Now in the 17th floor, The first thing Ethan could see was that the Goliath didn't spawn. Sighing, he stared at the exit of the Boss room while Ais tilted her head before she decided to ask
"Why did she... call you Hyogumi-san?"
Hearing her question, he turned his head to look at her with a smile
"Nobody asked me about my last name, so I never told anyone"
Confused, she wanted to ask why but, without minding it, the two continued to walk hand in hand towards the exit of the boss room.
What Ethan didn't say was that, when Ryuu asked him his last name, he suddenly remembered he had one...
'Why I didn't remember such an important thing..?'
Asking this question to himself, he was rather disturbed. This because forgetting such an important thing could not be normal. He had a surname, and now his thoughts were slightly tormented by the fact that there could be even more important things he didn't remember.
Sensing this anxiety within him, Ais was even more confused. She wanted to do something to help him, but she didn't know how...
Tightening her grip with his hand even stronger than before, he turned again towards her as she kissed him on the lips
"Is everything..alright?"
Being asked this question, Ethan's eyes widened as he turned to look at the exit of the boss room...
'Right, I can't forget that I am with her. I'm not alone anymore. But this information is so overwhelming..I tried not to think about it until now as if it was normal but, is it really..normal?'
Deciding to help him understand his situation, Light stepped in his thoughts with a sigh
[While you were thinking about this, I analysed your brain and the data I had. I don't know how, but I found a note from my mother the moment you thought about your lost memories. Should I explain to you what she said or let you read it on your own?]
["Let me read it. I want to understand what happened on my own"]
Without replying, Light made the message appear in front of him as he started reading it
---
[Hello, my Child. My name is Qienta and I'm the Goddess that reigns over Souls, as well as the mother of the System that is helping you in your adventure. You must be confused, right? You are wondering what happened to your memories, as well as worrying if there are others that you forgot, maybe even important. I ask you not to worry about it. The sudden shock caused by your passage in a body and then in a new world has created havoc with your personality and your memories, but nothing serious. I was the one who reincarnated you, so I'm sure about this. 95% of your memories related to your past world are there and you can remember them. About 2.9% is made up of your last name. I ask you not to worry and live in the world freely...even if it is a little more difficult with this new information, you will find yourself in far worse situations, so hold the girl's hand tightly, she loves you very much.
P.S.
I know that it will seem strange for you too, my daughter, the first real message you can read about your mother is about another person. But I have no other way to interact with you except through the rewards of hidden quests...all I can say is that I hope you two to have a great adventure, even with the relationship you share..I would say that I have gone too far, but it seemed right to leave this message. Now go, continue where you left off, otherwise your lover will think that something is wrong]
---
Reading the letter, Ethan had a small blush on his face as he understood that, obviously, she was watching him. Looking around in the boss room, he knew that 'no one' was here, but he couldn't help but wonder why this Goddess would go so far only to allow him to live a happy life
[It almost feels like... she's having fun.]
Hearing Light's reply, Ethan gulped as he knew that, even though he considered her just a part of him, the way her mother stated their 'relationship' seemed too strange, but, Qienta's letter had really helped Ethan who, now, was much more motivated than before to not think about it, or at least, it was no longer a burden as it was before.
'As she said, I should live my life without being influenced about my previous life. I won't be able to return on Earth anyway'
Holding Ais' hand more tightly, he answered her question
"Yes, It's all right now."
His seriousness brought a smile to Ais' lips as she let him take the lead without arguing while he was still uncertain about some details..
'Hidden Quests..does that mean she'll help me out again?'
Asking this to himself, Light couldn't help but add
[...She seems the person capable of doing it.]
Hearing her talking on her own again, Ethan smiled as he added
'Your mother is really amazing. I wonder if you'll ever be able to meet her'
[I don't need to see her. My mother created me with a single purpose, to help you on your adventure, whatever road you decide to go]
Her 'cold' reply brought him to shake his head as Ais was confused but, seeing his expression as always, she thought he was thinking about something important.
'I bet you understood from this letter, your mother is a Goddess who is trying her best in the position she is in. To the point of also helping a random human on her way.'
[...I know who my mother is, how incredible she is, and other things, but I don't need her in my life, because she didn't asked me to. She asked me to be with you, so that's what I'll do.]
Sighing, Ethan shook his head as he understood that it was the truth. Deciding to put this matter aside, he saw as he was already on the exit of the boss room. Focusing on the 'real world', he released Ais' hand as he added
"Sorry if I spaced out, I was thinking about something important, but now everything is fine."
Nodding her head, she stared at him as she replied
"..Let's hunt a lot of monsters."
Recognizing Ais' determination to hunt as many monsters as possible, Ethan was determined to do the same. He wanted a new house and his next level up, both obtainable with Valis and XP respectively. Both could have been given to him by hunting monsters, so Ethan was more than convinced that getting his hands dirty for a while would do more than well...
