I Am The Heroine's Father: The Cannon Fodder's Ascent-Chapter 44: Talk to her

"Pufff... wheww"

Johan let out the grey smoke of the cigarette, his left hand in his long coat's pocket, sucking on the cigarette like it was Beatrice's lips.

His expression grew solemn watching people dance, as he stood beside a normal-looking eagle, leaning his back against the stone wall.

Kirin and Sebastian—Sebastian held Kirin's right hand with his, while holding her waist with the other, dancing peacefully to the soft beat.

Stars were still glowing, but most of the people had already left, since this was a daily occasion for them, leaving only the tourists and shopkeepers still enjoying themselves.

"You swore, James, that you won't ever smoke again! You know it causes lung cancer, then why—then why do I always find a pack by your bed?" Clara's sharp, angry voice—filled with worry and sorrow—rang in Johan's ears as he stared at the burning cigarette slowly getting shorter and shorter.

He sighed, 'Why am I smoking again?' He suppressed the tears before they could fall, pushing himself up from the ground.

Melodis warily stared at Johan, his eyes filled with brotherly worry. 'Corruption... it's getting worse...'

"Ahemm, so what is the plan now? I will teach you Sin Dive and a few other things I know... then what? I don't think you can win against that Radhaan guy no matter what you do." Melodis tried to change the topic, his voice sincere.

Johan let out a bitter laugh, "If we fight them, it means we failed. We won't win in a fight no matter what!" Johan went back to staring at the dimming cigarette, not taking a puff.

He gently pulled out a blue gem ring from his inner pocket, the aura of that ring giving off a strange heaviness, as if it was crushing in on itself inside the small mass.

Melodis promptly stopped reading Johan's thoughts, giving him some personal time, thinking about the words just said by Johan.

He could sense the connection between their souls. As a Great Spirit, they were the same body but two souls—and the body split in two. Johan's body was not his anymore. It was being shared by Olivia, and both were basically one with the God Tree.

Meaning—they're just two people living in the same room—God Tree's body, so they could mentally connect when focused, similar to how a person might yell to call for the other to initiate a conversation.

Johan stared deeply at the center of it, as if thinking of something. 'Olivia, are you conscious?' Johan asked in a soft voice, speaking in his mind as if talking to himself.

The blue gem on the black ring glowed, as if blinking dizzily, and asking, "How are you?" freewёbnoνel.com

'I–I don't know, Olivia... you might be right to not trust me...' Johan could feel it—her emotions, her thoughts—but just a peek. He could feel that she only accepted Johan because he was her last hope, not because she forgave him for raping her for years, torturing her brother half dead if she didn't comply.

"Did something happen?" Her voice rang in his ears, the soft feminine voice like a melody to the head.

If they were locked inside the room, Olivia was locked inside the bathroom, while Johan could peek at her through a window—Olivia couldn't.

And worst of all, the "Landlord" was locked with her, who constantly wanted to kill her and take over her body.

"I saw whaa—what is happening to Theo, Acier, and the others... but, I really love them, I know that for a fact. I do love them. But... I didn't feel anything. I'm a scumbag who can't even mourn for his wife whom he's loved for more than a decade, an elder brother who took care of him his whole life...

Then I want to cry because I feel nothing. Isn't this just too selfish..." he spoke through gritted teeth, his voice breaking.

The wind grew stronger, messing his hair, "And even now, I talk to you after you experienced that, and I am still using you like an emotional tampon." His voice grew low, like the raw whimper of a goat before dying.

The cigarette was almost about to end, but he shoved it back in his lips, feeling the dry paper—he took a deep puff.

"...You finally know it. Yes, you're a scumbag. No, even scumbags are better than you..." Johan's face completely drooped low, staring hard toward the stone ground, sucking hard on the cigarette—biting it with his lips.

"...But, just endure." Johan looked up, staring deeply toward the blue gem.

"And, don't give up hope. That one day, someday, you will also feel it. Feel sorrow, feel happiness, feel love. Even if you have to put up a strong, cruel face—I know you. I know you better than anyone. I saw your worst side, but...

I still see the good in you... it's hope. I hope that... one day, we will live in a small house in the countryside. Our daughter will run around with our dog. We will laugh together, dance together, make love—but this time, I won't be covered in blood and tears." Her voice sounded loud, too loud, as if the air grew quieter, and the hum of music disappeared, for Johan.

"It will help you endure better... trust me." A low hum of words, these being the last words Johan heard before the bright blue gem dimmed to dark blue.

Johan clutched the ring as if hugging it. "Thank you." He whispered.

He pulled out the cigarette, throwing it on the ground before crushing it to dust under his black leather boot.

He placed his hand over the bald head of Melodis, patting it gently.

Melodis's eyes widened, his face darkened, contemplating whether to turn into his original form.

"What do you want?" Melodis asked through gritted teeth, frowning as he laid his head on Johan's hand, rubbing it on Johan's palm.

"Nothing really, but I have to see what Beatrice and Raventa are doing, so I wanted to use one of my abilities, but... my instincts are warning me against it. Do you know what this means?" Johan asked seriously, his face tense.

Melodis' pupils dilated. Becoming one with the God Tree elevates one's instincts to a new level. Similar to how dogs can sense natural disasters, Johan could experience genuine positive or negative feelings that offer significant insight into the future.

He immediately understood what Johan meant and discreetly entered Johan's body. "Alright, I'll make sure you won't get corrupted!" Melodis said with confidence.

[Echos 77: Third Person POV]