Chapter 405
Richard raised his hand with a smiling face.
“Long time no see, nephew!”
Nephew.
At the sound of that word, Simon’s mind quickly kicked into gear.
His father wasn’t in a position to openly enter Roke Island. He wasn’t sure whether Lady Neftis had intervened, but whatever the case, his identity needed to remain hidden.
In that sense, rather than drawing attention as the father of the top student, pretending to be a distant relative would be more convenient.
Simon also smiled brightly and replied,
“Uncle!”
The two shared a light hug.
At that moment, Maelyn, her face flushed, stepped forward.
“Si, Simon! This person is….”
“Ah, let me introduce you.”
Simon spread his arms.
“This is my maternal uncle. His name is…”
“Henry.”
Richard said.
Introducing himself with a name that was clearly made up on the spot, Richard bent at the waist and kissed the back of Maelyn’s hand. Her cheeks blushed like apples.
“Hmm.”
Then Richard noticed the handkerchief wrapped around Maelyn’s hand.
His hand slowly reached toward it.
“Is the wound from the rose doing better…?”
Grab!
“Uncle!”
Simon stepped between them with a smiling face, pushing Richard’s shoulder back.
“This is Maelyn Villene, in the same group as me.”
“Ah, I see. What a coincidence.”
Richard gave a sly smile and whispered into Simon’s ear.
“You’re quite the gentleman, Simon. Are you looking after your girl?”
“Please, Father. Maelyn doesn’t belong to anyone.”
Simon spoke while applying slight pressure to Richard’s shoulder, but the smile on Richard’s lips didn’t disappear.
‘...I didn’t think father would already have approached Maelyn.’
Of course, Richard was a father Simon respected, a fine lord, and a great necromancer, but based on what he’d heard from Feer, he wasn’t trustworthy when it came to women.
He really hoped his father would show some restraint at school.
With that thought, Simon shot him a glance before turning away. The shy Kamibarez was alternating her gaze between Simon and Richard.
“Uncle, this is Kamibarez Ursula, also in the same group as me.”
“Ah, hello!”
Seemingly nervous, Kamibarez gave a sharp 90-degree bow. Her cute little bat wings behind her fluttered rapidly.
“Nice to meet you. I imagine my nephew owes you a lot.”
When Richard reached for the back of her hand, Simon quickly pushed his hand aside and forcibly turned his head.
“And this is Dick Hayword, also in our group.”
Dick, who had been waiting for his turn, shouted with shining eyes,
“Simon’s bestie! BFF! Soul partner Dick, reporting in! Hahaha!”
“Oh, I’ve heard a lot about you from Simon.”
Dick, delighted, began chatting about this and that, lighting up the mood.
Richard seemed to like Dick quite a bit, responding readily to him.
Whew.
Simon inwardly thanked Dick and sighed in relief.
Meanwhile, the two girls who had stepped back were trying to calm their pounding hearts as they whispered.
“He, he’s Simon’s uncle, but they look so alike.”
Kamibarez said.
“Right? I totally thought he was Simon’s dad. Must be strong genes from his mom’s side.”
Maelyn replied, glancing at Simon’s face.
Will that guy turn out like that when he grows older? If so, she was absolutely on board with that kind of aging.
Now Simon was introducing his friends’ families to Richard.
While shaking hands with Maelyn’s father Daniella, Richard winked and waved at a group of girls watching from a distance. A loud squeal erupted from that direction.
Kamibarez gave a bitter smile.
“...He kind of feels like a cheeky version of Simon.”
“Y-Yeah. That’s a bit of a letdown.”
Unlike Simon’s usual calm and composed demeanor, Richard’s light and flirty manner came off a little… off-putting.
Anyway, Richard lastly shook hands with Kamibarez’s father, Dietrich.
“An honor to meet you, Vampire Lord.”
“You raised a good son, human.”
Dietrich lowered his voice as he spoke. Richard, still smiling, tilted his head as if to say, What are you talking about?
“You’re trying to hide your blood in front of a Vampire Lord?”
“I’d appreciate it if you kept it a secret.”
“Brazen bastard.”
Even in front of Dietrich, whose head rose higher than his own and who bore the title of Vampire Lord, Richard showed not a hint of intimidation.
He stood tall, maintained his composure, and kept smiling. The way he shook hands and exchanged greetings made it clear he regarded himself as an equal.
“Right. Your son was just as brazen. I’d always wanted to meet the father who raised such a boy. Truly—”
Dietrich’s eyes sparkled with the look of one who respected strength.
“Let’s grab a drink later, just us dads. What do you say, Daniella?”
“Of course.”
Daniella nodded, but Richard politely declined.
