NOVEL NEXT Chapter 198
Chapter 198. Engagement – A Rainy Day
[ Thank you for playing “Raising Lena.” ]
[ Lena Einarr ]
[ Final Occupation: A Daughter of the Einarr Tribe ]
[ Spouse: Leo Dexter ]
[ Leo Dexter ]
[ Final Occupation: Hunter ]
[ Spouse: Lena Einarr ]
[ Engagement Ending: Peace at Avril Castle ]
– Lena Einarr, born in Avril Castle, had a happy childhood… (omitted)… After returning from the war, Lena gave birth to a child. She had two more children after getting married and lived happily with Leo. –
– Leo Dexter, born in the capital city of Barnaul… (omitted)… never held a sword again. He often went hunting to support his family and lived happily with Lena and their children. –
After a moment of waiting, humble ending texts filled the dark void.
Along with this appeared a single photograph.
Leo, now materialized, let out a dry sigh.
I didn’t even become a chef…
In the photo, Lena was nursing a newborn baby.
A boy and a girl, who resembled both Lena and Leo, watched in fascination, and Leo was absent from the picture. Judging by Lena’s faint smile as she looked up, it was clear this photo was taken from Leo’s perspective.
Her hair was disheveled.
Whether it was due to the exhaustion of taking care of three children or because it hadn’t been long since she had given birth to the youngest, Lena looked tired. She had lost the confidence of a knight and appeared as a simple, worn-out housewife.
What’s wrong with being a housewife?
One cannot easily judge a mother of three. Even an uneducated person wouldn’t dare speak ill of a mother. Just the thought of a mother evokes tears.
Leo had no intention of criticizing Lena’s final appearance. However, he couldn’t help but feel a deep pain as her husband.
Where had the vibrant young lady from the beginning of the scenario gone? Had the beloved daughter of the Einarr tribe, who had strived to become a knight, faded away like this?
The photo seemed to capture the scene as if Leo had just returned from hunting and opened the door.
It showed the wife calmly welcoming her husband back from trudging through heavy snow. What thoughts went through the mind of Leo Dexter, who stayed there and saw this scene?
Perhaps he was happy.
He might have exclaimed, “Daddy’s home!” as he was greeted by his wife and children. But as a newly married Leo Dexter, he couldn’t fully grasp such paternal feelings.
The transition from a sweet honeymoon to a life filled only with obligations was disheartening. I, a swordmaster, ended up living like this? What a fool. He berated himself, left behind in that place.
Leo gradually faded.
His thoughts ebbed and flowed until the round entity was no longer Leo. Minseo, feeling chased, began evaluating this engagement scenario.
This round is a success.
Having achieved the quest goal, I’ve finally become a Swordmaster, and Lena is safe. I’ve also made preparations for the next childhood friend scenario by going to the Holy Kingdom of Jerome, and confirmed that Leah is doing well at the capital church.
“It’s done. It’s finally over.”
A Swordmaster.
A level once thought impossible. The strongest individual combat power one can possess. Unlike knights whose skills can’t be judged until you face them, Swordmasters have the Aura Blade as proof of their prowess. The difference between what can be seen and what can’t is significant.
Moreover, a Swordmaster is powerful enough to be a political force on their own. They are not someone to be taken lightly, even the great Marquis Benard Tatian would act with caution.
Hahaha!
I did it. We did it…
However, Minseo, who was rushing to congratulate himself, soon fell silent. In the past, he would have called this a happy ending, but now he felt a vague sense of unease. He stared blankly at the slowly fading photo of Lena.
In the downtrodden Lena Einarr, he saw Chae-ha’s reflection.
Chae-ha, who had tied up her once freely flowing hair, donned an awkward semi-formal outfit, and delivered a farewell that wasn’t quite a farewell. Just as this round’s Lena accepted her reality, so had Chae-ha. The difference was that Chae-ha had jumped into the job market instead of marriage due to her unworthy boyfriend.
‘…I could have done better.’
Feeling a sudden heaviness, Minseo sighed. Surviving alone was no longer satisfying.
If he had paid a little more attention to Lena, he could have seen a better ending.
Even though this was just a stepping stone toward the “true ending,” he could have created an ending where she smiled more brightly.
Regret washed over him.
Fortunately, at that moment, the final text appeared, interrupting his self-reproach.
[ You have not cleared “Raising Lena.” ]
[ Leo, you have become the strongest swordsman on the continent, but Lena could not keep up with you. As consolation, you are given the {Swordsmanship Master} skill. ]
[ Restarting. ]
A video heading towards Orville played.
As the darkness lifted, Minseo, now in the heart of Orville, had become Leo de Yeriel once more.
[ Achievement: “18th Leo” – The speed at which the player assimilates with Leo slightly increases. ]
[ 18/22 ]
[ The true name is unknown. ]
A foul-smelling puddle.
The wet, soggy feeling and desperate thirst signaled the start of the beggar sibling scenario, but Leo couldn’t move. He squinted his eyes, enduring the flood of memories.
Lev killed my sister.
