Chapter 101

Chapter 101

The Heroine of the 1st Playthrough Remembers My Training.

Episode 101: The Family Matters Of Calliope Epilogue (2).

「The Seed of the World Tree is awakening from its slumber!」

The ‘Seed of the World Tree’ is absorbing nutrients from the ‘Frost Essence’!

─The Seed of the World Tree has evolved into a Seedling of the World Tree.

─The grade of the World Tree’s Blessing is rising!

─Recovery abilities are considerably increased.

─All stats have slightly increased.

The moment I checked the message, the cold that seemed to freeze my heart disappeared instantly, and a vigor I had never felt before surged within me.

“How…? I clearly saw the essence resisting.”

Eddard, seeing my sudden recovery, muttered blankly for a moment, then snapped out of it and fumbled over my body.

“Are you okay? Any pain or places that feel off?”

“I’m fine. It seems the essence has taken a liking to me.”

In truth, the ‘World Tree’ had devoured the ‘Frost Essence,’ but explaining it all would take all night.

“There’s no way such an absurd thing would eliminate the side effects…”

“I didn’t realize my charm was this powerful either.”

“…Tsk, you troublesome kid. You have a knack for surprising your father.”

“You flatter me.”

Eddard clicked his tongue, but I responded with a gentle smile.

“You’re not only troublesome but also foolish. That wasn’t a compliment; it was an insult.”

“Then, I’ll take it as that.”

Even as he spoke like that, I knew Eddard had intended to stop me when the side effects appeared, understanding the risk to his life.

“…Let’s not talk about it. …Anyway, with this, my final duty as head of the family is done, and I can soon pass the position to Erden and retire.”

“What do you plan to do after retirement?”

“I don’t intend to spend my time as an old man in the backroom; I plan to travel.”

“What about Mother Garcia?”

At my question, Eddard smiled bitterly as if struck in a sensitive spot.

“You know well that there are no emotions between me and Garcia. Traveling together would only be uncomfortable for both of us, so I plan to leave her here and travel alone.”

Eddard’s face was already filled with anticipation for the upcoming journey.

Even though it seemed a bit childish, Eddard had always been an excellent ‘knight,’ but he was never a good ‘father.’

It’s not that he didn’t care for his family, but he simply lacked the talent for being a father.

Still, he had endured all this time out of responsibility as the head of the Calliope family, so it was natural for him to enjoy his newfound freedom now.

“Then, please read this once.”

I took a small notebook from my pocket and handed it to Eddard.

It contained information from the days I played ‘Academy Trainer,’ when I wandered around various villages, giving up on the heroines and seducing women instead.

“…What’s this?”

“It lists the ‘specialties’ of each region. I thought it might help you.”

“…How did you gather this? You didn’t have time to travel.”

“….”

I smiled silently, and Eddard shook his head.

“Enough. I won’t ask since you won’t tell. So what do you want me to do with this?”

“It’s not for any specific purpose. As I said, it’s a list of ‘specialties,’ so I hope you enjoy many good things for your health.”

“Hmm…”

Eddard pondered, stroking his chin, then casually slipped the notebook into his pocket.

As I climbed the stairs, I slyly brought up the subject.

“…I trust you’ll give me a generous allowance this time.”

“Is the essence not enough?”

“Well, I earned that, didn’t I? The Calliope family is strict with rewards and punishments. You should compensate me separately for the notebook.”

Eddard shook his head at my cheeky response.

“Your eloquence has improved at Carnea. Sigh, I enjoyed this rare conversation with my son, but I feel drained with all you’ve taken.”

“That’s how children are. You miss them when they’re not around, and they’re a headache when they are. Well then, Father, I shall take my leave.”

“Ah, before you go, your partner for the banquet… no, never mind. It’s already decided.”

At the mention of a partner, I frowned.

“Partner? Are you talking about Emma?”

Since Eddard mentioned it, and it surely wasn’t Garcia or Reika, the only one left was Emma.

Eddard questioned back as if he didn’t understand.

“Emma? That maid? I know she’s clever and that you care for her, but she’s not suitable as a companion for the banquet.”

That was a given.

It’s not that Eddard had a superiority complex, it’s just how things worked in this world.

Even when I subtly probed Emma about it, she never considered becoming a concubine and only asked to be taken along as an employee later.

