episode_0056

Baekryeon was lost in thought as she looked at Letia, who was laughing brightly.

‘Power… isn’t something that is inherited?’

Bernacien’s power was natural. With that power, she manipulated the weather as she pleased, and helped to make the territory of Arkaden into a utopia.

But Letia’s power was different.

Objects float by themselves and float around Letia. And Letia is happy to see the floating objects. It’s as if the objects have developed a sense of self and are playing with Letia.

“Eww─press.”

At that moment, Letia, who sensed the presence of people, looked this way.

“Dad.”

In an instant, the objects floating around Letia suddenly collapsed.

Boom, boom!

The flame of the candle that had been flying around was automatically extinguished, and the blanket that had been fluttering over the bed sank to Letia’s head. Thanks to this, Letia ended up disguised as a Western-style ghost.

‘It seems like they got caught doing something bad with the items.’

It was like a minor who was smoking and immediately puts out his cigarette upon meeting an adult. Of course, since the owner of the power is still Letia, it would be more correct to judge it as a simple lack of concentration.

“… What kind of child are you, Letia.”

Baekryeon watched Letia crawl out from under the blanket that covered her.

If Bernacien was a witch of nature, could Letia be a witch of psychic powers? There were still not enough clues to be certain of anything.

How great must the power be that it can render all seventy-two transcendent beings incapable?

Even intuitively, it seems that this child will be able to accomplish a feat that even the out-of-the-ordinary Bernacien would find impossible.

The prophecy said so.

“Alook─Daluk. Hae.”

After a while, Letia peeked her face out from under the blanket and started to scold Baekryeon. She seemed to be concerned about the clothes Baekryeon was holding.

“These are the clothes you’re going to wear. I hope you like the color.”

“New amount?”

“Yeah, color. I meant color.”

“Oh my…”

Letia looked at the clothes carefully. It took a long time, as if a child were looking at each pattern carefully.

“Okay─this is it.”

“Does this mean it’s good?”

The hem of Letia’s dress, which she held tightly, was a bright lime green. It was a similar color to the eyes of Bernacien, where the forest grew on a clear day. I was moved to think that this child with black hair and black eyes instinctively followed the bloodline.

“Okay… Should I try it on?”

Nod nod!

Letia blinks her black eyes sparkling with curiosity.

Baekryeon gladly helped with Letia’s return to her original state. Now it was time for her to completely change into a true princess.

Perhaps because she liked the soft feel of her new clothes, Letia kept fiddling with the sleeves of her clothes.

While I was comforted by that action, I was also overcome with strong doubts.

‘… But how was language ability formed?’

Although he is clumsy, he can express his thoughts. Not only that, if he uses easy words, he can understand what he says easily.

It is said that it is an ability that all humans naturally have, but it is also different for each person. The language ability of a human who has missed the period of socialization is indescribably close to that of an animal.

Of course, even if it was still early days by a witch’s standards, if she had lived a closed life like Letia from the beginning, she would have had few opportunities to even come into contact with language.

It would be normal for Letia, who was neglected, to be unable to even communicate simply…

…

……

The reflection that had continued for a short while in this way soon came to an end.

‘What’s good is good. Let’s not create a sense of discomfort by necessarily finding it strange.’

More important than that was the prophecy.

The prophecy must be prevented from coming true by any means necessary. Baekryeon was a being prepared solely for that task.

Baekryeon, who has broken free from the laws of this world, has the right to break the fate that has been set for her.

So, he made up his mind while embracing the innocent Letia.

I’m going to try to change my fate.

I will help you grow up to be a good child and use the powers you have been given to benefit all people.

The extreme method of murder is completely erased from my mind.

“Please take care of me in the future, Letia.”

“Aww, wowwowwow─baa.”

Baekryeon gently stroked Letia’s head.

◇

April 25th, 508 Imperial Calendar. 4th floor, Duke Arkaden’s office.

More than a year has passed since the day I met Letia.

During this time, the fourth floor of Duke Arkaden’s mansion was practically the exclusive space of Baekryeon and Letia.

The two people who were the worst in terms of public opinion had no allies. As a result, Baekryeon was left to manage the neglected fourth floor on her own.

It would be a lie to say that there was no loneliness or sense of deprivation at all. Nevertheless, the driving force that allowed Baekryeon to endure was still by his side.

A small and warm life. A heterogeneous child with black hair and black eyes in common.

At first, it was Letia who started taking care of Baekryeon out of a sense of duty due to a promise. However, the child had soon transformed into the only being who breathed life into Baekryeon’s daily life.

For example, even when you are physically and mentally exhausted, you can still read fairy tales from the original world… and do so with realistic acting.

“Once upon a time, there was a grim reaper who wanted to stand in heaven. He was a person who hated the Jade Emperor’s chair being empty.”

“God─! Under the waves.”

“Yes, one day, the Strawberry Warrior of the Seocheon Flower Garden appeared to the Grim Reaper who was trying to take over the blue sky without permission. When the Strawberry Warrior got angry, the Grim Reaper said…”

“Strawberry!”

