Mistaken for Daddy-Long-Legs

A few days after the female priest and her daughters signed the scholarship recommendation form.

Before the ink on the recommendation form could even dry, an invitation arrived at their home.

The ones invited were her eldest daughter, Valeria, and Ayla.

The sender was, of course, the scholarship director, "Director Shun."

The venue was Aux Temps Perdus.

It was an ultra-luxurious restaurant located in the bustling district of Civitas Square.

'Oh my goodness...'

Even the female priest knew of this restaurant.

It was famous for prices where a single meal could easily devour a mid-rank healer's weekly income.

The priestess's hands trembled slightly at the realization that he was summoning her daughters to such a place just for a single meal.

The terms were too good.

The treatment was too kind.

Ominous thoughts began to spiral in her mind, one after another.

'Could it be...?'

She recalled the few reasons why nobles or wealthy people in this world ever sponsored the poor.

To make the child their pawn in the future, or to steal the child's research achievements as their own.

And if not that...

'Don't tell me... he wants to make them his concubines?!'

The priestess did not know Director Shun's age.

In the first place, everything about him was shrouded in mystery, save for the ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠fact that he was a genius.

But judging by his genius and achievements, he was highly ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠likely to be ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠an older man, at least in his thirties.

'This so-called director is going to meet them in person and have regular meals with them? And he even rented out an entire ultra-luxurious restaurant like this?'

Before she knew it, in the priestess's imagination, Director Shun had transformed into a greedy, pot-bellied, lecherous old man targeting the purity of young girls.

Chills ran down her spine.

Those in power never targeted just one thing at a time.

Not only had he generously offered a massive scholarship to buy her silence, but this was undoubtedly a wicked scheme to lay his hands on both of her beautiful daughters!

The priestess unconsciously brought her hand to her mouth.

Watching her mother bite her nails, her younger daughter, Ayla, tilted her head in confusion.

'Why is Mom acting like that?'

As the priestess's misunderstanding deepened, the day of the scheduled dinner finally arrived.

The priestess was adjusting the clothes of her two daughters as they prepared to go out.

"Mom, that's enough."

The eldest daughter, Valeria, took a step back, dodging her mother's hands.

"Straighten your collar. The restaurant might be cold."

"I'll take care of it."

A blunt reply. But the priestess did not back down.

"And your belt is crooked. Come here."

"Ah, seriously..."

Valeria sighed and reluctantly stepped closer.

Sixteen.

She was at the age where a storm of hormones made her incredibly prickly.

On the other hand, her younger daughter, Ayla, meekly accepted her mother's touch.

"Mom, how do I look? Is anything weird?"

A fourteen-year-old looking up with bright, innocent eyes.

"Yes, our Ayla is beautiful."

"Hehe."

Ayla spun around in place.

The hem of her slightly worn but neatly ironed dress fluttered.

Having finished adjusting her daughters' clothes, the priestess gazed at her treasures in silence for a long moment.

They were already talented and beautiful girls—so much so that she could hardly believe they had come from her own womb.

Dressed in nice clothes, they looked as if two angels had descended to the mortal realm. (At least, that was how it seemed in their mother's eyes.)

'...'

But the more beautiful her daughters appeared, the greater the priestess's anxiety grew.

Unable to bear the anxiety any longer, she tightly grasped the hands of her two daughters. She spoke with a solemn face.

"Listen to me carefully, girls."

"What kind of fuss are you making this time?"

"Keep this in mind. If that director makes any strange demands of you, you must politely refuse. Understood?"

Valeria's expression contorted at those words, while Ayla merely tilted her head.

Yet, the priestess continued with a grim expression.

"And no matter what excuse he makes, if he asks to meet either of you alone, you must never follow him. Even when you go to the restroom, make sure to hold hands and go together."

"Ah, alright..."

"No matter what, you must never drink any alcohol, like aperitifs. You must remember this."

At their mother's suffocating warnings, Ayla could only blink, while Valeria let out a heavy sigh of exasperation.

She knew exactly what her mother was worried about.

Of course, this was something Valeria was slightly concerned about as well.

It was not uncommon to hear stories of sponsors who seemed kind but were actually targeting a young girl's purity.

It wasn't impossible that Director Shun was that kind of person either.

But Valeria didn't care.

She was sixteen.

In three years, she would be a proper adult.

She was well past the age of being naive, and she was old enough to withstand the hardships of the world. (Or so Valeria confidently believed.)

Even if Director Shun tried something, Valeria was confident she could get herself and her sister out safely.

"We get it, so we're leaving now. We can't be late."

"We'll be back, Mom!"

"Goodbye."

"Make sure to look after Ayla!"

Leaving her pleading mother behind, Valeria headed for the front door.

A sleek, glossy black carriage was waiting for them in front of the house.

The crest of the Merkur Merchant Guild was engraved in gold leaf on the carriage door.

"Whoa!"

'Wow...'

