Chapter 49: An Absurd Situation and An Absurd Child

[By observing a High-Human, you’ve gained insight into a new High-Human.]

’...What?’

Nero almost thought he had misread the notification.

He checked it again, but the words remained unchanged.

A High-Human?!

’Wait, wait, wait. Are you telling me this little girl is a High-Human?!’

Nero was completely dumbfounded.

He had come here to pay his respects to Edmund Smith, the man who had sacrificed his life to save him. Yet somehow, he had encountered another member of his race standing right beside the coffin.

And it was a little girl!

Mira continued smiling at him, completely unaware of the thoughts racing through his mind.

Then Nero suddenly remembered something Edmund had told him before entering the Gate.

’My granddaughter was just born.’

"..."

His eyes wandered around the yard, searching for a baby or perhaps a cradle among the family’s belongings.

However, he couldn’t find either.

Instead, there was this girl standing before him, looking about ten years old.

’Don’t tell me...’

An absurd possibility entered Nero’s mind.

’Can High-Human babies grow this fast?’

He quickly dismissed the thought.

’No, that’s ridiculous! Even if they’re a superior race, how can a newborn become a ten-year-old overnight?!’

Just then, the younger woman reached for Mira’s hand, while the man beside her examined Nero with a slightly uneasy expression.

Nero decided to ask directly.

"Edmund told me his granddaughter was a newborn."

The moment those words left his mouth, both parents stiffened.

The woman immediately pulled Mira closer, while her husband opened his mouth before noticing the neighbors still gathered around them.

Nero understood his hesitation.

"Let’s finish the funeral first," he suggested, lowering his voice.

The man nodded immediately.

With Rafe and his men gone, the priest gathered everyone around the grave to continue the funeral.

Nero stood among the mourners as Edmund’s coffin was slowly lowered into the earth.

The moment the first soil struck the lid, Edmund’s wife nearly collapsed. Her family hurriedly supported her while the priest offered a prayer to God.

Nero remained there until the grave was completely filled.

He had already witnessed Edmund’s death, but watching his family place flowers on the fresh earth made the loss feel different.

Edmund Smith had wanted nothing more than to return home and spend the rest of his days with his family.

And now he had finally returned.

Unfortunately, he would never get to sit with them again.

After the funeral, the neighbors gradually began leaving, offering their condolences to the family.

Some also thanked Nero for dealing with the Red Jackals, although several still glanced toward the road with worried expressions.

The priest approached him last.

"Thank you for helping this family, young man."

Nero lowered his head slightly.

"I couldn’t just stand there and watch."

"You did a good thing," the priest replied before glancing toward the rear wall. "But be careful of the Red Jackals. They’ve remained in this district despite the many complaints against them."

"I understand."

"I hope you do. Men like Rafe only become so bold because someone allows them to."

Nero smiled faintly.

Fortunately, he had his dear Miss Lilia.

If Rafe wanted to rely on someone powerful, Nero could do the same. A street thug’s connections weren’t nearly enough to make him abandon Edmund’s family.

Once the priest left, Nero approached the four people standing beside the grave.

"Could we go inside and talk?"

The parents exchanged a glance before the man opened the back door.

"Please come in."

Nero followed them into a small but clean sitting room.

A family photograph stood beside an old clock, and he immediately recognized Edmund’s familiar smile among the people in it.

"My name is Daniel Smith," the man introduced himself before gesturing toward his wife. "This is Clara. You’ve already met my mother, Ruth, and our daughter is Mira."

Mira climbed onto the seat beside her grandmother, looking rather comfortable despite everything that had happened.

Nero introduced himself before briefly explaining how he had met Edmund inside the Gate.

He told them about the demonoid and how Edmund had sacrificed himself to protect him.

After finishing his explanation, Nero lowered his head.

"He died protecting me. I’m sorry."

Clara immediately covered her mouth, struggling to hold back her tears.

For a few moments, nobody said anything, and the ticking of the old clock was the only sound in the room.

Then Ruth reached across the table and gently placed her hand over Nero’s.

"That sounds just like Edmund."

Her voice trembled slightly, but she continued looking at him.

"He was always like that. Whenever he saw someone in danger, he’d step in before thinking about himself."

