"Uh, long time no see. Auntie..."
"I'm sorry for showing you such an embarrassing sight... but anyway, we have so many guests!"
Upon noticing the presence of us, whom Ciel brought... Leon and Monica's mother, Anemone Brave, smiled shyly and broke out of her wrestling hold.
"Bangkyu..."
Monica collapsed onto the ground.
But Anemone carried her on her shoulder and brought her into the house.
"Ciel-chan, you protected our child, didn't you? Come in while I make some tea. The others, too."
"Y-yes... Um...is it okay for everyone to come?"
"......Oh yes."
I nodded, hesitating for a moment.
The impression I had gotten from the game was that Anemone was a calm, young adult woman with a child, but when I actually met her, I found that she was much more active than I had imagined.
I have mixed feelings about this, as my image of her has been shattered in many ways.
"Please have some. Also, please eat these sweets, too."
After being invited to Anemone's house, we were served tea at the living room table.
The aroma from the wooden cups is neither black tea nor green tea. It was a strange smell.
"This is an unusual scent..."
" It's a medicinal hot water made from an herb called 'Dokukoshi,' a specialty of this area. It has a strong smell, but it is very good for the body as it removes poisons from the body."
"I see..."
It smells a little suspicious, but since I have the skill to nullify abnormalities, there should be no problem if I drink it.
When I sipped the tea, a unique flavor spread in my mouth.
"Well, it has a unique taste, but it's not bad."
"It's very good. I like it too."
Aeris sits next to me, smiling softly and tilting the cup with graceful movements that seemed to captivate.
"Ugh... it's bitter, desu~no. Urza doesn't like it..."
On the other hand, Urza sticks out her tongue with "ehhh" and starts munching on the sweets she was given.
"Hey, hey, that's bad manners..."
"Don't worry about it. It's just something kids do."
Anemone puts her hand on her cheek and tilts her head with a relaxed expression.
"Would fruit water be better for that child? We didn't have any at home, so I had to go out to buy some..."
"Don't worry about it. That's not important right now. There's something we need to talk about, right?"
"......"
I looked at Ciel and she nodded gravely, being not only Leon's childhood friend but also a member of the party.
"Auntie, I've come here today with something important to tell you. It's about Leon."
"I see... Please tell me."
Anemone straightened her posture and turned a serious gaze on Ciel.
The village had already been informed that Leon had been seriously wounded on the battlefield and was missing.
Ciel came to visit his mother, and Anemone must have guessed that it was not a cheerful topic.
"You see, Auntie..."
Ciel starts to talk and tells her the story of Leon's disappearance.
She has not seen what happened in the dungeon, but I share with her the information that led us here.
I could have told the story myself, but I knew that it would be more believable coming from someone Anemone knew rather than me, who is new to her and looks like a bad guy.
And so, she spoke of how Leon went missing with one of the Demon King's Four Heavenly Kings.
About how we and Monica dived into the dungeon under the city to look for Leon.
And... about how Leon was transformed into a monster at the end of the dungeon.
Finally, she told of how he had flown away, destroying the town.
After she finishes her story Anemone covers her pale face with her hands.
"I can't believe...Leon would do something like that..."
"Don't worry, Auntie! I'll save Leon, I promise! I'll find him and I'll make sure he's human again!
Ciel declared as she got up from her chair.
"I know it's a terrible thing... but Leon is still alive! If he's not dead, we'll save him! Right, everyone!"
Ciel turned to her friends, and Melia and Ruffie nodded.
"Yes, we'll definitely save Leon-kun. Wild Leon is not so bad, but... the monster is a bit much, isn't it?"
"While the situation isn't optimistic... there must be a way. Please don't give up hope."
Encouraged by the three of them, Anemone looked up, smiling stoutly.
She was still pale... but somehow she was holding on to the tragedy that had happened to her son.
"Yes... Thank you. I'm sorry, I know I put a lot of pressure on you young people. You all must have gone through a lot."
"I'm totally fine... no, I'm sorry. I'm sorry I couldn't help Leon."
"It's okay, Ciel-chan. But still... I can't believe Monica went into the dungeon. She's really an uncontrollable child."
"Kyu..."
Anemone glanced at the sofa a little away from the table, and saw Monica groaning weakly. Monica, who had been knocked unconscious by a wrestling match from her mother, was lying limp on the sofa.
After sighing at her daughter, Anemone turns her head toward us.
"Ciel-chan and the others, too, it looks like you guys have been taking care of my daughter too. I'm sorry to have bothered you."
"We didn't do anything to deserve your gratitude... Instead, we're sorry for taking your daughter to a dangerous place."
"It's alright, please raise your head."
I bow my head and apologize. Anemone shakes her head slowly.
"This child is the type that acts before thinking. When she found out that Leon had fallen into the dungeon, she must try to jump into the dungeon by herself. But Thanks to you being there to help her, she was able to return safely. I can't thank you enough."
"Thank you for saying that. I was prepared to be beaten up and told not to do anything dangerous to your daughter."
"Well, If Monica had been injured, I might have gotten angry... but since this child is safe and sound, I can't blame anyone."
"Safe and sound, huh... I hope so."
I chuckled and look at Monica, who is still unconscious.
Although Monica had hardly been hurt at all in the dungeon, she had been knocked unconscious by her mother.
Perhaps children are always children, after all?
"Please stay overnight at our house tonight. I'll prepare a special treat for you!"
Anemone slaps her cheek and gets up from her chair.
She is acting tough, despite being told of the tragedy that has befallen her son.
And she didn't even seem afraid of Zenon's villainous face... truly the mother of a hero, a strong woman.
That day, we stayed at Brave's house and were served homemade food as promised.
Anemone's cooking was not extravagant, but it tasted somewhat nostalgic, just like the home cooking of an ordinary mother.
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