Father.
What on earth is my father doing now, after sneaking away with all the family fortune while the young head of the household is a fool?
Where did he go without a word, leaving so much money behind and never coming back?
Is he gambling away everything in some back alley, wandering the streets?
Is he too ashamed to even meet his child, crushed by his own sins and terrified of a bright future?
– There were no leads on his whereabouts. The royal family seemed to have helped when disposing of the Craft’s fortune, but digging deeper is beyond the student council’s capabilities.
– Good job, Elly.
Such thoughts cross my mind.
Could it be that the royal family is the real mastermind behind this?
It’s suspicious how a mere scholar could cause the downfall of the greatest noble house in the empire and then run away.
The cult’s activities have only intensified recently. Could it be that in a royal family where the internal noble families are being taken down, Craft’s weakened position got caught up in this mess?
In that moment, the cowardly father could have been coerced.
– That’s an intriguing thought.
The demon from my past fell into deep contemplation.
– It’s more likely that the gentleman who loved his partner so dearly would run away without a reason than to abandon his child. There might have been many changes during the time I was trapped.
– If the royal family is involved, should we expand our reach into the central political arena?
– No need to be nervous. We can take our time; the past won’t disappear. You’re still young. It’s not too late to focus on your studies.
There must be some backstory with my father. I’ve heard he loved my mother dearly.
– Are you talking about your father? His love life is quite famous. By the time I was born, it was already over, yet I’ve heard the tales. A scholar managed to marry between His Majesty the Emperor and the Great Demon, who only loved him.
Whoa.
– Demon Lord…?
– Hmph. You wouldn’t understand.
– The more you react like that, the more curious I become!
– You wouldn’t understand.
It feels like my father has some serious story behind this. As a child, I have to prepare to be both appropriately angry and willing to accept.
But, but.
“Meeting him at a time like this would be too bewildering!”
Pastel clutched her blood-soaked head from the massacre.
“Wow! Wow!”
Is it really okay to have a family reunion in the midst of a cult attack? Is it really okay?
Is this how a responsible leader should act!?
But if what the knight-level cult members say is true, my father seems to be someone high up in the cult, right? Wouldn’t I be getting the effect I originally intended of paralyzing the command without having to interfere in their command with conversation?
Oh wow, that’s right.
Then I think it’s okay to have a chat!
I confidently moved forward.
Perhaps because Hormone Friend took out all the cult members or some had fled, there was no one in the white interior.
As I entered the center, a large embossed mural covered one side. It depicted the Sky Island.
What kind of place is this?
Why on earth is the command center here?
Pastel was confused and peeked into the corridor where she sensed a presence. Alternating between the mural and the corridor, she sneaked toward the corridor.
Well, as the person in charge, I’ll think about my responsibility a bit later.
Okay, okay.
I walked along the white corridor. After passing through a doorless passage, a spacious interior came into view. Artificial sunlight poured in from the terrace, creating shaded illumination.
I saw a familiar yet unfamiliar back. A man was manipulating white magic circles, deeply focused.
Ah.
Pastel held her breath.
What should I say? A greeting? Hello? Nice to meet you? It’s true that this is the first time seeing him not in a fool state, after all!
No, more importantly, what are you doing here? This isn’t even the royal palace; why are you in the cult?
Does he really have a complicated backstory? I shouldn’t jump to conclusions.
Then what should I start with…?
Until now, I didn’t know, but from now on, let’s try to understand each other!
No, no, that’s a last word! Starting with something like this would make Dad uncomfortable.
The girl grabbed one of her arms behind her. Her lips quivered as her body slightly shrunk back.
Then, how about we talk openly about our circumstances? Everyone has their own reasons.
Okay, okay, he seems to be fine. If I start talking, Dad might feel more comfortable sharing!
Once the conversation opens, it should flow smoothly. Since we are family! Right! If we continue the dialogue using mom as a common topic, we won’t run out of things to talk about. Plus, plus, imagine how much Dad has to say after so long! There might not even be enough time!
The girl’s face brightened. Her stiff body relaxed, and her stance changed. Meanwhile, the sound of her shoes softly echoed.
