Chapter 6…
While I was silently repeating his name in my head, he asked another question.
“…Do you have parents?”
“No.”
“A guardian?”
“Hmm. My uncle raised me, but two years ago he abandoned me in a forest full of monsters. That’s when I became an orphan.”
I answered sincerely while chewing my food.
When I glanced at his expression, his eyes burned like flames, as if he were holding back anger.
“Then, in the monster forest…”
“You’re asking how I got out?”
“…Yes.”
“At first, I ran through the forest, begging someone to save me.”
I begged and begged.
But hope quickly shattered, and unbearable pain engulfed my fragile body. And that repeated over and over again.
“Later, I found myself wishing someone would just kill me painlessly.”
Dying even once was cruel enough, yet no matter how many times I died, I kept coming back to life.
Now, I can use this ability, so I think of it as overpowered.
But back then, it was nothing but a terrible curse.
“Still, after awakening my ability, I somehow managed to survive.”
Though it would be more accurate to say I was forced to live.
He lowered his gaze, as if he couldn’t bear to meet my eyes.
That was a good sign.
I needed to look as pitiful as possible so I could stay here for a while.
Despite his rough exterior, he was soft-hearted and compassionate. There was no way he could turn someone like me away.
After a moment, he carefully spoke.
“If it’s alright, could you tell me what ability you awakened?”
“Precognition.”
“I see…”
“Huh? It’s a pretty good ability, but you don’t seem that surprised?”
“I am surprised.”
No, you really don’t look like it.
I almost said something, but remembering how stoic he usually was, I just shrugged.
“Then have all your questions been answered?”
“…Where are you staying right now?”
“I don’t have a place. I used to live in a small village, but I thought I’d starve if I stayed there, so I followed a merchant group and just arrived in the capital today.”
“Was there no one in that village who could help you?”
“It was a poor, remote village. A kid like me wasn’t useful as labor…”
His expression turned savage, as if he might tear someone apart at any moment.
So this was the face he made when he heard about my past.
“…Just one last question.”
“Yes, go ahead.”
His face twisted slightly, as if deep in thought.
“Tania… did you come here because you know me?”
Thump.
My heart dropped.
It was an unexpected question, and for a moment, I almost lost control of my expression.
Had my gaze unconsciously revealed a sense of longing?
As I hesitated, unsure how to answer, he added quietly,
“I’m just curious why, out of so many houses, you came here.”
Ah, that’s why.
It made sense he’d be suspicious of someone who suddenly showed up.
Besides… the man I remembered had always seemed like he was being chased by someone.
Even as a child, it would be natural for him to be wary.
In truth, in the previous timeline, he hadn’t died from an accident or illness.
He had been murdered.
Most likely by the one who had been pursuing him all along.
Back then, I failed to catch that person.
But this time, I will definitely find and eliminate the one responsible.
I answered calmly, trying to appear natural.
“I don’t even know how many houses I’ve gone to.”
“What do you mean…?”
“I knocked on every door just hoping to get something to eat. You’re the first one who actually gave me food.”
“I see…”
Letting out a quiet sigh with an unreadable expression, he spoke again.
“Do you have somewhere to stay?”
“Not right now. So I’m planning to take the entrance exam for the Papiope family’s talent academy soon.”
The talent academy.
It was established by the Papiope ducal family to nurture gifted individuals.
Children aged 7 to 15 could enroll, and if they passed the exam, they would receive lodging, meals, and high-quality education.
The problem was that so many children dreamed of rising in status that passing was extremely difficult.
After hearing my plan, he closed his eyes briefly before opening them again.
“If you have nowhere to stay right now, then stay here.”
I had expected it, knowing how soft-hearted he was, but hearing it directly still made me smile brightly.
“Really? Thank you!”
As I bowed my head, he frowned as if displeased.
“…I suppose I’ll have to teach you how to doubt people first. And put some weight on you.”
✦ ✦ ✦
Late at night.
Aiden stood in front of the bed where Tania slept soundly.
Perhaps the journey had exhausted her—she was sleeping so deeply that she wouldn’t wake even if someone carried her away.
For a long time, he stared at her with bloodshot eyes, as if something inside him was boiling over.
“I’m sorry.”
Then, suddenly, with a pale face, he whispered as if sobbing,
“Dad… is so sorry for leaving you alone.”
Overwhelming regret crashed over him like a tidal wave.
From the moment he first held Tania, to her first steps, to the day she first called him “Dad”—
Every memory was vivid.
That was why, the moment he saw her face when she came to his house, he knew.
There was no way he wouldn’t recognize her.
Her lovely rose-gold hair. Her amber eyes, identical to his.
The daughter he had longed for every single day, even in his dreams.
At last, he collapsed to his knees before the bed.
With trembling hands, he gently touched Tania’s thin cheek.
“My one and only daughter… Tania.”
Aiden’s face was twisted in unbearable anguish.
✦ ✦ ✦
The next day.
I woke up feeling the warm morning sunlight shining over my eyelids.
Rubbing my tired eyes, I stepped out of the room and saw him cooking breakfast.
For some reason, the sight made me smile.
“Good morning, mister.”
At my cheerful greeting, he turned to look at me, frowning slightly as if something bothered him.
“You wake up early for a child.”
“I guess so. So when will you return my greeting?”
“…Good morning.”
As if he had just finished cooking, he placed the golden-browned food onto a plate and set it on the table.
“Eat.”
“Thank you! You should sit and eat too.”
“I’m fine—”
“Come on!”
When I tugged at his sleeve with a grin, he reluctantly sat across from me.
As he just stared blankly, I speared a sausage with my fork and held it out to him.
He hesitated awkwardly, then accepted it.
Watching him, I suddenly remembered something I hadn’t asked yesterday.
“I have a question.”
“What is it?”
“Don’t you want my ability?”
His expression darkened slightly.
“Do I look so desperate for money that I’d rely on a child’s help?”
“No, I was just curious. Other adults really coveted my ability.”
“You…”
He looked at me with a complicated expression before finally speaking.
“Isn’t it terrifying… becoming an Abiliter?”
Buying and selling Abiliters was quite common in the underworld.
Someone like me—a powerless orphan child—was an easy target.
That was what he was really asking.
It was the first time.
In the previous timeline, and even now.
Someone worrying first about what my ability might bring upon me.
Everyone else had only wanted to use me, envy me, or covet me…
“I like being an Abiliter. I’ve never met my parents, but I’m grateful they gave me this ability.”
Because without it, I would never have seen him again.
“…I see.”
He sighed, his expression complicated.
“When you finish breakfast, we’ll go buy you some clothes.”
“You’re buying me clothes too?”
“Were you planning to keep wearing those rags?”
It sounded harsh, but it meant he cared.
A small smile escaped me.
Just like before, he still didn’t know how to speak kindly.
