Dad?
Did you say dad?
Scattered thoughts aren’t easily organized.
Ray, who was unable to clear the confusion and blinked his eyes, stared blankly at Elly and Kania upon hearing the unfamiliar term “dad.”
Though his mind felt hazy as if he were still half-asleep, Ray could be certain of one thing.
At least, Ray didn’t have daughters who had grown up like the girls before him.
Certain that these children weren’t his daughters, Ray uttered an absurd statement right after opening his eyes, something he would regret for decades to come.
“I… I’m not your dad…”
“…!”
The shock of Ray’s declaration left Elly with her mouth wide open.
Ray thought he had seen this expression somewhere before. It was a very familiar look, but he couldn’t immediately recall where.
Meanwhile, Elly turned around to look at Alesya, who had been standing behind her, her mouth agape.
Isn’t this person supposed to be our dad?
Alesya seemed to understand the meaning behind Elly’s glance and instinctively shouted toward Ray.
“My knight!”
With such a loud voice, it was impossible not to react when someone starts talking nonsense right after waking up to first-time daughters.
Upon hearing the familiar voice, Ray moved his stiff neck with difficulty and looked back at Alesya.
Still dazed, Ray blinked his eyes and asked Alesya in confusion.
“You… why do you look older…?”
“Grrrgh…!”
As Ray carelessly made comments that only raised her blood pressure, Alesya finally lost control and lunged forward to strike Ray on the back.
Fortunately, Didier managed to intervene just in time, stopping Alesya from attacking, leaving her fuming on the spot while Ray continued to stare blankly at her.
Even while fuming, Alesya let tears fall from her reddened eyes.
It was the first time Ray had ever seen Alesya cry.
And yet, Ray still couldn’t understand why she was crying so much.
Feeling as though he were wandering through thick fog, Ray weakly moved his fingers, which barely responded.
Just then, an unfamiliar yet nostalgic voice came from nearby.
“It’s been a long time, brother.”
“…”
After struggling to move his head further, Ray finally managed to turn and see the source of the voice.
He saw radiant silver hair and vivid red eyes.
There stood a girl adorned in elegant attire and wearing a dignified crown atop her head.
Ray gazed at the girl, faintly revealing his bewilderment.
She was a stranger.
At least, that’s how Ray felt.
“Who are you…?”
“Lea.”
Lea gently smiled and moved her lips.
“I’m Lea, your sister.”
“…”
As Ray blankly stared at Lea, his eyes gradually widened.
* Ray and Lea found themselves alone for a moment.
To give Ray some time to sort out his confusion, the others temporarily stepped aside.
Despite his lingering dizziness, Ray clenched his fists tightly, trying hard to regain his composure.
Lea stood beside Ray and calmly began speaking.
“It’s been a little over ten years since you fell asleep.”
“…”
“Many things have changed. Much of what you knew will no longer be the same.”
“…”
In silence, Ray slowly retraced the memory of ‘that day’ mentioned by Lea.
That day, Ray couldn’t ignore Bella’s hope.
For Bella’s hope, and to protect Lea, Ray gave up his life.
But even Ray’s sacrifice wouldn’t ensure the long-term survival that Bella wished for Lea—it was more like a distant dream.
Because of this, Ray made a ‘choice.’
Having made that choice, Ray confessed to Anthonyus truths he had once ignored for his own selfishness.
By involving Anthonyus, Ray inadvertently provided the catalyst that would bring the continent to true ruin.
“…”
Sacred Maiden.
The truth about the Sacred Maiden that Ray had once ignored.
Being a Sacred Maiden wasn’t about being holy; it was about being a terrible sacrifice.
No one intended harm when they required the existence of the Sacred Maiden.
The Sacred Maiden was not someone’s pawn but rather a necessary sacrifice to protect the continent—sacrifices that had to be accepted for the greater good.
For the sake of the greater cause.
Even though Ray was fully aware of the truth about the Sacred Maiden, he chose to ignore it.
During the Demonic Realm Expedition, Ray even dared to use the safety of the Sacred Maiden as a justification to seek Anthonyus’ assistance.
How disgustingly deceitful of him.
It was because Ray lacked alternatives, capability, and courage.
Nevertheless, Ray confessed the truth to Anthonyus in his final moments and instigated the collapse of the old system.
Great Reset.
Using that crude excuse as a noble cause.
Revolution…
Collapsing a system always demands immense sacrifices from innocent people.
Moreover, the gamble Ray initiated might have truly led to the destruction of the entire continent.
Yet, the reason Ray resolved to take such a gamble was…
Only because of her existence.
Luna.
The person Ray ultimately betrayed.
“To my brother.”
“…!”
Interrupting his thoughts, Ray suddenly looked up, startled.
Lea moved her lips toward Ray, who perhaps appeared frightened.
“I resented you.”
“…”
“It was too heavy.”
