Chapter 1
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 1
Chapter Title: I Met a Girl
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Different clothes from usual.
Different vibe from usual.
I never imagined my precious little girl would say something like that.
"I've never once thought of you as my dad, Yuan! I hate it... I hate it! You still see me as just a little kid, don't you?!"
She hung her head low and grabbed my wrist roughly, her voice breaking with sobs.
Even though the strength gap between heteroraces and humans is absolute, I'm way bigger than her.
Yet I couldn't shake her off.
Not physically.
Not emotionally either.
Blood or no blood, I'd always thought of her as my daughter.
I'd always wanted to give her my absolute best, even if it wasn't always perfect.
But that one denying line from Hikari felt like it tarnished every moment we'd built together.
Everything turned ice-cold in an instant.
"...Yu, Yuan?"
With no reaction from me, my stepdaughter Hikari slowly lifted her head to peer at me.
I reflected in Hikari's pretty eyes.
The usual calm, laid-back me was gone. I looked completely lost, just like a kid.
...Exactly like the flustered Hikari standing in front of me.
"No... Yuan... I mean... the feelings I'm trying to express..."
Shocked by my face, Hikari let out a shaky breath and took a step toward me.
But I stepped back too, almost like I was running away.
Her words had hit that hard.
"Ah..."
Her eyes welled up with tears.
But damn if I didn't want to cry too.
Staring at the girl I'd unquestioningly called my daughter, just one thought crossed my mind.
'How the hell did things end up like this?'
Same old daily routine.
Same old ruins in another dimension.
Even in broad daylight with sunlight pouring down, these untouched ruins were draped in deep shadow.
Now and then, a bat-like monster would fly overhead in a hugging pose, screeching as it passed, but otherwise, the place was dead silent.
In that heavy atmosphere, only the guy scraping mushrooms off a pillar wore a bright grin.
Yeah, that's me.
"Finally found it! Rolled around for days hunting this Sticky Mushroom subspecies!"
I cheered as I carefully harvested it with gloved hands.
True to its name, sticky mucus oozed down the gloves, stretching into threads.
Anyone else might've freaked out, but if the academy prof saw this? She'd snap her spine straight from excitement.
"No performance demands for a while now. Better ship it quick."
I'm in some far-flung dimension, disconnected from Earth.
Regrettably, the academy I'm working with is back in Seoul.
So, pricey gate delivery service it is.
"Mana Capsule... sealed!"
Hit the button, and the built-in mana flowed out, forming a thin barrier.
It wrapped the capsule tight and locked it down completely.
I'm a pure human—no mana-wielding like the heteroraces.
But magic engineering tools like this make up for it. No real hassle.
Grrrrowl!
Maybe from letting my guard down.
Or because mission complete means reward time.
Either way, stomach's rumbling.
'Might as well grab a bite.'
Monsters and beasts lurk in these ruins, sure, but nothing too tough.
Hell, it even got a safety rating from the Demon King's app: Humans Are Too Precious, So Don't Die!
Village is another hour's hike anyway, so chow down near the entrance.
"Today's special~"
Unwrapped the foil, and a mouthwatering aroma hit the air.
Smoky ham sandwich, courtesy of the Balrog landlady at my boarding house.
Meant for breakfast, but mushroom obsession turned it into a late lunch.
That's when it happened.
Rustle... rustle...
"Hm?"
Monster sniff out the scent already?
Too bad—I only packed for one.
Unless it wants to be the ham.
Pulled my knife and eyed the noise.
"...Not a ghost. What the hell."
It wasn't a monster glaring at me—or rather, my sandwich.
It was a girl.
A heterorace kid with a single horn on one side.
'Demon?'
Horn screamed that lineage first.
Demons, Unicorns, Holotauruses, Satyros... on and on.
Heteroraces flashed through my brain.
But refocusing on her? All wrong guesses.
How to put it—felt familiar to this Korean guy.
Each heterorace has its own mana signature.
The faint, cozy vibe wafting from her...
"Dokkaebi."
"...?"
"Ah... sorry. Occupational hazard."
To her, I must've looked like I was talking to myself outta nowhere.
But more striking? Her eyes locked dead on my sandwich.
Wiggle it even a bit, and those huge peepers whipped around like fans.
Not the type to tease a starving kid with food porn, I dangled the other pack her way.
"Au?"
"Hold on, I'll unwrap it quick."
Super wary, head-tilt like fresh-from-the-wilds.
Carefully peeled the foil, split it in half for easy munching.
"Woo!"
Huh, perky now.
Handed off her share, and she dropped the guard—fully stepped out from behind the pillar.
But her look left me stunned again.
Skinny as hell.
Like those starving kids from PSAs.
Even "beggar rags" felt too kind for those tatters.
Stick-thin arms and legs poking out. Bony calves.
Ribs gotta be showing under there.
"Euu...?"
One hand to her lips.
One hand on my sandwich arm.
'Not snatching it—waiting for permission?'
Not pure feral. Subtle manners ingrained.
"It's fine. Take it slow, chew good."
No clue if she gets words, but gestured big and passed the sandwich.
Luckily, she plopped down beside me and took it to her mouth.
Om nom.
Chew chew.
Sparkle!
Those empty eyes lit right up.
"Eats good. Glad it hits the spot."
Cheeks ballooned out—total small critter vibes.
Knows scarfing too fast means tummy ache; tiny bites only. Made me think deeper.
'Dokkaebi... but not full-blood. Other mana mixed in.'
Hybrid.
And potent too.
Maybe high-tier like Demon King or dragon.
Unlike academy mana patterns—head-scratcher.
"Rare breed for sure. Gotta hit the books harder~"
"...That?"
Conquered the sandwich whole, now eyeing me.
Sauce and crumbs on her tongue. Licked the plate clean—must've loved it.
'Landlady would've been thrilled to see.'
Grinned and fished a wet wipe from my bag.
Mimed wiping my mouth, then offered her one.
"Woo woo!"
Huh, nah on the wipe.
Instead, shoved her head my way.
"Uh... want me to do it?"
"Ee!"
Still no habla, but yeah.
Too damn cute.
Nodded and dabbed gently at her mouth.
"Excuse me."
Swipe... swipe...
"Hnya!"
Cold wipe got her scrunching, but face stayed put.
Hands flailing like a puppet—adorbs.
"All good. Sparkly clean."
Truth? Whole grubby body needed it, but whatever.
"Hehe..."
Her happy grin melted me.
So lovable, my hand drifted to her bangs unbidden.
Pat pat. Stroked her forehead, mumbling.
"Now what to do."
Kid from empty ruins.
Figured wild-raised at first.
But that grime plus sneaky politeness? Miles from feral.
'Accident drop-in. Gotta be.'
Sucks not speaking kid.
Chat landlady later—see if she gets it.
Balrog swinging Flame Sword? Kid babble's nothing.
Plus, if accident, parents filed missing. Can't ditch her solo.
"They say even sleeves brushing is fate."
Crouched to meet her upward stare.
Gently, lotsa gestures.
"I'm Yuan. Wanna head to the village with me?"
Phone map app—village pic did it.
Nod nod.
"Sweet. Short-term roomies—nice to meetcha. And~"
Arms up high, V-sign.
She tilted, mimicked—flash!
"Good job! Perfect~"
Grabbed under her pits, hoisted up smooth.
"Ee nya?!"
Sudden airtime—eyes bugged.
Kicked wild, but settled her on my arm. Calmed quick.
Like I said, hour trek to village.
Malnourished kid? No way. Stride gap drags it longer.
"Light as a feather. Gotta stuff you full."
"Woo!"
"Yeah. Home stretch. I'll get you back for real."