I'm Not Your Dad, I'm a Villain - Chapter 13

Chapter 13

Cooperating with the Enemy (3)

***

“A path…?”

I felt a moment of doubt.

“Aaaah!”

Screams echoed from afar. In this disaster-stricken area, people who hadn’t yet evacuated were crying out.

Such people were spread throughout this place.

No matter how strong a hero is, it’s impossible to protect everyone and defeat all the villains alone.

“There are people I need to protect in that Ferris wheel. They are related to heroes, so they aren’t entirely unrelated to you.”

Damn. It’s urgent, but who knew I’d have to seek cooperation from a hero one day.

But unfortunately, I lacked the strength.

If I had more time, I’d kill these small fries by the hundreds, but I didn’t know when the villains would reach the Ferris wheel.

“So if you take down all the villains on the way to the Ferris wheel, I’ll rescue the people instead of you.”

On the other hand, she had the prowess to take down enemies, but she was inexperienced in rescue operations.

Moreover, with the villains taking hostages, someone used to handling such situations would be better suited for the rescue.

“So you’re saying you’ll be my temporary sidekick?”

“You can see it that way.”

“Haha, this is quite something…”

Thankfully, Spiritas seemed to consider me related to the heroes for now.

I didn’t know what would happen later, but at least she wasn’t rejecting my cooperation at the moment.

“Alright, I have many questions, but… you don’t seem like a bad person, so I’ll cooperate for now.”

“…That’s quite an honor.”

Not a bad person…

I found her evaluation a bit annoying, but I took it as a sign that my disguise was working well and turned from her.

What she thought didn’t matter.

All that mattered to me was the Boss’s safety.

I’d bend my life, dignity, and beliefs to protect him.

-BOOM!

As I reaffirmed this, the fierce rampage of the so-called new hope began again behind me.

And then…

***

-BOOM!

A fierce explosion echoed from afar.

The Ferris wheel cabin where two people were staying shook violently, causing the girl curled up in the corner to tremble even more.

At the very top of the Ferris wheel.

In this situation, there was no guarantee that the safety devices would work properly, which induced a fear incomparable to a high-speed roller coaster.

-KABOOM, BANG!

What on earth is happening outside?

What happened to make the ride stop?

-Kyaaaaah!

Why are there horrifying screams outside?

“No need to force yourself to look.”

A small curiosity blooming in fear.

Just as she tried to act on it, someone spoke to her.

Moa Bread.

Unlike herself, who was curled up in the corner, the girl she had invited for a private talk was leaning against the cabin wall, looking coldly out the window.

“It’s not a pleasant sight. If you don’t want to see it, you should stay hidden until things settle down.”

Even as she spoke, her gaze remained fixed outside the Ferris wheel.

Though it could collapse at any moment, she remained incredibly calm.

“Ms. Moa, aren’t you scared?”

Seeing such composure made her own trembling subside a bit, but only for a moment.

With another loud noise and the cabin shaking, she curled up again, but Moa remained with a calm expression, resting her chin on her hand.

“Surely, for a child, this situation must be terrifying.”

“Sorry? What do you mean…?”

To the puzzled girl,

The figure of a girl expressed her realization.

“Being unaware of anything.”

Having no control over her life until she grows up… Now I understand why he repeatedly emphasized not to leave the house.

Yes, her words were not aimed at her.

It was just a personal realization.

In this tragedy far from the ground, she was rejoicing over a realization she had never considered.

“Nella.”

Feeling a sense of estrangement, Moa finally closed the distance between them.

“Personally, I think you’re a very commendable child. Despite your frail body, you haven’t cried in this situation.”

Approaching and kneeling to meet her eyes, the red-haired girl looked at her.

Just meeting her gaze made her lips tremble.

She was still scared, but she felt something, something drawing her to Moa.

A sense that it was okay to reveal everything to her…

That was the kind of understanding gaze she had.

“Well, I’m used to it…”

When she unconsciously spoke her mind, Moa’s lips slowly curled with curiosity.

