Chapter 8: Encounter with Father – A Second Cry at Birth

The young man, supported on both sides by his two wives, wore blood-stained clothes that did not match his unscathed body. His face was utterly exhausted.

He had the same tear mole in the same place as me, and a single stubborn cowlick standing upright on his crown. He was… no, Father was defeated by the Dragon God Orsted.

The Dragon God Orsted was such a monstrous being that even the Sword God himself openly admitted that, compared to him, he was nothing but trash. He wielded countless spells Father had never even seen before.

Mother had yet to surpass Sword King Ghislaine within the Sword God Style, and Father had spent the last five years simply steadying himself as the head of the family. It was only natural, then, that things ended this way. The very fact that Father returned home alive, receiving treatment, meant only one thing—

"Rudeus has sworn allegiance to Orsted…"

I had already steeled myself for this. From what the Sword God and the others had said, Orsted was a long-lived being—in other words, a god by birth, someone who had spent countless ages honing nothing but his craft of battle.

That Father, still not even twenty years of age, could fight such a man—one dangerous enough to kill his opponents mid-conversation—and yet be deemed worthy enough to serve as his subordinate… that alone proved the worth of Father’s five years of training.

Then, my path was clear. Whether I gained strength to one day kill Orsted, or prospered beneath the banner of the Dragon God, all I had to do now was cherish my family—who had returned alive from a place even the War God himself had abandoned as hopeless.

"Lady Sylphiette, thank you for bringing Father back."

"No… I’m the one who should apologize. I let Rudy go to such a dangerous place all alone… I’m sorry, Edith."

"Lady Roxy, please rest for now. Does it trouble your stomach at all?"

"…So you noticed? I’ll be fine with just this much. Touch it later, will you? This child surely wants to greet you too."

"Ghislaine, as always, thank you."

"Mm."

I did not call out to Mother. She was cursing her own weakness for failing to defeat the Dragon God, and her mistake of forcing Father to fight alone. I had no words for her now—none I should speak. The only one who could save her… was Father.

"Father…"

"Edith… is that you…?"

He looked far gentler than I had imagined. Of course, he was a magician—scholarly at heart, not a warrior.

How did I look in his eyes? Though I had vowed to take responsibility and acted like family without hesitation, to Father I might only be a bitter reminder of broken loyalty, a living embodiment of betrayal.

I swallowed down the saliva rising unconsciously in my throat, my body stiff. And then—Father, with tears in his eyes, wrapped his arms around me.

"Edith… Edith… forgive me… for being such a pitiful Papa… for not noticing, for not coming to see you… always, always… forgive me…"

────── I know this.

This warmth of arms that hold me gently, protectively, as if both seeking assurance and quivering in fear—I know it.

So it was with my father in my previous life. He rarely spoke to me; when I was healthy, he only made me swing a bamboo sword, and when I was bedridden, he hardly visited at all.

But that did not mean he lacked love. While supporting the household as its head, he had always searched for a way to cure my illness—I knew that much.

On the last day I saw him, he had touched me as if I were something fragile, stroking me hesitantly as I drifted in and out of consciousness. With trembling hands and voice, he spoke to me: "I’m sorry I couldn’t cure you."

"I’m so glad… so glad you’re safe…! I’m so glad to see you again… I always, always… wanted to see you, Father…!"

It was as though a taut thread inside me finally snapped. All this time, I had wondered whether I should have been born at all.

I had done nothing to repay the kindness of my parents in my previous life, and even now I was nothing but a burden. I had never been certain I could truly be accepted.

But now… it felt as though someone was telling me, It’s okay now. And at last, from the bottom of my heart—I was able to cry.

The next morning…

"Rise and shine, Edith-chan! It’s morning, time to get up~!"

"…………"

I was being woken by Father, my eyes dead.

He was a man who expressed his love without restraint. Truly honest, so honest that he had gone well past doting and into smothering—frankly, unbearably so.

He fussed over me with relentless persistence, as if trying to make up for the four years of absence, not letting me go until Lady Lucy herself started fussing.

Ghislaine, saying her job had only been to escort us safely home, quickly found another inn. Surely it was out of consideration for us—but I wanted her to return as soon as possible.

Mother was still being lectured since last night by Mother Sylphy and Mother Roxy. If she was to continue as part of this family, she must never oppose those two. I prayed that someday, instead of mere roasted monster meat, I would be able to taste proper home cooking made by Mother’s own hands.

"Father, out so early in the morning—where to?"

"Ah, Norn… I’m going to train with my blonde-haired little sister in swordsmanship."

"Please let me join!"

"You too, Edith…? But you’re only four years old…"

"I’ve already been certified in the beginner levels of both the Sword God and Water God styles. I can handle sparring practice!"

"Already!? You really are Eris’s child… All right, I’ll ask Norn."

While Father went to call Sister Norn, I too began preparing for training. Before long, Ghislaine would leave on her journey to avenge Grandfather and the others. There would be few chances left to train under her.

It had already been decided. Since Mother had abandoned the name of Boreas Greyrat and chosen to live as Father’s wife, there could be no path for us to live alongside Ghislaine.

I pulled my hat down low to hide my loneliness, and stepped out into the yard.