Chapter 347: Eduardo’s Journal (II) (Bonus)
The smile faded from Ethan’s face and his eyes lingered on the words for a few seconds.
Then he turned the page.
"Lady Irene finally had enough of Bernadette’s relentless flirting with her husband and very nearly killed her today.
It required me nearly losing one arm, and Master Nathan losing both of his, before we finally managed to calm her down.
He is fortunate to possess his regenerative factor and Bernadette is fortunate we acted quickly. Perhaps she has finally learned not to covet what belongs to a dragon."
Ethan smiled a bit, but the amusement didn’t last.
He continued reading, page after page. And before he even realized it, an hour had gone by.
At some point, there was a gentle knock on his door, and afterwards, Hayley entered holding a plate piled with meatloaves.
She walked over and offered it to him.
Ethan smiled before accepting it. "Thanks."
She simply gave a small nod and quietly lowered herself onto the couch beside him.
However, she didn’t want to interrupt him either. So, after settling beside him, she simply pulled out her Arcphone and occupied herself with it while Ethan helped himself to pieces of the food she came with.
He ate another piece before returning his attention to the journal.
"Lady Irene came to the company today. Master Nathan almost collapsed from the excessive mana consumption required to maintain the transformation spell concealing both his and Lady Irene’s true facial features.
He insists that, outside the manor, no one must know who they truly are.
Ethan’s chewing gradually slowed as he turned the page.
"Master Nathan suggested that they temporarily assume different bodies through a body possession spell.
He believes doing so would greatly reduce his mana consumption and allow them to move about more freely.
Lady Irene refused. She already finds maintaining the transformation spell uncomfortable enough.
Instead, she suggested that she stop leaving the manor altogether, especially since their child is due at any moment. That would also lessen the strain upon Master Nathan.
"Hm." Ethan murmured as he turned another page.
"Today, I finally asked Master Nathan why discussions regarding his unborn child never seem to bring smiles to either his or Lady Irene’s faces.
Master Nathan told me they were deeply happy, but they were also afraid. He said that the moment their son entered this world, his life might immediately be in grave danger.
He refused to elaborate any further."
Ethan sighed and shook his head, then turned another page.
"The government has officially disbanded the guild. Master Nathan employed every single one of us into the company instead and asked us all to remain.
In the end, most of us didn’t truly have anywhere else to go. Somewhere along the way, we’ve become family."
He flipped through several more pages, his eyes scanning one entry after another until they eventually settled on one that immediately caught his attention.
"The first signs of labor showed today. Master Nathan, Bernadette, and Augusta have begun setting up several protective spells around the manor.
Master Nathan also called upon Marvin to keep watch over the skies. Marvin’s company has recently created a radio-wave technology capable of monitoring disturbances within the airspace.
All of us remain curious as to why such extensive preparations are necessary, and Master Nathan explained that the birth of his son may invite dragons into the country."
Ethan’s eyes widened. "What the fuck?"
The sudden outburst stirred the sleeping Hayley. At some point while he had been reading, she had drifted into slumber.
She adjusted her body, but never actually woke. Her head was still resting comfortably on his lap.
Ethan glanced down at her for a brief moment before carefully returning his attention to the journal.
He turned the page.
"Master Nathan finally told us everything. His wife, Lady Irene, was originally affianced to the Dragon Emperor. But that changed when she fell in love with him and became pregnant as a result.
On Master Nathan’s side, he knew the Demon King would never permit such a union to exist, fearing that my master would one day gain enough influence and power to challenge his throne.
Both rulers will not see their child live."
Ethan’s expression slowly stiffened as he continued reading.
"Master Nathan and Lady Irene had no choice but to abandon their respective worlds. This is also the true reason Master Nathan recruited the guild, to act as extra protection around his son."
Another page.
"Master Nathan offered us his apologies. There were mixed feelings. Some among us felt deceived, and others understood why the truth had to remain hidden.
In the end, we all agreed to fulfill our duty."
The next page immediately followed.
"Today, the child arrived. His birth briefly broke the cloaking spell that had hidden Lady Irene all this while, though Master Nathan restored it almost immediately.
I have not seen the manor this joyful since the day Master finally entrusted us with his story. Everyone began suggesting names.
Master Nathan bestowed upon him his demon name; Kuzon Azazel.
Lady Irene gave him his dragon name; Tyrsar Balerion.
But neither name could ever be used upon this continent. So another was chosen; Ethan.
Master Nathan allowed the rest of us to decide the second. For hours, we argued over which sounded best, but eventually, we settled upon Celestina’s suggestion; Alexander.
I agreed as well. Alexander does not seem like a bad name."
Then he quietly turned the page.
"Today, I write from a place of pain. Because today, we lost one of us. Celestina is dead.
She fell during our battle against the dragon that came seeking Lady Irene. It has only been two days since she delivered."
Ethan’s eyes widened.
"The cloaked spell failed. Or rather, during the brief moment it first lost hold, one of the dragons searching for Lady Irene discovered her location and descended upon the manor.
Lady Irene eventually slew the dragon after a fierce battle fought high above the skies."
Ethan slowly lowered the journal as his expression had become noticeably heavier.
But after a moment, he continue turning the pages.
However, there had been a problem. The pages had begun appearing blank.
Entire sections had been left empty, with the only things written on them being dates.
Apparently, Eduardo had stopped keeping the journal up to date for a period of time, deliberately leaving space behind.
Likely because, at the time, he had been certain he would eventually return and fill in everything that had happened.
But, he never did.
Ethan quietly closed the first journal before setting it aside.
Without wasting another second, he reached for the next one and opened it, immediately continuing from where the previous record had left off.