We arrived at the entrance of the dungeon by 9am and I submitted the Kingâs Sceptre to Emilia.
They fed me some story about having to perform an inspection to see if it was genuine so theyâd be keeping it a while.
Because the exam was planned to end at dawn on the 2nd day there were no classes planned so we could all rest.
It was ideal for a birthday party.
I cast Transfer <Gatom> and we arrive outside my home the blacksmith & appraisers shop <Solar Wind>.
When I opened the door my mother who was inside turned to me immediately.
âWelcome back Arnos-chan!â
My mother runs over with more force than normal and hugs me tightly.
Sheâs crying for some reason.
âMother was worried because you didnât come home yesterday.â
âI said it might last all night through to the morning.â
âI know, but even so Arnos-chan is only a month old. I was still worried.â
My mother smiled and said again
âWelcome back Arnos-chan. Welcome back.â
Fumu. Worried so much just because I didnât come back for 1 day. My mother should know my magic power to some extent. Itâs an embarrassing feeling.
âIâm home.â
My mothers face lit up with a big smile.
âWelcome back Arnos-chan.â
My mother hugs me again.
âOhh?â
Did you finally notice mother?
Her gaze turns to Sasha but for some reason, she seems startled. She has an expression like sheâs noticed something.
âMorning. It will take until morning. It will take until morningâŠâŠ..â
Now she looks upset.
âIt was a staying out all night declarationnnnnnnnnnnn!!!!â
Whatâs that?
âBut I already said I might not return until morning.â
âI think the meaning between your statement and your moms are different.â Sasha says in a quiet voice.
Hmm. Is this another thing thatâs changed in this age?
âWhat other kinds of meaning can Iâll return in the morning have?â
âWhat other you say? That isâŠerrrmâŠâŠyou knowâŠ.â
Sasha becomes flustered all of a sudden.
âWhat?â
ââŠ.ItâsâŠ..Itâs a good thingâŠ..â
Fumu. I see. I donât understand at all.
My mother rushed up to Sasha while I was thinking.
âSasha-chan!â
âWhaâŠwhat is it?â
My other hugged Sasha tightly.
âSasha-chan!â
âWhat? What is it!?â
Sasha shrinks back at the force of my mother.
My mother pats Sashaâs head and looks like sheâs made up her mind about something.
âAreâŠ.are you okay? Was he properly gentle?â
Sashaâs face goes blank.
ââŠ.You see, I want to avoid this misunderstanding. As for being gentle, it wasnât needed.â
Sasha calmly corrects my mother however what my mother hears causes her to open her mouth like sheâs received a great shock.
ââŠ.Eh? Whatâs wrong?â
âNo, nothing. Itâs fine. Itâs fine Sasha-chan. Different people like different things. Un, itâs fine, itâs alright.â
My mother acts like sheâs understood something and is trying to convince herself sheâs happy with it.
Sasha looks like she wants to know so she asks my mother again.
âWhat is it? What do you mean?â
âButâŠ..â
âItâs fine. Just tell me.â
Saying it canât be helped my mother whispers in Sashaâs ear.
âEveryone has their own preferences. As long as you arenât too violent getting rough is a good thing.â
âAre you stupid!!â
Sasha becomes bright red and yells out before putting her hands to her head and shaking it.
âItâs a misunderstanding. Coming home in the morning didnât have that kind of meaning. Misha is here too. See?â
âEhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!! Coming home in the morning with 3 people!! Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!â
The force that is my mother canât be contained today either it seems.
âIs Misha-chan fine as well?â
Misha leans her head to the side.
ââŠâŠ.fine?âŠ.â
Unlike Sasha, Misha doesnât seem to understand too well either.
âUmm errm. Would it be better if Sasha-chan wasnât here? I understand. I wonderâŠ..? Should IâŠâŠ.?â
When my mother asked fearfully Misha just shakes her head.
â3 people was fine.â
At that moment the door to the workshop opened with a crash and my father appeared and the first thing out of his mouth was.
âArnos. Father was, even father was like this back in the day. Youâre too quick to climb the steps of adulthood. One of these days you could fall down Hahaha.â
I didnât ask father.
âBut when I heard you were with 2 people I was so jealous. You didnât do both at the same time did you!?â
My father slaps his hands on my shoulders while yelling and looking upset.
âArnos. This is advice from your father who actually fell down those stairs.â
My fathers face now looks serious before he continues.
âHow did you do it? Teach me.â
Where did the advice go?
âErm Misha-chan. How did you go up so many flights of adult stairs? How did Arnos do 2 people?â
What are you asking your sonâs classmate about father?
ââŠ.He was gentleâŠ..â
âAnyone can do it as long as theyâre gentle? I sâ-â
My father opened his mouth like heâd realised something before looking at me like heâd seen something horrible.
âWere you such a technician ArnosâŠâŠâŠ?â
My father seems to have greatly misunderstood something.
âLike I said its a misunderstanding. Today is our Birthday so Arnos invited us!â
Sasha makes a desperate appeal.
Hearing that my mother who was still in shock made a fist like she was determined.
âThatâs right. Even if the people themselves say they are okay itâs not something you can just openly talk about.â
It seems the misunderstanding has not yet been resolved.
âItâs alright. Mother will always be an ally of Arnos-chan. Iâll always support what Arnos-chan wants to do.â
My father nods at my motherâs words.
âThatâs right. If Arnos wants to do something it canât be helped. If you want to do itâŠ..â
Why does my father seem full of regret now?
âIf thatâs what youâve decided then Iâll start preparing a feast right away. Itâs Sasha-chan and Misha-chans birthday. Right, Iâll bake a cake too.â
When my mother was about to go into the kitchen I remembered something.
âAah, thatâs right. Misha Iâve got something for you.â
Misha watches me.
âWhat?â
âHold out your hand.â
Misha puts out her left hand like I asked.
âDone.â
Fumu. Her ring finger looks like the best fit. Whatever, any finger should be fine. I place the <Ice Lotus Leaf Ring> on her finger.
Misha brought the ring to her eyes and looked at it in amazement.
âHappy Birthday Misha. How do you feel about turning 15?â
Misha looks at me with her usual deadpan expression, however, a tear ran down her cheek.
In a trembling voice, she said
âI was scared.â
As I thought she would be.
She endured it for a long time.
âYou donât need to be strong anymore.â
ââŠ..NnâŠâŠâ
Misha nodded as tears continued to fall.
Seeing this a smile bloomed on Sashaâs face and she held Mishaâs shoulders.
Andâââ-
âI understand Misha-chan. It was scary but you held out.â
My mother who doesnât know anything speaks up.
ââŠâŠ.UnderstandâŠ..?â
âUn. I was also scared during my proposal. No matter how much you believe it will go okay itâs scary until itâs done. In Mishaâs case, thereâs also Sasha-chan too.â
Mishaâs eyes go round.
âBut itâs okay. Arnos-chan will definitely go through with it. Misha-chan and Sasha-chan. Iâm sure he will make you both happy.â
Me and Sasha didnât know what to do with those words.
However.
ââŠFufufuâŠâŠâ
Misha laughed
âMake us both happy?â
âUn, thatâs right. Is that okay?â
Misha thinks a little and laughs again.
It was like a flower had bloomed.
âNn.â
It was a heartfelt smile from a girl who had suppressed her own heart until now.
TN.
With this Chapter 1/Arc 1 is finished. The next chapter/arc is the demon sword tournament arc.