— Leon Greyrat —
It was the day after our arrival, which meant that it was time for the rest of the group that was not my family to depart.
It was sad, for sure, but they each had their own lives to live, and the last four months together had lessened the pain of our eventual departure.
"Geese, Talhand… thank you once again for helping us," I said, bowing to the two.
"Think nothin' of it, little Leon," Talhand smirked, patting my shoulder with his heavy hand. "That was a good adventure, no? And now I have some good stories to tell over booze! Hahaha!"
"Yeah, no need for thanks," Geese said, rubbing his head as he smiled at me. "We got some good money out of it, so it's not like we didn't gain anythin'."
Well, that was true.
Alongside the items we sold at Begaritt, as well as everything we sold at the guild yesterday, we had each amassed quite an impressive sum of money. Enough that buying a house for each group wouldn't be an issue.
"So… what are you two planning to do now?" my father asked.
"Well… that metal I kept is interestin' me, so I think it's about time I opened up a shop now that I got the cash," Talhand said, rubbing his beard in thought. "But I'd need to meet an old friend first."
"I see… and you, Geese?" my father said, turning to the man.
"Eh… who knows? Maybe I'll open a restaurant. But then again, it might be fun to see how much I can make by gamblin' all of this," he said, patting the coin purse at his side. "Anyway, we don't wanna hold you up, so… bye."
"Yeah… but thank you, once again, for helping me," my father said, bowing as the two departed.
Our group then turned to the other two, Vierra and Shierra.
They were initially planning to return to Roa to settle down, but after telling them that I was going there soon, and it'd be quicker and safer to stay with me, they accepted my offer, and would instead be staying at the inn until my departure.
And then… there was Lina.
"Hmm… Sylphy, you said your name was… right?" she said, eying my lover with a difficult expression. "Can you… come with me first? Ah, and Leon and Roxy too."
She wanted to see us?
Well, I could understand me and Roxy, since she had been travelling with her for the past four years and was close with me… but why Sylphy?
Thinking about it… she had been eyeing her all of last night before she eventually went up to her room, and she was looking at her weirdly this morning too…
The three of us looked at each other in confusion before turning back and following the woman up to her room in the inn, not minding the scent of what had very obviously transpired the night before as Lina closed the door behind us.
Pacing back and forth, Lina hesitantly tapped her finger against her arm before suddenly grabbing Sylphy's shoulders.
"Sylphy… your father… you said his name was… Laws, right?" she asked, to which Sylphy nodded. "And… he was a half-elf? W-With blonde hair?"
Sylphy nodded again, her head tilting in confusion as my eyes slowly widened.
No fucking way…
"I-I'm sorry!" she said, pulling Sylphy into a hug. "I… Laws was… my son! I'm…"
Sylphy smiled, slowly raising her arms to wrap around Lina's body. "I… my father told me his mother was one of Paul's companions, so… I kind of expected this…"
"N-No… I'm… just a whore, so…"
"It's nice to meet you, grandmother," Sylphy said, resting her chin on Lina's shoulder as the older woman continued to sob.
"B-But I! He… because I was his mother!" Lina continued, her breath hitching as tears trailed down her cheeks. "I… he was chased out of the Great Forest… just because I was such a slut! I… I cannot be forgiven…"
Sylphy simply shook her head. "Father never blamed you, grandmother. He was… simply saddened that he couldn't more spend time with you."
"B-But! Hic-!"
Damn… I had never seen Lina act so… sad.
Even when my mother's condition was thought to be the worst, she was still content with releasing a few tears, not sobbing like this.
Walking over, both me and Roxy placed a gentle hand on her back, with me wrapping my arms around the two as Lina looked to me.
"L-Leon! I… I know I might be a mess, but Laws… and Sylphy too… they're normal! You won't-"
"I'm not worried about that," I said, shaking my head. "In fact, if anything, I'm happy… Now I'm truly related to you, just like I had always believed in my heart."
Though, I did think of her as more of a mother than a grandmother, but I'd keep that thought to myself.
"I… I…!"
