The Regressed SSS-Rank Water Mage Wants To Live a Calm Life-Chapter 39: Love

Spade closed the door behind him, walking straight toward the couch by the side. And he sat down, exhaling in satisfaction as he leaned back.

"Greetings, guildmaster."

Gislow scoffed, facing forward, gaze focusing on the sparring mercenaries in the sandy arena below.

The old man licked his dried lips.

"We’re alone."

"Apologies. How’ve you been, father?"

Hearing Spade’s question, Gislow’s face lit up, and he smiled warmly. He quite liked that word ’father.’

He’d loved the word ever since he adopted Spade, whose parents died untimely in a war where Gislow had been opportuned to participate when Spade was only a boy.

Now, after raising Spade with love like his own child for years, that boy had grown to become a man. Even a father. 𝒇𝒓𝒆𝒆𝙬𝒆𝒃𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝒎

Gislow’s smile widened. When he died, Spade, who was currently the vice guildmaster, would be the one to inherit his guild.

Gislow cleared his throat, and he replied gruffly:

"I haven’t been well ever since a certain son of mine decided not to visit me for the past two weeks."

As he spoke, the old man’s eyes never left Wabi’s fight below.

Spade chuckled.

"I’m sorry, but you know how it is with Martha, and she’s still recovering from delivery. I have to be with her and help take care of our newborn child."

Ah. He always forgot he was a grandfather now.

Gislow smiled bitterly. The fact that his son had gotten a child with the woman he loved was a reason to be cheerful, but... for some reason, it pricked at his heart.

It felt like watching his son achieve something he never could, yet yearned daily for. A family with his love. But alas, fate had been so cruel. Death had been so cruel. He never had a child with his wife before she died, and he vowed not to ever lie with another woman.

Well, truthfully, it wasn’t even his ninety-year-old vow that stopped him, it was the feeling, ever so strong in his heart. He just couldn’t see himself with another woman.

But this only meant that Gislow cherished his only son.

Gislow nodded.

"I understand."

"Gratitude," Spade replied.

"And my grandson? How is he?"

Gislow narrowed his eyes as he watched Wabi’s fight. The young man had used one of his short spears to parry Wabi’s attack and, in a split second, brought his other blade to Wabi’s throat.

Wabi had lost. And the clanging sounds had finally stopped.

Gislow smiled.

Just then, Wabi’s gaze found Gislow’s.

The mercenary, with bloodied lips, smiled as his eyes met Gislow’s. And he winked.

’...Maybe he had gone easy on the young man?’

"Granddaughter, father. She’s a girl."

Gislow, with a soft chuckle, turned away from the window and walked toward his chair. He sat down and sighed.

"Ah," Gislow shrugged. "You know how hard it is to differentiate the genders of newborns."

Spade only chuckled, hollow eyes softening.

"It’s the fifth time you’ve said that."

"So," Gislow leaned forward, interlocking his fingers. "What brought my little family man to my humble office today?"

Spade cleared his throat, adjusting his posture and sitting upright.

"I’ve been hearing some interesting rumors lately."

"Let me guess, they’re about the new mage that I made an S-rank. If it’s about that, then you need not worry, didn’t you hear about how he cleared the red–"

"Not that, father... but it is related to him."

Gislow furrowed his brows, staring at Spade’s serious expression.

"In what way?" Gislow asked.

Spade leaned forward.

"Kelmont."

Gislow’s eyes widened in realization, then narrowed back in quiet annoyance as he gnashed his teeth.

Again? Kelmont was trying this bullshit of poaching his people again!

Gislow stopped gnashing his teeth, and he sighed in grim resignation as he rubbed his forehead.

He should’ve expected this the moment it was confirmed that Maxwell had cleared the red valley three days ago. It was something even he couldn’t do. Something not anyone he knew could do, for that matter–

Well, maybe except Blank. But that brat had been missing for years.

"Kelmont..."

That kid had even tried to poach Gislow’s son, Spade, who was a 6th-circle wind mage.

Gislow looked up at Spade, who held his chin.

"What exactly are these rumors you heard?"

Spade shrugged.

"I have people in the cardinal authorities. Kelmont plans to secure another major pawn to use in the incoming war against those beast tamers."

"Ananca Empire."

"Right. He needs a new Mage Knight of high level to uplift his soldiers’ spirits. And it just so happens that we declared disinterest in involving our mercenaries in their petty territorial war."

Gislow sighed, sinking back into his chair, about to rub his forehead once more.

Then he paused. And a light flashed through his eyes.

"Father?" Spade called.

Gislow remembered.

He remembered that look that he recognized in Maxwell’s eyes. The look that told him the young man’s story.

Maxwell was chasing after something. And that thing definitely wasn’t glory or fame or the other vanities that came with being an exalted war hero.

The young man had even rejected his executive offer. He treated the S-rank status as a means to a desired end rather than an achieved goal.

Gislow breathed in.

’Maxwell did say he was going to retire early when he made enough money. I wonder if he’ll retire soon.’

He breathed out.

’I’d have to give his ally, Vin, the executive position. He has proved his worth by clearing the valley with Maxwell. It is enough merit. I hope that’ll be enough to gain the favor of a 7th-circle with boundless potential.’

Gislow looked at his son.

’So that even when I’m dead, he’ll look down on my son favorably.’

"Father?" Spade called with widened eyes. "Just who is this Maxwell that cleared Red Valley and attracted the gaze of the Emperor?"

Gislow grinned.

"He’s a man who will not be swayed by worldly things, that I can assure," Gislow began, "And if I have sensed right, he’s chasing after something heavier than his own heart."

Spade raised his brows.

"And what might that thing be, Father?"

Gislow chuckled, glancing at the picture that rested on his desk as he said:

"Love."