A Father’s Love Like a Mountain

Deep within the dimly lit corridors of the arena, I materialized out of thin air.

“Seth!” I called out to the burly, masked man smoking in the hallway.

“I am Cypher, Princess. You must have mistaken me for someone else,” Seth replied, taking a deliberately deep drag from his cigarette.

“Cut the act. You’re forfeiting the next match!” I stated directly.

“Heh heh,” Seth chuckled, a profound smile gracing his lips. “Even for a princess, such an order is unacceptable.”

“Why aren’t you competing openly? And what is the reason for your stubborn insistence?” I asked, gazing up at the robust old butler who towered several heads above me.

“Princess, I’ve already told you I am Cypher, not the person you speak of. As for the reason you ask… it is because—”

Suddenly, Seth exuded a powerful aura. His muscles bulged, tearing his already taut butler’s uniform and shirt with a resounding *’Cha-la!’*, revealing dark, gleaming, masculine physique.

Instinctively, I recoiled a step.

Masked Seth struck an exaggerated pose, flexing his muscles. “Because—a father’s love is like a mountain!”

‘Huh?!’ It was as if I saw a volcanic eruption behind Seth, surging waves, and howling mountain winds. What an aura, truly befitting a tough, grizzled man!

But what in the world was ‘a father’s love is like a mountain’? So Seth was a pervert after all!

I suppressed the urge to retort and calmly stated, “Seth, you are merely my butler. What does that have to do with a father’s love?”

“Hmph hmph, Princess,” he began, “Although I am not Seth, my understanding of you is no less than his. Indeed, I am a friend of his, and he told me you had a lonely and unfortunate childhood.”

“Even as the Demon King’s daughter, your father was constantly at war in the Purgatory, leaving him little time to see you. This filled your childhood with solitude and darkness.”

“But how can a beautiful maiden like yourself, fair as snow and delicate as frost, be without the loving care of a mature, profound, steady, gentle, strong, yet strict father?”

“Since the Demon King is preoccupied, I, Seth… oh no, Cypher, am willing to shoulder this responsibility! Princess! I shall win this competition, and then, you and I shall embark on a journey of warm, compassionate, yet stern, father-daughter love!”

“A father’s love—it is the most expansive, profound, and restrained, yet also incredibly fervent!” Seth declared, thumping his thick, dark chest.

“Princess, touch here! Feel this heavy beat and the warmth of a father’s love!” Seth’s large nostrils puffed out two streams of white vapor, like a steam engine.

“Ugh…” My face instinctively paled, and an inexplicable chill ran through me. I instinctively kept backing away. “Don’t, don’t come near me… you warped ‘ghost father’ fantasist!”

“Princess—you need my love, just as I need to bestow my fatherly love upon you!”

“Enough! Stop! Just tell me, what will it take for you to forfeit?!” I interrupted Seth.

“Hahahaha! Nothing could ever make me waver in the slightest!” Seth declared, gazing into the distance with unwavering resolve.

“I’ll give you a pair of my worn stockings.”

“Cough, you think giving me a pair of… what?”

“Stockings.”

“Princess! In fact, I now feel perhaps I am not qualified to discipline or cherish you in place of your father. This time, I shall forfeit.” Seth plunged his hands into his pockets and spoke with a profound air.

“…”

“Princess, this old man wishes to confirm once more: are they the stockings you are currently wearing?”

“…Yes.”

“And will you take them off for me right now, in front of me?”

“Yes!”

“Princess, if you please? Rest assured, this old man is old enough to be your father. Even watching a little loli like you take off her stockings in front of him, there will be no wicked thoughts, only a burning, overflowing fatherly love.” Seth knelt on one knee, breathing heavily, making a gentleman’s inviting gesture.

“Then do you admit you are Seth?” I peered down at the kneeling Seth, hands on my hips, my eyes cold.

“Indeed, I am Seth!”

“So, I can take them off right here?”

“Please do. If the Princess feels shy, I can even assist.”

“Is that so? You want to help?”

“If the Princess requires it.”

“Then, you may assist me.”

Seth, breathing heavily, stood up and slowly extended his two large hands towards me. “Then, I shall obey the Princess’s command. Here I come.”

“Here you come, my foot, you old pervert!” I flew forward and kicked Seth squarely in the face with a *’Boom!’* The old geezer was sent flying backward, crashing heavily into the arena wall.

“Ah… Princess…” Seth groaned, bruised and battered, barely clinging to consciousness.

“Seth, due to an accidental collision with a wall, is gravely injured and forfeits!” I relayed to Beth Daisy via my communication earring.

“Oh? Princess, that won’t do! Princess, you cannot use violence!” Beth replied from the other end of the communicator.

