Future Father-In-Law, Adoptive Father?

Heian Ciemnosc drove through the Academy's territory until he reached Elena's master's mansion. There, he remained in his Ornament, trying to recompose himself from the incoming, strange meeting he would have with Teacher Conde. Even then, he couldn't help but feel funny and was feeling nervous. He couldn't tell if it was because the adoption matter as a son or meeting his father-in-law. Both were quite something, especially since he had only had one parent throughout his life so far.

Heian Ciemnosc exited the Ornament at last. He walked over to the mansion’s railing, covered by the array formation’s protective layer. If it wasn’t him, it would’ve activated even before he could get close, let alone touch and open it as Heian Ciemnosc did. Just as he stepped in, a maid came over and tried grabbing his dark coat. Heian Ciemnosc turned to face her and shook his head, not being unnecessarily cruel to a new person in this mansion. Elena’s master must be thinking of his adopted daughter since he’s been out for long periods of time.

The maid was an aqueous Beast, with fins behind her humane ears and a slightly triangular face that was by no means unattractive. However, she was a virgin and only at the Spirit Gathering realm. Clearly, she had won the lottery and caught Teache Conde’s eyes somewhere. Heian Ciemnosc’s medallion helped him know she was a Sub Student, and her position was the lowest among them from last year’s test.

After she was slightly stunned and somewhat scared, Heian Ciemnosc patted her head with a casual expression and gestured for her to lead the way. After being startled, she started walking with a small, timid smile and without saying anything. As the mermaid-ish Beast led the way, Heian Ciemnosc saw more and more maids and even butlers around. Only some were from the Academy. The rest might be from the world outside the Blackotia Kingdom.

Heian Ciemnosc walked for 2 minutes before being led into a hall with not-so-large but still large doors. The maid pressed a button, and a token in her Covert Space bag twinkled before the entrance emitted a dull sound and began opening. She stepped inside and continued leading Heian Ciemnosc as he saw Teacher Conde and Elena talking, with the former having a proudish smile on his lips.

The maid brought Heian Ciemnosc to a seat at the table, which exposed this to be a dining hall. It was small and not fully lighted. This dimly lit design seemed exceptionally cozy as Heian Ciemnosc sat on his chair. The table wasn’t longer than a meter and less wider than half a meter. He was on one side of the room facing the north while another 2 chairs were to his west and north.

Heian Ciemnosc saw the maid leave as Elena and Teacher Conde walked towards him. Teacher Conde appeared mature and relaxed as Elena simply looked at him from afar. They took their seats. Elena was before him and her master to his west. Heian Ciemnosc sat with his back straight but looking as soft as a feather with his dark coat still on.

“Hello, Heian Ciemnosc,” Teacher Conde said after glancing at both youngsters at his table. They looked at each other without saying much. But being an old expert at love, Teacher Conde could only feel sighful of their growing relationship. Heian Ciemnosc looked at him and nodded, “Teacher, nice to meet you again. We should speak of the important matters at hand before the food arrives.”

“Mn,” Teacher Conde slightly nodded as Elena looked at Heian Ciemnosc still, her eyes as if only he existed, and moved the kitchenware around her place a little. Teacher Conde brought 2 documents from his Covert Space bag before placing them on the table, looked at Heian Ciemnosc, and spoke with ample precision. “This one is the required signatures of all parties, including my daughter’s, to adopt you as my son and as that of my future partner. Her sign is here, as well.”

“This one is for…” Teacher Conde momentarily stopped and moved his eyes to look at Elena. It was only now she changed her stance and lowered her hand with her hands on her lap as she slightly blushed and averted her eyes from her foster father. “For taking my daughter’s hand. It’s all there. Please check it out. My words are one thing, but I trust you can see the nature behind these documents. Take your time, food arrives in 15 minutes.”

Saying that Teacher Conde reclined his back on his seat and closed his eyes to relax. On the other hand, Heian Ciemnosc looked at the documents, or more precisely, at the adoption one. After analyzing, mostly losing his gaze as he looked in its direction, and Elena watched him with curious eyes, he finally spoke. “Teacher… err, this one won’t be necessary.”

“Hm?” Teacher Conde opened his eyes and looked at Heian Ciemnosc and the document he raised in the air with his right hand. It was the marriage document. He looked at Elena first, then at Heian Ciemnosc, noticing none of them were worried about the latter’s decision. He frowned and inquired, “Why is that so?”

