System: Daily login!!, jackpot on the first day!!!-Chapter 493 - Theirs

"...And that was when I finally discovered the truth, that the Apocalypse in that universe happened simply because the Gods got bored," Taufik said, his voice calm but edged with disdain. "...They turned the world into their personal game board, and humans were nothing more than pieces they moved around for entertainment"

Hearing that, Marzuki and Aksara both sucked in a sharp breath, eyes widening in disbelief.

"Then... what did you do after that, Father?" Aksara asked, leaning forward.

"After that-" Taufik suddenly stopped mid-sentence.

His gaze shifted, not randomly, but sharply, toward a specific direction in the garden. For a split second, something flickered across his eyes, a subtle glint of recognition... Someone was watching.

But instead of tension, a faint smile curled on his lips. 𝘧𝘳𝘦ℯ𝓌𝘦𝒷𝘯𝑜𝑣𝘦𝓁.𝒸𝘰𝓂

"...She's growing, huh?"

"Huh? What do you mean, Father?" Aksara asked again, confused.

Taufik didn't answer right away.

Instead, he rose from his chair with unhurried grace. Marzuki and Aksara exchanged a glance, curiosity tightening in their chests.

They watched as Taufik lifted one hand and made a slow, almost lazy motion, like brushing aside a curtain only he could see.

The space in front of them rippled.

A soft distortion spread across the air, bending the light like heat rising from asphalt. The ripple widened, deepened... then split open.

And from that shimmering distortion, Alice stepped out, as if she had been standing behind an invisible veil the entire time.

"Alice?!" Aksara exclaimed, jumping slightly from his seat.

"Hehe~ hello, Brother. Hello, Grandpa," Alice greeted with a small wave toward Aksara and Marzuki. But her eyes didn't linger on them.

The moment she found the person she had missed for what felt like an eternity, her expression softened... then crumbled.

Without a word, Alice rushed forward and threw herself into Taufik's arms, embracing him tightly as if afraid he might slip away again.

"...Father… you're finally back," she whispered. Her voice trembled, sadness woven with overwhelming relief.

Taufik's warm smile widened, and he returned her embrace, steady and reassuring, his hand gently settling atop her head.

"...I'm home, Alice"

Her breath hitched. She clung to him even more tightly, fingers curling into his clothes.

"Y-Yeah… Welcome back, Father… I...I missed you so much," Alice said, her voice quivering as though letting go might make him vanish again.

Taufik's embrace deepened, one hand moving slowly, comfortingly, across her back.

"...Me too," he murmured, his tone soft but full of weight. "Me too, Alice"

---

After several minutes, Alice, though clearly reluctant, finally loosened her embrace and took her seat in the gazebo beside her brother and grandfather.

"...So, what were you guys talking about?" she asked, wiping the last traces of redness from her eyes. Her tone was lighter now, almost playful.

"We were listening to Father's story," Aksara replied, leaning back with a helpless sigh. "We were just getting to the interesting part when you showed up"

"Really?!" Alice's eyes immediately sparkled as she looked at Taufik. "Then I want to hear it too!"

"...What about the Academy, Alice? Aren't you an Instructor?" Marzuki asked, raising a brow at his granddaughter.

"C'mon, Grandpa, I'm just a temporary Instructor," Alice said, waving a hand dismissively. "I don't have much work yet. Leaving for a little while won't cause any problems. Besides, it's only the first day, and students are still adapting. So let's continue Father's story!"

Her gaze locked onto Taufik expectantly.

But Taufik only chuckled softly. "...Let's save that for later. I'm sure your little brothers and sisters want to hear everything too. It'd be better to wait until everyone's gathered." Then he added, amused, "But Instructor? I never expected that from you, Alice"

"It's just temporary," Alice repeated, though this time her tone grew more serious. "There's something I need to investigate inside the Academy. Becoming an Instructor is the easiest way to get the access I need"

"It's not just that, Father," Aksara added, half teasing, half impressed. "She's also the new Master of the Singularis Magic Tower"

"...Singularis Magic Tower?" Taufik repeated, blinking.

"Yeah," Alice nodded proudly. "I replaced the previous master, Eldrin. Speaking of him, Father, do you know him? He seemed to know you"

"...Eldrin?" Taufik said slowly. "Singularis Magic Tower…"

Then, a clear image surfaced in his mind, an old man he had met during his Ascension, a man whose eyes seemed to pierce illusions and shadows alike.

