Father, I Won’t Do Anything - Chapter 62

Seidan said it would be a pity if he left like this, and asked Jayna to go on a walk with him one last time.

“I won’t force you to if you say so. However, I still want to come visit once in a while, will that be all right?”

“I would be happy if you could come visit.”

“Thank you for saying that.”

Seidan smiled softly.

His face had no wrinkles, but his smile showed that a great deal of time had already passed for him.

Seiden, who had been silent for a long time, spoke out carefully.

“How much do you know about demons?”

Jayna tilted her head and responded politely despite the sudden change in topic.

“Aren’t they things that live inside a dead person?”

“Yes. That brief explanation is correct. However, it’s not just that simple. Demons…… are truly evil things. They not only attack humans, but make them fight against each other.”

Seidan stared into space.

He seemed to be reminiscing about the past.

Jayna had nothing to say to the man, so she quietly stared at him.

Seidan didn’t seem to be hoping for a response either.

“When the dead came back to life, many shouted, calling it a miracle. However, when they found out it was nothing but a demon, people despaired, they cursed and condemned us, who eradicated demons.”

“…….”

“Though they could neither speak or move, the bodies still belonged to family, friends and lovers…… and we were the ones who killed those family, friends and lovers. We dedicated our lives to save the world, yet we were quickly called killers.”

Seidan laughed cynically.

“To be able to kill the Demon King, who wished to devour the world, we had to eradicate all demons who belonged to him. That was the right thing… however people didn’t even thank us, rather they all resented us.”

Jayna felt that Seidan had been so hurt that it had eventually numbed him.

The girl looked at him with pity.

“And, It was Diamide who was having the hardest time.”

Jayna flinched, she was surprised.

By reading the novel, Jayna knew that Diamide had sealed his emotions because of the agony he suffered. However, she only thought it was only because Bezriche betrayed him, though it now seemed that he was unaware of the actual situation.

“I still can’t forget the expression Diamide made when the Demon King, with the appearance of a child, asked for mercy. Diamide was the most soft-hearted of us all. He was the type to get heartbroken because of withered flowers or trampled flower-buds. Eventually though, he did have to kill the ‘child’. Diamide stayed up for several nights after that.”

Seidan sighed, and continued on.

“When the Demon King was eradicated, the child helplessly collapsed to the floor. His parents, who witnessed the scene, shouted at Diamide, called him a murderer and even hurt him. In the end, he got hit multiple times but still didn’t resist.”

“Why…….?”

“Well, I think in that way, their anger would subside a bit. People do say that anger is easier to overcome when you have someone to blame…… He must have been so devastated after seeing a child died twice.”

[T/N: first time when the Demon King dies, second time when child falls to the floor]

“…….”

“That man was such a fool. When he hesitated to kill the Demon King, his lover, Bezriche, got hurt. He then sealed his feelings, while he said it was all his fault. He was a good fool who wasn’t fit to be a magician.”

Seidan smiled, his expression twisted.

“Isn’t it hilarious? Well, I also think it is. That’s why I got even angry before. I couldn’t believe the guy who treated most children so kindly…… was neglectful to his own kid.”

“…….”

“I might be a bit biased ‘cause I’m an old colleague…… but I have a feeling that he doesn’t hate you.”

Though Jayna had been quietly listening up to now, her blue eyes seemed to start shaking a little. She still remained silent till the end.

“So please, even though he’s a clumsy person and might be lacking at times, please give him another chance. It’s his first time being a father after all…….”

* * *

Seidan walked to Diamide, who had hid behind a pillar.

Then, with his arms folded, Seidan somberly asked Diamide a question.

“You’re the hero who saved the world…… but here you are eavesdropping. Just be honest, what do you really think of her?”

“……Does that even matter?”

“You idiot.”

Seidan’s eyes filled with grief and contempt.

Diamide knew that even though Seiden seemed laid back and clumsy, he was actually the most righteous of his colleagues, and cherished both his family and colleagues.

“You know why I’m doing this. Do you want to become like me? The person who became a pitiful puppy after losing everything?’

Which was because he lost family members to demons in the past.

“Isn’t it all right to be honest now? You, you think that is your actual daughter, right? I don’t think you hate Jayna.”

“…….”

“No matter how I thought of Jayna in the beginning, a responsible person still wouldn’t have treated her like I did. I shouldn’t have just left her there.” (Diamide)

“……I know that.”

“Really? ‘I know that’?”

Seidan laughed, probably seeing the situation as hilarious.

Diamide however remained silent.

Seidan knew he wasn’t silent so as to evade the situation. Seidan sighed deeply and once again began to speak.

