Magi’s Grandson - Volume 3 - Chapter 103.2

Faint Hope

C103 – Part 2

Translator: Kyn Katan Editor: IonMan

“By the way, shouldn’t you have gone too teacher? In the past, if there was a fight with a devil, you would have gone first, wouldn’t you?”

It was strange for Ekaterina, who knew Merlin Merlin’s earlier years better than she knew him now, during his middle age.

“Are you perhaps mistaking me for some kind of battle maniac?”

“Huh? Are you not?”

Ekaterina had a confused expression wondering what she had said to Merlin that seemed so outrageous to him.

Even though a blue streak appeared on Merlin’s temples at Ekaterina’s reaction, he still explained why he had not gone with Shin.

“Hmm… I would slow him down”

“Teacher would slow Shin down?” 

Ekaterina could not believe Merlin’s words.

The image of Merlin’s overwhelming magic strongly lingered in her mind.

For Ekaterina, who has never seen the Ultimate Magicians battling in person, Merlin still would be the first to be mentioned as the strongest magician.

“I’m about the same strength as His Highness Augusto. If that child is struggling, I can’t help Shin much.”

“But… the level of experience between teacher and His Highness Augusto is different, isn’t it?”

Ekaterina couldn’t imagine Merlin slowing Shin down. 

This made her bite back a little.

“It’s true, if it wasn’t Shin the one heading there, I might have gone with him.”

“Then why?”

Why was he saying that he would slow Shin down?

Merlin answered Ekaterina’s question concisely.

“This time, Shin will be there.”

As his grandfather said, Shin was a genius. 

Even considering the power she had witnessed herself, he might not be at full strength yet.

Considering that, I didn’t believe that he could be useful to Shin. 

“There is an unbridgeable gap in the rankings of the Ultimate Magicians between the leader and the runner-up.”

“… In other words, you are saying that there’s a significant gap between you, teacher, and Shin, since you say you are equal to His Highness Augustus, the second in rank?”

“That’s what I’m saying. That’s why he went out. It’s not my place to be there. And…”

“And?”

“Shin didn’t ask me to come with him. Maybe he wants me to take care of you Katie.” 

Ekaterina, who had not thought of Shin’s intentions, rounded her eyes in surprise.

“Is this really so surprising?”

“Yes. I mean, sweetie Shin and I are somewhat acquainted, but I don’t think we have the kind of relationship where he would be worried about me.”

“Actually, I told him about it after Katie came back from his birthday party”

Ekaterina was surprised and relieved to find that Merlin had told Shin what she had been agonizing over whether or not to tell him.

But what was the connection between that and this?

“In that conversation, I told him that Katie was supposed to be our daughter-in-law.” 

“…That’s right…”

A lover who had pledged their future to each other, but has been lost forever.

His father, Merlin, who should have been her father-in-law.

Remembering the relationship that had never come to be, Ekaterina’s heart sank slightly.

“That’s why I guess he wanted me to take care of my daughter-in-law.”

“Ah…”

Suddenly, Merlin’s expression broke down and he stroked Ekaterina’s head.

His appearance was that of a father worried about his daughter. [1]

“Don’t worry, Shin will defeat the devils and come back. So, Katie, take your time and rest so that you can recover quickly.”

“… Father…”

In reality, they could not become father-in-law and daughter-in-law.

But in their hearts, they were probably already father-in-law and daughter-in-law.

Returning to that relationship for the first time in more than a decade, Ekaterina could not hold back the tears that welled up in her eyes.

“You’re still a crybaby.”

“… That’s unfair, teacher.”

“Hmm. Now, as Shin said. He finished your treatment, but your condition is still far from perfect. Get some rest.”

“But… I can’t be the only one sleeping in this situation…”

“Why don’t we ask Melinda to come and take care of you?”

“I’m going to sleep right now!  Alright! But without Master!”

“How much do you fear Melinda…?”

“I don’t know of any greater fear than that of master!”

“Certainly, you are right…”

In the earlier conversation, Melinda was going to be her mother-in-law, but for Ekaterina, she was probably more of a terrifying mentor than a mother-in-law.

Ekaterina and Merlin, who shared a common understanding on that regard, looked at each other and giggled.

“Master’s sermons scare me, so I’ll stay quiet. But at least…”

“Hmm?”

Ekaterina said so and clapped hands in front of her chest.

“May sweetie Shin have god’s blessing…”

Ekaterina prayed with all her magic power as if to deliver her prayer to god.

Her appearance was so divine that if believers saw her, they would unconsciously fall to their knees and worship her.

“Does it really work? That prayer.”

“Teacher… Please don’t be so blunt…”

However, it didn’t seem to resonate well with the atheist Merlin.

“Now that you’re done, go back to sleep quietly. I’ll bring Melinda later.”

“… Will she be angry at me?”

“Not if you sleep quietly.”

With Merlin smiling down at her, Ekaterina fell asleep as if she were a child again.

— — — — — — —

[1] TL Note: For those with western backgrounds, some context: in Japan’s culture, daughters-in-law are basically adopted into the husband’s family, in some cases completely cut their links with their birth family.