Chapter 16: Father of the Republic, Sword of the Past

In a café within Lichten, the entire place had been reserved by Adolf, leaving it empty except for him and Bisus, sitting across from each other.

“Hmm…”

Adolf, twirling his mustache, stared intently at Bisus.

Knowing Adolf’s position as the republic’s president, Bisus felt the weight of his gaze heavily.

The president showing up out of nowhere on his way to school?

Considering the republic’s current stature, nearly equal to the empire, this was like the emperor himself coming to meet him.

First Lucifer, now Adolf.

This is insane.

Even if the story’s diverged from the original, isn’t this a bit much?

Meanwhile, Adolf was equally shocked as he observed Bisus.

At first, he thought some flashy nobody had charmed his innocent daughter.

But this guy…

There’s something extraordinary about him.

Adolf’s eyes detected three distinct auras emanating from Bisus:

A pure white aura.

A pitch-black aura.

And a clear, pristine aura.

How can one person possess multiple auras?

Adolf’s ability to read people’s auras had been key to his rise from a mere swordmaster with a love for art to the republic’s leader.

This ability let him discern a person’s capabilities, tendencies, and current state.

But he had never seen someone with three auras.

The white aura—typically seen in priests, paladins, or saints wielding holy power.

But this level of purity? Even a man who’d sacrificed his life for others didn’t have such a radiant aura.

The black aura, common among dark mages or evildoers using demonic energy.

Yet, this density? Even a serial killer who’d slaughtered hundreds didn’t have such a dark aura.

And the clear aura…

What even is that?

Despite seeing countless auras, Adolf had never encountered this one.

Is he even human?

“Your Excellency… I’ll address you as such for now,” Bisus said, breaking the silence as Adolf’s stare grew unbearable.

“What’s this talk we need to have alone?”

After stepping out of the carriage, Adolf had said they needed to speak privately and brought him to this café.

It was time for class, but how could he refuse the republic’s president?

Bisus had no choice but to follow.

“Sofia. My precious daughter,” Adolf began, his eyes still fixed on Bisus.

“My only child, the most important person to me. Sending her to the academy tore my heart apart. But then she wrote me a letter about what’s been happening here.”

Bisus’s mind raced as Adolf brought up Sofia.

I forgot.

This guy’s a hardcore doting dad!

“She said she’s found a special man.”

Why would Sofia, knowing her dad’s like this, write something like that?

“I thought some no-good punk had tricked my innocent, unworldly daughter,” Adolf continued, his sharp gaze piercing Bisus.

“…I don’t understand,” Bisus replied.

“What?”

“I mean, I can’t tell what kind of man you are. Are you even human?”

Right!

This guy can see people’s auras.

“Your Excellency, what colors do you see in me?”

Adolf’s eyes widened at Bisus’s question.

He knows I can see auras?

Not even Sofia knows about this ability. How does he?

This is no ordinary academy student.

“You look like an angel, but also a demon. I can’t discern your colors.”

An angel and a demon?

Must be the holy power I gained this morning and Lucifer in the bracelet.

“What are you, really?”

Adolf stood up.

“I’m Bisus Granginol, a first-year academy student and heir of the Granginol barony.”

“No. A mere baron’s son wouldn’t have such auras. And you even know about my ability!”

You’re…

“Are you an angel, a demon, or a god playing games in the human world?”

At a table far from the two men, Artoria and Sofia sat together.

“Hah. Can’t win him over yourself, so you brought your father?” Artoria shot a glare at Sofia, clearly displeased.

“Ridiculous. I’d never resort to such cowardly tactics when Bisus is destined to come to me,” Sofia retorted.

Tch.

Why’d he show up at the academy out of nowhere?

Is it because of that letter I sent?

The night she awoke from her dream and met Bisus, Sofia had written to her father.

Her memories of him were faint after the long dream, and her lingering feelings for Bisus were so strong that she poured her affection for him into the letter without thinking.

But she never imagined her father would come to the academy himself over it.

“Finally, the day my lord husband dreamed of me has come, and now this interruption. I’m not happy!” Artoria puffed out her cheeks.

“No matter what, your history with him can’t surpass the bond we forged defeating the Demon King,” Sofia snapped.

“What?! Your history is nothing compared to what my lord husband and I achieved against demons!”

They glared at each other with murderous intensity.

“Do something about your father! He’s making my lord husband uncomfortable!”

“…You’re right. I can’t let Bisus suffer any longer.”

Sofia stood and marched toward Adolf.

“There seems to be a misunderstanding,” Bisus said with a wry smile, just as Sofia barged in.

“Sofia?”

“No more of this.”

Sofia grabbed Adolf’s hand and dragged him out of the café.

“W-Wait, Sofia?”

Stunned by his beloved daughter’s actions, Adolf let himself be pulled along.

Outside, Sofia let go of his hand and cornered him against the wall.

“Sofia, what—”

“I hate you, Dad!”

“…!”

Adolf crumpled at her words.

“Why are you here?! Don’t you trust me?”

“No, Sofia, it’s not that!”

“You’re here because you don’t like my friends, thinking I can’t choose them properly!”

“No, Sofia, it’s just that this guy seemed strange…”

“Of course he’s strange. Bisus is destined to become a hero who saves the world.”

“…What?”

“I didn’t want to tell you, but since you’re threatening our Bisus, I have no choice.”

Hum

Sofia summoned a blade of aura, forming a powerful sword force.

“Sofia… you…”

Adolf finally noticed how much his daughter had changed.

A brilliant, blazing pink aura.

She’s grown?

No, this isn’t just growth.

She’s been forged through countless trials and adventures.

But how?

She was still his small, innocent girl before leaving for the academy…

“I regressed,” Sofia declared.

“…What?”

Sofia recounted her past life with Bisus, their journey to defeat the Demon King.

“Such a thing…”

Regression?

Is that even possible?

But Sofia had reached the Sword Master level.

It wouldn’t make sense otherwise.

Her perfected aura, born of countless trials, left no room for doubt.

“Sofia!”

Tears welling, Adolf embraced her.

“You went through so much! You worked so hard, Sofia!”

Anyone who knew Adolf would’ve been shocked to see this.

“…It wasn’t much.”

In her past life, her father had died.

Overwhelmed by Bisus, she’d nearly forgotten him, but seeing him now stirred deep emotions.

“Anyway, don’t interfere with Bisus. He’s the hero who’ll save the world in the future.”

“So that’s why.”

Even if Sofia was pure, she wouldn’t fall for just anyone.

If he’s the legendary hero meant to save the world, that strange aura makes sense.

But… I don’t like it.

He’d never seen Sofia make such an affectionate expression when speaking of anyone.

Bisus Granginol.

I’ll be watching you.

“Ugh, what’s that?”

Bisus felt a chill down his spine.

“Is it Lucifer?”

Clang

He placed his hand on the bracelet and unleashed holy power.

Bisus! You’ll pay for this!

Huh?

This light—!

No, stop!

Guh!

Lucifer, who’d briefly regained consciousness and tried to muster her strength, passed out again under the flood of holy power.