The Reason I Keep Avoiding My Childhood Friend - Chapter 13

At first, it was very awkward since I didn’t feel comfortable acting like a child.

Later on, I realized that it was quite strange that I wasn’t childish and began acting like a child. But then I was embarrassed to stand in front of my father and pretend to be a cute daughter. Doing it for others and doing it for my father felt strangely different. Thus the distance between us increased even further.

So I didn’t really miss him since we didn’t have a particularly close relationship in the first place. But I was still worried. Of course, I wasn’t exactly worried about my father. I now know that if he dies, he’ll just be born again, so I don’t need to cry over my father’s death. Maybe the reincarnated world will be even better for him.

But if my father dies now, I’ll become an orphan. How will I survive with this little kid’s body?

I worry even more since I don’t have the ignorance and obliviousness of a normal kid. Besides, no one can predict what will happen if a war really breaks out. So I wanted my father to come back safely.

“I’m worried.”

I wish you could come back safely and continue acting as my guardian. 

At my depressed tone, Mr. Haftery’s palm rested on my head and began stroking.

“He’ll be back safely. You’ve studied history, haven’t you? The war of nerves between our Duchy and Ceyron is old. However, even though there have been several provocations, war has never really broken out.”

“Yes, I know. They just pretend there will be a war soon.”

I nodded. I had actually already learned it. In fact, this was another reason I didn’t worry much about my father.

The Duchy of Rhinefont and Ceyron constantly demonstrate force, but there was no real war. Just like North and South Korea.

In fact, the similarities didn’t end there. In the old days, Ceyron and the Rhinefont Duchy were the same country. However, the two countries were separated during the Great Continental War.

Perhaps that’s why the kingdom of Ceyron would provoke the Duchy every once in a while, when the big war was all but forgotten. But they didn’t start a real war because they knew it would be wasteful.

Once the Duchy has been provoked, it must defend its borders. Therefore, the knights make some cursory appearances and return without a fight breaking out for real.

Some foolish people are even saying it would be better to have a war and just conquer them already.

“Arendine’s father is a strong knight, so he will definitely survive.”

Of course, I couldn’t put much hope in his words, since I knew that no matter how strong a knight was, he could be hit by a blind arrow. But I shouldn’t reveal these thoughts, so I put up with it in silence.

“Yes, my father is strong.”

Mr. Haftery’s eyes filled with appreciation at my confident reply. Even though I act young, I wasn’t really a child, mentally, so I could easily read the gazes of adults looking at me, and their gazes always feel similar to this.

It’s truly impossible for me to be myself nowadays. This temperament is natural for me, but I might look too mature to an adult.

Mr. Haftery patted my head a few more times as if to praise me. Come to think of it, patting my head is very popular these days. Is it the right size and height that makes you want to touch it?

“Well, shall we begin class?”

“Yes.”

My firm answer cleared the teacher’s concerns, and he began his instruction .

“Now that we’re talking about war, should we go over ‘the mistake we must never forget.’”

“A mistake we must never forget?”

“Yes. It’s the most terrible incident in our history. And it hasn’t been very long since it occurred, either.”

The seriousness of the event was evident from Mr. Haftery’s cold voice. His gentleness had disappeared, and I quickly grabbed my pen. He glanced at my hand and added.

“It’s related to Ceyron.”

“Ceyron?”

When Mr. Haftery had taught me about Ceyron before, he had only explained what I had already mentioned, and there was nothing more. But now, at this moment, talking about it made me feel nervous for some reason.