Chapter 119
Of course, the ones who needed to be crushed were the bastards who rang the bell.
The Duke already had the information collected.
“Right after you collapsed, I spread a layer of thin ice over the courtyard of the temple. Found the footprints of the suspicious ones.”
“…That’s possible? You were busy covering the main hall in ice!”
“It worked out.”
“….”
Is this really a human being?
While I was speechless, the Duke gestured to Linda.
Linda quietly slipped out of the room.
“Once you have their trail and the signs of where they made contact, finding the culprits isn’t difficult.”
“You caught them?”
“I caught the ones who carried out the job. They’re keeping their mouths shut about who hired them, but it’s a matter of time. And we’ve confirmed their goal.”
“For what? They weren’t trying to kill me, right?”
Dropping a rickety bell from above is too crude to count as an assassination. You can’t even aim properly. It looked more like an accident caused while trying to ring the bell.
As expected, the Duke nodded.
“They were commissioned to turn you into a saint.”
“…Huh? Why? Did somebody want to boost my career?”
“Completely the opposite. Sol, do you know what procedures the chosen saint must undergo?”
“Roughly? I searched it once.”
…Technically, I read it in the original novel.
“They become part of the temple, receive theological education, and get dragged around like a mascot for every ceremony.”
“You know it well. But you missed the most important part for me—
A saint must abandon their family.”
“…What?”
“From that moment on, the saint’s family is the entire nation, and the saint’s home is the temple. You didn’t know?”
…I didn’t.
Seraphina, in the original, was abandoned by her parents, so she never had anyone to give up in the first place.
“And another minor problem— the temple thoroughly investigates the family of the chosen saint. That’s likely what they were aiming for.”
“What? Who do they think they are to pry into our family? They’re going to force the saint to cut ties anyway!”
“A saint has immunity for incidents that happen during their period of activity—excluding murder. If the family tries to exploit that privilege with bad intentions, they’re making it clear they’ll throw them in prison immediately.”
A process that was skipped in the original story.
Of course it was. The Tilern couple never needed to be investigated “to throw them in prison if they tried something shady”—
They were already wanted criminals for fraud.
But that’s not what’s important!
“If they’re so worried, they could just not give the immunity! The only reason the temple hands out such a privilege is so they can order the saint to do things they’d be criticized for doing themselves!”
“As expected of my daughter. Clever. Even if the god’s miracles protect the saint, the saint is still just a young human alone in the temple. Without a strong mind, they’d just become a puppet.”
“…Right.”
Thankfully, original-Seraphina was way too formidable to be anyone’s puppet.
But now, does this mean Seraphina lost her chance to be recognized as a saint?
Hmmm… The Tilern couple were too dirty to undergo investigation anyway, so maybe it’s actually better they lost the chance…
Besides, the saint’s job was stopping the Ancient Dragon the Duke was supposed to unleash.
If the Duke stays sane, maybe things will be fine without a saint?
While I was thinking, I suddenly realized the Duke was smiling at me.
When our eyes met, he quickly looked away.
“…Did I just plot a brilliant scheme or something?”
“Ahem. No. Get some rest.”
“Wait. You still have something else to tell me, don’t you?”
“Hmm? What story?”
“The fact that Father used his ability during the festival. There’s no way the king let that slide with a laugh.”
“…”
His smile vanished instantly.
Wow, looks like that expired cotton candy actually did something, huh?
“You were punished, weren’t you? Tell me.”
“Sol, that is not something you need to—”
“I’m not a decoration in this house.”
“…”
“I can think, and I can help.”
Seeing him hesitate only strengthened my voice.
…Honestly, it made me happy.
He wants to tell me only good things.
It makes me feel like I could rest easy inside his protection.
But…
You saved me, knowing that cotton candy would start being wary of you.
I think it’s okay to trust you now.
No—
I will.
You won’t throw sixteen-year-old me to my death.
Not because the god said I passed the crisis—
but because I choose to believe it.
So—
“I’m a Schlager’s daughter.”
“Sol…”
“Let me protect our house, Father.”
No more being scared.
When the greatest ally is right beside me, what’s left to fear?
…Well. Except for one thing.
That greatest ally… suddenly turned around and faced the wall.
“…Father?”
“…Wait. Just a moment.”
“What’s wrong?”
“Just—just give me a little time.”
“….”
His back was trembling slightly.
Idiot.
I slowly leaned forward from the bed and rested my forehead against his back.
“Turn around when you’re ready.”
“….”
“I can wait as long as you need, Father.”
Because before I believed in you,
you waited for me for a very long time.
At first, his breathing was rough, like he was forcing it down.
