~Chapter 47~
The place was surrounded by a tall fence, and large evergreen trees stood like silent guards. It had a strange, solemn atmosphere.
“Ah, that place…”
Void looked deeply troubled.
“…It’s the Garden of the Nameless Jeberts.”
“What…?”
I tried to ask again but stopped myself.
The Nameless Jeberts.
The meaning was clear.
‘It must be the grave of Uncle Leviathan’s baby.’
I stood on tiptoe and peeked through the fence. Bright sunlight was shining down on the place where a black gravestone stood far away.
“There are flowers there. Did Uncle leave them?”
“My father… never comes to this cemetery. It’s probably Grandpa.”
“Why doesn’t Uncle come?”
“Who knows.”
He must still be healing from the wound.
That’s what I quietly thought.
Right. Just because you’re an adult doesn’t mean you’re invincible.
“Gasp—look! The gravekeeper’s coming! If we get caught, it’ll be annoying.”
“Why?”
“She’s a witch! There’s a rumor she doesn’t speak to anyone and eats kids who come to the memorial.”
“Ehh.”
Anyone could tell that was just a scary story to keep people away.
A woman with dark brown hair was approaching, wearing a gray robe pulled low over her head. She held a sickle in one hand. Honestly, she did look kind of spooky.
“Let’s go, Ruby! Hurry, get on my back.”
“Okay.”
I took one last look at the small gravestone.
“…”
My hand slowly touched the hairpin on the side of my head.
‘Just a little longer… just a little more…’
I didn’t even know what I was wishing for, but I silently prayed.
The black gravestone, casting its shadow, felt like it kept grabbing at my ankles.
As soon as I returned to the mansion after fieldwork, Uncle and Grandpa called me in. Of course, Void was with me too.
“Whoa! Whoaaa!”
The moment we entered the parlor, Void jumped around like a wild colt.
Grandpa puffed out his chest.
“Do you like it?”
“I LOVE IT!”
The shining, dazzling sword had small blue gems embedded in it. It was exactly the kind of sword that would steal Void’s heart.
“What about you, snot-nose?”
“…”
I was speechless for a moment.
I had seen the sword in front of me.
So… this is mine?
“Oh, this. Oh… I mean…”
I kept repeating myself like a fool. Because this sword—
‘It’s the Jebert family’s heirloom sword!’
Compared to Void’s, it looked a bit worn and plain, but the blue aura around it gave it an overwhelming presence.
On the handle was the Jebert family crest.
A lion symbol carved with great care, and in the center, a large red gem.
“Oh… this… why are you giving me something like this?”
“I kept trying to make something better, but nothing satisfied me. Tsk. Guess I still have a long way to go.”
Grandpa looked genuinely frustrated.
“But still… giving me a treasure like this?”
Aren’t these normally used by the head of the family?
I turned to look at Uncle, but he just tilted his head calmly. What’s with that satisfied look?
“The head’s sword is a different one. This is usually passed down to the official heir.”
So why are you giving it to me?
“Ehh, who cares about stuff like that? These days, sticking too much to tradition is no good. You gotta use what suits you!”
Spoken like a true Jebert elder…
“Keep it safe and use it when the time is right. Don’t carry it too close now—it’s dangerous, yeah?”
Listening to Grandpa’s advice, I stared at the Jebert sword, placed shyly on the table.
It was definitely smaller than the sword Uncle used—so it made sense it was meant for an heir.
As I sat there blankly, Uncle spoke in a stern voice.
“You both need to take good care of your swords. Got it?”
“Yes, Father!”
Void already looked like he was in love with his sword.
“You have to check it every day, clean it well, dry it under the sun sometimes. Just owning it isn’t enough.”
Like a pet sword…?
“Yes, yes! I’ll remember!”
“What about you, Ruby?”
“Yes…”
I just replied—because I couldn’t keep up with these fools anymore.
Fine. I’ll keep it safe for now and return it later.
“Grandpa, I want to start training right now! I’ll become a great man worthy of this sword!”
“Hah! Finally something I like to hear! Bring that sword runt with you too!”
“Yes, sir!”
Void and Grandpa left in perfect sync, like a gust of wind.
I slumped into the chair, watching them go.
Uncle glanced at my face.
“You don’t like it? It’s a rare sword, even if it’s a little old.”
Ugh. I was stunned.
“It’s not that I don’t like it. I just don’t get why you’re giving something so precious to someone else—”
“You’re not ‘someone else.’”
Uncle uncrossed his arms and leaned toward me. He spoke softly.
“You’re going to take the Jebert name.”
Ah.
A strange feeling came over me. I slowly blinked.
“I-Isn’t that right?”
“Y-yeah…”
So that’s how it is.
Yeah, it made sense.
Becoming the true youngest child of this house meant taking the Jebert family name. That also meant becoming real family with Uncle Leviathan…
‘Wait. Hold on.’
Suddenly… it hit me all at once.
A weird feeling overwhelmed me. The sword on the table now felt like it had a completely different weight and meaning. The small black gravestone I saw earlier kept flashing in my mind.
All of a sudden.
“Also, Ruby…”
“Huh?”
“Why don’t you start calling me something else?”
Uncle casually crossed his legs and looked at me with a strange, expectant smile.
Wait… is he saying…
‘Is he telling me to call him Dad?’
I pretended not to feel the awkward pressure and nodded slowly.
Well, it’s just a title.
How hard could it be?
“Ah…”
“Ah?”
“Ah…”
As I kept going “Ah—Ah—Ah,” Uncle raised an eyebrow.
“Ah?”
“Ah… Chestnut pie is delicious!”
Uncle glanced at the table.
“There’s none here.”
I quickly added,
“I meant the one we had yesterday!”
“Ruby.”
Ugh. What’s wrong with me?
It felt like something got stuck in my throat, and my mind was completely blank.
I couldn’t take it anymore. I suddenly stood up.
“Sorry, Da—”
-…d? But the word never came out.
‘Oh no. This is bad.’
Now I can’t even say “Uncle” properly!
I was more shocked than anyone by my sudden system error.
“I-I’m busy! Gotta go!”
Zoom.
I knew I shouldn’t act like that, but I ran away from the parlor, leaving a stunned Duke behind.
What do I do! The words won’t come out!
Someone please fix me!
But my weird behavior didn’t stop there.
“Ah!”
“…”
“Want some bread?”
“I would… if there was any.”
I said that to Uncle, who was buried behind paperwork.
“Ruby, where are you going?”
“Ah! I mean—A!”
“…”
“Baaadly need to hurry! Sorry!”
And ran off.
“Good morning! A—!”
“…”
“Ta-da! New hairpin!”
I even bragged about my butterfly-shaped hairpin stuck in my hair… (It was the worst.)
Because of all this, Uncle eventually had no choice but to call for the North’s best doctor—Borvel.
“My youngest is completely broken.”
Fix me.
He tucked me under his arm and stormed into the clinic like a thug, barking orders.
