Chapter 436 – Wiki Clipport (2)

The day before Lee Si-heon met the sage and Wiki Clipport.

“Your Majesty, I am at your service.”
“Very well.”

Beneath the throne, an elderly man with his face concealed offered counsel to the king.

“Do not keep the former sage close to you.”

Having spoken, the old man bowed his head in silence. Impeccable loyalty in every sense.
Lee Si-heon, seated upon the throne, inquired.

“Why?”
“This is not to insult Your Majesty—”

The third attendant adjusted his white beard as he spoke.
A flame flickered in the darkness.

The old man’s eyes narrowed sharply.

“Indeed, humans with exceedingly high intelligence can never be fully controlled. Power and knowledge, Your Majesty, you have already grasped everything. What more do you desire that you trust her? She is a being whose true nature is ever uncertain, like a snake in the grass.”

Instead of pursuing the same goal, the king can be exploited by the sage. In other words, even the slightest possibility cannot be disregarded.

The king gazed at the elder for an extended period.

1 minute, 5 minutes.
At around 10 minutes, Si-heon spoke.

“Is that all you wish to say?”
“…I trust that Your Majesty will make a wise decision.”
“A wise decision, you say. Haha.”

After pondering the words, the king inquired.

“Do I appear wise to you?”

In a spine-chilling voice, as if tormented by some unknown affliction.

“…”
“Don’t I seem like a lunatic who merely harasses women? At least if you’ve been observing my actions, you would know very well… What exactly are you placing your faith in?”

Instead of continuing his speech, the old man bowed his head, demonstrating an unseen loyalty.
No one knew what lay within it. Not even the king standing before him.

Lee Si-heon’s eyes widened.
There is no one to trust here.

Indeed, it had been a long time coming.

-*Swoosh*-.

The surroundings froze. Cold air weighed down on the old man’s shoulders.

“…Your Majesty.”

A crown slowly rose above King Mokryeong’s head. The cold, hardened expression on Lee Si-heon’s face vanished. Along the crown of thorns, Si-heon’s eyes became bloodshot.

He softly unleashed a spell, sweeping the area around them. Confirming that no one was listening, Si-heon spoke to him.

His voice resonated throughout the room.

“Well, it is understandably frustrating.”

“…No.”

“It’s not enough to bring a slave girl to the land… Not to mention bringing the Flower’s executive, who should be most guarded against, into the castle. It’s truly vexing.”

“Your Majesty, such thoughts…”

The old man bowed his head even further. Staring at his back, Si-heon continued.

“However.”

*Snap*, the sound of his hand bending.

“Leave all those petty details aside, and keep the sage at a distance. It’s dangerous. I cannot handle it.”

“…….”
“Make a wise choice… Who?”

The old man’s eyes widened.
For a moment, fear gripped him at the glimpse of the man’s cold composure.

A man dubbed the king was seated.

“Engahero.”
“Yes.”
“Let me tell you one thing.”

Lee Si-heon spoke.

“There’s no one I trust. Even if they are family, that doesn’t change.”
“…….”
“In this world, there are people who would choose death over life, even when begged to live.”

Even if it was a positive emotion, the concept of trust had already vanished for him.

“Until I uproot all the seeds, I will never trust anyone.”
“…Yes.”

The crown disappeared.
Expression returned to Lee Si-heon’s face.

His regained countenance was calm, even slightly mischievous.
Engahero did not lift his head.

He simply trembled with awe at the majestic presence he had just witnessed.

* * * * * * * *

“It seems like Eva.”

I nodded as Gu-seul raised her hand.
It could be. In fact, I had thought the same.

“Up to Ebony, my disciple, it’s plausible. But this one… Isn’t she too young?”

Gu-seul looked down at my lap. Wiki Clipport, the size of a kindergartener, was gazing at Gu-seul.

“The woman said it would be alright. Wiki?”
“Yes, Dad.”

Gu-seul’s questioning gaze, and Ebony sitting next to her, observing.
As I caressed Wiki’s head, she happily shook her leg.

