Chapter 252
Chapter 252 - Let's Talk About Half a Lifetime
It was no exaggeration to say that Jiraid Barnes had spent half a lifetime chasing the back of his father, Jinrai Barnes .
Jinrai Barnes, formerly named Jinrai Hakua .
He was from Sorae village, which was south of Hyvern's capital Deer South, and when he arrived in Deer South after leaving his village, he started as an adventurer .
In a manner of speaking, the man called Jinrai had no talent . He had low physical ability, and his Magic Power was weak . He wasn't educated, and his memorization ability wasn't particularly good . While he had absolutely nothing, he always worked his brain for the sake of becoming stronger . Searching for the most efficient way to fight, supplementing his weaknesses, training to get rid of his weaknesses; he simply continued intently struggling to become strong, and he was eventually allowed to enter Deer South's most prestigious Barnes Dojo . By the time he turned 20, he was counted as one of Hyvern's most powerful people .
And through twists and turns, Jinrai became a couple with the Barnes' eldest daughter, Cindy Barnes, and Jiraid Barnes was conceived . To be precise, Jiraid's conception compelled him to get married, but Jinrai also thought he should take responsibility, so he had no unpleasant feelings concerning that .
And Jiraid was born between them .
For a while after Jiraid's birth, Jinrai also remained at the Barnes residence, but eventually there were weeks, months, then years that he was away from home traveling as an adventurer .
Therefore, starting from an early age, Jiraid rarely saw his father . But the father who returned from time to time was strict, occasionally gentle, and above all, his mother continued loving his father dearly, and that relationship was harmonious .
Properly speaking, Jinrai didn't journey to work, but for the sole purpose of training himself, so it wouldn't be strange to say that he was disqualified as a father, and there were in fact many people in the Barnes family who said as much . However, Jiraid admired the father who was strong enough to have the nickname Fang Spear Soldier . He certainly rarely saw him face-to-face, but Jiraid was unmistakably proud to call him father .
And time passed . Jiraid was no longer a boy simply chasing after his father's back . Before he knew it, Jiraid mastered the Barnes spear techniques and was appointed as a senior knight . Around that time, he also signed a Dragon Knight contract with Flying Lightning Dragon Mordo, and he distinguished himself even among the Dragon Knights .
Jiraid had certainly become strong, but despite that, he couldn't win even once against the father who sometimes returned . No matter how hard he strived, he couldn't win . Despite having vastly higher physical ability and quantity of Magic Power, he couldn't win against his father .
But Jiraid knew his father had the same troubles, so he didn't debase himself over it .
Rynox Kurau Hyvern . Hyvern Dukedom's archduke, and the world's best spear user . Nicknamed Spear Saint King, he was also the user of the Holy Spear Gungnir . Jiraid was considered by some to be the next most powerful, but he understood that the difference was as great as the difference between heaven and earth .
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And Jinrai hadn't won against Rynox even once . His father had himself declared that defeating that man was his life's goal .
An opponent that even his father couldn't reach despite being so strong . Just like he chased after his father, Jiraid knew his father continued fighting to chase after that person .
Jiraid also eventually married and had children . And in the end, he climbed to the top as general of the Dragon Knights . That was probably the brightest time in Jiraid's life so far . But four years ago, an incident occurred to his father Jinrai .
He couldn't ask for the details, but Jinrai failed to bring down his enemy . . . not only that, one of the two spears that was the source of his nickname Fang Spear Soldier was also damaged .
Jinrai had that damaged spear repaired and gave it to Jiraid's son Lyle, which also meant that Jinrai would stop using two spears .
Jinrai was already in his mid 50's, long past his body's peak . It seems I've finally lost the stamina and concentration ability needed to use two spears . . . Jiraid couldn't find the words to reply when his father feebly said that .
It probably wasn't in his imagination that Jinrai's back looked small when he left once more . His father said he would still display his mastery of martial arts even if he had returned to one spear, but Jiraid sensed that Jinrai could already no longer see a future ahead . His mother had made a worried expression, but she also couldn't find the words to say to his father .
Time passed, and Jiraid heard rumors that Jinrai had set up a dojo in one of Minshiana's cities and had begun searching for his successor while working as an adventurer .
But a few months ago, Jiraid started hearing strange stories .
According to them, the Fang Spear Soldier was building a harem of very young girls .
According to them, the Fang Spear Soldier was indulging in hot springs while accompanied by the proprietress of Tsuvara's hot spring town .
As might be expected, Jiraid thought they were jokes . But the veracity of those rumors was unknown in Hyvern . He was also worried about his mother making a grave expression every day . Therefore, he decided to ask a big favor of Lightning Dragon Mordo and go to Minshiana to ascertain the truth himself .
However, the story he heard from the beastman Gyao he met in Winlard City greatly shook Jiraid's heart . He couldn't believe the excessively despicable deeds of his father, but he also couldn't say it was impossible . Jiraid had sensed that his father had given into despair the moment he abandoned the two spear style he had spent his life creating .
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No, in the first place, if he had returned to his former lover, he had abandoned his mother . Or maybe they had been together since long ago . . . Jiraid couldn't excuse that .
For Jiraid, the first recognition of his father's existence was as a strong father . Not just outward strength, but strength of heart as well .
He respected him, but in fact, that recognition was qualified on his father being strong . Otherwise, he couldn't forgive his father for choosing the path of martial arts over his own child . He couldn't forgive his father for leaving his mother alone to travel .
When the foundation of his respect for his father collapsed, that father's presence in Jiraid was cast away . Or maybe he wanted to keep the father he believed in inside and cleanly split that existence from the dirty traitor .