"Father never hated you, and I don't either," Sylphy said gently, separating from Lina as she smiled sweetly up at her. "Even if it may have been hard, living outside the Great Forest… that was how my father met my mother, and how I met Leon. It may have been difficult, but that made me into the woman I am today… And for what it's worth… I'm happy that a member of my family is still here."
As Lina stood still in shock, I watched as her face that was marred with guilt slowly turned to one of joy, her hands tracing along Sylphy's hair before stopping at her ear, which may had kept a few marks from last night, as she quickly glanced at me with a raised eyebrow.
With how youthful Lina looked, it was difficult to comprehend that she was Sylphy's grandmother, but from last night… and also our first time together… I knew that Sylphy was definitely her granddaughter.
I was confident she would leave that lust for only me, though.
"Well… I think we should leave you two for a moment," I said, taking Roxy's hand as I went out the door.
"Wait, please," Lina said, stopping me. "Roxy… can you stay here for a moment? I… this wasn't the reason I called you here. My emotions just… overcame me."
Raising my eyebrow in confusion, I left Roxy behind as I went out the door, closing it behind me as I waited outside.
"What is it, Elinalise?" Roxy asked, her voice muffled.
Hmm… it might be wrong of me to listen in, but… I couldn't help myself.
After all, Lina probably knows that I hadn't left since she hadn't heard my footsteps walking away, and she wasn't chasing me out, so this was fine… right?
Well, if it got too private, I'd leave. Just as a gentleman should.
"Oh, it's just… I wanted to give you two some… advice, I suppose," Lina said.
"Advice? Ah, is it about sex?" Sylphy asked. "If so, there's no need. I'm… very satisfied."
Hearing her words end with a cute giggle, I had to hold myself back from breaking down the door to give her a deep kiss, and possibly even go further in our room down the hall.
Calm yourself, Leon.
"No, it's… not that, but it does concern Leon," Lina said, her teary voice lifting a bit at her granddaughter's words. "But I'm glad to know that he is taking good care of you."
"Then… is it about the baby?" Roxy asked. "I know you have experience with it, but you've already given me so much advice…"
"Not that either, dear," Lina said. "It's… well, you know Leon's a human, right?"
There was then a moment of silence, which I could only assume meant that Roxy and Sylphy had nodded in agreement.
"And… you two… are not," Lina said. "I know the Migurd live for two centuries, and I'm unsure what race your mother was, Sylphy, but… you two will definitely live longer than him. Perhaps even twice or three times as long."
I could instantly feel the mood from inside the room turn sombre at her words.
Right… there was that too.
"Your children will also be half-human, so they will likely live shorter lives than you as well," Lina said sadly. "I… won't tell you what to do, as it is completely your decision, but I just wanted you two to know and prepare for it. I know you've promised yourself to Leon, and I'm sure you intend to keep that promise, but you have to think about what happens afterwards… whether you will love again or not, and whether you can handle such separation."
I rested my back against the wall as I placed a hand on my chin in thought.
The thought of those two finding someone else after I was gone… even if it was something I shouldn't feel, as it was extremely selfish, I… didn't like the sound of it.
No, in fact, I hated it.
They were my women, after all.
"I've… lived for forty years without love," Roxy eventually spoke up. "Leon, he… I don't think I would be able to find someone else like him. And… I don't really want to."
"Yeah, I… agree," Sylphy said, her voice a little strained with sadness. "I had been living with just the thought of being with him for four years, so once I'm older, and we've lived our lives together… I'd be happy with just the memories."
It was sickening how good those words made me feel.
Yes, as selfish as it was, I wanted to be the only man in their lives.
It felt disgusting to think of another man having my two beautiful lovers, even if I was already dead.
But… the thought of them being sad and alone… simply living off the memories of our time together… that felt even worse.
"I see… you two sure love little Leon, huh?" Lina said, chuckling. "What a lucky man… and how sinful of him to trap two girls with such loyalty… ah, I guess it's three, huh?"
"Well… we're promised, after all," Sylphy said happily.
"Yeah, that greedy man asked for me to love and give myself to him and only him," Roxy said softly. "That's the selfish man that I've decided to be with, and I couldn't be happier."
…Yeah, that's right.
I promised them to love me for the rest of my lives, just as I would love them for the rest of theirs.
And I couldn't love them if I was dead, right?