He didn’t question Heian Ciemnosc’s motives if he didn’t want to be with Elena. Even if Heian Ciemnosc didn’t want to marry his daughter, this kid’s strong hold on his promises to help her gain glory to her name would be enough. However, Heian Ciemnosc answered immediately, filled with confidence that placed Teacher Conde’s worries and thoughts instantly down.

“One of my wives has the ability to form a marriage bond through nature,” Heian Ciemnosc began. “Using a document like this is nothing. I also feel it is somewhat insulting to my wife and to my future marriage with your daughter. With your permission, I’ll have Elena become my wife and I her husband in this way. I won’t have it any other way.”

“Ho-hahahaha!” Teacher Conde and Elena were slightly dumbfounded. Elena knew Heian Ciemnosc wanted to marry her for real. She just wasn’t sure what he meant. If anything, Elena was worried that signified that he’d do so only when he could impregnate her. Now, hearing his words, she was pleasantly surprised and glad! As for TEacher Conde, he was just as speechless as she was but felt even more in good spirits after hearing Heian Ciemnosc’s motive.

Knowing what marrying through nature’s bonding, Teacher Conde became even more pleased with this son-in-law, adopted son of his. Even if that would only come true in the future. “There is no problem, Heian Ciemnosc. I give you all my permission to do as you please…. Actually, if you don’t mind me asking… could it… could… you… help me ask your wife if she would be willing to do the same with me and…”

Before Teacher Conde could finish his words, Heian Ciemnosc smiled smoothly and lightly said, “With Vice headmaster Sonora?”

“Err… yes,” Teacher Conde became awkward as he nodded, losing most of the maturity he showed earlier. Maybe he felt guilty, thought he didn’t deserve it, or that he was taking advantage of Vice headmaster Sonora’s position, but Heian Ciemnosc didn’t comment on it. After thinking and figuring that it wouldn’t be inappropriate to ask his Mei Mei about this, Heian Ciemnosc slightly nodded. “I’ll see if she’s willing. After all, she’d have to call you Uncle from now on.”

“Ah, I wouldn’t dare. Ahem, Elena?” Teacher Conde shook his head and appeared humble. He looked at Elena, whose eyes had become dreamy, and ‘I will die for you!’ as she became entranced looking at his fiance. She blinked repeatedly and quickly before turning to face her foster father. Yet, those brown eyes were as if not even truthfully looking at him. “Yes, father?”

“Mn,” he became content with her being more comfortable calling him that in front of others, no longer an outsider. Teacher Conde then started chatting with Heian Ciemnosc and Elena, asking a little about their previous adventures in the first war last year or in their recent missions. With a blushed face, Elena spoke about the little dates they had in between and their cooperation in fighting others together, even if they were weaklings.

… After a quarter of an hour, Heian Ciemnosc heard footsteps outside as the maid from before and another dozen came walking with humongous dinner plates. Each weighed 30 kilograms, whereas 99% came from the contents hidden under the plate covers. Heian Ciemnosc salivated by looking at them and the maids but hid the latter, although Elena’s eyes rolled. It was his Master’s fault for being so caring out of nowhere and letting hundreds of maids enter the mansion.

Each maid was beautiful and had specific characteristics. Her father didn’t want to bring total beauty, so he fetched those with fewer attributes. However, contrary to expectation, Heian Ciemnosc’s salivation was also due to that. This error in judgment, however, was not something this foster father of both had to worry about for the time being.

After they left, only the food remained on the table. Conde did not waste any other second and declared their diner to have started. Immediately, smelling those roasted pieces of meat with the unique scent of their delicious skin asking to be wolfed down, Heian Ciemnosc grabbed from a dozen different plates before filling up his own as it formed a little tower. He didn’t stop there and immediately brought many drinks, some of whose liquor was mediocre but tasted good.

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Even if he got a little tipsy, it would immediately wash away with the rest of the food. Elena tried drinking at his pace, but she became slightly tipsy after following his footsteps for an hour, so she stopped and looked at her father with round eyes. Without saying anything, Conde looked at her with his cheeks full and nodded with narrowed eyes. He was busy enjoying some of the food. With such pleasantries and still wearing her dress, she started wolfing down the food, smearing her cheeks and even her forehead with delicious grease that could kill a civilian if they unknowingly drank it.

