Raising the Daughters to Overcome My Failure

Chapter 9. Anticus (1)

There was only one reason I had to find Anticus.

‘Because without her permission, I can't use the gold mine.’

Anticus was the prideful leader of the dragon race.

No one could carelessly approach the vicinity of her territory.

Whether demon tribe or human race, even other dragons.

‘That's how she got the nickname Anticus the Lofty.’

In this world right now, I, who had played the game, was probably the only one who had seen her face.

Isabel shook her head and raised her voice.

“You haven't forgotten the terms of the contract with her, have you? We made a non-aggression pact on the condition of no-approach. That has been going on for over a thousand years.”

“I am aware.”

Isabel's brow furrowed.

“Are you trying to destroy humanity now? Anticus is more dangerous than the Demon King. You were a hero, so you must know about her, right?”

I know. But I absolutely need the gold mine in the Elburz Mountains.

In a situation where I didn't know what would happen to the kingdom's subsidies, I wouldn't be able to make a living without the gold mine.

In fact, very few among the PP gamers knew that such a gold mine existed here.

‘Because I barely found it through countless uses of the save-load trick.’

I didn't share it on the community either.

If this became known, countless challengers would approach to break my record.

PP had a system where all results were recorded.

Records from the first clear to the fastest clear were displayed in the Hall of Fame, and my ID could be found at the top of most lists.

Hence, the nickname I was given was ‘PP’s Monster.’

Anyway, I happened to discover the existence of the gold mine while training my daughter.

When I sent her to train in a deep part of the mountains that I usually didn't go to, this bonanza appeared.

But as soon as I set foot in the gold mine,

‘Anticus suddenly appears and a forced event begins.’

However, there was one problem.

Right now, I couldn't take my daughters there.

Adel was on duty as a knight, and Noemi needed more recovery.

Iris's's whereabouts were even unknown.

Therefore, Isabel's company was essential.

‘Anticus doesn't even talk to anyone unless they're related to the goddess, and she just burns the surroundings.’

Since Anticus was a creation of the goddess, she wouldn't be able to easily fight the Saintess.

Because the Saintess was the only being who could hear the goddess's's voice.

“Now that the kingdom's subsidies might be cut off, a deal with Anticus is essential.”

“What on earth is there that you're doing this?”

“I haven't reported it to the kingdom, but there is a large-scale gold mine buried here. I've confirmed it myself.”

Isabel's eyes widened in shock.

“Did you break the contract with her and approach the Elburz Mountains?”

“This is my territory. It is my prerogative to go wherever I please here.”

“…You’ve changed.”

Isabel glared at me coldly, but I continued with a serious face.

“For the sake of the territory's residents who are just idly waiting, I can sell my soul even to a demon. If we can't obtain the gold mining rights, the livelihood of the residents will completely collapse.”

“To say such a thing in front of the Saintess. Do you think I'll just let this slide?”

“I'm telling you this because you are the Saintess. Because you are the only one I trust.”

Isabel stared at me intently, then let out a deep sigh as if the ground would collapse.

“You really make me uncomfortable until the very end. You're always full of confidence, yet you somehow manage to persuade people, don't you? I hate that, but… anyway, I understand your feelings for the residents. This place is truly a desolate place with nothing.”

“Thank you for understanding.”

“So, what should I do? Do I just need to accompany you?”

“Yes, that's all. I'll take care of the rest.”

“Phew. Alright. When do we depart?”

“Tomorrow morning would be good. It would be best for just the two of us to leave quietly after Adel has left for her workplace.”

If Adel heard about this, she would stop me.

Asking by what right I was threatening the safety of humanity.

So, it was best to keep it a secret from Adel.

It would be good to keep it a secret from Noemi as well.

‘Because Noemi still needs more rest.’

I planned to postpone her training until after securing the gold mine.

Once I have money, I'll be able to buy her the best magic tomes.

