I'm Not Your Dad, I'm a Villain - Chapter 69

Chapter 69

Sidekick (1)

Ginger Bread is weak.

In Vanguard’s mind, this notion was already entrenched.

No matter how much courage he displayed in facing wild beasts bare-handed, he struggled to even manage his own body.

‘My father is similar to you.’

It wasn’t a misconception; his daughter had proved it.

Watching him interact with Spiritas, Vanguard recalled the conversation they had.

‘Similar, in what way?’

‘At first, I thought it was just your appearance. But after talking to you, I realized why you felt familiar. Like my father, you’ve lived an unrewarded life…’

Because he lacked strength, he couldn’t become a hero…

‘Yes, my father struggles with the same issue. He constantly questions if his relentless efforts are truly the right thing to do…’

Vanguard sincerely pitied that unfortunate man.

He believed, as a hero, that he must protect what that man wanted to protect.

For someone with power, it was the right thing to do.

Or so he thought.

“But why…”

Why is it that the man he thought he should protect…

…could stand beside the strongest hero before him?

“I’ve already informed the Association, so they’ll take care of it. We’ve caught the masterminds, and the rioters will soon be disbanded.”

“That’s a relief. Things calmed down faster than expected.”

“Now that the work is done, we can hang out together!”

“…Hang out? I need to go to the hospital, and you need to wait for the Association to send someone for cleanup.”

“What!? We haven’t met in a long time, and you’re just leaving? At least buy me some ice cream!”

“Don’t extort money from a poor citizen, World Star.”

“Then I’ll buy it!”

No, they didn’t just seem close; they seemed very familiar.

As if they had known each other before meeting him.

As if being chosen by her wasn’t the whole story.

‘Ah, I see… I…’

He realized it belatedly.

His judgment based on her wasn’t the right answer.

He had simply harbored expectations and was disappointed on his own.

‘I still don’t deserve to stand by her side.’

Unable to endure his self-reproach, Vanguard turned away from the scene and pulled out something from his pocket with his bleeding hand.

A communication device given to heroes.

It could connect directly to ‘an executive of the Association.’

“…Yes, it’s me.”

Thus, a hero, unable to bear his frustration, chose to return to his original place, ignoring the opportunity that had come.

As always, he adhered to a single path with unwavering determination.

“May I request the usual?”

Resolving to bear a new burden of guilt in his heart.

***

Time passed, and by the time the riot in the city was completely quelled.

“What? Quit!?”

Kana exclaimed in shock at the news she received while comforting victims at the relief center.

She was so shocked that she didn’t even notice me, who had just come out of the tent after treatment.

“No way! He left without saying anything after coming all the way to District D? Sure, he seemed severely injured after the fight with the villain… What? An executive called him?”

Kana ended the call reluctantly, still in disbelief.

Clutching my sore neck, I approached her, and she finally seemed to notice me.

“Oh, mister, are you done with your treatment?”

“Well, I don’t need to be hospitalized, so don’t worry. So what was that call about?”

“Oh, it’s… You know the hero we met earlier? That Vanguard guy.”

Right, he came to this city for an appointment.

Judging by the circumstances, it seemed like that appointment was with Kana, but he left District D without properly talking.

A reckless action, but Kana probably couldn’t do much about it.

Even though an S-rank hero had a significant position, the Association’s executives wielded political influence across all of Pangea.

Though nothing good ever comes from their direct involvement…

“Sigh, I thought I had found a sidekick, but he suddenly bailed.”

“That’s unfortunate, but it’s strange. Did he have to come all the way here to find a sidekick?”

With someone like her, applicants would be lining up.

Why did she specifically come to this city to find him?

“Oh, well…”

Kana glanced at me briefly, then quickly turned away.

“There’s a reason.”

“Is it hard to explain?”

“Not really. Initially, I was interested for a trivial reason… But after looking into it, I thought he was the best candidate. So I decided to meet him while passing by.”

“Ah, I see.”

Though not completely satisfied with the answer, I let it slide, understanding she had her reasons for reacting that way.

What lingered on my mind was… yeah, the unusual effort she seemed to be making.

“So, you said you wanted to join along the way…”

“…As you might have guessed, mister.”

Yes, she was heading to District B.

She had been eagerly awaiting a rematch with Seolhwa since the conflict that day.

“Are you going too, mister?”

But her next question was unrelated.

“Why would I go there?”

“I thought you might push yourself to go.”

“…What do you take me for?”

Pandemonia was gathering countless S-rank villains led by Seolhwa, an executive of Ouroboros.

Even S-rank heroes like Spiritas were rallying to oppose them, and though smaller in scale compared to three years ago, the intensity would be no less fierce.

Having experienced the turmoil firsthand, I knew this wasn’t a fight I should get involved in.

“If you want to go, I can take you.”

Despite that, Kana made a firm offer as if she couldn’t let go of something.

“My sidekick position is vacant. You helped find the rioters’ base and protect the hostages. If we explain that, the Association will likely agree.”

“…Hey.”

“I’m serious.”

