Episode 4: I hugged my trembling father tightly
“Dad…”
I hugged my trembling father tightly, my mind spinning with a thousand thoughts.
No one in the world understood Dad better than I did. And if anyone wanted to support him in his decisions, it would be me.
But…
‘If Dad doesn’t return, this country is doomed.’
Yes, that’s the truth.
Enok Rubinstein—my father—was not meant to stay hidden away here. He needed to return to the knights as in the original story, hiding his blade behind a sweet smile and raising the male lead, Cheshire.
Only then would he quietly plant the seeds of rebellion from within the Order and one day ignite a revolution.
Because…
Ten years from now—
‘All the ordinary people will be slaughtered.’
The Imperial family will launch a “Purge of the Powerless.”
A massacre where anyone without magical ability—no questions asked—is hunted down and killed.
The one who stops that slaughter… is my dad.
‘I thought it didn’t concern me. The protagonists were supposed to save the world, right? I was just here to enjoy my life as a harmless extra.’
But now I knew—
‘My dad was the protagonist all along!’
In the original story, I would’ve been kidnapped just moments ago.
That would’ve been the spark that ignited Enok Rubinstein’s vengeance.
But I changed the story—just because I couldn’t bear to be separated from him.
And now I was safe, unlike the original plot.
If Dad ran away with me like this?
He’d never take Cheshire under his wing. He’d never rebel. He’d never bring down the Empire.
‘And that would be the end. Countless innocent extras would die.’
I pictured Miss Susan and Uncle Joe. Then, I pictured them screaming, dying in pain.
‘No. No. I can’t let that happen.’
I shook the thought from my head with all my strength.
“Dad.”
“…Yeah?”
“Do you want me to spend my whole life on the run? You don’t, right?”
“…Of course not.”
Dad gently pulled back and looked me in the eyes.
“But you said you wanted to live a peaceful life with me. Remember?”
“…”
“If we go back to the capital, you’ll have to live as a talent-holder. There’s nothing peaceful about that life.”
Yes, I did say that.
But.
‘Now that I know my dad is Enok Rubinstein, my quiet life as an extra is already over!’
…is what I wanted to yell, but instead I decided to act like a spoiled, ambitious seven-year-old.
“Well, honestly… knowing you’re someone important and that I’m a talent-holder too kind of changed how I feel.”
“What do you mean?”
“Talent-holders are nobles, right? And if I’m your daughter, that makes me the strongest noble of all. Isn’t that right?”
“….”
Dad stared blankly into my sparkling eyes, completely thrown off.
“You wouldn’t have to chop wood and sell it at the market every day, and I wouldn’t have to wait around for you. And I wouldn’t have to do the laundry anymore!”
“Lilith—sweetheart—you only do laundry because you insist…”
“And I could eat macarons every day! And wear frilly dresses with ribbons!”
Stomp, stomp.
I stomped my feet like I was throwing a tantrum. Dad flinched in surprise.
‘Sorry, Dad. I didn’t want to be this manipulative… but I have no choice.’
“Why didn’t you tell me anything?!”
“Lilith!”
“You said you didn’t want me to live as a talent-holder, but you didn’t even ask what I wanted!”
“S-sweetheart…”
“I don’t want to be called ‘princess’ only by you! I want to be a real princess!”
Dad’s expression wavered.
“I’m not your daughter anymore!”
“W-what?”
The finishing blow.
Dad staggered back, visibly shaken.
“I’m not James’s daughter! I’m going to be Duke Enok’s daughter!”
I jabbed my tiny finger toward the knights outside.
“If you don’t go with them, I’ll ask them to take me instead!”
“….”
Dad was speechless. He bit his lip, face contorted in confusion and pain.
‘Oh Dad… I’m so sorry. But you’ll make the right choice.’
Because I knew—above all else, I mattered most to him.
We stood outside the cozy little cabin filled with all my childhood memories.
Facing us were the knights and a mountain of luggage.
In Dad’s arms, I peeked curiously at the handsome knight commander.
‘Black hair, violet eyes. I knew that description felt familiar.’
His name was—
Aksion Livre.
- Rank: Dos (top-tier ability user).
- Title: Duke Livre.
- Former knight order peer of my father’s. Took over as commander when Dad vanished seven years ago.
- Will become Dad’s closest comrade in the coming revolution.
So yes. He was a main character.
‘Of course he was. A face like that isn’t just for extras.’
