Episode 35 The next morning.
Philip couldn’t hide his bewildered expression after hearing Logan’s words.
“A thief? You couldn’t even catch Logan?”
“Not at all. I couldn’t touch it or feel it move.”
“Hmm. That means he is at least an advanced Force user. A person like that is a thief.”
Philip’s impressions, which he had only heard about Logan’s level, were simple.
But Logan couldn’t accept it so easily.
During meditation, one’s senses were amplified to several times their normal level.
Even though the physical abilities and senses increased by Force Core and the concentration through meditation was added, I could barely feel any presence.
‘It’s definitely not a higher grade. At least it is the highest level of force user. No, that’s not enough. It didn’t just feel like the level was high. It felt like the class was different. No way…’
Underestimating the enemy is a problem, but overestimating it is also a problem.
Therefore, Logan tried not to make hasty guesses, but his intuition told him that the baseless guess was correct.
“Auror users… are thieves? What kind of nonsense…” I
couldn’t help but laugh because it was such a ridiculous thought even to myself.
A state where one can be said to be a true superhuman who has surpassed the limitations of a force user and obtained the power of an auror to divide everything.
Even if he is from a commoner background, he is an absolute powerhouse who can become a nobleman in an instant and even receive the title of count if he goes to the empire.
An Auror user like that is just stealing.
Philip also waved his hand with an absurd expression.
“Hey, Logan. You’ve gone too far. Don’t talk nonsense and check to see if anything is missing.”
“Almost none.”
“…Almost?”
“Did we pack Imporik correctly?”
“Of course. I’m going to sell it to nobles. How many times have I checked… Yes? No way?”
“Two Imporic pills are missing from a box. It’s so vague it’s annoying, but that’s it.”
If you want to steal it, you have to steal the whole box.
It was so strange that I even opened the package and only took two pills.
‘We may have packaged it wrong, but…’
It seemed highly likely that the thief took it out.
However, when connected with the previous guess, it became even more strange.
– The Auror user stole only two aphrodisiacs.
‘Why on earth?’
An Auror user who understands the true nature of the Force and uses Auror, its higher power.
Such superhumans naturally have much higher physical abilities than ordinary people. Even energy.
So, the average Auror user had numerous wives and concubines and had up to dozens of children.
An Auror user like that needs an aphrodisiac?
‘no. Impolic is not just an aphrodisiac. It was advertised as a miracle medicine that could even cure physical eunuchs… but really?’
This time too, it was just a hunch and there was no clear basis.
But, following that bright premonition, Logan spoke to Philip.
“That data from before! Were there any Auror users in that data?”
“Huh? They said it was top secret and a separate fee was charged, so Logan refused. There was no need for it.”
“Oh, that’s right. Then…”
“Didn’t you say that you don’t need it because you know everything even if you don’t have the data?”
“what?”
“There is only one Auror user in the capital. An Auror user without descendants.”
“ah!”
In Logan’s memory, it was a distant memory.
It was only then that I remembered information about absolute powerhouses that I had not paid any attention to for a while because I thought they would never be involved.
There are a total of five Auror users in the Kingdom of Grandia. Among them, only two lived in the capital.
There was definitely someone like that among them.
Although it is common for Auror users to boast as much stamina as their naturally powerful bodies, they are especially superhumans with no descendants.
* * * Crackling.
“Catch me!”
“Ugh! Mom!”
“Nanny! She hit me.”
“Hey.”
The sight of children playing on the streets was lively.
It was a heartwarming sight that made the person watching it smile, but the face of a middle-aged man watching it from the window of the mansion in the distance showed only bitterness.
‘Ira….’
A life without regrets. It was a proud life.
He was confident that he had lived a life where he could confidently say that to anyone.
And most people who know him will say the same.
However, if there is only one regret in this proud life, it is that he has no children.
There was only one thing.
Of course, he didn’t say that to anyone.
The fact that he had only one regret in his life showed how happy he was.
He was not a person who was so greedy or so shallow that he did not know it.
But sometimes, when I see children as bright and lovely as they are now, a faint pain wells up from deep within my heart, piercing my heart like a needle.
No matter how hard I tried to look away, the only thing that came out was a bitter smile.
“…What are you looking at?”
At that time, a beautiful voice familiar to him made him turn around in a hurry.
“Ah! Madam. Haha, I was just admiring the scenery outside for a moment. The wind was chilly, so I guess I left the window open for no reason. Let’s go in.”
When I felt ridiculous for calling the hot wind of early summer chilly.
The eyes of the beloved wife were already filled with the children outside.
“You again…”
Pain flashing through his big eyes.
Those eyes pierced his heart even deeper.
So I hurriedly took the lead before she could finish speaking.
“No, I was just admiring the scenery outside. Don’t think too much. Let’s go in.”
It was a pain that originated from me, but it was as if I was experiencing it again.
He hurriedly turns around, hiding his darkened expression, but then comes a surprise.
A delicate hand hugged his chest from behind.
“…Honey. I’m really happy to meet you. You know that, right?”
Feeling overwhelmed, I raised my head for a moment and looked at the ceiling.
“Me too… same.”
Because of that, the answer was a little late, but his words were filled with sincerity.
“So don’t be too hurt. We… are together.”
I was so thankful for those words, but I couldn’t see her face any longer.
Perhaps because I got older, the tears, which had become more frequent, seemed like they would flow again.
All she could do was continue stroking the small, soft hand that was hugging her chest and staring at the ceiling.
