Reformation of the Deadbeat Noble - Chapter 249

WeTried Translations

Translator/Editor: Dionysus

Chapter 249: I've Waited So Long (1)

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Not long after Airen left Adan Kingdom, a legendary creature appeared at House Staunton.

A lion's body with an eagle's head.

Well, it looked closer to a parrot than an eagle, and was undeniably adorable despite that. Still, it was a mystical beast most people would never see in their entire lives, and it had appeared at the family's castle.

Yet the reaction was calmer than expected.

Lord Staunton, the knights, the servants, and the guests.

They all looked amazed, but none of them appeared frightened by the arrival of a massive flying monster.

And so, the parrot-like Griffin landed safely in the family's training grounds.

A black cat leaped down from its back.

With a small sack slung over her shoulder, the creature looked around before spotting the person she had been seeking and calling out in a cheerful voice.

“Ah! There you are, Bill!”

“It's good to see you, Lulu.”

“Hehe! Good to see you too!”

Lulu, who had flown through the air with a light pop, held out a tiny paw.

Bill Staunton, House Staunton's troublemaker, reached out as well, and an unbearably cute handshake followed. A few cat lovers nearby watched with envious eyes.

But someone was watching with an even more intense gaze.

Quentin Staunton, the head of House Staunton.

‘This brat really was close with Lord Airen Farreira?’

Everyone on the continent knew that name by now, but the people of Adan Kingdom knew more about Airen Farreira than most.

Not only because of the championship match at the Proof Land, but because rumors of romance between him and House Lindsay's young lady had spread openly.

‘The Griffin must be the Summoned Creature of his younger sister, the Sorcerer Kiril Farreira. And that flying cat must be the Sorcery beast called Lulu, the one said to be closest to him.’

Quentin Staunton finally let go of his suspicions and looked at his son.

Truth be told, he had not believed Bill's stories for a long time.

How could a hopeless brat who had constantly caused petty trouble even after turning thirty possibly be close with someone as remarkable as Airen Farreira?

If anything, the rumors circulating throughout the kingdom said the opposite.

When Quentin Staunton heard that House Staunton's troublemaker had caused problems for the people of House Farreira, it had felt as though his heart were breaking.

But those rumors had been false?

His son's claims had been true?

‘What in the world is going on here?’

His doubts had cleared, but Viscount Staunton still could not shake his dazed feeling.

But the surprises did not end there.

A necklace set with a blue gem and a fine sword that anyone could tell had been crafted by an exceptional artisan emerged from the black cat's bundle.

As everyone stared blankly at the sight, Lulu continued her explanation.

“Thanks for helping out last time! This is an artifact Kiril made. It helps the wearer stay at a comfortable temperature, and it has detoxification, demonic aura detection, and basic magic defense functions too!”

“Oh my, you really didn't have to... Ahem, then this sword?”

“This sword? That's a gift too, obviously! From Airen. It was made by a really famous blacksmith! It's super good!”

“Ah, is that so? Thank you. Thank you so much!”

“Haha! No need to thank us that much. We owed you a favor too! Oh, and this is my gift!”

Lulu reached into thin air and pulled out a lump of gold.

It was a cat-shaped piece of gold with a fish in its mouth, looking ready to flop about at any moment.

After seeing its considerable size, Bill Staunton thanked her again. Lulu laughed happily, then climbed onto the Griffin and said,

“I'd like to stay longer, but I have a lot to do, so I'll be going now. I have to visit House Lindsay too, and see my cat friends!”

“That's fine! I'll come visit you sometime as well!”

“Okay! I'll be waiting! Bye-eeeee!”

The Griffin and the cat vanished like the wind, just as they had appeared.

Everyone stood there with dazed looks on their faces.

Bill Staunton spoke to Quentin Staunton, who wore a similar expression.

“Father.”

“...Huh? Oh, yes.”

“This much should count as being a good son, don't you think? Maybe not enough to bring honor to your name, but close enough?”

“Hahahaha!”

The son burst into laughter the instant he finished speaking, utterly pleased with himself.

Even as he watched his son's foolish behavior, the head of House Staunton could not bring himself to scold Bill.

* * *

Lulu's sack of gifts had not only visited House Staunton.

Count and Countess Lindsay received precious gifts as well. Elissa Lindsay received a famous perfume from Cesar Duchy, while the head of the house received a sword.

“Hmm.”

Joshua Lindsay groaned.

Truth be told, he was not particularly fond of receiving swords as gifts.

