Right now, Shel and Prince Noren had already spent three weeks searching the Great Swamp.

They’d gathered rumors of a "strange little black figure" who specifically robbed travelers crossing the marshes of their food.

Shrouded in dark mist, this creature snatched bread, dried rations, and cooked meats from people’s hands—though occasionally, it tossed back live fish or wild ducks to its unlucky victims.

It had to be Hilna.

For days, they’d trudged through the endless expanse of the swamp in waterproof coats and tall boots, rowing a small boat while calling Hilna’s name, hoping for a reply.

At least the area was so remote no outsiders would overhear them.

Shel had initially worried Hilna might starve on stolen scraps or suffer from cold and exhaustion sleeping in the marsh. But the situation seemed otherwise.

During their search, he’d discovered many peculiar, flat islands of varying sizes.

Each was piled high with withered blossoms of different kinds, dotted with strange ruins and towering dead trees.

Beneath the trees, traces of leftover food always lingered.

"Hilna left these. It must be her," Shel declared firmly. "These islands are bizarre—clearly magical constructs. No one but her could’ve made them."

"Mr. Shel," Prince Noren asked, "can mages really create islands out of thin air in a swamp? That power sounds terrifying."

"Your Highness, island-making is mere child’s play. Most mages here in Ipoli are back-alley dabblers—like me. We’re practically useless. But true high-tier mages? The geniuses blessed by gods? They’re nearly omnipotent. And then there are legendary hermits said to have lived for millennia—beings rivaling angels."

"So Hilna is…"

"She’s likely one of those prodigies. Without me," Shel admitted grimly, "she’d never have awakened this way. I only meant to cheer her up… and caused this disaster instead."

They fell silent, climbing back into their boat to continue the search.

"...Mr. Shel?"

"Hmm?" Shel didn’t look up from his map. "What is it?"

"I think exhaustion’s playing tricks on me—I’m seeing a giant green mushroom flying in the sky. And it’s heading straight for us."

"What?"

Shel glanced up, ready to dismiss the delusion—but froze.

A colossal mushroom truly floated in the afternoon sun. Its cap shimmered emerald-green like fresh leaves; its stem was weathered stone-gray. Beneath it hung a tangled mass of roots caked with mud.

"What in the Fiend’s name…?"

Had Noren not warned him first, Shel would’ve sworn it was a hallucination.

The mushroom drifted closer, halting twenty meters away before crashing down into the swamp.

The splash nearly capsized their boat.

Once steady, Shel saw the truth: the "mushroom" was a tiny island borne on the roots of an ancient oak.

The cap was the tree’s lush canopy; the stem, a crumbling stone wall encircling its trunk.

A surreal creation—but matching the ruins they’d tracked for weeks.

"Teacher Charles!"

A familiar voice rang from the treetops. A red-haired girl pushed through the leaves, waving. "It’s me!"

"Lofna? What are you doing here?"

This fiery-haired child always appeared where he least expected.

"I came to help find Hilna! I found her—she’s right here. I brought her to you…" Lofna vanished back into the foliage. "Hilna! Come out and see Teacher Charles!"

Shel and Noren exchanged a glance, then scrambled from the boat onto the floating island.

The stone wall had no door. Impatient, Noren circled it, ready to smash through—but Shel stopped him.

After a moment’s thought, Shel rapped lightly on the stones like knocking.

"Hilna, may your father and I come in to see you?"

Muffled voices came from within. Hilna’s words were indistinct, but Lofna’s rang clear: "See? Teacher Charles doesn’t sound angry at all!"

More murmurs followed. After a long pause, Hilna finally relented.

"Teacher Charles… Father… I’m sorry…" Her voice trembled as she apologized first. "I didn’t mean it that day. I don’t remember what happened. I know I messed up…"

"It wasn’t your fault. We all know that," Shel softened his tone. "Come out now. Your parents are worried sick. Let’s go home—take a warm bath, change into dry clothes, sip some hot soup… Once you’ve rested, we’ll fix this together."

Hilna hesitated. "...Will the Holy Knights take me away?"

