Filial Duty

Fortunately, the morning drama that made viewers more confused ended not long after.

And, almost simultaneously.

“Let’s be filial to your father one more time, daughter.”

Rier’s request to pretend to be his daughter one more time reached my ears.

The reason was that Tine’s feelings for Rier still hadn’t wavered.

Since I had appeared before Tine as Rier’s daughter.

Despite considerable time having passed since Rier transformed into someone who ‘was’ married, she still wanted to be with him.

He said that even when Rier explicitly said he disliked her, the only reply he got was that she would keep trying until he said he liked her.

She had even conveyed her wish to meet me again to fulfill her promise to become close to me as my new mother. And this had been going on for quite some time.

“I’ve been postponing and postponing, and now I’ve run out of excuses. So, just help me this one time.”

What followed was a story about the last hope to end this endless one-sided courtship.

Tine had sent a final gambit in the form of a letter a few days ago, saying that if my feelings didn’t change even a bit after spending the whole day together, she would withdraw cleanly.

That she would no longer cling to Rier.

Of course, from Asha’s perspective, this was nothing more than nonsense.

It was rather inevitable that the word “no” came from my guardian’s mouth.

However, everyone in this hospital room knew that he wasn’t the type to back down with just a word.

“Ab-solutely not. Lua’s treatment isn’t finished yet!”

“You said her pulse and breathing were all normal. Except for being a bit thin, she looks fine to me?”

Another fierce argument between Asha and Rier inevitably began.

“Besides, she needs to get some sunlight outside to improve her health. Look how pale her face is.”

“Lua’s face was always pale!”

“Just one day, one day. Not some dungeon or something, just going to an amusement park to play and come back.”

“…Still, no. I haven’t even been able to go with her yet.”

“…Is that the issue?”

After that, for a long time.

Really, for a lo-ng time, they repeated nutritionless bickering.

“I won’t let you take Lua, so go back to the Northern Continent now. If you don’t leave, I’ll force you out.”

“Try it if you can. I’m confident in a battle of strength too.”

As if they would no longer fight with just words, they finally even drew out killing intent toward each other.

“Bo-both of you, stooooop!!”

I tried my best to prevent the catastrophe of the battle maniac and the guild master of one of the Three Major Guilds going all out in the middle of the city.

Either way, Rier’s request wasn’t that difficult.

Actually, I had been feeling guilty for not firmly refusing last time.

Honestly, being confined to the hospital room had been making me feel a bit stifled too.

“Just one day. Please let me go play for just one day, Sister Asha.”

“…What about with me?”

“We already promised to go on a trip together, right? I can play with just Sister Asha for a week or a month.”

I decided to take Rier’s side just this once.

It wasn’t entirely unrelated to the fact that the possibility of persuading Asha was relatively higher than persuading Rier.

So, after a full hour of persuasion that followed.

The battle between the guardian acting like a stepmother from a fairy tale and the person who was my father ended in a decision victory for the person who was my father.

Only after becoming completely free for the first time in a very long time did I finally discover the identity of the building I had been in.

There was only one room that could be called a hospital room—the spacious room I had been in.

Other than that, there were only complicated-looking medical devices or completely empty spaces.

Of course, people who looked like doctors did greet me as they passed by…

But why wasn’t there a single person who looked like a patient?

“Huh, umm… Is this really a hospital?”

“It is a hospital. Just not the kind of hospital you’re thinking of, Ms. Lua.”

The story that came from Tana, who had regained her calm demeanor by now, was not just surprising but even absurd.

“There was no problem until we brought Ms. Lua back. Even until we confirmed that Ms. Lua’s condition was normal.”

“However, when you didn’t wake up after one day, after two days, Asha’s condition started to deteriorate again.”

“We employed all existing treatment methods and mobilized all famous doctors we could. Yet it wasn’t enough, and she started doing all kinds of insane things. All to wake you up.”

“This entire building is the result of those insane actions. All the manpower and facilities you see around are all for just one person—Ms. Lua.”

