Chapter 211 Father-in-Law ④
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
To get my relationship with Tina officially recognized, I visited the Badcage Estate¹ for a formal greeting, but I ended up being pulled into the private study of Duke Roost Badcage.
Duke Roost swirled a glass of wine. He said it was made from grapes picked the same year Tina was born. It felt like a quiet way of showing me how much he cared for her, and it made me feel very out of place.
”Lord Harvest, how much do you truly know about our family’s current situation…?” Duke Roost asked. He spoke with a stiff poker face that was hard to read. He was likely asking about the things that happened after the previous King and Queen died.
”…I heard that Tina’s great-uncle planned a rebellion. She told me the family was almost ruined because of it. Though Her Majesty the Queen didn’t seem to want things to stay that way…” I replied.
”Yes, that is not exactly wrong…” the Duke said.
He nodded at my answer and took a drink, looking at something far away. To me, this was all stuff from before I came to this world, but for him, it was only ten years ago. It wasn’t an old memory to him at all.
”I cannot say this too loudly, but my uncle was a sad man… A second son in a noble house is just a spare for the firstborn. Maybe that is why his desire to move up in the world was so strong…” Duke Roost said quietly.
If he was Tina’s great-uncle, that meant he was the Duke’s own uncle—his father’s brother. Looking at how House Badcage felt, I didn’t think the Duke had been that far apart from him. Or maybe even Tina had been close to him when she was little…
”Sorry, I am getting a bit too caught up in my feelings. Anyway, our house has spent the last ten years trying to make up for those days. I made that child suffer for our mistakes…” the Duke said, after a pause.
I could tell how much that hurt him. He loved his daughter, but he had to make her life hard every day. I couldn’t say I ‘understood,’ but if I had to make my own daughter struggle for the sake of my shop…
”Everyone in this house worked hard to fix our reputation. I personally went to many places and fought in many battles. I also went to other countries often for diplomacy. If I hadn’t done that, the other nobles would never have stopped attacking our family, even if Her Majesty accepted us.”
Maybe that fight was still going on right now. I thought about Tina working hard to get help before the last war. I remembered her holding parties she wasn’t used to, trying to see what the other nobles were thinking.
”I made her feel lonely. I couldn’t even give her a normal kind of happiness. And that was supposed to keep going until Prince Roland took the throne and made the royal power strong… Until you showed up, that is…”
Duke Roost’s eyes got sharp as he looked right at me. I could see where he was going with this. He was talking about his family’s shame like he was confessing because he wanted to be totally honest with me.
”Both as the head of House Badcage and as Tina’s father, I have more thanks for you than I can say… But for that same reason, I have to ask a rude question. Who are you really, and why did you get close to Tina…?!” Duke Roost asked.
Well, here it comes…! What do I do? The real answer is just, ‘I’m a lecherous magic shop owner who helped your daughter by total luck!’ but I’m sure he wouldn’t believe me for a second.
”A magic tool shop owner who suddenly appears and gets the favor of Her Majesty… I can understand that much, even if I am a bit old-fashioned. Though… I find your products a bit hard to agree with… But more than that, you have the support of the ‘Hero of the Founding,’ Lady Tania. You helped build the tiny magic weapon PHZ², and you will play a big part in trade with the Coalmine Kingdom³ and the sea nation of Silvaall⁴…”
”No, well…” I muttered.
When he said it like that, it sounded like a huge deal, but it was all just chance. I got the Queen’s favor because she was frustrated, and Lady Tania was the same. The PHZ was mostly Satsuki’s work, and the trade… wait? Is that also because the world is full of frustrated women…?
”But then, looking at you now, you just look like a normal young man you could find anywhere. A nice guy, even. Seeing you talk to Tina, the things you said in the carriage, the way you act with the old men… you don’t look like someone who did all those great things… I can’t see the bottom of you! Can I really leave my daughter with you!!?”
Duke Roost put his glass on the desk, stood up, and grabbed my shoulders from above. Scary! Those red eyes are glowing and scary, Father-in-law! And your fingers are digging in so hard it hurts! I know how you feel, but still!!!
Seriously, what do I do? It seemed like I couldn’t get him to trust me with just words. I tried hard to think. Then, I came up with a slightly mean trick. It’s a fifty-fifty bet, but I have no other choice…
”Um, well… until not long ago, I was just an F-rank adventurer. But I wasn’t good at it, so I started the shop…” I said.
”…Yes, I have heard that,” the Duke replied.
”So I just want to pay back the people who helped me and protect my shop… It’s true that things got a bit bigger than I expected, but…”
”And you expect me to believe that…?” Duke Roost asked.
As I thought, he didn’t believe me. If I looked at it from the outside, even I wouldn’t trust a guy this suspicious, so it makes sense. That’s why I decided to use the words of the people he did trust.
”What did Tina say about me…?” I asked.
”…That you are a bit lecherous, but a man she can rely on. That you helped her many times and saved her.”