"Of course not! Holy Knights only hunt Fiends." Shel’s certainty was absolute. "They sense evil auras—but I’ve felt your magic, Hilna. It’s pure. Even the holy insignia glowed when it touched you. How could you ever be a Fiend?"

"Yes, yes!" Noren added hastily. "Your mother regrets it too. She promised never to strike you again once you’re home."

The words backfired.

Memories of her mother’s wet cane in the bathhouse flooded back. Hilna’s fear surged.

"Wait—something’s wrong!" Shel barely finished speaking when the swamp’s surface erupted. Bubbles boiled violently across the water, churning like a cauldron.

"Hilna, listen," Shel urged quickly. "Your father has a villa in the countryside. Stay there first. No need to face your mother yet… Calm down. Breathe."

His words worked.

Hilna quieted.

The earthen wall crumbled inward, revealing a gap. Through it, they finally saw the girl they’d sought for weeks.

Beneath the oak’s shade, vibrant wildflowers bloomed around its massive trunk. Two small girls sat among them—one with fiery red hair, the other with striking blue.

"Father… Teacher Charles…" Hilna’s face was etched with exhaustion, relief heavy in her voice. "I’m so tired…"

Weeks of fear crashed over her. She slumped, fast asleep.

Noren rushed forward, cradling his daughter. "We found her…" He exhaled shakily, gratitude in his eyes. "As you suggested, Mr. Shel—we’ll settle her in the countryside villa first."

"That’s best," Shel agreed.

But another problem remained.

"Lofna—" Shel turned sharply. "Why are you here? Who let you into the Great Swamp? Don’t you know it’s dangerous? How many times have I told you not to wander off?!"

Lofna had always thought Teacher Charles too gentle to scold. But his expression now was stormy.

"I… I wanted to help you find the Fiend!" she stammered. "I came to the swamp, met little sister Hilna, and talked to her… She agreed to see you because of me!"

"You convinced her?" Shel’s sternness softened slightly.

"Uh-huh!" Lofna nodded vigorously. "Hilna was hiding from you. I persuaded her!"

"Mr. Shel, let it go," Noren interjected. "She did help today."

"Your Highness," Shel countered firmly, "Lofna is your daughter too. How can you let her roam freely? Today she found Hilna—but it was luck! She could’ve drowned in the mud pits! As her father, her safety should be your duty. Why act like I’m overstepping?"

"Well… you have a point…"

Still, seeing the girl’s downcast face, Shel relented. He knelt, ruffling her hair after a pause.

"I know you wanted to help. And you did—Hilna’s return is thanks to you. But some things aren’t for a six-year-old to handle. Wait until you’re older."

"Okay…"

"Don’t cry." He sighed. "When we get back, I’ll buy you cake and roasted chicken legs."

"Yay!"

"I’m not rewarding you! Don’t get excited!" Seeing her instantly cheerful, he added sternly, "I’m telling your mother about this swamp trip. She’ll give you a spanking. Next time, I’ll have her lock you in your room. Understand?"

"Oh…"

Watching Hilna sleep in her father’s arms and Lofna’s mercurial moods, Shel felt utterly drained.

He really wasn’t cut out for children.

"Time to go back." He turned toward their boat. "One trouble solved, at least."

As he sighed, the unthinkable happened.

The silent system buried in his mind finally spoke.

*Congratulations! You’ve partially completed Phase One! The future tyrant has awakened—but thanks to you, her power emerged early yet stayed controlled. You’ve become the most important person in her life!*

*Shel—keep protecting her. Make this future empress believe in peace and love. This world needs saving… and it’s your world-saving mission. We’re counting on you!*

"What? She’s the—"

Shel nearly blurted it out, startling Noren and Lofna.

"Mr. Shel? What’s wrong?" Noren frowned. "What did you say?"

"Nothing! Just… a bug bite." Shel waved it off, flustered.

He tried to question the system—but it vanished again, silent as ever.

His gaze drifted back to Hilna.

If the system spoke true… this magically gifted child was the future tyrant. The empress who’d one day rule half the continent.

He needed time to digest this.