“Test subjects usually die, you know. But from what I’ve found, there was one adult male test subject who survived for fifteen years. I don’t know the details, but I heard he has silver hair and blue eyes.”

    Silver hair and blue eyes—that was exactly my dad. And fifteen years? The timeline fit perfectly.

    “So I’ve been thinking that test subject is Cedric Roafi. Normally, if someone survives the experiment, they’d rise up to an executive position in the Modification Faction. But I heard he’s still just a test subject.”

    “No flexibility, and once he decides something’s wrong, it’s wrong forever... That’s definitely my dad.”

    I was certain.

    The only exception he ever made was for me.

    Because of me, he might’ve ended up in the Modification Faction, but he’d never become something like an executive.

    “Where is he?”

    “Probably the western underground prison.”

    The Tower Lord pointed at a map as he spoke.

    “Of course, it’s pretty deep. That’s where I was planning to sneak in myself...”

    I stared at the map quietly. It was incredibly detailed—must’ve been a result of long investigation.

    “My sweet girl, why are you acting like you don’t have a tomorrow...”

    The Tower Lord grabbed my hand tightly and said again.

    “Are you worried that a Dragonblood might kill you because you’re a test subject? I’ll hide you deep in the Magic Tower so no one can ever find you. Okay?”

    His eyes were full of worry.

    “If a Dragonblood comes in and smashes the place up, Dad will die too.”

    “I’ll rescue him before that happens.”

    “But I’m stronger than you, Grandpa. And...”

    I bit my lower lip and added.

    “If Mom escapes and joins up with the remaining Modification Faction members again, I’ll be powerless to stop it.”

    The Modification Faction didn’t only exist in the Grand Temple.

    Once the Dragonblood destroyed the Grand Temple, the scattered remnants would surely go into hiding again.

    If Mom survived, she’d definitely join forces with those remnants.

    But I couldn’t bring myself to say I hoped Mom would die. I just couldn’t.

    “What’s the point of living like this?”

    All throughout my childhood, I thought I didn’t have control over my life—but never had I felt this helpless before.

    “There, there. My poor sweet girl. Then let’s do this.”

    The Tower Lord gripped my hand even tighter as he listened.

    “I’ll change the plan. I’ll make sure to catch Aran. I’ll catch her no matter what, lock her up in the Magic Tower, and never let her meet the Modification Faction again. That way, you won’t have to worry anymore.”

    I responded seriously.

    “But under Royal Special Law Article 11, Clause 20, the Tower must absolutely obey the royal family. It says they can’t go against a royal’s command. They’ll probably order you to kill all three of us.”

    “Then you hide in the Tower too. I’ll tell the Dragonbloods you three died. I’ll even take in your father. He’s a test subject too, after all.”

    So the ending would be the three of us imprisoned in the Magic Tower.

    “How about that? Isn’t it brilliant? You can live sealed off from the world like a shut-in princess. Just you.”

    The Tower Lord beamed as he said that, eyes gleaming. Somehow, it didn’t feel like a happy ending at all.

    “Wouldn’t that be wonderful? Hm? What do you think, sweet girl?”

    “Well... yeah...”

    “What’s with that face, huh?”

    “Just... thinking about staying in the Tower forever makes me worry about the Scroll Department... Honestly, without me, that place is in serious danger...”

    Even in this situation, I was glad I was officially on sick leave.

    ‘I’m not absent without leave. No work void left behind.’

    Anastasia was also on sick leave, but she wasn’t particularly strong in her job to begin with.

    Anyway, Victor was going to work under surveillance by the Crows.

    As long as the Scroll Department was only doing the kind of work the old Scroll Management Department used to, Victor could handle it alone just fine.

    Maybe that’s why the Tower Lord said cynically:

    “Hmph, that’s only because you’re actually trying to do something. Back when it was just the old Scroll Magic Department, what did it even do? It’s basically a useless department in the palace. I only kept it running at its current size because I threw a fit.”

    It was depressing, but I couldn’t deny that—being a former low-level worker there.

