Hero Stories: Like Father, Like Daughter

Alright, I'm done with the financial stuff... Let's start training.

Rin, are you in there? Can I come in?

Oh? She's not here. Now where did she go?

Oh, Basar...

Silk, have you seen Rin?

I saw her come out of her room a little bit ago, but I don't know where she went.

*sighing* ...She must be playing hooky again.

I'm sure she'll come back if we just wait a little. She always does.

...No, I'll go look for her myself this time.

Huh? Y-You know she'll come back...

I've had enough of this. I won't let her get away with it this time.

She'd been good for a while, but now she disappears all the time.

I even sent people to chase after her, but they all say she's simply nowhere to be found.

I want her to take over the merchant guild. She won't be able to become a leader if she keeps running away like this.

So now it's time for me to take things into my own hands.

B-Basar...!

W-What should I do? At this rate, she'll get caught...

Basar, wait for me!

She's not here either... Where could she be? Tch.

B-Basar, she must be back by now. Why don't we go back...?

...Silk. You look nervous. What's going on?

H-Huh?! Y-You think so?

Come to think of it, you two are close. She must have said something to you...

You know where she is, don't you?

N-N-No! I have no idea where she is!

Oh yeah? Such strong denial may as well be admission. You know you're acting very suspicious, right?

No, I swear I don't know where she is!

So Rin asked you to keep it a secret. That much is obvious.

But you must be honest with me. If you keep this from me, it'll only be bad news for the both of you.

B-But...Rin will get mad at me.

So you do know where she went.

Ugh...

Actually, she...she went to one of the Lands...

What?

The Lands of Death...

I'm so sorry! Rin told me not to tell anyone, especially you, Basar...!

Of course.

*whining* Rin's going to give me an earful...

Don't worry, I'll tell her I found out from someone else. Thanks for telling me the truth, Silk.

Why would she go to such a dangerous place?

I have a bad feeling about this...

Oh, Basar! Look, it's Rin!

What? Where?!

*gasping* ...F-Father...

Rin! What do you think you're doing?! It's dangerous out there!

I've just been hanging out here. You know, I know what I'm doing.

Oh, so you just go there to hang out?

Yeah... So what? Do you have a problem with that?

...Let's talk about this at home.

Why are you making that face?

...Rin. I know you've been making trips to Lands of Death.

...!? H-How? Who told you that?

I can't tell you.

You kept a secret from me, so we'll call it even this way.

This is unfair...

Do I need to remind you? I have many little birds around me.

Finding my own daughter is not a difficult thing for me.

Urghhh... Whatever...

Now, tell me. Why did you go there?

I already told you, I was just hanging out...

Do you not understand why that place is dangerous?

I do. But...

But?

...I just have a friend who lives there. So I wanted to visit. We didn't do anything dangerous.

Really? What friend?

Uhh, well...

Ugh, why are you being so nosy today? I'm back in one piece, that's what matters!

I'm exhausted, I wanna go to my room.

What? Wait, I'm not finished yet! Rin!

*sighing* ...That kid...

Did she figure it out...? But there's no way...

Shall I get moving? I assume father left for work by now.

It's quiet, seems like it's safe to...

Where do you think you're sneaking off to?

Kyaaaa!

W-What are you doing here?! I thought you went to work.

I had the strangest feeling that you might try to sneak out again, so I decided to come home early today.

So, where were you heading?

Well... I mean...

Right, apparently there are some dancers performing today, so I wanted to watch and learn...!

That was yesterday, my darling.

...

You're going to a Land of Death, aren't you?

...Why? Are you going to tell me no? Come on, I've heard this enough times.

If you've already heard it so many times, maybe it's time for you to actually listen.

But so far nothing bad has even happened!

So far?

Just because nothing bad has happened yet doesn't mean nothing will happen in the future.

You obviously know it's a dangerous place, considering what lengths you're going to to keep it from me.

Hmph... Then I'll go with Silk.

No.

Why do you say no to everything? I'm not a kid anymore!

No other parent on Orbis would be so obsessed with controlling their fully grown child's every move!

When did I say you can't go out? All I'm saying is that Lands of Death are dangerous!

Ugh, don't you think you're being overprotective?

I try to be careful.

