Chapter 49
Kalben's eyes darkened.
"How could I forget."
How could he forget all the events that had transpired in the meantime.
After enduring a long period of patience, the reason they had returned to Ortejo Castle at this very moment.
It was all for the sake of achieving one sole goal.
If they could achieve that goal, even giving their lives wouldn't be a waste.
Both Kalben and Milligan thought the same.
Milligan glanced at Kalben's resolute expression and lowered his voice.
"Before that, we must properly perform the return ceremony first."
"My apologies, but Milligan-nim. As far as I know, that return ceremony was discontinued 200 years ago......"
"Tch. These days' kids."
Kalben felt aggrieved in his own way.
Countless immune individuals of the North. Among them, those with special abilities had gone to war to protect their country.
In that process, philosophical and humanistic education about souls and spirits had long been sidelined.
"How would they know?"
"Why doesn't anyone study the family's doctrines anymore."
Those born after magi infested the family couldn't learn the fundamentals, so it was unavoidable.
"Well, anyway, we must perform the return ceremony."
"Surely you're not thinking of performing all of the long-discontinued <128 Return Ceremonies> from family history?"
"Of course we must. Why, any complaints?"
* * *
24 hours had passed since then.
Sweat was pouring down Kalben's forehead like rain.
Addressing each portrait of the ancestors one by one to announce his return through the lengthy procedure, and offering utmost respect in the family chronicle log.
After that, pouring a glass of liquor at the gravesite where previous grand dukes were buried.
"We haven't performed the true Northern rite yet, but given the circumstances, it's unavoidable."
He thought all the formal ceremonies were finally over.
"Then, now we must have the time to inform the direct descendants of the return."
It wasn't over yet?
Right at the moment Kalben's complexion turned despairing.
An unexpected man appeared before them as they tried to enter the Ghost Castle.
The grand duke who should be at the battlefield, why here? The question was brief.
Ortejo Grand Duke Declan nodded toward his father.
"You've arrived."
"Your father has come, and you don't even greet properly? Insolent brat!"
"Why have you come suddenly?"
"None of your business. It's not related to you, so mind your own."
"Understood."
This insolent fellow really minded his own business.
As expected of someone with average Northern manners.
"Anyway, now that I've arrived, gather all the direct descendants. Ah, probably no children. Hah, really. Are you saying the only direct descendants in this Ghost Castle now are you and me?"
As he prattled on, his expression turned displeased before long.
"......The direct descendant is in the family."
"What? Ah, vacation, so Seraphin must be here."
"Not just Seraphin. There's another. Please come in."
What direct descendant was this?
Milligan, full of doubt, entered the dining room and widened his eyes in surprise.
"No, this."
"What?"
"Why is the dining table this ridiculously long?"
"Had it custom-made by artisans. If you have complaints, don't sit."
"Indeed, your manners are truly average Northern level."
Even at the insolent remark, Milligan remained calm.
This level of bickering was par for the course in the North.
Declan also nodded nonchalantly.
"Then, Father, please sit right next to me."
Then who was meant to sit at the chair far across?
And then the door opened grandly.
The one entering the dining room was Seraphin.
"Oh, hello Grandpa?"
"Se, Seraphin?"
"Yes. I'm here?"
Milligan's complexion turned pale.
Though the last time he'd seen him was at age three, Seraphin was extraordinarily different.
"Gonna beat up lil' sis 'cause I'm bigger now."
"Wh-what?"
"Gonna step on her head."
It had been tremendously rude remarks.
Of course, that was before getting hit on the head.
In short, before turning 180 degrees, he'd been proud thinking, 'This kid will become a warrior!'
But as the saying goes, rivers and mountains change in 10 years?
Watching Seraphin bow his head politely, he asked in bewilderment.
"Y-yes, Seraphin. Have you been well?"
"I've been fine. Glad to hear Grandpa's been healthy all this time."
What, what was this?
Was Seraphin a kid who thought this normally?
And Milligan realized there was something even more surprising.
The child following behind Seraphin.
The five-year-old with silver hair and purple eyes somehow looked familiar.
And Milligan recognized who the child was at once.
"Ah, Iri, isn't it?"
Milligan unwittingly shot to his feet.
It was the appearance of his youngest granddaughter, whom he'd only known through portraits.
"Yes, Iri Ortejo-nimida. Nice to meet you-nimida!"
Straight-backed posture and impeccable demeanor.
Iri offered a polite 90-degree bow.
But then, Milligan's eyes sparkled just like Iri meeting her master instructor for the first time.
"Oh ho. A greeting?"
He barely suppressed his excitement at seeing his youngest granddaughter in the flesh for the first time!
"Yes, correct-nimida. Must offer greetings-nimida."
Polite words and a neat bow of the head.
Milligan's eyes widened greatly once more.
Just as Iri was seeing her 'prospective master instructor' for the first time here, Milligan too was seeing a child performing the hands-clasped-in-front salute for the first time in his life.
And that child was his youngest granddaughter whom he'd thought he'd never see in his lifetime?
Milligan, calming his blood pressure that had surged twice in 10 seconds, looked toward Declan.
With eyes demanding an explanation of the situation.
"Shouldn't the child be in the South?"
"The child came up from the South herself not long ago."
"Hah...... But she's non-immune?"
"She was determined to be immune this time."
Having lived long enough, he roughly guessed and nodded.
*'Must have somehow become immune, but didn't manifest greatly, so still vulnerable to magi.'*
Having grasped the situation, Milligan cleared his throat and said.
"I see. Then let's eat first."
"We're already eating."
"Insolent brat."
Seraphin too was in the middle of spooning soup.
But only one person, Iri, hadn't picked up her spoon.
She merely sat there, gazing at Milligan with sparkling eyes.
"Hm? Why aren't you eating?"
"I eat after elder eats-nimida!"
"What?"
"Picking up spoon after elder is childlike manners-nimida."
Milligan wore a perplexed expression.
It was something he'd never heard in this Ghost Castle.
*'No, this is....... Definitely not something I've never heard before.'*
Long ago.
When magi hadn't infested this family, and everyone had souls and spirits alive.
*'Everyone had those sparkling eyes. Upholding respect for the family head.'*
But now everything was gone.
The North's terribly murky magi had made countless people prioritize mere survival.
Yet why did this child prioritize respect over survival?
He slowly lifted his spoon.
And took a spoonful of soup.
Then Iri beamed brightly.
Seeing that smile, he couldn't even taste the food.
The child neatly lifted her spoon and said brightly.
"I'll eat well-nimida!"
No, even offering 'I'll eat well'?
