novelraw Chapter 85 : Chapter 85
Chapter 85 : Chapter 85
Chapter 85. Lion Heart (1)
While the daughters were still enjoying the hot spring in the bath.
I shared some mealworms with Number 1 and Number 3, who had finished their baths.
“Are you telling us to eat this now?”
“That’s right.”
“…….”
Silence ensued for a while.
Number 1 and Number 3 looked at each other and made no move.
It felt as if the screen had frozen.
I had no choice but to demonstrate first.
“It goes without saying, but there's no poison or anything in it.”
Only after I had eaten it all did they look at the mealworms.
Although they wore emotionless expressions, I could immediately feel that they didn't want it.
But after they both took a bite, they showed surprised expressions.
“Unlike its appearance, it's quite edible.”
“It seems fine to distribute to the members as training food.”
They busily moved their hands and scraped up every last remaining mealworm.
‘I gave them dinner separately, but they're eating it up well.’
Right at that moment.
Noemi approached, shaking her wet hair.
“Dad. A word in your ear for a moment.”
After hearing her out, I narrowed my brows and asked back.
“Is that true?”
“Yes. It's a secret from my sister.”
She left with that one sentence and disappeared from sight.
“Hmm.”
As I crossed my arms and exuded a heavy atmosphere, Number 1 asked, looking curious.
“What’s the matter?”
“Iris plans to leave this place first thing tomorrow. Did you know?”
Both of them shook their heads, saying they didn't know.
Number 1 opened his mouth with a regretful face.
“It would have been fine to stay a few more days. Tsk.”
He seemed to have taken a great liking to this place.
I understand. Where else could there be a place closer to paradise on earth than this?
The water is good, people serve you without asking, they give you food when it's time, and they even provide nutritious snacks.
I can say with certainty that there is no other place where one can receive treatment like a king more than here.
Was Number 1’s disappointment that obvious?
Number 3 looked at Number 1 and smiled.
“Shall we switch missions?”
Number 3 said he planned to gather information here again.
Because the Unseen Ones had internally decided to gather information on the north again, and I had promised to lend him a room here for that purpose.
But Number 1 firmly shook his head.
“My mission is to serve the master by her side. Information gathering is not my job.”
“For that, you seem very disappointed. Of course, I have no intention of switching either.”
“Joking with me. You’ve grown up.”
“Hmph. If you think you’ll be in that position forever, you’re mistaken, Number 1.”
The two suddenly exuded a murderous aura.
This is quite menacing.
I stopped the two of them, telling them to cut it out, and continued the interrupted conversation.
“How is Iris? Are you treating her well?”
“Of course. I have never once regretted serving her as my master.”
“That’s a relief. As I wrote in the letter, I hope you will act as a father figure in my stead.”
But Number 1’s face suddenly darkened.
I don't remember making any slip of the tongue, so what could be the matter?
While I tilted my head.
He suddenly stood up from his seat and bowed his head to me.
“I am sorry.”
“Why are you doing this?”
“Iris is in danger because of me.”
Iris is in danger?
This is what Number 1 said.
At first, Iris had just wanted to protect herself.
“It was a proposal close to self-defense. The leader of the Unseen Ones is targeted by many.”
“And?”
“Something seems to have gone wrong. She showed an amazing talent for assassination, but because of that, she seems to have taken a liking to killing. The fact that she tried to kill you as soon as she saw you might be a side effect of that.”
Indeed. At that time, I really thought I was going to die.
“As you know, Iris is not originally a violent person. But now, she feels the urge to kill people from time to time. I’m managing to suppress it somehow for now, but it's uncertain how long that will be possible.”
He said that going to Botan Island was also a preparation for that.
“It is said that deep underground there, there is a legendary magic device called the Lion Heart. With that, she might be able to find peace of mind.”
“Wait. Did you say Lion Heart?”
“Why? Do you know of it?”
Of course I do.
Isn’t it a mass-produced magic device that can be easily excavated from the ruins near the Sage’s Castle?
The reason it was called a mass-produced magic device was that the difficulty of the ruins was very low.
‘The difficulty is low enough to be easily cleared even in the early stages.’
Thus, the name given to it among users was the Beginner’s Dungeon.
It wasn't far from Rarc Village, and the monsters that appeared were only low-level, so clearing it was easy.
But just in case it referred to something different from what I was thinking, I asked.
“Is it a magic device that calms the mind?”
“Exactly. Do you happen to have one?”
“Not that, but in that case, there seems to be no need to go all the way to Botan Island.”
“What do you mean by that?”
“Because there is a Lion Heart in the ruins I know of.”
In fact, today was the first time I had heard that there were ruins on Botan Island.
Because that was a place where entry was possible, but survival was not.
“What will you do? If you stay here for a few more days, I promise to bring the Lion Heart with my own hands.”
“Are you being serious?”
“Of course. It’s for my daughter, of all things.”
When I showed my enthusiasm by clenching my fists, Number 1 nodded, saying he understood.
However, he added that the final decision rested with the master, Iris.
I said I would somehow try to persuade Iris.
‘Ruins are fundamentally dangerous.’
