Chapter 38: Contradiction

Looking at the table full of sumptuous dishes and the opposite Tyler Tuls, who was tying the napkin with a kind face, even courteous one might say, Lan sighed deeply once again.

“Father, I’ve already said that just a simple meal would be fine. Why does it have to be like this every time? Just the two of us can’t finish all this!”

Tyler chuckled, stroking his dark beard, never even glancing at the exquisite dishes on the table, his attention fully focused on his precious daughter before him.

“Oh, little Lan, you have been busy with the Internal Affairs Bureau, and it’s been nearly a month since I last saw you. Isn’t it okay to have a bit more lavish meal? Our Tuls family may not be the riches of the riches, but we shouldn’t be skimping on a simple meal!”

“Come on, come on, try this unicorn fish fillet. This is a super rare delicacy only caught in the Royal Capital’s Luoh River! Your grandfather knows you love fish, so he specially entrusted someone to send it over. He has been keeping it, just waiting for you to come back and taste it.”

“…Alright.”

Lan understood her father well. Not only was he indulgent towards his daughter, but he also had the stubbornness typical of cultured men; arguing with him was utterly pointless.

Even if his pampering didn’t come with a heavy hand, it wouldn’t change his standpoint. Instead, it meant endless prattling until the other person accepted his suggestions.

If it were otherwise, her mother wouldn’t have had disputes with him, moving back to her parents’ home, and Lan wouldn’t have made the decision to leave the City Lord’s mansion and live on her own in the city.

Not just her father; even grandfather, that venerable elder respected across three generations, Griffiths Tuls, almost nearing his nineties, was just as stubborn; one could say he was firmly set in his ways, or more harshly put, he was obstinate and outdated.

In fact, Lan realized she shared the same trait; it was just that there were some differences in their values regarding how to navigate the world, but the stubbornness itself was no different.

Under her father’s satisfied gaze, Lan took some time to have lunch with him. After the maids cleared away the dozen or so plates of delicacies, having barely nibbled on them, Tyler finally relaxed his napkin from his chest and curiously glanced at the long blade leaning next to the girl.

“Little Lan, have you changed your sword? But I remember you mentioning your relationship with ‘Demon Slayer’ before…”

“Um, due to some matters, ‘Demon Slayer’ is temporarily having issues and is undergoing repairs. This sword is called ‘Sunny Mist,’ lent to me by a… friend.”

Seeing the worry in her father’s eyes, Lan hesitated for a moment but still opened her mouth to reassure him.

“Father, you needn’t worry. The sword of destiny is just a joke I made. It doesn’t have to be taken seriously. ‘Sunny Mist’ is just as good as ‘Demon Slayer,’ and I like it very much.”

Hearing her say this, Tyler visibly relaxed.

“Ah, I see. I said that was just unrealistic nonsense. A sword is a tool; how could it possibly be linked to someone’s life? It’s fine, it’s fine! Hahaha!”

But upon hearing this, Lan frowned.

“Father, a sword is by no means just a tool; it’s my partner. ‘Demon Slayer’ is so, and so is ‘Sunny Mist.’ This has nothing to do with whether the sword of destiny exists; please retract your earlier statement.”

“Uh, alright, alright ~ I’ll take it back; it was my mistake. I apologize, dear daughter, please don’t be upset.”

Tyler, who spoiled his daughter, clearly had no intention of arguing about such matters. Although it sounded a bit perfunctory, since she had already indicated her position, Lan felt it was best not to push further.

Just as she was about to bring up the real purpose of her visit, the City Lord suddenly changed the subject and brought up a topic Lan very much did not want to discuss.

“By the way, little Lan, you’re already 20 this year, right? A girl shouldn’t be wielding swords all day long… If you were unsatisfied with the previous suitors I found for you, I’ve recently picked out some new candidates, all of whom are upstanding young gentlemen of remarkable backgrounds. Why don’t you take some time to meet them?”

“Ah…”

Here we go again.

Lan knew that every time she returned home, this process was inevitable.

Indeed, she considered herself somewhat attractive; as the only daughter of the Tuls family, her status was undoubtedly prominent. Those nobles from within and outside the country would certainly be scrambling to climb this towering tree, even if her father’s intention was for them to marry into their family.

Lan understood Tyler’s thoughts; after all, to him, a girl always needed support, or else she wouldn’t be able to hold up her own sky in critical moments as men could.

He shared the same prejudices as her grandfather, filled with many misconceptions, such as believing all magical beasts were inferior creatures and that women were not as capable as men in public life, among others.

Such thoughts seemed laughable to Lan. She currently had no plans to marry, let alone court a vase-like nobleman who likely only sought after her beauty and family status.

“Father, I believe I’ve made it quite clear that I currently have no such intentions. Blade unsharpened, demons unbanished, Lan shall not marry.”

Seemingly anticipating this response, Tyler sighed heavily.

“Sigh, daughter, you are always so stubborn. If you were a boy with such grand aspirations, I would naturally support you fully. After all, eradication of magical beasts and the defense of humanity is the noble mission passed down through the generations of the Tuls family. But a girl… should eventually settle down. I don’t want to, but you are already 20, while other noble girls your age are already blossoming and even holding babies! Your grandpa is always…”

Lan held her head in pain. Once her father started rambling, he would go on and on about various reasons and teachings. The Tuls family was particularly skilled at this, and what’s worse, he spoke from genuine concern and care.

This left her at a loss for words when wanting to retort.

She didn’t even dare to tell her father the true meaning behind the term “Demon Slayer.”

After enduring her father’s monotonous lectures for nearly half an hour without repeating, ranging from a girl’s domestic skills to the responsibilities of noble lineage, seeing that the City Lord showed no signs of stopping, Lan finally had to resort to her usual method.

“Who says a girl can’t stand on her own? Don’t you see Miss Fiery Blossom, one of the three legends of the Royal Capital, who, at just over 20, has made a name for herself, creating legendary tales that many men can only look up to?”

“And what about our current ruler, Her Majesty Queen Liliya of the United Kingdom? She’s a few years younger than me. Are you saying that Her Majesty cannot support this vast kingdom?”

“Oh come on, it’s not the same, daughter…”

“There’s no difference. Alright, father, I’ve made up my mind; what you say is useless. I didn’t come to talk to you about this today.”

Inevitably cutting off the topic, Lan took a deep breath and looked at Tyler Tuls, who seemed to want to persuade her further, and gently spoke.

“Father, regarding Demon Town and the situation in the north of the kingdom, I believe you know better than I do. The contradictions are escalating; we are constantly clashing with the Mountains of Ten Thousand Demons. What do you intend to do next?”

“Hmm? What do you mean, daughter?”

“Alright… let’s put it more directly. The pressing issue, father. The Mountains of Ten Thousand Demons are closed off, and large portions of our main road to the north are locked down, which has already led to economic decline. Now, you’ve been conducting citywide searches for a few demons, stirring up public discontent.”

“Aren’t we, the Tuls family, fighting against external enemies to protect the people? Is this action not a bit misplaced?”

“…”

Tyler suddenly fell silent. The gaze between father and daughter met in the air; perhaps only they understood the meaning behind it.

Although she had learned part of the situation through eavesdropping earlier, Lan decided to ask this prepared question. What she wanted was the answer spoken by her father himself, to clarify just how much their family was hiding from her.

Only then could she decide on her next course of action.

Lan knew her father pampered her; as long as she asked, he would never hide anything, after all… she too was a part of the Tuls family.

After a long silence, the City Lord finally spoke.

His voice was filled with helplessness, guilt, and an undeniable determination.

“Lan, this… is a necessary sacrifice, for the sake of humanity.”

   

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