Ch.90Chapter 90. I’ll Stay Here. Dad, Go Away.

-Drip, drip.

The sound of blood droplets falling into the lake.

In this vast lake, a single drop would be too insignificant to notice, but even though the blood was diluted, the ripples it created were gently reaching where I stood.

Unlike the emotional scene I witnessed before losing consciousness, everything was now eerily quiet and cold.

“You seem lost in thought. Dad.”

While I was watching in silence, Pailoi opened her mouth, fixing her clouded eyes on me.

The girl, who had thrust her blood-stained sword into the lake’s surface, continued speaking in a blunt voice, still using that title for me.

“Well, in your memories, I was just a childish little kid. I guess you don’t like seeing me in this filthy state.”

Filthy? With my hand on my heart, that thought never crossed my mind.

After all, what I should feel toward the girl who was crying in the middle of a battlefield just moments ago should be sympathy, not disgust.

“But why does that matter now? You didn’t come here to talk about such trivial things anyway.”

Yet Pailoi continued speaking as if my thoughts didn’t matter to her.

Then she fixed her lifeless eyes on me and asked:

“What you want, Dad, is for me not to kill Mom, right?”

-Drip, drip.

A silence so profound that the sound of blood droplets hitting the lake was clearly audible.

In that prolonged stillness, I couldn’t give Pailoi any answer.

I now knew with certainty that her purpose wasn’t born from a curse but from her own will, and at this point, I even found her reasons justified.

“That’s a relief. At least you’re not garbage drunk on moral superiority.”

Pailoi took my silent realization as affirmation.

The palpable harshness about her was something typically seen in adventurers who dealt with grim work.

Yes, as if to teach me that she could never return to being that child who once showed me affection.

“That’s right, just as you suspected… That woman once abandoned her daughter without a word and left. She irresponsibly left her daughter, not even ten years old, in an era where war existed everywhere.”

A sneer. She raised the corner of her mouth in a cold smile.

Along with it, her fiercely glinting eyes contained nothing but emptiness.

“It’s only natural to want to kill her. That damn mother.”

“…Pailoi.”

“Of course, you probably don’t have any ill feelings toward Mom, but once things have started, it’s impossible to end them with just our will alone.”

As if mocking me for thinking there might be some solution.

Pailoi maintained her attitude and continued to assert her position firmly.

“Dad.”

Still using that title for me.

“Even though she knew I harbored revenge against her, Mom deliberately extracted a soul from a dead body and created a replica of her daughter. Do you really think there was no reason for that?”

I flinched and shrank back.

That reaction came before my mind could comprehend, as my subconscious had already accepted Pailoi’s words.

“Yes, exactly what you’re thinking now.”

To refine the soul of someone harboring revenge and deliberately make it into a weapon.

Isn’t the reason for that all too obvious?

“From the beginning, Mom created me because she wanted me to kill her. And she chose you as the person to help with that, someone who could raise me to this point.”

As if even denying any hopeful thoughts I might have was beneath her.

Pailoi drove the final nail into her argument without giving me any leeway.

“You already suspect it, don’t you? Mom’s true identity. And that someone of her caliber wouldn’t give away something as precious as an Ego Weapon made of mythril without getting something in return.”

“……”

“…Well, I don’t need to explain further now that we’ve come this far.”

-Swish.

As she pulled her sword from the water and pointed its tip at me.

Despite having bled enough to create a pool of blood beneath her, the sword tip aimed at me was still stained red.

As if to teach me that her desire for revenge wasn’t something that would disappear with a few words.

“Dad, do you understand now why I’m acting this way?”

Yes, everything I’d experienced was pushing me toward this.

This child was fundamentally created from the soul of a hero who harbored revenge against her mother.

Knowing this, Tachia, who made this child into a weapon, must have also anticipated that she would be killed.

“You know clearly what you need to do to survive, right?”

And for that purpose, she handed this child over to me for free.

To me, who desperately needed power more than anyone.

Because she knew that someone like me, who would be nothing without a weapon, would become attached to this weapon and never let it go.

“…Yes, as you say.”

And that thought hit the mark perfectly.

After depending on her so much, there was no way I could think of separating from this child now.

“If that’s what you want, and what Tachia wants too… Then I, who have received help from both of you, should comply.”

If there truly needs to be a price for all I’ve achieved so far.

Then I should never refuse this proposal.

“You finally understand. Then…”

“But not yet.”

My words, refusing to accept the immediate conclusion, cut off Pailoi’s speech.

For a brief moment, the smile on her face began to distort at a noticeable speed.

“Not yet?”

“…Yes, not yet.”

Betrayal.

Unable to face the expression that showed she suspected my answer would be far from what she wanted, I lowered my head on the spot.

“I don’t think it’s time to give a definitive answer yet.”

I knew it was cowardly, but the situation was too sudden for me.

There was no way I could easily accept that I had to kill someone who had shown me kindness overnight, and that the child I considered my companion had a mission to lead that killing.

“…I thought you were going to say something else.”

Despite lowering my head out of shame, Pailoi’s emotions were clearly reflected in my eyes.

Even without looking directly at her face, I could see it reflected in the bloodstained water’s surface.

-BANG!

The moment I realized her expression was filled with anger, a thunderous sound erupted.

With a violent splash of water that distorted her face, Pailoi had already struck my body, knocking me down onto the water’s surface.

“Dad. Do you think you have any choice right now?”

The cold chill from the water soaking my body.

