I'm Searching for the Villainous Dad's Memories!

Chapter 21

“Huh? Is this all?”

Only three magic tools remained.

Just in case, I rummaged through other boxes, but that was all I found.

‘Will this be enough?’

I wasn’t well-versed in magic tools, but it felt like it wasn’t going to be sufficient.

I felt uneasy, but with no other choice, I opened the turtle-shaped backpack I was carrying and carefully placed the magic tools inside. These were all I brought from my personal vault, except for my ring and earrings.

“Huh? But this magic tool…”

At that moment, as I was inspecting the transparent magic tool under the thin lamp light, my eyes widened slightly.

“This is…”

A tree seed?

What is this?

I had a rough idea of what protection magic tools looked like because we had two at home.

My father, often absent due to work, had prepared them just in case. (Looking back, maybe my father, being a noble, already had them from the start.)

Of course, since I was usually entrusted safely with Aunt Masha when my father wasn’t around, I never really had to use them.

But this shape was entirely new to me.

I didn’t know much about magic. There was no one to ask, either.

But at least, for this seed, there were probably around 100 beings(?) in this mansion I could ask.

‘I should try talking to the trees! Hooray for plants!’

Determined to conduct thorough research, I strapped a magnifying glass firmly in my hand.

‘Huh?’

As I wandered around the mansion looking for a tree I could communicate with, a chill ran down the back of my neck.

‘A gaze?’

Who is it?

I quickly turned around, but no one was there.

It was broad daylight under the blazing sun, and the chance of an assassin daring to intrude into the Wintervault duchy was nonexistent.

Was it my imagination?

As I blinked my eyes, I noticed something lying on the ground.

“…?”

A wooden doll?

“Oh?”

Even a version that wasn’t sold in toy shops!

What is this? Did one of the maids drop it?

Without thinking, I ran over and grabbed the doll. It was a cute teddy bear-shaped doll! Its limbs and head moved up and down with a nodding motion.

“Hehe, how adorable!”

Its cheeks were even blushing!

I squatted down on the spot and marveled at the wooden doll.

Sure enough, the initial ‘B’ was engraved on it.

So then…

‘There must be another secret mechanism somewhere!’

I turned the wooden doll this way and that. I had played with these a lot in Lepi Village, so figuring out this mechanism was a breeze.

“Found it!”

When I lightly tapped the mechanism located on the underside of the bear’s paw, the teddy bear suddenly landed smoothly on the ground.

Then, it bent one knee.

“Huh?”

One arm shot up.

Then the other arm shot up.

“…Why are you in a punishment pose?”

Come to think of it, the teddy bear’s expression seemed a bit sad.

I blinked, then quickly lifted my head.

“…”

Whoosh.

I caught sight of a black shadow darting away behind a large tree.

That afternoon.

I had completed all the preparations for the march.

‘I still don’t know how to operate the magic tool with the seed embedded in it.’

But I did get something out of it. I had spoken with the tree in front of my father’s office.

“Thanks for letting me know when my dad’s office would be empty!”

[ No problem. But you’ve got something interesting, haven’t you? ]

“Do you know about this magic tool? What’s with the seed inside?”

[ I’m not sure about that. It seems like some kind of special barrier. ]

“Ugh. What’s the use if I don’t know how to use it?”

[ It’s not entirely useless. Even if you just activate it, it’ll function like a basic protection tool. ]

‘Well, at least it’s not completely useless.’

Sigh. It felt a bit disappointing to have premium features but only be able to use the basic ones.

In any case, using even the basic functions of the magic tool required magic power.

I spent hours struggling to transfer a small amount of my magic power into the tool. Just a little bit.

Since I had never formally learned how to use magic tools or cast spells, it was incredibly difficult. But fortunately, I was quite clever.

If I had to describe it, it was somewhat similar to the sensation I felt when communicating with plants and channeling my magic power.

The magic tool, now activated in my hand, sparkled brightly.

Now, if danger approached, a barrier would spread out like an umbrella.

‘Speaking of umbrellas…’

“Who was that hiding behind me earlier? The one who dropped the wooden doll nearby!”

