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“Alright, is that it now?”

“Kkkk… What do you mean ‘it’? If that’s your idea of an apology, maybe it would’ve been better not to apologize at all.”

The tri-colored cat, Myohail, who had been waiting in Laura’s wagon, clicked his tongue in dissatisfaction.

“Ah, why? I apologized just like you told me to, Master!”

“Maybe I should’ve taught you how to apologize before teaching you magic. This is all my fault as a lousy master.”

“Master… Is this really how you’re going to act after meeting me for the first time in so long?”

Laura sighed.

The reunion with her respected master was the worst.

Myohail was extremely angry and scolded Laura. Of course, he didn’t yell or anything.

Myohail isn’t the type to get angry often. He’s usually calm and composed. Laura could count on one hand the number of times she’d seen him angry.

But isn’t it said that when someone who rarely gets angry does, it’s even scarier? And Myohail was exactly that case.

Laura couldn’t help but feel intimidated. Not only was Myohail one of the few people who could make her freeze, but the overwhelming magical power emanating from him was incredibly threatening.

A magician’s magical power changes according to their emotions.

Considering how Myohail’s magical power was completely suppressing Laura’s, it was clear just how angry he was.

It was a sudden reunion with her long-lost master, but she had no choice but to trust him, doubts aside.

As far as Laura knew, the only magician who could create such an immense pressure with just their magical power was the Sage Myohail.

Laura had no choice but to immediately back down.

“I told you, if I had known Wendy was your granddaughter, I wouldn’t have messed with her…”

“Technically, she’s not my granddaughter… but let’s just leave it at that.”

Honestly, what kind of lunatic would mess with the Sage’s family? It’s practically suicide.

But as it turned out, Laura hadn’t just messed with the Sage’s family.

“Besides, you said Wendy is a hero, right? If you had told me that earlier, it wouldn’t have been a problem. Why did the Count hide such an important fact…?”

“Kkkk… Even you, who was so clever, can’t escape the passage of time.”

“What, what do you mean?”

“Think about it. If that fact had been carelessly revealed, do you think our granddaughter would’ve been left alone? Nobles like you would’ve gone crazy trying to bring her to their side.”

A hero is an incredibly special being. Someone who can wield all attributes of magical power, chosen by the gods.

Just the fact that the bloodline of the hero, thought to have been extinct long ago, was still alive would be a huge topic of discussion. And if you could protect and support such a hero, what greater honor could there be?

It was obvious that the nobles would fight over the hero.

Of course, the Imperial Family would mediate, but they wouldn’t be able to completely stop the ugly and dirty fights.

“In that sense, our prospective son-in-law, Count Ruelberta, handled it wisely.”

“Huh? Son-in-law?”

“Even if it were revealed that our granddaughter is a hero, I believe he would handle it well. Though, what fool would dare oppose him…?”

“No. Master! That’s…!”

“Why? Am I wrong?”

“……”

Myohail looked at Laura with cold eyes.

His words weren’t wrong at all. Considering the immense power the Ruelberta family holds, it’s only right not to antagonize them recklessly.

However, Laura knew the darker side of the Ruelberta family, so she couldn’t see them in a good light.

That’s why, like her, the Imperial Family, which also opposed the Ruelberta family, tried to keep them in check.

But now, her efforts seemed futile.

Rumors were circulating that the relationship between the Imperial Family and the Ruelberta family, which had been strained since before the Northern Expedition, was improving.

And when His Majesty the Emperor officially announced his support for Tristan’s alliance, those rumors became reality.

With the situation like this, all that remained was Laura’s personal grudge… Feeling guilty, Laura couldn’t refute Myohail.

She had no choice but to change the subject.

“Um, more importantly, who, who said anything about being your son-in-law…?”

“Kkkk. You should just accept such an obvious story. If you were truly my disciple, you should know that much.”

“Ah, yes… Well…”

“Originally, if I hadn’t thought of you as special, I wouldn’t have told you that Wendy is my granddaughter. Even the Count doesn’t know about my relationship with Wendy.”

“Huh? The Count doesn’t know?”

That was quite unexpected.

She had assumed the Count would know.

“I just missed the right timing to tell him. Hoho… Even if he finds out later, I don’t think his attitude towards Wendy will change…”

Was the Count really that fond of Wendy?

According to Myohail, the Count had even sent her to university. It was clear just how much he cherished her.

“But Laura.”

“Yes?”

“There’s something I really wanted to ask you…”

“?”

Laura tensed up at Myohail’s serious tone.

What could he possibly want to ask his disciple after such a long time?

Myohail sometimes asked profound or absurd questions that left his disciples flustered.

So Laura listened carefully to what Myohail was about to say.

“Laura… About our granddaughter.”

“Yes, yes. Ask me anything, Master.”

“Isn’t she cute?”

“……”

Laura barely held back a curse.

Regardless, Myohail was smiling contentedly, holding up a photo of Wendy that he had somehow brought out.

