[WN] Dragon Chain Ori : Volume 7 Chapter 15 [Re-Translation]

This is a re-translation.

Volume 7 Chapter 15

 

Nozomu, guided by Mena, was led to a particularly lavish door.

According to the middle-aged maid who had guided him, it was one of the guest rooms prepared in this mansion.

Nozomu himself had stayed in this mansion once before, but compared to the room he had stayed in then, the door in front of him was large and imposing.

 

"My lord, I have brought him."

 

Mena, who had guided Nozomu this far, knocked on the door.

 

"Ah, please let him in."

 

In response to the master's voice from within the room, Mena respectfully opened the door.

What jumped into the eyes of the ushered-in Nozomu was a spacious room befitting the lavish door.

But the furniture placed in the room was decorated in pale colors such as white, giving a simple impression, far removed from gaudiness or elegance.

But what caught Nozomu's eye more than anything was the figure of Victor, who was making tea by a table placed in a corner of the room.

 

"Ah, huh? Eh?"

 

"Nozomu-kun, I'm sorry, but please wait a little longer. The tea will be ready soon."

 

"Please sit on this sofa and wait."

 

Nozomu, who was given such words in a light tone, was prompted by Mena and sat down on the sofa that was in the room.

After finishing guiding Nozomu, Mena disappeared into the back of the room, and Victor, without a care for the bewildered Nozomu, continued to make tea with enjoyment.

He poured steaming hot water into the teapot and cup, then discarded it once.

He then put tea leaves into the teapot and poured hot water from a slightly high position, making a noise.

Victor was looking at the tea leaves swimming in the teapot with satisfaction.

Eventually, Victor began to pour the tea into the warmed teacup with a practiced hand.

Although Nozomu didn't know much about how to make tea, his movements seemed very refined.

By the time Victor had finished pouring the tea, Mena appeared from the back of the room with a round tray. On her tray were sweets such as cookies, which were giving off a sweet and fragrant smell.

 

"I'm sorry to have called you out of the blue. I had been wanting to have a face-to-face talk with you for a while now."

 

"N-No, on the contrary. Thank you for inviting me tonight..."

 

"As I said before, stiff greetings are unnecessary. I am in a position where I must entertain you."

 

Victor placed a cup of tea in front of Nozomu and himself, and then Mena placed a plate with tea cakes between the two.

As prompted by Victor, Nozomu took a sip of the tea.

A rich aroma spread throughout his mouth. To be honest, Nozomu felt that it was more delicious than the tea he had drunk in the salon earlier.

 

"Well, it's a secret pleasure of mine. As you can see, I pride myself on being quite skilled. Although Mena rarely lets me make tea..."

 

"For a master to make tea, leaving a maid aside, is a matter of my lord's dignity..."

 

"But in reality, the tea I make is more delicious than Mena's, isn't it?"

 

Mena's eyes narrowed at Victor's words, but he was looking at her state with amusement, suppressing his laughter.

 

"...However, it still concerns the master's dignity."

 

"Such trivial matters are not necessary this time. And besides, Nozomu-kun has helped us a great deal with the matter of the Wajiart family. It is necessary for me, the head of the family, to at least serve him tea myself, isn't it?"

 

The way he teased people with a good-natured smile was somehow reminiscent of Irisdina.

I see, so this is what she meant by his mischievousness, Nozomu somehow understood.

 

"Now then, teasing Mena is fun, but I'm afraid of what will come after, so let's end it here. The matter I want to talk about is none other than the secret pact between our Francilt family and the Wajiart family."

 

So it was about that, Nozomu straightened his posture and focused his attention on Victor's words.

 

"When I learned of the matter from my daughter's letter, I was more than surprised. I myself had not been told about the secret pact with the Wajiart family.

I wondered if it was some kind of mistake and searched through the histories of the past heads of the family, but I couldn't find anything, and it was only after I had dug up the personal belongings of my ancestors from their graves that I found out that the secret pact was true."

 

According to Victor's story, that secret pact was something that had been secretly passed down from one head of the family to the next.

However, Victor's grandfather had died in an accident before he could pass on that secret to the next generation, and so it had been lost, and the subsequent heads of the family had no way of knowing about the Wajiart family's secret pact.

In the end, it seemed he had dug up the grave of the head of the family at the time the secret pact was made and had been able to find proof of the secret pact from his personal belongings.

 

"Those daughters are the last treasure my wife left behind. When I learned of this secret pact, I also felt anger at my ancestors who had pushed their own mess onto their children, but..."