Felix Esperanza.
A sorrow built up in his heart as he was praised as the best swordsman in the kingdom.
It started with an unexpected injury suffered when I was young.
During the battle for his country, he accidentally injured his leg. That created a fatal flaw as a man.
But when I was younger, I didn’t mind that.
It was an injury sustained while living the life I wanted to live and doing what I wanted to do.
‘The driver was injured while doing his duty. It’s just an honorable injury.’
It wasn’t an area to be proud of, but it wasn’t something to be ashamed of either.
It’s just a shame. That’s what I thought.
However, as time passed and I got older, I began to feel the regret deeply engraved in my heart.
‘I have to leave behind descendants…’
When he turned 50 and was recognized as the strongest man in the kingdom and began to gain the greatest reputation, a thought suddenly occurred to him.
What would be the point of turning a count into a duke and spreading its fame throughout the country?
Since there were no descendants to succeed him, everything felt in vain.
It’s a shame that I didn’t focus on training when I was younger.
It was around that time that I recognized it as complete pain.
It was then that I met my current wife.
At first, it was an encounter I thought was sympathy.
All I wanted to do was find some light in the eyes of a girl in her prime as she was dying.
Felix didn’t even recognize it as love.
However, she was very grateful and went beyond that to actively express her love.
Because it was burdensome, he even spoke about his weaknesses without hesitation.
– …How painful must it have been?
Seeing her cry even more painfully on behalf of his own pain, I felt like the resentment in my heart that I thought was only regret was washed away.
Only then did I know love and at the same time recognize pain.
– If it is okay with you, please allow me to serve you by your side. I will repay your kindness for the rest of my life.
A person who deserves too much. I thought it was too much love.
It eventually led to a marriage contract despite the opposition of his vassals.
Ten years have already passed since I was with my wife.
Although that period was certainly happy, the pain in my heart did not completely disappear.
No, because everything was good, I couldn’t help but be conscious of that one regret.
That’s why sometimes I make such foolish mistakes.
“It’s a risk. I’ll come after work, ma’am. I’ll be a little late.”
“…Are you sure you’re okay?”
“Of course. Who am I? Don’t worry.”
Felix was about to turn 70 the day after tomorrow, but he was beating his chest like a young kid and showing off his energy.
Because that was a hundred times better than crying in front of your wife.
* * *
“…This concludes the regular report.”
“Good job.”
Even though the periodic report on the territory was over, the adjutant did not take any steps.
I’m sure he has something else to say to himself.
“Lewis. If you want to say something, do it quickly.”
“Your Excellency. Well… that’s the story again…”
Duke Felix’s brow furrowed at the words the adjutant hesitated to say.
“Are you talking about adoption again?”
“…The vassals are urging me hard.”
“They seem to want me to die quickly.”
“Is that possible? They are just worried about the future of their family.”
“Huh. I don’t want to hear it! How many times do I have to tell you this? By the time I die, the collateral children they’re talking about may already be looking at their grandchildren. But let’s decide the succession in advance?”
He was already approaching his 70s.
However, the Duke, who is said to be the strongest Auror user in the kingdom, looked like he was in his 40s.
So this threat wasn’t entirely wrong, but no matter how much an Auror user he was, his youth couldn’t be infinite.
Unless they became the legendary Auror Master, it was common for Auror users to grow old at some point and end their lives.
The vassals who knew this could not help but feel anxious.
However, it was impossible to say, ‘I don’t know when you will die,’ so Lewis had no choice but to keep quiet again.
In fact, Felix’s mind wasn’t at peace when he saw his adjutant like that.
Because he was aware that he was being unreasonable.
‘But not yet.’
The duke felt that adopting a child was like declaring that he was completely giving up the lingering attachment deep in his heart.
Even though I knew there was no way, I really didn’t want to do it.
‘Not yet…’
Even if it seems stupid. Even if it’s stupid.
“By the way, Duke. I’m saying this with a bit of caution.”
“What else?”
“Recently, a fairly magical medicine that has gained a bit of fame has appeared in the capital.”
“…medicine?”
“That’s it… it’s called Imporic. It’s a medicine, and it’s a very good medicine for men…”
The adjutant narrowed his eyes and began the story, prepared to be scolded by his superior.
“…Is that so?” However, contrary to his expectations,
the superior’s reaction was much calmer.
Lewis, who gained courage, quickly continued with the most important information he knew: “They say it’s a great medicine
that even heals the physical wounds there!
”
It is rumored to be effective.”
“Huh. “Heh heh.”
Looking at the adjutant who lowered his head, Felix let out a hollow laugh.
Why couldn’t he understand that the adjutant’s words were spoken with sincerity?
But he had already heard the rumor. Even himself…
‘I’ve already tried it.’
As the memory of last night came to mind, my face heated up.
Just like I did yesterday evening, I saw the face of my wife crying as she watched the children outside the window as the sunset.
And at that moment, my long-standing discipline collapsed.
Emotions overtook reason and gave way to impulses. A theft committed by an enemy.
A shameful act he had never done in his life. The two Imporic pills he brought were already in his stomach.
But…
no miracle happened.
“Lewis. Try to filter out rumors appropriately. “Can you solve something that even an Auror couldn’t do with that kind of medicine?”
One foolish act of putting that vain expectation into practice was enough.
“…I’m sorry.”
The day’s work seemed to end with such an absurd incident.
“Your Excellency. A visitor from outside…”
Until a knight delivered some embarrassing news.