“Isn’t our granddaughter cute?”

“Wait a minute, Master. Is this really the question you’re asking…?”

“Isn’t she cute?”

“Wow… This is really ridiculous…”

“She’s not cute?”

Even so, when the heavens-like master asks, what can you do? The answer is already decided.

“Ah, no. Of course she’s cute. So cute I could just bite her.”

“What?! How dare you bite our granddaughter!?”

“No!? Who said anything about actually biting her? It’s just a figure of speech!”

“Oh my…! Where would you even bite our Wendy… You wicked thing… You’re excommunicated. Excommunicated!”

“Ah, this is driving me crazy. I can’t even say anything!”

“Kkkk… You still have that habit of getting easily annoyed. You seem like a complete child, so why do you have such tastes? What’s with the old man’s ginseng-flavored candy?”

“Ah, what? Wait a minute, Master. What does that have to do with anything? And what’s wrong with ginseng-flavored candy!? Your granddaughter even said she liked it!”

“Hoho. Do you really think she ate it because it was delicious? She probably just said that to be nice.”

“No! It’s candy, but it’s good for your health!”

“If you were really thinking about health, wouldn’t you just not eat candy?”

“Ugh!? Well, that’s…!”

“Kkkk…”

Myohail clicked his tongue in dissatisfaction. But Laura actually felt relieved.

Not only had her master’s anger completely subsided, but it also reminded her of the days when she learned magic under him.

On the other hand, she also understood why Wendy had such abilities.

Being the granddaughter of the Sage and the bloodline of the hero, it was only natural that she was so talented…

‘Wait a minute?’

As she thought that, Laura suddenly realized something strange.

“Um, Master?”

“What is it?”

“You said Wendy is your granddaughter and also the bloodline of the hero, right?”

“That’s right.”

“So, that means there was a child between you and the hero’s family…? Which means…”

A name popped into her head.

Unless you’ve studied magical history extensively, you wouldn’t know, but Laura did.

The name overshadowed by the fame of the first hero, Grace.

According to records of a now-extinct kingdom, there was a great magician who, alongside Grace, defeated the Demon Lord.

“Co, could it be… Master…”

Though he disappeared along with the kingdom, the name of that magician who saved the world remained clear.

With a trembling voice, Laura spoke that name.

“Wingfield? Tha, that Wingfield is you, Master!?”

Timing-wise, it’s possible.

The time when Wingfield, who defeated the Demon Lord alongside Grace, disappeared overlaps with when Sage Myohail ascended the Magic Tower.

“My goodness… The hero who saved the nation was you, Master? That legendary magician!?”

“……”

Myohail didn’t deny it.

Seeing that, Laura got goosebumps.

The magician she had been serving as her master was the hero who once saved the world and also the husband of the hero?

“Master! You’re a hero! If we reveal this fact to the nation now…!”

“Enough. Being a national hero or a legendary magician has nothing to do with me anymore.”

“Huh?”

Myohail looked at the cherished photo of Wendy. In it, Wendy was smiling brightly, and a tri-colored cat was sleeping in her arms.

“I’m just a happy cat now.”

*

We officially began our retreat and arrived at the gathering point by sunset.

After summoning the commanders for a brief meeting, all that was left was to go to bed.

I looked out the wagon window at the rising moon.

Since we had moved a bit south, it wasn’t as cold as in Nordengarden. At this point, we could probably get through the night with just tents, without needing huts.

But for some reason, the spacious wagon felt empty without the Annihilation Maids and Rian, who usually accompanied me.

At some point, I had come to prefer being with people rather than being alone.

“Sigh… I’ve changed.”

I thought I had become Tristan, but the fact that I wasn’t used to being alone was somewhat amusing.

Since I couldn’t sleep, I thought I’d have some tea… As I absentmindedly reached for the teacup on the table, it tipped over as if by magic.

“…?”

An earthquake? It’s not like a teacup would just fall over so easily…

Wait, no. This is a familiar situation I’ve experienced several times before.

“Could it be Sora…?”

The only one who could cause such supernatural phenomena was my sister, Sora.

“Sora, right?”

As if answering my question, the fallen teacup moved as if someone had touched it.

Not just that, but the teapot was also shaking violently.

It was like a poltergeist phenomenon, giving me chills…

But that alone didn’t tell me what Sora was trying to say.

Seeing how violently the teacup was shaking, it seemed like she was warning me about something…

That’s when it happened.

Knock knock.

The sound of someone knocking on the wagon door in the middle of the night.

Who could it be?

“Come in.”

“……”

“?”

I spoke politely, but there was no response.

No matter how long I waited, there was no reaction. I had no choice but to get up myself.

How dare they make me open the door…

As I grumbled internally, I opened the door and froze.

Because…

“Pant pant…”

A suspicious figure wearing a stocking over their face was standing there.

“…What is this?”

“Shut up and lie down on the bed!”

The intruder pushed me into the wagon and shouted.

