It's Troublesome That My Doting Dad Became A Villain

Four years later.
Now that he thought about it, the demon in the mirror did seem slightly taller.
Maybe it was the weight of those four years, but the blue eyes—blue like a pool of light—seemed deeper than his own.

His smooth skin had a strangely mature air to it.
It felt older than just four years.
The same, but not the same—another version of him.

Only now did Meteor begin to clearly understand the emotion that had been gnawing at him.
If the Duke of Dimensions was really himself from four years in the future, then it made sense why they looked like twins.
“But you're a demon.”

The words burst from Meteor’s lips.
He hadn’t meant to say them. The disbelief—and anger—were raw in his voice.
His eyes burned fiercely, sharp as a blade.

“Duke of Dimensions, you’re saying you’re me from four years in the future? Then why the hell are you a demon?”
How could that even be possible?
The question he'd thought was answered had just looped back to the beginning.

There was no way the Duke of Dimensions could be his future self. That guy was a demon.
Which meant—what, he would become a demon in just four years?
That statement had to be utter nonsense. A lie not even worth entertaining.

The figure in the mirror smiled with a twisted curve of his lips.
“Let me guess—you’re thinking it’s impossible. That what I said is nonsense, a blatant lie.”
“……”
Meteor didn’t respond. His silence was answer enough.

The Duke’s grin deepened, cutting sharper.
“I am you. And I’ve lived longer than you. I know exactly what you’re thinking.”
With that, Prima leaned back, completely at ease.

From the look in Meteor’s eyes, it seemed he’d hit the mark.
“And now, you’re curious—how did you become a demon?”
“Hah.”

Meteor let out a short, cold laugh.
It was ridiculous. The very idea that a demon thought he understood him was insulting.
“You’ve got it wrong. You’re not me. I would never become a demon. Even if I died and was reborn—I’d never choose that path.”

“And yet here I am. Still denying it even while I’m standing right in front of you?”
Prima’s voice grew more solemn.
It carried a weight that made the air instantly freeze.

Meteor didn’t flinch. He met the demon’s energy head-on, eyes narrowed like blades.
Maybe Prima's existence couldn't be denied.
But that didn’t mean he would accept him as Meteor Pluto.

“The moment you chose to become a demon, you stopped being me. Why did you abandon yourself?”
What the hell could’ve happened?
Meteor couldn’t imagine it.

Even if he’d had a reason, he wouldn’t have chosen to become a demon.
“Oh, right… our childhoods were completely different.”
“?”

The sudden comment made one of Meteor’s brows twitch.
Prima chuckled and stretched out a hand.
His long, elegant fingers reached out through the mirror—grabbing Meteor by the collar.

“!”
A chill of foreboding surged through Meteor’s eyes.
He was pulled into the mirror in an instant.

***
The disorientation lasted only a second.
Meteor exhaled sharply and looked around.

It was pitch-black. The darkness was deep, the ceiling felt impossibly high, and the walls seemed infinitely far away.
One side of the space was draped in a wide, shimmering curtain, as reflective as a mirror.
What is this place?

And where the hell did the Duke go?
He’d brought him here, only to vanish again—clearly, this was intentional.
With an uneasy scowl, Meteor approached the curtain. Up close, its surface rippled like water.

Why did he bring me here?
Whatever it was, he’d better show it now.
Meteor had no interest in playing into a demon’s scheme. But he still wanted to hear what Prima was trying to show him.

Then, like a wave rippling, the curtain stirred—and a strange scene unfolded.
A moonlit forest emerged, shadows soft in the night air.
All forests looked somewhat alike, but Meteor was certain he’d never been in this one.

Suddenly, leaves rustled—and someone appeared.
Golden hair curled like waves, glowing like moonlight. Eyes like pink gemstones sparkled, even in the {N•o•v•e•l•i•g•h•t} dark.
Meteor’s eyes widened to the brink.

“Crescent.”
But she didn’t look like the Crescent he knew.
She looked twelve or thirteen at most.

Her clothes were somewhere between plain and shabby. Her hair was a mess, and her face was visibly exhausted.
But the unmistakable clarity and bright energy around her lit up the shadows.
“Haa, I’m so tired.”

A soft sigh spilled from her lips.
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That’s when Meteor realized: this wasn’t the Crescent he knew.

This Crescent looked fragile, like she’d never trained as a knight.
She didn’t carry that sturdy, unshakable presence Crescent always had.
Then who was this Crescent?

Her body suddenly tensed.
It was instinct. High-tier Magi had appeared around her without warning.
“!”

Meteor jerked, one foot shifting forward.
Could he save her?
No—this was just an illusion.

He silently begged her to run.
But Crescent closed her eyes.
Like someone accepting death, she stood there as the Magi engulfed her.

But she wasn’t swallowed.
Neigh—!!
A high-pitched cry split the air—light sliced through the darkness. The Magi vanished without a trace.

“You okay?”
“…?”
Crescent blinked up blankly.

A boy with snow-white hair was reaching a hand out to her.
Meteor’s heart clenched hard.
That boy—was himself.

But he had no memory of this moment.
The boy Meteor helped Crescent to her feet.
“Good. I got rid of the Magi before it could spread.”

“Wh… Who are you?”
“I’m Meteor Pluto. Be careful—Magi come out more often at night.”
“!”

Crescent’s shock was plain. And Meteor, watching from outside, felt exactly the same.
This shattered everything he thought he knew.
They were meeting for the first time—yet in his memory, he and Crescent had lived in the same house since they were younger than this.

“Th… thank you.”
Crescent gently pulled her hand from his.
“…What’s your name?”

“Hmm?”
“Oh, I mean, only if you’re okay sharing it.”
“I-I’m Dallas.”

“…Dallas. That’s a cotton-candy kind of name.”
Crescent’s eyes darted to the sides.
Meteor’s own gaze trembled.

What the hell was this? Someone’s imagination?
Something that had never happened was unfolding right before him like reality.
The two continued their awkward conversation.

“Where do you live? I’ll walk you home. It’s dangerous to be out alone at this hour.”
“Huh? No, it’s fine. I can go alone.”
“…Is that so? Still, Magi might appear again. I’ll escort you just until you get there, for safety.”

“I really am fine. You don’t need to—uh?”
“?”
Neigh—!

A short burst of alarm from the horse.
Following their gaze, Meteor turned his eyes toward the source.
A low-tier Magi was there.

But before he could even register it—Crescent pulled the young Meteor back.
Then she shoved him—hard—as if trying to fling him far away.
The Magi lunged at her back, trying to devour her hair.

Meteor’s eyes flew wide.
“Dallas!”
He shouted with all his might, reaching out.

But the Magi had already engulfed her.
All he caught was empty air—just the trace of her slipping away.
Meteor only then realized he’d reached toward the Crescent in the vision.

What…?
She’s gone.
She disappeared?

Did she… die?
Even knowing it was just an illusion, Meteor’s heart dropped like a stone.
Experiencing Crescent’s death—even in a vision—rattled his very core.

Then, like mist settling around him, Prima’s voice echoed through the air. His words confirmed the fear Meteor had just begun to understand.
“Yes. Crescent died. She died trying to save me.”