“Don’t raise your voice so much, Strawberry.”

“Huh…”

“… I didn’t say that to Letia.”

Letia covered her mouth tightly with both of her adorable hands. Her behavior was so seriously cute that I almost pinched her cheeks unconsciously.

After that, Baekryeon sighed after finishing the reading of the fairy tale after going through many twists and turns. It had been so long since she had read it that she had forgotten the content, so there were a few impromptu creations here and there.

“Again, more. Hear─the tone.”

“Hmm, what else could there be? This time, it’s a story about the pirate king looking for the Great Antiquity…”

When Baekryun was busy choosing a story to tell Letia, Letia’s gaze suddenly turned to the empty space. Letia stared blankly at the empty space for a long time without taking her eyes off it.

‘I’ve been curious about this for a while, but I can’t figure out what the intention is. It doesn’t seem to be a simple lack of concentration…’

What could these tiny black eyes be reflecting?

As the days passed, my doubts about this little girl grew more and more.

Baekryeon waited patiently for Letia to finish her business. Letia finally came to her senses and suddenly called him by his nickname.

“Ugh, oh, oh my─.”

Whenever Letia called Baekryeon, she always called her ‘Papa’. It was only a little over a month after she started raising her child that she realized that this was Letia’s unique language.

“Did you call?”

“Call─how.”

“Is there anything you want?”

“Wow.”

Letia shook her head. The wind that blew through her long hair right next to her tickled her arm.

“Then?”

“Aww…”

Letia stretches out her hand. Judging by the way her arms are shaking, it seems like her arms aren’t long enough. However, it’s hard to tell what she’s trying to grab, so I slowly lower myself to eye level.

“What should I bring you?”

“Ugh─cha.”

At that time, an unexpected event occurred.

Unexpectedly, the place that Letia’s outstretched hand reached was above Baekryeon’s head.

“Letia?”

“Okay─okay.”

Pavabak!

Letia’s hand stroked Baekryeon’s hair. It was so strong that she could feel the heat of friction. It was a sign that she had become quite healthy, unlike before when she had been so thin.

“Umm… What kind of game is this? Letia.”

“Moolaaa─.”

“Ugh.”

Letia’s bouncy antics have been around for more than a day or two, so I’ve gotten used to it, but sometimes I wonder. What kind of thinking goes on in Letia’s head…

“What are you doing─? What are you doing.”

“Are you nice? Because I read you a fairy tale?”

“Ugh.”

Letia shook her head violently again. Of course, she didn’t stop sweeping her hair like a broom.

“Ah-ah-ah-ah-ah-ah-ah. I don’t know anything about that. I don’t know well. ”

“… Letia?”

“I’m sorry─Anaa. Strawberry is Yonsan─nim.”

“Ahaha… Okay.”

Baekryeon thought Letia was talking about her own impressions of the fairy tale. Not only was it such a random remark, but the only topic of conversation at this time was the fairy tale that had just been read.

But the next moment, the words that came out of Letia’s mouth powerfully captured Baekryeon’s consciousness.

“Sennena─. Right. Small rice─earl. Hello?”

“… What did you just say?”

“My arms are tired─uh.”

Letia lowered the arm that was caressing Baekryeon. Baekryeon then grabbed the cute hand that had come down from her head and asked back.

“Letia, what did you just say?”

“Strawberry─?”

“What next?”

“Um.”

Letia answers.

“Moorureuge─write.”

“… I see.”

“Muuuu?”

“No, it’s nothing.”

When Letia tilted her head, Baekryeon quickly shook off her foolish thoughts.

It was a fuss from the start that they reacted seriously.

‘Selena… Lani.’

Even though this child doesn’t know that name.

It should be obvious that the pronunciation of Jemin ended up being similar.

I found myself asking seriously without realizing it.

‘I asked, and if the answer was yes, what were you going to do?’

To my old colleagues, I am still just a sinner.

It was a blunder that forced a one-sided sacrifice for childish reasons.

He is just a man who is extremely sorry for his status as a warrior.

“Are you sad? Aah─daddy? ”

“… I’m not sad. Just.”

That’s why I swear.

“I just wanted to promise you that I would protect you for the rest of my life.”

As Bernacien said.

The last one is like a warrior.

I will protect the child born with an immortal fate.

He said he just reflected on his determination.

Ever since I was summoned to this world, I’ve been losing precious daily life.

Whenever I sought stability, deep chaos inevitably tormented my fate.

I know now.

That no peaceful daily life can last forever.

That’s why it’s precious.

Letia reminds me of the warmth of people once again.

I still vividly remember the day when my best friend passed away, pulling back the curtains in my cool bedroom.

To me, who reached out with your black hair.

How much… how much… was the action of transferring body heat with those lovely hands?

It was so warm it was frightening.

Perhaps. From that moment on, Letia, you were my only hope and miracle left.