“Um, your clothes look a bit messy... Ah, it’s fine. I’ve learned to be flexible here. We’ll figure it out as we go.”

“Aah! No... Rubian! Save me!”

Nothing could stop a teen hungry for knowledge. In the end, Asha was carried off on a comfy cushion on the book cart.

Click.

It wouldn’t take long to reach the next library, but Asha... was traveling in comfort.

Khalid shook his head.

“It’s going to get even busier around here.”

I just grinned.

“Right?”

So many things had happened here.

I met Rosetta and Liam, my secret as a girl got out... I won the New Leaf Festival, but then ran into the tracking magician and got into trouble.

‘At least I uncovered one layer of the original story’s secrets.’

Of course, there were still things I had to solve.

I remembered the branch of the world tree and the dragon pattern wrapped around it.

‘Where should I even start researching this mark?’

I frowned in thought. Out of the corner of my eye, I spotted a colorful pamphlet.

“The Heart of Bamilon, Rietta Academy is waiting for you!” it began.

A small note attached to it read: “Fall camp for new students—apply now!”

I folded up the pamphlets.

There were so many, not just from the Central Academy, but from academies in the south too.

‘Well, I doubt there’s anything special at the academies.’

Hmmmm.

I kept frowning until Hazel showed up.

“Miss, it’s time to come down! Everything’s ready!”

“Oh, finally! Let’s go, Khal!”

“Okay.”

Khal picked up my bag and stood up.

‘First, I’ll go home and think about everything!’

No matter what, I would protect my peace and my family with my own hands!

I hopped off the sofa.

I stretched wide, and the spring wind filled my whole body. A pink flower petal brushed my nose and floated away.

“Back to Zelox!”

Home!

After coming back to Zelox, a week passed.

In Zebert Castle, Leviathan’s office.

Knock, knock. The door opened.

“Ruby?”

Leviathan tilted his head when he saw me standing in the doorway.

Usually, I stormed in, but today I was shy.

“I’m here.”

“Whoa, you’re even using polite speech.”

Leviathan’s eyes narrowed. He tried to guess what was going on, but couldn’t figure it out.

With my hands behind my back, I walked over.

“This is for you...”

I handed him something, looking really shy. Leviathan stared at the small knot on the table.

“What’s this?”

“A gift! For your monster hunt. It’s a lucky charm I made...”

My heart thumped with excitement and nerves.

He picked up the charm carefully.

A sword decoration made of colorful threads, with a big, shiny purple magic stone in the middle.

“Did you make this yourself?”

“Yes.”

“You spent all day practicing knots for this?”

“Yeah...”

Leviathan swallowed hard.

He held the charm up, letting the light hit it. What was this feeling...?

“Dad, be careful on the hunt... and when you come back, please bring me a monster claw. Just follow this drawing...”

“Me too! I want to go with you!”

That’s all my sons ever said.

“...She’s different.”

Leviathan muttered softly. He couldn’t describe the feeling swirling in his heart.

“...What’s different? Is it not good?”

“No way.”

Leviathan quickly drew his sword and attached the charm to it. The tension on my face finally eased.

“Does it look good?”

“Heh. Yeah.”

The charm dangled from the sword.

He’d never cared much about this sword before, but now, with just one knot, it had become precious.

“Thank you, Ruby. I’ll treasure it.”

Leviathan smiled and gently patted my head.

“Hehe. Now I’ll go give one to the other knights!”

“What? I’m not the only one?”

“It’s a lucky charm, so everyone needs one!”

Behind me, Hazel appeared with a big bag. Leviathan felt strangely annoyed.

“Tsk. Those guys are too lucky.”

Getting a gift made by someone else’s precious daughter...

I got up on tiptoe, cupped my hands around my mouth, and whispered in Dad’s ear.

“Don’t worry. Your gem is the biggest and strongest.”

I added seriously,

“The bigger your heart, the bigger ➤ NоvеⅠight ➤ (Read more on our source) your gem.”

So smart.

“Hmm. Good enough.”

Just hearing those words made Leviathan’s worries vanish. I grinned, took Hazel’s hand, and headed out to deliver the rest.

Leviathan picked up his pen again.

He needed to finish important work before the hunt.

But he just couldn’t focus.

He kept glancing at his sword.

A cute purple charm hung from it.

“...So this is what it’s like to have a daughter.”

Without thinking, he muttered to himself, then covered his mouth.

“A daughter.”

The rare northern princess.

Suddenly, Leviathan jumped to his feet.

Love for his daughter swelled up inside him, almost to the point of being unbearable.

He had to do something about this feeling!

He immediately called for Adolf.

“Sir? Did you call?”

“Bring the knights.”

“Sir Oberon? If it’s about the hunt, you’ll want Sir Leon too—”

“No, not them. Get Hector, Eugene, and...”

Adolf tilted his head at the random names.

“Understood.”

He started to leave, but Leviathan, lost in thought, quickly added,

“Oh, one more thing...”

Thud.

“Sir? What’s this bag of money?”

Leviathan sat in the guest chair, crossing his legs.

“Membership fee.”

What was going on?

The knights looked at each other.

Why had they been called here, only to be handed a big bag of coins?

Was this some new prank?

“It’s for the club.”

Leviathan tapped his chin and smiled mysteriously.

“What... Huh. Wait.”

Sir Eugene covered his mouth. He realized what all the knights here had in common.

“You know...?”

That’s right.

They were all official members of the “Northern Knights With Daughters” club.

“When’s the next meeting?”

“Excuse me?”

“Share the schedule, what you bring, what you talk about—things like worries, parenting tips, gifts, gifts...”

Leviathan let all his questions spill out at once.

How did he even know about this secret club? And from the way he was acting...

“Um, does that mean you want to join...?”

Leviathan curled one corner of his mouth into a proud smirk.

“I meet the requirements.”

A northern knight. And...

“I have one too.”

“...?”

“A daughter.”

Finally, the knights understood.

Oh.

He just really loved his daughter.

Honestly, they could relate. They also had to hold back their feelings about their daughters every day.

And if your daughter was as cute as Rubian... you’d understand a hundred times over.

“Ha, uh, congratulations...?”

They clapped awkwardly. Leviathan’s smile grew even wider.

“Now take your membership fees.”

He handed each knight a heavy bag of coins.

They exchanged glances again.

This wasn’t how fees worked...

Maybe he’d never been in a club before...

“Now, tell me.”

“Tell you what?”

“What kind of birthday presents are good for a girl her age?”

Silence.

“Huh? Birthday?”

The knights stared in confusion.

“Whose birthday?”

“Who else?”

With a big sigh, Leviathan finally admitted the real reason.

“Actually, Rubian’s birthday is coming up.”