Book 1 Chapter 972
972.
Sitting in the chair, Kyle kept his gaze lowered and showed no intention of moving.
Right in front of Kyle was the head of the Helgin family, a hero whose name was on the Hero Record, and a family that wielded immense influence in the northern part of the continent.
Of course, it wasn't because of such social status that Kyle was intimidated.
The status of those Kyle had befriended during his school life was, without exception, not ordinary enough for him to be intimidated by such things.
Just Leo, his best friend, was the youngest hero in Lumerin and the founding king of Arhi.
Moreover, his alias as a hero, 'King of Beginnings', was recognized as the King of the World.
Crucially, he was a Great Hero.
Kyle himself, having risen to the position of a hero at a young age, was not intimidated by status.
There was only one reason Kyle couldn't even raise his head in front of Elkan.
It was because 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 immediately.
And today.
Didn't Kyle think he was meeting Eliza in a private setting?
‘I didn’t have any devious intentions… No. I had a little, but that makes me even more self-conscious.’
Thinking that, Kyle gave an awkward laugh and raised his head.
“Haha. It’s hot today, isn’t it?”
“It’s almost winter, though?”
“……”
Saying something unnecessary made it even more awkward.
Lowering his head again, Kyle just rolled his eyes and looked towards Perena.
‘Help me.’
Kyle mouthed a request for help.
At first, Perena had disapproved of Kyle, and was even more wary when he started dating Eliza, but their relationship had improved after the last practical exam.
She seemed to be supportive of Kyle and Eliza's relationship.
So he thought he could get help in this situation.
But Perena turned her head away, ignoring Kyle’s plea for help.
‘I can’t do anything about this situation either.’
Perena also wanted to help, but the person she was up against was none other than her father.
Elkan adored his daughters terribly.
‘I can’t imagine how Dad felt when he read the newspaper and found out my sister was dating.’
Moreover, after the scandal broke, Eliza didn't even contact Elkan.
Perena had told her repeatedly, but Eliza also hadn't contacted him, afraid of Elkan's reaction.
So, eventually, Elkan, unable to bear it any longer, came to Lumeria City himself.
Perena found the situation just as suffocating.
Kyle’s eyes trembled uneasily.
‘He’s not going to tell me to break up with her, saying that the Helgin family heir shouldn’t associate with a commoner, is he?’
Of course, he had no intention of meekly breaking up with Eliza.
If Eliza loved him, Kyle had no intention of ever betraying that feeling either.
Just then, a man in a neat tailcoat came with tea.
“Oh?”
Kyle exclaimed when he saw the middle-aged man.
The middle-aged man smiled gently and greeted Kyle.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you for the first time, Sir Kyle Thomas. I am Vincent, the head butler of the Helgin family.”
“Uh… mm… Hello. I am Kyle Thomas.”
Vincent pushed the mobile table and set up the tea in front of Elkan, then also set up tea in front of Kyle.
Then he looked at Perena, who was standing idly in a corner of the room.
“Miss Perena, please join us and enjoy tea time.”
“I’m fine. I’m here to assist the head of the family as a shadow.”
Perena emphasized that she was there as a shadow, not a daughter, but in reality, she just didn’t want to be involved in that situation.
“Is that so.”
Vincent, smiling gently, placed a bowl of cookies between Elkan and Kyle and spoke.
“By the way, Sir Kyle Thomas.”
“Yes.”
“Did Miss Eliza happen to tell you about me?”
“Yes?”
“Because it seems like you already know me for some reason.”
Kyle admired Vincent’s quick wit.
As far as Kyle knew, Vincent was just an ordinary person with no special abilities.
He wondered how such a man came to hold the important position of head butler of the Helgin family, but there was a reason for it.
At Vincent's words, Elkan's eyes twitched.
“Eliza isn't the type of child to talk about such things.”
Eliza would never have mentioned her family’s retainers to an outsider.
Even if that outsider was a boyfriend she held in special regard.
Vincent knew this, which was why he asked Kyle.
Perena also looked puzzled, as if questioning Kyle’s knowing Vincent.
‘The head butler of the Helgin family is no joke after all.’
Kyle clicked his tongue.
Whatever it was, now was the chance to break this awkward atmosphere.
“I once traveled to the future during my last mission.”
“The future?”
“Yes. To be precise, it was the Fairy King’s illusion magic that showed events that could potentially happen in the future.”
At the mention of the Fairy King's illusion magic, interest flickered in Elkan’s eyes.
As a family of Phantom Beast Summoners, he was naturally drawn to the Fairy King's magic.
“Was that the mission where Eliza rose to the position of a hero?”
“Yes. At that time, I went to the future Helgin family, and I met Mr. Vincent there.”
“Ohh? What was the future Helgin family like?”
As Elkan asked with sparkling eyes, Kyle clenched his fist inwardly.
The story to come was one that would inevitably please Elkan as the family head.
“Hersia had developed as much as Lumeria.”
At those words, Elkan and Perena were surprised.
Hersia was a city governed by the Helgin family, and it was already a massive metropolis.
But compared to Lumeria, which was called the center of the world, it was just a provincial city.
For such a Hersia to develop as much as Lumeria.
“Hmph, she truly is my daughter.”
“Because it’s Eliza.”
Kyle quickly flattered him.
“Yes. She is my daughter, but Eliza is truly amazing. She’s destined to surpass me. Both as a summoner and as a family head.”
Elkan’s face, now in a good mood, softened.
He was quite different from the stern man he had been just moments ago.
He was clearly an doting father in front of his daughter.
“Your influence as father must be the greatest.”
