TCHB 29

Chapter 29

“Sniff… You said you’d come around dinnertime, but you’re early.”

Ah, my nose is running. Sniff.

As I pressed at the corners of my eyes and asked when they had arrived, Mom looked at Dad and me, both of us puffed up like blowfish, and burst out laughing.

“Puhaha! You’re identical. Absolutely identical!”

Hey. Isn’t Mom laughing a bit too hard?

Since my nose kept running, I sniffled while looking at her. Mom grinned and lightly flicked my forehead.

“So, my daughter, are you finally done running away from home?”

“It wasn’t running away! Absolutely not! I came properly, asked for permission, and I wrote letters regularly, didn’t I?”

I even wrote that I was studying magic!
Well, I did say it was also a trip, but still!

As I protested that it definitely wasn’t running away, I eventually lost momentum, shrank back, and apologized. Mom then smiled frighteningly and issued a stern warning.

“I let it slide this time because your partner and an adult were with you, but if something like this happens again, I won’t be so forgiving. Understood, my daughter?”

“Y-Yes…”

I, who hadn’t stumbled over my words even once in the past five years of chaos, swallowed hard at Mom’s unusually cold smile.

Dad, meanwhile, seemed to enjoy this side of Mom and just kept grinning.

“I’ll go wash up now. Mom, Dad, you just got back too, so please rest.”

I hugged them both once more, turned around, and closed the door.

Ah. I should call Heather.

I remembered how Heather had scolded me the last time I tried to wash by myself, so I pulled the bell cord to call her.

As if she’d been waiting, Heather entered immediately and helped me.

“Miss, everyone missed you very much. Please don’t run away alone again.”

It wasn’t running away, and it definitely wasn’t alone.

I almost argued back, but when I saw Heather looking at me with such worry, I nodded heavily instead.

Setting aside the concern, I was sure that if I ever left again by just leaving a note and contacting them later, I’d be in serious trouble.

I mean, my life would be.

“Thank you, Heather.”

After changing clothes and drying my hair, I started to feel hungry.

Should I grab a snack?
As I left my room and went down the stairs, I wondered whether Ventus had arrived yet. He hadn’t looked well earlier. Was he okay?

Something I’d briefly forgotten resurfaced. I still couldn’t figure out why he’d frowned at what I said.

“Miss! Your friend has arrived!”

“Ventus? Where is he right now?”

“Behind you.”

“—!”

Startled by the voice behind me, I turned around and instinctively jabbed my elbow into his side.

“Ugh.”

A small groan escaped him. Messy silver-white hair filled my vision.

“Ah, I’m sorry! Are you okay?”

“I’m fine.”

Ventus said he was fine, but he kept rubbing his side as if it hurt.

If he’s hurt, I’d like to use healing magic, but…

My mana is ordinary mana, meaning I can use blue and red magic. In other words, since I don’t have white mana, I normally can’t use healing spells.

That said, I’m an exception because of the Holy Sword, so I can heal. The problem was that Heather was right there, and this was a corridor where servants passed by often. If I used it, I’d definitely be found out.

I really didn’t want to be exposed again as the Holy Sword’s owner and end up suffering under the Emperor’s orders.

Especially not with the current Emperor, rotten with greed!

Before that even happened, the Holy Nation would get involved, and then the Emperor and the Pope would start fighting again. Just thinking about that old chaos made me sick.

It was horrifying, no matter how many times I thought about it.

The Perlos Empire allows several priests of the Holy Nation to establish and run temples within the empire. Unfortunately, the Holy Sword was discovered by both a priest and someone from the imperial palace, and I nearly got crushed between the two sides because of it.

In short, the Empire won and tried to claim me like an object…

I stopped thinking about it. Recalling it would only make me feel worse.

“I was thinking of grabbing a snack. Want to come with me?”

I grabbed his arm and entered the dining hall. Mom and Dad both widened their eyes.

Huh? The blowfish faces are gone—
Wait, why are you two here?!

Their expressions were completely different. It felt like looking at Eugene and Ventus… or Ventus and Kiel.

“He’s my friend, and he’ll be staying at the estate. We’re partners for magical training.”

—I’m the partner!

Be quiet. You.

I shot a glare at the Holy Sword and looked forward again.

“Oh my.”

Mom gasped at Ventus’s smiling eyes and flushed. She looked like a hardcore fan seeing their idol in person, and suddenly I realized something.

