Chapter 3

The side story’s progress conditions have been partially fulfilled due to a visit from the imperial palace knights.

And there was only ten percent left?

Wasn’t the scroll supposed to help me stop the apocalypse?

Side Story, Chapter 1
The Threat That Never Ended

And what’s with that title?!

‘C-could Mom die… because of the imperial palace knights?’

Really?

For real?

If that’s true…

‘Absolutely not!’

I can’t just let Mom die like this!

‘Think, Cecilia!’

Don’t trust that scroll anymore. Figure it out yourself!

I froze in front of the scroll and pushed my seven-year-old brain to its limits.

First, let’s think about why the imperial palace would come all the way out to this countryside.

The most likely reason I could think of was…

“Harzen Walker.”

At that moment, Daddy Derek spoke while resting an axe on his shoulder.

Daddy Derek already looked scary enough.

With an axe in hand, the atmosphere felt even more intimidating.

“Explain.”

“Well, even I didn’t anticipate this.”

Harzen gracefully closed the book he was holding and spoke.

I swallowed hard and watched the standoff between the two dads.

Honestly, I’d been thinking the imperial knights had probably come because of Daddy Harzen.

After all, he was a former member of the imperial family who had given up his claim to the throne.

“It wouldn’t be a bad idea to share a cup of tea while discussing what brought them all this way.”

Even his aristocratic manner of speaking was part of the setting that highlighted his noble origins.

“—Of course, that’s assuming they’re able to set foot inside.”

His trademark arrogance also made it abundantly clear that he was royalty.

“Before that, wouldn’t it be best for our princess to head inside?”

Daddy Harzen turned his gaze toward me and curved his eyes gently.

He looked kind, but there was also a subtle pressure hidden beneath it.

A few days ago, I would’ve been intimidated and quietly gone inside.

But…

“Nuh-uh, I don’t wanna!”

Pressure or not, I had a duty to know what was happening right now, Dad.

“Cecilia Miller.”

When I refused to listen, Daddy Derek called me by my full name instead of my nickname.

Being called Cecilia instead of Cece meant the situation was serious.

‘Yeah, but does that really matter to me right now…?’

Honestly, what’s scarier? Getting scolded by my dads, or having Mom disappear from my side forever?

“…Very well. It’s probably better than letting the child out of our sight.”

Daddy Harzen gave up surprisingly quickly and adjusted his glasses.

Then he brought his long fingers together.

With an elegant and relaxed gesture.

From above to below, and below to above.

A shimmering film of light appeared, looking almost like soap bubbles.

It soon expanded into a giant dome that completely surrounded the house.

It was a defensive barrier cast by Harzen Walker, one of the strongest people in the novel.

‘Woooow.’

I stared blankly at it.

I couldn’t believe I was seeing a barrier this large in person.

Normally he’d only unfold a tiny one around my room.

Of course, compared to Daddy Harzen’s true abilities, even this was probably considered small.

“What’s this now, ♪♬? What’s going on?”

By then, Daddy Kyle had also come outside and looked around.

“Looks like we’ve got some uninvited guests.”

“Uninvited guests? Out of nowhere? Well, whatever. So what are we gonna do now?”

“We’ll listen to what they have to say first, then decide. I have no desire for unnecessary bloodshed.”

“Wow, ♪♬… That’s one way to say you’re gonna kill them all.”

Daddy Kyle had moved beside me at some point and quietly covered my eyes.

“A kid’s listening, ♩♪.”

Well, this might not be the best time to say it.

But had my dad thought that through before speaking?

Coming from the guy who was filling every sentence with swearing, or rather musical notes, it wasn’t exactly convincing.

“Dad, nice words.”

I scolded him while quietly lowering the hand covering my eyes.

After some time passed.

Clank. Clank.

The sound of metal colliding echoed across the peaceful countryside, accompanied by heavy footsteps.

I looked past the low fence toward the vast plains.

Instead of the golden autumn fields that should’ve been there, countless suits of armor filled the landscape.

Silver armor surged across the land like waves crashing onto a shore.

“It’s been a long time, Duke Harzen Einhart.”

A man finally stepped up to the barrier and greeted him.

Daddy Harzen replied with the same elegant smile.

“I relinquished that title quite some time ago. Feel free to address me more casually.”

“How could I dare do such a thing to the great Einhart? That would be an act of treason.”

“Is that so? Though it’s also been quite some time since I abandoned the name Einhart.”

Unlike his gentle smile, his voice had turned cold as thin ice.

“Instead of meaningless small talk, perhaps you could first explain why you’ve brought so many soldiers to this quiet countryside.”

“…His Majesty the Emperor has ordered Duke Einhart and Lady Miller to return to the imperial palace.”

“Return to the imperial palace?”

For the first time, Daddy Harzen even dropped the faint smile he’d been wearing.

“After trying so hard to drive us away, now you’re telling us to return?”

“The one who insisted on leaving the capital was none other than Duke Einhart—”

“No.”

Harzen interrupted him and slowly shook his head.

“I don’t believe whether we left of our own free will is the issue that should be discussed right now.”

“…”

“You still haven’t answered my question.”

His voice was so cold it could freeze anyone who heard it.

“Why are Yuria and I suddenly being summoned back to the imperial palace?”

But the man remained firm.

“I cannot tell you.”

“Then I refuse.”

“If that’s the case, we’ll escort you by force if necessary.”

“You can’t even enter this place. What exactly do you intend to do?”

The situation had become a powder keg that could explode at any moment.

I swallowed nervously and looked back and forth between them.

‘Don’t tell me a fight is about to break out?’

Then Mom dies and my dads lose their minds…

‘No, no!’

I immediately shook my head.

Mom wasn’t even home right now, and Daddy Harzen’s barrier was strong enough that nothing should happen immediately…

“Hm? What’s going on?”

At that moment, an extremely familiar voice suddenly came from outside the barrier.

I quickly looked up toward the person standing among the soldiers.

A fluffy head of pink hair that looked completely out of place beneath the gleaming silver helmet.

“Mom?”

They say speak of the tiger and it appears.

But did Mom really have to show up right now?!

“I leave for a few hours to volunteer at the nursing home, and what exactly happened here…?”

Mom looked at the barrier once, then at the man in silver armor, and muttered to herself.

And then.

“Please forgive my rudeness.”

Without any warning whatsoever, the man pressed a sword against Mom’s neck.

Good grief.

‘He took Mom hostage!’

That’s cheating! That’s so unfair!

“As Duke Einhart pointed out, we have no means of approaching the barrier. I hope you’ll understand that this was our only option.”

“It seems you don’t value your life very highly.”

“You ♩♪♬♬ little ♪♬♩.”

Even Daddy Kyle stepped forward, scattering enough profanity, or rather musical notes, to fill the air.

Then.

“Oh my, am I a hostage right now?”

A bright, cheerful voice completely unsuited to the situation rang out like a bell.

Ding, BOOM—!

A deafening explosion instantly engulfed the area as though a bomb had gone off.

I stared blankly through the thick cloud of smoke.

For a moment, I thought I’d heard the faint sound of an instrument. Could it be…

“Even when we fought the demon king, nobody ever took me hostage. It’s kind of fascinating to finally experience it.”

As the smoke gradually cleared, Mom casually brushed dust from her hair and spoke as though nothing had happened.

I looked around at all the stunned faces one by one and thought to myself.

Ah, right.

Our Mom is really freaking strong.