The Player's POV - Chapter 27: Aspiration [2]

11A William Street.

Caster looked really energetic and clean at this moment.

To be honest, even when he was freed from that inhumane laboratory, or spent time with his friends at the orphanage, this was the first time Kael had seen him this excited.

He had prepared everything for this moment.

In front of the three of them was a house, it didn’t look like a mansion, but it was definitely something that only someone with money could afford.

’So this is Caster’s father’s house?’

It seemed like he was a rich man?

While Kael was lost in his thoughts, Caster, who was standing in front of the door, was extremely hesitant.

The boy wanted to knock on the door, but was always stopped by some invisible force.

Noticing this, Hans hurriedly walked towards him.

“Don’t worry, Caster. Relax your body. You can do it.”

He placed his slightly calloused hands on Caster’s trembling shoulders.

“If you’re still worried, then breathe in and out many times. Stop when you feel okay.”

“…Yes.”

The boy did it.

Inhaled. Exhaled. Inhaled. Exhaled. Inhaled. Exhaled.

…

Finally, after repeating that action more than 10 times, the kid eventually regained control of his body.

“Shall I do it, Kael, Hans?”

“Of course, do it, don’t regret it.”

Hans gave the boy two thumbs up and smiled brightly.

Kael, who was still lost in thought, didn’t pay much attention to Caster’s words.

That’s why he nodded, without even realizing that he had just done so.

“Okay, I’ll do it.”

The boy took a deep breath, his gaze became more determined, he clenched his hand into a fist, and knocked on the wooden door three times.

Knock knock knock.

…

Something’s not right.

For some reason, Kael felt as if there were hundreds of butterflies in his stomach.

His intuition told him that something bad was about to happen.

But what exactly was it?

He had felt that way from the beginning, but he didn’t understand the source of it.

’Use your brain, you idiot!’

Suddenly, an idea flashed through his mind.

But this idea was so bad that even he couldn’t imagine it.

There weren’t many reasons for parents to leave their children at an orphanage.

The first reason was because they didn’t have enough money to take care of the child.

Under these circumstances, that was impossible.

The house the three of them were standing in front of didn’t look like it belonged to someone without money, and its location in the city center made its price even higher.

“Pass.”

The second reason was because they were dead.

…

To be honest, this one sounded even more absurd than the previous one.

’Hmm, wait a minute.’

Once again, Kael realized something unbelievable.

Why did the paper the kid gave Kael have two addresses?

Why did the child’s mother and father live in two different places?

There was only one answer to that question.

And as he thought about it, his mind went into a panic.

Damn it!

He was so careless!

“Wait, Caster! Stop!” Kael shouted, but it was too late, because at that moment, the door opened.

The last reason why parents abandoned their child… was because they had no feelings for it.

To put it bluntly, they hated it.

***

The door slowly opened, and there, the first and only person to enter Caster’s vision was a large man with a thick beard.

— Is this my father?

He couldn’t take his eyes off that man.

His face was filled with joy.

No matter how one looked at it, the man in front of Caster right now looked like an adult version of him.

—There’s no doubt about it… this is my dad!

The boy’s nose was stinging, and tears were flowing out of his eyes.

But, the smile still remained on Caster’s lips, unshakeable.

— I’ve been waiting for this day for so long.

— Dad…

—…I miss you.

“DAD!!!”

Unable to restrain himself, the kid rushed towards the man with an excited mood.

At the same time, it seemed that the man had also realized Caster’s existence.

— I’ve always thought about this day in my dreams.

— And now, it has come true.

Caster looked forward to an emotional reunion.

But, in contrast to the boy’s expression, the man’s face showed only one thing – disgust.

Slap!

“Eh…”

Caster didn’t know what had just happened.

For a moment, the kid lost consciousness.

And when Caster returned to his normal state, he was lying on the ground, and his body had a few not-so-serious injuries.

— It hurts.

The boy wasn’t in pain because he was injured.

It was because of the gaze the man was using to look at him.

— Why…

— Why are you looking at me like I’m a pile of trash… Dad?

“Caster!”

Hans and Kael rushed over, standing in front of the boy, not allowing the man to come any closer.

If he had known this would happen, he would never have brought Caster to see his dad.

“Honey, what’s going on? Who are these people?”

A woman dressed in designer clothes, leading a young boy, emerged from inside, standing next to the man Caster called father.

Just like the other rich people, she was looking at them with an unfriendly gaze.

To put it bluntly, it was a gaze of contempt.

“It’s nothing, honey. Just some street thugs. Let me handle it.”

— Huh?

— What did dad say?

— I’m your son, aren’t I?

“Okay, hurry up. This bunch is killing me.” Responding with a troubled tone, the woman quickly led her son back inside.

After finishing everything, the man finally turned his gaze to the three of them.

And that gaze wasn’t a kind one either.

“Hey, are you two new to the orphanage? If so, then I just want to say that from now on, don’t ever bring this kid to interfere with my life again.”

— …

“Since this is the first time, I’ll let it go. There won’t be a second time!”

“Yes, sir, I sincerely apologize.”

Kael lowered his head as low as he could and begged for forgiveness, even though he had done nothing wrong.

If he could, Kael would have drawn his weapon and slashed the man several times.

But unfortunately, he couldn’t.

If he attacked here, the opponents he would face would be the majority of the Rankers – mainly the people pursuing justice, who were also on the 20th floor.

And Kael currently had absolutely no chance of defeating them.

He gritted his teeth.

Today was such a bad day.

Caster’s father was the type of person Kael hated the most.

A man who gave birth to his child, but had no intention of taking responsibility for it.

The man didn’t say anything more, just snorted in annoyance and went back inside the house.

Bam!

He slammed the door hard, making his attitude clear.

That was how their first meeting ended.

And it didn’t go well at all.