I'm Not Your Dad, I'm a Villain - Chapter 8

Chapter 8

Hero Land (2)

***

“My dear father, your expression doesn’t seem good today. Is it because of the crowd?”

“Ah, yes. Let’s say it is.”

I couldn’t honestly deny the Boss’s words.

In truth, this Hero Land we had come to was pretty much enemy territory.

As the name suggests, it was filled with all sorts of hero merchandise, and the largest theme park in Pangea, with rides named after heroes.

Some heroes even used this place as their base, and they regularly invited heroes from outside for performances.

It was one of the safest areas in Pangea. There was a good reason James Hart entrusted his daughter to a complete stranger here.

Yes, if something suspicious happened, they could respond immediately.

“Hey, over here!!”

Well then.

The key point was that we had one more VIP to entertain today.

“I look forward to spending the day with you.”

Following the voice, I saw a girl with braided hair and freckles.

Nella Hart. The hero’s daughter whom I had been entrusted with yesterday.

Even at seven years old, she was still very polite.

“Alright, Nella. There are a lot of people, so stay close to me, okay?”

“Yes…”

Nella took her place beside me.

Though she hesitated to hold my hand, I gently took her hand and smiled as kindly as I could.

Don’t worry. I have no intention of harming you.

Right now, I just want to focus purely on my work. Having started this, I planned to take care of this child for the day and seize the opportunity to earn the hero’s trust.

“The entrance is this way.”

Hiding my ulterior motives behind a smile, Nella began to relax and held my hand.

Her finger pointed to the crowded entrance of the theme park. As the largest amusement facility in Pangea, a massive crowd had gathered.

If we waited, it would take hours in this heat, and I couldn’t keep the Boss standing here.

“No, not that way, this way.”

While pondering what to do, Nella tugged my hand and started walking.

Step, step.

Her small footsteps led us to an empty entrance beside the main queue.

Nella, standing at what seemed to be a staff-only entrance, pulled out some paper from her character-themed backpack.

“My dad told me to give this to the staff over here.”

“…What’s this?”

Marked with a gold border, the paper bore the Hero Association’s emblem.

The word ‘PASS’ indicated it was a pass issued to heroes affiliated with the Hero Association.

Come to think of it, heroes could use some public facilities for free.

When I handed the pass Nella gave me to the staff, he exclaimed in admiration and looked at me with awe.

“Ah! You’re associated with an A-rank hero?”

A-rank.

The second-highest rank after S in the Hero Association, considered ‘quasi-elite’ among heroes.

And Ronin Blade was a veteran among A-ranks.

Given his reputation, it was probably possible to enjoy the park’s entrance and internal facilities for free.

“Please follow me.”

Ignoring the long line, the staff opened the entrance for employees.

Not having to go through any more procedures was very welcome to someone like me who wanted to keep their identity hidden.

Wow, the pass really works wonders.

Is this what it’s like to have a hero as a connection?

“…Eep.”

While marveling at our entrance, I felt a tremor from the hand holding mine.

Looking down, I saw Nella trembling and lowering her head.

“Nella, what’s wrong?”

“I’m fine… really.”

She looked up with a smile.

But it seemed like she was about to cry.

Even if she tried to hide it, her reaction was something a child couldn’t fully conceal.

I quickly figured out the reason.

“…Did you want to come here with your father?”

Her body flinched.

It seemed I had hit the mark, but Nella soon forced a smile and shook her head.

“It’s okay. I understand.”

Yes, no matter how mature she was, she was still a seven-year-old.

As a child who had just entered elementary school, it was cruel to spend a day at an amusement park with a stranger instead of her father.

“Don’t worry, Nella.”

Of course, it was my duty to consider such concerns.

To me, her worries were just part of my job.

“Even though your father can’t be with you today, I’m here to fill that void.”

Her eyes sparkled as she looked at me when I patted her head.

I smiled at her.

“So, just for today, consider me like your father. I’ll do my best for you.”

“…”

“…Haha, was that too much to ask?”

Expecting a child I met just yesterday to see me as a father? Realizing my mistake, I tried to correct it.

“No, thank you for being so considerate.”

Nella didn’t show any dissatisfaction and soon smiled more brightly, bowing her head.

“Then, Mr. Bread, I look forward to spending today with you!”

Her voice was more cheerful than before.

Seeing her cute greeting, I couldn’t help but smile broadly.

