Reunion

After a month and a half on the road by carriage, we entered the Great Forest.

Once we entered the forest, the Beast Race children no longer needed us to look after them. They were even better at finding food than Eris and me.

As for Eris, she spent the whole trip clinging to that big dog. Whenever she had the chance, she hugged it, and every time she did, the Beast Race children covered their eyes.

Was this some strange custom? Or did this creature called the Holy Beast have some other kind of intentions toward Eris?

"Rudeus! It says it wants to come with us!"

"You can't even understand it..."

"That's what its actions are telling me!"

"Anyway, let's wait until we reach their village first, okay?"

"Okay!"

I was very glad these Beast Race children couldn't understand human language. If they knew Eris wanted to take their Holy Beast with her, I had no idea what kind of expressions they would make.

After traveling through the Great Forest for a week, we arrived at the Beast Race village.

How should I put it? It was bigger than I'd imagined.

But that was about it. I didn't have any other particular thoughts.

After sending the Beast Race children back, the Beast Race adults seemed to want to entertain us, but I was prepared to refuse.

Compared to eating, drinking, and having fun here, Paul and the others were more important.

I lowered my head and looked at Aisha. She didn't seem very interested in the Beast Race's invitation either, while Eris only cared about whether she could adopt that Holy Beast.

But as soon as we arrived at the village, the Holy Beast was taken away. Looked like there was no way to adopt it after all.

"Thank you for your kindness, but we still have important things to do, so we won't impose on you."

"I see. May I ask your name? You will forever be a benefactor of the Beast Race."

"Rudeus Greyrat."

And just like that, we left the village.

Before we left, I also asked them about Ghislaine, but they didn't know where she was either.

A little disappointing.

The Holy Kingdom of Millis, Milishion.

It took us a month and a half to get here from the Great Forest. Altogether, three months had passed since I sent the letter.

Nothing unexpected happened along the way, perhaps because we hadn't been doing adventurer work anymore.

"Brother, is Dad in this city?"

"Yeah."

Aisha gripped my hand a little tighter.

Was she happy, or nervous?

"Uncle Paul? Rudeus, take me to change clothes! I can't meet Uncle Paul dressed like this!"

Eris had started caring about her appearance, even though just yesterday she had still been hugging that big white-furred dog without the slightest concern for her image.

"Sure. We can get Aisha a new outfit too."

"Eh~ I don't need one. The clothes Brother bought me last time are fine."

"The ones I bought before weren't refined enough. I was thinking about travel back then."

"But I really like them, so I don't want new ones."

"All right..."

It wouldn't be good to force her, I thought, and then I heard Eris's voice.

"Then I don't want one either! Let's go meet Uncle Paul like this!"

With that, Eris picked up Aisha and took my hand, then ran toward the Adventurer Guild.

The carriage... Forget it. This city looked like public order was pretty good, so leaving it for a while should be fine, right?

After we entered the Adventurer Guild, Eris and Aisha held hands, completely lacking the arrogant air from just now.

Eris had probably come with the mindset of meeting her future father-in-law, while Aisha was simply nervous, right? After all, even if he was her father, she hadn't seen him in a very long time.

I walked up to the front desk and gave the name of the Paul Search and Rescue Party.

The young lady at the counter froze for a moment, then left the desk in a panic, rushing off somewhere to notify someone.

I sat down in the area where the adventurers drank. Aisha and Eris obediently sat down as well.

Ten minutes later, the guild doors were kicked open, and I saw a familiar face.

Paul, Lilia... and Norn, who was clearly a little more grown up at a glance.

Paul looked tense. When he saw Aisha and me, he didn't say anything. Instead, he stood there in a daze for a long while before pulling us into his arms.

"Thank goodness... thank goodness... As long as you're not hurt."

Paul's stubble was honestly kind of prickly... Maybe it was because it was mixed with his tears.

I pushed him away with a little distaste, then looked toward Norn and Lilia.

"Lilia, Norn..."

I walked over to them and hugged them too.

And once my hug ended, Aisha threw herself straight into Lilia's arms and began bawling without restraint.

No matter how strong she had acted on the road, once she saw her mother, she couldn't hold it in after all. She really was still a child.

After the moving reunion ended, Paul ordered a whole table of dishes, and I introduced Eris as well.

It was obvious that Paul hadn't had an easy time these past two years. With no news from us all this time, his heart must have been tormented.

"After staying here for a week, I'll take Eris back to her hometown first, then head to the Central Continent. Don't worry, it's on the way."

"Mm. Be careful."

"You're the one who should be careful, Father. Didn't you say you left messages in the guilds everywhere humans were active? Did you somehow miss the Central Continent?"

"I didn't... I just thought that place was too big, and the guild's influence wouldn't be enough. And since you came all the way from the Demon Continent without any news of your mother, I think there's a good chance she's on the Central Continent..."

"I see."

At that moment, Lilia, who had been silent all this time, spoke up.

"It's rare for us to be reunited. Why don't we eat happily?"

"Mm... You're right. Let's not talk about this for now."

"Okay."

Paul and I nodded in agreement together.

Paul also put on a cheerful smile and looked at Eris beside me.

"You're Eris, right? Thanks for taking care of Rudeus along the way."

"N-no... Rudeus was the one taking care of me..."

"Oh? Come to think of it, you two were engaged, weren't you? What do you think, Eris? Do you like our Rudeus?"

Eris spoke with her face bright red.

"I... I like him! Father, please leave Rudeus to me without worry!"

"Isn't that supposed to be the man's line?"

Paul teased Eris on and off.

Meanwhile, Aisha enjoyed Lilia's meticulous care.

Norn... seemed a little uneasy.

What was she uneasy about?

At any rate, I stood up and pulled Norn into my arms.

"Huh?!"

After being startled, she settled down peacefully in my lap.

As expected, I was still her brother. That would never change.

I also copied Lilia and took care of Norn in my arms.

When Aisha noticed, she stared fixedly at me.

"What? Aisha, do you want to sit in my lap too?"

Aisha nodded without the slightest hesitation.

"It's rare for mother and daughter to be reunited, so you should properly enjoy Mama Lilia's tenderness."

As I said that, I stroked Norn's head.

Norn was rather quiet, or maybe a little shy.

Her cheeks were already bright red.

Honestly, all it took was being held by her brother for her to get like this...

"Brother, you're playing favorites!"

"Aisha, do not bother Master Rudeus."

"Mother, you're playing favorites too!"

Aisha and Lilia bickered back and forth.

This was nice... I had to find Zenith and bring this family fully back together.