How to Be a Dark Hero’s Daughter

“Angel.”

“Hmm?”

“I hope you can trust me. I don’t do bad things.”

I nodded.

“I know. I think you won’t. I have a good intuition.”

“Thank you for being honest.”

“Hmm?”

“Adults prefer lying over being honest.”

“Ah.”

Maybe Ko is smarter than I thought?

Right. I like you. I trust you. I’ll treat you well. It would have been easier to just beat around the bush. But I wanted to be honest with Ko.

“You’re similar to me. I was like that when I was young too.”

“…”

“You’ve survived tough times all alone till now. Consider it as a courtesy for that. I felt the same way. I was more grateful to adults who were honest with me.”

Looking up at me, Ko said:

“I’m not good with words. I stopped learning to read and write at the orphanage.”

“Hmm.”

“But I learned the word ‘gratitude’. And ‘consideration’… Somehow, I feel I understand those words now.”

“Is that so?”

Just then, Zion came to fetch me.

Judging from the letter in his hand, I seemed to have received a note.

One of the servants extended his hand to help me up. I took it and rose.

“Um, miss angel?”

“Hmm?”

“I wanted to say… thank you. I… I am…”

I leaned over to Ko.

“I will definitely repay your kindness. I can do anything for you, miss angel. Anything.”

The voices I’ve heard from Ko were always distant, as if speaking into a void.

‘What was that? I just got chills.’

It felt too genuine, not like a child’s voice. Feeling odd, I tilted my head slightly.

‘But it doesn’t seem malicious.’

I nodded.

“If you’re thankful to me, recover first. I want to see Ko healthy.”

“Yes, miss angel.”

Ko nodded quietly.

I asked a servant to take Ko to his room and approached Zion.

* * *

[Come pay the money.

Kien.]

The note Zion handed over had only this line. Probably from the Information Guild.

‘Why is he always demanding like this?’

As an adult, I didn’t have many expenses.

Although Collen gave me a generous allowance each month, I wasn’t interested in shopping. The dresses gifted by Marianne, Jade, and Collen were more than enough.

‘In other words, most of my money is going to Kien’s guild.’

The only thing I was interested in was solving cases.

So, even if I’m a premium client who’s been paying a significant amount, isn’t he too demanding?

‘He insists that I come personally to pay for the services.’

On top of that, Kien often attached strange conditions, like if I visited personally, he’d expedite the completion of tasks.

Yet, when we met, there wasn’t much talk. He’d just hand over the data curtly.

‘Really, competent people are so peculiar.’

But since he’s so good at his job, it’s worth accommodating him.

‘He’s ghost-like.’

How did he know that my outdoor restriction was lifted today?

‘Anyway, I should go.’

I prepared to leave.

‘Huh? What’s this?’

However, as usual, upon arriving in front of the Information Guild, I was halted by an unexpected sight.

Many people were gathered in front of the Information Guild.

‘What’s going on…? And this tense atmosphere?’