This Universe Needs Old People - Chapter 74
Only Noblemtl
Apocalypse Needs Old People Episode 074
60. Father (6)
“…so.”
The commander said, placing his clasped hands on the desk.
“To the public, this incident will be concluded as a case where it is true that Lieutenant General Max instigated the murder of Bones, but it was Colonel Sampson who actively committed murder against other soldiers. Since Bones, who instigated the murder, is still alive, his punishment will not be severe, but Lieutenant General Max’s reputation will be tarnished.”
“I don’t think there was a single officer present who thought that Lieutenant General Max’s confession was true. The soldiers who heard the story probably thought the same.”
We were unable to establish Lieutenant General Max’s innocence.
But ironically, Lieutenant General Max’s confession made everyone aware of his innocence.
Even though he could have blamed Bones for everything, confessing to everyone that he did it was something only a real father could do.
Because there’s no way a person like that would have instigated someone to kill their child.
“What will Joseph do?”
We have not found any conclusive evidence that Joseph ordered Colonel Sampson to kill Bones and the other team members.
In addition to the fact that they had heard rumors that the dead colonel was alive and had set people free to search for him, it seemed certain that it was Joseph’s order, as the soldiers who had been tortured by Joseph came forward and confessed that they had killed Colonel Sampson on Joseph’s orders.
However, the reason why Lieutenant General Max was publicly punished instead was because if Josef was punished without evidence, all the pro-Hayden faction would turn away.
And it was not me, but the commander who decided to announce Lieutenant General Max as the culprit, not Josef.
So asking me what to do with Josef was almost like testing.
“It is up to Father to decide what to do with Joseph.”
“Heydam.”
“yes?”
“Avoid private revenge.”
“Do you think I might do something different?”
“okay.”
What is this determination?
The commander seemed to think that I was pretending to follow his orders now, but that I would somehow take revenge on Josef behind his back.
“No, that’s not true. If you really don’t believe me, don’t worry, I won’t go near Josef for a while.”
“okay…….”
The commander still looked doubtful.
No, you don’t trust your own son like that?
At that moment, the door to the commander’s office burst open and Meursault rushed in.
“Your Majesty, this is a big problem! It seems that Haydam-”
My name comes out as soon as I come in?
“What did I do?”
When I asked that question while sitting immersed in the sofa, Meursault opened his eyes wide as if he had just noticed me.
“Heydam, were you here… … ?”
It’s as if I’m not supposed to be here.
“How long have you been here?”
“I’ve been here since morning.”
“Is that so… …?”
“But what is going on?”
Only when the commander asked did Meursault turn his gaze away from me and answer.
“That’s… Captain Joseph is dead.”
“what?”
“Oh, man. That’s really a big deal.”
“… … .”
“Why are you both looking at me?”
“Heydam.”
The commander called me over as if reprimanding me, and I sat up from the sofa as if I felt wronged.
“It’s not me. You saw me here all morning without lifting a finger.”
“That may be true, but if it were you… … .”
No, are you serious?
I asked Meursault.
“Meursault, how did Captain Joseph die?”
“Oh, that’s… I find it a bit strange, too. He was struck by lightning and died during training.”
The commander frowned at those words.
“Lightning?”
“It’s lightning, why do you doubt me?”
“No, what. I thought that if it was Lord Haydam, he would somehow manipulate the lightning to strike Josef’s head.”
“Stop talking nonsense.”
“Well… even if you are Master Haydam, it would be impossible for you to control lightning.”
“What are you talking about? It’s so obvious.”
Nevertheless, the commander looked at me with suspicion for a moment.
Anyway, Commander or Meursault.
I told you you’re so quick-witted.
* * *
[That’s ridiculous!]
Luna, who was in my arms, pecked my chest with her tiny front paws.
[You can use your powers so quickly! That won’t work!]
“Why not?”
[I can’t teach you!!]
Somehow I thought I learned it faster than I thought.
I have a reasonable suspicion that he may have exaggerated the difficulty just because he wanted to teach it.
From the day I heard from Luna that I had developed a power, I practiced using it every day.
Because of that, I think I unintentionally made the people in the area anxious.
By now, he had become so accustomed to the technique that he could strike lightning even at training grounds far away.
Of course, in order to strike the lightning bolt directly on the opponent’s head, it has to be within my field of vision.
In Josef’s case, the position that supervised and managed the training was always the same, so he was able to shoot from a distance.
Well, actually I wasn’t planning on dropping it on your head, I was just going to plant it somewhere nearby…
Considering that there are eyewitness accounts of lightning striking directly on top of one’s head, it seems that this too was a form of divine punishment.
‘It’s a tremendous power, but… … .’
I don’t think I can use it that many times.
Even so, if people keep dying from lightning in one area, it would be suspicious.
It is true that Josef caused the deaths of my precious soldiers, but the commander will not allow me to seek personal revenge.
[By the way, Luna was touched.]
“Didn’t you say you didn’t like that name?”
[A father comes forward and says he is the culprit for his son! That’s really amazing. Family is really awesome!]
‘What a surprise.’
This time, it was because of Lieutenant General Max’s good character that the Solomon ending came about.
If he didn’t step up for Bones, he would have thought of punishing both of his children, Josef and Max, because they are the same.
For the sake of an adopted son, or perhaps even a biological son, there aren’t many people who would come forward and say they are the culprit in such a situation.
This may also be a bias I have, having grown up under not-so-great parents.
But I couldn’t agree with Luna when she said that family was wonderful.
There’s no need to tell this guy that.
