He was sitting in the office of the chancellor, leisurely, almost provocatively, polishing his sword.

“Ahem. But you’re not surprised by the news of the Grand Sword Master? Isn’t it disappointing as a swordsman?”

The chancellor looked at Helbert’s eyes and didn’t admit that he was actually swept away.

It was because, of all times, Helbert was sharpening a sharp sword.

“Disappointed? What for! It’s natural. It seems a bit earlier than expected, but I never thought that child wouldn’t reach it. Rather, it’s natural that she becomes even more extraordinary to the point of overshadowing such a title. She’s my disciple, and my daughter! Hahaha!”

Suddenly Lucia’s story came up, and he rambled like a fool, laughing cheerfully.

He was indeed one of the renowned Eight Unpredictables.

“Anyway, it’s unusual. Is it because she’s of the same kind? The time when you were called the Gray Demon…”

“……Useless talk.”

Since they had been together since their youth, the chancellor, Federin, reminisced about a completely different appearance of him.

Once again, the hardened Helbert gave him a slight glare, then spoke in a subdued voice.

“But, I don’t know if it was a good thing.”

“You mean showing her that tree?”

“That doesn’t matter, but getting involved with those who use black magic… It’s uncomfortable.”

“Don’t worry. No matter where you look on the continent, there’s no danger to Lucia now. Hehe.”

Chancellor Federin laughed at his absurd words.

However, Helbert’s still stern face did not seem to agree.

“……Fighting to protect something is a different issue. I don’t want to see any more filthy sights now. I think I’ve had enough from the last war.”

He met Lucia when Helbert was 47 years old.

The discovery of a girl like a granddaughter, a 7yearold child, was the day he had spontaneously gone to see the child for the first time after a long journey, having been asked to be a guardian before her birth.

But as he remembered, young Lucia’s condition was serious at the time.

A child who had never properly spoken to a person, shared food, or warmth; a completely empty child.

Even the Count of Kerban Cluere, who had always seemed an enigmatic man, was shocked to see how the child had been neglected.

Prohibition of interaction except for regular education, prohibition of private talk by the servants who changed every week, even prohibition of raising common animals.

Even now, it seemed excessive to call them rules for raising a child.

And, naturally, Helbert, the guardian, ignored all the prohibitions, kindly taught the child swordsmanship, and that throbbing excitement eventually became the child’s first warmth.

Thus, the sword became his everything to the child.

Helbert, too, was initially out of compassion, but it was perhaps natural that such a talented child became his greatest joy and precious existence without a single blood relation.
The only child needed not as an examiner, but as a family.

“Where are you going? Surely not.”

“Didn’t I say? I didn’t want to involve myself in this if it wasn’t for the two’s agreement. So the boring talk is yours to do? I don’t want to be hated. Not even a little.”

“So the conclusion is to run away?”

‘…… If provoked and guarded again, real tears might come out this time. sob…….’

On the surface, Helbert left his seat with an indifferent face, but the octopod was actually still not recovered from the shock of receiving Lucia’s cold gaze that day.

Before the frown of the watcher on the door where he had left could unfold, the knock was heard soon after.

“Come in. Commander Lucia.”