Book 14 Chapter 28

Episode 38

There was another intruder (?) in the inner sanctum besides the boy wizard.

In a place even deeper than the library, specifically, the ancestral tomb (山所) built in the backyard of Lord Apeltas's mansion…

At a tombstone at the very end of this cemetery, where generations of family members lay in eternal sleep, an intruder stood.

Sena Apeltas

The wind sweeping low across the cemetery grass also sadly caressed the intruder's water-colored hair as it passed.

It looked as if an invisible being was stroking that hair, comforting her heart.

Just then, a middle-aged man appeared.

"This is the ancestral tomb of our Apeltas family, I don't know why the hero is here."

Excluding the parts covered by his clothes, meaning, scars completely covering his exposed skin proved that he was a seasoned veteran.

Leland Apeltas.

Former Sword Saint of the Imperial River Affairs Bureau, Knight of the Three Chains (三鎖), his prime-time nickname was the Flash of the Frontier.

"Don't you think your first words to a daughter you haven't seen in a long time are a bit too cold?"

Leland placed flowers and rice cakes in front of the tombstone where the intruder had been standing.

"Strange. I thought heroes didn't have families."

Rista tried to protest something, but powerlessly, sadly, and helplessly dropped her gaze.

When graduating from the hero training institution, <Wi-yong sword battle>, Paykoriers must abandon all family.

Even though their legal ties were severed, many Paykorier families maintained their relationships, yet Leland Apeltas was so old-fashioned that he treated his daughter as an outsider.

"There's information that [King's Flesh] has entered this city. It's such a big problem that both the Golden Children and the Special Operations Division have been deployed. Something is definitely about to happen. Do you know anything?"

"What I'm about to say is to myself. Leave this city. You have nothing to do here. Don't you have a greater mission?"

"Father, don't be like that!"

"Protecting this city entrusted by Sena is my duty. The hero's duty will be further away. This is the end of my talking to myself."