Raising the Daughters to Overcome My Failure

Chapter 14. Unseen Ones (2)

A hero's adventure was not just about defeating the Demon King.

In the process, one was bound to acquire various by-products.

‘You get magic stones for killing monsters, and armaments and artifacts for defeating the demon tribe.’

No one knew who made the artifacts or why.

It was not even in the setting manual.

The majority theory was that the developers just could not be bothered and left it as it was.

In any case, there was no way my house, belonging to a former hero, would be without treasures.

On the contrary, this was a place where more treasures were hidden than in any noble's estate.

Who else could have defeated more monsters and demons than me?

‘Awesome.’

In the game, I could not see the inside of the treasury.

When you clicked the door, only a list would pop up.

But I never imagined it would be this spacious in reality.

‘To think the entire first basement floor was the treasury. This is going to be a pain to find what I’m looking for.’

Just in case, I asked Elliot, and he said this was a space only I could enter, so he did not know what was inside or where things were stored.

I was not the only one who was surprised.

Adel, too, seemed to be here for the first time, as she let out a string of exclamations.

“I’ve been in the royal treasury after passing the knight exam, and this doesn't fall short in comparison at all!”

Come to think of it, that sword Adel was wearing separately from her favorite greatsword, ‘It must be the royal treasure, Levatein. Was it a gift from the king for graduating at the top of the knight exam?’

Adel currently carried a total of three swords.

Two greatswords as her primary weapons, and a one-handed sword she rarely used in the game.

Now I could guess the origin of that sword.

However, Levatein only looked impressive; its stats were nothing to write home about.

“Adel, if there is a sword here you like, pick one.”

Adel asked back with a surprised face.

“Is that really okay?”

“Of course. It would be best to choose a greatsword if possible. I will look for what I need, so you go ahead and pick one you like.”

“Thank you, Father!”

For some reason, she seemed to be obediently following my words today.

‘Her tone of voice seems to have softened too.’

Is it true that a gift can make even a whale dance?

I should use gift offensives from time to time to win her heart.

***

Adel was in a good mood.

It was not just because her father told her to pick any sword she liked from this place.

‘He brought me here with him.’

The Pendragon family's treasury was a secret space that only the head of the family could enter.

Until now, no one but her father had been allowed inside.

‘He never opened the door for my younger siblings, or even his trusted aide, Elliot.’

Could it be that her father was thinking of her as the heir to the family?

If not, there would be no reason to bring her here.

Moreover, the scale of the treasury was far more magnificent than she had imagined.

‘Looking closely, it's much bigger than the royal treasury!’

Not only was the quantity vast, but the quality of the items was on a level incomparable to the royal treasury.

It made her realize anew that her father was a former hero.

‘Just what kind of powerful enemies did he fight to have such items lining this place? That’s my father, after all.’

With a joyful heart, Adel wandered through the treasury, looking at the items scattered around.

However, most of them were just one-handed swords.

Greatswords were rarely seen.

‘It can’t be helped. There are few people who use greatswords, but even fewer who make them.’

As she was walking with that thought, she heard an unfamiliar voice from deep within the treasury.

-Come here, child. You seem to be looking for a greatsword, and if you come here, you will be able to get what you desire.

Normally, Adel would have ignored such a voice.

No. She would have been suspicious.

Right now, it was just her and her father here, and that was not her father's voice.

But it was difficult to come to her senses with the strangely sweet temptation laced in the voice.

It felt as if she was dreaming.

She blankly moved her feet in that direction.

-Huhu, you desire me. If you choose me, you will gain immense power.

The closer Adel got by following the voice, the stronger the allure she felt.

It was as if that sword was a destiny connected to her.

Before long, a greatsword, tightly bound in chains and embedded in the floor, came into view.

The closer she got, the louder the voice became.

-Huhu, you're doing very well. Just a little closer. And then you can grab me with your own hands.

The very moment Adel was about to reach out for the greatsword.

“Adel! Come over here. I found what I was looking for!”

Her father's voice was heard.

Perhaps because it was an underground space, his voice boomed and spread in all directions.

Snapping back to her senses, she tilted her head and approached her father.

She glanced back, but the unfamiliar voice was no longer heard.

‘Did I mishear something?’

First the Unseen Ones, and now this, she had been having strange feelings lately.

***

Meanwhile, in Akaba, the northernmost fortress city of the Durani Empire, a secret gathering was in full swing.

“This is trouble. We've lost contact with Number 11, who was dispatched to Rarc Village.”

“Was she caught by Anticus?”

“That's highly likely. She is a being as old as we are. It was an impossible mission for a two-digit comrade from the start.”

As a figure who seemed to be in a rather high position among the Unseen Ones said this, the man who usually conversed with Iris, that is, Number 1, the current leader of the Unseen Ones, had his facial muscles twitch.

“Are you questioning me, Number 3?”

“I only stated a fact. Was it not your arbitrary decision to bring in the Child of God, whom everyone opposed?”

At Number 3's words, Number 1 sneered and replied.

“Hmph, interesting. If you covet my position, I will accept your challenge at any time.”

In an instant, a terrifying aura erupted from Number 1's body.

While some behind him groaned in pain, Number 3 shook his head and spoke.

“I have no such intention. I only stated my opinion. Withdraw your killing intent. The comrades are in pain.”

