Seeing the massive figure of Benedict collapse, we wondered what had happened outside, but it didn’t take long to realize our worries were unfounded.
The joyful smile on his face told us everything about why Benedict had collapsed.
He had fainted simply because his daughter was so cute. What kind of person is this?
“To think you’ve brought down the continent’s strongest man like this. Amazing. Boss.”
As I listened to Karia’s nonsense, I approached Benedict, who seemed to be in a dream-like state. I poked his cheek, which was slightly twitching as though he were mumbling in his sleep.
“Foolish papa.”
“Eh?!”
The moment I spoke, Benedict opened his eyes, and upon meeting my gaze, he blinked a few times before chuckling and closing his eyes again.
“Were you that tired? To dream of me speaking so kindly to you, Lucy.”
“...Foolish father. Have you completely turned into a troll in your brain too? If it’s like that, could you cry and say ‘woe is me?’ That way, we can quickly figure out there’s no hope.”
“Hmm? Eh? Lucy?”
After I said that a little more aggressively, Benedict finally rose from the floor.
To realize that the father only learns the reality when his daughter insults him...
What kind of dream was he having?
Was he hearing something like "Papa, I love you so much!" in his fantasy?
...Imagining Benedict chuckling to himself in his dream, it feels a bit pitiful.
“Hey, Benedict. What’s going on? Don’t you still have work to do back at your territory?”
“...Karia. With you here, I can tell this must be real.”
“What do you mean by that?”
“It’s nothing serious. Most of the tasks I needed to handle are nearly done, and what’s left, I plan to leave to the people coming from the family.”
“No, I mean what did you mean by that last part. You brat.”
Ignoring Karia’s complaints with ease, Benedict stood up and blankly stared at me before clearing his throat and shifting his gaze to others.
“I am Benedict Arlen. The head of the Arlen family.”
“An apostle of the art order, I am Prete.”
“I am Nikiss, the seamstress.”
Benedict politely greeted the seamstress, but when he faced Prete, his gaze shifted.
Just like when he fought Posel, Benedict’s cold, calculating gaze made Prete shrink his shoulders.
“I’ve heard a lot about you, Apostle.”
“R-Really?”
“Yes, you’re the one who makes jewelry with my daughter’s artwork, aren’t you?”
Wow. I’ve never seen Prete look so subdued. He was someone who always held his head high no matter who he was facing. Benedict really is a monster.
“Thanks to you, my daughter’s face has become quite famous.”
“Well, I didn’t just do it on my own. I asked for her permission before making anything.”
“Hahaha, I’m not complaining about the Apostle. Thanks to the jewelry, my daughter has become a symbol of good luck. How could I possibly complain?”
Despite his words of gratitude, the sound coming from Benedict’s hand gripping Prete’s was one that should never be heard from the human body.
“There is just one thing I’m worried about. The drawing on the jewelry was so detailed that... perhaps there was something twisted in the artist’s heart.”
“There’s no way that’s true!”
The shout that burst out as soon as he spoke made Benedict lean his head back slightly.
“Lord Benedict, do you know what an artist must never do when following the path of art?”
“Well...”
“It is purity! When you throw away personal desires and see art as art itself, only then can you truly pursue beauty!”
“Well, I see...”
“I don’t know what you’re worried about! My daughter’s beauty could be called the reincarnation of a goddess! But as for me, Prete! I swear to the goddess, I have never once felt lust toward her!”
“Eh? That’s...”
“If you don’t believe me, I’ll prove it right here! Ugh?!”
As Prete’s madness tried to overpower Benedict, I sneakily approached him and kicked him between the legs.
Even though he was a devout apostle, it seems he didn’t train that area properly, as he fell to the floor with a dramatic scream.
“Not even feeling anything when looking at a cute girl like me. You’re such a useless thing, aren’t you?”
“Ugh. Ugh.”
“I figured it would be annoying to have something like that around, so I dealt with it for you. How’s that? Thank you? Huh?”
As I watched Prete crawl on the floor, Benedict, who had been looking at the scene with discomfort, hurriedly came over to me.
“...Er, Lucy. While it’s true that the Apostle used inappropriate words first, for a noble young lady to use such language...”
“Shut up. Useless old man.”
“U-Useless?”
“If you think about it, the real problem here is that you couldn’t even take care of that pervert, papa. But why are you getting on my case?”
