Chapter 604: Chapter 594: Alama’s Helplessness
Recently, Alama has found a rare bit of leisure.
It’s not that there’s nothing to do, but compared to the past decade or so, when he had to constantly hold the line at the High Castle Fortress facing the Demon Race’s onslaught, the situation has now changed.
The High Castle Fortress has changed hands, and the human army has retreated to a more rearward line of defense, creating a large buffer zone between both sides.
The extension of the battlefront and the shift in the standoff unexpectedly allowed the Duke to gain some time he could freely allocate.
This way, he can temporarily leave the front line and come to Mushroom City to see his daughter, who always brings him "surprises".
"Is this the so-called ring of confinement?" Alama’s attention was quickly drawn to the ring in Inanna’s hand, with its ancient design and faint rune glow, "Why are there two?"
As he spoke, he reached out his finger with some curiosity, wanting to touch the ring and examine it closely.
"Take your dirty hands off, human!"
A fierce flame suddenly rose from the ring, sweeping over the fabric on Alama’s chest recently wetted by melted ice, instantly drying it, and even scorching his black-and-white hair tips into a slight curl.
"Little Fire! He’s my father!" Inanna scolded the ring with some anger.
"Of course, I know!" A thunderous voice came from the ring, clearly displeased, "Otherwise, he’d already be a medium-rare roast by now! Also, I am not called ’Little Fire’!"
"I’m not talking to you today!" Inanna then approached Alama, concerned, saying, "Old man, weren’t you burned? Sorry, Little Fire just got hit by Little Ice and is in a bad mood."
"Who got hit by it? Who got hit by it! Right here, call it out, and we’ll fight again!"
Tongues of flame continued to emerge from the ring, accidentally igniting the nearby wooden table, and Inanna hastily used a water ball to extinguish it, eventually having to use the runes on the ring to temporarily confine the Fire Elemental Lord, which finally quieted things down.
After experiencing a "hot-and-cold double whammy," Alama’s body instinctively leaned back slightly when he saw his daughter approaching again.
Thankfully, years of battlefield discipline allowed him to steady himself at the last moment, though his shoulder stiffened briefly, almost imperceptibly.
This time, he somehow managed not to trigger any further "defense mechanisms."
Listening to his daughter call the Fire Elemental Lord, described in reports as having "caused an elemental riot and destroyed an entire city," like she was coaxing a child by calling it "Little Fire," Alama’s eye twitched twice uncontrollably.
He raised his hand to smooth his still singed and curled beard, chuckled dryly, and said:
"Good, good... my daughter has truly grown up, her abilities getting greater, it’s good, this is good!"
As he spoke, Alama’s voice involuntarily softened, his gaze following his daughter’s face, the hardened lines forged on the battlefield now softened.
He talked about the celebrations he missed when she was little, asked what she likes to eat now, how her journey went, and even clumsily suggested redecorating a room for her at the Duke’s Mansion, his words interlaced with a cautious attempt to make up for past absences.
Unfortunately, this compensation was a bit too late.
Inanna was no longer the little girl lacking love; the Puki filled her heart completely.
She smiled and responded to Alama’s words, like an accomplished young lady, leaving Alama somewhat helpless.
Yet some things, once missed, are irreparable, and Alama had no choice.
At least, while the relationship between the father and daughter could not become close, it wasn’t hostile either; there was indeed affection between them.
As they chatted about family matters, No. 4, who completely didn’t understand the atmosphere, leaped onto the sofa of his own accord and nestled into Inanna’s arms.
And quite naturally, Inanna began to pet the Puki she was holding, right in front of Alama.
Alama’s eye twitched once again at the sight.
He almost wanted to bring up the matter of Inanna’s lifelong decisions.
Inanna was already eighteen, a perfect age for marriage, yet in another couple of years, she’d be considered an old maid.
Alama didn’t want others mocking his daughter behind her back.
However, there were other things to discuss first.
Unintentionally, their conversation shifted from family matters to the war.
"The Bright Church... has sacrificed too much," he said slowly, "Precisely because of this, the kingdom needs stability, yet lately, new religious movements are emerging everywhere, causing public unrest..."
His words paused briefly, and his gaze seemed to unintentionally sweep across Julia in the distance.
Inanna’s hands stopped momentarily as she played with No. 4.
"Old man," she looked up, pink eyes reflecting the flickering light of the fireplace, "the Mushroom Worship Sect is different."
Alama met his daughter’s gaze, where he saw a familiarity of stubbornness and innocence, much like her mother in the past.
He sighed, "Inanna, my child, how can you be sure that they are different? Many things aren’t what they seem on the surface. The Bright Church has been rooted in the kingdom for centuries, always a pillar of faith and order. That Archbishop who sacrificed himself, his blood testified to the weight of this orthodoxy. You are my daughter, a member of the Saint Claire Clan, both emotionally and rationally, you should... stand on the side upholding this orthodoxy."
Inanna, however, shook her head and firmly said, "Those who love Puki and are loved by Puki cannot be bad people, can they?"
But can Puki itself be guaranteed to be "good"?
Alama wanted to say this, but he couldn’t bring himself to just say it.
Furthermore, he suspected, looking at Inanna’s reliance on Puki, that even if he said it, it would be of no avail.
Ultimately, it’s his fault that his daughter has become what she is.
In the end, he could only sigh again and look at the ceiling, remaining silent.
Yes, on a personal level, he owed Puki a great deal.
If it weren’t for his oversight back then, Inanna wouldn’t have been in a desperate situation; it was the little Puki that saved her life.
In the tragic Battle of Dragonhowl Valley, it was also the power of Puki that pulled him back from the brink of death.
As a person of flesh and blood, he held gratitude in his heart and even felt a fondness for these wondrous creatures.
However, he was not just Inanna’s father.
He was a Duke of the United Kingdom, one of those shouldering the safety of humanity.
Puki was continuously integrating into the kingdom, and the proportion of Puki Masters was increasing, but with the scholars from the Relic Association conducting their research, some unknown details of the past were being revealed.
Such as people with mycelium growing on them would naturally feel close to Puki, and the large-scale telepathic communication ability known as the Fungal Network...
How many hidden secrets lay within the mycelium?
Sometimes he even wondered, wonder that if they truly defeated the Empire relying on Puki, who would be the real winners then, humans or Puki?
As a Duke, he had to prepare for the worst possible outcome, even if that made him seem ungrateful.
But just as he would choose humans over the debt to Puki in among humans and Puki.
Yet Inanna... he looked at his daughter’s cheerful expression as she played with No. 4. If it really came down to a choice, she would likely stand on the side of Puki.
How could he not feel helpless about that?
He had no good solution for this situation; it was much harder than going into battle.
By comparison, whether or not to release the organizer of a new small sect became an inconsequential triviality.
Perhaps after Inanna got married, things would change, and her attention might shift from Puki to her family?
Alama contemplated this possibility, planning to discuss it with Lorenzo later; his two sons were already married and had more experience.
In the end, unable to persuade his daughter, Alama could only rise and leave with a hint of sadness.
He waved his hand, leaving a sentence behind: "Forget it... I’ll go explain to the Church."
Outside the door, he noticed another member of the Mushroom Race with four swords standing nearby; he knew its name was Fourteen.
Fourteen extended a tentacle and patted Alama’s shoulder, then Puki-Puki-ed its way into the room.
Alama stood in place, still feeling the soft touch on his shoulder.
He looked back at the tightly closed door, a hint of confusion on his face.
What did that mean?
Could it really be that this Puki was comforting him?
