A Father Is His Son's Wall

Imperial railway.

Royal Class.

A dark elf youth sitting in a plush chair frowned.

“Garner got hit? I’m certain I told you to bring him quietly.”

“He got a bit excited and things suddenly escalated……”

“Librata’s youngest. I heard he’s hot-tempered and womanizes, but this is ridiculous.”

“No, you shouldn’t think according to his reputation.”

Gunter spoke seriously.

“During the negotiation, he pretended to be stupid while extracting everything. Just now, Garner got hit without doing anything. He’s no ordinary human.”

“Aren’t you just evaluating the opponent generously because you failed?”

“……Mmm.”

Gunter was speechless.

The sitting youth stood from his seat.

“I can’t leave my sister with such a crazy troublemaker. I’ll go myself.”

“Your Highness, you don’t need to personally……”

“Don’t call me that. Since I’m in the field, I’m the Northern District Division Chief!”

At the youth’s sharp words, everyone fell silent.

The youth spoke fiercely.

“This matter must be handled as quietly as possible. Moreover, my sister is currently weak — we must show utmost courtesy and care. What if that troublemaker does something crazy?”

“That’s absurd. Would he dare lay hands on the Fourth Princess?”

“According to reports, he’s exactly that type. Getting beaten up for hitting on every woman in his territory. What kind of lunatic does that?”

The youth pulled a comb from his pocket and brushed back his bangs.

Then a dark elf standing beside him quickly held up a mirror.

After tidying his silver hair, the youth nodded.

“More presentable now. Let’s go.”

“Should we surround them?”

“No. I’ll negotiate directly, so just two of you follow. Tell the guys in the rear car not to try anything foolish.”

“Understood.”

The dark elves bowed their heads in unison.

They obeyed not just because he was their superior.

Blood between Sirik Karakas and the Queen of Assassins.

Because he was the empire’s second prince, Orca.

I entered the compartment first and explained.

“Orca came?”

Lisera sounded surprised.

Heinkel also looked serious.

“Yeah, dark elves work fast, but I didn’t expect the second prince to come personally. Did he really drop everything and come?”

“I want to meet him.”

Lisera decided plainly.

I nodded.

“That’s not difficult, but I can’t hand you over to the dark elves. That’s……”

“Ahem.”

The handmaid suddenly cleared her throat.

I realized I was speaking casually very naturally.

I was also somewhat flustered since Orca came up suddenly.

But Lisera spoke gently.

“It’s fine. Son of Librata, please continue speaking comfortably going forward.”

“The status difference is too great.”

“You’re informing me of the situation and seeking agreement right now — you’re worried about me yet giving me choice. I’m receiving overflowing respect and gratitude.”

“Still, if I speak casually in front of others, it’ll get troublesome.”

“If that bothers you, you may speak casually in private.”

Lisera smiled faintly.

“Orca has followed me since childhood. I want to talk with him.”

“Alright, understood.”

I gave Heinkel a look and returned to the corridor.

Leaning against the door, I recalled my second son anew.

“Mm……”

Dark elf Orca.

A son born between me and the Queen of Assassins.

In my memory, he was quite docile and introverted.

He liked reading books.

“My son.”

In a different sense from seeing Lisera, I looked forward to this.

Into my view came Garner, still collapsed in the corridor.

“Hgk, haaack……”

“Did it burst?”

Rattle rattle.

Then the sound of rolling wheels was heard.

A train vendor circulating the cars selling food.

Pushing his cart, he saw Garner collapsed in the corridor and was shocked.

“Are you all right?”

“Ah, my friend had a seizure, but he’s fine.”

“Grrrk.”

Garner also answered with a chin jerk.

At least he knows not to escalate things.

When the vendor hesitated, I lightly kicked the collapsed Garner aside.

“Goodness, sorry for obstructing work. Give me a peach instead.”

As I pulled out my wallet, the vendor took out a peach and tossed it to me.

“Keep the money. Seems like a difficult situation — hope it resolves well.”

“Oh, thank you.”

Free of charge.

The Railway Military Police were a mess, but the crew seems decent.

When the vendor quickly passed, I bit into the peach hard.

“Oh, this is good.”

“What is this……”

A displeased voice.

A dark elf youth striding forward.

Short-cropped silver hair, a refined face.

The youth jerked his chin at the two other dark elves following him.

“Take Section Chief Garner back.”

“Yes, Your Highness!”

“Call me division chief.”

After sternly rebuking them, the youth turned to me.

Cold purple eyes.

“You bastard……”

“Are you Orca?”

I looked at him curiously.

The introverted little boy I remembered was gone, replaced by a confident, upstanding man.

Body-fitting agent uniform, dignified and disciplined posture.

“You’re short, huh?”

“……”

Orca currently came up to Rigen’s shoulder — no, chest level.

He was small in childhood and remained small as an adult.

“……What did you just say?”

“No, I was just surprised. Don’t scowl.”

Even when I waved my hand, Orca only clenched his fist and trembled.

Mm.

Even angry, he looks cute!

Is this what it feels like watching a five-year-old son stomp his feet trying to beat Dad?

