CHAPTER 223: PREPARING THE ALLIANCE MEETING

The next morning, I awoke with heavy eyes, my body sluggish and my mind still clouded. I hadn’t been able to sleep well at all. My thoughts had been consumed by everything Lilith had shared with me the night before. I couldn’t stop thinking about the overwhelming power of the Demon Overlords and how I was supposed to surpass them—how I was supposed to stand against the very embodiment of ancient darkness.

Lilith’s help might become a turning point, I knew that much. But even so... deep down, I doubted whether I could truly defeat them—especially the mysterious Demon Overlord of Rank 1.

There was only one answer I could think of now: training. More of it. Unrelenting, exhausting training until I could control my power completely. I still hadn’t unlocked the full potential of the blessings granted to me by the gods.

Envi and Runa had both told me the same thing—I hadn’t truly tapped into the core of the [Blessing of the Darkness]. If I could learn to fully master that dark blessing, then I might one day wield the very spells bestowed upon me by the God of Darkness himself.

That had to be my goal. But unfortunately, today wasn’t the day I could dedicate to that. Today was the day of the alliance meeting.

"So many things to deal with... this is going to be a long day." I muttered in a tone of tired resignation.

From inside my mind, Envi chimed in with his usual sarcasm, "Look at you, Sleepy Princess! You’ve got dark circles under your eyes from stress, haha! Seriously, relax a little. We’ve got the alliance meeting today. But hey, if you’re too tired, I’d be delighted to take over your body and go in your place~!"

I narrowed my eyes. I knew Envi too well. He’d probably use my body to stir up trouble... or worse, flirt with every girl he came across.

"No chance. I’d have to be insane to let you handle something this important, you damned cursed system. I still remember how you screwed up my graduation speech at the Braveheart Knight Academy!" I snapped, immediately ordering Runa to keep a tight psychic leash on Envi in my subconscious realm.

"Tch. You’re so boring. What if the representatives from Gildora or Solara kingdoms are hot girls? You’d miss a golden opportunity!" Envi tried to tempt me.

"Shut up, bastard. I already have Serena. I’ll stay loyal to her until my dying breath."

That shut him up.

"Pfft... harem would’ve been better," he muttered quietly, sulking.

I ignored his grumbling and dragged myself out of bed. Time to get moving. I had to make it to the center of Braveheart City for the alliance conference.

When I opened my door, I was surprised to see three familiar figures waiting just outside.

"Elan? Vivin? Mia? What are you three doing here?"

"We wanted to prepare your outfit for today, Master Naoki—I mean, Patriarch." Elan spoke in her usual flat tone, but I noticed a faint nervousness in her posture.

"Master Nao—ah, Patriarch! We heard today’s a big day for you, so we came to help you get ready for the Braveheart meeting!" Mia added cheerfully, her energy as vibrant as ever.

"Patriarch, I’ve already prepared the bath for you... and um, if you’d like, I can scrub your back..." Vivin trailed off, her face beet red, her words tumbling over each other in a clumsy mess.

"Okay, okay, stop right there, all three of you," I said with a stiff smile. "You don’t have to keep calling me ’Patriarch.’ It makes me sound like an old man, haha. And Vivin—thanks, but I can bathe myself, seriously."

They nodded in understanding, but still insisted on calling me by my formal title. It wasn’t just respect—they seemed to see it as their duty. I let it slide and headed for the bath.

The moment I dipped into the onsen, a wave of calm washed over me. This was peace—temporary, fragile peace, but still something worth cherishing. The hot springs here were the best, easing the aches and tension of battle from my worn body.

Once I was finished, I wrapped a towel around my waist and made my way back toward my room—only to find Elan, Vivin, and Mia still waiting outside the bath, standing in formation like royal attendants.

"Huh? What are you all doing here?" I asked, caught off guard.

"Patriarch, I’ve picked out the best outfit for today’s event. It should suit your status well," Elan said calmly.

"Also! Breakfast is ready, you can head to the dining hall as soon as you’re dressed!" Mia added with sparkling eyes.

"Patriarch, I can help you change into your clothes! Just stand still and leave it to me," Vivin said excitedly, though her expression made it clear she was flustered beyond belief.

I sighed and gave them a tired but grateful smile. "Thank you, all of you. But Vivin—please, for the love of the gods, I can put on my own clothes."

Vivin blushed hard, her eyes darting away, clearly embarrassed. I glanced at Elan and Mia—they were blushing too.

Then suddenly, Envi yelled in my head, "You dense fool! Can’t you see they’re drooling over your body?!"

"It’s true, Master," Runa added matter-of-factly. "To girls like them, your physique is... highly attractive. And revealing."

I looked down at myself. Even with the towel, my toned abs and defined muscles were clearly exposed. I hadn’t even realized how much I had changed physically over the last year.

Elan spoke up softly, "Your body has changed a lot, Patriarch. I still remember last year—it wasn’t anything like this."

"That’s right... now you look really strong!" Mia’s eyes sparkled again as she nodded.

"I-I’m sorry! I don’t usually see a man’s body like this... I’m just... embarrassed," Vivin stammered, red in the face.

But then her tone shifted.

"But... you’ve been through so many deadly battles, haven’t you? Just look at all the scars across your body..."

She lowered her head sadly.

