CH 27

“I really should go there soon…”

As I watch Ririi run around the yard with a butterfly net in her hand from the living room, I make a decision.

I’m going home for the first time in ten years.

…After graduating from the magic academy, I ran away from the capital without even talking about it with my parents.

The reason was simple. Teachers and big shots from the ministry of magic were all trying to get me to work there. They were all after my exceptional talents with magic, but I really didn’t want to be a government official.

Working for the ministry of magic basically puts you among the elite in the capital, but that didn’t interest me at all.

I should’ve gone there as soon as I came back to the capital, but there’s a reason why I’ve been putting it off. And that reason is currently putting her hand inside that net and showing me whatever it is she caught.

…Yes, Ririi.

Basically, I don’t know how I’m going to explain her. Not only am I coming back all of a sudden after ten years, but I have a kid too. And she’s not even my actual kid. My father was never one to meddle too much, but the shock might make my mother faint.

It goes without saying that there’s no way I can tell them she was a slave that I bought.

Also, my parents know very well that I’m not the kind of person that would adopt an orphan. I can picture them asking questions about Ririi nonstop, and that’s why I haven’t been there yet.

◆

“Orphan? Oh, is that so? No wonder you don’t look alike.”

“…That’s it?”

No anger, no slapping… No tears either.

When I imagined myself going back home after ten years, I pictured my parents reacting in a lot of different ways… But my mother’s reaction is simple enough to be weird.

My father isn’t here, he’s working, and while my mother obviously aged a little in these past ten years, she’s looking a lot better than I was expecting.

“That’s a very nice thing you did. You’re an adult too now… Ririi, I’m your grandma.”

“Grandma?”

My mother crouches in front of Ririi, and pats her head from the top of her straw hat.

“Let’s not stand here. Come in.”

My mother takes us inside, to the living room that hasn’t changed that much, and leaves me feeling nostalgic.

A lot of memories suddenly rush to my mind.

“Is this daddy’s house?”

Ririi’s eyes don’t stop moving as she looks all around.

“Yes. I lived here when I was younger. And that lady is daddy’s mother.”

“Daddy’s mommy… Ririh’s mommy…?”

“Maybe not your mommy.”

We sit at the table, and my mother comes back from the kitchen with glasses on a tray.

Ririi takes a glass, and gulps down the tea in one go. She was probably thirsty because it’s hot outside.

“It looks like you’ve been a good father, Weiss. Mom is proud of you.”

She gives me a little poke like she’s messing with me. It’s probably funny for her to hear someone call that cheeky boy ‘daddy’.

“Don’t give me that. And you’re way too calm considering it’s been ten years. I was thinking you might hit me.”

“Hit you? Why?”

My mother looks confused, like what I said came completely out of nowhere.

“…Well, I left without saying anything. I know I worried you. I thought at least you’d yell at me and call me an idiot.”

“Hahaha, no no. You’re my son. I knew you were living well somewhere. And Sieglinde came by too.”

“…Sieglinde?”

I didn’t expect to hear that name here.

“You know that girl works for the ministry of magic?”

“Sure.”

She told me she ended up joining the ministry of magic because I ran away, but she’d probably end up there anyway. She was practically born for it.

“Not long after you left, that girl came here wearing her uniform from the ministry of magic, and said ‘don’t worry, I promise I will find Weiss’. She looked very serious about it too.

I said sure, and from that point forward she started coming here from time to time and apologized for not having found you yet.”

“…Really…”

Could it be that Sieglinde is the reason why the ministry of magic was after me?

…Could it be that the one I worried the most was her, and not my parents?

“Weiss, you better keep that girl in your thoughts. She’s probably the only one who could care about a careless boy like you all this time.”

“…Maybe…”

I’m no saint, but I like to respond to people’s feelings in kind.

Sieglinde… Wants to be Ririi’s mother. I’d like to make that wish come true if possible, but that’s not really up to me, it’s all up to Ririi.

All I can really do is support her as she tries to get Ririi to like her. We should talk about that next time when we’re drinking.