-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: uly
Chapter: 10
Chapter Title: A Devoted Reader's Reborn Life
-----------------------------------------------------------------
<―>
Raido's question was abrupt beyond measure.
What do you think about your child?
The Lichten Margrave fell into brief contemplation, probing the intent behind the other's query.
The old him would have casually shifted to another topic after some small talk, but this time was different.
He too had just confirmed Sion's sudden transformation with his own eyes today.
"Have you met Sion by any chance?"
"I just came from butting heads and flashing teeth at each other a little while ago."
"What brought that on all of a sudden...?"
"I was thinking of taking him as a disciple."
"Pardon?"
The Lichten Margrave wondered if he'd misheard something.
The Raido he knew—the one he'd dealt with for ages—was a man who kept no one close without good reason.
Former court mage, legendary martial artist, bearer of countless titles, yet Raido counted fewer than ten true friends, himself included. He shunned personal bonds to an extreme degree.
For such a man to propose taking his eldest son—one he'd never even met—as a disciple?
"Surely you're not joking just because you have nothing better to do?"
"Brat.
Even if I'm half-mad, I wouldn't joke about something like this."
"You really offered Sion a spot as your disciple?"
"That's right."
"Why?
Why would you, Raido-nim, make such a sudden decision?"
"That's why I dropped by out of the blue—figured you might know too."
"Ah..."
"But get this—something even funnier happened.
Know what it is?"
The Lichten Margrave shook his head, of course not.
Just as expected, Raido leaned deep into the backrest and continued.
"He turned down the offer."
"Pardon?"
"He refused to become my disciple.
I figured your boy was that rumored fool, the clueless pup.
Human trash coasting on his old man's glory—that's what I thought.
Ah, too harsh?"
"No.
That's the talk making the rounds.
I admit it myself."
"But here's the thing.
Your son today? Nothing like the rumors—not even close."
"Different from the rumors how...?"
"He's been hiding himself all this time. Hiding, hiding more, fooling everyone over and over.
That's how he stayed curled up.
Making sure no one suspected a thing—not even your house's retainers or family."
Those words brought back Lichten's earlier talk with Sion.
His eldest son, brimming with unprecedented confidence, carrying himself like a true heir.
He'd cocked his head at the oddly changed air but felt relief deep down.
He'd chalked it up to late-blooming maturity, but it wasn't that simple?
"Your face says you had no idea."
"You're saying Sion's been hiding himself all along?"
"Looks that way to me.
Unless my eyes are crossed."
"Why would he do something like that...?"
"Everyone's got their reasons.
If I had to guess, he's playing it low-key to keep his weaknesses under wraps."
"Weaknesses?
What kind of weaknesses does that boy have?"
Raido eyed the Lichten Margrave for a beat, then just shrugged—it wasn't his story to spill.
"Anyway, that worry you brought up before.
From where I stand, it's groundless fretting, good for nothing."
"Is that so."
"He even tried pulling one over on me—and nearly succeeded.
Guy's sharp as hell, no question. Far from useless."
"But..."
"It's a win.
Times like these, with the world all stirred up? A shaky heir in the margrave seat hands advantages to outsiders.
With a successor that solid, you rest easy. The palace too."
With that, Raido stretched out a yawn, rolling his shoulders like his whole body ached.
The Lichten Margrave watched a moment, then ventured carefully.
"How's that matter progressing?"
"Stuck in the mud.
Like those royal castle dullards jawing about politics.
Not one scrap of real progress.
Damn fools."
Were they not in the count's castle, Raido would've hawked a loogie and ground it underfoot by now.
Raking his hair in irritation, Raido let out a groan and pressed on.
"Lately, one's decent enough to lend a hand, but hunting down another temple? No picnic.
Those demon street-rat bastards defy understanding.
Rotten little shits."
"No progress is worrisome."
"Don't sweat it.
Barrier's holding firm—no spillover to the territory."
"I'm always grateful for your grace, Raido-nim."
"Cut it out.
I ditched court mage life on a whim and came here.
Swinging fists without pulling punches for once? Feels like I shed ten years—mood's golden."
No jest—his face beamed with genuine smiles.
Sixty-odd by the calendar, but his fire and agility outburned most young bucks.
"Enough about me. You holding up?"
"What do you mean?"
"Hiding it?
Word is, things with Nudia Kingdom have been off lately."
Lichten bit his lip, nodding slowly.
Nudia's border lands had abruptly dammed the water source feeding Margrave Territory—then stonewalled every summit request.