 

The expression of Victor, who had been smiling good-naturedly until just before, was dyed with rage.

However, he immediately put on a grave face and looked straight into Nozomu's eyes.

 

"In Irisdina's letter, it was written about you all. That you had saved the life of my daughter, whose soul was on the verge of being taken.

Not only as the head of the Francilt family, but also as a parent, I am grateful. Thank you so much..."

 

To Nozomu, Victor bowed his head deeply with all his gratitude.

To be bowed to by a great nobleman and to receive words of thanks. Nozomu was bewildered by a situation that would normally be absolutely impossible.

 

"N-No, on the contrary, it is I who am always being helped by Iris and the others..."

 

"Still, if you had not been there, someone would have been sacrificed. And that sacrifice might have been my daughters.

Then, it is only natural for a worthless father to bow his head and thank the benefactor who saved his innocent daughters."

 

To the flustered Nozomu who was equivocating, Victor did not try to raise his head, which he had bowed deeply.

There was no way the commoner Nozomu could withstand this situation, and he accepted Victor's words of thanks in a flustered manner.

 

"I-I understand! I will properly accept your thanks, Lord Victor!"

 

Before Nozomu could say, "So please raise your face," Victor quickly raised his gaze and smiled brightly.

 

"I see, I'm glad. And as a token of my gratitude, I will have a room full of treasures delivered to your dormitory later..."

 

"Please don't!"

 

If he were to do something like that, what kind of face could he show at the academy from tomorrow?

In Nozomu's mind, the image of himself in front of his room, which was filled with gold and silver treasures, being pointed at by the dormitory students and running around in confusion, had floated up.

In the first place, Nozomu wouldn't know what to do with such a large sum of money even if he were given it.

On the other hand, Victor, with the same good-natured smile as before, was suppressing his laughter at his lips.

Nozomu, who had realized that he had been teased in the same way as Mena just before, had an expression as if he had bitten into a bitter bug, but Victor deepened his smile and continued to speak.

 

"According to Irisdina, you are quite a master of swordsmanship. Not only during the special comprehensive exercise, but you also seem to have rampaged quite a bit in the Martial Arts Garden..."

 

The next thing Victor mentioned was the event in the mock battle with Jihad in the Martial Arts Garden.

He began to list things such as the magic barrier used in the Martial Arts Garden being on the verge of being ruined from its foundation, the repairs taking several weeks, and the amount of damage at that time.

For Nozomu, who was involved in that commotion, the content was enough to make the blood drain from his face.

After all, the repair costs alone were enough for Nozomu to live on for the rest of his life, which was unbearable.

 

"N-No, that was mostly the damage caused by Jihad-sensei..."

 

"Hmm, for that, I heard that not only Jihad-dono but you too were fighting with great enthusiasm?"

 

"Ugh..."

 

Although he tried to divert the conversation, Victor was firmly blocking his escape route.

He couldn't deny it.

At that time, it was a fact that Nozomu, who had been in high spirits from the cheers of his comrades, had unhesitatingly used a technique that he had been trying not to use at the academy.

Of course, for Nozomu as well, it had been indispensable to "get serious" in the sense of facing the school life he had been running away from until now.

However, if he were asked if he had thought about the consequences, Nozomu would be at a loss for words.

 

"Fufu. Well, let's end the mean talk here. If I tease you too much, I'll probably get scolded by Mena again."

 

When Nozomu glanced behind Victor, he saw the waiting Mena directing a stern gaze at her master's back.

 

"Lord Victor, what is the meaning of teasing a guest to whom we are indebted?"

 

"N-Nn! So I get scolded after all..."

 

At the sight of the great nobleman, which was too unexpected for Nozomu, he was constantly being surprised.

Receiving an absolute-zero gaze from Mena, Victor straightened his posture. At that moment, Nozomu felt that the relaxed atmosphere in the room had become a little tighter.

 

"...Mikagura-ryu, is it? I never thought I would meet someone who has mastered a famous Eastern sword art in such a place on the continent. No, it wasn't swordsmanship, it was katana technique, wasn't it?"

 

"You know of it?"

 

"Yes. Although it's only to the extent of a hobby, I have also learned a fair bit of swordsmanship myself. Of course, I don't know much about the techniques of the Mikagura-ryu itself..."

 

At Victor's words that he was practicing swordsmanship, Nozomu once again looked at the figure of the magnificent man in front of him.

