Warm scenes like these always tug at the heartstrings.
Watching the two figures overlapping in the twilight, the folks in the livestream couldn't help but wear faint smiles.
And similar scenes continued to unfold.
[Over the past two months, your relationship with little Kafka has grown even closer. Since that first time, she's started making little, somewhat willful requests of you now and then.]
[For instance, while you're sitting on the living room sofa, intently scanning your terminal for traces of demons, she'll silently sneak up from behind, wrap her arms around your neck, and ask you to brush her hair.]
[Or during breakfast, she might swipe a boiled egg right from under your nose—one that was meant for you—and then flash you a cheeky grin.]
[Of course, aside from these small acts of willfulness, little Kafka also takes care of the household chores while you're out working. She polishes the floors until they shine, and she washes and hangs the laundry out to dry.]
[She's even started using the mobile terminal you left for her to teach herself how to cook. Once, when you returned home, you saw her petite figure standing on a stool, holding the terminal in one hand and a spatula in the other, while a pot in front of her bubbled with some... peculiarly shaped substance.]
[Through her time with you, little Kafka is slowly leaving her dark past behind, growing more and more like a normal girl.]
[Then, one day, a visitor arrived.]
"This little one... she couldn't be your daughter, could she?"
The speaker was a woman.
To be more precise, a rather beautiful woman.
Her wine-red hair was tied into a braid draped over her left shoulder, creating a stark contrast against her crisp white blouse. Her delicate features were graced by a subtle smile, but her slightly alluring eyes were sharp as polished blades. Her posture was ramrod straight, and her every movement exuded an indescribable blend of authority and elegance.
Susan Wood, Bai Heng's colleague.
She was also one of the few people Bai Heng, a demon hunter, could truly call a friend.
After speaking, she glanced at little Kafka, who was busy with her daily lessons in the living room, then turned her gaze back to Bai Heng lounging on the sofa, a teasing glint in her eyes.
"How could that even be possible?" Bai Heng retorted without even looking back.
"I'm just teasing~ So, she's the successor you chose, then?"
"Yep."
Bai Heng didn't deny it.
"Aren't you going to introduce us?" Susan's eyes always held a faint trace of laughter when she spoke, and now was no exception.
With a sigh, Bai Heng knew this woman never gave up until she got what she wanted. He resignedly waved for little Kafka to come over from the other side of the room.
Seeing his summons, Kafka hurried over with light, quick steps, but upon spotting Susan, she shyly shrunk back behind Bai Heng.
While Kafka was perfectly comfortable with Bai Heng now, that didn't mean she was ready to accept anyone else.
"My colleague, Susan. Say hello." Bai Heng gently patted Kafka's hand, which was clutching his arm.
Hearing his words, Kafka cautiously peeked out just half of her little head and softly uttered two words:
"H-hello..."
Women often possess a natural maternal instinct. Seeing Kafka, so timid yet mustering the courage to greet her, made Susan's heart melt.
She clip-clopped quickly over to Kafka and, before the girl could process what was happening, swept her up into a hug.
Then, nuzzling her cheek against Kafka's, she said with a laugh:
"Oh, you adorable little thing!"
"Listen, Little Crow, why don't you let me have this little one? I promise I'd raise her much better than you!"
"Do you think this is some kind of dating sim?"
"Besides, before asking me, don't you think you should ask the person in question what she thinks? It's basic respect." Bai Heng facepalmed, complaining about Susan's absurdity.
Hearing this, Susan's eyes lit up, and she immediately switched targets.
She placed her hands earnestly on little Kafka's small shoulders and asked in a gentle tone:
"Little one, would you like to come with me? I promise you'll be much happier at my place than staying here!"
"I can see it! This mean guy not only makes you do chores, but he also makes you study all sorts of things! He's robbing you of your right to a happy childhood!"
"You seem clingy with him on the surface, but he's forcing you, right?"
"Who knows, once you grow up, he might even make you do... even more outrageous things!"
"Like making you warm his bed, or making you become his wife, and so on and so forth!"
"Once enough time passes, you'll be trapped for good!"
"So, rather than waiting for that to happen, why not come with me right now and escape this misery!"
As she spoke, Susan even shot a mock-fierce glare at Bai Heng, her expression practically accusing him of being the worst sort of scoundrel.
Bai Heng: "...."
What kind of nonsense are you filling this child's head with?
Little Kafka's mind was also left spinning by Susan's torrent of words. Some of it she didn't understand, but other parts, she grasped perfectly.
Like Susan's final point.
Even little Kafka understood that this sister with the kind smile wanted to take her away from Bai Heng.
So the moment those words registered, she used all her strength to push Susan's face away and scrambled back behind Bai Heng as fast as her legs could carry her.
"I... I won't leave Bai Heng...."
"And he's not the bad guy you say he is!"
"He brushes my hair...."
"He buys me delicious food...."
"And he watches Demon Slayer with me, even the scary parts I want to see but am too afraid to watch alone."
"As for the chores, I want to do those!"
"And I stick close to him because I like it!"
"Bai Heng and I are family... so, I won't leave him, no matter what!"
The little girl who, just a few months ago, was too timid to meet others' eyes, now spoke these unwavering words with firm, repeated conviction.
After her speech, little Kafka stared warily at Susan, looking at her as if she were a cunning thief.
Seeing her like this, Susan was taken aback. After a long moment, she finally looked at Bai Heng with a complicated gaze.
"You... what kind of potion have you been feeding this child?"
Hearing this, Bai Heng wasn't angered. He simply ruffled little Kafka's head and offered Susan a light smile.
"How rude. We're family~"
--+--
T/N: While I am an inexperienced Translator, I have a Patreon! While it may seem empty as of now, webnovel will get 2 Chapters Every Day, and advanced chapters will be uploaded on Patreon.
It may not seem worth it now, but maybe in the future. Who knows!
[email protected]/AspenTL
If you guys wanna check it out.