“My apologies. I’m quite busy. I’ll need to return to my fiefdom right after the ceremony.”
“Tut, what a shame.”
Meanwhile, due to Richard’s unexpected appearance, Simon felt like he’d aged several years in one go.
‘Haaa…’
Feeling drained, he leaned against a pillar when Maelyn and Kamibarez came running up.
“Simon! Simon!”
Kamibarez bounced in place, her fists clenched tight.
“Your uncle is really cool and gentlemanly!”
“Yeah? Thanks.”
“But… is he really your uncle?”
Maelyn asked suspiciously. Dick also butted in.
“Isn’t he actually your dad?”
Simon’s heart dropped, but he tried to stay calm as he replied,
“I get that a lot.”
“If your uncle’s like that…”
A wide smile crept across Maelyn’s lips.
“I’m even more curious about your dad now.”
“Me too!”
Kamibarez nodded, and Dick shouted as if he’d been waiting for this moment.
“Then let’s go visit Simon’s house during break! Who’s in?”
“Me!”
Maelyn and Kamibarez raised their hands high.
Simon waved his hands, sweating bullets.
“N-No, even if you visit, I won’t be there! I’ve got a packed schedule during break…!”
“Even if you’re not there, we can just say hi to your parents!”
“Seconded!”
As the three of them began discussing what to do during the visit, Simon’s back was drenched with sweat.
They were dead serious about barging into his house.
“Sorry to interrupt.”
At that moment, Richard approached the group with large strides.
“Mind if I borrow my nephew for a moment? It’s been a while, and I’ve got some things I’d like to say to him.”
Whip!
Maelyn and Kamibarez spun around with lightning speed, put their hands together politely, and gave cute smiles.
“S-Sure! Please, go ahead.”
“Thanks.”
With a flick of his finger, Richard motioned, and Simon nodded, following him.
The father and son left the auditorium and walked behind an empty building.
“You’ve made some great friends, Simon.”
“Yes. They’re really great people.”
Simon looked up at Richard.
“But I was really surprised. How did you get into Roke Island?”
“Lady Neftis extended an invitation.”
Richard answered calmly.
“She said you played a huge role during the Blood Heaven Cult incident, so if I’d like, I could come to celebrate your promotion. She even said she’d take full responsibility if any problems arose.”
“…Ah.”
Richard gently stroked Simon’s hair.
“Well done. Thanks to having a fine son, I’ve stepped foot on Roke Island, a place I never thought I’d see in my lifetime.”
A smile formed on Simon’s lips.
“So how does it feel to visit your alma mater after so long?”
“…Nostalgic.”
Richard looked around with a wistful expression.
“Every tree, every blade of grass… I miss it all. The memories of those days are still vivid. Yeah. I even remember this exact spot where we’re standing.”
“Here? Really?”
“This area behind the building is quiet and secluded, you see. I used to bring girls here…”
“Father!!”
Hahahahaha!
Richard burst into loud laughter, while Simon glared coldly at him.
“Don’t tell your mother.”
“…Depends on your behavior. And speaking of, how is Mom?”
“She’s at home. Anna’s enjoying a brief return to her girlhood.”
Simon blinked.
“What do you mean by that?”
“You’ll understand when you come home later.”
Richard answered, then shifted his gaze. He was looking at the badge of Feer attached to Simon’s school uniform.
“...I know I don’t even have the right to speak to you.”
Richard looked up at the sky with regretful eyes.
“I’m sorry. And thank you for taking care of my son.”
[Kuhuhuhu!]
Before he knew it, Feer’s laughter reached Simon’s ears.
Apparently, Feer had been watching all along too. He spoke in a voice of thought that Richard couldn’t hear.
[You really have changed, Richard.]
Simon smiled gently.
“Feer says you’ve changed a lot, Father.”
[Boy!!]
Feer sounded flustered, and Richard let out a strange smile.
“And I’m sorry to you too, Simon.”
“...Huh?”
“For making you inherit the sin of the Legion. It must be something from even before you were born.”
“......”
Leaning against the wall, Simon said nothing for a moment.
After a silence, he finally spoke again.
“It was my choice to inherit your Legion.”
Richard had only helped Simon enter Keyzen, and had never once mentioned the Legion.
From the beginning, Richard had never intended for Simon to become the Legion Commander.
But Simon, guided by Neftis, had willingly accepted the position of Legion Commander by his own will, and was now gathering the scattered Ancient Undead.
“And Father,”
Of course, Richard’s actions might be seen as betrayal or evil to others.
“...You did it to save Mom, right?”
Even if the whole world condemned Richard, Simon alone couldn’t bring himself to blame him.
