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[Translator - Pot ]
[Proofreader - Kawaii ]
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Side Story Chapter 2: Theodore Haksen (2)
Hello there. I'm Theodore Haksen.
Please feel free to call me Theo.
Everyone close to me calls me that.
Did you have good dreams last night? I dreamed about going to the sea with my uncle.
It was really fun.
Chirp chirp.
I would have liked to dream a little longer, but I can hear the birds singing.
Every dawn, they come to my window and chirp like this.
Spring Castle where I live has a vast forest nearby, so many birds come to visit.
"Haaah..."
Thanks to them, I've gotten into the habit of waking up early in the morning.
I let out a long yawn, stretched, and then jumped out of bed.
It's the start of a refreshing morning.
"Young master?"
Oh my.
Munchi, who had been lying beside my bed, woke up when he heard me getting up.
Oh, who's Munchi, you ask?
He's an undead wolf that my uncle keeps.
Even though he's undead, he's made of shadows, so he looks cute.
"Sleep a little more."
"Woof..."
Munchi seemed to enjoy having his chin gently scratched, so he put his chin back down on the floor and lay down again.
I used to wonder if undead needed to sleep, but now I'm used to it.
I carefully left the room so as not to wake Munchi.
I have things to do from now on.
What am I planning to do at such an early hour, you ask?
Well, it's something really important, absolutely essential, and something only I can do—something truly amazing.
And that is...
I'm going to give morning greetings to the adults!
***
I went to see Grandfather and Grandmother first.
People call Grandfather Duke Haksen and Grandmother Duchess Haksen.
Oh, the Haksen family wasn't originally a ducal house.
They say it was originally a viscount's family.
But my uncle's status grew so much that we were promoted to a ducal house.
Anyway, I ran to the room where Grandfather and Grandmother were.
Knock knock.
When I knocked on the door with my fist, it opened wide immediately.
"Isn't that Theo?"
"Our grandson is so diligent."
The two of them smiled brightly and hugged me tightly.
They smell like sunshine on a clear day. It makes me feel at peace.
"Oh, our adorable grandson."
"Grandfather, that tickles."
Grandfather rubbed his cheek against my face.
It was prickly because of the beard that had grown overnight.
"Thank you for waking us up early today too."
"We were just about to travel to the capital today. Thanks to Theo, we can prepare leisurely."
Grandfather and Grandmother often travel to the capital.
Grandfather loves books, and Grandmother loves decorating rooms with furniture.
You can only see the latest books and furniture in the capital.
"When we go to the capital, we'll buy lots of sweets that Theo likes."
"I'll look forward to it! Well then, I'll go see Mom and Dad."
"Yes, go ahead."
I bowed politely and ran down the corridor.
***
I have many people to greet, so I need to hurry.
I went straight down to the floor below.
This is where Mom and Dad are.
Knock knock.
I knocked on the door with my fist just like before.
But unlike earlier, the door didn't open quickly.
Crash.
Not only that, but suddenly a loud noise burst from inside the door.
"H-Honey! Theo is here!"
"A-Already? Is it time for Theo to come?"
"We should have stopped at a reasonable time!"
"You were the one holding on and wouldn't let go!"
"Is this the time to argue about that? Where are the clothes?"
I could hear Mom and Dad arguing.
But I wasn't surprised and waited calmly.
It's not the first or second time this has happened.
After a while, the door opened slightly. Just slightly.
"T-Theo."
"You came especially early today."
Looking through the crack in the door, I could see both of them covering their bodies with blankets.
Their faces were also slightly flushed.
At first, I didn't understand why they were acting like this. So I asked my uncle about it.
Then he said nonchalantly:
"Theo, don't you want a sibling?"
"Yes! I'd love to have a little brother and a little sister!"
"Then pretend you don't know."
At the time, I didn't understand my uncle's words at all.
Why would pretending not to know make me get siblings?
But my uncle has never lied to me.
So I decided to follow his advice.
I really want siblings.
"Mom, Dad, did you sleep well?"
"O-Of course. We slept soundly."
"Dad is tired because Mom held on and wouldn't let go..."
"What are you saying right now!"
Mom's magnificent elbow attack hit Dad's side.
"Ugh, cough, cough..."
Dad fell face-down on the floor, trembling all over.
It must have hurt a lot.
"Well then, I'll be going~"
I bowed politely and turned around.
