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“You didn’t have to guide me all the way.”

“It’s our family’s sanctuary. I couldn’t just let you go alone.”

Bella said that while holding the reins.

The next day, I arrived at the sacred land of Izakhel, the entrance to paradise. The entire Izakhel family’s knights were mobilized to escort me to paradise, making it a situation where I didn’t know what to do… but to my eyes, it just looked pitiful.

“Thank you all for escorting me this far.”

“Not at all, miss.”

“It’s only natural.”

Including Blanshe, there were twelve of them. The full strength of the Izakhel knights. It was a humble number for a knight order, but there was no helping it. Once a family that dominated the empire with its wealth, the Izakhel family had fallen into ruin, losing most of their territory to debt. Naturally, the budget to maintain a knight order was tight. At least with Blanshe, they wouldn’t be lacking in strength, but unfortunately, she was set to marry me. In the end, they would have to manage the knight order without her.

Maybe I should help them out… Once everything is settled, I might be able to help with my resources.

“Tristan. I know what you’re thinking, but you don’t need to. Our knight order can manage without your help. Blanshe will come by occasionally to guide them, so it’ll be fine.”

“……”

Bella, quick to notice, blocked my help in advance. It’s understandable. She has a personality that dislikes receiving help. Moreover, the debt the Izakhel family owes is all to the Ruelberta family. She would never want to owe me anything, even if we were to become partners. Even if we were to marry, her resolve to repay the debt with their own strength wouldn’t change.

However, the ‘culprit’ behind the debt seemed to have a different perspective.

“Bella, don’t say that. It might make Tristan feel left out.”

“Father…?”

Duke Fred Izakhel, who accompanied us, had his shoulders tense. Despite some crises along the way, with my marriage to Bella confirmed, Duke Fred subtly wanted to show that he was now my father-in-law.

“Though the marriage hasn’t happened yet, Tristan is now a member of our family… no different from our own. Tristan also considers us family, so he’s just saying to rely on him.”

“…Father. Even if I marry Tristan, I won’t ask for the debt to be forgiven.”

“W-What are you talking about all of a sudden?”

“What do you mean? You’re saying that since we’re family now, we should treat the debt as if it never existed. Let me tell you in advance, I absolutely cannot accept that. I’ll repay the debt somehow.”

“But we’re family…”

“No. Even if we’re family.”

“Hmm…”

Under Bella’s firm stance, Duke Fred hesitated as if struck at his core.

“Then what does Tristan think…”

“Father. Please, just call him Tristan. What’s with this ‘Tristan-servant’ thing?”

“No, but wouldn’t that seem too distant?”

“It’s embarrassing. Who uses such expressions these days…”

Seeing the word ‘servant’ come out of the Duke’s mouth, I wondered if it was some kind of Easter egg. But it was indeed an outdated expression, and Bella scolded Duke Fred for it.

Then, Duke Fred suddenly turned his head and looked at me.

“Hey, Tristan-servant…”

“Father!”

“Ahem… Count. I’ve actually thought of you as a son for a long time now.”

“A… son?”

“Yes. You resemble me in my youth. Popular with the ladies and all. I’m happy that you’re marrying our daughter. Now you’re no different from a real son, right? Haha.”

If my memory serves me right, Duke Fred said this during the trial:

-You, you… don’t get cocky. Who would give their daughter to someone who looks like a parasite like you? Not until I’m six feet under!

Bella seemed to have the same thought. But Duke Fred, as if forgetting that past, showed a friendly attitude towards me.

‘No… maybe it’s the opposite.’

Rather, he probably remembers that time and is desperate. He never expected the family to fall into ruin because of the Ruelberta family, and he certainly never expected me to marry Bella.

“So, it’s a bit early, but you can start calling me father-in-law from now on.”

“…What?”

Father-in-law… It felt strange hearing Tristan’s way of speaking. The characteristic of using power and wealth to even make the emperor grovel. Because of that, he had always spoken informally, even to Duke Fred. Suddenly calling him ‘father-in-law’ so familiarly wasn’t Tristan’s style. Of course, it wasn’t my style either…

“Come on, don’t be shy. Call me father-in-law.”

“……”

I couldn’t bring myself to say it. It’s not that I couldn’t, but my pride wouldn’t allow it. Glancing at Bella, she seemed embarrassed but also somewhat expectant. After all, no matter how flawed Duke Fred was, he was her only father.

“…That can wait until after the marriage…”

Poke.

Bella poked my side. She pouted, looking disappointed. It was an expression only meant for me. With her already unfair beauty, making such an expression felt like cheating.

I closed my eyes tightly.

“…It’s not too late to decide… father-in-law.”

“That’s right. Hehe…”

“Hahaha. I finally get to hear ‘father-in-law.’ Then I’ll call you…”

“But ‘Tristan-servant’ is still a no.”

Duke Fred’s shoulders, which had been tense, slumped.

Though it was humiliating, there was no helping it. I was no longer the villainous Count Ruelberta but also Bella’s husband. It was okay to let her win sometimes. She gave me a beautiful smile in return, so it wasn’t a loss.

“Then, take care.”

“Be careful on your way.”

“…Hmm.”

Bella waved with a smile, and Blanshe, though stoic, bid farewell with as much emotion as she could muster. After seeing them off, I dismounted and stepped into the forest leading to paradise. Then, I spoke to the one who had been hiding in my shadow all along.

“You’ve been hiding well. Myohail… no, Wingfield.”

“…I wasn’t exactly hiding.”

From my shadow emerged a tricolor cat, Myohail.