Even the Entrance to Hell, which I thought would be easy, I couldn’t guarantee how long it would have taken to clear without the help of Noemi, Anonymous, and Mammon.
Because what I knew from the game and reality showed a big difference.
To send Iris to such a dangerous place?
‘That’s absurd.’
I must protect her somehow.
I must suppress her murderous impulses.
I made up my mind deep inside.
‘I can finally act as a father.’
No one would know how happy I am right now.
***
Noemi, who had left the bath first by herself, went up to her room and giggled.
“Hehe. Serves you right.”
Now Iris would not be able to leave this place as she pleased.
Because she had revealed her plan to her dad first.
Iris seemed to be full of thoughts of playing a prank on her dad, but, “That won’t do.”
How dare she torment me.
Noemi, determined to make Iris regret it, composed her expression and spread out her bedding.
This place was an Eastern style, so instead of a bed, it was a system of sleeping on a mattress on the floor.
It was unfamiliar yet fun.
What kind of expression would Iris make when she belatedly found out that this fact had been revealed?
Noemi was beside herself with joy.
It wasn't just because she had been tormented.
‘That’s not really it.’
Although they were not related by blood, they had common parents.
A mother who was a goddess. And a father named Frank.
‘I hope my sister stays here a little longer…….’
So, it was only natural for Noemi to have special feelings for Iris.
***
“What did you just say?”
“I said let's stay a few more days.”
“Ha?”
Iris, who had made up her mind to leave this place first thing tomorrow, glared at Number 1 with a dumbfounded face.
Number 3 just read the room and then left, saying he had something to do, while Number 1 opened his mouth with a stern face.
“It took a considerable amount of time just to get here, so there's no need to push ourselves.”
“What about clearing the Botan Island ruins?”
“If things go well, we might be able to get the Lion Heart without even going there.”
Iris asked back, doubting her own ears if she had misheard something.
“How?”
“Frank has promised to get the Lion Heart in the near future. For us, it’s a win-win since we don't have to push ourselves to go all the way to Botan Island.”
“What about the promise with the Emperor?”
“We don't owe him anything, so it won’t be a problem. If we say we can't go due to circumstances, he won't be able to do anything about it either. As I’ve said repeatedly, we are not an organization for the Emperor.”
Iris bit her lower lip and protested.
“Who decided this without my permission? I’m the master of the Unseen Ones, aren’t I?”
“It’s not a decision. I just stated my opinion.”
“Go and tell Frank. That we, the Unseen Ones, will get the Lion Heart ourselves. I don’t want to owe him anything.”
“Do you mean you will stay here longer?”
When Iris nodded, Number 1 relaxed his stern face and asked.
“Then, you tell him yourself. As you said, our master is you, not me.”
At Number 1's retort, Iris was at a loss for words.\
It felt like getting a bushel for a peck.
“Haa, really, why are you being like this too? Get a grip, Number 1!”
“That’s all I have to say. The decision is yours.”
In the end, Iris, with a feeling of eating mustard with tears, went to Frank’s room.
What would be good to say?
No, what kind of expression should I make?
After agonizing in front of Frank’s room for a long time, Iris hesitantly knocked on the door.
Soon, Frank’s voice flowed out from inside the room.
“Come in.”
A voice that was unpleasant no matter when she heard it.
Iris scrunched up her face and threw the door wide open.
***
As expected, Iris came to find me.
But she got angry right off the bat.
“Why are you meddling in our affairs without permission?”
I quietly shook my head.
“I just showed you an easier way.”
Let’s say they safely entered Botan Island through the magic device that puts sea monsters to sleep.
There wouldn't be any dragons there, so there would be nothing to stop them.
But what about inside the ruins?
Ruins that even I had never heard of.
‘It’s better not to approach unknown places.’
Especially if it’s my daughter.
But Iris looked me straight in the eye and said.
“I don't trust you. But since there’s a much easier way, I won't refuse that.”
“Are you accepting my proposal?”
“No. We will clear that place with only the power of our Unseen Ones. You stay out of it.”
“That’s troublesome.”
“What?”
I answered, putting strength into each word.
“That place is a ruin belonging to the territory I rule. You need my permission to enter it. And I will not stand by and let you move on your own.”
“Are you trying to pick a fight right now?”
“If you wish.”
Iris, perhaps remembering me from the daytime, gave a nasty smile and tried to launch a surprise attack again.
‘She’s underestimating me. But I’m not the me from back then.’
Now it was evening, and darkness had fallen thickly.
I was able to subdue her with ease.
“Wh-what! Let go of this hand!”
Iris, whose right wrist was caught in my left hand, struggled and wailed.
But I put more strength into my hand and held her wrist tightly.
Iris' pretty face crumpled, and a scream that couldn't possibly be thought of as a lady’s burst out.
“Aaargh! It hurts! It hurts, I said!”
“Let’s make a bet.”
“I don’t know anything like that! Let go, I said!”
“Let’s make a bet on which of us, you and I, finds the Lion Heart first. If I win, you will call me Father. In return, if I lose, I will never interfere in your affairs again.”
At that moment.
Iris' eyes widened, and she looked at me.
“A-are you being serious?”
I let go of her hand and slowly nodded my head.