novelraw Chapter 84 : Chapter 84
Chapter 84 : Chapter 84
Chapter 84. Hot Spring Construction (6)
“…….”
My mouth wouldn't open.
This was the first time I was seeing Iris in person.
The words ‘deeply moved’ were not enough to express it.
‘So this child is Iris.’
She was a mature child.
Of course, in this world she was already an adult, but in the world I came from, she was only the age of a middle or high school student.
While I hesitated, unsure of what to say.
Number 1 and Number 3 suddenly popped out from her shadow.
‘Aish, you scared me.’
What was that? Was this also a type of magic?
It was like a separate subspace.
But I no longer had the mental capacity to care about that.
Because Iris was glaring at me as if she would eat me alive.
All sorts of emotions were mixed in her eyes.
Anger, resentment, grudge, hatred, and so on.
It was chilling to the point where I wondered if that was a gaze a person could have.
At that very moment.
Iris rushed towards me like lightning.
In her right hand, a jet-black dagger was emitting a sharp light.
Her speed was so fast that she was right in front of me in the blink of an eye.
Just as I thought I was going to die, Anonymous appeared from somewhere and saved my life.
Clang!
Blue sparks flew fiercely, and Iris retreated backward.
“What do you think you’re doing?”
Anonymous glared at Iris as if she would eat her.
But Iris shrugged her shoulders as if it were no big deal.
“Hmph. Nothing special. You can't even block this on your own?”
There's nothing I can do.
It’s still before sunset.
By the way, was Iris always this strong of a character?
I remember her being specialized in merchant abilities, so she didn't really stand out in swordsmanship or magic.
But the appearance Iris showed just now was so agile that it would be no exaggeration to call her a legendary assassin.
The fact that no one among us reacted and only Anonymous moved proved it.
‘What on earth happened to you there, Iris.’
I sent a pitiful gaze towards Iris, but she no longer even made eye contact with me.
Anyway, she was a guest who came here.
It would be the duty of a host to welcome her warmly.
“Anonymous, show her around this place.”
“But she…….”
I shook my head as if to say not to say anything.
“Tch.”
Anonymous bit her lower lip hard and nodded her head.
No matter how much of a guest she was, she was too rude.
No. It was a situation where she would have no excuse even if she were immediately bound.
But I couldn’t help it.
‘That child is the last one I must get back.’
There is a saying that 80% of a child’s faults lie with the parents.
The reason she became so twisted was all because of my incompetence.
The best I could do was to try to improve my relationship with her somehow.
***
That night.
The three sisters entered the bath side by side.
“Wow. You said you only invited high-ranking folks, and you really have something to brag about, huh?”
Iris exclaimed in admiration as she looked around the inside of the hot spring resort.
But Adel and Noemi kept their mouths firmly shut and showed no reaction.
Because it was an undeniable fact that she had tried to harm their father.\
Belatedly, Noemi opened her mouth.
“What on earth is wrong with you?”
“What is?”
“You tried to kill Dad, didn't you? Are you crazy?”
But Iris smirked and shook her head.
“I was just testing to see how he would react. Am I an idiot? To make the whole world my enemy?”
Adel also joined in scolding Iris.
“If it wasn't for Master Anonymous, it could have been really dangerous. Don't ever do that again!”
“Master, my foot. Our only true master is Rude.”
As the atmosphere grew cold, Adel let out a long sigh and comforted her.
“Iris. What's wrong is wrong. Your actions were very rude and dangerous. Apologize to Father right after the bath.”
“…….”
Iris submerged her head in the bath with a face full of dissatisfaction.
Adel and Noemi just stared at Iris silently.
They didn't criticize her anymore.
Because they could understand, emotionally, with what heart she had left this house.
And why she had attacked their father.
‘She was particularly ignored by Father since she was young.’
‘I can’t say I don't understand sister Iris' feelings at all. But she went too far.’
The two of them simultaneously recalled an anecdote from the past.
It was four years ago.
While Frank was personally training his three daughters in swordsmanship, he had grabbed Iris, who was lagging behind in her learning, by the collar and yelled at her.
“You are truly useless. You can’t do swordsmanship, you can’t do magic. What on earth can you do?”
After hearing those words, Iris finally burst into tears, and she was never seen at swordsmanship training again.
As Iris took her face out of the water, Adel held her two hands tightly and said in a gentle voice.
“I understand how you feel. But Father has also changed a lot since then. He himself has regretted that incident several times.”
“I can't believe it. Just because he apologizes late doesn't mean what happened disappears.”
“If you had watched Father’s change firsthand by his side, you would have thought differently. That’s truly a shame.”
“A person’s nature doesn’t change easily. I find it stranger why you, Adel, suddenly changed so much. You’re being deceived, Adel.”
Adel firmly shook her head.
“Alvarez also said something like that. But that was just a misunderstanding.”
“Hmph. Is that really so? I heard he has become an undead now. Is that really a coincidence? You are all just puppets on Frank's strings.”
Noemi frowned at her for calling their father by his name again, but Iris didn't care.
Instead, she strained her neck even more and criticized Frank with all her might.
“Even if he has genuinely changed, I will never forgive him. Who is going to compensate for my childhood that was destroyed because of him? The time that has already passed cannot be turned back.”
Although she spoke those words, Iris was inwardly wrestling with her thoughts.
The reason she came here was that a small sliver of hope remained.
