Chapter 71

EP.71 Yuria’s Strategy Begins #2

“Aron… He’s on Earth?”

Yuria’s trembling lips.

The soft pink lipstick suits her perfectly.

Is your mouth dry? You must be feeling anxious.

“Yes. He’s on Earth. I don’t know where yet. But I’m sure we’ll find out soon. Hmm… It’s a bit awkward for me to say this as a father, but if it’s Aron, you won’t have to worry about charging that Device.”

“Aron…!”

Her voice filled with longing.

She must have loved him deeply. I feel fortunate that the conservative laws of the kingdom are on my side.

“Calm down.”

At my stern tone, Yuria’s trembling subsided.

But her racing heart couldn’t be calmed, so she placed a hand on her chest and took deep breaths.

“Hoo… hoo…”

I waited patiently for Yuria.

After a while, she let out a final deep sigh and asked with desperate eyes.

“Soon… will I be able to see Aron?”

“I guarantee it.”

“Will Aron… remember me?”

“I don’t know. If his reincarnation went as smoothly as mine, it’ll be fine… but if not…”

You can probably guess what I’m implying.

“So… he might never remember me…”

“…Yes.”

“Even so, it doesn’t matter. No matter what form Aron takes, I’ll definitely bring him back.”

I can sense her determination. Do your best.

Yuria continued.

“But ever since Astaroth died, Tairat seems to be on high alert and is hiding. The demons aren’t showing up at all… Isn’t this going to be a big problem?”

People are already starting to wonder.

They’re saying the aliens have retreated, that the Beast Slayer and the World Union have won, and all sorts of nonsense.

Fools… They don’t even realize they’re being toyed with…

“Tairat is a cunning one. Never let your guard down.”

“Father, you’ve always had foresight. It must be true. But…”

“But?”

“The Device… is the problem. I need to charge it, but there’s no one I like… Even if I find Aron quickly, if he doesn’t remember anything, it’ll take time for him to develop feelings for me…”

What are you talking about? Any man would fall for you in an instant.

You’re worrying for nothing.

I decided to test Yuria, who was clutching her head and bowing deeply.

“It’s definitely a problem. If it’s urgent, what about… Song Jihyuk?”

“Huh?”

Yuria, startled, raised her head.

Her thin, long eyebrows furrowed.

Do you dislike him that much? That’s not it.

“Father, do you really think I would… do *that* with someone else while Aron is out there? Besides, Song Jihyuk is dating Sehwa, my colleague.”

“The Device charges based on feelings of affection, not love. If you truly want to defeat Tairat and bring peace to this planet…”

“I don’t like Song Jihyuk. I don’t plan to. Of course, I think he’s a capable colleague, but this would be a betrayal to Sehwa.”

Sehwa would understand, give her a break.

“Alright. By the way, hmm… feelings of affection…”

I trailed off and looked at Yuria.

She slightly opened her mouth and shrugged her shoulders.

Her reaction made it clear she was at a loss.

“Father… you’re not suggesting…”

Yuria was horrified.

Her reaction tells me everything. It’s going to take some effort to win her over.

“Why are you acting like that?”

At my calm question, Yuria let out a sigh of relief.

Actually, it’s exactly what you’re thinking.

“Ah, no. By the way, I’d like to introduce you to the people in the lab… Would that be okay?”

“No. What use would I be in the lab? I’d just be dead weight. I plan to continue with my business as usual. That way, I can support the lab financially.”

“The lab has plenty of money. Song Jihyuk brought in company funds.”

“The more money, the better. This might be fate… I should have a deep conversation with Song Jihyuk.”

At that, Yuria smiled brightly.

“You seem to have adjusted really well here.”

“Kim Taegon’s memories are intact, so it wasn’t hard to adjust.”

“That’s a relief. And Father, could you move to Seoul?”

“I was already thinking of that. How could I stay apart from you after regaining my memories? I’ll find a house, so get ready to move out of the hotel.”

Yuria’s expression brightened more than ever.

“Yes, Father.”

From now on, it’s time to take care of this lady… though calling it “parenting” feels a bit off.

At a glance, Yuria was harder to handle than Sehwa.

She’s only a year older than Sehwa, but she’s matured greatly after experiencing tragedy and is quite independent.

But I thought Yuria would be easier to win over than Sehwa.

At first, I’d act a bit clumsy and gradually shed the stern father image.

So Yuria could feel more at ease with me.

Then, I’d send out some weak demons for Sehwa to handle alone, reinforcing Yuria’s need to charge the Device.

After organizing my initial plan, I said.

“Stay here for a few days.”

“What about you?”

“I’m going to look for a house.”

“Let’s go together.”

“You’re too old to be clingy. Don’t worry about your father.”

Yuria bit her lip.

You don’t want to argue with your dad after so long, do you?

“…Alright.”

**

Back at the base, I watched Sehwa vent her anger.

She was upset because I told her I’d be living with Yuria.

She couldn’t confront me directly, but she couldn’t just sit and stew either…

So she was taking it out on a poor C-rank demon.