I’m half-skeptical.
If it seems too dangerous, I’m considering going with just the three of us.

“Dad?”

At that moment, Wiki, whose feet didn’t even touch the floor while sitting on my lap, spoke up.

“Yeah, why? My little one?”

“You can say one thing…?”
“Of course, say whatever you want.”

Wiki spread her cute hands and tapped on the desk. At that moment, the wind blew into the room, and as the gin unfolded, something immediately appeared on the table.

A type of spatial magic, Wiki, who had brought items from somewhere, presented me with a multitude of paper documents.

“These are simulation results for all the surveillance systems in the Cradle’s Key Branch. Based on data from Eden, I’ve gathered the enhanced facilities as accurately as possible.”

Wiki, who explained it in an easy-to-understand manner, raised her head and looked at Gu-seul.
As if to say, this should be enough.

Although Wiki is young, cute, and enjoys clinging to me for affection, whose child is she? She’s the child of me and the sage. The seed on her father’s side is somewhat peculiar, and half of her takes after the sage, revealing an unexpectedly sharp-witted side that I wasn’t familiar with, which amazed me at times.

“Besides that, I’ve investigated the types and quantities of magical tools recently released in the market. I’ve also compiled a list of magical tools that could potentially be used for the defense of the Cradle.”

*Thud! Thud! Thud!*

Wiki tapped the desk three times, and three files materialized.
Information, appear at once!

An abundance of data sprung forth, amassing into a mountain-like pile.
In contrast to the sages who always sought to conceal various knowledge and methods, Wiki revealed everything to us.

“……”
“……”

Guseul and I were rendered speechless.

“Forget what I just said.”
“How did you manage to find this out?”

Guseul raised a white flag, and I inquired.

“Once you know how to hack, deciphering the secrets of magical engineering in this information age is quite simple, even when it comes to interdimensional networks.”

Dimension, network.

These are topics handled by the most specialized professions in this era.
An area only a select few prodigies can access.
Is the child nurtured by Alba, who abandoned her sage duties, any different?

Wiki was more composed than expected,

“…Did I do well?”

Her lack of confidence was endearing. I showered her with praise, much like a baby bear seeking approval.

“Our daughter is the best.”
“The best? Oh, hehe…”

As I gently stroked her head, she beamed with happiness. Her fangs glistened from her open mouth.

Wiki Clipport.
Our child was a genius.

* * * * * * * * * * *

-Swoosh!

I washed Wiki’s hair under the cascading water from the showerhead.

“Close your eyes tight.”
“Okay.”

-Swish!

The pure white bubbles were washed down the drain.
Thoroughly cleaned, she looked so much tidier.

“Hooray.”
“Hooray…”

Wiki raised both her hands with a bright smile. We embraced each other and entered the bath together.

“Ah…”

Feeling my body melt away.
As an adult, I can enjoy the bath as I please.

I positioned Wiki on my lap in the sizable bathtub and extended my legs. Seemingly in high spirits, Wiki gazed at the moon outside the window and shuddered.

I’ve heard that children have sensitive skin, so I wondered if the water was too hot.

“Isn’t it hot?”
“I’m fine.”
“You’re brave. Is there anything you want from Dad?”
“Something I want…”

Wiki took my hand with her tiny one.

“After the bath, can you buy me banana milk?”

A small, endearing wish. I couldn’t help but smile.

“Why banana milk?”
“Usually… Mom tells me not to have it.”
“Ah, your mom?”

I’ve spent some time with the sage and know that she secretly enjoys snacks. Yet, she didn’t even allow her daughter to drink banana milk?

In a world where cavities aren’t a concern, children have no worries about indulging in a few snacks.
The only concern is potentially gaining some weight.

“Hehe, let’s eat to our heart’s content when we’re with Dad.”
“Really? Truly?”

Wiki’s lips quivered.

“Then two…?”

