My Dad Is a Popular Villain in a Comic Book - Chapter 7

Edward galloped back toward the City of Sin as the sun began to set. Since Zeman wouldn’t say anything and his own premonitions couldn’t reveal the past, he would have to investigate the truth himself.

He hadn’t lied to Zeman; he really was here to “clean house,” but that didn’t stop him from digging into the truth. The City of Sin, located in the heart of the continent, bordered many nations but was under no single jurisdiction. A melting pot of filth and vice where thieves, swindlers, fugitives, slaves, and beggars gathered, it was well-deservedly called the “City of Sin.” No temple was willing to set up shop here, so it was tacitly regarded as a “land forsaken by the gods.”

However, prior to the “Sunset Incident,” the old Pope and Zeman who should have had nothing to do with this place had traveled thousands of miles to come here one after the other, and both had met with disaster. Edward believed that once he cleared this up, the truth behind the village slaughter, the old Pope’s death, and Zeman’s injuries would all be resolved.

As for Zeman, Edward had already formed some theories based on his earlier probing. For some reason he didn’t yet understand, Zeman was already resigned to death. If not for his promise to Albin, he would likely have vanished to a place where even Edward couldn’t find him. Because of this, Edward had deliberately used Albin as a tether to hold Zeman back, preventing him from doing anything dangerous during these three months. He hoped that child might change Zeman’s mind.

After all, love is the magic that creates miracles.

Edward pulled the reins, gazing from the cliff at the City of Sin as it was immersed in the twilight. As the sunlight faded, the ancient city walls sank into the darkness, breeding infinite cold, loneliness, and isolation.

Come on, keep at it, little Albin.

Hunting Cabin.

The sun dipped below the horizon, and darkness descended instantly, leaving only the bright, crackling fire in the fireplace to illuminate the cabin. Albin stood at the doorway. Lacking an adequate light source, he couldn’t quite make out Zeman’s expression.

In the ensuing silence, he felt a nervous tension. His mood was like a raindrop hanging on the tip of his hair after a bath, reflecting the firelight, hesitant to fall, making one anxious.

Would Mr. Zeman be willing to be his father this time?

After a long time, Zeman’s cold, emotionless voice came from above: “I will only take you to the Rose Kingdom.”

He didn’t refuse me directly like last time!

Albin’s expression instantly relaxed, and the droplet on his hair finally fell. “How long will it take to get there?”

“Three months.”

Wow, that’s about the length of summer break and winter break combined. That’s so long. To an eight-year-old Albin, three months felt like an eternity.

He couldn’t imagine what life would be like in three months, nor what he might encounter; to him, only Zeman was a known existence. He felt like a stranger to this world, as if he had been dumped in a crowded, bustling station lost and not knowing where to go until Zeman took his hand and started toward a destination.

But Zeman was no relation to him, and he always feared that one day, the man might suddenly abandon him. So… if he and Mr. Zeman were father and son, that would be perfect. He had felt this way before, but after the misunderstanding this morning, his resolve had hardened. He was afraid of the day he might be discarded. He would be angry because of the fear, but he would also work hard to learn magic not just to heal the man, but to prove he was useful so he wouldn’t be abandoned.

Uncle Edward was certainly very kind, but the first person he had met was Mr. Zeman. Besides, he had an inexplicable premonition that the Zeman of now, like him, needed someone to hold his hand.

If I recognize Uncle Edward as my father, what happens to Mr. Zeman? Will someone else take him away?

“I like Mr. Zeman, and I’m afraid of being abandoned by you halfway. So even if it’s only for three months, I want Mr. Zeman to be my father.”

Albin gazed at him intently, the red in his eyes more intense than the fire. Zeman was frozen by that look.

“If you aren’t willing…” Albin drew circles on the ground with his toes, muttering reluctantly, “Then pretend I never said it. But you can’t abandon me! You promised to take me there; adults aren’t allowed to go back on their word…”

“I won’t abandon you during these three months.” Zeman reached out, his hand resting on the crown of Albin’s head, stroking it gently.

Albin felt as though he had been flooded with joy and looked up sharply.

“Then…” Albin held his hand, eyes shining with delight, and called out tentatively and expectantly, “Father?”

Zeman remained silent, still not refusing.

Even if it was only a three-month-long father-son relationship, Albin was happy enough to jump. He wrapped his arms around Zeman’s neck, hanging onto him, and called out loudly: “Father!”

Zeman steadied him so he wouldn’t slip.

Albin, forgetting himself, began to act spoiled: “Father, tell me a bedtime story! Uncle Edward promised to tell me one.”