And the moment an even colder and sharper blade was pointed at my face.

“The only reason you’ve survived all the dangers until now is because of me. If I don’t cooperate with you here, you’ll die before long.”

I know that too.

No matter how much I’ve grown, without this child, I would eventually return to how I was before.

“If you want to survive from now on, you need to swear right here that you’ll kill Mom with me!”

“I know that much.”

“Then why…!!”

“But I still don’t know anything!”

Facing Pailoi who was crying out, I too raised my voice in frustration.

There was no hesitation.

Even with a sword pointed at my face, I had to say what needed to be said.

“Pailoi, I don’t know anything yet. I just learned why you want to kill Tachia, but I don’t know anything else.”

“Is that so important? All you need to know right now is that without my cooperation, you’ll die…”

“You know how painful it is to be manipulated without knowing anything!”

The sword pointed at me trembled for a moment.

That reaction showed that my words had hit the mark.

How painful it is to be helplessly swept along by circumstances—this child, who had memories of being abandoned on a battlefield and crying out alone, would understand that better than anyone.

“Pailoi, don’t you want me to be sincere about your revenge?”

Aren’t you someone I’ve already given my heart to?

Even if she committed sins in the past, there’s a disconnect between that and the woman I know.

How could I thoughtlessly pursue the goal of killing her based on that one sin alone?

“Then give me time, at least to learn why Tachia abandoned you…”

“Do you think knowing the reason will change anything? Whatever the reason, it doesn’t change the fact that she’s garbage who abandoned her daughter on a battlefield and ran away!”

“Then why is she using your name as an alias?!”

A shout burst out of me in frustration.

Pailoi, who seemed unable to counter that point, fell silent with wide eyes, staring at me.

“…That’s something you’re curious about too, Pailoi, more than me.”

I appealed to Pailoi.

Hoping that the sense of dissonance I had felt from this child, who had been fueling her hatred and killing intent toward Tachia, was not false.

“…I’m not curious.”

“If you’re not curious, why do you keep calling Tachia ‘Mom’?”

If that hatred were truly transparent, there would be no need to use such an affectionate title for her.

The fact that she hasn’t abandoned her feelings and connections to Tachia shows in her choice of address—how could I simply follow this child’s coercion?

“……”

“Pailoi, give me time.”

Pailoi bit her lip and remained silent.

When faced with this sight, I reached out to Pailoi, sensing hope in this argument.

“If revenge is necessary, let’s start by learning about Tachia…”

Even if revenge is the only answer in the near future.

For both of us to make proper judgments and have the right mindset, let’s not decide immediately but take time to make a decision.

-SLASH!!!

But before my hand could reach her, a sword swung before my eyes.

“…I’m disappointed.”

My fingertips were blown away by the air pressure, and simultaneously, cracks began to form along the trajectory where the sword had swung.

And then the collapse of space began.

As everything around the cracks was being sucked in, Pailoi turned her back to me and spoke quietly.

“I thought that if I had a dad, he would always be on my side, but when you act like this…”

“Pailoi, wait.”

“I don’t want to talk.”

Disappointment and anger culminating in a sense of betrayal.

With that final sentiment, as if closing the door to her heart, Pailoi began to gradually move away from me.

“I don’t want a weak fool who doesn’t know his place as my dad.”

“…I don’t even want to see your face again, so don’t appear before me anymore.”

“Pailoi, wait!”

We shouldn’t part yet.

With so much still unknown, we shouldn’t part so lightly.

-WHOOSH!!

Despite my desperation, my body was ultimately consumed by darkness, unable to resist the force pulling me in.

****

“Are you awake?”

And as time passed, a kind voice eventually reached me.

Guided by it, I raised my body and realized I was lying in a bed.

Had someone moved me to a bedroom after I lost consciousness?

“The spear…”

“It’s right here.”

As soon as I realized this and started looking for Pailoi, the old man who had been watching over me gently presented the spear to me.

A face I’d seen before.

Definitely the old man who had introduced Tachia to me…

“Judging by your expression, it seems the conversation didn’t go well.”

I don’t know why he was here, but from his continued presence and words, he seemed to have some understanding of the situation.

I didn’t find it strange.

After all, he was the one who introduced Tachia to me, so he must know something about Tachia and Pailoi.

“This child… what happened?”

“You would know that better than I would. You’re the one who spoke directly with her, aren’t you?”

As he said, I couldn’t feel any response from the spear in my hand.

Just as I had last seen, she had completely closed her heart to me.

I might still be able to hold it, but that would only allow me to use it as a solid spear and nothing more.

“So, young man. What will you do now?”

The old man asked me as I looked down at the spear with pity.

To him, who seemed to understand my circumstances to some extent, I returned a question for an answer I already knew.

“Do you know? How I can meet this child again?”

“More important than meeting her is gaining her recognition.”

“Recognition?”

“Whatever the reason, she is ultimately just a tool. The reason you couldn’t control her is because her growth far exceeded your own growth rate.”

So to properly handle this child, I would need to grow on my side and gain the strength to control her.

But how?

Is it possible for someone like me, who only has the ability to engrave names, to grow enough to gain dominance over this child?

“For that reason, I’d like to make you a proposal.”

The old man smiled at me as I worried about this.

Stopping my thoughts and turning to him, he began to make a proposal I never would have expected.

“Would you like to become a Hero?”

As if telling me that the opportunity had finally arrived to resolve the lingering desire I’d had ever since coming to this world.