But like waves calming into ripples, it gradually softened.
…And when I was just starting to drift toward sleep—
He finally turned, patted my head, and spoke.
“The king raged, saying I deceived him. Of course, he had no rebuttal to my argument that ‘His Majesty chose to assume things on his own.’”
“He wouldn’t.”
“Granted, I did abstain from using my abilities in summer to reinforce that assumption.”
“I figured. There’s no law to punish Father for that, right?”
“He tried using the clause: ‘No one may be armed except guards,’ but my ability is innate. To punish me, he’d have to punish anyone who’s naturally strong or well-built.”
“So he can only use petty revenge.”
“Indeed. And petty the result is.”
If it’s petty, then something like banning us from royal banquets?
“He said Schlager is banned from entering competitors in the September spear tournament. And since I might cheat with ice, I’m not even allowed in the audience.”
“…Ha.”
That’s childish.
That’s literally “You can’t come to my birthday party tomorrow!”
But then I realized the real problem.
“So… please comfort Elber a little.”
“…Ah.”
Just when I was relieved I wouldn’t be dragged to the tournament—
Elber’s excited face about spear-fighting flashed in my mind.
Oh no. He was really looking forward to it.
“Hm… I’m not good at comforting, but! I’ll play with him until he drops!”
“Thank you. If you’re with him, he won’t complain much.”
“If he complains, I’ll lock him in your office and tell him to go get comfort from you. After some awkward alone time, he’ll realize how precious I am.”
“…Sol. Somehow… you’ve become stronger.”
“I’ve just gotten comfortable.”
I grinned.
“We’re family. Leave the cuddling and cheering up to me. You do what you’re good at.”
“…Very well. Then I must give my best.
Starting with revenge on those who attacked us.”
His tone was normal, but the word “revenge” sounded terrifyingly literal.
But protecting the house is his job.
He opened the door and gave me one last line:
“And your assignment has arrived.”
“…What?”
“Rest well.”
“Wait— eh—!”
I didn’t even have time to ask what my “assignment” was.
Not that I needed to ask.
The moment Father left the room, Elber sprinted in and crushed me in a hug.
* * *
Lattiger had planned to make a certain “proposal” as soon as Sol awakened.
Well—“proposal” was a polite word.
He intended to ignore any answer except “I accept.”
There was only one document Sol needed to read.
Parental Release & Dissolution of Adoption Agreement
Sol’s short life was stained with incidents.
Bitten by a demonic dog at ten,
kidnapped at her first festival,
chased by a brat from a viscount family,
bullied by noble ladies,
and now dragged into a terrorism-level accident.
All because of one thing:
He adopted her.
If Lattiger had not forcibly adopted her six years ago,
Sol would’ve found a normal family and lived safely.
‘There’s no way such a cute, beautiful, smart child would be unwanted.’
He realized that truth too late.
So he had intended to give her freedom, even now.
He already knew where she could go.
‘Iren’s relatives live in the southernmost end of the Flogel territory.’
Gentle people, like Iren herself was.
They’d raise Sol well.
Financial support?
Lattiger would provide everything—
he could make the whole village live comfortably for life.
‘Sol will live peacefully now.
Even if I’m late…’
…But.
The resolve he’d forged for days shattered the moment Sol woke and said:
‘I’m a Schlager’s daughter.’
‘Sol…’
‘Let me protect our house, Father.’
Now, Lattiger Olt Schlager could no longer let her go.
He might devote his entire life to protecting her.
The thought alone was exhilarating enough to lighten his steps.
Those light steps led to a place that didn’t match them—
the basement.
When the townhouse was built, it was officially registered as a wine cellar.
Well—wine cellars can have iron bars.
And chains.
And a man tied up behind them.
If you touch the wrong bottle, it all breaks red anyway, right?
Lattiger waved at the young man imprisoned there.
“Good morning.”
“Ah… morning? No. Wait—”
The young man checked his empty bowl, trying to judge time.
Pointless.
Meals were irregular.
So were the Duke’s visits.
“As I said, it will be morning for you. Our day begins now.”
“Hnnng…”
“When you tied the ropes to the bell tower, you knew it might collapse. Even if the client didn’t care about casualties, who confirmed it for you?”
Every breath he drew made ice shards pierce his throat.
Knowing that only made the despair worse.
The young man screamed:
“I already told you! The client was General Fine! I’ll testify before the king too—!”
“I already told you.”
He was rich. Money was meaningless to him.
But witnesses?
You have to use them while they’re still alive.
“Add Marquess Godell to your testimony.”
For someone who made Sol cry,
this was the minimum bonus.
