NOVEL NEXT WORLD Chapter 128
The Deputy Director’s Office rushed in as soon as a piercing scream filled the air.
Inside, the God of War scratched his head awkwardly, while the Deputy Director wore a perplexed expression.
And in the corner, the Knight Commander, curled up and gazing with trembling eyes at the God of War, sat there.
The Knight Commander, still trembling from the scream, had her shoulders subtly quaking.
Why was the Knight Commander, who had always seemed so foolish, reacting like this all of a sudden?
From the looks of it, it didn’t seem like the God of War had caused her any harm.
“D-Dear Commander, what’s wrong?”
The Deputy Director tried to calm the Commander, but the more he did, the more she seemed to want to hide herself.
The God of War gave a shy smile at her reaction.
“Haha, come on, Deputy Director, you should have told me that the Commander was in this state beforehand.”
“I’ve never seen her react this way since we rescued her. Not even when she met any of the Outsiders.”
Even though the God of War kept his distance to be considerate, the Knight Commander was already clutching her head with both hands, as if she were terrified.
Could it be that the Knight Commander remembered something upon seeing the God of War?
I slyly passed between the God of War and the Deputy Director to approach the Knight Commander.
“Commander, do you remember who this person is?”
“I… I don’t know, I don’t know. I don’t know.”
I’ve never seen her look so deflated.
Just to try, I handed her some snacks I’d gotten from the Deputy Director, but contrary to what you’d expect from a Knight Commander, she merely glanced at them and turned her gaze away.
Wow, this is a serious situation.
The Knight Commander is refusing to eat? This could be quite a troubling matter.
“Um.”
Seeing this, the Deputy Director seemed to realize the severity and patted the God of War’s shoulder, motioning for him to head outside.
It was indeed a bit strange that the gluttonous Knight Commander was so calm about food.
The God of War twisted his lips, but for now, he followed the Deputy Director’s lead outside.
I was about to follow them when I took one last glance at the Knight Commander.
From her expression, it seemed even she couldn’t understand why she was acting this way.
Was something deeply rooted within her suddenly stirring?
…What on earth did the Knight Commander see in the God of War to react like that?
#
As the God of War stepped out by the hearth, he stroked his chin with his fingers.
It seemed like the reaction the Knight Commander had shown him was weighing on his mind.
“Hmm, what a shame. I could accept that she lost her memory, but I didn’t expect her to react like that upon seeing me.”
“Did you do something to the Commander?”
“Huh? What could I possibly do? All I did was toss an axe at her helmet as a joke!”
“This guy, while I was away….”
“Haha! I’m just kidding. Even I know how to show respect!”
…Is the Knight Commander able to joke like that because of her immortal abilities?
Well, considering she’s survived multiple deaths due to the food made by the Elite Outsider cook, I guess it’s entirely possible.
“We’ll have to deal with this somehow. For now, how about we go rest? Now that the tension’s eased, I’m feeling sleepy.”
“Sure. Come by to work whenever you feel like it.”
“That’s good to hear!”
The God of War said this and, grinning widely, turned to head back.
“Hey, Tanton?”
Was it just me, or did someone’s familiar voice call out from afar, which I hadn’t heard in ages?
It seemed like now was the perfect time for that person to make an appearance.
The Deputy Director and God of War’s gazes also turned toward that direction.
“Who is this person next to you…?”
She couldn’t finish her sentence.
Perhaps that was due to a welling emotion in her throat that caught her off guard, or I cautiously predicted so.
The person still looking at the God of War with disbelief was Muyun.
“Oh, Muyun?”
Seeing her, the God of War spread his arms wide.
“My daughter! Wow, it’s been such a long time?! Good grief, have I really been gone for this long? You’ve grown so much…”
But he too couldn’t finish his words.
It wasn’t for the same reason as Muyun.
He momentarily lost his breath as his daughter suddenly dashed into his arms.
“Oops.”
“Father…! You’re really you, aren’t you…?”
Tears welled up in Muyun’s eyes.
The reason Muyun became a Knight was to follow in the footsteps of the father she lost during the Snow Mountain expedition disaster.
…Yet she was still saddened by the fact that she hadn’t shaken off her cowardly instincts.
