Book 1 Chapter 972

Cal, seated on a chair, lowered his gaze and had no intention of moving.

Directly in front of Cal was the head of the Hergin family, a hero whose name was recorded in the Hero Records and who wielded immense influence in the northern part of the continent.

Of course, Cal wasn't intimidated by such social status.

To be intimidated by such things would require that the people Cal had built friendships with during his school days were of ordinary status, which was far from the case.

His best friend, Leo, alone is the youngest hero of Rulmen and the founding king of Arhi.

Moreover, as a hero, his epithets, 'King of the Beginning' and 'King of the World,' were officially recognized.

Crucially, he was a Great Hero.

Cal himself had ascended to the rank of hero at a young age, so he was not intimidated by status.

The only reason Cal couldn't even lift his head in front of Elkan was one.

He was Eliza's father, his girlfriend.

'Wow. It's more awkward, uncomfortable, and suffocating than I imagined.'

He desperately wanted to escape this situation.

Furthermore, today.

Didn't Cal think he was meeting Eliza in a private space?

'I didn't have any ulterior motives… Wait. I did have a little, and that makes me even more self-conscious.'

Thinking so, Cal awkwardly smiled and looked up.

"Haha. It's hot today, isn't it?"

"It's almost winter, though?"

"……"

He had brought up a useless topic and made things even more awkward.

Cal lowered his head again and rolled his eyes to look in Perena's direction.

'Help me.'

Cal pleaded for help, puffing out his lips.

At first, Perena had looked upon Cal unfavorably, and even more so when he started dating Eliza, but after the last practical exam, their relationship had improved.

There was even an atmosphere of support for Cal and Eliza's relationship.

So, he thought he could get help in this situation.

However, Perena turned her head away from Cal's plea for help.

'It's not something I can handle either.'

Perena also wanted to help, but the other party was none other than her father.

Elkan doted on his daughters.

'I can't even imagine how Father felt when he found out from the newspaper that my older sister was dating someone.'

Even after the scandal broke, Eliza hadn't contacted Elkan.

Even though Perena had told her several times, Eliza was afraid of Elkan's reaction and didn't contact him.

So, Elkan, unable to stand it any longer, came to Rumeria City himself.

Perena also found the situation suffocating.

Cal's eyes trembled nervously.

'He's not going to tell me to break up because the successor of the Hergin family shouldn't associate with a commoner, is he?'

Of course, Cal had no intention of breaking up with Eliza willingly.

If Eliza loved him, Cal had no intention of abandoning that love.

At that moment, a man in a neat tuxedo brought tea.

"Huh?"

Cal exclaimed as he looked at the middle-aged man.

The middle-aged man smiled and greeted Cal.

"Nice to meet you. Mr. Cal Thomas. I am Vinsen, the head butler of the Hergin family."

"Uh… um… Hello. I am Cal Thomas."

Vinsen pushed the movable table, setting up tea in front of Elkan, and then set up tea in front of Cal.

Then he looked at Perena, who was standing awkwardly in a corner of the room.

"Miss Perena, please join us for tea time."

"I'm fine. I'm serving the Master as a shadow."

Perena emphasized that she was present as a shadow and not as a daughter, but in reality, she didn't want to be involved in that situation.

"Is that so?"

Vinsen smiled and placed a plate of cookies between Elkan and Cal, then spoke.

"By the way, Mr. Cal Thomas."

"Yes."

"Did Miss Eliza talk about me?"

"Huh?"

"For some reason, you seem to know me."

Cal was impressed by Vinsen's quick wit.

As far as Cal knew, Vinsen was a normal person with no abilities.

He wondered how such a person was entrusted with the important position of head butler of the Hergin family, but there was a reason.

At Vinsen's words, Elkan's eyes twitched.

"Eliza isn't the type to talk about such things."

Eliza wouldn't have told outsiders about the household retainers.

Even if it were the boyfriend she particularly cared about.

Vinsen knew that too, which is why he asked Cal.

Perena also looked puzzled by Cal's behavior of knowing Vinsen.

'The head butler of the Hergin family is indeed not to be trifled with.'

Cal clicked his tongue.

Whatever the case, this was the perfect opportunity to break the awkward atmosphere.

"During a mission I undertook last time, I went to the future."

"The future?"

"Yes. To be precise, it was the illusion magic of the Fairy King that showed events that had a possibility of happening in the future."

At the mention of the Fairy King's illusion magic, Elkan's eyes showed interest.

As a family of beast summoners, their attention was drawn to the Fairy King's magic.

"Is that the mission where Eliza became a hero?"

"Yes. I went to the Hergin family in the future then, and I met Mr. Vinsen."

"Oh? How was the Hergin family in the future?"

As Elkan asked with sparkling eyes, Cal clenched his fist inwardly.

The story to come was one that would undoubtedly please Elkan as the family head.

"Hersia was as developed as Rumeria."

At that statement, Elkan and Perena were surprised.

Hersia was a city ruled by the Hergin family and was already a city of immense size.

However, compared to Rumeria, the center of the world, it was practically a provincial city.

For Hersia to be as developed as Rumeria.

"Hmph, as expected of my daughter."

"Because it's Eliza."

Cal flattered him quickly.

"Yes. She is my daughter, but Eliza is amazing. She is a talent who will surpass me, both as a summoner and as a family head."

