TEWMD Chapter 03

Chapter 3

So the conditions for continuing the side story were partially fulfilled because the Imperial Palace Knights came here.

And there are only 10% left until the whole route is activated?

Wasn’t the scroll supposed to be showing itself to me so I could stop the destruction of the world?

Side Story, Chapter 1: The Threat That Has Not Ended

Why is the side story title like that?!

W-Wait. Could Mom die because of the Imperial Palace Knights…?

Seriously? For real?

If that’s the case…

That absolutely cannot happen!

I can’t just let Mom die so pointlessly!

Think, Cecilia!

I can’t trust the scroll anymore.

I have to think for myself!

I stood in front of the scroll window and used my seven-year-old brain as hard as I could.

First, let’s think about why the Imperial Palace would come all the way to this countryside.

The most likely reason I could think of was…

“Harzen Walker.”

Just then, Dad Derek spoke while resting his axe on his shoulder.

Dad Derek already looked scary enough.

But holding an axe made him look even more terrifying.

“Explain situation.”

“I can’t say I expected this either.”

Harzen closed the book he was holding and spoke calmly.

I swallowed nervously and watched the two dads facing each other.

Actually, I had also been wondering if the Imperial Knights had come because of Dad Harzen.

After all, he was a former member of the imperial family who had given up his right to the throne.

“It might not be a bad idea to have a cup of tea and discuss why you have come all this way.”

His elegant way of speaking was also part of his character, showing his noble background.

“Although, of course, that depends on whether you can even step inside.”

His usual arrogant attitude also made it very clear that he was a member of the imperial family.

“Before that, why don’t you go inside, Princess?”

Dad Harzen turned his eyes toward me and gently narrowed them.

His voice sounded kind, but there was a subtle pressure behind it.

A few days ago, I would have been too intimidated and obediently gone inside.

But…

“No! I don’t want to!”

Forget the pressure.

I have to know what is going on, Dad!

“Cecilia Miller.”

When I refused to listen, Dad Derek called me by my full name in a stricter voice instead of calling me Cici.

When he called me Cecilia instead of Cici, it meant the situation was very serious.

Well… I guess this isn’t exactly my problem.

Honestly, which is scarier?

Getting scolded by my dads?

Or having Mom disappear from my life forever?

“…Fine. It’s probably better than letting the child disappear from our sight.”

Dad Harzen quickly gave up.

He adjusted his glasses and calmly spoke.

Then he touched his long fingers together.

With elegant and relaxed movements, he moved his hands up and down.

A strange, glowing barrier appeared.

It quickly expanded into a huge dome and completely surrounded the house.

It was the defensive barrier of one of the strongest people in the novel, the great archmage Harzen Walker.

Wow…

I stared at it in amazement.

I couldn’t believe I was seeing such a huge barrier in real life.

Normally, Dad only made a small barrier around my room.

Of course, compared to his true power, even this enormous barrier was probably very small.

“What the hell is this, ♪♬? What’s going on?”

Dad Kyle also came outside and looked around.

“Looks like some uninvited guests have arrived.”

“Uninvited guests? Suddenly? Forget that for now. What are we going to do?”

“We should hear them out first and then decide. I don’t want unnecessary killing either.”

“Wow, ♪♬… You really know how to say ‘I’ll kill them all’ in a fancy way.”

Dad Kyle had come over beside me.

He gently covered my eyes and muttered,

“What is the kid supposed to learn if she hears you talking like that, ♩♪?”

Hmm.

I hate to say this, but…

Dad, did you think before speaking?

If you’re going to fill your words with swearing, or rather, musical notes, it’s not very convincing.

“Dad. Use nice words.”

I scolded him and slowly lowered the hand covering my eyes.

Not long after that…

Clank, clank.

The sound of metal hitting metal and heavy footsteps echoed across the quiet countryside.

I looked at the wide plains beyond the low fence.

Instead of the golden autumn fields I expected to see, the entire area was filled with armor.

Thousands upon thousands of silver-armored soldiers moved like waves covering a beach.

“It has been a long time, Duke Harzen Einhalt.”

Eventually, a man stood in front of the barrier and greeted Dad Harzen.

Dad Harzen replied with his usual elegant smile.

“I gave up the title of duke quite some time ago. So perhaps you should speak to me more casually.”

“How could I do that to the great Einhalt? I cannot risk committing disrespect toward you.”

“That’s strange. I gave up the Einhalt name quite some time ago as well.”

His voice became as cold as ice, despite his gentle smile.

“Instead of meaningless small talk, why don’t you first tell me why you brought so many soldiers to this quiet countryside?”

“…His Majesty the Emperor has ordered Duke Einhalt and Lady Miller to return to the Imperial Palace.”

“Return to the Imperial Palace?”

Dad Harzen finally lost his relaxed smile.

“You drove us out of the palace before. And now you want us to return?”

“Duke Einhalt was the one who said he wanted to leave the Imperial Capital in the first place—”

“No.”

He interrupted the man’s words and slowly shook his head.

“I don’t think whether we left the Imperial Capital of our own free will is the issue we should be discussing right now.”

“…”

“You still haven’t answered my question.”

His voice was so cold that it made the entire atmosphere freeze.

“Why are you suddenly ordering Yuria and me to return to the Imperial Palace?”

But the man didn’t back down.

He answered clearly.

“I cannot tell you.”

“Then I won’t go.”

“In that case, we will take you by force.”

“You can’t even enter this place. How exactly do you plan to do that?”

The situation was extremely tense.

It felt like something could explode at any moment.

I swallowed and looked back and forth between the two men.

Are they really going to fight here?

Maybe this would be the moment when Mom died and my dads went crazy.

No, no!

I immediately shook my head.

Mom wasn’t even home right now.

And Dad Harzen’s barrier was extremely strong, so nothing should happen just yet…

“Hm? What’s going on?”

Just then, a very familiar voice came from outside the barrier.

I quickly looked up.

Standing among the soldiers was someone with fluffy pink hair that looked completely out of place beneath a shining silver helmet.

“Mom?”

They say that when you talk about a tiger, the tiger appears.

But why did Mom have to show up right now?!

“What happened while I was volunteering at the nursing home…?”

Mom looked at the barrier, then at the man wearing silver armor.

And then…

“Please forgive my rudeness.”

Without any warning, the man pointed his sword at Mom’s neck.

Oh my gosh!

They took Mom hostage!

That’s so unfair!

How could they do that?!

“As Duke Einhalt said, since we cannot enter the barrier, this is the only way we can proceed. I ask for your understanding.”

“You must not care about your life.”

“You ♩♪♬♬ son of a ♪♬♩—”

Dad Kyle finally stepped forward, his words once again filled with a ridiculous number of censored swear words.

Then…

“Oh my. Am I a hostage right now?”

Mom’s bright, clear voice rang out like a bell.

It didn’t match the situation at all.

And then…

Ding! BOOM!

A huge explosion suddenly shook the entire area, as if a bomb had fallen.

I stood there with my mouth hanging open.

Thick smoke rose everywhere.

I thought I heard the sound of some kind of musical instrument.

No way…

“Even when I fought the Demon King, I never got to experience being taken hostage like this. How interesting.”

Mom calmly spoke as she emerged from the slowly disappearing smoke.

She casually brushed the dust off her hair.

I looked at everyone around me, one after another.

Everyone had fallen completely silent.

And I thought to myself…

Oh, right.

Our Mom is really ♬♪ strong…