9th Grade Civil Servant In Another World Chapter 118 - White Raven Order ― Erika 2 (3)

I spent the entire weekend meeting with the White Raven Order and my Bletter friends, filling them in on everything that had happened.

I was quite surprised to learn that Oscar hadn’t gone to see off Tan when the Red Dragon troupe departed for the Great Desert, but he himself seemed completely unfazed.

“I’ll see him again eventually.”

Monday.

While Daniel briefly went to check on Tan, I commuted to work with Erika.

Breakfast at the café on the first floor of the office building.

‘This is pretty good. Well, whose company is it anyway? The face of the company should at least provide this much.’

I grinned while eating the smooth and savory omelet.

This café was set up by hiring a chef directly. In other words, the café owner is a Redan Company employee, and the profits go to the company.

“This place is nice, Erika. Good atmosphere too. You chose well.”

“Mmm, well. That person also lost their shop in the fire.”

Erika was busy reading the newspaper placed beside her while drinking coffee, so she answered absentmindedly.

How long had I been quietly spooning my omelet to avoid disturbing her? She suddenly frowned.

“News about your father?”

“How did you know?”

“I can tell just by looking at your expression.”

Emmett Brightner’s name was listed in the obituary section.

To think that someone who had lived so earnestly would become nothing more than a one-line brief when he died. Such is human life.

The café owner approached us as we sat in silence.

“Um, Executive Director. Someone from the old office came by earlier and left some documents.”

It was an official document asking about intentions regarding inheritance processing. How fast, Schufaben administration.

“……What do you think?”

After staring at the text for a long while, Erika folded the paper and set it aside before asking.

“Honestly? Or with manners?”

“Honestly.”

I chewed and swallowed my jam-spread bread, then smiled wickedly.

“Don’t miss the opportunity, you idiot.”

***

The funeral was held in the garden of the Brightner estate.

Hundreds of chairs lined up in rows and an ornately decorated coffin. Guests streaming in endlessly.

Don’t they say the wealthy last three years even when ruined?

No matter how much he’d lost his factory, had considerable assets stripped away, and died of stress, there were still plenty of people willing to see him off on his final journey.

‘No, it’s because of me, isn’t it?’

While making final adjustments to my attire in the guest room, I looked in the mirror and smiled unpleasantly.

‘When a minister’s dog dies, people go to pay condolences.’

It fits that saying perfectly.

His daughter, who was the talk of the town as an executive director of Redan Company, and me, Lucas Redan, known as her boyfriend.

After word got out that Erika and I would be hosting the funeral—or rather, after I essentially spread the rumor—people hurried to prepare to gather around the new power. Just like ants swarming around honey.

‘But that’s how the world works. I’m no different.’

After putting on a necktie tight enough to choke me and straightening the collar of my perfectly fitted suit, I went outside.

“Ready?”

Erika asked anxiously.

Wearing a black dress with a veil and a hat adorned with raven feathers, Erika was—well, it’s a bit cringeworthy to say this to a friend.

“You look really pretty today. Though it’s not something to say at a funeral.”

“What, don’t joke around.”

“Right, it’s a joke. So relax a little.”

I gently massaged Erika’s shoulders and had her take deep breaths.

A few days ago, Erika had asked me to accompany her to the Brightner estate.

“I’m a little scared.”

Her steadfastness in delivering the words “I’m scared” without any wavering, so calmly, made me unable to help but smile.

“Of course.”

When we arrived at the estate, Erika pressed the doorbell with trembling hands, briefly greeted the butler who rushed out, then took a deep breath and shouted at the top of her lungs.

“Mother!!! I’m here!! Let’s talk!!”

It was such a booming voice that my ears rang with pain.

“Ugh, hey!”

“Sorry.”

After a moment, a human shadow appeared at the top of the high staircase visible from the entrance hall.

It was a gaunt woman with a haggard face.

‘That must be Erika’s……’

I was politely offering my greetings when I flinched in surprise.

Though the woman walking down the stairs appeared outwardly elegant but completely lifeless, her eyes alone were blazing with anger, resignation, sadness, and fear.

“……”

The woman came and stood before us. She met Erika’s eyes and remained silent.

A long, tense silence stretched on.

Not a battle of wills, but the kind of silence where both were too nervous to say anything.

“I have something to say.”

