They Say an Age Gap Like This Doesn’t Even Need Matching - Chapter 95

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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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They say an age difference of a few years doesn’t even warrant checking compatibility.
Chapter 95
Perhaps it was the sincerity bleeding through my voice.
Or perhaps they had realized that in my current state—drained of all strength—I couldn’t safely descend from the roof on my own.
“You really… mean it?”
“Of course. I absolutely won’t let you get hurt. I promise.”
The Child seemed to hesitate for a moment, but after glancing at the other child beside them, they spoke with a resolute expression.
“Understood. I’ll trust you.”
I felt the corners of my mouth twitch upward involuntarily.
‘How adorable.’
For these children, jumping from a Bell Tower of this height was the challenge of a lifetime.
In truth, even half this height would have been just as daunting.
I had been there once too.
In my childhood, when I was woefully inexperienced in wielding the blessings the Goddess had bestowed upon me.
After trying various methods, I once leaped with all my might from a tree that was about half the height of this Bell Tower.
In truth, it was an attempt at flight rather than a mere fall.
My body, which had soared briefly upward, plummeted down deceptively fast, and when fear seized me and I squeezed my eyes shut—
instead of crashing into the ground, I found myself cradled in someone’s arms.
It was my first meeting with Mikhail.
As that memory surfaced, the two children before me exchanged words with serious expressions.
“Count to three, then let go at the same time.”
“Got it.”
“If something goes wrong with me, tell Lucy I liked her.”
…Who is Lucy?
Surely these children aren’t already nursing crushes?
“You idiot, Lucy is going to marry me.”
A love triangle, no less?!
Then, struck by a sudden realization, I glanced at the child holding the Cat.
Seeing their face flushed crimson red, it seemed that child must be Lucy.
‘You children… Lucy heard everything you just said.’
However, if I brought that up now, it would surely shake the children’s resolve, so I decided to keep my mouth shut.
And moments later—
“One.”
“Two.”
“Three!!”
As our voices overlapped, I stretched out both arms and caught the waists of the two children as they slid down from the roof.
Relief bloomed across the faces of the children now safely in my embrace.
‘Well then, let me keep my promise.’
With the children tucked against both sides of my ribs, I kicked off from the Tower.
“Wh-what?!”
“How does it feel to fly through the sky?”
No answer came back.
Their mind must have gone completely blank. It probably felt as though time itself had slowed.
“If safety is guaranteed, then falling becomes all the more thrilling.”
I whispered softly and spun my body through the air.
It was time to savor the anticipated plunge.
‘Children do love spinning around, don’t they.’
I descended with glee, performing a graceful barrel roll.
“Ahhhhhhhhh!!!!”
The scream made my ears ring slightly, but that only meant they were having the time of their lives.
Unfortunately, the Bell Tower was far too low, and the joy ended all too quickly.
Just as I prepared to land and channeled a hint of divine power to lift my body, I caught sight of something.
At the very spot where I was about to touch down stood Elhart, arms spread wide, waiting for me.
‘Hmm….’
I knew there was no need for this, and so did he.
Yet there he stood, gazing up at me with an anxious expression.
[Jump whenever you’re ready, Ser Brin. I’ll catch you.]
The memory of young Mikhail’s confident cry came flooding back.
“Ser Brin!”
I released my divine power and let myself fall into his embrace.
Just as I used to hurl myself into Mikhail’s arms the moment I caught sight of him, even after becoming perfectly adapted to flight.
Arms far broader than before.
Limbs far thicker and more solid.
He caught me and both children without the slightest tremor, then exhaled a sigh of relief.
Then he slowly bent his knees and set the children down.
The two of them simply plopped onto the ground and sat there in a daze for quite some time.
“That was fun, wasn’t it, you two? I kept my promise, didn’t I?”
They seemed to want more.
It really did pass in the blink of an eye.
“Raising children is something a father should probably do.”
Elhart murmured softly as he watched the scene unfold beside me.
