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Chapter 6

A side job for this child

The sound of sizzling woke Iris up. When she got out of bed, she saw Aldo standing in the kitchen, cooking.

โ€œGood morning, Dad.โ€

โ€œOh, Iris. Morning. Iโ€™m making breakfast right now, so hang tight for a bit.โ€

โ€œOkay!โ€

She no longer had to wake up before her father out of fear. The scared little girl who was once terrified of waking up late was gone. Now, they could greet each other in the morning and have normal, everyday conversations. This was a typical day in their household.

Aldo, as he watched the frying egg in front of him, found himself wondering about Irisโ€™s preferred doneness.

In his faint memories, he recalled that she liked her eggs soft-boiled. So, he placed a soft-boiled egg on toast.

โ€œHere you go, Iris.โ€

โ€œWow, thank you!โ€

A short while ago, Aldo would have never thought of cooking. Yet now, here he was, making food for her, and Iris couldnโ€™t be happier.

But despite her joy, Iris looked a bit dissatisfied.

โ€œWhatโ€™s wrong, Iris? You donโ€™t like it?โ€

โ€œOh, no, thatโ€™s not it. I like it, butโ€ฆโ€

Iris hesitated, and Aldo noticed.

โ€œOh, sorry. You donโ€™t like soft-boiled eggs?โ€

Iris nodded apologetically, and Aldo put a hand to his forehead with a regretful look.

โ€œAh, sorry. I shouldโ€™ve asked what you liked.โ€

Despite his amnesia, Aldo realized heโ€™d assumed her preference based on an uncertain memory, and he felt remorseful. He turned to head back to the kitchen.

โ€œWait, Dad!โ€

Iris stopped him. Then she grabbed the egg toast with both hands and took a big bite.

โ€œIris!?โ€

โ€œMmm, itโ€™s good! Because you made it for me!โ€

Iris smiled brightly, showing her teeth. Aldo felt his heart lighten at the sight.

Though Iris preferred fully cooked eggs, she didnโ€™t understand why Aldoโ€™s faint memory told him otherwise. It was a mystery he couldnโ€™t unravel.

โ€œSorry, Iris.โ€

โ€œNo, itโ€™s okay. Iโ€™m just happy that you made it for me, even though you never used to cook.โ€

Those words made Aldoโ€™s eyes sting with emotion. He had no idea what kind of past he and Iris shared before his memory loss, and he worried that asking her might bring up painful memories. So, he didnโ€™t ask.

But he decided he would cherish the present and do his best to care for her now.

โ€œBy the way, Iris, what do you do during the day?โ€

โ€œDuring the day?โ€

Iris tilted her head in confusion.

โ€œYes, while Iโ€™m out at work. Donโ€™t you get bored being home alone?โ€

โ€œHmm, Iโ€™m fine. I read books, so I stay entertained.โ€

Iris smiled brightly. Aldo had never shown interest in what she did while he was away, so she felt happy to finally be asked. She felt like her presence mattered.

โ€œBooks? What kind of books?โ€

Aldo asked, and Iris excitedly fetched a worn-out childrenโ€™s book from the shelf to show him.

โ€œThis one!โ€

Aldo inspected the book Iris handed him. The corners were frayed and rounded, and there were visible scratches; the pages were yellowed and worn from time, clearly not in good condition.

โ€œYouโ€™ve been reading this book all this time?โ€

โ€œYeah! You bought it for me, Dad! Itโ€™s the newest one I have. The othersโ€ฆ I canโ€™t even read them anymore.โ€

Aldoโ€™s heart ached at her words. Judging by its condition, it was clear Iris had read it countless times, and its sun-faded pages hinted at years of use. More than five years, at least.

In all that time, Aldo had never bought her another book. She had worn this one out from rereading it over and over.

โ€œIrisโ€ฆ do you like books?โ€

โ€œYeah!โ€

โ€œI see. Thenโ€ฆ how about we go buy some?โ€

โ€œReally?โ€

Irisโ€™s eyes sparkled. She had thought Aldo would never buy her books again, so the offer thrilled her.

โ€œYes. This oneโ€™s part of a series, right? I bet youโ€™re curious about the next part.โ€

โ€œYeah!โ€

Aldo resolved to buy her a book. This would be a way to reconnect with her and restart the time theyโ€™d lost.

โ—‡

Aldo and Iris headed to the bookstore, with Iris wearing the clothes Aldo had bought her. She held his hand, and as they walked, he noticed something unusual in her steps. It didnโ€™t take long for him to figure out why.

