NOVEL NEXT Chapter 147: A Daughter's Education
Arriving at the entrance of the sixth floor's boss area, the barrage of attacks finally stopped.
The artificial humans and robotic beasts that had been firing endlessly slowed down, then retreated step by step as if some invisible order forced them to back away.
Miya and Raiden, who were already tense and ready to intervene, both let out a long breath of relief.
"Finally…"
Miya muttered, rubbing her temples.
'Hmm. Luckily this little girl's power focuses on defense.'
Adam thought as he released Guin from his arms, setting her gently on the ground.
'If she had gone on the offensive and attacked a few more robots, the sixth floor would've probably triggered bombs or even nukes in this place…'
Guin dropped onto the cold metal floor, her small body trembling.
She raised her head and looked at Adam with dazed, dry eyes.
Adam stared right back at her without saying anything.
A silent, intense staring contest began between the stoic young man and the traumatized girl.
Seeing this, Miya's lips twitched.
"You two are hopeless…"
She crouched down and scooped up the fragile girl into her arms.
Guin didn't resist, only resting limply against her.
Miya tried softening her tone.
"Hey… little one, what's your name?"
"…Guin."
"That's a pretty name."
Miya smiled faintly.
"How old are you? Are you here with your parents? Where are they now?"
Guin's eyes flickered for a moment, but she didn't give a straight answer.
"Twelve… I'm with Papa…"
Miya frowned but didn't press too hard.
"Papa, huh? And your mama?"
"…Don't know."
Her answers were short, vague, as if the events of everything that she had gone through had made her wary of speaking.
Miya sighed.
She hugged Guin tighter, her voice rising in frustration.
"What is a twelve-year-old child doing in the Tower of Yxthar?! Is the government stupid? They shouldn't allow kids at this age to climb. They should still be safe on the first floor!"
Raiden's face darkened as well.
His usual calmness cracked a little, his brows furrowing.
"Hm. We should send her back… Since the chosen conduit—"
He coughed lightly.
"Ehem. I mean, since our little brother Adam has defeated those… true body bosses, we're now allowed to travel all the way back to the first floor correct?"
Miya nodded firmly.
"Hm. You're right. As much as we are in a rush to go back to the tenth floor, we can't endanger a child's life. This is non-negotiable."
But just as those words left her mouth, Guin's body suddenly stiffened.
Her eyes widened, and with surprising strength for her frail frame, she wriggled out of Miya's arms. She stumbled forward and ran straight to Adam.
Before anyone could stop her, she pressed her face against Adam's shirt, clutching tightly with both hands. Her small shoulders shook.
"I… I want to stay with Papa…"
Her voice cracked, trembling but stubborn.
Adam froze on the spot, utterly dumbfounded.
[Pockyslee has donated an F-tier gift]
[You have received] +3 Soul Cores
[Pockyslee] : I wasn't here since day one, does Adam have a secret child?
[Voorgard has donated an F-tier gift]
[You have received] +3 Soul Cores
[Voorgard] : New viewer here, is the streamer actually a scum dad?
[Frog Eater nods his head saying yes]
[Prankster of Kingdoms backs up Frog Eater's answer by also saying yes.]
Hearing this, Miya's expression shifted to suspicion as she narrowed her eyes at Adam.
"Adam… you—"
Adam shot his sister a sharp glare, his expression clearly screaming, Don't even start.
But when he looked down, seeing Guin's thin arms clutching his clothes, her body shaking from fear and hunger, the glare vanished.
His strict expression did not die down but he said nothing.
He reached into his system inventory and pulled out the [Mana Cakes] he had originally planned on saving for Miya.
The soft pastries glowed faintly with a gentle blue light.
He crouched down and placed them into Guin's small hands.
Guin froze, as if unsure she was even allowed to eat them.
Her gaze flickered between the food and Adam's face.
"Eat slow and careful."
Adam said flatly.
Her lips trembled, then she took a small bite.
The faint glow of mana rippled around her as if the food itself was healing her worn-down body.
[Heavendefier130 has donated an F-tier gift]
[You have received] Sweet Magic Drink: A honey-like liquid brewed with enchanted fruits, instantly restoring hydration while filling the body with balanced nutrients. Tastes like melted candy.
[Heavendefier130] : Give it to her too.
Guin's eyes widened when Adam held the glowing glass bottle out to her.
She sipped carefully, then held it tightly like she never wanted to let go.
The chat erupted with sympathy, each one trying to spoil her more than the last.
[nonexnihilio42069 has donated an F-tier gift]
[You have received] Sleep Restoration Pill: A pearl-like pill that forces the body into twelve hours of perfect rest, instantly erasing fatigue and stabilizing the mind.
[nonexnihilio42069] : She looks like she hasn't slept in a week. It's a miracle she's still conscious. Severe sleep deprivation causes hallucinations and breaks from reality. That's probably why she's confused you for her father, streamer.
Adam's eyes glanced over the comment as he silently agreed.
He looked at his siblings. His voice was calm but strict.
"We cannot travel back. The option to descend only unlocks after clearing the floor boss."
That was the absolute rule behind going down the floors in the Tower of Yxthar.
Raiden crossed his arms, his face hardening as he spoke.
"Then we have another problem."
Adam and Miya turned toward him at once as though asking what it was.
Raiden's gaze focused towards Guin.
"The sixth floor's trial is knowledge. You need to understand this civilization's technology to pass. I doubt she's studied even a single page of the archives."
Silence fell.
Adam's expression did not change as he silently agreed with the current situation's problem.
He glanced down again.
Guin sat on the floor beside him, nibbling the cake like a starved squirrel.
Even while eating, one of her hands never let go of Adam's shirt, clinging as if he might vanish at any moment.
Her thin frame, her tired eyes, her trembling shoulders... she had been holding on for far too long.
'Hm. What to do.'
Adam thought to himself, his eyes narrowing.
He glanced back at the chat.
[Yisus88 has donated a D-tier gift]
[You have received] Memory Capsule: A crystalline bead that, once consumed, engraves the events of the day into the user's mind with flawless clarity. No detail forgotten once willed by the consumer to be remembered. (Duration : 1 day)
[Yisus88] : For Adam's daughter and her education!