In the afternoon, I had a sparring match with Bel. She seemed to have recovered quite well, even volunteering to be my opponent. Since Bel was eager, my father-in-law immediately gave his approval. He’s just as doting towards his daughter as Gerard is to mine.
“Hah!”
“Hoh!”
However, fighting her directly, I realized her leg techniques were more than just sharp. Without even using magic, she was incredibly adaptable, launching attacks from unexpected angles, aiming to take me down. And since they were kicks, her reach was naturally longer, extending her attack range. Considering her performance during the Beast King Festival and at the Demon Lord’s Castle, I wonder how Sera managed to win. Though, Bel did forfeit during the Beast King Festival.
“Hey, Papa, your power isn’t just that, is it? I’m sparring with you after finishing rehabilitation, so at least pretend to fight seriously.”
“That’s right, you’re not allowed to hold back!”
“Don’t worry, this is just a warm-up. You haven’t used your Green Magic or abilities yet, have you? Father-in-law is shouting like that too, so maybe we should start fighting seriously?”
“Hey, you damn brat! If you hurt Bel’s fair skin… you know what’s coming, right?”
The spectators are being utterly unreasonable!
However, aside from my father-in-law, Bel, a professional in Green Magic with fighting skills on par with Sera, is the perfect sparring partner for me. Her unique ideas, like the Viscous Wind Reflecting Barrier that combines wind with rubber properties, are a significant plus.
“Die!”
“Whoa!?”
And her killing intent is high, and her words are harsh. You’re not serious about that, are you? No, even that would earn a high score from me? The closer it is to a real fight, the more I get fired up!
“This is great, Bel! Hey, Father. May I join you there too?”
“Hmph, a performance by the world’s most beautiful, radiant, and adorable miracle sisters? That would be splendid. Sera, I permit it! Go and extinguish our brat son’s life!”
“Father-in-law!?”
But that’s also quite… a high score!
*BOOM!*
The training ground, supposed to be sturdily built, shook as Sera landed with an exaggerated flourish.
“Father has given his permission! Bel, from now on, let’s work together amicably!”
“I don’t think any such permission is necessary… But if Sister wants to, I won’t stop her. It’s also a sister’s duty to defer to her elder sister.”
“Good, obedient girl!”
Isn’t that the opposite of obedient? I bet your sister is internally ecstatic.
“Kelvin! You apparently received the Wind Dragon King’s blessing, but I’ve been granted the Dark Dragon King’s blessing, so don’t hold back!”
“If you’re going to say that, then Rion did too. I’m just happy everyone is steadily getting stronger. So, will you show me? That new power of yours!”
Our battle has now begun.
***
Kelvin’s Residence – Balcony
“Ouch…”
“What’s this? You were boasting so much, yet you ended up losing?”
The sparring match with the Baal sisters was a narrow defeat. No, there’s no point in pretending to be strong here. The result was a complete annihilation. I put up a fight, I really did. But the combination of the two, who had seemingly teamed up on the fly, was akin to that of a veteran party that had been together for years. Even when I tried to devise a strategy, or overpower one of them with magic, Sera and Bel were both all-rounders who excelled in everything they did. On top of that, their intuition and luck were exceptional, leaving no openings. Their Unique Skills were also no joke, and they were far more troublesome and formidable opponents than fighting Father-in-law alone.
Literally battered and bruised, I came to the balcony to cool my head with the refreshing natural breeze. I was surprised to find Gerard already here, watching the grandchildren play in the garden. First, doting on his daughter, and now doting on his grandchildren – today is certainly filled with encounters with people who spoil others.
“I’m frustrated that I lost, but more than that, I feel more happy.”
“Oh, have you finally bloomed with the talent for self-deprecation…?”
“I’m aware that I’ve gotten used to your teasing. We’ve known each other for a long time.”
Hmph, I can now gracefully brush off Gerard’s jokes, which initially used to confuse me. If Efil were here to make some tea, I’d be enjoying a sip with elegance.
“Indeed… It has been a long time since we became King and Knight. Do you remember? After we saw off the heroes boarding their ship in Traage for the first time.”
“Huh? Ah, yes, that’s nostalgic…”
But I’m still not accustomed to the sudden shift to a serious atmosphere. Let’s see, Traage’s port, Traage’s port. I need to recall the scenery from that time!
After seeing Touya and the others off, waving enthusiastically, and on the way back—
“—When the contract is fulfilled, I shall recognize the King as my true master.”
Ah, yes. I remember now. He said something like that through telepathy back then. The completion of the contract was dependent on the end of the revenge for Gerard’s homeland, Alcal. With Zildra having been defeated in the recent battle, it’s no exaggeration to say the contract has been fulfilled. Is that what he’s trying to say?
“Whoa, whoa, don’t bring up such an important topic during this conversation.”
“Gahaha! The flow, the place, the time – none of it matters! Besides, Efil, Sera, and the King always have some woman by his side. There’s no time to choose such things. It’s something we shouldn’t postpone; it’s an important matter for me as well. I wanted to talk one-on-one like this.”
Saying that, Gerard, who had been sitting at a table on the balcony, suddenly stood up and knelt before me. He looked like a knight pledging loyalty to his king, making me almost mistake this place for the throne. Teasing him about being a doting grandfather might be inappropriate at this moment.
As long as Gerard acknowledges me as King, I shouldn’t leave this seat, nor should I disrespect his loyalty. For now, I will simply wait for Gerard’s next words.
“Back then, I rejoiced over petty things like becoming able to defeat S-Rank Monsters. However, the accumulation of those efforts has led to my current strength and built the relationships with the friends who fight alongside me. You undoubtedly saved my heart, which couldn’t pass on to the afterlife with regrets, thinking it was impossible. I could never have imagined a day like this, surrounded by my grandchildren, after losing my wife and child.”
“…It was beyond my ability alone. It was all possible because everyone was by my side.”
“What are you saying? Isn’t it precisely because you were at the center of it all that everyone gathered?”
“Is that so…?”
Being killed by Kuromel, coming to this world with Melfina, making a contract with Kuro, and taking Gerard as my subordinate— I don’t have the consciousness of being the center. I just lived my life as I pleased. Honestly, my companions overestimate me too much.
“My King, now I, Gerard Flagarak, shall pledge my true loyalty.”
At that moment, the oppressive force emanating from Gerard changed. It became heavier, yet also carried warmth, a mixture of various emotions. I couldn’t tell if it was the effect of his Unique Skill. However, I understood that Gerard had moved to the next stage. It seems I don’t have time to rest on my laurels just because I received a blessing. I might get left behind.
“I accept your loyalty. For Rion and the others, live a long life, okay?”
“Gahaha, I shall endeavor to do so!”
Then, the air around us returned to its usual relaxed atmosphere, and we watched Rion, Ange, and Ryuka play tag—
“Ah, yes, yes. Since we have the chance, would you like to see my true face, now that I’ve materialized?”
*Poof.*
“Huh? Eh, Eehh—!?”
The suddenness of the event made me let out a strange cry. What was Gerard’s true face like? That is a top-secret matter known only to a king and his knight.
Commemorating the breakthrough of 140,000 total evaluation points.