“…”

“Seriously, I think you’d be a good fit, so I’m offering.”

I knew that too.

Though she liked to joke, she was serious about distinguishing between work and play.

Common sense would dictate declining the offer, but accepting it would give me a chance to meet him again.

Even if it’s impossible alone, borrowing the power of an S-rank hero…

-Vroom!

As I hesitated over the decision, a vehicle approached the open area of the relief center.

It stopped right in front of Kana and me. The person who got out was a familiar face.

“Ah, so you were here.”

No, beyond familiar, it was a face I didn’t want to see.

“Hey, why are you here…”

“Are you Suzuki Kana?”

Gray Anatomy.

Hiding his position as an executive, he extended his hand to Kana with a friendly smile.

“Nice to meet you. I’m Faust Panzer, a health teacher from Maris Academy.”

“Oh, hello, teacher. But why did you come to see me…?”

“Well, the Association gave me an order. They said if you’re having trouble with the sidekick issue, I should bring along a suitable candidate.”

“What? You have a sidekick prepared?”

Kana’s eyes widened in surprise as she shook his hand.

I was also taken aback by the unexpected development, but soon realized what he was talking about.

Seeing the two antennae squirming from the car window confirmed my suspicion.

“Hey. Don’t tell me…”

“Don’t say anything. I had no choice in this.”

After all, ‘that child’ was a tool belonging to the Association before being a student.

“Come on out.”

Anatomy turned away from me and opened the car door.

Descending from the car were not antennae, but a girl in a poncho with hair sprouting unnaturally.

E-3.

Commonly known as Isri, the artificial human.

“Um, hi.”

As Isri ran over and took her place, Kana stared down at her with wide eyes.

Bright, twinkling eyes. And antennae swaying as she tilted her head.

“Are you Heavenly Demon?”

And words not at all fitting a girl.

“What?”

“I can feel it just by looking! The only superhuman exuding such vast energy recorded in Isri’s database is Heavenly Demon!”

Well, she’s not entirely wrong.

Kana inherited superhuman strength through the gift, Present, from the man known as Heavenly Demon.

While lacking experience and skill, her potential had surpassed her predecessor, growing day by day.

“No, I’m not Heavenly Demon…”

“Ah! I’ve realized it!”

Though Kana tried to deny it, Isri just smiled brightly, ignoring her feelings.

“This person is not Heavenly Demon, but Mama!”

Yeah, her usual nonsense.

So abrupt, it left me bewildered.

“What?”

“Isri has found her Mama!”

“…”

Kana stared blankly at Isri’s words.

Then, blinking, she turned to me in bewilderment.

“Mister, what do I do? A daughter I don’t know suddenly appeared… Is this what Mary felt when she conceived Jesus?”

“Get a grip.”

What’s an S-rank hero doing, being swayed by a child’s nonsense?

Honestly, that brat appeared out of nowhere and startled everyone again.

“Hey, is it okay for Isri to move around like that?”

The kid who had been lying broken on the ground until recently.

It had only been half a day, so I couldn’t help but worry if it was too soon for her to return.

Anatomy, who brought Isri here, probably felt the same way.

“Well, she shut down because she lost an essential component. As long as that’s replaced, there shouldn’t be any issues.”

“…Wasn’t it stolen by a crow?”

“I understand doubting that such advanced technology shut down for a trivial reason, but being too negative about it isn’t good either.”

Anatomy whispered seriously, a rare sight.

His gaze was fixed on Isri, who was chatting with Kana.

“Our organization was defeated by the force that created that child. If we don’t acknowledge it in preparation for battle, it’s a disgrace to us.”

“That’s true, but…”

Yes, he experienced a bitter defeat in battle.

He didn’t rampage like Seolhwa because he lacked the opportunity. While plotting against the Association that defeated him, he had to recognize their strength to some extent.

At least in disaster preparation, anything less than a thorough response would be seen as humiliating.

“Mama should hug Isri!”

…Though Anatomy getting serious didn’t make that brat any less ridiculous.

“Um, like this?”

“Oh! You’re the first person to lift Isri! Mama is indeed Isri’s Mama!”

“Haha, what a cute kid.”

Kana, of course, loved children.

So she didn’t mind Isri’s antics, but her expression gradually hardened, as if realizing something.

“By the way, the Association told me to take this child as a sidekick… Can you explain that?”

“Ah, they said they’d contact you soon. I’m not directly involved with the Association…”

Anatomy distanced himself from Kana’s question.

In reality, he was only a teacher to his students, and Isri saw him as a teacher. She hadn’t noticed anything suspicious.

Though tools for villains and heroes, on the surface, they were just a teacher and student.

“Moa’s Papa.”

But that’s the same for me.

Why did she show particular interest in me from the start?

“And this is Isri’s Mama.”

And why did she call Kana Mama without hesitation, despite saying she had no mother when we first met?

Just as I was glaring at her, Isri turned to look at Kana and me with a bright smile.

“Together, they are a couple!”

She said it as if it were the most natural thing, leaving us both dumbfounded.

End of Chapter