I Became the Abandoned Daughter of an Underworld Boss

“…… no. Are you talking about the road to the vacant lot?”

“Yes.”

He guessed he would have to go there himself.

Asil stood up without any sign of annoyance.

The whole time he was looking for his daughter, Alice’s words from long ago echoed in his ears.

“Asil, have you ever heard this? Every child born into the world was an angel in a past life. So, if children are happy, the world becomes beautiful, but if children are unhappy, even the earth and sky will weep.”

Alice certainly had changed Asil.

He could never forget the day when the children of Dark Town were able to eat their fill. Therefore, he tried to celebrate his birthday this year in a similar way to last year.

Now, he understood her hints a little bit. Surprisingly.

‘Yuriana.’

When he realized one day that he had a daughter, it was like a revelation.

It was clear that more than ninety percent of what moved Asil Litus like lightning was Alice’s advice.

That much was certain.

On the road to the vacant lot, he saw his daughter and her maid standing by the roadside.

As the butler had said, Yuriana was holding Levina’s hand and was completely absorbed in looking at the items on the street stall.

It was obvious without even looking. Everything there was just useless trinkets.

Why those?

Asil pursued practicality above all else, not even embedding a single jewel in his dagger. For him, jewels were just treasures to be well-crafted and sold off or hidden away.

Unaware of the boss’s approach, Levina asked.

“Miss, do you like any of these? I’ll buy one for you.”

“Yes! This one!”

“Let’s see… oh my? You want to buy this?”

The small hand held up a well-polished clip.

It was an essential item for people living in a rough area like Dark Town.

Women used it as hairpins, men as clips for their clothes.

With this, you could pick locks and solve various difficult problems.

Watching from behind, Asil couldn’t help but laugh.

‘No way. How could a six-year-old know the utility of a clip? Hmm… she did evade the servants’ watch and reached the Blackwood Forest, so she’s no ordinary child. But she’s still too young. Was it just a lucky guess?’

Asil was busy watching them, completely forgetting how he had thrown hard pears at the heads of street thugs when he was six years old.

“Yes!”

“Stop it, Miss. How about this feather necklace? It would suit you. You know the red checkered dress in your wardrobe? It would look lovely with this around your neck.”

Despite Levina’s suggestion, Yuriana insisted.

“Today is Dad’s birthday. I want to buy this.”

“Huh…? So, you wanted to give this to the boss, not for yourself?”

“Yes! I know this. Uncle Paul said it’s for men’s clothes. But I noticed before that dad doesn’t have one, so I want to give it to him. What do you think?”

Of course, he had them.

Asil was someone who discreetly hid pins and clips in places he couldn’t reveal to others.

Being the boss of Dark Town, would he not have such precautions?

But he didn’t step forward and tell her to stop.

This was interesting. For some reason. It was quite fun to watch the two of them.

“Ahaha… okay. Then this is a gift for the boss, and I’ll buy this feather necklace as a gift for you, Miss.”

“Huh? You’ll buy mine too?”

Levina smiled kindly.

“Of course. I’ll do anything for you, Miss.”

While they were paying for the items, Asil quietly returned to Dark House at a brisk pace.

The stress from the heated debate he had with Alice seemed to have flown away.

Tick-tock, thirty minutes.

Tick-tock… one hour.

Even after that amount of time had passed, Yuriana was nowhere to be seen.

‘Why isn’t she coming?’

Just as Asil, lurking in his office like a hungry python, let out a sigh.

“Boss, it’s Levina.”

“Let her in.”

Was she finally here?

Asil almost wanted to whistle, but it was Levina alone who entered.

Completely unaware, Levina politely handed over a package.

“Boss, Miss Yuriana sends this to congratulate you on your birthday. Please praise her when you see her later.”

He felt deflated. He had waited an hour, but only the gift had been sent!

“Why didn’t she come herself?”

“… is she allowed to?”

Levina’s question made him realize his oversight.

He had never allowed his daughter to freely come to the main building of Dark House.

He had only brought her to confirm whether she was a doppelganger using the Mirror of Origin.

Though he was relieved to confirm she was indeed human, he hadn’t fetched her since.

‘I’ve been neglectful.’

As he took the excessively wrapped clip, he spoke.

