Published at 3rd of August 2022 01:10:24 PM
197 – Lem and the Four Parents
The surrounding was already dark.
In the city, there are still places that are lively and brightly lit even at night, but there are no such places in the country.
The carriage took us as far as the entrance to the village, and we walk from there.
I give my thanks to the coachman and walk side-by-side with Milla.
Due to the familiar road and the starlight illuminating the darkness, we proceeded without losing our way.
Milla has been muttering something almost inaudibly this whole time.
I strain my ears and…it sounds like she's practicing her greeting or something.
She is gripping her little bag of souvenirs tightly.
Since it's my first homecoming in a long time, I, too, bought some souvenirs during our journey here. We had to depart in quite a hurry, so there wasn't enough time to buy anything in the town where the Demon King Castle is. I am carrying a rucksack with various things stuffed in it.
「It's gonna be alright, Milla.」
「No, Lem, It won't. I have already disgraced myself in front of them, I simply cannot do so again.」
The stunt she pulled to repel that trio, huh?
It seems that Milla considers my parent's first encounter with her, being wrapped around my arm, as a disgrace.
…Well, I understand how she feels. If the same situation happened during the opportunity to meet with Milla's parents, I'd be troubled as well.
Like, they might think I was some clingy boyfriend or something…
「It's fine, I'll tell them properly about how it was all a misunderstanding. Or rather, I think they already know that.」
「Uurgh…」
The trio seemed to be too shocked to notice, but with a little thought, they would have known that everyone was just concerned for me. Even Ex and Arthur stepped down from the carriage.
I'm sure some villager saw that exchange and already explained it all to the others.
Word travels fast in a small village.
While thinking about all that, we arrived in front of my home.
「We're here.」
Inhale. Exhale. Milla took deep breaths.
Normally, she's a fearless Vampire Queen in the face of any Adventurer, but here, she is at her wit's end over greeting a middle-aged couple in the boondocks.
I could feel the heat welling up in my chest as I felt the passion she had for this matter once again.
Slightly hesitantly, I rub her back.
As she looks at me and our eyes meet, I say a little joke.
「They aren't tougher than Herv, so relax.」
Carmilla…no, Milla, faced the Hero of the Cursed Sword Hervor, the world's 3rd ranked Hero and won.
This isn't something to be feared.
「…Fufu, this and that are different.」
I thought she might say that… Although, I think she calmed down a little.
「Let's go.」
「Yes…!」
And so, we opened the unlocked door to my home…
「Lem…! Welcome back!」
My vision turned pitch black.
「L-Lem…?!」
I can hear Milla's surprised voice.
I feel something soft on my face as well as a flowery fragrance. A hug, with slight pressure.
I immediately know who this is.
「I'm home…Ms. Canary.」
「…?! Such formality! Such distance! sob… I believed in my heart of hearts that you thought of me as your own mother but now… Have you tossed me aside the moment you left the village? …Oh how sad… I'm gonna cry…」
Canary is Fenix's mother.
Being best friends with him, I inevitably became close with his parents. Conversely, he became close with mine.
Due to that, both sets of parents mutually treat each other's children as if they were their own.
Enduring the suffocating hug I was being given, I put my arm around Canary's back and gently returned the hug.
I'm not very good at these kinda things, but Canary won't let you go unless you do at least this much.
Perhaps satisfied, my vision returns.
Except…she was puffing up her cheeks.
「Do you think a hug is good enough? I'm going to cry, you know? Cry!」
I'm sure that Canary and my mom are around the same age, but you wouldn't think so from her appearance.
She looks young enough that people would believe it if they were told that she was in her early twenties. Or rather, no one would believe it if they were told her actual age.
Fluffy yellow hair and eyes of the same color. She's a slender beauty who hasn't aged a day since I was a kid.
She is honest when expressing her emotions, which makes it very easy to understand what she's feeling at any given moment.
Having the Singer Job, she traveled the world before she got married. At banquets or festivals, Canary would sing songs, and the adults of the village would be captivated.
