Chapter 96

Chapter 95

* * *

The rain had stopped.

The dark clouds retreated, and the damp darkness was washed away by the sunlight.

At the moment when the world, which had felt plunged into despair due to Teresa's death, suddenly turned bright, Raul felt a strange sensation.

That was when it happened.

"Master!"

Donovan, who rarely got excited, ran over with a flushed face.

"The young lady is alive! She is on her way to the mansion!"

Raul, who had not fully recovered from the potion he had poured into his thigh wound, staggered to his feet.

"What? What did you say? Teresa is alive?"

"Yes, Master. She returned from the dungeon that appeared in the Royal Park. They say she even purified all the monsters."

Raul almost didn't hear the last part.

He was already out of his bedroom, descending the stairs in a daze.

He ran.

He ran despite the pain in his thigh, which had been pierced by a monster's attack.

"Father!"

On the opposite side, Teresa, with her black hair fluttering like wings, jumped off her horse.

Ah, she was really alive.

Raul collapsed on the spot.

The overwhelming and intense emotions choked him, making it impossible to speak.

Instead, he embraced his daughter, who was approaching him, and burst into tears.

The small, frail body in his arms made him sob uncontrollably.

Teresa stood stiffly, unsure of what to do.

"Big sister!!"

"Big sister! Is it really you?!"

Livia and Giuseppe, who were screaming as if in anguish, and Rozan, with a red face and tears streaming down, ran over and hugged her.

Teresa began to sob.

"Ugh... I thought I was going to die."

Despite everything, she still seemed like a small, delicate daughter, trembling as she hugged her family.

Her movements conveyed the suffering she had endured.

"Welcome back, Teresa."

They embraced each other for a long time, reuniting.

* * *

The news of Teresa's return spread like wildfire.

The principal couldn't help but burst into a hollow laugh.

"How absurd."

Of all times, to hear that she had returned just when a statue commemorating Teresa's noble sacrifice was being installed.

Was that all?

To console the grieving Raul, he had even transferred the rights to the new restaurant and café in Valhalla, which were about to open.

It felt like someone was playing a malicious prank.

"When I read Clyde's report, it was clear she was dead. How could she have returned alive?"

Gordon, who had come to report Teresa's return, cautiously spoke up.

"…If she awakened the Vision Magic, it would be possible."

The principal's eyes widened at this.

"If she truly awakened the Vision Magic, she wouldn't be this quiet. Besides…"

The principal paused.

"Even so, if she really did awaken the Vision Magic, I would have known. So that's not it."

Despite saying this, he still felt uneasy.

If she hadn't awakened the Vision Magic, there must have been a deity protecting her for this to happen.

"What should we do with these?"

The principal glared at the statue, answering Gordon's question with a displeased tone.

"We can't destroy it now. That would be even more embarrassing."

"…But if we leave it, Teresa Squire's influence when she returns to school will be too great."

Valhalla wasn't just a simple magic school.

Blood ties, school ties, and hometown ties were important values, regardless of time and place.

Thus, the influence generated in Valhalla often persisted even after graduation.

"Heh. I've given wings to a tiger cub."

And he had done it with his own hands.

"Leave Teresa alone. She cleared a new dungeon and saved ten royal mages, and even purified a horde of monsters. If we meddle with someone who is too powerful, we might end up worse off."

There was a time to stomp out a sprout.

But now, Teresa wasn't just a sprout; she was a soaring eagle.

"Rather, we should applaud and elevate her. And wait for the right moment."

The moment when she stumbles and falls from the position she has climbed to.

Even without that, her influence would naturally diminish over time.

People's attention is fleeting.

'The only fortunate thing is that the child is so passionate about Clyde that she was willing to die in the dungeon for him.'

Although he had deliberately omitted it from the report to the royal family, the principal knew that the two had married inside the dungeon.

He even knew about the changes in his grandson's mindset.

"What about Clyde?"

"He has been sent to a new dungeon."

The principal rubbed his furrowed face with his wrinkled hands.

The most cursed being in the world, born from the most proud son.

A terrifying monster he had raised closer than any blood relative, to observe and monitor with his own hands.

