Reincarnated With A Glitched System: Why Is My MP Not Running Out?

Chapter 1779: A Beloved Father, Not A Monster

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Despite the darkness that had engulfed his heart for over a decade, Shade never expected that those people who stayed by his side would change his life forever.

Those he thought to kill for being annoying, whom he kept alive only because they were valuable to the church, slowly warmed his cold, frozen heart through their stubbornness and recklessness.

And especially her, Nepheline, with her cheerful attitude, her recklessness, her smile, and her righteous mind.

Although those years when he was nothing but a husk of what he is now are long in the past, Shade could not help but recall them from time to time, never leaving his mind for too long.

It was the burden he swore to bear, the pain he forced himself to carry, perhaps to punish himself for all the sins he had committed.

”Are you alright, dear?”

While feeling Nephelineʼs warm hug, Shade slowly smiled at her.

”Iʼm fine… Thank you for being here with me, Nepheline.”

”Aww, emotional all over again? Heh.”

Nepheline gently kissed his cheek as Shade felt slightly embarrassed.

Comparing himself to his past self, he could hardly believe he had changed this much.

His life had truly changed greatly throughout these years, so much that he could hardly imagine himself as he was back then.

And yet, memories of his master, his father, whom he killed in cold blood without knowing who he truly was, of Patricia, his first love, a girl who only wanted to live freely, and of his mysterious mother constantly remained in his memories, reminding him that he was a monster and not a person.

”Dad!”

”Hm?”

His beautiful daughter walked to his side, her eyes full of light and life, having lived a childhood without most of the traumas he had endured.

Although she had also faced some challenges and suffered, it was never anything compared to what he had gone through.

She and the little Esmeralda waiting for him inside Aguaʼs home quickly cleared his mind.

Knowing he had daughters, not only new heirs of the Darkage Family but beloved children he would work hard to give a better life, better than anything he had experienced, made Shade smile, feeling that his efforts were worth something.

”Thatʼs right… Iʼm her father… I am not… a monster…”

He looked down for a moment as Aquarina hugged him, realizing that her father was probably slightly depressed again.

This wasnʼt too common, but it was something that sometimes happened to him.

Despite his emotionless, mature, and cold personality, Shade was a very emotional man, someone with such a painful past that sometimes he would become depressed out of nowhere and grow silent for days.

But she knew there was a trick that always worked to cheer her pained father. She knew he had a hard past, although she never dared to learn more about it, fearing it would only cause him more pain than anything.

”I love you dad!”

Aquarina hugged him tightly as Shade felt surprised by the sudden sneaky hug. He became silent for a moment as his arms slowly moved to hug her back.

He hesitated for a moment but did it, nonetheless.

”What with that hug out of nowhere?”

”Nothing~ I just saw you looked a bit… tired!”

”Hm… Thank you, my little princess.”

Shade caressed her cute face, kissing her forehead and hugging her back.

Realizing someone so precious was with him made him very happy.

And her smile, those emerald eyes.

For some reason, they reminded him of her, of Patricia.

He wished that girl had had a better life, that she had lived happily, freely.

He had once considered naming his daughter Patricia too, but he ended up letting her mother name her.

Shade thought that such a name would only make him remember Patricia even more, intensifying his pain.

”L-Little princess?! I am already grown-up dad!”

Aquarinaʼs nagging interrupted his train of thought as Shade realized he might have said something too embarrassing for Aquarina, who was right in front of her friends.

”Ah, Iʼm sorry… I shouldnʼt have said that, should I?” Shade apologized.

”Hmph! I am grown up…” Aquarina crossed her arms, trying to ignore her friends who glared at her while containing their laughter because she was such a spoiled girl.

”Aw, come on! Youʼre still our spoiled little princess, arenʼt you?” Nepheline laughed, caressing Aquarinaʼs head and messing up her hair. ”Youʼll always be, even when you become an old granny!”

”S-Stop it!” Aquarina grew redder with embarrassment as Shade smiled and laughed a bit.

”Hahah…”

His laugh was very rare, an occurrence that happened every year or two.

But to think that it happened just when they were about to tackle a dangerous mission…

”Dad, you laughed!” Aquarina smiled. ”See? I knew you got more emotions deep inside!”

”Hm? Ah…” Shade realized what he had done, noticing that he had grown a lot as a person.

”You… youʼre a… a person… not a… tool… Youʼre not… a mons…ter…”

And then, her words resonated in his mind once more as Shade gripped his fists tightly.

Patricia was never wrong.

Despite the things he did, Shade was a person, not a monster, and even less a tool.

”Yeah… Of course I have emotions,” Shade smiled. ”Did you think I was a monster or something, Aquarina?”

”E-Eh?! No! Of course not daddy!” Aquarina grew sad because her father thought that. ”I love you!”

”I know… I was just joking,” Shade said. ”…Was it not funny?”

”It wasnʼt funny!” His daughter and his wife cried at the same time.

”Ah… Sorry.” Shade sighed. ”Now then, is everyone ready? We should quickly get this over with. I can feel powerful presences down there. The Queen probably has several strong generals. Maybe this will be a good way for all of you to exercise and get stronger too, especially you and your friends, Aquarina. The battle ahead is going to be a really tough one, but it might prove to be a great way for you to train and truly push yourselves, opportunities like these are rare, despite the dangers. Get ready.”

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