Karyu Calendar Year 410, September
“It’s already been more than four years since I picked you up, brat.
It’s about time we part ways.”
On the dirt road in front of Laws’s house, Elinalise crouched in front of Gawain, tidying his messy hair.
She said reluctantly:
“Getting you to be a good son is probably impossible, after all even I can’t keep you in line.
But at least be a good older brother, okay?
Protect and take care of Sylphiette.”
If it were a child growing up and leaving her side, Elinalise might not feel this reluctant and conflicted.
But in her view, sending Gawain away was more of a helpless choice.
Gawain needed a stable, normal family environment to reshape his twisted values and personality, and that was something she absolutely could not provide.
Gawain nodded without hesitation:
“Okay.”
Elinalise became a bit helpless again.
Although she often couldn’t understand what this brat was thinking, at least sometimes she could guess accurately:
“Don’t think about repaying favors or anything stupid like that.
Since I chose to adopt you, then as a child, you don’t owe me anything.
Raising you is my responsibility, not your debt.
Understand?”
“Likewise, Laws and Debbie chose to adopt you.
As a child, you still don’t owe them anything.
They willingly embraced the responsibility of raising you, not seeking repayment after you grow up.”
“I don’t know about other people.
Not all parents in the world are the same.
But for me and for Laws, raising you is definitely not an investment.”
“Never forget, when I picked you up and decided to raise you, you were just a blood-covered little brat on the verge of death.
When Laws and the others decided to adopt you, all they knew was that you were a pure burden, abandoned by a bitch of a mother.
When we couldn’t see any value in you at all, we had already decided to give you a happy life.
That is love.
Because we received love from others, we want to give it to you as well, so you can leave misfortune behind and also receive love, receive happiness.”
“You stupid brat, so if in the future you want to repay me or Laws, you can.
But it can’t come from transaction or repayment—it must come from love.
Understand?
Otherwise, when the time comes, I’ll have no choice but to draw my sword and tell you, you useless brat, to get lost.”
Elinalise pulled little Gawain into her arms and whispered:
“Gawain, my child, don’t forget what I’ve taught you all these years.
I can’t say everything I said is absolutely correct, but at least don’t forget it.
When you encounter problems, think more.
Don’t always trap yourself in a dead end.”
Gawain remained silent for a long time.
In the end, he still closed the [Viltrum Empire Emperor Development System] interface before his eyes, followed his own will, nodded, and accepted:
“Alright, I’ll listen to you, Elinalise.”
Only after receiving a definite answer did Elinalise finally look relieved as she let go of Gawain, then once again smoothed out his slightly disheveled beautiful black hair.
She gave her final instruction:
“Remember to have Laws accept those things.
And besides this winter clothing, I have another gift for you.”
Elinalise untied a white-gold short sword from her waist.
It was a magic item she had obtained from a labyrinth a few years ago.
Its effect seemed to be only [Durability], which was why she had never managed to sell it for a suitable price, so she kept it as a backup weapon.
Gawain had long taken a liking to this short sword, but although Elinalise had taught him swordsmanship, she had never allowed him to wield a real blade.
Elinalise handed the short sword to Gawain, and for once, she saw an emotion called “surprise” in his eyes, which made her laugh involuntarily.
“Take it.
But at least until you come of age, I hope you will only wield it to protect your family, your friends, and the one you love.”
Gawain held the short sword and nodded:
“I’ll listen to you.”
Elinalise stood up and smiled gently:
“Little Gawain is always so obedient!
Though sometimes you simply don’t listen at all.”
There were still too many things she wanted to say, too many things she wanted to teach, too many things she couldn’t rest easy about—but the time had already come.
She waved at Gawain, then looked toward the doorway and waved at her son, daughter-in-law, and granddaughter.
“Until we meet again, everyone.”
Gawain held the sword and quietly watched that familiar figure disappear at the corner.
He then gazed toward a distant corner, but could no longer see the person who had accompanied him the longest since his birth.
Elinalise had left.
Gawain felt an inexplicable emptiness in his chest.
A sour pain wandered through his body.
The educational system provided by his subjects had never mentioned such a feeling, and Elinalise had never taught him anything related to it either.
He did not understand what was happening to him.
After a long time, he vaguely heard Laws and the others discussing something, but whether they intended to drive him away or something else, he didn’t care at all, so he didn’t listen.
Then, the door opened, and Laws and the others returned to their small house.
If they abandon me, can I go chase after Elinalise?
Gawain never indulged in fantasies, but at this moment, he could not stop himself.
Until small footsteps approached, and a timid little hand grabbed the corner of Gawain’s sleeve.
It was a childish voice, still milky and not yet clearly articulated:
“Big brother, let’s go home.”
Gawain turned his head.
It was Sylphiette, with her soft emerald short hair.
On the little girl’s face was a slightly distant yet expectant expression.
Her small face was chubby, clearly well-raised by her parents.
She was wrapped in several pieces of clothing sewn by her mother, protected like a little penguin.
With one hand—no, with just a flick of his little finger—he could kill this cute little creature in front of him, couldn’t he?
So fragile, yet sharing so many similarities with himself.
For once, Gawain did not feel a natural sense of superiority from this comparison, but instead found Sylphiette pitiful.
He instinctively began to worry whether such a weak young creature might die suddenly—for example, falling flat on the ground and dying in an instant.
Aren’t humans that kind of creature?
Like plants in a greenhouse, they could die in large numbers at any moment.
But he did not want her to die just like that.
Gawain took Sylphiette’s hand, just as Elinalise had always done for him in the past, paying attention to whether the little girl’s next step was steady, whether her posture while being led was safe, whether there was a risk of spraining herself.
A strange emotion was born in Gawain’s heart.
He had once tried to protect Elinalise, but Elinalise had proven to him that she possessed the strength to protect herself, so Gawain acknowledged her maturity.
That emotion, mixed with worry, tension, and concern, had long since withered.
But Sylphiette was different.
This fragile young creature was different.
Gawain unconsciously used the gentlest tone he could manage, as if worried that his usual indifferent attitude might even cut this child:
“Mm, let’s go home.”