First Demonic Dragon

Chapter 699: Parental Worries

"We've confirmed that nothing is wrong with her, sir. She doesn't seem to be under the empress's influence at all as far as we can tell."

Shin stared at the body on the table for so long that it was beginning to get uncomfortable.

"…I see. Thank you for your work. Return to your post." Director Shin dismissed.

"Yes, sir."

Once the young man left the room, Director Nagumo continued to stare at Fiona warily while she sat in silence.

The young woman normally would have kept pretending that she didn't notice it, but she felt that now would have been the perfect time for one of her award winning ice breakers.

"…You're looking a little stupefied there, Director. I hope I didn't scar you for life with my sudden bare naked resurrection thing."

"…"

'Shit. Death's made me rusty…' Fiona felt like she was on the verge of dying inside a second time.

"I need to know it's really you, Fiona." Shin finally broke his silence.

Scans showed that Fiona was perfectly fine, but as sad as it was to say, that just wasn't good enough.

Abaddon had already proved himself time and time again to be an existence that superseded all of their prior knowledge and experience.

Why would the women he lay with not be the same?

Lillian could have Fiona wired to hell and back, and the organization might not ever be able to detect it.

She was a ginormous security risk.

But she was also like a second daughter to Shin. Which was why he was looking for something, anything, to prove that this was really the girl who he had practically raised.

With no hidden 'surprises' left within her.

The young woman couldn't say she didn't expect him to act like this atleast a little bit.

She touched her chest through her gown and put on a deeply contemplative expression.

"I… feel like myself. Nothing seems any different." She muttered."…Though that kinda sucks if I'm being truly honest."

"…Pardon?" Shin blinked.

"Well if I was going to die and be brought back, I would've liked it if she would've atleast kept some of my traumatic memories, my insecurities around my big feet, my addiction to BL manga, my fear of cockroaches, my abandonment issu-"

"Alright, you're fine." The Director dismissed.

"Eh?? How do you know??"

"Because only you would say that much nonsense in such a short timeframe without an ounce of shame inside you." The Director shook his head.

Fiona just kind of shrugged. She thought she had a pretty winning personality because she always said what was on her mind.

Shin wrestled with himself for a couple of more moments before before eventually cursing himself and his weak heart.

He threw his arms around Fiona and wrapped her in the tightest hug he had ever given anyone in the past several years.

Needless to say, she was more surprised than anyone.

"D-Director??" She panicked.

"Perhaps I'm getting old, Fiona…" he said quietly. "I seem to be a lot more sentimental now than I was in my younger years…"

A smile crept onto the young woman's face before she knew it was happening.

She returned his unexpected hug with one of her own; trying not to ruin the joy of this moment by making another awkward comment.

"…I don't mind your sentimental side, old man. I'm sure Kaela would like to see more of it as well."

The mention of his daughter made Shin pause and take a moment to reflect.

Kaela… Perhaps she was the reason for all of these new changes being brought about with him.

The adorably infectious little girl was making him soft… and yet he couldn't stop the change that was taking place in him even if he wanted to.

'Father… I wonder if I ever had this sort of impact on you..?' He thought to himself.

He finally realized that maybe he'd been hugging on to the young girl for a bit too long.

He released her and clasped her firmly on her shoulders while staring into her eyes.

"Welcome home, Brigade Leader. The Order wasn't the same without you."

Fiona smiled bashfully and performed a small salute.

"Pleasure to be back, Director."

For the first time in his life, Director Nagumo wished that tradition would allow him to adopt two children instead of only one.

But he was the boss now, right..? Maybe he could find a way to make his own rules in the future.

"…I-I should get back to the bridge. We've a lot of work to do." Shin deflected.

A knowing look seemed to pass over Fiona's face.

"Ah… We're moving, huh?"

Lillian had clearly seen quite a lot when in possession of Fiona's soul.

Too much.

