Chapter 450
Chapter 450
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 120
Chapter Title: Family (2)
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The sun was setting. Numburton had turned as vibrantly colorful as a mountain cloaked in autumn leaves. The high sky and the low hum of cicadas signaled that summer was fast approaching.
Iril, who had been gazing up at the sky, muttered to herself.
"Nice weather."
She loved the sky at this time of year the most. Sunsets were beautiful in any season, but the evening sky of early summer matched her little brother's eyes more closely than any other.
Like the other houses in Numburton, Iril's cabin was also tinged with autumn hues. She kicked the door open with her foot and set down the basket.
"Phew, that's it for today!"
Iril smiled contentedly as she wiped the sweat from her forehead.
This year had been a bumper crop, so harvesting took longer. The massive fir basket—big enough to kidnap a person in—was stuffed full of plump potatoes. It was a weight that would strain even two grown men, but to her, it was no big deal.
She picked out the best potatoes and started cooking.
"Hum de dum~ hum~"
Even as she hummed a tune, her hands never stopped. It was a familiar menu, so she was incredibly deft at it.
She peeled the well-washed potatoes and sliced them into bite-sized pieces. Potatoes alone weren't great for the body, so adding some meat and other vegetables made it even better.
Today, she had rabbit meat gifted from the neighbors. Putting all the ingredients into the cauldron with milk and boiling them filled the house with an appetite-whetting aroma.
"There we go, special potato stew!"
Soon, Iril finished cooking and placed the cauldron on the table.
The bubbling sound was pleasing to the ears. The breeze slipping through the half-open window cooled her heated face. As she set out the utensils, she clapped her hands.
"Oh, what was I thinking."
She had gotten carried away with her humming and made a mistake. Coming to her senses, she saw two wooden bowls on the table. One was hers, the other Ronan's. She made this slip every three days or so.
Iril stared blankly at the bowls and gave a wry smile.
"Still doing this. Geez."
It had already been three years since Ronan ran away from home.
She vowed not to do it every time, but habits ingrained in the body weren't easy to break.
She was still saving money for the day Ronan might return. The jar by the fireplace had filled up last year, so now she was using a pickling jar as a piggy bank.
Iril murmured.
"I miss you all..."
Today, the silence of the empty house felt especially heavy.
The cabin, once filled with the cheerful family of four, now held only her. Father had left home, mother had passed from illness, and the brother she raised like her own child had run off without a word.
Suddenly, as Iril stroked Ronan's chair, visions of a girl and a baby appeared before her.
- Come on, Ronan! Time to eat!
- Kyaaak! Nooo!
The white-haired girl was struggling to feed the baby. The infant, who could barely speak, resisted fiercely as if the baby food were poison.
Iril easily realized they were her younger self and brother from childhood.
- Whoa, Dragon Orse! Zoom~
- Hahaha... Gah?!
But the girl didn't give up. She maneuvered the spoon like an acrobatic dragon in flight and succeeded in slipping in a spoonful while the baby's attention was diverted.
The baby chewed with pursed lips, bewildered but swallowing. The girl finally sighed in relief and kissed her brother's cheek.
"Heehee."
A laugh escaped her involuntarily. These hallucinations from her childhood appeared occasionally. She wanted to watch a bit longer.
But when Iril rubbed her moist eyes and opened them again, the girl and baby had vanished.
"Ah..."
Iril bit her lower lip.
The kitchen held only the empty chair and bowl. A wave of loss crashed over her. Her breathing grew rapid.
"Ugh... Ah..."
This was dangerous. Trembling like a patient searching for medicine, she rummaged in her skirt pocket. A neatly folded note came out. It read an apology for leaving without a word and a promise to return soon.
"Haaa..."
It was unmistakably Ronan's handwriting. Her breathing steadied. Iril patted her chest.
"...Yeah. Sis is okay."
It was the note found in front of the house a fortnight ago. Now, it was Iril's most precious treasure.