However, that later turned out to be a misunderstanding . Well, in subtle ways it wasn't a misunderstanding, but it was clear that Jinrai, who had once again started using two spears, had returned to being Jiraid's beloved father .
But along the way, Jiraid had made a fatal mistake .
「That whore and my father had an orgy with fifty men . It is certain information . There is no mistake . 」
Apparently, Jiraid had thrown completely groundless words at the girl . Of all things, he had called the girl a whore . Jiraid certainly apologized afterwards, and the girl more or less forgave him for his rude remark .
However, the report from East Dragon Village Zegan about the God Dragon Emperor's marriage instantly made Jiraid's remarks and actions a serious matter .
According to what they heard, the girl Kazane was a Crystal Dragon princess from a foreign land who came to become the bride of God Dragon Emperor Naga . In that case, the White Party his father and the others belonged to was probably the dragon princess' escort party . He had denounced her as a whore and said she was part of his father's harem .
A general of Hyvern had spit on the face of the lord their country served .
Jiraid also didn't plan to make any excuses, but the problem was that the dragons had heard about his deed . It was a story that could end with bitter smiles when Kazane was being treated as a mere human, but now it was a matter of honor for the dragon race, and many dragons knew about it .
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With the gravity and importance of the matter, Hyvern's officials decided to imprison Jiraid for the crime of slandering a dragon . At the present time, the Kazane/God Dragon Empress relation was being concealed, so the public stance was that he had disappeared from the stage due to an injury from the attempted Demon Wolf subjugation .
Furthermore, the surroundings had witnessed him voluntarily polishing doors before his imprisonment, which led to subtly off rumors that the injury was caused by Kazane . However, rumors being rumors, they were left alone . They probably thought that imprudently denying it was liable to stir the hornet's nest .
Jiraid was imprisoned behind closed doors as it was, and capital punishment was even considered for a time, but it was also said that he had already been forgiven by the God Dragon Empress, so they couldn't thoughtlessly punish him . Therefore, Jiraid's punishment was put on hold for now, and he was in the middle of spending another week in prison . And he had been thinking about one thing the entire time .
(The insult I've done to that girl is unforgivable . I won't make any excuses, and I won't deny that fact . But not only did I doubt my father, I even hindered my father's mission . I dropped the Barnes family name to the ground . )
That was regret . He constantly regretted his stupid actions from the past that couldn't be undone .
(If so, should I commit suicide?)
That was something he had thought countless times .
「It's a perfect day to die . 」
The weather outside was clear . He thought that if he died now and his soul flowed to the Naga Line, he would likely see a very beautiful scene .
Though Jiraid knew that was simply presumptuous . Killing himself would only be for his own self-satisfaction . It was a despicable act that would only push his troubles onto someone else afterwards . Jiraid couldn't do such a shameless thing .
「Don't be hastyーーーーー!!!」
But there was someone there who couldn't take it as a joke . In the first place, Jiraid didn't intend for his mutter to be heard by anyone, but it seemed it was audible in the prison .
Then Jiraid looked toward the entrance of the prison, and a shorty was standing there with teary eyes .
Name: Yuihama Kazane
Occupation: Magic Swordswoman
Title: Ogre Killer, Dragon Slayer, High Beast Summoner, Rea King
Equipment: Staff 『White Blaze』, Two Handed Sword『Black Fang』, Draghorn Tonfa x2, Dragonscale Breastplate, Drake Gauntlets, Silver Sheep Clothes, Sylphyn Skirt, Plasma Pants, Dragon Eating Ogre King's Greaves, Indestructible Cloak, Mysterious Pouch, Crimson Saint Coffin, Heroic Spirit Summoning Ring, Circlet of Wisdom, Aim Bracelet, Magic Accumulator, White Magic Accumulator, Rainbow Necklace, Rainbow Dragon Ring
Level : 33
Health: 135
Magic Power: 260+420
Strength: 57+20
Agility: 52+14
Endurance: 33
Wisdom : 65
Dexterity : 41
Spell : 『Fly』『Torch』『Fire』『Heal』『Firestorm』『Healer Ray』『High Heal』『Golden Dusk「Dragon Exclusive」』『Mirror Shield』
Skill : 『Kick Devil』『Warrior's Memory: Lv2』『Night Vision』『Crushing Blow』『Dog's Sense of Smell: Lv2』『Golem Maker: Lv3』『Rush』『Fire Principle: Third Chapter』『Healing Principle: Fourth Chapter』『Air Jump: Lv2』『Killing Leg: Lv3』『Fear Voice』『Invisible』『Tiger Eye』『Wall Walking』『Intuition』『Cheat Death』『Nimble』『Charge』『Material Shield: Lv2』『Information Link: Lv2』『Optical Camouflage』『Dash』『Bloodsucking Blade』『Dragonization: Lv2「Dragon」』『Regenerate』『Soul Breaking Blade』『Stealthy Hand Placement』『Thunder Chariot: Lv2』『Sturdier Teeth: Lv2「Dragon」』『Crystallization: Lv2「Dragon」』『Fabricated Coercion』『Stone Minotaur: Lv2』『Mega Beam: Lv2』『Space Expansion』『Pseudo-Silver Creation』『Poison Claw』『Fireball「Dragon」』『Cuticle「Dragon」』『Arms Creation: Black Flame』『Ingredient Connoisseur』『Dragon Pheromone「Dragon」』
Yumika:「Ah, master's family neglecting past has been made public . 」
Kazane:「It's not our place to say anything if his family approves, but . . Jinrai-san's quite awful, isn't he . 」
Yumika:「He also actually did cheat . 」