Chapter 181

“Are you really going?”

“Yeah, I can’t just come this far and go back. Even if it means saying goodbye for real, I have to meet her.”

Chancellor Senel, slightly surprised by my clear expression of determination, blinked in astonishment.

After a brief moment of awkward silence, a light chuckle escaped her lips.

“Heh… You know, this is why Grade 12 is so entertaining. Well, I guess it’s that stubbornness that got you all the way to the top of the world.”

“That’s not entirely wrong… But before that, since we’re on the topic…”

Before diving into the main conversation, I couldn’t help but cautiously ask about something that demanded attention while glancing at Nelson, whose eyes seemed half-dead.

“What happened with this Grade 12 over here?”

“Don’t worry about it. I was just a bit bored while you were away and decided to have some fun.”

“…That doesn’t look like ‘just fun’ though. What on earth did you do?”

“Nothing much. Just made her pay for messing with my sister, I guess?”

“Uh-huh…”

Senel replied with a chilling smile, and realizing that digging deeper wouldn’t yield any good stories, I decided to shift my focus away from Nelson.

“Anyway… So, what’s your answer? Can you tell me where Lemain is?”

“…Sigh. Fine. I’ll tell you where she is. But just so you know, you’re fully responsible for what happens after this, okay? No way do I want to be on the receiving end of my sister’s wrath.”

Chancellor Senel spoke with genuine seriousness, and as I looked at her, I sensed her deep affection for her sister growing more intriguing.

“In the original work, she was just an unbeatable boss brimming with overconfidence…”

Even after quite some time since I crossed over to this world, the image of her marching forward with her Black Knights was still vivid in my mind.

Especially that last moment when she transformed into the Red Dragon and was rampaging around—it was pure despair.

And now, seeing her smile so brightly at me, saying things like ‘I don’t want to get scolded by my sister~’, this situation gave me an oddly surreal feeling.

“As I said, my sister is not here right now. Honestly, I would have liked to keep her around for a bit, but she’s being sought after by someone I can’t contend with.”

“If you can’t handle this person, could it be that even the Emperor of the Holy Empire called for her?”

“Haha, the Emperor? Do you really think I’d bat an eye at some weakling like that just because he asked?”

Considering it, there was no reason for her to fear a feeble emperor from a nation that wasn’t even holy nor imperial.

Of course, that could raise loyalty issues, but the opponent was a Grade 12 monster who could munch on a nation all by themselves.

“Sorry, I misspoke. Then… who could it be?”

In that regard, I began to feel a bit anxious about who this entity was that even such a monster couldn’t oppose.

And then…

Senel’s answer came.

“Our mother.”

“Ah… mother… mother, wait, uh… Senel, your mother?”

“Yeah, the one who gave birth to both me and my sister. You know who she is, right?”

With a light voice, Senel spoke. However, the moment I heard her words, I was immediately engulfed by a suffocating feeling.

I realized it too late.

The fact that Senel and Lemain were biological sisters meant their mother must be the same as well.

And then… as soon as I recalled that mother figure, a single word slipped from my lips automatically.

“…Damn.”

*

She was walking slowly down the corridor.

With her brilliantly shining silver hair.

Ruby-like red eyes.

Once upon a time, she had black hair and green eyes that were completely different from now.

The woman once known as Lemain Migdal passed through this place, which was more than spacious enough to be considered a personal residence, with an utterly familiar demeanor.

And shortly after, the place she arrived at was a room with a luxurious feel.

Inside, there sat the object of yearning that had always occupied a corner of her heart.

“…I’m back, Mother… Ugh!”

“Sweetheart!”

Just as she lowered her head to greet, something wrapped around her body.

So familiar yet missed…

Warm and cozy, yet a bit overwhelming sensation.

As Lemain squirmed slightly in her mother’s embrace, tears began to flow from her eyes.

“My child… I’m so glad… I’m really, really glad you’re alive.”

“Ah…”

The person holding Lemain began to tremble.

Seeing someone who wouldn’t flinch in the face of falling shells and magic look this way filled Lemain’s heart with a budding sense of deep guilt.

“…I’m sorry… I should have contacted you no matter what… I just… I just…”

“No, no. That’s alright. I understand. You came back alive… That’s all that matters to me.”

“Mother…”

While embracing her daughter, the mother trembled for a while.

And Lemain, in turn, embraced her mother, savoring that warmth she had missed during hard times.

Finally, after a bit of the emotional knot untying, the two began to sit and talk about everything that had transpired.

“…I’ve heard news… that you lost the child… the one in your belly…?”

“…Yes. When I almost got assassinated in Frantz…”

“I’m sorry… And I regret… I should have moved as soon as I heard the news…”

“You’re not at fault; you had no way to do so. And… it’s okay now. It’s been almost ten years. Thinking about it still hurts, but I can bear it now. I actually received quite a bit of help from friends along the way.”

“Friends? My daughter has friends?”

“Um… Mother…? Wasn’t that a bit…”

“Heh… Sorry. But honestly, it’s surprising, isn’t it? I didn’t expect someone to call you a friend. How long has it been?”

“Uh-huh…”

To be honest, it wasn’t to such an extent, but the truth is that the woman named Lemain had very few people she could call friends.

She was never particularly sociable, and more than anything, she held a kind of rule in her head that ‘friends’ must be at an equal standing.

Not simply regarding social rank.

Someone who possesses equal power or admirable abilities.

She believed that such conditions had to be met to share one’s heart under the bond of friendship, so among the countless people she had met until now, very few had been recognized as friends rather than acquaintances.

“I’m actually quite curious! I wonder what kind of person our daughter has befriended. Is that person a guy? Based on what I’m hearing, it sounds like it… How close are you? Could it be something deeper?”

“…Unfortunately, not at all. Moreover, that friend already has someone they’re dating. No matter how much I might feel something, that’s a no-go.”

“Aha, so you’re not denying it? You do have feelings for that person.”

“…Hmm… Hmm…”

Feeling an unexpected sensation of pressure, Lemain found herself silenced.

And with this rare opportunity to tease her daughter playfully, a smile began to grace ‘Mother’s’ face once again.

Just like everyone else…

That pure smile that had long been absent now sparkled with clarity.

“Then… may I hear more about that friend who provided you comfort?”

“…It’s not exactly… an interesting story. We might never meet again, you know.”

“Huh? Why’s that?”

“…”

Lemain paused for a moment, contemplating the question.

Yet… this was her mother, of all people.

For someone who had always been her pillar through the years.

There was no story Lemain couldn’t share with her mother.

So, after brushing aside her moment of hesitation, Lemain carefully retrieved a small, broken item from her pocket.

It was a small, wrecked cross.

“…This is. Could it be…?”

“Yeah, it’s an item my aunt gave me long ago. A holy relic that could convert some magical power into aura while also changing its appearance. They said it was a precious item I could never get again… but I ended up like this after a fight with some despicable navy brat.”

As her mother accepted Lemain’s words and examined the item carefully, she returned it to her daughter and spoke.

“Indeed, this is no ordinary item. Its structure is such that I can’t take a hand to it… Unfortunately, I think it can’t be repaired.”

“Yeah… I figured as much.”

Expressing her disappointment, Lemain slightly lowered her head.

The feeble hope that had lingered was now crushed.

Seeing her daughter’s disappointed appearance, her mother simply smiled gently and began to stroke her daughter’s head slowly.