Intermission (1)
Clang!
The bisected sword clattered to the cave floor. Zeke felt his face stiffen.
‘Whew, at least it’s over after taking care of these bastards.’
It was funny how Zeke willingly accepted all the complaints he had about this inconvenient body that couldn’t even eat properly.
This incident made him realize how much control this body had over his instincts.
And then came the belated realization.
Zeke was finally able to look back on his actions with a cool head.
‘Oh, shit.’
Was this a side effect of holding back for too long?
‘Oh, shit!’
It wasn’t this bad even back in the Dave Continent.
Sure, he might have been similar in that he couldn’t distinguish between enemies and allies when he swung his sword, but at least he managed to stay sane after a battle!
There was no way Zeke would have been called a hero in the Dave Continent if he had been like this all the time.
He would have been cursed as worse than the Demon King.
‘Oh, shiiit!!!’
The things he had said so far were, to put it nicely, like a middle schooler full of bluff with a black flame dragon on his left hand.
He closed his eyes tight and trembled, but the cringeworthy memories replayed vividly in his mind.
[I've been holding back for so long... A desert without a drop of water...]
‘A desert without a drop of water, my ass.’
[...Even if I drink, it'll just be seawater that makes me thirstier...]
‘Just…’
[Selena. By any chance... Do you not like Eustia? Should I just kill them all?]
‘S-Stop it.’
[Woohoooootwwwwwww!!!!]
‘Please. Just die! You stupid little shit!’
No, this is also escapism.
Sigh.
A deep sigh escaped from the bottom of his heart.
The most problematic situation was none other than the present.
He had caused quite a scene in front of Selena and her family, the Yohaidens.
‘Uh, well... Selena’s Mind’s Eye seemed to have opened too... She must have seen that little thing... And the bone sticking out of his butt...’
Zeke knew exactly what he looked like when his eyes flipped.
‘A crazy bastard just chopping them up… Ah, I’m screwed. What do I do? Is it over with the Yohaidens…?’
The Yohaiden residence. The best room in the house.
Zeke had long since become accustomed to the comfort of this luxurious bed.
Tears welled up in his eyes at the thought of parting with his beloved room.
‘It seems… it’ll be difficult to keep freeloading here… right?’
No matter how he thought about it, it was a situation where he couldn’t help but shake his head.
And he had made a real enemy of that guy called Sedan before coming here.
Even if he were Selena's father, he wouldn't let such a suspicious man near his daughter.
What kind of father would allow an insane, even dangerous man near his precious daughter!
‘Ah… Damn it. This is why I tried not to hold a sword!’
He resented the bandit leader who had persuaded him, saying it was okay and handing him the sword.
Anyway, what’s done is done.
It was time to become independent from the warm embrace of the Yohaidens, but he had to clean up the mess before leaving.
Zeke didn’t want to completely sever ties with the Yohaidens either.
Zeke turned his head and met the Duke's eyes.
The Duke flinched and hugged Selena tightly.
Right. That was a familiar expression from the Dave Continent.
Zeke felt a little disappointed, but he spoke first.
“Greetings. I am Zeke Clayman. I am currently serving as the swordsmanship instructor at Ramielli Academy.”
“…I, I see. N-Nice to meet you. I am the head of the Yohaiden Dukedom, Pruna Yohaiden. Please forgive me for not being able to stand and greet you as I am not feeling well.”
As expected of a great noble of the Empire.
The Duke quickly regained his composure after his initial fear and accepted the greeting.
And his attitude of respecting the other person without putting on airs of authority.
Zeke could give him high marks for that.
‘He’s definitely Selena’s father. But why is his son like that?’
Zeke bowed deeply.
“Not at all. The Yohaiden Dukedom is a family to whom I owe an immeasurable debt of gratitude. Please, you flatter me.”
Even as he spoke, Zeke felt a strange sensation.
This ill-mannered body knew how to speak formally and bow its head in front of others, but it rarely tolerated any self-deprecating remarks.
He expected it to come to a screeching halt as if it were having an allergic reaction.
However, contrary to his expectations, the words flowed out of his mouth as smoothly as honey.
‘Did the restrictions ease up a bit after breaking through once?’
Anyway, it was a good thing in this situation.
He could at least leave a good impression on the Yohaidens before they parted ways.
“Ah, more importantly, my apologies for the late thanks. Thank you so much for saving me. And I hear my daughter owes you her life as well. I am ashamed that I was unaware of this. You are truly deserving of being called a benefactor of the Yohaiden family.”
“It was my duty.”
“There are countless who fail to do their duty. Are you going to condemn them all as cowards?”
Hmm?
Zeke tilted his head slightly.
‘It feels like he’s testing me?’
“Ah, that’s not it. I stepped in because I believed this incident was something I could handle. If I had judged it to be too difficult, I would have found another way. That would be recklessness, not courage.”
A look of admiration crossed the Duke's face.
