Honesty

A week after our reunion, Eris and I prepared to set off.

The day before we left, Aisha and Lilia got into an argument with Paul.

Aisha wanted to come with me, but Paul and Lilia did not agree.

How should I put it? I had promised Aisha at the time, but I'd thought she might forget about it once she saw Lilia and Paul again. I hadn't expected her to remember it so clearly.

"Mom! I'm really strong now. I won't hold Brother back!"

"No. You're still too young."

"I'm an advanced magician now! And an intermediate swordswoman too. If you don't believe me, ask Sister Eris and Brother."

Eris and I nodded helplessly.

It was an undeniable fact. Aisha really wouldn't hold us back. But how should I put it...

As her older brother, I still hoped her childhood could be spent growing up by her mother's side, rather than accompanying me on some adventure. After all, there was still some risk involved.

"That still won't do."

"Why not? Brother went to work at someone else's house when he was eight! I'm already six and almost seven, okay!"

Mother and daughter argued endlessly, while Paul remained silent.

Fine. I'd handle it.

I walked forward and stroked Aisha's head.

"Aisha, why don't you stay with Mother Lilia? She definitely missed you after not seeing you for so long. Besides, letting your own child go adventuring at such a young age is something any parent would have a hard time agreeing to."

"But..."

"But what? Do you have some reason you absolutely have to follow me?"

Aisha fell silent.

After a while, Aisha suddenly shouted.

"Brother doesn't keep his promises! I hate you, Brother!"

After throwing down those words, Aisha ran back to the inn.

I stood frozen in place. This was the first time I had ever heard Aisha say she hated me...

Lilia walked over, lowered her head, and said to me, "I'm sorry, Master Rudeus. Aisha is a bit willful. She must have caused you quite a lot of trouble along the way, right?"

"Not at all. She's very cute, and she was well-behaved the whole way. It's just that I did promise her I'd take her to the Central Continent, so she's probably angry because I'm not keeping my promise."

"I see..."

"Also, don't call me so formally. Just call me Rudy."

"How could I possibly..."

Seeing her troubled expression, I spoke.

"Mother Lilia."

Zenith and Lilia were both my mothers in my heart.

There was no essential difference between them. They were both women who had raised me.

Gentle, kind women whom I respected.

Lilia clearly froze for quite a while after hearing me call her Mother. Then she hugged me.

"Yes, Rudy."

Eris nodded from the side, looking gratified.

What are you looking so gratified for?

I really wanted to retort, but saying it out loud now would obviously ruin the mood.

And just then, a voice that ruined the mood still appeared. It was Paul.

"Rudy, Aisha really won't cause you any trouble?"

"That much is true. Aisha is very well-behaved, and Eris and I taught her magic and swordsmanship, so she has the ability to protect herself too."

"I see. Then let her go with you, Rudy."

"Huh?"

I looked at Lilia beside him. She nodded as well.

"Actually, Aisha told us about this a long time ago. Although Paul and I didn't want to agree, she really does want to follow you."

"Uh... just because of that?"

Lilia fell silent. The one who spoke was Paul.

"If she follows you, she'll be able to learn a great deal. Lilia and I don't currently have much ability to provide the two children with any kind of education. If you spend two years on the Central Continent and still don't find any leads, then settle down there and write to me with your address. When the time comes, I'll send Norn over too, and you can find a school for them."

"I see... all right. Once I reach a guild over there, I'll write to you."

"It's best that you can understand."

"Father, don't talk like we're strangers."

"True enough. Hahahaha."

That evening, we ordered a whole table of dishes at the restaurant downstairs from the inn.

After dinner and saying our goodbyes, Eris and I returned to the inn.

Aisha sat by the window. Even when she heard Eris and me come back, she didn't say a word.

"Still angry?"

"Big Brother is a huge liar."

"How could I be?"

"You clearly promised..."

"Get your luggage ready. We're leaving tomorrow."

After Aisha fell silent for a while, she suddenly shouted, "Huh?! Really? You talked it over with Mom and Father?"

"Of course. But as punishment tonight, you have to scrub my back."

"Okay!"

She looked like a soldier who had just received an order, making it impossible not to laugh.

"Rudeus! I want to join too!"

Eris's voice suddenly rang out beside me.

"Mm... huh?"

"I said, I want to join too!"

I hurriedly looked toward Aisha beside me. She was staring at me with an expression that said, I get it, I get it.

What was going on? How had things suddenly developed into this?

"Eris, did Father say something to you?"

"No! I just want to help scrub your back too!"

"What about you?"

"What do you mean?"

"You... aren't going to wash?"

After thinking for a moment, Eris suddenly realized something, and her face instantly turned bright red.

"Rudeus, you big pervert!"

She threw a pillow at me, then said weakly, "T-together, then..."

Seeing Eris like that, I froze for a moment.

"Then I won't get in your way, Big Brother~"

Aisha said lightly.

I grabbed her by the back of the neck.

"You're coming too."

"Huh~ Big Brother, you're such a pervert."

"What is that little head of yours thinking? I'm going to wash with my clothes on."

"But you don't wear them when you're with me~"

After hearing Aisha's words, Eris puffed up angrily too.

"Why wear clothes? I'm not wearing any!"

"Hah?"

"Rudeus, did you forget you said before that you liked me?"

"I do like you, but... but..."

"If you like me, that's enough. I like you too! So we have to be honest with each other!"

"What kind of female warrior character are you supposed to be?!"

And just like that, Eris dragged me into the bathroom, and I enjoyed being cared for by Eris and Aisha.

Of course, it was all perfectly wholesome.

It was just that I didn't look at Eris's naked body the entire time.

I was afraid I wouldn't be able to keep Little Rudy under control.

No matter what, I couldn't have any kind of reaction in front of my little sister.

And so, bath time came to an end.