To Orca, it’s probably a fierce expression, but I only recalled his childhood.

Bringing books he read and sharing his thoughts.

Of course, separate from those memories, I was always prepared to use magic and psychic abilities.

Orca had grown properly and even risen to dark elf division chief.

He wasn’t someone I could take lightly now.

“Fuuuu.”

But Orca took a long breath and fixed his expression.

“Rude bastard, I don’t want to deal with you further. Is my sister inside?”

“Lisera’s doing fine.”

“……Watch your words. She’s the fourth daughter who inherited Father’s blood. Someone like you has no right to speak of her so lightly!”

Even serious, he just looks cute.

Wow, the kid grew up and looks after his sister like this!

When I grinned broadly, Orca bristled but…… actually didn’t attack.

“I’ll settle your treatment later, so step aside.”

“That’s unreasonable.”

“What? You’re defying my orders now?”

“I do like what you’re doing……”

Orca is my child.

Simultaneously, he’s the Queen of Assassins’ son and a dark elf agent.

I don’t know how the kid changed in a hundred years, nor his true intentions.

“Where’s the guarantee you won’t assassinate Lisera?”

“What……?”

Orca gaped.

An expression showing he never imagined such words.

Click.

Then the door opened and Amelia stuck her head out.

“The princess asks both of you to come in.”

“……”

Orca instantly arranged his face and strode right inside.

Hey, what if I ambush you from behind?

“Can’t tell if he grew up well or not.”

When I clicked my tongue and entered…… it was even more absurd.

Orca knelt before sitting Lisera and held her hands tightly.

“Sister Lisera, I’m glad to see you again.”

“Orca.”

A conversation between princess and prince.

Everyone stepped back and watched like witnessing a fairy tale scene.

……Garul looked extremely moved.

“Sister, you can’t even see, yet in such a dirty, cramped……”

Thwack!

Having stepped back and watched sideways, I kicked Orca’s butt.

Caught off guard, Orca rolled on the dirty floor.

Everyone gaped, but I snapped.

“Watch your words.”

“You crazy bastard. I’ve been watching and now you’re really……”

“How would you like it if I called you a short dwarf who must be uncomfortable? Must you mention what everyone already knows?”

“……”

Orca stopped mid-anger and froze.

Then he straightened his posture again before Lisera.

“I apologize, Sister. I got flustered and misspoke.”

“It’s fine, Orca. But you must be busy with public and private matters — I’m sorry for making you come like this.”

“Not at all, Sister. I came to escort you. From now on, rest assured and……”

“Orca, I won’t depend on dark elves.”

Lisera said flatly.

Orca looked greatly flustered.

“What do you mean? Although you escaped those wicked elves, many people everywhere will target you. We will do our utmost to……”

“Where’s the guarantee you guys won’t target Lisera?”

Whoosh!

Orca turned and glared, but I cut him off.

“Where’s the guarantee dark elves won’t use Lisera?”

“Watch your words, human. I can’t keep tolerating the things you’re choosing to say……”

“You might have truly rushed here for Lisera’s sake. But……”

Just watching what Orca did, I could feel he cared for Lisera.

“Where’s the guarantee the Queen of Assassins will do the same?”

“……”

Orca, who had been threatening me, closed his mouth.

Because he couldn’t refute it.

I stated flatly.

“You already know the circumstances, right? For the elves, they want to hide about Lisera as much as possible. But if Lisera receives dark elf protection, the problem becomes too big. The elves might come out fighting to the death. And there’s no guarantee the Queen of Assassins won’t use her as a political propaganda tool.”

Lisera looked troubled but didn’t deny it.

Being astute, she probably already considered these possibilities.

That receiving protection from human House Librata would cause less political ripples than from dark elves.

Orca groaned.

“……I’ll think about it for now. But here is too cramped and dirty. I’ve arranged separate rooms, so let’s move there.”

“Everyone, the prince is giving us good rooms. Pack up.”

“What?”

Orca looked at me incredulously, but everyone really started shouldering their bags.

I knew this would happen, so we hadn’t unpacked.

Lisera smiled and said,

“Thank you for your consideration in letting us all stay together, Orca.”

“……Yes.”

Orca answered while glaring at me.

He seems to think I’m picking fights at every turn.

From my perspective, seeing my son after a hundred years, I was dissatisfied he seemed somewhat lacking.

“Got a problem? Should we just settle it directly?”

“Fine. I was thinking the same……”

“Orca, Librata’s son has helped and given much to me. You must absolutely not use force and authority.”

When Lisera admonished him, growling Orca froze stiffly.

An expression of wanting to deal with me immediately but being stopped by his sister, wondering what to do.

I smiled and said,

“Ah, originally men grow up fighting. And even without fists, men have many ways to settle things.”

“……Good, you human.”

Orca released Lisera’s hand and stood abruptly.

“I absolutely cannot tolerate a filthy bastard like you hovering around my sister. I’ll chase you out immediately.”

“Well, you’ve made me look forward to it.”

After so long, my son thinks he’s all grown up and throws a tantrum.

I should receive it with a father’s heart.