So this is genetic…
I must’ve inherited my weakness for good looks. She was the same when he came disguised as Ventusu last time too…

“Of course! Stay with my daughter—no, I never imagined the friend she traveled with would be this handsome!”

…One hundred percent genetic. There’s no way it isn’t.

“Ah, thank you.”

—Who are you?!

I whipped my head around to stare at Ventus. He was replying politely with a gentle smile on his face.

Ugh. Seeing a close friend act fake like that…
It was beyond creepy.

But Mom. Can’t you see your daughter…?

Pushed aside by Ventus and suddenly reduced to cold rice, I cut into their conversation and asked what I’d been wondering.

“Why are you and Dad here?”

“It’s almost time for dinner. I was just about to have a maid call you.”

Once we sat down, the maids brought in trays. They placed dish after dish onto the table until it was filled with all kinds of food.

It felt even more extravagant than before. Was it just my imagination…?

“We told the head chef to put in some extra effort to celebrate our daughter’s return. And you even brought such a handsome friend—our daughter is quite capable!”

Giggle, giggle.

Mom looked more like a少女 than a mother with a daughter in her late thirties. Maybe I was biased, but it really was true that she didn’t look her age.

“Ahem. Let’s eat—”

“His name was Ventus, right? May I call you by your name comfortably?”

Mom beamed at Ventus, completely drowning out Dad’s words.

Dad’s been sidelined too… Welcome to the club, Dad.

Dad wriggled beside Mom, clearly trying to reclaim her attention. Mom seemed to enjoy his reaction and talked even more to Ventus, turning the situation into a complete disaster.

I just laughed dryly.

Having reached enlightenment, I ate with the mindset of mountains are mountains, and water is water. Even in this chaos, the food was delicious.

Since I eat quickly, I finished first and looked at Mom and Ventus, who were still talking. Dad was still putting on an elaborate performance beside them, clearly begging for attention.

That was the day I learned someone could juggle tableware.

What a waste of talent.

After finishing his juggling act, Dad started clanging plates together as if performing music. I rested my chin on my hand and watched.

…He’s going to get scolded.

“Dear.”

As expected, my prediction came true. Dad drooped immediately, hanging his head and radiating gloom. Mom sighed, stood up, and led Dad out of the dining hall.

“Daughter.”

“Yes?”

“I don’t mind who you date. But make sure of one thing.”

“…Which is?”

“A husband should be cute.”

Huh? Suddenly?

I stared at Mom in confusion, but she turned away without a hint of lingering regret, as if that was the end of it.

I blinked in disbelief, when I felt someone poke my shoulder from behind. I turned my head, and a finger pressed into my cheek.

“…What are you doing, Ventus?”

“Poking your cheek?”

“I KNOW that! Move your finger right now!”

“No.”

“Hey!”

Ventus chuckled, clearly amused now that he’d figured out the situation and saw me getting worked up.

Annoyed, I reached out to smack his head, but he quickly shifted into his adult form and pressed down on my head.

“Oops. You’re small. Very small.”

“Do you want to die?”

I flailed my arms, but I couldn’t reach him.

Why are my arms so short?!
Wait. I can just use magic, can’t I?

I immediately used magic to change into my adult form and smacked Ventus on the head.

Finally. That felt satisfying.

“Hm. Even as an adult, you’re still small.”

Ventus said, rubbing the spot I’d hit.

Should I hit him again?

“Of course. You’re a man, and I’m a woman. On average, men and women differ a lot in growth stages, and men are generally bigger.”

Ventus, who had been a blank slate about humans due to being a dragon, still seemed lacking in some areas. Even if he was 300 years old, he’d apparently spent the time I was gone holed up while collecting taxes, so it made sense.

“Well. I prefer smaller anyway.”

He snapped his fingers, and my viewpoint dropped. Using a reverse spell, Ventus returned me to normal and shrank himself back to his younger form as well.

I glared at him for forcibly undoing my magic, then asked the question that had been bothering me since before dinner.

“Oh, right. I have something to ask. Earlier, Rel said dark magic doesn’t work on me. What did he mean?”

“Dark magic doesn’t work? Hmm…”

Ventus seemed to think for a moment.

I trusted that someone who had lived far longer than me would know the answer. Soon, he opened his mouth.

“That’s because you’re the owner of the Holy Sword.”

And I didn’t understand what he meant at all.