“Well, that’s...”
“Apologize quickly. Otherwise, I won’t even speak to you, papa.”
“I’m sorry! Lucy! This papa was wrong!”
After easily handling the two idiots, I let out a snort and settled down on the sofa.
“So, what’s with your foolish face, papa?”
“...I received a letter from the First Queen.”
The paper that Benedict handed over contained a message that was similar to what Karia had mentioned.
<They’re coming at us much more submissively than expected. This will make negotiations easier.>
‘I don’t really want anything from them though.’
<If you don’t have anything, you’ll need to make something. Opportunities like this don’t come often.>
I was told by my grandfather to think about what I could get, but honestly, I didn’t feel like doing that.
The idea of continuing to be tied to that First Queen was already bothering me, and I just wanted to finish this job as quickly as possible.
“The Arlen family’s matters are almost settled. If you want, Lucy, I was thinking of standing by your side at the negotiation table. I’ve done quite a bit for the kingdom.”
Hmm. So, Benedict was genuinely trying to help me with good intentions?
...Suddenly, I felt a pang of guilt rising in my heart.
I had thought he was just coming to do something weird with his daughter obsession.
He passed out the moment he saw me, then started making a fuss about the perverted apostle, and I just assumed he was being his usual foolish self.
So, I purposely said harsh things to knock him down a peg, but it turns out he came out of goodwill.
“I don’t know the exact situation, but if our dear daughter wants something, I thought I’d help as much as I’ve neglected her. Oh, I’ve done it again, haven’t I?”
Seeing him awkwardly smile, I sighed and stood up, sitting down on Benedict’s knee.
His large frame made for a perfect seat with just his thigh.
“Lucy?”
“You’re a useless, incapable papa, but since your heart’s in the right place, it’s a reward. Is that good?”
“Of course! It feels like all the weight on my heart is melting away just from my daughter’s warmth!”
“Ugh, that’s kind of gross.”
Despite what I said, Benedict grinned like he was melting, and Karia, watching from the side, looked at me with admiration.
As I turned my head sharply, irritated by their gazes, I locked eyes with the perverted apostle who was still sprawled out on the floor.
“Th-thank you for such a beautiful sight... Ugh!”
I threw one of my shoes at him, knocking the perverted apostle down, and with my chin resting on my hand, I started kicking my legs.
As for what I could ask the First Queen...
Material things honestly don’t matter to me.
Money, I could get plenty from the perverted apostle.
I don’t need weapons or armor.
Most magical tools are pretty useless too.
If I go for scrolls, there might be something decent, but it’s not really something I’d want as a reward for this.
Hmm, what else could be useful?
Ah, wait a minute.
Grandfather had said that rights or promises could be useful too. So...
“Hey, that woman making a face like she’s about to make that man run away.”
“...What’s wrong with my face?”
“Do you have a map with the Queen of Henhouse’s forest drawn on it?”
“Queen of Henhouse? Forest? Oh, are you talking about the Fairy Forest?”
“Your understanding is slow. How come your wrinkles keep increasing while your brain wrinkles are decreasing?”
“How am I supposed to understand that? Sigh, fine. Wait a moment. I’ll go get it.”
The map Karia handed over contained information about the Fairy Forest and the nearby lands.
If this is the Mel Baron’s land that I know, the Fairy Forest’s scale is beyond what I expected. It’s at a level that could be called a small country.
And within that forest, there are those sealed from the era of mythology still staying there.
How will they be now, after so many years? Have they weakened, or do they still possess the same strength they had back then?
Has the dark energy from the mythological battles faded, or do they still carry the same power?
To target the Fairy Forest, I need to know this information.
I can’t be caught off guard in case the worst happens.
‘Grandfather. The magic that sealed the Fairy Forest is based on a barrier, right?’
<Why are you asking that?>
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‘Please answer me. It’s important.’
<I wasn’t the one who created the magic, so I’m not sure, but it’s likely.>
‘So that means, in order to wake up the Fairy Forest, I’ll need to break this barrier?’
<Yes. That would be the fastest and most certain way... Wait, what? Break the barrier?>
Hearing my grandfather’s voice filled with astonishment, I let out a hollow laugh.
‘I received a revelation. From the God of History.’
Alright, let’s see just how far the royal family’s intelligence network stretches.