MMLP 19

Chapter 19

“Thanks to your suggestion that we go inside and rest, we were able to avoid the rain. In return, I shall serve the tea. Some fine leaves just came in.”

At the ringing of a bell, Wilhelm’s adjutant, Sevek, appeared. With faithful execution of his orders, the office was soon filled with the rich aroma of tea.

I fidgeted impatiently while waiting for the tea to cool to a proper temperature. Sitting deep into the sofa, my feet did not touch the floor.

It was nothing new to be reminded that the furniture here belonged to Wilhelm’s space. I sipped the warmth of the tea. Truly, he could boast of the depth of flavor from these leaves.

“You’ve provided me a horse of my own, so once the rain stops I’ll go pick the Abenrise flowers right away.”

“The flowers, too, need their time to quench their thirst. There’s no need to rush.”

“But the flowers…”

I had to pick them to earn Wilhelm’s favor.

I had to block Kaulen’s succession, stop Diego’s claim to the throne, defeat the Demon King, and restore the Archmage’s lost body.

Yet here I was, a child whose feet couldn’t even touch the ground.

“Revieta. Is something wrong? You look uneasy, as though chased by something. If there’s anyone treating you rudely, like that maid before, don’t hesitate to tell me.”

“I’m fine. I think the gloomy weather has unsettled my heart.”

— On rainy days, Go is the best.

“On rainy days, Go is the best…”

Damn it! While I had let my guard down, Zerodines blurted something so random that I ended up parroting it aloud.

How was I supposed to smooth this over? While I was frantically trying to think, a Go board, neatly lined with a grid, suddenly thumped onto the table.

“Do you know how to play?”

Wilhelm asked with a doubtful gaze. The only exposure I’d ever had to Go was in comic books, but at this moment I couldn’t possibly say no.

“I’ve never actually played, but I’ve seen it in the newspaper a few times.”

“Ah, you’ve studied game records in the papers. And you said you taught yourself to read through printed works, didn’t you? Seems Pepperx wasn’t making it up after all. What do you say, shall we play a teaching game with a handicap?”

I turned my gaze away, pretending to think, and then glared at Zerodines as if to pierce him through.

This is your fault, so you take responsibility!

In comics, the ghost usually helps in situations like this. Since he was a ghost too, even if not a professional player, surely he could at least give me advice.

Fortunately, Zerodines took my crisis as the perfect opportunity.

— Exactly, rainy days are made for Go. Tell Grand Duke Grimroar to wager his right of succession. I can beat him even without handicap.

His insane suggestion left me speechless, and yet somehow my heart felt lighter.

Because I believed he really could do it. The more I felt the absurdly overwhelming power of the strongest one dwelling in my left hand, the lighter my burdens became.

Really, since when had I ever lived by overthinking? If I just chewed up every villain in my way, I’d eventually reach my goal. Wasn’t that right?

Down with Evemaria! Down with Diego! Kaulen, Mikhail, and the rest!

The heavy sound of the rain suddenly began to feel like cheerful music. I sat upright with a bright face. My dangling feet felt light, as if they might take flight.

“Yes! I’ll do it.”

The rain stopped.

In fresh clothes, Gilbert let out a sigh.

“Lost my bet, got my clothes soaked, and now Father’s nagging me. What a wretched day.”

While he was washing up, the rain clouds had already disappeared. The problem was that just as he finished and was enjoying a refreshed feeling, Wilhelm summoned him.

The message said he had something important to say regarding Revieta, and to come to his room.

Gilbert tried to stay positive as he walked toward the main residence, but optimism would not come. After all, Revieta was hardly what one could call a quiet child, even out of politeness.

He only hoped it wasn’t anything serious.

That hope shattered the instant he opened the door and saw Wilhelm’s grave expression.

Not even when learning of assassins, surprise attacks, or traitors had Wilhelm looked this severe. Just what catastrophe had occurred?

Gilbert tightened his core and steadied his mind.

“Father, please calm down first. Children don’t know any better.”

“No. Revieta knew very well.”

Thud! Wilhelm’s answer sank into his heart like a boulder. Gilbert rubbed the back of his neck to hide his tangled feelings.

“That child, without fear, challenged me outright. Her moves were as audacious as if testing someone weaker than herself.”

“…”

Gilbert suddenly felt like giving up on everything and just taking a nap.

“I could have gone easy on her, but if I toyed with her I feared she would bite my throat, so midway I began to fight seriously. I can’t recall the last time I met such a worthy opponent. It wasn’t entirely even, but the balance of the match swung back and forth in a fierce struggle.”

Whatever this meant, if Wilhelm had taken it seriously, then Revieta couldn’t possibly be safe. Facing the towering general, Gilbert’s vision grew dim.

“Where is she now?”

“She left the house after the rain stopped.”

“She… left?”

“Yes. She was so determined to go that I had to resist the urge to ask for another match.”

Gilbert’s warrior’s instincts told him that their conversation was somehow missing the mark. Still, at least Wilhelm didn’t seem angry, so he set aside his fears for Revieta’s safety.

But the meaning of all this still seemed dubious.

“You’re saying she’s that skilled, despite never having formal training?”

“Pepperx himself has declared Revieta an unparalleled genius. After playing a full game with her, I could only agree.”

A deep smile curved Wilhelm’s lips.

“She will be great. She must play not in rivers, but in oceans.”

The words sounded to Gilbert like a plan to send her to the battlefield, and strange visions began to unfold in his mind.

‘Uncle! I don’t want to be taken away! That place is horrible!’

Revieta was sucked into darkness, crying and begging. It was only imagination, but having lost both wife and daughter that way, Gilbert could not free himself from the vision.

“No! Impossible!”

He shouted with abandon, even before his father.

Yes, from the start, taking Revieta in as a ward had been with such intentions. But that had never been what Gilbert wanted.

She might be cheeky at times, but she was deep-hearted and kind. Perhaps burdened with many scars, she rarely opened up. That made him all the more gentle with her.

Even if accused of treating her as a replacement for his dead daughter, he couldn’t deny it. Still, if possible, he wished she could remain family.

Gilbert made up his mind.

“I’ll leave the house.”

“You’ll… leave?”

“I’ll take responsibility. Just leave Revieta be. She’s done nothing wrong.”

“…Of course she’s done nothing wrong. All she did was play a game of Go with an old man. What nonsense are you spouting?”

“Go?”

“If you’re still half-asleep, shall I douse you with cold water?”

Because water happened to be on the table, Gilbert’s black hair, barely dried, was soaked once again.

“Then all this time… you were talking about a game, not an actual fight?”

It was a relief, yet somehow he felt like an idiot.

Just then, someone opened the door and entered without asking permission — though there was no reason it should be a problem.

“Mikhail? What are you doing here instead of school?”

“It’s vacation. I thought I’d stay a few days to see the family before leaving again.”

Raindrops trickled down from Mikhail’s wet hair. Having run quickly, he had cut through the rain, and his soaked body looked heavy.

“Good. Rest well while you’re here.”

As Mikhail bowed his head, Wilhelm added:

“There is a child adopted under Gilbert’s care. A nine-year-old girl with silver hair, named Revieta. If you happen to meet her, it would be good to greet her.”

“I won’t forget to greet her.”

It would be a greeting impossible to forget. Mikhail smiled faintly toward the floor.