At some point after that lovey-dovey moment, they decided it was time to go replace the damaged bulbs in Sophie’s place...
With that, the two of them left Dan’s house and headed toward Sophie’s.
As they walked, a faint blush remained on Sophie’s cheeks, making her pretty, makeup-free face look even more delicate beneath the soft glow of the streetlights.
For Sophie, having someone she could rely on had always been something of a luxury.
She remembered what life had been like as a single mother.
There were always little things that seemed trivial to other families but became frustrating obstacles when you had to handle everything alone.
Changing a lightbulb, fixing a leaking pipe, assembling a piece of furniture.
None of those things were particularly difficult, but when there was no one around to help, each one became another small hurdle to overcome.
Now, however, those worries no longer felt quite so heavy.
She had Dan. And somehow, that simple thought made her heart feel lighter.
She glanced at him from the corner of her eye.
A small smile appeared on her lips.
She was genuinely happy.
...
Meanwhile, Dan was having a little conversation with his system as they walked.
’You knew.’ His thoughts carried a hint of coldness. ’The entire time...’
The system remained silent.
Dan’s expression slowly changed. ’You knew Lily was my daughter this whole time.’
A notification appeared before his eyes.
[Yes, Host.]
Dan laughed inwardly once but there was no humor in it.
’Of course you did.’
He rubbed his forehead as several things suddenly clicked into place.
’That’s why you kept saying "Host’s child"...’
The strange wording, the system’s refusal to explain and the fact that a child had somehow been registered as part of his family before he even understood that he had one.
Everything suddenly made sense.
Dan narrowed his eyes. ’And that minor electrical issue... you’re really naughty.’
He glanced toward Sophie flashing her a smile..
’You deliberately cut the power to her house, didn’t you?’
[The electrical issue was a naturally occurring minor sign of the apocalypse.]
Dan raised an eyebrow. ’Naturally occurring, huh?’
His lips twitched. ’As if I’m going to believe that.’
There was a brief pause.
Then...
[...The System merely took advantage of the situation.]
Dan shook his head. ’You’re unbelievable.’
He sighed. ’But whatever.’
His attention returned to Sophie. She was walking beside him with a bright smile on her face, their hands intertwined.
Her fingers occasionally rubbed lightly against his.
The simple gesture gave Dan a strange feeling of warmth.
Then...
<Ding!>
A notification appeared before his eyes.
[Major Family Understanding Achieved.]
Dan’s eyebrows rose slightly.
Another notification followed.
[System advises Host that, from this point onward, Host should begin taking proper responsibility for his family.]
Dan frowned. ’I won’t neglect them.’
His thoughts immediately went to Lily. ’I’ve been giving her treats from time to time even before I knew she was my daughter. Now that I know she’s my child, I’ll definitely do more for her.’
[System is not referring to that.]
Dan blinked. ’Then what are you talking about?’
[System is referring to preparation for the Apocalypse.]
Dan’s expression immediately became serious.
Another notification appeared.
[Host has been given a mission: Hoard as many supplies as possible and create a paradise for your family.]
[Building a secure and comfortable environment for the Ultimate Family is one of Host’s primary responsibilities.]
Dan stared at the notification. ’Hoard?’
His eyes narrowed. ’Are you telling me to go steal with the Inventory?’
There was a brief silence.
Then...
[Yes, Host.]
Dan’s eyebrows shot upward. ’Seriously?’
[How far can you go for your family’s survival?]
[The Apocalypse is real.]
[Following the Blood Rain that occurred tonight, considerable chaos is expected when morning arrives. That period of instability will provide Host with an opportunity.]
[Obtaining and storing sufficient supplies before society begins to destabilize will greatly assist Host in building and protecting the Ultimate Family.]
[The Apocalypse is no small matter.]
[Supernatural beasts possessing immense strength will eventually emerge.]
[Host is advised not to allow conventional moral concerns to prevent him from securing the resources necessary for survival.]
[Host is not merely protecting his family. Host is also protecting himself.]
Dan remained silent for several seconds.
The system wasn’t wrong. If the Apocalypse really was coming, simply sitting around and waiting for it would be foolish.
Once society descended into chaos, obtaining supplies would become far more difficult.
Dan slowly exhaled. ’Alright.’
Soon, Dan and Sophie arrived at her house. Sophie unlocked the door and stepped inside.
Dan followed behind her, switching on his flashlight.
The moment he entered, an atmosphere completely different from his own apartment washed over him.
Warm, comfortable and full of life.
At the entryway, a pair of women’s white canvas sneakers sat neatly beside a pair of tiny pink bunny slippers.
A soft blanket was draped over the living-room sofa, while a plush teddy bear rested against one of the cushions.
The apartment wasn’t particularly large, but everything was clean and organized.
Every little detail seemed to carry a piece of Sophie and Lily’s lives.
Dan’s flashlight swept across the room. Then it passed over Lily’s small bed.
The little girl stirred. Her sleepy eyes slowly opened. "Mom?"
Her gaze wandered sleepily through the darkness before suddenly stopping.
A familiar silhouette stood beside her mother.
’Dan?’ Her eyes widened.
Her sleepy expression instantly transformed into one of pure delight.
"Uncle Dan!"
Her bright voice echoed through the living room.
Beside the bed were several building blocks that she had apparently been playing with before falling asleep.
The moment Lily recognized Dan, she threw off her blanket, jumped to her feet, and ran toward him on her short little legs.
Dan’s heart softened. "Hey there, sweetheart."
He crouched slightly and smiled as he gently patted her head.
It was strange. He had always been fond of Lily. He had bought her treats before. He had played with her. He had smiled whenever she ran toward him.
But now that he knew the truth... She was his daughter. His little girl.
The realization filled his chest with a warmth he had never felt before.
Dan gently pinched her cheek.
"Lily, don’t call him Uncle Dan anymore." Sophie’s gentle voice came from behind them. "He’s your dad."