Yuria's Conquest Begins #2
“Aaron... He’s really on Earth?” Yuria’s lips trembled. The soft pink lipstick suited her beautifully. Her mouth must be bone-dry. Her heart was racing, and it showed.
“That’s right. He’s on Earth. I don’t know exactly where yet, but I’m certain we’ll find out soon. Hmm... As your father, it feels a little awkward to say this, but if it’s Aaron, he shouldn’t mind helping you charge your Device.”
“Aaron...!” Her voice turned pitiful. She must have loved him deeply. The conservative laws of her kingdom were a blessing for me.
“Calm yourself.” At my somewhat stern tone, Yuria’s trembling subsided. She couldn’t quiet her racing heart, though, so she placed a hand on her chest and took a deep breath.
“Hoo... hoo...” I waited patiently. After a while, Yuria let out one final, heavy sigh and looked at me with desperate eyes.
“Soon... Will I be able to see Aaron?”
“I can promise you that much.”
“Will Aaron... remember me?”
“I don’t know. If his reincarnation went as smoothly as mine, then perhaps. But if not...”
She could guess the rest.
“He might never remember...”
“...Yes.”
“Even so, it doesn’t matter. No matter what form Aaron has taken, I’ll find him and bring him back.”
Determination. Good. Work hard for it.
Yuria continued. “But after Astaroth died, Tyrat seems to have grown cautious. He’s hiding somewhere. Monsters haven’t appeared at all lately... Isn’t this going to cause a big problem?”
The public was wondering the same thing. Some were already claiming the aliens had retreated, or that the Beast Slayers and the World Coalition had won. Foolish creatures... They had no idea we were simply holding back.
“Tyrat is a cunning one. Never let your guard down.”
“Father always had such insight. You’re right. But...”
“But?”
“The Device is the problem. I need to charge it, but there’s no one I like... Even if I find Aaron quickly, if he has no memories, it’ll take time for him to develop feelings for me...”
What nonsense. A woman like you could make any man fall head over heels. She was worrying over nothing. I looked at Yuria, who had buried her face in her hands, and decided to test her.
“It is certainly a problem. If you’re truly desperate, what about... Song Jihyeok?”
“What?” Yuria jerked her head up, startled. Her thin, long eyebrows furrowed. She hated the idea that much? No, she didn’t.
“Do you think I would suggest you do such things with someone other than Aaron? Besides, Song Jihyeok is dating your colleague Sehwa.”
“Charging the Device only requires liking someone, not loving them. If you truly want to defeat Tyrat and bring peace to this planet...”
“I don’t like Song Jihyeok. I have no intention of liking him. I do think he’s a capable colleague, but this would be a betrayal of Sehwa.”
Sehwa already understood. Just go along with it.
“I see. Still... liking someone, huh...” I trailed off and looked at Yuria. She parted her lips slightly and shrugged her shoulders. Her body language suggested she was at a loss for words.
“Father... Surely you don’t mean...” Yuria looked horrified. Her reaction told me everything. Winning over this virgin was going to take some effort.
“What’s wrong?” At my calm question, Yuria let out a sigh of relief. Of course, what she feared was exactly what I had in mind.
“N-no, it’s nothing. By the way, I’d like to introduce you to the people at the lab... Would that be all right?”
“No. A useless man like me would only be a burden there. I plan to continue my previous business. That way I can provide some support to the lab as well.”
“The lab has plenty of money. Song Jihyeok pulled funds from the company.”
“The more money, the better. Since this is fate... I should have a proper conversation with Song Jihyeok.”
Yuria smiled brightly at that.
“I’m glad you’ve adapted so well.”
“Kim Taegon’s memories are intact, so adapting wasn’t difficult.”
“That’s a relief. And Father, would you... move to Seoul?”
“I was already planning to. Now that I’ve regained my memories, I can’t stay away from you. I’ll find a house, so prepare to leave the hotel and move in.”
Yuria’s expression brightened more than ever.
“Yes, Father.”
From now on, I’d have time to look after this lady—though calling it childcare felt wrong. At a glance, Yuria seemed more difficult than Sehwa. She was only a year older, yet the tragedies she’d endured had matured her mentally, and she handled herself well. But I judged conquering Yuria would be easier than Sehwa. I’d occasionally show a clumsy side, slowly shedding the strict-father persona so Yuria could feel comfortable around me. Then I’d release simple monsters for Sehwa to handle alone while reminding Yuria of her need to charge her Device. After organizing the initial plan, I spoke.
“Stay here for a few days.”
“What about you, Father?”
“I’m going to look for a house.”
“Let’s go together.”
“You’re past the age for acting spoiled. Don’t worry about your father.”
Yuria bit her lip gently. She didn’t want to argue with her father she’d just reunited with, did she?
“...Understood.”
**
Back at the base, I watched Sehwa seethe with anger. She was furious that I planned to live with Yuria. She couldn’t confront me directly, yet she couldn’t simply swallow her rage either, so she was taking it out on a poor C-class monster. It was a massive lion-like beast. As a C-class, it had no equal on Earth except Beast Slayers, and it was aggressive. But cowed by Sehwa’s malice, it could only roar helplessly, unable to resist.
