Translator: Nox

Chapter 4

I Will Save My Dad

I Will Save My Dad, Episode 5

Episode 5

Light, fire, wind, and earth.

The four Holy Swords possessed the supernatural powers of the Prime Deity.

Raytan had become a Grand Master after being chosen by ‘Windis,’ the sword imbued with the power of wind.

However, six years ago, upon his retirement to raise his child, Windis was returned to the Grand Temple for safekeeping. To this day, the Holy Sword had not chosen its next master.

“Kallet, about that Holy Sword. They say if it has no master, it goes berserk because it cannot release its accumulated power, right?”

“Yes. A Holy Sword’s rampage must be suppressed with divine power. It’s said that for the past four years, a significant portion of the Church’s divine power has been diverted for that purpose.”

Under Count Trabel’s gaze, Kallet immediately reported what he knew.

Raytan was also aware that a new master for Windis had not been decided.

However, he was now an outsider with no connection to the Church. While he felt a twinge of guilt when thinking of Windis, he had no regrets about the choice he made in the past to protect Berry.

Raytan snapped his fingers as if shaking off the last lingering attachment.

“Does the Church wasting its divine power constitute a reason for Trabel to move? Since when did you become so devout?”

The Trabel family and the Church maintained a close relationship, but it was strictly one of mutual benefit.

Trabel provided funds, and the Church provided convenience in return.

And the Church was the one who had disrupted that balance.

“The Church announced that starting this year, they will no longer bless our figureheads. They claimed that divine power—the power of the Prime Deity—cannot be used for the benefit of a single family.”

Kallet explained on behalf of Count Trabel, who was silent with rage.

One of the Trabel family’s primary businesses was maritime transport.

The statues mounted on the prows of their ships, imbued with divine power, protected the vessels from natural disasters.

Because of this, Trabel paid massive donations to the Church every year to receive blessings for their figureheads. It was an absolute necessity for the Trabel ships, which frequently navigated waters prone to typhoons.

“Shameless bastards.”

Count Trabel ground his teeth.

He recalled the nonsense the Grand Priest had babbled with a hollow laugh a few weeks ago.

“However, the situation would be different for a family that counts a Grand Master among its members. Since they are permitted by the Prime Deity to wield supernatural powers, the Deity would surely be pleased to see divine power used for the sake of their household.”

It was a demand for him to find the retired Raytan and help him return as a Grand Master.

Since their own intelligence network couldn’t find Raytan, they intended to use the Trabel family.

“They dare say such a thing?”

After taking hundreds of millions of Kona in donations earlier this year!

Claiming it couldn’t be refunded because the money had already been consecrated to the Deity!

The Count despised their ulterior motives and the way they were blackmailing him, but he had little choice.

“I’ll make sure they pay their debt later.”

This happened after he suffered a massive loss when a ship capsized in the middle of the ocean; he had let it set sail after hearing some alchemists claim they’d successfully researched a way to pierce through storms.

If he couldn’t get the figureheads blessed, he would continue to suffer such losses. For now, he had to dance to their tune.

“If Young Master Raytan resolves this matter, it will weigh heavily in the evaluation for the next Annex Competition. He could likely reach second in the line of succession without issue…”

“Shut up, Kallet.”

Raytan’s voice was laced with killing intent.

Achievements, family interests, the line of succession… It was a world of beasts who would tear out the throats of their own kin for such things.

“Father! Please…!”

“Be quiet! Why are you meddling in something that doesn’t even make money!”

He was sick of it. That was why he left.

Six years later, and this place hasn’t changed a bit.

Raytan let out a hollow laugh.

“I’ll persuade the Grand Priest as you wish. To keep blessing the figureheads.”

“Mhm.”

“But this is the last time. Berry and I will leave once the job is done, so do not look for us again. Unless you want to see your delinquent son running amok.”

A faint blue aura flickered over Raytan’s shoulders before fading away. Raytan, having warned his father, was about to grab the doorknob when—

“That child of yours.”

Raytan turned his head. Laxek had a pensive look on his face.

As expected, his warning meant less than a mosquito’s wingbeat to the great Count Trabel.

“How is her health?”

“…What do you mean by that?”

“I am asking if she is prone to illness.”

“……”

A subtle tension hung in the air between the estranged father and son. The doorknob didn’t turn.

