novelraw Chapter 45 : Chapter 45
Chapter 45 : Chapter 45
Chapter 45. Number 1 (2)
“You bastard. What’s your identity.”
“……I am the leader of the Unseen Ones.”
“So you want to die right now, is that it? How dare you come here.”
Anticus in human form growled, baring her white teeth.
‘Can I escape?’
The probability of failure was high, around 90%.
Anticus' magical power was that immense and her spirit was that high.
He had met countless enemies, but he had never encountered such magical power.
Number 1 maintained his composure as much as possible and slowly opened his mouth.
“Why are you here?”
“That’s a question I’d like to ask. Why are you here?”
Number 1 stealthily scanned her entire body.
She looked like a girl around 10 years old and for some reason, she was wearing a maid's uniform,‘The information that she likes maid outfits is new. Is it a simple whim?’
As the standoff continued for about five minutes.
Someone approached from inside.
“Anonymous, what on earth are you doing? If a guest has arrived, shouldn't you guide them inside quickly.”
“Ugh. I’m sorry, Master. But this person is……”
What? Master?
Did I hear wrong?
To think the word ‘Master’ would come out of this stubborn ancient dragon's mouth.
She even said she was sorry.
My head is spinning.
‘Have I been hit by some kind of wide-range mental attack without knowing?’
The fact that dragons and humans were interacting was already absurd, but Anticus calling a human ‘Master’.
Am I dreaming, hit by a mental attack?
But this was an undeniable reality.
Soon, a man popped out from the front and said these words.
“Who on earth is this to be so rude? Step aside. I will greet him.”
The man stared at him and asked.
“I haven't seen you before, who might you be?”
Number 1, barely regaining his senses, revealed his identity.
“I am the leader of the Unseen Ones. Call me Number 1.”
At that, the man showed curiosity towards him.
There was no sign of surprise.
Could it be that he had predicted his visit?
He guided him without any change in expression.
“I heard from Rude. Iris has become the master of the Unseen Ones, right?”
“That is true. Are you the Hero Frank?”
“That's right. Please have a seat over here. I have many things I wanted to hear from you anyway.”
Many things he wanted to hear?
His tone was as if he already knew he would come here.
Unlike Frank, who treated him politely.
Anticus, who was next to him, was still glaring at him with fierce eyes.
It felt like being crushed by her gaze alone.
Perhaps bothered by that, Frank gave a warning to Anticus.
“What are you doing! Bring some tea at once.”
“……Understood, Master.”
Thanks to that, Number 1 was able to escape Anticus' murderous gaze.
Now, only the two of them were left in the reception room.
The one who spoke first was the master of the house, Frank.
“First of all, I would like to say thank you.”
Huh? What does this mean?
Number 1 tried to understand Frank's intention behind these words, but he couldn't find an answer.
What was he thankful for?
Is he mocking me right now?
It’s been difficult to keep my senses straight since I came here.
But that was only for a moment.
He admonished himself and steeled his heart.
‘This is not just a simple conversation.’
Number 1 instinctively realized that he had stepped into a much larger picture.
***
‘He looks just like he did in the game.’
Dressed in dark black clothes that covered his entire body except for his eyes.
Even the eyes, the only part exposed to the outside, had no visible pupils, giving off an eerie feeling.
‘To think he would argue on equal terms with Anonymous, even if she has become a slave.’
The Unseen Ones were operated strictly on a merit-based system, and the one at the top was the person in front of me, Number 1.
I knew he was no ordinary person, but he was certainly not to be trifled with.
In any case, the purpose of his visit here was clear.
‘He must have come to negotiate with me.’
It must be true since it was information I heard from Noemi.
So, what then?
While joining hands with them, ‘It would be best to extract all the information they know about Primus.’
Having steeled my resolve, I first said thank you.
In any case, this person was currently Iris' proxy and guardian.
He was the one playing the role of Iris' parent on my behalf.
‘Without him, it would be difficult to guarantee Iris' survival.’
If Number 1 hadn't taken Iris in, the difficulty of the game, which was already hard to clear even with three of them, would have increased exponentially.
In the original, if a daughter died, it was an immediate game over, but now I was raising three.
Even if one person dropped out, I could probably continue the game with the remaining daughters.
The only difference would be running towards an impossible goal with the worst difficulty.
‘So, it would be best to first express my gratitude as a parent here.’
However, Number 1 tilted his head and asked back, as if he didn't quite understand my meaning.
“What are you thankful for? It is only natural for a subordinate to serve their master.”
“That's not what I meant.”
“Then what did you mean?”
“I heard from Rude. He said that the person Iris trusts the most right now is you.”
“……”
“I heard that you stay by her side all day and give her various advice. So as a parent, I can only say thank you.”
“You say strange things. I am not her guardian. Merely a subordinate.”
Number 1 furrowed his brow and continued.
“If you had raised your daughter properly, Iris would not have come over to the empire.”
“I deeply reflect on that point. It is my lack of virtue.”
That's right. This was 100% my fault.
If I hadn't skipped the five-year process, Iris running away from home would not have happened.
‘Far from running away, I could have greatly strengthened our bond.’
The reason I enjoyed Princess Produce was not only to see the various endings, but the ultimate goal was to build bonds with my daughters.
It's hard to deny that I'm not qualified as a father at the point where my daughter ran away.
My fists clenched on their own.
I looked straight into Number 1's face and slowly opened my mouth.
“I think it’s a meaningless question, but she is doing well, right?”
“……Of course. I can say she is the best master among all the masters I have served.”
“That’s a relief. I want to bring her back home somehow, but I think it’s a matter that’s out of my hands. Please continue to take good care of her.”
This wasn't lip service to get on his good side, but my true feelings.
