A Father’s Scrutiny

“Don’t ever get involved with him,” Iqiyah’s warning echoed ominously in Seraphina’s mind.

“So… you’re Seraphina, right?” Before Seraphina could even react, Godia had already squeezed his way into the library.

“Yes…”

“Ah, that’s splendid.” He casually drew over the chair Iqiyah had occupied and settled into it without preamble.

His gaze then fixed solely on Seraphina, scrutinizing her without the slightest shift, as if she were an exhibit.

‘Surely, even in a face-to-face conversation, such a prolonged stare wasn’t normal?’ Seraphina wondered. ‘Was there something amiss with me?’

Growing increasingly uneasy under his relentless scrutiny, Seraphina quickly glanced down at her attire. Despite her thorough inspection, she couldn’t discern a single flaw.

‘No, this man’s stare is truly unsettling me,’ she thought.

“Mr. Scarlett.”

“Hmm? You actually know my surname?”

‘No, come on, I’m already your daughter’s kin! Of course, I share your surname!’

As Seraphina observed Godia, sitting with one leg casually crossed over the other and a look of genuine surprise on his face, she began to realize that perhaps this imposing figure wasn’t quite as formidable as he appeared.

He might even be a little slow-witted.

“Sir… why do you keep staring at me? Have I done something improperly?”

“Improperly?” Godia quirked an eyebrow, before erupting into a boisterous laugh.

His laughter was unexpectedly hearty and unrestrained.

“I was merely curious as to why you’ve remained standing all this time.”

“…Might it be, perhaps, that you’ve occupied the only available chair?”

“Oh? Is that the case? Ah hahahaha… My sincerest apologies.”

Observing the slightly bewildered Vampire Prince before her, Seraphina finally confirmed her suspicion: this man was indeed quite dense, possessing the very same core disposition as Iqiyah.

“Here, take this chair. I’ll fetch one from over there.”

To Seraphina’s surprise, Godia didn’t simply conjure a chair with blood-red tentacles, as Iqiyah often would. Instead, he ambled to the far side of the library and retrieved a chair from beside a distant table.

‘Could it be… that he’s incapable of such feats?’

Just as Seraphina’s thoughts drifted into doubt, Godia’s voice cut through. “Seraphina, were you perusing this particular book?”

Seraphina turned to see Godia holding the tome, Prophecy Studies, ostentatiously examining its cover.

“Speaking of which… I, too, have dabbled in the field of Prophecy Studies…”

In what appeared to be an attempt to build rapport with Seraphina, Godia repeatedly fanned the thick pages of the book, yet he never actually opened it.

“No, you’ve mistaken me, Sir. I don’t actually read this particular book…”

“Oh, ah, that’s perfectly fine. But do you, by any chance, have an interest in prophecy studies?”

Observing the dithering, rambling middle-aged man before her, Seraphina felt a distinct throb of exasperation.

‘For heaven’s sake, if you have something to say, just say it! What’s with all this beating around the bush!?’

“Mr. Scarlett, do you have something specific you wish to discuss with me?”

“Oh, ah, are you impatient? Very well then…”

‘Oh, you absolute nitwit!’

“Seraphina,” Godia began, stepping closer to her, “I hear your relationship with my daughter is quite excellent.”

“Hmph, naturally.” Now aware of Godia’s true, somewhat simple nature, Seraphina made no effort to conceal her pride. “Our bond is so strong, we could even share a bed!”

“Hmm… that is indeed a very close relationship.”

Godia mumbled, a hint of awkwardness in his voice. “In any case, thank you. I’m sure you’re aware of my daughter’s temperament; it’s truly rare for her to form such a good friendship.”

“Oh, it’s truly nothing to worry about. We’ve been like sisters for ages now~”

“However… you understand, a father always wishes to look out for his daughter.”

‘Look out for her?’ Seraphina’s lips twitched involuntarily.

‘Iqiyah has fallen ill twice now, yet if you truly cared, why did you never once come to visit your beloved daughter?’

