Chapter : 149

“You have about a month of vacation left, how about taking a break?”

I was having tea time with my father, who had just returned from the Loren fief.

At the unexpected suggestion, tea dribbled from my mouth.

“A… a break?”

What on earth is that? I looked at my father with an expression as if I had heard the most bizarre thing in the world.

My father was looking at me with a face that said, ‘How on earth did my son become a workaholic?’

I awkwardly wiped the tea from my lips and forced a laugh.

“The problem hasn’t been solved yet, is it okay for me to leave?”

“Do you perhaps not trust your father that much?”

“Of course not!”

In this harsh world, if I couldn’t trust my father, I really wouldn’t have anyone else to… well, that’s not entirely true.

My other friends and seniors might be upset if they knew, but my trust in my father, ‘Evan Lisitoel,’ was something that lay deeper.

The foundation of the existence that is Theo Lisitoel, perhaps.

In the first place, if I hadn’t been able to trust my father, would this life have even been possible?

That’s how much weight trusting my father holds for me.

“Your practical training is over, and your report card will arrive sometime next week.

The moment the letter arrives, you won’t be able to rest with a peaceful mind.”

Actually, thinking about the report card arriving is making me feel a little anxious and restless, you know?

But it seemed like my father wouldn’t understand even if I argued that. It was clear that my father must have attended the Academy with the mindset of ‘Is there anyone who can get the top spot other than me?’.

“It’s better to play, even if you’re a little anxious before the report card arrives.”

“It’s even more worrying when you say that, Father.”

Since my father is a professor, did I really mess up? I started to get anxious.

As my leg trembled, my father spoke up.

“The Lisitoel family owns a beach house.”

“A… a beach house?!”

Family property! That means it’s my future property!!

My eyes widened at the incredible news. R-right… after all, we’re a count family, so it wouldn’t be strange to own a beach house.

But, a villa, a villa!! It was a word too exciting for the heart of a common citizen who had not even achieved the dream of owning his own home.

Is this the true meaning of a golden spoon!

“Is it burdensome?”

“No! I’m so happy!!”

My own villa, what other word in this world could be as exciting as that!!

Huff, huff— After taking a few deep breaths, I exclaimed to my father.

“If Father really must see me rest, then as a son, I must follow my father’s will!”

“There’s really no need to go that far—”

“Then I’ll be on my way!”

Fearing he might change his mind, I bowed and then quickly exited the room as if escaping.

“Wait for me, villa!”

I’m coming!!

* * *

“Really…”

How could he resemble his mother, whom he had never even met, so much?

His wife, too, would quickly change her tune when she sensed something was amiss.

However, the slight difference from Theo was that Evan didn’t just let it slide, and then his wife would always act cute, begging him to just let it go.

She was a person for whom pouring all the love in the world would not be enough.

She was the reason for Evan, who had simply been living because he was born, to live, and the person who created a reason for him to live.

A person who stormed into his life like a tempest, only to become quiet one day, was a little resentful.

“He is your son.”

Isn’t he lovely? He fiddled with a small pendant.

“So I wish he would cause me a little less trouble.”

He must take after you, he’s a real thunder-brat.

Evan chuckled and stood up from his seat.

Because he loved him, he had to take care of all the incidents his son seemed to attract, didn’t he?

“Really…”

It couldn’t be easy to be involved in such dangerous matters every time.

The son who had awakened after 10 years was always in the midst of danger.

“But you love him, don’t you?”

It was as if someone was asking Evan that.

A long-forgotten memory carried on the wind, or the unwavering love that still made him live as a human and a father.

“Whose son is he, of course.”

It would be impossible for him to ever hate his son, no matter what happened.

* * *

“Things turned out this way, so you’re going, right?”

“Isn’t this more of a notification?”

“Oh my, I didn’t realize you hadn’t noticed yet.”

So it really was a notification? Lerwon-sunbae’s face crumpled.

“I’m busy developing potions. You guys go on your own.”

“Sunbae, rest is important.”

“Do you think I can get proper rest when my mother is plotting something somewhere?”

That’s also true. It seems his fear of Iris is much more severe.

He’s been tormented his whole life. Honestly, if I were him, I wouldn’t be able to sleep either, anxious about what the person who tormented and tortured me my whole life was plotting.

Still, Sunbae’s face was at a point where a panda would say, ‘Hello, fellow kin.’

“Tell me honestly. You haven’t slept a wink since my father requested the potion analysis, have you?”

No answer. Right, pretending to be relaxed could only last for a moment, not forever.

“Do I seem that unreliable to you, Sunbae?”

