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Chapter : 89
The Tower Master’s eyes trembled violently.
“Ehehe, here!”
With trembling hands, I handed the paper over to the Tower Master.
He quickly scanned the document.
And then—thud. The paper slipped from his hand.
“…It’s real. It’s really real……”
He pulled me into an embrace.
‘Uh… um…’
The only person who had ever hugged me like this was my brother.
I hesitantly wrapped my arms around the Tower Master in an awkward motion.
His large, muscular body was stiff… but warm.
“Ah!”
“Hahaha! My granddaughter, Winiel!”
At that moment, the Tower Master seemed unable to contain his joy and lifted me up, tossing me into the air and catching me again.
‘Aaaah, the world is spinning…!’
It didn’t feel like I would be dropped, so I wasn’t scared—but the repeated rising and falling made my vision spin.
Fortunately, not long after, the Tower Master was scolded by his aide and set me down.
I swayed for a moment, unable to stand properly.
But then…
“Grandfather!”
Soon, I rushed back into the Tower Master—no, my grandfather’s arms.
‘To think I had another family besides my brother…!’
I was still dazed, but I wanted to fully enjoy this happiness right now.
“Yes, my Winiel!”
Grandfather laughed heartily and hugged me back.
“We have so much to talk about! Tell me how you’ve been all this time!”
When we broke apart from the embrace, Grandfather held out his hand to me.
Despite his bright tone, his large hand still trembled slightly.
“Yes, okay!”
I smiled and firmly took his hand.
Grandfather smiled back at me.
*****
A short while later.
After excitedly leaving the room where magical tools were kept, Grandfather and I returned to his office and sat across from each other with tea and snacks.
“Will this be enough for my granddaughter?”
Though the snacks were not only delicious-looking but also extravagant, Grandfather narrowed his eyes in dissatisfaction.
“We didn’t have much time, did we?”
“But still…”
“It all looks delicious! I’ll eat well!”
Sensing another argument with the aide about to break out, I quickly picked up a fork.
I took a bite of whatever was closest.
‘This pumpkin pie… it’s insanely good!?’
My eyes widened in shock, and after a brief pause, I began eating it enthusiastically again.
“Hmph, my granddaughter even eats beautifully.”
“I’m glad it suits your taste,” the aide replied.
Fortunately, no argument broke out between Grandfather and the aide.
After a while, the aide brought me warm milk and left the room, leaving just Grandfather and me.
When half the pumpkin pie had disappeared, Grandfather—who had been silently watching me—finally spoke.
“How have you been all this time? I only knew that you became a saint candidate five years ago. How did you end up becoming one?”
“My mother passed away when I was three, and I wandered around for a while. Then I happened to meet the High Priest and became a saint candidate. But due to circumstances, I quit being a saint candidate recently.”
“So you left because you got engaged to Cain Argent and decided to focus on the Argent family?”
“Well, that’s…”
I rolled my eyes.
‘Should I be honest with Grandfather?’
I also wanted to ask for his help in finding my brother.
Carefully, I asked:
“Um… Grandfather, you’re on my side, right…?”
“Of course! Even if the whole world becomes your enemy, I will protect you. I’d stake my life on it!”
He looked so determined he even said he’d write an oath if I didn’t believe him.
I immediately replied,
“Yes! Then please write it!”
It’s better to be safe!
“W-what? Ah, alright! It’s nothing difficult for a grandfather who has finally met his granddaughter!”
Though briefly flustered, he really did write it.
It was an oath stating he would always take my side no matter what—and if he broke it, all his property would be donated to the temple.
‘I don’t think he’d joke about donating all his property to the temple.’
That made it feel trustworthy. And honestly, I was the one asking for help, so I didn’t feel right being picky.
‘And he’s my grandfather… I want to trust him!’
I carefully folded the oath and put it in my pocket before beginning to speak.
I told him everything—that I had seen a future where my brother died after joining a villainous organization, and that I was currently cooperating with the Argent family, the enemy of that organization, in order to stop them.
“What! That troublesome grandson of mine!”
As soon as I finished speaking, Grandfather exploded in anger.
“If you needed money, you could’ve just acted cute to your grandfather! Why would you go into such a terrifying place?!”