Ah, right. So that’s what she thinks… I’m really happy about the second part, but the first part… No matter how I hear it, it sounds like a girl being tricked by a bad guy. But this is okay.
”Then, what about Sebastian the butler…?” I asked.
”…That you are a bit lecherous, but a man she can rely on,” Duke Roost answered.
Sebastian-san too!? I mean, it’s true and it’s what I wanted him to say! But couldn’t you have said something a little nicer!?
”I-is that so… Well then, what about the others? Father-in-law, did you ask the maids too…?” I asked.
”Yes, I did. They told me… well, that you are like a sexual beast that is even worse than just being lecherous, but you are the man my daughter needs…” the Duke said.
”E-everyone was… r-really honest, wasn’t they…” I stammered.
”U-umu…” the Duke grunted.
The maids!? I know I’m sorry for making you clean up after me and Tina!!! But couldn’t you have phrased it a little better!?
It was just one bad review after another. While panicking inside, I tried to play my last card. The part after this would be really scary, but I had to say it.
”Um, look, Father-in-law…” I said.
”Yes, what is it?” Duke Roost asked.
”That, right there… You aren’t getting mad even though I called you ‘Father-in-law’…?” I asked.
”Hmm…? No, that is… you are right,” the Duke said, after a pause.
Maybe he was so busy doubting me that he didn’t notice, or maybe he didn’t say anything because of the favors I did for them. Either way, he didn’t shout, “You have no right to call me that!”
While I was scared, I kind of wanted him to say it. Because I’m such a hopeless, lecherous guy, I didn’t want to skip this step as a man… and as a father.
Duke Roost’s hands on my shoulders got a little looser. I reached into my pocket and, with my hands shaking, I pulled out a small bottle to show him. The liquid inside made a quiet swish.
”What is that…?” Duke Roost asked.
”I am… exactly the kind of man Tina and the others said I am. That’s why I came here ready for the worst. I mean… I’m ready to be beaten until I can’t stand up… So, this is, well… a strong healing potion I made myself… Something strong enough so I can crawl home even if I’m almost dead…” I explained.
I don’t even know how to describe his face then. He looked shocked, like he didn’t think I was that scared. Then his face changed, and he smirked. If there were subtitles for his thoughts, it would be, ‘You’ve got guts.’
”I see… Is that how it is?” the Duke asked.
”Y-yes…” I replied.
I wanted to praise myself for not asking him to be gentle. Duke Roost moved his hands to my collar and pulled me up. And then, a massive—
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Summary:
Harvest meets Duke Roost Badcage to discuss his relationship with Tina. The Duke shares the family’s painful history and questions Harvest’s suspicious background. Harvest earns a small bit of respect by showing he is prepared to take a physical punishment for his love, even bringing a healing potion for the aftermath. The encounter ends with the Duke physically hoisting Harvest up, signaling a turning point in their conversation.
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Character Insight:
Duke Roost reveals a deep well of guilt regarding how his family’s political fall affected Tina, showing he is a protective father first and a noble second. Harvest demonstrates a unique kind of courage; he is deathly afraid but faces the Duke honestly, using his reputation as a ‘lecherous beast’ to ground his sincerity. This vulnerability, combined with his ‘preparedness’ for a beating, finally breaks through the Duke’s formidable poker face.
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Behind the Scene:
The comedy in this chapter stems from Harvest’s ‘reputation’ being so consistent across all demographics—from the butler to the maids—leaving him with no social cover. This ‘honest’ appraisal from the staff ironically becomes the only thing the Duke can trust in a world of political deception. The cliffhanger ending is a classic ‘trial by combat’ or ‘fatherly discipline’ setup common in the genre.
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T/L:
Notes:
• Roost – Duke of Badcage and father of Tina Badcage. He has long silver hair mixed with some white, a cool-headed expression, and red eyes. Despite a relatively slender build, he possesses a strong fighting spirit.
• Roland – he younger brother of Queen Cecile and the heir apparent to the Canaria throne. Clean, golden-blonde hair, same color as the Queen, innocent, beautiful face that could be mistaken for a girl but dressed in a boy’s formal wear.
• Tania – An Elf adventurer who, despite her race’s reputation for low sex drive, is secretly quite passionate. She initially seemed ‘wasted’ (emotionally dry) to her friend Raika, but was easily introduced to the pleasure-items sold at ‘Harvest.’ She is easily embarrassed and attempts to maintain a dignified facade, despite her recent, frequent purchases. She wears practical but light armor over a simple cloth tunic and short pants, highlighting her grace and agility. Her primary relationship is one of friendly senior-junior with Raika.
• Satsuki – A talented Court Mage who was forced to analyze the shop’s adult magic tools. Miranda’s granddaughter. Now she’s the new worker at Harvest, a development she finds both humiliating and surprisingly fulfilling due to the rapid progress in her research under Kento’s guidance. Has long black hair, palace mage robe, and staff.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
Thanks for reading.
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