Fated to Die to the Player, I'll Live Freely with My SSS-Class Ship!-Chapter 37: A Filial Daughter’s Visit

Eva moved with steady, deliberate steps, weaving through the intricate streets of Grieves City, the capital of Baltheves-402. At first, I worried she was wandering aimlessly, but the certainty in her stride told me otherwise—she knew exactly where she was going.

I glanced around, trying to commit the route to memory. The city’s architecture was… strange, to say the least. The buildings looked like they had been molded from wet clay and left to collapse under their own weight before solidifying. Their centers of gravity were so low it felt like they were below the ground.

The Adventurer’s Guild—a galactic organization closely tied to the Mercenary Union. Since their roles overlapped, it wasn’t uncommon for someone to hold registrations with both. Along the way, we passed by a police station, a department store, and several government offices, yet there was still no sign of it.

After nearly an hour of silent walking, I doubted the guild was our destination.

Eva remained focused, moving through the crowd like an untouchable force. People instinctively made way for her, treating her like some kind of radioactive hazard best avoided.

Then, as we turned another corner, a peculiar structure caught my eye.

The building resembled a frozen ripple in water, with a central spire twice as tall as the surrounding peaks, which cascaded outward like decaying sine waves. A glowing green cross hovered above the white structure’s peak, making its purpose unmistakable.

"A hospital?" I muttered, uncertain. Then a thought struck me. "Wait… don’t tell me this is—"

"Yes." To my surprise, Eva answered. Her voice was calm, almost detached. "This place is actually my home planet. I was born and raised here."

Her words sent a jolt through me. The hospital where her mother was being treated—the one I’d been covering 70% of the expenses for—was on Baltheves-402. How had I forgotten that?

More importantly, she grew up here? On a planet with twelve times Earth’s gravity? That explained a lot. No wonder she was a beast in close combat.

"Wait," I blinked, finally piecing everything together. "Don’t tell me we’re—"

Eva stopped and shot me a brief glare before letting out a sigh. "We’re here anyway, so I might as well visit my mother," she said. Then, as if reading my mind, she added, "The Adventurer’s Guild is about two kilometers straight ahead. If you don’t want to tag along, go on ahead—I’ll catch up later."

Her voice lacked its usual bite, and beneath the irritation, I caught something else—a hint of sadness, maybe even expectation. For some reason, her expression made me want to watch over her a bit longer.

"Alright, I’ll come with you," I said with a shrug. "I need to introduce myself to Mother sooner or later, anyway."

"...Bastard," Eva muttered, her voice laced with warning. "Stop your bullshit before I crush your family jewels."

Despite the threat, I didn’t miss the faint blush dusting her cheeks—or the familiar fire in her eyes. Yep, this was the Eva I knew.

I smirked, walking ahead. "Well, who knows if it’s bull or not?" I shot her a wink. "At least, I wouldn’t be against the idea."

Eva’s fists cracked ominously. "If you really want to visit the hospital so badly, I’ll send you there myself!"

At first, I thought she was just hiding her embarrassment. But the look in her eyes told me otherwise—she was serious!

"…Shit, I overdid it."

I turned and bolted, trying to reach safety. If I could just make it inside the hospital, at least she wouldn’t be able to kill me... Right?

---

Inside Grieves City Hospital—the most advanced medical facility on Baltheves-402—a figure stirred.

Her eyes fluttered open, unfocused at first, adjusting to the sterile white light above. She blinked a few times, her mind sluggish as if waking from a dream. Instinctively, she lifted her arm, revealing the familiar sight of her own skin—if it could still be called that. Green, scale-like flakes covered her limb, shimmering faintly under the artificial glow.

She took a slow, deliberate breath, drawing in the crisp, filtered air of the hospital. And then—

"Mom...!"

A voice.

It was familiar. A voice she had heard countless times in her memories—cheering her on, reassuring her. The very last voice she had heard before her world faded into darkness—before she was cryogenically frozen.

Her heart clenched.

"Eva...?" Her voice trembled, cracking with raw emotion. "Is that you?"

With effort, she lifted her head toward the foot of the bed. And there—there she was. The face she had longed to see.

"Eva...!" Her tears fell before she even realized it. "It really is you!"

The next moment, Eva broke character entirely, launching herself at her mother, wrapping her arms around her in a fierce yet careful embrace.

"Mom!" she cried, her voice thick with emotion, hot tears trailing down her cheeks.

Her mother’s frail hands, thin from years of struggle, weakly patted her daughter’s back. "Weren’t you busy…? How did you find time to visit me here…?" she whispered, still sobbing but smiling all the same.

