I lingered on her for a second longer than necessary... the resemblance was undeniable, yet there were key differences. Her posture was far more rigid, her eyes harder; her hair was styled differently and lacked that gentle quality my mother's possessed.
[Now that I look closely… the resemblance is undeniable. Besides, considering Zenith was from Millis, it's not far-fetched to think this is her sister. Don't you agree, Daiki?]
(I think that would be too risky… I can't just tell her I'm Paul or Zenith's son; it could be dangerous…)
[There you go… exaggerating again. You said the same thing when you thought reaching Millishion would be a torture session full of discrimination, but all you got was indifference and a receptionist who treated you nicely and thought you were "cute."]
(I think that…)
[Daiki, brother… you're incredible. Do I have to remind you again? You impressed an arrogant kid, you have an amazing girl as an ally—Eris Boreas Greyrat—who respects you more than she admits, and a loyal brother who truly loves you. Even another reincarnated person, someone with a past involving terrible siblings, accepted you.]
(I suppose...)
[Stop supposing and just accept it already!]
I sighed, surrendering to Ayam's logic. Looking up, I met the woman's blue eyes head-on. She was watching us with a hand on her hip, waiting for an explanation, though without open hostility.
"Hey, kid. Stop looking at me like I'm a ghost..." she said. "Besides, 'Mom'? I don't recall pushing you out of me. I'm Therese. Therese Latreia."
"Forgive the staring. It's just that... you look a lot like my mother... Though you wear armor, and she usually wears an apron..."
That confused her a bit.
"I see..." she murmured. She studied me a second longer, then turned toward Cliff. "Cliff? What is the Pope's grandson doing here?"
Cliff went stiff as a board.
"Did you sneak out again? His Holiness will be worried. And you..." —she turned sharply toward me— "did you lead him to his death? Do you have any idea the diplomatic crisis you'd cause if something happened to this boy?"
I shook my head immediately. Cliff didn't say a word, but I knew he wasn't supposed to be here.
"I didn't know anything about the attack. We were just gathering herbs... And I didn't 'bring' him; he would have come anyway. I didn't even know that about Cliff."
She shook her head, lowering her gaze.
"Children playing hero in hostile territory..."
I sheathed my sword calmly.
"We weren't playing," I said. "We formed a team, Crimson Crest; it's officially registered, and we were only carrying out a gathering mission. Nothing more."
"Besides..." I added, "if I hadn't been there, he would have been attacked all the same. What would the Pope say if he found out his power—or rather, his guards—couldn't protect him in what is supposed to be one of the safest places?"
I didn't like doing this. Manipulating. But in that moment, it was that or nothing. It was a fine line: looking like a "hero," albeit a manipulative one, was better than looking like a mercenary with a years-long scheme.
"You've got guts, kid. And a sharp tongue." She emphasized sharp. "And the skill to back up those words..."
"But," she crossed her arms, "words aren't enough. I need to know who you really are."
I just said it plainly. "My name is Daiki. Rank F. Swordsman. And I'm ten years old."
She tilted her head.
"Full name, please."
"Is that necessary?"
She just nodded.
"Give me your adventurer card."
I sighed. There was no point hiding it anymore. If she really was my mother's sister, she'd find out sooner or later. And if she wasn't, lying about my identity while holding an official card... wasn't the best move.
I took out my card and handed it to her.
"Let's see... Daiki... Greyrat?"
I nodded instinctively.
"Young man... Could you tell me your mother's name?"
"It's Zenith... Zenith Greyrat."
"And your father's name?"
I looked at Cliff. He was just as confused.
"Paul Greyrat."
"I see..." she murmured. Then, for some reason, she crouched down and hugged me.
"Miss..." I couldn't finish.
"I can't imagine what you've been through..." She wasn't just hugging me; she was rubbing her chin against my hair. It wasn't the softest of hugs, thanks to the armor she was wearing.
She can't imagine?
"He kicked you out of the house, didn't he?" she asked. "Is that why you came looking for your aunt?"
"No, just—"
"Poor boy!" she interrupted. "You don't have to lie to your aunt. Of course you can come with me..."
Go... with her?
"That man... that bastard..." she muttered, squeezing me tighter against her chest. "Abandoning his own son just for not inheriting his traits... It's unforgivable!"
(If I try to explain the Mana Calamity to her now, with how upset she is, she'll think I'm delusional from the trauma of "abandonment." Or worse, they'll send me to a Church sanatorium.)
[It's better this way, Daiki. Let her believe Paul is the villain. It's a more credible story for them than "a magic light sent us to the other end of the world." Besides, it benefits you to have her unconditionally on your side.]
(You're right. I'll take advantage of the misunderstanding... Sorry, Dad. You're going to have to shoulder the blame a little longer.)