"You don’t have to blame yourself, Mr. Nero," Daniel added, rubbing his face. "We know what sort of man he was."

Clara nodded through her tears.

"He wouldn’t have wanted you to spend the life he saved apologizing for it."

Nero looked down at Ruth’s hand.

He had prepared himself for the possibility that Edmund’s family would blame him.

Instead, they were comforting him.

For a moment, he genuinely didn’t know what to say.

"...Thank you."

Clara eventually went to the kitchen and returned with some tea.

Once everyone had a cup, Nero decided to bring up the matter that had been bothering him.

"About your daughter. What exactly happened to her?"

Daniel’s hand stopped above his teacup.

Clara immediately took hold of Mira’s fingers, while even Ruth appeared uneasy.

Seeing their reactions, Nero let out a sigh.

"Let me guess. She was a newborn, and then she suddenly grew to look ten years old?"

Daniel almost jumped from his seat.

"H-How do you know that, Mr. Nero?!"

Hearing this, Clara looked at Nero with a newfound sense of hope.

They had been terrified ever since Mira’s sudden transformation, and nobody they had spoken to could explain what had happened.

Yet this young man had somehow figured it out without them telling him anything.

’Could he actually know something?’

Clara glanced at Daniel, who seemed just as surprised, before turning back to Nero.

"It happened in a single day," she explained, her voice carrying a hint of desperation. "We woke up, and she was already..."

She couldn’t bring herself to finish the sentence, instead turning toward Mira.

Ruth, who had been listening anxiously, finally spoke.

"Is this something that happens nowadays? With Mana and all these changes in the world?"

All three adults looked toward Nero, hoping he could explain what had happened to their little girl.

Unfortunately, what he had to say wasn’t particularly reassuring.

"No. A newborn growing that much in a single day isn’t normal."

Clara’s hopeful expression faltered.

"I’ve never heard of a recorded case like this either."

"Then what does that mean?" Daniel asked worriedly. "Is something going to happen to her?"

Nero took a sip of tea before placing the cup down.

"For starters, nobody else should know how young she really is."

He looked at the adults.

"If anyone asks, just say she’s a distant relative’s child staying with you. Don’t tell them she’s the newborn Edmund mentioned."

Daniel nodded firmly.

"We won’t."

However, Clara wasn’t satisfied with that answer.

"But you know something, don’t you, Mr. Nero?" she asked. "You recognized what happened before we even told you."

She hesitated before adding, "Please, if you know anything about our daughter, tell us."

Nero could understand her desperation. After all, waking up to find that your newborn daughter had suddenly become a ten-year-old would probably terrify any parent.

"I don’t know why she grew like this, and I can’t promise that I understand everything about her."

He turned toward Mira, who was sitting quietly beside her grandmother.

"But there’s one thing I can tell you. Your daughter isn’t an ordinary human."

Ruth’s handkerchief slipped onto her lap.

"What do you mean?"

Mira tilted her head, looking rather cheerful despite how worried her family had become.

Nero considered his words before explaining.

"She’s a High-Human. Basically, a human who has evolved into a higher form of life."

Daniel examined his daughter’s small hands.

"High Human...?"

"Her body and mind are far beyond those of an ordinary human. She also possesses abilities that most people would need to awaken a Talent to obtain."

Nero briefly remembered the Demonic Energy that had surged through his own body during his transformation.

"Even demonic corruption can’t corrupt a High-Human."

The room fell silent.

Clara turned toward Mira, seemingly unable to believe that her daughter was something so extraordinary.

Ruth instinctively reached toward her granddaughter’s shoulder before stopping halfway.

However, while the adults were still struggling to understand Nero’s explanation, Mira suddenly smiled at him.

"I was right, big brother. You’re a High-Human too, aren’t you? I was right."

"..."

Nero nearly spat out his tea.

’WHAT?!’

He had been explaining things so confidently just a moment ago, yet this little girl had somehow turned the entire situation around with a single question.

’How the hell does she know that?!’

Nero stared at Mira, who was still smiling innocently at him.

For some reason, that innocent smile suddenly didn’t seem so innocent anymore.

’Just what kind of little monster is this girl?!’