“They said his hair is black, so it’s not him.”

In the conference hall, only the rustling of turning pages could be heard.

Leaning over the table, Bale muttered,

“Not him, and not him either...... Damn it, people actually look completely different from one another.”

The squad members had divided the volumes more or less systematically and were digging through the organizational chart.

“If it’s somewhere between brown and black—how do we count that?”

“Mark it.”

Bale handed Raul a thin thread.

Every time they found someone who might possibly be Tie’s father, he marked the page by threading it through.

When he finished one volume, Bale pushed it toward Tie.

“Kid. Check.”

Tie set aside the materials she had been reviewing.

Then she carefully examined the marked sections one by one.

“Nooo.......”

Her brows drooped pitifully.

Bale answered quickly,

“It’s because these are materials from the Western Continent! You said your dad’s in the Empire.”

Tie nodded.

“We checked just in case. You keep looking in the Imperial volumes.”

“Mhm.......”

Tie pulled her volume closer again.

According to the butler, all the holy knights of Tallocium were contained in volumes one, two, and three.

Flipping pages without pause, the girl murmured softly,

“Can Tie really find Dad......?”

The squad members hesitated and looked at her.

Tie had already reviewed about half of the first volume.

But not the slightest trace of information about her father had appeared.

“And what if we check all the way through the third volume, and Dad still isn’t there......?”

“That won’t happen. We’ll definitely find him.”

“Right, Commander! The knights’ portraits are very realistic. You’ll recognize your father immediately.”

Enzo pointed to the illustrations in the materials.

Indeed, the portraits were rendered very faithfully.

If her father was truly here, Tie would not fail to recognize him.

“......Mhm! Fighting!”

Tie exclaimed, gathering her resolve again.

Only then did the expressions on the squad members’ faces brighten a little.

By the time they finished checking the first volume, it was already late at night.

“Excuse me.”

Someone knocked briefly and entered the hall.

Tie swayed slightly as she stood.

“Carriage Uncle?”

“Commander—no, Lady Tie.”

Alexander asked gently,

“How is it going? Have you found your father?”

Tie’s brows drooped, and Basto answered carefully in her place,

“Not yet.”

Alexander quietly said, “Ah......” and looked at Tie.

Before the girl lay the first volume of the general organizational chart, just closed.

Alexander tried to comfort her.

“Do not lose heart. He will surely be in the remaining materials.”

Tie nodded weakly.

Then Alexander glanced at the others and said,

“But is it not already quite late?”

He looked at Tie with concern; she was visibly exhausted.

“Father has prepared separate rooms for you. It is late—perhaps you might rest today and continue the review tomorrow?”

Bale exchanged a glance with Basto.

The Commander’s words at dinner surfaced in their minds.

‘Even if it takes several days.’

The organizational chart was enormous. They could take several days to review it calmly.

But they had never imagined they would be allowed to stay overnight in the estate.

“Of course, you would be more comfortable at your own residence. However, as I mentioned earlier, the very act of this carries certain risks for us as well.”

Meaning, if Agavert came to the Luminel estate every morning and evening, someone might notice.

And if it were to spread that outsiders were reviewing the Order’s confidential documents......

“Since we are in the same boat, it would be awkward for both sides, would it not?”

Nordix nodded.

“True. We will stay here tonight.”

He gestured toward Tie, who was slumped in her chair like jelly.

“Astie appears quite tired as well.”

Alexander smiled politely.

“Very well. Then I shall escort you to your bedrooms.”

He was about to turn, signaling them to follow, when a soft voice came from behind.

“Carriage Uncleee.......”

Alexander turned around.

Tie was looking at him with a drooping expression.

“Uncle, Tie wants up.”

Alexander froze.

The squad members’ eyes widened as they looked back and forth between Tie and him.

Tie was not particularly shy around people.

She would easily approach even unfamiliar adults and chat if given the chance.

But she had never asked someone she had only just met to carry her.

Coming to his senses, Alexander hesitantly nodded.

And carefully approached Tie.

“There truly are many materials. Reviewing them one by one is not easy.”

He awkwardly lifted her into his arms, and the girl immediately rested her cheek against his shoulder.

Alexander looked at the others.

“Then shall we.......”

“Ah, please lead us to the bedrooms.”

At Basto’s words, Alexander nodded.

After he exited the hall, Bale whispered to Nordix,

“What’s with her, old man? Why’s she acting like that?”

Nordix watched Alexander’s back with interest.

“I’ve been thinking about something for a while.”

“What?”

“Tie seems to pay attention to people’s appearances.”

Bale frowned in disbelief.

But Nordix calmly added,

“She called me grandfather the very first time we met.”

Bale’s mouth fell open.

Only after a moment did he shake his head.

After some time.

“Here.”

Alexander stopped at the end of a wide, long corridor on the second floor of the estate.

The squad members raised their heads in surprise at the luxurious arched ceiling.

Marble floors, walls trimmed with carved wood.

“Each of you may take a separate room. A separate bedroom has also been prepared for that permanent summon—he possesses a human form.”

Alexander’s gaze settled on Lucarion, who stood at the back.

Bale looked at him.

“......Wait. How do you know Kkamani is a permanent summon?”

Alexander smiled.

“Father read it through Awakened Sacred Sight. He said the texture of his magic is the same as Lady Tie’s.”

Basto nodded in understanding.

“Thank you. Then now.......”

He reached his arms toward Alexander. 𝑓𝘳𝘦𝑒𝑤𝑒𝘣𝘯ℴ𝘷𝘦𝓁.𝑐𝑜𝑚

Meaning, since they had reached the room, hand Tie over.

But—

“Whiiiine.......”

For some reason, Tie clung tightly to Alexander and whimpered.

“Carriage Uncle stays! Until Tie falls asleep......!”

Genuine shock spread across Basto’s face.

Alexander looked flustered as well.

“Me, you say?”

In response, Tie only tightened her arms around his neck.

In the end, Nordix intervened again.

“Then could you watch over her just for tonight? It seems the child—rather, the Commander—has taken a great liking to you.”

After a pause, Alexander nodded.

“Very well. Let us do that.”

“Old man! Have you lost your mind?!”

Bale’s eyes flew wide open.

Basto protested as well,

“R, right, Mr. Nordix. After all.......”

But Nordix remained calm.

“Tie wants him.”

In the end, Bale pressed his lips together tightly.

And shot Alexander a displeased look.

“......Leave the door open. Wide open. Completely!”

Alexander smiled lightly and nodded.

“Understood. Then that settles it.”

Without the slightest hesitation, he entered the room with Tie in his arms.

The squad members watched as though their country had just been taken from them.

And Tie, holding tightly to Alexander, thought:

‘It feels like ◈ Nоvеlіgһт ◈ (Continue reading) Dad.......’

From the very moment she had closed the first volume without any result,

dark clouds had already begun gathering in her heart.

Tears she had not even noticed soaked into Alexander’s shoulder.

‘......I wish Carriage Uncle were Dad.’

Because Alexander, whose face and manner of speech resembled her father’s, truly felt like a father to Tie.