I spent the entire morning restlessly waiting at home. For the first time, I truly felt how a day could drag on like a year. Finally, at noon, Father Sir returned.

From downstairs came the servants' greetings. Then, slow footsteps echoed from the staircase, finally stopping right outside my room.

"Wald, may I come in?"

I scrambled to the door and flung it open. Standing outside was a young man dressed head to toe in black with golden trim.

"Father Sir, you're back. Please come in..."

I tried to gauge his mood, but it was useless. He walked in without a trace of expression.

Father Sir had the same short silver hair as my sister and me. But over the years, the luster of his hair had subtly shifted to a dark gray, making it look more like white than silver. Judging by his face alone, Father still looked very young—perhaps only a few years older than Mom. Yet his serious and composed aura made him seem much older.

"Heh, I'm back, Wald. Today at the Knight Order, I heard some bad news. It forced me to drop my unfinished work and rush back home."

He spoke words that sounded like a joke, but his tone was utterly flat. Not a flicker of expression crossed his face.

"I heard you killed someone? Or was it that you failed to harass someone and killed them in a fit of rage? Honestly, I couldn't believe it. My son wouldn't even approach a pet Monstrous Beast. He screams at the sight of a bug. Son, tell me—is the Knight Order just joking with me?"

"No, Father Sir, actually I—"

I was about to explain when Father cut me off.

"Enough. I've already heard it once from your mother. I'm not very angry now, but if I listen to you speak again, I can't guarantee I'll keep my anger in check."

As he spoke, I felt an incredibly heavy aura pressing down on me. This was no illusion. If a powerful being were present, they would see Father Sir radiating light and heat. His endless fury was contained within, forming a star—like the Breath of the Sun had descended upon the mortal world.

I felt the room temperature rising. Yet in this scorching environment, my limbs still felt icy cold.

"Years ago, I realized you couldn't follow my path—managing and ruling. You're not cut out for it. You simply don't have the mind of a leader."

As he spoke, Father Sir sat down. He picked up the teacup my sister had brought in and took a sip.

"Later, I discovered you couldn't become a powerful warrior either. You lack talent and aren't hardworking enough. I was quite disappointed back then. But then I thought, perhaps it's fine for you to be a simple young master. Live a safe life, and just continue the family line."

By now, I could guess what he meant. My whole body trembled.

"It seems I misjudged you. I never expected you to be such a person."

Father Sir's tone was thick with disappointment. He finally passed judgment on me.

"You've tarnished the family's honor! Ruined your own reputation! I have no son like you! It seems you must get out!"

My vision went black. I knelt straight down before Father Sir.

"No... Father Sir, I know I was wrong. Please, don't cast me out. I—"

"Don't worry, I'm not trying to kill you. At the very least, you won't starve. I'm sending you away to answer to others. You simply cannot remain in the Imperial Capital. I'll arrange for you to go to the Holy Extermination Fortress to atone. You'll be under an old friend of mine. I'll ensure he takes good care of you."

Hearing this, I felt a glimmer of hope. But at the mention of the Holy Extermination Fortress, my heart sank again. It was the second line against Demons, handling supply logistics and stationing reserve troops for the front line. Going there was like changing my sentence from immediate execution to a suspended death penalty.

"No! He can't go to the Holy Extermination Fortress. Your son has no skills at all. Sending him there is no different from sending him to his death. He can't even carry a brick. What use would he be there?"

Clearly, I wasn't the only one who thought so. At that moment, Mom burst through the door. I also saw my sister timidly hiding behind it, obviously eavesdropping with Mom.

"Hmph, what other choice do I have? This boy's reputation in the Imperial Capital is utterly ruined. If he goes out now, he'll be like a rat hunted in the streets."

"But we can't throw him into the Holy Extermination Fortress either. You know how high the mortality rate is there. What if a Demon squad ambushes? What if rogue soldiers cause trouble, or even bully him?"

"But for now, I can't think of a better solution. He can't stay in the Imperial Capital. Yet the places where he could clear his name and earn merits are all extremely dangerous."

As he spoke, Father Sir fell into deep thought. He agreed with Mom—the Holy Extermination Fortress was not a good option.

We all remained silent, not daring to interrupt Father Sir's thoughts. After a long while, he finally lifted his head.

"Perhaps there's another way. I recently heard some news... I need to go and inquire."

With that, Father Sir stared at me with a very strange look. It made my skin crawl.

"Wald, for the next few days, you're confined to the house. Don't go anywhere, and don't cause any more trouble. I'm going to see Supreme Bishop Kolmo. I might also visit a few old friends."

With that, he pulled Mom out. The two of them talked in hushed tones, too low for me to hear.

Supreme Bishop Kolmo is in charge of the Divine Edict and divine descent. What does Father Sir want with him? How can he help me?