I Played the Role of the Adopted Daughter Too Well

“Thank you for coming back.”

 

Viola was a little embarrassed.

 

‘Hey, why is he crying again?’

 

“You sound like I went to a place I couldn’t return from.”

 

“It’s not like that, but… You came back.”

 

He seemed to be shedding tears of joy. Viola was at a loss for words. He was a great friend and he was so sincere that it was difficult to criticize him. She saw a smile on Tundra’s face, he looked really happy.

 

He was so serious that she couldn’t say anything. Every moment of talking together in the same space as Viola seemed precious and happy for him. But suddenly a wind blew in from somewhere. The wind felt artificial.

 

‘What?’

 

Viola found it very strange. The wind was artificial and the source of that wind was from behind Tundra. To be more precise, it was from his backside.

 

‘Well, what the heck is that…!’

 

There was a tail visible. The tail was actually mana concentrated into a shape and it was wagging violently.

 

‘Hey, did he get a tail?

 

“Since when was that possible?”

 

Actually, she didn’t know much about Tundra.

 

“Well, I think it was just now.”

 

Tundra had finally met the long-awaited Viola. He was truly delighted and in response to his will, the mana moved and formed a tail. 

 

“It’s not that big a deal, is it? I just feel like I now have what I’m supposed to have.”

 

Was this something he wanted to talk about so seriously? He just gave form to mana. How was it not a big deal?!

 

“Shaping and using mana is an extremely difficult and arduous task, it’s something that only those with advanced training can do. Even then it requires the person to be born with exceptional talent. Although there are differences from person to person, it’s an ability that can only be used if you are a 5th-level knight.”

 

In other words, processing his mana into a visible form and using it meant that he had the skills of an average 5th-level knight.

 

“Mana formed this form.”

 

Depending on how that mana was utilized, its uses were endless. It could be hardened to block a sword stabbing from behind. Conversely, it could be extended to attack the opponent. It was an ability that could produce tremendous efficiency depending on how it was used. If there was a disadvantage, it was that shaping the body’s mana in a tangible form entailed a great physical burden.

 

‘However… It doesn’t look difficult at all?’

 

Viola asked, pretending to be as calm as possible.

 

“Why are you wasting your stamina?”

 

“I’m not wasting it.”

 

Looking again, Tundra wasn’t suffering at all. It was a little funny. He was using tail-shaped mana and yet his breathing didn’t become labored at all.

 

“It takes great will and power to form and use mana. Plus it consumes stamina in general.”

 

Tundra took out his life book, ‘Training a Puppy,’ and opened it confidently. Tundra, who had memorized the entire contents, quickly opened the book to page 420.

 

“Just as humans cannot control their own hearts, dogs cannot control their tails. Tail movement is a completely natural behavior that has nothing to do with will and guardians need to keep an eye on it.”

 

He stated as if it was obvious, “It appears my mana tail is as natural as breathing.”

 

It could be said that no extra effort or will was required. Tundra seemed fine while doing such hard work. It was as if his body thought it was nothing for a dog to have a tail so he got himself a tail!

 

‘From his smelling abilities to a tail… What the hell is this?’

 

Anyway, Tundra has succeeded in making tangible mana, and with that amount of genius talent and body strength, he would be able to remember this sense of mana and use it in other ways.

 

‘It’s a growth rate comparable to that of Medea’s.’

 

Medea was granted the status of a 5th-level knight at the age of seventeen.

 

‘No. He is faster than my sister.’

 

Medea was a genius among geniuses, undergoing rigorous training and hard work from the moment she was born. But Tundra was different. He was raised as a hunter’s child during his childhood and it was only five years ago that he began training under Sir Hickson. This level of achievement was achieved in just 5 years.

 

‘How…? It feels like he’s growing up faster than in the original.’

 

Tundra couldn’t take his eyes off Viola. Just as a dog always looks at its owner, as if their world is filled only with its owner.

 

‘I’m dying from the burden.’

 

However, she couldn’t tell him not to look. Because if she said that, she would be denying Tundra’s dreams. Cruelly trampling on the male lead’s dreams, which were growing at such an alarming rate, would be extremely dangerous and must be avoided.

 

“Hey! I am Pom-Pom who gives water!”

 

Pom-Pom continued to spray water as if he had never gotten tired. It was truly a crazy world.

 

* * *

 

Duke Heron visited Marguerite’s flower garden. Beside him, Butler Carlton stood politely, holding Extreme Cold, one of the Duke’s swords, with both hands.

 

“Here it is.”

 

It was a famous sword that Kurumkrum, a master magician and the best dwarven engineer, had worked hard for seven years to create. It was an artifact, one of the seven famous swords in the world, and was like the alter ego of The Thousand-Kill Duke.

