Dad and Daughter
Thankfully, the misunderstanding cleared up quickly.
"Ah... so her hero name is just Gumiho?"
"Yeah. Is there something else?"
"Nah, nothing."
"?????"
The Gumiho that Aqua Girl mentioned was Raonjena's hero name, while the Gumiho I was talking about was her actual species.
Well, yeah. If word got out that she's a monster, things wouldn't be this quiet. She's hiding it thoroughly, both externally and internally. Talk about a brilliant deception tactic—naming herself Gumiho when she is a Gumiho. Is this what they mean by 'the darkest place is under the candle'?
Whoever came up with that was a genius. Who would ever suspect a hero named Gumiho is actually one of the monster races—a real Gumiho?
Wait a sec? But if monsters can transform into humans... doesn't that mean they're dangerous? There could be monsters disguised as people right here in Dark City?!
A chill suddenly ran down my spine.
If there were monsters in Dark City who could transform like Gumiho...!
And if I'd crossed paths with one...!
Shivers...!
Ah, probably not.
Last time, with the treasure processed from a monster heart—the Siren's Heart—and now with the last survivor of the Gumiho clan, Raonjena. Both cases involved monsters or monster-related items, and player-exclusive quests triggered both times.
In other words, no quest meant I hadn't encountered any monsters so far.
"Phew~ I got spooked for nothing. Wait, no! I wasn't spooked! Just, uh?! I was worried about Dark City's future! Yeah! Who do you think I am? I never get spooked!"
"Eek! Master, why are you yelling all of a sudden?"
"Huh? Oh, sorry. Got lost in thought for a sec."
I calmed the startled Aqua Girl and glanced at the fainted Raonjena.
Hmm...
How do I approach this one? Killing her or ignoring her aren't options. Now that she's caught my eye, Raonjena is mine.
But—
[3. Recruit]
Recruits Raonjena. She will become your guardian and will never betray you.
However, the process will not be smooth. She currently has someone she has sworn loyalty to.
Someone she's sworn loyalty to...
I could guess who without looking. Valencia, the Hero Association president. Seeing my hand near his throat must've flipped her berserk switch.
Should I kill the old man? But that'd probably ruin any chance of recruiting her.
"...Screw it. I'll think about it at home."
"Heading home?"
"Yeah. The situation outside's mostly wrapped up, and I accomplished what I came here for anyway."
I'd rescued Rachel, and her friend Isabela—who'd been kidnapped with her—had just been safely handed over to the heroes.
Surprisingly kind to kids?
One odd thing: the hero who brought Isabela out was White Knight. I never figured him for the type to like kids, so maybe that was my bias.
Some hidden charm, huh?
Whatever. Not important.
Anyway, I'd saved the two girls, and per Cute Armor's orders, I'd even rescued Valencia. Aside from beating the kidnappers, I'd achieved everything I came for.
My brain was fried from all the thinking—I just wanted to go home and rest. I could track down and thrash the kidnappers later; Rachel knew their faces, or I could ask around. I've got plenty of manpower.
And her...
"Aqua Girl. Can you take these two?"
"Of course. Wait, you're not coming with?"
"What? Heh heh. Heroes are swarming outside—think I'd go up with you? We'd start a war."
"Hehe, true."
Aqua Girl wasn't being dumb; she just wanted to spend a little more time with me.
"Hey... can you take time off next week?"
"Time off? From when?"
"Wednesday through Friday. Three days, two nights."
"Uh... I'd have to check. But why vacation?"
"Why? To hit the beach for three days, two nights. Hotel's already booked."
Not by me, technically—Jina booked it in my name. Next Wednesday, it'll be me, Jina, and Elis at the beach in District 105. Gonna have a blast. Heh heh heh.
"Eek! I wanna go too!"
Her eyes sparkled at "beach." She really wanted to.
As her master, how could I say no?
"Let me know if you can swing the vacation. I booked a whole floor, so there's room for you. And even if you can't, tell me. I saved that guy's life—the one you knocked out—so he'll approve your leave."
"Mm... won't that expose me?"
"Good point. If there's no other way, we can say I kidnapped you. Anyway, if you wanna go, say so."
"Really? It's okay if I join?"
"Obviously. Nah, scratch that—you're coming no matter what. If not, I'll drag you myself."
"Hehe. Yes!"
Her joyful expression was so damn cute I couldn't resist petting her head. So I did.
"Always so adorable. Alright, I'm off first."
"Okay, but how... Huh? When did he leave?"
I swapped positions with my clone using a skill and slipped out of the underground base.
*****
I swapped places with my clone Mark Two, who'd been waiting outside, then pulled a car from my inventory as soon as Rachel and Cheetergirl arrived. We headed straight to Rachel's house.
"Mmm..."
Rachel, in the passenger seat, was nodding off, clearly exhausted.
"If you're sleepy, just crash. Look in the back—Cheetergirl's snoring away."
"N-no... I'm not sleepy... Ta-da! See? Wide awake!"
"Pfft."
