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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: Mod7
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The banquet hall.
The Family Head seemed to have heard everything. Only Master, the Family Head, and I occupied the hall.
“Ethan, Sylvia told me everything about Aen.”
His calm tone left me at a loss. I could only watch carefully, unsure how to respond.
‘Don’t tell Father about using demon magic under any circumstances.’
‘…I understand.’
‘If he learns of it, your head might leave your shoulders right there. This is a secret between just you and me.’
Perhaps because of that promise with Master, my conscience pricked at me, making this situation uncomfortable.
“Ethan, Sylvia. The House of Linchester will handle this matter.”
“Yes. Please do.”
“This isn’t just about your and Sylvia’s honor—it concerns the honor of the entire Linchester family.”
In other words, they would bury the matter of Aen.
In the end, Aen would be recorded as having died from magical beast attacks in the demon territory.
Though it didn’t sit well with me that a would-be criminal would receive an honorable death, it seemed unavoidable.
“And Ethan…”
“Yes, Family Head.”
“I, Benek von Linchester, am moved. You threw yourself into danger to protect Sylvia, my daughter and your master.”
Though it was true, such praise made me feel awkward.
Yet Benek nodded his head, looking genuinely impressed.
“Therefore, I, Benek von Linchester, wish to accept you as a member of the Linchester family.”
I nearly spat out my tea.
I barely managed to swallow and rolled my eyes around frantically.
“W-what do you mean by that?”
“I’m saying I’ll adopt you. You don’t have a family backing you, do you?”
That was true.
Honestly, I didn’t even properly know who Ethan was. Actually, ta-da! The truth is Ethan was the son of a prestigious family!
I was confident I wouldn’t be surprised even if that were the case.
Still, this was quite sudden.
“Ah, are you hesitating because of marriage to Sylvia?”
That’s not it.
Somehow at the mention of marriage, Sylvia grew anxious again.
“Father…! That marriage matter has already been settled…”
“Silence, Sylvia von Linchester. I wasn’t speaking to you.”
“…I apologize.”
Sylvia pouted and fell silent again.
“Ethan. I truly want Sylvia to marry soon and find happiness. That’s a father’s heart.”
“I see.”
“But I would regret seeing my only daughter saddened by an unwanted marriage.”
“Yes, yes. I understand that would be the case.”
That must be why the conclusion was that I needed to become stronger within three years. That must have been their compromise.
“However, unlike marriage, there’s absolutely no problem with you becoming a member of the Linchester family, is there? After all, you’d be my adopted son without a drop of shared blood.”
His tone suggested my opinion didn’t matter at all.
“Father! I believe Ethan’s opinion is important in this—”
“Silence, Sylvie. Having a disciple has made you quite audacious lately?”
Master became dejected again. Seeing her reaction pained my heart.
Have such an authoritarian man as my adoptive father?
There was nothing to think about. Absolutely not.
I’m the one who went to extreme lengths to leave Logness because I despised such oppressive hierarchical systems. I even risked being labeled insane.
Entering under such a domineering Family Head didn’t seem right.
“Lord Benek von Linchester.”
“Yes… speak.”
“I deeply appreciate your generous consideration. Truly, thank you. However, I serve Sylvia as my master.”
Benek’s brows slightly narrowed.
To create such pressure just by narrowing his brows—I hurriedly continued speaking.
“But if I were to enter the Linchester family, I would have to serve you, the Family Head, first. Therefore, I beg you to allow me to continue serving Sylvia as my master first!”
Benek’s expression grew strangely gentle as he heard my words. Then the Family Head burst into hearty laughter.
“Ha, HAHAHA―!”
His laughter continued, filling the banquet hall.
“You’re completely kicking away promised wealth and honor! Do you love my daughter so much that you’d refuse the Family Head’s offer?”
Why did he interpret it that way?
But I had neither the strength nor the spirit left to protest. After all, I’d already had my heart drop this morning when Master discovered Lien.
“I understand your love for my daughter. No wonder Sylvia smiles like that with a man like you around.”
My head was spinning.
It felt like my mental strength was being shaved away.
“Very well, Ethan. If you’re willing, continue serving only my daughter. But join the family.”
“What…?”
“I won’t give you any oppressive orders. The same goes for my daughter. How about those conditions?”
Benek smiled gently.
Wow, he’s not leaving any escape routes. Does this forceful drive come from his years of experience?
At this rate, I felt like I’d get caught up in his pace.
“Would you give me some time to think about it?”
In the end, I had to use my cheat key.
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Leaving the banquet hall, my eyes met Master’s. Somehow the atmosphere had turned awkward.
“Why do you keep glancing at me? Do you want to peek at your master that badly?”
“N-no, that’s not it.”
A smile spread across my face at her playful question.
“Still… I understand your feelings toward me. Perhaps I’m a bit happy.”
Master’s cheeks turned slightly red. It was quite cute.
“I’m grateful you see it that way.”
