A long silence ensued.Little Aya Jiu, looking utterly wronged, sat up.Her eyes, still glistening with a faint mist of tears, made her a heartbreaking sight.With a downturned mouth, she whimpered softly, “Daddy, do you really have to go…?”
“…”
‘Ugh, so adorable!’
Aya Tone subtly sniffed.
‘That was close; he was almost swayed by that endearing little expression.’
In the past, Aya Tone would have agreed to his daughter’s request without a second thought.
But this time…
“Xiao Jiu, not this time.”
He found himself at a loss as to how to explain the dungeons to little Aya Jiu, or what would happen if the monsters within them ever stepped into the real world.
Such complexities were far beyond the comprehension of a four-year-old girl.
Explaining it would only cause her unnecessary distress.
There was simply no need.
“Then, then I’ll give you money, so you don’t have to go, okay?” Little Aya Jiu gazed up at her father, her eyes brimming with hope.
Little Aya Jiu’s reasoning was utterly innocent.
Daddy went to work because he needed to earn money.
So, if she gave Daddy money, wouldn’t he no longer have to leave her?
‘Haha, this child…’
Aya Tone chuckled softly, stroking little Aya Jiu’s head. “Xiao Jiu, it’s not about money. Daddy is going to be a great hero!”
“A great hero?” Little Aya Jiu tilted her head, confused.
At kindergarten, her teachers had told them stories about adventurers.
The teachers said those adventurers were all heroes.
‘Was Daddy one too?’
“That’s right,” Aya Tone affirmed, pondering for a moment before recounting a story in terms she could easily grasp.
The culture of adventurers had long since taken root in this world.
Numerous children’s books had emerged, designed to expand a child’s worldview.
Upon first arriving in this world, he had diligently read them himself.
Much like myths, they subtly captured one’s interest, inspiring children to aspire to be like the characters within.
Unlike ancient legends, most of these tales were based on real events.
Unfortunately, kindergarten education didn’t delve into dungeon knowledge; cultural studies formed the core curriculum until high school.
It was only in high school that comprehensive and in-depth instruction on dungeons began.
After all, humans only awakened their supernatural abilities at the age of eighteen, and premature exposure could prove counterproductive.
Supernatural abilities marked a critical turning point.
Upon awakening their abilities, students could choose which university to attend based on their unique powers.
The prerequisite, however, was passing the entrance exams, making academic scores paramount.
Of course, if one’s awakened ability was exceptionally astonishing, they could potentially use connections to undergo a special recruitment examination.
In this world of awakened abilities, power was, fundamentally, everything.
University departments were diverse, yet their ultimate purpose remained the same: to guide students in unlocking the full potential of their supernatural powers.
This was precisely why Aya Tone had dropped out of high school directly, never even taking the college entrance exam.
If he had entered university, his ability would inevitably have been exposed, transforming into a magical girl in front of everyone—the mere thought made him cringe with social embarrassment.
Had he not been caught by Fire Finch, he might still be toiling away as an office drone in some company.
Alas, there were no ‘ifs’; he was now the protagonist of his own story.
After listening to her father’s story, little Aya Jiu asked curiously, “But Daddy, you’re not an adventurer, are you?”
Aya Tone: “…”
‘Blast it, how could I forget that?’
If he wanted to use magic, he would automatically transform.
To prevent Xiao Jiu from becoming curious about his true ability,
he had told her he was an administrative staff member responsible for guild affairs, someone who didn’t use supernatural abilities.
He had even spent a long time explaining what “administrative staff” meant back then.
‘Now, he had truly shot himself in the foot.’
*Slap, slap, slap*
In a fit of exasperation, Aya Tone reached out and lightly smacked little Aya Jiu’s bottom a few times.
‘This little cotton-padded jacket was leaking wind; he couldn’t keep her!’
“It’s all your Sister Fire Finch’s fault for sending me on a business trip!” He decided. ‘Never mind; he’d just blame Fire Finch for everything.’
‘She was the root of all evil.’
It wasn’t that he was guarding against his own daughter; it was simply too difficult to explain.
Just imagine the impact on a child’s worldview if little Aya Jiu were to one day discover that her father had suddenly become her mother?
Forget about claims that children are highly adaptable.
It would be like his sweet, obedient daughter suddenly turning into a scruffy boy—completely unacceptable, right?
Therefore,
Aya Tone tried his best to prevent anything that might negatively affect little Aya Jiu’s physical and mental well-being.
‘Ideally, he’d cut off Fire Finch too…’
“Daddy, you hit me~ Boohoo…” Little Aya Jiu pouted, rubbing her slightly reddened bottom.
‘Mean Daddy.’
With little Aya Jiu’s playful outburst, the somber mood of parting was instantly dispelled.
At the same time, Aya Tone made a firm decision: ‘He would make this quick!’
“Xiao Jiu, will you stay with Sister Fire Finch for the next few days, okay?”
“Sister Fire Finch?” Little Aya Jiu blinked innocently.
She was very fond of this beautiful older sister who often came to visit.
Sister Fire Finch was even prettier than her kindergarten teachers, and she always brought delicious treats.
‘Just like a mother.’
‘If Sister Fire Finch were to stay with her… maybe Daddy not being home wouldn’t be so bad after all.’
“Okay, but Daddy, you have to come back quickly!” Little Aya Jiu pouted, hugging Aya Tone’s chest reluctantly.
While having Sister Fire Finch was nice, she preferred being with Daddy.
“Alright, alright~” Aya Tone murmured, affectionately stroking her little head.
He also breathed a sigh of relief.
If she had stubbornly refused, he wouldn’t have known what to do.
‘Truly his obedient daughter.’
For the next two days, Aya Tone did not go to the guild.
Instead, he took two days off for little Aya Jiu and spent the time playing with his daughter.
It wasn’t until Fire Finch’s call came through that their brief adventure concluded.
****
Fated Apartment.
“Xiao Jiu, be a good girl and wait for Daddy, okay?”
Aya Tone reluctantly stroked little Aya Jiu, who was nestled in Fire Finch’s arms.
After two days of fun, he felt even more unwilling to leave.
“Go on, go!” Fire Finch snapped, swatting his hand away.
Over the past two days, Fire Finch had crammed herself with parenting knowledge, and now it was time to put it into practice!
She certainly couldn’t let Aya Tone linger and disturb her.
Furthermore, the situation in the Imperial Capital was growing increasingly grim, with signs that a dungeon could open at any moment.
Aya Tone had to depart as soon as possible.
“Go, Daddy, go! Xiao Jiu will take good care of Sister Fire Finch!” Little Aya Jiu declared, clenching her tiny fists with a serious expression.
‘Uh… something felt amiss.’
‘But never mind.’
Aya Tone looked back repeatedly with each step, finally snapping out of his daze at the sound of a heavy door slamming shut.
“Damn it!” ‘That woman, Fire Finch, again!’
‘Xiao Jiu would never treat me like that.’
Grumbling, Aya Tone slung his travel bag over his shoulder, found a secluded spot, and immediately used teleportation magic.
Yan’an Airport.
The sudden spatial fluctuations immediately drew the attention of security personnel.
However, upon seeing the petite figure, their hands, which had been gripping their firearms, lowered.
A voice crackled over the walkie-talkie: “Identity confirmed. It’s our little Silver-Haired Witch.”
“…”
Aya Tone, having just landed, was momentarily speechless.
‘Come on, I heard that, okay?’
‘Who’s a ‘little friend’? At most, I’m just a bit short, alright?’
‘Hmph.’
Aya Tone chose not to dignify the security officers with a response.