I Became the Assassin Family's Foster Daughter (Completed Main Story) - Chapter 10

This world was a world divided in two.

One was the Human Realm, where humans had built civilization.

The other was a different dimensional world where forgotten stars slumbered.

The stars called that place the ‘Graveyard.’

Six exceptional stars governed the Graveyard.

Then, a conflict arose among the great stars.

Four of the stars crossed over into the Human Realm and entered the bodies of four humans.

“Oh dear.”

Opposite Riche, who sat on the bed, was a squirrel clutching its head with both hands.

It had transformed into this form after Riche complained that its brilliance hurt her eyes, declaring it would show her its greatness.

She had wondered why it had to be a squirrel of all things, but since it insisted it had an important story to tell, she kept quiet and listened.

“It’s simply that the environments of the Human Realm and our world don’t match. The environment, I tell you.”

Humans couldn’t accept the power of the stars.

The stars wandered, searching for new bodies, and the one great star left behind in the Graveyard pitied them.

“So that sucker actually lent them his power?”

The squirrel slammed its fluffed-up tail repeatedly against the bed.

The great star dropped a meteorite imbued with its power from the Graveyard into the Human Realm.

The power seeped into the earth, creating the Forest of Monsters, and the lake that appeared only on full moon nights became the place connecting the Graveyard and the Human Realm.

The great star used a human who happened to visit the lake as a vessel to birth Ltiom, imbued with its power. It was the birth of the first Ltiom.

Ltiom used the power within their body as a conduit to wield the great star’s power.

A power that purified the side effects accumulating in the bodies of humans who had accepted other great stars.

“But environment mattered, you see. What good is having Ltiom if those fellows can’t adapt to the Human Realm?”

The four stars, weakened beyond measure, returned once more to the Graveyard and fell into a deep slumber.

Their remaining power was inherited through human bloodlines—the origin of the four ducal houses of the Roxia Empire.

Ltiom’s power was also inherited, but not through blood.

“The power that returned to the earth along with Ltiom drifted across the lands of the Human Realm, seeking new vessels to birth more Ltioms. That was the problem—new Ltioms kept appearing.”

“A problem?”

“Unlike those empowered directly by stars entering the Human Realm, Ltiom was the result of interference from our world into the Human Realm.”

Ltiom, the being linking the two worlds.

Created to purify the empowered, yet unable to properly wield the great star’s power within a human body.

Whenever a new Ltiom matured sufficiently, the great star would guide them to the lakeside using the power in their blood.

While telling this story, the star muttered to itself briefly.

“I kept telling them over and over to reclaim the power when Ltiom reached the lake. But those humans—empowered or whatever they are—felt sorry for them, of all things.”

Each time, the great star, unable to leave the Graveyard itself, asked the other stars to form contracts with Ltiom on its behalf.

To make it easier for them to use their power through a pact with an entity from the Graveyard.

Then, another supplementary function of Ltiom was discovered.

‘The Stars’ Pastime.’

A star that contracted with Ltiom could temporarily escape the Graveyard and reside in the Human Realm.

For stars who had grown weary and bored within the stifling confines of the Graveyard, there was no better amusement.

It wasn’t a bad deal for Ltiom either.

Forming a contract allowed them to purify without straining their body and even granted them partial use of the contracted star’s power.

But in the repeated cycle of new Ltioms being born, forming contracts, and using power—

“It took a toll on that sucker.”

Eventually, even the great star who had created Ltiom fell into a deep slumber.

“Due to that effect, the power of that fellow in the Human Realm was also affected. The interval between new Ltioms kept growing longer. Now, they say a Ltiom appears only once every hundred years or so?”

Riche nodded. The star resumed its tale.

After the great star fell asleep, newly born Ltioms couldn’t find the lake.

Since keeping silent about the lake was the promise between past Ltioms and the great star, no one—including the new Ltioms—knew anything about ‘contracts with stars’ or even ‘the lake’s existence.’

“So those Ltioms born after that fellow fell asleep must’ve had a hard time. They used their power without contracting with a star. But don’t think I pity Ltiom for that. Every time a Ltiom is born, that fellow’s sleeping time grows longer.”

