CH 406

“So those people in the weird robes are the enemy, huh ……”

“Yes. They don’t look like they’re doing anything bad right now, but Lars says they’ve been doing some dark work in other territories.”

“Well, we have to do something soon. Tigre said he was going to Hauzen-san’s place. But we can’t catch someone who hasn’t done anything yet, so I wonder if he has a plan.”

“I think Roen said to keep a close eye on them. When Nora’s father came to our house, the man who took him was a man in a robe …… Maybe it’s the Gospel’s Descent.”

Marianne and Verna were talking about this while having tea in the Irving’s garden. After taking a sip of tea, Verna said to Marianne

“It might be a good idea to contact Luziar as well. I knew about the Gospel’s Descent organization, but I didn’t think they were working on something like that.”

“Yeah, you’re right. But why are they only targeting the territory of the Reflexion Kingdom when we don’t hear about it in other countries?”

“We’ll just have to ask them about that.”

They looked at Aina and Tilia, who were playing in the garden, and at Nina’s son, Trim, with a stern look on their faces. Thinking that if something happens to the kids, Aina, who was making hair ornaments from flowers in the garden, said to Trim.

“Trim-kun, that’s going to go through Auntie Nina’s head with that, you know?”

“Oh, shut up! This is a necklace, so it’s fine! Rather than this, I want to play with the monster that Lars-niichan has.”

“I’ve gotten used to the Sarge. You’re cool, though.”

I’m not sure if it’s because he’s only a year younger than her, but Aina is acting like a big sister, and Trim raises one hand and points his mouth. 

Trim is very fond of Sarge, who is a cool dragon, but Sarge briefly understands that he is a child and will be envious if he hears new things. And then, beside her, Tilia, who had completed her floral decoration, threw her support to Trim. 

“I did it! But Trim-kun is right, it’s not fair for Aina-chan to go to the royal capital alone! I wanted to see my Lars-oniichan too!”

“Hmmm, I couldn’t tell you because it was the middle of the night and we had to go right away. I’m sorry ……”

“Next time, I’m going too! They’re building a house full of monsters, right?”

“Yes! Maybe they’re not in a hurry to make a request like last time, Aina will ask! Ahhh, I want to see Ash. Shall we have Sarge take us there?”

“The little bear you were talking about before? How nice. Oh, Mom, here you go!”

Tilia, who was replying went to Verna as she walked down the aisle, gave her mother the floral hair ornament.

“Thank you, Tilia-chan♪. It’s getting late, so let’s go home then. Trim, you too.”

“What, already? Auntie Verna, just a little more.”

When Trim says this, glancing at Aina, Verna rises from her chair, pats Trim on the head, smiles, and says to Trim 

“Well, Nina is going to finish her work soon, and there might be some scary people around after dark. So let’s go pick up your mother and go home, okay?”

“O …… Okay ……”

“Scary people are scary, after all.”

“I, I’m not scared!”

Aina stood Trim up, saying the obvious, and reluctantly, Verna led her away from the Irving house.

In the end, he said, “Verna-sensei’s is very strong, so it’s okay to play a little more,” but Tilia rebuked her, saying, “Let’s come back to stay again,” and held his hand as they left.

After she disappeared, Marianne was about to enter the mansion with Aina and Sarge, when she suddenly asked Aina that she holding her.

“Aina, what do you think of Trim-kun? Do you like him?”

“Eh? What do you mean? I like him! I like Tilia-chan, too!”

“I see.”

I thought it would be difficult for her to have such feelings since she was five years old, but I smiled at the fact that she’s just like Lars. In the meantime, Nora, the cause of the problem, appeared at the door.

“Oh, mother-in-law. Did Verna-sensei go home already?”

“Yes. I’m sorry, we’ve been talking all day. You were preparing dinner, right?”

“No! It’s okay, I can talk to her again. Sarge, come here.”

“Don’t make me worry too much.”

When I was talking with Nora as we headed to the living room, Roen and Dedite came down the stairs.

“Ah, Mom. Where’s Verna-sensei and the others?”

“They’ve already gone back home. I told her everything that Lars said about the Gospel’s Descent.”

“Thank you for the help, Maria. I’ve sent a request to Hauzen and told him to tell Tigre-sensei about it too. It’s heartbreaking to burden the adventurers, but there’s no guarantee that they won’t try to force their way in by informing all the townspeople.”

“I’m going to ask my classmates to help me out for now. In the meantime, I’m also asking them to keep an eye on them indirectly and find their hideout.”

When Dedite sits on the couch and says this, Roen’s eyes widen and opens his mouth.

“You …… when did you do something like that? Well, I think we’ll be fine, but from what Lars said, the danger is pretty high. Be careful, okay?”

“I know. But as far as I’m concerned, I’m more concerned about Nora’s father than the Gospel’s Descent, you said he was acting strange when he came to the house before, right? And then he was taken away by a man in a robe.”

“Yeah, it kind of creeped me out at that point.”

Marianne stroked Aina’s hair as she said this, and Dedite continued.

“But there were no witnesses after that, even though they were supposed to be here in town. If Nora’s father and the Gospel’s Descent, who are after this territory, are collaborating, I think it’s possible that he knows about the town. So we need to find him too.”

“…… It looks like he just took a crazy person, but surely it’s unnatural for the Gospel’Descent to come, right? And then not being able to find him too.”

“Yeah. So I’m going to try to find out more about that. Nora is my wife, so I have to protect her. Dad, I need you to focus on the Gospel’s Descent.”

“Oh, yeah, alright.”

“Dedite-niichan, you’re scary when it comes to Nora-chan.”

Aina says as she reaches for a snack on the table in the tense living room. For a moment, the room goes quiet, but then Sarge agrees.

“T-That was a long time ago, how embarrassing.”

“Really! So you fight too, Dedite-niichan?”

“Stop it, Aina ……”

Unlike Lars, Aina’s eyes lit up when she heard the story about the quiet Dedite.

“W-Well, let’s talk about that later, okay? I’m going to start my investigation tomorrow, so you can’t leave the house, Nora.”

“Yeah, I don’t want to see my dad anymore.”

“Well, Maria and I are here. Well, why don’t we have dinner now? I’m already starving.”

The living room erupted in laughter as Roen scratched his head and they all headed for the dining room.

And then–