“It’s not a matter of that…”

“Do you think I’m so weak and frail that I can’t even protect one senior?”

I had no choice but to prescribe a special remedy.

The old Lerwon might not have, but the current Sunbae would find it hard to just let this slide.

“Or are you scared of Iris?”

I used ‘Taunt’—

“That’s not it??”

Lerwon-sunbae fell for it right away.

The venom-filled Lerwon under Iris might not have, but the current Sunbae was moderately softened.

It must have been a difficult taunt for such a Sunbae to ignore. Especially if the opponent was me.

As if he realized his mistake, Sunbae slapped his forehead and let out a sigh, which made me chuckle.

“Don’t get too caught up in Iris’s affairs.”

“I know it’s to my detriment.”

Lerwon-sunbae crossed his arms and looked out the window.

What could be seen beyond the window was at most a well-kept garden and chirping birds, and fighting with those birds as if to establish a pecking order… Lou?!

Disbelieving my own eyes, I looked out the window and really saw Lou, kicking other birds and chirping away.

“Lou! Come here!”

How fortunate it is to be able to summon a contracted spirit right away.

Lou, forcibly dragged by my summons, kicks Sunbae with a loud thwack!

After taking care of the confused Lou, I immediately apologized to Sunbae.

“I’m sorry about my pet.”

“No, it’s okay, I don’t mind.”

He smiled brightly as if to say not to mind, but Lou’s footprint was clearly visible on Sunbae’s cheek.

I really can’t with this one. He’s no different from a gangster.

“Lou, why are you fighting with the birds? You’re a—”

Light spirit?

As if he had understood the words I couldn’t say in front of Sunbae, Lou plopped down on my palm and cried pitifully.

A hollow laugh escaped me at the tears that soaked my palm.

I shouldn’t let this slide so ambiguously… but seeing him cry made it difficult to scold him.

“Alright, I’m sorry for scolding you without reason.

I’ll give you some dried sweet potatoes later.”

At the promise of dried sweet potatoes, Lou finally stopped crying.

I poked Lou’s cheek a few times, then stopped, thinking he might really get angry if I continued.

Sunbae, who had been quietly observing the scene, muttered.

“Smart for a bird.”

Well, he’s not an ordinary bird, he’s a light spirit.

“Maybe it’s because you’re peculiar, but all the animals you raise are peculiar too.”

One is an ancient demon, the other is a light spirit, hehe.

Swallowing an awkward laugh, I sent Lou back after repeatedly telling him not to bully the other birds.

“Movement magic?”

“Yes.”

“I heard that small animals usually can’t withstand the spatial rifts created by movement magic.”

“Lou is fine.”

He may look shabby, but he’s a light spirit. There’s no way he can’t withstand a mere spatial rift.

Besides, that wasn’t me summoning him with spatial magic, but a process of the spirit naturally returning to its contractor.

It used a little of my mana, but considering the mana I have now, it’s almost negligible. It was about the level of mana used for a couple of basic circle magics.

Sunbae pointed out my vague explanation.

“I thought I told you quite a lot, but you still have many secrets.”

“Do you want to find out?”

“Not really.”

If we were enemies, you would have tried to find out, right?

You might have even used some rough methods.

I’m glad I’m not Lerwon’s enemy. Even though the huge time bomb that is Iris was ticking away diligently.

“Secrets are best kept by as few people as possible.”

Lerwon said with a smile.

That’s right. Secrets are secrets because few people know them, and only then do they have value as information.

“Especially if you have as many enemies as you do.”

“That’s unfair!”

It’s not like I wanted to make enemies!

I tried to express my sense of injustice, but I had to shut my mouth at the warm gazes that seemed to say, ‘Yes, that’s just like you.’

“Anyway, don’t even think about working when you go to rest.”

“Alright, alright.”

I had already spent another month on practical training, so every day was precious.

I couldn’t waste even a minute or a second. I wanted to play even a little more!

“How about inviting the people who helped you during your training to the villa?”

“Are you talking about the other seniors?”

“Yes.”

Since it’s a villa owned by a count family, it won’t be small, and it should be able to accommodate about ten people.

And since I did owe them, it wouldn’t be a bad idea to invite them to play together.

“That sounds good.”

“Then, I don’t mind either.”

His agreement was unenthusiastic. It seems he’s trying to get introduced to the mercenaries who were involved with Iris through Cecilia-sunbae or Laurel-sunbae…

“Rest comes first, not work, you know?

I couldn’t stop him since I understood his anxiety.

“Yes, I know.”

Looking at his bleakly shining eyes, it seemed he didn’t know at all.

At least he would rest where I could see him. He was a senior who made me worry in many ways.

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