“It will be tough. You obviously know that, but there’s still hope. It doesn’t look like Jayna hates you either…….”

“Yeah, she doesn’t hate me,”

Seidan was startled by the sudden, strong emotion being reflected in Diamide’s eyes.

“But can I think of that as something good?” (Diamide)

“Even after seeing what I’ve done to her, she still doesn’t hate me…….” (Diamide)

“A child who lost her mother went to her father. However, her father abandoned the child, saying that she wasn’t his child. Wouldn’t it be normal for the child to hate the father?” (Diamide)

Seidan trembled at the sight of Diamide saying such things about himself.

“I told that girl that she wasn’t my daughter, and to not appear in front of me. Yet, that child still doesn’t hate me.”

“…….”

“Seidan, isn’t the opposite of love indifference? She doesn’t even care enough to hate me.”

Diamide spread out his empty palms and continued.

“I don’t know what to do. I’ve already acted too far.”

Diamide’s magic wiggled out and created a magical mirror. It showed Jayna playing with Yurika.

“She’s close with a maid, someone who doesn’t share a drop of blood with her. However, here I am, sharing so much of it with her, yet I can’t take a step closer towards her.”

“Diamide…….”

“Seidan, could I really ask that child for forgiveness? Isn’t it just selfishness to help put my mind at ease? That kid doesn’t need me.”

Seidan spoke as he covered his face with his hands,

“A fool, you’re a fool.”

“I know that.”

Seidan sighed heavily as he swept a hand through his tangled hair.

‘If you tell me such things, my stomach will get bruised and rotten.’

[T/N: i.e. Seidan will get upset]

Seidan could see blue eyes, which Bezriche adored, shaking in hazy light.

“Anyways, do you still think Bezriche betrayed you? Just look at Jayna. Bezriche herself said that every child born by a dragon is the fruit of love.”

Diamide raised his chin and looked up at the sky.

“I think…… that something might have happened.”

“Well, there’s no way of knowing now.”

Seidan recalled the time when all his former colleagues joined forces to defeat the Demon King.

They were all smiling brightly, and because of that thrill, Seidan felt that he could go against anything in the future as well.

‘However, that was nothing but arrogance.’

Diamide had closed up his heart after hearing harsh words from Bezriche, and Raydon’s wife cheated on him while he was away.

Piero had used up all his holy power, and was forced to stay in the temple at all times.

He himself…… was still in agony at the loss of his family.

Some even turned their backs on him at that very moment…….

“You already know, right? That I didn’t go to see Elia for nothing.”

Diamide steadily nodded his head.

During the war against the Demon King, not everyone fought against him with the same rigor as they did.

There were people who turned their backs on their duties and to save their life, preferring to sacrifice others. They were the great nobles of the empire.

However, shortly after, great bloodshed occurred since the Empire went to war against Nevethel, a neighboring country. Therefore, such nobles couldn’t be properly punished.

“They think that if Elia, who had received immense success in the war against the Demon King were to become Empress, she won’t let them live unpunished. They’re all afraid of everything being taken away from them.”

The nobles of the Empire therefore kept an eye on Princess Elia, the next Empress, and Diamide, the Tower Lord.

– What was so difficult about defeating the Demon King? Doesn’t it seem like nothing when compared to the siege of the hero Sanderte?

– Besides, this battle was fought by borrowing the strength of the Dragons, which are a different race from us. We begged for help from a species which sees humans as ants.

– Why’re you bragging about winning the war when it was won with the help of a dragon?

Seidan spoke in a hushed whisper.

“It seems that they are recently working hand-in-hand with the temple, which failed to make proper contributions in the war against the Demon King.”

“It won’t be long before the High Priest awakens from their slumber.”

[T/N: Used their ‘cause no specific gender mentioned for the High Priest]

Both of their expressions darkened.

Seidan continued speaking as he looked at Diamide.

“I also came to you to talk about this, but you’ve been acting strange as of late. Haven’t you been too harsh on the Empire?”

“Too harsh…….”

“Diamide Bellaphanian, won’t you think about your position as the Tower Lord? Just because you sealed your emotions, will it mean that peace will spread through the continent? Do you still think that magic and truth is what truly matters?”

Diamide quietly shook his head.

“No, no it isn’t.”

“Then…….?”

“I like magic and the truth. However, the only thing that matters to me right now is that child.”

Seidan could read the stirring emotions in Diamide’s eyes.

“You-? No way…….”

The wall of ice which surrounded Diamide’s heart had already collapsed before Seidan realized it had.

Diamide could now feel emotions.

After Seidan had realized it, he could do nothing but to sigh deeply and sweep his hand through his tangled hair.

“……You fool.”