Chapter 6: The Decisive Battle Begins

"…May the great flame’s blessing be upon your wish. Grant me the searing heat of the brave flame, here and now —『Fireball』!"

────As expected, nothing happens. Ghislaine said that if I studied under Father, it would be resolved, but it’s likely I just don’t have any talent for magic. It’s frustrating — being unable to master even simple spells that could replace hours of menial work.

Still, the training isn’t entirely useless. According to Ghislaine, my mana capacity — visible to her demon eye — has increased. Thanks to the chants, my tongue moves more smoothly now too. I’ve also learned enough reading and writing to handle shopping without trouble, and for that, I owe Ghislaine more gratitude than I can express.

My sword training has gone well too. Though I lacked talent in the North God Style, I’ve progressed steadily enough to earn beginner certifications in both the Sword God Style and the Water God Style. Reaching intermediate rank would make me the equivalent of a skilled swordsman, so I suppose my swordsmanship talent comes from Mother’s side.

And now, after overcoming her final match against Lady Nina, Mother has been officially recognized as a Sword King. At last, we can leave this sacred land of swords and set off to reunite with Father.

Sharia, where Father lives, is about a month’s journey from here — long enough to be called a proper trip. After seeing off Ghislaine, who went to prepare our horses, I stood beside Mother as we packed for the road.

We’ll also be traveling partway with the Water God himself — who was originally called here to teach Mother how to counter the Sword God Style — and his granddaughter, Lady Isolte, who will leave the Holy Land of Swords alongside us.

"Hey, Edith… this isn’t weird, right?"

"It’s fine, Mother. No matter how you look at it, you appear to be a proper high disciple of the Sword God Style."

"How many times are you going to ask the same thing, Eris? Edith’s getting tired, you know."

Lady Nina cut in, giving me a chance to sigh and take a few steps back. Truthfully, I’ve been asked this over and over, but if I’m honest, that outfit Mother’s wearing — showing bare legs and all — is far too shameless for reuniting with Father after years apart. (Though among the Matralo tribe, especially in the Sword God Style, it’s considered perfectly normal.)

Exhausted from entertaining Mother, who’s overly excited about seeing Father again, I kept my distance and waited for Ghislaine, while Nina and Mother began another heated argument.

(They say “three women make a crowd,” but apparently just two are enough to make a racket… ah, and there goes Mother, throwing another punch.)

Soon enough, Ghislaine returned, leading our horses, accompanied by the Water God and Lady Isolte.

"Sorry to keep you waiting. Another fight again?"

"Nina started it!"

"Good grief… and Gal’s boy isn’t even here to see you off?"

Of course, the Sword God himself isn’t present. I wanted to say my goodbyes, but after drinking heavily last night, he’s been suffering from a terrible hangover. If I went now, I’d probably just get cut down for my trouble.

So Mother, Lady Nina, and Lady Isolte spent some time talking, savoring their final moments together. Since Lady Nina and I had already exchanged farewells, I had no plans to intrude.

Despite their entirely different styles and personalities, the three of them had trained together, sharpened their swords, and shared countless days — so I suppose there are many unspoken feelings between them.

"Eris, it’s time to go."

"Got it!"

With their talk finished, Mother dashed toward me, grabbed me by the scruff, and leapt onto the horse in one motion. She mounted so roughly that the horse shivered in protest, but after a light smack on the neck from Mother, even the wildest beast couldn’t do anything but obey.

"Everyone… take care."

Lady Nina’s eyes were brimming with tears. She’s been with Mother since before I was even born. She does seem to have someone special here, but seeing her stay behind alone to send us off makes me want to bring her along too.

Of course, I don’t say something so thoughtless aloud. Lady Nina has chosen her own path — to surpass her father, the Sword God himself.

Drawing strength from her training days with Mother, she’s stepping forward toward that monumental goal. This isn’t a farewell to grieve over, nor a goodbye to lament.

The three exchanged heartfelt gazes, full of unspoken emotions…

"’Scuse me! Postal delivery here, need a signature!"

…Who is this tactless intruder, completely ruining the moment? We all turned toward the man, our eyes skeptical. Without caring for the mood at all, he walked straight up to Mother, handing her a letter addressed to the name Boreas Greyrat.

"This is from Lord Rudeus Greyrat."

"Rudeus!"

"Father!"

It seemed to be a letter from Father. The man, having completed his delivery, cheerfully walked away as Mother prepared to read it aloud from horseback.

…Except, apparently, Mother’s forgotten how to read over the past five years.

I was exasperated, but Lady Nina couldn’t read either, so the letter was eventually passed to Lady Isolte.

As Lady Isolte read, her face grew increasingly stern, until she finally raised her voice, brimming with anger.

"…What is wrong with this man!?"

"W-What? What’s written in it?"

