第６７７堀：親と父と子と孫 (Part1)
Chapter 677: Parent, Father, Child, and Grandchild
Side: Yuki
Well, with the cleanup of the Duke’s faction in August mostly finished, all that remained was...
My gaze shifted to where Cleena and Old Man Feigel were facing each other.
"..."
"..."
Neither of them spoke a word. Amidst the frantic bustle of the cleanup crew working around us, it felt as if time had frozen between the two of them.
"...Hey, Jessica. Should we say something to them?"
"No, I believe this is a matter for the two of them... Samantha, as a fellow student at the academy, what do you think?"
"Eh!? M-me!? Hmm. I’m not sure? My situation is different, so... Kagura, as a fellow student, what do you think?"
"Don't ask me. ...It’s not like I had a strained relationship with my father. What about you, Mikos?"
"I don't have any issues with my father either... Solo?"
"Ehh!? M-my parents pushed themselves to put me through the academy, and I’m nothing but grateful. We’ve always gotten along well..."
The bystanders were being noisy as usual, but no one dared to interrupt. As I watched the situation unfold, Popuri, having finished her discussion with the August royals, approached from behind Old Man Feigel...
*Thwack.*
She struck him over the head with her staff.
"Ouch!? Hey, you old hag—I mean, Principal!? What on earth do you think you’re doing!"
"Hah! You call people an old hag, yet you’re the biggest stubborn old geezer around."
"What was that for—whoa!?"
As Feigel tried to retort, Popuri swept his legs with her staff, sending him tumbling. As he lifted his face to try and stand, she grabbed him by the collar and hauled him up.
"What was that for, you ask? You’ve caused endless trouble for Cleena—who, while technically an adopted daughter, is as close as a granddaughter to you—and you haven't even offered an apology yourself. Are you saying you aren't a stubborn old geezer? Huh?"
"Guh!?"
It was a perfect, logical argument. Despite everything, Cleena had come all the way here and, in the end, had come to his rescue. In contrast, Old Man Feigel hadn't made a single move to reach out. There was no doubt he was being a stubborn old geezer.
I personally thought they should have given him a little more time, but Popuri clearly had her own way of doing things.
"I, I just needed a little more... mental preparation..."
"I’ve known you since you were a brat!! That’s exactly why you’re going to end up a bachelor for the rest of your life!!"
"Guh!?"
At those words, Feigel clutched his chest, looking pained and miserable. It was brutal; I felt like I could see her words piercing his heart like a weapon. But Popuri wasn't finished.
"Don't 'Guh' me. Your life is already withered, so that’s fine. But it makes me more ashamed than anything to see a spineless man who won't say a word to the daughter who still calls him 'parent' even after you've caused her so much trouble!!"
Ah. So that was it. I had wondered why Popuri was meddling so much in someone else's family affairs, but they weren't "someone else" to her.
I suppose everyone has their own perspective, but in Popuri’s eyes, both Old Man Feigel and Cleena were her students—her children.
"Listen!! It’s your life!! I won't say anything about whether you marry or not!! But I will not forgive anyone who makes their own child unhappy!! You know what that academy was originally, don't you!!"
"..."
At that shout, the will to resist drained out of Old Man Feigel.
The Lancer Magic Academy. It was originally an orphanage where Comet had gathered and raised orphans. After Comet’s passing, Popuri had protected that orphanage with everything she had, refusing to participate in the war between the Hero and the Demon Lord. Before she knew it, it had become a place of learning for many children.
But to Popuri, they were likely children who had come to her orphanage, rather than just students.
That was why she had scolded and berated Old Man Feigel so fiercely. It made sense. If you saw your own child hurting their grandchild for childish reasons right in front of you, anyone would be angry.
"...I am sorry."
"Don't apologize to me!!"
"I’m sorry, Cleena. And thank you for coming. You really saved me."
Old Man Feigel finally bowed his head deeply and offered his thanks. To support him, Popuri also bowed her head.
"Cleena, I’m sorry. I apologize as well. He’s a clumsy man, but he’s not a bad person. Could you find it in your heart to forgive him?"
"...Yeah. I forgive you."
Cleena looked at the two of them and spoke the words simply.
"Besides, Master, Old Man didn't ask for my help even though he was captured. Maybe he didn't want to get us involved? He even sent a letter telling us not to come. I’m not angry about that. But why didn't you ask for help?"
"Hmm? Now that you mention it, that’s true. Feigel, why did you let yourself be captured so quietly?"
"..."
When pressed, Old Man Feigel kept his mouth shut.
"It’s not like there’s anything left to hide, is there?"
"Yeah. Speak."
"..."
"Should I use force?"
"Yeah."
Even so, Old Man Feigel remained silent.
Well, a man has his pride, and he had already apologized. I thought about stopping them, feeling it was wrong to force his inner thoughts out of him, but then...
"Please, stop there."
Princess Inis stood before Feigel, Cleena, and Popuri.
"Teacher Feigel thought that was for the best. He believed that if he simply faded away, it would lead to Cleena’s happiness."
"Princess Inis. What do you mean by that?"
"Yeah. I don't get it."
"I broke my promise and ended up using Cleena as a pawn. Feigel regretted that, but he could not raise his own sword against August. It was then that he was captured by the Duke."
As Princess Inis said this, Popuri continued as if confirming the facts.
"Ah, I see. So, he thought that since Cleena was cooperating with August because of him, it would be better if the cause—himself—simply disappeared."
"Exactly. ...No matter what happens, I’m sure Cleena and her husband will overcome any hardship. If so, perhaps it was best for an old man who kept dragging them down to just disappear here. I apologize to you, Princess, but I had intended to be captured quietly..."
I see. Old Man Feigel was being a parent, and that was why he hadn't asked for help. Besides, it wasn't just the old man’s fault; he couldn't exactly defy national policy.
Well, more importantly...
"Ahem. Anyway, Princess Inis. You shouldn't have just blurted out that Old Man Feigel was keeping quiet out of stubborn pride. Poor guy..."
" " "Ah." " "
"...This is why women are, why women are..."
I gently patted the back of Old Man Feigel, who was trembling on all fours.
Women really don't understand a man’s pride and stubbornness, do they?
However, in that peaceful atmosphere, Cleena spoke up.
"Princess Inis. Why are you trying to make yourself look like the bad guy? I said a lot of things back then because I was frustrated, but thinking about it now, something doesn't add up."
"No, I was merely stating the facts..."