Kiaros’s prediction had been spot on.

‘As expected, that old man’s personality is a complete mess.’

He thought that while urgently dodging away.

‘No way he’d just stand by while someone confessed to his granddaughter.’

It was probably meant to just knock him out temporarily.

Even that alone made it an impressive scroll. Scrolls weren’t usually capable of much to begin with.

But when Namia, whose mana had grown stronger, activated it—lightning struck out of a clear sky.

‘Well, this works.’

As the lightning struck, the blocked underground passage began to collapse.

A collapse meant a new path would open.

A large stone fell between Namia and Kiaros, and the two began to plummet into completely different areas.

‘It’s fine. Namia will be transferred outside right away.’

Kiaros moved agilely between the falling rocks.

Following the lightning’s path, a channel opened between the upper and lower sections.

‘Cedric Roafi should be below. I’ll rescue him first...’

He had promised to find her biological father. That was the first promise he’d made to Namia.

As he swiftly descended, he thought to himself:

‘I need to make a good impression.’

According to Namia, Cedric was a gentle and warm man.

A father who had offered her kind teachings like “Marry someone you love.”

He definitely wasn’t the type to make a scene shouting “Any man who approaches my granddaughter is dead meat!” like the Magic Tower Lord.

So making a good impression on Cedric didn’t seem too hard. Especially if he was the one to personally rescue him...

He pictured the scenario:

[Namia, His Highness the Crown Prince saved me. To keep his promise to you.]

[Ah, yes.]

[I hope you marry someone you can trust this much. Do you know how polite and respectful His Highness was to me? His noble status didn’t make him overbearing at all. He’s truly a man who has it all.]

[Ah, yes.]

Namia still needed time.

But with Cedric’s support, that time might shorten.

‘Just in case...’

In the dim space where only faint light flickered, his blonde hair began to turn black.

If someone from the Reconstruction Faction recognized him, it would be a hassle.

That’s how striking Kiaros’s appearance was. And everyone knew that blond hair and red eyes were the hallmark of royalty.

That’s when it happened.

“Ugh-cha... I see a way through.”

Someone emerged, pushing aside rocks from the previously blocked path below.

Kiaros quickly hid his body and observed the voice’s owner.

‘Who is that? Did he come from the underground prison?’

A man with bronze skin and bulging muscles.

Probably an experimental subject—he was shirtless, and even his pants didn’t seem to be made of good material.

As the man pushed another rock aside, a back full of scars came into view.

‘Hmm.’

The man had silver hair and blue eyes. But...

[My dad was tall and skinny, like a beanpole. No muscles to speak of, but his skin was incredibly pale... no matter how much he worked under the sun, he never tanned.]

Namia had definitely said that about Cedric Roafi.

[I guess my dad just couldn’t build muscle. I probably inherited that—I’m not built for working out either.]

So naturally, Kiaros found it suspicious.

Just as he hesitated, the rock he was standing on crumbled with a cracking sound.

“Oh no...”

Thanks to that, the muscular man seemed to spot Kiaros.

A huge scar marred the man’s face, making his expression look rather menacing.

“Well, this is awkward...”

The man stared fixedly at Kiaros, then sniffled.

Kiaros stepped forward cautiously, his eyes filled with suspicion. That’s when it happened.

“I’m soooorryyyyy!”

The man threw a punch at Kiaros.

“I know I broke the contract to stay here, but I’m getting out no matter whatttttttttttt!”

Kiaros instinctively dodged. But another heavy fist came flying immediately after.

‘Oh, come on.’

There was no choice. Kiaros deftly lifted a leg and kicked the man in the face.

“Guh-hurk! I’m sorry! But I just can’t give upppp!”

He crashed into the rocks hard enough to make one wince—but he charged again like a raging bull.

Kiaros had no choice but to drive a fist into his stomach.

‘...Let’s just knock him out quickly and move on.’

He had no time to waste on this strange guy. He had to follow that path and find Cedric Roafi.

Since he’d already thrown a punch, finishing it fast would be best for both of them.

‘Ridiculously strong... but no technique.’

Even during a blackout period, this guy was no match for Kiaros.

“Gah!”

Kiaros subdued the man silently, expressionless. Just as he moved to strike a pressure point and knock him out—

“No! Namiaaaaaa!”

Kiaros’s face froze.

“Namiaaaaa... my daughter, I need to see my daughter...”

The man he was supposed to impress—he had just beaten senseless.

‘But he attacked first, I had no choice...’

As Kiaros hastily tried to justify it to himself, he realized he currently looked exactly like a Reconstruction Faction guardian, with black hair and black eyes.

“NamiAAAAAaaaaaa...”

The man collapsed unconscious.

Kiaros cautiously approached him.

A middle-aged man. Silver hair. Blue eyes. And those final words: my daughter Namia.

‘Ah.’

No matter how he looked at it, this man was Cedric Roafi.

Kiaros pressed a hand to his forehead.

‘...I’m screwed.’

***

“Gyaaaaahhh...”

When the lightning struck between Kiaros and me, and the ground began to collapse again—

“Ughhh... s-s-s-scaryyyyy...”

I panicked and tried to use my teleport scroll.

But then I remembered Kibon (the dog) and hesitated.

I could still hear barking in the distance—and it was getting closer.

‘He’s tracking me by scent! All because I called him Kibon earlier!’

Seriously.

Just calling him once and now he was chasing me down? He was acting just like real Kibon (the person)...

Thinking about Kibon (the dog) making his way through this darkness made it impossible for me to teleport away alone.

‘It’s fine. I can use it whenever I want.’

Just as I mustered the courage to open my eyes and cling to the wall—

“Huh?”

Instead of the path to the underground prison, I saw a tiny side passage.

It looked like it connected somewhere totally different than the tunnel I came down from.

“What the...?”

Either way, it looked way safer than staying here while everything crashed down.

I rolled my body into the side path and began cautiously stepping forward.

Kibon, catch up on your own. This path seems safer anyway.

It was even wide enough that Kibon (the dog) could probably follow easily.

Was this some kind of secret escape route? Light was leaking in from the far end.

Unlike the wrecked main path, this one was smooth and straight—perfect for moving through.

‘Must be an emergency escape route.’

And this definitely counted as an emergency.

As I quietly followed the path in the darkness—

From up ahead, I started to hear faint murmuring voices.

‘Hmm. Reconstruction Faction, maybe?’

I carefully silenced my footsteps. I didn’t know where this led, but I still had a teleport scroll, and one stealth scroll left.

I halted my steps to observe the situation a little longer.

“Ah, seriously...”

Now that I was close, I could hear the unfamiliar voice of a middle-aged man.

“Let’s think rationally here.”

And with those next words—I slapped a hand over my mouth and held my breath.

“Hmm? Aran.”

Aran.

That was my mother’s ◈ Nоvеlіgһт ◈ (Continue reading) name.

My mother was in there.