"Ahh… that old man." Taufik nodded. "Yes, I know him. We talked briefly after my Ascension. After that, we never met again. He was the only one who noticed me even while I hid in my shadow." A nostalgic smile tugged at his lips. "He's definitely strange. He even called me the 'God of Magic'"

"Oh, I know about that," Alice replied immediately. "And he wasn't exaggerating. There's even a statue of you in the Tower. Father, what exactly did you do in the past to be worshipped as a Magic God?"

"What did I do?" Taufik shrugged casually. "I saved your Grandpa. That's all. I never claimed to be any God of Magic"

"Maybe someone saw you during one of your fights," Marzuki offered reasonably. "And from there, stories spread. In those long years, anything could've happened. You didn't claim to be a Magic God… but the people back then might've believed your magic was beyond their understanding. That's likely how it happened"

Taufik let out a small sigh.

"Well, whatever the reason, I don't really care what they called me. It all happened in the past. And I'm not going back just to change that." His eyes narrowed with seriousness. "This world's timeline is already messed up enough. I'm not going to make it worse"

Then his gaze shifted back to Alice, sharpening slightly. "...But the thing you're investigating, is it related to the distress I felt in Aska's heart? And your other siblings?"

Alice silently nodded.

"Yes. Somehow it's all connected. One of Aska's friends, the girl he met during the Academy Trial was kidnapped by a mysterious group." Her expression hardened. "I believe that group has already taken root inside the Academy. And they're connected to Demons. It's confirmed: when Aska confronted them, they entered a demonized phase, something that could only happen when someone absorbs too much Corrupted Mana"

Marzuki frowned, Aksara's jaw clenched, and Taufik's eyes glinted faintly.

"They seem to be searching for something," Alice continued, "but I don't know what it is yet. That's what I'm trying to uncover."

"Ohh~?" Taufik leaned back slightly, interest unmistakable. "And why did they kidnap Aska's friend? And if they're really connected to Demons… I think I already know what they're searching for"

"Really, Father? What is it?" Alice asked quickly. "If we knew their goal, it'd be much easier to predict their next move"

Taufik lifted a finger, tapping the table lightly.

"If they're Demon worshippers, then what they want is a way to reconnect to Hell. But…" He shrugged, "They'll never find it"

"Huh? Why?" Alice asked, brows knitting.

"Because Hell is destroyed," Taufik said simply. "And it'll need a very long time before a new one forms. At most, what remains are the Seven Deadly Sins… and a few high-ranking Demons"

Alice blinked. "...Hell is destroyed?! By who?"

"Indirectly? Me." Taufik answered with complete calm. "So rest assured, they'll never find what they're looking for"

Alice exhaled, but then her face tensed again. "But Father… Aska's friend, she may not be related to Singularis, but she has a Singularis-type power. And from what I've heard from Aska, her ability is no joke"

Taufik tilted his head. "...What is her power?"

"She can basically see through anything," Aksara cut in. "I think they kidnapped her because they want to use that ability to reach their goal"

"Well~" Taufik whistled softly. "That's troublesome." He tapped his chin. "If her eyes can truly see through anything… then yes, there's a chance she might find what they're after. But even then, there's nothing to worry about"

Marzuki frowned deeper. "...Why are you so sure, son?"

Taufik looked at his father for a moment before giving a slow, confident smile.

"Because no Demon would dare set foot on Earth," he answered plainly, "not once they know who this world belongs to. So, leave it be"

Alice leaned forward. "Then what about Aska's friend, Father?"

Taufik closed his eyes briefly, then opened them with a calm expression.

"...Leave it to your siblings," he said. "I could find her in an instant if I wanted to. But this is their responsibility. Let them try first"

His tone softened slightly.

"If they fail or give up… then we adults step in. But until then..." He leaned back, gaze steady. "It's their problem, their responsibility. Let them settle it themselves"

"Understood," Alice and Aksara said at the same time, both immediately realizing the weight behind their father's words.

After that, they shifted to lighter topics, talking about other things, before Aksara finally excused himself, he couldn't stay any longer, being the King of Saranjana after all. Meanwhile, Alice was found by her mothers and promptly dragged away to help prepare for the welcoming party that would take place tonight.

And so, in the gazebo, only Taufik and Marzuki remained.

....

...

..

.