Better safe than sorry.

Why are you being so paranoid about this? Did something dangerous happen to you there before?

...

...Something did happen, right?

That isn't something you need to know.

Anyway, if you ever go there again, you're grounded.

What? Are you serious?

Yes. If you won't listen to me, I'll have to make you listen.

This is ridiculous... Don't you think this is too much?!

You don't even know why I've been going!

Then may I ask you why?

That isn't something you need to know either! I just won't go out! Are you happy now?!

Oh, for goodness' sake...

Hmm? Basar! Aren't you supposed to be working?

Oh...Cartuja. What are you up to?

I'm carrying out a request for a client, as usual.

So what brings you here? I thought this was the busiest time of day for merchant guilds.

It is, but I just didn't feel like working today.

It would have been such a shame to be stuck inside working when we're having such beautiful weather.

What a lame excuse to play hooky.

If you really wanted me to believe that, you should have put away that miserable look on your face first.

Oh, was it that obvious? This isn't like me at all.

No, it isn't. What's wrong?

Hmm... How busy are you today?

I'm basically done after this. But the problem is I don't know how long it'll take.

I got a request to get rid of the monsters here and clear this area, but it's taking longer than I expected.

So if you want to grab a drink afterward, why don't you give me a hand?

You know me too well. Alright, I'll help. Let's get this over with quickly.

Haha! Thanks.

We finished pretty quickly, thanks to you! Ready to go drown your sorrows?

...You sound more excited about the alcohol.

What are you talking about? I just can't wait to lend an ear to my beloved friend and help him out.

Let's get going!

He's definitely more excited about the alcohol.

So, you had an argument with your daughter?

Yeah. A huge one.

Haha, the apple doesn't fall far from the tree! But isn't it normal to fight with your kid?

But this time it feels a little different.

Honestly, I won't be surprised if Rin tries to run away.

Oh, be careful what you say... It sounds like it really was a big fight, though.

I don't blame you. It's only natural for you to want to keep her safe, and she's not going to understand.

Anyway, isn't she old enough to move out?

...

...Are you upset?

...Maybe.

Seriously?

What's so surprising about that?

I mean, I always thought you'd be okay as long as you had a glass of beer and pretty girls.

Now look at you! A single dad, contemplating life after a little fight with your daughter!

...

I'm sorry, it's just... I wasn't expecting this from you. It's a little surprising.

No, I understand. I find it surprising as well.

I never thought I would be affected by something like this, but evidently, I was too confident.

It feels weird... Am I drunk already?

Hmm... You may not be her birth father, but you've always treated her as if she were your real daughter.

When your child, who you thought would be with you forever, becomes someone you don't even know and then leaves you...

It's only natural. Any parent would be sad.

And I'm sure that her interest in Lands of Death is making you worry even more.

I know, that's the biggest problem.

But I think the more you cage her, the more she'll try to fly away from you. Like a little bird, you know.

...You're right. I was being too emotional this morning. I guess it just reminded me of what happened in the past.

I understand. But Rin doesn't know about that, does she? You two need to sit down and talk.

Maybe you're right...

Rin, do you feel any better now?

Nope, couldn't be worse.

I-I see...

I still can't believe he said that to me! He said he would ground me if I go there one more time!

Did I do something wrong?

I'm sure he only said that because he's worried about you...

I know that! But still...

I just can't sit around and watch my one and only opportunity to find my dad pass me by.

...!

Wait, so the thing you found in the Land of Death was...

*sighing* ...Yes. It was a clue to finding my dad.

So that's why you looked so cheerful that day.

I met someone who knows a lot about the Lands of Death. And I also heard a little bit about my dad.

I know how dangerous this is. I didn't tell father, but I encountered an Unknown.

What!? That's insane, why didn't you tell him?!

Because, you know how the conversation would go!

He won't let me go now, imagine how he would have reacted if I'd told him the truth.

But I also think what you're doing is too dangerous...

That's not going to stop me. I don't want to live not knowing whether or not my dad is alive.

At the least, I have to know what happened. And I want to save him if I can.

I wasn't just...wandering around doing nothing...

Rin...

I'm sure Basar will realize what's really going on pretty soon.

I don't think it'll be long before they get into a huge fight...