usual composed expression.
“Do you have some time?”
I looked at the wine Callet held in both hands. He was holding it so the label faced directly toward me.
Chateau Lafite Rothschild. Vintage 975.
Estimated consumer price: approximately three million Cona.
I nodded.
“I do.”

***

Heteromorphs are broadly classified into two categories.
Innate heteromorphs, born as such from birth, and acquired heteromorphs, who evolved from existing creatures into heteromorphs.
Innate heteromorphs possessed distinctly pronounced racial characteristics, and in the case of the Dwarves, the master blacksmith race, it was their insularity.
‘They don’t trust outsiders easily, so conducting business with the Dwarves itself is a miracle.’
And yet someone had deceived the Dwarves about mineral grades.
In other words, the golden path that the previous Count Trabel had painstakingly carved open had been trampled shut by a Count Trabel from three generations ago—not merely closed, but sealed beyond reopening.
‘But their deep insularity means that once you have connections within their community, the barrier to entry drops significantly.’
Hehehehe.
I pressed my cheek against the textbook on my desk and gazed out through the Classroom window at the azure sky, grinning to myself.
“What are you doing?”
A blunt voice flew at the back of my head like a challenge. I didn’t even need to look to know who it was.
“Oh. Calips. Just admiring the view outside. Why?”
“You’ve got it easy.”
Wait. Calips initiated conversation with me first, and he’s actually responding to what I said?
‘Does he want to talk to me?’
That couldn’t possibly be the case.
Just to be safe, I straightened my upper body and turned my head in the direction Calips had spoken from.
“Huh.”
“What.”
Calips was actually sitting in the empty seat right next to me.
It was break time. The other relatives hadn’t returned to the Classroom yet.
“Do you have something to say?”
“Hey, you haven’t been in the Classroom after class lately.”
“I’m not doing supplementary assignments anymore. Father told Madam Frea not to give me any assignments because he’s tutoring me himself.”
“…Your father does that?”
“Yeah.”
I nodded. Calips’s expression didn’t look particularly pleased.
‘Why?’
It seemed like just yesterday he was boasting about scoring an average of 80 points on the last monthly evaluation.
‘Is another monthly evaluation coming up soon?’
But this time there was no minimum score requirement per subject. According to the Twins, Calips wouldn’t be scolded even if his evaluation scores were low this year.
“Is something wrong?”
“….”
At my words, Calips frowned and stood up from his seat.
“Must be nice. Being dead last.”
I opened my mouth in disbelief.
The slight concern I’d felt vanished completely. He actually sat next to me just to pick a fight with me…!
‘I can’t let my guard down!’
For now it was peaceful, but Calips and the Twins were demons. I never knew when they’d torment me again.
It was just as I was steeling myself mentally.
Tap.
The sound of something tapping against the window made me turn to look, and perched on the outer windowsill was a small bird.
It was an adorable creature with a black head and white cheeks. I’d seen it in a book before. Was it a Great Tit?
What was this?
The Great Tit, meeting my gaze, tilted its head curiously before beginning to peck at the glass with its beak.
Tap, tap-tap, tap-tap, tap.
Tap-tap-tap, tap. ….
“…?”
It repeated the pecking in a steady rhythm, and something about it felt familiar—.
A telegraph message?!
“What is it? That’s annoying.”
Calips frowned.
“Right! I’ll chase it away!”
I hurried out of the Classroom.

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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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