She took a deep breath. Her rigid pink eyes focused on her father’s back.
Silence lingered.
After a moment, her father moved his hands and began manipulating the relic device. The white magic circles changed in formation.
The chaos died down, and tranquility settled.
The wind blew from the terrace. Her pink hair fluttered. Her lips trembled and then uttered a sound.
“Ah, Father!”
As soon as she opened her mouth, a plethora of words bubbled up from her heart.
“How have you been? I have…”
Her gaze darted around.
“All the retainers I knew are dead, and I’ve been starving for a while since I have no money. But there’s so much to do, and even though I’m scared, I can’t avoid it, so I’ve bothered someone I owe a lot, throwing a fit for no good reason.”
“Then I made a lot of friends and mentors, and luckily, everything started to go well, so so.”
Her hands clapped together.
“Now I feel pretty good!”
No matter what I say!
Her brightened pink eyes watched her father’s back. Her voice echoed in the room, then simmered down.
Sunlight streamed in through the quiet air, bathing the room. The relic device was manipulated. She observed the shifting magic circles as if watching a painting.
A voice flowed out gently.
“It’s been a long time, Pastel.”
The girl’s expression brightened again.
“Yes! Yes! It’s been a long time!”
Her arms opened wide.
“From now on, let’s get along well!”
Wait, that’s not it.
“U-uh, let’s talk openly about our circumstances! I mean, so, so, I feel pretty good!”
The girl stumbled over her words but quickly added.
“Right now!”
She used her finger to manipulate the relic device.
“Openly…?”
She swallowed hard.
“Yes! Yes!”
Her father chose his words as if recalling the past.
“Blossom was not in good health. Someone among the blood relatives, blinded by succession competition, likely harmed her when she was young. She claimed it was just a chronic illness until the end.”
A faint laugh echoed.
The girl hesitated on how to react. A slow clap followed.
“Mother, truly!”
How can you believe someone so close?
The relic device clicked.
“So, childbirth was off the table.”
The girl’s expression froze.
“I never wished for a child to be born. I needed an heir for the family, so I had one out of necessity.”
Her clenched hands shrank away.
“I never wanted the next generation, your birth was completely unwanted. Just a troublesome and awkward topic. We didn’t have enough life left to deal with you on top of enjoying our remaining years.”
The scholar’s gaze inspected the magic circle.
“But you were born, and it wasn’t long before it was over. You were sacrificed to give birth to a child whose body couldn’t handle their own soul.”
The relic device was touched, and the shape of the magic circle shifted.
“The remnants of the cult we brought down approached with a tempting offer. Your child has the opportunity in their soul power.”
The fading voice continued.
“A way to revive Blossom.”
His gaze lowered to the relic device.
A moment of silence passed.
“The golden time has gone.”
Shadows were cast by the sunlight.
“The promise to take care of the remaining child and the intention to let go of my lover. It was never meant to be from the beginning.”
The girl gasped. A small hand pressed against her chest.
“It’s to save Blossom, you know. If you want, I can help, but if you don’t, just leave without getting in my way.”
The girl’s lips quivered.
“Be happy…?”
Tears streamed down her face.
Her father paused his actions. After glancing at the ceiling, he slowly turned back. His gaze drifted past the girl far away.
“Love is greater than anything.”
A labored breath escaped.
“Will Mother be happy…?”
The girl stumbled and sat back down. Her pink hair spread out, then settled. Her white attire covered the ground.
Between ragged breaths came a reply.
“Is death better than a painful life?”
Ah.
“Help—”
Footsteps echoed down the corridor.
『I tolerated this for the sake of a family reunion.』
A well-dressed demon walked in.
『It seems this really has no end.』
The girl blankly turned back. Her panting began to calm slowly. Her pink eyes twinkled with tears.
“Demon Lord!”
She rushed forward. Her pink hair fluttered. The demon staggered but caught the girl.
『Oh dear.』
Crying sounds were heard.
『Cry.』
A palm patted her back gently.
『Let it out.』
