CH 100

Becoming a family

***---***

My temples throbbed.

When I woke up, I was lying on the sofa with my head on Manon's knees.

Apparently, just like when I was young, I got tired while crying and fell asleep.

The warmth of Manon's hand, which stroked my hair as if combing it with a hand comb, almost brought tears to my eyes.

"Thank you ... Manon."

"Are you okay ...?"

"Yeah, my head hurts a bit ... but I'll get up."

As I lifted my head from Manon's lap, I felt a little dizzy.

I feel like my energy has been completely drained from my body.

Honestly, I don't have the motivation to do anything, and I don't even want to heal myself.

"My mother ... while I was gone ... she took her life."

"Yes ..."

Little by little, I told Manon that when I returned to Japan, my house was empty, my family situation, my mother's suicide, and that I had nowhere to go back to.

My memory is vague, but I think I probably told the same story before I fell asleep because I was tired from crying.

Manon was not surprised, and she listened quietly to my story.

"I ... If I had talked to my mother more ..."

"It's not just Kent's fault. I've never met Kent's mother or father, but I think everyone did it all wrong. That's why even if Kent tried his best, it wouldn't have gone well ..."

"Maybe so ... But, I think I could have done a little better ..."

"Then, let's build a good relationship with me, Yuika, Beatrice, and everyone else's family."

"Manon ... That's right, I failed with my mother, but we all have a long way to go."

"Yeah, and can't you just start over with your father?"

"Eh ... with my father?"

Manon's idea is an option that I discarded.

I thought that I could not go back to my original relationship with my father, so I decided to cut off the relationship on my own.

"But my father has become a family with people I don't know, so there's no room for me to get involved ..."

"Is there really no place for you there? It's not like you're asking your father to raise you. Kent will live independently."

"That's right, so with my father, I'm already ..."

"Why don't you try building a new relationship?"

"Eh ... A new relationship?"

"The relationship between an independent child and a father ... I can't do it, but Kent still has a chance ..."

After forcing my slow-moving head to think, I finally came to understand what Manon wanted to say.

I can't start over with my mother who is gone, but I still have a chance to start over with my father.

There's no need to go back to the same relationship as before.

As independent men, we should build a new relationship.

"My father was apologizing so much ... Sorry, sorry for not being able to be with you, sorry for not being able to find a marriage partner, sorry for not being able to hold your child ... Like that."

Manon told me about her last moments with her father.

She told me that Manon's father, who died of rot disease, continued to apologize for his family's fate until the very end.

Even just listening to the story, I can feel the strong family ties, and it makes me very envious.

"Father, he was apologizing for so many things, but from my point of view, all I could do was express my gratitude towards him. Rather, I wanted to apologize for not being able to repay anything. When father came back from the dungeon, we talked a lot, but I still wondered if I could have done more, maybe there was a different way."

"I see ..."

"Yeah, because I've never been sick before, so I thought my father would be fine forever."

My mother too, we didn't meet face-to-face, but I didn't think that she would suddenly disappear.

"So, after my father died, I tried to face the people I met and became friends with so that I wouldn't have any regrets, but I still failed."

"Is that so? Manon seems to be doing just fine."

"It's not like that. Even with Kent, there were times when things weren't good and I went home angry, and I even slapped you."

"Ah ... Come to think of it, that happened too."

"But, when I think I made a mistake, I try to apologize properly."

Certainly, the next time we met, Manon would apologize.

It may have been because of Manon's consideration that I was able to maintain a good relationship with her.

"Thank you, I'm glad I met Manon."

"No, thank you, I think I'm really glad I met Kent."

"Are you really okay with me?"

"I love Kent, who always works hard for everyone ..."

"Manon ..."

"Kent ..."

"Mugaaaaaaaaa ..."

As I was about to give Manon a hug and a kiss, I heard a muffled cry of protest through the crack in the door.

When I turned my gaze, I could glimpse Hamill struggling while Noela-san covered his mouth.

Just when I thought that, Manon pulled my face back, which was facing the door, with both hands and covered my lips.

I put my strength into my arms and hugged Manon.

"Hamill, I decided to be happy with Kent."

"Ngaaa ... That's no good. I won't accept that kind of guy!"

"Sorry, Hamill, I decided to be happy with Manon. Someday, I will do my best to be recognized by you."

"I'm not going to recognize it, I absolutely, absolutely, absolutely, absolutely, I won't recognize it!"

Hamill broke free of Noela-san's grasp, and ran up the stairs.

"I'm sorry, Noela-san. It didn't go well today, but someday I'll try to get along with Hamill-kun."

"Well, it would be ideal if you could get along, but if you both accept each other's existence, it's okay to hate and slap each other."

"Is it okay if we don't get along?"

"Of course, it's better if you do, but you just met Hamill today. There's also the matter of Beatrice-chan, so it's difficult to get along right away. But hey, even my family fights sometimes. So, let's slowly become a family."

