My Adorable Daughter Can't Be A Villainess

The first place Eric wanted to visit after reaching his destination was the mountains where the relic lay buried.

For now, however, he sat inside a cozy room, settled into a comfortable chair. Several snacks and a cup of black tea were neatly arranged on the table before him.

Across from him sat a man with thinning black hair and yellowed teeth.

Rubbing the back of his head, the man said, “I had no idea you were coming here for an inspection, Young Lord.”

The young lord in question was none other than Eric. The careful treatment he was receiving from the Governor was entirely due to the title he carried.

The heir of Blackwood County.

This small town also fell under his father’s jurisdiction, which explained the Governor’s excessive politeness.

Eric leaned back in his chair and spoke calmly. “I’m not here for an inspection, Lord Grimwald. My purpose lies beyond this town, in the mountains.”

The Governor looked both surprised and relieved. “Then this must be related to your research.”

Eric had no intention of revealing his true goal. His silence, however, was mistaken for impatience, causing the Governor to quickly add, “I will assign some of our best guides—”

“That won’t be necessary, Governor,” Eric interrupted. “I know my way.”

The Governor’s worry deepened. Not because a man might get lost, but because Eric was far from ordinary.

Still, with Eric’s stance clear, he could only give in. “I understand, Young Lord. At the very least, please take some emergency supplies recommended by our guild master, in case anything unexpected happens.”

Eric gave a short nod as he stood up. “Understood. Please excuse me.”

With that, he left the room, leaving behind a Governor wiping sweat from his forehead.

“Phew… thankfully, this one is still as uninterested in politics as ever,” the man muttered as he leaned back in his chair.

….

Outside, Eric’s butler asked, “Does my lord wish to rest for the night?”

Eric shook his head. “No, that won’t be necessary. The Governor mentioned emergency supplies that may be useful in the mountains.”

Gerald nodded. “I will contact the local guild, my lord.”

Eric hummed softly as he exited the building alongside his butler.

Just then—

DHAK

Someone crashed straight into Eric.

It was a small girl, likely in her early teens. She hurriedly bowed her head. “I’m sorry, I wasn’t looking.”

Eric’s eyes narrowed. As the girl turned to leave, he grabbed her shoulder. “Return it. Now.”

Gerald frowned and looked more closely at her. Just as his lord suspected, something was clutched tightly inside her cloak.

The girl stayed silent for a moment before slapping Eric’s hand away and breaking into a run.

Trip.

DHAK.

Gerald calmly stuck out his leg, sending her tumbling to the ground.

The butler stepped forward and retrieved his master’s diary first, then turned his attention to the girl.

Suddenly, she flung dust at Gerald’s face, making him groan. She tried to flee again, only to feel her body lift off the ground.

“Eh?”

Eric’s Arcane glowed as he firmly held the girl and pulled her closer.

His mood had already been soured by the interruption, made worse by her attempt to steal his research papers.

“You should have just listened to me,” he said. Then his voice faltered, and his eyes widened the moment he truly looked at her.

Crystal blue eyes, each marked with a small star. Curly pink hair like an untamed bush hidden beneath her cloak. A face smeared with dirt and old scars.

Yet it wasn’t her condition that shocked him.

It was who she was.

“Agh!” Eric’s focus broke as the girl suddenly kicked his chin. She slipped free and dashed away.

Gerald moved to catch her, but she slipped through his grasp as if she were smoke, vanishing into a dark alley.

Eric stood still for a few seconds before speaking. “Investigate that girl. By the time I return, I want to know where she lives.”

Gerald looked surprised. “Should I not hand her over to the authorities, my lord?”

Eric shook his head, offering no explanation.

He did not want that girl anywhere near the authorities.

Whether it was fate or unseen hands shifting the pieces, within just a month of waking up in this world, he had already encountered the third main character of the story.

And not just anyone.

The main heroine.

“I understand, my lord.”

….

Not long after, Eric left the town in a carriage, heading toward its outskirts.

Along the way, Gerald gathered the necessary equipment from the guild.

Evening had already fallen, and with no soldiers stationed at the base of the mountains, everything beyond the town’s borders was swallowed by darkness.

Eric took a moment to steady himself before saying, “Only you will accompany me.”

The butler looked slightly startled but did not object. “As you wish, my lord.”

Turning to the uneasy soldiers, Gerald instructed, “Remain here and stay alert. If you see a flare, do not rush in. Contact the adventurers first. They know the terrain better.”

The two soldiers saluted.

Once everything was settled, Eric finally left the town with Gerald at his side.

The butler lit the lantern provided by the guild, its glow standing out more sharply as the surrounding darkness deepened.

“Do we have something to mark the trail?” Eric asked.

Gerald nodded. “Yes, sir. These marking bubbles.”

He handed over a small pouch. Inside rested several white orbs.

Eric took one out, glanced at a large boulder, and flicked the orb toward it.

Thap.

The orb struck the stone with a soft sound. White dust spread across the surface, leaving a clear mark that could be seen from afar.

Satisfied, Eric nodded and began walking ahead.

If his memory was correct, the relic he sought would soon reveal itself.

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