Ayla's eyes sparkled with pure wonder, while Valeria tried her best to maintain a mature, expressionless face.

"We're off then."

"Remember, be careful..."

"I said I got it."

Valeria closed the door with an annoyed look.

"We'll be back!"

Leaning her head out of the carriage window, Ayla waved brightly.

Soon, the luxurious wheels began to roll smoothly.

In an instant, the carriage slipped out of the alley and disappeared toward the heart of the splendid capital.

In the alleyway where acrid smog was settling, the priestess stood alone, anxiously wringing her hands as she stared at the dust left behind by the carriage.

"Please, protect my children..."

Caught in the great currents of fate, the priestess prayed desperately that the mysterious director her daughters were about to meet, "Director Shun," would not turn out to be a lecher.

— Clack, clack. Whoosh.

On the way to ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠the restaurant.

While riding in the ebony carriage, Valeria and Ayla could only marvel at the incredibly smooth ride.

'So this is the power of money...'

'Wow, Director Shun must be really rich.'

The luxurious wheels finally came to a gentle halt.

"We have arrived, young ladies. Please watch your step as you exit."

The coachman bowed politely as he opened the door.

Valeria was the first to step out, carefully placing the toe of her shoe on the ground.

Ayla followed her sister, hopping down from the carriage.

Once outside, the sisters couldn't help but gasp.

The bustling district of Civitas Square was shrouded in darkness, but a massive white building, boasting an overwhelmingly grand presence among the countless structures, looked down upon them.

Aux Temps Perdus.

An ultra-luxurious restaurant frequented only by grand merchant guilds and high-ranking knights.

The brilliant light from the magnificent golden chandeliers decorating the entrance illuminated the street as brightly as broad daylight.

At the top of the red-carpeted stairs, doormen in gold-trimmed uniforms stood guard.

Valeria swallowed hard at the overwhelming grandeur.

The girl who, fueled by adolescent pride, had considered herself an adult just moments ago, now felt incredibly small.

"Whoa..."

Ayla, on the other hand, stood with her mouth agape, completely absorbed in admiring the magnificent building that looked like something straight out of a fairy tale.

In front of the restaurant, other luxurious carriages similar to theirs were arriving one after another.

Boys and girls of similar age stepped out. They, too, seemed to be the scholarship students sponsored by the Merkur Merchant Guild.

Most of them appeared to be commoners.

Intimidated by the grand building, they exchanged awkward nods of greeting.

Counting them, there were about ten students in total.

"This way, please. The rest of your party is waiting in a private room."

A manager approached the students upon spotting them.

Under the manager's polite guidance, the ten students began walking down a marble-floored hallway.

"Our restaurant was established 150 years ago by our first manager, Mr. Arlmond..."

On the way to Director Shun, numerous works of art were displayed along the hallway.

A high-end restaurant was not merely a place to eat.

Appreciating art and emotionally preparing oneself before picking up the utensils was the true beginning of the dining experience.

The students, unaware of such customs, could only marvel at how even the hallway of a luxury restaurant was on a completely different level.

The manager introduced the artworks one by one as he slowly led them deeper into the restaurant.

After spending about thirty minutes on the art tour,

The manager glanced at the clock on the wall.

"It is time. I hope you have a wonderful evening."

As the doors opened, polished silverware laid out on a long table came into view.

The students sat stiffly in their designated seats, hardly daring to breathe.

After the manager bowed politely and withdrew, a suffocating silence descended upon the firmly closed private room.

No one dared to speak first; they merely stared blankly at the crystal glasses, swallowing nervously.

Valeria also held Ayla's hand tightly, casting glances toward the door so she could flee at a moment's notice.

How long did this stifling silence last?

"Everyone seems way too tense. Why don't we introduce ourselves before Director Shun arrives?"

Unable to bear it any longer, a boy finally broke the silence.

It was Karl, a fifteen-year-old prodigy who was already making a name for himself in the Academy Middle School Swordsmanship Department.

A few students nodded cautiously at his suggestion.

"I'm Karl from the Swordsmanship Department. Nice to meet you."

Karl forced a relaxed smile and picked up a silver steak knife from the table.

"To lighten the mood, let me show you something cool."

The silver steak knife in his hand became enveloped in a crimson glow.

Battle Qi.

An extraordinary power for knights and warriors, entirely distinct from mana or holy power.

It was an energy with terrible efficiency, far worse than mana or holy power, to the point where even Academy professors couldn't maintain it for more than a few minutes a day.

But Battle Qi had one distinct advantage.

Unlike magic or holy power, one didn't need to be smart to use it.

Because of this, Battle Qi was also nicknamed the "Miracle of Fools."

In any case,

Karl intended to use this Battle Qi—which he could barely maintain for a few seconds a day—right here, right now.

"If you coat this dull dinner knife with Battle Qi, you can slice a falling napkin like a razor blade."

This was a way to establish dominance and show off his skills.

