Chapter 141: Grandfather and Father’s Conversation

When Ren returned to the hall, everything had returned to the atmosphere from before the skill demonstrations.

Food lined the walls, and adults chatted over glasses amid gentle laughter. Yona was happily talking with Sylvie and Tina, with Liese nearby. Yuan was speaking eagerly with Patrick and sometimes made motions like someone holding a sword, so Ren assumed they were discussing swordsmanship.

Grandmother had agreed to stop looking for an attendant’s position for him. That didn’t guarantee he could attend the Academy, of course. Still, telling her what he wanted and having her accept it gave him a sense of accomplishment.

Ren exhaled and looked around. Relatives had gathered around Grandfather, chatting cheerfully.

(It doesn’t look like I can talk to him now…)

Ren had something he wanted to ask. In the Adventurers’ Guild reference room, he’d found an old record of a subjugation. It described Lord Cain driving his spear into a Black-Fanged Boar and then cutting down a second beast with a sword.

Grandfather possessed the Spear Arts skill, yet he’d used a sword. That had stayed in Ren’s mind.

Whenever Ren tried something outside Swordsmanship or Archery, he’d been told it was pointless because he lacked the skill. Yet he’d learned that with practice he could hunt Horn Rabbits and bird-type magical beasts with arrows.

He didn’t believe practising with a bow or spear was pointless. The same applied to swords.

Grandfather had used a sword despite possessing Spear Arts. Did that mean he didn’t consider training in something outside one’s skill a waste? Ren wanted to ask him.

As he watched from a short distance away, Father approached Grandfather. Isaac, who had been speaking with Cain, greeted Father and moved away, apparently yielding the space.

“Father.”

“What is it?”

“After watching Yuan exchange blows with Lord Patrick during the demonstration, I realised it again. Yuan needs a swordsmanship tutor. I want to arrange one as soon as possible.”

Father looked serious. Grandfather watched him quietly as he leaned slightly forwards.

“Could you help us with the cost somehow?”

After observing Father for a moment, Grandfather answered calmly. “Yuan received the Swordsmanship skill only about a month ago. There is no need to rush. For now, he should focus primarily on building his body. It won’t be too late to find a tutor afterwards.”

Father shook his head.

“We can’t afford to take things so slowly! No one in this house can teach swordsmanship.”

Grandfather folded his arms and thought briefly.

“…Then why not ask House Brûlée to take him in for a while? They are here now, so the matter can be discussed with them directly.”

Father’s expression stiffened.

“That… isn’t possible.”

“Why not?”

Father glanced around, then lowered his voice.

“…Yuan possesses the Swordsmanship skill.”

He spoke without hesitation.

“He is this house’s hope. We would be in trouble if House Brûlée decided they wanted to adopt him.”

Grandfather frowned.

“I am not telling you to surrender him for adoption. I said to ask them to train him. Besides, House Brûlée already has a child with the Swordsmanship skill.”

Grandfather spoke as if reasoning with him, but Father wouldn’t relent.

“Swordsmanship is still rare, isn’t it? He should remain in this house.”

The words quietly pierced Ren’s chest.

(Remain in this house…)

Father had said Ren couldn’t attend the Academy. Grandmother had tried to send him away as an attendant to a relative. Mother had apparently wanted him kept out of sight at the celebration.

Yuan was different.

The house’s hope.

A child who should remain with House Cream.

Ren didn’t know whether Father was aware of Grandmother’s efforts to send him away as an attendant. But Father had declared he wouldn’t pay Ren’s tuition while trying to provide Yuan with a private tutor.

Something clouded Ren’s chest.

Grandfather silently watched Father for a while.

“…Do you believe value exists only in swordsmanship?”

Father faltered for a moment at Cain’s low voice, then thought and nodded.

“That is only natural in this country, isn’t it? Those with the Swordsmanship skill are valued. You know that too, Father.”

Grandfather listened, then quietly closed his eyes and exhaled.

They continued talking for a while. Father eventually bowed and returned to the relatives.

Ren had watched the whole exchange from a short distance away. He looked at Grandfather, who was watching Father’s retreating back, then looked at Father too.

(I’ve always known Father values Yuan because he has Swordsmanship…)

He told himself there was no reason to be surprised or saddened now, yet he still felt his spirits sink. He took a deep breath, turned back towards Grandfather, and began walking.