Tie sat down with her back against the wall and tightly wrapped both arms around her knees.

And without shrinking back, she met the gaze of the stone that had been staring at her all this time.

At first it was frightening, but the longer she looked, the clearer it became.

“...It’s Tanifang.”

It transforms and uses magic.

It looks a little different, but it is definitely Tanifang.

Gaining courage, Tie scooted forward.

And with her shining eyes wide open, she began examining the stone carefully.

“Black from head to toe.”

Her heart pounded.

What if Father had been telling the truth — about another world?

What if Father truly had been a Holy Knight and had a fairy?

What if this fairy — the stone before her eyes — had come to save Father?

At her sleepy muttering, the stone tilted its head.

And at that moment Tie suddenly shouted:

“Please, save him!”

She crawled forward on her knees and desperately clasped her hands together.

“Lord Kkamandfang! Please save Father!”

[Shall I bring him back to life?]

At first she did not believe it.

Even Tie knew the dead could not be brought back to life.

But that was impossible for ordinary people — what about a fairy?

“He can bring Father back to life.”

Doubt turned into certainty, certainty into hope.

It was as if wings suddenly sprouted from her sorrow and resentment, and everything soared into the sky.

But just as she waited with her heart trembling—

[To bring your Father back to life...]

The fairy rose softly into the air and, looking directly at Tie, asked:

[You will have to leave all of this behind. Are you willing?]

Tie’s face went blank.

She did not immediately understand what “this” meant.

The apartment where she lived with Father?

This alley?

Or kindergarten — would she not be able to go there anymore?

[Everything. All the time you have lived here must be left behind.]

As if reading her thoughts, the fairy answered.

Tie’s face darkened.

“Everything” meant both the good and the bad.

Grandma 107, Auntie 203, and the happy memories with Father here.

While she could not say a word, the fairy stepped closer.

[But if you wish — I will return you.]

“...”

[To where you were born. To where you were meant to be. To where that man lives.]

Tie quietly drew in a breath.

It was difficult to understand everything, but one thing was clear.

The most precious thing to her had always been Father.

And that had never changed.

“...I’m ready!”

The moment she nodded, as if that had been the signal they were waiting for — the streetlights illuminating the alley went out.

A gust of wind rattled the window of Unit 106.

The neatly folded blanket, the crayon drawings on the wall.

The two toothbrushes of different sizes in the cup trembled.

When the streetlights came back on, Unit 106 was empty.

As if no one had ever been there.

“Uuum...”

Tie opened her eyes on something soft and fluffy, like cotton candy.

And immediately panicked.

“This isn’t cotton candy, right?”

She was lying on a soft, warm blanket.

Then everything before she fell asleep came rushing back.

“...Father.”

The events returned to her memory, and her heart began to pound.

At that moment, an unfamiliar voice sounded beside her.

“You’re awake.”

Tie jumped up.

A strange boy was standing beside the bed.

But as she was about to hide under the blanket, she noticed something familiar about him and tilted her head.

“Blackfang...?”

Hair black as the night sky.

Eyes sparkling like jewels, and slightly protruding ears.

When the boy shook his head, the ears disappeared, but Tie was certain.

“Blackfang! You can turn into a human!”

The boy’s face immediately turned displeased.

He said dryly:

“Me?”

“Mm-hm?”

“You’re calling me Blackfang?”

Tie tilted her head.

He used magic and promised to revive Father — she had thought he was smart.

But Blackfang resembled the children at kindergarten who mixed up her name every day.

“Mm-hm! You’re a fairy...”

“No.” 𝕗𝚛𝚎𝚎𝐰𝗲𝗯𝗻𝚘𝚟𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝕞

“Huh?”

“I’m not Blackfang.”

Tie gasped and covered her mouth.

Now she understood why he had looked annoyed the whole time — she had gotten it wrong.

Still.

She had never seen a Tanifang that could turn into a human and revive the dead.

“Blackfang... no, Kkamani must be a stronger fairy. From legends...”

Ah, maybe he was not Tanifang but Puppetmon?

Among legendary Puppetmon there were some that even traveled through time.

“Right.”

Tie cautiously looked around.

Before she fell asleep she had been at home, but now the surroundings had changed.

Which meant she had been transported.

At first glance it looked like an ordinary room with a large bed and soft bedding, but—

“This is a tent.”

From the swaying fabric above, she realized — it was a tent.

“Kkamani. What kind of tent is this?”

“Kkam... fine.”

For some reason, Kkamani let out a heavy sigh.

Crossing his arms, he answered:

“Your Father’s homeland. You wanted this.”

“...Father’s homeland?”

“Yes.”

Tie’s eyes slowly widened.

“Father’s homeland, Tallocium, is a beautiful country. Before the Magic Stones appeared, it was even more beautiful... In any case, nothing like this place — vast lands, clean air...”

When Father talked about his homeland, stars had shone in his eyes.

Tie knew much about Tallocium — Father had spoken about it endlessly.

“The problem is that even I could not bring your Father back to life.”

But Kkamani’s words shattered her memories.

Tie looked at him tensely.

“Couldn’t bring Father back?”

So Father was not saved?

She had come to Father’s homeland — alone?

Her breath caught in her throat from the shock, but—

“That’s why we came to the past.”

The next words drained the strength from her body.

Tie repeated in confusion:

“To the past...?”

“Yes. If time is turned back, everything will be resolved.”

Tie frowned with all her might.

And began to think.

Time had gone back.

Tie from the future had moved into ❀ Nоvеlігht ❀ (Don’t copy, read here) the past!

That meant—

“Then there are two Ties?”

Kkamani laughed.

Walking to the entrance of the tent, he flung open the flap.

“Nice try, but no. Right now we are in the past, long before your birth.”

Tie froze with her mouth open.

A forest.

Beyond the tent stretched a forest she had never seen before.

She stepped forward, captivated.

With the first rays of dawn, the forest became clearer.

Tall coniferous trees stretching toward the sky.

Between them — bushes, vines, moss covered in dew...

“In this world, you will only be born seven years from now.”

Birds began to sing.

“Even if you meet Father — he will not recognize you.”

Tears filled Tie’s eyes.

“And there is no guarantee you will meet him at all. This world is wider than you think.”

“I’ll find him!”

Tie suddenly turned around.

On her tear-filled face shone a smile.

“If Father is alive, I will find him!”

Even if he does not recognize her.

Even if he treats her coldly, like a stranger.

If only she can meet him again, see him alive and well!

Taking a brave breath, Tie rolled her eyes upward.

“Father said. He is the strongest Holy Knight.”

And as a diligent daughter who had carefully listened to every one of Father’s stories, she knew.

“Let’s go! Kkamani!”

The headquarters of the Imperial Holy Knight Order is in the capital.

But soon Tie had to realize.

Life is not so simple.

“Hh, hh... What...”

It seemed she had already walked far.

But when she turned around, the tent was still not far away.

“Why have I only gone this far...?”

Beside her, Kkamani let out a heavy sigh.