Her father had died before Lunamaria was old enough to be aware of
things, and her mother Noir had raised her single-handedly.
Lunamaria had always loved her mother, who had been kind and warm
to her while working as a top-ranking adventurer. She wanted to help
her mother, but having Demon blood flowing in half of her veins,
Lunamaria's growth was slow and her body began to grow only when
she finally reached the age of 40.
It was inevitable that she would become an adventurer. Under Noir's
tutelage, Lunamaria developed her skills and became an adventurer,
and in just a few short years, she had risen to the top of the Adventurer
world.
After watching her daughter grow up, Noir retired from adventuring at
Lunamaria's suggestion, and began to receive treatment for her chronic
anemia while visiting her doctor, Vier.
However, an incident occurred. It was about five years after Lunamaria
had become an adventurer. Lunamaria was indeed an excellent
adventurer, but by no means was she perfect.
It wasn't Lunamaria's fault. She didn't get too self-conceited, she was
well-prepared, and she was in tip-top shape… However, she had
overlooked a really small sign, so small that even a veteran adventurer
might overlook it, of a "mass stampede of monsters".
By the time Lunamaria noticed it, she was already surrounded by a
large number of monsters. Lunamaria is strong, she is one of the top
adventurers in the world.
However, she was gradually cornered by the sheer number of monsters
generated by the stampede.
And when she was ready to die… it was her mother, Noir, who saved her.
[…Mom…]
[I'm glad I made it in time. I'll handle this, so please run away, Lu-chan.]
Noir is a veteran adventurer who has completed many quests over the
years. That's why, when she saw the duplicate copy of the quest form
that Lunamaria left in her room… From the description written on the
quest form, she had detected the signs of a stampede and thus, headed
to Lunamaria's rescue as fast as she could.
Not bothering to call for assistance and directly rushing to Lunamaria
paid off, as she was able to save Lunamaria just in the nick of time.
[…B- But…]
[Don't worry, Mom is strong… okay?]
[ ! ? ]
Hearing the words Noir said with a smile while facing so many
monsters that it was ridiculous to even count them, Lunamaria read the
thought held within her words and turning her back on Noir, she
started running.
As she frantically ran through the secluded forest… large drops of tears
dripped down Lunamaria's eyes.
She knew it. That if she stayed behind, she would only be a liability…
She knew it. That the only thing she can do is to call for help…
She knew it. That despite her dislike for it, Noir drank a lot of animal
blood when she was working as an adventurer…
She knew it. That now that she has retired and didn't have to force
herself to drink animal blood, Noir no longer has the power she had in
her prime…
She knew it. That if the situation stayed like this… Her beloved mother,
the most important person in the world for her, would die…
Lunamaria ran frantically, falling down several times along the way,
forcibly moving her body screaming in pain. Still, it was a long way
before she reached a human habitat… and she would never make it in
time.
Just as this thought crossed her mind, Lunamaria's foot was caught in
the root of a trip, and she had spectacularly fallen.
[…Uuuuu… Someone… help me…]
It was a voice so soft that it sounded like she's squeezing it out of her
mouth. However, it did indeed change her fate.
[Unnn? Is someone there? Wait, you're badly injured… I'll be using
Recovery Magic, okay?]
Lunamaria knew the being in front of her… she's one of the pinnacles of
the Demon Realm that she remembered seeing at the Festival of
Heroes…
[…Underworld King… -sama…]
[Unnn?]
The moment she realized that the being in front of her was the
Underworld King… Kuromueina, Lunamaria jumped up and lowered
her head so low that it was rubbing on the ground, she desperately
shouted.
[I'm begging you! Please help me! If this goes on, Mom will… Please! I'll
do anything so please…]
She understood that her actions aren't just on the level of being
disrespectful anymore. She knew that it wasn't acceptable to beg for
something from the Six Kings… but still, Lunamaria wanted to cling
upon the possibility that she might grant her plea.
Thereupon, as Lunamaria's head was lowered, tears incessantly flowing
down her eyes, a hand was gently placed on her shoulder.
[Unnn. It's alright… I'm going to help you, so can you tell me what was
going on?]
[Ahh… Uuuu, a… Monster… Stampede… Mom is facing them alone… I
can't do anything…]
[Stampede… I see, so that's why those monsters were afraid…]
After hearing Lunamaria's story, Kuromueina looked like she was
thinking about something before she gave her a dazzling smile.
[Don't worry, I will absolutely save your mother.]
[…Yes.]
The smile on her face, illuminated by the moonlight, made her look like
the messiah in Lunamaria's eyes.
From then on, Kuromueina's actions were swift. She immediately
rushed to the place Lunamaria told her, eradicated a huge number of
monsters in an instant, and healed the severely injured Noir with
Recovery Magic… and carrying the unconscious Noir, she returned to
where she left Lunamaria.
[Mom!?]
[Don't worry, she's just unconscious. She's alive and her injuries are
healed.]
[A- Ahhh… Thank you very much! Thank you so much! I don't know
how to thank you…]
[Don't worry about it. I only helped you because I wanted to. Rather
than that, it was quite the disaster, wasn't it?… You did a great job. It's
alright now. Come on, I'll take you home.]
[…Yes.]
Lunamaria was relieved from the bottom of her heart. To the fact that
her beloved mother was still alive…
Thereupon, Kuromueina brought Lunamaria and Noir back to their
home. After laying the unconscious Noir on the bed, Kuromueina was
about to leave, but Lunamaria stopped her.
[U- Ummm! Underworld King-sama!]
[Unnn?]
[I'm Lunamaria… I will not forget this debt! I'll never forget it!!!]
[You don't really have to worry that much about it. I'm Kuromueina. If
fate permits, I'll see you again.]
[Yes!]
As Kuromueina left with a smile on her face, waving her hand at her,
Lunamaria saw her off, bowing her head several times until she was out
of sight.
From this moment on, Kuromueina became her benefactor and the one
she respected above anyone else.