IBTDOMD Chapter 114

114 

Dozens, no, hundreds, of question marks seemed to pop up above my head.

What did I just hear?

What does he mean, asking Serdin to take care of something?

Am I the only one who doesn't understand?

As I looked around...

Serdin, whose hand was being held by Delight.

Hiel and Zaire, who had come running with me.

Blueny and Luciel, who arrived a bit later.

Not a single one of them could hide their shock and confusion. They were glancing at each other in a daze.

Their eyes all seemed to be asking the same thing.

'What is he talking about?'

'What's going on right now?'

But no one gave voice to the questions written on their faces.

Eyes darted around.

Rolling, wandering.

Confused and unsure where to focus.

Until, finally, they all turned in one direction.

To Delight.

"What do you mean by that?"

I was the first to speak up.

This wasn't him threatening Serdin or trying to intimidate him...

But asking him to take care of something?

Of what? Of whom? And for whom?

"What exactly are you asking Serdin to do?"

I couldn't hold it back and asked again.

Delight slowly turned his head to look at me and finally opened his mouth.

"Ever since I was a child, I always wondered what kind of guy my teacher would end up with."

…What?

"You were thinking about that kind of thing as a kid?"

I'd never heard before what Delight had thought of me back when we were living on the mountain.

He'd always nagged me and gotten on my nerves since he was little… and now I find out he was worrying about something so pointless?

I was just about to scold him when.

"Well, even though I was there, Teacher always seemed so alone."

"…."

"That's why, when the time came that Teacher met someone she liked, I promised myself I would support her no matter what!"

Ugh. His sincere concern caught me off guard, and I lost my words.

It was one of those moments that unexpectedly warmed your heart.

"But, Teacher. Don't tell me…"

Delight furrowed his brows, as if something had just clicked for him. He narrowed his eyes and stared straight at me.

"Did you come running here thinking I was going to do something to Serdin?"

"Well, I mean…"

"What kind of person do you think I am?"

Now he looked hurt.

Unbelievable!

I was so taken aback I couldn't even speak, and then Delight cleared his throat and added.

"How could you misunderstand me, when I've been both a disciple and practically a father to you?"

"…."

Suddenly, I felt like the worst kind of villain.

What is this? Why is the mood turning against me?

"He's right. This time, I think you did mess up a bit."

"Yeah, I agree."

Luciel and Hiel had, before I knew it, taken Delight's side.

They've all fallen for his words! Get a grip, everyone!

"If I were just plain Ollia, would you still have asked him to take care of me?"*

"If that were the case, of course I would've—!"

Delight shot back instinctively, but then paused mid-sentence.

His eyes, deep in thought, began to tremble ever so slightly.

Then, as if he had imagined something horrific, his expression darkened drastically.

"W-Well, obviously…"

His voice, now completely different from earlier, wilted powerlessly.

"Of course I would've been completely against it. I'd have threatened Serdin to stay away from you."

"……"

Delight turned his gaze away, pretending to look off into the distance.

Ha. Seriously!

…Now I get it.

Why Delight was acting so unexpectedly.

If it's a guy his daughter likes, it's like the world is ending, but if it's someone I like, he's treated like a savior from heaven?

As I glared fiercely at him.

"Don't get me wrong! That doesn't mean I care about you any less than I care about Ollia!"

Sensing danger on instinct, Delight desperately threw out what he thought was a proper excuse.

"Oh yeah? Then let's test just how much you care about your teacher."

"Haha. Do we really need to test that? Don't you trust me even that much?"

"I'm not sure. I guess we'll only know once we check."

"W-Wait a second…!"

As Delight slowly backed away, he suddenly turned his back to me.

Then he stepped forward and placed his hand seriously on Serdin's shoulder.

"You'd better treat Teacher well."

"…?"

Delight's voice took on a warning tone as he stared hard at Serdin.

"If you ever make her shed even a single tear…"

He paused mid-sentence and glanced back at me.

Then he sighed lightly and continued.

"No, you don't cry either."

Huh? What was that—was he just comforting Serdin?

