I’Ll Protect My Tyrant Dad! [EN]: Chapter 133

The Tyrant Father I’ll Protect! 133. Extra Story 2. Finding Dad’s True Happiness (6)

133. Extra Story 2. Finding Dad’s True Happiness (6)

2024.03.08.

I blankly stared at Mom’s illusion and thought,

‘I understand why Dad has been avoiding confronting his memories with Mom.’

Even I, who didn’t have a strong bond with Mom, felt a pang in my heart seeing her smile so happily, a smile that seemed to light up everyone around her.

How much more would it affect Dad, who had shared such a deep connection with her?

‘Our dad must be in so much pain.’

I rubbed my eyes, wiping away the tears that threatened to spill.

‘Maybe this trip… was a bad idea.’

Maybe I was using the excuse of wanting to give Dad something to enjoy in life besides me, but I might have just been projecting my own feelings onto him.

Dad is someone who doesn’t deserve to endure this kind of pain.

I felt the illusion magic slowly fading away and tightly gripped the time capsule in my hand.

The warmth that had briefly flared up as the magic activated was disappearing, and it hurt as if Mom was fading away all over again.

***

After the illusion ended, the atmosphere around us was heavy and quiet for a long while.

I blinked, staring at Dad, who was blankly gazing into the distance.

It was up to me, the designated mood maker, to lift the atmosphere that had somehow sunk so low.

“Dad! Did you see the pub, too?”

“Huh? No…….”

I caught a glimpse of a shadow crossing Dad’s face.

‘Huh? Then did Dad see a different illusion in the time capsule than I did?’

I glanced at Dad’s face, and it seemed clear that we hadn’t experienced the same illusion.

Feeling a surge of curiosity, I carefully asked Dad,

“Dad, what illusion did you see?”

Dad pressed down on his reddened eyes and muttered in a low voice,

“No, I didn’t cry.”

Suddenly declaring that he hadn’t cried was a complete non sequitur [a statement that does not logically follow from the previous one].

I carefully observed Dad’s face, which was shrouded in a somber expression, noticing it anew.

His mood was so serious that I felt somewhat puzzled that I was only noticing it now.

I glanced at Dad and then thought to myself,

‘This isn’t the right atmosphere to joke around and say, “I didn’t ask if you cried.”

If I said that, Dad might actually start crying.

So, I changed the subject.

“It seems like we saw different illusions. Did Mom harass you and tease you in the illusion?”

“……No. She didn’t say much.”

“Tch, liar.”

I tried to lighten the mood playfully.

Then Dad looked at me and smiled faintly.

“Mom says she’s thankful to Shien.”

“……Huh? Mom?”

“Yeah. Mom……. told Dad to be happy now, too. To enjoy life and live doing other things.”

The moment I heard those words, my heart seemed to drop.

I blinked and asked,

“Mom and I, we think the same thing?”

“……Yeah. Mom from twenty-five years ago and Shien now are saying the same thing…….”

“Uh-huh.”

“Dad also thought that he should really be happy now.”

I couldn’t know exactly what illusion Dad had seen.

But I just looked at Dad and nodded.

Because there was only one thing I could do for him right now.

“Yeah! Dad, let’s have lots of fun and be happy!”

When we get back, I should find many other things to do with Dad.

Like chess.

I smiled faintly at Dad.

It meant that we should be truly happy together.

***

As I talked with Dad, time passed, and night fell in the desert.

Unlike the scorching sun during the day, the desert night was harsh.

But who are we?

“As expected of the Mirmord Duchy. They solved everything with money!”

“It’s warm inside the magic tent, right?”

“Yeah!”

The tent was designed like a peanut house, and Dad and I decided to sleep on separate camping beds with just a cloth between us.

After a simple wash and changing, I took off my robe and was about to take out the pajamas I had packed in my bag when Dad tapped on the cloth that was hanging like a curtain and asked,

“Shien, are you okay? Are you going to catch a cold?”

“Yeah, I’m fine!”

I was just about to change into my pajamas.

A beeping sound came from the pouch I had thrown on the bed.

I was about to quietly think about Mom when I remembered the item I had put in my pouch.

‘Ah, that’s right……!

Before coming on the trip, I had brought the video orb.

Acid had given it to me.

I touched the slightly warm video orb and recalled the conversation I had with Acid.

‘Since you’re going to the desert, in case, um, just in case……. you might be in danger.’

‘Huh? Dangerous? I’m going with Dad? I think it’ll be okay!’

When I said that without any tact, Acid…….

Smiled and replied directly.

‘Actually, I thought I might miss you. Please accept it.’

He said that and put the video orb in my robe.

I recalled the conversation with him and blushed.

‘It’s not like I miss Acid so much that I can’t stand it, but still, it’s a good thing I brought the video orb.’

