Chapter 56
“If there’s something you’re hiding, tell me.”
“No, I really don’t know! Do I even have that kind of ability?!”
“Of course, Dad wouldn’t know.”
Huh.
‘What is this? Did I get some random ability out of pity for being a debt-ridden kid?’
So… what kind of ability is it?!
Is it… some food-related power that activates when I cook?
“Dad, then I’ll make rice for tomorrow!”
“What?”
“No, it’s just… I was wondering if it’s some ability that comes out when I cook.”
Dad blinked and rubbed his chin.
“Well… that’s not impossible.”
“You’re going today, right?”
I swallowed the rest of my words. I couldn’t exactly ask, ‘Are you going to kill someone?’
“Yeah.”
“But Dad, why aren’t you asking me anything?”
Honestly, I did kind of drag him into this on my own.
‘I mean… if I’m being totally honest, I’ve been the one forcing things all along.’
But still… the fact that he followed me without a single complaint was both amazing and deeply touching. Also surprising and almost unbelievable.
Dad looked at me quietly.
“If it’s something I need to know, my daughter will tell me.”
“…Even so.”
I’m still just a kid.
“You’re a daughter blessed by the Guardian Spirit. You’re probably seeing more than I am.”
His big hand lightly touched my head.
“We made a promise, remember? That I’d safely hand over the title when you become an adult.”
“…Yeah.”
“Can I look forward to that delicious meal you’ll make for me?”
“Yes!”
“Leaving you two here… it’s safe, right?”
“Yes.”
Dad checked several times, then slowly nodded and leaned closer.
“A cheer.”
“…Ah.”
So embarrassing.
Smooch!
“Don’t get hurt. Come back safely.”
“Of course. I’ll be back.”
Dad chuckled, clearly pleased, and ruffled my hair.
“Leon too. A kiss.”
“Huh?”
“Leon too! Kiss!”
Apparently feeling left out, Erion leaned his face forward.
“Ah… okay.”
I gave Erion a quick kiss on the cheek too.
Dad tousled Erion’s hair, making him blush and bow his head.
“Bye-bye!”
“Yeah. And don’t cry just because Dad’s not here.”
“I won’t.”
Dad alternated between patting both mine and Erion’s heads, then finally left… taking with him a bunch of overly energetic Kalarr soldiers.
I waved my hand and saw him off. Then I slung the bag I had prepared earlier over my shoulder.
It was a small backpack made by weaving stiff leaves together.
I didn’t make it myself—Tigran gave it to me as a gift when I mentioned I needed a bag.
“Alright.”
I grinned.
I was a little worried… but he’s the male lead of Part 2, so he’ll be fine.
While Dad was gone, I had something important to do too.
Namely…
‘Find out in advance where the mithril and mana stones are.’
If I gathered some samples now, it would make trading with Ardian later much easier.
‘Okay, let’s get going.’
I had just taken my first step when—
“Eve, where are you going?!”
“Beep—!”
Erion and the slime blocked my way.
“Together.”
Erion hugged my waist tightly.
“Go with Leon. Leon will protect Eve.”
“Beep!”
Those clear eyes stared straight at me.
His short, small arms hugged my waist surprisingly firmly.
“Eve, don’t leave me alone.”
“…?”
“Alone is lonely.”
“…!”
“Leon’s lonely too. And Leon’s knight… will protect Eve!”
His small hands clenched my clothes tightly, his pure expression dripping with sincerity.
That absolute, calculation-free innocence made me laugh.
“Okay. Let’s go together.”
“Yeah!”
“Beep beep beep!”
“Alright, Lime can come too.”
Lime proudly climbed onto my shoulder.
Before entering the cave, I mentally reviewed the novel’s plot one more time.
I held Erion’s hand.
‘In the novel, Dad found it while hunting monsters after the war because he was hungry.’
Luckily, the mana stone and mithril mine weren’t too far from Tigran’s camp.
‘First, walk 200 steps in a straight line toward the visible mountain.’
Then 200 steps west, passing by a colorful, huge broadleaf tree, then another 200 steps, and at the destination, turn left and walk another 200 steps.
Thankfully, every distance was exactly 200 steps—easy to remember.
‘Seriously though, typical fantasy novel… the directions are so vague.’
But I had calculated the average adult step length…!
‘I even brought extra soles to stick under my shoes!’
Secretly taken from the bottom of Dad’s shoes.
Hehe.
Anyway, with this method, I could estimate an adult’s stride even with my short legs.
Walking like that… eventually, I arrived at a dark, small cave!
“Hehe.”
I couldn’t help but grin at the sight of the cave.
Because finally!
Finally, I could pay off all the remaining debt, renovate the mansion, buy tons of new stuff, fill up the wardrobe, and stock the storage rooms!
Hehehe…
“Eve, your face looks scary.”
Oops.
“…Ahem.”
I really need to fix this habit of grinning like a villain.
I pressed my cheeks with both palms.
“Are we going in?”
“Yeah.”
“Leon in front. Eve behind.”
Leon, holding my hand tightly, puffed out his chest and led me confidently.
Even though he’s shorter than me.
Thanks to that, I could see the round swirl on the top of his head perfectly.
‘Cute.’
I chuckled softly.
If Aiden has a somewhat mature vibe, Erion is just endlessly childlike.
‘But looking like this, he’s pretty manly too.’
The inside of the cave was pitch dark.
So dark I couldn’t see anything.
“Wait, Leon. Let me go for a sec…”
“Nope. Leon will guide.”
Sniff sniff.
Erion seemed to sniff the air like a puppy, then strode forward again.
‘But I brought candles in my bag!’
“It’s fine.”
No, really, I have candles.
“Leon will protect Eve.”
“…Alright.”
Do whatever you want.
Even in the pitch-dark cave, Erion skillfully led the way.
After walking for quite a while…
Finally…!
Light poured into my vision.
“Here? Eve.”
“Yeah. That’s right!”
The orange-colored crystal mine spread out before me, making my eyes sparkle.
This whole place was filled with mana-rich stones.
‘With this, finally…’
I could fund the upcoming territory war!
Rogas would transform too!
“Wahaha!”
“Hehe.”
As I laughed, Erion laughed with me.
I glanced at him, and he kept staring at me, like he couldn’t take his eyes off.
“Eve happy? Leon did it!”
Our eyes met, and Erion puffed out his chest proudly.
“Yeah! Great job!”
I pulled him into a big hug and ruffled his hair with both hands.
Honestly, it was thanks to Erion that we didn’t get lost in this complicated cave.
“Hehe.”
Blushing red, Erion hugged me back and rubbed his face against me.
“How did you know this place, Leon? The path was super confusing.”
“Smell! Leon’s nose is really good. There was a magic smell.”
Ah, right… I forgot his ability to sense magic by smell.
“Alright, let’s take some of this.”
“Yeah!”
I grabbed the smallest crystal and yanked…
And yanked…!
“Huh?”
It won’t budge!
Even putting my whole body’s strength into it… it didn’t come out.
“T-this is weird…”
In the novel, Dad just snapped one off and took it home…
And that’s when it hit me—something I hadn’t considered.
The one who snapped it off… was Dad.
And Dad… is the main character.
Also… a total overpowered monster.
There’s no way a tiny extra kid like me could pull it out.
“No way…”
Thud.
I collapsed on the spot.
After all that trouble getting here… I’d have to go back empty-handed.
The novel’s description had been so vague, I thought I could just yank it out like a potato…