He should have eliminated him for the sake of the family, but he couldn't bring himself to do it, holding onto a sliver of hope.

Thinking about Clyde made him wake up in cold sweats, sitting dazed until morning.

"…I see. Since Clyde has nothing more to learn at Valhalla, continue sending him to dungeons until he calms down. Make sure he doesn't get involved with Teresa again."

After all, the child wouldn't die.

Gordon nodded calmly.

"Yes, Father."

* * *

In the reception room of the Squire mansion.

Raul, Rozan, Livia, Giuseppe, and I were applying ice to our puffy eyes from crying.

Among us, only Ilya, the guest, was fine.

Ding!

[Throne 'Squire Absolute Protector' has donated 100,000 coins.]

[Goldfish eyes family ㅠㅠ]

Raul put down the ice pack and said to Ilya, somewhat embarrassed.

"I'm sorry to greet you in such a state, Professor."

"It's natural to be this way when a family member thought to be dead returns. On the contrary, it was good to see."

I looked at Ilya in surprise.

'Is Ilya capable of such socially adept responses?'

Of course, Ilya was very old, had lived in the human world for a long time, and was a sensible person except for his plan to destroy the heavens, but still, it was surprising.

He even added:

"I am also pleased that my cherished student has returned safely."

The most surprising thing was that it all felt genuine.

"Professor…"

I approached Ilya with a moved expression.

Guaaah!

If Livia and Giuseppe hadn't been holding me back, I might have lost an arm.

'Livia is stronger than she looks. She almost tore my arm off.'

Maybe it's a family trait.

Raul asked Ilya:

"Do you know when regular classes at Valhalla will resume?"

"Classes will resume next week."

"Tsk. Looks like we'll be summoned to the capital frequently until then."

At that moment, Rozan asked with a gentle smile:

"Then, how about staying here until then, Professor Ilya?"

'Hmm? This doesn't feel like a simple invitation to a mentor.'

Rozan wasn't a sinister character, but she was good at hiding intentions behind her gentle demeanor, a true duchess.

So, there was a high probability that she had some intention in inviting Ilya to the mansion.

'I just can't figure out what it is.'

However, Ilya readily agreed.

"Sure."

Rozan then said something mysterious:

"By the way, Professor Ilya, may I ask how old you are?"

"Thirty."

"Oh my. You look young, but you have a very distinguished aura. At thirty, you must have received many marriage proposals?"

"?"

Am I the only one who doesn't understand this census?

"Wife?"

Fortunately, Raul also seemed confused.

Ilya, sensing something strange, raised an eyebrow slightly and replied:

"I have no plans to marry. My family respects my decision."

Rozan smiled mysteriously and said she hoped a good match would come soon.

So… is Rozan considering Ilya as a potential husband for me?

I fidgeted with my fingers, feeling awkward.

'Umm. Ilya is a candidate for the male lead, but…'

I couldn't look at Ilya and awkwardly turned my gaze away.

The atmosphere became awkward.

We needed to check Raul and my health, so everyone except us left the room.

The health of direct blood relatives was crucial information, so only Raul and I remained.

The doctor examined me and said I was fine, just a bit fatigued, but scolded Raul.

"Your Excellency, you're not young anymore. Running at full speed right after an injury is dangerous. Especially running down the stairs. It's bad for your knees."

"Use more potions."

"Potions aren't a cure-all. You need to be careful for a while."

"Understood. Understood."

The doctor told us:

"The young lady is fine, but you need to be careful. Both of you should take tonics regularly and pay attention to your diet."

"I understand. You can go now."

Raul, looking annoyed by the nagging, waved the doctor away.

"I'll come back tomorrow."

The doctor, used to Raul's behavior, ignored him and finished his speech before leaving.

Even as an extra, he was quite tough.

I was about to leave when Raul cleared his throat, signaling me to stay.

"…"

"…"

The tearful reunion now felt like an awkward silence.

Raul and Teresa weren't particularly close, and I didn't know how to interact with my father.

Ding!

[Throne 'Pro Trainer' has donated 100,000 coins.]

[Oh, it's suffocating; maybe bring a gift from the dungeon;]

'Ah! That's right, I have something.'

I remembered the gift from the dungeon.