Tiya’s Smooth Regression Life Chapter 2

01

 

In the picture titled “Our Family” that four-year-old Tiya drew, there were always four people together.

 

First was her frail second older brother, Lev Vladizev.

 

Though he was so timid that he would jump at the slightest sound, to Tiya, her brother looked like the bravest person in the world for gulping down medicine so bitter it made her tongue curl.

 

And that wasn’t all.

 

“Shh, you have to be quiet. I’m only giving this to you in secret.”

 

Whenever Tiya came to visit, Lev would secretly save the candy he received with his medicine and, avoiding the adults’ eyes, slip it right into Tiya’s mouth.

 

It was sticky, half-melted by her brother’s body heat, but Tiya had never tasted a candy sweeter than that.

 

Second was her eldest brother, Rodion Vladizev, seven years older than Tiya.

 

On the day Tiya left for the North, Rodion clung to the carriage window and promised her again and again.

 

“Tiya, if you stay with Grandma in the North, I’ll come get you. Until then, be very, very happy. Got it?”

 

Like savoring the last remaining cookie, Tiya chewed over her brother’s promise night after night, enduring her unfamiliar life in the North.

 

Third was her mother, who had passed away from illness.

 

Even as disease gnawed away at her body, her mother would hold her daughter close and talk about their “kind father.”

 

“You know, your father is actually a huge crybaby. On the day you were born, he cried so much.”

 

However, contrary to her mother’s words, the father Tiya saw never showed a single smile, let alone tears.

 

Even so, whenever Tiya drew her father’s face, she used her imagination and always drew him smiling.

 

And now, in the “Our Family” picture drawn by eight-year-old Tiya, Grandma appeared as well—huge and imposing, as though she could swallow the huddled family in one bite.

 

Tiya clutched the finished drawing to her chest and stared at it the whole way in the carriage heading to the capital. 

 

Perhaps it was the excitement of seeing her family soon.

 

The journey, which required passing through several gates and riding a carriage all day long, didn’t feel exhausting at all. 

 

And at last, what greeted Tiya upon arriving in the capital was—

 

“The Lord is currently at the palace. He is expected to return at dawn.” 

 

“The First Young Master has extended his stay at the Academy. He won’t be back for another month.” 

 

“The Second Young Master is not feeling well, so he said not to let anyone into his room for the time being…”

 

Only unfamiliar servants.

 

‘Everyone must be really busy.’

 

Tiya didn’t get disappointed and spent her time exploring the mansion.

 

After four years away, the house had changed in many ways, leaving plenty to explore.

 

And then, on the third day.

 

‘Are they avoiding me or something?’

 

Setting aside the fact that Rodion wasn’t home and Lev was sick.

 

Tiya still hadn’t seen so much as her father’s face—not even his shadow.

 

Why?

 

The answer came quickly.

 

‘It’s because I’m still not a spirit mage.’

 

Tiya pulled out the necklace made of a spirit stone from between her collar.

 

A spirit stone said to gather spirits.

 

As always, she tried calling out to spirits, but only the familiar silence answered her.

 

‘It’s okay! I’m a Vladizev kid too. Someday, I’ll definitely become a spirit mage.’

 

As usual, Tiya encouraged herself and repeated bravely.

 

If she became a spirit mage, she’d surely become a daughter her father could be proud of.

 

Then he’d come see her, and praise her for doing well.

 

And then…

 

Hoping she might run into her father by chance, Tiya wandered around the mansion until late evening—only to stop short.

 

‘That place is….’

 

“Isn’t that the room they say has a ghost?”

 

She had heard it several times while exploring the mansion.

 

The servants whispered and pointed at one particular room.

 

“That’s the room where the ghost appears.”

 

“A ghost?”

 

“It’s true. You know Sophia, right? The one who served the lady of this house. She said there’s a ghost living in that room, so you should never go inside.”

 

Perhaps because of those ominous rumors, the room was always kept locked.

 

But today, for some reason, Tiya saw that the lock on that door was open.

 

At that moment, what filled Tiya’s mind wasn’t stories about ghosts.

 

It was a single sentence whispered secretively by Erin, the maid, the night before.

 

“Young Lady, did you know? They say something incredibly valuable is hidden in the ghost room.”

 

“Something valuable?”

