The Second Son of The Marquis Runs Away from Home ~ Lacking Talent, He Abandons Everything and Becomes an Adventurer ~ - 122

Chapter 122: Gathering of the Family

(… Has he aged this much?)

I kept my surprise hidden as I observed our father’s appearance. The face marked with deep wrinkles seemed to reflect the burdens he had endured over the years.

“Serk… it is you.”

Father muttered, examining my form. His eyes flickered with a light that seemed on the verge of fading away.

“You’ve grown… quite a lot.”

… Two years ago, our father was slightly taller than me. However, now, I had surpassed him in height.

“I’m glad… truly glad.”

Father, with tears in his eyes, expressed his emotions. Uncertain of what to say to the tearful father, I hesitated for a moment. But recalling that voice from the darkness, I gathered my resolve and put it into words.

“Father, there are things I want to talk about. Let’s change the location… alright?”

“Sure… but where?”

I pointed to the hill visible from the window.

“To where Mother is. We’ll talk everything there.”

—

Near the Marquis’s residence, there was a hill with a clear view. On top of it stood the grave of “Kanna Grantos,” our mother.

The three of us, my brother, father, and I, headed towards Mother’s grave. No one spoke, but I broke the silence.

“… Why did you build Mother’s grave on this hill?”

“… It was Kanna’s wish.”

Father answered my question and explained the reason.

Kanna’s ancestors were a family that migrated from Hizuchi to this country. They held the role of bestowing names and blessings to the kings of the country where their ancestors lived. However, to prevent the misuse of their power, they left Hizuchi.

“In the course of living here, Kanna lost that power. Kanna heard that she wanted her grave to be in a place where she could see the eastern sky, where Hizuchi was visible. That’s why the grave is on this hill.”

As Father spoke, memories from that dark place involuntarily surfaced. If Mother had that power, she might have used it not only for my brother but for me as well.

While talking, we reached Mother’s grave. I offered the flowers I had prepared, placed them before the grave, and closed my eyes, hands clasped in prayer.

My brother and father, too, closed their eyes, hands joined in prayer. After a while, I spoke, my voice quivering as if talking to the grave.

“… I always thought that Mother resented me.”

Father reacted to my words, and my brother, gesturing to Father, shook his head.

“Because she died giving birth to me, I thought I couldn’t be acknowledged like my brother. I thought no one wanted this life, so I’d gradually become unwanted.”

Approaching the grave, I traced the carved name with my fingers, as if engraving Mother’s name once again.

“But that wasn’t the case. Mother made sure I could live in this world. She wanted me to live in this world, so I was born in this body.”

Tears dripped onto the grave. Unbeknownst to me, my eyes were overflowing with tears.

“Mother, I will live. I will live in this world where you lived, in this body you left behind, with pride. I won’t be swallowed by darkness again.”

“I’ll come again,” I left these words behind and turned to face Father, asking my brother to step back a bit.

Then, facing Father, I thrust my clenched fist onto his face.

“Gu…!”

With restraint, Father couldn’t avoid falling to the ground. I looked down at him without offering a hand, and I declared:

“I’ll let go of everything up to now.”

As I said that, Father stared at me in astonishment.

“I still can’t forgive you, but I don’t want to keep living without being able to proudly face Mother. So, I want to be able to forgive you.”

I extended my hand.

“Besides, I need to get to know the man Mother loved better.”

Father took the offered hand, tears streaming down his face, and grabbed it desperately.

“I’m sorry… I’m sorry! I couldn’t do anything until now! I’m sorry for not seeing anything! I’m sorry for not doing anything! I’ve been a useless father! I’m truly sorry!!”

Father’s apologetic voice echoed on the hill. My brother rubbed Father’s back, offering me a gentle smile.

(Is this okay, Mother?)

As if answering that question, a gentle breeze swept over the hill, enveloping us warmly.