Ch.254-11. I Love You

# 11. I Love You

The world had found peace thanks to them, and those who had gifted peace to the world were shining in their respective positions.

Since peace had already arrived, they could have taken it easy, but they didn’t.

Like gifted prodigies from a country still in the midst of war, they honed themselves rigorously day after day.

Ordinary people wouldn’t understand.

But what’s certain is that the world could remain peaceful because of their efforts.

“Haa… Haa…”

Today too, the young man was swinging his sword alone in the vast training ground.

Yesterday, today, and probably tomorrow as well, he would be doing the same.

Normally, it would have been an incredibly lonely affair.

But he wasn’t lonely at all.

That’s because there was always someone watching him at the training ground.

A child with snow-white hair like the depths of winter, and contrasting jet-black eyes that gave them an exotic appearance.

The child called the young man:

“Daddy!!”

The young man, addressed as daddy, responded to the call.

“Yes? What is it, Albert?”

“I want to do that too!”

Albert always wanted to imitate his parents.

He had read many books following his mother’s example, and now it seemed he wanted to wield a sword like his father.

It was a good thing.

All the things he wanted to imitate were beneficial activities that would help him in the future.

Still, the father was hesitant.

‘Should I teach him?’

He wanted to let him hold a sword right away, but swords were dangerous objects, so he was worried… well, not exactly worried about that, but about what Ellie might say.

Still, it wasn’t a bad thing, so she probably wouldn’t scold him too harshly.

“Alright, it’s about time you tried. You’re already five years old, after all.”

“That’s right!”

He surveyed the armory filled with weapons.

Then, grabbing two wooden swords, he returned to the training ground.

Albert tilted his head when he saw the wooden swords.

“They’re different from what you were holding?”

“You have to use these.”

“Can’t I use the same one as you?”

“You can’t… hold the same one as me.”

When he firmly stated this, Albert asked with teary eyes.

“Why…? I want to use that one too…”

“This is something only daddy can use, but if you work hard, you’ll be able to wield an even cooler sword than this.”

“Really…?”

“Yes, really. But if you don’t work hard, you won’t be able to. You probably can’t even lift this one now?”

“No way…! I can lift it!”

With a confident expression, Albert snatched one of the wooden swords from him.

But as he had predicted, Albert couldn’t lift it, and the wooden sword fell powerlessly to the ground.

-Thud!-

Seeing this, he said:

“See? You can’t do it.”

“Why…? Why can’t I do it? Daddy can lift things much heavier than this!?”

“It’s because you don’t have enough strength.”

“Strength…?”

“Yes, it’s because you lack strength. So let’s make lifting this your goal. How about that?”

Albert stared at the wooden sword lying on the ground.

He seemed lost in thought for a moment, and his father watched the adorable scene with a paternal smile.

“But isn’t that too easy? Daddy swings it around like whoosh! whoosh! just like that…”

“You always start with simple goals at first. That’s what I did too.”

“Daddy couldn’t lift it at first either?”

“Of course not.”

Hearing that answer, Albert’s eyes suddenly sparkled.

He immediately grabbed the wooden sword, determined to achieve the goal his father had set for him.

“How long did it take you, Daddy? How long?”

“I think it took me… about 3 days?”

“3 days? Okay! I’ll definitely lift this within that time!!”

Albert had always grown up hearing praise about his father.

He constantly heard stories about how strong his father was when he was young and what an incredible genius he had been.

Perhaps because of this, while Albert respected his father, he also wanted to surpass this amazing father of his.

‘That’s a good thing.’

Having a goal is a good thing.

Of course, being a goal, it might be unattainable, but surely pursuing that goal would lead to significant growth.

Just as he himself had done in the past.

“Work hard. I’m sure you can do it.”

***

While the father and son were passionately training…

A girl who looked strikingly similar to the young man from earlier… Despite being only five years old, she had a somewhat mature aura about her.

The girl sat by the bookshelf, watching her mother who was processing dozens of documents.

“I miss Daddy.”

“Then go see him. You can just go.”

“…”

Seemingly upset by her mother’s lifeless response, the child pouted and wandered aimlessly around the area.

“Don’t you miss Daddy, Mom?”

“I do miss him.”

“Then why don’t you go see him?”

“I have to work.”

“When will you finish?”

The child missed her father.

But her father wasn’t here.

“Why don’t you live with Daddy? Other moms live with their daddies.”

