Chapter 118 – Mom

Blink, blink.

Just how many times today… have I made that dumb expression?

“So, Samaela… you’re saying you’re going to kill that woman? To the Demon Realm?”

“Kill her? Mom isn’t that violent, you know?”

“Isn’t that the same as saying you’re going to…”

“Ellie?”

“Yes. Punish. You’re going to the Demon Realm to punish that black magician yourself, right?”

“That’s right.”

Hehe, Mom chuckled.

“I’m going to punish her, and also punish the bad one who gave her those orders.”

“…If by bad one, you mean…”

My voice grew a little heavier.

The emotions that had been wriggling around freely settled down.

“What if… that being is a Legion Commander? Are you still going to ki-, punish them too?”

“If necessary.”

Mom’s voice remained gentle as ever.

How should I even put this?

My stance, of course…

“Can’t you not go?”

“Oh my?”

“It’s dangerous. The Demon Realm. And if Shadowless leaves her post, Eustetia will become unstable in many ways. So… if you’re going to go, can’t you do it later?”

Rustle, rustle.

Mom’s soft, flexible fingers brushed the edge of my ear.

“You’re worried about the collateral?”

I was surprised again.

“…You knew after all.”

“Mom knows everything.”

“Then… you really shouldn’t leave your post. Just stay in the capital. ”

“It’s okay.”

The fingers that had been tickling my ear pinched my cheek gently. It wasn’t painful, just soft.

“Our Ellie just needs to trust in Mom and Dad and focus on her academy life.”

“…I’m not exactly a kid anymore, you know.”

“But in Mom’s eyes, you’re still my baby. And that’s not going to change anytime soon. Fufufu.”

If anyone else had said something like that to me, I would’ve immediately bared my teeth with a growl.

“…Do you really have to go?”

“I really do.”

“Can’t we go together later?”

“A parent’s job isn’t to walk the path with their child, but to walk ahead and make it beautiful for them.”

“Then you shouldn’t have sent me to the academy. You could’ve taught me yourself. You’re a martial artist too…”

Mom smiled bitterly.

“You’re right too, Ellie. Not sending you to the academy and teaching you myself could’ve been an option. But… I couldn’t do that.”

“Why not?”

The fingers holding my cheek now poked my nose, boop.

“The smell of blood.”

“Ugh.”

“The scent of blood that comes from me. You smelled it too, didn’t you?”

“…Yeah.”

The scent that wafted from the [Intent Projection].

That thick smell of slaughter.

That was the scent of Shadowless’s [Intent Projection].

I still don’t know what kind of power that [Intent Projection] holds. But even in both my past and current lives, I’ve never smelled blood like that before.

“I couldn’t pass something like that down to the daughter I love the most.”

“…There’s no guarantee that it would happen that way. Depending on the person wielding it… [Intent Projection] can vary.”

“I didn’t want to leave even a small chance open.”

“Then, now. What if now I’m…”

“Ellie.”

Mom cut me off.

“There’s someone you’re looking for at the academy, isn’t there?”

“Someone I’m looking for?”

“Leona Megenberta.”

“…The Vice Headmaster? Me? I’m looking for the Vice Headmaster?”

“Leona was Lady Arisa’s last disciple.”

“…Huh.”

I had a rough idea.

I assumed she was close to being the last disciple.

But hearing it with such certainty made me feel a little dazed.

The last disciple, huh.

Does Mom know that Arisa was a martial artist? She even knows Leona’s true identity. Just how much does she know, and from where?

Wait, then… how old is Leona, exactly? She has to be over 400, at least, right?

“How do you even know all this stuff…?”

“I told you. Mom can know everything.”

“I don’t think that has anything to do with this…”

“If Mom says it does, then it does.”

Mom giggled and popped a candy into my mouth. That must’ve been her way of saying, “No more questions.”

“When Shadowless goes to Gevihenum, Leona will return to the academy. She won’t leave again like this time. So Ellie, you can just focus on your lectures with peace of mind.”

“…The Vice Headmaster is in Gevihenum?”

“Probably, yes.”

“But the world keeps saying we’re in a time of peace.”

“Ellie, do you believe what demons say?”

“I don’t believe people either.”

“You believe Mom though, right?”

“Of course… I believe Mom, and Dad, and Uncle, and Yurasia too.”

An unusual light flickered across Mom’s face.

“What about Stella, that girl?”

“…Uh, her… she’s kind of, I don’t say it out loud because it feels like gossip, but I guess I trust her too.”

Stella’s a ditz.

So, like… it’s hard to imagine her coming up with some elaborate scheme to betray me.

“Oh, and Pina. You saw my squirrel Beastkin friend, right? I trust her too. She’s connected with a spirit. So she can’t lie to me.”

