'Zara?!'

The name tore through Kaiser's mind like a lightning bolt, dragging with it a flood of bitter memories. His body stiffened as the warmth of Cia’s arms around him sent a chill down his spine.

The last time someone embraced him from behind, it hadn’t been a gesture of comfort. But the cleanest, quick, efficient, most painless death delivered by her betrayal.

Zara's touch had felt warm, too, as warm as fresh blood, until the icy sharpness of her claws pierced his heart. Next thing he knew, he suddenly dropped to the ground, only to realize he had been killed before he could even process the pain soon after.

It wasn't the most gruesome way to die, merciful, even. Yet it itched her chilling grace within him.

His spine shivered involuntarily, a cold sweat prickling his skin. He shut his eyes tightly, bracing for the same fatal strike, even as her trembling fingers clutched his shirt.

But… nothing came.

No pain. No claws. Only the soothing warmth of her gentle touch and the soft pressure of her cheek resting against his back.

'...Sh*t,' he thought, exhaling shakily. 'Don’t tell me I’m traumatized by hugs now.' From behind, at least.

The irony of the situation wasn’t lost on him, but it was overshadowed by the unmistakable strangeness of it all—the tears soaking through his shirt, the uneven rhythm of her breath, the sweet scent of her hair drifting into his senses.

Strangely, he began wishing for it to last forever.

In that moment, Kai allowed himself to relax, leaning slightly into her embrace. For the first time in what felt like forever, the weight of his burdens began to lift.

“Kai…” Cia’s voice broke as she whispered his name, raw and full of emotion. “You idiot… why are you like this?”

He froze, her words striking him harder than any blade. His heart hammered against his chest as he struggled to respond.

"Hell if I know," he whispered hoarsely in return.

A silence followed, thick with unspoken emotions.

“Thank you,” Cia whispered at last, in a trembling tone. “Thank you for not giving up on me.”

Her arms tightened around him, and Kaiser’s lips curved into a small, genuine smile. He felt the sting of tears threaten his composure, but he fought them back stubbornly. He was a grown man—no way he’d cry over something like this. Not in the hands of a maiden.

"...So, you're coming with me, right?"

"Idiot. How could I say no after hearing all that? You’re not as tough as you pretend to be, you know. And besides..." She murmured.

She rested her forehead against his back, her voice dropping to a near whisper. "...I don’t want you turning into some depressed drunkard if I leave. What would Ariella do then? I’m more worried about her than you."

Kaiser snorted, rolling his eyes even though she couldn’t see it. “Yeah, sure. Treat it like an investment, why don’t you.”

This novel is published on a different platform. Support the original author by finding the official source.

“Exactly,” she said, a small smile forming in her tone. “Just promise me one thing, Kai—save a thousand lives for me in the future, in exchange. Deal?”

“A thousand?” He arched an eyebrow. “I might as well be a superhero at that point.”

Her soft giggles sent a warm shiver down his neck. “I think it suits you pretty well.”

“For your information, I’m a certified as*hole.”

Her breath brushed his ear as she sighed dramatically. "Actually, I have one more condition. Please, never call yourself that ever again. Because you're not a bad person, the Kai I came to know was an overprotective, kind, selfless, a bit mischievous, brave, gentle and loving person. And I liked that about you, so don't be too harsh on yourself. You're just a misguided and misunderstood man. Not a bad person, that's why don't ever call yourself that."

He hesitated, her words cutting through layers of self-loathing he hadn’t even realized were still there. “…Yeah, I won’t.”

“Promise?”

“I swear,” he said softly. “Now, we should get moving. The others are waiting for us.” Partially to save his heart from all this drama.

But Cia didn’t let go immediately.

“Kai…” Her voice was quieter now, almost shy. “About what you said earlier. A-about family... I haven’t agreed to that yet.”

“Eh? Yeah, I did say that nonsense. Just forget about it—”

“No.” Her arms tightened again, her cheek pressing closer. “I don’t want to forget. Actually… I think I’d like that. Back on Earth, my family didn’t feel like… family. They supported me financially, sure, but they barely spoke to me due to my capabilities severe inferiority. Unlike here, with you and Ariella, it’s different. So, if you don’t have a family, I don’t mind being yours.”

Kaiser’s heart twisted in a way that was both unfamiliar and comforting. He would have really loved that. For some reason, it made him brimming with happiness within, as if he found something very precious Kai never knew he needed, longed for and dreamt of.