***

The next day.After Adel finished her breakfast and left, Isabel and I slipped out through the mansion's secret passage and came to a place far from the village.

Isabel dusted off her clothes and opened her mouth.

“When did you prepare something like this?”

“This is the northernmost part of the continent. As the lord, isn't it natural to prepare for any contingency.”

“At this point, I'm starting to wonder if you're the Frank I know.”

I just smiled and hurried on.

In fact, I wasn't the one who made this passage.

‘The previous lord who ruled this place made it. I just knew about it through the game.’

Of course, there was no need for an explanation about this.

Talking at length would just be a waste of time.

We walked for a long time along a rough path, but we didn't encounter even a single common slime.

It might be natural for creatures that instinctively know Anticus's's majesty.

After walking for about half a day like that?

A huge cave came into view in the distance.

“That’s it.”

“You managed to find a place like this.”

“Since time is all I have.”

Isabel clicked her tongue and asked if my body could handle it.

“I’m fine. My abilities may be sealed, but I haven't lost my stamina.”

“That’s a relief.”

“Are you alright, Saintess?”

She scoffed.

“What do you take me for? I'm the one who fought alongside you in the hero party.”

She tapped her chest with one hand, repeatedly emphasizing that this was nothing.

Just then.

A young girl was standing at the entrance of the cave, where there had been no one just a moment ago.

She looked to be about 10 years old?

But the aura emanating from the girl was truly terrifying.

The girl, exuding an enormous killing intent, glared this way.

Her mouth slowly opened.

“What is the reason you've crawled all the way here?”

My whole body flinched at that simple phrase.

‘This is exactly like the scene I saw in the game. What immense pressure.’

Here, I first needed to bow my head to show that I had no hostility.

Then, I would reveal my identity and start a conversation…….

“Hand of Light!”

Damn it.

Isabel, who didn't know that the girl in front of her was Anticus, suddenly activated an attack skill.

I looked at her with a horrified face, but a strong light had already shot out from her fingertips.

‘I’m so screwed.’

***

Isabel was an adventurer before she was a Saintess.

And a top-tier adventurer of the Adamant rank at that.

She could instantly sense that the girl in front of her was a dangerous person.

‘This aura, it's even greater than the Demon King's.’

A swift and decisive battle was a virtue that an adventurer must possess.

Thus, she cast the best attack skill she could currently use.

Hand of Light.

As a healer, it was her area-of-effect attack skill that could instantly melt enemies if they were of the undead type, and even if they were not undead, it was a trump card skill that could pierce magic defense and deliver a counter.

With this technique, she had been able to subdue a large number of enemies, just as much as she had healed her comrades.

But what was this?

When the light in front of her disappeared, the opponent was completely unharmed.

However, her expression looked as if she would kill them at any moment.

“How dare you attack me. Remember this. From this moment on, the contract with the human race is terminated.”

With those words, the girl's body began to swell up.

The air grew heavy.

The sky darkened, and a powerful energy swirled enough to shake the ground beneath their feet.

As she unconsciously took a step back from the suffocating pressure, Frank silently grabbed her shoulder.

“Th-thank you.”

“You’d better pull yourself together.”

Soon, a giant ancient dragon appeared before her eyes.

Dull black skin.

Blood-red eyes.

Eight huge wings.

Wasn't this the appearance of Anticus, which was only known through legend?

She heard Frank mutter with a small sigh.

“I didn't get to tell you. She is Anticus.”

“Y-you should have told me that sooner!”

She shouted with a pale face, but Frank was calm.

“It's already too late. I'll have to ask for a defensive spell. Preferably the highest-tier skill.”

As she was about to reluctantly use the highest-tier defensive magic she knew,

she felt a huge surge of magical power from behind.

A sharp beam of light pierced through the space between her and Frank.

At that moment, Isabel saw it clearly.

The face of Anticus, who had been looking down on them as if they were insects, flickered with curiosity.

