Chapter 19: Overacting the Role of an Adopted Daughter

"Uncle, who killed your daughter?"

Hixon's body trembled. Even though he was drenched in alcohol, his ears perked up at the mention of 'daughter.'

"What, you?"

It seemed as if all the alcohol had suddenly left his system.

Viola swallowed hard.

In this world, there was something called mana, and it was said that if one wished, they could instantly rid their body of all the alcohol.

It seemed to be true. The lifeless, dead fish eyes that had been staring at him now regained their vitality.

"I saw your daughter."

"Where?"

A murderous intent flashed in Hixon's eyes. The word 'daughter' was Hixon's sore spot.

Anyone who toyed with that word, no matter how young, would not be spared.

To Hixon, 'daughter' meant that much.

"At Sveny Slum, 11th Street. Under the sewer at the horrific crime scene."

All of this would be something Hixon would learn years later when he regained his senses.

Hixon would teach Tundra and find solace. He would return to the beginning, searching for traces of his daughter.

Eventually, he would find his enemy.

Viola continued calmly.

"Her hair was bright red, like it was burning. She had freckles clustered on her cheeks, and she wore a small cross-shaped earring in her ear."

"..."

Hixon's body stiffened.

'Is this girl Bellatu?'

He didn't know who this girl was, but she exuded Bellatu's aura.

The atmosphere was telling.

'There can't be another Bellatu I don't know about.'

From her clothes, she seemed to be a noble's daughter.

However, Hixon didn't fully believe it. Over the past three years, many people had approached him in this manner, all trying to use his sword skills.

Hixon's personal tragedy was a stroke of luck for the many powerful figures who needed him.

That's why Hixon no longer trusted people.

"That girl, even in her dying moments, firmly believed that her father would come to save her. She was proud that her father was Hixon."

The details of how she died were not described in detail. It seemed she had suffered something too horrific to describe.

"Anyway, she was definitely dead. I saw it with my own eyes."

"With your own eyes?"

"I told you, I was under the sewer."

Hixon clenched his fist. In fact, Hixon had suspected it.

That his daughter was dead. But he had never admitted it. He didn't want to admit it even now.

Just as he was about to shout that it wasn't true, Viola quickly continued.

"Uncle, you were a hero, weren't you? They called you the Black Whale, right?"

"…What exactly are you trying to say, kid?"

His tone had softened. It seemed he had decided that she wasn't just making random noises or animal sounds.

"And you were also a friend of the great Lord of Winter, my father."

Only then did Hixon realize who this girl was.

Recently, Winter had been buzzing. The Duke of Heron had adopted a daughter from the slums.

That made sense. She had probably seen his daughter by chance in the slums. His suspicion lessened.

"Are you Viola?"

"Yes. Anyway, Uncle, you had skills that rivaled my father's. But think about it. You were a hero. You killed and kidnapped the wife and daughter of such a hero. So, which one is it?"

Viola smiled.

"Either a crazy guy who lost his mind and his fear."

Or else.

"A meticulously planned perfect crime."

Viola twirled a strand of her purple hair with her finger.

"What do you think, Uncle? Was it a crazy guy who lost his mind? Or a force that moved with meticulous planning?"

"..."

"If it was a crazy guy who lost his mind, you would have found them quickly when you searched. Because you are capable."

"But you didn't find them. And the timing was very convenient, wasn't it?"

His daughter was kidnapped.

While he was out searching for her, his wife died.

"It's as if someone had calculated it very precisely."

When he lost his wife and daughter, he was so mad that he couldn't see the situation clearly.

After that, he became a drunk and couldn't see the situation clearly.

"And why couldn't you figure out something that even a kid like me could figure out? Is all of this just a coincidence?"

Viola enlightened him.

Viola felt a slight twinge of guilt.

"Actually, Uncle, you will figure all of this out on your own."

When Hixon regained his senses, he would figure it out and find his enemy.

That enemy was deeply connected to the final antagonist of this novel.

"Think about it, Uncle. Who benefited the most from your madness?"

Meanwhile, Zane looked up at the sky.

