episode_0022

22.

It’s been over four weeks since Chris has been home.

Originally, Chris in the past would return to the territory on weekends.

But Chris thought it was a waste of time going back and forth.

So I decided to reduce the frequency of showing up in the Delun territory and focus more on training.

Meanwhile, news spread that Chris had been active in the Delun Territory and had even received a commendation.

Count and Countess Laurence also sent letters urging Chris to return home, saying they wanted to see his face.

#

“Master, training is important, but how about showing your face to the spirit world sometimes?”

As Lily said, I also felt like I hadn’t shown my face to my parents enough.

Anyway, Chris’s first goal was to become the next lord, so he also needed to please his father, Earl Laurence.

“Um… I have to go back to Delun Estate this weekend.”

“Okay. Then I will first send a messenger to inform you of your return.”

Chris decided to return to the Delun Estate after a long time.

‘Come to think of it, it’s already been over a month since I last saw my family.’

Chris had ordered the butler to compensate John’s original family sufficiently and to take good care of them in the future.

‘I need to check on my family to see how they are doing.’

Chris decided to go back to the estate and look for his family.

#

Friday night.

Chris rode a carriage and headed to the Delun estate.

Midreddin and Delun Territory were relatively close.

After walking for about two hours, the entrance to the Delun Estate came into view.

Delun Estate was a typical rural village.

It was prosperous in the past when Jude Delun was the lord, but it was in decline since then.

By the time the carriage arrived at the entrance to Delun Estate.

Ray stuck his head out of the carriage window and took a breath of air.

As we moved away from Midreddin, the capital of the kingdom where the Academy was located, the grass and trees increased in number. The air also seemed to become cleaner.

Outside, it was already close to evening, and the sunset was turning the ground red.

Ray, who had been breathing in the air for a while, found something and giggled.

“Wow. Chris, your banner is hanging?”

“What? What are you talking about?”

Like Chris Ray, he stuck his head out of the carriage window and looked outside.

“It’s true?!”

The entrance to the Delun territory.

Originally, there was a rusted iron sculpture hanging on an arch-shaped structure with the words ‘Welcome to Delun Estate’ written on it.

However, there were two banners hanging in a way that obscured the arch-shaped welcoming sculpture.

[*Congratulations* to the eldest son of Delunga, Chris, on receiving the Academy Award]

[*Congratulations* to Chris on receiving his second Academy Award]

A white banner was hung with a congratulatory message on Chris’s award.

“When on earth did you put up such an embarrassing banner?!”

Chris’ face turned red like a carrot. He looked really embarrassed.

“By the way, when I informed you of the award ceremony by letter, you said you were preparing a congratulatory parade.”

Lily, sitting across from Chris, spoke calmly as if she had just remembered something.

The moment the carriage Chris was riding entered the central road of the town of Delun Castle.

-Pupupupuu~ Pupupupupuuu~.

From somewhere, a trumpet sound began to play, as if welcoming a triumphant general.

“What, what is it?”

“I guess Count Lawrence really prepared a parade.”

People were lined up on both sides of the central street.

As the carriage carrying Chris passed by,

“Long live Master Chris!”

“Congratulations on receiving the award!”

“The summoner Chris who appeared after 50 years is the best!”

The kids were throwing colorful paper flowers, people came out from somewhere and set off firecrackers, and it was total chaos.

“What the hell is going on?”

Chris looked dumbfounded.

“The Count likes flashy things.”

Lily looked around the outside of the carriage with a calm expression.

“You must have spent a lot of money mobilizing so many people. Since this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, why not show some excitement by waving your hands?”

“You spent money?”

“Do you think all those residents came out to congratulate Chris without any compensation? ”

Chris didn’t think that would be possible.

“Most of them must have been hired by Count Laurence to spice things up. He probably spent 4000 gold.”

‘4000 gold? Really?’

I thought 4000 gold was too much money to blow on a parade that would only last 30 or 40 minutes.

That amount of money could pay ten servants for a year.

Even while thinking that way, I thought it was money that my father, Count Laurence, who liked to play, could use.

‘I think I know why Yeongji is always short of money….’

