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Will I be able to remember all of this... and tell Dad?
I hope I can.
After all, it's the story about Mom, something Dad has always wanted to know.
[Just in time, the previous Water Spirit King had vanished, and because the spirits loved Mom so much, they made her the new Spirit King. No human has ever had a stronger affinity with spirits than Mom.]
"So that's how we were able to meet again…"
Thank goodness.
I fidgeted with my fingers, and soon my toes were wiggling too.
Memories from another world seep into me like a mist over water.
The memories I had built with Mom, just the two of us in that world, kept bubbling up, and before I knew it, the memories of Shupetty and Luarel had blended into one.
That's why… I can call her "Mom."
'So embarrassing!'
Even so, when we meet like this, I really want to call her that.
The long-forgotten yearning knocked inside me, and I pursed my lips, glancing around shyly.
[The reason you eat so much isn't just because you take after your mom, but also because your real age should be around nine years old.]
"Ah-ha…!"
[And since Mom is taking care of you, she needs a lot of strength too.]
I see.
So I'm a foodie because I take after Mom!
Feeling a bit proud, I shrugged my shoulders and grinned.
[The reason you kept thinking you had to leave... that you needed to go, is probably because the memory of leaving this entire dimension remained deep in your subconscious. That lingering feeling that you had to return somewhere...]
Mom's hands in my memories were warm, but now they were cold.
But I didn't dislike it at all.
I rubbed my cheek against her hand and smiled.
Just like I once smiled brightly at the hospital, in front of Mom lying in bed.
"It's okay, Mom. I know this is my home now."
[Really? You really are my daughter. So clever.]
"Yup! Admiral is Dad, and the Water Spirit King..."
"...is Mom. I know everything now."
So Pashayen was always my home.
I won't leave again. I promise.
[Then, sweetie, it's time to open your eyes. When you wake up, will you call out Mom's name in a loud voice?]
Her voice sounded like it was coming from a place far, far away.
I hooked my pinky with hers, even as she faded like bubbles in the wind.
I made a promise: when I return to Dad, I'll call out for Mom.
'So Dad can finally meet Mom.'
A moment later.
I opened my eyes in a familiar place.
And then, my field of vision filled with sparkling letters from Yupyrhos.
[Congratulations, little contestant! You've cleared the quest!]
At the same time, a grape board floated into view, and two bright red stamps thudded down with a big "Well done!"
[Because you cleared the <Let's Get Closer to Dad Project ver.3>, you've earned these stamps. But! This isn't the end, right? (°◡°♡).:｡]
Huh? This isn't the end?
[The Spirit Kings' Joint Quest! <Revealing the True Luarel> has been completed!]
Thud! Thud!
Two more stamps were added to the grape board.
Six dull stamps.
Four newly sparkling ones.
'Gasp! That's ten! I filled the entire grape board!'
But… why?
As I blinked in confusion, Yupyrhos kindly explained.
[This quest had a double meaning! You earned stamps both by revealing the fake Luarel and by uncovering the real Luarel's identity! (♫•¨•.¸¸♪]
Oh wow, so that's what it was!
Excited, I wiggled my bottom a little, then quickly jumped up and shouted out loud.
"Lina!"
"Shupetty?"
But the voice that answered… wasn't Lina's.
"...Dad?"
"…You finally called me Dad."
His heavy voice, thick with emotion, rang softly in my ears.
I was in my room.
With Dad, brother Mikard, and brother Elzen there.
'Only Lina was missing.'
Where's Lina?
"Your maid is in a safe place for now. To undo a petrification at that level, only Cecilia herself can intervene."
"…"
"Only one of the snakes in Cecilia's hair can create the antidote that dispels the petrification. I promise I'll do whatever it takes to get it for you."
Ah, right.
'Lina turned to stone.'
The moment I remembered that, tears threatened to spill, but I barely held them back.
Because… I still had some unused stamps.
'And I also know Mom's name now.'
If I guess the Spirit King's name correctly, I can earn one more stamp.
'That makes five unused stamps.'
With those, I'm sure I can save Lina somehow.
