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

Episode 25

I decided to move quickly before my father, who was leading the procession, noticed anything. After all, I was surrounded by tall adults, so it would be easy to hide my presence.

“Breathe like this, in and out.”

“In and… Ugh!”

“Don’t throw up! Tighten your lips!”

“Tighten! Ugh!”

“Should she just throw up? Goodness. Her pale face has turned blue. Kate! Kate!”

The carriage door opened.

Kate, looking alarmed, rushed over. Eliza quickly explained the situation.

Before jumping out of the carriage, I mustered up the courage to hug Elisa tightly.

“Grandma!”

“Grand…ma again?”

Then, I sneakily slipped one of the protective magic devices into her stiff handbag.

I had already placed two under the carriage, and I wanted her to carry this last one with her, just in case.

“I hope you live a long, long time, Grandma! I really, really do!”

So that my father won’t resent the world! So he won’t turn to darkness! Please!

“You…”

“I’ve thought that ever since I first met you! I’m sincere!”

I shouted this as I bolted out of the carriage.

***

From now on, speed was of the essence.

The maid Kate insisted on escorting me back to the mansion, but I pretended to take a break at a nearby park, claiming I felt nauseous.

When Kate left to buy some drinks, I secretly slipped out of the park.

“Huff, huff.”

I ran like mad, recalling the city map I’d memorized in advance. I had studied the route of the parade so many times that it was now burned into my mind.

Not only that, but I had occasionally tagged along on errands outside with the maids, so finding my way around was easy.

Thanks to my small size, I was able to slip through narrow openings with ease. I raced down a shortcut and stopped at a spot where I could see the building slated for collapse in the distance.

‘Perfect.’

The parade hadn’t reached here yet.

I ducked into a nearby alley to hide. It was dark and cluttered with debris, providing excellent cover for someone small like me.

‘From here, I can see the building clearly, and I can activate the protective magic device.’

Following the tree’s advice, I had already linked my magic to the seed inside the protective magic device.

It felt as if an invisible thread now connected me to the magic device.

[The magic you’ve linked can be activated at will. Especially with your magic, it should be even easier, although only within a certain range.]

‘So I have the ability to control magic remotely?’

I pondered this absentmindedly as I peeked around the corner.

And then, it happened.

Screams echoed in the distance. The air suddenly turned sharp, and an unknown gust of wind surged through.

Boom, boom. There were also sounds of explosions.

“Haa…”

I squeezed my eyes shut. I stuffed some makeshift earplugs, made from crumpled tissue, into my ears.

Even so, the deafening roar shook the ground. It was like thunder.

‘I’m scared…’

Loud noises terrified me.

Thunder, explosions, the angry shouts of grown men—they all made me freeze and clouded my judgment. If I had stayed in the carriage, I probably would have panicked.

‘At least I’m far enough away here.’

I’m okay. I’m okay.

I reassured myself, steeling my resolve.

The once peaceful street had erupted into chaos as knights unsheathed their swords and the sound of someone ordering an evacuation filled the air. The previously calm crowd scattered in all directions in sheer panic.

Then, amid the chaos, I heard someone scream, “Lady Eliza! No!” followed by the sound of a runaway carriage crashing.

Eliza’s carriage veered out of the procession and sped toward this direction. Just as I had expected.

‘Of course, it’s strange that only Eliza’s carriage is going berserk.’

I was sure the servants had thoroughly checked everything. Who could have done this, and how?

I had so many questions, but saving Eliza came first.

I stayed hidden in the alley, keeping my eyes on the building that had begun to sway ominously. Thankfully, since it was an abandoned building, there was no one inside.

Clatter, clatter!

The carriage rolled forward, and the windows of the cracking building suddenly shattered.

‘Not yet, not yet.’

The coachman tried desperately to pull the reins, but the force caused him to lose his balance and be thrown to the ground. The wheels of the carriage spun even faster.

Not yet, it’s not over yet!

At that moment, a powerful surge of magic and black smoke erupted in the distance. Simultaneously, the ground shook violently.

A building that had already been cracked collapsed under the impact.

I bit my lip so hard that it bled. It was just when it felt like Eliza’s carriage filled my entire field of vision.

“Now!”

A green magic circle, one I had never seen before, appeared beneath my feet. The once dark alley was flooded with light.