"We're becoming a family ... Yes, I understand."

"Oh, yeah, please call me mother-in-law instead of Noela-san."

"Yes ... M, Mother-in-law-san."(TN:And now it's a mouthful, O-gibo instead of Noela isn't much of a change, but in english ... ugh.)

Looking back, my mother, father, and I are related by blood, they were married, but maybe we weren't a proper family.

From now on, I will do my best to become a proper family with Manon, the Chairman, and Beatrice's family.(TN:Should really start with calling her Yuika instead of Chairman in your thoughts by now ...)

It was lunch that we were supposed to eat together, but Noela-san and Hamill had already finished their lunch, so Manon and I had the cold food.

When I ate the tamagoyaki, tears came to my eyes again, but I didn't get upset like I did before.

When I talked about the excursion day, Manon burst into tears.

"I'm sorry, I didn't know ..."

"No, thanks to Manon, I feel like I've finally been able to face my mother's death properly. Thank you."

After the meal, Noela-san and I enjoyed tea together.

While I was listening to stories about Manon's father, how he first became acquainted with Noela-san, and when Manon was born, Hamill peered in from behind the door.

"Hamill, come and sit down, or the three of us will eat the Mesudori Pavilion cookies."

"Kuh ... I'll eat too. But I won't talk to him."

Thanks to Noela-san and the cookies from Mesudori Pavilion, I was able to sit at the same table and Hamill, even though he was wearing a pouty face.

Yeah, Mesudori Pavilion is diverse.

"Kent-san, please introduce your family as well."

"Eh, my family is in my original world ..."

"Isn't there everyone who protected Volzard?"

"Yes, they are all my family."(TN:Another way of saying genus is family, but it does have a different meaning, so I translate it as genus, but it means basically the same thing.)

It's really too bad today that I forgot to introduce everyone in my genus.

"Goshujin-sama, can we come out?"

"Yeah, everyone come here."

Mart, Mirt, and Mart came out first.

"Goshujin-sama, are you okay?"

"I'm sorry for worrying you, I'm fine now."

"Pat me, rub my belly, Goshujin-sama."

"Yes, yes, wait your turn."

Starting with Mart and the others, I introduced Art and the rest in order along with Reinhardt, Basten, Fred, and Zae-tachi.

When the lizardmen gathered around the strong skeletons, Hamill stopped eating the cookies and was overwhelmed with his mouth wide open.

"Maa, maa, everyone, thank you very much for protecting Volzard. Ara, ara, it's amazing, let me touch those hard scales, look, Manon."

On the other hand, Noela-san treated all my genus without fear, to the point that Zae was perplexed.

"It's dangerous, it might feel better than Goshujin-sama ..."

Art and the others were even entangled by Noela-san's mofumofu technique.

Yeah, I'll use that move as a reference.

"That's right ... Noela-san, would you allow me to treat you to dinner today?"

"No, Kent-san."

"Um ... if it's not convenient ..."

"It's not that. It's not Noela-san, it's mother-in-law, isn't it?"

Noela-san, who laughed mischievously, corrected me.

"Yes, then, m, mother-in-law, can I treat you to dinner?"

"Yes, yes, I'd be happy with that."

"Is Hamill-kun coming too?"

"Why do I have to eat with you ..."

"Ara, ara, Manon and I are going out, so I won't prepare dinner."

"Eeehhh ... tch, i, it can't be helped, so I'll go."

Reluctantly, it was really reluctant, but I was able to pull along Hamill as well.

"Thank you. Manon, can you bring the two of them to Amanda-san's shop?"

"Yes, I understand."

"Well, see you later ..."

I dove into the shadows from the living room of Manon's house and returned to the boarding house at once.

It was a sudden idea, but I decided to gather the people who would become my family and have a meal together.

It's really sudden, but I'm sure Amanda-san will do something about it.

"Amanda-san, I have a request!"

"Fuwaa! You surprised me, don't just suddenly come out."

When I called out to Amanda-san, who was preparing the ingredients, she was so surprised that she nearly knocked over the pot.

"Excuse me, tonight, erm ... 8 people, no, I'd like to have eleven people including Amanda-san, Meisa-chan, and Meline-san ... is that a no-go?"

"What's the reason for adding us?"

I explained the purpose of the dinner party to Amanda, who had a dubious look on her face.

"Yes, I was introduced to Manon's family during the day and we ate together, so at night I wanted to gather the people who would become my family and have a meal. At my house in Volzard."

"Really, you should have told me that in advance."

"I'm sorry. After all, it's impossible to do it in such a hurry ..."

"What are you talking about? Who do you think I am?"

Amanda-san patted her chest and agreed.

"Thank you very much. Well then, I will inform Beatrice and the others as well."

"Hey, Kent, you're not going to invite Klaus-sama only just now, are you? Kent!"

