Chapter – 42
A girl named Elisa knew things that only the daughter of a deceased lover could possibly know.
The orphanage director and her guardian presented various pieces of evidence, claiming she was the real daughter.
With that, it became unclear who the actual daughter was, so they ended up raising both of them together.
Eventually, it didn’t matter—one became the eldest daughter, the other the second; either way, they were treated as daughters.
However, the Duke’s attitude toward the two was noticeably different.
Elisa resembled his deceased lover far too closely.
Her delicate, fragile appearance made his eyes ache, and he couldn’t suppress the protective instinct rising from deep within.
Since Elthea was already set as the heir, and the fragile Elisa wouldn’t need to endure hardships, he decided to raise her gently, beautifully.
Part of him also wanted to try being a father to Elisa, even if he hadn’t been able to with Elthea. But…
“So, you’re saying Elisa was a fake?”
“Yes. It was a scheme to steal my family and fortune. The orphanage director, the guardian, even Elisa—they were all in cahoots…”
“Oh… so you treat the real daughter strictly and the fake one with love, right in front of the real daughter?”
“Yes… that’s right.”
“So, the truth came out after she ran away, right? Then why did she run away?”
“Well… during the family council, I declared that Elisa would be officially recognized by the family. That night, she came to my office, crying pitifully. I was surprised—she’d never acted like that before. I thought I should comfort her, but somehow…”
“Somehow?”
The Duke took a deep breath.
“I scolded her… saying she was unfit to be the next head of the family because she was so petty…”
“……”
Ailette chugged sparkling water and spoke.
“Can I just say one thing?”
“What is it?”
“I’d run away too!”
“Ugh!”
“You should’ve treated her better while you had the chance!”
“Ugh! You said just one thing!”
“I don’t care!”
Seeing someone who looked exactly like Elthea scold him so harshly, the older Duke wiped his moist eyes.
“I-I truly considered both of you as my daughters… even if it was after being deceived…”
In this situation, any excuses were a bad choice.
“That’s something you can only say once you’ve fully earned a child’s trust. You declared Elisa’s recognition at the family council on your own, didn’t you? From her perspective, it must have felt like: ‘Ah, he’s judged me as a fake daughter and publicly branded me. Soon, I’ll be cast out!’”
“Ugh…”
He could not refute her. The words Elthea had screamed before running away, as if coughing out her heart, echoed in his mind.
- Is this my father’s decision?
- What should I do? I’ve become useless, yet he won’t throw me out for the family’s honor… he must feel so uncomfortable.
- …Why are you angry? Deep down, you wanted this, didn’t you? You never considered me your daughter! Even if I died, you wouldn’t shed a tear! You’d rather I die!
- So I’ll disappear quietly so as not to tarnish the family’s honor! Happy now, Duke? Are you satisfied now? Congratulations, Your Grace!
‘So that’s why she entered the dungeon alone…’
The Duke had roamed the black salt desert for two months and could recognize the unique auras and traces of techniques etched into the rocks.
Clearly, the only one capable of entering here and blocking the burst was Elthea herself.
An honorable death—what did it matter?
But who could he blame? He himself had pushed his daughter to feel like a mere tool of the family.
The Duke blew his nose into a handkerchief.
After a brief pause, Ailette decided.
“Grandfather, I’m heading to the temple.”
“What!”
He was already thinking about his daughter, who had blocked the dungeon burst alone, so he choked up.
“Don’t worry about me! A place like this dungeon isn’t meant for a child!”
“I know how to use a sword. A C-class dungeon without a boss is nothing. Besides, I know the way to the boss zone, so I can get there and back quickly.”
“Really? You know the way?”
The Duke’s attitude shifted. To think she had a talent for navigating even in a sandstorm where compasses failed!
Before he could say anything, Ailette made a proposal.
“If we walk quickly, it’ll take only an hour to reach the temple. Come with me, grandfather.”
✠
It felt safe with him around. The aura kept the salt sand off her body as if she had an umbrella.