“…?”
Seeing my bewilderment, he chuckled.
“I could easily catch thirteen without breaking a sweat.”
What was that.
Why was my heart racing at those words.
“But why thirteen?”
My dream was to have twelve members in the Children’s Knight Order.
“You make thirteen.”
As he spoke those words, his smile carried a hint of playfulness, shyness, and anticipation all woven together.
It wasn’t a jest—I could genuinely feel his fervent desire to make my dreams come true alongside his own.
He wanted to fulfill my aspirations as much as his own.
The moment our eyes met, a memory surfaced unbidden.
[Let’s achieve them one by one, together. Your dreams and mine.]
Long ago.
When I heard Mikhail speak of his desire to become a castle wall protecting people’s lives and livelihoods, I readily offered my aid.
Until then, I had no particular dream of my own, and his seemed truly magnificent.
We endured countless hardships, but ultimately we succeeded.
Together with others who harbored similar aspirations, we drove back the demons and founded a nation.
[Ser Brin, this time it’s my turn to help you. So think carefully—what is it you wish to accomplish?]
Even as I ventured into the Black Rift, traversed the Demon Realm, and fought battle after battle, I wrestled with that question.
What more did I want to do?
Then the answer came to me: the Children’s Knight Order.
Bardia—the nation Mikhail had perfected.
A steadfast castle wall to protect everyone’s lives and livelihoods.
Even when Mikhail and I were gone, I wanted to nurture knights who could safely guard that world.
So that people could envision a brighter future than today.
So that tomorrow and the day after, there would be nothing to steal their smiles.
I had set down my spear with peace of mind, anticipating the day I could retire comfortably.
‘Though much has gone awry.’
In truth, Mikhail owed me a debt.
This time, it was his turn to help me.
‘Should I just dump this all on Elhart?’
The temptation Elhart presented was so strong it sparked such impulses.
In fact, images of children bearing his features flashed through my mind in an instant.
The most adorable, beautiful, lovely, and formidable children imaginable.
I was lost in such reverie, soaring through the sky with these imagined children, when—
“Me too! Me too, me too, me too!”
An innocent voice called from above.
I tilted my head back to look, and there was Lucy, cradling a cat, her eyes sparkling as she shouted.
Then she began struggling to climb onto the railing that reached only to her chin.
‘Oh no.’
A child jumping alone from here would be extraordinarily dangerous.
The bell tower’s structure widened toward the base.
In other words, without properly pushing off the wall to increase distance from the tower, she could collide with the outer wall.
Just as I rushed to turn back—
“I’ll go.”
Before I could respond, Elhart moved.
In an instant, he reached the base of the bell tower and pushed off the ground.
Whoosh—
I could hear the sound of wind being cut through.
And in the next moment, Lucy and the Cat were already nestled in Elhart’s arms.
A flicker of conflict crossed his expression.
Wasn’t what the child wanted precisely my dazzling aerial somersault?
“Me too, me too! Me!”
Unable to disappoint the child who endlessly cried out “Me!”, Elhart had no choice but to descend while rotating several times.
Of course, he landed on his own.
Thud—!
A heavy reverberation traveled through the ground beneath his feet.
“Waaaah!”
Barely had people begun to marvel at his nimble movements and perfect landing before they erupted in cheers and applause.
I too clapped with a broad smile.
After carefully setting Lucy and the Cat down on the ground, he trudged toward me with what seemed like a defeated expression.
“…Children really are not easy, are they?”
After shouting “Me!” roughly fifty times and finally getting her wish, Lucy bounced excitedly, hopping about.
“You seem like you’d make a good father.”
Speaking with genuine sincerity, he stared at me with wide eyes.
Caught off guard by his eager reaction, I suddenly felt embarrassed and quickly turned away.
“I meant that you’d be like that regardless of who the other person is.”
Even as I added that excuse, I could feel my cheeks burning.
‘I think I’ve really messed this up….’

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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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