Surprise, relief, mockery, indifference, all kinds of emotions flashed in his siblings' eyes.
It felt like all the attention Finlay hadn't gotten since birth was now directed at him.
'At the very least, my perpetual air cosplay is gone.'
His rank in their eyes rose from nothing to somewhere above it.
Finlay calmly picked up his glass, and closing his eyes, took a slow, measured sip from it.
He, never one for extroverts in his past world and after more than a week in this world in almost complete solitude, needed to calm down from this unfamiliar attention.
Throwing all the stares out of his mind, he remembered his purpose.
'If the secret Hope told me about was true, then I have to get into this Great Wasteland no matter what.'
Becoming the Family representative on this expedition was the easiest path.
Even though he didn't like the word 'Night', and the word 'Ever' he disliked even more, he had to do it.
Otherwise, someday, Eternal Night would be the only thing left in this world as the dark future he had witnessed.
Opening his eyes, Finlay skipped everyone else and met his eyes with His.
Was it because of his identity as a Demigod?
As soon as he did, goosebumps ran through Finlay's body, like the sight of a top predator.
If he had to describe it, it would be…
Terrifying.
Blue eyes like a merciless sky, a cold stare like the sharpest sword, devoid of any feeling or emotion.
In Finlay, on the contrary, waves of strong emotions that had been slumbering deep within him began to awaken, along with it affecting his will to resist his Father, suppressing it and causing him to want to lower his gaze and bow his head as usual.
Soon only one thought remained in his mind.
I can't stand up to him.
Clenching his fists until his nails dug into his skin, he cursed to himself, not giving in to that inevitable urge.
Still, as merciless as it was, compared to the grim and despair of the future, it was still bearable.
Eventually he endured his Father's gaze without backing down.
Did a look of surprise appear in his eyes?
Ruden was still in his seat, not taking his eyes off Finlay.
Finally, he answered him.
"Denied."
...His decision came even sooner than expected.
"But Father, you said one of us could go represent our family, didn't you? I only took advantage of that while the others hesitated."
Deciding to be bold, he pointed out the obvious gap in his previous words.
"Denied."
...Despite this, his answer didn't change.
However, Finlay's determination hadn't faded one bit either.
"I insist, Father."
"Denied."
Once again, the same short answer.
Just as Finlay was about to take a more serious approach, help came from an unexpected direction.
"Let him do it."
Normally no one dared speak to Father in such a manner, so Finlay could tell without looking who it was without looking.
"Remy, my daughter, you know better than anyone that your brother lacks the skills for this task."
"I'll be there too, so it won't be a big deal."
"It's not just about his personal safety. As one of us, he carries more than just his life. On his shoulders rests the responsibility for the honor of our Family."
"...Then, as the Esterra have always done, set a Trial for him and let him prove it himself."
Ruden shook his head slowly.
"You are wrong, my daughter. The Trial must be earned, too. Those who do not even reach this level are not entitled to it."
An equally calm, but not without firmness, reply followed from him. Of course, even he hadn't expected her next words, pausing for a moment.
"...please… Father."
And Finlay himself was the most surprised of all.
Though he didn't know the exact reason, Remy had always refrained from directly addressing Father, using 'That Man' all the time. And it wasn't like their sibling relationship was so close that she was breaking it for him.
Was it just selfless help since it went so far? Finlay didn't know.
But still, she was the only one who took his side, so he felt a kind of gratitude towards her.
Tap tap tap tap.
Perhaps the daughter's pleas were a forbidden technique even against the Demigods.
In thought, my Ruden's finger struck the surface of the table several times.
Finally, meeting Finlay's gaze, he made his final judgment.
***
As he walked down the empty corridors of the manor, Finlay rubbed his face.
Scraps of the meeting that had just ended were still flashing through his mind.
"My fiancée...? That's crazy."
His father had said that if he really wanted to go to the Wasteland as a representative of the Family, he should pay a proper visit to his fiancée, who was waiting for him for the second year.
"Haha..."
A crooked smile appeared on his lips.
'Why couldn't I just fight one of the Family Knights in a holy duel like everyone usually does?'
There was a reason Finlay had put it off for so long.
Although it was just a 'visit', once he showed up there, nothing good awaited him.
That in itself was worthy of the title of trial.
Finlay still remembered their last conversation with his fiancée when he had asked her 'why me?'.
When a partner was chosen for this political marriage between families, it could have been Ravilon or Raherion or any of his brothers.
But why exactly did he end up falling into these nets?
"I love broken and unwanted things."
Was her short answer.
His shoulders shuddered at that memory.
Chasing the cold out of his body, he tried to think positively.
'The departure date was set for a week from today.'
That meant he had another week to enjoy his life in this world.
"Hey, Finlay."
A man's silhouette appeared in the dimly lit hallway. Finlay recognized him quickly.
"Ravilon."
The eldest son of the Esterra and the first candidate to become the next Head of the Family was standing right in front of him.