โ€œIris, your shoes are pretty worn out.โ€

โ€œYeah. I donโ€™t go out much, but they still get worn down.โ€

โ€œThey look tight, too.โ€

โ€œYeah, my feet hurt a bit.โ€

Iris was still a child. Naturally, her feet had grown, and her shoes no longer fit.

โ€œBefore we get the book, should we buy some shoes?โ€

โ€œYes!โ€

At the shoe store, Iris picked out a pair of black, formal shoes that fit her feet perfectly.

โ€œHow do I look, Dad? Cute?โ€

โ€œYes. Very cute.โ€

Aldo smiled at her, though his expression turned a bit grim when he noticed something she hadnโ€™t seen.

โ€œWell then, shall we go to the bookstore?โ€

Aldoโ€™s voice trembled slightly. Iris, completely oblivious to such a small change, was in high spirits. Holding hands with Aldo, she happily hummed a tune as they walked toward the bookstore with a light step that matched her new shoes.

โ€œUh, this seriesโ€ฆ ugh.โ€

Aldo stood in front of the bookshelf, his mouth agape. However, Iris was smiling happily at the sight.

โ€œWow, so many new releases!โ€

There were more new volumes available than Aldo had anticipated, surpassing what Iris already owned. The thought of being able to read so many books made Iris feel like she was floating on air.

โ€œIris, you donโ€™t have to buy them all at once, you know?โ€

โ€œHuh?โ€

Iris frowned, clearly upset, her eyebrows furrowing. Her eyes glistened with tears, and Aldo felt an overwhelming sense of guilt when she looked at him.

โ€œDo you really want all of them?โ€

โ€œYes!โ€

Aldo checked the contents of his wallet. The amount inside was as pitiful as he had expected when he had looked earlier. There was enough to buy a few new childrenโ€™s books, but life was going to get tough from now on. At the very least, the idea of grabbing a drink after work was going to be out of the question.

However, he didnโ€™t want to see his daughterโ€™s sad face. Thinking about how Iris must have struggled until now, the thought of skipping a drink after work felt trivial.

โ€œOkay, I understand. But in return, make sure you read them carefully.โ€

โ€œYay! I love you, Daddy!โ€

Irisโ€™s words pierced Aldoโ€™s heart. It was a pure affection that felt completely devoid of any ulterior motives. Directed at him, it made Aldo feel an overwhelming rush of happiness.

There was no way around it. What father could remain cool when his adorable daughter said such things? He had no choice but to buy all the volumes.

On the way back from the bookstore, Aldo looked at his now-thin wallet and thought about their future living situation. He couldnโ€™t cut back on the money meant for Iris. It was expected that as she grew up, taking care of a girl would require even more money. At his current salary, he might not be able to provide Iris with a satisfactory life.

โ€œAlright, Iโ€™ll get a side job.โ€


Toxic Parent Reincarnation ~ When I Doted on My Daughter Destined to Become the Final Boss, She Ended Up Liking Me an Abnormal Amount ~

Toxic Parent Reincarnation ~ When I Doted on My Daughter Destined to Become the Final Boss, She Ended Up Liking Me an Abnormal Amount ~

ๆฏ’่ฆช่ปข็”Ÿ๏ฝžๅพŒใซใƒฉใ‚นใƒœใ‚นใซใชใ‚‹้‹ๅ‘ฝใฎๅจ˜ใ‚’ๆบบๆ„›ใ—ใŸใ‚‰็•ฐๅธธใ™ใŽใ‚‹ใปใฉๅฅฝใ‹ใ‚Œใฆใ—ใพใฃใŸ๏ฝž
Score 9.9
Status: Ongoing Type: Author: Released: 2024 Native Language: Japanese
A man who lost his wife and child in an accident ended his own life in despair, choosing to follow them. However, when he woke up, he found himself possessing the body of the father of the final boss from a game heโ€™d played as a child. In the original storyline, this father had abused his daughter, which led her to become the final boss out of deep resentment. But this man could never bring himself to treat his new daughter cruelly. Determined to make her happy, especially after losing his daughter in his previous life, he worked tirelessly for her. Alongside his main job, he explored dungeons and gave his all to ensure she could have an easy life, even making it possible for her to attend school. As a result... she never went down the dark path, nor did she become the final boss. However, she developed an intense attachment to her father.

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