"Lady Eris, Edith-chan… You’ve been working so hard all this time… for this kind of person? Ah, you poor souls… Blessed Milis, grant them salvation… Listen, I won’t mince words. The two of you should not go to Sharia. Come with us to Asura instead. You deserve better than to be deceived by such a man. For Edith-chan’s sake, you should cut ties with this father altogether!"

"Just shut up and tell me what it says already! Or I’ll slice you in half!"

"…Understood. Then I’ll read it out loud. It says this—"

Angered by Lady Isolte’s unsolicited pity and outrageous claims, Mother snapped at her, forcing her to read the letter aloud despite her own rising fury.

Rudeus' Letter

『To Lady Eris,

This is Rudeus Greyrat.

It has already been five years since we parted ways.

I wonder… do you still remember me?

I know I will never forget.

That first night we spent together… I swore in my heart that I would spend the rest of my life with you.

But when I awoke the next morning, you were gone.

The sense of loss and emptiness I felt that day cast a deep shadow over my heart.

The next three years… were painful, lonely, and fleeting.

Of course, I bear you no grudge for that now. But I hope you can understand just how deeply I fell into despair back then.

The reason I’ve taken up my pen today… is because someone told me about your feelings and your current situation.

I had believed all this time that you’d abandoned me and gone off on your own journey.

But this person told me I was wrong — that your heart had always remained with me… and that, on that very night, you had conceived my child… and that you’ve been raising that child ever since.

I must confess something. I now have two wives.

Both of them saved me when I was drowning in despair after losing you.

Even if our situation was a misunderstanding… and even if we truly did have a child together… the fact remains that I fell into deep sorrow, and that these women rescued me from it.

However… if your feelings truly remain the same as before…

If you wish to marry me and live together with me…

Then I am ready to accept you.

But… you must understand, Eris… I will not part with my current wives. That means… you would become my third wife.

If that is unacceptable, if it’s something you can never forgive, then I am prepared to take your blows without resistance.

Strike me as much as you wish — I won’t fight back, not unless you aim to kill me.

Still… if possible, I don’t want to fight with you.

And the child bears no blame for any of this. I intend to take responsibility for them, no matter what happens between us. Even if you cannot forgive me… please, at least allow me to meet them, even just once.

Even if we cannot become a family, I want us to cooperate, for the sake of that child’s happiness.

That is all.

— Rudeus Greyrat』

We were speechless. Mother, Ghislaine, and I tilted our heads back, staring at the sky in stunned silence.

The argument between Lady Nina and Lady Isolte about the contents of the letter didn’t even register in my ears.

What… what is this? This letter… what is even going on? None of this… none of this makes sense.

"Enough already, both of you! Edith is listening too!"

Ghislaine, regaining her composure first, barked sharply, silencing the heated quarrel and dragging my drifting thoughts back down from the clouds.

"Father… Father didn’t even know… I’d been born…"

While Lady Nina and Lady Isolte rushed to comfort me, pale-faced and flustered, I forced my racing mind to work through the situation based on the letter’s contents… and arrived at a terrible, unavoidable conclusion.

"When Father and Mother separated… Father was working as a guard, serving at Mother’s household. If Mother disappeared one day with Ghislaine — the Sword King Ghislaine — and never sent even a single letter… wouldn’t he think he’d been cast aside once he was no longer needed?"

"…………!!"

At that, silence fell over everyone — even Lady Isolte.

Of course Father would think that way. He’d promised his first night to her, only for Mother to vanish, taking Ghislaine with her without explanation, without leaving a trace, without a word.

How could anyone believe they were still loved after that? How could anyone imagine they’d been training for her sake all along?

(This… this is impossible. For Father, who spent three years traveling with Mother, holding back his feelings and staying true to their promise despite everything… what Mother did must have felt like trampling on his devotion — like the deepest betrayal.)

"…Ah! A-Ah!! There’s another letter! There’s another letter inside the envelope!"

Desperate to change the subject, Lady Isolte suddenly seized on the second sheet that had slipped from the envelope and waved it wildly, only to fall silent again as she read its contents.

『P.S.

I am about to challenge Dragon God Orsted to battle.

I don’t know if I will survive.

By the time you receive this letter, I may already be dead.

If I manage to return alive… let’s continue this conversation then.』

This time, everyone froze.

Everyone… except Mother and me.

Inside us burned something fierce, something unyielding.

That’s right… what are we despairing over? Father said he would take responsibility. It’s true there were misunderstandings, that we hurt each other without meaning to.

But Father isn’t blaming Mother. He isn’t blaming me. He’s choosing instead to face the one who caused our separation — Dragon God Orsted — and strike him down.

There could be no falsehood in Father’s words.

"Let’s hurry, Mother. If we delay, we’ll miss the battle."

"Yes… you’re right! Let’s go, Edith! Ghislaine!"

No more hesitation. No more doubts.

Defeat Dragon God Orsted. Clear up these five years of pain and distance. Reunite with Father.

We can do this.

Leaving the Water God and Lady Isolte behind, we spurred our horses forward, racing straight toward Sharia… where Father awaited.