The first few days passed in a bit of a rush.
First,
Elinariette had supposedly dashed off to see her beloved but was holding back.
While waiting for them to return, I got
Sylphie probably wanted to ask about me more than anything else, but she didn't complain and told me everything without being asked twice.
First, Sylphie's condition.
The pregnancy was progressing smoothly. According to the doctor, the birth should go right on schedule.
Everyone else seemed to be doing well, too. There had apparently been some minor incident at the school the other day, but
Aisha and Norn had been living without any injuries or illnesses, it seemed. Aisha had been expanding her gardening hobby steadily and had apparently started growing new plants in her room, too. I'd have to ask her to show me sometime.
Norn had apparently become something of an idol figure at school. Apparently she even had what amounted to a fan club. Well, Norn was cute, so that made sense.
Ariel had apparently been grumbling that I hadn't come to pay my respects. Come to think of it, I'd forgotten about that. I should apologize next time. Another debt to add to the pile.
In any case, from everything I'd heard, everyone seemed healthy. I'd need to make the rounds and deliver my report of return as the opportunity arose.
The one exception was that nobody seemed to have seen any sign of Badigadi. Well, I doubted anything had happened to an immortal, but still.
What had happened over these past six months or so?
Sylphie, resting her chin on her finger as she thought, was as adorable as ever.
"So really, nothing happened to anyone at all?"
"Mm. I don't think there was anything worth worrying about."
"Good."
"More importantly, tell me about you,
"Yeah, I'll tell you. But let's wait until everyone's gathered. It's... quite a lot."
"...Okay. Oh, looks like they're back."
Just as we were talking, Roxy and the others returned.
I invited Geese and his party into the living room.
Geese, Talhand, Lillia, Vela, Shera, Elinariette, Roxy.
Plus me and Sylphie — nine people in all.
Our spacious living room could handle that many with room to spare.
"Oh, so that's the senior's wife? Heh heh, ain't she cute. You're a lucky man, senior."
"She is my granddaughter."
"Well, having a dirty old hag as a tagalong puts a damper on things."
"How dare you!"
I let Geese and Elinariette bicker while the others introduced themselves to Sylphie one by one.
Sylphie, maintaining her composure, greeted each of them in kind.
"I'm Roxy... Roxy Migurdia."
"Roxy? As in the master Rudy's always bragging about?"
"Yes, well... I'm not really worth bragging about."
"Pleased to meet you. I've heard all about you from Rudy. I'm Sylphiette. It's an honor to finally meet you."
"The honor is... mine as well."
Roxy looked painfully awkward. Understandable, given the conversation we'd had the other day. But that discussion could wait.
"It's been a while, Lady Sylphiette."
"Lillia! It's been so long!"
Lillia bowed formally to Sylphie.
Sylphie, clearly happy to see her again, broke into a warm smile. But it quickly turned into an awkward grimace.
"Um, that 'Lady Sylphiette' thing... could you go back to just calling me Sylphie, like you used to?"
"I'm sorry, but now that you're married to Lord Rudeus, I can't address you as I did before."
"I... I see."
Sylphie shrank back a little. She'd told me before that Lillia had taught her everything about housework. In a sense, she was like a teacher — the equivalent of what Roxy was to me. Of course she'd be respectful.
"Um, Aunt
Finally, Sylphie turned to Zenith.
"...Um... Aunt Zenith?"
Zenith just stared blankly.
"Sylphie looked at me with a troubled expression — the look of someone wondering whether the marriage was unwelcome.
"Sylphie. I'll explain about Mom and Dad once Norn gets back."
"Now that you mention it, I haven't seen Dad anywhere..."
When I said that, Sylphie started looking around for
A silence held until Norn returned.
There was an unspoken agreement that everything would wait until the whole family was together.
--- After a while, Aisha and Norn arrived. Both were out of breath.
"B-big brother! Welcome back from your long journey!"
Norn gasped as she bowed. Then she noticed my hand and her eyes went wide.
"Big brother, your hand — is it okay?"
"It's fine. Inconvenient, sure, but there's no pain."
Compared to what I was about to tell them, my left hand was nothing.
"I... I see."
Norn, still catching her breath, looked around the room with a confused expression, muttering "Huh?" as she sank into a chair.