“Anyway. Kyle Thomas.”
“Yes.”
“I’d prefer it if you didn’t casually call me ‘father-in-law’ in a subtle way.”
“My, my apologies.”
At Elkan’s cold words, Kyle quickly bowed his head.
Perena was impressed.
To subtly use such an intimate address.
She thought that he hadn't become a hero for nothing after all.
‘Is Senior Kyle brave? Or is he incredibly shameless?’
While Perena pondered inwardly.
Vincent, who had been silently watching the situation, smiled gently.
“I’ll still be the head butler by then. It truly is an honorable thing. By the way, if I maintain the head butler position until then… I’m still worried about the successor issue.”
Vincent sighed deeply, muttered, then asked Kyle.
“Sir Kyle, did you happen to see the successor to the Helgin family in the future?”
“No. I didn’t see a successor.”
“Family head, Sir Kyle Thomas is lying right now.”
“Are you saying he made up stories to flatter me?”
As Elkan’s face hardened, Vincent smiled.
“It’s true that Hersia develops as much as Lumeria, but his statement about not seeing a successor seems to be a lie.”
‘…What on earth is this person?’
Kyle inwardly gasped and stared at Vincent.
Being observant is one thing, but this was astounding.
As someone accustomed to lying, deceiving others, and setting traps, Kyle couldn't help but tremble when his true intentions were seen through.
“That means…?”
“Wouldn’t it be that a successor is born between Miss Eliza and Sir Kyle?”
“This rascal! My daughter!”
“Hiiiieek!”
“You must have come here today with devious intentions too!”
“N-no! It’s not like that!”
As an enraged Elkan abruptly stood up, Kyle was terrified.
Normally, he would have fled, but in this situation, that would be counterproductive.
Kyle stood his ground, prepared to take a beating.
Elkan, who had been glaring at Kyle, sitting with a nervous expression, took a deep breath.
From Elkan’s perspective, crushing Kyle was incredibly simple.
Although he had gained the title of a hero, his combat power was terrible.
But because he was a hero, Elkan knew.
That the title of hero is not earned for nothing.
Watching Kyle endure his anger head-on, Elkan chuckled inwardly.
‘Right. Does this mean he has the qualifications as a hero of the new era?’
“You have guts.”
“Th-thank you for the compliment.”
Kyle swallowed hard and replied.
Thud-
Elkan slumped back into his seat and continued to glare at Kyle.
Kyle, though hesitant, did not avoid Elkan’s gaze.
Watching him, Elkan eventually softened his eyes.
“Don’t be too nervous. I didn’t come here to harm you in particular.”
“Haha… Yes.”
“I just wanted to see what kind of man my daughter chose.”
Elkan lifted his teacup.
“Rest assured, I have no intention of opposing my daughter’s choice and telling you to break up.”
“Really?”
As Kyle looked surprised, Elkan clicked his tongue.
“Of course, as a father, I do want to punish the man who charmed my daughter, whom I adore beyond words.”
“……”
“Because my daughter would never make a wrong choice.”
Kyle breathed a sigh of relief inwardly at Elkan’s words.
“The family head came today to meet Sir Kyle Thomas, his prospective son-in-law. So you don’t need to be nervous.”
“Prospective son-in-law?”
Perena, who had been listening quietly, widened her eyes.
At that, Elkan said.
“If Eliza has declared him her lover, it means she’s thinking about marriage. This father has no intention of opposing your sister’s wishes. Though it would be useless to oppose.”
Elkan, who knew his daughter well, frowned.
“Even so, should I have had to hear such news from the newspaper?”
“My, my apologies.”
“Hmph. It’s not your fault.”
Elkan, who had gotten angry for no reason, shook his head and said.
“I just wanted to tell you to keep in mind that you will gradually become a part of the Helgin family.”
“Yes.”
Kyle felt his heart pound at the words allowing his relationship with Eliza.
“Of course, having said that, if you cross the line as a student, I will fold your waist in half.”
“Yes, I will keep that in mind.”
Kyle broke out in a cold sweat.
“Anyway… you said you saw the future, right?”
“Yes.”
“How many grandchildren did I have in the future? I prefer to have as many grandchildren as possible.”
“J-just one.”
Kyle swallowed hard.
He lied because he thought if he told the truth right then, that there were seven, it could really cause big trouble.
Of course, it wasn’t a confirmed future, but merely a possibility.
“Tsk. Well. With Eliza’s personality, she wouldn’t want to have many children.”
Elkan clicked his tongue.
Kyle glanced at Vincent.
Vincent merely gave a subtle smile.
He seemed to have seen through the lie but did not convey that information to the family head.
Just as Kyle let out a sigh of relief.
“Then, shall we talk about the main reason I came to see you today?”
“Yes?”
“In two weeks, the ‘Noble Families’ Conference’ will be hosted in the Rodren Empire. You know about it, right?”
“Isn’t it a regular meeting where the heads of influential families on the continent gather to discuss the continental situation?”
“Yes.”
Elkan nodded.
“Why is that conference…?”
“You will attend as the acting head of the family in my stead.”
“…Yes?”
Kyle looked bewildered.
“Me?”
“Yes.”
“I’m not a member of the Helgin family, am I? No. Even if I were a member of the Helgin family, I wouldn't be qualified to act as the head…”
“Are you not my prospective son-in-law? I think you are fully qualified to be my representative, don’t you agree?”
“Excuse me… Family head.”
“Father-in-law.”
“Yes?”
“Call me father-in-law.”
‘…Just a moment ago, you told me not to even call you ‘father-in-law’.’