Chapter 52 · 9 min

Chapter 52

Chapter 52

52. Father (3)

“Heok!”

At the sound of breath cutting the three people’s gazes turned to the entrance.

The man who oiled his brown hair and pushed it back, Bram is covering his own mouth.

“Pregnant, pregnant···?”

He who was outright trembling like an aspen tree approached stumbling. His eyes were full of moisture.

“Bram···!” “Lisa···!”

Benrik met eyes with Hodge. The two people’s intentions connected.

Benrik quietly put down the mop, Hodge the tools he held and left the store.

The two people who left Lisa’s tavern walked without a word.

Benrik was preoccupied with thoughts about the ring he picked up a little while ago, and Hodge’s worry deepened because of such a child.

Hodge glanced down at Benrik walking without a word.

‘As expected it cannot be nothing.’

He knew that this was the first time Benrik killed a person. He himself had also been unable to sleep at night for a while because of guilt when he first killed a person.

The sensation of the blade cutting the flesh catching on the bone, the eye light where the light of life is extinguishing, the death throes······.

When closing the eyes the sensation of that time was felt so vividly that it made one shudder so he suffered quite a bit.

Living as a mercenary everyone must experience it at least once, but Hodge hoped Benrik’s timing would be as late as possible.

At least until becoming an adult.

He also knew well that someone’s advice does not help in this kind of trial.

‘I hope he shakes it off soon though.’

When Hodge was thinking bitterly.

Benrik was realizing that he had been firmly mistaken all this time and feeling both relief and complexity at the same time.

That was so because he really firmly believed it.

That one can only absorb ability from remains if there is emotional exchange with the dead.

When acquiring Lucian’s brooch a question did settle.

Even if I harbored a bit of pity for the guy, there was no way the guy would harbor positive feelings toward me.

Think about it. A guy who lived grandly suddenly gets beaten by a commoner he treated worse than a dog overnight, and whenever something happens he throws away, kills, and threatens so a guy who harbors favor is a madman.

‘If it was me long ago···.’

Anyway because of that he had kept it in mind. Wondering if it does not have to be positive exchange.

But, it was not.

Of course the type of emotion is irrelevant and the premise of ‘exchange’ itself was wrong.

<​Guroi's Judgment>

─To survive long on the streets, the judgment to distinguish what will cause trouble and what will not is essential.

[Sense: Judgment (C)]

Even one-sided emotion from the other side did not matter.

If this is correct the higher Benrik’s name value becomes the more infinite the possibility would become.

That is that···.

Judgment.

Looking only at the description it was not an ability that seemed useful to Benrik. Because he already had Demian's Crisis Sense and Marcel's Appraisal Eye.

The positions overlap.

[There are no empty slots. Please empty the slots or proceed with combination or enhancement.]

The grade of Judgment is C grade.

One can also combine with Empty Grandeur which is a similarly ambiguous position, or enhance the Value Judgment privilege that one is recently benefiting from.

Combination and enhancement.

Which one is better to choose.

“Hmm···.”

The longer Benrik’s worry the deeper Hodge’s concern looking at such a child only became.

***

Edmond who hurriedly left the tavern only let out a sigh of relief after entering the 3rd district of Bromwood where his mansion is.

Even while a cool wind is blowing, the linen shirt worn inside the doublet was soaked with sweat.

Because he was greatly tense while coming.

Because it seemed the ash-gray hair young devil guy would soon say “I thought about it, I cannot send you like this.” and chase behind him holding a sword dripping blood.

But now it is safe.

Because his half-sister put various magic on the collapsing mansion saying she would protect the parents’ inheritance.

He thought the crazy woman was making a fuss.

“In times like this it is helpful.”

He who chuckled entered the mansion.

The interior where not even one servant comes out to greet was silent. Except for him the only person who comes and goes to this mansion was a cleaner who comes briefly during the day.

‘I have to sell it quickly.’

If only receiving the family seal he will quickly sell this bleak mansion or something and raise a new building in the 2nd district.

“Huu, anyway it is fortunate.”

Edmond muttered while taking off the doublet randomly and throwing it.

“What is fortunate?” “Uwaak!”

Edmond was startled and sat on his buttocks.

It was his half-sister who had left home saying she would do mercenary work from a few months ago, Laila Rowan.

“This, damn···! Make some presence!”

Pak, Edmond who stood up from the place while crumpling his expression shouted. Unlike such actions the heart was pounding madly.

‘Damn was it not something that takes a long time that request or whatever?’

“So, what is fortunate?”

At the sister who persistently asks Edmond cut and drew a line.

“Tsk, there is nothing to know.” “I heard a strange rumor.” “What rumors in this city, one or two?”

Edmond who spoke annoyedly opened his mouth again a while later.

“···What rumor?”

“The rumor that you follow some woman and stay stuck in the tavern all day.” “······Ha!”

While snorting greatly, he raised his voice.

