Marriage?
Um… So, when you say marriage, you’re referring to that, right? Like getting married?
A pair of man and woman coming together as lovers, but if they feel that’s not enough, they mark their territory, declaring to others not to covet what belongs to them—yes, that’s the one, right?
So… are you asking if I have any intentions of marrying Altina? And that it’s her father, not just any father-in-law, making this proposal directly to me?
But why on earth is this man talking about marriage?
Aren’t these types supposed to play the role of the father who scolds any man daring to even consider coming close to his precious daughter, like, “Who do you think you are to look at my daughter?”
Or at the very least, wouldn’t they coldly declare, “I cannot give my beloved daughter to someone as lowly as you!”?
This is absurd. While there are plenty of fathers who block their daughters’ marriages, I never thought I’d encounter one who would straightforwardly inquire whether I want to marry his daughter at first sight.
At this point, I’m even starting to get curious. What in the world is going on in this man’s head that he thinks I might have any thoughts of marrying Altina?
“Why is that?”
In response to my bold retort, Count Seryas did not seem offended or displeased by my objection but instead straightened his posture and looked at me intently.
“Jin, ever since I learned of Altina reaching the level of Master with your assistance, I took it upon myself to personally investigate you.”
“…You investigated me?”
Count Seryas boldly stated that he had conducted a background check on me in front of me.
However, I already knew that both Nineveh and the Chairperson had looked into my background, and given that I’m basically an irregular migrant across dimensions, whatever they found wouldn’t yield anything substantial.
“You know as well as I do that I am a military man, and my subordinates are no ordinary informants. The very nature of the military organization means that only those who are skilled at handling and uncovering information can gather together.”
That was, of course, an utterly reasonable statement.
As the saying goes, knowing your enemy and knowing yourself ensures victory in a hundred battles. When it comes to military operations, the most crucial element next to logistics is gathering intelligence about the enemy and devising countermeasures.
“However, in the end, I couldn’t find anything about you. Or rather, more accurately, I would say I couldn’t uncover anything.”
“For some unknown reason, your past is spotless—so clean that there’s nothing at all. Moreover, there are signs that someone has already intricately handled and concealed any information regarding you. While I don’t know who’s backing you, it’s clear that someone is quite protective of you. Well, I have a pretty good idea of who that might be.”
…Someone manipulated my information and erased traces related to me?
While I might not know for certain, I suspect this is probably the work of the Chairperson.
Of course, the Chairperson doesn’t know my true identity either, but at least he’s likely aware that I’m a descendant of the Seven Heroes, and wouldn’t want other unrelated individuals poking their noses into my business.
“Jin, do you understand why I’m telling you this?”
To summarize the Count’s statement… It seems like he’s saying he checked into me and found nothing. However, it’s unlikely that I’m just a nobody; rather, someone suspicious is looking out for me.
…Is this a form of intimidation? Is he suggesting that I’m such a questionable character that I ought to be locked away in a dungeon instead of Nineveh?
But regrettably, what the Count intended to convey was slightly different from my speculation.
“Regardless of your origins, you have become an important figure in Nineveh, and within the Empire.”
Count Seryas nodded his head, continuing his calm assertion.
“The information deletion I mentioned earlier is a measure taken with individuals deemed important by the Empire. It could be considered a form of support for exceptional talents lacking a strong background.”
“…So, this applies to all talented individuals without a background in the Empire?”
“No.”
Count Seryas slowly shook his head.
“The Empire is vast. And it is strong. Consequently, it possesses manpower and capital beyond your imagination. However, that does not mean it is so idle as to carry out such cumbersome tasks for every stray individual.”
“And conversely, this means that you are highly regarded in Nineveh, which represents the collective will of the Empire.”
“…No, saying you’re simply highly regarded doesn’t quite capture it. You are a remarkable genius who reached the level of Master solely through your own efforts at such a young age.”
“…..”
…But, in reality, I’m neither a genius nor have I reached the level of Master.
And the reason Altina ascended to the level of Master was not due to my own merits, but rather because of the cheat-like abilities I acquired through repeated regressions!
“I’ll be direct. Jin, I think quite highly of you.”
“…Pardon?”
The Count unexpectedly made this statement out of the blue.
“Even without considering your abilities, I know you are a remarkably decent human being. If you were of poor character, Altina wouldn’t have grown close to you in the first place.”
“Altina is a woman of the Seryas bloodline. What that means is that Altina must eventually marry to continue the bloodline of the Seryas family.”