    “...It wasn’t the Scroll Magic Department, it was the Scroll Management Department...”

    “Oh, right. Well, anyway. Let’s do this instead.”

    The Tower Lord clapped once and pointed at the map again.

    “You go rescue your father. I’ll circle around and...”

    He pointed toward an eastern annex building.

    “I’ll attack here. From my investigation, this is the executive meeting room. I’m not as strong as you, but I can break a thing or two. That should draw most of their forces.”

    In other words, he’d make it look like he was the intruder.

    And it also meant we’d be acting separately from now on.

    “While I draw attention, you smash down the side gate on the west and head underground. Take this dog—it’ll get you there fast.”

    “Woof woof woof!”

    While the Tower Lord and I were arguing, Kibon had been lying down obediently, but now barked as if he understood.

    “Let’s not think about the worst-case scenario.”

    I nodded.

    Honestly, both the Tower Lord and I were basically charging in alone, relying on nothing but our own abilities.

    “The Dragonbloods will clean things up afterward. That’s the weight of the ruler’s crown, isn’t it? Let’s just save two people.”

    Since the goal wasn’t overly grand, it felt doable somehow.

    “And then we’ll live the rest of our lives locked up in the Tower, forced to be happy and unable to move. Got it?”

    “...Yes.”

    The Tower Lord and I locked eyes.

    Then he lifted me up and plopped me down onto Kibon’s back.

    “Be careful, alright? Got all your scrolls?”

    “Yes.”

    I nodded.

    I had carefully packed even the scroll the Tower Lord gave me long ago—the one to use if a guy ever confessed to me.

    Not that I’d ever use it, since I’d probably never run into Kibon again...

    Still, to someone like me—who had never received anything from family as a teenager—every little thing was precious.

    “My cutest girl in the whole world, take this too. I don’t think I’ll need it anymore. Only two left though...”

    The Tower Lord fished out something else and pressed it into my hand. S~ea??h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    “Invisibility scrolls. With your mana, they’ll last quite a while. The underground prison is deep—so use them wisely.”

    “Huh? Invisibility scrolls?”

    I had never seen one before. I stared at it in surprise, and the Tower Lord stepped back.

    “Alright then. I’ll be off now. Let’s split before those Modification bastards show up.”

    He looked up at me on Kibon’s back, like he wanted to memorize my face.

    “Good luck, sweet girl. If anything goes south, just ditch everything—family and all—and use the teleport scroll to run. Got it?”

    “...Yes.”

    Suddenly, my throat tightened.

    “You be safe too... Grandpa.”

    The Tower Lord nodded. Then, grabbing the staff he’d left on the ground, he sprinted toward the east like the wind.

    His back looked like he was keenly aware someone was watching—trying a little too hard to look cool.

    ‘So that’s what it was...’

    I looked at his back and gripped the invisibility scroll tightly.

    The mystery of why the Tower Lord had appeared earlier lying flat on the ground was finally solved.

    ‘He must’ve been scared of us and used this to hide, curling up in fear...’

    I nodded once, then patted the back of Kibon’s neck.

    “Alright.”

    I had already memorized the map I saw earlier.

    “Let’s go, Kibon.”

    At that, Kibon barked and took off running cheerfully.

    ***

    “Huff... huff... huuuuuff...”

    The Emperor really thought he was going to die at this rate.

    Even flying at top speed, getting to the southern region took at least three days.

    But this time, he had flown nonstop—like a mad sprint from the very start...

    “Huuuuuuuff, huuuuuuuuuuuuuff...”

    Including the three hours of sleep and quick wash-up at a small safe house earlier this morning, he had made ? NоvеⅠight ? (Read more on our source) it to the south in under two full days.

    “Thank you, Your Majesty. That was truly exhausting. But please head a bit farther toward Farens.”

    “Grhh?(And then what?)”

    They were already practically at Farens, so it wasn’t a hard request.

    Kiaros spoke in a low voice.

    “And drop me on top of the Grand Temple.”

    He clearly meant to charge in directly.

    Soon, the full view of the Grand Temple came into sight.