Zeman stiffened, but nodded in agreement.

Albin cheered: “Father is the best!”

That night, on the fragrant wheat straw, Albin blinked his eyes in anticipation. The fireplace fire had been extinguished, and only the moonlight fell upon him, making his eyelashes shimmer like snow.

“What story is Father going to tell?”

Zeman lay down on his side beside him, supporting his upper body with his forearm. His waterfall of white hair cascaded down, piling into circles as it touched the cushion like ripples on water. His gaze fell upon his freshly minted son. Being watched by such a trusting, intimate gaze, his hand tightened slightly.

It’s just a three-month father-son arrangement. This child just lacks a sense of security, which is why I’m humoring him. I was going to take the child to his destination anyway; it won’t have any impact.

“A myth.” He replied to Albin.

Zeman had never told anyone a story. He was a boring person who didn’t even watch plays; his life was mundane and flat praying to the Sun God, reading scriptures, studying magic, practicing martial arts, exterminating monsters. For the twenty years in the Sun Temple, he had lived a life just like that.

But now, his life lacked the Sun God he had to look up to every day, yet it had gained a small, tender, and weak child he had to look down and care for. He no longer needed to read scriptures, but he had to think about what kind of stories to tell the child. This was an experience he’d never had before this was the responsibility called “father.”

Luckily, although he didn’t read miscellaneous books or listen to gossip, the Temple was full of books about the gods, which would be enough to get him through this.

“A long, long time ago, the world was a chaos. After an unknown amount of time, twelve deities were born in this chaos…”

“[The God of Night and Death] was the eldest deity; he used his great power to plunge the world into a terrifying eternal night…”

“[The Sun God], dissatisfied with the Night God’s actions, stepped forward to contend with him.”

“Thus, the world alternated between eternal night and eternal day. The gods feared the power of the Sun God and the Night God and dared not intervene. Only [The Goddess of Love and Fate], that powerful goddess, stepped forward. She persuaded the two great gods to coexist peacefully, stabilizing the alternation of day and night…”

“The Sun God, the Night God, and the Love Goddess these three gods with immense power were revered by all other gods as the Supreme Deities.”

In the cold, peaceful voice of his father, Albin murmured a “Good night.” After receiving a response, he drifted off into a deep slumber.

Jade roamed the forest.

He had left the hunting cabin before Zeman returned, and now that his demonic energy was gradually recovering, he dared not approach it. He stayed far away, about to meet with another monster.

It was that very monster who had told him about the effect of Albin’s flesh and blood, but now that he wasn’t sure if Albin was a fellow monster, he no longer viewed the boy as a target.

Gazing at the moon, Jade realized the meeting time was still a while off. Exhausted, he coiled his body beside a large tree at the rendezvous point, intending to nap until it was time.

He drifted into a strange dream.

He had never had such a vivid dream; the temperature, scent, form, and texture were exactly the same as in reality, as if he were in another world.

Shadows swayed. He saw [Himself] in the dream moving stealthily, using his small, agile body and camouflage to sneak into a nobleman’s forest estate. It was a beautiful, lonely, and secluded manor, and to his surprise, the guards were monsters!

Jade watched this strange dream with great interest.

[Himself] seemed to be looking for something, wandering around the estate while avoiding the monsters. Until [Himself] entered a study and was suddenly discovered by someone.

“Are you looking for me?”

It was a beautiful white-haired youth, about fourteen years old, who discovered the [Green Snake].

Is that Albin?

Jade was stunned. Why am I dreaming of him?

But he looked different from the Albin Jade had met; the [White-Haired Youth] in the dream looked a bit older but much thinner, with pale, bloodless skin, and his arms were covered in scars and needle marks, looking terrifyingly gruesome.

The [White-Haired Youth] picked up a dagger from the table.

The [Green Snake] in the dream seemed not to recognize the [White-Haired Youth] and immediately went on high alert.

【Human? 】 The [Green Snake] seemed puzzled that a human would be here.

“I have no intention of attacking,” the [White-Haired Youth] soothed gently, pressing the sharp dagger to his own arm, asking with a smile, “I just wanted to ask, how much blood do you need?”

Both Jade and the [Green Snake] froze.

[Green Snake]: 【What do you mean? 】

[White-Haired Youth] looked confused: “Aren’t you here to take blood from me?”

【Can you understand me? 】 The [Green Snake] was as shocked as the Jade of the daytime.

The [White-Haired Youth] nodded: “Why did you come here? Maybe there’s something I can help with.”

