Translator: Nox

Chapter 6

I Will Save My Dad

I Will Save My Dad, Episode 7

Episode 7

4. Theon Phil Boltman

I pointed toward a corner of the training ground.

As the knights stepped back, the view cleared, revealing a young boy.

Who would have ever imagined it?

‘The Emperor’s son, sitting on the floor of Count Travel’s training ground, polishing armor with a cloth!’

The boy himself didn’t know, and neither did the Boltman Baron and his wife, who were raising their deceased daughter’s child in her stead.

He was a son born during the days when the current Emperor traveled the empire in disguise, seeking amusement.

At this point, even the Emperor likely had no idea that Theon existed.

‘He should be ten years old now, right? I heard the Boltmans were dirt poor, and it looks like it was true.’

He wore clothes that seemed to be hand-me-downs; they didn’t fit his frame, so the sleeves and pant legs were rolled up. Despite being nobles, the Boltman Baron was so impoverished that he couldn’t even afford a single set of custom clothes for his beloved grandson.

‘But what does it matter what he’s wearing? Theon is a diamond in the rough that only I know about!’

I couldn’t help but grin.

Theon was so engrossed in his task that he remained focused on polishing the armor, even as he became the center of attention.

“He has great focus despite his young age. I like him already.”

Heh. I could hear someone else taking an interest in my diamond.

Rex watched Theon with a satisfied smile before tilting his head.

“But who is he?”

“Have you forgotten already? I introduced him on the first day.”

“What was that, you brat?”

“Thank you for giving me another chance to explain, Vice Commander. He’s the apprentice who started five days ago. He’s an acquaintance of an acquaintance of the Family Head… anyway, he came with a letter of recommendation. He’s Baron Boltman’s grandson.”

Recognizing the name, Rex narrowed his eyes.

“Baron Boltman? Isn’t he the knight who was active during the late Emperor’s reign? I didn’t know there was a son to carry on that line.”

At Rex’s question, the knight stole a glance at me and lowered his voice as they continued the conversation.

“It seems the young lady of that house had a child out of wedlock in her youth. Since the father was unknown, he was registered under the Boltman name. The lady passed away the year before last, and Theon has been raised by the Baron and his wife since then.”

“…How old did you say he was?”

“Ten.”

“Hmph.”

Hearing Theon’s circumstances, Rex’s nose twitched. I heard him mutter to himself that the poor lad must have had a hard time.

Rex cleared his throat and turned to me.

“Ahem. My lady, would you like to go to the Head Commander’s office with Theon?”

“Is my friend’s name Theon? Yes! I want to go with him!”

“Understood. Theon!”

When Rex called his name loudly, Theon finally looked up.

Unlike his worn-out clothes, his black hair was neat and his face was clean. It seemed to be the result of the home education he received from the Boltman Baroness.

Looking at his double-lidded black eyes, thick eyelashes, sharp nose, and dark eyebrows…

“Come over here!”

He was definitely going to grow up to be a handsome Crown Prince.

At his superior’s call, Theon quickly stood up and ran over.

“Did you call for me, sir?”

“Greet her. This is Lady Berry.”

“Hi!”

“Hello… My Lady.”

Unlike me, who waved and greeted him brightly, Theon spoke in awkward, formal language.

‘It’s probably because I look younger than him at a glance, right?’

Though there were relatives my age at the Travel estate, I was likely the first direct descendant Theon had seen up close since starting his apprenticeship.

‘Besides, the Boltman family is a noble house too. It must feel strange for him to use formal speech with a child!’

After the greeting, Theon looked at Rex. His gaze suggested he was waiting to be told why he had been called.

That look was remarkably composed for a child.

‘Aha. So this is why the other me liked Crown Prince Theon….’

I smiled meaningfully to myself.

Up close, Theon’s black eyes looked indifferent, but they bore a striking resemblance to someone I knew.

I felt a warm breeze. They were just like my dad’s eyes.

“Theon, you know who Lord Raytan is, don’t you? The Grand Master who returned to Travel the day before yesterday.”

“Vice Commander, he’s ‘former’… Ack.”

The knight, who had his foot stepped on by Rex, shut his mouth and swallowed a scream. Rex spoke in a boisterous voice as if nothing had happened.

“He’s on child-rearing leave. Why do you think Windis hasn’t chosen a new master?”

“Is he returning to duty?”

“This little brat is sharper than he looks. I like it.”

Rex patted Theon on the shoulder.

“He hasn’t given a definitive answer yet, but I believe it will happen. Then, do you know this? That Lady Berry here is Lord Raytan’s daughter?”

“His daughter…?”

Turning his gaze back to me, Theon’s black eyes were sparkling.

‘Oho. This might be easier than I thought.’