Indeed, his body was moderately toned, and on his hands, calluses that are formed when one swings a sword could be seen in some places.

However, those calluses did not seem to be very hard.

Even when looking at his posture when sitting, his back was straight, but his balance was slightly shifted to the right. The story of it being a hobby was probably true.

But more than the fact that Victor was practicing swordsmanship, Nozomu was surprised that he knew about the Mikagura-ryu.

 

"But I know the fame of Shino Mikagura well. My father used to talk about her often. That she was a beautiful, pure, and beautiful swordswoman."

 

"Pure? Beautiful? Who in the world could that be..."

 

It was not strange that Victor knew about Shino. Because he had had a similar conversation with Victor before.

However, to hear the anecdotes and reputation of his master from such a great figure, Nozomu couldn't help but feel a sense of wrongness.

For him, his master was a selfish, inflexible, and crazy old woman who loved to torment her disciple with training.

But ignoring the suspicious expression on Nozomu's face, Victor continued his questions.

 

"How long ago did you meet your master, Nozomu-kun?"

 

"As I also told Jihad-sensei, I met my master when I was in my first year, so it's been about two years."

 

"Hmm..."

 

Victor, who had begun to think after hearing the story of his master.

A silence flowed for a while, and only the sound of the wind coming in from the window was flowing.

 

"Um, so, why did you call me?"

 

To the silent Victor, Nozomu mustered up his courage and asked the reason why only he had been called here.

Victor closed his eyes, shrugged his shoulders, and then casually took a sip of the tea he had brewed.

 

"As I said before, when I received the report from Irisdina, your name was written. The events of that time were written in detail, but the one my daughter was particularly grateful for without reservation was you."

 

The content he had heard before. But Nozomu had his doubts as to whether that was all there was to it.

The teasing smile that had been on Victor's lips until just before was gone, and he was now directing a serious gaze at Nozomu.

 

"And I was also surprised to learn about you yourself. To repel an S-rank vampire while shouldering the handicap of ability suppression, to overturn the difference in ability in the special comprehensive exercise, and to repel that Abyss Grief twice. As expected of a 'dragonslayer,' I suppose..."

 

"!"

 

Dragonslayer.

 

The moment that word was uttered from Victor's mouth, Nozomu's entire body froze as if it had turned to ice.

A silence flowed between the two again.

But unlike before, a leaden heaviness now filled the luxurious room.

The pressure, as if his whole body were being crushed, was exactly the same as on a battlefield.

In Nozomu's mind, his consciousness switched with a click, his heart began to beat rapidly, and his body naturally entered a battle stance.

 

"...Was it Jihad-sensei who told you about me?"

 

In the midst of the tense atmosphere, Nozomu casually broke the silence and threw a question at Victor.

If Irisdina and the others had not spoken of Nozomu being a dragonslayer, then the only others who knew were Jihad and his group.

Victor also, without changing his expression, accepted Nozomu's question.

 

"I did not hear it directly, but I was able to see your mock battle with Jihad-dono with a scrying magic just now, and I was informed in a rough outline in writing."

 

Without any particular attempt to cover it up, Victor readily admitted that Jihad had informed him of Nozomu's secret.

Why had Jihad revealed Nozomu's identity?

Nozomu temporarily pushed that question that had floated in his mind to the back of his mind and put strength into his stomach.

 

"I see, so the gaze I felt during the mock battle was yours..."

 

Nozomu said that he had noticed the gaze. At those words, which were spoken with conviction, Victor's eyes widened.

 

"Oh, you noticed?"

 

"I wasn't sure I was being watched. I just felt a sense of wrongness..."

 

On the other hand, Victor, who had an expression of astonishment, let out a sigh and leaned his weight deeply into the backrest.

 

"It was more than I imagined. With that much power, I can understand how you were able to drive away the butler of the Wajiart family."

 

"It's not like I did anything great. It was because Iris and Tima-san, and Mars and the others worked hard to buy time that I was able to save Somia-chan."

 

Victor cut in, and Nozomu also quickly cut back.

In reality, if it weren't for Mars, Tima, and Irisdina, Nozomu's help would never have made it in time.

And at that time, Nozomu had also hesitated to use his dragonslayer power in front of anyone other than his master.

If it weren't for the valiant efforts of Mars and Tima, and the earnest cry of Irisdina, he might have continued to hesitate until the very end.

 

"Of course, I understand that point as well. But if you were not a dragonslayer, there might have been a victim among you. In that sense, Irisdina's words were indeed the truth, weren't they?"

