Although I think it would be fine to give it a rest while they’re on vacation
Ars was with them just before but Rudy’s aunt Therese had invited him off somewhere.
Well that’s fine, but he’s always been somewhat…
I feel his relations with women in the future will be harsh.
Lara has been wandering around the garden with Leo for a while now.
Her actions have been somewhat incomprehensible as of late…
That aside, Ars, Sieg, and Lara are all usually quiet around the house, so today should be quite peaceful.
Sylphy and Norn took Lucy and Clive on a trip to the Adventurers Guild.
I don’t really want to have a child come up to me, tell me “I’m trying to make a party of adventurers around the same age,” and invite me to join.
There was also Lilly and Chris to look after…
But they had already fallen asleep, so I was left without something to do for the first time in a while.
And being myself, I decided to read a book.
The title was:『Origins of Divine Attack Magic』
Resurrection Magic
Divine Attack Magic was birthed to combat Resurrection Magic. And during the First Human-Demon Great War the two continued to counter each other and evolved together.
Ancient magic battles.
“Yes?”
Someone called me from behind and I looked up from my book.
I have a bad feeling about this.
“The madam… Claire-sama has called for you.”
Claire Latrea.
Although we should be around the same age…
For now, I won’t show any displeasure, but if it has something to do with the Demon Expulsion faction, I’m sure that will change.
To be honest I want to run…
If it has something to do with my race, that’s fine, but if it’s something else…
But if I run she might end up calling on Eris.
Eris can't handle complex or subtle conversations.
That’s just what she’s like.
Part 2
And I, unable to say anything, am simply sitting in front of her.
Zenith is the same as always.
Honestly, it’s suffocating.
They’re some of my favourites, but I feel like if I try to grab one, I’ll get told off.
Although our husbands are different, we both have the same position that it wouldn’t be an exaggeration to call ‘mistress’.
I have been somewhat spoilt as of late, but I have always been prepared for insensitive statements.
It seems Lillia feels the same way I do.
In any case, I can consider it a silver lining that Eris wasn’t called here.
“It seems Rudeus-san is out.”
Claire broke the silence.
“Work it is. Even though he’s on vacation with his family… He’s exactly like Carlyle in that aspect.”
Rudeus woke up early this morning and went with Elinalise to deliver『The Doll』to Cliff.
It was an Automaton designed to take care of Cliff.
But even I feel this one is somewhat off putting.
After all, it looks exactly like Elinalise, even it’s behaviour and tone are identical, only the ears are short.
The appearance was apparently her idea.
So she intends to use it as a form of pesticide.
They were planning to introduce it at Cliff’s wife, hiding the fact that she was an Elf.
She had complained that “It doesn’t have what it needs.”
Of course it’s not exactly like her to the last detail, but it really does look just like her, it’s unnerving.
If he had asked me for permission, I would have to turn him down.
And in my case, the real thing is close by, so there’s no need for a substitute.
I would like to be spared from anything overly perverted though.
In any case, although I haven’t known Cliff for all that long, would a devout Millis believer be happy to get something like that?
But that’s not a problem I need to worry about.
“I don’t think it’s something you could call work. He and Cliff are especially close.”
If it didn’t come together with an excuse, there’s no way Cliff would take it.
“By the way, Lillia-san, where might Aisha-san be today?”
It’s just that after hearing “Ars will be in the house all day today,” She abruptly decided to leave.
Thinking about it, after Lucy and the others said they wanted to go out, Norn and Sylphy immediately agreed and they left.
Maybe she didn’t like the taste, but she knit her eyebrows.
“…No, I do not think such at all.”
In that time, a man whose birth was unknown named himself Zenith’s husband and requested assistance from my house.
“I can understand your mindset. I do not mind.”
It’s making my stomach hurt.
“But my worry was reversed. You have served the Greyrat house well.
I thank you for supporting Zenith from the shadows.”
“You are the only one who thinks that. If you had heard what Zenith had to say yesterday you would understand. Everyone in the Greyrat house is grateful towards you.”
Rudy may not be conscious of it, but he treats Lillia the same as Zenith.
That said, Zenith is in a state which she can’t voice her gratitude.
But if that were the case, our home might not be as peaceful as it currently is, and Zenith’s treatment may not have been how it is.
“Eh?”
Being suddenly addressed, I raised my head in surprise.
And then she turned to look out the window.
“These last few days, I’ve been able to watch the children.
Although Lara is somewhat overly mischievous, she’s a good girl.”
“Yesterday morning, she gave me a frog as a present.”
I widened my eyes in surprise.
“No apology is necessary. When lunch time came around I had it grilled and gave it back to her.”
I widened my eyes in surprise.
But when I asked her what it was she told me it was a “Secret”…
“Of course, I had one of our chefs properly prepare it. I don’t partake very often, but frog is quite a popular food around here.”
