Chapter 5: Edith Greyrat, the Little Girl

─── Ghislaine’s POV ───

The first time I laid eyes on Edith, I was convinced the young mistress had been cursed.

Ever since the day my lady, Eris, entered Rudeus’s bed and solidified her resolve to set out on her journey, I had guarded her with both my sword and my nose, ensuring that no one laid a finger on her. Even from the infant cradled in my arms, I could unmistakably smell both Eris and Rudeus’s scents.

And yet, Edith was born with green hair—so unlike either of them—that I nearly committed the folly of hiding her from the young mistress altogether.

In the end, the young mistress, having spent three years traveling with a green-haired member of the Sperd tribe after the teleportation disaster, wasn’t particularly concerned. She showered Edith with love and entrusted me with caring for her during training, since she couldn’t afford a wet nurse. Thus, my initial panic subsided… but that was only the beginning of the true ordeal.

During that first year, having zero experience with childcare, I repeatedly put Edith in danger. Countless times, I barged into my master’s quarters or even roused the Sword Emperor himself in the middle of the night, begging for help. (Honestly, they were the only ones who had the leeway to assist, even in the Holy Land of Swords, considering Edith’s green hair.) Of course, every time, I got an earful for my troubles.

Once Edith’s eyes opened clearly and her neck grew steady, she began throwing tantrums of epic proportions. Whatever fears plagued her, she would scream and thrash violently whenever she saw us—or even anything around her. Those were long, exhausting days.

By the time she reached two and a half, Edith finally calmed down. Despite her green hair, she bore the hallmark traits of both her parents: the antenna-like hair from Zenith’s side, the distinctive beauty mark beneath her left eye inherited from Paul, sharp, determined eyes, and a strong, unyielding expression. She had grown into a child who could unmistakably be called Eris and Rudeus’s daughter.

She showed a natural interest in the sword, running about restlessly and soaking up words at a relentless pace—just like them both. Foolishly, I let my guard down, thinking little of her green hair, and allowed her to wander outside freely. It was my negligence that led to Edith suffering a deep emotional wound.

After that, she became utterly dejected. Smiles became rare, and she began referring to herself as “cursed” or a “failed birth,” constantly apologizing for merely existing.

I can’t even count the number of times I almost wrote to Rudeus, begging for his help. Watching Edith broke me, and for the first time, I truly understood just how remarkable Rudeus had been, raising his childhood friend—also his magic apprentice—and his two younger sisters all at once.

Even so, Edith was strong. Deep down, her spirit had an iron core. She listened to her mother’s stories intently, and though she longed to meet her father, she never complained, never got angry. Instead, she worked tirelessly, throwing herself into training to grow stronger.

Around that time, influenced by the Water God’s daughter and Nina, the young mistress gradually began to reclaim her femininity. Because Edith was Eris’s daughter, both my master and the Water God took an interest in her and began to look after her as well.

Edith’s eyesight is extraordinary. At her age, to not only perceive the strength of my master and the Water God but also neither cower nor cry in fear, instead offering them proper respect—that’s nothing short of a gift from the gods.

According to my master, the ability to understand rationality and act accordingly is one of the greatest natural talents for those of the Sword God style.

『That kid’s got talent and good eyes, but not a damn scrap of selfishness in her. Send her to the Water God to be drilled hard—make her learn patience the brutal way. If she can keep bottling it all up without lashing out, one day she’ll explode on her own. When that day comes, I’ll hammer the Sword God style’s logic into her myself.』

『This one’s got an incredible eye for people. For a three-year-old, her patience is unbelievable. She’s definitely suited for the Water God style. Once she learns proper techniques for deflecting attacks, she’ll transform into something extraordinary.』

『That child is far too straightforward, Ghislaine-dono. And with such a strong attachment to her sword, she’ll never take to eccentric techniques like mine. Fortunately, there’s no better place than here to find excellent teachers. Let her master the righteous path of the blade.』

Sword God, my master. Water God, Reida. North Emperor, Aubert.
Each of these three unparalleled experts reached different conclusions, but on one point they agreed unanimously: Edith’s talent was undeniable.

Perhaps it helped that she already held a Sword God Style Beginner’s Certificate, but after apprenticing under the Water God, she earned her Water God Style Beginner’s Certificate in just a single month.

Magic was the only area where her progress remained sluggish, but I wasn’t worried. Soon enough, the young mistress’s training would end, and Edith would finally meet Rudeus. And besides, thanks to her daily chanting practice, her previously childish lisp had all but disappeared. It hadn’t been a waste.

"Your daughter is growing splendidly, Rudeus."

Philip-sama and Hilda-sama… I couldn’t save them.
Sauros-sama… I lacked the strength to protect him, the land, or the house.

But still—I have the young mistress.
I have Edith, the daughter of Eris and Rudeus.
And I can stand here, watching her grow strong with my own eyes.

I’ve been rewarded enough. Now, all that remains… is to deliver Edith and the young mistress safely to Rudeus.

"And once I’ve fulfilled that duty… every last one of Sauros-sama’s killers—every suspicious bastard—I’ll slaughter them all."

While the rabid hound sharpens her fangs,
the parent cat keeps hers hidden.

So that untempered killing intent never harms the children she must protect.
So that her master’s killers never escape her vengeance.
So that when the day for revenge finally comes,
no enemy’s blade ever reaches those two little ones.