Vol 2 Chapter 8.1 (2/2)

Doorey intentionally tried to switch the topic to change the mood.

From the earlier story, his daughter must be safe.

What Doorey couldn’t tell Arnold was that he held love for Millay.

Eventually, Millay tied the knot with Arnold, but Doorey didn’t bear any grudge toward Arnold.

Honestly, it was more a blessing because he was close with both Arnold and Millay.

He only remembered Lim as a child; however, he remembered well that she resembled Millay.

「She looks just like Millay-san… so she will definitely become just as beautiful. I’m glad, really glad.」

「Do you mean ‘I’m glad she doesn’t resemble her father’…?」

「N? That interpretation may be correct. If she resembled you… it would be terrible… 」

「I accept your challenge… you need your saggy body to be beaten into shape.」

「No problem. You will regret making fun of a merchant’s guts… So, why is she not here?」

After relis.h.i.+ng the silly arguments from the days bygone, Doorey asked again.

「During our meeting, wouldn’t I have to talk about the invasion of the village? She… has still not been able to digest that incident… She still gets nightmares about it.」

「I see.」

「Therefore… at the moment, she’s enjoying a pleasant scenery.」

「N? What kind of…?」

While wondering at Arnold, who had interestingly loosened his cheeks, Doorey pressed him.

「When we arrived in this town, we met an interesting boy. He’s of the same age as Lim, or slightly younger… Actually, he said himself that he was slightly older… Oh well, whatever…」

「A beastkin boy?」

「No, a human. You can’t judge the level of his swordsmans.h.i.+p from his appearance. Although he was strong when I met him for the first time, he has incredibly gotten much stronger ever since. Occasionally, we receive a joint quest. Recently, he seems to have acquired magic, too. Even though I have an advantage in physical abilities… it would be difficult for me to win if we fought.」

Doorey was slightly astonished at Arnold’s words.

Because a human boy made a brawny beastkin admit that he might not win.

In terms of physical abilities, beastkin were superior to humans.

And Arnold, who had been tempering his body, would be even more so.

If he could still not win, had the other party’s abilities reached a point that was on a different level from Arnold’s?

To begin with, there were few humans with the apt.i.tude in magic.

Elves, dragonewts and demons were blessed with apt.i.tude in magic. On the other hand, beastkin and dwarves who could use magic were less than rare.

Humans stood midway. Still, the ratio was about 1 person in 20~30 people. Doorey was probing his own memories.

「He does seem to be an extremely terrific boy… How is he related to Lim-chan?」

「He was close to her age, so I asked him if he wanted to become a companion of the depressed Lim. That’s how. Lately, Lim has regained her liveliness. It may be thanks to Seiji.」

「Is Seiji the name of that boy?」

「Ah, those two must be eating lunch at this time while enjoying the scenery of the Paudal Wetland Belt.」

Although Arnold was genuinely glad for her daughter’s jollity, a mischievous urge was budding inside Doorey.

It could be called a modest revenge for losing in love.

「Fu–mu, so you have already been recognized as father?」

「…What?」

When Doorey caught his quizzical expression, he pursued.

「No, Lim-chan and… Seiji-kun? But…」

「Hahaha, don’t be stupid. Those two are just kids.」

He raised his voice as if he was forcibly laughing off the vague unease floating up inside his mind.

「Then, let me ask you……when was it that you became conscious of Millay as a woman?」

「…」

「Maybe your age didn’t differ much from those two?」

Suddenly, a crack seemed to develop on the porcelain cup which Arnold was grasping. The next instant――

*Vein pops*… *BOOM!*

It burst.

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