Chapter 88: A Soundproof Barrier

The Crown Marshal continued looking at Zishan for several seconds after the young Captain finished his salute.

Zishan kept his back straight.

He had already met people far stronger than himself since arriving in Cyrune, and Elinox alone had made the meaning of absurd power very clear to him. Even so, standing in front of the man who commanded the military of an entire Kingdom created a different kind of pressure.

Crown Marshal Ernest Holmes did not need to release Mana. He did not need to glare either.

The sheer size of the man already made Zishan wonder what kind of childhood had resulted in someone growing broad enough to make his military coat look reinforced simply because it was wrapped around him.

’What does this guy eat?’

[The System recommends that the Host continue behaving respectfully.]

’I am behaving respectfully.’

[The Host is currently wondering about the Crown Marshal’s diet.]

’Well, not exactly. I’m just curious. Moreover, I’m speaking through my mind.’

[That distinction may become less useful if the Crown Marshal possesses methods of detecting thoughts.]

Zishan’s expression almost changed. ’Does he?’

The System did not answer, but Zishan became more careful now that it had raised the possibility. After all, this was a world of Magic where almost anything could happen.

Across the room, Ernest’s attention finally moved away from Zishan and returned to his niece.

Something about his expression changed the moment he looked at Elinox. The hardness around his eyes eased enough that Zishan almost wondered whether he had imagined how intimidating the man had looked a few seconds earlier.

"I approve."

Zishan blinked. ’That was it? I thought it would be like the Crown Marshal trying to test me to see if I’d be worthy of being a Captain. Then, I would be pressured, and then I’d wear an ’I-won’t-yield’-type of face...’

Ernest looked toward Elinox. "His appointment as Captain can be entered into the permanent military register. I’ll have the necessary confirmation issued before the end of the day."

Elinox gave a small nod. "Thank you, Uncle."

Zishan looked between them. ’That’s really it?’

He had expected at least questions. He really thought there would be some kind of test. Maybe the Crown Marshal would ask him to demonstrate a Skill or explain why a Level 99 Human had somehow jumped through half the military ranking structure in only a short amount of time.

Instead, the man had looked at him once and approved everything.

Zishan had no idea whether he should feel relieved or offended by how little effort the whole thing required.

Elinox glanced toward him. "Wait outside for a while. I need to speak with my uncle."

"Yes, High General!" Zishan saluted again before turning toward the door.

His hand reached the handle.

The Crown Marshal gave him one last look before turning toward Elinox.

Zishan saluted once more and left the office, closing the door behind him.

Two soldiers stood guard on either side of the entrance. Neither acknowledged him beyond a brief glance. He did not care about it, regardless.

Inside the office, Elinox waited until the door had completely closed before looking toward her uncle. "What did you need to talk about, Uncle—"

She was cut short.

Ernest crossed the room and wrapped both arms around her.

Elinox’s eyes widened. "Uncle!"

The enormous Crown Marshal lifted her enough that her boots nearly left the floor. "You came back!"

Elinox’s face flushed almost at once as she pushed against his chest. "Put me down!"

"I haven’t seen you in days!"

"You saw your clone’s memories!"

"That’s not the same!"

"Uncle!"

Ernest finally placed her back on the floor, though he kept both hands on her shoulders while looking over her from head to toe as though he expected to discover some hidden injury through sheer determination.

Elinox brushed his hands away. "I always tell you to keep this down, Uncle! You’re the Crown Marshal. What happens to your dignity if someone sees you acting like this?"

Ernest scoffed. "I just missed my niece. What’s wrong with that?"

"You’re shouting."

"Nobody can hear us."

Elinox paused.

Ernest tapped one finger near his ear. "Sound Mana Affinity, remember? I put up a soundproof barrier before you even entered the room."

Her eyes narrowed. "You planned this."

"I prepared."

"That’s basically the same thing!"

Ernest ignored the accusation and leaned closer again, inspecting her face. "How have you been, dear? Were you injured anywhere?"

"Stop it, Uncle!" Elinox pushed his face away with one hand, her embarrassment worsening despite herself. "Of course I’m not hurt! You even sent that clone of yours. Dad’s going to scold you again for doting on me too much."

Ernest’s face darkened at once. "Just let him be angry. I don’t care about that old man anyway."

"Uncle..."

"Your father can complain to me personally."

"That’s exactly what he does."

"If he wants a fight, I’ll fight him!"

Elinox stared at him.

Ernest crossed his arms.

She pressed two fingers against her forehead. "That’s not even the point, Uncle."

"It sounds like the point."

Shaking her head, she said, "It isn’t! How did you become the Crown Marshal in the first place when your thought process is like this?"

She sighed afterward, carrying the exhaustion of someone who had already gone through this argument far too many times.

Every time she returned from somewhere dangerous, her mother worried.

Her uncle became unbearable.

Her father was usually the only member of the family trying to remind everyone that she was a High General capable of taking care of herself, which had somehow made the rest of the family accuse him of being too strict.

Elinox looked at Ernest helplessly. "You’re just like Mom. Both of you keep condemning Dad because he doesn’t dote on me every second of the day. I don’t want that. Dad knows what I’m trying to become."

Ernest’s posture relaxed.

Elinox raised her chin. "In my entire life, there’s only one thing I really want right now."

Ernest looked at her with pride.

"I want to surpass you," she continued with a frown.

A grin spread across Ernest’s face. "THAT’S OUR LITTLE GIRL!"

Elinox flinched at the volume despite the soundproof barrier.

Ernest laughed and slapped one hand against his own chest. "Your Uncle Ernest will help you reach that goal!"

Elinox’s expression softened. "Really?"

"Of course!" His grin grew wider. "But I won’t let you surpass me!"

Elinox’s face went blank.

"WAHAHAHAHA!"

"You—"

"This uncle of yours will keep getting stronger too! If you want my position, come take it from me someday!"

Elinox puffed her cheeks slightly. "Hmph!"

Ernest laughed even harder. "Look at that! You finally look eighteen again."

"I always look eighteen." Elinox turned her head away.

Ernest reached over and ruffled the top of her silver-blue hair.

She slapped his hand away. "Stop ruining my hair!"

"I’ll always be proud of you regardless," he said, ignoring the protest. "Even if you’d grown into some completely untalented little kid who couldn’t use a single decent spell, you’d still be my niece."

Elinox looked back at him.

His smile remained wide, though the affection behind it was something she had known for as long as she could remember.

She could behave like this around her family.

And nowhere else.

Outside these walls, Elinox Holmes was the youngest High General in Olmost. Soldiers straightened when she passed. Officers several times her age watched their words around her lest they offend her. Nobles measured every sentence before speaking because nobody wanted to accidentally offend the daughter of Duke Holmes while also irritating one of the strongest military figures in the Kingdom.

Here, her uncle still treated her like the little girl who used to fall asleep on his shoulder.

Her mother was hardly any better.

Her father was the only person in the family who tried to prevent everyone from smothering her with affection, although that effort had created arguments of its own.

Ernest had once accused his brother of raising Elinox like a military project.

Her mother had agreed without hesitation.

Duke Holmes had spent half an hour explaining that teaching their daughter independence was not the same as neglecting her.

Ernest had challenged him to a duel afterward.

Elinox had been twelve back then. That memory made her shake her head.