C 163
"Good morning, Eirin."
"Dad!"
After a discussion between Laurent, who said he had to eat, and me, who wanted to sleep a little longer, it was me who lost.
When I left the room to go to the dining room with a tired expression, what I saw was a very nostalgic face.
Actually, it hasn't been long since I saw him, but I don't know why it feels like it's been so long, and I miss him.
I ran towards him and quickly sank into his arms; my father smiled gently and hugged me.
I loved this gentle touch.
I liked my dad who always held me in his arms and greeted me kindly without hesitation.
If I had a moment to brag about, I would want to brag about this.
"I have a dad too!"
Although it's a bit embarrassing.
"It seems like you're very busy."
"Yeah, a bit..."
When I replied with a slight smile, my father put me down.
"Are you on your way to dinner?"
"Yes."
"Let's go together."
"Were you waiting for me?"
"Yes."
"Why? I was going to come after..."
"Because I want to see my daughter as soon as possible."
I opened my eyes at the sound of a voice mixed with laughter, but then the corners of my mouth drooped.
"Yes, me too."
I missed you too.
After hearing what I said, my dad smiled and started walking slowly.
I walked beside him and let out a brief sigh.
"The reason you're so busy now is because of me?"
"What?"
"Or because of your mother."
"That's..."
I don't want to lie.
However, it was true that I hesitated a bit to tell the truth.
"If that's the case, it's not necessary."
"What...?"
"I'm telling you that you don't have to do that for us."
Dad said calmly as if he were talking about something very insignificant.
"I hope you find your happiness. You grew up in such an unusual way..."
Dad stopped for a moment.
"Because I'm really sorry for you."
"It's not Dad's fault."
I was surprised and quickly added.
Dad looked at me and smiled slightly.
"I know."
"But why..."
"But after becoming a father... I felt desolate even though I knew it was something I couldn't avoid."
My mouth suddenly closed like a clam in response to my father's words. After hesitating for a moment, I vigorously shook my head.
"I do this and that just because I want to. I don't want to live without knowing anything."
Dad's eyes widened slightly at my words. He reached out, ruffled my hair lightly, and smiled.
"Alright, if that's your will, I won't oppose it."
I nodded, receiving his gentle touch.
"Perhaps this is something I'll work on. If I don't make myself happy, something that constantly wants me to be unhappy will follow me like a shadow."
"..."
Dad opened his mouth slightly at my words. When I tilted my head as if puzzled by his obviously surprised appearance, my father started shaking his shoulders and laughing.
"Dad? Why are you doing this?"
"Just..."
Dad laughed.
"It's amazing how my daughter grew up like this."
"Yes?"
"Now you're old enough to fend for yourself without your father's help."
Dad stopped patting my head, looked at my cheek, and murmured softly.
"It's quite lonely to see children become adults."
After saying that, Dad continued walking forward.
As I quickly ran after him, my father laughed bitterly.
Seeing a child become an adult who no longer needed to follow in his footsteps and no longer needed care seemed bittersweet.
After having dinner with my dad, we talked about various things.
I thought my dad was also worried, so I explained my future plans to him, and he said he would look at the Great Purse tree.
"Thank you for your help, Dad."
"You're welcome. Before being your father, I'm also your vassal. You can say whatever you want. You have the authority to do so."
"Yes, and..."
"Is there anything else you need help with?"
"I love you, Dad! Even when I'm older, you'll still be the one I like the most!"
After shouting loudly at the end of the conversation, I quickly left the mansion, pretending not to notice my father, who opened his mouth with a puzzled expression.
And then I arrived at the temple to meet Lucilion.
The problem was...
"Lucilion isn't here?"
"Yes, he recently went on a pilgrimage..."
"A pilgrimage...?"
"A pilgrimage to increase the number of believers."
Ah...
Now that I think about it, the exchange condition for helping me was to increase the number of believers by 100,000.
"For some reason, I hadn't heard any news at all..."
For some reason, I felt bad thinking that he was going through so much trouble just to help me.
"Is there any news on when he'll return?"
"He regularly passes by this temple... Ah, it seems today is the right time for him to come back."
He replied while counting the days on his fingers. I looked up with a quick smile.
"Then, can I wait for a moment?"
"But it's just an expectation; I'm not sure if he'll come back today..."
"It's alright; I'll wait until dinner and come back if he doesn't arrive."
"... Then."
The priest hesitated for a moment at my determined attitude, but eventually nodded.
"I don't even have the confidence to go back and see my father's face again."
I walked slowly to the reception room where the priest led me and opened my mouth.
"So, why did you follow me again?"
"Give me some Chur."
"I really don't want to. Pay money and buy it."
"Money? Without money, many jewels. But I also decided to get rid of the witch, so isn't that too much to ask?"
The snow leopard that followed me as soon as I left the mansion showed no signs of leaving.
"I didn't ask you to get rid of her."
"But I can't eat Chur without you, so I have to get rid of her, right?"
"That's your problem."
It didn't feel good to see an adult man pout and grumble.
"Alright, I can't help it. I'll give you special jewels and get rid of her. Give me lots of Chur instead. The red one."
"Yes, yes."
After taking a deep breath, I went to the room and used my abilities again to make a lot of cat food.
Then it pounced on the cat food, buried itself in it, and started eagerly opening the cat food and bringing it to its mouth.
"Should I really start a cat food business?"
As I looked at the snow leopard, I felt that if I started a business, it would be a great success.
Wouldn't I take over the world with dye and cat food businesses?
I'll put my hands on both people and animals...
"Cat food is a bit troublesome."
I can't do it with my own abilities, but I should try to make it as similar as possible using materials that exist in this world.
Then there will be more jobs, and it will be rewarding to do business.
I sat on the couch and waited, but he never returned, so I lay down on the couch.
The snow leopard was already comfortably asleep, lying among the mountain of cat food.
As I looked at it, I fell asleep while lying down. The sunlight coming through the window felt so good.
I fell asleep in an instant.
Saruk, Saruk-
The sound of fabrics rubbing against each other could be heard from afar. Something slowly approached me, but my eyelids were heavy, and I couldn't open my eyes.
I felt like I was at the boundary between dreams and reality.
—It's difficult if you sleep here, defenseless.
A soft hand caressed my cheek and then lightly stroked my hair.
—It makes me want to eat you.
Does this sound like the voice of an animal licking its lips?
I didn't really understand the meaning of the words, but that's exactly what I thought.
I felt very content with the warmth I felt, so I lightly rubbed it against my cheek. Then I felt his hands becoming slightly stiff.
"Um..."
"Mistress."
I heard a voice whispering softly.
It was a familiar voice.
"Mistress, wake up."
The owner with the soft voice gently shook my body.
Only then did it feel a little more real.
When I slowly opened my eyes, bright blue eyes gleamed in front of my nose as if they were going to swallow me.
"My lovely mistress."
"... Lucilion?"
"Yes, why are you sleeping like this here when someone can enter?"
"Why am I sleeping...? I'm sorry. While I was waiting, the sunlight felt nice..."
I got up and rubbed my eyes. He poured water into a glass and handed it to me.
After taking a few sips of cold water, I regained some sense.
"So, what's going on, Mistress?"
Lucilion asked, lightly stroking my cheek with the palm of his hand.
