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I bring Emilia and Kasha up to the house and lead them into the living room. Naturally, Iska, Nina and the others are there.
Emilia and Kasha have been whispering with each other from time to time since a while ago.
“Oh…um, do you know Gray-san?”
Iska asks with a curious look on his face.
“Yeah, these two are old party members.”
“…”
When I turned to Emilia and Kasha, they both had indescribable expressions on their faces.
I sat down on the sofa in the living room facing Emilia and Kasha.
“… uu”
“……… mmm…”
Nina and Stella sit on my left and right and hold me firmly. Both of them seem to be wary of Emilia and Kasha. I wonder what’s going on.
On the other hand, Emilia and Kasha have a slightly uncomfortable look on their faces.
“Both Nina and Stella are worried that Gray-san will be taken.”
At that moment, Ariamel came into the living room, bringing tea.
“Go ahead. Gray-san too.”
She put the tea she brought in front of Emilia and I.
“Uh…oh, sorry.”
“Oh, thank you.”
“Thank you Ariamel, but you said I would be taken…”
Ariamel sits next to Nina.
“Hey Nina, Stella-chan. Gray-san and the others have something important to talk about…”
“Mm…”
“… (pui)”
Nina and the others put even more effort into it.
“Ah, there are some things I want to ask you… Who are these children?”
“They are my children.”
“…what?”
“Oh…”
The air freezes.
“… it’s”
“Oh? I can’t hear you very well.”
“Who is your partner?”
Partner? What partner?
“Oto-san is Nina’s oto-san…”
Nina, presses her head against me, this is a pattern that makes her nose snotty…
“Stop it, Emmy, you’re scaring the children.”
“But!”
“Calm down, I’m sure you’re not the right age to begin with. How old are you, Ariamel…is it?”
“Ah, um… I’m 13.”
Come to think of it, Ariamel, Iska, and Fio were a little older than I thought they were. Maybe they looked younger than they were because they were undernourished and skinny at that time.
“13 years old… so when we disbanded the party, Gray already had a child, right? At that time, Gray was dating…”
“Hey, stop it, don’t say any more.”
Give me a break….
“Oh, I’m sorry”
Kasha smiles happily even as she says that.
…I’m not good at this sort of thing.
“…Hey, by the way, I was wondering…is that girl over there a vampire, or is she half or quarter?”
Stella reacts with a startle at those words.
“It’s okay Stella…these two won’t bully you.”
“………all right”
After that, I explained to Emilia and Kasha what had happened. How I met these children, how we ended up living together, and how Sasha showed me around the house and made the purchase.
After hearing my story, the two sighed in amazement.
“That part of you is still the same.”
“Yes, Gray has always looked and behaved like a thug, but when he sees someone in need or in a vulnerable situation, he immediately reaches out to help them.”
You are not shy to talk about what people are concerned about.
…… Ah, that’s right.
“Oh, by the way, the purchase price of this house… how did you know I was going to buy this house? And why are you giving me half off for it? No, to be honest, I’m very grateful.”
I am still curious as to why.
“Hm? It’s not just this house.”
Huh?
“What do you mean?”
“I have told the guild that I will take care of half the price of all the party houses in town.”
“It doesn’t make sense”
“Buying a party house is probably because you’re going to have a new party, and you will need me and Kasha to help you identify the members of that party. You said we were going to party again, but you have stubbornly refused to accept our offer to form a party again. Then I wonder what kind of person you’re going to party with…if you’re being deceived…”
Emilia said with a serious face.
I don’t understand your explanation at all… don’t lump me in with those naive people.
“But then I come back and see that there are 5…no, 6 kids…”
“Yeah, it was a surprise.”
“Well that’s… hm?”
I guess so, but when I tried to continue like that, Nina and the others were rubbing their eyes sleepily.
“Hey, if you’re both sleepy, why don’t we go to bed?”
Ariamel stood up and called out to Nina and Stella.
“Ooooo…we’re gonna lose our father…”
“Nina, Stella, it’s okay. I’ll be there as soon as we’re done talking. I won’t leave, so go ahead.”
Ariamel walked out of the living room holding hands with two of them. Together with Iska and the others, who had been looking out of place for a long time.
“Isn’t she a good big sister?”
“…… that’s more like a child.”
“Totally… huh?”
What the hell are you trying to say?
“For the time being, it’s late, so I’ll be going home…I’ll come again.”
You’re coming….
“Yeah, sorry it took so long.”
“All right, I’ll see you off.”
Saying that, I got up to prepare to go out.
“No need, who do you think we are? We won’t be slowed down by street thugs.”
“That part of you hasn’t changed either, so I’m somewhat relieved. … Besides.”
“It seems that one of the criminal organizations in this city was crushed about a month ago…everyone was beheaded. It’s been a lot safer since then.”
They both look at me at the same time.
“…Come to think of it, there was something like that.”
I said as I turned away.
When I came to the front door to see them off, Ariamel came out after putting Nina and the others to bed.
“Ah, are you on your way home?”
“Oh, sorry it’s so late, Ariamel.”
“No, Gray-san’s friends are always welcome.”
“……… friends.”
“Uh, did I do something wrong…?”
“Yes, yes, let’s hurry home Emmy. We’ll be back together again, won’t we? Let’s have dinner together some time.”
“Oh, yeah. Come again, I’m sure we’re not done talking yet.”
Kasha dragged Emilia, who was frozen and motionless the whole time..
“What the heck was that all about?”
“Hmmm, both of them came because they were worried about Gray-san.”
“Well, ……… I’m off to bed.”
“Yes, I’ll go to bed too after I put the tea away.”
“I’ll help.”
As expected, they were my guests…and I didn’t feel comfortable asking her to do all the work.
“…Yes, thank you very much, Gray-san.”
Ariamel said so with a slightly happy smile.