Chapter 130: Summer Vacation (2)

Dale and the others arrived at a wide boulevard with gray buildings lined up in perfect rows, as if measured with a ruler.

Iris’s eyes sparkled with curiosity as she looked around. “So, this is the Republic.”

As expected of the so-called nation of technology, every building here was taller and straighter than those of the Holy Empire.

Though, everything looks a little too similar, almost sterile, Iris said inside.

Suppressing the thought, she trotted after Dale. She drew so close to him that their shoulders nearly touched and asked, “Dale, did you grow up in a place like this?”

He shook his head softly. “No. The place I lived was much more rural.”

Truthfully, it had been so long that he could hardly remember his orphanage days.

“Really?” Iris replied.

“Yeah. There wasn’t even a warp portal. Getting there from here would take several days.”

“Mm, what a shame.”

“What is?”

Her eyes gleamed mischievously as she smiled. “Hehe. I thought maybe if we went to your orphanage, we could find some pictures of little Dale.”

“And what would you even do with pictures like that?”

“Well… oh, come on! How could you expect me to say something so embarrassing out loud?”

“Right.”

Wondering what exactly she had been planning, he shot her a wary look, but Iris only smiled sweetly.

Sighing, Dale turned his head toward Berald. “Your home is nearby?”

“No, our house is on the outskirts. We’ll need to take a train.”

“Then we should head for the station first.”

“Heh. Follow me.” Berald strode ahead toward the train station.

Once they boarded the train and left the city, the endless gray forest of buildings gradually gave way to open fields. About an hour later, the train pulled into a quiet rural station.

“This is our stop,” Berald said.

As the rest of the group followed Berald outside, what greeted them was a scenery so different it was hard to believe this was the same country they had first seen.

Surprised at the change in scenery, Iris said, “Just a little beyond the city, and it already feels so different.”

“Heh. Isn’t it the same in the Holy Empire or the Empire?” Berald asked.

“I suppose you’re right.”

Leading the way, he said, “Come. It isn’t far from here.”

The others walked the quiet country road behind Berald and soon came upon a large estate.

Pointing at the estate, Berald said, “This is my home.”

Even though it was only a branch residence, the Ryu family mansion was on a completely different scale compared to the other houses nearby.

Berald shouted in a booming voice, “I’m home!”

A warm-faced middle-aged woman hurried out. “Oh my, Young Master Berald, you’ve returned?”

“Ahem! Didn’t I tell you not to call me ‘Young Master’?”

“Hehe, that’s impossible. And those behind you, are they your friends?”

“That’s right.”

The woman turned to them and gave a polite bow. “Welcome, Heroes. My name is Anna. I manage the household here.”

Dale and Iris introduced themselves too.

“I’m Dale.”

“I’m Iris.”

Then they followed Anna into the reception room. The mansion was so quiet and empty, with not a single servant in sight, that it almost felt desolate.

“Please wait here for a moment. I’ll bring refreshments,” Anna said.

“No. Before that, we’ll go see my father.”

Anna’s expression darkened. “See Master?”

Berald gave a bitter smile and nodded.

With a lowered head, Anna stepped back. “Master is in his room upstairs.”

Berald ascended the stairs with heavy steps and said, “Follow me.”

He walked down a long corridor and stopped at the last door, eyes shut tight. Drawing a steadying breath, he slowly knocked.

A carefree voice called from inside. But it wasn’t a child’s voice; it was a man’s, low and heavy. “Mmm? Is it already mealtime?”

Berald said, “I’m coming in.”

When the door opened, a large man, nearly Berald’s size, sprang up from the bed. The moment he saw Berald, his face lit up with a radiant smile, and he rushed over. “Oh? Wow! It’s you, Big Brother!”

With a bright, innocent grin, the middle-aged man looked at Berald. “Hehe! It’s been so long! How have you been?”

Berald bit his lip, his fists clenched so tightly his knuckles whitened. “Father…”

Tilting his head, the man chewed on his finger like a child. “Hm? I’m not your father. My name’s Gilbert.”

Berald lowered his gaze, as if forcing down a swell of emotions. His voice trembled when he spoke again. “Yes. Gilbert.”

“Yeah! I’m Gilbert! Nice to meet you! Uuuh, what was your name again, Big Brother?”

Berald repeated an introduction he had likely given countless times before. “I’m… Berald. Berald Ryu.”

“Ah, that’s right! Berald! You told me before, but I forgot. Hehe.”

Berald gently placed a hand on Gilbert’s shoulder. “It’s fine.”

But his hand trembled faintly. “I’ll remind you again, as many times as it takes.”

Gilbert nodded happily, still smiling like a child. “Hehe

! Big Brother, you’re so kind!”

“Are you feeling well? Does anything hurt?” Berald asked.

Gilbert pointed to the crown of his head, his face drooping. “Mm. Sometimes, here. It feels like someone’s poking me with needles.”

“Does it hurt now?”

He smiled at Berald. “No, not now. Maybe because I met you.”

Berald’s eyes quivered faintly.

Gilbert’s gaze turned to Iris and Dale, who were still standing just outside the doorway. “But hey, Big Brother, who are those people behind you?”