The star, still in squirrel form, planted its front paws on its hips and huffed.

“So I’ve been grinding my teeth in the Graveyard, waiting. If I ever spot that despicable Ltiom who drains that sucker’s power, I’ll wipe them out.”

“Then…”

Riche, who had held her tongue until now, finally spoke.

She said that when purifying Deon, her heart hadn’t burst only because the star that entered her body had helped her.

She explained that the lakeside she’d seen in the forest was a passage connecting the Graveyard and the Human Realm, allowing her to use power there.

If the star before her despised Ltiom so much, why hadn’t it let her die back then?

“Are you going to erase me?”

“Hmm. Until you stepped out of the lake, that was indeed my intention.”

The star scurried up Riche’s arm and perched on her shoulder.

Its swaying tail brushed her cheek, tickling her.

“This is your second life, isn’t it?”

The tone was certain.

Riche flinched but soon nodded obediently.

She hadn’t spoken of it because no one would believe her, not because she intended to hide that she’d come from the past.

“Yes.”

The star snorted, as if it had expected as much.

“Only that fellow can turn back time. Sucker though he may be, he’s still a great star. Sending you to the past means he’s the one who’s asleep.”

“…So the being who created Ltiom brought me back to life?”

“Yes. And I want to know why he sent you to the past.”

The sensation of the tail against her cheek vanished.

The star transformed once more into brilliant light, floating in midair as it addressed Riche.

[Contract with me, human. I shall make you stronger than anyone else.]

Its melodious voice brimmed with confidence that it could fulfill its promise.

But that wasn’t what Riche wanted.

“…I’d rather not be in pain than be strong.”

[Not be in pain? That’s possible too. There’s nothing I cannot do for my contractor.]

If it meant no pain, that was enough.

Riche nodded, signifying her agreement to the contract.

[Good. Since we both consent, I shall proceed with the contract.]

The star asked,

[Ltiom, what is your name?]

“My name is…”

Riche hesitated briefly.

She had discarded her name from her previous life, and though she’d recently acquired a new one,

she wasn’t yet sure if she truly deserved to live under that name.

[Hurry up. I have no patience.]

“T-Tuariche Rodwick…!”

Startled by the star’s urging, Riche blurted out her name.

Immediately, the star grew larger, as if it had been waiting for this moment.

From within the sacred radiance, a solemn voice replaced the melodious one.

[My name is Pythons. One of the six great stars. With Tuariche Rodwick’s consent, I forge the Star Contract.]

A vast light seeped into Riche’s body.

Then, a sigil rose to fill her palm before fading away.

It felt as if nothing had changed.

“…Is it over?”

“Yes.”

Riche had directed her question toward her palm, but the reply came from behind her.

Turning around, she saw a squirrel perched on the headboard, washing its face.

It was Pythons. From its cute, insignificant mouth came a voice matching its light, frivolous tone.

“Consider it an honor to be my contractor, little one.”

[This is the timeline separator]

A fine morning.

Blake sat at his desk reviewing documents, but his attention was entirely fixed beyond the door.

“…”

The delicate sound of footsteps in the corridor.

Clearly Riche’s footsteps, yet instead of entering, she kept pacing back and forth right outside the door.

It had been going on for an hour.

Stopping in front of the door, moving away again, staying quiet for a while, then starting to move once more.

How could he possibly concentrate on work with that going on?

Of course, Riche had no idea Blake had noticed her presence.

‘She seems to have business with me.’

Finally, Blake set his pen down completely and fixed his gaze on the door.

If Jed had seen this, he would’ve been utterly dumbfounded.

Blake didn’t even realize how unusual his behavior was as he sank into thought.

‘She read a picture book with Deon last time. Could this be related to that?’

A few days ago, what Blake had witnessed was truly astonishing.

Deon actually enjoying himself with someone?

Even when with Hibetsman Prince, his fellow empowered peer of the same age, he’d always been a child as cold as a biting wind.

Though Blake felt pleased by Deon’s positive change, he also felt a slight pang of disappointment watching the two together.