This continued for 3 hours until the maids and butlers no longer prepared more food for them. At last, Heian Ciemnosc left his fiancée and Conde half the meat in the diner. While Conde gave half his part to his daughter, he still ate like a pig and enjoyed the dinner. It wasn’t as extensive in variety as a banquet would be and lacked great liquor to stun Heian Ciemnosc, but it was overall a good time.

Elena ate the second most, feeling again spoiled by her father, who wouldn’t give her Powerful Stones or differential treatment besides the halberd and her little birdy tool, Taeo. As she enjoyed the food, her eyes constantly crossed with Heian Ciemnosc’s, who looked to be enjoying the food as much as she did. Silently, they played with each other’s feet under the table as Conde kept wolfing down his smaller portion.

“Buuurp, aah~...” Conde leaned back on his chair and looked at the ceiling, patting his stomach somewhat pleased. He looked down at the kids and said, “You kids have no idea how heavy it is to endure the desire for this kind of dinner. When you grow ol… When you grow more powerful, the less you remember food. Well, Heian Ciemnosc might not forget it, but others quickly do. When we return to a peaceful environment, or at least one that doesn’t require us to remain alert all day for weeks, it’s like a vacuum showing the void in our chests.”

“Aah, this is nature,” Conde said, sitting up properly. Elena was laid back on her seat, her were lips still being cleaned by her little tongue as she gazed at the ceiling. Heian Ciemnosc was fine, still feeling slightly hungry, but it wasn’t influential. Heian Ciemnosc nodded at Conde’s words before taking the adoption document out of his Covert Space bag and placing it on the table where food wouldn’t stain it.

“... After I sign this, are we… related?” After a reflective pause, Heian Ciemnosc said with his left hand on the document. Conde looked at him serenely and slowly nodded, gazing into Heian Ciemnosc’s darkest eyes as if he could understand his thoughts. Heian Ciemnosc no longer hesitated and quickly used his dark Power Energy to sign his name onto the paper. Even though Conde wanted him to accept this situation, he didn’t expect him to be so quick in deciding.

“I… might not be able to call you as Elena does, but… From now on, I, Heian Ciemnosc, see you as my foster father. But only because of Elena,” Heian Ciemnosc added, clarifying his view into this sudden family he got. He was thankful and didn’t hesitate when Teacher Puru and Sharina did something similar to him before. But he only knew about Teacher Conde from Elena’s words and stories.

“I understand,” Conde nodded as he placed his forearms on the table before taking the document and looking at it. Afterwards, he passed it to Elena, who said with a smile after reading through it and seeing Heian Ciemnosc’s signature on it.

“Mn, from now on, we’re siblings!” Elena’s words made Heian Ciemnosc roll his eyes, but he slightly smiled. Then, she said while looking at the document, “Stop overthinking my fath- oh no, our father’s intentions. Although he looks like that and acts in those ways, he is very emotionally intelligent. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have been able to start moving on with his life. Well, Vice headmaster Sonora’s moves on him also helped.”

“Ey…” Conde looked at his daughter and raised his eyebrows as he lowered his head. He couldn’t help but notice the difference between his Elena having already turned into Heian Ciemnosc’s Elena. Conde mentally sighed in his heart. Without being stern this time, he said, “First, I find my little daughter suddenly becoming a woman the next time I’m back home. Then, I find out the entire world knows about a relationship not even I was aware of? What’s next? How many babies have you hidden from me? Hm?!”

“Daaaaaaaaddddaaauuh…” Elena shouted as if she was emitting a shrill cry. Heian Ciemnosc grinned from the left corner of his mouth and tilted his head to the left ever so charmingly. Conde smiled triumphantly, but Elena became bothered and threatened to leave the table before their ‘family’ chat finished. With this sudden teenager-like behavior, the father was forced to acquiesce. Heian Ciemnosc looked on as they incorporated him into their little moments.

With the night going, it was soon time to rest, although they could’ve just kept going for hours until morning. It wasn’t in the traits of all those 3 battle-lusted in the dining hall to just chat for hours. After an hour, Conde looked at Heian Ciemnosc while Elena was always dreamily looking at the pale teenager. “Heian Ciemnosc, I see you’re close to a breakthrough. You can take Elena’s meditation room. I still haven’t built yours here. How about that?”