I didn't want to leave them alone, even if I had already lived a fulfilling life.
I had to avert that fate somehow… or at least try.
Nanahoshi… she was a human, but Rudy mentioned that she had not aged in the past four years since being taken from her homeland, so it was possible…
If I researched healing magic enough, alongside the biological and scientific knowledge I had that no one else did…
I could do it.
I don't think immortality is possible, nor would I want it.
Instead, I just want me and my wives to live our lives happily, together, until our times simultaneously come to an end…
Perhaps, a sort of 'life bond'?
People didn't die of old age. Instead, they died of complications related to it, where the healing magic, no matter how strong, slowly had diminishing effects until it became useless.
Some say it was tied to mana, others something more spiritual, like someone's 'soul' or internal 'life energy'.
If I could link that between the four of us, to ensure our years would be shared in happiness… that was something that sounded possible.
It would be a lot of work, but with my family reunited, I only had to take care of a few more things until I was ready to settle down, so… that could be my main focus.
Just as the three opened the door, Rudy walked up the stairs, his eyes quickly darting to me before turning to Lina.
"Elinalise!" he said, walking up to her. "You… Cliff has been looking for you all morning… is there something wrong? He says you've been avoiding him…"
Getting up from the wall, I walked over to Sylphy and Roxy, both of their eyes a little glassier than when I had left them, before pulling them into a hug, kissing both of their foreheads as they rested their heads against my chest.
Yeah, all that future death talk… that was quite depressing.
I wouldn't tell them of my possible plan, as I had no idea if it could work, but I could at least comfort them with my warmth, showing them that I was here now.
"Cliff… huh?" Lina said, and as I turned to her, I saw her press a hand against her forehead as an apologetic expression formed on her face. "Dammit… I'm sorry, Rudeus. I didn't want to do it with someone who held actual feelings for me, but while my previous experience had staved off the curse, I was still hungry. And with how innocent he was, and how much he earnestly complimented me… I completely gave in."
Haa… well, while I felt bad for Rudy's friend, the two would never work out.
Plus, at least now, when Cliff found the one for him, he would have quite the experience to use to his advantage.
"I… understand, Elinalise," Rudy said, patting her shoulder. "I just… could you at least let him down gently and not run away? I don't like seeing him like this…"
Lina looked at him for a moment before biting her lip and breathing a deep sigh.
"Yeah… I suppose I should take responsibility, no?" she said, shaking her head. "Having to break such a loving heart right before I leave… I truly am the worst."
"Lina, don't say that," I said. "Just… tell him about your curse. He's a follower of Millis, so I'm sure he will understand why you two wouldn't work and why you agreed to last night. Be open and honest, and while I can't say everything will work out… at the very least you won't have regrets."
Lina widened her eyes before looking at me with a soft smile. "Those are quite the wise words… it makes me feel like the young one here."
"Well, that's been my thought process," I said, shrugging. "And by following it, I got myself these two beauties, so I think it's a pretty good way to live your life."
Yes… while blindly following your heart was rarely the best option, if you were conflicted about a decision that seemed equal in logical value, it was best to choose the one you would regret least in the future.
After all, when looking back on a choice, would it be more painful to think that you should have gone with your honest desires, or that you should have denied them?
I knew what I would think.
"Yes… that is right," Lina nodded. "Then… can you fetch him for me? I'll be waiting in this room."
After that, Rudy went down to the tavern to bring Cliff up and into the room where Lina was waiting, and while we respected the two's privacy, the four of us decided to stay nearby in the hall in order to help the saddened Cliff, and also see off Elinalise as she would be leaving after this.
But, as the minutes passed, we never heard the sound of earnest pleas of a young man in love, nor the angry shouts of being deceived, not even the sound of sobbing.
"They're, uhh… taking a while," Rudy said in confusion. "Do you… think something went wrong?"
"Well… there's only one way to see, right?" I said, gently rapping on the door as I opened it. "Hey, are you two all… right?"
My voice trailed off as I took in the sight in front of me, slack jawed at what was currently happening.
"Oh Cliff! I love you! I love you so much!" Lina shouted from Cliff's lap as she eagerly kissed him.
