The next day, Paul and I ran our usual sword practice.
This time, his face was blank.
No holding back, no softening — just attacks coming at me like he had a point to prove.
How do I put this.
He might have been a little angry.
“Father, are you angry?”
I was blocking everything he threw at me, and when I genuinely couldn’t take it anymore, I finally said something.
Paul stopped.
“I’m not angry at you.”
“Then stop attacking me with that face.”
“I’m just…
just angry at myself.”
He sighed.
“Why, Father?”
“Rudy…
you were right.
No matter what, I should have taken responsibility.
But in that moment, my first instinct was to run.
I’m disgusted with myself for that.”
Fair enough.
A man who won’t own his mistakes is about the most pitiful thing there is.
But if he can admit it and actually change, maybe there’s still something worth saving.
“Do you look down on me?
You’re so mature for your age…
and…
I lost to you.”
So his son’s competence had wounded his pride as a father.
If it were Mother, she’d be proud no matter how well her son performed.
That’s the difference, I suppose.
A father wants to be surpassed eventually, just not yet, and not like that.
“Father, honestly?
Yes.
I do look down on you.”
“Uh…” Paul’s face crumpled like he was about to cry.
“But when you said you’d take responsibility for Lilia, that was decent.
It balances out.”
“…Is that so?”
“Yes.
And for the record — the day I beat you, I’d set up traps in advance.
You were distracted.
That’s the only reason I won.”
“Rudy…
you really are a good son!”
He dropped his sword and pulled me into a hug.
A proper one, the kind that leaves no room for air.
“Father…
breathing…”
“Oh.
Oh.”
He let go.
Right then, Sylphie appeared in the yard entrance, watching the two of us without a sound.
Paul spotted her and nudged me with his elbow.
“Oh-ho.
Your good friend is here.”
“She is.
I’m her only one.”
“What kind of way is that to say it?
Aren’t you also someone with only one friend?”
“Hm?
Father, I simply don’t want to be friends with those idiots.”
Paul looked like he wanted to argue.
He opened his mouth, paused, thought about it, and nothing came out.
Like he’d just remembered exactly how unbearable the village kids actually were.
Right.
Those little terrors were every bit as insufferable as the worst children from my last life.
Sylphie was timid, but she listened.
Whatever I said, she did.
I didn’t mind that in a friend.
Though calling it friendship might be generous.
The balance was off, less like friends, more like a follower, if I’m being honest.
“Hey…
Rudy…
can I ask you something?”
“Go ahead, Father.”
“Do you know if Sylphie is a boy or a girl?”
So even Paul had noticed.
Sylphie really was too cute to read.
“Father, Sylphie is very cute, yes — but he is definitely a boy.”
“…Really?”
“Yes.
I intend to raise him into a proper man.”
“I don’t think that’s really what he wants…”
“What do you mean?”
“Never mind.
You’re fine as you are.
Go play with her.”
“Alright, Father.”
And just like that, I took Sylphie back up to the hill to practice magic.
…
➤ Next: Unexpected