“What cripple bastard spread such nonsense?”

Laila’s smile deepened and Edmond’s complexion hardened further.

“You are not unable to abandon the playboy temperament and going around doing nonsense again?” “Ha nonsense? Hey.”

He who was speaking as if the energy is full looked down at his sister.

“Whether I followed a woman, or stayed stuck in the tavern that is not something for you to care about. Even without the seal the master of this house is me. If I want you cannot even set foot in this house now. Understand?” “······.” “Do not interfere in every matter, and stay like a dead mouse then leave.”

─Kungkwang kungkwang

Edmond stomped his feet greatly and went up the stairs and Laila who remained alone on the first floor let out a deep breath ha-.

Seeing him flare up it seems there is something.

He thought since he has eaten as much as he should eat age, he would have come to his senses slowly.

As expected people are not something to fix and use.

***

The conference room on the 2nd floor of Jenkinson’s office.

Hodge and Benrik the two people sitting facing each other at the large table were in the middle of classifying the request forms received from the adventurer guild.

“Wow this human is completely trying to eat for free.”

Hodge who saw the request form held in Benrik’s hand said.

“Wild Hog subjugation? It is a request that comes up periodically. Even though it is a substandard grade it pays 15 silver coins per head so it is a request often done.” “You say this is paying well? It is Wild Hog, Hodge. Wild Hog!” “? That is so. It is Wild Hog. A very common magical beast.” “Moreover it is written to necessarily bring the corpse.” “Because only then one can know whether one subjugated or not···.” “Even if just selling the Wild Hog byproducts one would receive 20 silver coins?” “What?” “Because we supplied like that to merchants in our village, it is certain the merchants will sell at a higher price.” “Impossible. I heard that even if selling all the leather and horns it is not even one silver coin···.” “That is a side. The Wild Hog’s bones are expensive. If grinding and scattering near the campsite the fangs do not approach well.” “···!”

When saying so Hodge clapped his hands as if there is something that catches.

“Fang deterrent powder! Was that material the Wild Hog’s bones!”

It seems the merchants hid the source of the raw material and sold.

“The Wild Hogs I have caught until now seem to easily exceed a hundred···.” “······Since we knew even now, well.”

Hodge who was staring at the requester name of the request form suddenly asked.

“Come to think of it.” “Yes?” “Lisa seemed not to know that she was pregnant.”

“Ah. Correct, that was so.” “How did you know that?”

He says that early this morning they stopped by the temple together and confirmed that there is a child in the belly. He heard everything up to the story of also receiving a blessing ceremony while going, and further solidifying the affection front.

“Did you forget why I was chased out?” “Ah···.” “There are six siblings under me, six. It all originated from experience.”

Hodge who was convinced only then chuckled.

“Still thanks to that we came to know like this. Let’s think there is an advantage in its own way.” “I do not need this kind of advantage.”

All this time Lisa met Bram for a long time yet never had a child, so it seems she inwardly concluded that she is a body that cannot conceive.

─Beolkeok

Then the conference room door opened and Bram and Matthew entered.

“You came?” “Ah···” “Haha Benrik! You were diligently looking for work! I will also help!”

Bram who spoke with strength in his neck picked up one of the request form bundles.

“Money! A lot of money! Even more money!”

From the moment he heard that he would soon become a dad that tension continues. He says he will clean out all the compensation to pay to the Rowan family before the child is born.

“No why do you even drag me- I said I will just do the given work aaaa-”

Matthew who raised his legs on the desk with the chair tilted as much as possible grumbled.

“If four do it one will find faster. Stop whining and scan the request forms, scan carefully.” “Really the next round felt good but aaaa really ah···. Ha···, motivation does not come motivation···.” “You still have money left to gamble?” “···Benrik you occasionally poke a person’s painful place with such an innocent expression.”

When Benrik shrugged his shoulders, as if recalling something he sparkled his eyes.

“Come to think of it lucky fairy.” “I do not want.” “I have not said anything yet.” “It is going to the gambling place together.” “It is not?” “It is not?” “Actually it is. Just once go together aaaa-”

Matthew only closed his mouth hep, after receiving Hodge’s cold gaze then quietly helped with the classification work.

‘Matthew cannot move in front of Hodge.’

Even while living almost like friends with Bram who is much older than Hodge.

“Bram.” “Hmm?” “Did Viscount Rowan not come again?”

When asking because the thing of just sending him like that when trying to flee bothered him.

“Ah that is···.”

Seeing him lengthening the end of the words, it seems there is something. The three people’s attention focused on him.

“Viscount Rowan did not come, but the person who is Viscount Rowan’s sister came.”

“Sister?” “That bastard had an older sister? Is she pretty?”

Bram said with a subtle expression.

“At first I thought she came to receive money instead. Without a single word about the compensation she only asked the circumstances whether the store becoming this shape is because of her younger brother and just went back?”

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