I’Ll Protect My Tyrant Dad! [EN]: Chapter 107

107. Mom Was Special

Sienne looked bewildered.

“Wait a minute. It says here that you have to leave?”

Acid gripped the prophecy [a prediction or foretelling] and smiled languidly.

Seeing that, Sienne’s expression hardened. She sensed a subtle distance growing between them.

Acid looked at Sienne and quietly whispered,

“Yes. To be precise, there’s only one way to change fate. Beyond the ice cliffs, past the edge of the Demon Realm, at the origin of this world, there is Moira, the God of Time. If you meet Moira and win a bet with her, you can change your fate. That’s what it says.”

“……What? But that’s too abstract! How do I go to meet Moira? What if I lose the bet……? What happens then?”

The prophecy stated, ‘Those who lose the bet with Moira, the God of Time, die in some way due to tampering with causality.’

But he couldn’t bring himself to tell her that, fearing it would sadden her.

However, he didn’t want to lie to Sienne either. As Acid remained silent, Matthias, who was beside him, quietly spoke.

“More importantly, I know how to meet Moira.”

“Huh?”

Almost nothing was known about Moira, the God of Time. But Matthias spoke as if he knew her intimately. The curious gazes of Acid and Sienne turned to Matthias.

“Those who seek to meet Moira must walk endlessly toward the origin of this world until ten pairs of iron shoes are worn out. From the first time you go to meet Moira, until five years have passed, you must reach the place where the crack in time opens on the day the crouching spring flower blooms.”

He seemed to know about Moira in excessive detail.

Acid, who knew the contents of the prophecy, was even more bewildered.

That information wasn’t in the prophecy. Matthias must be revealing information he already possessed.

But how could he know? As if reading his thoughts, Matthias coldly whispered,

“Why, are you curious about how I know?”

Both Sienne and Acid looked at Matthias in bewilderment.

The unique, weary, indifferent expression of Matthias cracked. Sienne was so shaken that she bit her lip as she watched him quietly.

“……Because your mother, Yuela, went to meet Moira. Of course, Yuela had another power, so unlike humans, it didn’t take her five years.”

The name ‘Yuela’ coming from his mouth sounded both new and unfamiliar.

Sienne jumped up, grabbed Matthias’s collar, and stubbornly asked,

“Mom went to find the God of Time?”

“Yes.”

Acid quietly watched the father and daughter and asked in a trembling voice.

“Are you sure?”

“Yes, I’m sure. Yuela met Moira and said she had to save Sienne. And I don’t know if the bet was successful, but Yuela died instead of Sienne. So, you too…….”

Acid closed his eyes as if he didn’t want to hear the next words and then opened them again.

“I don’t care, even if I die.”

But Sienne was the unexpected variable. She flared up, clenched her fists, and huffed.

“No! I care! Don’t go. There must be another way.”

Matthias looked at Sienne quietly and laughed lowly.

“No, if the prophecy *is* Moira, the God of Time’s arrangement…… the only way to change fate is to win the bet with her.”

If Matthias was so adamant, his words must be true.

Then Acid had to leave right away.

To prevent the strange fate engraved on his body from harming Sienne.

He made a firm decision, and even Sienne could not sway his resolve.

“……Then, Lady Sienne, I have one last thing to say before I leave.”

Acid decided to reveal his heart, which had been suppressed all this time.

He shouldn’t, but this might be the last time he sees Sienne. He didn’t want to suppress his feelings just because Matthias was nearby.

“Huh? What is it?”

Sienne looked at Acid with a worried face.

Seeing her lips trembling slightly, Acid quietly whispered,

“Please kiss me.”

“……Huh?”

“I will make a vow of loyalty, so please kiss me according to the vow.”

Then Matthias said firmly.

“Just go and die.”

“Dad!”

“……Sorry, Sienne.”

Sienne’s eyes, which had stopped Matthias, shook in an instant.

Acid ignored Matthias’s blazing eyes, looked at Sienne, and quietly whispered with his eyes closed.

“So, what I mean is, I will become a knight to save you…….”

“Yes.”

“To give me courage…….”

Sienne said with slightly flushed cheeks.

“I will! If that helps you.”

Acid raised his trembling eyelids and whispered.

“……Yes.”

Even if five years passed as Matthias said, he would be able to survive with her kiss.

Sienne briefly touched her chapped lips and then approached his cheek as if burying her face.

It was such a close distance that he could see the faint bruises on her cheeks and the fine downy hairs.

Acid unknowingly closed his eyes tightly.

The pounding of his heart, so loud that he couldn’t hear Matthias cursing and grinding his teeth, dominated his ears.