“Thank you,” he said simply in a trembling tone.

Her head shot up, a mix of disbelief and concern on her face. “W-wait, are you crying?”

“What? No!” he sputtered, quickly wiping the *stay rain drops* on his eyes, totally not tears. “Why would I cry over something like this? A fly just got in my eye, that’s all.”

“Flies don’t exist in Greenland, Kai…”

“What do you know?” he shot back, flustered. She can't even see!

Cia giggled softly at his poorly concealed embarrassment. After a moment, she asked quietly, “Kai… what do we call our relationship now? I mean, it’s not romantic or anything. It’s more like a family bond. So… does that make me your stepdaughter too?”

Kaiser groaned, pinching the bridge of his nose. “Don’t even start—”

“Should I call you *Daddy*?” she teased, her laughter spilling over.

His face turned scarlet, and he stood abruptly. “Alright, that’s it! We’re going!”

But as they walked, her soft laughter still echoed in his ears.

He didn't feel too good, as if in the midst of hellish sickness and heaven. Heavenly because from the looks of it, Cia was relatively back to her real self, which he yearned to achieve all this time. He got to see her inspiring smile and hear her melodious laughter, making all his sufferings worth it. Sweetly hellish, for Cia keep teasing him, whispering that accursed word, Daddy, I his ears.

'What the f*ck is wrong with her?'

Though, he should be more concerned about what the f*ck is wrong with him. I've given him a loving goddess belonging solely to him, with the addition of a vulnerable, delicate beauty devoid of sight reliant only on him... Yet for some freaking reason, Kaiser failed to progress in the aspect of romance and instead, explore a relationship path I didn't even know existed... But jokes aside, his relationship with Ariella and Cia had indeed taken an unexpected turn that even him was rendered hopeless in comprehending his mistake, if forming a strong bond not relying on romance was even a mistake to begin with.

'I just hope the first thing that will come out of Arie's mouth is Daddy Kai... F*ck, this is unbearable.'

Sighing, he came down the stairs holding Cia by the hand, in which she insisted on or else she will say that accursed word to him again. Feeling her palms grip onto his, Kai's heart was still unstable but his certain of his feelings towards Cia. He kinda likes her, though not romantically sure, same goes to Ariella, for love was a subject his really dumb at. What even is that thing? Or his just a disappointment as a male.

However, Kaiser wasn't sure if they felt the same.

'What did I even get myself into...' He didn't know, nor aware what it's called.

In any case, the luxury of time was something they didn't and they wasted so much already. Mere five minutes, to be exact.

In the dark dining hall, Kaiser noticed a lone figure sitting in a dark corner. Clad in poorly made armor, armed by a blade meant for chores rather than battle. Maber's expression was forlorn, as he sat there, motionless but exerting a brimming sense of conflicted emotions with his head down.

The innkeeper's husband must be thinking whether he'll meet his wife and son again.

Even as they neared, the volunteered soldier didn't pay any heed. Until Kaiser spoke.

"What are you sitting there, we're leaving."

Maber slowly lifted his head to gaze at the young man. Before saying in a regretful tone.

"...I can't."

The young man sighed. "You can, I said so."

The man grounded his teeth. "Kid, you don't understand. That's not how it works-"

He was about to raise his voice in rage but was stopped by a whispering blade centimeters away from his neck. Unaware when did the young man put it there.

"I'm really tired of others thinking of me as a kid that doesn't understand anything. Aside from love, I do understand many things, more than most, actually... Including what it feels like to live without parents. It's hard, lonely and painful, so f*cking move your ass and meet with your son and wife! I don't give a sh*t about pride or what they'll say, I want you there now. Trust me, no one will dare stop you with me around, even Alfred himself. Besides, you're no warrior. The best you could do is die there, Ethan is a kind boy, Miss Lina can't lose you, either."

Additionally, he wouldn't want another kid to went through the sorrow of an orphan like him. Not if he can do something about it.

Maber hesitated, conflicted by his proposal. However, what Kaiser said was undeniable and in all honesty, he would even go as far as begging for a chance to be with his family.

"... T-thank you... Thank you... Thank you." The man cried in gratitude, repeating the same words over and over again.

Kaiser smiled towards the blind girl.

"Nine hundred ninety nine to go."