Even if Aunt Cecilia refuses to give me the antidote, I'll find another way. I will, no matter what.
Wiping away my tears with the back of my hand, I nodded bravely.
[You've completed the entire grape board. Time for your reward. Which Spirit King would you like to make a contract with?]
At that moment, Yupyrhos spoke to me again.
[Available Spirit Kings to contract with: Water / Fire / Earth / Emotion / Fortune / Chaos]
[You may only choose from the Spirit Kings currently watching the Parenting Show.]
'Before I choose, I have something to say. I know the name of the Water Spirit King.'
Mom told me to shout it out loud.
So, I took a deep breath and opened my mouth to speak...
KWAANG!!
A tremendous crash shook the mansion as if an earthquake had hit.
Startled like a rabbit, I jumped and clung to the edge of the bed.
Just then, brother Mikard furrowed his brows and looked up.
"Dad, it's coming from Grandpa's office."
"It's nothing to worry about… though I suppose I should head there. It'll probably be over by the time I arrive."
As Dad silently rose to his feet, I quickly grabbed his sleeve.
"I want to go too."
"Stay somewhere safe, Shu. You just went through a lot. And remember before, after the Spirit King's incarnation, you passed out for a long time. This time, you woke up early, but there might still be side effects."
"No, I still want to go."
Because...
[The Water Spirit King '■■■■' says to let you come.]
[The Emotion Spirit King '■■■' says there's painful emotion nearby.]
[The Earth Spirit King '■' whispers that someone seems to need comfort.]
That's what the Spirit Kings are all saying.
"If I leave you behind, you'll just follow anyway, won't you?"
Dad looked closely at me, then finally extended his arm.
I snuggled into it, pressing my cheek against his solid shoulder, and kept rereading the glowing message from the Water Spirit King.
I have to make sure Mom and Dad can meet.
With that vow in my heart.
***
Meanwhile, before Shupetty awoke.
At the same time that Monster Luarel and Shupetty were facing off...
Galizard, who had only pretended to collapse from poison but had actually dozed off for real, suddenly jerked his head up when someone poked his shoulder.
"Please stop sleeping and get up, sir."
"Hm. How was my acting, Cedric?"
"Appallingly awful."
"Tsk."
The poison given by the fake Luarel…
Was actually prepared by Galizard himself.
He had arranged an item stamped with Velarion's seal, inside which he placed a poison capsule and a small note.
He even invited the enemy to create the perfect opportunity for it to be consumed.
He wasn't sure why the enemy arrived earlier than expected, but in the end, the result was satisfactory.
"Please stop poisoning yourself for fun. It's not good for your health."
"Aren't you the one hoping I die soon? So you can stop working?"
"That's true… but we both know you're not going to die."
Galizard wiped his mouth with the handkerchief Cedric handed him, then rang a bell to summon a servant.
The servant, having already been briefed on everything, showed no signs of surprise.
"Cedric is right. Please stop ingesting poison. Even if that level of toxin is immediately broken down in your body."
"Tch, you're all so talkative now…"
The servant, Paul, had been with Galizard for many years.
He was someone in a position to offer such honest advice.
Eventually, Galizard refreshed himself with the delicious tea Paul brewed, and let out a long sigh.
"The whole mansion probably knows I collapsed by now."
"Yes. Paul made sure to stir up some chaos. A lot of people came running, so I stepped in and tidied things up."
"Good job. Though… look at that Diegon, the brat didn't even show up. Tsk. I must've raised him wrong."
Galizard grumbled, and Cedric just shrugged.
"He knew it was all a show. Why would he come?"
"No sense of loyalty, I swear…"
But Galizard wasn't truly upset.
After all the things he had been through in life...
This kind of incident was merely an old man's amusement.
It couldn't possibly rattle him anymore.
"Well then, let's enjoy what happens next."
"You really are something else…"
Muttering, Cedric opened the hidden door in the office and stepped through first.
Paul followed behind.
Now alone in the room.
Soon, a soft sound could be heard outside the door.
The sound of a snake slithering across the marble floor.
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