“…Then who are you talking about?”

As I was completely clueless, Eddard looked at me with a puzzled expression.

“Of course, it’s Lucia Uruella, isn’t it?”

“….?”

Lucia?

Why was Lucia being mentioned here?

“Why would Lucia… I mean, why would Miss Lucia come here?”

“…Has the side effect of the essence reached your head? Even before you entered Calliope, Lucia visited the major families and the royal family every year at the end of the year to strengthen alliances, didn’t she?”

Eddard’s words made my head spin even more.

‘What?’

In the ‘Academy Trainer’ I knew, there was no setting where Lucia visited the major families to strengthen alliances.

“Well, she usually started with us, as we are the closest, but this time, for some reason, she said she would visit the Amelia family in the south first.”

“…Now that you mention it, I think I remember.”

“Right. You seem a bit tired from all the commotion. Now, leave me alone; I’m tired.”

“Yes, Father. Rest well.”

I bowed to Eddard and walked quickly down the corridor.

The only thought filling my head was:

“Lucia! What are you planning…?”

Lucia was up to something.

Despite my complicated feelings, time passed, and the banquet began.

Officially, it was a banquet to celebrate the New Year, but everyone here knew that today Erden would succeed our father as the head of the family.

“It’s all a set-up…”

It was inevitable.

If it were truly a surprise announcement, what would happen to the nobles who supported Cale?

It’s customary to leak information beforehand to give those who backed the wrong horse time to seek forgiveness.

I leaned against the corner of the banquet hall, sipping wine.

If I didn’t drink, it was too much of a headache.

“…Lucia. You could have at least sent me a letter before you left…”

Since it was Lucia, there wouldn’t be any trouble for me, but it was still frustrating.

“It’s probably related to the princess.”

From what Eddard said, Lucia’s usual visiting route was “Calliope > Amelia > Royal Castle.”

But this time, she was visiting “Amelia > Calliope > Royal Castle,” which almost certainly had to do with me and the princess.

Due to the first round of memories, Lucia was extremely wary of the princess.

“…But was the princess that dangerous in the first round?”

Recalling my memories, I frowned.

My fear of the princess was due to the numerous deaths I experienced before, not particularly from the “first round.”

Of course, the princess was indeed one of the most dangerous bosses, but she remained calm until she revealed her true nature in the first round.

Lucia’s overreaction at this point, when the princess still hid her true nature, was unsettling.

“Dear brother.”

From a distance, Reika spotted me and mouthed words, then approached me.

Reika, who stood close enough to almost cross the line of sibling propriety, whispered.

“Brother, how do I look? Have you fallen for me? Do you want to pounce on me? Do you want to take me?”

“…”

I took a step back and glanced at Reika in her green dress.

Objectively, all members of the Calliope family had outstanding appearances.

And since it was a banquet, everyone was dressed up, making Reika’s appearance more than just beautiful.

“Quick, tell me. Do you want to make Reika yours?”

“What would people think if they heard you say such vulgar things, Reika?”

Garcia, who had appeared out of nowhere, spoke with a fan covering her mouth.

Garcia, also in a green dress, exuded the very image of a ‘noble lady.’

“Well, how do I look? I wore this to show my brother. And, Mother, didn’t you change dresses several times to look good for him?”

“…What nonsense? I only wore what suits me as the mistress of Calliope…”

“With such a revealing dress? Mother, you’re getting older; shouldn’t you dress more modestly?”

“Reika…!”

“…Oops!”

As Garcia was about to get angry, Reika deliberately stomped loudly, stepping back.

The attention turned to them, and Garcia, with a stiff face, forced a smile.

“Oh, it’s been a while, Lord Harris. Yes, I’ve been well…”

“Mother’s taken care of… So, Brother, how do I look? Am I comparable to the ‘Moon of the Empire?’”

While Garcia dealt with other nobles, Reika blinked and asked.

Even though it was a banquet, I thought she was overly dressed, and it was because of Lucia.

‘…Hmm.’

Even though Reika was stunning enough to be called a peerless beauty, she still fell short compared to Lucia.

As I was pondering how to diplomatically phrase my response to avoid hurting Reika’s feelings…

“…Yujin.”

A low voice came from beside me.