After sizing him up for a moment, the [Green Snake] said: 【I’m looking for the legendary soothing medicine that can suppress a monster’s madness. It suddenly appeared a few years ago, but it’s all controlled by [The Rat], and only a small portion of monsters who submit to [The Rat] get to enjoy it. 】

The [Green Snake] was indignant: 【I wanted to see what kind of medicine it was. Why shouldn’t all my companions be allowed to eat it! 】

The [White-Haired Youth] suddenly understood: “Then I am the one you are looking for.”

Under the shocked gaze of the [Green Snake], he said: “My flesh and blood are the soothing medicine the monsters need. The [Rat] you speak of should be my father.”

He looked full of guilt: “Father said it was because I have so little blood that I can’t save all the monsters, so he could only save a few… I’m so sorry, it’s all because I’m too weak. Do you need blood? Tell me how much you need, and I will try my best to bleed for you.”

With his dagger still pressed against his veins, he gazed at the [Green Snake] with his red eyes, looking perfectly obedient as if at a single word, he would slice open his own vessels. The scars on his arms seemed to be proof of his obedience.

Jade was dumbfounded.

Is this the Albin I know?

Is this what happened to Albin after he was kidnapped?

【No, no, no! 】 The [Green Snake] hurriedly stopped him, 【It’s not needed! 】

The [White-Haired Youth] blankly put down the dagger, looking pitifully at him: “Am I too useless?”

【I will never consume the flesh and blood of a companion. 】

“Companion?”

【Those who can understand my words are all monsters, so you are my companion, too. 】

The [White-Haired Youth] mused: “No one has ever told me that before. I don’t even know what I am.”

The [Green Snake] couldn’t help but ask: 【Have you been staying here the whole time? 】

“I woke up here when I was eight. I don’t remember anything before that; my mind is a blank slate. Father saved me and brought me here, and provided me with every luxury.”

He pushed a basket of snacks sitting before him toward the [Green Snake]. The snacks were fragrant and enticing, completely different from the coarse bread or roasted cakes eaten by commoners only nobles could afford such luxuries.

“Please eat. I’m sorry I couldn’t help. Would you be willing to tell me what’s happening outside?”

Bribed by the delicious food, the [Green Snake] agreed immediately, devouring the small cakes one after another.

【There’s nothing going on outside, just humans doing more bad things, or another companion dying. 】

“Which side is stronger, humans or monsters?”

【In the past, humans were stronger. There was a human named Zeman who was incredibly powerful; he killed many of our companions back then. 】

The [Green Snake] viciously waved its tail to show its hatred for that human.

【But now, monsters are definitely stronger. That Zeman has been missing for six years, and the old Pope of the Sun Temple also died six years ago, so human combat power has significantly decreased. Not only that, a powerful guy has appeared among us monsters. 】

The [White-Haired Youth] listened earnestly: “What kind of powerful guy?”

【A Demon Dragon! A silver-white Demon Dragon, said to have appeared six years ago. He is a very powerful fellow. 】

“A dragon… I’d really like to see one with my own eyes.” A look of longing appeared in his eyes.

【That guy is dangerous. Any monster that gets close to him is annihilated. Maybe that Zeman was killed by the Demon Dragon; humans call him the ‘Apocalyptic Demon Dragon.’】

The [Green Snake] ate the food fed to it by the [White-Haired Youth] while telling many more stories about the outside world.

“And you?” the [White-Haired Youth] asked. “What is your name? We’ve talked so much, and I still don’t know your name.”

【I don’t have a name. 】

The unfolding of this familiar dialogue was exactly the same as what Jade had experienced; the [White-Haired Youth] also named the [Green Snake] “Jade.”

But then, the [Green Snake] asked: 【You seem very interested in the outside world. Want to come out with me? You aren’t exactly living a good life here anyway. 】

“Why not?” The [White-Haired Youth] tilted his head, puzzled. “Father treats me very well. He only locked me in here because he cares about me.”

A chilling, hollow smile appeared on his pale, fragile face.

“Father loves me very much.”

Jade awoke with a jolt, remembering every detail of the dream, and his spine turned cold.

That child is NOT right!!!

He pieced together the situation in the dream world. In that reality, Albin wasn’t taken by Zeman for some reason; Zeman became demonized, while Albin was secretly taken away and imprisoned by the [Rat]. The Rat didn’t spread the news about Albin as it did now, only using his blood to rally a small group of monsters. Thus, the Jade of that reality had never met Albin and knew nothing of the truth about the soothing medicine.

He braced his body, his thoughts still immersed in the dream, when the monster he was supposed to meet arrived. It was a rat.