“Number 1's command is absolute. If this happens again, it will not end with just words.”

As Number 3 nodded, Number 1 slowly withdrew the killing intent circulating around his body.

Only then could the lower-numbered figures breathe again.

“I will summon the Child of God here. She is our employer, so be respectful.”

Soon, a red-haired woman appeared.

With a face drenched in fatigue, she slowly opened her mouth.

“Yawn. What is it at this hour? Please, I beg you, don't call me when I'm sleeping. I'm tired.”

“It's an emergency. We've lost contact with the comrade sent to your hometown.”

“What?”

Number 1 relayed all the information he knew to Iris without leaving anything out.

Iris nodded with a heavy expression.

“I was short-sighted. The opponents are a former hero and an ancient dragon. I should have dispatched at least three of them. It was my mistake to underestimate them.”

She bowed her waist to everyone present and apologized.

Perplexity appeared on their faces, which rarely showed emotion.

An eternity of silence passed.

Number 1 shook his head.

“It is foolish for an employer to bow to their employees. Raise your head.”

However, Iris did not relent.

“No, I will not raise my head until you forgive me.”

“You are the one who makes the decisions, not the one who executes them.”

“The moment I didn't give specific instructions, it was as good as my mistake.”

Did her sincerity get through?

Number 3, who had usually been displeased with Iris, slowly opened his mouth.

“Raise your head. You are our employer. If the master bows to the servant, the servant will look down on the master.”

At those words, voices supporting her erupted from here and there.

“Number 3 is right. Raise your head. The master of the Unseen Ones must always be dignified.”

“This is not your mistake. It is all of our mistakes. We just need to learn from this and not repeat it.”

“If you act like this, it is we who become uncomfortable. Stop it.”

The corners of Number 1's mouth lifted.

‘The comrades have finally realized her true worth.’

The employers who had hired them until now were mostly arrogant and disrespectful.

Most of them were royalty or powerful figures, after all.

But an employer who gave a sincere apology like Iris was a first.

To the Unseen Ones, it was a truly fresh and unconventional response.

‘They say it is the size of one's vessel that moves people's hearts, and indeed that seems to be true. Such a small difference must have stirred the hearts of the comrades.’

Number 1 was lost in thought for a moment, recalling the first time he met Iris.

It was a memory as vivid as if it were yesterday.

A day when it poured as if a hole had been torn in the sky.

She had approached them, shouting a secret phrase only they knew, which she must have heard from somewhere.

“We are everywhere, and we are nowhere! I know you're there! Show yourselves at once!”

Number 1 asked while remaining hidden.

“Where did you hear that?”

“I heard it from my master! You are the Unseen Ones, right?”

“Who is your master?”

“Rude. Rui van Rude!”

Number 1 clicked his tongue and said.

“Tsk. For a man called a sage, he has a loose tongue.”

“Enough of that, let's make a deal! I will hire you!”

Number 1 revealed himself and asked in a low voice.

“Do you even know what that means?”

“I know. It means I'll be your master. Acknowledge me as your master.”

“You don't seem to have anything to your name.”

“I am the Child of God! Have you ever had a Child of God among the masters you've served?”

At the words ‘Child of God’, Number 1 faltered.

‘Have I finally found our true master?’

Of course, he could not be sure yet.

To be acknowledged as their true master, she would have to pass through all sorts of trials.

That was the first meeting between Number 1 and Iris.

***

After a long search, I finally got my hands on the item I wanted and called out to Adel in a loud voice.

“Adel, stop looking for a sword for now and come here.”

“What is it?”

“I've found the crystal ball.”

“A crystal ball?”

“Yes. We should be able to contact Rude with this.”

At the name Rude, Adel's face brightened.

“You were trying to call Master?”

“That's right. That fellow wanders around without a fixed residence, so there's probably no other way to find him but this.”

In my hand was a Magic Crystal Ball.

A rare communication tool among artifacts, sort of like a video call device?

‘The moment you touch the crystal ball while thinking of the person you want to contact, their face appears.’

Of course, there was a condition that the other person had to be awake, but Rude, who only slept 3 hours a day, would surely receive my call.

I was about to use it right here, but I shook my head.

The air here was stale, and I did not want to stay long.

“Let's contact Rude when we get back to the room.”

“Ah.”

“Why? Have you not chosen the sword you want yet?”

Adel nodded with a disappointed face.

I chuckled and said.

“There will always be another chance for a sword.”

“I understand, I'll do as you say, Father.”

Adel glanced once at the corner over there but followed me without another word.

‘Why is she acting like that? Is there something over there?’

But that was not what was important right now.

After returning to the room, I immediately called Rude.

Soon, the dark crystal ball lit up brightly, and a familiar face appeared.

Rui van Rude.

Frank's close friend and the firepower in the hero's party.

And now, a man who wanders the world and is called a sage.

However, the fellow's appearance was far from that of a sage.

‘I've seen something I shouldn't have.’

He shouted with a dumbfounded face.

“A-are you crazy! I'm in the middle of doing my business! Turn it off now!”

The crystal ball quickly went dark.

Adel turned her face away, trying hard to hold back her laughter, but I was the one who was flustered.

‘No, why would he take the crystal ball with him to the bathroom?’

Truly the oddball of oddballs.

I wondered if it was right to ask this guy for help, but what could I do?

The fate of the world was at stake.