"It's... complicated. But I've survived."
Therese pulled back enough to look me in the face, though her hands were still gripping my shoulders.
"You are strong. You have Latreia blood, after all... Listen, Daiki. I'm in the middle of a patrol and I can't take you with me right now; it would be dangerous."
"Don't worry, I can wait for you..."
She finally let go of me, putting on her helmet.
"Alright. Wait for me in front of the guild. As soon as I finish the report for this zone, I'll come for you. Don't move from there, understood? Your aunt will take care of everything: clothes, food... whatever you need."
"Understood."
With a final nod, Therese mounted her horse and rode off.
"Your family... is weird, to say the least. And your father must be a real monster to react like that. Did he really kick you out because of your appearance?"
I rubbed the back of my neck. Letting them believe that lie was the safest bet for now, but it left a bad taste in my mouth.
"It's... complicated, Cliff. Let's just say I didn't fit what he expected."
"I see..." he lowered his gaze while kicking a stone. "I suppose I judged you wrong. I thought you were just some commoner, but you're a banished noble fighting to survive."
"Now you understand why I fought for that piece of paper on the board..."
I picked up the bucket.
"Now... the clothes, Cliff."
"But... didn't you hear your aunt?" Cliff looked at me, confused. "She said she'd handle everything. Clothes, food... she practically adopted you five minutes ago."
"Right, then the cape," I proposed, raising an eyebrow. "What do you say?"
"Hmph. Fine. A cape. But it won't be just any rag. If you're going to carry the name 'Crimson Crest' and walk by my side, it has to be a worthy cape. No cheap wool that itches."
I looked at the bodies and the wounded. They were so irrelevant that my aunt hadn't even bothered to look at them twice, nor order first aid. To her, they were just neutralized threats.
So, in the end, I was competing with the Pope's grandson. I see where that arrogance comes from. Still, I'm sure pretty words won't be enough to change his temperament.
[That arrogant kid... at least he kept his end of the deal.]
(Ayam™... if you keep talking to me, I'm going to end up exhausted. Talk to me tonight, okay?)
Silence.
Sorry, Ayam™. I can't pass out now that I have the chance to get a cape. Besides... I really need a good bath.
I looked up and saw silhouettes.
"More soldiers are coming," I said, shielding my eyes from the sun to see better.
When I lowered my arm, Cliff had already vanished from my sight.
I guess he didn't want to be seen. He was lucky Therese was my aunt; otherwise, who knows what would have happened.
When they arrived, I was the first to speak.
"I came to gather herbs. Specifically, Blue Moon and Lily," I continued, lifting the full bucket. "I am an F-rank adventurer. This is my first mission as an adventurer."
I paused briefly before continuing.
"These individuals attacked me. I don't know the reason. To be honest, they didn't say a single word. They stayed like that throughout the entire confrontation."
The soldiers sheathed their swords.
"I-I see... I understand." One of them scanned the scene: several corpses on the ground and men wounded in the legs, unable to even stand up. "Did you defeat them all?"
"Huh? How could I? It was Therese Latreia."
"Of course..." he nodded immediately. "She had a patrol assigned to this zone; it makes sense."
He straightened up.
"Still... How can you be so calm?"
I was too calm. Not "that" calm... but enough to start questioning myself. No child my age would react like this to a scene like this. Still, they knew it too—I wasn't a normal child. A child adventurer usually meant only one thing: someone who had lost everything.
"I... lost my family. Since then, I don't feel emotions much."
That single sentence summarized my entire past life. In a sense, I wasn't lying.
He didn't ask any more questions.
He gave me permission to leave, and I walked away, though I cast one last sidelong glance at the place. Today, more memories from before had returned. Sometimes I wondered why I forgot them... and why they came back. Was it my mind torturing me again?
For now, the best thing was to concentrate on handing in the mission and getting my reward.
**
I had already turned in the mission.
Now I had the silver coin in my hands, unable to process that this was the first one I'd earned in unknown territory. That could only mean one thing: I had done things right.
I didn't know when my aunt would return, so I simply sat down, staring at the ground. Since arriving in Millishion a few hours ago, I hadn't had a single break and had barely eaten. Even so, I couldn't say if I felt good... or terrible.
Because I was still worried, but also hopeful.
If I ever saw my brother and Eris again, I had to prove that the teachings I gave them weren't just words. If I didn't live up to them, I would have lied to them... and perhaps that could change them for the worse.
[Daiki...]
Suddenly, I felt a severe exhaustion. Ayam™ was going to speak again; it seemed she hadn't been able to restrain herself at my thoughts. But before I could react, all the accumulated collapse of the day finally caught up with my body.
And with the rest, my consciousness faded to black.