Chapter 31

I stared at Papa with a smile, saying nothing. His presence now radiated strength, the kind I had always felt as a child when he'd hold me in his arms. But this time, it was different-almost overwhelming. While he may be a lower God compared to beings like Tartarus, he was still strong. Strong enough to have carried a burden so great that even my intervention had drained nearly all my mana reserves. It all made sense now why fixing him had taken so much out of me. But I wasn't worried. My mana would recover in time, and for now, I was just happy Papa wasn't in pain anymore.

Mama arrived hesitantly, her face streaked with tears. She bent down and kissed my forehead, her hands trembling as she held mine. I could feel her love, her relief, and her overwhelming worry for me.

"I'm sorry, Mama..." I whispered softly, feeling guilty for making her cry.

She simply hugged me tighter in response, while Papa, who had been silent for a while, chuckled to lighten the mood.

---

That evening, I was fully recovered and discharged from the hospital. The sunset bathed the world in golden hues as Papa hoisted me onto his shoulders, his warm laughter filling the air.

"So, how is little Aleena feeling now?" he asked playfully.

"I'm happy!" I exclaimed, giggling like the child I once was.

Mama walked alongside us, her usual composure returning but her eyes still glistening. "You know, Aleena, Mama and Papa were really scared," she said gently.

"Sorry, Mama..." I muttered, lowering my head.

Papa shifted me from his shoulders to his arms, holding me in front of him. His expression became slightly serious. "Now tell me, Aleena," he said, his tone firmer, "how did you get to my room last night, and what exactly happened?"

I hesitated for a moment, but there was no point in hiding the truth.

"Papa said in the car yesterday that Papa was a monster. So, I came to Papa's room to check. When I touched Papa's head, I saw a huge black monster, so Aleena removed it. Then Papa became Papa again!" I explained in my childlike voice, proud of my accomplishment.

Papa's eyes widened in disbelief. "Y-You defeated the monster?" he asked hesitantly, his voice almost trembling.

"Yes!" I shouted enthusiastically, grinning ear to ear.

He fell silent after that, clearly lost in thought.

---

We reached the car parked on the side of the road in the middle of nowhere. I thought it was strange, but I didn't care much. We all got in, and Papa started driving us home. The car ride was quiet at first, the only sound being the gentle hum of the engine. Then Mama broke the silence.

"Honey... has your magic... truly returned?" she asked, her voice a mix of hope and concern.

Papa nodded, his eyes focused on the road. "Yes... I guess I can become a hero again," he replied softly.

Mama's heart sank, and I noticed her eyes tear up once more. "You won't do anything reckless again, will you?" she asked hesitantly, her voice trembling.

Papa reached over and placed a reassuring hand on hers. "I promise I will always return home unscathed. This time, it's not just for you. It's for our little princess too." He glanced at me in the rearview mirror, his smile gentle but determined.

"Where is Papa going?" I asked, confused.

Papa chuckled, his voice brimming with confidence. "To do my duty as a hero, sweetheart! Papa is going to become a hero again!"

Mama turned to him, worry etched across her face. "And about what Aleena did... do we-"

Papa interrupted her immediately. "No. That's not something we reveal to anyone. It'll be a secret, only for our family."

He then turned to me and spoke softly but firmly. "Aleena, never, ever tell anyone about what you did, okay?"

"Okay!" I replied cheerfully, looking out the window. The sunset painted the sky with beautiful colors, and the world seemed at peace. I smiled, watching the golden horizon as the warmth of my family surrounded me.

For now, everything felt perfect.