Chapter 223: Father and Daughter Reunion

Meanwhile, outside the room, Vesper and Eldrin stood in silence.

Vesper maintained a proper posture beside the door, hands neatly folded, while Eldrin stood by the tall window that stretched along the hallway, quietly watching the view outside.

The old mage had been the first to step out while everyone was still occupied inside.

So when Vesper exited shortly after, he was caught off guard to see him there already, especially since he had not felt or heard a single sound.

Still, considering that Eldrin was one of the few master ranked magicians of humanity, the surprise quickly faded.

It only made sense, after all.

As Regis and the others continued their discussion with Aurum, nearly half an hour had passed.

Aside from a few short exchanges of polite small talk, the two men had mostly kept to themselves.

Eventually, Vesper broke the silence.

"Don’t you also have something to speak with Sir Aurum about, Dear Esteemed Magician?"

He glanced sideways at Eldrin, who remained fixated on the scenery beyond the glass.

The old man took a few seconds before replying.

"I can wait. It’s their quest report to give, not mine... Let them finish first."

There was a pause, then Eldrin’s voice came again— this time quieter, with a trace of something else beneath it.

"...Tell me. Do you really think the races can live together without prejudice? Without discrimination?"

Vesper blinked. "Pardon me, Dear Esteemed Magician?"

"Don’t think too hard about it."

Eldrin said with a slight wave of his hand, "Just the ramblings of an old man. And you can drop the formalities."

"Then... Sir Einswald—"

Eldrin shot him a look.

"Ah— pardon me. Sir Eldrin."

Vesper’s expression turned awkward, unsure whether he had corrected himself properly.

Eldrin simply let out a sigh and turned his gaze back to the bustling city streets beyond the window.

"So? What’s your say?"

Vesper took a moment to think before answering.

What began as a passing question soon turned into a full-blown conversation.

The two of them, standing side by side in that quiet hallway, gradually slipped into a relaxed exchange, talking not as a city official and a master mage, but simply as two men sharing thoughts about the world.

***

A long while later...

Skepticism. Anger. Worry. Fear. Surprise. Shock...

...and many other emotions flashed on Aurum’s face as Regis and the others finished narrating the story of what they had gone through in their journey.

Their words left him speechless as he had his head lowered, supported by his clasped hands.

’Unbelievable.’

Was the only thought in his mind while taking the time to digest the story he had just heard.

’But I feel like there’s something missing...’

Aurum could not help but feel something amiss deep inside his heart.

His years of experience and intelligence, which allowed him to build an organization from scratch, told him that there were missing details between the stories told by the group before him.

Even though Regis was able to hide the details regarding his demonic power, its role in their survival was too significant.

Therefore, the other parts of his stories seemed off despite his well-executed lies that were backed by Killian and Aurelia.

However, Aurum still felt confused.

’Still, how were they able to survive... demonic griffins, liches, demons...’

’...as well as the demonic worshippers’ army that they had encountered in Bakurad Fortress...’

’...if they aren’t lying and had indeed faced them... It’s too unbelievable.’

However, the moment he glanced at his daughter, Aurum felt sure of one thing:

’They aren’t lying, but...’

As a father who had raised his daughter himself, he knew her like the back of his hand.

He could tell when she was hungry.

He could tell when she was sad.

He could tell when she was lying.

But more than anything—

’...they’re keeping something from me.’

—he could always tell when she was hiding something.

Regis silently stared at the man before him, patiently waiting for his response.

’Let’s just hope for the best...’

He was well aware that his story lacked convincing details, so he knew there was a high chance they would be found out.

At this moment, Aurum finally raised his head.

"Alright... that will be all for today. I would appreciate some time alone with my daughter."

His expression remained unreadable as he stood and walked toward the door, gesturing for them to follow.

"I’ve made the necessary arrangements—you’ll be staying at the Equaria Inn for now. Vesper will guide you there."

Aurum placed his hand on the door handle, but just as he was about to open it, he seemed to remember something and spoke without turning around.