Any child learning the sword was likely to admire my dad. After all, he was the man who had reached the pinnacle of swordsmanship as a Grand Master!

You like my dad, don’t you? Then do you want to help me save him? Hmm?

“Yep! My dad is Raytan Quartz Travel!”

I smiled broadly and held out my hand to Theon.

Nice to meet you!

My future male friend!

---

“Lord Raytan, it’s ten days away.”

“I know.”

As Raytan stepped out of the temple, he was stopped again by the sound of someone calling him. The priests were following him like chicks trailing a mother hen.

The leader of the chicks urged him.

“Windis’s predicted rampage is in ten days. You must come to the Grand Temple before then….”

“Priest Pin.”

“Yes, yes.”

“I told you I know.”

A chill settled in the air. Raytan, who already had a fierce impression, furrowed his brow.

The priests, who had been following so closely they were practically touching his back, scrambled backward in an instant.

“Of course. I assumed you would already know, Lord Raytan.”

Fearing he had offended him, Priest Pin spoke frantically. He wondered if they really had to go this far, but Raytan was currently the only ray of hope for the Aubaut Church.

The shadows under the priests’ eyes grew darker by the day. No matter how much medicine or food they consumed for energy, it wasn’t enough to replenish the divine power being drained by the Holy Sword’s rampages.

Windis.

That finicky Holy Sword.

“It’s just that Windis is waiting for you so anxiously….”

They wondered what was so special about the scoundrel of the Travel family that the sword was so obsessed with him.

If Raytan didn’t return as Grand Master, the Grand Temple was likely to be torn apart by the vortex soon.

So what choice did they have? After resolving this rampage, they had to find a way to strap the Holy Sword back onto Raytan’s waist.

Whether they had to kneel before him or entice him with the word ‘temporary’—they were the ones in a desperate position.

“Have a safe trip back. Please sleep well and take care of your health until we meet again….”

Priest Pin’s reminders and concerns didn’t stop until Raytan boarded the carriage.

“I understand. I will go to the Grand Temple so you have nothing to worry about. Stop following me.”

Raytan quickly closed the carriage door. He couldn’t remember the last time the silence in his ears felt this welcome.

But as soon as it became quiet, his worries about his daughter began again.

‘I’m sure she’s staying out of trouble.’

Raytan quickly corrected his thought.

The phrase ‘staying out of trouble’ didn’t exist for Berry.

She was a daughter who always brought trouble with her. In Bonwell Village, she was a child who wouldn’t back down even against kids bigger than her, and she was the one who had read every single book in the village library within a year of learning to read.

‘That maid is a concern too. No matter how much she tries to hide it, there will come a time when she notices Berry’s brilliance while being by her side.’

The maid Marian had planted.

He had heard from Sherry that the woman was raising a young younger brother. She had sided with Marian because she needed to earn money.

‘I need to find out something that can be used as a weakness….’

Lost in thought, Raytan stopped tapping the seat with his index finger. He remembered the conversation he had with Count Travel last night.

The Count had said Berry’s eyes resembled Raytan’s mother, Julia Quartz. She was Count Travel’s second wife.

The year after the first wife gave birth to the eldest son, Hevant, and the eldest daughter, Marian.

The second wife had entered the Travel family.

“The person said to be the most brilliant physician in the Heysel Empire said it. That Julia wouldn’t last a year in Travel after giving birth to you. Because of an incurable disease she had suffered from since childhood.”

He never knew his mother had been suffering from an incurable disease.

Raytan’s pupils shook slightly at the news he was hearing for the first time. Count Travel continued.

The gold of Count Travel’s eyes deepened as he briefly brought up the old story. Though no one noticed the change in the darkness.

“It was a disease that caused intermittent fevers of unknown origin. But as you know, your mother lived for twenty more years. On the grounds of the Travel family.”

“…Why are you telling me this now, something you’ve never mentioned before?”

Raytan’s throat felt dry. He didn’t have enough information to make a move. The questions he wanted to ask got stuck in his throat.

Count Travel stared quietly at his son. The question that followed pierced through Raytan.

“How many more years do you think your daughter will live?”

---

Rex gave Theon an order.

None other than to guide Lady Berry to the Head Commander’s office and play with her!

‘Rex is the best! He’s on our side!’

I was secretly worried that other knights might follow us, but Rex caught them, saying they still had training left to do.

Though the knights, with their slumped shoulders, looked like disappointed puppies that couldn’t go for a walk.

Right now, I had to get close to Theon.

“Hey, Theon!”

“Yes.”

“Want me to tell you something cool?”

I lifted the hand I was holding with Theon’s and pointed at a wooden planter in the hallway.

“I’ve seen this tree three times already!”

Flinch!

Theon’s shoulders gave a start.