Chapter 137 : Chapter 137

Chapter 137: In the Name of Father (4)

* * *

The Kingdom had countless magical factions.

These began as gatherings of those who studied transcendent magic, sharing knowledge and debating.

Recently, the nature of these factions has grown more diverse.

From those devoted to pure magical research, to groups using magic for harm, to pragmatic factions applying magic to daily life, to those dedicated to aiding the poor and treating it as a faith.

Roberto was a follower of a faction that believed in the afterlife.

Their doctrine greatly influenced his honest and diligent life.

And now.

That faith seemed to bear fruit.

By a lakeside as the sky began to darken.

He saw himself facing his young son against a serene backdrop.

It wasn’t unfamiliar—it was a memory etched in his mind.

Just a month ago, when he harshly scolded Joseph.

Slap—!

How could he forget?

It was the first time he’d struck his son.

“Stealing?”

“…”

“Speak up, make an excuse. Tell me I’m mistaken.”

“I’m sorry…”

Slap!

Watching his past self and son, Roberto frowned.

The sight alone was painful.

“I can’t understand. Why would you do such a thing?”

“…”

“Answer me—!”

Slap—!

Roberto turned away.

He thought, something’s definitely wrong.

The afterlife shows the most painful memories?

He wanted to curse the faction that called this paradise.

Damned liars.

“I didn’t raise you like this! A scion of a knight family doing such filthy deeds…!”

“…”

“…!”

The boy, silent until now, suddenly burst into tears.

Roberto let out a sigh.

That face still haunted him.

Tears streamed down as his lips trembled, as if all the world’s sorrows were his.

“You pathetic fool, you think you have the right to cry?”

He raised his hand but couldn’t bring it down.

Watching his past self, Roberto muttered, Hey, that’s enough.

“I needed money…”

“What? Money? For what…?”

Roberto turned away again.

His eyes wrinkled heavily.

To hear this again—what torment.

Is this what they meant by dying twice?

“I wanted to buy Father… a proper suit of plate armor…!

You said not to go into the mine!

What was I supposed to do?

I couldn’t do anything!”

Roberto bowed his head.

A solemn emotion settled deep in his chest.

Back then, he was too stunned by his son’s tears to hear his words.

But now, hearing them again…

Each excuse pierced his heart.

“You think I’d want you to steal something like that?You fool! You set out to shame your father!”

Slap—!

·

·

·

“Don’t… hit… don’t hit… I’m… sorry… sorry…”

Roberto mumbled as if talking in his sleep.

Karim, dozing beside him, snapped his head up.

“Sir Roberto…! Are you awake?”

Roberto opened his eyes groggily.

His cloudy pupils swayed weakly.

“Where am I…?”

“Still in the mine.

Don’t worry, the purification is complete.”

Roberto closed his eyes again.

He let out a long, mournful sigh.

“After painful memories, the place of death?Damn it.If I’d known the afterlife was this cruel…”

Karim blinked, looking down at him.

Was he muttering to himself?

He turned away.

His eyes met Linda’s.

She cradled Bihen on her lap, holding him like a newborn.

Karim looked away, smiling faintly.

It finally sank in—everything was over.

“This isn’t the afterlife, Sir Roberto.”

“…You’re saying I’m alive?”

“Of course.Open your eyes.”

Roberto’s slightly open eyelids widened.

He sat up abruptly, looking around urgently.

A gasp escaped.

This was indeed where he’d met his end.

The atmosphere felt strange—the thick toxic mist and beast horde were gone.

“This… how…?”

Roberto stared at Karim, bewildered.

Karim smiled warmly.

“It’s a miracle born of your courage, Sir Roberto.”

Roberto pressed his lips shut, unable to speak.

He even wondered if this was the true afterlife.

“…”

His gaze lingered in the air.

Trivial things felt strangely vivid—the air’s texture, the soft glow of Mana Stones, even the drifting dust.

Staring blankly, his eyes welled up.

Today, he’d proven himself as a knight.

And as a man, he’d realized what truly mattered.

“…I’ve been reborn, Teacher Karim.”

* * *

When the four emerged from the mine, it was already midnight.

Bihen, still unconscious, was carried on Roberto’s back.

“I can’t understand.He was hit by such deadly poison, yet his body’s not just fine—it’s better?

My ankle healed like a lie.”

“…”

“Teacher Karim, you’re truly a master physician.I’ll report to our lord.Even if it empties Labotas’s coffers, we must reward you.”

Karim smiled awkwardly.

“I’d rather you didn’t.It’s too much for me.I just did my duty.”

“Duty?Nonsense.What physician could do this?Only you, Teacher Karim.You’re Labotas’s hero.”

