ISDM 03

Chapter 03

Looking back, my dad was kind of a strange person.

“Ririn! Oh my, did you sleep well? Did you dream of Daddy last night?”
“Yeah… haaah… Daddy was in my dream.”
“Wow! Really? No way!”
“Yeah… but it was terrible.”
“Wow… why on earth?”
“In the dream, Daddy watered and petted my potato plants, and they all withered and died…”

Despite having spent his whole life as a farmer, every plant he touched seemed doomed to die.
Because of that, Dad constantly had to search for other ways to make a living.
‘They called him a silver spoon in the field, but to be exact, it was more like a backyard silver spoon.’
Ahem. That was something I accomplished myself.
‘All the plants I tended grew quickly and healthily without much effort!’

Still, Dad was good at everything besides farming.
He would cut down trees and sell them, help with village tasks for wages, and occasionally take on small-scale protection work for traveling merchants. He provided for us without letting us lack anything.
Our life wasn’t extravagant, but it wasn’t lacking either.

The past five years with Dad had been truly happy. Once Theo joined us, every day became even more joyful.
In this little house with a small garden, under a green roof.

‘And now they’re saying Dad is going to die?’

I moved the dozing Theo into his crib and sat back at the table. I clenched my fists tightly, holding back the tears threatening to spill.
‘If things go like this, Dad will die just like in my dream…’

At the hands of people trying to punish a terrifying villain!
I thrashed about in my head, frantically.
‘Dad is going to die… a ticking time bomb!’

No. Absolutely not.

Even if Dad were to become a villain in the future, that had nothing to do with me right now.
To me, Dad wasn’t the cold, cruel “Duke of Wintervalt.” He was simply my kind and gentle family.
‘Dad is the only person who’s ever loved me.’

I, too, had been abandoned at three years old, just like Theo.
I didn’t know the reason.
The important thing was that Dad had taken me in and raised me ever since.

Of course…
‘I still don’t really understand why the great Calec Wintervalt was caring for dirt-covered babies in some remote valley…’

But even so.
That’s why, naturally.
Dad was everything to me. My only savior. A solid mountain standing behind me, protecting me at all times.

“Will you come with me?”

Five years ago.
From the moment that cold, dry voice asked me that…
We became each other’s one and only world.

‘Yeah. No matter how much of a villain Dad might become, the love he gave me can’t have been fake.’

Like a plant soaked in sunlight and rain, I had grown strong and healthy over the past five years, nourished by Dad’s love.
If there had been even a trace of impurity in that affection, I probably wouldn’t have grown like this.

So.
“There’s only one thing to do.”

My eyes glimmered with firm resolve.
“Save Dad. And then live happily with Theo and me.”

After realizing my dreams were glimpses of the future… meaning, from the age of six, I understood I was a bit smarter than other kids my age.
In other words, I could think more rationally than an ordinary eight-year-old.

‘Maybe all that fuss about Dad being a genius was actually true…’

Anyway, perhaps because I remembered the dream, I vaguely understood why Dad had hidden the way I looked on my eighth birthday, which he had been so eagerly anticipating.
‘Right now, it’s the Calec from my dream… meaning, the point when Dad had the accident in the labyrinth and returned to the Duke’s mansion.’

I carefully tried to deduce the present situation based on the scenes from my dream.
‘The problem… is that there’s a high chance Dad lost his memory in that accident.’

Because I recalled the final scene where Calec Wintervalt died and mentioned his “missing five years.”
In other words:
‘Even if I wait patiently, Dad won’t come looking for me first.’

I clenched my fists tightly.
“If Dad doesn’t come first, then I’ll go!”

One of my strengths was my resilience—I bounced back quickly like a rubber ball. I wiped away the lingering tears and bit my lip.

Yes. Thinking positively, the situation wasn’t completely hopeless.
‘Dad hasn’t fully turned evil yet!’

The Calec Wintervalt in my dream was a villain with a story.
In other words, the events would slowly drive him over the edge, leading to his punishment.

“Mother is dead, ─ is dead, and even ─ is lost. How could I not go insane? Tell me, why shouldn’t I destroy this empire?”

I remembered him speaking roughly like that, though I didn’t recall the exact words.

‘Who on earth made Dad so miserable?’

I thought about it for a moment, but the answer didn’t come.
Still, I knew exactly what I had to do.

‘Alright.’

Having decided, here’s the three-line summary of what needs to be done!
Sketchbook, open!

“Hmm.”

At the very end, I hesitated slightly.
It was about an extra note to add to point three.
‘Well… now that I know Dad is truly amazing…’
Maybe I could have a tiny bit of ambition for myself too.

With a solemn face, I repeated my goal three times.
I’ll fix this broken silver spoon properly and take care of it.
Dad, just wait! This time, I’ll protect you!

The next day.
As soon as the sun rose, I ran over to our neighbor, Aunt Marsha’s house.

