blueteamnovel Chapter 13
Chapter 13
Chapter 13: The Beginning of a New Life
■■■■■■■■■■
The Roxfall household does not have a designated cook.
Instead, the maid Sara prepares the meals, her granddaughter Lara assists her, and the butler Johnson serves them.
Lord Roxfall sat at the head of the table, with my mother and me seated opposite each other, flanking him.
“It may seem modest compared to the Lightstar household’s meals, but we’ll do our best to show our hospitality. Welcome to our home, the Roxfall family.”
The dishes spread out on the table were simple, but I actually preferred it this way. In the Lightstar household, even in the annex, we had a cook who prepared our meals. But it always felt like dining on French cuisine, where every meal came with strict manners and a tense atmosphere.
“No, we’re grateful to you for providing us with a place to live and food to eat.”
“Thank you.”
For my mother, who had endured a harsh life as a former slave, living in such a large house and having proper meals was already something to be grateful for.
When I thought back to my infancy, the difference was as stark as heaven and earth; I had no reason to feel dissatisfied.
“Although the formalities have not yet been completed, you are already part of my family. I’d prefer if you spoke to me more casually and didn’t use such formal language.”@@@@
“...Understood. From now on, I will do my best to treat you as a husband. However, it will take me a little time to adjust my tone, so please allow me some grace.”
“Understood. Toma-kun, or rather, Toma, will also be my son. Don’t call me Lord Roxfall—call me Father.”
Calling him “Father” all of a sudden felt... challenging.
“...Please allow me to call you Father, formally.”
“Well, if you must. But, eventually, I hope you’ll call me Father without any formality.”
“I’ll try.”
“Good. Let’s eat! Let us give thanks to the Goddess of Bountiful Harvest, Nirgneed.”
“Thanks be to the Goddess of Bountiful Harvest, Nirgneed.”
That’s strange. Apart from the chief deity, Nirgneed, there are only supposed to be eleven Great Gods. Why are there thirteen statues?
“Alyusha and I will take care of the paperwork. Would you like to come, Toma?”
“I’ll wait here.”
Father and Mother followed the priest into the back room.
There were four other villagers praying, and they gave a slight nod to Father before resuming their prayers.
Left alone, I examined each statue.
“Tch.”
The god of space, Tilraia. I knew this deity was one of the Great Gods from the books in the Lightstar Marquisate. This statue bore a striking resemblance to that loathsome deity. Hatred welled up from the depths of my heart.
Then there was the Thunder God Doras, and the God of Craft, Shylie.
“Just wait. I’ll make sure to bring you down.”
I muttered these words filled with malice, quietly enough that no one could hear.
When I looked at the other statues, I noticed that the thirteenth statue had no face.
It didn’t make sense; only the chief deity and the Great Gods were supposed to be represented here, so why were there thirteen statues? And why was this one faceless, with the pedestal bearing the god’s name scraped off?
I realized that this must be the statue of the Nameless One, the Forgotten.
I hadn’t yet reached level one hundred. But kneeling before the statue, I prayed.
Using the Transformation skill alone wasn’t enough to level up easily. But level one hundred was merely a stepping stone.
After witnessing Father’s level of three hundred and twenty, I couldn’t help but feel that way.
“Toma, it’s time to go home.”
“Yes.”
Today is just a greeting. Once I reach level one hundred, I’ll come back again.