“Mom has to be here.”

“Who says so?”

“The citizens?”

She was still too young to understand adult circumstances, of course.

For the child, her daddy and mommy were her entire world, so it couldn’t be helped.

“What are citizens that they can separate Daddy and Mommy?”

“You’ll understand everything when you’re older.”

“I miss him…”

“Tell Daddy you miss him. He’s free, so he should be able to come.”

He was indeed free.

That’s why he could comfortably swing his sword at the training ground…

Though he wasn’t completely free since he occasionally went to clear remaining dungeons.

Still, he would certainly have enough time to visit his beloved daughter.

“Should I? Mom misses Daddy too. I’ll tell him to come here.”

“Right.”

The child turned on her mother’s phone.

Then, as always, she dialed her father’s number.

-Ring ring ring!! Ring ring ring! Ring ring ring!-

Only strange sounds kept echoing, but her father’s voice wasn’t heard.

Lilith sighed at the sight.

“What on earth is he doing…?”

“I don’t know… But when are we going there again?”

“Do you miss him that much?”

“Mmm…”

“Then train hard. He might come just because he’s proud of you.”

That child, resembling who knows whom, was talented in many ways.

Being only one-quarter succubus, her abilities in that regard weren’t strong, but her growth rate was almost as fast as a human’s.

And on top of that, she had the unique power of a succubus…

“Really?”

“Yes.”

“Anyway! I miss Daddy!”

-Beep!! Beep!!-

Just as she was whining, her mother’s phone rang.

The child immediately snatched the phone.

“Daddy!? Is it Daddy!?”

-Yes, Bellian. Have you been well?-

“No? I haven’t been well!”

-Why? Did something happen?-

“Something did happen! I haven’t seen Daddy! It’s been almost a month now…”

Bellian’s expression brightened dramatically upon hearing her father’s voice.

Just from hearing his voice, without even meeting or seeing his face.

-Wait just a little longer. I’ll come visit next week or so.-

“Really!?”

-Really.-

“But Daddy!”

-Yes?-

“Can’t you and Mommy just live together?”

Alber couldn’t readily answer that question.

Of course, Bellian understood her father’s circumstances to some extent.

Still, she couldn’t help missing him.

-That might be a bit difficult.-

“When can we live together?”

-I’m not sure. You might have to wait a long time.-

He didn’t want to upset his daughter.

However, he also didn’t make up false promises, knowing that she would be even more disappointed if she found out they were lies. It was better to tell her the truth from the start.

-It’s not that there’s no way… but then you’d have to live apart from Mommy. You wouldn’t want that, right?-

“I don’t want that.”

-Then please bear with the inconvenience a little. I’ll try my best too.-

“Okay…”

She was a bit disappointed by this fact, but it was okay.

She could clearly feel that her father loved her, and besides, he said he’d visit next week.

“Then Daddy! See you next week!”

-Take care until then, don’t overdo it and get hurt.-

“I will. Should I put Mommy on?”

-Yes, please.-

Bellian handed the phone to her mother.

-Honey?-

“Yes, what?”

-What are you doing?-

“What do you think I’m doing?”

-Why are you so sensitive today?-

“Because of you! It’s all because of you!”

She was clearly shouting.

Yet, the corners of her mouth were almost reaching her ears.

-Suddenly?-

“So when are you coming?”

-Next week, I said.-

“Which day next week?”

-Around Wednesday?-

“And when are you leaving?”

-I’m planning to stay for about… a month.-

Upon hearing this, the mother and daughter looked at each other in shock.

But of course, neither of them believed it.

“You’re joking, right?”

-It’s true. I’m a bit free these days.-

“Alright, come quickly… It’s been a bit boring lately.”

-I will.-

As the call was about to end, Bellian started giving subtle hints.

The mother and daughter conversed in a quiet voice that wouldn’t be heard over the phone.

“Say you love him.”

“Why should I…? He should say it first.”

“That’s not how it works. Quickly, quickly.”

“Ah… really… Honey.”

She took a deep breath, waiting for Alber’s response.

It might seem like no big deal between a married couple, but for her, it was significant enough.

-Yes?-

“I… I love you…”

-Oh, me too.-

With that exchange, the call ended…

She scolded her daughter for making her do something strange.

“Making me do weird things…”

“It’s because you never say it, Mom.”

“…”

“I love you too.”

Bellian definitely took after Alber.

“Me too…”