Yes, kids should be lively.

Feeling relieved that the first step was off to a good start.

“Hmm~ Consider you like a father…”

I was suddenly reminded of someone I shouldn’t forget.

Feeling the presence intensify behind me, I reflexively turned around.

“Bos… Why, our dear daughter, why are you upset?”

The Boss, looking into the distance and sighing.

Seeing her pouty face, I felt chills down my spine, but she merely turned her head away sharply.

“Nothing. I just realized you’re someone who can utter lies without hesitation.”

“Huh? What do you mean…”

“Nella.”

The Boss firmly cut me off, passing by me to take Nella’s hand from mine and leading her forward.

Nella was just as surprised by the sudden action.

But the Boss continued moving forward without hesitation.

“Today is all about ‘us,’ so forget all responsibilities and worries and focus on enjoying this place. If anything happens, the one claiming to be ‘our’ father will handle it.”

“Ah, yes… please take care of me, Moa.”

Feeling pressured by her authoritative tone, Nella followed the Boss.

Conversely, I couldn’t approach them right away.

What’s going on? Why is the Boss suddenly building a wall between us?

***

“I prepared an itinerary for today!”

As we sat on a bench to review our plans for the day, Nella pulled out a notebook from her backpack and showed its contents.

It was a roughly drawn map of Hero Land, made with colored pencils. The writing was a bit messy, but it was legible and detailed.

“Nella, did you draw this?”

“Yes, I prepared it for today!”

Speaking more assertively, Nella began explaining the plan.

“I recommend starting with the lighter rides in Zone 1. Right after the park opens, people rush to the most popular rides, so unless you get there first, you’ll waste a lot of time in line.”

“Oh, I see. So we should start with something like the carousel?”

“After lunch, major rides will be less crowded, but thrill rides can cause severe motion sickness, so it’s best to avoid them right after eating. My plan is to ride lighter rides in the morning, visit the zoo around lunchtime to digest, and then hit the roller coasters as the highlight…”

As Nella mumbled, her enthusiasm was clear, making me feel a bit overwhelmed.

I thought she was just polite, but she’s quite the planner.

But she’s only seven, right?

It’s not like she’s a shrunken adult with her brain intact, like the Boss?

“It’s a well-thought-out plan.”

Unlike my surprise, the Boss was smiling as she read Nella’s plan.

She seemed to find it very admirable that Nella had prepared so thoroughly for today.

“Indeed, since we know nothing about this place… It would be best to follow your suggestions for the day.”

“Yes! I’ll do my best not to disappoint you!”

Nella trembled with joy at the recognition.

Seeing her made me feel a bit bittersweet.

She must have spent countless nights preparing for today, yet the one spending time with her wasn’t her father.

“Indeed… like father, like daughter.”

It seems they think alike.

With a chuckle, I followed the two.

Following Nella’s advice, we started with the must-do carousel.

The Boss watched the carousel turn from outside the fence, amazed.

“So, people ride stuffed horses?”

“No, the exterior is just made to look like it.”

Riding stuffed horses at an amusement park… These thoughts showed her true colors as the leader of an evil organization.

The Boss, about to get on the carousel, turned to me and asked.

“Are you not coming?”

“I have something to do.”

Saying that, I stepped out of the fence and pulled out something from my backpack.

An old model Polaroid camera.

It was something James had given me for this request.

‘Could you please take some photos with this?’

‘Photos?’

‘Of course, a smartphone can take photos too, but the latest cameras are too high-definition.’

Just like construction, photography technology has advanced significantly.

With so many incidents happening, recording them has become essential, and this benefit extends to personal smartphones.

‘Too detailed photos aren’t suitable for reminiscing. Memories become too vivid, like they happened just yesterday, even after ten years…’

So, he preferred using a Polaroid for sentimental photos rather than records.

Well, I was just following his instructions. It wasn’t a bad chance to take pictures of the Boss for our cover.

-Click, click.

Nella waved with a bright smile as I took photos.

The Boss, recognizing me, also waved like Nella, trying to blend in.

Checking the printed Polaroid photos, I saw that the classic device’s low quality added a nostalgic feel.

James had given me the camera for a reason. Thinking that, I examined the Boss’s photo.

Her unique charisma seemed slightly diminished.

What should I say… In these faded photos, the Boss looked like an ordinary girl.

Should I take it as a good thing, given that our disguise was working well?

End of Chapter