I could hear the two of them talking behind me.
"Honey, now that Theo's gone, just a little more..."
"Stop talking nonsense and hurry up and get dressed!"
Seeing how well they get along, it seems like I might get siblings sooner than expected.
***
The next place I visited was the office.
Among the adults in the house, these are the only people who wake up earlier than me.
Thanks to that, I didn't need to knock this time.
I just opened the door and went in.
"Ugh..."
"Ahh..."
As soon as I entered, I saw two people lying face-down on the desk, looking like they were dying.
Oh, they're not actually dying.
But looking at the dark circles piled up under their eyes, I think they might really die.
"Ugh..."
"Ahh..."
Let me introduce them.
These are my younger uncle and younger aunt.
The two of them are sitting at the desk wrestling with documents.
It's not just today—they do this every day.
They were so absorbed in their work that they didn't even notice I had come in.
Why are they suffering like this, you ask?
As I mentioned earlier, Grandfather is currently Duke Haksen.
But all the family business is being handled by my younger uncle and aunt.
They say it's because the younger uncle will inherit the duke's position later.
That's why they work so hard every day.
"Oh... Theo is here..."
"Did you come to give morning greetings today too?"
They must be really tired. They only just noticed I was here.
"You both look very tired today too."
"Haha, not at all. How could I be tired when I can work for the Haksen ducal house? Isn't that right, honey?"
"He is right. We're not tired at all."
Despite their words, their eyes were darkly sunken.
It was scary, like looking into a dark well.
"Just seeing our nephew gives this uncle strength."
"That's right. He's cute, smart, and clever..."
"Exactly! Theo, how about you inherit the duke's position instead?"
"Oh my, that's a really good idea. A child as outstanding as our Theo would make an excellent duke."
Suddenly, their eyes flashed with light. It was so clear it was almost frightening.
"How could I become a duke when my uncle is here?"
"Oh! You don't need to worry about that! This uncle will take care of everything!"
"That's right, that's right. Our Theo doesn't need to worry about anything. Just say you want to do it!"
"If Theo becomes duke! I, and aunt too, can be liberated!"
"We won't have to look at mountains of documents!"
Finally, the light in their eyes had reached the level of exploding.
This is... they're serious.
"Ah, I should go see big uncle."
"Theo! Don't leave!"
"Theo!"
I ran away from the office like lightning.
The two of them chased after me, but there's no way they could catch up to me with bodies exhausted from working day and night.
I ran far away until I couldn't hear their voices anymore.
Phew, I'm saved.
I wiped the sweat from my forehead and felt relieved.
***
After meeting younger uncle and aunt, I came outside Spring Castle.
Why did I come outside? Because Uncle Damien isn't in Spring Castle but somewhere else.
That's also why I couldn't visit Uncle Damien first.
If Uncle Damien had been in Spring Castle, I would have greeted him first.
Thunk.
But as soon as I came outside, I heard a dull sound.
I changed direction for a moment and headed toward where the sound was coming from.
Then I could see Uncle Victor chopping wood behind Spring Castle.
"Uncle Victor!"
"Oh? Isn't that Master Theo?"
When I ran over with quick steps, Uncle Victor put down his axe and welcomed me.
Oh, who is Uncle Victor? He's someone in the high position of head butler of Spring Castle.
I heard that ten years ago, he served my uncle.
"Isn't it tiring to chop wood from dawn? You should leave this kind of work to other servants now. Uncle Victor, you have many other things to do."
From what I've heard, the head butler is in charge of overseeing all the servants in Spring Castle, so he has a tremendous amount of work.
But Uncle Victor comes to chop wood every dawn.
"Oh my, Master Theo. I absolutely cannot give up this work. Who am I? Aren't I Victor the Woodcutter!"
Saying that, Uncle Victor rolled up his sleeves and showed his forearms.
Actually, Uncle Victor has a skinny build without muscles, so it didn't look impressive.
But no one looks down on Uncle Victor. Why, you ask?
I mentioned earlier that Uncle Victor once served my uncle, right?
He created tremendous legends back then.
Just to pick the most representative ones: when my uncle was wiping out the city's thugs, he cut down twenty necks beside him.
When the knights of the Marquis Ryan Bloom house came to take my uncle away, he fought them off with his bare hands.