Because it was thanks to that event... that he had been born.
Sometimes, Richard’s sin felt unbearably heavy. But Simon had decided to accept it. Both his father’s sin and his power.
“Thank you, for saying that.”
Richard said, closing his eyes.
After sharing a few more words, the father and son returned to the main auditorium.
“By the way, which one is it?”
Suddenly, Richard grinned mischievously.
“What is?”
“Maelyn or Kamibarez. I’m asking, which one’s your girl?”
Simon’s face turned beet red.
“N-No! It’s not like that at all!”
“Hahahaha!”
Richard laughed heartily.
“Both of them are lovely ladies.”
“...If you lay a hand on either Maelyn or Kamibarez, I won’t let it slide.”
“No way.”
Richard ruffled Simon’s hair.
“That innocent personality of yours, I’m relieved you took after your mother’s younger self. I’m truly glad you didn’t inherit that part from me.”
“Mom?”
“Yeah.”
Richard briefly showed a lovestruck expression.
“Back in the day, Anna was pure, untouched by the world, a vision of snow-white innocence.”
“She’s the one who has you completely under her thumb now.”
“...Ahem.”
Finally, Simon landed a clean hit on his father.
Everyone in the Leshill fiefdom knew that its lord lived under his wife’s rule.
“Anyway, this is the reason I called you out.”
Richard pulled something from behind his back.
“Congratulations on your promotion to second-year top student, Simon.”
It was a lush bouquet of flowers, something Simon hadn’t dared to hope for. He accepted it with a face full of emotion and beamed brightly.
“Thank you, Father!”
“And one more thing.”
Richard waved his hand as he walked ahead.
“A student’s duty is to study. Romance is a waste of energy. Keep focusing on staying top of your class.”
Simon chuckled.
‘You’re the last person who should say that, Father.’
Simon returned to the main auditorium.
Not wanting to part just yet, he chatted away with his group members and the Hayword brothers. These seven had grown quite close already.
“Maelyn noona! I wanna go to Keyzen too!”
“Me too!”
Said the fourth brother, Bill, and the fifth, Al.
For the two who had spent their whole lives working for the merchant group, visiting Keyzen was a seismic event that shook their worldview.
“Usually, you gotta crush false hope with cold truth.”
Maelyn brushed her side hair behind her ear.
“You two don’t stand a chance.”
“Why not!”
“Among your siblings, the one with the most talent is Dick, and he ranked 400th out of 400.”
“Kugh!”
Struck by a bulletproof truth, Dick was left speechless, and everyone burst into laughter.
“B-But hey!”
Dick quickly changed the topic.
“Who do you think will be in next year’s incoming class? Anyone know?”
“Sasha!”
Kamibarez shot her hand up.
“You remember Sasha from the Neutral Zone, right? She’s entering next year as a special admit! I’m so excited!”
Kamibarez was still exchanging letters with Sasha, who was currently undergoing treatment at Pentamonium.
Dick scratched his chin with a puzzled look.
“But Sasha’s good enough to be a special admit? Doesn’t it take years after Core Unleashing to even achieve transformation?”
“She’s a really unique case! I heard she already created and used her own original curse!”
“Whoa, seriously? I wonder how many exemptions she got in with.”
This time, Simon raised his hand.
“Come to think of it, Princess Molly is enrolling next year too.”
Everyone’s eyes widened at that.
“You mean Princess Molly...!”
“The youngest princess of the Dresden Kingdom?”
Simon shared the contents of the letter he had received from Molly.
Despite fierce opposition from the Queen’s faction, she’d finally received the King’s permission to unleash her Core, and she thought she’d be ready for transformation by the time of admission.
Apparently, renowned royal necromancers were all working together to give her advanced tutoring.
“Doesn’t this make you curious too?”
Maelyn brought up another topic.
“The current second-years are about to become third-years. So who’ll be the next student council president?”
“Oh, true.”
Simon folded his arms.
“I hope it’ll be Senior Benya.”
“Whoever it is, they’re going to have a tough time.”
Dick snickered.
“They’re gonna get compared to the legendary student council president, Senior Phantasus.”
“Y-You’re right.”
Phantasus was rumored to be more skilled than an active Crow.
Though his administrative skills were lacking, the vice president had compensated for it. Together, they had completed their term perfectly.
“Sorry to interrupt, but—”
Someone suddenly cut into the conversation.
It was some familiar faces, students from Class A.
“Simon, Hector says he’s waiting for you at the southern beach of Roke Island.”
Simon smiled and stood up.
“I’ve been waiting for him too.”
Superb.
When are we getting more free chapters?
Thanks for the new chapters