Geese led the group from the guild to an inn.
After leaving the guild, Geese led the way at a brisk pace, as if afraid Paul would grow impatient.
The inn stood beside the street. Its frontage was not particularly large, and a wooden sign swayed gently above the entrance.
Before they even approached, they could hear faint voices and the clinking of glasses inside.
Geese stopped at the entrance and pushed the door open without even bothering to knock.
Inside, Paul sat at a table, his face full of impatience.
He propped his face on one hand while the fingers of his other hand kept tapping lightly against the table. Beneath it, his leg shook nonstop. He looked utterly restless.
"Hey, old man! I, a mighty Great Power, have come to save you from your plight!"
"Hurry up and welcome me!"
Radeus stood with his nose in the air and his arms folded, addressing Paul with supreme arrogance.
His chin was raised high, and he could not hide his smugness. He might as well have written "Hurry up and thank me" across his face.
Paul's tapping fingers abruptly stopped.
That familiar tone, those arrogant words... could it be...
Realizing something, Paul hurriedly turned to look, his expression as astonished as Geese's had been.
"Rad? And Rudeus!"
"No, wait-Aisha, Lilia!"
Paul looked at the two figures before him, so familiar yet unfamiliar, his voice trembling.
He opened his mouth as though he had so much more to ask, but when the words reached his lips, he could not get a single one out.
"Father!"
Aisha's eyes reddened at once, tears welling in them.
"Master!"
Lilia's eyes reddened as well. Her voice trembled, and even her breathing grew somewhat unsteady.
The two looked at Paul with tears filling their eyes.
The