Not because he disliked swords. If anything, it was because he loved them too much, which meant most swords never met his standards.

But this one was different.

Perfect balance.

A razor-sharp blade.

Its design was not refined, but it possessed a functional beauty chilling enough to raise goosebumps. Its craftsmanship was so extraordinary that it seemed to reach the heavens.

No, that was not all.

After studying the sword for quite some time, the head of the house was able to guess not only the blacksmith's skill, but also the blacksmith's identity.

He murmured under his breath.

‘How did that brat Airen end up knowing this man? He's the type to be indifferent even when a respectable Master comes calling...’

“...I don't like it.”

“What? What's the problem now?”

Lady Lindsay stared at her husband in disbelief.

Airen Farreira.

She had already seen through him. He was an innocent young man, clearly exceptional only with a sword and utterly inexperienced in romance.

Yet he had prepared gifts not only for Illia, but for them as well. For someone so clumsy at this sort of thing, it meant he had put in considerable effort.

That he could not come in person?

That was only natural.

The champion of the Proof Land, a man who had reached the level of Sword Master, had returned home in glory. Simply receiving the flood of visitors would take an age.

Perhaps he had even been summoned by the king.

‘Does this man love his daughter or hate her? Is he so desperate to ruin Illia's marriage prospects?’

Elissa Lindsay shook her head.

Joshua Lindsay wore a sulky expression as he watched her.

Anyone seeing him might have wondered whether that was truly the appearance of a dignified head of house, but this was simply the family's usual atmosphere.

Thus Joshua, Elissa, and the servants attending them continued with their day as though nothing were amiss.

Bang!

“Mom, Dad.”

“Oh, yes! Our daughter... Hm? That outfit...”

“I'm going to Hale Kingdom for a while.”

“What? Wai...”

Whoosh.

Before he could finish speaking, Illia Lindsay moved in an instant. The head of the house stood frozen as though his thoughts had stopped, staring for a long while in the direction his daughter had vanished.

Of course, he did not remain like that forever.

Coming back to his senses too late, he chased after his daughter.

But it was futile.

“Well then, I'll be back.”

“What? Huh? W-wait! Wait a moment!”

Whoooooosh!

Illia Lindsay was already riding on the Griffin's back. Together with Lulu, she flew through the sky at terrifying speed.

Fast enough that even Joshua Lindsay, one of the Ten Great Swordsmen, could not catch up.

She looked at her father shrinking into a distant dot and spoke quietly.

“Sorry, Dad.”

But it could not be helped.

The moment she read Airen's letter, she had been seized by the urge to go to Hale Kingdom immediately.

He was not in the territory right now?

It did not matter.

He would return soon enough. All she had to do was wait for him.

“I'm not going to wait. You're the one who'll wait, Airen.”

Illia Lindsay murmured quietly, her eyes full of love.

Watching her, Lulu thought to herself.

‘A little scary!’

* * *

Turning back time slightly, a few days after Airen Farreira's group left House Lindsay.

The three arrived in the continent's central region in no time, but rather than ride the Griffin all the way to the territory, they began traveling on foot partway through the journey.

Because of something Airen had said.

“Once we get back home, I don't think we'll have another chance like this for a while, so let's take our time and enjoy the trip.”

Unlike Kiril, who had looked after him throughout the journey, he had not done the same for his younger sister.

Sure, one chaotic event after another had kept happening, but he knew that was only an excuse.

‘We should visit shops Kiril likes, look for places holding festivals, and travel that way instead.’

Nothing grand, just a small consideration.

But when Kiril heard her brother's words, she could not help but tear up.

Her brother, who had shut himself away in his room for ten years, had grown enough to look after the people around him.

Someone might ask whether he had merely become an ordinary person in his twenties. But having watched her brother's life from the side, Kiril could not help but feel moved.

If anything, this made her happier than seeing him become a Sword Master.

Lulu felt the same way.

The parts of him that should have naturally grown and developed simply through living as a person.

Realizing that those parts had finally begun to grow, though belatedly, through his many recent experiences, there was nothing that could make her prouder as a Sorcery master.

“Sounds good!”

“Let's do it!”

“Hm, should we pick out gifts for our parents along the way too? Ah, I should get something for Marcus as well.”

“That sounds good too!”

“Me too! And buy me a gift too!”

“What do you want, Lulu?”

“I don't know! Just buy me something anyway!”

“You'll buy me one too, right, Brother?”

“Well, as long as it's not too expensive?”

“What?”

“Kidding.”

Airen Farreira laughed as he joked around.