As for Aisha, she came up to me and made a suggestion.
"...Big brother, before we begin, shouldn't we offer our guests some tea first?"
"Right. This is going to be a long talk. I'd appreciate it."
"Ah, sorry. That's really something I should be handling... I'll help."
"No, ma'am, please stay as you are."
The moment I said that, Aisha sprang into action. She prepared tea for everyone, gathered luggage into one spot, hung snow-dampened coats on hangers, laid out slippers and had everyone remove their shoes, set the wet boots by the hearth to dry, and more.
I watched her work, kind of in a daze.
Turns out I wasn't the only one watching.
Lillia was also gazing intently at Aisha.
Come to think of it, during our dungeon expedition, Lillia was always the one working during moments like this. And she'd been quiet the whole time everyone else was sitting in silence. That was unusual for her.
"Aisha."
When Aisha seemed to have finished the first round of tasks, Lillia spoke to her daughter.
"Yes, what is it, Mother?"
"You seem to be serving Lord Rudeus without causing any trouble."
"Yes."
"He shares your blood, but he is also the man who saved your life. From now on, do not let your guard down. Continue to fulfill your duties as a maid."
"Yes. Mother."
Aisha's reply was stiff, and Lillia's tone was equally businesslike. This wasn't a conversation between a mother and daughter.
They were meeting for the first time in so long — I'd have thought there'd be a warmer exchange. But maybe Lillia was holding back, too. After all, she knew a painful explanation was coming.
"Everyone's here now. Let's begin."
The weight in my chest was heavy, but this was something I had to say. Paul wasn't coming back.
"Um, big brother, Dad isn't here, so..."
Norn asked, her voice full of anxiety.
Would she be angry? She'd begged me to save Dad, and I'd told her to leave it to me. And now Dad was dead. Would she blame me?
If she wanted to blame me, then go ahead. I'd failed to grant Norn's wish. That much was true.
I looked at everyone and spoke.
"Dad... Paul Greyrat is dead."
"Huh...?"
Norn let out a short, stunned sound.
Sylphie lowered her face, expression filled with pain.
Aisha's eyes went wide and her fists clenched tight.
"These are his personal effects."
I said that and set Paul's belongings on the table one by one. His sword, his short sword, his armor, and an urn for his ashes. Four items. That was all.
"...W-why!?"
Norn shot to her feet and rushed toward me.
"You went there! So why did Dad die!?"
"I'm sorry... I wasn't strong enough."
"But you were...!"
She kept coming, maybe about to grab the front of my shirt. But her momentum died abruptly.
Her eyes had caught sight of my missing left hand.
Her gaze flickered between the hand, the personal effects, and my face. Tears welled up in her eyes before my very eyes.
Guilt gnawed at me, but I kept talking.
"I'll explain everything in detail now."
"...sniff... okay."
From behind, Aisha placed a hand on Norn's shoulder.
"Norn, now's not the—"
"It's fine, I said I get it...!"
Norn shrugged off Aisha's hand and retreated to her seat.
Aisha stood there looking lost for a moment, then quickly returned to her place behind Sylphie.
"All right, let me start from the beginning—"
I gave a condensed account of everything that had happened.
How Elinariette and I went to Laplace and reunited with Paul there.
How, following Zenith's information, we tackled the Teleportation Labyrinth together with Paul and his group.
Things went smoothly at first, but we struggled against the Guardian. I lost my left hand, and Paul was killed.
We saved Zenith, but she had been left in a vegetative state.
Geese chimed in with supplementary details here and there, and slowly, piece by piece, I told the whole story.
At the end, Norn spoke.
"So... Mom and Dad... neither of them made it?"
"That's right."
I nodded slowly at her words.
I thought Norn's hair might have bristled up like it always did when she was about to explode. But there was no explosion.
She bit her lower lip, staring at my left hand.
"You tried your hardest too, didn't you, big brother?"
"I did everything I could."
"Then if even you couldn't do it, big brother, then no one could have..."
Norn was trying to stay composed. But the tears kept building and building in her eyes, and then— "Surely... Dad couldn't have been saved... and Dad died... sniff... waaah... waaahhhh!"
