Vol 7. Chapter 28: Isn’t This What Being a Dad Is For

"Big Sis, hold on, Big Sis! Don’t forget how you’ve always taught us!"

Aurora shook Noa’s arm hard.

"You always said we should be honest and trustworthy dragon girls! So what do we say to shady temptations?"

"Not enough."

"That’s not right, Big Sis!"

Aurora was losing her mind. She thought for sure Big Sis would be the easiest to hold the line.

Never expected Claudia to pull out such a ridiculous trump card. If Dad’s medicine was the kind that could barely treat a mild cold... Then Claudia’s medicine was full-blown max-strength dragon elixir.

The whole world knew how much Big Sis loved to be the overachiever — so of course, that was the one spot to hit with full force!

"Big Sis, say something! Don’t just stare blankly at Claudia! She’s... she’s the devil! She’s trying to tempt you!"

Moon joined in too.

Helena, while unable to openly undermine her own mother’s plan, still muttered under her breath:

"Noa, we’ve got plenty of time ahead... You’ll have plenty of chances to learn hyper-sense, flu-sense, whatever-sense... Don’t let yourself be tempted by cheap little perks."

The three girls took turns trying to stop her, but Noa still didn’t budge.

She kept looking at Claudia — who, just as Moon said, was now playing the devil tempting her little brother.

Only Muse saw through the truth. She pierced straight through the tension and said:

"You guys can stop wasting your breath. Big Sis’s body might still be here, but her heart is long gone."

"Muse! Don’t you want a new cotton plushie?! Hurry up and get Big Sis to come back to the light!"

Aurora turned toward the fourth sister for help.

But Muse just withdrew her gaze from her spoon and focused quietly on dinner.

"Coming back to the light only works if there’s an ocean of suffering to return from. But I don’t think Big Sis is suffering at all right now."

Aurora twitched at the corner of her eye.

"You’re four years old. Don’t talk like a four-hundred-year-old philosopher, okay? You precocious baby sister."

While Aurora was still grumbling, Noa had already started bargaining.

"If I tell you everything, you’ll really teach me ‘hyper-sense,’ Aunt Claudia?"

The elegant woman smiled and brushed back a strand of hair from her temple, nodding.

"Of course. And..."

Hearing there was more, Noa leaned in eagerly.

"And what else?"

Claudia chuckled to herself. Even the most mature children were still children — so easy to reel in.

"And if what you say satisfies us, I’ll throw in a bonus — I’ll teach you a technique not even your dad has learned. How’s that?"

"Is this the kind of test they never give again in a lifetime?"

"W-W-W-What kind of test group could possibly resist that?"

"This is like promising Moon not only steak every day from now on, but every single meal would be steak!"

For a brief moment, Aurora could almost see the glowing words scroll through Big Sis’s eyes:

"I’ll teach you a new move... I’ll teach you a new move... I’ll teach you a new move..."

She’s a demon, dammit!

Aunt Claudia is seriously some kind of demon from the deep sea!!

"Big Sis, seriously, stay calm."

Aurora wasn’t giving up yet.

"Think about it — what if you say yes now and Claudia changes her mind afterward?"

"Uh... Aurora, my mom never lies."

"Helena, whose side are you even on?!"

"Uuugh..."

The sea-dragon girl glanced at her mother, then quietly lowered her head and went silent.

"So, have you decided yet, sweetheart? Are you ready to reveal the big secret tonight?" Claudia asked with a smile.

"I... I..."

Noa opened her mouth but hesitated.

On one side, her sisters and Helena were trying to hold her back. On the other, the lure of hyper-sense and new techniques was too powerful.

It really was a hard choice...

Time felt frozen. In her mind, a little devil Noa appeared on her left shoulder — red horn on her head, long sharp tail twitching behind her.

"Just tell them, Noa. It’s fine. This is just a game anyway — saying it won’t change anything for you."

Right after, a tiny angel Noa popped up on her right shoulder — halo floating above her head, white wings fluttering.