“My lady was brought here by the master, yet she’s grown closer to the young master. That was the original intention, after all.”

Jed’s words stuck in Blake’s memory precisely because they’d struck a nerve.

In other words—since I brought her here, why does she act so distant with me?

“M-Master.”

Even after becoming Tuariche Rodwick, the child still called him “Master.”

So a few days ago, despite knowing how stubborn she was, he’d finally gotten her to call him “Dad.” It sounded far nicer than he’d expected.

But since then, Riche hadn’t called Blake “Dad” again.

He hadn’t pressed her further, sensing her shyness. But if she’d come to him now to say that word…

“Daddy, please read me the picture book…”

Though it was an absurd hallucination, it was enough to make Blake rise from his chair.

Once again, paperwork would have to wait.

Blake gently opened the door. Right before him sat a small child, her back turned.

Due to Blake’s usual habit of moving without making a sound, Riche seemed unaware the door had even opened.

“Hem.”

He cleared his throat softly, fearing she’d be startled if he spoke suddenly.

But that consideration should’ve come before opening the door.

At the sound of his cough, Riche turned her head—and jumped up in alarm at the sight of Blake’s stern expression.

‘G-Gosh, you scared me!’

Blake asked her,

“Do you have a request for me?”

His demeanor was dignified, yet his calm gaze fell upon Riche’s empty hands.

…Not the picture book, then.

Riche gave a short nod at Blake’s words and carefully opened her mouth.

“Um… Can I keep a squirrel?”

“A squirrel?”

A squirrel, of all things?

Blake briefly pondered whether squirrels were even the kind of animal that took to human hands.

In that moment, a squirrel scurried up onto Riche’s shoulder.

It was small and cute, with brown fur and black stripes.

“This one… It’s tiny, so it won’t eat much. Is it really not allowed? M-Mas…”

Master.

Blake’s eyebrow twitched involuntarily.

Riche’s heart sank, fearing she’d offended the Duke again.

‘Is he angry? Of course… He must be upset that someone like me—a mere guest—wants to bring in a pet.’

But she couldn’t hide Pythons secretly.

The star had said it needed to stay close to its contracted Ltiom due to the Human Realm’s environment.

Gathering her resolve, Riche looked up at Blake.

“Is it really not allowed…?”

Then, hesitantly, she added the rest.

“Dad.”

“…”

Crimson eyes gazed at Riche.

She’d thought it the first time they met too—Blake was an exceptionally handsome nobleman.

Noble grace flowed from him even when he stood still. Truly too dignified to call “Dad.”

That he was currently staring at her silently, which was frightening in its own right, was another matter entirely.

Finally, Blake spoke.

“Go ahead.”

“…!”

Riche’s face lit up.

Blake had clearly granted permission only after reluctant deliberation, but that was enough for her.

“I’ll keep it quiet! Like it’s barely there!”

“…”

Barely there?

A flicker of disappointment crossed Blake’s face.

That just moments ago he’d been wondering whether a greenhouse the size of a guest wing would suffice as a squirrel enclosure was something Riche was still far from understanding.

[This is the timeline separator]

Deon stepped out of the guest wing.

Warm sunlight bathed his face.

Since the day he’d escaped didn’t count toward his confinement, this was his first time leaving the guest wing in eight days.

“Young Master Deon.”

Pol, the Rodwick household butler, greeted him.

“We have a visitor.”

“A visitor?”

Who on earth would visit all the way to Duke Rodwick’s estate just to see him?

Deon headed to the reception room to see this fearless visitor.

But his expression soured the moment he saw the boy sitting on the sofa, sipping tea.

The boy, utterly unfazed by Deon’s attitude, crinkled his blue eyes into crescent moons and smiled.

“Oh, you’re here? Dercedion.”

Anyone would think this was his own living room.

Lovenhaf Hibetsman, owner of sky-blue hair and an equally lively disposition, was also an empowered from Duke Hibetsman’s house.

A nine-year-old boy who wielded the power of cold.

“Why are you here?”

“Heard you got a little sister?”

“Go away.”

To your own house.

Ten seconds after opening his mouth, Deon had already bid Lovenhaf farewell.