He looked once at his daughter in his arms, then back at Zeke, and spoke with a firm expression.
“You… You lost your memory, didn’t you…?”
“!”
Zeke’s eyes widened at those words, and he unconsciously looked at Selena.
She blushed and quickly lowered her head.
“I-Instructor, I’m so sorry! I… I was talking to myself, and it just slipped out! I revealed your secret without your permission!”
“I apologize on her behalf. Selena would never intentionally try to expose a secret you wish to keep.”
Zeke knew for sure now that this was the Duke’s test.
To see if he was truly worthy of being by Selena’s side.
Originally, Zeke loathed those who tested him without permission, but this time was an exception.
He almost seemed like an adult.
‘He prioritizes listening to Selena’s words even after seeing that side of me…’
He truly was a good father.
In any case, the answer was already decided.
“It’s alright. I don’t mind. I just didn’t expect the Duke to hear it. Please, don’t apologize, as I’m not offended.”
“Hmm. Very well. I was being insensitive. But… by any chance, do you know who those people are…?”
“Yes, they are called Lost Hope.”
“…How can you know that when you’ve lost your memory…?”
Ah, shit. Scratch that about the good father.
He pretended to care about his daughter and dug a trap.
This man. He’s a noble.
‘Such dirty tricks!’
What he needed now was improvisation! He had to change the subject quickly.
“That’s right… I’ve lost my memory… but… for some reason… my memories of them are vivid… I knew it the moment I saw their faces… That they are horrible and wicked people who follow the Demon King…”
“…Indeed, an archenemy?”
‘Huh?’
Zeke had no idea if they were gathering sacrifices, but he nodded anyway.
“There’s no mistaking it… When I saw them… I felt this rage boiling inside me, and my head felt hot. I think I thought… that I had to inflict as much pain on them as possible. That I couldn’t underestimate them. And that I had to kill them as cruelly as possible…”
“Hmm… Then, the incident in the Higma Forest must have been your doing as well… You couldn’t forgive those who were gathering sacrifices on the orders of Lost Hope.”
‘Wait, what?’
Zeke had no idea they were gathering sacrifices, but he nodded anyway.
“Who else knows the true nature of these people?”
“There was a similar incident recently. I stopped them from trying to kidnap Iriel Eustia of the Eustia family.”
Zeke decided to tell a bit of the truth here.
The Duke might seem like he believed him, but he would eventually investigate.
Eustia. At the mention of that name, the Duke frowned.
“Eustia?”
“Yes…”
“Tsk, that’s unfortunate. It would have been better to just let her die.”
“I apologize, but I am an instructor. Among the students who attend my classes is Iriel Eustia.”
Zeke firmly shut him down.
‘My, my… This young man is truly a fine individual, isn’t he?’
Duke Yohaiden, who had been through the rough and tumble of the aristocratic world, was quite surprised after talking to Zeke.
No matter what Selena said, his first impression was of that crazed figure.
And it was suspicious how this amnesiac spoke as if he knew about the dark mages.
But now, he showed the dignified and impeccable demeanor of a true noble.
He knew when to yield appropriately, and his thoughts were upright.
His swordsmanship skills were a testament to his talent, but they also showed how much pain and hardship he had endured in his training.
The fearsome image he initially had was gradually changing for the better.
However, he couldn’t be sure yet, so he tested Zeke by provoking him, even in areas that might be considered taboo.
The answer that came back was admirable, even to the Duke, who had experienced countless trials in the aristocratic world.
‘Is he saying that because he is an instructor, he can embrace both Yohaiden and Eustia?’
If Zeke had chosen Yohaiden over Eustia in that question, the Duke might have been disappointed.
It would mean he was just another ordinary person who bowed to power.
Just then,
“Selena! Father!”
A booming voice echoed through the cave.
Sedan, drenched in sweat, entered the cave.
And the scene that unfolded before his eyes:
Selena, trembling amidst a sea of blood, was being protectively embraced by her blood-soaked father.
And standing before them with an impassive face was the black-haired man.
“You damn bastard!!! How dare you touch my father!!!”
He shouted, his eyes bloodshot.
Zeke frowned.
‘This idiot. Has he no eyes? He can tell by looking at these corpses. Anyone can see I’m the one who saved them.’
Sedan drew his sword and charged at Zeke.
“Dieeeee!!!!”
Zeke watched him, then closed his eyes slightly.
‘Well, my body won’t be harmed by his sword anyway, so I should pretend to be hit. This is my chance. I can secure my place with the Yohaidens!’
But Selena leaped out of her father’s arms.
“Brother!!!!!!”
She grabbed Sedan’s arm, which was wielding the sword, and flipped him over her back, slamming him to the ground.
Crash!!!!
“…My daughter…?”
Seeing this, Duke Yohaiden had no choice but to reconsider.
About whether it was truly alright to leave Selena in this man’s care.
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Zeke is her Darling Selena doesn't Yield him to any one Else even if they are her relatives
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