And what was with that sigh?

"Yes."

To make things worse, Serdin responded with a solemn, almost heroic air, as if he'd just received the greatest advice of his life.

He agreed without even a hint of hesitation?

Watching that scene made me want to laugh and cry at the same time and almost grab the back of my neck and collapse.

"What the hell are you two doing?!"

I couldn't take it anymore and finally shouted.

So all this time, you thought I was that kind of person?

Someone who'd mess around with a young guy and make him suffer?

If you're that worried, just oppose the relationship already!

"I haven't even accepted his confession, so who said you could go around giving your blessing?!"

"…You haven't yet?"

"Yet"?!

Delight looked between me and Serdin slowly and said.

"I thought you two were already on the same page…"

"We're not!"

How far ahead of yourself are you going with this?!

Delight narrowed his eyes and muttered under his breath.

"Hmph. And here I thought, after he so boldly confessed he liked Teacher right in front of me, that all that was left was my approval…"

He turned back to Serdin.

"Don't tell me… you've already been rejected."

He looked at him now with eyes full of disappointment and pity.

What is with that look in your eyes?!

There were just too many things I could nitpick from beginning to end, I didn't even know where to start, and in the end, I couldn't say a word.

"I haven't given up. And I don't intend to."

Then Serdin spoke firmly, clenching his fists with unwavering determination.

"Really?"

Delight raised one brow as if he was impressed, then curled his lips into a grin.

"Then I'll keep watching until that day comes."

"Yes, please do."

What even is this? What are the two of them doing?

Seeing the two of them standing there, already looking strangely close, made me let out a hollow laugh.

Somehow, I had become the bridge between the two of them.

'…Ha.'

With a dry laugh, I collapsed onto the sofa.

I didn't know you could feel this exhausted just from being so dumbfounded.

My strength drained completely, and an empty chuckle escaped me.

'Come to think of it, maybe it's all for the best.'

At least Delight didn't go berserk and try to beat Serdin to a pulp.

'Not that it means I'm going to accept Serdin's confession or anything.'

Just then.

Delight and Serdin were both looking at me.

"W-What? Why are you staring like that?"

Standing now beside Serdin, Delight said.

"Anyway, since everyone's already here…"

Now that I looked around, I saw Hiel and Zaire, who'd come with me, and even Luciel and Blueny were present.

"Isn't this the perfect chance to finally clear everything up?"

He said that looking straight at me.

***

A short while later, we were all gathered at the dining table.

"At last, everyone's sitting together in one place."

It was our first meal together since I had revealed my identity.

It was my responsibility to set the tone.

"I am Sherina, the Archmage. And also Delight's teacher."

Everyone already knew that, but I made it official once more.

"Though now, I've become Delight's daughter."

Every time I said it out loud, it still felt unfamiliar and awkward.

"But I know it'll be hard to treat me like you used to."

That was unavoidable.

Which is why Delight and I had come to a mutual understanding.

I slowly began addressing everyone.

"Whether as his teacher or now as his daughter, the fact that I'm family doesn't change. I'd like you all to accept that."

This was my genuine feeling.

The name I wished to live by from now on. The people I wanted to be with.

They were all here.

"And I won't be using the name Sherina anymore."

"Yes. From now on, everyone should continue calling her Ollia."

Delight added with a proud smile.

From now on, we would live as daughter and teacher.

Disciple and father.

Without drawing lines between those roles, freely, as a family.

"I understand. It might feel awkward at first, but I'm truly glad to have Your Majesty's teacher back by your side."

Zaire spoke first, stepping forward.

"I'll treat Miss Ollia as family, too."

Blueny followed, offering the same warm smile as always.

As the atmosphere grew cheerful and light.

Delight, still smiling with everyone, spoke up meaningfully.

"Now that we've done our greetings… don't you think it's time we talked about the important matters?"

His gaze had naturally shifted to Luciel.

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𝟭𝟭𝟱-𝟭𝟭𝟴 [New Added, July 14]
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🍓; *Just Ollia, who didn't know anything, not the reincarnation of his teacher.