Grand Foreigner (Chapters 1- 200)

Chapter 192

Mordred was in the worst state of mind imaginable... No, not the worst actually, perhaps unfortunately, Mordred had something to compare his current feelings with, and Mordred's current state was not as bad as his past state when he had had to kill his father himself.

But it does come pretty close to that.

What was the reason for Mordred's current predicament? As it was easy to guess, it had to do with his father.

Mordred could even laugh at the strange situation he's in. Oddly enough, for some reason, every time Mordred finds himself utterly distraught – somehow, someway, his father would be the cause.

At first, Mordred was sad because he was running away from his father, while being so utterly unable to leave him alone, staying in his shadow, literally, getting more distraught at each failure to call out to his father. Then Ainz had caught him, and for a second, Mordred even thought he had found something to talk with his father about, something that he could use as a reason to be close with his father.

Before finding out that, yes, he had indeed found a topic of conversation with his father. One topic that is. That brief respite of joy didn't last long, until he was again brought to the depths of sadness.

No, of course, considering that up to this point Mordred had not communicated with his father at all, the resulting opportunity to at least dine near him was a distinct improvement. Especially considering that the food Archer was cooking was really excellent.

However, although Mordred was able to strike up a suitable conversation with his father – about taste preferences and the like – this was where Mordred's successes ended.

When Mordred was still able to overcome his fear and, during the discussion of another meal, neatly ask his father a question about their past?

Nothing.

There was no response from Arthuria – not a twitch of her eyebrow or even a change of facial expression, least of all a single word. The question was simply ignored by Arthuria as easily as she ignored any other question from Mordred.

After this question, Mordred, realizing that he had exhausted all his reserves of courage for the coming months. There she was back on her original position, as his own face turned pale with fear, yet burning scarlet with shame and anger. She had once again fled away – and now there would be no more chances he could talk with his father in the near future.

His father had left Chaldea, going with Ainz to resolve the Singularity.

And now, Mordred, because of his weakness, has lost another chance – perhaps even his last chance – to make contact with his father.

"Grarch!" Mordred made a sound, something between the roar of a wounded bear and an attempt to clear his throat with a cough, before he lunged at Jalter.

Bringing his blade above his head for a hard blow, Mordred had opened up her defenses for a moment – and Jalter took the chance, striking the back of her spear-sword into Mordred's rib cage. Mordred halted for a moment in her charge, stuck in the air at the end of Jalter's spear. Then Jalter retracted her spear, making it flutter in the wind, before she struck the left side of Mordred's face with her armored glove, making the insides of his head jingle and his vision to blur for a second.

Mordred came to, a moment later, lying on the ground, and Jalter, standing beside him, was holding out her hand to him.

Mordred, trying to hide his embarrassment for losing so quickly, only hummed disinterestedly, then pushed himself up on his own, ignoring the outstretched hand.