“However, I like men who are stronger than me.”
“……”
Master gently grabbed my ear and whispered secretly:
“Fufu, don’t even dream about taking me before then.”
Naturally, the image of Master’s naked form from the hot spring came to mind. I felt my ears turning red.
Please, Master…. Please stop using that expression.
However, knowing that the moment I said that, Master would unleash all sorts of suggestive talk, I shed tears of blood internally.
After a quick breakfast, we headed to the private training ground. Master seemed to be doing well despite having been poisoned.
“Ethan, there’s something I need to confirm. Did you combine techniques when defeating Aen?”
“Yes, Flash Strike and Sword Soul. I combined the two techniques.”
Indignation flashed across Master’s expression. Whoosh! The mana-infused rod grazed my shoulder.
“Never, ever combine techniques like that again.”
“Master!”
“These are techniques I might as well have created myself. I pride myself on knowing their strengths and weaknesses better than anyone. Your body can’t handle using them that way.”
Master looked like she wanted to say “Let’s start with you getting hit first.”
I felt slightly wronged.
Thanks to that technique, both Master and I are still alive.
“Answer me.”
“I won’t recklessly combine techniques again.”
“Your expression shows you don’t approve of my decision.”
As expected, lies don’t work on Master.
I didn’t even want to imagine what might have happened to Master if I hadn’t combined those techniques.
“…I couldn’t have won otherwise.”
“You dare talk back?”
“I… I just wanted to protect Master…”
Tap. Master swept my legs out from under me with a low kick. It didn’t hurt. As if she hadn’t meant to cause pain in the first place.
“Who told you to save me in such a way?”
“……”
“All this feels like my failure to teach you properly.”
Master’s sigh struck like a dagger. Getting kicked by Master in the morning, now hearing these harsh words. At this point, even I felt a bit resentful.
“Swear to me, Ethan.”
“What would you have me swear?”
“From now on, if you meet an opponent you can’t handle even using all your basic swordsmanship, run away. Swear this before your master. No matter the circumstances.”
Master’s beautiful eyes trembled.
Was she worried about her disciple’s wellbeing before her own?
However, I too was a stubborn person.
“I refuse, Master. Even if time were turned back, I would save you again.”
Suddenly, I remembered Sylvia’s fate from the original story.
“…I, I would rather suffer terrible things myself than see you die.”
“Then even if my body is ruined and crippled, I would save you again.”
Master raised her rod high. Thinking it might fall, I hurriedly took a guard stance.
But the rod returned to its place futilely.
“You only cause your master worry. Do as you please.”
I had never seen Master upset like this before.
“Master, why don’t you hit me until you feel better?”
“I won’t give you what you want. Just practice what you learned last.”
That day’s training with Master ended there.
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In Sylvia’s room.
Sylvia sat in her chair, thoroughly angry.
‘Damn him. Who did he take after to be like that? Did he think I would like hearing that?’
Though his devotion to his master was admirable, her disciple’s disregard for his own body troubled her.
Usually when a master says such things, the disciple should just agree and move on. But Ethan was stubborn.
He was straightforward, as if incapable of lying.
He had been the same when confronting Aen. She had thought it might be better if her disciple had fled and left her behind.
Because he was such a disciple, she had felt even greater betrayal when sensing the demonic energy. And after learning everything, she felt immense regret.
Looking at it now, it had all stemmed from her misunderstanding. What kind of treatment was this for a disciple who had risked his life to protect her?
Since that day, her eyes were dark from two sleepless nights. She had been awake for over 48 hours.
‘Ah… I really need to properly apologize…’
Knock knock.
Dania came to see Sylvia, carrying an armful of documents.
They were texts filled with content about swordsmanship.
‘Hmm… Lady Sylvia, your expression doesn’t look good again today.’
Recently, Sylvia’s expressions had become more abundant. The sharp Dania couldn’t fail to notice it was because of Ethan.
At times like this, it was Dania’s job to tactfully ask about her troubles first.
“Lady Sylvia, do you have something troubling you?”
“I don’t know what to do with that disciple.”
Sure enough.
Having opened with that, Sylvia confided in Dania about her disobedient disciple. However, she didn’t say a word about Lien.
She only spoke about feeling sorry toward Ethan and wanting to correct his mindset.
“Lady Sylvia, maybe you could try the carrot and stick approach?”
“Carrot and stick…?”
Dania lowered her voice and whispered her suggestion. But Sylvia’s expression was disapproving.
“…So using your body too—”
“Don’t say such nonsense, Dania.”
A light flick to the forehead followed. At the gentle force that didn’t hurt, Dania snapped to attention.
“How would that be any different from what a prostitute does?”
“Oww… It hurts, Lady Sylvia.”
“Enough, you may go.”
Dania bowed once and withdrew obediently. Left alone in the room, Sylvia fell into thought.
‘If that would really change Ethan’s mind… It might be okay…’
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