WeTried Translations
Translator/Editor: Dionysus
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Chapter 252: Our Son (1)
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"...Sir Orlin Jukran."
"Ah, go ahead."
"That, well, so... about the young lord. I mean..."
"You want to ask whether the old rumors were true?"
Orlin Jukran, a veteran knight of House Farreira, looked at the knight who had recently joined the house.
The knight smacked their lips awkwardly but did not deny it.
The others felt the same.
They included those who had joined while Airen was in the Sorcery World, people who had never experienced his days as the "lazy lord."
From their perspective, Airen's past was simply impossible to believe.
'I don't believe it myself.'
Orlin Jukran felt the same way.
The house's black sheep, the kingdom's laughingstock.
That same person had picked up a sword one day, then grown at an incredible pace.
'Someone like me... can barely meet the young master's eyes anymore.'
He gave a bitter smile.
He had never shown it openly, but Orlin Jukran had once been among those who disliked the lazy lord. Whenever Airen's name came up, he would reveal his disdain in subtle ways.
But not everyone had felt that way.
Marcus, who had attended to the young master his entire life without ever showing any dislike.
Kiril Farreira, who had always lavished love on her half-brother.
And Baron and Lady Farreira, who must have suffered more than anyone, yet had cared for their child with unwavering faith.
'To people like them, the young master's current self must feel like nothing short of a blessing.'
"...What does the past matter? What matters is that the young master is a Sword Master now."
After giving that brief answer, Orlin Jukran smacked his lips and withdrew.
As he headed toward the barracks, his gaze drifted toward where the Farreira family had disappeared.
How much joy must Airen Farreira bring Baron Farreira?
Even though he had children of his own, Orlin found it difficult to imagine.
* * *
"Really? It really happened that way?"
"Yes, Father. Why would I lie to your face? I truly met Lady Ignet Crescentia, and..."
Harun Farreira, Amelia Farreira, Kiril Farreira, and Airen Farreira gathered together in the same place for the first time in two years.
The other three lost track of time as they listened to Airen's stories.
Naturally, the topic was the two-year journey Airen had undertaken.
He had experienced more in that time than most people would in a lifetime, and no matter how much he shared, he never ran out of stories.
Of course, he left out anything about demons.
That was also why Lulu was not there with them.
She was not accustomed to lying, and if she accidentally revealed something about the Jester Demon, there was no telling how worried his parents would become.
Because of that, the conversation felt awkward at times, but Harun and Amelia did not find it strange.
Even without the stories about demons, everything else was exciting enough to hold their attention.
"Hoho. To receive a recruitment offer from Lady Ignet Crescentia, the continent's greatest genius... And you learned Aura control from an orc tribe as well?"
"They call it the Five Elements Divine Technique."
"Hoho... I think I need a little drink."
Harun Farreira was not usually one for alcohol.
There were many happy moments now, but in the past, there had been nothing but difficult and painful days.
He had restrained himself for a long time, worrying that if he relied on alcohol whenever things became hard, he might fall apart.
But now, he could not hold back.
No, there was no need to hold back.
This was the story of Airen Farreira, the person he loved most in the world.
The boy who had spent so long sitting collapsed in on himself had finally spread his wings and risen into the sky.
For a parent, there could be no happier or more joyful story.
'There is no need to keep my heart restrained on a day like this!'
For the first time in a very long while, Harun Farreira's smile grew broader with excitement.
"Lord Lloyd sounds like a truly good person."
Harun was not the only one in high spirits.
Amelia Farreira, who had been listening quietly, could not help but react strongly when her son spoke of his conversation with Lord Lloyd.
She had already believed there was nothing more to wish for in his growth as a swordsman from the moment he subjugated the demonoid in the south.
But inner growth was another matter.
Even after returning from the Demonoid Subjugation with such impressive achievements, her son had still seemed lost. Amelia Farreira had often sighed where no one could see.
During the journey that she expected would be long, she had worried that his heart might bend in the wrong direction.
'I never had anything to worry about.'
Her son was no longer the son he had once been.
He still had many shortcomings, but he possessed the courage to move in the right direction.
And kind, admirable people who sincerely wanted to help him had always been by his side.
True talent blooms late, or so they said.
Her son had become strong not only on the outside, but inwardly as well. Remembering the many years it had taken for him to become this way, Amelia began to cry.
"Dear, are you all right?"
"I'm fine. I'm fine."
"No, Kiril, you too..."
"Ah! I'm not crying. I just teared up from yawning... Ah, damn it, dust got in my eye too. It keeps coming out."
Even Kiril Farreira began to cry.
Throughout it all, Harun Farreira and Airen Farreira kept their eyes dry until the end.
The father wanted to appear dependable before his son.
The son wanted to show his family only a bright side of himself.
Because he had been unable to do so for a very long time.
Because he had been unable to take the hands they had offered him for a very long time.
'Not anymore.'
He could not erase his past mistakes.
They had already happened. That was why he had no intention of burying himself in the pain and regret of those days.
But he would not completely forget what had happened, either.
'...From now on, I will do my best to make up for not being a devoted son.'
With that thought, Airen's long yet short reunion with his family came to an end, and he returned to his room.
Knock, knock. Kiril gave the door a cheerful rap before stepping inside.
"Brother, you're going to do your best for Mom and Dad from now on, right?"
"Huh? Yeah, I should."