“… it’s not appropriate at any time, but around four or five in the afternoon when I’m here should be fine. Don’t come unannounced; ask first.”

“Yes!”

“Go and bring Yuriana.”

Seeing that Asil seemed to be in a good mood, Levina almost ran to fetch Yuriana.

The time waiting for her felt very long for Asil.

Soon, Yuriana came, held in Levina’s arms… she really resembled him a lot.

Even if her silver hair was cut and covered with a wig, it wouldn’t be strange. Though she didn’t inherit his amethyst-colored eyes, she was still pretty.

He felt a subtle sense of satisfaction. Was there a reason to be born into this world? If it weren’t for him, such a daughter wouldn’t exist.

“Phew…”

“Miss, speak up.”

Levina urged her to quickly say what she had been told to say.

Yuriana, wriggling as she got down, spoke.

“Dad, happy birthday.”

Her small lips formed the word, Dad.

Asil felt something burst from his chest.

Where had this child, who lost her memory, learned to say Dad?

He didn’t know. But someone must have taught her, right? Should he thank them?

“…”

“Really.”

What should he say in times like this?

He had forgotten how to speak kindly since he parted ways with Alice. Their conversations during their encounter had been awkward.

While the taciturn Asil was merely gazing at Yuriana, she suddenly panicked.

‘Oh, oh?’

Because the familiar yet unwelcome window had appeared!

Not the album that appeared when rare creatures were encountered, but that damned selection screen…!

When will you introduce Stepmom Alice?
Next year, I’ll grow up and catch a real dragon for your birthday present!
Dad, what gift do you want next year?

‘Whoa… at this moment, such useless options.’

Option 1 seemed deadly to mention, Option 2 was so far-fetched it was laughable. To catch a real dragon, you’d first need to find one!

Option 3… that was the least problematic.

Yuriana hoped a hidden option would appear, but nothing changed even after waiting.

She had no choice but to speak.

“Dad, what gift do you want next year?”

“Hmph…! This will do, for ten years at least.”

Asil laughed as he pretended to attach the clip somewhere on his clothes.

He actually laughed. That Asil! For Yuriana!

The more she thought about it, the more surprising it was.

He gestured for Yuriana to sit and asked another question. Fortunately, the selection screen disappeared after she chose one.

“Have you been well?”

They said that after a joyful event came a calamity.

Feeling tense from Asil’s kindness, Yuriana thought he was referring to Lulu and quickly replied.

“Yes! Lulu is doing well.”

“Lulu? You still call Rupedos by that name?”

Levina quickly answered instead.

“Boss, Miss Yuriana still doesn’t understand the concept of different species or races. It’s difficult to explain, so we just left it as it is for now.”

“I see. Rupedos can’t even transform into a human due to the curse, so it doesn’t matter. But it’s funny to give a male such a girlish name.”

If Rupedos heard this, it would certainly wake him from his deep sleep.

“Uh…”

“Yuriana, I wasn’t asking about the cat. I was asking about you. Are you satisfied with your life here? Have you ever felt like stealing sweets and running away again?”

Oh my.

Why was the scary boss, Asil, being so kind?

Yuriana felt an ungrounded anxiety but was even more startled by Asil’s expression.

He was still smiling.

Alice… seemed to have left, but seeing him in a good mood, could it be that?

Did they share something they shouldn’t have?

‘A-affairs are not okay, Asil. I know your love is deep, but you shouldn’t covet a woman who’s already someone else’s wife. Right?!’

Fortunately, her worries were unfounded.

His smile turned somewhat self-mocking.

“If you had been well, you wouldn’t have packed your bags and run away. It was a pointless question.”

“No! Um, Miss Leticia who went to study abroad and Chef Sheldon didn’t hit me or starve me.”

That wasn’t a lie.

Leticia didn’t let her go hungry and Sheldon didn’t refuse to feed her. They just didn’t do their best.

As Asil fiddled with the clip, he chuckled.

“… study abroad? Those two went abroad to study?”

“Ah…”

Levina, who had hastily made excuses, was startled, but Asil didn’t pursue it further.

“Forget it. Yuriana, in Dark Town, you only need to respect me. If anyone speaks rudely to you, step on their foot. Not just one foot, but with both feet, hard. Got it?”