Just recalling the name made it feel like his chest was being torn apart, but the scene before him pierced his heart even more deeply.
However, the man could detect a difference between the figure in his memories and the woman standing before him now.
The woman in front of him appeared younger and far more innocent-looking than the her he remembered.
The man realized this as well.
The stark reality that the woman before him was not the Irea he remembered.
Irea belonged to a much earlier past—a time even predating what he witnessed now.
Above all, he had not witnessed her death with his own eyes.
But the man instinctively understood.
This woman was deeply connected to Irea.
And, in a similar way, to himself.
As the man became lost in these thoughts, the scene continued to unfold.
Eventually, the man snapped out of his reverie and focused his attention on what was unfolding before him.
“Twenty years?”
“Yes, if you could take care of this child for twenty years, I would be most grateful.”
“Hmm… That could get rather costly though…”
The woman then handed over a small chest she’d been carrying in one hand.
“Would this suffice?”
The headmaster took the chest and inspected its contents.
Inside were countless gold coins and precious jewels.
Seeing this, the headmaster grinned widely, his mind already calculating the value.
Watching this, the man subtly enhanced his magic, boosting his mana to add another layer of effect.
Thus began whispers from the headmaster’s inner thoughts.
“Her attire… she’s not noble… Wait, isn’t that the style that was trendy among the provincial nobles a while back? Ah, so she must be of a fallen noble house.”
“If she’s from a fallen noble house, maybe I can squeeze her for more money.”
Understanding the headmaster’s true thoughts, the man clenched in anger.
“Damn bastard!”
Unable to stop himself, he clenched his fists once more and ground his teeth.
“Ahem… I feel the amount is a tad insufficient though.”
Upon hearing this, the woman swiftly countered.
“There’s more. It’s with a merchant guild, and they’ll bring a fixed sum annually.”
The headmaster inwardly sneered.
“Tsks, sly woman.”
“And how much would that be?”
“About two chests like this one.”
The headmaster’s cheeks twitched as he processed this in his mind before flashing another toothy grin.
“Ho ho ho, this should be more than enough. How about a cup of tea?”
“No, I must be on my way.”
“In this cold weather?”
“If I linger, this orphanage will vanish without a trace.”
“What?”
“It’s nothing.”
“Hmm… have you brought the child?”
“Here.”
The woman then pulled out a small basket from her embrace.
Inside lay an infant, peacefully sleeping with eyes firmly closed.
“There’s also a contract inside the basket. Show it to the guild representative, and they can hand over the money.”
“Understood. Then…”
As the headmaster reached out, the woman hesitated.
The infant began crying.
Perhaps sensing its future, the baby cried loudly.
Tenderly, the woman placed her fingers on the infant’s cheeks.
In response, the baby latched onto her fingers and grinned, completely forgetting its tears.
The woman gazed affectionately at the baby before forcing herself to pull back her hand.
“Here it is.”
The headmaster accepted the basket with the child as if it were a cherished treasure.
“When the guild representatives arrive with more funds, you must present the child’s condition. They’ll only release payment if they are satisfied the child is being kept safe.”
Understand what she said, the headmaster frowned but quickly resumed his smile, calculating his gains.
“Understood. Is there anything else?”
The woman paused for a moment before speaking.
“…Please, take good care of the child.”
“Of course, we have the finest facilities in this city. There’s nothing to worry about.”
“Thank you.”
After bowing her head slightly, the woman turned her heavy feet to leave.
“Farewell!”
As the headmaster called out, the woman left the orphanage, while the man chased after her with urgency.
As she stepped out of the orphanage, the woman looked around and then rushed off in a hurry.
Or more precisely, she was fleeing from… something.
Realizing what might be chasing her, the man shouted at the top of his lungs.
“No! Run!!!”
But his voice didn’t reach her.
A shadow fell behind the fleeing woman.
The elongated shadow, difficult to discern, resembled something akin to a dog.
Seeing this, the man continued shouting.
“No! Please, no!!”