Eva held her closer, cherishing her warmth, the rhythm of her heartbeat—a melody she had feared she’d never hear again. Twelve months... Twelve long months without feeling her mother’s touch. She buried her face into her mother’s shoulder, unwilling to let go.

Then—

"…?"

Her mother’s gaze shifted, noticing a figure standing quietly at the edge of the room, watching the scene unfold with a faint smile... And a black eye.

It was a face unfamiliar to her, yet something about it struck a chord.

Silver hair, nearly white, paired with sharp ash-gray eyes. His expression carried a commanding presence, yet there was a certain warmth hidden beneath it. His posture, his aura—everything about him spoke of someone used to standing above others.

Curious, she turned back to her daughter.

"And who’s this?" she asked, her tone light with amusement. "Did you come to introduce your first boyfriend?"

Eva stiffened.

"Boyf—?!" She choked, sputtering. "He’s not! Definitely not!!! He’s just some bastard who’s lucky to have me working under him!"

Her mother’s expression hardened.

"Eva, dear…!" she scolded, her voice barely above a whisper but still carrying the authority only a mother could wield. "You shouldn’t call your boss a bastard…! I didn’t raise you to be this brash!"

Eva flinched. "M-Mom… Ugh…"

Arthur, observing the exchange, let out a small chuckle. It was rare to see Eva flustered like this.

Her mother, however, turned her attention fully to him. "Good Sir," she said, dipping her head slightly. "My daughter can be harsh at times, but she’s a good kid at heart. If she ever steps out of line, don’t hesitate to be firm with her… but please be lenient. She’s been through a lot—all because of me."

Arthur, despite his often egotistical nature, wasn’t heartless. He could feel the depth of her love for Eva, the unspoken gratitude laced within her plea. He straightened up and offered her a reassuring smile.

"Don’t worry, Mother—"

"Huh?!"

Arthur corrected himself. "M-Mrs. Beastol. Although your daughter is as wild as an untamed gorilla and bold enough to punch me in the face inside a hospital—"

Eva’s mother looked horrified. Eva, on the other hand, was rapidly shifting between mortification and defiance.

"But," Arthur continued, his voice unwavering, "as she said, I’m lucky to have her working under me. I have no plans to let her go. As long as she wants to—I want to keep her by my side. Will you entrust your daughter to me?"

"...!"

The room fell silent.

Not just inside, but even beyond—doctors, nurses, and even the staff monitoring the security feeds all froze in unison. His words echoed in their minds, twisting into something entirely different.

To them, he wasn’t a captain assuring a mother of her daughter’s safety.

He was a man asking a mother for her daughter’s hand.

Mrs. Beastol turned to her daughter, who had turned an impressive shade of crimson. Eva opened her mouth, then closed it. Then opened it again. She looked like a goldfish floundering out of water.

Her mother then turned to Arthur. He stood firm, his gaze unwavering.

She closed her eyes, inhaling deeply, then exhaled. And when she opened them again, a knowing smile spread across her lips.

"Young man, I’ve lived a long life," she murmured. "And I pride myself on being able to judge people well." Her eyes softened. "Can you promise to make my daughter happy?"

Arthur blinked, glancing at Eva, who was still visibly malfunctioning. Then, he shrugged.

"Well, she seemed happy enough the entire time we’ve been together," he mused—trying to hide the fact that most of the time, she was sporting a deep frown. Then, flashing his signature smirk, he added, "But if that’s your wish, then I’ll make sure she never forgets her beautiful smile."

"You—!" Eva snapped back to life, glaring daggers at him.

Her mother, however, raised a hand, silencing her.

"Young man…" she said, her voice gentle yet firm. "I understand. If you’re willing to go that far, then… I’ll entrust my daughter to you."

"MOM!!!"

"Hehe, don’t worry, madam," Arthur said with a grin. "Your daughter is in good hands."

And just like that—the entire hospital erupted into cheers.

New n𝙤vel chapters are published on freeweɓnøvel.com.

The celebration was wildly inappropriate given the setting, but in an era where birth rates were plummeting, the birth of a new, sanctioned couple was a moment worth celebrating!

"Eh?"

The only person oblivious to the fact that his words had been completely misinterpreted… was Arthur himself.

And thus, a misunderstanding was born. One that would remain unresolved—until the day it wouldn’t.

For now, though, one undeniable truth had taken root: two hearts had begun to acknowledge each other.

And only time would tell where it would lead.