 

In the tense atmosphere, Nozomu swallowed hard.

The sound of his own swallowed saliva echoed very heavily in Nozomu's ears.

 

"To be honest, when I was informed of the battle with the Wajiart family's butler by letter from Irisdina, I had a feeling that you might have some kind of ability. However, the negotiations with the Wajiart family were the priority over confirming that."

 

Victor, who had been leaning against the backrest, sat up and leaned forward to look into Nozomu's face.

 

"At the same time, I also became interested in the friends that my daughter would hide from me."

 

Although Victor said that he had become interested, a suspicion crossed Nozomu's mind that there was something more than that in his staring eyes.

However, Nozomu could not understand what he was thinking.

Although he had the same smile as before, it was a sensation as if he were looking into the bottom of a dark well.

 

"...So, now that you know I'm a dragonslayer, what will you do?"

 

"What if I were to make it public?"

 

At that moment, the tension that had been drifting from Nozomu's body reached its critical point at once.

An existence known as a dragonslayer, which had not been confirmed for several hundred years. And the current dragonslayer was in Arcazam, where the interests of various countries were intertwined.

If Nozomu were to be made public, it was not known what kind of situation would honestly ensue.

Would he be made a savior and sent to the front lines, or would he be captured and treated like an experimental subject?

At the very least, he would no longer be able to be with his current comrades.

Before he knew it, Nozomu had forgotten his and Victor's positions and was glaring at Victor with a sharp gaze.

 

"...It's a joke. I can't make it public. If I were to make your identity public, there is a risk that the secret pact with the Wajiart family would also become public.

Now that the Wajiart family has finally laid down their arms, there is no need to purposely break that."

 

Victor erased the smile that had been on his lips and stated with an expressionless face that he had no intention of making it public.

However, the suspicion that had welled up once did not disappear so easily.

 

"And besides, if I were to make such a thing public in this city, it would be inevitable that this city would fall into further chaos.

To reveal your identity while the confusion from the appearance of Abyss Grief is finally settling down would be to trip up Jihad-dono.

If that were to happen, it would also hinder the operation of the academy. That is not what I wish for."

 

Hearing those words, Nozomu remembered that the person in front of him was one of the key figures in the establishment of this Solminati Academy and was still providing great assistance to the academy.

According to Irisdina's story, the mansion that Nozomu and the others were currently visiting was also scheduled to be donated after she and the others graduated.

It was hard to believe that a person who would provide such assistance would betray this academy.

And considering the atmosphere at the dinner just now, he truly loved his own daughter.

At the very least, he would not do anything to betray his daughter.

 

"Phew..."

 

Nozomu took a deep breath once to calm his anxious heart.

The blood that had been rushing through his entire body slowly subsided, and the tense air softened somewhat.

 

"...By the way, what happened with the matter of the Wajiart family?"

 

"For the sake of both parties, I cannot go into detail, but for now, it has settled down where it should."

 

Although Victor stated that it had settled down for now, he was clearly keeping his distance, with no intention of going into detail.

Nozomu had the sensation of a huge wall between them, separated by a single table.

 

"This time, I will ask. What will you use that power for?"

 

"...What do you mean, for what?"

 

"You came to this city with a purpose, didn't you? There are a lot of things, I assume?"

 

Purpose. Being told that, Nozomu thought again about the power he had taken in.

It was true that this power was immense. Although it was difficult to use and control, when it came to "annihilation," there was probably no power that could surpass it.

He had been saved by this power before. However, to be honest, since he had been toyed with by Tiamat so much, the image of a great calamity was stuck in his mind.

Perhaps that was why. Even when he was asked about the purpose of using this power, nothing came to Nozomu's mind.

 

"...Well, for now, not particularly."

 

To the Nozomu who was giving a vague reply, Victor was looking at him with serious eyes.

To Nozomu, those eyes somehow seemed to be condemning him.

 

"A dragonslayer who has disappeared from the stage of history for the past few hundred years. Not only its power, but even its name holds great potential. Depending on how you use it, various paths will open up. But..."

 

Victor stopped his words for a moment and glared at Nozomu.

An intimidating pressure that was unimaginable from the person who had been smiling and making tea just before.

 

"At the same time, your existence is extremely dangerous. The dragon's power you have taken in is still not fully controlled and is unstable. There was a time when there was a real danger of it going berserk, wasn't there?"