The shadow caught up to the woman with astonishing speed.
A claw-like shape emerged from the shadow, tripping the woman’s foot.
As she tumbled to the ground, the woman met the ominous shadow with a determined look before glancing in the direction of the orphanage.
“I’m sorry… Mommy’s sorry, Arthur…”
The shadow opened its mouth and crept closer.
“AAAAAAAAHHHH!!!”
The man swung his fist with all his strength at the shadow, though he knew this was not a reality he could disrupt.
Even if he could interfere, fighting off these ‘hounds’ was almost impossible.
In the man’s despair, trembling words reached his ears.
“Ancestor, please… protect our child…”
SLAP
The woman’s voice didn’t finish.
…
CRUNCH… KRAKK!
The sound of crushed bones and flesh was unbearable.
The man dropped to his knees, watching the scene unfold in utter shock.
Then, from the shadow, came a sound.
GLUGGLUG
The shadow hovered for a brief moment before disappearing before his very eyes.
Left behind was only a puddle of green pus.
It was a token of the creatures that hunted and devoured the woman.
The man stared blankly at this for a moment, before recalling his task and rising to his feet.
‘Baby!’
With all his might, the man rushed back to the orphanage.
Inside, the orphanage was almost festive.
The headmaster had opened a cherished bottle of alcohol and was partying with his staff, whooping and dancing.
Among the chaos, cries emerged from a neglected basket.
The man peered inside to find the baby, who had been crying, suddenly stopping as soon as the man looked directly at him.
As their eyes met, the man could see the infant’s beautiful gray eyes.
These eyes reminded him of someone, and instinctively, he wiped his cheek.
His hand came away wet, realizing he had shed tears he hadn’t noticed for so long.
Despite years of dryness, his heart now ached deeply.
He touched the baby’s cheeks with his wet fingers.
Surprisingly, the baby felt warm, and it started to smile.
In response, unknowingly, the man chuckled as well.
And at that moment,
BOOM
The air rippled and the world started to crumble.
The man’s magic had reached its limit.
In a hurried voice, the man cried out,
“Come to the Academy! I will wait for you.”
Even knowing the child couldn’t hear him, the man shouted with all his might.
“I swear! I’ll protect you!”
The baby only smiled innocently.
With the baby’s smile as the last thing he saw, the man returned to the present.
Back in the cold, lifeless room of the headmaster’s office, the man stared blankly at the tips of his fingers.
There, the warmth remained.
He cradled his hand gently.
And murmured the name to himself.
“…Arthur.”
A name that belonged both to him and to this child.
Savoring this heartfelt warmth, the man abruptly opened his eyes and stroked his blonde hair.
Recollecting the woman’s last moments, he softly but determinedly vowed.
“Don’t worry. I will fulfill your wish. I will… protect this child.”
Though tears streamed down his face, the man’s eyes burned brighter than ever.
Summoning a forgotten vow from long ago…
…his real name, not the man, not the chancellor, not even Arthur Capendale, his truest identity.
The man vowed before his forgotten name.
“I, Arthur Capendale, pledge upon my soul and my name to spare no effort for the safety and peace of my descendant, Arthur Capendale.”
With his proclamation, a bright light illuminated the dreary office.
The light morphed into chains which tightly bound his body.
Feeling the heavy weight of them, the man muttered.
“Absolutely…”
—
SHRIIIK!!
The sharp whistle of the tea kettle woke the Chancellor from his reverie.
He slowly lifted his eyelids as the kettle hissed and sizzled.
Summoning a pot of water with a gesture, the chancellor brewed tea, its aroma filling the air.
The scent completed his reflection.
He desired nothing more than to travel back to the moment and return to the scene.
But even traveling back wouldn’t protect her from the hounds.
It would only make them target him—and leave the child Arthur in peril.
He thought of the gray-haired youth who had just left his office.
“I will protect you.”
He sipped his tea, startled by its heat.
“Ouch!”
With that vow sealed, the chancellor focused once more on the present.
