Chapter 264: Calm down my ladies…????



Throughout her 14 years of existence, Laura had always been exceptionally perceptive, especially when it came to Riley.

Only her beloved mother surpassed her ability to see through his complexities.

And right now, as she observed the unfolding situation, it was painfully clear to her that Riley was in great trouble.

‘Is this what Mama meant when she said Papa was quite the loose man during their school years?’

The thought lingered in her mind, accompanied by a hidden smile of amusement.

She watched as her father struggled to navigate the tense conversation with Snow and Alice, his words attempting to soothe and explain yet failing to ease the palpable tension surrounding him.

Truthfully, Laura found her father’s reasoning to be, well… a little stupid.

It wasn’t that he was entirely wrong, but his approach lacked the finesse necessary for such a delicate situation.

Then again, considering the complicated circumstances he’d landed himself in, she supposed she couldn’t blame him entirely.

Laura wasn’t just a young girl.

She was an archmage-a prodigy who had matured to master the arcane arts at an age when most were still learning the basics.

Discussions about the essence of celestial energy, the mechanics of magic, and the conceptual frameworks of the arcane were as natural to her as breathing.

Her mind, sharp and inquisitive, effortlessly dissected the mysteries around her.

That’s why unraveling the truth behind her sudden manifestation in this world hadn’t been difficult.

The energy saturating this realm was unmistakable, resonating with the same nature as her master’s essence.

It bore a striking similarity to the arcane rune magic she herself wielded, magic intrinsically tied to the mystic and celestial forces and fantastical realms.

‘So, this is how it is… This place isn’t entirely real, but it’s not completely fabricated either. It’s a space born of thought and intent, shaped by belief. And my existence here… it’s because of Papa’s subconscious. He really does rely on me that much, doesn’t he?’

A flicker of pride lit up her crimson eyes.

Curiosity and intrigue gnawed at Laura’s brilliant mind, her thoughts racing to unravel the enigma unfolding before her. Why was such a mind-boggling event happening in her life?

After all, the mechanics of this realm-the manifestation of imagination-meant that for her father to subconsciously rely on her, he must have known of her existence on some level.

Not only that, but her presence would have to hold a significant impact on his life. But that made no sense.

Given his young age and the familiar faces surrounding him, it was impossible for this version of her father to know or even think of her.

The timelines simply didn’t add up.

It might have been plausible if the father she knew-the one from her own timeline-had summoned her.

Yet this was the younger Riley, still unshaped by the experiences that would eventually mold the man she called “Papa.”

‘Abnormal…’

The entire scenario reeked of abnormality.

Her mind, trained and sharp, wrestled with the inconsistencies while her mana-infused eyes -gifts of her draconic heritage-scanned the world around her.

These eyes, capable of seeing through the deepest layers of reality and magic, faltered in their assessment.

They provided no clarity, only a jumbled web of incomprehensible connections.

And yet, even amidst this sea of strangeness, there was a sense of normalcy.

‘My eyes are not as strong as Mama’s~ but… I doubt mama~ could properly see the truth

behind this place even if she got all of her powers back….’

The strands of mana interwoven into the very fabric of the people around her were undeniably connected to the providence of this current world.

These threads were harmonious, part of the natural order of this place.

This revelation only solidified one thing in her mind:

She was the anomaly.

‘Why am I the anomaly though~?’

The question circled endlessly in Laura’s mind.

It was baffling to her why she, of all people, would be considered an anomaly in this world.

Her very existence was intrinsically tied to Riley, whether she was from the future or not. Every thread of her being should have naturally connected her to the providence of this world. ‘How curious- Am I not supposed to exist within this world’s providence~?’

It was a plausible hypothesis, but one that left her unsettled.

The idea that she was fundamentally out of place here, in a world her father was tied to so deeply, didn’t sit well.

Her mind, sharp as ever, began piecing together possible explanations.

She considered the complexities of the arcane and celestial magics that governed the realms.

Perhaps her presence disrupted the natural flow of this timeline, or maybe the mechanism that brought her here wasn’t fully compatible with this reality’s rules.

Yet another thought flickered through her mind, a chilling one:

‘What if she wasn’t supposed to exist here at all?’

Her theories deepened as she tried to untangle the mystery.

But just as her curiosity started to build to an unbearable point, a gentle voice echoed in her memory-a voice she cherished.

‘Remember, Laura… A lot of sacrifices were made in order for us to have you, so don’t meddle in things that are far too dangerous for you, okay?’

Her mother’s advice.

A tender reminder to temper her curiosity with caution.

Laura sighed, forcing herself to rein in her rampant thoughts.

She couldn’t afford to dive too deeply into the unknown, especially when the answers might

lie beyond even her comprehension.

‘For now, let’s just enjoy the moment.’

The complexities of arcane and celestial magics were not easily unraveled, and Laura knew

better than to expect immediate clarity.

Answers in such matters were rarely straightforward, if they came at all.

What mattered most was the simple truth she clung to: Riley did know of her, even if only

subconsciously.

That singular fact eased her unease.

It meant her existence wasn’t entirely out of place.

Somewhere in the intricate web of possibilities, she was connected to him.

And if she existed in some other part of this vast, complicated reality, then her worries-

however valid they seemed-were for naught.

‘After all, if Papa summoned me here, then I must have a place in his heart, no matter what

timeline or reality this is.’