「No, but I'm not a child anymore…」
Canary's eyes began to tear up.
「I'm not your child anymore…?」
「I didn't say that. I didn't say that…!」
「So, do you still think of me as your mother?」
I nod fervently.
「Then, let's try this greeting again from the beginning.」
While my face was red hot, I endured the shame and called her as I did when I was a child.
「…I'm home, Auntie Cana.」
Her expressions instantly brightened up.
「Welcome back, Lem!」
「Gweh…」
I was hugged again.
「…This is embarrassing, Auntie Cana.」
「What's wrong with a mother hugging their child that they haven't seen in so long? That's right! Nothing! Lem and Fenix are the naughty ones! Not coming home to visit your parents. Horrible!」
「That is definitely my bad, but…」
「You've grown taller. Oh my, you've toughened up, as well. Good, it seems you've been eating your three square meals a day. Also, what is your new job? Even that child of mine won't tell me. Is it a job that you can't even tell your parents about?」
「No… I-it's not like that. It's just, I have to prepare myself mentally before I tell it. Also, I-I've been busy…」
I mean, I went from an Adventurer wishing to become a hero, to a Majin aiming to become a hero of the Monsters.
That's not something that I can just casually write in a letter.
「Even if you're busy, you can still send a letter, right…?! That boy sends us a letter once a month, you know?」
Well…that's because he has a mother who would be stricken with grief and shaking with rage if he ever shirked his correspondences.
「I'll be more careful…」
「Promise?」
Damn… I wasn't told that this person would be coming. But I suppose I should have predicted it. Dad probably invited her. Even if he didn't, I can imagine her coming anyway.
Now even I might feel nervous about introducing Milla.
「Come now, Cana. You're causing trouble for Lem and his lady friend.」
The person who said that while gently prying off Canary from me is Fenix's father, Hawk.
He has hair a deeper red than Fenix with the same colored eyes. He's tall and firmly built, and perhaps due to the calm personality that he exudes, he doesn't feel intimidating.
「Haw… Uncle Hawk, long time no see to you too.」
「Welcome back, Lem. I'm happy to see you.」
He didn't hug me, but he did firmly grip my shoulders. With a happy face, he pats my shoulders.
「I feel the sa… Me too.」
「So…about your withdrawal from the party.」
「To say I didn't mind it…would be a lie, but it is something I consented to. Besides, I enjoy the life I'm living currently.」
Hawk's expression twisted for a moment, but then he smiled gently, perhaps realizing I wasn't lying.
「Is that so…? Having met such a beautiful lady, I can see why.」
Finally, the topic has moved on to Milla.
My father, who came out of his room after hearing the noise, and my mother, who was quietly cooking in the kitchen, must have heard the whole conversation.
「This is Milla. We got to know each other at work, and now we-」
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Canary's eyes were sparkling as she grabbed Milla's hand with both of hers.
「I am Canary. I'm like a mother to Lem. You can call his real mother Mother-in-Law and I would be ever so pleased if you called me Mama…!」
「M-mama, you say?」
「Yes! Ufufu, while I wish for a daughter-in-law myself, I am still so happy. Speaking of which, Lem, how is my son doing in that area? I ask but he never tells me anything.」
That's not the kind of thing you want to talk about with your own mother. Or… I guess it depends on the person…?
「If the person in question isn't saying anything, then I won't either.」
「Aw… By the way Lem, you've really become so polite, huh? You didn't used to talk like this in the past, but it was so cute. Even that son of mine is acting more like an adult. I wonder if he's impersonating yours truly? Fufufu.」
I highly doubt that…
When Canary is around, the whole world seems to revolve around her.
Normally, this isn't a problem, but thanks to that, Milla is all confused and disorientated.
「Well anyway, why don't you have a seat? It's been a long journey for you too, right?」
At my dad's words, Canary went “Shoot…” and looked despondent.
「That's right… Sorry about that, Lem and Ms. Girlfriend. Come come, sit and relax.」
「P-pardon the intrusion.」
It seemed like Milla was relieved to finally be able to say that.