“Die! Die!”
Crunch! Crunch! She shredded the monster’s body with her long claws. I found the sight adorable and chuckled. After tormenting it for a long while, Sehwa kicked the blood-soaked monster’s rear, sending it into its cage, then approached me.
“Master...! Please reconsider...!”
“I understand your anger. But this is necessary. It’s also what I want.”
What I want. Those words were magic to an Evil Valkyrie. Sehwa’s expression turned sullen. I began wiping the blood from her hands with my clothes. Sehwa tried to stop me in a softened voice.
“...Master... Your clothes will get dirty... I can just use magic...”
“Quiet.”
The sticky monster blood wouldn’t come off easily. I lifted Sehwa into my arms and carried her to the bathroom, turning on the faucet to wash her hands.
“Ah...!” Sehwa let out a suggestive breath. I grinned.
“Remembering the old days?”
“Yes...”
It was after Yu Seunghyeon had mentioned Leona’s name on the street. Sehwa had slapped him and burst into tears. I remembered washing her hands when they got scratched against the wall and indulging her complaints. The girl who used to act spoiled so much had changed this much—it felt like another lifetime. Though she still acted spoiled now, of course.
“I also need to find new Aether, craft your weapon, and upgrade your suit, so I won’t be with Yuria every day. I’ll use business as an excuse to leave often, and I’ll see you then, so don’t worry too much.”
I didn’t need to explain, but I did it for Sehwa’s sake. She seemed to notice my consideration and nodded weakly, wiggling her toes.
“Then it’s fine...”
“Has your anger subsided?”
“Yes...”
I brushed her light-purple hair behind her ear. Then I transformed into Song Jihyeok and used his speech pattern.
“If you’re bored, want to eat some tteokbokki you like?”
“Ah...!”
Her melting expression told me she loved the idea. I knew she would. I’d have to act like this outside the base.
“I’ll release that monster you just beat up soon. So handle it properly. Got it?”
“Yeah... Ah, yes! Master...!”
Sehwa startled, realizing she’d slipped into casual speech. I laughed and opened a portal to the officetel.
“Remember, outside the base you must show your usual self. The same goes for when you transform.”
“Ah... I know...”
“Let’s go. We’re late.”
“Yes...”
**
Two days later, at an apartment two blocks from my officetel.
Beep! Click!
The door unlocked and opened. Yuria looked around the interior of our new home and exclaimed in admiration.
“Wow... For finding it so quickly, the place is really nice. It seems a bit big for just two people, though.”
“I chose it carefully. Your room is over there.”
I pointed to the closed door beside the bathroom. Yuria nodded. I continued.
“Go take a look around.”
“Look around? There’s no furniture, right?”
“I’ve already put in the basics. Buy anything else you need.”
“Hmm... Really?”
Yuria looked at me curiously before opening her bedroom door. Her expectant eyes instantly crumpled.
“W-what is this...”
The room was entirely pink. The bed, blanket, pillow, desk, and wardrobe were all pink. How’s that? My sense of style. Isn’t it dreadful? Doesn’t it make me look a bit slow?
“Father...! What is this?”
“You don’t like it?”
“It’s not that I don’t like it, it’s just too horrible...” Yuria raised her voice, then flinched. She had seen the shadow fall over my expression.
“It seems you don’t like it.”
“That’s not it...”
“I raised you strictly from a young age to maintain the dignity of a princess. That’s probably why you matured beyond your years. I’ve always felt sorry about that.”
So this father put extra thought into it as an apology. A room little girls would love. Hurry up and thank me.
“...Thank you.”
That’s more like my daughter.
“Take some time and redecorate it yourself.”
“No, no. I’ll just... use it like this. After hearing what you said, I want to.”
“I really don’t mind, though...”
“I really don’t mind either.”
“If that’s how you feel, then fine. And I have something important to tell you.”
Yuria’s face flushed bright red with tension. Her body couldn’t stay still, and her hands trembled. She was worried it was about Aaron, wasn’t she? Your guess is correct.
“Whether it’s fate’s joke or not, I think the heavens are helping us.”
“What do you mean?”
“There’s somewhere we need to go together right now. I can feel Aaron nearby.”
At those words, Yuria strode to the shoe rack and slipped on her flats. Then she looked at me. Her expression said, What are you waiting for? I let out a wry laugh and walked over to her, thinking.
The situation I’d created felt natural when examined piece by piece, but together it was far too contrived. Think about it. A reincarnated father happens to meet his daughter in Korea, and her fiancé from her past life has also reincarnated and is in Korea? And that fiancé used to date Sehwa. Anyone would find it suspicious. Fortunately, Yuria trusted me completely and didn’t know of Yu Seunghyeon’s existence. She also didn’t know he had dated Sehwa. This was going to be thrilling. I’d steer things in the direction least likely to be discovered—the best possible route.