This location, the nature of their magics, the full number of their forces, security codes, weapons schematics, operatives among the gods both foreign and domestic, Fiona knew almost everything.

And now, Lillian probably did too, which meant the news would soon reach Abaddon's ears. That is, if it hadn't been the subject of their pillow-talk already…

"Where are we going?" Fiona asked.

"…" Director Shin couldn't look at her.

"Right. Still a potential security risk." She nodded.

"I just need a little more time to observe you before we can clear you, and then-"

"Don't worry." Fiona smiled. "I get it."

Director Shin hated this more with every passing second.

"…Can I see her?" Fiona asked.

Shin didn't need to ask who she meant.

"…I'll bring her in an hour. She's been asking about you a lot too."

"I assume you couldn't tell her I was dead?"

"…"

"What was the cover story?"

"…Hawaii with a boy I'm not supposed to know about."

*Whistles* "Good cover. Even I would've believed it, and I know full well how awkward I am with dating."

Director Shin rolled his eyes and opened the door to retrieve the little girl they both cared so much about.

But just before he left, he paused once again when he realized that something had escaped his notice earlier.

"…What exactly is 'BL'?"

-

"Welcome home!"

Courtney threw two handfuls of confetti at her grandparents as the two of them walked through the front door.

Hajun and Kirina became watery eyed on the spot.

Even more so when their now eight foot tall daughter came forward to hug them.

"Mom, Dad… I'm glad you two are back." Seras said gently.

Hajun nearly dropped like a sack of potatoes with tears in his eyes.

His cutie-patootie was so affectionate now!

"S-Seras, you've grown.." Kirina muttered in shock.

"You don't need to make it sound like I was short before, mom…"

Nearby, Abaddon and Asmodeus were leaning against the wall and watching this whole sweet scene go down.

However, Abaddon noticed that his father was actually being quiet for a change… which was drastically concerning.

"Alright, pops. Out with it." Abaddon suddenly said.

"Hm..?"

"You've been in a funny little daze all day. I'm starting to suspect a midlife crisis here."

Asmodeus scoffed. "I'm a little too old for that kind of concept to apply to me, son."

"My point remains the same. You've been acting so out of it that you're starting to worry one of my mothers. Spill it." Abaddon goaded.

Asmodeus seemed to take his time deciding what he was going to say, and just how he was going to vocalize everything on his mind.

"… Tell me something, my son… Do you feel as though I have cursed you and your sisters?"

Out of everything Abaddon was expecting to hear from his father, that didn't even crack the top thirty on the list.

"…Why would you-"

"I am aware that you've seized the underworlds now. And I'm not so blinded by my own happy marriage that I don't recognize the signs that are swirling around me."

Abaddon said nothing, and just let Asmodeus continue talking.

"I look at the fact that it is unavoidable, but I do wish that you and he would not try to kill each other."

Abaddon was so stunned by the way his father spoke that he didn't even know where he should begin to address everything.

"I am aware that we do have not choose our kin, but I just wonder… Have I cursed you all by birthing you into this madness of a family line?

This sort of life where one must kill their own blood as revenge for old grievances… it is no way to live. I don't wish for this scenario to come to pass for you. You shouldn't have that blood on your hands again."

Abaddon was stumped.

Was this really his father?

If his eyes couldn't see perfectly through all illusions and barriers, he might begin to seriously question that fact.

"…From the beginning, I was never going to be normal, father.

If you are questioning yourself because you believe that you have taken something from me, then you are wrong on all counts.

I would not change anything about my family or what lineage I was born into."

Asmodeus seemed to take more time just to think to himself and mull some things over.

And as much as Abaddon wanted to know what his father had on his mind, he didn't share any of it with him.

"…I'm a bit tired today. I think I'll excuse myself from the drinking party." He backed away.

Abaddon watched his father travel up the stairs in complete silence and with a heavy heart.

He didn't know where all of this had come from, but he felt as though… maybe he didn't handle it as well as he should have.