I couldn't help smiling at her stretching to shake off the drowsiness. What was it again? "Passengers should stay awake out of courtesy" or something? Anyway, my Rachel wasn't just cute—she was smart and polite too.
"Yaaawn..."
"Heh!"
I burst out laughing again. She'd barely pretended to be awake for a minute before nodding off once more.
Maybe it wasn't ideal, but with all her kidnapping experience, she didn't seem too traumatized. Small mercies.
I drove quietly so she wouldn't wake until we got home.
"Rachel? Rachel? We're home. Time to sleep inside."
"Mmm... home?"
"Yeah. Super sleepy, huh?"
"Yaaawn..."
Half-asleep, she kept nodding. Worried she'd faceplant, I hurried to the passenger side and scooped her up.
"Mmm..."
She nestled into my shoulder with a comfy sigh, like a baby bird. My arms were comfier than a Simmons mattress, apparently.
Fair enough.
No big mental shock didn't mean no exhaustion.
"Hey. Guard Rachel properly, got it?"
"Kyaaaoong—!"
I laid her in bed and spoke to Cheetergirl, who'd followed. She might be a total loner by my standards, but to normal folks, she's a beast like Lu Bu.
Cheetergirl stretched with a yawn, then hopped onto the bed beside Rachel. Yeah, that's right—keep watch.
I was heading out of Rachel's room when—
"Daddy..."
"Huh?"
The sleeping Rachel mumbled.
"Thank you... and... don't tell Mommy..."
"...What was that? Daddy? Did you just say daddy?"
"...Zzz."
Her face flushed beet red as she pretended to sleep. Staring made her bury it in Cheetergirl's fur from embarrassment.
Rachel might not know, but my grin was ear-to-ear. Joker territory!
"Sweet dreams, my lovely daughter."
I kissed the back of her head and quietly closed the door.
My chest was itching with joy.
*****
Daughter. She'd called me daughter.
The man who'd saved her—not once, but three times—the one who was kind to her without asking for anything—had called her his daughter.
Rachel had never seen or had a dad, so hearing "daughter" made her heart pound like it would burst.
Actually, it had been racing since Dr. Krumolla grabbed her. The man on the monitor had called her his daughter. Introduced himself as Daddy.
For the little girl, her wish was for that man to be her dad. And she thought it had come true.
Ah...
'You okay? Scary, huh? Sorry. Uncle came too late. Hurt anywhere? Let me see.'
'...'
When he'd saved her from the snake-like old man, she'd wanted to call him Daddy. But he hadn't called himself that. Hadn't said "daughter."
Just "uncle."
And never "daughter" after.
It hurt. Tears welled up. But she hid it. Couldn't whine to the man who'd risked coming to this dangerous place for her. That was for babies.
...But I am a baby?
She remembered she was eleven. So maybe, just once, like a kid—
Pretending to sleep-talk, she called out to the seemingly heartless departing uncle.
"Daddy... thank you... and... keep it secret from Mommy..."
'Why did I say that?!'
She regretted it instantly.
"Sweet dreams, my lovely daughter."
'Daughter!'
And she was happy.
"Eeee! Kitty sis! What do I do? Uncle—no, Daddy—called me his daughter!"
"Kyaring?"
After Steel Armor left, Rachel—who'd faked sleep—hugged Cheetergirl like a kid with Santa's gifts, beside herself.
"Heehee. Now I have a daddy too. Hng..."
After thirty minutes of hugging and bouncing on the bed, Rachel drifted off for real.
Cheetergirl held her warmly.
Swish~ Swish~ Swish~
A butterfly fluttered in from somewhere, landing softly on the sleeping Rachel's head.
Shimmer~
It dissolved into light and absorbed into her.
*****
"Argh~ Becoming a dad at my age is trouble~ Argh~ Real trouble~"
Since leaving Rachel's house, my grin wouldn't fade. What if my face permanently Joker-fied?
"No, seriously worrying here~ Geez~ Why'd Rachel call me daddy~ Sure, she's the daughter I birthed from my heart~ Geez~ So embarrassing~"
Heh heh heh heh heh heh heh heh heh.
Folks. It's not laughing because you're happy—it's happy because you're laughing. Heh heh heh~
"Happy time over. Now worry time."
I hadn't brought the knocked-out Gumiho Raonjena.
For reference, my underground base loot was just Dark Lady, and my clone (Mark Two) was taking her to my hideout in District 73.
Anyway, back to why I skipped Raonjena: simple.
"She's way stronger than I thought."
Transformations make you stronger by nature, and even without fully turning monster, Raonjena exceeded expectations.
"Fuck. Look at this bruise."
Proof: my side, where she'd squeezed, had a black bruise. Not purple—black.
A level 10 body enhancer like me getting that? If she went full monster, it wouldn't stop at bruises.
And frustratingly, I couldn't beat full-monster Raonjena right now.
"Kidnap her, and she'd turn the tables. Rape route's a no-go."
My original plan was to ravish her with my dick, but feeling her power firsthand showed how idiotic that was.