Amanda-san seemed to be saying something, but anyway, it's a shadow move to Klaus-san's mansion.

Beatrice was learning knitting from Marianne-san in the mansion's living room.

Klaus-san seems to be playing a board game similar to chess, and seems to be inferior to Marianne-san, who is teaching knitting.

"Sorry for the suddenness. It's kent. May I have a moment?"

"What's wrong, what happened?"

Klaus-san's expression, which was in holiday mode, tightened in an instant.

"No, it's not an emergency, but is it okay if I disturb you?"

"Hmm, I don't mind."

When I stepped out of the shadows into the living room, Beatrice approached me in a trot, and as if it were only natural, came over to me and entwined her arms in mine.

"Welcome, Kent-sama."

"Hello, Rise."

"Anyway! What do you want, Kent!"

Klaus-san's voice has thorns, probably because I was welcomed by Beatrice as if it were completely natural.

"Yes, I apologize for the suddenness, but I was thinking of inviting ou all to dinner tonight."

"Well, are you going to invite us as well as Rise?"

"What are you up to?"

"You ..." "Father ..."

Klaus-san being scolded by Marianne-san and Rise at the same time is a little pitiful.

"Actually, I've invited Manon's family, and I'm thinking of having people who will become my family gather."

"Kent-sama ..."

Rise leans her head on my shoulder, and Klaus-san shows a sullen expression again.

"I wasn't able to form strong family ties in Japan, so I want to strengthen my family ties in Volzard."

"Okay. Amanda's shop is fine, right?"

"Yes, sorry for the sudden talk."

Klaus-san didn't say it out loud, but he seems to have guessed that I was thinking about my mother's death.

"It's not a formal gathering, so please come in comfortable clothes. Rise too."

"Yes, Kent-sama ..."

"Ah ... Bastard, Kent!"

I kissed Beatrice on the cheek and dived into the world of shadows.

Now that I think about it, this might be the first time I've kissed Beatrice in front of Klaus-san, but I'll stop holding back.

Because we're going to be a family from now on.

My next destination using the shadows is the garrison's temporary quarters.

I wonder, where is the chairman.

Come to think of it, I didn't hand over the diary I had collected from Lastock.

I wonder what's written there.

I'm curious, but it's not a good thing to look into the diary.

I'm sorry, I already peeked into the bath.

The figure of the chairman was in the garrison's stable.

It seems that the dekoboko sisters are taking the lead in horseback riding classes.

It seems that most of the people gathered are girls, and there is also Raymond-san, the stable attendant who seems to have been asked to play the role of a lecturer.

Surrounded by girls, it seems that the bottom of his nose is stretched out, but well, he's probably been pulled out even though it's rest day, so let's overlook it.

I came out from behind a tree near the riding grounds and speak to the chairman.

"Yuika ..."

"Ah, Kento!"

The chairman saw me and rushed over with a big smile on her face.

For Manon, Beatrice, and the chairman, yeah, they're definitely in their prime.

I, am becoming a normie!

"What's wrong? Weren't you going to Manon's house today?"

"Yeah, I came after saying hello to Manon's family. Well, we're all going to have dinner together. Will you come?"

"Of course! But what about Beatrice?"

"Yeah, I called out to Beatrice, Klaus-san, and Marianne-san, and they decided to come."

"I see ... It's nice, I wanted tmy Papa and Mama to participate ..."

"Ah, I'm sorry, that's right, Yuika's parents are in Japan ..."

"No, it's okay, even if it's impossible now, you'll greet them properly some day, right?"

"Of course, because we're goint to be family."

"Kento ... Yeah, that's right, in that sense, I, Manon's family, and Beatrice's family will become family."

"Yeah, by the way, I brought Yuika's diary from your room in Lastock. Yes, here it is ..."

"Eehhh ..."

When I took out the diary from the shadow storage, the chairman grabbed it and held it in her arms.

"Did you read it? Did you read the diary?"

"No, it's okay, I didn't read it."

"Haaaa ... That's good."

Well, when I think that the content that's written in it would trouble me if I see it, I'm kind of worried.

"Then, I'll come pick you up later, so get ready and wait."

"Yeah, I understand ..."

As I was about to kiss the chairman, I noticed that everyone in the riding ground was staring at me.

There are warm and lukewarm gazes, as well as cold, contemptuous gazes.

But, I won't hesitate anymore, I've decided that the chairman and I will be family.

I hugged the chairman and kissed her on the cheek.

"Well, see you later ..."

"Yeah, I'll be waiting ..."

It's bad! The chairman holding my shirt is too cute.

Manon, Beatrice, and the chairman, I will never give them to anyone.

Everyone will be my wives.

Send all my classmates back to Japan quickly, get rid of the reparations and other troubles, then go on an expedition to the depths of the Devil's Forest, defeat all the monsters, and make money to buy a house.

With that in mind, I'll build my love nest.