Chapter 122…………………………………………
Realizing that fact, I felt strangely wronged.
So the reason Dad hadn’t been able to come back all this time was because of the original story?
What gives the original story the right to tear our family apart like this?!
I object to this original story!
Not that I hadn’t already been objecting with everything I had.
‘Still, thank goodness.’
Suppressing my resentment, I let out a long breath.
If I’d known earlier, I would’ve thrown a huge tantrum—but thankfully, the original story was no longer progressing.
And the remaining risk factors were things we planned to eliminate together anyway…
“Dad, Dad.”
The moment I finished thinking, I clung to Sion Dad’s arm and stretched myself out.
Sion Dad naturally lifted his arm, picking me up, and smiled.
“What is it, my princess?”
Dangling from his arm, I opened my mouth with determination.
“There’s something I need to tell you.”
You know, Sion Dad?
While you were stuck near the border because of whatever forced influence the original story had, a lot happened to us.
A lot of things.
“So—”
Just as I was about to spill everything that had happened—
“Wait, Cici.”
Mom interrupted me and slowly shook her head.
I looked at her with betrayed eyes again.
‘Is she saying I shouldn’t tell Sion Dad?’
Wouldn’t it be better to tell him, for what’s coming next?
If I didn’t, how would Sion Dad understand the things we were about to do?
“I know how you feel, but—”
Noticing the protest in my gaze, Mom added gently with a soft smile,
“Do you remember where we were heading, and why?”
“Huh?”
Remember where we were going and why?
Well, obviously to have dinner with Grandpa—
“Gasp.”
Only then did I understand what Mom meant, my eyes widening.
We couldn’t talk about things like this over dinner with Grandpa.
So that’s why Mom stopped me—she’d thought that far ahead.
This girl was short-sighted, Mother! Forgive me!
“So we’ll talk after we return to the bedroom, together with the other dads. Okay?”
Mom spoke in a calm, coaxing tone.
I nodded vigorously.
Meanwhile, only Sion Dad stood there, completely lost as to what was going on.
“What kind of story is it that you can’t talk about right now?”
Looking at Dad’s expression—so curious he looked like he might lose his mind—I let out a quiet giggle.
This is your late punishment, Dad.
Be as curious as you want!
After finishing dinner with Grandpa and returning to the bedroom, we found that all the other dads were already gathered there.
It seemed they had all heard the news that Sion Dad had returned to the imperial palace.
‘So I really was the only one who didn’t know.’
At this point, they’d clearly hidden it from me on purpose to surprise me.
“Well, well. Look who it is.”
Kyle Dad greeted Sion Dad with a crooked grin.
“Isn’t this the guy who didn’t even know what he was supposed to protect and was holed up at the border?”
…Is that a greeting?
Doesn’t sound like one.
“…What are you talking about?”
Up until just moments ago, Sion Dad had been smiling warmly—but now his expression stiffened as he asked.
Facing that instantly frozen, icy look, I swallowed.
‘Starting a fight the moment they meet!’
Kyle Dad seemed to harbor some resentment toward Sion Dad for arriving so late.
Still, even so, a normal person wouldn’t throw a bomb like that right off the bat.
Very Kyle Dad of him, I guess…
“Kyle.”
Mom immediately frowned and scolded him.
“Sion didn’t do that because he wanted to. From what I’ve heard, it seems there was some kind of external influence.”
“Well, sure. That’s not exactly unexpected.”
Harzen Dad agreed calmly.
Derrick Dad also nodded slowly.
“What on earth are you all talking about?”
Sion Dad asked again, still visibly irritated and confused.
—So that man obtained the power of the Sacred Tree, peep. It’s truly a vicious power, peep.
Yeppi, who had been beside Derrick Dad, fluttered over to me and spoke.
Judging by the fact that it was communicating through resonance, Yeppi also seemed wary of Sion Dad.
Looks like it was finally my turn.
“I’ll really tell you now, Dad.”
After confirming that no one else was around, I spoke in an equally resolute voice.
That phrase—just saying it still sent chills down my spine, the kind that made you nervously check your scroll for updates.
“Since you left, Mom almost died several times.”
And then I began explaining everything that had happened, step by step.
From how I gained the ability to see the flow of the world on my seventh birthday.
To following Mom to the imperial palace, discovering Bertholdt’s scheme and stopping him.
To eliminating spies who targeted Mom together with the dads and Fer, and traveling to Pardes to cure the illness that posed a direct threat to Mom’s life.
And finally, how we decided to strike first against the so-called Guardians of the World who were still targeting Mom.
Along the way, the dads exaggerated my heroic feats and showered me with praise.
And because Mom kept mediating between them, the explanation ended up being much longer than expected.
Anyway—
“That’s what happened!”
Only after finishing everything did I finally inhale deeply.
Maybe because I talked too much, my throat was dry.
But given the atmosphere, I couldn’t exactly ask for water…
“…I see.”
Sion Dad, who had listened silently the entire time, finally spoke.
“To think all that happened while I didn’t even know…”
“That’s not your fault, Dad!”
The moment he spoke, I put my hands on his shoulders and shouted again.
“You said it yourself—you felt like you couldn’t leave that place! That probably had something to do with Mom too!”
“……”
“I’m just really happy you were able to come back now!”
This moment was what mattered most.
The perfect timing to punish the people threatening Mom’s life!
“Cici.”
Sion Dad looked at me for a moment, then—
“It must have been really hard.”
He pulled me tightly into his arms and gently stroked the back of my head.
I blinked rapidly in surprise.
He wasn’t blaming himself.
He wasn’t scolding me for being reckless.
Just—
“It must have been hard.”
That gentle response, different from the other dads’.
That warm voice, that big embrace—
“W-Waaah!”
I finally couldn’t hold it in and burst into loud sobs.
It felt like the same overwhelming relief I’d felt when I saw the scroll alert announcing that the original story’s progression had stopped.
After crying my heart out in Sion Dad’s arms—
“Hic… sniff. I’m okay now.”
Embarrassment came flooding in belatedly, and I lightly pushed against Sion Dad’s shoulder while sniffling.
This wasn’t what I’d planned—maybe Dad had enchanted me or something.
But more importantly, there was still something crucial left to discuss.
“Derrick, hic, Dad.”
Fixing my puffy eyes on Derrick Dad, I spoke through lingering sniffles.
“So, did you find out anything, hic… at all?”
I’m done crying.
Now, let’s get to work!