Finally, Erika spoke.

“……I’m sorry. For that day, for doing such terrible things. No, for always causing you trouble, for never reconciling with Father until the end. I’m sorry for everything.”

Before she knew it, tears were glistening in her eyes.

She clenched her fists tight and opened her eyes wide to keep the tears from flowing.

“But I will say this much. I don’t regret my choices. If I went back, I’d make the same decisions. No, I’d rather leave home even sooner, or just act in front of Father my whole life. I won’t change.”

I took Erika’s hand. Her stiffened fingers relaxed a little.

“Still, I do regret the things I said to Father. So Mother, I won’t ask for forgiveness. You told me never to come back, but please give me just a little time.

Once the funeral is over, I’ll never visit this place again. I don’t need the inheritance either. I’ll just wait until you’re ready. No, even if you resent me for life, I won’t feel wronged.

Just let me help with the funeral. Father would want that too. He loved having the house bustling with people.”

The woman, who had been listening silently without reaction, finally showed a change in expression. She looked slightly surprised, then turned and went back inside.

Erika let out a small sigh.

“Um, did it work?”

“Probably. I think she gave permission. Yeah, she won’t chase us away.”

“That’s a relief. So, what do you want to do now?”

After that came sending invitations, posting the time and place in newspapers, decorating the garden, fitting the coffin and burial clothes……

I worked myself to the bone as if I’d truly become a son-in-law.

***

After finishing her deep breathing, Erika took my hand.

“Alright. Let’s go out now.”

I could feel clammy sweat through the rough texture of her thin lace gloves. I carefully escorted her to the garden.

The roster of mourners was quite diverse.

Mostly upper-class figures, but there were also fallen nobles wearing worn luxury goods, soldiers brimming with vigor, small business owners darting their eyes around like mice, and—ah, there in the special seating, even Daniel, who had come as an employer.

Anyway, with such a variety of people gathered, Mr. Brightner would be pleased to see it.

I spotted Richard among the mourners and exchanged brief nods. Then I followed Erika and stood beside the platform.

“Today, I extend infinite gratitude to all of you who came to see my father off on his final journey. My father was such a kind and good person……”

Erika’s eulogy was perfect.

Flawlessly smooth sentences, a trembling voice when speaking of memories with the deceased, just the right amount of tears.

Exactly that sincere and exactly that hollow, appropriately so. A perfectly comfortable delivery.

When the eulogy ended, people applauded reverently.

“Thank you. Now then……”

At that moment, someone raised their hand high and shouted.

“Excuse me, but I have a question!”

“Yes?”

“According to what’s known publicly, Miss Brightner was estranged from the late Mr. Brightner—when did you reconcile? Also, you mentioned that Mrs. Brightner’s health isn’t good—is she unable to attend even the funeral?”

It was an utterly rude question. Everyone glared at him and murmured.

“Looks like some journalist scum.”

“How could he do something so tactless!”

“But it is a bit strange.”

The journalist looked confident.

“Please answer, Miss Brightner!”

Standing below the platform, I glanced up at Erika. Her hand gripping the microphone trembled.

‘Crossing the line.’

I spoke coldly.

“What are you doing? Throw him out.”

“Yes, sir!”

Crash!

The servants rushed over, knocked the journalist down, and dragged him away.

“Ahhhhh! Wait! Miss Brightner! Just one word please!”

After the screaming journalist was thrown outside the gate, the garden became quiet again.

By the way, the servants of this house now seem to think of me as something like their new master. This is burdensome.

‘Can’t be helped.’

Shrugging my shoulders, I extended my hand to Erika. She handed me the microphone.

“If this happens again, we’ll call the police. This is a place to mourn the deceased. Please refrain from rude behavior.”

When my cold voice rang out, the people who had been whispering shut their mouths with a start.

The funeral proceeded peacefully again.

The final ceremony.

Time to place flowers on the deceased’s coffin and bid farewell.

I placed a pure white rose beside Mr. Brightner’s face and muttered to myself.

‘I’m sorry. Resent me instead of Erika. The thief who stole your daughter and even corrupted her with strange ideas.’

And if there is an afterlife, I hoped that even now he would understand Erika’s heart.

***

“How are you feeling?”

“……I don’t know.”

Several days had passed since the funeral.