Too heavy for a child to bear…
The crown placed atop Lea’s head was cruelly heavy.
Cast from the melted remnants of Ray’s life, the Emperor’s crown became an unbearable burden for Lea.
“I felt lonely and anguished. There were times when I felt my life was cursed, and I resented you.”
“…”
“But… more than anything… I missed you.”
Lea brought Ray’s still-unresponsive hand to her cheek and let a single tear fall.
“I wanted to tell you this when you woke up again.”
Lea softly whispered into Ray’s ear with a gentle smile.
“Thank you, brother.”
“…”
“Thank you so much.”
“…”
Faced with Lea’s confession, Ray remained speechless, his lips moving meaninglessly.
Tears had already gathered in Ray’s eyes and were streaming down.
This overwhelming emotion welling up inside his chest, making him teary-eyed, was something Ray himself couldn’t quite grasp.
Without saying a word, Lea slowly embraced her brother who was shedding silent tears.
Soon, Ray also embraced his now-grown sister, trembling.
A sob filled with both apology and gratitude echoed in Lea’s ears.
Lea lingered for a moment, feeling the warmth of her brother’s heartbeat, then stepped back.
Her brother’s time shouldn’t be taken too long when there were many others waiting.
“Just a moment.”
Lea walked over and opened the closed door, allowing Ray to see Bella’s face first.
She looked older.
Most notably, she appeared much thinner.
Bella’s frail body bore witness to the immense emotional suffering she endured over the past decade.
As Bella tried to approach Ray hesitantly, she nearly collapsed.
Jimmy and Lea supported the weakened Bella and helped her reach Ray.
Finally standing before Ray, Bella felt too guilty to extend her hand first.
Watching Bella silently, Ray struggled to find his voice.
“Mom…”
Hearing Ray’s voice, Bella finally broke down, falling to her knees.
Bella grabbed Ray’s hand and began sobbing uncontrollably.
“Sorry… I’m so sorry, my son…”
Over and over, Bella apologized profusely without end.
Ray gripped Bella’s hand tightly and wept alongside her.
Though emaciated, the warmth from Bella’s touch offered great comfort to Ray.
Even as Bella continued to cry, she stepped aside to make room.
Through the doorway, Elly and Kania cautiously approached Ray.
Kania asked timidly,
“Is… is this really Dad?”
“…Yes.”
Tears simply flowed now.
Ray tightly embraced his daughters, whom he met for the first time, and continued to cry.
Elly and Kania, unsure of what to do because everyone else was crying, exchanged glances awkwardly despite their moist eyes.
While Elly and Kania glanced around uncertainly,
Ray shifted his gaze to the women standing behind them.
“Ka… ren… Alesya…”
Ray’s voice trembled.
Karen and Alesya both looked older than in Ray’s memories.
They were still beautiful, but the subtle signs of weariness hinted at the emotional scars they must have borne, leaving Ray speechless as he wiped his face.
Then Alesya took the initiative, grabbing Ray’s cheek and grumbling with bloodshot eyes.
“I’m sorry for getting old.”
“A-ah, no… That was a mistake…”
“It’s fine. It’s a relief that my knight still looks young.”
Alesya hugged Ray along with her daughter, and Karen, tears streaming down her face, also embraced Ray.
“Ray…”
“…”
“Don’t leave us again…”
“…Alright, I’m sorry. I’m… sorry…”
Ray pulled all four of them tightly into his arms.
Unable to contain their emotions, Alesya and Karen began sobbing loudly, causing Elly and Kania to feel suffocated. They quietly slipped out of Ray’s embrace.
When Alesya and Karen wiped their tears and stepped aside, Ray caught sight of Saria across from him.
Saria looked almost unchanged from the past.
Her face and expression were exactly as Ray remembered.
However, there was one noticeable difference.
Ray’s gaze shifted to Saria’s empty left shoulder.
Noticing Ray’s stare, Saria casually remarked,
“I lost it.”
“No…”
Was it just a thing to lose?
Before Ray could ask what happened, Saria stepped closer to him and paused briefly in thought.
With only one arm…
She couldn’t lift Ray under his armpits.
Saria pondered ways to lift Ray and decided to grab the collar of his shirt instead.
“…”
This didn’t look very good.
Abandoning the collar, Saria grabbed slightly behind Ray’s neck and attempted to lift him upward.
With Saria’s effort, Ray hung limply in the air like an animal carrying its offspring by the scruff of the neck.
After testing this method, Saria seemed satisfied and spoke.
“Nephew.”
“…Yes, Aunt.”
“Don’t do that anymore, going forward.”
This request carried deep meaning, to which Ray quietly nodded.
Saria, rarely showing such a bright smile, grinned widely.
Unable to face this smile directly, Ray lowered his head.
He felt sorry for everything.
Truly, sorry for everything.
At that moment, a sarcastic voice rang in Ray’s ear.
“Son of a bitch.”
It was Johanna’s voice.