Ah, so adorable.
As I hugged her close, Wiki tightly closed her eyes and nuzzled her cheek.

When this matter is over and we part ways, I’ll have to send her off with her hands full of banana-flavored milk in jar-like containers.

“Whew.”

Today, the water is pleasant, and my fatigue dissipates.
As I held Wiki still in my arms, my daughter cautiously inquired.

“Dad, you know?”
“Yes?”
“…Mom said you have another daughter.”
“Are you talking about Shiba?”

Wiki nodded her head.
I asked gently.

“How much do you know?”
“Dad is busy right now, so you broke up with my sister. But I have a question.”

Wiki spoke cautiously, waiting for the conversation to continue without explicitly prompting it. It was clear our daughter understood this was a sensitive issue.

Her curiosity was strong, even though she was clever.

“Because they were a precious person. They cut off contact. To avoid being swept up in what Dad does.”
“Right.”
“And what about me…? And Mom?”

It seemed that was the question Wiki wanted to ask.

A subtle contradiction.
Three years ago, I had sorted out my previous relationship.
However, other relationships are inevitably formed and continue.

If a precious person emerges from subsequent relationships,
then what was the point of sorting out the previous one?
Wiki appeared to be both curious and anxious about the contradiction that arose.

Maybe Dad doesn’t love me.
Wiki’s connection to me came after that day when I sorted out my previous relationship.

“Do you feel anxious?”
“…Yes, anxious and curious.”

I paused for a moment before opening my mouth to speak.

“Don’t think about that.”

I embraced Wiki and stroked her head. The petite Wiki closed her eyes and leaned into my arms.

“Because I love all of you.”
“Do you love me too?”
“Of course.”

In this, I am sincere. A smile of relief appeared on Wiki’s lips.

If there is a difference between the relationships before and after three years, it is that I am prepared to accept when they leave my side.

I can fail and die. Likewise, Hong-Yeon and Gu-seul can too.

What we are doing is, in essence, shaking the world. I had long prepared my heart for the possibility of death.

I couldn’t tell Wiki, but the sage was one of them.

“Daddy, you love me…”

The contradiction… yes, it’s only my daughter.

If there were a dangerous moment, I planned to send Wiki home immediately. I could manage to protect one person. Unlike others, Wiki would not be separated from me.

“I’m sure the sage knows that as well.”

However, there is one problem.
I haven’t heard the answer yet.

I nudged Wiki gently and asked.

“Does my daughter not love her father?”
“…”

Wiki hesitated for a moment and then blushed.

“Dad, I love you…”
“Three banana milks.”
“I love you three times more!”

It’s so easy to hear the words ‘I love you!’
They say that when they grow up a bit more, they won’t say embarrassing things.

Originally, it was said that children should cherish memories of their childhood and be cared for throughout their lives.
Seeing the overflowing happiness, it seemed like that might be true.

Wiki looked at Hae-nul for a moment and then asked me.

“Dad, do you also… like my sister?”

Shiba.

The more I think about her, the more I miss her.
It’s a slightly jealous tone, but lying wouldn’t be right.

“Yes.”

I embraced Wiki a bit more tightly.

“I’ll love you forever.”

Did they break up at this age?

My back feels cold as the night breeze blows.

“Would your sister resent her father too?”

Wiki’s face appeared slightly sulky. I smiled and nodded.

Long ago, I suddenly remembered the words I had spoken to the sage.

-Is there anything you’d like me to do?
-If there’s any trouble with these people, let me know right away.

A minimal fortress.

-Are you trying to forget?
-I’ll never forget it in my lifetime. However… my heart might weaken upon hearing news about it.

The request made three years ago still continues to this day.

‘Well, I did hear news about Shiba recently… It’s as if the request is half-broken now.’

I caressed Wiki. What did our second daughter ask?

Ah, that’s right. She asked if she would still love me even if she resents me. Although I have no right to speak to Shiba after abandoning my duty and coming this far.

If we were only talking about love, the answer was already clear.

“Of course.”