We formed a contract, not just with any spirit, but with the World Tree itself.

A lot happened, but the biggest deal is that we can’t lie to each other.

I’m still not totally sure if that applies to me too, but if what Sparkle said is true and my soul is the same… then I think it applies.

“Ahaha. I see. A spirit too… Huhu. Mom really gave birth to an amazing daughter, huh?”

“…Well, yeah. You can brag about me wherever you go.”

As Mom chuckled softly, I giggled too.

But only for a moment. Mom’s smile faded as she spoke again.

“Anyway, I’m sorry. I don’t think I’ll be able to see you for quite a while.”

“…You’re so mean.”

“What is?”

“Saying all this… and then telling me we won’t see each other for a while.”

I scratched my cheek and glanced up at Mom.

“You’re the only one who knows… this many of my secrets. No, really. Who in the world would be happy knowing their mom’s heading to a dangerous place?”

Mom didn’t answer, she just gave a quiet smile.

“If you had waited even five more years… I might’ve been able to stop you.”

“Oh my? You’d stop me by force?”

“Do I look like such a bad daughter to you?”

“Mm… no, of course not. Ellie, you’re a good daughter.”

“…That’s right. I am. A good… good daughter. So, yeah. I’ll show my filial piety today.”

I lightly hopped off Mom’s lap and took down the subspace pouch hanging at my waist.

Watching my actions, Mom twisted her hair around her finger with an intrigued look in her eyes.

“I had originally set aside separate gifts, one for Mom and one for Shadowless.”

“Oh really?”

“Well, now that things turned out this way, I’ll just give them all at once.”

I reached into the pouch and rummaged around.

First… a sword. I pulled out a one-handed sword.

A jet-black, thin blade. It looked similar to the one Uncle Kerian used to carry on his hip.

The length and weight were a bit different though.

But that doesn’t really matter.

As long as the user bleeds onto it, it’ll adjust itself accordingly.

“This one’s Uncle Kerian’s.”

Mom’s eyes widened when she saw the sword.

“It doesn’t have a name, but the material used is black steeliron.”

“…My goodness.”

“Even Mom’s surprised, huh?”

“…Because this far exceeded anything I expected. And it came from my daughter’s pouch, no less…”

Seeing Mom’s completely flustered face, I giggled.

“Just drip about five drops of Uncle’s blood into the pommel here, and it’ll adjust to the perfect length and weight for him. You don’t need much. Ah, it’s a shame, but there’s no sheath.”

Luna lost it in a gamble.

I gritted my teeth trying to get it back, but the bastard who won it had already been captured by demons long ago.

So I couldn’t retrieve it.

“Next is… the one I meant to give to Shadowless.”

I thought long and hard about this.

What do martial artists really need?

They don’t use weapons… their entire body is a weapon.

Heavy armor only gets in the way.

After much thought, I settled on something.

An elixir.

To be honest, for someone like Shadowless, Mom’s level, this kind of elixir isn’t really necessary.

Even if she takes it, it wouldn’t do much.

But this one’s different.

“It’s an elixir made from ground dragon bones, hide, blood, and heart. I forget the name, but the effects are stronger bones, tougher skin, denser mana… Kind of similar to other elixirs, but this one, Mom, even Shadowless would benefit from it.”

It also extends lifespan.

Keeps you young longer, and it’s good for beauty too.

“Oh, and don’t worry. I saved some for myself too, so you don’t have to think about me.”

Mom’s eyes widened even more.

Is filial piety supposed to feel this good?

I wouldn’t know, never had parents in my past life.

But this feels really great.

Beaming, I pulled out the next item.

“This one was meant for you, Mom.”

I took out a new elixir.

“To be honest, it overlaps a bit with the last one, but this one’s more focused on beauty. Honestly, you’re already beautiful enough, so I’m not sure if you really need it… but still, no harm in being even more beautiful, right?”

Oh, and one more thing.

“There’s another one for you, Mom.”

Rustle, rummage, 

I pulled out the next elixir a bit awkwardly.

It wasn’t just one bottle. It was a full set of ten.

Why did I even have this? Well, because, 

In my past life… I used to carry it around.

And now… I can’t even use it anymore. Not like I ever did back then either. Dammit.

“…Honestly, calling it yours is a bit off. It’s more like… Dad’s? Mm… something both of you might… enjoy. Or not… maybe?”

I carefully tucked it into Mom’s pocket.

Then leaned in close and whispered by her ear.

“…Oh my.”

Hearing the effects, Mom beamed.

“I guess I’ll have to come back as soon as I can?”

…Dad’s gonna be okay, right?