Chapter 138: First Encounter with the Golden Darkness
"Uh… yeah…"
Knowing that Franklin was hiding a few secrets of his own, Momo couldn't help but break into a nervous sweat for him, while Nana grinned mischievously, eager to see how he would smooth things over with their father.
Just then, a knock at the door shattered the tense atmosphere.
Having finished making breakfast early, Mikan noticed that Franklin wasn't in his room and curiously knocked on Lala's door.
"Lala-sis, are you in there? Big brother's not in his room—did he sneak into yours?"
Franklin was full of question marks, while Lala quickly opened the door, exposing the scene inside to Mikan.
The moment she saw the room full of people, Mikan froze. Her gaze landed on the unfamiliar young man standing beside Franklin, whose tail was just like Lala's. She blinked in surprise.
"Um, Lala-sis, is this your little brother? You seem to have quite a few siblings—and it looks like you all get along really well."
"You've got it wrong, Mikan," Lala explained quickly. "This is my dad. He got injured recently, so his body's temporarily de-aged. He'll recover gradually."
Mikan blinked again in shock. But seeing how stiffly polite Franklin was acting, she believed Lala right away.
"Ah, hello, sir," she said with a polite bow. "Sorry, the house is a bit messy. I made some extra breakfast—if you don't mind, would you like to join us?"
Faced with the earnest politeness of the young girl, Gid couldn't bring himself to refuse. Whatever plans he'd had to wrap things up quickly were instantly abandoned.
"Then I'll take you up on that, Mikan. I came in such a rush that I forgot your gift on Zastin's ship. I'll have him send it down in a bit."
Watching Gid follow Mikan downstairs with a kindly smile, Franklin finally breathed a sigh of relief. Nana, disappointed that her show had been cut short, pouted slightly but said nothing. As she followed the group down, she stuck her tongue out at Franklin in passing, making him both exasperated and amused.
Momo stayed beside him, quietly helping smooth his rumpled pajamas. She gave him a gentle smile, and the calm encouragement in her eyes eased the turmoil in his heart.
At the breakfast table, Mikan played the perfect little hostess—chatting casually with Gid about everything from Lala's childhood to Franklin's, even the engagement. She spoke with the poise of an adult, constantly praising Franklin's character and abilities.
Even Gid, who had lived for countless years and faced endless battles, found himself swayed by her words. The more he listened, the more he felt that losing Franklin as a son-in-law would truly be a pity.
"Mikan, you're quite impressive," Gid said with a laugh. "Not only can you talk circles around people, but your cooking's first-rate too. I've already acknowledged Franklin as my son-in-law. As long as he proves himself, I won't stand in the way of their marriage.
"But I still haven't told Lala's mother about any of this. It was my own decision to find Lala a fiancé—Sephie doesn't know yet. I'll contact her once I return. Whether Franklin can pass her test or not… well, I can't say."
Mikan smiled brightly. "It's enough that you approve, sir. As for Mrs. Sephie, I'll trouble you to put in a good word. When I get to meet her, I'll explain everything personally."
After breakfast, under Mikan's warm hospitality, everyone gathered in the living room. Noticing the empty coffee table, she smiled and turned to Franklin.
"Big brother, have some sense, will you? Go buy a few things for the table—fruit, snacks, dried nuts, whatever you think Lala-sis, Momo, and Nana would like. Also, pick up some local specialty gifts for our guests. If you can find something suitable for Mr. and Mrs. Gid, even better—he can bring them back, as a kind of early greeting to your future mother-in-law."
Still a bit dazed, Franklin walked out the door. He hadn't thought that far ahead, but she was right—these small gestures of thoughtfulness could go a long way.
The problem was… what on Earth could possibly suit someone like Gid or Sephie?
He racked his brain as he walked, buying anything that seemed remotely appropriate. Behind him floated a wide, one-meter circular platform stacked with snacks and fruit.
A faint red bean aroma drifted to his nose. Spotting a taiyaki stand nearby, Franklin immediately bought the whole batch—keeping one package in hand and piling the rest onto the floating stone platform.
He wandered along, eating as he went, lost in his thoughts—until, by the roadside railing, a glimmer of gold caught the corner of his eye.
He froze.
A bright idea flashed in his mind. That golden glow reminded him of a way to get the perfect gift—Dimensional Summon from the Dimensional Heavenly Tome. Something truly rare, truly valuable.
Turning toward the golden light, Franklin's eyes widened.
A stunning girl—around one meter fifty tall—stood there in a strange black outfit. Her long, golden hair nearly brushed the ground, and her crimson eyes met his own. In that instant, Franklin recognized her immediately.
He glanced from the taiyaki in his hand to the golden-haired girl before him—Golden Darkness, Yami herself—and couldn't help but sigh inwardly. Some things on the timeline really were unchangeable.
Holding out the bag of taiyaki, Franklin smiled warmly. "You've helped me more than you realize. As thanks, please take this."
Seeing her puzzled expression, Franklin grabbed another unopened package from the floating tray.
"I've been stuck on something, and your golden hair gave me the clue I needed. This taiyaki is just a token of gratitude. It's new—I didn't touch it, in case you're worried."
Yami lifted a strand of her shimmering hair, her eyes clouding briefly with sadness. After a moment, seeing the genuine smile on Franklin's face and the offering in his hand, she accepted the first bag.
Taking one piece, she bit into it gently. Her cheeks tinged pink.
"It's… a delicious food," she said softly. "But you won't get to enjoy much of it. You're Franklin, aren't you? In return for your gift, I'll help you end your suffering. Please don't resist."
Golden strands of hair began to float around her, morphing into four massive, golden hands that instantly bound Franklin's limbs. With her left arm still holding the taiyaki, her right hand transformed into a gleaming blade.
Franklin, however, didn't panic. His phantom form had already detached from his body. Channeling spiritual energy into his eyes, he activated the Eye of True Sight.
Name: Eve (Golden Darkness)
Age: 24 / Infinite
Race: First-Generation Biological Weapon
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