“Violence? Heh heh, Head Maid, you’ve misunderstood. I was merely acting in self-defense after Seth saw through my trickery! It perfectly adheres to the dungeon’s rules!”

Having dealt with Seth, I flashed back to the spectator’s platform, awaiting the announcement of his forfeiture.

By this time, Senior Faein was already standing in the arena.

Loynin’s voice echoed, “Everyone, we have just received news that contestant Cypher has announced his forf—”

“Hold on!” A deep, resonant voice cut through the air. Seth, the old butler with half a broken mask, covered in dust, walked into the arena.

“What!” I almost leaped from my seat in anger. “That guy actually dared to show up!”

Although I knew my delicate princess’s kick was only equivalent to a full-power strike from a Level 2 warrior, and thus couldn’t inflict substantial harm on an eighth-level expert like Seth, I hadn’t expected him to still not understand my intentions. Was he deliberately defying me?

“Contestant Cypher, are you alright?” Loynin asked.

Seth raised his fist.

“Then! Let the match begin!”

As the words landed, I slumped helplessly into my chair. It was over. No matter the outcome, Senior Faein couldn’t possibly defeat her opponent faster than Suriya had.

Nevertheless, Senior Faein was still brimming with fighting spirit. After all, winning the match was the most important thing.

“Well then, old man, let’s begin!” Faein’s sword shimmered with golden light, indicating her intention to start with light-elemental power.

“Once again—hold on!” Seth raised a large hand.

“Hmm?”

“Although defeating a young lady like you would be effortless, I do not wish to disappoint the Princess. She hopes for your victory. However, I also feel it is my duty to proceed, to win, to discipline—oh no, to educate the Princess! After all, in the Princess’s heart, I am like her father!”

“Who considers you their father?!” I shouted from my chair, almost in tears from frustration.

Seth turned his back to Faein, flexed his thick arms, and closed his eyes. His white hair and beard fluttered in the dungeon’s dusty winds. “Indeed, I am such a contradictory man!”

Senior Faein looked at him indifferently. “So, are you fighting or not?”

Seth stroked his beard, seemingly deep in thought. “Well… after much consideration, it’s better not to disappoint the Princess. I won’t fight this match. I concede.”

“If you were going to concede, why didn’t you just stay out of the arena in the first place?!” Tears streamed down my face from sheer exasperation.

“The victor, Heavenly Glow Faein…”

I collapsed weakly onto the large seat, my vision darkening. I hated Seth even more than Suriya; that guy was definitely toying with me deliberately…

“And so! Although the semi-finals unexpectedly saw no actual combat, two victors have been determined. Tomorrow’s final match, the decisive battle for the Princess’s ‘tutoring rights,’ will be between Suriya and Heavenly Glow Faein!”

At this moment, I felt little excitement. While Senior Faein winning was certainly the best outcome, I wasn’t sure how easy it would be for her to ‘educate’ me. Furthermore… how was I going to get through tonight?

Though the dungeon had no day or night, glowing crystal time-stones hung everywhere. These luminous crystals emitted warm, sunset-like colors in the morning and evening, becoming nearly white at noon, and gradually turning blue at night. It was somewhat similar to the daily color changes of the surface world, except there were no rainy days here.

Currently, the time-stones all emitted a hazy, dim yellow glow, indicating it was around six in the evening.

After dining in the palace, I returned to my bedchamber. There, I saw Senior Faein leaning in the hallway, waiting for me.

“I’m sorry, Princess, I couldn’t win the bet,” Faein said.

“Senior, it’s not your fault. Besides, it’s just a little massage for Suriya; it won’t be a big deal,” I said with a helpless, bitter smile.

Senior Faein suddenly blushed. “If that dominatrix tries anything strange with you, you must immediately teleport out! Escape! Understand?”

“Mm, don’t worry, Senior. Suriya isn’t bad at heart; she won’t truly make things difficult for me.” I said this, but deep down, I wasn’t so sure.

“By the way, your period, is it alright?” Faein asked, her gaze drifting towards my lower abdomen.

“Eh? Uh… no, it’s fine, it’s already over.” I instinctively crossed my small hands to cover myself.

“Is that so? Such a short time?”

“Yeah, I don’t know either. Senior, you should rest early. There’s a real battle tomorrow.”

I had lied to Senior Faein. I figured that mentioning my period while having to wear a bunny girl outfit would only increase her worries.

Bidding farewell to Senior Faein, I returned to my room and took a serious bath.

Honestly, why I was bathing so seriously, I didn’t even understand myself.

Suriya, meanwhile, had already sent someone to deliver the bunny girl outfit she had prepared for me.

After my bath, wrapped in a bath towel, I stepped out of the tub and saw the outfit laid out before me. I felt a sense of mental disorientation, but since I had agreed, I had to do it, didn’t I?