“I respect my daughter’s freedom and wish for her to live her life as she chooses. However, carrying on the family line is a matter of a different nature. Born as the daughter of a noble family, that carries its own implications.”
The Count murmured those words with a hint of bitterness.
“No man has come close to Altina like you have, spending so much time with her and building such a close relationship. Moreover, it is unlikely that another man like you will ever appear.”
“You need not concern yourself with status or background. You have already attained the level of Master. At the very least, in the context of the Empire and the Imperial Family, you are certainly more valuable than most nobility.”
The conversation was advancing remarkably smoothly. Because of that, I was left pondering where to interrupt and how to stop this man.
“Um… Count, I understand what you want to say, but could I share my thoughts first—”
“Do you know? When I spoke with Altina, she mentioned you while wearing a slight smile. That was unprecedented. Altina has never spoken about another man with such a bright smile.”
But regrettably, it seemed the Count wasn’t particularly interested in what I had to say.
“So there’s no need to decline. You have ample abilities to proceed with the marriage to Altina, and your status isn’t worth worrying about. Most importantly, it’s essential that Altina also holds you in high regard.”
“…..”
“However, be sure to maintain proper boundaries while continuing your relationship with her. If you both are students and get into some awkward mischief, I might very well sever your head before you can even think about being a future son-in-law.”
…But why has the conversation wandered this far? I haven’t even suggested that I would marry Altina, nor have I said anything about us dating, so how did I end up in this situation?
“…Excuse me, Count.”
“What is it?”
“Well… it feels somewhat inappropriate to say this, but I believe there is a missing precondition in your argument.”
”Missing precondition?”
To avoid offending the Count, I tried to phrase my words carefully, but it seemed he had no idea what I was getting at and didn’t understand my statement at all.
Was my assertion incorrect? Where exactly?
You both have been spending time together every afternoon at the training grounds, sparring and getting along quite well.
Does that not mean you have feelings for my daughter? Even if you don’t say it outright, you must have had some affection for her, which allowed you to impart the teachings that led her to reach the level of Master, right?
Could it be… that you don’t like Altina? Is that even possible? As a man, and with a pair of eyes, how could you not have feelings for that girl?
Seeing the Count looking at me with a somewhat perplexed expression, I was suddenly struck by the realization that I was in deep trouble.
Am I really going to end up married to Altina?
No, to be honest, that wouldn’t be a bad thing at all. Strictly speaking, it’s a situation where I could bow deeply and express my gratitude, calling him father-in-law. However, at this moment, I couldn’t possibly date Altina.
Because right now, I am trying to woo Erekiya, and I’m putting all my efforts into becoming her boyfriend!
If I were to accept the Count’s proposal here, this news would inevitably spread throughout Nineveh, and the whispers would surely reach Erekiya’s ears.
How could any girl find interest in the man who is simultaneously engaging in a relationship that has marriage as a prerequisite with another?
What kind of woman would be attracted to a man like that, who is trying to win over someone else?
Well, if I were incredibly handsome, such a feat might be plausible, but at least I don’t possess such outstanding qualities.
No, before I even think about trying to charm Erekiya, wouldn’t it make more sense for the Count to come here to Nineveh and kill me as soon as he hears those rumors?
“Um… that is to say… I’m not actually in a relationship with Altina…”
“…..”
Silence.
The moment I uttered those words, I realized an unbearable heavy silence had fallen between the Count and me.
“…Well, what I mean is… to simplify it, we are just good friends, that’s my thought…”
“…..”
“Ha, haha… that sounds a bit, um… not quite right? Or something like a relationship that’s more than friends but not quite lovers? We are definitely more than ordinary friends, though…”
More silence.
“…..”
“…..”
Surprisingly, the Count didn’t react to my words. Instead, he merely kept silent and looked at me with a closed mouth.
And seeing him like that made me freeze up as well.
Honestly, it would be better if he just yelled at me, got angry, or showed some understandable gesture.
Ah, it’s scarier to be glared at in silence than to be yelled at…
“So then… to summarize your words in one sentence—”
After some time, as if organizing his thoughts, the Count finally opened his mouth, albeit with a slight tremor in his lips.
“Jin, you are saying that you are not in a romantic relationship with Altina?”
“…Yes.”
Crack—
When I turned my gaze at the sound of something breaking, I realized that one side of the table where the Count was sitting had crumpled like a sheet of paper.
No way, this table was definitely made of steel… How could steel resemble crumpled paper like that…
“Then you have been playing with my daughter all this time?”
“…..”
This is not good; I think I’m really in trouble.