“I, I’m getting more and more annoyed!”

“Stop joking around.”

“That’s why women keep flocking to you!”

“Helga.”

Startled.

Even through the distorted stocking, I could tell she was flustered.

“…Who is that…?”

“Sigh…”

“Wait! Hold on!”

I pulled the stocking off her head.

Then, Helga’s face, awkwardly smiling while holding my wrist, was revealed.

“Ehehe… I got caught…”

She had been caught long ago. I wanted to call her an idiot, but I held back.

It’s not like this was the first time I’d been in such a sudden situation, and reacting every time would just be exhausting.

“Such a pointless prank…”

“Ahaha…”

“Stop laughing and let go of my hand.”

“You know, Count.”

“…?”

“Do you know the motto of the Wolfbert family?”

I tilted my head at the sudden question. Regardless of her intentions, I did know the answer.

“Clearly…”

“If you want something, seize it by force… It’s a really good motto, right?”

“?!”

Suddenly, Helga’s grip on my wrists tightened. The strength was unbelievable for a woman, leaving me unable to move.

“…What are you trying to do?”

The atmosphere felt ominous, and I gulped.

I didn’t show any outward signs of panic, but she had never used such force on me before.

She was my loyal subordinate, a hunting dog who only followed my orders. I could never imagine her biting her master.

But betraying my thoughts, Helga smiled slyly and answered.

“Breeding.”

This crazy woman? Has she finally lost her mind?

I tried to shake off Helga’s grip, but it wasn’t easy.

“Hehe… You can’t escape. You know I’m stronger, Count.”

That’s when I realized what Sora had been trying to warn me about.

I’m sorry, Sora. I should’ve run away as soon as I saw your signal!

But there was no time to lament.

Instead of panicking, I looked at Helga with a ‘proud’ attitude.

“Are you trying to push me with force? That’s so like you.”

“Well, since you won’t fall for my charms, I have no choice but to take the lead by force…”

I see…

Hearing that, I understood why Helga was acting this way.

Being extreme and hot-tempered, she had a personality that could explode at any moment. The only one who held her leash was me.

The reason I could control her with that leash was because of her affection for me.

Unlike others, she would listen well to the words of someone she liked. She wanted to do well and be rewarded… That psychology made it possible.

So I often tried to reward her.

Of course, as a man, there were moments when I wanted to cross the line. But my goal wasn’t romance; it was saving this world, so I endured with patience each time.

However, Helga, unaware of this, must have grown impatient. For someone with little patience like her, it must have been even harder to endure…

But still, something felt off.

There must have been a trigger for Helga to try to pounce on me like this.

And my guess was spot on.

“I know everything. Not only did you sleep with the Princess, but you also shared a bed with that brat…”

To some, that might sound misleading, but I didn’t point it out.

Besides, Helga’s expression looked too desperate to nitpick.

“Am I not womanly enough? I wear makeup every day, and I wear these short skirts just to look good for you… Why don’t you understand my feelings?”

At some point, Helga was on the verge of tears.

“Sob… I’m a woman too! I have pure feelings too! If you trample on my pure feelings like this…!”

Rip!

Helga tore my shirt in one swift motion.

“I have no choice but to trample on your purity…”

Wait, you take purity, not trample on it…?

I thought that, but calming Helga down was the priority now.

“Helga.”

“Sob… I’m really going to breed with you.”

“Calm down and look at me.”

Helga finally looked up at me. Her face was the same Helga who had stayed by my side until the end in previous loops.

Now, it was time to be a little more honest with her.

“You’re plenty attractive. I know you dress up every day to look good for me.”

“Really…? Then why don’t you ever peek at my legs? You always tell me to dress modestly…”

“It’s because I don’t like other men looking at you like that.”

“Huh?”

“Why did you ask why I don’t peek?”

I gently stroked Helga’s head.

“Then let me ask you. Why should I peek at you?”

“…!”

“You’re mine. So I’ll look at you when I want to.”

With those words, I hugged Helga once. As I gently stroked her back, Helga trembled.

After a brief hug, I asked the now-calmed Helga.

“Do you understand what I’m saying?”

“Yes…! Yes! So you’re going to breed with me from now on, right?!”

She completely misunderstood.

And how can she say such vulgar things with such a happy face?

Well… That’s just Helga being Helga.

Helga clung to me.

At this rate, it feels like I’ll have to stay with her all day.

Just as I was about to sigh, a chilling voice reached my ears.

“Really… I knew this would happen.”

When I saw the figure standing outside the open wagon door, I almost let out a groan.

“Bella…”

“Am I interrupting a good moment?”

Her voice was dripping with sarcasm.

Her gaze was icy cold.

And she wasn’t alone.

“Helga, I knew you’d cause trouble.”

Blanshe was there too…

“This is going to make the Count uncomfortable…”

And Wendy, fidgeting nervously.

“…Huh?”

What on earth is going on here?

 

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