In the previous round, Lena had been left alone in the theater. In the round before that, he met Oriax. His sister had become an enraged duchess, and before that, they were chased and separated by Marquis Benard Tatian.
Ugh.
As memories of his sister, with a box full of gold coins, happily handing them over, then slowly, ever so slowly, losing warmth like a dying ember, resurfaced, Leo groaned. Filled with resentment towards the filthy world, Minseo, and Lev who killed his sister, he took a deep breath.
Forgive.
I was destined to die anyway. My sister wouldn’t have survived either. If not for Minseo.
Leo braced himself. It was something he did every time, but this time it took him quite a while to open his eyes. The vivid sensation of having killed his brother lingered too strongly, but it was also because Lena hadn’t spoken.
By now, she should have been whining about being hungry… Leo, worried, turned his head. The silence from his sister was more pressing than the scar on his chest.
Fortunately, his sister was right there. As usual, she was sitting slumped against the wall, but unlike usual, she was nodding off. Leo swallowed hard.
“Lena. Lena? Wake up.”
“Mm? Brother? Where is this…?”
Woken by her brother’s urgent touch, Lena looked up, drooling slightly. She looked around in confusion and then pouted.
“Aw… I was having an interesting dream…”
“…What kind of dream?”
An interesting dream was a relief. But Leo asked in a troubled voice.
[ Achievement: Twenty Photos – Lena occasionally recalls faint memories of the past in her dreams. ]
Considering that she had almost no good memories from her past… this kind of achievement would have been better off not existing.
“I don’t know. I forgot.”
Lena shook her head gently.
She rolled her eyes upwards as if trying to remember the dream, but it didn’t last long. Soon, she felt the hunger that had caught up with her.
“Brother… I’m hungry. And thirsty too…”
She whined.
Back to square one. Leo had no intention of pressing further, so he steadied his trembling legs. This was not the time to dawdle, he thought as he took his sister’s hand and led her out of the alley. Even when she saw the sword at her brother’s waist, Lena didn’t ask about it.
The market filled with savory smells.
Leo passed by the chicken shop he always visited after obtaining the {Initial Funds}. He quickened his pace in the direction indicated by {Tracking Skills} and stopped not far away.
Today was a rainy day.
The cloudy sky blocked the sunlight, and mist hung over the bustling city. Through the haze that obscured the scenery, under the eaves of a building, was a woman nervously reaching out her hand.
Glossy, jet-black wavy hair.
Though she had a small frame, she stood with her shoulders straight. It was Xenia. Despite confirming with her palm that the rain had stopped, she couldn’t bring herself to leave.
Should I just go back?
Hesitating, Xenia turned around, then froze for a moment before smiling brightly.
“Oh?? Brother, I think I’ve seen that sister before…”
“I thought you wouldn’t be able to come because of the sudden rain. I’m glad I waited. Is this your sister?”
“Yes. This is Lena. Lena, this is…”
Introductions were exchanged. Leo introduced Xenia, who had been his lover in a previous round, but Lena seemed distracted. She appeared confused and shy, hiding behind her brother while observing Xenia.
Dressed lightly.
Xenia’s clothes were soaking wet. Not from the rain, but from an unfortunate incident during her morning exercise. She had been doused with water and received a sudden confession from a beggar.
An absurd event.
The water splash was understandable due to the collision, but a sudden confession was another matter. The beggar had even asked for her help, claiming, “I think I love you.”
Xenia had agreed.
She had patiently waited, as he asked her to follow him to bring his sister, and now it was time to discuss their next steps. Xenia, feeling her heart race with excitement or perhaps a thrilling sense of danger, spoke up.
“So, what should we do now? You said you liked me, but honestly, I’m not sure yet. I’ll help you find a place for your sister to stay for now…”
She probed gently.
And the prompt response she received brought a solid sense of satisfaction to Xenia.
“I plan to go to the Kingdom of Conrad. Xenia, I want you to come with me.”
“Is that something you can ask of someone you’ve just met?”
“Yes. Will you marry me there?”
Pffft!
Xenia bent over, suppressing her laughter until she burst into loud, hearty laughter.
How could such a shabby beggar be so confident? How could he dare propose to her like this?
Xenia was now certain she had met the man who would capture her heart. From the very first encounter, this beggar had been nothing short of her destined partner.
However, she asked one last question.
“We’ve only just introduced ourselves. I don’t even know how old you are. Leo, do you know what kind of woman I am? Surely, you don’t mean to say it doesn’t matter who I am, do you?”
It was a reasonable question, but Leo didn’t respond. Instead of speaking, he extended his hand, asking her to take it.
His unwavering golden eyes and flushed face showed no conditions or pretense. He simply looked at her clearly as a person.
Xenia was thrilled by Leo’s response. Thinking, ‘There’s no turning back now,’ she willingly took the beggar’s hand. Her fated partner, whom she had finally met, returned a bright smile.
He was handsome, but she had to say it.
“But before that, you need to wash up. Both you and your sister.”
Leo’s face turned bright red.