With a soft smile, Laura allowed herself to relax.

[Note: Familiar energy detected… mana identified: Sword Saint.]

[Note: It is imperative to take caution, Master… a gate will open soon.]

‘Got it~’

Laura telepathically acknowledged the warning from her beloved construct, her tone nonchalant yet focused.

The familiar hum of its mechanical voice resonated in her mind, grounding her in the

moment.

She turned her gaze skyward, peering through the thin, red-tinged magical veil that draped

over this world.

‘It’s not as strong as Master’s Wonderland~’

Her assessment was swift and precise, a testament to her arcane training.

The mana in the air, while foreign, felt malleable-something she could manipulate, albeit

temporarily.

Her connection to this world’s energy was courtesy of none other than Alice Holloway, the

Red Queen, and her unparalleled tutelage in the ways of arcane mastery.

A sly smile played on her lips as she considered the possibilities.

‘I wonder if the Master and Cheshire of this world, would notice if I meddled with this place a

bit-‘

Her thoughts were abruptly interrupted by a question that pierced the air like a blade.

“Riley, who’s the mother?”

The words snapped Laura out of her musings. Her head jolted up, her attention zeroing in on

the unfolding conversation.

She bit her lip, suppressing a laugh as she caught sight of her father’s troubled expression-a

mixture of panic and resignation.

That face.

That was the Papa she knew.

The same apathetic yet endearingly awkward expression he wore whenever he found himself

cornered.

‘I guess no matter which timeline… Papa is always the same~’

She couldn’t help but feel a swell of affection.

No matter the differences between this version of Riley and the one she knew, some things

remained constant.

Still, she could see that her presence was causing him more trouble than she intended.

The way Snow and Alice eyed him—like wolves circling prey-only added to the tension.

‘I guess… my presence here is really becoming quite the hassle for him~’

Her sharp mind worked quickly, formulating a plan to diffuse the situation.

She didn’t want to cause him undue stress, especially when he clearly wasn’t equipped to

handle this level of chaos.

‘I better give Papa a way out of this situation before I go~’

Her eyes gleamed mischievously as she readied herself to intervene.

She wasn’t just here to observe; she was here to help.

After all, what kind of daughter would she be if she didn’t have her Papa’s back?

‘I can’t stay here too long anyways~’

A form of manifestation or not she was still an anomaly of this timeline.

Cracking her knuckles with a sense of purpose, Laura sent a subtle signal to the massive

spider-like machine standing behind her.

The construct, an intricate marvel of her design, responded instantly.

Mana pulsed through the tips of its spindly legs, weaving delicately into the red mana that

suffused the domain.

The injection was so small, so seamless, that it blended with the domain’s natural energy,

ensuring that no one could detect the tampering.

‘Master will probably suspect something, but I doubt she’ll connect it to me without

concrete evidence~’

Her crimson irises shifted, narrowing into vertical slits like a dragon’s.

She raised her hand, examining it with a calm, calculating gaze.

“Three minutes.’

That was all the time left before her little modification unraveled the delicate balance of this

domain, forcing it to collapse and open a gateway to the real world.

POOF!

Then….

Just as expected, the domain trembled and cracked, giving way as a gateway burst open.

Laura’s lips curled into a proud smile as a familiar figure emerged through the gate, stepping

into the chaotic scene.

“Ah, Mama! You’re here as well~!!”

Without hesitation, Laura dashed forward, wrapping Seo in a tight embrace.

Her movement was swift and affectionate, catching Seo completely off guard.

Seo’s body stiffened at the unexpected hug, her mind racing. ‘Mama?’ Before Seo could process the odd term of endearment, Laura’s eyes shifted slightly, catching

Riley’s gaze.

She gave him a sly wink, her expression practically screaming, ‘You owe me for this one,

Papa.’

It was a proud proclamation, subtle yet effective.

She had just created the perfect diversion and, in doing so, a clear escape route for Riley from

the escalating tension in the room.

Riley, still processing the sheer chaos of the situation, locked eyes with Laura.

A faint flicker of annoyance and amusement crossed his face.

She had given him an out, just as she’d planned.

‘I guess I’ll let Papa handle the rest. It’s fun watching him squirm his way out situations

anyway~’ Laura thought, suppressing a laugh as she leaned further into Seo’s embrace.

….

‘Laura…’

I narrowed my eyes at the girl, suspicion gnawing at my gut.

That girl… clearly did something.

[System Note: Mana in the air is under contaminated state. It is imperative to prepare

proper defensive actions.]

[System Note: Due to mana destabilization, all effects of Skill: [Wonderland] will now be

nullified. Mana connection and all authorities under domain access will be turned off.]

[System Note: Tip has been given… by proto system. Domain destruction imminent. Time remaining: 2:47.]

[System Note: Fictional mana explosion may cause permanent harm to user’s current psyche. It is advised to leave the domain immediately.]

Afterall the system wouldn’t be acting like this, the moment she subtly smiled at my

direction.

Contaminated mana?

Domain destabilization?

Two and a half minutes before this place crumbles?

Why the fuck is this place about to explode all of a sudden…. and also….

My eyes locked onto Laura.

She stood there with that smug look, her arms locked tightly on to Seo with an innocent flare,

as though she hadn’t just turned this domain into a ticking time bomb.

And then, just to make things worse-she winked.

… Hahaha…. why is she trying to make my whole situation much more worse than it already

is?

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