"Don’t listen to her, Noa-chan. It’s not just a game. Grandpa Wilson trusted you all, that’s why he gave you this task. You have to keep it secret!"

"Listen to me, Noa. Spill it!!"

"Don’t listen to her! Be yourself, Noa-chan!"

"Who the hell are you to talk? Shut up!"

"You’re evil! Stop misleading Noa-chan!!"

"You two are so damn loud!!"

Devil & Angel & Real Noa: ?

Wait a minute — this old lady can just jump straight into my mental debate now?

"Don’t listen to anyone, kid. Just listen to me."

Noa blinked and raised an eyebrow. "Got a better idea?"

"Hmph, obviously. Just agree to it, then drop a few vague details now and then. Doesn’t matter if it’s true or not — Claudia won’t know. Keep stringing her along and she’ll teach you both the hyper-sense and the new move!"

"How’s that? Double win, full value!"

Noa stared in disbelief: There’s not a single sane one among you.

She pulled herself out of her mindspace and let out a long sigh, slowly opening her eyes.

After a few moments of reflection, she calmed down.

What the angel Noa said was true:

Grandpa Wilson trusted them. That’s why he gave them the mission.

If Noa turned traitor now, it would be a betrayal of that trust.

Of course, Leon giving her the mission might’ve just been because he wanted to see a moving family soap opera.

But either way, Noa ultimately decided...

"I won’t say anything, Aunt Claudia."

At those words, Moon, Aurora, and Helena all let out a deep breath of relief.

"Big Sis, I knew it! You’d never betray the organization!"

Aurora’s eyes were full of admiration and reverence for her big sister.

Muse blinked and added:

"Now that’s what you call returning to the light."

And went right back to eating dinner without a hitch.

Claudia looked a little surprised to be rejected.

"Really? You don’t want it?"

"Mhm. I don’t."

Noa said, "But in any case, you’ll all find out what this is about tomorrow. It’s not complicated at all, and honestly, very much in line with Grandpa Wilson’s usual style."

Aurora had mentioned Principal Wilson earlier too, and now Noa was bringing him up again.

Leon and Isha, who had stayed quiet the whole time, exchanged a glance — and gave a subtle nod.

"Alright then. Auntie won’t push it anymore."

Claudia shrugged, then turned to Leon.

"Your daughters are incredible, you know."

Leon smiled and didn’t act modest — he accepted the praise openly.

Because he really did think his daughters were amazing.

Even if it was just a minor prank around the dining table, not something serious like deception or betrayal of core values...

Their determination and unity were genuinely heartwarming.

And hilarious.

The girls laughed and joked, the adults listened in with delight — the whole thing glowed with a warm, mischievous light.

After dinner, the younger sisters held hands and ran off to play on the field.

Helena had to head to the drama club to prep for next month’s performance.

Isha and Claudia returned early to the single dorms arranged for them at the academy.

On the rubber track, only Leon and Noa remained.

Father and daughter — one tall, one small — strolled leisurely.

"Noa."

Leon suddenly spoke softly.

"What is it, Dad?"

Leon raised a hand and gently placed his palm on Noa’s head.

It was only then he realized — the little girl whose head he used to pat so easily now required him to lift his arm just a bit higher.

She had grown taller — so fast.

"When winter break comes... I’ll teach you ‘hyper-sense,’ okay?" Leon said with a smile.

Noa’s eyes sparkled.

"Really, Dad?!"

Leon nodded, still smiling.

Tonight’s dinner — the negotiating, the probing, the tug-of-war — might’ve just been typical Melkvey family fun, but Noa’s desire to learn new techniques was completely sincere.

Leon ❀ Nоvеlігht ❀ (Don’t copy, read here) didn’t want to let her down or spoil her joy.

She was growing up. She was ready to learn more — harder things.

"You’re the best, Dad!"

Noa gave a little hop, threw her arms around his neck, and gave him a big hug. Her tail behind her curled up with glee.

"Yeah... Isn’t this what being a dad is for?"