We were at a loss for words, glancing at each other uncertainly, not knowing how to respond.

Berald explained, “Didn’t you say your head hurts from time to time? These are doctors who came to help treat you.”

Gilbert’s face went pale, and he stumbled back. “D-Doctors? I-I don’t like doctors. They always make me drink those nasty medicines!”

“This time will be different, so don’t worry.”

“Really?”

Berald gave him a reassuring smile. “I promise you on my name.”

Gilbert, who had backed away, hesitated for a moment before slowly shuffling closer. “Mm. Okay. Ah, but what was your name again, Big Brother?”

“It’s Berald.”

“Ah, right! Hehe, I forgot again already.” Gilbert then turned toward Dale. “Then what should I do, Doctor Big Brother?”

“For now, just lie down on the bed,” Dale replied.

“Okay!” Gilbert scampered to the bed, threw the blanket over himself, and lay down. “Ah! Now that I’m lying down, I suddenly feel sleepy.”

Not even ten seconds passed before his drowsy murmurs gave way to gentle snores.

***

Once Berald confirmed his father was asleep, he let out a long sigh and turned to us. “This… this is the state my father is in.”

Iris looked at him with sorrowful eyes. “Berald, I had heard about it, but I didn’t realize it was this severe.”

“You must have been carrying a heavy burden,” Yuren said.

Yuren and Camilla also gazed at Gilbert, who had dozed off on the bed, with somber expressions.

Iris crouched by the bed and gently laid her hand on Gilbert’s forehead. “I’ll examine him more closely.”

A soft white glow radiated from her palm, seeping into his skin. Her once-blue eyes shimmered and shifted into a prism of rainbow hues. After a short while, she withdrew her hand, wiping the sweat from her brow, her breathing ragged.

Visibly tense, Berald asked, “Well? How is Father?”

“His soul stigmata itself has been directly damaged.”

“His soul stigmata?”

“Yes. The soul stigmata bestowed by the Seven Gods don’t just contain mana; they also hold fragments of one’s spirit and mind. Right now, his soul stigmata has been wounded.”

Berald’s face hardened. “T-then, does that mean there’s no way to heal him?”

Iris pulled her hand away from Gilbert’s forehead and quietly answered, “With only my power, it’s not possible.”

A low groan escaped Berald’s lips. “Ah!”

However, she then said, “But.”

“But?”

“If we had an offering, treatment might be possible,” she added.

“An offering?” Berald asked.

I explained, “She means a mana stone or a magic device. Divine power can be amplified by sacrificing an offering.”

“That’s right. With the right offering, I could cast a much stronger healing spell,” Iris said.

“S-so you’re saying, if we get a mana stone, Father can be cured?”

“I can’t guarantee success, only that it’s worth attempting. And besides…” Iris’s expression darkened. “It would have to be at least a high-grade mana stone.”

Another heavy sigh slipped from Berald. Unlike mid- or low-grade stones, which could be mass-produced, high-grade mana stones could be obtained only by hunting at least eight-eyed demonic monsters or above.

Berald pressed his hand to his forehead, exhaling heavily. “A high-grade magic stone!”

Hunting an eight-eyed demonic monster was no easy feat, and even then, there was no certainty that a mana stone would drop. Purchasing one wasn’t much of an option either, since each cost several million gold. The allowance sent from the main family was nowhere near enough.

At that moment, a faint chuckle escaped my lips. “Hah!”

Berald looked at me, wondering why I did that. “Brother?”

“I didn’t think things would tie together like this,” I said.

Berald tilted his head in confusion. “What do you mean?”

I gave him a sharp grin. “Remember how I suggested we explore some ruins over summer break?”

“Yes, but…”

“That’s where we’ll find one. A high-grade mana stone,” I replied.

Berald’s eyes widened in shock.

***

Thus, the decision was made: we would embark on a ruin expedition in search of a high-grade mana stone. But then, another problem arose.

Yurina asked, “Hm. You said the ruins are in the Iron Canyon, right?”

“Yeah.”

Yurina frowned, troubled. “There’s no warp portal that goes anywhere near there. And with no public transport either, we would at least need a magi-car. I don’t have a magi-car license. Dale, do you?”

“No.”

I knew how to drive one, but I had never gotten a license.

Yurina turned to Iris and Camilla. “What about you two?”

“I don’t have a license yet either.”

“Neither do I.”

Yurina directed the question to Berald. “Ugh, Berald, you?”

“Same here.”

Yurina sighed deeply. None of us had licenses. In fact, we didn’t even own a magi-car.

She said, “So, we’ll have to walk there? That’s going to be a long, long trip.”

“I’ve already thought of something,” I said.

“Something? What do you mean?”

I smirked and powered on my Hero Watch. “Wait until tomorrow. You’ll see.”

Sure enough, the next morning, the deep rumble of an engine echoed in front of the mansion. A sleek black magi-car rolled up, its door swinging open. Out stepped a blond, handsome man in sunglasses.

Spotting me, Jules waved with a dazzling smile. “Yo, Dale! Just like you asked, I brought the magi-car!”

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