 

"...You really know a lot. As expected, it wasn't just from watching the battle just now, but you've heard about me directly from someone, right?"

 

"I ask you, even after mentioning that danger, what will you use that power for?"

 

Completely ignoring Nozomu's words, Victor, with a gaze that would not permit any falsehood, once again threw a question at Nozomu.

There was a silent pressure in the gaze directed at him that would not permit any falsehood. At that crushing intimidating pressure, Nozomu couldn't help but widen his eyes.

 

"I..."

 

What will he use that power for? Nozomu didn't know what to reply to that question.

The purpose of supporting Lisa's dream had already completely failed once. However, he still had the feeling that he didn't want her to give up on her dream.

However, when asked whether he would follow that dream, he felt some hesitation in his heart.

In the first place, what did he really wish for?

To settle his relationship with Lisa. Not to break it, but to remake it anew. For that, he had decided to face the past.

 

"Ah..."

 

Thinking that far, he noticed something, and Nozomu felt as if the blood were draining from his face.

 

"You have no reason to continue staying at this academy. You have been settling the past all this time, but I did not feel any will from you that was related to your own future."

 

Yes, what Nozomu had been doing until now was all "settling the past."

Lisa and Ken. He had only been struggling to end the distorted relationship with the two of them.

He had not been envisioning a clear future for himself in that.

 

"You are only looking at the past and the present. You have no 'future.' Just like a ship adrift at sea. If you can't even properly resolve the matter with your childhood friends..."

 

"..."

 

He couldn't argue.

Nozomu had vaguely thought that if he finished settling the past, he might be able to move forward.

Even now, he could not clearly imagine his future self.

That's why Nozomu could only continue to accept Victor's harsh words head-on.

 

"Excuse me. It is almost time..."

 

In the tense atmosphere, Mena cut into their conversation.

 

"Good grief, is it that time already? Nozomu-kun, I'm sorry for making you listen to me for so long. I still have some business to attend to, so I'm sorry, but I'll be taking my leave."

 

"...Understood. We will also be returning to the dormitory."

 

"I see, it was fun today. Because I got to know a little about the person you are."

 

"No, on the contrary, thank you for the valuable experience. I probably won't have another chance to wear such expensive clothes."

 

"That depends on you in the future. To be young is to be full of 'possibilities' in itself."

 

"..."

 

Was it a comfort, or a provocation?

With the undecipherable words at his back, Nozomu quietly left Victor's room.

 

"Oh, Nozomu, what's wrong?"

 

"...Mars? Why are you here?"

 

The figure of Mars, who was being led by a young maid, jumped into the vision of Nozomu, who had just left Victor's room.

 

"I was called by a maid and brought here. It seems she wants to thank me for the vampire incident from before. You too?"

 

"Ah, well, yes."

 

Nozomu remembered that Mena had just said that she wanted to thank the other members for the Rugato attack incident.

 

"Hmm~"

 

Mars was looking at the thinking Nozomu's face with a somewhat meaningful gaze.

To Nozomu, who was bracing himself for something, Mars shrugged his shoulders as if to say it couldn't be helped.

 

"Well, I don't know what you're thinking, but don't think about it too much. In your case, even if you think strangely, you'll just end up going around in circles like a rat chasing its own tail."

 

"Hah... What a rude guy."

 

"Heh! It's a bit late for that, isn't it?"

 

"Mars-sama, it's about time..."

 

"Ah, I get it. Jeez, I'm not used to being called with '-sama'."

 

While grumbling, Nozomu looked at the figure of Mars heading for Victor's room and let out a deep sigh once.

He had probably been shown consideration. While scratching his head, Nozomu was remembering Victor's words from before.

 

"A purpose, no, a dream..."

 

What he himself had lost. While thinking about those words, Nozomu turned on his heel and returned to his comrades.

Perhaps thanks to Mars's clumsy consideration, his sunken mood had cleared up a little.

However, the wedge that had been driven into the depths of his chest remained as a lingering feeling even after the party was over, and in the end, Nozomu could not come up with an answer to Victor's question even after he had returned to the dormitory.

 

***

 

After Nozomu and the others had gone home. Victor was sitting on the sofa in his own room, drinking the wine he had brought, and was lost in thought about the young man he had met today.

The night was already late, and the city was asleep.

From his point of view, he was still an immature young man. Not his body, but his heart.

And the situation surrounding him was complicated.

Although it could be said that he was calm now, it could be said that there were countless invisible pitfalls around him.

