I rushed forward excitedly, but my speed received a massive hit after a couple more steps. Though all of the other kids also slowed down, I could vaguely tell that some had reactions similar to mine.
The bad guys working here were easy to recognize due to the fire and spider web symbol that they had on their clothes. The rest didn't seem to have much in common in terms of appearance, but a closer look changed that. They were all suffering from some form of stress. But I couldn't feel any sympathy for them as I saw the smiles plastered on their faces.
"Kaili?" the fairy called my name.
I knew this wasn't the time to stand still, but I couldn't move as I spotted a certain man among them. If he had cleaned up then he would be a handsome tanned man in his early thirties, but with scruffy facial hair, a beer belly and dirty clothes, he looked worse than the average drunkard. Even so, I couldn't focus my hate on him.
"K-Kaili, is that you?"
Even though I could tell that he had only gotten worse, I couldn't bring myself to reject the man approaching me.
"Yes, it's me, Dad."
In the time we had been apart, I would have preferred if I forgot what he looked like, but as soon as we met like this, I felt like his image was fixed in my memory. His face was one I could never forget.
However, as he got closer, I couldn't deny the trace amount of joy I felt, hoping that maybe, just maybe, he had changed.
*Slap*
But he was the same.
"You stupid child! How many times are you going to try and run away before you're satisfied?! And this time you dragged these kids along with you, what a disgrace. Hurry up and go back where you came from!"
In response to his intense scolding, Dad won the approval of the other adults while I lost the trust of the kids behind me. I felt a swirl of emotions, but joy or relief was not a single one.
After our family turned into just the two of us, he only admitted to being my father when he wanted to order me around. Still, I endured it back then. I thought that for everyone else, I had to be the one to stay with Dad.
However, when I learnt of the truth, I couldn't endure anymore.
"Kaili...what will you do?"
I started to revert back to my past cowardly self, but the voice of the fairy dragged me back. Furthermore, the tone of the fairy wasn't the same as before.
'I could be wrong but, was that anger?'
I couldn't see the fairy's face, but I had a feeling that it was getting upset for some reason other than my weakness. Why? Though I found it hard to believe, the answer was obvious.
"Are you angry for my sake?" I murmered.
But before I could get an answer, Dad shouted at me once more.
"Stupid brat! Are you going to make me repeat myself. Don't keep looking into space and move!"
Another slap came towards my face. Unlike the first slap, I could clearly feel the hot pain in my cheek, but this pain was nothing compared to my heartache. The feelings of resistance that I tried to build up, quickly crumbled while I subconsciously lifted my foot to take a step back.
"Kaili! Keep your head up, and face him."
"But-"
"I've agreed to lend you my power, and therefore please trust me. You don't have to depend on him, place that trust in me and face him without being afraid of getting abandoned."
The fairy was surprisingly passionate and straight to the point. Even though it was so obvious, I didn't want to accept it, that was why I tried my hardest not to look at his face. However, not because of the fairy or of my own will, he was the one who forced me to look at him.
"I told you to move!"
Dad slapped my face once more before roughly raising my head so that my vision captured his face.
'Ah, it's so obvious. And yet, I just didn't want to see it. That look.'
Within his eyes, I no longer saw a hint of familial affection. To him, I was no longer a daughter. Just like the rest of my family, I was just some item to be sold.
"Huh? What's with the waterworks?"
While tears flowed uncontrollably out of my eyes, I finally asked for the fairy's help.
"Make him let go."
Subsequently, his hand was quickly removed from my face and he was forced a few steps back in shock.
"What the-"
"Dad," I wiped my tears and tried to stop the shaking of my voice as I asked a very important question.
"Did you sell the rest of our family too? Just like Mom?"
At first, he had an ugly expression with his lips sealed tight, but suddenly that expression changed into one that I could only describe as revolting.