Normally, Battle Qi was a power that only High School graduates could wield freely.

Naturally, it was a power far beyond the reach of a Middle School student.

But Karl had awakened his Battle Qi at an early age.

He hadn't won second place in the Swordsmanship Department for nothing.

'I'll just save enough Battle Qi to show the director later.'

With that thought, Karl picked up a white napkin with his other hand.

Then, he tossed the napkin lightly into the air.

The napkin fluttered as it fell.

The students' eyes all focused on Karl's hand gripping the knife.

Karl focused internally, channeling his Battle Qi into the knife.

'...Huh?'

But a problem arose.

The most crucial elements of Battle Qi were concentration and willpower.

However, Karl, utterly tense from the restaurant's grandeur and the unfamiliar atmosphere, found it difficult to concentrate as usual.

*Flop.*

As a result, the steak knife—devoid of any Battle Qi—passed harmlessly through the napkin.

The other students quickly looked away to save Karl from embarrassment.

"Ahem."

Karl cleared his throat and picked up the napkin.

"A mistake. Since it's silver, the Battle Qi didn't flow in well. Let me show you again."

He couldn't afford to fail this time.

Panicking, Karl swung the knife with all his might just before the napkin hit the table.

Even if the Battle Qi failed to manifest, he intended to rip the napkin apart through sheer physical force.

Fortunately, the Battle Qi enveloped the knife just in time.

'I did it!'

Unfortunately, Karl's palm was slick with sweat.

*Whoosh!*

The knife, swung with full force, slipped smoothly out of his sweaty palm.

"Ah."

A dumbfounded gasp escaped Karl's lips.

The silver knife, flying through the air at a terrifying speed, headed straight for the forehead of Ellie, the top student of the Alchemy Department sitting across the table.

Facing the sudden projectile, Ellie froze, unable to even scream.

Valeria also held her breath, her eyes widening in horror.

Just as a horrific tragedy was about to unfold right before their eyes,

"My, my. Is this how kids play these days?"

"..."

"...?"

Everyone in the room rubbed their eyes in disbelief.

Barely an inch away from Ellie's forehead,

A red-haired woman had appeared out of nowhere, standing right in front of her face.

Dressed in a sharp, tailored women's suit, Erika held the flying steak knife neatly pinched between her index and middle fingers.

'What... who is she? When did she get here?'

Chills ran down Valeria's spine.

The same went for Karl.

Though only a Middle School student, he had trained with the sword since childhood and possessed sharp senses.

Yet, he hadn't sensed the woman's arrival at all.

The red-haired woman snapped the knife caught between her fingers with a hand coated in Battle Qi and spoke.

"Is this how the Academy Swordsmanship Department welcomes people? Surely someone who lives by the sword wouldn't let their blade slip."

Karl stared at the red-haired woman—Erika—in a frozen daze.

"Wh-Who... might you be, ma'am?"

"Me? I'm the director's assistant. Today, I'm acting as his bodyguard and secretary."

Erika tossed the broken blade into the trash can and walked toward the door.

*Creak.*

As she opened the door, a man revealed himself on the other side.

"You rushed off so suddenly. Did something happen?"

"No, not really. I just felt Battle Qi coming from where the kids were, so I ran ahead just in case, Teacher."

"What was it?"

"Hmm..."

Erika glanced at Karl for a brief moment, then

"It was nothing. Just a welcoming ceremony."

She shrugged, letting the matter slide.

At Erika's words, the man nodded.

After finishing his brief exchange with Erika, the man walked toward the students.

The first thing that caught their eyes was his neat, sophisticated, high-end suit.

A wide-brimmed black fedora was pulled low over his head.

The students quickly realized that it was no ordinary hat.

As if it were a magic tool enchanted with perception-impeding magic, a deep shadow fell beneath the brim, revealing only the tip of his nose, his sharp jawline, and lips curved into a faint smile.

Stepping into the room with a leisurely stride, the man spoke.

"I apologize for keeping you waiting."

It was a low, gentle voice that resonated softly throughout the room.

As if some strange magic were woven into that single sentence,

the students, who had been trembling with nerves just moments ago, straightened their backs and adjusted their posture in unison as if on cue.

Valeria's eyes widened slightly.

'He's not the greedy, pot-bellied, perverted old man Mom talked about...?'

One could tell just by his jawline, his voice, and his stride.

He was far younger than expected, radiating an overwhelming elegance.

He was a far cry from her mother's ominous fantasies about concubines.

"His voice is so nice..."

Ayla murmured softly, her cheeks flushing slightly.

This time, Valeria didn't bother to cover her sister's mouth.

Naturally taking his seat at the head of the table, the man in the suit—Julian—offered the children a gentle smile.

"There is no need to be tense. Please, make yourselves comfortable. Today, you are the main characters, not me. Ah, I have yet to introduce myself."

"I am Director Shun."

At the man's final introduction, the eyes of the students—excluding the sisters—grew as wide as full moons.