Shrouded Seascape

The news came as a surprise to Charles.

"They don't dare to go up there either?" he asked.

"Of course not! Mommy has records showing that ever since the door in that rock layer was opened, the probability of encountering Divinities at sea has greatly decreased! They've all decided to hide in the depths of the ocean!!"

Charles stroked his chin, looking pensive.

All the Divinities have gone into hiding? What are they afraid of? Are they afraid of the source of the purple light on the surface world, which is 002? Maybe there's an existence stronger than 002 on the surface. What existence could that be? 001?

Charles pondered over the question for a long time and formed a vague guess in his mind, but he wasn't certain of it. When he came back to his senses, he found that his daughter was already engrossed in reading a book.

As Sparkle read, her facial features disappeared, replaced by luminous green eyes. Sparkle's reading speed was incredibly high with the help of so many eyes; she could read a page in just a few seconds.

Charles was a bit embarrassed as he said, "Sorry, I came out here to spend time with you today, but I ended up getting engrossed in my thoughts and distracted once again.

"It's fine. I'm very happy just having you by my side," Sparkle replied. Then, the eyes on her face suddenly vanished before being replaced by a monstrous maw that engulfed the book in her hand.

"Let's not talk about something so serious. Tell me more about your friend. How did you meet your friend?" Charles asked, attempting to talk about an ordinary topic with Sparkle.

"When Mommy was still at the World's Crown, she thought I was a bit dull, so she allowed me to play with human children to learn human language and human behavior as well as to hone my logical thinking.

"And that was when I met my good friend. I was just born back then, so it's been a long time. Next year, I'll be four years old."

"Oh, is that so? That means you two can be considered childhood sweethearts," Charles said, nodding in understanding. However, his expression stiffened the next moment, and he sounded unhappy as he muttered, "Is that good friend of yours… a boy?"

"Nene is a girl, but what does gender have to do with it?" Sparkle asked while staring at Charles with a pair of curious eyes.

Then, her lips curled up into a smile, and she started laughing. She laughed louder and louder until she was laughing uncontrollably. "Hahahaha! I've read in books that every single father in the world is naturally hostile toward their son-in-law!

"So it's actually true? Hahahahaha!!"

Charles clenched his fists and loosened them. Embarrassment suffused his face as he explained, "Ahem, that's not what I meant. I don't object to you having a boyfriend, but you're too young. You're still three years old. Let's talk about it once you've gotten a bit older."

Sparkle's smile slowly faded, and she slowly nestled her head against Charles' shoulder. Her mirthful expression gradually became stern as she asked, "Daddy, do you know why I want you to stay and keep me company?"

"Why?"

"Because I'm growing up too fast... My personality and logical thinking are maturing rapidly. I heard that humans become more and more numb to affection as they grow older. I'm afraid of becoming like them a few years later.

"Once my mental age reaches forty, fifty, sixty, or even older, I will certainly be numb to your affection by then. Moreover, I'm not human, even though I can make myself look like one.

"I'm afraid that I might leave you once I've matured and have figured everything out. I don't want to become like that... At first, I wanted to stop learning and maturing, but it's not something that I can stop..."

Sparkle looked up at Charles, and her voice carried a hint of longing as she said, "Daddy, can you stay and accompany me here? Please."

Sparkle's words tugged at Charles' heartstrings, and he instantly felt unwell. He raised his trembling right hand and placed it on Sparkle's shoulder.

He wanted to open his mouth and say that he'd stay here with her, but he couldn't open his mouth no matter how much he struggled.

"You... l-let me think about it. There are many things I have to… consider."

Sparkle fell into a daze, and her voice sounded downcast as she said, "I feel that I will definitely be lonely by then. I'm not human, nor am I a member of any monster species of the Subterranean Sea. I don't even think that my own kind exists here.

"I've scoured through many libraries and sought out many monsters throughout the Subterranean Sea. I've seen many monsters with many different appearances, but they are ultimately different from me."

Just then, a cacophony of bouncy footsteps echoed from up ahead.

Charles looked up and saw boys and girls hopping around on the streets. School was over, and the children could finally go home.

Charles stroked Sparkle's smooth and silky hair. "You don't need to care about being the same as others. It doesn't matter what you are; you will always be my daughter, Sparkle."

Sparkle smiled sweetly at the remark. She spread her arms wide and threw herself into Charles' arms. "I knew you cared about me; you just have no idea how to express it!!"

Charles had no idea what to say as he hugged her tightly. He had never imagined, even in his wildest dreams, that his daughter would tease him one day.

Unbeknownst to Charles and Sparkle, Anna was observing them from behind a chimney not too far away from them. Anna's lips curled up into a smile at the sight, and she muttered, "That's more like it…"

"Sparkle...? Who is this mister?" Nene asked, staring at the fierce-looking man in front of her with some trepidation.

"Nene! So school's finally over for today?" Sparkle said. She pulled Charles up from the bench and introduced, "He's my daddy! He's the ship captain daddy I told you about long ago!"

Sparkle sounded like she was showing off, but her childish behavior made Charles feel touched.

"Really…?" Nene asked, sounding doubtful. "But you two don't look alike at all. You're so beautiful, and he..."

Charles was in a good mood, so he took Nene's words in stride and jokingly said, "Fortunately, she takes after her mother in appearance."

"Nene!!" Donna's anxious shout echoed just then. She rushed over to Nene and stood in front of her to protect her.

Donna looked incredibly nervous as she stared at Charles. The tall, fierce-looking man looked exactly like a sea pirate! Just how did he manage to enter Hope Island?

"Nene's Mommy, don't be afraid. He's my daddy, and he's also the Governor of Hope Island," Sparkle explained patiently.

Donna didn't trust Charles at all, but she had unconditional faith in Sparkle. Since the fierce-looking man was the Governor of Hope Islands, Donna invited him and his daughter into her house as guests.

Sparkle winked at Charles with her right eye, and Charles politely accepted the invitation.

Donna was obviously unprepared, as Charles' visit was just too sudden. She rushed to her neighbors and friends to "borrow" some of their food just so she'd have something to serve to Charles.

Charles and Sparkle were sitting on a sofa, waiting for the food to be served.

Charles looked around and found a picture of Nene and Donna on the wooden cabinet next to him.

"Your friend is really young."

"It's better to have young friends. Children have the purest minds out there. I don't like dealing with people who have too many ulterior motives. People like them are dirty in my opinion," Sparkle replied.

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