And he himself also had a power like a giant volcano. To be frank, there were too many concerns.

In such a situation, how would he, as the head of the Francilt family, act? In the room filled with the silence of the night, Victor was engrossed in thought.

The purpose of Victor inviting Nozomu this time was to grasp Nozomu's character.

Although the time they had talked was only a short while, Victor was a person who had accumulated a great deal of experience in the cutthroat world of noble society. In that short time, he had grasped a considerable amount of the character of the person known as Nozomu Bountis.

He himself was not a bad person. Rather, he was the type of person who could be called a good person.

He had not demanded any compensation for repelling Rugato. Even though he had a secret that could shake Victor, there was not a shred of an intention to use it as a trump card.

On the contrary, he had said that he was just an extra and had praised the achievements of his daughter and his comrades. At this point, rather than a good person, he was the type of person who was too kind and would lose out.

He was a person who was far more likable than those nobles whose true intentions one can never know.

However, from Victor's position, he could not acknowledge Nozomu Bountis with just that.

His personality and abilities were not bad, but if he were to accept Jihad's request, the current Nozomu was also a fact that he could not agree with.

 

"My lord is also a bad person. To test him in such a way..."

 

"Mena, huh..."

 

From behind the thinking master, a maid who could be called his right-hand man appeared.

The maid who had appeared was directing a somewhat exasperated gaze at her own master.

 

"It is true that the current Nozomu-sama does not have a clear purpose. However, my lord's words of a 'drifting ship' are a rather crude expression and it is difficult to say that they have hit the mark with certainty."

 

Although Victor had expressed Nozomu's inner thoughts with the expression of a "drifting ship," he had not clearly pointed out the cause of "why the ship was drifting" in the first place.

Was the rudder broken and the course could not be set, had it lost its sails and lost its speed, had it lost its navigational tools such as a sea chart...

 

"You think so?"

 

"Yes, otherwise, he would not have thought of settling his past in the first place. He would have just spent his days in a half-hearted manner while running away and would have been buried in a mediocre daily life.

However, Nozomu-sama is different. He has his own clear principle of action, and he is making his own decisions based on that. It's just that that direction is currently facing the past... You are also aware of that, aren't you, my lord?"

 

If you think about it in that sense, Nozomu Bountis is a "ship that has lost its destination."

It's not that the rudder is broken, nor has he lost the means to cross the rough seas.

 

"..."

 

Victor did not answer his attendant's words at all and was tilting the glass he held in his hand, pouring the sweet and sour liquid down his throat.

However, that silence itself was eloquently telling his answer.

In order to grasp the character of Nozomu Bountis, Victor had, in a quick and easy way, pierced a part of Nozomu that could be called his weakness.

What had become visible as a result was his own instability, which had been brought to light.

That was something that Victor himself had anticipated to some extent. Considering the existence of his supporting comrades and the feud with his childhood friends, he had a rough idea.

A lack of his own long-term sense of purpose. And he was harboring "hesitation" as if to hide in it.

Although it was somewhat disguised by the presence of his comrades, that hesitation was now slowing his steps.

The fact that he could not answer Victor's question was proof of that.

 

"However, if you were to ask if Nozomu-sama is fragile, then that is a no."

 

Yes, as Mena said, if you were to ask if Nozomu's spirit was fragile, then that was a no.

He had been confronted with the fact that he was averting his eyes from, and even after receiving Victor's gaze, he had not averted his eyes at all.

That was proof that Nozomu himself had correctly understood and accepted his own shortcomings. And Victor and Mena also understood that that was not something that everyone could do.

In fact, the exaggerated expression of a "drifting ship" was not wrong, but it was also not correct. It was a means to shake Nozomu's heart and to peek into his true nature.

 

"One’s own essential weak point. Only few people who can be shown that and accept it honestly..."

 

While harboring hesitation and having his weakness pointed out, Nozomu had firmly accepted Victor's gaze. That was nothing other than the fact that he had acknowledged his own weakness.

Victor drained the wine in his glass at once and poured new wine into the empty glass with his own hand.

 

"That's why you kept surprising Nozomu-sama, by doing things like making tea yourself, isn't it?"

 

"...No, I really just wanted to do that one."

 

While enjoying the aroma of the wine he had poured while shaking his glass, Victor tilted his head with a nonchalant look.

Mena, who saw her master's state, let out a sigh as if exasperated.

When people meet someone they don't know for the first time, they unconsciously put up a barrier, whether they intend to or not.

