TSFA l CH 96

Chapter 96

“From now on, you will call me the great Baron!”

Only then did the family snap out of their daze and cheer loudly.

“Wow! Father, you’re amazing!”
“A criminal became a baron?!”
“Ugh… You still don’t meet the requirements to be a lord!”
“Kali, he’s still a noble now!”
“Muahaha!”

And so… the great Baron Belzer was born.

***

It was a day in March, after all the snow had melted.

‘Is it really okay for things to go this smoothly?’

I had been given a title. The Belzer family was now part of the nobility, even if only at the lowest rank. This meant we could officially have our own private soldiers.

Ryan was steadily becoming a God of Death, and Rivan was inventing new weapons to replace the powers of ability-users.

Kali and the Cerberus mercenaries would help train our household guards.

And as for Marchen, he had already done enough just by staying quietly at my side. Honestly, before meeting him, I had even thought about summoning Ratan to make him do good deeds, but I had long since changed my mind.

I wasn’t the fourth Gabriel, after all…

You can’t just tell a family member, “Hey, can you regularly injure yourself so we can use a monster to protect world peace?”

‘And as for Alex…’

That morning, I looked happily at the letter our coachman, Jang, had delivered.

‘He’s going to love this.’

[Imperial Academy Admission Form]

My precious little one should be able to do whatever he wants. In this life, he wouldn’t be forced to take up a sword or bulk up just to be sent to the battlefield.

He would grow up among well-mannered noble kids, study as much as he liked, become a smart and handsome young man, meet a good woman, get married, have children, and live happily ever after.

“Sis, I’m fine. Don’t cry. I’m not going to die anyway.”

Sigh…

That voice still comes to mind sometimes. Alex, before I turned back time, was definitely my biggest trauma.

I still can’t forget how he wore a sword he could barely use, smiled weakly, and told me he’d be back.

I’d probably never forget it, even until the day I die.

I also hated myself for becoming “numb” to Alex’s death.

That’s why, even when I confessed everything to Ryan, there was one thing I never said—Alex’s secret.

Because Ryan never knowing it wouldn’t affect our plans, but if he did find out, it would cause problems.

‘I’m never going to let anyone treat Alex like someone expendable.’

Yes, that’s the reason…

Even though I loved and cared for Alex, deep down I had a horrible thought—“It’s fine no matter what happens to him, because he won’t die anyway.”

If anyone found out about Alex’s ability, they would become numb to his death too. If there was ever a situation where someone had to die, everyone would push Alex forward.

‘That can never happen.’

Even if he comes back to life, the pain of dying is still real for Alex.

That’s why his secret is something I’ll carry alone forever.

At that moment—

“How’s that? Pretty cool, right?”
“Wow, yes! Hehe, thank you!”

I heard Ryan and Alex’s cheerful voices playing together in the front yard, now free of snow.

I smiled and went to the window to see what they were doing—

“…What… what are they doing…?”

Suddenly, my vision went white.

***

Crash!

The house was in chaos.

Alexander Belzer sat trembling in the middle of the living room, watching the scene unfold.

“Ugh, I’m going crazy! What did I even do wrong? What’s the problem? Why are you like this?!”

“I told you! I was going to let him do whatever he wanted! So why did you make him do that?! Why?!”

Ryan and I were shouting at each other, voices raised.

No one dared step in to stop us.

“Young master, please go upstairs.”
“Yes, don’t stay here—come with me.”

Ralph and Emma tugged at Alex’s arm, but he shook them off.

“N-no! You’re fighting because of me, so how can I just leave…?”

That’s right. The reason we were fighting was Alex.

But why? How did it come to this?

What did I do wrong?

Alex thought back.

A few days ago, Ryan had been awarded a title for his achievements on the battlefield. Alex admired him—he was tall, strong, skilled in fighting, and good with a sword.

Even though he had once been cast out of his family for being powerless, Ryan lacked nothing now. He had earned his title, made money, and supported the family.

Alex thought—I should grow into someone useful too.

Two months ago, on his birthday, he had met his “real” father for the first time, and had heard the cold words:

“Useless things.”

Before meeting him, Alex had foolishly hoped—maybe, as his father, he would at least wish him well and tell him to live happily.

But their meeting only left a bitter wound.

And so, Alex was afraid. Afraid of being thrown away again if he was useless.

He decided—I’ll be someone useful to my new family.

That’s why he had asked Ryan,
“Father! Can I try using a sword like you? Maybe I have talent too!”

“Oh? Good boy. Yes, a man should at least be able to protect himself. Come with me!”

Ryan had immediately carved him a wooden practice sword.

Just as they were about to start training, I came running out in shock. And then—

“So what? Did I hit him? Did I?!”
“Who said you hit him? I told you not to even give him something like that!”

This is how the fight began.

“You’re afraid he’ll get hurt? It’s not dangerous—it’s just a stick!”
“Then why give it to him? He’s not even going to use a sword!”

I was angry because Alex was holding a sword at all.

Ryan had done nothing wrong—it was Alex who had asked to learn.

“S-sis…”
“If you’re born a man, you should be able to protect yourself! And if he has talent, he might even do physical work when he’s older! He has to do something!”
“He has guards! I’ll never let him do dangerous work! Even if he has talent, never!”

They weren’t listening to Alex at all.

“If he has to do something, I’ll make him pick up a pen! I’m sending him to the academy to study!”
“Wow, listen to you! Who are you to decide his life like that? Are you his mother? Even a mother shouldn’t control her child like that!”
“I’m not controlling him! But I’ll never let him pick up a sword! Over my dead body!”

Alex bit his lip. He knew I loved him. He knew I was overprotective.

And while he liked receiving my love, part of him also felt frustrated.

He was still young, but he was a boy—already taller and bigger than me. If something happened, he wanted to be the one protecting me.

Like Ryan said, he wanted to be strong enough to at least protect himself—and me.

“You… you’re acting way too suspicious. There’s something you’re not telling me, right?”
“There’s nothing! I told you everything!”
“Liar!”
“I have nothing more to say!”

Finally, I shouted, my voice trembling.

“Never teach Alex swordsmanship again. Never…”

Then I turned.

Alex was standing there quietly… holding the wooden sword.

“…Sis?”

My face went pale.

I stared at the wooden sword, trembling, sweat beading on my forehead.

“A-are you okay?”

“Why? You told me you wanted to study with your friends, Alex…”

“…”

“You didn’t pick up that wooden sword because you really wanted to, did you? You just wanted to feel useful, right?”

Alex froze.