 

“Yes. Something called a ‘spirit egg.’”

 

A spirit egg.

 

A priceless treasure she had long yearned for after hearing it could turn whoever nurtured it into a spirit mage.

 

She had scoured the northern forests for the past four years, but never once had she found one.

 

‘I want to see what it looks like.’

 

Even as she thought she shouldn’t, Tiya tiptoed quietly into the room.

 

Standing on her toes in the dim center of the room, she saw it—among furniture covered in white sheets and scattered haphazardly—a ‘spirit egg’ preserved inside a glass-like transparent magic barrier.

 

As if entranced, Tiya gazed up at the spirit egg glowing with a pale light. It felt as though she could stare at it all night.

 

“Woooow.”

 

She wanted to touch it, but Tiya clenched her fists and held back.

 

“Why did they leave the spirit egg there? Who knows. I heard it’s used as some kind of medicinal ingredient.”

 

Because she’d heard that in the future, it would be used as medicine.

 

Still, she couldn’t stay still, so she made a cup with her hands and whispered toward the spirit egg.

 

“Spirit… could you maybe introduce just one friend to me? I’m really a good kid.”

 

Just then—

 

Thud, click.

 

The door closed behind her, and the sound of the lock engaging echoed.

 

“H-huh? I’m inside! Tiya’s inside!”

 

She shouted and ran to it, but the door was already tightly closed.

 

It was late at night, and the servants were too frightened by the rumors to come anywhere near this area.

 

In other words, she was trapped.

 

In the room where a ghost appeared.

 

In the dark of night.

 

All alone.

 

“Hmph! Th-there’s no such thing as ghosts.”

 

Tiya snorted, looked around for no reason, and then crouched down in a corner. 

 

How long would it take before someone noticed she was missing?

 

It would probably be Erin, who tucked her in at night.

 

‘So I just have to wait until then.’

 

How long had she waited like that?

 

Perhaps because it was time to sleep, her eyelids started to feel heavy.

 

Tiya buried her forehead deep into her knees and mumbled drowsily.

 

“Is Erin still far away……?”

 

<…Erin…, you say?>

 

“Mmnn, I’m waiting for Erin……”

 

The next moment, Tiya’s half-closed eyes flew open.

 

‘Erin came to find me!’

 

Tiya quickly lifted her head.

 

Right in front of her were winter boots.

 

Rubbing her sleepy eyes, she followed the long legs upward—and when she took in the face.

 

“…!”

 

A chill ran through her.

 

The hair all over her body stood on end, goosebumps erupting.

 

A face half-hidden behind a pitch-black veil, like the one she’d seen at her mother’s funeral.

 

A tall stature towering like the God of Death, dressed in jet-black clothing.

 

And above all—

 

‘I—I can see through!’

 

Beyond the figure standing under the faint moonlight, she could vaguely see the room’s scenery.

 

Just like…….

 

<O-Of all times, it had to be now. This is turning into a real mess.>

 

A ghost, straight out of the rumors.

 

“Kyaaaah! I-it’s a ghost!”

 

Tiya screamed and scrambled backward on her bottom.

 

The ghost watched the scene silently, then clicked his tongue and spoke.

 

<…There’s no time, so I’ll explain briefly. You’ve fallen into a trap.>

 

“Kyaaaah! A trap!”

 

<Tonight, a thief is going to break in here to steal the spirit egg.>

 

“Kyaaaah! A thief! …Wait, a thief?”

 

The unjust word made her instincts react. Tiya stopped screaming and quickly looked back at the spirit egg.

 

Thankfully, the spirit egg was still unharmed.

 

<For now.>

 

As if reading her thoughts, the ghost added.

 

<If I hadn’t woken up, tomorrow morning what people would find here would be a missing spirit egg—and you passed out right next to it. You would’ve been accused of stealing it.>

 

A ghost, a trap, and on top of that, a charge of theft.

 

Wondering if all of this was a dream, Tiya pinched her cheek.

 

It hurt—a lot.

 

Rubbing her reddened cheek, Tiya asked,

 

“H-how do you know that?”

 

Unfortunately, there was no need for the ghost to answer.

 

Clatter, creak—

 

From beyond the tightly shut door came a scraping sound, like mice gnawing at it. As if someone were secretly picking the lock—extremely quietly.

 

The ghost’s words were true!