"And I to you, Lise! I promise to always love you," he said, returning her affections. "But right now… we have visitors."
With both of them turning to the doorway, where the four of us stood still in surprise, Lina slowly got off of Cliff, pointing to herself with a confident smile.
"I'm not leaving!" she said. "And me and my darling Cliff… we're together from this moment forth!"
"Err… yeah, I… kinda got that," I said, my eyes rapidly blinking as I tried to process the information.
"But, umm… he knows about your curse, right?" I said. "As well as your promiscuous past?"
"Indeed," Cliff said, standing up to answer me. "While that curse is troublesome, I now have something to focus my genius on. I will absolutely cure her. That, I promise."
"Aww! Yes, you are a genius!" Lina said, tilting his chin to look up at her. "My genius…"
They then shared another deep kiss, only to be broken by Cliff hesitantly stepping away with a red face.
"N-Not here, Lise," he said, turning to face me again. "Anyway, yes… I will endeavour to remove that curse, and if I cannot… Well, while I don't like the idea of my beloved being with others, Millis' tenants state that a woman can only love a single man, so while she may need to be with others, I'll be her only love!"
That… was a surprisingly heartfelt and powerful declaration.
I… couldn't help but respect Cliff a bit more after hearing that.
While I still hated the Millis Church and all that it stood for, from Mama's teachings, I knew that at it's most basic form, the tenants of Millis were actually quite just and good… it was just that they were taken way too far in most cases, while also needlessly pushing their beliefs onto others.
Fanatics, you could call the modern version of the Millis religion.
If there were more people like Mama and Cliff here as their leaders, then I think I could come to enjoy such a religion and country.
But who am I kidding, how would Cliff ever become someone like that?
I mean, he was the Pope's grandchild, but he was sent away from that place for a reason.
It was simply too dangerous for him.
And even then, as only one man, he wouldn't be able to make such significant change.
Anyway, with Lina finding a new lover, and apparently not leaving Sharia for the foreseeable future, that meant that all the departures that would be happening today had already been concluded.
So… onto the next thing, I guess.
It was time to find everyone a home.
— Leon Greyrat —
A few days had passed since our return to Sharia, and with my family's newly gained wealth, as well as Rudy's previous income from adventuring, we were quickly able to find three houses for each of our families.
With Rudy and Sara being essentially kicked out of their old adventuring friends' place, they had decided to find a small townhouse near the university with four rooms, a large office, and a big basement.
I was initially confused as to why they didn't get a backyard, considering Sara's love of nature and archery practice, but since they were so close to the university, they could just go over there whenever they wanted.
But four rooms… I guess they were planning for the future, huh?
Well, I was doing the same, so I didn't tease them too much.
Next was for my parents and sisters, and with my father, Mama, Lilia, Norn, and Aisha, they decided to get a medium-sized house near the edge of the city with a large backyard and five rooms, one for each of them.
Though, they also had another room that they were planning to use as an office in the meantime, but was ready to be converted to another room if it was needed.
Well, Lilia was not even thirty, and Mama was twenty-five, so they were still young enough to have a child. And while my father might have screwed things up with Norn and Aisha, he surely wouldn't lose his paternal dignity for a fifth time… right?
Anyway, overall, it was a nice house that was reminiscent of our place in Buena Village, though it was built much better as there was a need for insulation so far up north.
And then, there was me.
With three wives I was promised to, it was obvious I would need quite a big place, and with how Eris and I loved to practice swordsmanship, it also needed a big yard.
I was initially worried that I wouldn't be able to find such a place right away and would have to take on a few dungeons to save up, but as if it was fate, there was one on the market that fit all my needs, and for an extremely cheap price.
Actually, with me recently becoming an S-rank adventurer, they practically gave it to me for free as they simply wanted it off of their hands.
Apparently, they thought it was more trouble than it was worth, and I with someone of my status, they were hoping I wouldn't die like the rest of the residents.
It was… a little ominous, but I had a plan.
And here I was… or rather, here we were, as I decided to bring Rudy and a couple of his friends along.
"This… isn't it a little big, Leon?" Rudy said, gaping at the mansion in front of us.