‘Wow, this is power…!’

And then, I saw the same magic circle appear beneath Eliza’s carriage. It was only for a fleeting moment, due to the debris pouring down, but I saw it.

I knew what it meant.

“It worked…!”

I had succeeded.

Crrrrack.

Amidst the swirling debris, something sprouted up. It was a sturdy tree trunk. The seeds in the protective magic tool had instantly germinated, becoming a sacred tree.

The resilient branches intertwined, forming an unbreakable shield, completely encasing Elisa and the carriage.

‘I did it!’

In the distance, people who had been in shock began running toward us.

I blinked as I looked down at my small hands.

‘Wow. I’m amazing.’

I protected Eliza. I changed the future.

I had taken away one source of my father’s sorrow.

‘But this isn’t the time. I need to escape!’

Before someone catches me!

I quickly turned around and dashed off in the opposite direction.

[ A price is required. ]

But something strange was happening. The more I ran, the more strength drained from my legs.

“Huh?”

What’s happening?

This can’t be. I need to make it back to the mansion safely.

“What price?”

[ The power you were born with. In other words, your life force. ]

My eyes widened, but my vision was starting to blur.

[ If you use it, it should compensate for the lack of magic. ]

“My inherent power? My life force?”

[ Yes. It’s embedded throughout your body. ]

‘What…? No one told me I’d be using the power in my legs!’

But it was too late. My body staggered violently.

The ground seemed to rush up to meet me at an alarming speed.

Something that had been tickling the back of my neck began to burn. Ah, my father would probably be upset when he regained his memories.

He had been so happy.

At that moment, a familiar scent seemed to fill the air.

…Rin!

Ah, is this a dream?

Suddenly, I felt a dampness under my nose. A large vortex seemed to appear in my mind. The world was spinning.

“Lirin!”

It’s a dream.

My father, who had lost his memories, no longer called my name.

‘…Father is such a fool.’

He said I was his everything.

How can someone lose their everything?

I closed my eyes gently.

It was chaos.

People screamed as they fled. Panicked horses neighed loudly, and the clash of metal echoed from all directions.

“Protect the people first!”

Ruska shouted harshly.

Wintervalt’s knights, initially taken aback, quickly followed his orders and expertly secured the perimeter.

“Ha, this procession is rather eventful, Ruska.”

Kalec muttered under his breath as he swiftly drew his sword.

“It’s a celebration of my return. Perhaps the beasts have come to congratulate me on my succession?”

Ruska adjusted his glasses as he cut down a beast trying to break through the defensive line.

“Even monsters seem to love you. Congratulations.”

“They don’t know their place.”

Kalec’s lips curled into a cold smile before he effortlessly jumped off his horse.

“Go protect Mother.”

“Yes, sir.”

Despite the sudden chaos, Kalec remained calm.

A black void tore through the air. The beasts emerging from it had already turned the surroundings into a wasteland.

But, unfortunately for them, they couldn’t advance beyond the reach of Kalec’s sword.

A cold energy seemed to flow down the gleaming blade. In an instant, the surrounding air grew as cold as midwinter, and delicate snowflakes fluttered about.

His sword, cloaked in the power of destruction and death, mercilessly cut through the enemies.

Though the labyrinth had appeared unexpectedly, it posed no significant threat.

The monsters that emerged were all low-level creatures. Kalec dealt with them easily with just a few swings of his sword.

Everything seemed to be under control until—

“Lady Eliza!”

A loud shout came from behind. Turning around, Kalec saw Eliza’s carriage breaking through the defensive line and racing off somewhere.

“What are you waiting for? Go after it!”

Ruska yelled, and Kalec quickly plunged his sword into the core of the labyrinth, shattering it. After completely sealing the labyrinth, Kalec hurriedly mounted his horse.

“Move aside, useless fools.”

What’s going on? What could it be?

A strange sense of foreboding washed over Kalec. He was a knight who had experienced countless battles. He could sense it instinctively.

The scent of unavoidable death.

It was only when he saw Elisa’s runaway carriage in the distance that he realized it had been lingering right under his nose all along.

‘I’ve never felt something like this before.’

Something was terribly wrong.

He clenched his teeth and was about to charge forward when—

“…Rin! Lirin!”

A name, one that should never have been spoken here, pierced his ears.