[ Oh, you mean Eliza’s little partner? ]

‘So it really was Blaine Wintervalt.’

Then, was that a peace offering?

I gently stroked the cute teddy bear in my hands and thought.

Once the parade is over, I’ll gather the courage to go visit. Maybe he’s not as scary as I imagined.

‘He’s the one who even bought me such an expensive wooden doll.’

Holding the protective magic tool in my hand, I made a resolution.

‘Anyway, tomorrow night, I need to secretly hide the protective magic tool under Eliza’s carriage seat.’

The parade is the day after tomorrow!

But no matter how much I thought about it, I couldn’t shake the feeling that there weren’t enough of them.

‘I need to look into this more.’

Strangely, my head kept nodding off.

I didn’t have the energy to go all the way to my room on the fourth floor, so I plopped down on the stairs in front of the mansion’s lobby.

‘Just a little rest, then later.’

I must have exhausted all my energy from running around all day.

As I dozed off like a sick chick, Kate approached.

“Lirin, what are you doing here?”

Oops. I almost fell asleep.

Stretching wide, I replied, “Waiting for Dad… no, the Duke!”

“For the Lord?”

“Yep.”

Actually, this was my habit.

Around twilight, I would wait in front of the house for my dad!

“Oh, the carriage is coming in.”

Kate patted my head while gesturing.

In the distance, the carriage stopped, and my dad appeared with Ruska.

“Yay!”

The drowsiness flew away instantly!

I jumped up and ran.

When I ran like this, my tired dad, Alek, would always rush over with his eyebrows raised, spin me around, and give me a tight hug.

I was a little sad that now I was the one who had to run to him… but oh well!

“Dad! Welcome back!”

Dad glanced at me and kept walking.

I followed close behind him.

“Where are you going? Aren’t we heading inside?”

“The east garden.”

My eyes widened.

The east garden was one of the places I had been eyeing.

The Duke’s mansion had many gardens, given its size.

But there were only small gardens around the main building where I stayed, and they were too rigid and monotonous to be fun.

But the east garden was different.

‘It’s more like a small forest than a garden!’

I had heard there was even a lake!

“Why there? Why?”

Ruska, standing a little behind, answered my question.

“We’re thinking of building another annex.”

“Oh.”

“We’re planning to build a studio and villa for Lord Blaine.”

“Ohhh…”

So, my villain dad’s dad…

‘As expected, he’s probably making some kind of deadly weapon.’

Of course, of course. That kind of thing has to be made secretly in the forest.

Ruska said he had some work to finish and would follow shortly after.

Dad gestured toward me with his chin.

“On the way, take this little one and store her in the dining room.”

No way.

“I want to go too!”

“Who said anything about taking you? Maids don’t go to places like that. Gardeners do.”

“Then I’ll be a maid and a gardener and your daughter! The more jobs, the better!”

“Let’s stop talking.”

Dad shook his head with a sigh and walked off with his long strides.

I smirked at his back.

Does he think I can’t catch up?

As for me, I’m a very fit child who exercises regularly every morning.

I quickly caught up with my well-honed running skills, and Dad raised his eyebrows, impressed.

Of course, two minutes was my limit.

“Huff, huff. Why is it so far…”

I wish someone would give me a ride in a carriage.

“Hah…”

At that moment, Dad, who had been watching me with a frown, mumbled to himself.

“There are many ways to control people.”

“Huh?”

Suddenly, my view lifted.

I blinked in surprise.

‘I didn’t even ask to be held. I didn’t control him either.’

But this embrace I had missed so much!

I grabbed onto his stiff jacket, determined not to let go.

Dad, used to carrying me, began walking again with his long strides.

Nice. Faster than the carriage.

“…By the way, I’ve been meaning to ask, you.”

I was flaring my nostrils at the sight of the approaching forest garden entrance when Dad’s low voice interrupted.

“Did I raise you without feeding you meat?”

“Huh?”

I looked up, and my eyes met his blue gaze, which had been watching me for who knows how long.

“I feel like I’m only holding your shadow.”

“That’s because you’re too strong, Dad… Wow!”

I was suddenly amazed by the view in front of me.