I stood up abruptly and bowed 90 degrees.
Just like with Adel,‘The best way to convey my feelings without distortion is to express my sincerity as it is.’
Fortunately, this was effective.
Indeed, there is no better solution than sincerity.
***
‘A strange man.’
Number 1 silently observed Frank's every move.
At least, it didn't feel like he was lying.
To think that the Hero who defeated the Demon King would bow to a member of the underworld like himself.
He thought that perhaps the source of Iris' charm to captivate people was due to the education of this man, her father.
‘Until now, everyone I met would hide their true feelings and only spout flattering words, or they would spew nonsensical gibberish using their authority or background as a weapon.’
But this was still not enough.
“Why didn't you look for Iris right after she left home?”
“I couldn't help it. At that time, there were more than one or two things that needed to be resolved.”
“Is that a more important issue than your daughter running away?”
Number 1 deliberately lowered his voice and threw a provocative question.
He would be able to read his true feelings through his reaction.
He had to decide whether to trust him based on how Frank reacted.
Frank let out a long sigh and opened his mouth.
“It is my fault for not looking for her right after she ran away. At that time, Adel had left for the royal palace for the knight examination, and Noemi had also left home, so I had no leeway. But I know well that that cannot be an excuse. I think I hurt Iris too much. So now, I want to somehow heal that wound.”
Number 1 felt a subtle sense of relief as he listened to Frank's answer.
He couldn't deny that his words were filled with sincerity.
If so, then this man might be worth trusting.
Number 1 slowly nodded and asked about Anticus.
“How did you become the master of the lofty ancient dragon?”
“There were circumstances. It will take quite some time to explain, would that be alright?”
“Of course.”
Soon, a series of events poured out of Frank's mouth.
The high-ranking Demon Tribe members disguised as mages of the Lombard Kingdom.
The Magic Potion and the Magic device to put dragons to sleep that they brought.
The chaos that ensued in the dragon's paradise.
And as a result, Anticus voluntarily drinking the Magic Potion.
Number 1 nodded and opened his mouth.
“So that's what happened. For an ancient dragon to become a human's slave. It’s something I couldn’t even imagine.”
“I suppose so. I still find it hard to believe myself.”
“Anyway, for us, it can be said to be a relief. To stop Primus, we will need the power of even one more person. If that is an ancient dragon like Anticus, it is all the better.”
Speak of the devil and he shall appear, they say.
Anticus, who had been forcibly sent out by Frank, returned with tea in one hand.
Clang.
She roughly placed the plate with the teacup on the table and glared at him again.Then,
with a deep frown, she spat out these words.
“Drink. I brewed this tea myself.”
“How insolent for a maid.”
“Th-this bastard!!”
The moment she was about to grab him by the collar.
Frank stepped in to restrain her.
“Anonymous, you are being rude to our guest.”
“But Master! This person is……”
“I am also well aware of who this person is. If you have become a maid, I would like you to act like a maid.”
“Hmph.”
Anticus bit her lower lip and took a step back.
Number 1, finding this situation amusing, let out a chuckle and grabbed the handle of the teacup with one hand.
“This is the first time I’m drinking tea brewed by a dragon. I hope you haven't put any poison in it, have you?”
“Hmph. Even without something like that, killing the likes of you is easier than breathing.”
“Huhu. An ancient dragon who has become a human's slave. Interesting. Very interesting.”
Number 1 drank all the hot tea in one go and wore a satisfied expression.
“I was about to talk about this anyway, and it's good that you're here too.”
“Just try to say something strange. I'll separate your head from your neck on the spot.”
“We're in the same boat now, your words are harsh. You must be well aware of Primus, right?”
Anticus flinched at the name Primus.
Number 1 leisurely observed Anticus' reaction and continued speaking.
“I came here to negotiate with Frank, the former Hero. To stop Primus, we need the power of the Unseen Ones, the Goddess Cult, and Frank and his daughters.”
“You need riffraff like you to stop Primus? What a joke. What have you guys done so far? Is that the attitude of someone asking for a favor?”
“You, on the other hand, don't seem to have the attitude of a maid.”
Anticus' eyebrows shot up as high as they could go.
This time too, Frank stepped in first, so the tragedy of a head being separated did not occur.
“Anonymous, this person is very important to me. I will not permit any more rudeness.”
“……I’m sorry, Master.”
“Bring Adel, Noemi, and Rude here right now. I think it would be best to hear the story and discuss it with everyone.”
Anticus nodded and immediately left the room.
What would it feel like if the ancient dragon, said to be scarier than the Demon King, became an exclusive maid?
Number 1 stared in the direction she left and got lost in his own thoughts.
That leisure was also brief.
Cuckoo! Cuckoo!
The moment the clock struck exactly 6 p.m.
A fearsome aura began to emanate from Frank, from whom he couldn't feel any power until now.
‘What is this? Why suddenly this aura…….’
It wasn't to the extent of Anticus, but an unknown magical power was also detected from Frank.
‘On par with me. No, even more than that.’
Gulp.
He couldn't help but swallow dryly.
As if predicting his reaction, Frank smiled brightly and opened his mouth.
“Were you surprised?”
“What happened?”
“I will also tell you about that part when everyone else is here. Tonight will be a long one.”
Frank remained as calm as ever.
Only then did Number 1 feel like he understood a little about this man's unknown confidence.
It wasn't just his past of defeating the Demon King.
And it wasn't that he wasn't intimidated by him at all because he had the lofty ancient dragon as his slave.
‘He is hiding something even more tremendous. A man you can’t let your guard down around.’
Before long, Anticus returned with three people.
The sage Rude, whom he had met before.And along with Iris, whom he served as master, the two Children of God that Frank had raised appeared.