“Are you the person who conquered the Tower of Tarlos?”

Mary's father, Raymond, knew that I had conquered the tower.

That's why he looked at me with such a curious expression when he heard my name.

“…Might I ask how you came to know about it?”

What puzzled me was how the news of my conquering the tower had spread.

“It’s the conquest of the Legendary Tower. The High Nobles of the Kingdom are well aware of this. Especially since you accomplished it with just the two of you.”

Indeed, even before the Past Alteration, my name was shouted all around taverns right after conquering the tower.

My name must have spread easily.

Further, my reputation seemed to have spread in the border areas due to my work on weapon repair and manufacture.

And upon confirming that I was indeed the person those rumors were about, Raymond looked at me with a satisfied gaze.

He even wore a faint smile.

‘That resemblance to Mary.’

A seemingly indifferent face with a slight smile.

Mary also had moments when she wore such a smile.

“Yes, I heard you're a friend of my daughter from the Academy.”

A moment ago, Mary had introduced me as a friend to her father.

Of course, seeing her hesitate just before, it seemed like she was considering how to introduce me.

Given that her father is strict, she probably resorted to calling me a friend.

And Raymond seemed to know about this, as he continued speaking.

“But from the look of things, you’re more than just a friend.”

“…….”

At his question, I couldn’t answer and subtly averted my eyes.

I was contemplating whether it was okay for me to correct Mary’s introduction.

“In truth…”

Yet, I decided to answer frankly.

Raymond looked at me.

Seeing his frail appearance, as if he might fade away at any moment, I felt I shouldn't lie to him in his final moments.

"I have proposed to Mary."

For the first time, Raymond showed a surprised expression at my words.

However, soon he seemed to understand and softly smiled.

"I thought there was more between you than just friendship. So, a proposal."

He laughed, appearing somewhat pleased.

I was worried he might get angry, but there was no sign of that.

Mary had told me he was a strict man with a strong sense of family legacy, so I assumed he wouldn't approve of someone like me, who wasn't of noble birth but a merchant.

That's likely why Mary introduced me as a friend.

But contrary to our expectations, he was smiling.

Then, as if satisfied with my answer, he continued speaking.

"The reason I've asked to speak with you alone is that I have a favor to ask."

"A favor?"

"Yes, it's not difficult, so don't worry."

He turned his head slightly to gaze at the ceiling, then lightly spoke.

"I'm going to convert all my assets into money. Then, I want you to take it."

"…Pardon?"

His request, outright simple, left me extremely bewildered.

Considering just the mansion alone and the staff, the value of his assets must be enormous.

Hearing that he wanted to entrust such wealth to someone he met for the first time today made me question my hearing.

"I'm sorry, but I cannot accept."

Of course, I shook my head, rejecting his offer.

I couldn't fathom accepting such money.

However, Raymond looked at me with an intense gaze, as if he wouldn't take no for an answer.

"Take it. In any case, if my daughter refuses the inheritance, I intend to donate it to Albus, who would then pass it on to her little by little."

He was sincere.

He wasn't testing me or anything of that sort.

It genuinely seemed he had decided to entrust the inheritance to me.

"But why are you doing this?"

I asked the obvious question.

After all, Raymond had only seen me for a few minutes, and our conversation barely amounted to more than a few words.

In such a situation, he had announced his intention to transfer the wealth he had accumulated and inherited over the years to me.

It was impossible not to be puzzled.

And in response to my question, Raymond, looking drained, closed his eyes and answered.

"In my time working at the Royal Palace, I have encountered countless people. So, I have a good eye for evaluating them."

The reason he wanted to give me the inheritance.

It was remarkably simple.

"Mary has feelings for you. And since you've proposed to my daughter, that alone is a sufficient reason."

He simply trusted his intuition.

He intended to leave his wealth to me, anticipating that I would be with Mary.

"Anyway, no matter what I say, that child won't accept the inheritance I'm leaving. So I judged that it's better entrusted to you than falling into some unworthy hands."

It felt less like he trusted me and more like he wanted to avoid the worst-case scenario.

His decision ensured the highest likelihood of the inheritance eventually reaching Mary.

But then, if that's the case…

Why on earth.

"...If there was no need to pass on the clan… Why were you so harsh to your daughter?"

I couldn't understand.

He had rigorously trained Mary to inherit the clan.

Without even giving her the usual dolls or toys for kids.

No fairy tale books either.

He had been indifferent to her suffering, solely focusing on raising her to be worthy of inheriting the clan.

Her childhood had been filled with painful memories.

"If it didn't matter… To leave it as just money..."

It was an impertinent question.

I had known about Mary's circumstances for only a few days. And our conversation had lasted merely a few minutes.

For someone passing through such fleeting moments to ask this question was indeed presumptuous.

Yet, this was the question Mary wanted to ask but couldn't.