“I just didn’t have a chance to speak.”

“Same difference.”

“Haha… Don’t be so harsh. I’ve already had an earful from Wendy.”

Not long ago, during Wendy’s trial, I learned his true identity. He was Wingfield, the legendary magician who, alongside the first hero Grace, defeated the Demon Lord. It was surprising to find out that a character I only knew from the setting was him, but seeing him wander for centuries in search of the hero’s descendants made me realize something. He and Grace had a child together. In other words, Myohail was Wendy’s distant ancestor.

The reason Myohail hadn’t spoken of the past was probably because it wasn’t a good memory and wouldn’t do any good to bring it up.

Through him, I learned the hidden backstory of this world. The tragic end of the first hero Grace, and how Myohail, enraged by her loss, destroyed the kingdom…

Hearing all this left me heavy-hearted, and Wendy’s eyes welled up with tears. If I were Myohail, I might have done the same. Profound sorrow, despair, and the loss of a loved one can change a person.

“It was just… futile. The world Grace and I worked so hard to save… I felt betrayed by the world we saved. They praised the hero, but then they framed Grace and killed her. I was disgusted by them, by humanity… That’s why I abandoned the name Wingfield and left the world behind.”

Myohail became a bystander. He watched the world filled with tragedy, hatred, and rage from the sidelines, stepping back from the whirlpool of history.

“But you showed me that was wrong, Count.”

In exchange for Myohail’s confession, I told him about the second hero I saw during the trial. The girl who became the Demon Lord at the end of despair.

Myohail, who always remained calm no matter what, was visibly shocked by the story.

“The second hero ended up like that because of me. It’s my fault for being a bystander, for not noticing. My descendants suffered because of it. I should have stopped it…”

“It’s in the past, Myohail.”

Both the first and second heroes met tragic ends. If I hadn’t stepped up for Wendy, she might have met the same fate.

“Right. Wendy… If you, who changed the hero’s fate, can save this tragedy-filled world…”

“Perhaps.”

Myohail leaped into the air and transformed into an old man. In his true form, he looked at me.

“That’s why I’ve stepped into the ‘roots of the world’ to help you.”

The reason we visited paradise with Sage Myohail was that paradise was deemed the most suitable place to install the gate.

Based on what I learned at the university library, I asked Myohail various questions. Through those questions, Myohail understood my intent.

-So, you’re saying you want to find a source of magic power that can supply magic from the other world? Then how about installing the gate in paradise?

-Paradise?

-Paradise is one of the places where magic power surges year-round. With its high concentration of magic, it could serve as the root for the gate, allowing magic to be supplied from the other world. Paradise is the ‘root of this world.’

As we walked deeper into the forest, the concentration of magic in the air grew thicker. At the same time, I felt a slight dizziness, like being drunk. It must be magic sickness. With the demon’s curse lifted, I was experiencing a sickness I shouldn’t have.

“Ah, I almost forgot.”

Myohail waved his fingers at me, and a faint, shimmering barrier appeared around me before disappearing.

“That should help with the sickness.”

“Thanks. But Myohail.”

“Hmm?”

“What’s your relationship with Michaela… the god?”

A sudden question. Given their long lives and high positions, it seemed likely they had some connection.

Myohail stroked his beard.

“Hmm… What do you think?”

“Not a good one, I suppose.”

“Haha. You already know, don’t you?”

“I just guessed. You two didn’t even acknowledge each other at the mansion.”

During their stay at my mansion, Myohail and Michaela had been distant, almost ignoring each other.

“In the past, knowledge was seen as a way for humans to approach god. Among that, magic was despised and feared as a threat to god’s authority. Especially the sage, at the pinnacle of magic, was considered a vile being challenging god’s omniscience.”

“Hmm…”

“Now that magic is widespread, that perception has completely disappeared, but I’m a mage from that era. I don’t have a good impression of god.”

“I see. So, you’re a grumpy old man?”

“What? Grumpy old man?!”

“Just kidding.”

Their relationship wasn’t particularly good or bad. For now, that level of relationship was just right. Being too close or too distant would both be problematic.

After walking for a while, we passed through dense trees and came upon a vast meadow.

The realm of the gods, paradise. Isolated from the outside world, this was a place where one couldn’t set foot without the god’s permission. I had visited here before when I first possessed this body, for the trial. But it had been so long…

“…Rain?”

It was raining in paradise. Dark clouds loomed, and a drizzle fell, which was strange for paradise, where the sun always shone warmly.

It was an odd situation. I wondered if we had come to the wrong place… But not far off, a girl in a pure white dress was pacing in circles. It was Michaela.

“Strange… This is…”

“Were you waiting?”

“Eek?!”

Michaela jumped, startled. She screamed so loudly that it startled me more.

“…What’s wrong?”

“N-Nothing. It’s nothing…”

“……”

Perhaps because of the weather, Michaela seemed anxious. She didn’t notice us coming and was biting her nails, her fingertips a mess. What’s going on? This is the first time I’ve seen her like this…

But what she said next was even more unexpected.

“Um… can you just go back today?”

“…Go back?”

“Yeah…”

“…Didn’t we make a promise? You said you’d help me with anything in exchange for letting you leave this place.”

“…That’s true, but… today’s not good.”

“Why?”

I needed to know the reason to understand Michaela’s situation, but she kept shaking her head.

“I don’t know…”

“You don’t know?”

“Yeah… I just feel like something dangerous is coming…”

“…Tell me more.”

Drenched in the drizzle, Michaela fidgeted and spoke.

“Well… ‘paradise’ is rejecting you…”

 

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