Chris felt a tingling sensation in his temples.

The carriage Chris was riding in safely completed the parade while being welcomed by the townspeople and headed to Lord Delun’s castle.

Delun Castle was built in the Gothic style, and although it was a bit old, it had a dignified feel.

Chris headed straight to the throne room to greet Count and Countess Laurence.

The Count and Countess sat on a long, ornate red leather sofa in the ornate audience room, sipping tea and waiting for Chris.

“Father, mother, I’m here.”

When Chris entered the audience room and greeted them, the two men stood up excitedly and greeted Chris.

“Oh, Chris, here you come, my son! Did you enjoy the congratulatory parade that this father prepared?”

Count Laurence embraced Chris with the greatest joy.

“Yes… So that parade was prepared by my father.”

“Chris, how could your father just sit by and watch you receive two awards from the Academy?”

The Countess hugged Chris and kissed him on both cheeks.

“Son, when you first told me you got the award, I thought you were playing another annoying prank.”

“Back in middle school, you sometimes brought in a report card with fake test scores and got in trouble, right?”

The Countess added with an expression of reminiscence about a funny past.

“There was something like that too… .”

‘At that time, I really thought Master Chris was going to die.’

It was John who had watched the Countess slap Chris’s buttocks in a ghostly form at that time.

“So I sent a letter to Principal Graham just in case, and the reply was full of praise for you. It even said that you were a good father to your son. I never thought I would receive a letter like that in my lifetime.”

Count Laurence was even wiping away tears.

“Honey, what did I tell you? I kept saying that Chris is smart, but he’s just being immature.”

“You’re right. There’s a saying that a big bowl is made late, isn’t there? Chris, you’re one of those long-awaiting chroniclers.”

“You are great, son.”

Chris was taken aback by the hospitality of both his parents.

Clearly, Chris was a troublemaker at home.

The two of them often argued over who Chris resembled and why he was so stupid and accident-prone.

There were times when they fought in front of the servants, and John, as a groom, had personally seen couples fight, and the maids often told him about the stories they had heard.

“Anyway! Since you’re back home after a long time, forget about all the hard work and get some rest!”

John ended the day with a sumptuous dinner prepared by his parents.

#

The next day.

Chris went to John’s house early in the morning, alone, without anyone accompanying him.

John’s father, who was watering the yard because it was a holiday, was surprised to see Chris.

“What’s wrong, Master?”

“I kept seeing John, so I came to check on my family.”

“I am so sorry. Thanks to you, my lord, everyone in my family is doing well. Please come inside.”

Chris followed his father into the house.

Indeed, it seemed as if my father’s words were not empty words, as the appearance of the house, which had been dirty and filled with poverty, seemed to have improved a lot.

The first thing I noticed was the smell of bread baking in the morning and meat stew cooking.

In the past, I often skipped breakfast because there was nothing to eat.

But now, it seemed like he was eating breakfast properly every meal.

“It’s cheap black tea, so I’m not sure if it will suit your taste, sir.”

Mother carefully poured Chris a cup of tea.

“How are John’s brothers?”

John asked while drinking his tea.

“Yes, as you said, I sent my second son to middle school to study accounting. I am sending the rest of my children to elementary school. It is all thanks to you, Do-ryun.”

Second, Eric seemed to be studying accounting, just as Chris said.

Originally, Chris himself had planned to study accounting to escape poverty.

But he already had a better opportunity than becoming an accountant.

‘When I become the lord, I have to give Eric a good position. To do that, I have to make him study hard from now on.’

Even if you were going to provide a parachute seat, you had to have at least a minimum level of skill.

“Is Eric interested in studying?”

“Yes. He said that he started studying a little late and had a hard time catching up with other kids, but he studied hard until dawn. Even on weekends like today, he came home late because he went to the library to study.”

His father boasted about Eric, saying that he was proud of him.

“That’s great. If Eric says studying is difficult, let him know. I’ll assign him a tutor. “

“Huh? That’s too shameless.”

My father shook his head from side to side.

“It’s because Eric is like my real brother. Don’t feel too burdened.”

After confirming that his family was doing well, Chris was able to leave the house with light steps.