Because it rains quite often in the Millis continent, frog and lizard dishes are numerous.
Although there was the time before I knew detoxification magic that I almost died after eating a poisonous one…
From what Rudy had told me, she was quite rigid, and wouldn’t be the kind of person to do something like that.
“This morning she had told me “That snack yesterday was delicious, I will certainly repay this.”
Her tone is sharp as always, and there isn’t a hint of a smile on her face.
It seems she’s getting to the main topic.
“I don’t know what has you so stiff, but Rudeus-san has told me that I am not to meddle in your family.
Slyphiette-san is still young, and Eris-san is still immature.
What I wish is for the two of you to take a step back and have a good look.
I stood up and prepared to cast detoxification magic.
She had just been looking at air seemingly oblivious to the conversation around her.
Everyone is surprised when they see me with a cane…
You too Zenith, stop making that face and sit down.”
Hearing her mention Zenith’s face, I took another look at her.
I looked at Claire quizzically, but she also looked surprised.
For now, I’ll return to my own seat.
Claire’s surprised expression gradually returned to normal.
Before I knew it, Claire’s gaze had fell.
But for some reason, I can clearly remember Zenith’s face at the time.”
Something came dripping out of Claire’s sunken face.
And I, not knowing what to say, simply stared at her.
“…”
I suddenly thought.
My thoughts on the children’s futures.
I would leave the children to the family and teach at the Magic University.
It was a fulfilling life.
But I hadn’t given any thought to the idea on how to raise them.
Was it because I was of a Magic race, was it because she was half human, I worried about all kinds of things.
She wasn’t particularly cut off from the other children, and was quite close with Ars and Sieg.
That’s what I thought. I was the same.
But I hadn’t really thought of anything past that.
I knew she would participate in the fight against Hitogami, but what about after that?
Honestly, I thought worrying over it was pointless…
“I apologise for my loss of composure.”
“One shouldn’t be crying at my age.”
Claire, with her eyes still red, returned her handkerchief to the table.
In the Holy Millis Nation, there is a saying that a broken house raises broken children.
I would also never call Zenith warped.
On the chance that any abnormalities appear, you would be the first to notice.”
Abnormality.
Especially Lara. I can never tell just what she’s thinking.
No, it might not be Lara.
At school she’s a dedicated scholar…
Uh… Just thinking about it makes my head hurt.
“I called you here today to tell you just that.”
Claire leaned deeply back into her chair.
In response to my bewilderment, Lillia looked at Claire with determination.
“I understand. You may leave it to me.”
She looks like a soldier just entrusted with an important mission.
Oh, Rudy too.
“I will also do what I can.”
I also said that.
As a teacher I’ve seen all kinds of people,
But through Eris and Sylphy’s guidance, I hope I can provide a new path for anyone who strays.
I have to.
But that’s not all there is to it.
She’s from the Demon Expulsion Faction, so her opinions ought to reflect that.
And of course, on top of it was Lara.
Both her shoes and clothes.
I don’t tell her very often around the house, but I feel like it’s been working as of late.
I feel like sighing.
Lara just slowly walked up to Claire.
“Hi-Baachan, I found something cool.”
“This.”
Lara reached into her pocket and pulled out some round gold object.
“The garden; lost. Hi-Baachan you’ve been looking for it right?”
“Ba-chan said: “Even though you were always wearing it; you probably ruined your back bent over searching for it””
Lara looked at Zenith and said that.
Lara probably heard it herself maybe yesterday or this morning.
“And you went to find it for me?”
“…”
She’s looking at the cakes that came out with the tea.
“You can eat them if you want.”
With both explosiveness and agility, in an instant she had cleared the table.
If I ask Rudy I can have sweets whenever I want…
But my…
“Ahhh~”
She looked quite satisfied as she swallowed the last bite.
As if he was wondering where his portion was.
“Well then I guess I’ll have to have some ready for tomorrow as well.”
She had already forgot my warning not to ride Leo inside.
“Ah, um, I’m sorry she doesn’t have any manners.”
I apologised but Claire was focused on what Lara had brought to her.
It had a young man’s picture inside.
“Carlyle gave this to me just before we were married.”
“It was something far too expensive for his station at the time but he had told me: “After we are married, I will be a member of the Latrea house, and I will no longer be able to buy you something with money that is wholly my own.””
She sounds touched remembering it.
“I had lost it about a year ago, but had been bent over looking for it, my back became as such and I was forced to give up…”
The maids were also surprised by it.
“Yes.”
“…Haa.”
Rudy had been quite wary, and Aisha outright hates her.
He has an effect on all kinds of people…
In any case, I think I can get along with this person.
“Of course.”
I nodded in response.
2. Originally: "Itadakimasu". If I made you laugh I have succeeded.