Ch.148148. Reunion

Instead of heading straight into the village entrance, I chose a slightly roundabout path. It was obvious that running into someone I knew would needlessly stir up the whole village. Of course, by evening, rumors would spread to everyone in the village, but I wanted to delay that moment as much as possible.

Even after five years, I still clearly remembered the geography of the village. It was only natural. Though I had been away from my hometown for just four years, I had lived here for the other fifteen years of my life.

“So this is Rex’s hometown,” Chloe murmured with an excited voice. Elin also looked around with sparkling eyes. I couldn’t understand what was so fascinating when there was nothing particularly worth seeing. Oakbrook was just an ordinary rural village like any other in the world. Quiet, with the rich smell of cow dung wafting through the air…

Close to nature.

Rex’s feet came to a halt. A small stream gurgled by, its water soon collecting in a large pond. Every morning, after waking up early to clean the animal pens and chop firewood, Rex would wash himself in this pond. Even in the height of summer, the water was so cold that he would shiver and sniffle.

“Haha.”

Rex laughed without realizing it. Chloe and Elin looked at him with puzzled eyes. It’s nothing. After responding that way, he continued walking. Passing through thick bushes, an open field came into view.

Again.

His steps halted. In the distance, under the blue sky, he could see a woman with a white cloth wrapped around her head. Her basket was filled with various food ingredients.

A child… a young child who appeared to be only three or four years old was holding the woman’s hand. Though he could only see their backs, somehow Rex felt he knew who the woman was.

“…Ah.”

Rex opened his mouth to call out, but ultimately closed it again. Meanwhile, the woman and child slowly moved further away. That direction. At the end of the path they were walking, a small house came into view. Even after five years, the village still felt familiar, but that house felt strangely unfamiliar.

Mental preparation. I thought I had finished it long ago, but seeing the house made my heart tremble. Just then, Elin’s hand gently took Rex’s. Rex looked at Elin with surprised eyes.

“It’s okay.”

Elin whispered. Chloe also grabbed his other hand and nodded vigorously.

“Let’s go, Rex.”

“…Alright.”

Rex moved his legs with a bitter smile.

Walking a bit faster than the woman and child, at a pace that could close the distance between them. Just as he was carefully approaching so as not to startle them, suddenly.

The woman turned around.

“…Is that Rex?”

The woman’s mouth fell open. Rex stared at her with the corners of his lips turned up. Has she… aged a bit? No, in this case, “matured” would be the right expression. Though her appearance hadn’t changed noticeably, her unique aura created that impression.

“It’s been a while.”

“It really is you, Rex!”

The woman—Anna—embraced Rex with a bright smile. Her reaction was much more intense than he had expected. Anna’s hands roughly kneaded Rex’s face as he stood there, dumbfounded. She pinched his cheeks, pulled them this way and that, then pressed them together until his lips protruded like a fish’s. Is she really playing around right now? Rex hastily removed Anna’s hands. Sure enough, Anna giggled.

“…I was mistaken. You haven’t changed at all.”

Anna was still Anna. The village’s number one tomboy who would grumble about him eating too many side dishes and scream at him to clean the barn properly.

But. Rex’s gaze fell on the child standing beside Anna. Soft blonde hair and brown eyes. The child looked anxiously back and forth between Rex and Anna. Anna stroked the child’s head with a gentle smile. That loving expression was something Rex had never seen before.

“He’s my son.”

Anna blurted out. The child hid behind Anna’s back, peeking out to glance at Rex.

“Say hello, Gerhardt. Remember what I told you? About the uncle who protected Grandma and me from very scary villains before you were born. That uncle left his hometown to adventure around the world, but someday he would return and tell you interesting stories… This man is Uncle Rex.”

“…Hello, Uncle.”

The child politely bowed his head. Rex looked at Anna with a disgruntled face.

“Uncle?”

“Let’s just overlook the trivial details, okay?”

Anna retorted in a curt tone. Rex awkwardly scratched his cheek and turned his head. Gerhardt. He didn’t bother asking about the origin of that name. He knew immediately upon hearing it. But then, Anna muttered with a bitter smile.

“It’s a good name, isn’t it? Reminds me of Father. Johan agreed too.”

Rex recalled the young man who was as big as a mountain but surprisingly tender-hearted. So that one-sided affection eventually bore fruit…

“So you married Johan.”

“He’s a steady man. Values family above all else in the world, and works hard too. Just like our father.”

“…Right.”

A heavy silence descended. It wasn’t an uncomfortable silence. A gentle breeze blew by. It felt as if the wind was carrying away the longing that had accumulated over the years. After exchanging glances silently for a while, Anna suddenly blinked and asked.

“So why did you come back to your hometown? And who are these people behind you?”

“N-Nice to meet you! I’m Chloe.”

She accidentally bit her tongue from being too nervous. Chloe cleared her throat with a reddened face and added.

“I-I’m Rex’s girlfriend.”

“What?! Oh my, what did I just hear? Really?”

Anna exclaimed with wide eyes.

“Yes.”

Rex replied in a displeased tone. Ignoring him, Anna continued to pour out words.

“Rex’s girlfriend? Really? No, such a pretty person, why on earth would you choose someone like Rex…”

“What’s wrong with me? Honestly, I’m quite handsome. And capable too.”

