I Am The Heroine's Father: The Cannon Fodder's Ascent-Chapter 61: All friends are for benefits

"So... to put it short, we are taking a gamble!" Melodis sighed, watching Johan as he chugged down his coffee with a confident smile.

Sealing Radhaan and Johan relied on the creativity of Kirin and Orihime. They had to... fool him.

Johan had just given them a 5,000-word essay on what to say, how to act, and how to react. He was also going to help them attract Leor and Radhaan through his methods.

Basically, everything that was about to happen was a script written by Johan von Matilda.

Orihime sighed, her face showing a genuine smile for the first time since they had met, "What about the other thing you asked?" she asked, her stare probing.

Johan put the glass on the table with a thud, his eyes softening, "It's a favor of mine. I need this—desperately. And I'll be grateful to you both if you can provide it..."

Orihime still stared thoughtfully at him. Johan finally gave in, "All right, I'll make a separate contract with Velmire and do one thing I'm comfortable doing for him..."

Johan had asked for Velmire's full testimony on everything about Lucifer, his connection with Leor and Radhaan.

This was something Johan wanted to do on the side while saving his family—something he wanted to give to Selene. He wouldn't tell her he was alive, he wouldn't tell her anything. He would just make sure this reached her.

Her loving and forgiving Johan wasn't important right now. What mattered more was her life, her sanity. She would be destroyed if she stayed with that man any longer. And... this could also be used to complete that quest.

Chaos was already about to be unleashed through Kirin and Orihime's attack. This recording would definitely help.

'Why would she believe someone like Velmire? A stranger. A leader of the enemy empire. The killer of her mother. Simple—because she'll have to.'

Johan's smile grew sinister. 'I already planted the seeds of doubt long ago. Ironically, people tend to believe their enemies more than their friends.'

If a friend told you that you were pretty, you might shrug it off. But if the compliment came from a neutral party, someone you only had a negative impression of? You'd feel genuinely touched by it.

From what Johan had told Velmire to say—if he followed it word for word—Selene would definitely start to think.

(Author's Note: He obviously doesn't know Selene's current mental situation, and that she already does! I don't even know why,,,,,,,,,,,, my beta reader mentioned it, or did you all really not know that he doesn't???)

"Alright!" Orihime chuckled, watching Johan's exasperated face. But for Johan, one favor he was comfortable doing was nothing compared to saving his daughter.

"Everything's sorted! Let's leave now then!" Kirin said optimistically, her eyes eager. Every night was like a nightmare. She had developed insomnia, barely sleeping 2–3 hours—unless Johan or Sebastian rubbed her head for hours.

James in Johan could've never imagined that ruthless musclehead to be this gentle and... feminine. But he definitely didn't hate it. On the contrary, he loved it. This simple act reminded him so much of Clara that he could cry.

'On that note... I don't think I was the type to cry at all. The doctors back home said that this was because of extreme trauma at a young age—that my brain adapted to the need to cry (a real condition, by the way). This is weird. My brain should be the same... and Johan was never the type to cry, even when half his body was torn, or when his daughter spat in his face while killing him. After losing Alya, he also gave up...' Johan thought, arriving at only a single conclusion.

'Corruption.' Even though he wasn't turning into a monstrous beast—for now—he still needed to keep an eye on it.

"Okarin: Shuffling of Cranes!" Orihime mumbled. A grey magic circle appeared, filled with flowery patterns. A piece of paper in the center of the wooden log glowed—and instantly, all five of them vanished.

"Mashed Potato! Mashed potato!"

"Blood of the Goddess Ymir! It increases your lifespan by thirty years—buy for just 5 bronze!!"

"Fried Fish! Traditionally made by getting stepped on by a beautiful woman till it was a paste, then fried to perfection. Must try! Must try!"

Tens and tens of shouts rang in their ears, a clear sign of the bustling tourist city—Mushma.

A handsome man, receiving the bows of hundreds of people and the admiration-filled gazes of children, walked elegantly closer to Johan and the group, his face serious.

"So, I guess we can part ways now..." Johan grinned, silently skimming through some of the plans he had made.

"...James. I never said something I should've. Even if you say it's an equal trade, I still owe you more... Thank you for everything, and good luck. I'll pray for you." Velmire finally smiled, sighing.

He didn't fully mention his death, but he truly felt indebted. Nothing was equal to life. No matter what Johan asked for, Velmire couldn't repay him for giving him a second chance at everything.

'And maybe... I can live without regrets.' he smiled, staring at Orihime's curious face.

Johan looked up, patting Velmire's shoulder softly. "Don't worry. What you've done for me... it's enough. You don't owe me anything. Just be cautious of that bastard Lucifer."

Johan smiled. He would definitely disagree with Velmire acting like Johan was some savior who had helped him.

Without Velmire's help, the chances of getting Acier and the others back safely were lower than 20%—no matter what plan Johan made. But now, it was at least 60%.

Velmire smiled back, extending his hand politely, "I'll ask for you when I need that favor. Please take care of Orihime. I... trust you."

Johan shook the hand back firmly, flinching at Kirin's death stare but still smiling softly, "Don't worry. The worst that could happen is she'll be exposed. But I promise—her survival is a certainty. I'm happy to provide any help needed for the favor."

They were still awkward toward each other, but need was the building block of relationships. You build friendships because you want company and support—you get something. Same with lovers. You need sex, love, comfort.

Need was the building block, and it was present here. Both needed each other, and had actually helped each other. So it was bound to get better.

If anything, they had managed to respect each other.

Melodis suddenly turned around, his eyes filled with shock, staring toward a random bustling street—as if making eye contact with someone.

Only Johan noticed the strange expression on the elegant eagle sitting on Kirin's shoulder.

'He is definitely acting strange...' Johan took a deep breath. Still, it wasn't his problem. If it was, Melodis would tell him. All he needed to focus on was the present.

Orihime used her transformation technique to become a palm-sized paper bird, flying ahead, while Johan, Kirin, Melodis, and Sebastian walked shoulder to shoulder like any other tourists. Velmire also went his separate way after a polite nod to Johan and passing something to Orihime.

Orihime reached a secluded plain area surrounded by trees before the others could, as they couldn't really fly in that area—it would attract too much attention.

Johan looked up at the starry sky. It was still just 3 a.m., and the darkness was thick. By late evening, they also had a meeting with Beatrice and Raventa, which they might not be able to attend...

Johan raised his head. Thick black wings, made out of a black slime-like substance, materialized from his back, beautifully attached to his white longcoat without harming it.

Melodis grew in size—almost 15 feet. Both Kirin and Sebastian wasted no time getting on his back, while Orihime still traveled in Sebastian's hands, relaxing in her paper form before the storm that was about to hit.

Johan and Kirin wouldn't let Sebastian tire himself by flying so much, while Kirin liked traveling on Melodis's back, and Orihime was just a palm-sized paper bird. So only Johan didn't have the pass to relax on Melodis's back.

"Let's leave then!" With that, Johan's twelve-foot-tall wings spread elegantly like a peacock, launching him into the sky like a rocket, which Melodis followed with a grin—getting in the mood to race.