“Therefore… I have a few questions I wish to ask you, and I hope you’ll be understanding.”

‘Ah, yes, I get it. You want to understand your rebellious daughter through me, don’t you? That’s quite the typical fatherly concern.’

“Please, ask away, Mr. Scarlett.”

“In that case, permit me to be rather impolite.”

‘Ugh, is this what it means to be a noble? So many empty formalities…’

“Seraphina… I must ask you something…”

‘Hmm.’

“Why have you chosen to approach Iqiyah?”

“Eh?”

In that instant, Godia’s eyes blazed with a terrifying, blood-red light, and the entire library was immediately bathed in a chilling crimson hue.

“What are you talking about? I was found by her in the dungeon…”

“I don’t believe you.”

Godia extended his arms, which swiftly elongated, thickened, and bulged with muscle, growing almost as massive as his entire torso.

With a deafening ‘Thump!’, Godia slammed his massive hands to the floor, instantly surging forward. The abrupt, overwhelming surge of power caused Seraphina’s legs to buckle, leaving her a trembling heap.

“Do not feign ignorance, kin. The scent of another deity clings to you.”

His colossal arms rose like pillars beside Seraphina, and with his immense body, he caged her tightly beneath him.

“Reveal your origins, and the true purpose behind your approach to my daughter!”

‘Holy hell, holy hell, holy hell.’ Seraphina was utterly dumbfounded.

‘Gods? What in the world are those? I’ve lived for eighteen years, and I’ve never even heard the term before!’

“No, Mr. Scarlett,” Seraphina struggled to maintain her composure, “I genuinely have no idea what ‘gods’ you’re referring to, much less any ‘scent’…”

“Say what? Hmph.” Godia sneered, a cold, dismissive sound. “To play dumb to such an extent is truly pathetic, Seraphina.”

“Whether your former self was human, elf, or some other creature, surely you would have a deity you worshipped, would you not?”

‘A deity to worship? Is that even a thing?’

Indeed, despite her profession as a priest, Seraphina was utterly clueless when it came to the concept of deities.

In her previous life, she had been born and raised in a modern, secular society, a staunch atheist by conviction.

Recalling her earlier life, back in the countryside, she had never once heard her father or neighbors speak of “gods.” All she knew was of a local church that occasionally visited the village, distributing eggs and cooking oil.

Even upon reaching Emes Town, her entire focus had been consumed by dungeon strategies and tending to her teammates.

Furthermore, being innately max-level, Seraphina had never bothered to acquire even a shred of knowledge regarding “deities.”

‘Come to think of it… that book on Prophecy Studies just now did mention deities.’

‘What was it… the Goddess of Life?’

‘According to that book, the Vampires apparently worshipped her…’

‘Well, it’s a desperate situation, so I might as well try a desperate measure.’

“Uh, of course,” Seraphina began, though lying came easily to her, fabricating a story under such immense pressure proved surprisingly difficult. “I worship the Goddess of Life…”

“Are you truly taking me for a fool?”

Like a relentless hound, Godia pressed closer to Seraphina, sniffing intently all around her.

“From the very first moment my eyes fell upon you, I detected it… that vile, pungent stench of a foreign deity clinging to your being.”

“Perhaps you can deceive other Vampires… but I am different. I am a Prince, and unlike other Vampires, I stand far closer to the Goddess of Life.”

“Therefore… Seraphina, I am offering you one last chance…”

“If you still wish to remain Iqiyah’s kin… then be forthright with me!”

A spray of foul-smelling saliva splattered across Seraphina’s face. “Tell me, who is the master you truly serve…!”

“That would be me. Is there a problem?”

With a resounding ‘Thump!’, the library door suddenly burst inward.

Retracting her elegantly raised leg from a powerful side kick, Iqiyah crossed her arms over her chest, her expression one of utter disdain as she glared at her father.

“What now, Father? Do you have an issue?”