If this guy is really the real Haydam, then I took his family away from him.
‘If Luna Moon is really my mother… does this guy really become my older brother?’
The more I thought about it, the more I wished that Luna Moon wasn’t my mother.
[But you, don’t you want to see your dad?]
Luna suddenly asked something out of the blue, so I tilted my head slightly.
“I just saw it.”
[Not Hayden! Your dad from another world!]
“Ah… not really.”
Of course, I have one too, if I were a father.
He is the one who raised me after my mother abandoned me.
‘But that person is probably not my biological father.’
It’s not like you abused me or anything.
Because he was so kind to me that it was creepy.
However, even at a young age, I could tell that he had no interest in me.
I think it was during puberty.
One time I asked him to take me to my biological father, and he laughed as if he had heard a really funny story.
-Unfortunately, there is no other father.
I still don’t know if he is saying that I am my biological father or if he is saying that my biological father is already dead.
Somehow I became afraid to ask more.
[You don’t want to see me? I’m your dad.]
“That person probably doesn’t particularly want to see me or anything. He probably doesn’t even know I’m gone.”
[Meow… Even though they are family, there are times when you don’t want to see them.]
I added belatedly, seeing Luna’s ears drooping.
“Commander Hayden must have wanted to see Haytham so badly. He’s been looking for him for ten years.”
[Really?! No, this has nothing to do with me!]
I guess so.
“Heydam, you are here.”
While I was bickering with Luna, Bones and Lucas opened the door and came in.
These guys are still staying at the commanding officer’s residence.
“Huh? Is that a cat?”
Even though Bones and Lucas came inside, I didn’t hide Luna or anything.
It was impossible to keep him living in the ring forever, and he was bound to get caught someday.
Instead of running away or hiding, Luna stayed in my arms and just looked up at the two of us with her bright blue eyes.
“This is my first time seeing that cat.”
“Me too. You’re cuter than you looked in the picture.”
“Is this the cat you were looking for in the hospital room?”
Oh, by the way, when I woke up in the hospital room, I asked Bones if he had seen the cat.
I still remember that.
It’s because Bones is mentally weak, but he’s smart.
I talked around moderately.
“That’s right. I guess he followed me, hiding in the rescue team’s luggage.”
“He’s a very smart guy.”
These guys would probably believe me if I told them Plato was my son.
Luna yawned deeply and curled up on my lap, trying to fall asleep. Bones and Lucas, both of their large bodies, crouched down next to the bed and watched Luna for a while.
… But how long are these kids going to stay in my room?
“If you’ve seen everything, why don’t you tell me why you came?”
“Oops, the cat was so cute I blinked… … .”
When I see things like this, I realize that these guys are still 18 years old.
Lucas coughed a few times, embarrassed at having been so preoccupied with the cat, and then spoke in an extremely polite manner.
“We… came here to thank you, Heydam.”
“suddenly?”
“You must have already heard that Joseph’s son was struck by lightning.”
Did these guys come here because they thought I killed them?
As I looked at him with anxious eyes, Bones scratched the back of his head and said.
“It was heartbreaking to see that bastard receive divine punishment. In the end, it was that bastard who received divine punishment. If Your Majesty had not believed in Lieutenant General Max’s innocence… wouldn’t it have been so unfair?”
Fortunately, he didn’t seem to be suspicious of me, so I nodded and Bones continued.
“There was absolutely no evidence to prove that Lieutenant General Max was innocent, but it was all thanks to you, Haydam, that everyone, including myself, was able to deeply believe that Lieutenant General Max was innocent. Thank you.”
“Is that something to be thankful for?”
I asked back, not understanding why Bones was thanking me.
“Your father was the one who ended up getting punished. Josef’s death was just an accident. You said everyone knew your father’s innocence, but that only applied to the officers who were there. The regular soldiers had no idea what was really going on. Your father will be remembered as the worst person who instigated the death of his adopted son and got many innocent soldiers involved. The reason he did it that way was because it was beneficial to me. And yet you’re thanking me?”
“Yes. Still, thank you, Haydam.”
“… … .”
Bones looked at me with unwavering eyes.
Lucas glanced at me and Bones, then cautiously interjected.
“I am grateful to you as well, Haydam. Haydam may be wondering why we should thank you when we were unable to prove Lieutenant General Max’s innocence, but we also know that if it had not been known that Lieutenant General Max had been punished, Bones and I would have had a hard time returning to the military. The common soldiers, not knowing the truth, are sympathizing with us instead.”
“I didn’t think about it before I acted.”
“So, I’m still grateful.”
“If you say thank you, please accept it.”
“… … .”
I reluctantly nodded, feeling like I wouldn’t go back unless I was thanked.
As I nodded, Bones smiled with satisfaction and said,
“If you need any help in the future, please feel free to ask. We will give back as much as we have received.”
“Me too. If there’s anything I can do to help, I’d be happy to do so.”
Besides Plato, there are two other people who say this to me.
Even if you say that, these guys won’t be able to help me…
“ah.”
“Why are you doing that?”
“I remembered. You guys will help me.”
“Good timing. What is it?”
“Please feel free to tell us what you want us to do.”
“Are you sure you can help me with anything?”
“Of course. I’d do anything for you, Haydam… And you, Bones?”
“… No, when Haydam-sama talks like that, I suddenly get really anxious.”
That guy Bones has a really good sense.
“Ultimately, it’s for the good of the district, so don’t be too nervous.”
“No, what on earth are you trying to scare me with?”
I smiled at them both and said,
“I’m going to divorce my father.”
“………yes?”