“…I might understand if someone else said that, but it’s kind of off-putting when you say it yourself. Don’t you have any shame?”

Rex’s expression crumpled. He had been fine until just now, but hearing those words suddenly made him feel embarrassed.

Though she teased him, Anna knew Rex was handsome. Thanks to seeing Rex’s face every day, her standards had become so high that the village men didn’t satisfy her. But Anna found teasing her little brother much more enjoyable than complimenting him.

“You said your name was Chloe? Thank you for taking care of this foolish brother of mine. It must have been quite difficult for you.”

“Not at all…! If anything, I should be thanking him. And to me, Rex isn’t a foolish man. He’s cool, amazing… my one and only hero in this world.”

“Oh my, oh my goodness! What’s this! You’ve completely fallen for him.”

Anna snickered, giving Rex a mischievous look. Chloe lowered her head, which had turned as red as a radish. Rex was the same. Though the weather was cool, somehow he was sweating and found it difficult to lift his head.

“Me too.”

Elin stepped forward.

“I’m also… Rex’s girlfriend.”

Normally, Elin would speak informally regardless of age or gender, but at this moment, she couldn’t maintain her usual attitude. If this was Rex’s sister, they would be seeing each other often in the future. Elin instinctively realized that the more she gained Anna’s favor, the easier their future life would be.

Favor should be earned when possible. Elin bowed her head with the most beautiful expression she could muster.

“Please take care of me.”

“…”

Transparent silver hair and doll-like features. When Elin smiled sweetly, Anna’s breath caught.

Girlfriends… not one but two? Wait. No, that’s not it. Are they really the same race? Those elongated ears, could it be an elf? Why would an elf be with Rex? Various thoughts swirled in her head, making her dizzy. Anna turned her stiff neck with a dumbfounded expression.

“Just what have you been doing out there?”

“It’s a long story, but let’s go inside first. I’ll tell you everything. I need to see Mother too, and while we’re at it, we can call Johan as well.”

Rex said with an awkward smile. Anna, who was still staring at Elin and Chloe, nodded as if entranced.

“Oh yes… look at me, keeping guests outside. Though we don’t have much and it’s a humble home… please come in. Um, let’s go, Gerhardt.”

Anna took Gerhardt’s hand and began walking. Chloe and Elin looked blankly at Rex. Rex shrugged with a smirk.

“What are you waiting for? Come in.”

The door opens. As Rex stepped inside, Chloe and Elin cautiously followed him. A smell wafted over. Rex wrinkled his nose with a smile.

“Soup?”

“Yes. Perfect timing. I was just about to eat, so we can all eat together.”

He had eaten soup for breakfast on the day he left his hometown too.

Even after five years, the interior of the house hadn’t changed at all. Some furniture had been rearranged, and there were new belongings, but this was indeed the house Rex remembered.

Beyond the familiar living room, he entered the kitchen. The back of an elderly woman came into view.

A woman holding a ladle with wrinkled hands, tending to a pot. When Rex saw her, his breathing quickened.

“Mother.”

“…Rex?”

Rex nodded with a bright smile.

“I’m home.”

***

Johan returned home only in the evening.

Anna’s words about him working hard seemed to be true. In the village, there was nothing Johan didn’t do. From farming to hunting small animals, cutting wood, or fulfilling requests from village elders. Thanks to handling all sorts of tasks as they came, Johan was known as a capable man in the village.

A great man is a taciturn man. That’s what Johan believed, and since Rex’s departure, he had consistently maintained a gruff attitude. Just like Gert. For Johan, Gert was the ideal head of household.

That attitude disappeared without a trace the moment he returned home.

“You bastard!”

Johan revealed his white teeth in a grin.

“When did you get here!”

Rex waved his hand.

“This afternoon. It’s been a while.”

“You call that a greeting! Man, how much I’ve missed you! Heartless jerk. You should have come looking for me first thing.”

“How was I supposed to know where you were? Anyway, sit down already.”

Seeing Johan’s smile made Rex laugh involuntarily. Rex chuckled and pointed to the chair across from him. Chloe and Elin stared at Rex with wide eyes. They never imagined Rex would have a friend his own age. Moreover, they seemed even closer than expected.

“R-Rex’s girlfriend?”

After hearing their introduction, Johan dribbled the soup he was eating and asked again.

“Jealous? Hm? Want to trade because they’re prettier than your current wife?”

Anna glared at Johan with narrowed eyes and pinched his side. Johan hastily shook his head and made excuses.

“No! What would I be lacking? The wisest and prettiest woman in the world… um… pretty.”

“What are you saying?”

Johan scratched the back of his head with a helpless expression. Everyone burst into raucous laughter at the sight.

This is it.

Rex thought as he wiped the tears from the corners of his eyes with his finger. This is exactly what I had been longing for. I wanted an ordinary life—laughing, sharing happiness, living normally. And it had come true.

“I have something to tell you.”

Rex raised his head. Johan, Anna, and his mother—everyone’s attention focused on him. Elin and Chloe also swallowed dry saliva and listened intently to Rex’s voice.

I can tell them now. Rex steeled his resolve and spoke quietly but clearly.

“We’re planning to get married.”