Ch#45
The Wavebrill Marquisate was a true Capital noble house.
Not some half-baked power hastily incorporated into the Capital long ago, but a real ‘Capital noble.’
‘So it’d be best to tell the Wavebrill Marquisate our situation and secure their help in case of any potential dangers. What do you think?’
Tiye agreed with Nordix’s opinion.
It certainly seemed safer for her that way.
Above all, Governor Marianne didn’t seem likely to refuse Tiye’s request either.
Even before Nordix, Marianne had actually come to Tiye first.
‘Is there anything Agabert needs right now? If there is, I’d like to help.’
‘Govewnow lady……?’
‘Yes. You saved my sons. Something no one else would touch. So if there’s anything I can do, please tell me.’
At the time, she’d said nothing came to mind and sent Marianne away.
But after talking with Nordix, she realized.
What she needed to ask Marianne for.
That night, Tiye steeled herself and visited Marianne’s office alone.
‘Govewnow lady! Actually, Tiye’s not the supah stwong Necwowowd!’
Marianne looked taken aback.
‘Tiye’s actually a kid…… Twying to find Dad.’
But after hearing everything, she didn’t seem too surprised, and quickly grew serious.
‘To my ears, this whole situation sounds pretty dangerous. How many people know this fact?’
‘Eung, Uncle Basto, big bwos Veil, Gwampa Nowdix, big bwos Waoul, big bwos Enzo, and Govewnow lady……?’
Marianne only relaxed after hearing Tiye had cast conditional memory erasure magic on everyone.
Then she gripped Tiye’s hand tight and said,
‘Good. I’ll support the Unit Leader as much as I can. But from behind the scenes, without drawing attention.’
‘Weally……?’
‘From the moment Raoul and Enzo chose the Unit Leader, we’re in the same boat. From now on, I’ll think of the Unit Leader as another child of mine, just like them.’
At those words, Tiye suddenly thought of the Gold Villa folks.
Specifically, 107-room Grandmother and 203-room Auntie.
They too had always said Tiye was like their own child, like family.
Tiye’s heart fluttered, her eyes welling up.
Marianne hugged the tearful Tiye and patted her back.
‘The Unit Leader, no, Miss Tiye is doing well. Everything will be fine from now on, so don’t worry.’
‘H-heung…….’
‘It’s been tough, hasn’t it?’
‘Y-yeahhh, walked all the way to Pearl City and tummy always hungwy, legs hurt. Actually, was a wittle scawed fighting sea monstews too…….’
‘Aigoo, first we need a sturdy carriage.’
Marianne said that, then took info on Tiye’s dad too.
She tilted her head at the name Kim Youngsu, but.
Finally, at Marianne’s request, Tiye activated Oblivion’s Sanctity.
‘I knew Raoul and Enzo would eventually take up the sword again. They take after their father more than me.’
Before leaving the office, Marianne gripped Tiye’s hand and said,
‘So I’d braced myself to send them back to the battlefield someday…… but I was still anxious.’
‘…….’
‘That’s why I’m glad they chose you, Miss Tiye, and Agabert.’
Marianne’s eyes were full of sincerity.
‘You all stepped up when no one else would. I’m relieved the place my children joined feels safe and warm.’
At that moment, Tiye felt something new tickling her heart.
It was responsibility.
‘Tiye’ll take good cawe of big bwos Waoul and Enzo!’
‘Really?’
‘Yeah! Tiye’ll work hawd so oppas don’t get hurt!’
That day.
Back in her room, Tiye stared at the ceiling for a long time, thinking.
‘Being Unit Leader is wike this.’
It was a role she’d taken on haphazardly to hide her identity.
But now, Tiye felt something special and wondrous as Unit Leader.
‘……Wanna get stwongew.’
She had great power, but didn’t know exactly how to use it.
‘If Tiye had a teachiew who uses magic wike Tiye……’
Then she could learn to handle this power and use it better.
Tiye got up and gazed out the moonlit window.
‘Wish there wewe no Mana Stones in this wowwd at all.’
Then Basto’s wife and daughter, Governor Marianne’s husband wouldn’t have died to monsters.
‘And Dad too…….’
Suddenly, the image of Dad from her recent dream flashed by.
Dad holding newborn baby Tiye, standing amid swarming monsters.
Dad’s eyes full of anxiety and worry.
‘Did Dad fall into Korea whiwe fighting monstews?’
Then Dad suffering in Korea, suddenly leaving the world one day.
Even not recognizing Tiye now—all because of Mana Stones, in a way.
Tiye clenched her fist tight.
‘If Tiye gets stwongew…….’
She’d protect future Dad from such dangers.
Further, protect Raoul and Enzo, Basto, Nordix, and Veil.
Tiye opened her bag and gripped the stone where Kkamangi slept.
Even trying to sleep after, she ended up sleepless till dawn.
Because thoughts kept chaining together, tormenting her.
* * *
And so, Tiye and Agabert loaded their luggage steadily into the sturdy carriages Marianne provided.
‘Heading to Populosa Armory District, right?’
At Marianne’s question, Raoul and Enzo nodded.
Agabert’s next destination was Populosa Armory District.
To repair Basto’s worn War Hammer.
‘Planning to get a new sword for myself too while there.’
Marianne smiled faintly at Raoul’s words.
She stayed silent a moment, then entered the Governance Hall.
And soon came out with something.
Raoul’s eyes widened recognizing the item in her hand.
‘……Mom?’
‘It’s your father’s sword.’
Basto and Veil, loading luggage, turned toward them.
Tiye on the carriage looked at Marianne and the twins too.
‘The blade’s quite dull now. Probably from the last battle.’
‘…….’
‘Get it fixed and carry it from now on.’
Raoul froze in shock.
Enzo nudged him lightly beside.
‘What’re you doing? Take it quick. Mom’s arms’ll hurt.’
Only then did Raoul snap to and take the sword.
But soon, as if he couldn’t, looked at Marianne.
‘Mom. Still, this…….’
‘You’re left-handed like your dad. No reason you can’t use it.’
‘…….’
‘And your dad wouldn’t want his heirloom sword gathering dust on a rack either.’
Raoul finally closed his mouth.
Soon nodding faintly, Veil gestured from afar to hurry.
‘Let’s go!’
Enzo hugged Marianne tight one last time before turning.
Raoul with the sword followed, eyes red.
‘Govewnow lady! We’ll be back!’
Finally all aboard, Tiye waved brightly.
Marianne smiled back at Tiye.
Soon the horses started forward.
Marianne held back tears, gazing at the departing carriages.
It was bittersweet, but no longer anxious or scared like before.
Composing herself, she turned and entered the Governance Hall.
And the moment she sat at her desk, began writing a letter.
[There’s something I need looked into.
Searching for a Holy Knight who made a big name now or in the past, or achieved great feats.
Black hair, eyes mixed green and brown, personality quite serious and taciturn.
Name’s a bit unusual, so might find quicker.
Please check if anyone in the Capital knows a Holy Knight named Kim Youngsu.]
Finishing the letter, Marianne wrote ‘Walker Wavebrill’ as recipient.
Her mother, current Wavebrill family head, and one of the empire’s top five great nobles.
The current Wavebrill Marquis.