Once the heavy tears started spilling, there was no stopping them.
Norn cried.
She cried loudly.
The sound of her sobbing pierced my heart like a blade.
Everyone sat with pained expressions, listening to that sound.
Norn cried and cried.
She wailed. She bawled.
She cried enough for everyone else who wasn't crying, too.
We just sat there, listening to her cry.
After a while, Norn stopped.
Her eyes were red and swollen, and she hiccupped between ragged breaths. But when she looked up at me, there was a steely resolve in her gaze.
"Big brother..."
"What is it?"
"This sword... could I... keep it...?"
Norn was pointing at Paul's beloved sword — the sword he'd already been carrying the day I was born. Paul had kept this sword with him always. He'd never let it out of his sight.
"Yeah. Of course. You keep it. But don't go swinging it around recklessly, okay?"
"...?"
"Just because you have a sword doesn't mean you've become strong."
That was something Paul had told me on my fifth birthday, when he handed me my first blade.
"I... understand."
Norn hugged the sword to her chest.
She was a strong kid. In a situation where locking herself in her room to cry would have been perfectly understandable, she'd faced Paul's death head-on.
Nothing like me — the guy who wouldn't have gotten back on his feet without Roxy's help.
She really was strong.
As for the rest of the belongings, we decided to divide them among the family. Aisha took the short sword. I'd take the armor. As for the urn, we'd build a grave later and bury it there.
Just as I was thinking that, Zenith suddenly moved and picked up the armor.
"...Mom?"
"...?"
Even when I called out, Zenith said nothing. Just like before — staring into space like a husk. Yet her movements seemed almost purposeful, as if she understood the moment.
A coincidence?
Or maybe the core of who Zenith was still remained, deep down.
In any case, the personal effects ended up not staying with me. That was fine. Paul had already given me plenty.
--- "Now then — let's talk about Mom."
I explained Zenith's condition again. Amnesia. She was essentially empty inside.
"Can't she be cured?"
When Sylphie asked, I shook my head.
"I don't know."
I planned to take her to a doctor and a healing mage, of course. But I'd never heard of healing magic that could cure amnesia. When I thought about it, I didn't even know the cause.
Trapped inside a mana crystal — and now amnesia. Was it like oxygen deprivation? Hard to say, but the chances of recovery seemed low. If it was brain damage, the medical technology of this world wouldn't be able to fix it. At minimum, high-level healing magic had already failed to help Zenith.
In manga, you'd restore someone's memories by giving them the same shock that caused the amnesia in the first place. But I couldn't exactly try that with Zenith.
And yet — would restoring her memories even be a blessing? Paul had died trying to save her. Zenith would blame herself. Maybe it was better if her memories never returned.
...No. That wasn't right at all. I should try to help her recover her memories.
"In any case, Mom needs treatment and ongoing care."
Care. If my parents in my previous life had survived and grown old and bedridden — would I have ended up caring for them, too?
"I plan to have Mom live here with us."
Lillia had initially said she wanted to rent a separate place so as not to intrude on my life. With the money from clearing the Teleportation Labyrinth, we could afford to live in this town for ten years or more. But I'd rejected that offer. It wasn't acceptable. Even dead, Paul wouldn't have allowed it.
"I'm leaving Mom's day-to-day care to Lillia, but I know it'll cause inconvenience to everyone in small ways."
"Understood. I'll do my best too."
Sylphie said that readily. Nobody seemed to have any objections. And I wasn't planning to accept any.
Paul had said to protect Zenith even if it killed him. I didn't know what he truly meant by that, but this much was clear: even if Paul was dead, I had to protect Zenith.
Of course, "care" wasn't quite the right word. Zenith didn't have Alzheimer's. She was just... an empty shell. With Lillia attending to her, things should be manageable. Though we'd need to make sure we had everything necessary.
"So, um... does that mean Mother will be living here too?"
Aisha spoke up, her voice small.
It was a hesitant, anxious tone.
"Yes. I'll be taking care of Lord Rudeus's mother."
For Aisha, Lillia was still that thorn in her side — the strict, demanding mother. Once freed from Lillia's discipline, Aisha had seemed to enjoy every day. But now, voicing her dissatisfaction about this... that wouldn't do. If she tried to protest, I'd have to put my foot down firmly.
