I Became Blind After Making a Deal with a Demon to Save My Daughter

Kaito stood frozen, his breath hitching as warm tears streamed down his cheeks. Memories flashed in his mind—his daughter, struggling and helpless, taken from him before they could escape. The image of his daughter haunted him, and a wave of despair crashed over him, threatening to pull him under.

"No… no! Minnaaa!" he shrieked, voice trembling with panic. He ignored the figure of the evil man advancing toward him, the threat felt distant compared to the torment in his heart.

Ryo's laughter echoed cruelly in the air. "Scream and cry all you want; it won't change anything. Mina is gone. She's not coming back. She's dead."

His hand curled into a tight fist, shaking with rage simmering just beneath the surface. "You killed her! What kind of monster are you?"

Ryo shrugged casually, smugness draping over him like a cloak. "I made it clear to Mina that she was mine. But she chose you. That's her own fault."

"I am her father, and I know what she needs!" he roared, fury fueling his every word. "I'll make sure of it… I will kill you! I will be the one to end you!"

Ryo laughed once more, the sound mocking. "And there it is. You claim to be her father, yet you did nothing to save her. You know why? Because you're worthless. You're weak. Mina needed someone who could actually protect her."

He stumbled in place, his legs trembling beneath him. A heavy weight settled in his chest, a bitter voice in his head whispering accusations. Was he truly worthless? Was he so weak that he couldn't protect his own child?

Ryo advanced, his gun trained on Kaito, a cruel smile creeping onto his lips. "What do they say? Every child deserves decent parents. On the other hand, not all parents deserve to have children, like you. You have no right to be a father. You're useless. You couldn't even protect your only child. What purpose does your life serve now?"

He collapsed to his knees, the ground cold beneath him, a sense of hopelessness washing over him. Strangely, fear didn't grip him as the gun pointed at him. Was he truly such a worthless father? Did he not deserve to have a child? Was Mina taken from him because he was unworthy?

He sniffled, his breath hitching as tears clouded his vision. God knew how much he loved Mina; she was everything to him. Life was hard, especially as a single parent, but he fought through each struggle for her future. But was that not enough? Had he truly failed as a father?

He could not protect her, and now she lay there, cold and gone. Blood staining the ground beneath her.

"People like you don't deserve children," Ryo sneered, his voice dripping with venom. "You are worthless. If someone else had been Mina's parent, she wouldn't have ended up like this."

Scenes of failure flashed in Kaito's mind, each one more painful than the last. Doubts crept in, gnawing at his heart. He imagined waking up to an empty house, the silence echoing like a scream. Each struggle seemed pointless, and an ache settled deep inside him at the thought of never hearing his child's laughter again, like a dagger driving through his soul.

He gasped as tears streamed down his face, pooling on the ground beneath him. He knelt there, lost in his thoughts—a sight that made Ryo smirk with satisfaction.

"What now? Have you really thought about what I said?" Ryo taunted, his grin wide as he aimed the gun at Kaito. "You should die. You're so selfish, think about it, your daughter is dead. Yet you're still here, kicking, alive. So now, I'll end you, so you can join Mina in death. That's what you want, right?"

Kaito prepared to accept his fate, but a familiar voice broke through the darkness. Memories of joy flooded his mind, and he could almost see his daughter's radiant face shining in the bright sky above.

"Dad, that's not true," her voice rang clear. "You know you did everything for me. You're the best dad in the world! If I ever lived again, I would still choose you. Please don't do this to yourself! Fight, Dad! I love you so much! Save yourself! For me!" Mina stood there, arms crossed, her face full of concern.

Kaito stood frozen, his heart racing as Mina's image filled his mind. Her eyes flashed with warmth, and her words echoed in his ears, scolding him as if she were right beside him. The illusion shattered, pulling him back to the harsh truth around him.

A sharp gasp escaped his lips as he saw Ryo's finger tightening on the trigger. Yet, Mina's voice rang like a guardian angel in his mind. In a flash, his body reacted, dodging Ryo's shot, surprising even himself with his speed.

Ryo's eyes widened in disbelief, not expecting Kaito to move like that. His jaw tightened, frustration seeping into his expression, clearly annoyed with Kaito's sudden burst of resolve.

"You're something else," The devil man spat, anger twisting his features. "Is this how you want to live? Your daughter is dead, and you still cling to life? What is waiting for you? Why don't you just die?"

Confusion washed over Kaito at Ryo's hateful words. "What kind of hatred drives you to spread such negativity?" he shot back, anger blazing in his eyes. "If you want to die, do it alone. My life is mine to live, and it's none of your business!"

Ryo's shock deepened as Kaito's words echoed in his head. This man was insane, and he couldn't fathom how the heck Mina was involved with someone like him. But there would be no answers, no justice for Mina, if he let despair consume him. He had to escape this place alive!

He sprinted up the stairs to the rooftop, heart pounding in his chest. Ryo couldn't catch him—not now. But what should he do next? If he entered that building, armed men would be lurking below, ready to pounce. He had to outsmart them.

Glancing at the building next door, he noted the short distance between them. It wasn't far; he could make it. Without a second thought, he leaped across the gap, adrenaline fueling his jump.

He had to put space between himself and Ryo. Ryo looked shocked, not expecting him to jump again. In a split second, Ryo fired, but Kaito dropped low and darted forward, praying he could escape.

Kaito dashed from one building to another, not looking back. Thankful, he noted they were nearly the same height and was built along an alley; the gaps between them were narrow enough for his frantic movements.

Ryo's expression shifted to alarm as he jumped onto the rooftop, shouting, "Fuck, shit! They can't catch me!"

He lost track of how many buildings he had leaped across; it felt like a scene from an action movie. There was no time to tire—he had to keep running until he was safely far away!

He landed on the next building and noticed an unlocked rooftop door. He rushed inside, slamming the door shut behind him. Trembling, he peeked through the window, relief flooding him when he saw Ryo sail over, not stopping at his hiding place.

Letting out a breath he didn't realize he was holding, he suddenly felt his cellphone buzz against his thigh. Startled, he fumbled it from his pocket and nearly wept at the sight of a single signal bar glowing on the screen.

Remembering he had moved away from the motel, he dared to hope there might be a signal here. Without hesitating, he dialed the emergency hotline. He had no idea where he was, but surely they could trace his number if he kept the call going.

He silently prayed for the signal to hold. Relief washed over him as the dispatcher at the other end confirmed they had his location—"Just stay where you are!"

The exhaustion, fear, and pain from his injuries weighed him down, and he slipped into darkness. When he opened his eyes again, bright light streamed from above. As he focused, he noticed the white ceiling—he was in a hospital.

"How are you feeling, Mr. Takashiro?" He heard a familiar, but scary voice.