"Have you thought of anything?"
"Uh, um..."
He had thought about it.
But he had not made any grand plans.
He had merely resolved that, since he had once shut himself in his room without even speaking to them, he would talk with his parents more often, spend time with them, and do things together.
"Hmm. That's not bad. You definitely need time to spend with Mom and Dad. They'll probably be really happy."
"Yeah. Especially since I couldn't do that before..."
"But how about doing something special too, instead of only ordinary things?"
"Something special?"
"Yeah, an event. House Farreira's lazy lord returned as a Sword Master, so it would be a little strange if nothing happened. You should at least let people see how much you've changed!"
"No, that's a little..."
Airen looked troubled.
He had never liked that sort of thing. The reason he had taken up the sword had nothing to do with fame or vanity.
Even if no one recognized him, Airen would quietly continue doing what he had to do.
Like the Paladins of the Purification Order, who traveled the continent even after retirement and used their strength to help those in need.
But the moment he heard Kiril's next words, he could find nothing to argue with.
"I'm not telling you to show off for your own sake."
"Huh?"
"Of course, you should show off for Mom and Dad's sake."
"..."
"People want to show off even an expensive piece of jewelry they bought. How much would Mom and Dad want to boast about a gifted son who became a Master in his early twenties? Don't you think so?"
"..."
Airen remained silent for a long time.
Then he thought of each of his parents.
His stern father and his kind, gentle, quiet mother did not seem like the type to boast about anything.
But then...
'...Joshua Lindsay was the same way.'
And he was not the only one.
The Count and Countess of House Lloyd.
Great Warrior Karakum, Tarakhan's father.
All of them had carried themselves with dignity, but their love for their children had been even greater.
The head of House Lindsay was called a doting fool, which said enough.
Having thought that far, Airen remembered the past.
The lazy lord. The shame of House Farreira. The kingdom's lazybones.
The scorn and ridicule that had rained down on him could not have hurt only him. His parents' hearts must have ached far, far more.
Yet they had never shown the slightest sign of it, always standing firm and dependable before him...
"...Yeah. Let's do it. The event."
Kiril's event would make a rather good gift after all.
"Good. As long as you agree, making the plans will not be difficult. Let's arrange an opportunity to show off the continent's most amazing son."
"No, the continent's best is a little..."
"Fix that attitude! If you're not the best in Mom and Dad's eyes, then who is? Ah! Of course, I do more cute things, and I'm no less capable than you..."
"But this time, you're the star."
"That means you need to take pride in being the continent's greatest son."
"Got it?"
Airen nodded frantically at his younger sister's unending words.
At the same time, a question came to mind.
What exactly was this event she had prepared?
When Kiril heard his question, she grinned.
"A special swordsmanship lecture for the surrounding territories, taught by a Sword Master in his twenties... What do you think? It is subtle enough not to be too obvious, but refined enough to show off properly."
* * *
Sword Master Airen Farreira's return to House Farreira.
The news spread throughout the Hale Kingdom in an instant.
It was not just the Six Southern Houses.
There was no place or time in high society where Airen's name did not come up.
"So our kingdom finally has a Sword Master..."
"And one in his twenties, they say? Incredible!"
"I was getting sick of the neighboring kingdoms pushing us around. They will not be able to push us around anymore!"
"I heard he's handsome too?"
"If we invited him to a party, would he come...?"
Most reactions were filled with praise, admiration, and envy.
But not everyone welcomed the topic.
"Hem, hem."
"We have been talking about Airen Farreira far too much lately..."
Some nobles had used the "lazy lord" as a joke for years. By now, they had gone too far to suddenly praise Airen.
That was why they had remained dismissive even after Airen subjugated the demonoid.
They assumed his achievements had been exaggerated and claimed that rumors could not be trusted.
But they could no longer do that.
With his status as the champion of the Proof Land confirmed, Airen's reputation had already risen beyond anything they could tarnish.
All those nobles could do was change the subject.
But a few days later, word spread that House Farreira would be holding a special event.
After that, they could no longer turn the conversation elsewhere.
"Did you hear? House Farreira is holding a special swordsmanship lecture!"
"What? A Sword Master is teaching in person?"
"That's what I heard! It may only last a day or two, but where else could we find an opportunity like this? My eldest son has talent with a sword, so I plan to send someone immediately."
"I-I see. My son happens to be interested in swords as well..."
"..."
Curiosity about Airen Farreira had already reached the sky.
Everyone desperately wanted to forge a valuable connection with him.
With an event like this taking place, they had no choice but to eagerly send letters and messengers.
"...Dear, did you hear?"
"...I did."
"What are we going to do? Our child wants to become a knight too."
"..."
"Say something! Are we just going to let this chance pass us by?"
"Of course not..."
"Then we need to apologize for what happened before, show our sincerity, and find a way in!"
"Ahem, hem..."
Even those who had looked down on the lazy lord in the past joined the tide.
No, they struggled desperately to join it. Nobles who had once been proud and arrogant began lowering their heads one by one for the sake of their children.
"Hoho, hohoho."
Feeling that atmosphere firsthand, Baron Harun Farreira could only laugh.
He felt a little embarrassed.
But a far greater sense of pride filled his chest.
Thinking of his grown son, he murmured quietly.
"So this is what it feels like to have a son who is a Sword Master."
Happiness filled Baron Farreira's voice and face.
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