It was a massive lion-like demon, one that had no match on Earth aside from the Beast Slayer, and it was quite aggressive.

But under Sehwa’s malice, the demon just whimpered and howled, unable to fight back.

“Die! Die!”

*Whack! Whack!*

She slashed at the demon’s body with her long nails.

I found her adorable and let out a chuckle.

After tormenting the demon for a while, Sehwa kicked its bloodied body into a cage and approached me.

“Master…! Please reconsider…!”

“I understand you’re upset. But this is necessary. It’s what I want.”

What I want. For the Evil Valkyrie, those are magic words.

Sehwa’s expression turned gloomy.

I started wiping the blood off her hands with my clothes.

Sehwa tried to dissuade me in a softer tone.

“…Master… your clothes will get dirty… I can just use magic…”

“Quiet.”

The sticky demon blood wasn’t coming off easily.

I picked Sehwa up and headed to the bathroom, turning on the faucet and gently washing her hands.

“Ah…!”

Sehwa let out a strange breath.

I smirked and asked.

“Remembering the past, are you?”

“Yes…”

This must be… after Yoo Seunghyun mentioned Leona’s name on the street, and Sehwa slapped him and cried.

I remember washing her hands, which were scratched and wounded from the wall, and comforting her.

It’s amazing how much you’ve changed since then, though you still act spoiled.

Of course, you’re still acting spoiled now.

“We need to find a new Aiter, make your weapons, and upgrade your suit, so I won’t be with Yuria every day. I’ll use business as an excuse to leave often, and I’ll see you then, so don’t worry too much.”

I didn’t need to explain, but I did it for Sehwa.

She seemed to sense my feelings and nodded weakly, fidgeting with her toes.

“Then that’s fine…”

“Feeling better?”

“Yes…”

I brushed her lavender hair behind her ear.

Then I transformed into Song Jihyuk and used his tone.

“Want to eat some tteokbokki you like?”

“Ah…!”

Her melting expression showed how much she liked it.

I knew it. This is how I’ll handle things outside the base.

“I’ll release the demon you just beat up soon. So handle it well. Got it?”

“Okay… Ah, yes! Master…!”

Sehwa, who accidentally used informal speech, was startled.

I chuckled and opened a portal to the officetel.

“Remember, outside the base, you need to act like your usual self. The same goes for when you transform.”

“Ah… I know…”

“Let’s go. It’s late.”

“Yes…”

**

Two days later, an apartment two blocks from my officetel.

*Beep! Click!*

The door unlocked and opened.

Yuria, inspecting the interior of our new home, exclaimed in admiration.

“Wow… for something found so quickly, the house is quite… nice? It’s a bit big for two people, though.”

“I put a lot of thought into it. Your room is over there.”

I pointed to the closed room next to the bathroom, and Yuria tilted her head.

I continued.

“Take a look.”

“A look? There’s no furniture, right?”

“I’ve put in the basics. You can buy whatever else you need.”

“Hmm… really?”

Yuria, looking surprised, opened her room door.

And her eyes, filled with anticipation, instantly crumpled.

“What… what is this…?”

The room was entirely pink.

The bed, the blankets, the pillows, the desk, the wardrobe—everything was pink.

How’s that? My sense of style. Isn’t it horrifying?

A bit lacking, right?

“Father…! What is this?”

“Don’t you like it?”

“It’s not that I don’t like it, it’s just too terrible…”

Yuria, about to raise her voice, flinched.

She saw the shadow on my face.

“You don’t like it, do you?”

“It’s not that…”

“I’ve raised you strictly to maintain your dignity as a princess. That’s why you’ve matured beyond your years. I’ve always felt sorry about that.”

So I put extra effort into this.

A room that any girl would love.

Hurry up and say thank you.

“…Thank you.”

That’s my girl.

“Take some time to change it if you want.”

“No, no. I’ll just… use it as it is. Hearing your words makes me want to.”

“I’m really fine with it…”

“I’m really fine with it too.”

“If that’s the case, then alright. And I have something important to tell you.”

Yuria’s face tensed up, turning red.

She couldn’t stay still, her hands trembling.

Are you expecting news about Aron?

Your guess is correct.

“Whether it’s fate or something else, I feel like the heavens are helping us.”

“What do you mean?”

“There’s a place I need to go with you. I can feel Aron nearby.”

At that, Yuria quickly walked to the shoe rack and put on her flat shoes.

Then she looked at me.

Her expression said, “Why aren’t you coming?”

I chuckled and walked over to her, thinking.

The situations I’ve created are natural when taken individually, but when put together, they seem too contrived.

Think about it. A reincarnated father coincidentally meets his daughter in Korea, and her former lover has also reincarnated and is in Korea?

Even worse, that lover is Sehwa’s boyfriend. It’s suspicious no matter how you look at it.

The good thing is, Yuria firmly believes in me and doesn’t know about Yoo Seunghyun.

She also doesn’t know that he dated Sehwa.

This is quite thrilling.

Let’s proceed in the best possible way without getting caught.

To be continued―――――――――――――――――――――

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