“My brother doesn’t even know you’re his grandfather…”
“Then we’ll just find him and tell him immediately!”
Grandfather shot up from his seat.
‘At least I can clearly feel his desire to find my brother, so that’s good.’
But there was something I wanted to ask first.
“By the way… what happened to my father? How did he leave the Magic Tower?”
I had never met my father.
‘But I still want to hear about him.’
I wanted to know about my parents—stories I had never heard before.
“……”
Grandfather said nothing.
It was obvious from his expression that he couldn’t answer easily.
‘He looks sad. Of course it wouldn’t be a good memory.’
His son had run away from home. Even remembering it must be painful.
I wondered if I shouldn’t have asked and hesitated, about to take the words back.
“Your father was an excellent mage.”
Grandfather finally spoke.
“There was no one more suitable than him to become the next Tower Master. Not only me—everyone believed Leo would become the Tower Master once he grew up. He had a gentle and upright personality, and everyone followed him well.”
“Ah.”
“But one day, he went outside the Magic Tower and fell in love with a woman and insisted on marrying her. She must have been your mother. She was said to possess divine power. But…”
But?
At the sudden pause, I looked at him, and he avoided my gaze.
As if he couldn’t bear to meet my eyes.
“I opposed it. Back then, I hated the temple even more than I do now. I couldn’t stand watching the temple’s influence grow while the Magic Tower was being pushed back.”
“……”
“That’s why I despised anyone with divine power. I fought with Leo, saying I wouldn’t even listen to her name, let alone see her face. After that, Leo left the Magic Tower.”
Grandfather couldn’t lift his head, as if he had become a sinner.
“At first, I let him be. He had always followed my harsh training without complaint, so I thought he would quickly come to his senses and return. But that was foolish. He never came back. I searched for him later, but he had already completely disappeared.”
His voice was filled with deep regret.
“In the end… I was never able to find Leo again.”
That was how his story ended.
“……”
I couldn’t respond.
I didn’t know what to say.
‘My father is already gone from this world.’
Feeling sorry, I lowered my head.
I didn’t think my words had made Grandfather realize my father was dead. He already knew I was an orphan.
What I felt was something more fundamental.
‘Because I am his granddaughter.’
Maybe it would have been better if I weren’t his granddaughter.
Then he might still have been able to believe his son was alive somewhere in the world.
‘…But Grandfather is the only family I’ve found.’
I felt conflicted. I didn’t know what emotions I was supposed to have.
I was sorry for the grieving Grandfather, yet also happy to have met him.
“Winiel.”
Grandfather called my name.
When I looked up, he continued.
“May I truly be your grandfather?”
“Eh? You already are my grandfather…”
I had even seen the DNA test results… what was he saying?
He shook his head seriously.
“…What I mean is, will you accept someone like me as your grandfather?”
“……”
“I don’t have the right to say this, but the moment I saw you, I felt relieved. It felt like I was granted my wish before Leo died.”
He looked at me, his eyes gently narrowing as he smiled.
“I’m glad I met you. Truly glad.”
His tearful smile made something in my chest tighten.
“……”
After a moment of hesitation, I suddenly stood up.
Then I moved beside him and hugged him tightly.
“I want you to be my grandfather. And also… and also…”
“……”
“Let’s find my brother too, and all live together…”
Grandfather froze in surprise.
“…Alright.”
But soon, he slowly wrapped his arms around me.
“Let’s do that… for sure…”
He murmured so softly it was almost inaudible.
“Thank you, Winiel…”
*****
After Winiel left the office, the Tower Master remained alone and could not move for a long time.
“How selfish I am…”
He let out a long sigh and murmured.
Asking whether she could accept someone like him as her grandfather.
It was a reckless confession made out of fear that she might reject him—but even thinking back, it was not something he had the right to say.
‘Was I actually hoping for forgiveness, after everything I did?’
He was the one who had pushed Winiel and her family into ruin.
No matter how much he regretted it, there was no way to be forgiven now that everything had already gone wrong.
And yet Winiel had accepted him. She didn’t scold him—she spoke of a future together.
Perhaps that was why.
“……”
The regret he felt every day came today with unusual intensity.
The Tower Master lowered his head.
