Chapter 9

‘An ability?’

And not just any ability. It looked like one of those rare and precious healing types.

‘…Has that child awakened too?’

There had been no word about it, so he hadn’t known.

Well, if it was his youngest son’s child, even if he knew, he wouldn’t have said a word.

‘Or is that child keeping it secret even from her father?’

Since she’d told the cat it was a secret, chances were high that his son didn’t know either.

He didn’t understand why she was hiding it, but…

Just then, the door opened with a sudden creak.

Magnum instinctively ducked behind the wall, even though he had done nothing wrong.

“Sweetheart, come inside. I told you not to stay out for too long in winter.”

“I was checking if the snowman melted! If it did, I was gonna fix it!”

From his hiding spot behind the wall, Magnum watched his son kneel comfortably on one knee and talk with his granddaughter.

He had never seen that expression on his son’s face before.

“You’re not healthy, so Daddy always worries about you.”

“Okaaay. I got it.”

He watched Klein gently scoop Ledeia into his arms and pat her back.

“Dad, I’m hungry.”

“It’s been a while since Daddy cooked for you. How about some stew?”

“Oooh, I like that!”

He silently watched the two head back inside, then lowered his gaze.

“Valux, you should head in. And don’t tell anyone you saw me here.”

“Ah, yes. Take care, Grandpa.”

Valux hesitated at Magnum’s words, then bowed quickly before running to the door and knocking.

“Uncle! I came to visit, can I come in? I brought some cookies to share!”

Click.

The door opened, and Klein appeared.

Behind his legs, Ledeia peeked out with her little head tilted.

“You’re early. Come in.”

Klein chuckled softly and let Valux inside.

Magnum Tigreto exhaled slowly as he watched.

‘…The building’s pretty old.’

But for something that old, the maintenance looked surprisingly good.

“For someone who couldn’t do anything properly, it’s strange that he earned a physician’s license… and now he even cooks.”

Magnum let out a short sigh.

Long ago, he had hurled countless sharp words at Klein for failing to meet his standards.

He thought that if he pushed him that way, the boy would be driven to work harder.

Just like he had once done. He believed his children would all strive for his approval the same way.

His other sons did exactly that, desperate to be recognized by him. But the youngest was different.

Instead of studying indoors, he preferred napping under the shade of trees in the sun.

Instead of making connections and building networks, he spent his time tending to injured animals.

While his siblings competed fiercely, Klein stood a step apart, observing everything with a distant look.

Instead of wielding a sword or mastering his ability, he buried himself in books and writing, which Magnum found dull and useless. He ignored the boy.

‘And one day, he left.’

He regretted it.

But when time passed and Klein returned with a child of unknown origin, a child whose mother didn’t even exist in their records, his regret turned to anger again.

Magnum stood there for quite a while before slowly turning away.

He didn’t realize someone on the second floor had been watching the whole time.

* * *

‘Grandpa… does he want to make up with Dad?’

From the second floor, I leaned forward to peek outside, watching Grandpa linger awkwardly beyond the wall as he glanced at our annex. I crossed my arms.

‘Hmm. Looks like I’ll have to step in here myself.’

I clenched my little fist with resolve.

‘I’ll reveal my ability first, then let everyone see how smart Dad is, then… boom, we’ll enter the main house together!’

Yes.

I nodded firmly.

Once they started seeing each other more, affection would naturally build.

‘Alright. I’ll try tomorrow!’

I snickered as I walked over to Valux, who was proudly showing off the cookies he’d brought to Dad.

* * *

“Big Brother.”

“Hm?”

“Can I go play in your room tomorrow?”

Valux looked surprised, and Dad’s jaw dropped open.

“What are you talking about.”

“But you always come here. I wanna go too…”

“I told you, your grandfather…”

“Hmph, then I’ll sneak over when Grandpa isn’t looking!”

Dad frowned at my words and shook his head firmly.

“No. We agreed you wouldn’t go there.”

“Aaaah!! But I wanna go too! I wanna play! I wanna play! I like Big Brother!”

I threw myself onto the floor, flailing my arms and legs in every direction, rolling around in circles.

My face turned bright red.

But when you’ve died once, embarrassment stops mattering.

‘I need to score points with Grandpa.’

Besides, this was for Dad.

“Sweetheart, even if you act cute like this…”

No, Dad, I was trying to annoy you, but it seems to be working in a weird way.

When I pouted, he panicked, knelt down, lifted me into his arms, and set me on his lap in the chair.

Watching us go back and forth, Valux spoke up.

“I don’t mind. I’ll talk to Grandpa today. If he says no, I’ll tell you exactly what he says.”

He alternated glances between Dad and me, blushing but speaking confidently.

“Ahem. My cousin likes me so much I guess I have no choice.”

“…”

Valux nodded cheerfully, but Dad gave me that subtle pained look again.

It wasn’t obvious, just a faint furrow between his brows, but I knew what it meant.

After sixteen years with Dad, I had learned to read his expression language.

I used to think he just hated me, but once that misunderstanding peeled away, I could finally understand him. For the first time in sixteen years.

“Of course, if Dad says no, I won’t go…”

I drooped my eyes pitifully.

“…The main house is not a place for you. You’ll only get hurt there.”

“Hurt?”

“Ledi. Your grandpa… is someone who doesn’t know how to love.”

Dad spoke heavily after a long silence.

My eyes widened.

‘…Dad was hurt.’

That was the look of someone carrying old wounds.

‘…Now I’m kind of mad.’

Suddenly Grandpa annoyed me.

What gave him the right to make Dad look like that?

If I go tomorrow, I’m definitely bringing this up.

“I’ll be fine. I have you, Dad.”

I hugged him tightly and smiled wide.

“Even if I get hurt, you’ll hug me, right? You will, won’t you?”

“Of course. And more than that, I might grab your grandpa by the collar and pick a fight.”

“Uh, uh… that would just get you hurt, Dad…”

“I’d win.”

He said it so firmly.

No way. You can’t beat a war hero with plant-growing powers.

From what I’d heard, Grandpa’s ability involved controlling one of the four elements. I didn’t know which.

Dad rarely talked about him, and everything I knew came from newspaper articles.

“Yeah, Dad’s the best!”

Well, if Dad said he’d win, I’d believe him.

He set me back down on my chair.

As I spooned up his special stew, my cheeks trembled with happiness.

‘If only I’d lived like this before.’

I’d once read in a book that people only grow up after facing death. I guess I was one of those.

Dying once made death feel less terrifying and overwhelming.

Now I could just live honestly, do everything I wanted, and have no regrets.

“Dad, your stew’s the best!”

“I’m glad. It’s your mother’s recipe.”

“I knew it. I can almost smell her in it.”

He chuckled at my joke.

‘He laughed!’

He always got in a better mood when Mom was mentioned. I giggled along with him.

I complimented the stew a few more times, and Dad ran a hand down his face in embarrassment.

“That’s enough. Eat before it gets cold.”

“It’s really delicious, Uncle.”

Even Valux joined in the praise, and Dad finally sighed and lowered his head.

“I’ll go make cocoa.”

Dad escaped.

Valux and I looked at each other and burst into quiet laughter.

Unlike before, it was actually fun reading the many little expressions hidden behind Dad’s usual stoic face.