BBYW Vol. 4 Chapter 62 (WN)
Chapter 62 – A Father’s Anger, A Father’s Ache
A servant led me to the guest room as soon as I arrived at the Sphinx residence.
There, the head of the house, Margrave Vert Sphinx was already waiting.
For some reason, the elderly man was flushed red with irritation, impatiently tapping his fingers on the table. As soon as I stepped inside, he spoke up.
“You had your fun last night, didn’t you?”
“I honestly have no idea what you are talking about…I didn’t have any fun at all…Father.”
“You have no right to call me father!! You perverted bastard!!”
I just meant it as a joke, but the man got seriously angry.
If he was so worried about his daughter, he could have come to pick her up…or so I thought. Not being able to make such a decision easily showed how difficult life could be for the creature called “father”.
“For goodness’ sake…Sir, I thought I was the person who just saved the whole western province from certain doom. I surely didn’t expect I would be called a “perverted bastard” instead.”
“Mgh…listen, I am grateful to you, but…”
“Rest assured, I do not go around tasting fruit while it is still unripe. Things might be different five years from now, though.”
“Hmm, that doesn’t make me feel too reassured…no, but at least…hmghr…”
Vert mumbled to himself, a conflicted look on his face.
Without waiting for the hemming and hawing man’s permission, I took a seat on the nearest chair. I also took the liberty of pouring myself a cup of tea from the teapot on the table.
“You are welcome to ponder as long as you wish, but do you mind if we take care of my business first? I have plenty of things to report about, actually.”
“Hmm…that is true.”
I took a sip of the already lukewarm tea and changed the topic. Vert, albeit begrudgingly, paused his train of thought and nodded.
He had surely already heard from the Sphinx troops about our successful retake of Fort Giza. He probably thought my report was just a confirmation of that.
As I talked, however, the man’s expression grew more and more stern. When I finished, Vert had his head in his hands, groaning in pain.
“Jaar…you fool…!”
The first words to come out of his mouth were of rebuke, for the subordinate who had stepped on the wrong path.
“Why did you not confide in me…!? If only you talked, before going so far as to betray us…we would have everything in our power to rescue your mother and sister…”
“…………”
I had no suitable words for the man. All I could do was to continue pouring the cold tea down my throat.
Vert spent a fairly long time covering his face with his hands, then raised his head again.
“….Sir Dyngir Maxwell. Allow me to express my utmost gratitude to you. You have saved House Sphinx.”
All pain and anguish had left the man’s expression. All I could see now was the powerful sense of duty that animated the Margrave.
“You have exacted revenge for my son, taken back the fort, even eliminated the cause originating the ‘Terror Armies’…I could not possibly thank you enough. How could we ever repay such a debt?”
“There is no need to repay anything. I did it all because I wanted to.”
So I casually replied.
My words weren’t meant as compliments, or an exercise of restraint: I honestly thought so.
“If I had to ask for something…I would be grateful if you could collect treasures left in the ‘Undead Capital’, and send half to House Maxwell. You can do anything you wish with the rest.”
“All that treasure belongs to you, though. We did not do anything to earn it…”
“Do not say that, please. Just think of it as a parting gift for Valon.”
“Hmgh…”
Upon hearing the name of his deceased son, Vert fell silent.
“The man called Valon Sphinx was a hero. Even someone like me has to show proper respect. That’s all, Sir. If you refuse, it would be tantamount to slander his name.”
“You offer this victory to my boy, is that what you’re saying…? Tch, our debt to you just keeps growing bigger…how am I supposed to stop Naam now…”
“Hm? What has Naam got to do with any of this?”
“Will I really have to send my baby to marry in such a far away place? All the way to the eastern province…”
Vert did not seem to have even heard my question. He started mumbling to himself again, munching away on his thumbnail.
It was rather rare for a clan head to start thinking out loud so often in front of guests, I thought.
“Well…that’s all for me, so I’ll be taking my leave. I’ll send Naam back after dinner, so do not worry, Sir.”
I left Vert to his thoughts and exited the Sphinx residence.
“Alright then…the ‘Terror Armies’ problem is officially solved. What’s left is…to take care of the pests still harassing the fields.”
I raised my arms towards the sky and stretched, as if I was really just thinking about taking out the trash.