Corking the flow right as crops ripened? War talk, plain as day. Lately, he'd dispatched spies on the down-low to gauge Nudia's moves.
"You knew about that too, Raido-nim."
"Heard it from my girl."
"Ah, Miss Lucia..."
"And she got it from your boy."
"From Sion?"
"Yeah."
No—how?
Lichten passed shock into outright fluster.
Even he had pieced it together cautiously from reports and signs.
Those came via channels sealed to him alone.
Sion Klauzen? Never once cared about territory business.
No way he'd know Nudia's mood or the dam.
Yet he'd sourced that intel somehow, foreseen the fallout, and gone for advice?
"Here's the kicker.
Your kid? Knew who I was ages ago."
"That you're in the margrave territory?"
"Yep.
Nailed it from the tiniest breadcrumbs—left me no room to deny, came at me with ironclad certainty.
Like he had the answer from jump.
So bold I couldn't muster a lie—just gawked like a moron."
Spot on, really.
Sion being a novel superfan who knew it all.
Unbeknownst to Raido or Lichten, they marveled and gawked in tandem.
"Just how much does that kid know...?"
"Doesn't seem to have the eastern woods bit yet.
If he did, he'd have grilled me on progress.
Fortune or curse? Jury's out."
The massive forest east of Margrave Territory.
A mystery temple unearthed there—the trigger that drew Raido.
Dig after dig confirmed demons built it for their god. Territory monsters? Likely spillover.
'But deeper probes turned up zilch.'
No link between temple and spawns.
Another temple? He and Kim Yu-hyun combed the woods blind—no dice.
Something else at play, then. Raido still hunting it.
"Bottom line: quit fretting over your boy.
Wild why a talent like that sandbagged so hard."
Raido rose, tracing a magic circle a tad longer than before.
Homeward bound—return array to his nest.
Midway, an 'ah' escaped in sigh; he glanced at Lichten.
"One thing before I go, Lichten."
"Listening."
"You—what do you think of my daughter?"
"...Pardon?"
Sudden as a thunderclap—no instant reply expected.
Raido griped under breath—'Damn! Like father, like son—how you two match move for move?'—and hounded for an answer.
Lichten managed only a baffled chuckle.
"I truly don't follow the question's angle."
"Ah, shit!
Meaning!
Ahem!
Father to father—sure, you've got a son!
But anyway, adult eyes: what of my girl?
Prim and proper! Prime catch!
That sort of thing!"
Ah—got it now.
Lichten nodded, speaking up.
"She's sharp and wise, no doubt—takes after you in that, Raido-nim.
Bit sorry to say it, but dodging your looks? Double blessing."
"Oh ho?
This punk?"
"You own that one too, don't you, Raido-nim?"
"Ahem... yeah, damn straight.
Daughter's spitting image of her late mother? True mercy."
No fight left on looks—he conceded quick.
"Bottom line: she'd outshine any match."
"That right?
Green light for wedding bells, then?"
"Yes.
Though... who's the lucky groom on deck?
You're incognito these days—how...? Ah, you got someone picked out?"
"..."
This clown on purpose?
Thick as pigshit?
Dropped every hint in the book—why dodge?
One smack upside the head might click why the talk, he mused—but held off.
Lichten ranked among his scant pals. Soon 'in-law' material, even.
"Anyway, cluelessness runs father-to-son."
"Y-Yes? Pardon?"
"Sigh... Calling that one 'in-law,' him 'son-in-law.'
Fate's a cruel bitch, my lot in life."
Muttering, Raido blinked out.
Gone in a flash—like he'd never been. No trace.
Lichten stared at the void, mulling Raido's parting shots.
'Hiding himself, fooling the world.
Deliberately dimming his light, eyes everywhere...'
Why? Mystery. But one truth shone.
Raido vouched for it: his boy was exceptional.
'And in-laws? Son-in-law...?
No way...?'
Probably nothing, he thought—turning back to work.
Knock knock.
"Lord Margrave.
Sebastian here.
May I enter?"
Approval granted, the door eased open. In stepped a refined elder in impeccable tails, exuding elegance.
After a graceful bow, Lichten queried his purpose.
Sebastian glanced sidelong, cautious, then spoke.
"Came about the Young Lord—I mean, Sion Klauzen, sir."
"Hm?"
Raido first, now Sebastian on Sion.
As he listened, Lichten reflected.
Thought he knew his son best of all.
Wrong.
Time for a real talk with Sion.