During this long desert night, I can have a brief conversation with Acid.

‘And there are things I want to ask Acid about Dad.’

I glanced at the inside of the tent and checked for Dad’s presence beyond it.

It seemed like Dad was also showering in the makeshift toilet room inside the tent.

‘Should I go outside first?’

It seems like Dad is showering, but if I talk in here, Dad might hear me.

I glanced beyond the cloth and put my robe back on my shoulders.

Then I opened the door of the tent and went outside.

It was a bit chilly outside, but it wasn’t too bad, probably because of the magic protecting the tent.

***

“Shien, I missed you.”

I chuckled and asked mischievously,

“It hasn’t been that long since we parted, has it?”

“Yes, because I always miss Shien.”

To say such things without even blushing, I thought Acid had become quite brazen.

‘Maybe it’s because we’re far apart, but the level of flirting seems unusually high.’

I liked that a little, so I smiled and replied,

“Me too.”

……Maybe I’ve become a cheesy lover too.

Acid blushed and said quietly,

“That’s a relief, I’m happy.”

His happiness reached me through the video orb, making me twice as happy.

As I listened to the trivial stories he had experienced today and offered a few kind words, several minutes flew by.

It seemed like Dad would soon finish showering and come outside.

I was about to turn off the video orb, but I paused for a moment.

‘Should I tell him what happened today, or not?’

I was wondering whether to tell Acid that I had met Mom when Acid made the first move.

He looked at my expression and said,

“Ah, by the way, how was it? Today, the trip.”

“The trip? Um, I think it was more enjoyable than I thought.”

I smiled slightly and continued,

“And……. um, actually, I saw an illusion of Mom.”

Acid was silent for a moment.

“How did you feel?”

“Um, I was happy to feel like I was meeting Mom again. But, Dad, a little…….”

I stammered.

But Acid patiently waited for me to speak.

Thanks to him, I was able to slowly say the next words.

“……I wondered if Dad could really live without me. Actually, there’s a reason why I came on this trip. I wanted to find Dad something to enjoy in life besides me, to make him relive his memories with Mom, to take him on a farewell trip with Mom, well, that’s why……. I came up with various grand reasons.”

“Yes, you came up with those reasons……. and came.”

“I just thought that I want to live with Dad for a long, long time. And, I want Dad to be happy. Whatever it is.”

“……Yes.”

Acid said firmly.

“It will be as Shien wishes. Matthias will definitely be happy.”

“It will be as I wish, huh…….”

Acid always gave me advice to the best of his ability.

Today, too, I could tell that he was saying words filled with sincerity.

Thinking about that made my heart race, so I playfully changed the subject.

“Then, we don’t have to get married?”

“Th, that’s……!”

“Does our marriage also happen as I wish? Even if I say let’s get married when I’m fifty, will you do it then?”

Acid showed a reaction I didn’t expect.

Acid made a sound as if he was being strangled at my words.

“You really want to ma, marry me…….”

……To be surprised at that point, it was just like Acid.

I shrugged and asked,

“Isn’t that obvious? Then who else would I marry besides Acid?”

“I didn’t know you were really, truly, serious, not just saying it…….”

“Surprisingly, I’m always serious. Don’t tell me…….”

I said with a feigned surprised expression.

“Acid isn’t going to marry me? Are you just going to date me?”

At that moment, Acid’s eyes widened tremendously.

“Th, that can’t be! I’m unconditionally with Shien…….”

“This is a cliché, isn’t it? That you’ll be loyal to me?”

Acid’s lips hardened resolutely.

“I didn’t want to propose like this.”

“Huh?”

‘The atmosphere is more serious than I expected?’

Just as I nervously bit my lip, it was then.

Acid said with a firm expression.

“I want to marry Shien.”

“…….”

“I won’t beat around the bush. I love Shien. Of course, I want to marry Shien.”

There was no shyness in Acid’s face as he said ‘I love you.’

At those words, my face turned bright red.

I made a joke, but I tripped over my own feet.

‘……I’m so embarrassed!’

I hurriedly put the video orb into my robe pocket and took several deep breaths.

But it was right then.

A presence was heard beyond the tent.

I pricked up my ears in an instant.

‘Could it be Dad? Dad didn’t hear what I said, did he?’

Recalling the deep love confession and proposal I had shared with Acid, my face turned incredibly red.

I fanned myself and headed towards the tent where I had heard the presence.

***

If Shien had missed something, it was that Matthias had finished showering faster than she thought.

Shien’s voice talking to Acid was also very clear from inside the tent.

Listening to their conversation, Matthias felt a brief sense of schadenfreude [pleasure derived from someone else’s misfortune].

He was grateful to Shien for worrying about him. And, listening to their young love conversation made him feel suffocated.

‘Shien is really dating according to her age.’

Just like those days when Yuela and he were happy.