After getting metaphorically slapped in the face by James Brown (a.k.a. Dad), I decided from now on: never trust a good-looking background character.
“Let’s move out, Enok.”
“Carriage.”
Dad spoke flatly. Aksion blinked.
“…What?”
“I’m not going anywhere until you bring a luxury carriage. My daughter can’t ride on horseback for long.”
“You’ve got to be kidding me!”
The knight beside Aksion (yes, the one I bit earlier) looked ready to blow a fuse, but Aksion raised a hand to stop him.
“Sigh…”
He stared at me.
His expression said it all: dead weight.
‘Hmph! I went through all that trouble to convince Dad. A little appreciation would be nice.’
“…Get the carriage,” Aksion finally muttered. “The… luxurious one.”
About an hour later, we were en route to the city of Elfasia.
We’d use the warp gate at the city temple to reach the capital.
“Waaah~ So soft~”
I was in awe of the carriage’s cushions—nothing like the bumpy wooden carts I was used to.
Even though holy knights fetched this carriage like errand boys, I had zero complaints.
“Daaad! This carriage is ama—!”
I stopped mid-sentence.
Dad sat silently, chin in hand, gazing out the window. He looked deep in thought.
He was probably upset. I did kind of blow up his peaceful forest life and guilt-tripped him into returning.
‘Sorry, Dad… I didn’t want to be that kind of daughter.’
I scooted closer and pressed myself to his side.
“Daddy…”
“Yeah, sweetheart?”
“…I’m sorry.”
Dad’s eyes widened. He turned to me, surprised.
“Princess.”
He gently lifted me into his lap to face him.
“Was it my expression that scared you? I’m sorry. I was just thinking.”
“…”
“I was wrong. I didn’t even ask how you felt. You were right.”
He brushed back my hair and cupped my cheek, trying to reassure me.
“You can do whatever you want. Wear pretty dresses, eat all the macarons. We’ll do all that together.”
“…”
“I didn’t realize you wanted that so much. I’m sorry.”
“N-no… it’s okay…”
Truth is, I was happy living in our mountain cottage.
I didn’t need daily macarons or fancy dresses. And there was no one to show off to anyway.
Most importantly, Dad fed me, clothed me, protected me… He was the perfect father.
‘Oh no… Did I just give him a guilt complex on top of everything else?’
“I’m also sorry I said I wasn’t your daughter. I didn’t mean it. I understand, Dad. You didn’t want to send me to war.”
“You’re right. War is terrifying. So let’s not go.”
“…Huh?”
I blinked.
“What do you mean? Don’t I have to fight if I want the dresses and macarons?”
“Nope. You can have them. But you’re not going to the battlefield. I won’t allow it.”
I turned to look at him.
Was he… rejecting his conscription?
Dad’s expression looked dangerously determined.
“Wait, Dad. Just—whoa!”
Suddenly, the carriage jolted violently. I bounced into the air and back onto the seat.
“Lilith! Are you okay?!”
“Y-yeah.”
What was that?
I looked out the window.
“Dad? What is that?!”
A huge cloud of dust was racing toward us.
Something massive. Fast.
“…Werewolves,” Dad muttered, cracking the window open.
“They’re kidding, right?” Aksion cursed from horseback.
I clung to Dad in panic.
“Stay here, sweetheart. Don’t move. Don’t even peek outside.”
“Wait, Dad?! Where are you going?!”
Before I could stop him, Dad leapt from the carriage.
“You raise a shield around the wagon. If my daughter gets even a scratch, you die.”
“You’re going alone?”
“You expect me to wait while you kill them one by one?”
He drew Aksion’s sword with a snarl.
“Dad! DAD!”
I pressed my face to the window in terror.
A group of at least thirty werewolves were charging toward us—and Dad walked right at them with only a sword.
The knights? Just stood there and watched.
“Excuse me?! Mister Knight?! Are you seriously going to let him fight them ALONE?!”
I banged on the window in panic.
Aksion gave me a side glance.
“…He’ll handle it.”
“Wha…?”
And then—
Dad swung the sword.
Just once. A clean, horizontal arc through the air.
‘Wait… that’s it?’
Suddenly—
The werewolves all froze mid-charge.
Like someone hit pause.
‘Why are they just standing there…?’
Then I realized.
“…Holy crap.”
Three seconds later, the monsters split cleanly in two—blood spraying in unison.
I blinked. And blinked again.
‘Did… did that really just happen?’