The situation was extremely tense. Everyone's eyes were locked on Skye, their mouths hanging open in shock. Only one question echoed in their minds—
What was a girl from the 6th Division doing here?
Then Skye spoke in her cold voice,
"Have you all seen a ghost or something?"
Her words instantly snapped everyone back to reality.
At that moment, Steven walked in from behind and asked,
"Why are you all frozen in one place?"
Then he looked at Skye and turned toward Leo with a small smile.
"Oh… so you still haven't met my daughter yet, Leo?"
Daughter.
The moment Leo heard that word, it felt like his brain stopped working. He stared blankly at Steven.
"Y-You have a daughter too?"
Steven crossed his arms and laughed.
"I just never told you."
Just then, Rim came running and immediately grabbed Leo.
"You're late!"
Leo gave an awkward smile.
"Sorry."
Rim puffed her cheeks in anger.
"You didn't even write me a single letter!"
Leo scratched his head.
"Forgive me… I really didn't have time."
By then, Skye had already stood up and started walking toward them. Seeing her approach, Ray quickly bowed in greeting. Leo and Maya followed immediately.
Skye glanced at all of them and said flatly,
"There's no need for that. Be normal. At least here, let me stay free from work for a few days."
Everyone straightened back up.
Steven clapped his hands lightly.
"Go get some rest. I'll make food for everyone."
Skye called Maya over, and the two went to take a bath.
They sat quietly in the warm water. The only sound in the room was the gentle ripple of water. Skye sat with her eyes closed, leaning back peacefully. For the first time, she looked truly relaxed.
Maya finally broke the silence.
"Umm… what does it feel like to become a knight?"
Skye slowly opened her right eye.
"At first, it feels good… but once you're buried under endless work, you realize how exhausting it really is."
Maya nodded.
"I want to become a great healing user… what should I do for that?"
Skye answered calmly,
"Just trust yourself. That's all."
Maya smiled.
"Okay."
Meanwhile, Steven was cooking when Leo and Ray entered the kitchen. Leo had Rim sitting on his shoulder.
Steven placed the dishes on the dining table.
Leo asked again,
"You really never told me you had a daughter."
Steven, sitting across from him, went silent for a moment before speaking.
"When I was declared a traitor… my family abandoned me."
His voice became heavy.
"The first to leave was my wife… the woman I loved deeply."
As he spoke, his eyes drifted far away, lost in old memories.
It was winter.
Evening had fallen, and snow covered everything in sight. Steven sat alone in a corner, completely broken.
One of his fingers had been cut off. He kept staring at it.
A tear rolled down his face.
Then—
Knock… Knock…
Someone was at the door.
Steven slowly stood up. He thought it was probably more people who had come to mock him again.
He walked to the front door… and the moment he opened it—
Peace returned to his eyes.
Standing there was a little girl.
Skye.
She was trembling badly from the cold. The moment she saw Steven, she collapsed forward.
Steven quickly caught her in his arms.
Skye looked at him weakly, smiled softly, and whispered—
"Dad…"
Warm breath escaped her lips in the freezing air.
The tears falling from Steven's eyes, once tears of pain… had now become tears of comfort.
He held Skye tightly against his chest.
Back in the present, Leo looked emotional.
"That's… actually a really beautiful story."
Steven gave a small smile.
"After that, I raised her… but there was one thing I never expected."
Leo leaned forward immediately.
"What?"
Ray also sat quietly beside him, listening while holding a glass of water.
Steven sighed.
"As she grew older… she became more and more like me."
Leo blinked.
"Meaning?"
Steven replied,
"When I was young, I acted before thinking. I got angry easily."
Then he continued.
"One day, some older boys came outside my house. They used to call me traitor and run away. I ignored them…"
"But one day, Skye heard them."
Ray quickly asked,
"Then what happened?"
Steven answered plainly.
"She beat them all up."
Leo and Ray slowly turned to look at each other.
Only one thought crossed both their minds—
This girl is dangerous.
Steven continued,
"After that, she became a knight of the 6th Squad. Then vice captain. And now… she doesn't even hesitate before pointing a gun at someone."
Silence filled the room.
Leo and Ray finally understood one thing clearly—
They needed to be very careful around Skye.