“Mm,” Heian Ciemnosc murmured to show he was thinking. He then answered, “Thank you, foster… father. But I prefer to be by my Master’s side when breaking through. Although giving her a surprise wouldn’t be bad, there’s barely something that can escape her eyes and Spirit Sense. But I may spend some time here in my free time. I’m sure.”

“Mn, I understand,” Conde said, his eyes showing reverence as he seemed to think about something or someone. Elena gave Heian Ciemnosc a raise of her left eyebrow, her eyes becoming scarcely lusty and playful. Heian Ciemnosc ignored her lest he showed their crazy times alone. Heian Ciemnosc would let Elena ask their foster father for some time together by herself. He didn’t want to be here to look at his adoptive father look weirdly at him.

“My team is returning soon from training on the battlefields. Once they are back, I’ll have them diligently cultivate. How long does foster father think the war will last?” Heian Ciemnosc added after a slight pause in the dining hall. Conde nodded and looked at Heian Ciemnosc as he thought of something. “Mn, I saw your team in the frontlines a few times. They really used their first paycheck to get 10 Fighters, huh? Good for them, they’ve made great advances.”

“But they still lack something. That Violet girl might be a good leader and learn fast, but you are their spirit. When they return, you better don’t let them down again. They adore fighting but are willing to throw everything away and fight beside you more than anything. Good job.” Conde became pensive and paused before adding. “It might take half a year before it is over. Why, kid?”

“...” Heian Ciemnosc didn’t speak right after, falling silent to Conde’s words. After a few seconds, he looked down, drank what was left of his glass, and said. “I heard many things about the ongoing events in the world. With the participation to enter a Dimension at the end of the year, which we always get a few spots because of the Academy’s reputation… Anyway. Oh, and I know. My team still has so many things to learn. They are far from being ready. Besides, this is only my First Step team. They still have to break into the Second Step before they can start finishing my training.”

“Training, huh?” Conde looked at Heian Ciemnosc challengingly, “You already think you know everything in the world, then?”

“Not for now. I still haven’t participated in many space battles, and my experience with higher Steps is null… Other than almost dying because of a little goddess.” Heian Ciemnosc said somewhat weirdly. Right after, a small giggle came from before him, “Hehehe.”

‘Goddess?’ Conde thought inside his head. But other than perhaps almost dying in a battle because of a beauty or something, Conde didn’t put any more thought into that and spent a few minutes chatting with Heian Ciemnosc, getting to know each other. To the side, Elena attentively watched as she kept silent, letting the men speak of menily things here and there.

… After a while, Conde finally had to leave, allowing Heian Ciemnosc to depart and Elena to send him off. Without a maid around them, she brought him outside the dining hall and led him towards the kitchen so that he could get a few extra ingredients. After all, she knew about his goal to become the best culinary artist in the world. When they arrived, a dozen maids in the kitchen were busy cleaning, meditating, and checking things out.

“... Here are the rare ones you asked for… and these are from me. I like these a lot. Try to make a few new ones with these, alright? Surprise me,” Elena said as she walked to a stove, opened it, and took a few ingredients out. Turning around, she passed them into Heian Ciemnosc’s hands, who then directly sent them into his Covert Space bags. She spoke every ingredient’s name but didn’t specify what they were for.

Heian Ciemnosc had told her what kind of requisites he was looking for and knew about the strange things that riddle even Heian Ciemnosc about himself. Heian Ciemnosc nodded and effortlessly identified them, not confusing or confused with the ingredients as Elena did this little master class to her future husband. Finally, they finished looking through the things as they slowly fell silent.

Rustle, rustle.

In the middle of the kitchen, suddenly, Elena slowly turned her head as her eyes looked into Heian Ciemnosc’s darkest eyes. He only looked back for 2 seconds before grabbing her by the waist and sat her against a drawer with crystal doors. Without caring about the young and old maids around, he started eating her mouth for several minutes before he felt it was enough.

Elena was let down to set her feet on the ground as Heian Ciemnosc’s gentle actions tenderized her stubborn heart. With an exchange of farewell glares, he left the kitchen, leaving Elena with hazy eyes and the maids feeling like love was in the air. Oh, but this would just be one of many sightings of the terrible little black monster of the Academy making the Academy’s future Headmaster act all girly and coy.

Vice versa, there would be sightings of the future Headmaster taming the flesh-devourer that even those in the Second Step already started feeling trepidation against.

…