"Well… maybe for the moment, but I plan on having lots of kids," I said, nodding to myself. "Plus, it was cheap."
With the overgrown sides, and a few blown out windows, it was obvious that this place would need some work.
But that was where the money I saved on not buying it would come in.
If I timed it right… it would probably take a month? Possibly less?
Anyway, Roxy and I would be living in the inn for the moment while Sylphy stayed with Ariel, but eventually, we would all be in the same house in time for the baby to be born.
"Indeed, you did mention that it was given to you for no fee… is because of the condition?" Zanoba asked.
"Kind of," I said. "There were apparently a few buyers that were murdered in their sleep, so they think that there's some sort of spirit-type monster, which is why I asked you to come, Cliff. Thank you, by the way."
"It's only natural," the boy said, shaking his head. "Not only are you my friend's brother, but you also helped me meet Lise, so consider this returning the favour."
He seemed a bit… excited at the prospect of facing a monster, but if all went well, I wouldn't need him.
With spirit-type monsters, since they were beings made of pure mana, it was known that the only way to kill them was to use 'divine strike' magic, a branch of support magic that I didn't know, but Cliff did.
But since spirit-type monsters were made of mana, I was hoping that my disturb magic would be able to kill it, or at least make it able to get cut with my sword.
I had been itching to fight something that required that cool technique, after all.
"Are we planning to stay the night, then?" Rudy asked.
"No… for spirits, I should be able to spot them with my Demon eye," I said. "Well… let's go. I'll take the front, you guys stay in the back, and Zanoba… just don't break anything, please."
I originally didn't want to take him considering his… destructiveness, but since all three of them were eating together at the time that I went to them, it felt rude not to invite him as well.
As we ventured through the house, with me unceremoniously kicking down the worn-out door, I began to think of how everything would be laid out in the future.
First, there was a large front porch that spanned the entire front of the house, and once you stepped inside, there was a large staircase, with one set going up to the second floor, and the other going to the basement, and behind the set of stairs, there was a big open space for storage.
I also noticed that the rooms were identically mirrored, save for the fact only the right back corner room had a kiln, which must mean that it was the kitchen.
Obviously, there was no need for two kitchens in a house, so for the left side…
"Hey, Rudy," I said as I looked into the empty, dusty room. "You remember that big bath we had back in Buena?"
"Hm? That?" Rudy said. "Yeah, I've been missing that, you know? I didn't realize it back then, but you made something really luxurious, brother."
"Yeah, well… I think I might do the same thing here," I said, looking around the walls. "But the one in Buena was built in a separate building, so I'm not sure what to do for this… I think I'll get a craftsman to do it, but it might need your earth magic."
"Ah, I see… yeah, I can definitely do that," he nodded. "As long as Sara and I can use it~"
"Just… yes, you guys can use it, but don't tell me when you do," I said, shaking my head.
Over time, I had realized how wrong my thinking of my brother was.
I thought he had changed, but in reality, he was just as lustful as before, just now focusing all of it on one girl.
Well, Sara didn't seem to mind, so I guess if it made them both happy, then that was fine.
The four of us continued searching, going up to the second floor after clearing the first and looking into each of the ten rooms to see if there was anything my Demon eye hadn't caught.
Hmm… ten rooms… considering I wanted my wives to each have their own space, with a big one for me and them to share, and one for a guest… that only left room for five kids… six if two of them shared the large room that mirrored the parents'…
I don't know if that was enough.
Well, that was a problem for the future.
Anyway, with the second floor also clear, it was then time we went into the basement, which was around the size of the large room upstairs, with the walls all made of stone.
Hmm… this almost seemed like a workshop, but maybe I could convert this to a cellar or an office or something.
Either way, that wasn't important. Instead, it was the body of mana I could see through the wall.
"It's here," I said, unsheathing my sword.
The three gulped in nervousness as I stepped forward, my hand at the ready to cast disturb magic as I peered at the opposite side of the wall.
Hmm… while spirits could go through walls, they couldn't exist in them, so there must be a space behind it…
Actually, looking at the ground, it was covered in grime and dust, save for a semicircle against the wall that was clean… was this a hidden door or something?
Hesitantly reaching forward, I pushed against the opposite wall, the stone giving way and turning to reveal a… room.