***
A few days before she came to the hot spring resort.
Iris had a fierce argument with Number 1.
“Why on earth are you trying to go there? I don't want to. If you want to go, go alone.”
“I’m sorry, but the person he invited is you, not me.”
“Then, no one has to go. We are on the verge of clearing the ruins on Botan Island. I have no idea why we have to go to such a place and waste time.”
Number 1 frowned and added this one sentence.
“If we go to the ruins, we cannot guarantee a return. Seeing your father's face once before you go is the greatest consideration I can offer you, you foolish girl.”
With those last words, he disappeared from sight.
“F-foolish girl?”
Iris blankly repeated the last words he had said.
Number 1 rarely showed emotion, nor did he say things to criticize others.
He always maintained his composure, even with assassination targets.
But to call his own master a foolish girl.
“Ha? Did you just call me foolish? Who's the real fool here!”
He doesn't know about Frank.
He doesn't know what she went through because of him.
And yet, what?
Because he doesn’t know what will happen, seeing Frank’s face is the greatest consideration he can offer?
It was so absurd she couldn't even laugh.
But the words he left behind remained in Iris' heart for a long time, tormenting her.
After much deliberation, she had no choice but to accept Number 1’s proposal.
Having finished her recollection of the past, Iris slowly lifted her head and looked at Adel.
Adel, who became her older sister simply because she had manifested a few days earlier.
Iris had never once called her sister, nor had she ever thought of her as a sister in her heart.
However, curious about her feelings, Iris called her sister and sounded out her true thoughts.
“Sister, do you genuinely trust Frank?”
“Wh-what? Did you just call me sister?”
“Yes. I’m curious about your true feelings, sister.”
Adel quickly erased her surprised expression and nodded with a calm face.
“I do. Father did it on purpose to protect this world. You shouldn’t take it so hard.”
At that very moment.
Noemi, who was next to her, also shouted loudly.
“I trust him too!”
“Hmph. I didn't ask you, did I? How dare a little squirt like you butt into the sisters’ conversation?”
“There’s only a few days’ difference, and you’re acting like a sister now? You, who ran away from home as you pleased!”
When Noemi retorted sharply, Iris, feeling mischievous, mercilessly tickled her sides.
She knew better than anyone that Noemi's weak spot was her sides.
“Hiiik! St-stop it!”
“Did you do wrong, or not?”
“I-I didn't do wrong……. Hwaaargh. St-stop!”
As Noemi was beside herself, Adel, who was watching, burst into laughter.
“Keke. We are the Marquis' children now. Maintain your dignity.”
“Marquis or whatever, I need to torment our youngest a bit. A little thing with such big breasts.
Hey! What on earth did you eat to grow so big? Confess the secret to your sisters right now.”
“Khahahakhak… I-if this goes on… I’m gonna die. Keuk.”
Even the great Noemi couldn't stand being tickled.
Eventually, her eyes rolled back, and she foamed at the mouth.
Iris only stopped tickling her when she was on the verge of going crazy.
“You dare talk back to your sister one more time. I won't let you off next time.”
“Hiiing. Sister Iris is mean!!”
Adel looked at the two of them with a gentle face and then slowly opened her mouth.
“When are you going back?”
Iris shrugged her shoulders and spat out the words.
“Tomorrow, right away.”
“So soon?”
“I have a lot to do when I get back. Unlike you and Noemi, sister, I’m not someone who rests comfortably under someone.”
Adel urged Iris, saying that they also had a lot to do here, and asked if she would consider staying a few more days.
But Iris wouldn’t budge.
“Can't be helped. You are the leader of the Unseen Ones.”
“That’s right. I came here not to see Frank, but to see the two of you. That’s enough for me now.”
Noemi, now calm, spoke while eyeing Iris warily.
“I can get you there in one go with spatial transition magic.”
“I’d be grateful if you did. But what are you doing? Worried I’ll attack again?”
“Just try it one more time. I won't stand by and do nothing next time.”
“Oh really. Shall we see what happens then?”
“St-stop iit!! Haaaalak-ak!!”
For a while, Noemi’s uncontrollable laughter.
No, her screams showed no sign of ending.
***
Meanwhile, around that time.
Nox, who had evolved into the Lich King, was causing a bloodbath wherever he went within the Demon Territory.
“Kuaaak!!”
“S-surrender! I surren— Keolk.”
Whether they resisted or surrendered.
Or even fled.
Nox’s minions mercilessly hacked at their opponents' bodies.
Blood splattered everywhere, creating a scene from hell.
While his minions were engaged in a frantic massacre, Nox moved leisurely from behind.
“Arise, my people.”
Then, an astonishing thing happened.
The dead of the Demon Tribe transformed into undead.
They slowly rose to their feet.
Nox let out a fishy smile and looked around.
A grand army of over 30,000 was spread out around him.
“Wait for me, Frank. As soon as I reach one hundred thousand, I will carry out my bloody revenge.”
Was 100,000 too small a number?
No.
The Demon Tribe had few individuals, but each one was a match for a hundred.
\Moreover, by being resurrected as undead, they had gained even greater power than when they were alive.
Was that all?
Resurrected by black magic, they would never disobey Nox’s words.
Furthermore, the number of the Demon Tribe’s army that had invaded the human lands with the most demons in history was merely 70,000.
Could humans really fend off this onslaught?
For now, no one could know.