The place was surrounded by a tall fence, and large evergreen trees stood like silent guards. It had a strange, solemn atmosphere.
“Ah, that place...”
Void looked deeply troubled.
“...It’s the Garden of the Naless Jeberts.”
“What...?”
I tried to ask again, but stopped myself.
The Naless Jeberts.
The aning was clear.
‘It must be the grave of Uncle Leviathan’s baby.’
I stood on tiptoe and peeked through the fence. Bright sunlight was shining down on the place where a black gravestone stood far away.
“There are flowers there. Did Uncle leave them?”
“My father... never cos to this cetery. It’s probably Grandpa.”
“Why doesn’t Uncle co?”
“Who knows.”
He must still be healing from the wound.
That’s what I quietly thought.
Right. Just because you’re an adult doesn’t an you’re invincible.
“Gasp—look! The gravekeeper’s coming! If we get caught, it’ll be annoying.”
“Why?”
“She’s a witch! There’s a rumor she doesn’t speak to anyone and eats kids who co to the morial.”
“Ehh.”
Anyone could tell that was just a scary story to keep people away.
A woman with dark brown hair was approaching, wearing a gray robe pulled low over her head. She held a sickle in one hand. Honestly, she did look kind of spooky.
“Let’s go, Ruby! Hurry, get on my back.”
“Okay.”
I took one last look at the small gravestone.
“...”
My hand slowly touched the hairpin at the side of my head.
‘Just a little longer... just a little more...’
I didn’t even know what I was wishing for, but I silently prayed.
The black gravestone, casting its shadow, felt like it kept snagging at my ankles.
As soon as I returned to the mansion after fieldwork, Uncle and Grandpa called in. Of course, Void was with too.
“Whoa! Whoaaa!”
The mont we entered the parlor, Void jumped around like a wild colt.
Grandpa puffed out his chest.
“Do you like it?”
“I LOVE IT!”
The shining, dazzling sword had small blue gems embedded in it. It was exactly the kind of sword that would steal Void’s heart.
“What about you, snot-nose?”
“...”
I was speechless ✪ Nоvеlіgһt ✪ (Official version) for a mont.
I had seen the sword in front of .
So... this is mine?
“Oh, this. Oh... I an...”
I kept repeating myself like a fool. Because this sword—
‘It’s the Jebert family’s heirloom sword!’
Compared to Void’s, it looked a bit worn and plain, but the blue aura around it gave it an overwhelming presence.
On the handle was the Jebert family crest.
A lion symbol carved with great care, and in the center, a large red gem.
“Oh... this... why are you giving sothing like this?”
“I kept trying to make sothing better, but nothing satisfied . Tsk. Guess I still have a long way to go.”
Grandpa looked genuinely frustrated.
“But still... giving a treasure like this?”
Aren’t these normally used by the head of the family?
I turned to look at Uncle, but he just tilted his head calmly. What’s with that satisfied look?
“The head’s sword is a different one. This is usually passed down to the official heir.”
So why are you giving it to ?
“Ehh, who cares about stuff like that? These days, sticking too much to tradition is no good. You gotta use what suits you!”
Spoken like a true Jebert elder...
“Keep it safe and use it when the ti is right. Don’t carry it too close right now—it’s dangerous, yeah?”
Listening to Grandpa’s advice, I stared at the Jebert sword, placed shyly on the table.
It was definitely smaller than the sword Uncle used—so it made sense it was ant for an heir.
As I sat there blankly, Uncle spoke in a stern voice.
“You both need to take good care of your swords. Got it?”
“Yes, Father!”
Void already looked like he was in love with his sword.
“You have to check it every day, clean it well, dry it under the sun sotis. Just owning it isn’t enough.”
Like a pet sword...?
“Yes, yes! I’ll rember!”
“What about you, Ruby?”
“Yes...”
I just replied—because I couldn’t keep up with these fools anymore.
Fine. I’ll keep it safe for now and return it later.
“Grandpa, I want to start training right now! I’ll beco a great man worthy of this sword!”
“Hah! Finally sothing I like to hear! Bring that sword runt with you too!”
“Yes, sir!”
Void and Grandpa left in perfect sync, like a gust of wind.
I slumped into the chair, watching them go.
Uncle glanced at my face.
“You don’t like it? It’s a rare sword, even if it’s a little old.”
Ugh. I was stunned.
“It’s not that I don’t like it. I just don’t get why you’re giving sothing so precious to soone else—”
“You’re not ‘soone else.’”
Uncle uncrossed his arms and leaned toward . He spoke softly.
“You’re going to take the Jebert na.”
Ah.
A strange feeling ca over . I slowly blinked.
“I-Isn’t that right?”
“Y-yeah...”
So that’s how it is.
Yeah, it made sense.
Becoming the true youngest child of this house ant taking the Jebert family na. That also ant becoming real family with Uncle Leviathan...
‘Wait. Hold on.’
Suddenly... it hit all at once.
A weird feeling overwheld . The sword on the table now felt like it had a completely different weight and aning. The small black gravestone I saw earlier kept flashing in my mind.
All of a sudden.
“Also, Ruby...”
“Huh?”
“Why don’t you start calling sothing else?”
Uncle casually crossed his legs and looked at with a strange, expectant smile.
Wait... is he saying...
‘Is he telling to call him Dad?’
I pretended not to feel the awkward pressure and nodded slowly.
Well, it’s just a title.
How hard could it be?
“Ah...”
“Ah?”
“Ah...”
As I kept going “Ah—Ah—Ah,” Uncle raised an eyebrow.
“Ah?”
“Ah... Chestnut pie is delicious!”
Uncle glanced at the table.
“There’s none here.”
I quickly added,
“I ant the one we had yesterday!”
“Ruby.”
Ugh. What’s wrong with ?
It felt like sothing got stuck in my throat, and my mind was completely blank.
I couldn’t take it anymore. I suddenly stood up.
“Sorry, Da—”
-...d? But the word never ca out.
‘Oh no. This is bad.’
Now I can’t even say “Uncle” properly!
I was more shocked than anyone by my sudden system error.
“I-I’m busy! Gotta go!”
Zoom.
I knew I shouldn’t act like that, but I ran away from the parlor, leaving a stunned Duke behind.
What do I do! The words won’t co out!
Soone please fix !
But my weird behavior didn’t stop there.
“Ah!”
“...”
“Want so bread?”
“I would... if there was any.”
I said that to Uncle, who was buried in paperwork.
“Ruby, where are you going?”
“Ah! I an—A!”
“...”
“Baaadly need to hurry! Sorry!”
And ran off.
“Good morning! A—!”
“...”
“Ta-da! New hairpin!”
I even bragged about my butterfly-shaped hairpin stuck in my hair... (It was the worst.)
Because of all this, Uncle eventually had no choice but to call for the North’s best doctor—Borvel.
“My youngest is completely broken.”
Fix .
He tucked under his arm and stord into the clinic like a thug, barking orders.
User Comments
0 comments from readers