At that moment, her long-lost ally reappeared right before her eyes.
Muyun said nothing more.
She simply remained in the God of War’s embrace, shedding tears for a while.
“…I’m sorry, my dear. You must have struggled a lot because of me.”
Saying this, the God of War gently stroked Muyun’s head.
Like a child seeking comfort, Muyun burrowed deeper into his embrace.
Watching this, the Deputy Director seemed to blink back tears and suddenly looked up at the sky.
That man usually isn’t like this, but he gets so emotional at times like this.
A touching reunion.
Though it was a noisy interruption, I thought while watching the God of War comforting Muyun.
Somehow, it all felt rather forced.
#
The next morning.
As soon as I opened my eyes, I headed straight to the Knights Headquarters.
I was told to take it easy after a significant mission yesterday, but with the God of War suddenly saying, “Perhaps seeing my daughter after a long time has rekindled my strength!” I had no choice but to accompany him.
I merely wanted to stroll around this area and catch some Outsiders, thinking it might give me a feel for how strong he really was.
“…I’m sorry, Tanton. You really didn’t have to come along.”
“It’s fine. I felt like I was intruding on a long-awaited father-daughter outing.”
“No, that’s not it! It’s a pleasure to have you, Tanton! …Uh! That’s not what I meant….”
Muyun was mumbling to herself, surprised and frantically waving her arms, trying to deny what she had just said.
Maybe it was just that I hadn’t seen her in a while.
Seeing the flustered Muyun made me smile awkwardly.
Given her timid nature, her introverted character might be surfacing again.
“Have you been doing well?”
“Ah, um… yes.”
It seemed she quickly adapted, as she flashed a slight smile and calmed down at my greeting.
At times like this, I should say something to lighten the atmosphere.
“Heh, just thinking about going out for a proper Outsider hunt after so long gets my heart racing! It’s definitely more fun with company! Hahaha!”
The God of War laughed with a boisterous voice, approaching us.
He seemed to be reporting his position to the Deputy Director.
“I never imagined my daughter would become a Knight. I couldn’t even dream of it! I’m so proud of you!”
Though Muyun was fairly tall, she looked so small next to the rather sturdy God of War.
Perhaps that’s why, when he affectionately ruffled her hair with a content smile, it truly felt like a father-daughter relationship.
“F-Father…! Please don’t do that in front of others….”
“Haha, sorry, I forgot again. I just couldn’t help it seeing my lovely daughter all grown up.”
The God of War scratched his head bashfully and then started walking toward the entrance of Rondan.
“Shall we head out? Outsider hunting!”
#
“What the heck, why are there so few Outsiders around here?!”
By the time the God of War had already made three laps around the Rondan Castle Walls, he shouted in shock.
There wasn’t a trace of an Outsider to be found.
“In my day, even one step would mean meeting a bunch of Outsiders!”
“Ever since the Hunter appeared… all the Outsiders around Rondan have been wiped out.”
“What?! Wiped out the Outsiders?”
The God of War’s eyes widened in disbelief.
“There was someone as serious about hunting Outsiders as me?!”
“Unlike you, that person handles them with a more negative emotion.”
I had thought they were just a weirdo threatening me in strange clothing lately, but it turned out they were hunting too.
Come to think of it, I hadn’t seen them since I visited the Library.
…Living in constant fear of being hunted by the “Outsider Killerman”—oh, no, “Outsider Killer Woman”—was a life indeed.
What a life to lead.
“Oh! But I can see at least one Outsider over there!”
It seemed that, for whatever reason, some Outsiders were still lurking around.
As soon as he spotted it, the God of War grabbed the axe hanging on his back.
Huh.
But wait, something’s off with that axe; it looks more like it’s falling apart than anything else.
Is that safe to use?
Looks more like just a stick to beat someone with.
I couldn’t help but doubt that as I heard Muyun speak to the God of War.
“Father, you’ve kept that axe in good condition without breaking it.”
“Of course! It’s my beloved weapon!”
“It even looks shiny; you must’ve managed it really well.”
…You call that a shiny axe?
Well-maintained, really?
“How about it, Tanton? Do you think it looks good?”
“Uh, yeah, well…”
I reluctantly replied.
But the flame of doubt in my heart only grew stronger.