Chapter 131: Grandfather
The man standing at the entrance of the hall was taller than Father and had broader shoulders.
He wore a dark navy formal outfit, but even through the jacket, it was obvious that he had a thick chest and powerful arms. His hair was tied back and flowed down to his shoulders, while his sun-tanned face was covered with a long beard.
His sharp gaze could be seen even from a distance.
The moment he took a single step into the hall, the atmosphere slightly tightened.
There was something familiar about his appearance.
(That is… Grandfather…? It’s, right…?)
Although he seemed more imposing than when Ren had met him before, Ren believed he was indeed his grandfather.
Father hurriedly walked over to him.
“Father!”
The first person to approach him was Father.
“Father-in-law.”
Mother followed, and behind her, Grandmother slowly walked forward.
“You took quite a while, didn’t you?”
Grandmother spoke in a flat tone. Grandfather stared at her silently for a moment before answering without changing his expression.
“……There was a wagon on the road that had broken a wheel. I helped push it out.”
His voice was deep.
“You haven’t changed at all.”
The Margrave gave a wry smile.
“It would have left a worse taste in my mouth to abandon them.”
Cain shrugged.
He didn’t laugh loudly or boast about what he had done. It seemed Cain had no intention of making a long story out of it.
“I shouldn’t keep the guests of honour waiting.”
With those words, he began walking, parting the crowd around him.
He headed straight towards Yuan and Yona, who were standing there nervously.
Yuan hurriedly straightened his back.
Yona also quickly pinched the hem of her skirt and bowed.
“G-Grandfather, I’m Yuan. I was granted the Swordsmanship skill.”
“I’m Yona. I was granted the Water Magic skill.”
After Yuan and Yona introduced themselves, Grandfather nodded.
First, he looked at Yona.
“Water Magic, huh. That’s a fine power. Don’t forget to keep working hard.”
“Yes!”
Yona’s face brightened instantly.
Next, Grandfather turned towards Yuan.
“Swordsmanship is also a fine power. Continue to devote yourself to improving.”
“Yes!”
Yuan replied with a smile.
Grandfather nodded, then spoke to the two of them.
“This applies to every skill, but…… simply receiving one doesn’t mean anything.”
His voice echoed through the hall.
“If you don’t swing a sword, your arm will grow dull. If you become arrogant, you’ll lose. Magic is the same. Without training, it won’t grow, and it’ll eventually become dull. ……And not just your skills. Study and strive in many other things as well.”
“Yes!”
Yuan and Yona answered strongly, their voices perfectly in sync.
Grandfather reached into his pocket, took out two small packages, and held them out to Yuan and Yona.
The two of them respectfully accepted them.
“Thank you very much, Grandfather!”
“Thank you very much. May I open it?”
Yona held hers carefully with both hands, while Yuan asked with sparkling eyes.
When Grandfather nodded, Yuan untied the ribbon on his package.
Inside was something that looked like a pendant.
It glittered softly, wrapped in a gentle flow of mana.
(A magic stone, perhaps…)
Yona opened her package as well and found the same thing as Yuan.
“They’re protection stone pendants.”
“Thank you very much.”
Both Yuan and Yona looked delighted.
Grandfather nodded, then looked around him.
Ren was quietly watching everything from the corner of the hall.
Grandfather’s gaze suddenly stopped on Ren.
His eyes widened.
But immediately afterward, his gaze shifted elsewhere, and Ren felt his heart skip slightly.
Patrick and the others approached Yuan and Yona.
Yona and Yuan showed them the pendants they had received from their grandfather.
The guests resumed their conversations with those around them.
Around Grandfather, Father, Mother, and Grandmother had gathered.
The Margrave also approached Grandfather and began talking with him.
Standing beside the Margrave, their presence seemed strangely similar.
Seeing them together made Ren freshly convinced that Grandfather and the Margrave really were brothers.