The sunset was setting. The sky was red, as if it were soaked in blood.

The red sunset cast a glow on Viola's face, making it seem like it was burning.

'What a beautiful sunset. A good day to wake the Black Whale.'

***

The conversation went well.

Unusually, Hixon invited Zane and Viola to his room and personally made them tea.

Zane smiled.

"Sir Hixon inviting us is unprecedented. It's a historic event at the Duke's mansion."

"Is it?"

"Yes, not only did he not invite anyone, but he often assaulted the guests in the annex, causing a headache for the Duke."

"Do you want to be in trouble too?"

As Hixon raised his fist, Zane coughed.

He subtly avoided eye contact and said to Viola.

"Anyway, for three years, Sir Hixon did not allow anyone to enter this space."

"Father?"

"The Duke gave Sir Hixon a room and never visited him once."

Viola nodded.

'If it were my favorite character, he would do even more.'

Unless he regained his senses on his own, he wouldn't be the type to boost someone's morale or offer comfort.

If Hixon regained his senses, he would become friends again as if nothing had happened. If not, he would have killed him.

That would be Heron's final consideration for a friend.

Viola took a sip of the warm apple tea. The fresh scent filled her mouth.

'I didn't change the story much.

Hixon was supposed to regain his senses soon anyway.

The story didn't change much. Hixon sat in front of Viola.

"My friend has an interesting daughter."

"Everyone says that."

"So, what do you want?"

"What do I want?"

Hixon chuckled.

"I've seen many people with eyes like yours, kid."

"What kind of eyes?"

"Eyes that resemble Heron's."

"Do I resemble my father? I'm an adopted daughter."

"Those are eyes that won't suffer a loss."

"Hmm."

Viola waited for the right moment.

That's how it's done in novels.

She followed the novel's script. Whether it was fortunate or unfortunate, she was born with a haughty expression.

Thanks to that, she looked like a seasoned negotiator.

Hixon said,

"Stop stalling and tell me what you want."

"I have a dog I'm raising."

"A dog?"

"It's a dog, but it's a person. It's big and can bite."

"I see."

Hixon accepted it surprisingly easily.

Viola was secretly annoyed but also relieved.

"Uncle, train it for me."

"How?"

"Teach it sword skills."

"No."

"I'll help you find your daughter's killer."

"I can find them on my own."

Viola almost lost her words for a moment. That was true. In the novel, he found them on his own.

He was a hero on par with Duke Heron, despite being drenched in alcohol now. He just needed to regain his senses.

"Why don't you want to?"

"It's troublesome."

"Just meet it."

Once you meet it, things will change.

Hixon would fall in love with Tundra at first sight.

He would immediately recognize her innate talent for sword skills.

Hixon said, as if trying to provoke her,

"No."

Viola decided to change her strategy.

"Uncle."

"What?"

"I thought you were incredibly cool. Because a dying child called out desperately. To me, hiding in the sewer, 'Daddy' sounded like a sacred word."

Hixon closed his eyes for a moment.

Thinking of his daughter made his heart heavy.

"But now, you're not cool at all."

"What?"

"Do I have to say it this bluntly?"

"What are you saying?"

"I'm asking you, Uncle, for help."

Zane's ears perked up.

There it is.

The virtue of a ruler. The skill of a mercenary to change masks freely and handle people.

It seemed to have emerged. Zane focused more on Viola's words.

"I want to live."

"Who wants to kill you?"

"I've studied this place a lot."

It was true. She had studied the world of the novel and delved into the characters.

"This place is a wilderness. Here, there are only a mother who beats me, brothers who want to kill me, and a violent father."

Hixon reacted particularly sensitively to one word.

"Violent father?"

"Father is indifferent to me. Throwing me into this wilderness and being so indifferent is a form of violence."

"Uncle, you're smart. You know why I came here. You're pretending not to know."

Viola extended her hand.

"Uncle, be there for me."

"..."

"I need an adult to lean on."

Hixon's heart was pierced.

"I'm alone."

Hixon saw Viola's hand.

Her outstretched hand looked particularly pale