Count Trabel looked at his second son.

“Her eyes look exactly like your late mother’s.”

---

3. Red Eagle Knights

When I woke up, the sun was high in the sky. I was shocked that no one had woken me up.

Was it really okay to live like a lazy bum at Trabel? My heart, which had begun to flutter with excitement, was crushed in an instant.

“Oversleeping is for today only.”

Dad said as he picked out a pair of cufflinks from a velvet case held by a maid.

Seeing Dad dressed up from head to toe, an ’Oh’ escaped my lips automatically.

I wasn’t the only one who thought so; the maids nearby were stealing glances at him too.

“What about from tomorrow?”

“You have to get up and eat breakfast. Even if you don’t change out of your pajamas.”

While I was fast asleep, Dad had washed up, eaten breakfast, and even changed his clothes.

Meanwhile, I was still in my pajamas, getting my hair brushed by Sherry.

I sat on the sofa in Dad’s room with my legs stretched out and covered my face with my hands.

“Ugh. Life is so hard.”

When I grumbled, Dad placed his hand on the crown of my head and gave it a gentle shake.

“It can’t be helped since you’re growing. They say it’s good to wake up and eat in the morning during a growth spurt.”

The citrusy scent of the perfume he’d sprayed on his shirt sleeves tickled the tip of my nose.

Sniff sniff. Dad smells like an aristocrat.

“But why are you in outdoor clothes? Are you going somewhere?”

I was asking even though I already knew. High-ranking priests were waiting for Dad at a nearby temple because of Windis.

“To a nearby village. I’ll be back before dinner. Sherry has to go to the Main House too, so you can play well on your own, right?”

Dad took his hand off my head and lightly snapped his thumb and middle finger. This was a secret code between Dad and me.

Keep your talents a secret. Act like a spoiled child when around others.

I nodded to show I understood.

“Okay! Why is Sherry going to the Main House?”

“Because I need to squeeze—I mean, receive more ingredients from the butler.”

Ooh. That was welcome news.

‘That means for a few hours, Dad will be gone, and even the butler won’t be able to pay attention to Pebble House?’

I cheered inwardly. Now that there were fewer eyes on me, it was my chance to make contact with a future ally who was somewhere here at Trabel.

If there was one small problem, it was that there was a spy for my relatives among the people left here.

“Then what should I play…? It’ll be boring without Dad and Sherry…”

As I scanned the room for a playmate, I locked eyes with one of the maids.

‘Anne, the maid Aunt Marian planted.’

I beamed at Anne.

“Will you play with me, unnie?”

“Pardon? Shall I?”

Seemingly caught off guard by me speaking to her, Anne couldn’t hide her delight.

And for good reason—ever since coming to Pebble House, Anne had been desperate because she hadn’t found any information worth reporting to Aunt Marian.

Since Dad was cold as ice, she seemed to have been looking for an opening with me, an easy target, since yesterday.

‘But I’m the one who knows your weakness~’

Anne was extremely weak to cute things.

And it’s a bit embarrassing to say this myself, but in a month, Anne will find me so cute she’ll want to carry me around in her pocket.

---

The Trabel estate spanned nearly 250 acres.

The vast land was divided by a massive stone wall into the area where direct descendants lived and the area for those belonging to the Trabel household.

And guarding that place was the Red Eagle Knights of the Trabel family.

Their training center was located inside the stone walls, to the west of the Count’s mansion.

“Heave-ho!”

“Hah!”

The shouting of sweating knights was boisterous. This was the indoor training ground on the first floor of the annex.

Standing before more than thirty knights was the Total Vice Commander, Rex, who had short gray hair.

“Focus! A knight is built on mental strength and physical endurance!”

Rex’s booming shout filled the training ground.

Befitting his nickname, ‘The Charging Grizzly,’ he was massive. The muscles in his log-like arms rippled.

“Anyone caught slacking will undergo special training!”

“Yes, sir!”

Special training.

“I’ll make you remember just how cozy a bed the dirt on a battlefield can be!”

I definitely don’t want to do that!

“Yes, sir!”

However, despite their energetic responses, the knights’ attention had been drifting toward a certain spot for a while now.

Pop. Pop.

The window facing the hallway. Something was repeatedly appearing and disappearing.

‘What is that?’

‘Something pink…?’

‘A furball?’