“Where did you pick up this child?”

“…….”

I never expected him to ask so bluntly.

It seemed he didn’t think for a moment that the child could be Lucia’s.

“How many years have I raised you as if you were my own, and you think I wouldn’t know a single lie?”

“She’s my child.”

Since the person speaking had been her master, teaching her the sword since she had a reasonably large head, her expectation that he would ask indirectly had been completely off.

But that didn’t mean she was going to tell the truth.

The two looked at each other without speaking for a while.

But unlike Lucia’s rigid face, Helbert’s expression seemed quite intrigued as he looked at her.

“You, who never had any attachments in your life, are now so stubborn. Does your father know about the child?”

“I don’t have a father.”

“That’s still the case, I see. Tsk tsk.”

At her sharp hostility, he leaned back on the sofa, displeased, crossing his arms.

“Black hair, right?”

“Yes, she’s my daughter.”

“Does she use holy power too?”

“Yes, my daughter……!”

Upon Lucia’s flushed face, Helbert heaved a sigh and spoke.

“A while ago, the Mage Tower was in a frenzy. Someone had stolen some books from the Mage Tower. They were all about holy power and control stones.”

“…….”

Hiss.

Only those with magical power could enter the Mage Tower, and only Hiss had the ability to rob such a huge tower.

Looking at his impassive face, it seemed he already suspected everything.

If the empire’s commanderinchief, in his position, knew of the saint’s existence, the least he had to do was inform the Emperor.

And what if the Emperor who found out tells her to leave the child at the temple? Or forcibly takes her away?

‘As long as I live, I can’t leave her like that.’

For the first time seeing Lucia’s cold, wary eyes, Helbert furrowed his brow and bit his lip.

Then,

“Ugh!”

Lucia let out a moan at the sudden blow to the top of her head.

“Why are your eyes so wide! I didn’t raise you to be a lying brat!”

“…….”

Helbert shouted, seemingly angry and snapping.

It was the first time she had seen him, who had always been playful and relaxed, yell like this.

“Do you know how worried I was, keeping my mouth shut about this? Black crystals aren’t easy to come by, and I can’t go meet you in a hurry!”

“…….”

For all the rage he seemed to have built up, he looked strangely fearful.

Helbert, the first Sword Master of the continent and the best swordsman, excluding Lucia herself.

He was the Count of Cluer’s swordsmanship master, and also the godfather who had recognized and fostered her innate talent.

Lucia, removing his hand from her head, spit out doubtful words at his unfamiliar appearance.

“……Were you, worried?”

“Huh! Worried, what a word! I can’t even imagine! You, a sword idiot, being so proactive, what a big deal it would be!”

Surely, after uttering concern from his own mouth, he turned his face and changed his words.

He seemed to be quite hurt.

But after an awkward silence ensued, like no parent ever losing to a child, he eventually revealed his true feelings.

“……Lucy. Promise me. I trust you, but before anything bursts out, you must tell me. Understand?”

With a sulky attitude, he seemed to have no intention of prying further.

In fact, Helbert’s heart had hurt at the first news of Lucia’s parental leave.

He, who prided himself on knowing Lucia best in the world, didn’t even think that she had met a man and had a child out of love.

He just wondered how lonely the last five years of solitary training must have been for her to have kept a child by her side. Once, like himself.

But then there was Hiss moving only for Lucia, the Mage Tower’s books, the signs of intrusion into the hidden room, and the missing control stone.

All of that led to Lucia’s blackhaired child suddenly appearing.

The hidden room in the temple was a place where information shared uniquely between the temple and the state was stored, amidst their checks and balances.

Knowing the location of such a room and boldly stealing the control stone.

It was all questionable, but he had decided not to say anything.
To Lucia, who had no family, she was an absolute value, a precious disciple, and a daughter.

Always waiting for him to reach out for help when he needed it, only conveying the fact that he knew.

‘Lucy.’

Hearing her childhood nickname after a long time, Lucia momentarily recalled past memories.

Her coming of age, the day she was called a monster.

The fact that she was able to withstand the shock was because of him, who had sincerely persuaded himself for a long time.

A father figure who gave unconditional love even though he was not her father, a godfather, friend, and mentor named Helbert.

Perhaps his boundless love was also the starting point for Lucia’s desire to save Nia.

Evening at the inn’s tavern on the 1st floor.

Léon is looking at a display that fills one wall.