He accomplished amazing things that you wouldn't believe from an ordinary person who hadn't learned swordsmanship.
And according to people's speculation, there's a possibility he's the same person as Victor the Woodcutter, the dark mage who once made the world buzz.
"Oh my! Master, what are you saying! I'm already troubled by strange rumors going around! I don't have such abilities."
Uncle Victor denied all rumors about himself.
So I asked my uncle about it.
Then my uncle laughed for a while and said:
"Well, it's not entirely wrong either."
...driving the final nail in.
So among the servants, Uncle Victor is perceived as a very scary person.
"By the way, Emma asked me to tell you to visit later. She said she baked a lot of cookies that you like."
"Really? I'll definitely visit."
Oh, Uncle Victor got married a few years ago.
And he married Emma, who was famous for being pretty in the Haksen territory.
Emma is not only pretty but also good at cooking, so she's extremely popular.
"Well then, I'll be going now."
"Yes, please give my regards to Lord Damien."
I ran again toward where my uncle was.
Thwack- Thunk!
I could hear Uncle Victor chopping wood behind me.
***
I arrived at the forest outside the castle.
Going deep inside, a small building covered in vines appeared.
This building wasn't built by the Haksen ducal house. It was originally in this forest.
It looked so hideous that Grandfather wanted to tear it down. But my uncle stopped him.
He said it was perfect for his use.
I entered the building.
Then I could see stairs spiraling downward.
I went down the stairs to the underground.
The deeper I went, the darker and colder the air became.
It was like entering an abyss.
I once asked my uncle why he lived in such a place. Couldn't he come to the castle and stay with us?
Then my uncle said casually, really nonchalantly:
"People are afraid."
Indeed, among the servants and soldiers working in the castle, many people are afraid of my uncle.
Because he's an amazing person?
No, for a more primal reason.
They're afraid because my uncle isn't human.
My uncle's body is that of a Death Knight.
He's much larger than others, and his skin color is different too.
When he takes off his armor, strange magical devices are embedded all over his body.
So people instinctively feel fear when they see my uncle.
Of course, I couldn't accept my uncle staying here just because of that.
So what if other people are afraid? What matters is my uncle.
He's not even a criminal, so how does it make sense for him to live in such a dark place?
"Well, it's not really different."
That's how my uncle answered my protest.
I was so angry at that moment that I didn't even talk to my uncle.
For a whole 3 hours!
Oh, while I was thinking about old times, I've already reached the bottom.
The lowest floor is wider than I thought. Instead, there are many miscellaneous items.
Magic books, alchemy catalysts, history books from other countries, etc.
Why are these things scattered around? My uncle says it's to find a way to return to being human.
This tower is not only a place where my uncle rests but also a laboratory where he searches for ways to return to being human.
I pushed through the miscellaneous items and moved forward. Only then could I meet him.
My uncle, sleeping while leaning against the wall.
My uncle was holding a greatsword as large as his own body tightly.
His appearance, not even making breathing sounds and quietly closing his eyes, looked like a corpse.
You know what? This is why I hate this tower.
It's like my uncle is being exiled here.
Even though he's never done anything wrong.
I wish my uncle could sleep in a more comfortable place, on a soft bed, comfortably.
I approached my uncle.
Just as I was about to shake his body to wake him up, I heard it.
"...Sorry, I'm sorry."
My uncle's mumbling.
"Everyone... everyone because of me... I... I killed everyone..."
I had no choice but to stop my hand.
"If I hadn't existed... if I had just died then..."
Among the family members, I'm the only one who knows that my uncle talks in his sleep like this.
My uncle notices ghostly when someone approaches.
He notices when any family member comes near.
But he's the only one who doesn't notice when I approach.
So I always hear my uncle's sleep talk like this.
What could my uncle be so sorry about?
Everyone praises my uncle unanimously.
They say the world was saved thanks to my uncle, that everyone survived.
But those people don't know.
The fact that my uncle himself wasn't saved, that he's suffering alone in such a shabby place.
What can I do for my uncle who's suffering like this?
I've thought about it for a long time, but I still haven't found an answer.
So I shouted in the brightest voice possible to cheer up my uncle's mood.
"Uncle, good morning!"
My uncle woke up from sleep at my shout. And he smiled and patted my head.
"Theo, good morning."
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[Translator - Pot ]
[Proofreader - Kawaii ]
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