“What? Alec didn’t come back last night? So you two spent the night alone? Good heavens!”
“We’re fine. More importantly, on the way here, I heard from Uncle Bill that the labyrinth beast was found destroyed at dawn today. Could Dad have been caught up in it?”
“Oh, oh! That’s right! It was massive. Some of the nearby woodcutters got caught too… Alec could have been there!”

I nodded. Theo sat on her lap, bright-eyed, enjoying some egg soup.

“Everyone who passed out there is being taken through a warp portal to the capital temple for treatment… Dad might still be there, which is why he can’t come.”

Aunt Marsha thought for a moment and nodded. “That’s possible.”

I lived in Lepi Village, the remotest of the southern backwaters.
No matter how clever an eight-year-old I was, it would have been impossible to go to the capital without an adult. Especially with Theo.

‘I could leave Theo with Aunt Marsha and go alone… but…’

I had argued with Theo about that that very morning.

“Theo, listen, I need to—”
“Buuuuh!”

He buried his face in his chubby arms and flopped onto the floor in protest…
His soft little bottom was oddly persuasive.
‘He’s been stubborn lately.’

So I decided to go with Theo.
“Alright. Let’s go to the capital with Auntie. I was planning to go there this month anyway, so we’ll just go a little early.”
“Thank you, Auntie!”
“Oh my, such a good girl.”

Kind Aunt Marsha hurriedly told me to pack for our long journey. I quickly put on a long-travel cloak, secured a carriage, and took out the expensive acceleration magic tool.
‘Warp portals can’t be used without the temple’s permission. By carriage, it’ll still take about three days.’

I tried to use Dad’s emergency stash to pay, but Aunt Marsha firmly refused. Apparently, she owed him a lot.

While she prepared, I held Theo’s hand tightly and stood in front of our house.
The green-roofed home where the morning sun shone brightly.
The cozy cabin where Dad and I had lived together for five years.

“Theo, say goodbye. It’ll be a long journey!”
Theo waved slightly at me.

‘I can’t believe I’m leaving this place.’

I took a careful look at the small lake in front of our house, the little path I had walked countless times as a child, and memorized every detail of our home.
‘And that roof… Dad painted it himself…’

“I’ll paint the roof the exact color of your eyes, Ririn! How’s that?”
“Perfect!”

And not just the roof.
The sturdy wooden door, the squeaky-clean windows, even the white fence filled with my doodles.
Everything had passed through Dad’s hands.
‘The only place I haven’t touched is probably my little garden.’

The one-foot playground under my bedroom window.
The south had a generally mild climate, so crops could grow all year round. I planted seeds, watered them, and learned a lot.
‘This is where I realized my magic was specialized for growing plants and communicating with them.’

I looked at my hands, glowing with light-green magic, and shook them off.

“Uuuum… my cute tomatoes…”
“Daddy wants a kiss too.”
“My adorable potatoes… dense lettuce… I love you all.”
“Hahaha! Daddy better water them.”
“No! They’ll die!”

‘Ah.’
I realized why Dad had no talent for farming.

After discovering Dad’s true identity, all my questions were answered. Of course.
‘He’s a Wintervalt, a family with the magic of destruction.’

People’s magic develops and specializes as they grow. The way it’s used depends on its type and strength.
If someone has weak magic, it’s useless, and they live as ordinary people.
‘Maybe Dad stood out so much because his magic was so strong.’

I looked around carefully.
‘Alright. I’ve decided. When I meet Dad, I’ll bring him here at least once.’

Seeing this cabin filled with memories might trigger something.
Just looking at it, so many thoughts come to me!
So until then, stay well, my precious home.

“Ririn! Let’s go!”
“Yes!”

I waved lightly and turned. Sad, but not forever, right?
Goodbye, Ririn.
See you again, Ririn.

The trees, fruits, and flowers I had grown fond of seemed to wave goodbye in the gentle breeze.
“Yes! I’ll be back soon!”

I left Lepi Village behind.

A few days later, at night.
A figure in a black robe stood silently in front of the green-roofed house.

Crack! Boom!
Flames shot into the dark sky.
The house burned down, plants turned to ash as they screamed.
“…”
Under the hood, the mouth curved into a crooked smirk.

I craned my neck, looking around in awe.
“Wow… the capital…”

So many people. So many buildings. Adults and kids everywhere! So much delicious food! Running nonstop for days has been worth it!

‘Wait, this isn’t the time for this.’

I forced myself to focus and followed Aunt Marsha closely. This wasn’t a sightseeing trip.

A long line stretched in front of the central temple.
As expected, going inside immediately wasn’t possible.

I stood staring at the firmly closed temple doors. Aunt Marsha must have seen my disappointment because she kindly explained:
“Don’t worry, Ririn. The capital temple has set hours for entry, so it’s closed now. Let’s wait a bit and then check if Alec is in the treatment room inside.”

“Ah, yes!”

Even if Dad wasn’t there, I swallowed my disappointment and followed Aunt Marsha.

Now that we had safely arrived in the capital, it was time to take the next step.
‘To the Duke Wintervalt’s mansion!’