"Ah, one more thing. You don’t have to worry about the reward. If you have any additional requests along the way, feel free to tell Vesper. He’ll relay them to me, and I’ll see to them to the best of my ability."

"In addition to the quest reward, I’ll be providing extra compensation for everything you’ve been through."

Creak—

"Rest assured, I’ll swear upon my name as the Golden Hand of the Midas Merchant Organization."

Aurum declared as he opened the door for the party.

"It’s a pleasure working with you." Regis ignored the subtle undertone in Aurum’s voice and bowed respectfully in noble fashion.

Killian and Pandora, standing behind him, followed suit with proper noble bows.

Meanwhile, Aurelia, who remained seated on the couch, bit her lip as she pondered what she needed to do.

Aurum managed a formal smile as he watched them leave through the door.

Thud—!

"Huuuu..."

A sigh escaped Aurum’s lips as he lowered his head after shutting the door.

"Just... what exactly happened during your journey?"

His voice trembled, his tone barely holding back the tide of emotion threatening to break through.

Overwhelming worry gripped his heart as thoughts surged through his mind like a storm.

’I can’t lose my only remaining daughter as well...’

He didn’t know why, but a growing discomfort spread through him—an instinctive unease as he began to piece together the gaps in their story.

The mere fact that they had encountered a demon was already enough to push his thoughts into dark places.

Demons were unpredictable creatures with incomprehensible powers.

And then, the worst-case scenario struck him like a blow: What if the Aurelia who returned to him... wasn’t truly his daughter anymore?

That thought— absurd and terrifying— was the final crack in his composure.

Panic began to bloom within him.

As one of the honorary founders of Harmonia and the leader of the Midas Merchant Organization, Aurum had long been privy to countless classified reports concerning demons.

Their overwhelming physical strength alone made them feared by other species.

But what chilled him the most was a particular document—an old, heavily redacted report—that spoke of something far more insidious.

Some demons, it claimed, possessed the ability to shapeshift.

Just as he rested his forehead against the door, lost in thought, Aurum felt a gentle tug on his sleeve.

"Dad?"

"..."

He had been so deeply absorbed in his thoughts that he had slipped into a daze.

Suppressing the panic swirling in his chest, he responded without turning his head.

"Yes, Lia?"

Aurelia’s eyes quivered the moment he uttered that name.

It had been over a year since she last heard her father call her that.

Now, hearing it again—it broke her.

In the best way.

Tears welled up in her eyes, and joy bloomed in her chest.

At that moment, Aurum finally managed to gather himself.

He turned around with a smile on his face—a real, heartfelt smile that only a father reunited with his daughter could wear.

It was sincere, warm—almost enough to make him believe that all the doubts he had a moment ago were merely figments of his imagination.

’I don’t care. Aurelia is my daughter, no matter wha—’

But just as he finished that thought, a pair of arms suddenly wrapped tightly around his neck.

"I-I missed you, Dad!"

Aurelia finally broke down.

The emotions she had held back while her friends were in the room came flooding out as she sobbed between her words.

"W-Wha—"

Aurum’s expression froze.

There was something off.

That warmth around his neck... it was too familiar, eerily so.

He remembered it clearly, like a muscle memory.

That familiar sensation—the gentle grip, the reach of her arms, the way she held him.

It felt exactly like it did when she was younger.

Unchanged, down to the smallest detail.

Aurum’s eyes widened slightly.

Not just from emotion, but from realization.

"Your hands..."

Aurelia smiled as she said with an excited voice, "Yes, Dad! I can finally control my gif—"

"Are you a demon!?"

Aurum’s voice, sharp and almost hysterical, cut through the moment, making his daughter flinch.

The warmth in her chest faltered, and the smile on her face froze, her joy caught mid-bloom.

After a few seconds, Aurelia’s lips twitched.

"What the hell are you talking about!?"

In that moment, Aurum remembered something else—beyond his daughter’s gentle charm, there was also the blazing fierceness she shared with her sister... and her mother.

THWACK—----!!!

The sound of a slap echoed throughout the City Hall.