Translator: Nox

Chapter: 2

Chapter Title: The One Who Claimed to Be My Father

When I was five years old, the grandfather who raised me said:

“Ella, you are not my real granddaughter.”

The tears I had been sobbing as I held his dying hand instantly dried up.

“In truth, you’re the daughter of someone very important. I was only entrusted with you due to unavoidable circumstances.”

Even though he didn’t know who my real parents were or where they lived, Grandpa insisted they were someone noble.

“They said they would come for you one day, so behave and wait patiently.”

Even at five, I was already aware enough to ask, “Grandpa, did you get scammed?”

“Heh, if it was a scam, they sure paid a lot. I bought this house and all the farmland with the money they gave me to raise you.”

Sounded more like they paid to dump a kid.

Grandpa gently stroked my reluctant cheek and whispered:

“Ella, thank you for growing up so well in my care. You’ve been a truly kind and wonderful granddaughter.”

“Grandpa…”

At his final words, tears began pouring from my eyes again.

After comforting me, Grandpa turned to the aunt I was meeting for the first time that day.

“Please take care of Ella. She’s a precious child, so treat her with care.”

“Don’t worry, Father. I’ll raise her like my own daughter.”

Aunt dabbed her dry eyes with a handkerchief, then grabbed my shoulder tightly.

“Good. I trust you.”

Relieved, Grandpa closed his eyes in peace.

And then, Aunt changed her tone completely.

“I’m only taking you in because of Father. Be grateful and work hard.”

From that day on, I worked at Aunt’s inn.

I cleaned, did laundry, and washed dishes until late at night, barely getting to sleep at dawn. Even in winter, I had no blanket and shivered through the nights.

If it weren’t for Spam popping up before my eyes, I might’ve frozen to death.

‘I thought that was the worst time in my life.’

That opinion might change after today.

I observed the two men who supposedly came on behalf of my father.

Dirty, grimy clothes, studded leather belts, facial scars, and an overall thuggish aura.
No matter how you looked at them, they were back-alley scum.

The rougher one, an eyepatch-wearing thug, looked me over and said,

“Hmm, purple eyes… quite rare. But didn’t you say she was blonde?”

“She is! Look, she’s just filthy.”

Aunt pulled out a handkerchief and scrubbed my hair. The ash I’d rubbed into it to avoid attention came off, revealing golden hair.

Satisfied, Eyepatch nodded and handed over money.

“She’s a fine product. I’ve paid generously.”

“Oh my, thank you!”

Aunt greedily pocketed the money.

I couldn’t take it anymore and spoke up.

“Aunt, you lied about my dad sending someone. You’re just selling me to strangers, aren’t you?”

“Yeah, so what?”

She looked as if that were only natural.

“If you’re upset, think of it as paying back for all the food and shelter I’ve given you.”

Aunt had always treated me like a burden.

Not only did she work me relentlessly, she beat and cursed me, saying she couldn’t forgive me for living well while she suffered as a widow.

Still, I endured it—because she was Grandpa’s daughter.

But I wasn’t going to tolerate it any longer.

“I’ve already repaid my debt. Now it’s your turn to pay me back.”

“What?”

I kicked Aunt’s leg with all my might.

Crack! With a sickening sound, she collapsed, screaming.

“Aaaargh! My leg!”

While the stunned men froze, I bolted. But I didn’t get far before Eyepatch caught me.

‘Should’ve raised my Agility!’

Regretting that, I swung my fist hard—but my slow punch didn’t land.

That’s when I realized—I should’ve attacked Eyepatch first.

‘Why am I only realizing this now? I should’ve raised my Intelligence!’

It was too late for regrets. I was bound tightly with rope and thrown into an old carriage.

The men ignored the screaming Aunt and set off.

Then, Spam appeared.

[Web Message]
Emergency Escape! ━Σ(ﾟДﾟ|||)━!
You must escape the carriage immediately!
Time remaining: 00:09:57
-Reward: EXP 1,000
-Failure: Death

‘Failure: Death?’

A cold sweat ran down my back. I’d never seen that kind of penalty before.

I shot up and threw myself against the carriage door. Again and again, the door creaked with each hit.

The men up front shouted,

“What’s that noise?”

“That brat must be thrashing around.”

Suddenly, a distant howl echoed. A strange, reverberating wolf’s cry.

“Shit, it’s a Corpse Wolf!”

“Run! We’ll die if we stay here!”

Panicked, they whipped the horses.

Just as I was about to slam into the door again, the carriage jolted from the sudden acceleration and I tumbled.

Time remaining: 00:01:07

Only a minute left. I was going crazy with anxiety.

‘Someone help me!’

Right then, the door was ripped clean off. Through the shattered frame, I saw massive wolves.

Their bodies shimmered like mist, with blood-red eyes and grotesquely protruding fangs.

Horrifying monsters straight out of a nightmare.

Time remaining: 00:00:31

Frozen in fear, I forced my body upright.

I knew it was insane. But I trusted Spam enough to stake my life.

‘Spam has never been wrong. If I just get out, I’ll survive!’

Eyes shut tight, I leapt out—right into the wolves.

Time remaining: 00:00:04

The wolves blinked in surprise. One even opened its mouth like it had been served a meal.

Then—

A silver rope whipped through the air and wrapped around my waist.

The next moment, I soared upward like a fish on a line.

“Kyaaah!”

My body shot up terrifyingly fast and came to a sudden stop midair.

“Incredible. You dove right into the wolves without hesitation.”

I looked up at the unfamiliar voice and saw a boy floating in the sky.

‘Is this a dream?’

Even blinking, the boy didn’t vanish.

His snow-white hair fluttered in the wind. His face was so beautiful it was almost enchanting. He smiled at me.

“But you timed it perfectly.”

In his hand was the silver whip wrapped around my waist. He had pulled me out of the carriage.

‘This feels like something out of the original novel…’

I’d bet my entire life savings this boy was from the book.

The problem? His white hair was identical to *that guy* from the novel.

‘No way… it can’t be him, right?’

A bad feeling made my heart tremble.

[Web Message]
Emergency Escape Successful! (*＞ｖ＜)ゞ*゜
Congratulations!
You’ve gained 1,000 EXP.

Shut up. Now’s not the time.

Ignoring Spam’s excitement, I asked the boy,

“Thanks for saving me. But could you maybe pull me up a bit more?”

Below me, the wolves were leaping toward me. I felt like a dried fish hanging from the ceiling.

The boy glanced down and said,

“I’ll take care of them. Close your eyes.”

“What?”

Instead of answering, he pointed one hand downward. The air around him rushed toward his palm.

—Crash!

When he clenched his fist, everything below was crushed flat like a giant had stomped on it.

I regretted not closing my eyes in time.

“The ground’s a mess. Shall we change locations?”

He asked kindly.

I didn’t have the guts to say no to someone who just squashed a wolf pack with one hand.

I nodded quickly.

In an instant, the scenery around us changed.