"Two, four, six... twelve. Twelve serious scars," Mia whispered, voice trembling. "It’s a miracle you’re still standing after all that."

"Patriarch, please take better care of yourself," Elan added quietly. "Don’t push too hard. We... we’re worried about you."

And in that moment, I understood.

Their strange behavior, their hesitation... it wasn’t about shyness. It was about concern. They were worried. Genuinely worried.

I couldn’t help but let out a warm laugh.

"I’ll be fine," I said, smiling gently. "You don’t have to worry. Scars are the price of strength. It’s a burden I carry with pride."

"Thank you... Elan, Vivin, Mia. Really. I appreciate you all."

They smiled—softly, genuinely—and nodded in response. Maybe I had eased their hearts, even just a little.

....

After getting dressed, I made my way down to the dining hall, my steps steady but my heart unsettled.

As I entered, something immediately felt... off.

There was a void where there should have been presence. A silence that weighed on the room more than words could.

The central seat at the long dining table—the seat that had always belonged to Father, the true Patriarch of this household—was empty.

Ordinarily, he would already be seated there, commanding the attention of all with his stoic gaze and commanding aura. But now, that seat sat vacant, a quiet testament to his absence.

Father was still confined to his room, lying unconscious in a deep coma. The only nourishment he received now came from nutrient pills designed to sustain him without the need for consciousness. His body was alive, but his spirit... unreachable.

My gaze lingered on his empty chair, sorrow welling in my chest. I wasn’t the only one. Lilith, Mark, and Milly were already seated at their places, each one wearing an expression of subdued grief.

I moved toward my usual seat beside Milly, hoping to quietly take my place, but Lilith stopped me.

"Ahem... Naoki—I mean, Patriarch Naoki," she corrected herself with a small, respectful bow. "You are the head of this family now. You should take that seat." She gestured toward Father’s chair—the one at the very center.

Lilith, my stepmother, had always seemed cold and strict toward me when we first met. But lately, there was a warmth in her voice that hadn’t been there before. A subtle but sincere kindness.

Mark, my stepbrother, gave a faint nod in agreement. "She’s right. You’ve officially become the Patriarch. That seat is yours now. I won’t try to take it from you."

His voice was calm, sincere—and free of the ambition that once burned in his eyes.

Milly, my ever-cheerful stepsister, chimed in with a teasing grin. "Big Bro Naoki—or should I say, Patriarch?" She giggled. "You look really cool today. But please, don’t go charming every girl in the city later!"

I sighed, a faint smile tugging at my lips. "You don’t have to call me that. Just Naoki, or Big Bro—anything but Patriarch. It still feels weird hearing it."

Lilith and Mark didn’t waver—they continued to address me with formality and respect. But Milly, ever the free spirit, grinned and said, "Alright then, Big Bro Naoki! That’s a relief—I was struggling to keep a straight face calling you that."

Their responses made me smile. It was odd, this new role. Heavy. But knowing they supported me, in their own ways, gave me strength.

Finally, I walked to the center and sat in Father’s chair.

It felt surreal.

I was supposed to lead the breakfast ritual now. A simple tradition, really—yet with the weight of legacy behind it, it felt like far more.

As everyone prepared to eat, I paused. My eyes lingered on the dishes set before us—lavishly prepared, perfectly arranged.

"It all looks delicious..." I said softly. "It’s just a shame that Father can’t taste any of it."

The room fell silent, the mood heavy. I glanced around. Lilith lowered her gaze. Mark’s hands clenched slightly. Milly’s expression dimmed.

I continued, more gently this time, "So let’s offer a prayer. Just for a moment. For Father’s recovery."

I bowed my head and closed my eyes. The others followed. Together, we offered a quiet prayer—not just out of duty, but out of hope.

After that, we ate. And for a while, it felt like family again.

Once breakfast ended, I began preparations to leave for Braveheart City. The alliance meeting would begin in just under three hours. I couldn’t afford to be late.

But before stepping out, I made one more stop.

I entered Father’s chamber quietly, standing at the foot of his bed.

He lay still, unmoving, breathing faint and even. Machines whispered softly around him, keeping him alive. This was not the man I remembered—strong, commanding, never silent. Now, he said nothing. Gave no orders. Offered no guidance.

It hurt more than I expected.

"Father..." I spoke quietly. "Today, I take a step forward. A big one. I’m going to face the leaders of the alliance and try to win them over. I’ll do everything I can."

I hesitated, watching him for any sign of response that never came.

"I hope... wherever your consciousness is... that you’re watching me. That you’re proud."

Runa and Envi, even in the quiet of my mind, said nothing. They shared the same ache I felt. The same hollow sorrow.

But I couldn’t let that stop me.

I stood straighter, forcing courage back into my limbs.

"I’ll be back, Father. Hopefully, with good news."

With that, I left the room.

Outside, the carriage awaited me, already prepared. I climbed in, joined by Vivin and Mia—my personal maids. No, not just maids. Battle maids. Trusted allies.

I had allowed them to accompany me. Not just for formality’s sake, but because I trusted their skills and presence.

Everything was ready, but I was nervous. Of course I was. This wasn’t just a diplomatic gathering—it was a turning point.

I would give it my all.

This was the burden of the Patriarch, the Hero of Blackmore, the Strongest Hero of Braveheart Kingdom.

This was my duty now.

Naoki’s von Blackmore’s duty.

...

..

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