 

“It’s been a long time since I enjoyed using Extreme Cold personally.”

 

It was not common for the Winter Castle’s monarch to use Extreme Cold. A year ago, when hunting demonic creatures that came down from ‘the place where the snow blows,’ he didn’t use Extreme Cold.

 

“You used Extreme Cold when you crossed swords with His Majesty, Emperor Nelac.”

 

“I did.”

 

“The Duke uses Extreme Cold only on those worthy of respect.”

 

Carlton wanted to ask why the Duke brought out Extreme Cold today. Was Extreme Cold really suitable for this Marguerite flower field?

 

“I am observing the progress of the White Bellato. It is a different pleasure from seeing Medea.”

 

Viola was very different from the rest of his children. She chose what others did not choose, the White Bellato’s way, and she was demonstrating everything that a White Bellato could be. Despite the disadvantage of being an adopted daughter, she performed better than anyone else.

 

“Viola is an advanced version of Bellato.”

 

“Of course she is.”

 

‘But what did that have to do with Extreme Cold?’

 

Carlton couldn’t wait for the Duke to speak.

 

“Maybe there will be a serious competition with Medea?”

 

“I’ll be happy if that day comes but… Princess Viola is too young.”

 

She was currently only twelve years old. Although she showed tremendous growth, she couldn’t compare to Medea in terms of her achievements. She did too well for a twelve-year-old, but not particularly well as a successor candidate.

 

“She started out at a greater disadvantage than the other children, so shouldn’t she be given an advantage as well?”

 

“Does that mean that you truly recognize Princess Viola’s qualifications to be the successor?”

 

“Is there any reason not to admit it?”

 

“It doesn’t exist.”

 

Carlton politely lifted the sword and grasping it, Heron raised it up. A cold chill began to form as soon as Extreme Cold met its owner. The surroundings were quiet but Carlton felt it was very noisy. An inaudible storm of mana was blowing through his ears. In the span of a moment, when Carlton blinked his eyes, a miracle that was not a miracle had occurred.

 

‘Marguerite’s flower garden…’

 

How should he express it?

 

‘Did it evaporate?’

 

The large field of Marguerite flowers evaporated in an instant. The world had been green and yellow but now it was filled with white powder. In one fell swoop, the entire flower field was cut down as the black energy emitted by Extreme Cold pulverized the flowers. When Heron took out a black hole from his subspace, the flower pollen that had blossomed out like mist began to be sucked in.

 

“That is… What is it?”

 

“This is a gift that Kurumkurum left me.”

 

The magic master Kurumkurum explained it this way.

 

‘There is something terrifying in the universe called a black hole. It’s a scary space that sucks everything in. So I named this black hole. But use it carefully. Black Hole is a power that can only be used once.’

 

“I hope this will be a good gift for you.”

 

The remains of countless marguerite flowers that had been blooming in the huge field were sucked into the black hole.

 

‘If there is something you want to put in the black hole, put it in. I will create a wonderful artifact based on the energy you fill it with.’

 

At that time, Kurumkrum spoke with a very expectant look in his eyes.

 

‘I’m looking forward to seeing what the Duke will pack into the black hole. However, just avoid packing it with corpses.’

 

* * *

 

A week has passed. Meanwhile, Viola’s mind continued to be very complicated.

 

‘Why? Why did father do that?’

 

Why was the entire Marguerite flower field destroyed by pulverizing it? Because of this, Pom-Pom cried for three days and nights and Viola struggled to understand Heron’s psychology.

 

‘I just don’t understand.’

 

She read the novel to the end and the setting book several times, but this time she couldn’t interpret Heron’s thoughts. Thus, she was afraid. Up until now, she had survived well by using knowledge from the novel but now she felt like she couldn’t see what was ahead.

 

‘Did I make a mistake?’

 

She must have made a very big mistake and her father destroyed Marguerite’s flower garden as a warning. 

 

Then, Zenon spoke.

 

“Duke Heron is looking for you.”

 

…Father? She suddenly felt uneasy. However, a voice came from behind Zenon.

 

“No. I will tell her this myself.”

 

Heron came into Viola’s room. Even though he was just walking, she felt an indescribable sense of intimidation.

 

‘I feel like he’s angry.’

 

He was acting a bit strange. Even when Duke Heron was angry, he never showed his anger outwardly. Moreover, there was no way that twelve-year-old Viola could read that anger.

 

‘What? Why? I have to find out!’

 

Why did he come to her room? He didn’t often personally seek out a successor candidate.

 

‘What mistake did I make?’

 

Duke Heron opened his mouth.

 

“I have a gift for you.”

 

His facial expressions and body movements were stiff. It was as if he was doing this for the very first time.

 

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Translator Note:

I’m baaack!! Next 15 you are min… I mean, I will be translating the novel lol