***

“Cough. Cough. What on earth just happened?”

Isabel, who was coughing repeatedly.

When the thick dust cleared, a small girl was standing in front of them again.

And behind us, there was also a girl of a similar build.

“Noemi?”

“Dad!”

Noemi ran in one go and hugged me.

“How did you know to come here?”

“I felt like you would be in danger, Dad. So I thought I had to help.”

You thought I would be in danger? How?

I asked another question with a bewildered face.

“Did you cast that spell just now?”

“Yes! I did it. It’s a 7th-tier magic called Dragon Thunder, but that’s not what’s important right now. Just a moment.”

Dragon Thunder, she says.

Isn't that a high-tier magic that can barely be used only in the latter half of the game?

Don't tell me she's already mastered it?

But Noemi didn't look back and ran towards the girl in front of her.

“Noemi! It’s dangerous!”

However, the feared event did not happen.

Noemi, who had difficulty talking to others due to her lack of communication skills, was attempting to converse with Anticus, who had transformed into a human form.

“I’m really sorry, Lady Anticus. My name is Noemi, a child of the gods. And those over there are my dad and the Saintess.”

“What? A child of the gods? And a Saintess?”

Only then did Anticus look at Isabel carefully and make a face of realization.

“Why is a Saintess in a place like this?”

“It's a long story. If you're okay with it, could you please calm your anger and talk with us? Please?”

At Noemi's plea, Anticus made a troubled face and slowly nodded her head.

“Since I made a mistake too, I will do so. Follow me.”

Anticus shrugged and gestured for us to come into the cave.

Isabel and I could only follow behind with blank faces.

Because Noemi had already disappeared into the cave, following Anticus.

***

As we entered the cave, there was a table and chairs made of stone.

‘Did she just create that with magic?’

Magic wasn't all-powerful.

Especially, such transmutation magic required delicate control of magical power.

Just because one had a talent for magic didn't mean anyone could use it.

As I was thinking that, Isabel spoke to me in a low voice.

“What on earth happened? Even great mages struggle with 7th-tier magic, how could Noemi, who is only fifteen,……”

But Isabel couldn't continue her words.

Because Anticus was glaring at us as if telling us to sit down quickly.

Next to her, Noemi was sitting nonchalantly as if she were her friend.

We sat next to Noemi and revealed our identities.

“I am Frank, a former hero.”

“Excuse me. I am Saintess Isabel.”

Anticus asked back with a still puzzled face.

“A hero, a Saintess, and a child of the gods. What a strange combination. What brings you to my land? You can't be unaware that this is my territory, where no one's approach is permitted?”

“There is something I would like to ask of you. This is a matter of life and death for the people of my territory.”

“A request? I'll hear it. But don't think the price will be small.”

Now, the line I saw in the game came out.

In that case, the line I had to deliver was also already decided.

“We have come to request the mining rights for this place where we are now. O lofty ancient dragon.”

Anticus's's expression turned grim.

“To step on my land for such a reason, you've got some nerve.”

As Anticus muttered lowly, the air in the cave froze for a moment.

Unlike Isabel, who didn't know what to do.

Noemi and I nodded our heads at the same time with comfortable faces.

In my case, it was because I had already experienced it countless times in the game.

‘But why Noemi?’

Come to think of it, I remembered she had this trait when I chose Noemi.

[Ultimate Magical Power] [Lack of Communication Skills] [Future Foresight].

Could it be that the last one, [Future Foresight], was shining right now?

‘If so, it makes sense. If she knew in advance that I would come here and followed us, the situation makes perfect sense.’

I turned my head and looked at Noemi intently.

‘Don't tell me you also know the end of this world like me?’

But she just smiled brightly, melting my heart, which was full of suspicion, with her warmth.

A daughter's smile.

I think this is a truly fearsome weapon.

Even though Anticus was glaring at me fiercely, the corners of my mouth wouldn't come down.