“Used to it… You mean a situation like this?”

Being attacked by villains and feeling threatened… Is she used to such situations?

Not something a mere seven-year-old would typically experience, but it must have forced her to mature faster than others.

“Then I have something to ask.”

Most people would just leave it at that.

But Moa had lived in a world completely different from normal people and could see things they couldn’t.

“What do you want to ask?”

“What is it that you fear right now?”

Of course, she couldn’t know everything.

Even if she was still learning about humanity, it would be arrogant to claim to understand everything.

But children are very honest with their emotions.

Most would just sense fear, but Moa sought to understand its source.

Is this young girl simply afraid of the cruel villains?

Of being one of the people killed by them?

No, that’s not it.

What this child truly fears is something she can’t share with anyone in a society that worships heroes.

“Are you afraid of heroes?”

“…”

Without a word.

Nella’s gaze, which had been meeting Moa’s, fell to the floor.

“Come to think of it, our previous conversation was cut off.”

Yes, this isn’t something she could share with anyone.

Not with the public who worship heroes, and certainly not with her hero father.

In a society that idolizes heroes,

Such worries would be too heavy a burden for a mere seven-year-old.

“It was about ‘your father,’ wasn’t it?”

Nella bit her lip to hold back tears and spoke with great difficulty.

“Ms. Moa… Do you like Mr. Bread?”

A question anyone with a family could ask.

Yet Moa had to ponder it for a moment.

Their relationship began with a ploy.

The feelings that bloomed from it… were they familial love, camaraderie from a hierarchical relationship, possessiveness… or mere affection for the opposite sex? She couldn’t distinguish.

“I do like him.”

Whatever the type, broadly speaking, it was an emotion of goodwill.

Though she couldn’t fully comprehend it as a non-human, she was confident in that much.

“You feel the same, don’t you?”

“Yes, I like my dad.”

The girl was equally honest about her feelings.

Though their time together was short, the love he showed her wasn’t bound by time.

He made time for her. She liked her father and wanted to do everything she could for him.

“But sometimes, when I see him work, I get scared.”

But her father wasn’t just a father to her.

“Scared? What do you mean?”

“The crying person.”

After leaving her side,

Donning another mask as ‘Ronin Blade,’ stepping into a bloody scene.

“He beheads the crying person, and people cheer when they see it.”

“…”

“…It scares me.”

Her suffering.

Beheading someone who was writhing in agony, then displaying the head in public and receiving praise.

Society calls that justice and says it’s what this era strives for.

But if such actions lead to a more stable society…

-BOOM!!

Why then, is this place, a symbol of peace, being burned by these twisted individuals?

-Rumble, bang.

Explosions and screams still echoed outside.

The vibrations faintly reached this space.

“Ms. Moa.”

But at this moment, such reality was forgotten.

Drawn by the presence before her.

“The books I read… said justice is always right. That saving those in pain is justice.”

The worries and conflicts that plagued her.

“Then why… couldn’t my dad save that person?”

They covered even the fear she should’ve felt.

“Why couldn’t he save them? Was it just because that person was dangerous?”

No, it didn’t just cover the fear.

“Because it’s easier to kill them than to save those who suffer?”

Despite her maturity, she was still without firm convictions.

This early realization led her thoughts to extreme directions.

“Then, even those rampaging here now…”

Finally, leading her to an extreme conclusion she shouldn’t reach.

“Maybe, just like the person dad killed…”

Just as she was about to spiral.

“Nella.”

Moa held her hand, calling her name gently.

“…Ms. Moa?”

Nella snapped back to reality, calming down.

Facing her, Moa continued.

“You are misunderstanding something.”

“…What?”

“At any time.”

She imparted a realization.

Since descending to this planet, this realization had stayed with her through every moment.

“Those who have fallen to evil should never be forgiven.”

Though it might not be a universal truth,

At least for now, it was a near-absolute fact.

End of Chapter