Chapter 179: A Reunion with Toxic Parents
At the campsite, the base of the pioneering group, Rest unexpectedly reunited with his biological father.
(Could it be… that I would meet this man here…?)
Before the court magician, Lucas Evern, Rest furrowed his brow deeply. The last time he had seen Lucas was before entering the academy. Lucas had come to bid farewell after it was decided that he would marry into the Rosemary Marquis House.
The Evern family, a “pseudo-noble” house of Honorary Viscounts, faced a dire fate if their son failed to secure a position of power; they would fall into ruin and become commoners. Lucas had tried to keep Rest from leaving after his precious son, Cedric, missed his chance to enter the academy… a cold dismissal that was still fresh in Rest’s memory.
(So he’s still alive… well, I suppose I never killed him, so that makes sense.)
“L-l-long time no see… I mean, yes,” Lucas stammered awkwardly, lowering his head. His face was pale, and his lips trembled slightly. The incident with his son had clearly taken a toll on him; he looked more haggard than before.
(It’s no wonder. His illegitimate son, whom he treated so poorly, has now risen to prominence.)
Rest was certain Lucas had heard about his elevation to Count. The fear in Lucas’s expression suggested he was terrified of potential retribution.
In truth, Lucas was in a position where anything could happen to him. During his time at the Evern Honorary Viscount House, Rest had endured daily abuse. Despite being the master’s son, he was forced to live in the stable, and the meals he received were nothing but scraps. Without the kindness of a few servants who shared their food, he would have likely succumbed to malnutrition. He was made to work like a slave without pay, and the worst of it came from Cedric, who used him as a practice target for magic, inflicting injuries that would have killed an ordinary child.
(Thinking back… I’m really glad I had the Reincarnation Cheat. Without healing magic, I would have simply died… And I completely forgot. I need to repay everyone.)
Rest suddenly remembered. After moving to the Rosemary Marquis House, he had been so caught up in various events that he had forgotten his intention to repay the servants of the Evern Honorary Viscount House. They had shared food and provided him with healing ointments. His mother, who had been made pregnant by Lucas, had also received care from them during her time as a servant.
(Perhaps I should distribute gold coins to everyone? If the Evern Honorary Viscount House falls, I’ll help them find jobs.)
Giving each person a hundred gold coins would be a sufficient way to repay their kindness. Even a few coins would be enough, as bread during times of hunger holds the value of gold. Since he had more than enough money, he could afford to spend it freely.
(No, if I hadn’t reunited with this man, I would have forgotten about repaying them… I thought this reunion would be unpleasant, but it turned out to be quite beneficial.)
“W-well, as for Count Clover, I hope you are in good spirits… Today, I will do my utmost to…”
While Rest was lost in thought, Lucas continued to fawn over him, rubbing his hands together and speaking in a sycophantic tone. He seemed eager to make a good impression on Rest, who was not only a Count but also the fiancé of the Court Mage Director. However, Rest hardly paid attention to his words, rendering them meaningless.
“W-well, in that case, we…”
“How long are you going to keep rambling? Get out of the way, you’re a nuisance!”
“Yowch!”
Suddenly, Lucas’s head was struck by a wooden staff. Unbeknownst to him, two figures had approached from behind.
“Ah, Count Clover. Have you finished your greetings over there?”
“Prince Andrew…”
One of the newcomers was Andrew Aiwood. He wore a friendly smile and raised his right hand in greeting.
“I apologize for the delay; we had a bit of a meeting that took longer than expected.”
“That’s no problem, but… who is that?”
“Oh, you must be Albert’s fiancé! You look just like that man, with a rather cunning expression!”
Accompanying Andrew was a bent-over old woman. She had a frail, twig-like frame and a face full of wrinkles. Dressed in a robe reminiscent of a fortune teller, she held an oak staff— the very same that had struck Lucas.
“This is Jalana Meitis, a court magician and the foremost expert in Barrier Techniques.”
“I’ll allow you to call me ‘Master’ out of respect. Make sure to show me the proper reverence!”
Introduced by Andrew, the elderly woman named Meitis spoke with an air of superiority.