It's Troublesome That My Doting Dad Became A Villain

The farther the path stretched, the darker it became.

It didn’t feel like I was moving forward—it felt like I was sinking deeper.
The strange and unpleasant rocks and weeds unique to the Demon Realm had long since vanished.
Now, only a pitch-black space spread endlessly around me.

Where does this even lead…?
Did I choose the wrong path?
Scratching my temple, I sighed.

I wondered how Prima and Meteor were doing by now, but honestly, I had my own problems to worry about.
I let out a breath and muttered to myself.
“Hmmm, Soul Thorn, come out.”

Please, come on.
I really, really want it…
Once I secured the Soul Thorn, I could find out what the second material needed to forge the Killing Soul Blade was.

If I could just do that, I felt like I could do anything.
It was the only way I could think of to save Dad right now.
And then—

“Are you here to find the Soul Thorn?”
“!”
Startled, I flinched.

Someone was suddenly standing in front of me.
A woman with long golden hair cascading down and sweet pink eyes glowing softly.
My heart sank when I saw her doll-like features.
She looked exactly like me—smiling with a twisted smirk.

“Who… are you?”
“Who else? I’m your soul.”
Now that I noticed, her voice was exactly like mine. Even her outfit matched the battle gear I was wearing.

I twisted my lips, staring at the being claiming to be my soul.
“No way. My soul doesn’t know how to make a slimy face like that. You’re just some illusion the Demon Realm cooked up.”
I’d believe something believable.

Like hell I’d trust a corrupted-looking fake trying to pass itself off as my pure soul.
The illusion just smirked as if my reaction didn’t matter.
“You took the wrong path. You failed to obtain the Soul Thorn.”

“?”
Huh.
So this wasn’t the right path.

That… actually didn’t sound wrong. The illusion probably had something to do with the Soul Thorn trial.
It spoke again.
“That’s why you’ll have to pay the price here.”

“I didn’t even get anything—what price?”
“Normally, you would’ve wandered endlessly, facing crossroads over and over. You’d never know if the Soul Thorn even existed as you kept walking. But I appeared. And you… you’re a special demon. Too precious to waste. Give me all your magic power, and I’ll let you go.”
“…?”

Is she out of her mind?
“To grow high-quality Soul Thorns, I need high-quality magic. And a powerhouse like you hasn’t shown up in ages—I can’t miss this opportunity.”
“Oh, too bad. I only need one thorn. How about this—I give you a bit of my magic, and you give me the Soul Thorn?”

At my suggestion, the illusion clicked her tongue.
“That’s impossible. The Soul Thorn can only be obtained by choosing the correct path.”
“Wait. Did one of the others in my group pick the right path?”

“Who knows.”
The illusion gave a strange smile.
I couldn’t tell if it was a yes or a no. Even that smile gave off an eerie, foreboding aura—just like you’d expect from an illusion of the Demon Realm.

“You’ve stopped here, but the others must continue to choose. Those three paths weren’t the end. I wonder… will any of them choose the path where the Soul Thorn lies?”
“So it’s pure luck.”
I clicked my tongue.

How the hell was anyone supposed to get the Soul Thorn this way?
I couldn’t be sure whether Meteor or Prima would succeed.
But… please. I hope at least one of them makes it.

“Fine. I’ll give you some of my magic. Just send me back where I came from. You know who I am, right?”
I’d like to break my way out of here, but there wasn’t anything to break.
This place was a space shaped by rules. No matter how high your Demon Realm rank was—even if you were the Demon King’s daughter—you couldn’t escape easily.

Fortunately, the illusion’s face lit up with a smile.
“Of course. Then I’ll °• N 𝑜 v 𝑒 l i g h t •° take it.”
That easily?

Suspicious, I handed over a small portion of my magic power.
In that instant, the ground beneath me gave way. I plummeted into darkness at breakneck speed, alone.
Wait, did I just get tricked?

Unbelievable.
Thud!
“Ow.”

With a short yelp, the fall came to an end.
As I opened my eyes, wondering where I’d landed, something shot toward my forehead.
It was a vine from the thorny brambles—just like the ones Meteor and I had fought earlier.

“!”
This translation is the intellectual property of .
They really popped up out of nowhere. The thorns were already right in front of my nose.

I knew it! It was too easy to be real!
Were they planning to drain all my magic here?
I slashed at the oncoming vines with my sword. A wave of divine power swept across the area.

The brambles vanished, but I knew it wouldn’t last. They regenerated faster than I could cut them down.
But for some reason…
I suddenly remembered what had happened with Meteor here earlier. My thoughts froze for a moment.

“It’s fireflies!”
“Crescent!”
The brambles had rushed at me out of nowhere back then too.

But it hadn’t been the brambles that hit me—it was Meteor.
That moment when he’d knocked me out of harm’s way… My heart had pounded so hard.
The memory surged back with vivid force.

But the moment didn’t last.
What the hell am I thinking about right now?
I pressed a hand to my chest.

That pounding sensation still lingered there, like it had been imprinted into this heart.
I looked around, puzzled. Oddly enough, the brambles weren’t attacking again.
That couldn’t be right. Just as that thought crossed my mind, I heard the sound of footsteps approaching.

The familiar rhythm made my ears perk up.
Then, the figure stepped out of the shadows. A silhouette I never expected to see.
The brambles twitched at the edges of their stems, threatening to strike again—but didn’t.

“…Meteor?”
Meteor appeared before me, fully visible.
Was I seeing things?

I thought he was still out there searching for the Soul Thorn.
Then I saw what he was holding in his hand.
Even at a glance, I knew it wasn’t ordinary. A soft, silvery light shimmered from the twig-like branch, cloaked faintly in misty Magi. Its silvery hue looked like it didn’t belong to this world.

Sharp, jagged thorns protruded from every joint along the branch.
If there were such a thing as a sacred plant in the Demon Realm, it would look like this.
Could it be…?

As he approached, Meteor raised the item in his hand.
“This thing’s keeping the brambles from attacking.”
“What is it?”

“You don’t recognize it? It’s what you were looking for.”
“…You’re the one who found it?”
Oh my god.

My heart leapt.
It thudded so loudly I thought it might burst from my chest.
I’d hoped either Meteor or Prima would find it.

And now, Meteor had been the one to pick the correct path.
I could barely speak as I breathed out the words.
“How did you find it? I was told I took the wrong path… and then I got dumped here.”

“There were more paths after that. Sometimes three, like before. Sometimes ten. I just followed my gut each time.”
“….”
“Anyway, this thing’s useful for taking down the Demon King.”

So he did it with minimal effort.
I was really, genuinely relieved.
“I’m glad it was you who found it. Thank you so much.”

I meant it.
Maybe it was luck, but I was grateful. He brought me what I couldn’t get on my own.
“Here. Take it.”

Meteor had already walked right up to me and now held the Soul Thorn out to me.
It wasn’t even a bouquet—but my heart pounded all over again.