Chapter 110: Desiring to Manipulate Rudeus (Patreon)

With Rudeus's words, the scene, which had been rather harmonious until then, changed completely.

To be honest, Carlisle had never expected this. His grandson Rudeus had been all smiles a moment ago, and just when Carlisle had come to believe Rudeus was a gentle-natured boy, Rudeus had hit him with a pointed rebuke.

So what exactly was Rudeus after?

But whatever Rudeus had in mind, Carlisle hurriedly began to explain. Paul, standing beside him, added a few remarks after Carlisle finished, admitting that nobody on his side had been treated badly.

Watching this, Rudeus smiled.

"Looks like Grandfather and Father get along quite well. The way you two put it, I almost sound like some kind of villain."

Carlisle smiled and waved a hand.

"No, no. Rudeus, don't read too much into it.

"Besides, once I learned Zenith had gone missing, I worked tirelessly to find any news of her. In the end, I finally got word of Zenith from adventurers on the Begaritt Continent. I'm not entirely sure of it, but I'm already preparing to go and confirm it with Paul. How about we all go together?"

Rudeus smiled.

"Sure, but there's no need for Grandfather to come along. I'll take Paul with me and bring Mother back. Since the Milis Holy Kingdom is willing to stay on good terms with me forever, could you serve as our waypoint here, Grandfather?"

Carlisle had never planned to go anyway, so he naturally nodded with a smile.

"Thank you, Grandfather, for giving me news of Mother," Rudeus said with a smile. "Now, we've been traveling hard the whole way… could I trouble you to find us somewhere to rest?"

Carlisle was the first to rise. He made a guiding gesture and asked with a smile.

"Of course. Everything's been ready for a while now. Please, follow me. How do you plan to divide the rooms?"

Rudeus stood up as well.

"Just give me the largest master bedroom," he said with a smile. "And find another room with a big bed for the Dragon God."

The largest master bedroom… That was no longer a guest usurping the host's place. It was sheer overbearing pressure, a display of Rudeus's absolutely domineering nature!

But this was Rudeus, a man of absolute strength. Carlisle answered with a smile, without a trace of hesitation.

"Fair enough. Then I'll yield the two largest master bedrooms to you."

"Sure. Thanks, Grandfather."

As Carlisle led Rudeus and the others toward their quarters, Rudeus's grandmother, Claire Latreia, looked at Paul and Lilia beside her and spoke in an ever-lower voice.

"Rudeus is quite a character, isn't he?"

Paul laughed sheepishly.

"I'm so sorry for all the trouble."

Claire shook her head with a smile.

"Not at all. He's truly a fine child."

As she spoke, she turned her gaze to Rudeus, who was walking farther and farther away.

She had lived for decades, and as Carlisle's wife, she could naturally read Rudeus's meaning. He had started out making small talk and building rapport, all warmth and good cheer. But the moment he heard there was news of his own mother, not only had his face turned cold, it had changed outright.

This child… was clever. Far more than just strong!

Rudeus had probably seen through it right away. The news about Zenith surely hadn't just been discovered. They had waited until Rudeus arrived before bringing it up, meaning to use it as a stepping stone to close the distance between the two sides, and between Rudeus and the Milis Church. Yet Rudeus had spoken first and cut them off directly.

In other words… Rudeus already knew about his mother. As for the Milis Church and Carlisle's affairs, he was sorry, but no. Accepting the title of Honorary Pope was fine, but don't try to pin any responsibility on him!

Claire had originally assumed that a child who had gained such power so quickly must be lacking in brains. And the last warning, delivered over the entire Milishion, had probably relied on someone else's strength as well. But now that she saw him…

In both strength and intellect, this child was first-rate!

They had even entertained the fanciful notion of steering and manipulating him with clever words. Yet before they could even begin, it was already over!

A child like this… a child this frightening was something they could never hope to manipulate.

Thinking of this, Claire withdrew her gaze and looked at Paul again, sighing with feeling.

"It's been very stressful for you all these years, hasn't it?"

Hearing this, Paul sighed, deeply moved.

"Yes. The kid is just too smart. Most of the time, he's the one lecturing me, teaching me. Sometimes I even get the strange illusion that he's the father and I'm the child."

Claire smiled gently.

"But looking at it another way, isn't having such a child a kind of good fortune? Plenty of people want a child like this and can never get one. Who would be willing to study and research all day long? Who wouldn't rather just play and have fun every day? Not everyone can have a child like this.

"So don't dwell on it. Rudeus is already doing very well as he is. We don't need to worry about him. He thinks about things even more than we do. We should just obediently let the child steer us. Try looking at it that way. Doesn't it become much easier to accept?"

Hearing this, Paul and Lilia nodded in complete agreement.

…

Meanwhile, Carlisle brought Rudeus to one of the master bedrooms and cheerfully introduced the furnishings and features of the room. At the end, he took his leave politely and went to lead Dragon God Orsted to the other master bedroom.

That left only Rudeus, Eris, and the others in the room.

Before them lay a soft bed six or seven meters across. Rudeus stepped up and pressed down on it with his hand, smiling in great satisfaction.

"Now this is living! Looks like my grandfather really knows how to enjoy life. On a bed like this, no matter how you sleep, you'd never worry about rolling onto the floor. You can even stretch your arms and legs out however you like.

"Later, once we've settled down somewhere permanent, let's get one like this too. What do you think of a bed like this?"

At Rudeus's question, Ghislaine jumped onto the bed out of sheer curiosity. Eris, who had been a little bashful, couldn't resist her curiosity either. She hopped up and began testing the bed that Rudeus had praised.

Nanahoshi Shizuka and Roxy, though, were too embarrassed to join in. Their faces flushed red, and they turned their gazes and bodies to the other side.

But the next moment!

Rudeus used Wind Magic to shape a giant hand and snatched Nanahoshi Shizuka and Roxy onto the bed.

Standing beside the bed, he looked at the lovely sight before him. A quiet sense of fulfillment made his smile blazing bright. And the others, seeing that dazzling smile, couldn't help breaking into radiant smiles of their own.

Everything was wonderful!

Only Hitogami…

Having watched the Milis Pope go over to Rudeus without the slightest hesitation, he sat hunched on the ground in a gloomy mood, cursing bitterly.

"Damn it! A bunch of crafty bastards!!"