「T-this, uhm, this is for you…」
Milla nervously hands over her souvenir.
She didn't have time to prepare as well, but her Highness said “This will surely please them! Trust me!” and gave her this souvenir to give my parents.
「Thank you. That's very thoughtful of you.」
My dad received it and Canary approached it, eyes gleaming.
「Oh my, I wonder what it is? What could be inside? Shall we open it?」
「Hey, Cana…」
Says Hawk, disapprovingly.
「Oh, it's fine, Hawk. Milla, was it? Can we open it?」
「O-oh, yes…!」
Out of the paper bag came a long, rectangular box of sweets.
To be more precise, it's a featured product from the Demon King Castle, The Demon King Castle Floor Boss Chocolates.
Since the Fenix party had already gotten as far as the tenth stratum and revealed their constructions, there was no longer any reason to keep them a secret and so they were quickly commercialized into products.
A popular product that has twenty bite-sized chocolates, rich in variation, molded in the image of the front and side profiles of the Floor Bosses which include the Watchdog of Hell Naberius, the Spirit Commanding General Kimaris, the Vampire Queen Carmilla, the Chief of the Werewolves Marchosias, the Demon of Love Sitri, the Ruler of the Waters Vepar, the Eloquent Thrush Lord Caim, the Reaper Knight Furcus, the Time Demon Agares, and the One Horned Dark Sorcerer Lemegeton.
Sold in several shops other than the Demon King Castle store.
Incidentally, the Demon King Castle also sells a limited-edition Demon of Love Sitri's Specially Curated Cute Chocolate version, which only includes chocolates in the shape of only the female Monsters that are found in the Demon King Castle.
It includes the rare Monsters not included in the Floor Boss Chocolate, as well as the Dream Demon maids from the fifth stratum but they sold better than expected and are currently sold out.
「Oh my~. It's chocolate in the shape of the Demon King Castle that annihilated my son's party~」
「…?! I-I-I'm so sorry. Clearly, I wasn't being considerate enough-」
「Ufufu, just kidding. Only a joke, Milla. I think I'll have a bite of Sitri and Carmilla. And then, fufufu…perhaps Lemegeton here.」
I whisper into Milla's ears, who is resisting the urge to talk about Lemegeton.
「It's alright. Auntie Cana's facial expressions always match what she's really feeling. She isn't secretly mad when she's smiling on the outside.」
Milla put a hand to her chest, letting out a sigh of relief.
「Cana, hands off Lemegeton.」
Said my dad, to which Canary puffed up a cheek.
「Aw… Then I suppose I'll eat Vepar. I'll eat all the cute girls.」
「…It isn't even our souvenir to begin with.」
Canary waggles her finger, tutting.
「This is a souvenir intended for Lem's parents. In other words, we have the right to eat them as well. You just don't get it, Hawk.」
「Goodness, what am I gonna do with you…」
Said Hawk exasperatedly while his lips curled up slightly.
「Cana? I think it's about time you went back to helping me in the kitchen.」
「Wah! So sorry, Tia! I was so happy reuniting with our child that I completely forgot…! Hold on, aren't you gonna greet them, Tia?」
「I'm in the middle of cooking.」
「Goodness, you need to be more honest with yourself, dear.」
I can only see the back of my mom from here, so I can't read her expression.
Milla and I were getting nervous.
「I-I shall help out as well.」
「Oh my, oh my my my, did you hear that, Tia? We are being given the opportunity to fulfill our dream of cooking with our daughter-in-law! We must grab hold of it while we can!」
「I can't have a guest do that, now can I?」
「Mgrgrh. Uhm… The cooking is almost done anyway. Let's do that next time, Milla. You aren't just saying that to be polite, right?」
「N-not at all.」
Milla was halfway standing up but then sat back down.
「Oh, I brought some things as well but…I guess I'll do it later.」
Putting things on the table now would probably get in the way of the food.
Speaking of food.
The dishes were finally all lined up on the tabletop and my mom took a seat.
「Milla.」
「…Yes.」
Chapter end
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