"Huh?" I said, voicing my confusion as the three walked up behind me.
"Is there… a spirit, brother?" Rudy asked, his hands gripping his staff.
"Uh… no, I don't think so," I said, looking at the large slab that contained a… doll?
What was a doll doing here?
And why was it full of mana and messy magic circles?
My eyes glancing to the side, I saw that there was a desk with a journal resting on it, seemingly having been untouched for quite a while.
What?
"Is that-?"
"It's beautiful!" Zanoba cried, interrupting Cliff as he rushed over to the doll. "This craftsmanship… it mimics the human body, but with the added design choice of multiple arms! It's-"
"Wait, don't touch-!"
I tried to stop Zanoba from touching the doll, as I was afraid of it being some sort of intricate trap with the magic circles, but as soon as I voiced out my words, the doll's arm shot up to stab the Miko, only to unceremoniously shatter at the contact.
"It… moves?" I said in surprise as the doll continued to attack him.
"It moves!" Zanoba agreed, not caring about his predicament.
He then wrapped his arms around the doll, squeezing it in an attempt to quell its assault.
"Zanoba, do you… need assistance?" I asked.
"No need, brother of Master!" he voiced.
It was Leon, actually, but I decided to ignore it.
"This thing cannot harm me, and I cannot allow any harm to come to it any further!" he said, his cheeks gaining some colour as the doll's arms began to slow down. "It is… beautiful!"
"R-Right…" I said, a little put-off by his fervour.
I knew that he was a fan of figures and dolls, but this… it was trying to kill him, but he didn't mind at all…
"It looks like this book has some notes about that thing," Rudy said, flipping through the journal on the desk. "Hmm… I think this was the creator's… it seems like he used magic circles to mimic the human body, from nerves to blood flow… how interesting."
"That sounds absurd… here, let me see," Cliff said, joining in.
Letting the three academics discuss the magnificence of the discovery, I slowly sheathed my sword as I enhanced my Demon eye to search the basement one last time.
I was pretty sure that this doll was the reason for the deaths, as while Zanoba could survive its strikes, that was only because he was a Miko.
Maybe it was a security measure from a previous owner?
Who knew… but anyway, I didn't think there was anything else to worry about instead of safety, but I'd be sure to spend a few nights here alone just in case…
With the other three finishing up their discussion, Zanoba then placed the now-unmoving doll onto the large pedestal, where it had been resting before, and lifting both onto his shoulder.
"You're taking that?" I asked the man.
"Ah! My apologies! That was quite presumptuous of-"
"No, it's fine, you can take it," I said. "Just… make sure it doesn't massacre the student body, alright?"
"Of course!" he nodded, pushing up his glasses with his free hand. "While I appreciate this magnificent creation, I am more interested in seeing how this works. I… have no talent in craftsmanship nor magic for creating figures, but this… if I can research this… I may be able to find something I can do."
With his mouth forming a small smile, he then pressed his hand against his chest with confidence.
"So rest assured, I will be dissecting this to see its inner machinations, so there is no chance of such a disaster!" he proclaimed.
"Uh… yeah, I trust you, Zanoba," I said, once again put-off by the man's enthusiasm.
Well… at least he seemed happy.
As we walked back out through the house, I took one last look at the dilapidated mansion I would soon be calling my home.
"It's definitely a fixer-upper. All the plaster and windows need to be replaced, and not to mention the furniture, but… I'm excited," I said, patting Rudy on the shoulder. "Like this, I guess our family have all found a home, right?"
"Yeah… that's right," he nodded. "Anyway… our place is already finished, and you mentioned how you wanted to leave on a trip soon, so Sara and I can help with getting it ready. Especially the furniture."
"Yeah… thanks, Rudy," I said, giving him one last pat before turning back to the other two as we walked towards the university. "And you two as well. I'll buy you lunch as thanks."
"Ah! There is no need!" Zanoba said. "This doll is more than enough. In fact, I should be the one thanking you! Allow me to support the renovations of your new home!"
Uhh…
"Financially, of course!" he added.
"Ah… well, thank you very much, Zanoba," I nodded.
Yeah, that sounded better.