“…You flatter me.The real hard work was done by you three.Especially Sir Bihen’s sacrifice—without it, I wouldn’t be alive.”

At that, Linda, quietly trailing behind, looked up.

Roberto bowed his head solemnly.

“I was so caught up in surviving, I forgot what matters.Teacher Karim, is Sir Bihen really okay?”

“Yes.Even I can hardly believe it…”

Karim looked at Bihen, asleep against Roberto’s shoulder.

Sweat made his glasses slip.

“He lost consciousness due to temporary nervous system paralysis and respiratory damage, but his life isn’t in danger.

His airways are normal.

There’s some skin inflammation, but even that’s recovering unbelievably…”

Karim shook his head, incredulous.

“To put it simply, Sir Bihen took a waterfall of poison head-on.It wouldn’t have been surprising if his body melted.This man… I don’t know.His body far exceeds a mortal’s limits.”

“I don’t know medicine, but I agree Sir Bihen isn’t ordinary.”

Both shook their heads.

Linda, silent until now, spoke.

“Sorry if this sounds rude.”

Roberto and Karim turned.

Linda stared straight at Karim.

“…That medicine you used on Sir Bihen.What was it?I’ve never seen it before.”

Her tone carried a subtle edge.

Roberto sensed the odd tension, his shoulders shrinking as if he were the one in trouble.

After a brief silence, Karim answered.

“It’s an ointment for reducing inflammation.I made it myself.Similar to folk remedies using pig fat, but I pride myself on its superior efficacy.”

“I don’t get fancy words.”

Karim’s lips curved gently.

“Since Sir Bihen has no mana, I used a precious slave I’d been saving.No need to worry, Miss.”

“…Alright, I get it.Don’t take it personally.The world’s like that, right?”

“Of course.”

Linda urged the group to move, as if satisfied, glancing at the sheepish Roberto.

…

A fleeting moment kept nagging at her.

When the green heart was destroyed, and the mine was being purified.

Bihen and Roberto collapsed simultaneously, and Linda and Karim rushed to their sides.

In that chaotic moment, Linda caught it by chance.

The mana flowing from Karim’s fingers into Roberto felt unfamiliar, unsettling.

There’s definitely something.

Linda tapped her temple.

She couldn’t explain it, which frustrated her.

Everyone always said she had a genius’s instincts, though she didn’t care.

So, she vaguely felt this couldn’t be wrong either.

As long as Sir Bihen’s okay…

Linda periodically hurried to check Bihen’s breathing, placing her fingers under his nose.

Only after confirming his breath did she relax.

* * *

The next day, at Theodore’s mansion.

From early morning, Declan’s private training ground echoed with shouts.

Declan and Bolero were sparring.

“Hup!”

Declan pulled Bolero’s arm over his shoulder, but only his face flushed red.

Bolero didn’t budge.

“Didn’t I tell you, Young Master?”

Bolero slapped Declan’s backside with a smack.

Declan flinched.

Whenever Bolero’s hand touched him, his body reacted strangely.

“Not your arms—use your legs.Your hips.”

“Got it.”

Sweat pooled on the floor.

The wet sounds of muscled bodies colliding mixed with shouts, spreading a heated atmosphere.

“Hah, hah…The title Fist King isn’t for nothing.”

“Hm, I’m surprised too.Young Master Declan has unexpected talent.”

Declan’s eyes widened.

He was a man starved for praise.

“T-Talent?! Me?!”

“Yes.”

Bolero placed a finger on Declan’s chest muscle.

His fingertip slid along the muscle, strangely delicate.

“Hm, it’s almost like…”

Declan froze.

The sweat might not be just from training.

Seeing Bolero’s slyly curved eyes confirmed it.

Pow—!

“Urk!”

Declan’s fist struck Bolero’s philtrum.

Bolero staggered back.

“How dare you let your guard down, Bolero!”

Bolero lowered his hand from his nose.

Blood stained it—his first nosebleed in a while.

He grinned, showing bloodied teeth and Declan froze.

“Heh, nice punch.Let’s heat things up…”

Then, a frantic voice came from outside.

“Young Master! Young Master!Big trouble! Big trouble!”

Declan turned.

Sindy, Linda’s maid, was rushing toward them.

“What’s with the fuss?”

“Well, it’s… Miss Linda!”

“What about Linda?Don’t drag it out, speak…”

“She didn’t come back from Labotas last night!”

Declan grabbed a water bottle, his mood sour.

“Didn’t come back?What, she’s crazy enough to stay out?”

“Yes! She stayed out!Miss Linda!The lord and lady know and it’s chaos!”

Pffft—!

Declan sprayed the water in his mouth onto Bolero’s face.

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