"Will there be... a division of duties, then?"
"We can discuss that later. I intend to focus my own work on caring for the Madam, so the bulk of the housework will continue to fall to you as before, Aisha."
"...Yes."
Aisha didn't voice any complaint. But she clearly still had issues with her mother. Her voice was tight, and her expression was dark.
Norn noticed and intervened.
"Hey, Aisha."
Norn put her hand on Aisha's shoulder and spoke gently.
"You don't have to hold back around us. Okay?"
Aisha looked at Norn, then at Lillia, then at me, back and forth.
Lillia was looking at me too. I wasn't sure what they expected of me, but I gave a small nod.
Aisha jumped to her feet and threw her arms around Lillia.
"M-Mom...! I'm so glad you're... okay...!"
She sobbed, burying her face in Lillia's stomach.
"I'm home, Aisha..."
Lillia stroked her daughter's head with a gentle expression.
Right. That was right. Aisha had been through a lot too. For her, Lillia was her mother. Of course she'd been praying for Paul and Zenith's safety. But her prayers for Lillia's safety had been stronger than anyone else's. And now Lillia was home safe — but Aisha couldn't simply be happy about it. Not with the circumstances surrounding everyone else's return.
Forgive me for thinking so cynically.
--- After that, we discussed various smaller matters and the report was concluded.
Geese also gave a financial summary showing we were in the black. An enormous sum of money was now in everyone's hands. But nobody's face lit up.
"Well then, guess we'd better go find an inn."
The moment the report ended, Geese stood up. Talhand, Vela, and Shera rose along with him.
I hurried to stop them.
"You're welcome to stay here tonight, you know."
"Heh, senior. Don't be ridiculous. We ain't so insensitive that we'd intrude on a family reunion."
Naturally, the other three picked up their belongings at Geese's words. They pulled on not-quite-dry boots, threw on their coats.
In the end, I saw them off at the front door.
As the four prepared to leave without fuss, I called out.
"Everyone — thank you for helping Dad for so long."
I bowed especially deep to Vela and Shera. They'd been assisting Paul ever since Millis. They hadn't spoken much with me personally, but in the Teleportation Labyrinth, they'd quietly handled the support roles. They were the unsung heroes.
"Not at all. We're the ones who should apologize for not being more useful."
"Once Captain Paul's grave is built, please let us know the location, even if only that."
Their responses were brief. What had Paul meant to them? Even after the search party dissolved, they'd followed him all the way to the Begaritto Continent. Perhaps there had been some special bond. But whether they'd had feelings for Paul or not, it had nothing to do with me.
"What will you do from here?"
"After winter ends, we'll return to the Kingdom of
"I see. Take care of yourselves."
"Yes. You too, Lord Rudeus. I know things will be difficult going forward, but please look after your health."
They bowed to me one last time, then disappeared into the snow.
The search party. Come to think of it, Paul had mentioned that Zenith's family had been providing financial support for his operations. I couldn't say Zenith was safe, exactly, but I needed to let them know she'd been found. I wasn't sure if the letters would reach them, but I should send a few at least.
As I was mulling this over, Geese clapped me on the shoulder.
"Take care, senior."
"Geese. Talhand."
"What's with the long face? Cheer up."
"...What will you two do from here?"
At that, Geese scratched his head.
"We're heading to Asura too. Gotta liquidate the cash from Begaritto and sell off the mana-imbued items."
"Sell everything?"
"I'll keep a few for myself, but most of it, yeah."
I still had some mana-imbued items on me too. When I'd had them appraised, I'd learned what effects each possessed, but most of them were nothing special. A dagger that could serve as a match, that sort of thing. I'd probably find some use for them eventually, so I'd toss them in the basement storage for now. If I ever needed money, I could sell them then. Even something with a ridiculous effect would be worth a small fortune.
The one exception was the mana-absorbing magic stone. If I had time, I wanted to study it. If I ran into an opponent like that again and knew nothing, had no countermeasure, I'd be right back where I started. I might not learn anything useful, but trying was better than not.
"If you want, I could take your stuff to Asura and sell it for you? You'd get way more there than around here."
