TFSG 108

Chapter 108

No. It wasn’t funny — because I knew it would have worked if I were alone.

In my second life, even though I had already shown some degree of talent, I failed to meet the family head for the same kind of reason.

“The family head called me here, really!”
“We told you already, we haven’t heard any such order!”

As I recalled those past events and lifted my head slightly, I noticed that my uncle, too, had realized something strange. His face, twisted into a grin, looked dangerous.

“Mother sure arranged quite an amusing situation, huh? Wow.”

I wriggled my tiny hand into my pocket and took out the small watch. Quietly, I gauged the time.

“Uncle, the family head said the private meeting was at three-thirty.”

“Yeah, sweetheart, I’m listening.”

“That mister should listen too. And from here to the building where the family head is—it’s about… eight minutes away for an adult’s stride.”

I said it while glancing at the man.

“And right now, it’s three-fifteen.”

The steward had deliberately come late to fetch us, handed us a watch, and told us the time.
Then he’d said to wait—and never came back.

‘Is this the family head’s will? Or the scheme of someone who doesn’t want the meeting to happen?’

In my second life, it had been my third aunt who interfered. I gazed at the distant family head’s quarters.

“We have to get there by half-past three.”

“That’s easy enough,” the man replied.

“So you’re asking whether we can make it on time or not. The answer is—no problem.”

His tone was smooth but firm.
Yet his gaze remained fixed on one thing, disapprovingly: the arm of my uncle holding me.

“I’ll take that as a request to earn my keep.”

“Uh?”

Before I could stop him, the man stepped forward.

“E-excuse me, Lord Heukbihu, even if you are of the direct line, you cannot enter here without—”

“Don’t know, don’t care.”

Whoosh—!

Thud!

A violent gust of wind exploded, and one of the guards was thrown straight back.
The wind was so strong it blew open the tightly shut main gate.

“Gah!”

Crash, bang!

I blinked as I watched the guard get hurled straight inside the main hall.

Huh…

‘I did bring a bodyguard in case something like this happened, but…’
What surprised me was that I had expected my uncle, not the man, to be the one causing chaos.

“W-what do you think you’re doing! How dare you use force on the family head’s guards! An intruder! An intru—ack!”

But before he could finish, the remaining guard was also hit by the wind and collapsed clutching his stomach.

The gale swirled again, tossing the two guards together at the entrance like sacks of rice.

“There. The steward will need someone left alive to explain what happened.”

He spoke calmly—too calmly. That confirmed he was indeed my father.
But hadn’t he been less reckless before? …Hadn’t he?

“I suppose I should leave their tongues intact.”

If I said he looked like a polite lunatic, stacking people so carefully, would I be wrong?

But there was no time to think.

Time was ticking—and right before the second guard was struck, he’d rung a bell.

Clang! Clang!

And somehow, even after his hand dropped, the bell kept ringing by itself!

“An intruder!”

“Huh? Wait, isn’t that—?”

“Seize them immediately!”

Rumble—!

I saw a troop of guards rushing toward us from afar.

‘Oh no, that’s the Black Horn Division!’

Each of them was highly skilled.
Father and Uncle could easily break through—but the issue was time.

Then Uncle suddenly burst into laughter.

“Hahaha! Oh, this brings back memories! That’s exactly what he used to be like!”

His booming laugh filled the air.
Was he crazy too? That was my only thought.

The Black Horn Division was getting closer.

“Niece, take a good look. Your father used to be that kind of lunatic. Your dear Uncle is much more normal, see?”

He leaned close and whispered just loud enough for me to hear.

Wait a sec…
Did he forget that with Father’s hearing, even whispering like that was pointless?

Sure enough, Father’s eyes flicked sharply toward him.

‘Are these people… incapable of feeling tension?’

I have to meet the family head on time, you idiots!

At that moment—

A gust of wind swept through, knocking over the charging guards.

“Ugh—hold on!”

“Jump over!”

But these were seasoned fighters. Only a few tripped over their fallen comrades—the rest were nearly upon us.

Then Uncle grinned and thrust me toward Father.

Before I knew it, the person holding me had changed.
Father and I stared at each other awkwardly.

“Alright! Can’t have my little niece being late now, can we? I’ll hold them off. Don’t fall for me for being too cool, okay?”

“Uh? But if we just go together—”

“No can do. Looks like they’re serious about this.”

He pointed toward another group of soldiers running toward us.

If we got caught there, we wouldn’t just be delayed—we might not make it at all.

‘If I’m even a little late, the family head won’t see me.’

Even if my achievements remain, there were too many things I wanted to ask him directly.

“Thanks, Uncle. I’ll leave it to you.”

I tried to sound resolute, but Uncle only smirked.

“Sure thing. Just give me a kiss when you’re back~”

I was about to answer, but suddenly my body lifted.

The wind wrapped around me and the man holding me.
The sensation was oddly familiar.

The air wrapped around us like a cloak—and then, whoosh, a storm whirled up.
Father’s body shot into the air.

‘Wait—no, this is…!’

Hold on!

“Waaahhh!”

Yup, just as I thought—A ROLLERCOASTER! AAAAHHH!

Father, surrounded by wind, soared mercilessly through the sky.

‘Father or Uncle—it doesn’t matter, they’re both insane! Do they forget I’m three years old?! Damn it!’

All I could do was clamp my mouth shut so I wouldn’t bite my tongue.

Damn it, because Father lost his memories, I have to ride this nightmare again!

* * *

“Haa… haa…”

So, how did it end?
Perfectly safe.

We landed right in front of the building where the family head stayed and met a waiting servant.

Startled, the servant ran inside, then came back out and asked us to wait three minutes.

“…My apologies,” the man said, looking slightly awkward.

I was still panting but raised a tiny hand.
“It’s… okay. We got here fast thanks to you. That’s all that matters.”

Yeah, thanks to him, we made it on time.
Honestly, that was all I could ask for.

Though, my heart still hadn’t recovered from that sudden rollercoaster.

“Next time, maybe consider that I’m three years old. I’m… pretty fragile, you know…”

Seriously—babies aren’t built for this kind of travel. No wonder both my uncle and father were like this once.

“…Was I like that before too?” he asked quietly.

I froze mid-breath.

“Or was I more careful?”

A gentle voice interrupted before I could respond.
Startled, I looked up.

He was gazing down at me with soft eyes.

“…I don’t know. This is our first meeting, isn’t it?”

“Is that so,” he murmured, clicking his tongue in mild disappointment.

He stepped back—or so I thought—then suddenly frowned slightly.

“…You said the meeting was at three-thirty?”

“Yes? Um, right. Yes.”

“Check the time.”

I quickly looked at the watch.

Five minutes early.

Wait—why? Oh.
I immediately realized what he meant.

That servant earlier had told us to wait three minutes, hadn’t he?

‘Wow, there’s a spy planted even here. Like a virus…’

I bit back my frustration.
Before I could complain, Father adjusted his grip on me.

“Let’s move again, gently this time. I’ll remember this—how to move without burdening your body.”

The wind wrapped around us again—softer this time.

“And before I forget once more, I’ll record this version of me as well—so that when I see it, I’ll understand.”

His voice drifted through the breeze.
All I could do was bite my lip in silence.