The act of showing himself making tea himself when Mena had guided Nozomu to the room was, in fact, an act aimed at the effect of surprising Nozomu and breaking down his unconscious barrier.

At the same time, if even a part of the unconscious barrier had been broken, the effect when his shortcomings were pointed out would be many times greater.

Mena once again looked at the figure of her own master.

Her master was, as always, enjoying the aroma of the wine he had brought with satisfaction.

In fact, it was true that Victor's hobby was making tea. He had taken that action, combining his hobby and practical interests.

 

"Honestly, you are a truly unpredictable person. You are like a swindler.

So, regarding the assistance for Nozomu-sama, what will you reply to Jihad-dono? From what I heard, there was also a request for you to become his guardian..."

 

Among the assistance that Jihad had requested from Victor, becoming Nozomu Bountis's guardian was also included.

At first glance, it seemed like a good condition for the Francilt family as well, but from what he had seen of the current Nozomu, he could not accept it.

 

"Well, the matter of being a guardian is probably impossible. In such a state... However, the option of abandoning our relationship with him does not exist. I will promise to provide a certain amount of assistance."

 

"Neither too close nor too far, is it?"

 

"That's what it is."

 

Victor drained the contents of his glass again and nodded with satisfaction.

He must have really liked the brand of wine he had just drunk.

 

"What did you yourself think of him?"

 

"Let's see. I think he is a good person. I can understand why the young ladies are so devoted to him."

 

At the question that Victor had returned, Mena answered nonchalantly.

 

"It is true that Nozomu-sama does not have what can be called a long-term purpose, but I can still understand that he is extraordinary and has an unbending heart. There are numerous achievements to prove that..."

 

He became a dragonslayer. At that age, he acquired a skill comparable to Jihad's. He fought on equal terms with an S-rank vampire and destroyed Abyss Grief.

Furthermore, even without using the dragon's power he had taken in, he had acquired a swordsmanship and a control of ki comparable to Jihad's.

Even in the special comprehensive exercise, he had fought on equal terms with a superior party with traps and teamwork and had achieved a result of being among the top.

All of them were things that could not have been achieved with the power of a dragonslayer alone. At the core of that was Nozomu's own growth, and above all, it was something he had been able to do because he had not yielded that final line.

 

"You can find a person with only talent if you search. However, there are not many people who can move forward, believing in a very small possibility. In that sense, Nozomu-sama can be said to be extraordinary."

 

"Hmph..."

 

Mena sighed at her master, who was snorting in dissatisfaction.

As the head of the Francilt family, he could not become the guardian of Nozomu, who still had his hesitation, but he could put it on hold and secure a certain position. As for Viktor, that would have been an excellent outcome.

In the first place, the reason Jihad had told Victor of Nozomu's identity was to protect him, since Nozomu had no one to back him up. At the very least, Jihad had predicted that Victor could not refuse to assist Nozomu.

This whole matter was, after all, a pre-established harmony. The reason it had become so troublesome was because Victor's daughter was strangely close to the boy named Nozomu.

 

"Even if you can't give him a perfect score, you were pleased with him to the extent of about 80 points, right?"

 

To be frank, there were very few nobles who could withstand Victor's gaze. There was no way a young noble who had been pampered could face his stern, intimidating gaze.

Mena had already begun to take notice of Nozomu, who had stared straight back at Victor even when faced with him.

Of course, her master had a complicated look on his face, but.

 

"...I have not given him such a high evaluation."

 

As if to deny his attendant's words, Victor drank the wine a third time.

While looking at her master's state, Mena let out a sigh as if to say it couldn't be helped.

 

"Are you so displeased that the young lady and Nozomu-sama are so close?"

 

"..."

 

Victor continued to drink the wine in silence. But his back was exuding a somewhat dissatisfied atmosphere.

The figure, who was sulking in silence, was not as a high-ranking nobleman from before, but as a normal father.

 

"That... no, he still gets a failing grade. To make my daughter have such a sad expression..."

 

"My lord. You were peeking at Lady Irisdina's state in the salon after all, weren't you?"

 

The sad expression he mentioned was probably the expression of Irisdina when she had seen Nozomu off, which he had been peeking at from somewhere.

Mena directed a sidelong glance at Victor, who had been peeking. But Victor, whose head was full of his daughter, didn't even notice such a scathing gaze and began to stand up and pace around the room, continuing to raise his voice.