“Ah, my child! You walk too slowly!”
“Eek!”
He lifted her onto his shoulders and ran at top speed. She was startled at first but quickly got used to it.
“Wow! This is so fun! Faster, grandfather!”
“Hold on tight!”
It felt like riding a rollercoaster in a theme park.
She held his head with both hands. Whenever the temple was off-course, she tugged his hair left or right to steer.
“Stop tugging! You’ll pull it out!”
“You have so much hair, a few strands won’t matter. No baldness worries for life!”
“Ahem! True enough!”
The amazing pace continued, cutting the arrival time significantly.
Impressed by his physical abilities, she remarked,
“Grandfather, you must have been a top-notch detective in your prime.”
“Detective? I’m still active!”
“Yes, yes. You should take supplements before you lose muscle.”
“Huh? Wait! Isn’t this Rodel’s supplement? The rare one that’s sold out everywhere? How did you get it?”
“My father and I made it.”
“What?! Your father was the alchemist Rodel?”
“Precisely—my father and I. Rodel stands for Leonard Rodelline, and I’m Ailette Rodelline.”
“Ah, right. You and your father. Amazing… to get such fortune from a dungeon!”
“By the way, grandfather, what’s your name?”
“Hmph, just call me Grandpa Jake.”
“Oh, Grandpa Jake. That feels really friendly.”
They spent about ten minutes getting to know each other.
[<System> You have exited the ‘Black Temple’s Barrier’.]
The salt sandstorm cleared, revealing a bright sky.
Screech! Screech!
Perhaps celebrating their entry into a new area, monsters came to greet them.
Two desert gargoyles hovered, keeping watch.
“Annoying creatures.”
As he tried to put her down, she said,
“I’ll handle it.”
“You said you can use a sword. Go ahead.”
Grandpa smiled, eager to see her skill.
A voice from her necklace complained.
<This smiling face resembles someone I know. I don’t like it. Let’s surprise Grandpa, Ailette.>
“Yes!” she answered in her mind and grabbed her wooden sword.
She waited atop Grandpa’s shoulders. The desert gargoyles swooped in, wings back.
The moment they entered striking range, she drew two sharp arcs.
Screeeech!
The gargoyles tore apart with a ripping sound, their death cries echoing.
“Ho! My child, not bad!”
<Of course. Who else’s student would I be?>
Agnes seemed prouder than ever.
“Ah, we’ve arrived.”
[<System> Boss Zone ‘Black Temple’ has been entered.]
The temple exuded a chilling aura, as if devoted to a fallen god.
Cracks ran through walls and ceiling. They relied on sunlight filtering in as they cautiously entered.
The interior was messy.
Salt piles were scattered everywhere, from small mounds to hill-sized heaps.
The floor was covered in salt; Grandpa’s feet sank with each step.
“There’s so much salt inside.”
“Strange. Salt storms don’t reach this area.”
“Maybe someone moved it here deliberately. Perhaps they’re running a salt business?”
The mystery was resolved at the corridor’s end.
The salt piles were gone. In their place were salt statues shaped like monsters.
Countless, hyper-realistic salt statues.
Each one harmonized, forming a scene of chaos as if the beasts were trampling over each other.
It was clear who the artist was.
She stepped off Grandpa’s shoulders.
“Looks like the boss’s ability turned monsters into statues. Maybe like Medusa?”
“Elthea…”
Grandpa was solemn, but her thoughts were different.
‘This actually gives hope.’
They destroyed the salt statues blocking the entrance and entered a massive hall.
The ruined scene testified to a fierce battle here.
Tentacle-like thorns wrapped around the temple columns.
Following the tentacles, her eyes went up to the domed ceiling, neck craned.
There, a huge eye, split in half, clung to the ceiling.
[‘The Eye Watching All Chaos’ rubs its eyelid, as if it hurt.]
Don’t empathize with this grotesque monster.
It seemed to be the boss. Perhaps petrified after being defeated, salt flakes crumbled from it.
Then, suddenly:
“Eh, Elthea!”