'I can't let my thoughts wander..now I just want to hunt them'
Thinking this, he saw as a horde of Minotaurs had already approached them...
---
Smiling happily, Qienta saw as Ethan started to kill monsters with a smile on his face flanked by Ais.
After some seconds, her radiant smile faded slightly in remembering the words written in the letter.
"I'm sorry..I told you half a lie. It's just the memories of your previous life you can remember. If you learned about what really happened, you would shut yourself up without wanting to know about starting a new life..."
Saying this, she sighed as she fell on the bed on which a few moments ago the two of them were together, panting heavily as they had a sweet and intense s.e.x.
Sighing again, she looked towards the ceiling of the house they built together as tears filled her eyes but, without letting them do as they pleased, she wiped them off as she knew that someday he would become powerful enough to stay here, even for a few billion years
"This place..will always wait for you, Ethan. Become strong, live your life now without an end with the support of our daughter..."
Muttering this, she fell asleep as time started to flow even faster...
Now that Ethan had already killed quite a few minotaurs, along with Ais cleaning the streets of the few who were left behind, the situation quickly turned into the spawning of a Monster Party. The fact that such an event, considered rare was routine for both was still strange but, without noticing, Ethan was ready to defend himself as soon as he realized that a horde of monsters was coming.
The same could be said for Ais that, with the use of her [Ariel], quickly cleaned some of them, leaving Ethan with the task of using [Avian]. He knew it was dangerous to use it to the fullest. Also, because he didn't want to make a Juggernaut spawn.
"move, Ais!"
Hearing him, she moved away as he used Avian with the Wind effect instead of the Air. This because, when he used the latter, damage to the surroundings was only the tip of the iceberg compared to the damage the air pressure was able to do.
Seeing minotaurs being cut, she smiled as she saw that nearly every one of them was down. What she didn't expect, was that one of them defended against the Wind with a shield. Seeing this as well, Ethan was confused.
"...A shield?"
Hearing his voice, the Minotaur roared in fury as it ran towards him without a second hesitation. Seeing how fast it was, Ais was about to step in but, before she could, Ethan shook his head with a smile.
Evading the blow, Ethan used his [Instantaneous Movements] to appear behind the Minotaur but, what he didn't expect was that his boosted blow had certainly landed, but he had not been able to move the Minotaur.
"...How!?"
Shocked, he retreated quickly as he felt his hand twitched a few times. Understanding his Boost Magic wasn't enough to deal with him, Ethan evaded another blow from the Minotaur while retreating again.
'Should I ask for help..but..I can't leave this so easily, I would like to defeat it myself..'
Thinking this, he knew he could easily evade the strange monster's blows, but if his own had no effect, then it was useless...but, before the Minotaur could continue further, he decided to try with an attack purely related to magic.
"Gather, 17 Spirits of Ice, cut apart my enemy."
Chanting his magic successfully, Ethan made all the arrows pierce the Minotaur as he saw it had some kind of effect, but, in the end, it wasn't powerful enough to make it dissipate.
'Why my magic is so inefficient against him? I damaged him but it seems that this is the only way to damage it? this joke isn't funny...'
With another roar, the Minotaur removed the arrows from his body that dissipated while he decided to try the full chant this time.
Hearing him chant the same as before, the Minotaur didn't let him continue as he approached again with an heavy blow.
Biting his lower lip, Ethan evaded the hit while trying to focus on his magic. It was always troublesome to deal with this kind of enemies, but this time he felt it was even more difficult.
'It seems like it's a boss. I can do nothing other than casting [Sagitta Magica] again and again to damage it?'
Asking this question to himself, he continued to do so as Ais was tempted to join and help him. Seeing this, he decided to not let his 'pride' influence his decisions anymore.
"Ais, help me! You'll keep him busy while I'll chant my magic, okay!?"
Hearing him, she immediately approached the Minotaur without a second hesitation as he sighed internally.
'I don't have to take it on myself alone. If I want to be a mage that fights in first line, I have to be able to use [Concurrent Chanting] on a ridiculous high level...until that moment, fighting alone will be difficult.'
That was all he thought while contuining to chant his magic...
---
(I have a discord server. discord.gg/cpVr5X8 If you enter it, you can join the Qienta Familia! play a lot of fun games, but, obviously, that's not all, I post there images regarding things you may see in the story, such as the [Twin's Digimon] and [The Devoted Heart].)
(If you want to support me w ww.pat reon.com/watashiwavdesu)
(A/N: The Minotaur isn't specialized in speed, that's why Ethan can dodge its blows. Remember this)
(Alternate Titles: "Qienta is really a cute waifu material. Remember this.", "Relationsh.i.p.s between Mothers and daughters aren't always that easy. It takes the Father to sort things out!", "oof, that Minotaur is OP. Think of him like a peak level 4? Yes, Ethan is really powerless against that pile of meat. the only thing he can do is harm him with his magic.)