…No wonder I didn’t remember seeing such a large hospital around the guild headquarters.

After I woke up.

The calm voice continued, saying that security forces had increased several times since I tried to run away without knowing what was going on.

Only then did I realize that this building itself was my exclusive hospital.

Because of that, I was so speechless that I couldn’t even speak properly.

“I beg you. From now on, please don’t take Asha’s affection lightly.”

“…I’ll keep that in mind…”

Being confined to the hospital room was really just the tip of the iceberg.

I should never have forgotten that she was someone who literally tore down an unused training ground for my lessons.

Why does someone who doesn’t usually indulge in luxury have no brakes when it comes to matters related to me…

“Do you really still not know that?”

“I do know. I know, but… Even though I know, it’s still amazing.”

Tana slowly nodded her head once at my unconsciously uttered mutter that it’s not common for someone to go this far for one person.

And right after that.

“It’s also not common for a child to secretly go to monster lairs for other people. Looking at it now, you two are more like real sisters than real sisters.”

Tana’s counterattack saying I was no better hit my ears.

…I couldn’t say anything.

“Ah, that was meant as a compliment just now.”

“…Thank you.”

“Don’t mention it.”

Almost simultaneously, why did a brief conversation I had with Tana a long time ago start circling in my mind?

‘Um… Do you like teasing Sister Asha?’

‘…I don’t dislike it.’

Looking at it now, it seemed I had also become the target of that teasing.

…Should I be happy or sad about this…

“Hello, Lua!”

“Ah, hello…”

I painfully bowed my head to greet Tine, who had arrived early and was waiting at the amusement park entrance.

It was just that my legs were trembling from the aftermath of the extremely rough flight.

I should have realized the danger when I heard that Rier would personally pilot the airship.

It was a miracle I didn’t faint during the flight.

“Well then, where should we go first? Is there anywhere you wanted to visit?”

Right after that, the amusement park pamphlet that had been in Tine’s hands until just now was handed to me.

However, maybe because I had just been on an airship that was more extreme and dangerous than any amusement park ride.

My mental strength wouldn’t hold up if I went to feel the thrill of gravity disappearing again right after entering the amusement park.

So the choice was not places where joyful screams and fearful screams coexisted, but rather relatively quiet and calm places.

“Magic Beast Zoo? It’s said to be full of frightening magical beasts, will you be okay?”

“I’ll be fine. It’s not like they’ll escape from their cages or anything.”

“Well… I guess so. They won’t jump out and eat my daughter, right?”

Having already seen scarier and more hideous monsters, the caged magical beasts in the amusement park would probably be nothing.

Honestly, it might have been a bit boring… But still, it seemed better than a roller coaster.

“Let’s go, Dad. I want to see the phoenix.”

Thinking Rier might object, I quickly tried to grab his thick hand… but gave up because it was too big.

Instead, I grabbed his relatively thinner wrist and led him to the magical beast zoo.

In my other hand, I was holding Tine’s slender fingers.

At the end of today, I was supposed to say that I didn’t like the idea of Tine becoming my new mother…

But it seemed a bit harsh to directly say no to someone who carefully asked if they could hold my hand.

So I held hands most of the time except when taking pictures with magical beasts through the glass walls.

Like that, I toured every single area without missing one, intending to take pictures with all the magical beasts in the zoo.

Once I started exploring, it was fortunately more fun than I had expected.

I wasn’t entirely without the desire to delay the moment of having to ride amusement park rides as much as possible.

“Um, Lua. There’s an experience zone where you can ride on a land dragon over there, would you like to go?”

“…A land dragon?”

Honestly, I was tempted.

How many opportunities would I have in life to ride on a magical beast like a land dragon?

Since it’s a dragon without wings, it wouldn’t suddenly take off or anything.

“Y-Yes, I want to go!”

Finally, I followed Tine’s lead.

I had no choice but to pretend not to see Rier’s slightly displeased gaze at my behavior.