The Kingdom of Asura had high prices, and Asuran currency was accepted just about anywhere on the Central Continent. If you were selling, Asura was the place.
"And then you'd gamble it all away on the way home and abscond?"
"Whoa — hey, now, I wouldn't touch your money!"
Geese said that and glanced away with shifty eyes. If I'd actually entrusted him with my items, he might have been tempted after all.
Well, even so, I owed Geese a great deal. Without him, we'd never have cleared the Teleportation Labyrinth.
"I'm joking."
"I mean, I do gamble sometimes."
Geese said that with a smirk, the corner of his mouth curling up.
"And after that?"
"Keep adventuring. I ain't got anything else."
"Right."
"Well, we'll be hanging around here until winter's over, so if you've got time, let's grab a drink. You can introduce me to some good company, right? Oh wait — with a wife and kid, you probably can't exactly hang around places like that, huh? Heh heh."
It wasn't as if we were parting ways immediately. But I knew that when the time came, Geese wouldn't bother with a formal goodbye. He'd just vanish. So I needed to make sure I said my thanks and farewell properly now.
"Geese..."
"Hey, senior. Your tone's been weird this whole time. Just say 'Oi, new guy,' like usual."
"...Why are you so hung up on 'new guy'?"
At that, Geese grinned.
"Superstition."
Superstition. It shouldn't have been enough of a reason, but somehow, those words settled right into my heart. If it was a superstition, then there was nothing to argue about.
"In any case, thank you both for everything."
"Don't mention it. Stay well, senior."
As I bowed deeply, Geese waved and started walking away.
"Hmph. You have no business thanking me. If anyone should be thanked, it's Paul. In other words, we require no gratitude whatsoever."
Tallhand wobbled his heavy frame as he said that, then followed after Geese.
I watched their backs until they vanished from sight.
"Men are always so eager to play it cool."
I turned to find Elinariette standing beside me. While I'd been saying my farewells, she'd apparently been chatting with Sylphie. About that matter, no doubt. I'd told her beforehand that I needed to be the one to explain everything, but the ever-meddlesome Elinariette had probably smoothed things over on her own. Honestly, I was grateful for that. The thought of doing it all myself was daunting.
"Well then, I'll be heading to Cliff's. I'm running out of time, after all."
Elinariette said that while rubbing her lower abdomen. I'd put her through a lot too. On the way there and back, she'd had to lie with strangers three separate times. She always said it didn't bother her and that it was nothing new, but it was no laughing matter to me.
"Elinariette, thank you for your help as well."
At those words, Elinariette's expression soured.
"...I'm sorry about Paul."
"No, that was my—"
My mistake. My carelessness. I was about to say that, but Elinariette continued.
"My role in that party was to make sure things didn't end up like that. Paul's death is my failure as well."
That couldn't be right. Everyone in that room had fought desperately. We'd dodged the Hydra's trump card, and just when we were one blow away, one step from victory, the Hydra had made its desperate final move. Nobody could have predicted that.
At the very least, the only people with any right to blame Elinariette were herself and the dead Paul.
"I won't blame you. No one will."
"Then you shouldn't blame yourself either."
"...Right."
"Off I go, then!"
With that, Elinariette dashed off into the snow.
Her own report of return was just beginning.
"...Whew."
I let out a long sigh. My white breath vanished into the snow.
And with that — for me, at least — the Teleportation Incident had reached its conclusion.
Every missing member of my family had been found. Out in the wider world, there might still be people unaccounted for, but I had no obligation to search for them.
It was over.
A long, painful, and bitter ordeal. But from here, the story moved forward. I couldn't dwell on the past — I had to keep moving forward. There was still so much to do in this world, so much I wanted to accomplish. I had to keep my eyes on the road ahead.
"Rudy. Has everyone left?"
I looked up to find Roxy standing behind me.
"I wanted to talk with them a bit myself, but..."
"They'll be in town for a while, it seems. You can catch them when you have time."
"I suppose so."
Roxy wouldn't step out into the snow on her own. She'd stay here — in this house. whether she'd become a regular guest or a permanent resident would depend on the conversations ahead.
"Well then, Roxy."
"Yes?"
"Let's go."
I headed back inside, with Roxy's small figure following close behind.