Erika had taken time off and shut herself in at home, and I would visit once a day to look at her face before leaving.

“What’s with that expression? You seem strange today.”

“Mother……”

Erika hesitated for a long while with a trembling voice before speaking.

“She sent the butler to tell me. To come visit the house once.”

“That’s good, isn’t it?”

To think she could be forgiven this quickly. But Erika shook her head.

“No. Mother hates me. But then why is she calling me?”

“Who knows.”

Though I pride myself on having insight into people’s hearts, honestly, I don’t know.

The emotions of a woman who had grown weary of the fighting between husband and daughter and had lived with her mouth shut for ten whole years. That’s beyond what I can dare to guess.

Erika sighed and asked me.

“Will you come with me?”

“Of course.”

The quieted Brightner estate had a somewhat lonely atmosphere, but was still beautiful.

Mrs. Brightner was waiting for us beyond the garden. Still gaunt and haggard, but at least some color had returned to her complexion.

“……”

“……”

Erika silently approached her mother. Mrs. Brightner, who had been quietly watching her daughter, finally spoke after a long while.

“Follow me.”

I was startled by her voice, hearing it for the first time—it was as clear as a lark’s song. There was something cool about it that seemed a bit similar to Erika.

The lady led us to her bedroom. The corridor was quiet with not a single servant passing by, and only the awkward footsteps of the three of us echoed.

A spacious and tidy bedroom that felt somewhat gloomy, perhaps because all the curtains were drawn, making it dark.

The lady took out a small key from her pocket, opened a drawer, and pulled out a tattered notebook, handing it to Erika.

“I think it would be better for you to have this.”

The lady’s eyes, as she spoke calmly, held none of the complex emotions I had seen before.

Erika hesitated before taking the notebook.

“Thank you, Mother.”

“Now go.”

As soon as we left, the door closed behind us.

When we returned to Erika’s house, an even more surprising situation was unfolding.

Several wagons loaded with various goods were parked on the main road.

Even though Erika had legally renounced the inheritance, Mrs. Brightner had sent her quite a lot of cash and goods.

“If this was going to happen, why did she give me just the notebook separately?”

Erika tilted her head in puzzlement. She hadn’t said a word on the way back and hadn’t opened the notebook at all.

Anyway, it took quite a while to bring all the luggage into the house. All the servants had come here.

“Miss, we’ll be going now.”

“Thank you for your hard work.”

After the butler and servants returned, Erika, who had been looking at the mountain of goods piled up in the living room, turned and looked up at me.

“You’ll help me organize, right?”

“Sure, it would take forever to do it alone.”

When we actually started, there was so much that we had to call our friends too.

“It seems like mostly company materials.”

Daniel said while struggling to move piles of books and documents.

“It appears the lady wanted to entrust Erika with company-related items.”

Richard replied while examining heavy factory equipment.

“But there’s no factory anymore.”

Georg muttered while glancing at Erika, and Erika patted his head.

“It’s okay. You can speak comfortably.”

Now that I think about it, something I notice every time I see him—Georg has grown quite tall. He’s probably at eye level with Erika now, if not taller.

“Hey! You help out too!”

“I am helping. Organizing this stuff is also work.”

Oscar got annoyed at me as I sat on top of the pile of luggage examining the notebook. But I didn’t budge. Using this body for physical labor is out of the question.

“Such a cunning guy.”

Ignoring Oscar’s grumbling, I focused on reading through the notebook. Since Erika had asked me to check it first, I had to fulfill my duty.

At first, I thought it was a diary.

‘Is it okay to read the deceased’s diary without permission?’

However, after flipping through several pages, I realized this wasn’t a personal diary but some kind of ‘log.’

‘A record of incidents that happened at the factory?’

While quickly skimming through the contents, I paused for a moment.

“This is……”

On one page, there was a photo of a familiar plant attached.

“Hey, help out a little.”

Oscar climbed up onto the pile of luggage with a grunt.

“What are you looking at so intently? Huh, what’s that? It looks familiar somehow.”

“What?”

“Hmm, is it not? I told you I copied blueprints and various things from our factory’s research lab. There was definitely some research report then. Erika! Do you still have the records I gave you last time?”

Oscar looked down and shouted.

So this mountain ginseng-like plant was at the airship assembly factory, at Mr. Brightner’s factory, and also in the Colt Mountains……?