Furthermore, Victor began to grumble his complaints about Nozomu, saying that he couldn't entrust his daughter's back to a weakling, and that it was not good that he couldn't suppress his emotions even though he had been caught off guard.

In that figure, there was not a shred of the dignity of a great nobleman from before. It was the figure of a normal father, trying to prevent his beloved, precious daughter from being taken.

However, that figure only brought a smile of derision. Mena, who was watching her master's disgraceful behavior from the side, could only let out a sigh.

In fact, it was not the first time that Victor had shown such a pathetic figure.

After losing his beloved wife, Victor had truly cherished his two daughters, who were her mementos.

But perhaps because that affection was too great, there had been many times when he had lost control.

Although he usually showed the resolute figure of a head of the family, when his daughter was to make her debut in high society, he had tried to gather all the craftsmen in the country to make the most suitable dress, and when Somia had run away from home, he had even tried to convene the knights for a search.

Especially when Somia had run away from home, since even Irisdina had rushed out of the mansion to search for Somia, Victor had completely lost himself, had even thrown away the knights he had gathered, and had charged into the castle town, shouting his daughter's name.

At that time, there was a fact that several knights who had tried to stop him had been blown away like leaves is a huge digression.

The sober Victor did not have the ability to blow away a member of the knight order, but when his daughter was involved, there were times when he would exhibit extraordinary ability. He was that much of a doting father.

This is likely the reason why Nozomu, who is so sensitive to presences, didn't notice Viktor's presence in the salon.

Incidentally, when he had come to Arcazam, he had also gathered several carriages' worth of local specialties from various countries as souvenirs for his daughters, and before the party, unknown to Nozomu and the others, his daughters had had strained smiles on their faces at the souvenirs that had been piled high in their rooms, which is a huge digression.

 

"Then, when he made the young lady smile?"

 

"Plus or minus 100 points!"

 

Because he was such a father, full of affection for his daughter, to be honest, Nozomu's existence was not amusing.

Since Victor was sensitive to people's emotions and skilled at reading their true intentions, he had of course already noticed his daughters' feelings.

 

"A double scoring system, is it? You are inwardly rejoicing, but at the same time, you are mad with jealousy.

However, Somilliana-ojousama aside, Irisdina-ojousama is already... about Nozomu-sama."

 

"Gunununu..."

 

The second daughter was still young, so for now, she probably only thought of Nozomu as an older brother, but the eldest daughter's feelings for that young man had already tilted into the danger zone.

Personally, even though he knew he was a good person, it was a story that Victor could by no means accept.

The way he was jealous out of love for his family was exactly like Irisdina. Of course, when the other party was a stern-faced middle-aged man, there was not a shred of cuteness, and it was annoying beyond belief...

 

"...My lord, isn't it about time you let go of your daughter?"

 

"What are you saying! A father is one who protects his daughter from impending danger at the risk of his own life!"

 

It was absurd.

In the first place, his words were not making sense.

If he were to wish for his daughter's growth as a father, he should not be interfering unnecessarily here.

In fact, when Mena sharply pointed out, "In my lord's case, the reason is just jealousy, isn't it," Victor also fell silent, saying, "Gunununu...".

Victor, who had sensed that there was no room for rebuttal, immediately changed the logic of the conversation.

 

"Come to think of it, you've sent my daughters numerous marriage proposals, haven't you!?"

 

Yes, Mena had, until now, conveyed dozens of marriage proposals to Irisdina and Somia.

In a sense, it was content that would affect their future.

However, Mena nonchalantly brushed aside Victor's words.

 

"Of course, it is out of consideration for the young ladies. It is best to tie a good match early, and it is the young ladies who will make the decision. In that sense, it seems the young lady is thinking of a good person."

 

According to Mena, the matter of the marriage proposals was literally just to provide an opportunity to connect a match. What to do with that match was up to Irisdina and the others.

In reality, Mena was a loyal subject in whom even Victor placed his trust. Victor also knew her sharp eye well.

Nozomu Bountis originally had a straightforwardness, or rather, a good stubbornness of not backing down once he had decided.

That could be read from the fact that he had not blamed his childhood friend who had betrayed him.

That's why there was not a shred of room for rebuttal in Mena's words...

 

"By the way, the young lady immediately noticed the change in Nozomu-sama's atmosphere, and after seeing him off, she has been staring at the boys' dormitory with worried eyes from her room all this time..."

 

"I-I won't acknowledge it!"

 

In a room of the vast mansion, the father's heartless cry echoed.

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