And at that very moment.

Sienne’s lips touched Acid’s cheek like a bird and quickly disappeared.

Acid gently raised the corners of his mouth as if satisfied with just that.

“Ha, should we do it one more time?”

However, there was someone here who was watching the scene with a fierce look.

Matthias, who was glaring coldly at the rogue who had stolen his daughter’s cheek, gritted his teeth and hugged his daughter.

“What are you saying, Sienne? It’s the last time. The last time in your life. Acid, you go and die.”

“Ah, Dad!”

At the light scolding, Matthias blinked and muttered.

“Sorry, Sienne. But Dad is so angry…….”

Sienne glared at her dad.

Watching the father and daughter bickering harmoniously, Acid smiled quietly.

“Please prepare the iron shoes. Then I will leave right away.”

“Acid, at least have a meal-!”

“Before my mind changes, I’ll be back soon. To Ted too…….”

He recalled the image of his brother, who had tried to stop him from entering the temple.

Even though he thought it was irrational to turn away from Ted, there was only one reason why he had been distant with Ted until now.

Because the memories of his childhood were embedded in his head like fragments.

However, the memories of that time were gradually diluted by the encounters with Ted.

And finally, today, Acid was able to fully understand Ted’s heart.

Ted wanted to protect Acid, just as Acid wanted to protect Sienne.

Acid, who fully understood his brother’s heart, smiled so brightly and kindly as he said.

“Please give him my regards. Tell him I’ll call him ‘brother’ when I get back.”

“Acid.”

The kiss on his cheek was not enough.

But it was troublesome to be too caught up in sweet dreams. He hardened his lips and lowered his head.

“If I see Lady Sienne any more, my heart will waver. I don’t want to leave. So I’ll go now.”

“……The iron shoes will be prepared soon through my aides.”

“Yes. I’ll be back, Sienne. And, Matthias Mirmord.”

His expression still showed that he didn’t like him, but Acid, who turned his head, suddenly thought.

That Matthias Mirmord seemed to be overlapping the woman ‘Yuela’ on his face. So Acid didn’t say anything more.

And he left this place to escape his fate.

Leaving Sienne and Matthias behind.

From now on, it was his turn to pioneer his own destiny.

To reject the fate given as a sword and to survive as a human.

***

Acid left.

Dad’s aide, a villainous-looking man, prepared the iron shoes.

Holding Dad’s hand as I left the temple where Acid had disappeared, I quietly grabbed Dad’s collar and asked.

“Will Acid come back safely, Dad?”

Dad smiled gently and said.

“Yes. He was quite determined.”

I tilted my head, looking at Dad’s relaxed mouth.

The current Dad seemed to have returned from the ‘evil villain look’ to the ‘good-natured farmer look’ again.

But when I observed Dad’s expression, he put on an innocent face and shook his head.

“But, you can’t date Acid.”

Normally, I would have chuckled and shook my head, but it was different now.

As soon as I heard Dad’s words, my face turned bright red, like a shiny, red apple that I liked when I was young.

Dad started to puff out air when he saw that.

“Sienne!”

“……I didn’t say anything!”

I tried to walk quickly, but suddenly I said to Dad.

“Dad, how did Mom come back?”

“Mom…… I don’t know. She didn’t tell me.”

I quietly moved my lips.

After learning that I had a mom, it felt like I was talking about Mom with Dad almost for the first time.

Was that why? It felt like my heart was melting and loosening. I mumbled, looking at Dad’s complex expression.

“……People say Mom was a villainess. Acid won’t become like that, will he?”

Dad seemed worried that I was hurt, so he hurriedly stroked my cheeks and shook his head.

“That’s not true. And Mom wasn’t a villainess. Acid is a good…… person, right. Yes. Although he’s a rogue.”

Dad seemed to be constantly bothered by Acid kissing me. You can tell by the way his eyebrows are raised in a figure eight [a facial expression indicating disapproval or worry].

I grabbed Dad’s arm and gently coaxed him.

“You know, Mom, like the Mirmord people, was she a good person when you got to know her?”

Dad, who quietly grabbed my hand, said emphatically.

“She was a good person. Because she’s Sienne’s mom.”

“Uh-huh……. She summoned a demon, but is she a good person……?”

As my words trailed off, Dad smiled gently.

“Mom said she loved Sienne and wanted to save her. Dad still doesn’t know why she summoned the demon.”

“…….”

“But, Yuela was a special person, Sienne.”

“……Huh?”

At my question, Dad smiled quietly as if telling a secret that no one else knew yet.