"Hehe, so you did overhear us. Yeah, that's right. All I needed was a few more rounds and I would have definitely made back all of the money I lost, but then those guys talked about some maximum debt crap. If I didn't pay back some of my debt then they wouldn't let me back in. Unfair, right."
I felt uncomfortable listening to this conversation, but I didn't turn away. For my family's sake, I had to listen.
"I was already out of a job because of that idiot who fired me for some stupid reason, so I was really in trouble trying to figure out how I would pay for it. That was when they introduced me to these guys."
As he turned back to the bad guys with the fire and spiderweb emblem, I could see the other disgraceful adults nodding their heads. They were all the same. Maybe one of them was even worse than my father.
Anger made my fists tremble, but I stayed still and listened.
"Of course I was reluctant when they told me to sell off my own kid, but then they said some really convincing stuff. They're my kids after all, my property, so why can't I sell them? I knew getting Lucia to agree with me would be hard so I made up some crap about some strong demon taking him as an apprentice and sent my eldest son off. At that time I was thinking of buying him back if I could but, I was missing a few more wins and he ended up getting sold before I got the gems together."
The more I heard, the more disgusted I got, but I endured and endured.
"As for the others, well, I was just on a bit of an unlucky streak and before I knew it the only option left was you or your mother. By that time that bitch had figured something out and was going on about taking you away with her, so I knocked her out and sold her too. Didn't make as much as the kids, but it was a nice addition to my wallet. Kukuku."
Once the tale was finally over, he seemed bewildered that he had actually said all of that, but I couldn't care less. With teary eyes, I now glared at him with pure hatred which couldn't compare with what I felt previously.
'Mom, big brothers, big sister, I'm sorry. I'm sorry I didn't notice sooner. I'm sorry I only found out when I was the only one left. I don't know if I can ever meet you guys again, but for if that day ever comes I'll definitely make him regret what he did and sincerely apologize to all of you.'
"I won't forgive you."
"Tch, you sure have gotten disobedient since you ran away. Looks like I need to teach you some manners again."
When he took a step towards me with his usual mean face, I flinched, but I stood my ground. I wasn't afraid of standing up to him, nor was I afraid of being abandoned by him. After all, this man wasn't my father, he was just a hateful criminal.
"D-don't come closer to me!"
In accordance to my wishes, he froze in place with his pupils expressing confusion and fear.
"So, what do you want me to do?"
I knew that I had to punish this criminal, but I didn't know what would be a good punishment, so after a deep breath I asked the fairy.
"What do you think would be a suitable punishment?"
"Oh, how about..."
I nodded to the fairy's advice and slowly approached the convict. He couldn't move even if he wanted to and the gallery wouldn't interfere, so all I had to do was ensure my resolve stayed firm.
"You pushed the consequences of your actions onto your own family, and refuse to be responsible for your losses. I don't have a father like that, nor do I need one. However, I'm not the one who you should be apologizing to. I'll leave that job for Mom and the others. But until then I need to make sure that you properly regret what you did."
"Ha! What are you gonna do? Scold me until I feel sorry? Hahaha!"
His boisterous laugh was irritating but it allowed me to shed my hesitation. Once I stopped in front of him, he was immediately forced to his knees so that I could touch his neck.
"Do it."
Starting from where my fingers made contact, an ominous black mark stretched around his neck.
"Ahhh?! W-what did you do to me?!"
As he was freed from paralysis, he was able to put his hands to his throat while freaking out.
"This is the Curse of Obedience. From now on it will be impossible for you to reject any request. You will learn what it feels like to be a slave, and only if Mom and my siblings forgive you, will I give you back your freedom."
I didn't think I would ever forgive him, but I didn't know about them. And despite how much I hated him, I didn't want him to die either.
My focus stayed on the one before me, but before I could remember about the other adults who were looking at me fearfully, more bad guys appeared.
As men sharing the same symbol blocked every exit of this room. I raised my hand and tried to think of which direction to pick to force our way through, however, the fairy stopped me.