"In that case, couldn't you have been kinder to Mary?"

At my question, Raymond opened his closed eyes.

And quietly gazed at the empty ceiling.

What could he be thinking?

Is he recalling Mary crying during her harsh childhood training?

Or is he coming up with excuses for his actions?

He spoke after a brief pause.

"Ten years ago, the royal palace's doctor told me that I would struggle to survive beyond ten winters."

What came from his lips wasn't an apology, regret, or excuse.

It was a story of the past.

"It's an incurable disease. A condition where the body's internal magic deteriorates, contaminating from deep within."

His eyes, as he spoke calmly about the day he was given a death sentence, did not waver in the slightest.

He gazed at the empty ceiling, yet it seemed he was looking far beyond it.

"Do you know what was the first thing that came to my mind upon hearing that story?"

He turned his head to look at me.

And I couldn't answer.

It is far too difficult to fathom the mind of someone who has been given a terminal prognosis.

"Amusingly enough, the first thing that came to mind were those people from the branch family. Those who would be the most delighted by my death."

He let out a hollow laugh and closed his eyes.

"Next, I thought of my daughter, sitting on the street, robbed of everything, and crying. Because without me, she who had lost her mother early, would be left alone."

He opened his eyes again and looked at me with an unwavering gaze.

Though his body stood at death's door, his gaze was full of life.

From his eyes, I could see how firm his resolve was.

"After my death, those from the branch family would strip her bare, even down to her last piece of clothing, to fill their own bellies. That's why my daughter had to be prepared. Prepared to protect everything from those who smile while hiding a knife, all in the short span of ten years."

That was his answer to my question.

An individual befitting the Clan.

In raising Mary that way, it was so she could prove beyond doubt that no one could challenge the inheritance of the Clan.

So that she could protect herself even if there was no one left to shield her.

However.

“Then hasn't Mary lost what could have been ten happy years with her father?”

There could have been a different way.

Was there really no way to protect her while creating happy memories with her?

“You're still naive.”

Then Raymond answered firmly, rejecting my thoughts.

“The world doesn't indulge whims as you think it does.”

He stubbornly denied what I said.

“Adults are those who trample over crying children to advance further. The world is full of people more corrupted and uglier than you can imagine.”

Raymond spoke, his eyes filled with anger as if recalling those who might one day reach for his daughter with dark intentions.

“In such a world, my daughter would be left alone. For her entire life.”

Then he gently closed his eyes, took a moment to calm his breath, and turned to look at the ceiling.

“What she needed wasn't ten years of happiness but the strength to endure fifty harsh ones.”

His once-placid eyes turned to look outside the window again.

I looked at his back and spoke as if I couldn't understand.

“But is that really for Mary's sake?”

Why couldn't Mary have chosen between ten happy years and fifty unhappy ones?

Was it not for her to decide and choose?

“…For Mary?”

In response to my question, Raymond answered without turning around.

“That's foolish talk. It was all for me, for my ambitions.”

“……”

“The conversation is over. Ken, you will receive the inheritance. I trust you will fulfill the last request of a dying man."

He didn't direct his gaze this way any longer.

Only the sound of his calm breathing could be heard.

With his demeanor finally serene, I couldn't bring myself to ask any more questions.

"…I apologize for intruding."

Creak.

In the end, I turned my back to his bed, opened the door, and went outside.

"…Mary?"

And beyond the door, Mary stood with her hands clasped behind her back, leaning against the wall, waiting for me.

She met my gaze and gave a gentle smile.

"…Shall we go?"

"…Yes."

Afterward, Mary guided me to the guest room, but she did not leave Raymond's side, staying in his room afterwards.

Worried that raised voices might be heard, I quietly approached the door to check inside.

Mary was simply sitting silently beside her father.

Raymond lay on the bed with his eyes closed, not saying a word.

It was as if he had held on just for this moment.

Raymond passed away before noon the next day.

Inside the carriage returning to the Academy after his funeral and settling affairs.

Mary leaned on my shoulder, closing her eyes as if about to sob, but then she soon fell into a peaceful sleep.

We headed to the Academy in silence.

Only once did Mary hold my hand tightly and say,

"Funerals... are really tough."

I recalled her sobbing bitterly while saying goodbye to her father.

Though he had treated her harshly,

He was still a treasured person to her.

I struggled to figure out how to comfort Mary as she mourned her father.

All I could do was hold her hand tightly by her side.

"I never imagined it would be harder than Ken's funeral."

Sensing my feelings, Mary looked at me with a smile, jokingly.

"Mary..."

Was she trying to lighten the somber mood caused by her father's death out of concern for me?

Mary attempted to shift the atmosphere by sharing good news with me.

Burying the sorrow deep in her heart to return to her usual life at the Academy.

In doing so, she let me know that her memories had returned.

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