Elkan's face, which had been pleased, relaxed.

It was very different from a moment ago when he was stern.

He was clearly a doting father in front of his daughter.

"Your influence is the greatest, Father."

"By the way, Cal Thomas."

"Yes."

"Please don't casually address me as 'Father' without hesitation."

"S-sorry."

At Elkan's cold words, Cal quickly lowered his head.

Perena was impressed.

To casually call him by a familiar title.

It was clear he wasn't a hero for nothing.

'Is Cal senior brave? Or is he incredibly shameless?'

While Perena was contemplating inwardly.

Vinsen, who had been observing the situation silently, smiled.

"To be the head butler until then, it is truly an honorable thing. By the way, if I maintain the position of head butler until then… I am concerned about the succession issue."

Vinsen sighed deeply and muttered, then asked Cal.

"Mr. Cal, did you see the successor who will inherit the Hergin family in the future?"

"No, I didn't see the successor."

"Family head, Mr. Cal Thomas is lying."

"Are you saying he made up a story to flatter me?"

As Elkan's face hardened, Vinsen smiled.

"While it is true that Hersia will be as developed as Rumeria, it seems that the statement about not seeing the successor is a lie."

'…What is this person?'

Cal was horrified inwardly and looked at Vinsen.

Being sharp is one thing, but this is a miraculous level.

Cal, who was accustomed to lying, deceiving others, and setting traps, trembled as his true intentions were seen through.

"Does that mean…?"

"Isn't it that a successor will be born between Miss Eliza and you, Mr. Cal?"

"You rascal! My daughter!"

"Hieeeeek!"

"You must have come here with sinister intentions today!"

"Ah, no! It's not true!"

Cal was horrified as Elkan stood up in anger.

Normally, he would have run away, but in this situation, it would have been counterproductive.

Prepared to be hit, Cal remained seated.

Elkan, who had been glaring at Cal, who sat with a tense expression, took a deep breath.

From Elkan's perspective, crushing Cal would be very simple.

Although he had obtained the title of hero, his combat power was poor.

However, as a hero, Elkan knew.

The title of hero was not obtained easily.

Seeing Cal enduring his anger head-on, Elkan chuckled inwardly.

'So, as a hero of the new era, he has qualifications.'

"You have guts."

"Th-thank you for the compliment."

Cal replied, swallowing dryly.

*Thud*

Elkan, who had slumped back into his seat, continued to glare at Cal.

Cal, though hesitant, did not avoid Elkan's gaze.

Seeing this, Elkan eventually softened his gaze.

"Don't be too nervous. I didn't come to harm you specifically."

"Haha… yes."

"I just wanted to see what kind of guy the man my daughter chose was."

Elkan raised his teacup.

"I have no intention of opposing my daughter's choice and telling her to break up, so rest assured."

"Really?"

Cal looked surprised, and Elkan clicked his tongue.

"Of course, as a father, I'd like to punish you for charming my daughter, who I love dearly, but…"

"……"

"My daughter wouldn't make the wrong choice."

Cal felt relieved at Elkan's words.

"The family head has come to meet his prospective son-in-law, Mr. Cal Thomas, today. So you don't need to be nervous."

"Prospective son-in-law?"

Perena, who had been listening quietly,'s eyes widened.

Elkan then said.

"If Eliza has declared him her lover, it means she is thinking of marriage. I, her father, have no intention of opposing your sister's will. It would be useless even if I did."

Elkan, who knew his daughter well, frowned.

"Even so, should I have heard such news from the newspaper?"

"S-sorry."

"Hmph. It's not your fault."

Elkan, who had unnecessarily lost his temper, shook his head and said.

"You will eventually become a member of the Hergin family, so I wanted to let you know that fact."

"Yes."

Hearing that his relationship with Eliza was permitted, Cal felt his heart race.

"Of course, if you cross the line as a student, I will break your back in return."

"Yes, I will keep that in mind."

Cal broke into a cold sweat.

"Speaking of which… you said you saw the future?"

"Yes."

"How many grandchildren did I have in the future? I want many grandchildren."

"Uh, one."

Cal swallowed dryly.

He thought that if he told the truth and said seven, he might get into serious trouble, so he lied.

Of course, it wasn't a confirmed future, just a possibility.

"Ah, well. Eliza's personality, she probably wouldn't try to have many children."

Elkan clicked his tongue.

Cal glanced at Vinsen.

Vinsen simply offered a subtle smile.

He seemed to have seen through the lie, but he didn't convey that to the family head.

As Cal breathed a sigh of relief.

"Then, shall we discuss the main reason I came to see you today?"

"Yes?"

"In two weeks, the 'Conference of Illustrious Families' will be hosted in the Rodren Empire. You know this, right?"

"Isn't that a meeting where the heads of the continent's prominent families regularly gather to discuss the continent's affairs?"

"Yes."

Elkan nodded.

"Why that conference…?"

"You will attend as the representative of the family head in my place."

"…What?"

Cal looked dumbfounded.

"Me?"

"Yes."

"I'm not a member of the Hergin family. No. Even if I were, I'm not at a level to serve as the family head's representative…"

"Aren't you my prospective son-in-law? I think you are fully qualified to be my representative."

"Excuse me, family head."

"Father-in-law."

"Yes?"

"Call me Father-in-law."

'…You just told me not to call you Father earlier.'