Whenever she felt this down, she pulled out the note to read. Iril folded the paper neatly and put it back in her pocket. She murmured once more.
"I'm okay. Dad."
Even the sadness that turned her heart blue could be endured with this note. It was why she now dared hope for Cain's return, which she had nearly given up on.
If Ronan's safe, then Dad must be alive somewhere too.
"So everyone... has to be okay."
Iril bowed her head deeply.
She wanted to set out searching immediately, but she couldn't.
The house couldn't be empty if Ronan or Dad came back. Besides, Ronan had promised to return soon this time.
Raising her face again, she furrowed her brows.
"Oops, it's getting cold."
She hurriedly sat at the table. Never skipping meals was her ironclad rule. She had work tomorrow, and for the day she'd reunite with her family, she needed to stay healthy.
Maybe because of the variety of ingredients, today's stew looked especially delicious and hearty.
It was the moment Iril, shaking off thoughts of her family, took her first spoonful.
"Damn it, you useless cow who can't even be used as a feed trough. How long since you ran away and you already forgot? Sis likes yellow."
"You're the idiot, moron. Yellow my ass—it's the color of my piss from last night. Definitely white. White, I tell you. Right, old man?"
"I think... it was orange."
Bickering male voices echoed from outside the cabin.
They all sounded vulgar, yet oddly familiar.
Iril stood from her seat.
****
Ronan3 burst into hollow laughter at Cain's words.
"Nah, orange is way off. Got dementia or what? How do you forget your daughter's favorite flower color?"
He clutched a bouquet of pure white daffodils, contrasting sharply with the yellow ones in my hand, like his own empty head.
Cain sighed.
"I'm embarrassed too. Living too long uselessly has muddled my memories... More importantly, Ronan."
"Which one are you calling?"
"You. Can't you start calling me properly now? 'Old man' is a bit much, even if."
"Damn, what can I do if 'Dad' doesn't roll off the tongue? I'm trying."
Ronan3 averted his gaze. He still seemed uncomfortable around Cain. Never seeing him until adulthood, only for him to pop up suddenly—it was understandable.
Cain, aware of it, didn't press.
"Fine. If you're trying, that's enough. Honestly, I could hardly believe you were my son either."
"What do you mean?"
"When I opened the door, you were shitting on the desk in Acalusia's reception room. Pants half-down, ass just like mine. Telling you now, the shock was on par with my brother stabbing me."
"Hell, you think I wanted to? That tiny dwarf treats people's time like a joke. Thirty minutes is a lot of time... Even if it was you, you'd have pissed yourself."
"I wouldn't have, asshole."
Ronan3 flipped him the bird. Unfazed, he spat and resumed blabbering about Sis's favorite flowers.
We'd wrapped up business in Acalusia in a day and come to Numburton. The lingering sunset was beautiful. Sis's cabin was now just steps away.
Smoke from the chimney meant she was home.
"Got your words for Sis ready?"
"Of course. You know how hard I memorized them."
Ronan3 thumped his chest.
He bragged about organizing and memorizing what to say to Sis while I lounged in Acalusia's fancy bed. The white daffodils were unforgivable, but this thoroughness was commendable.
"Good. I'm looking forward to it."
"Don't worry. Unlike some, my memory's sharp. You'll probably shed感動 tears listening. For a reunion after so long, it's the least..."
"Who are you?"
Ronan3 was mid-ramble.
The cabin door suddenly flew open, and a white-haired woman stepped out.
"Uh."
All three of us froze like statues.
It was unmistakably Sis. As beautiful as ever, dazzling to the eyes, no matter the world. Her silver hair, like starlight, fluttered in the wind.
"Oops."
I pulled up my prepared hood to cover my face. Two Ronans at the reunion might shock her. Revealing myself later was fine.
Sis just stared at us without a word.
"Hey, say something."
Unable to stand it, I nudged Ronan3's side. But he couldn't even blink properly, all his chatter forgotten.
Mr. Great Memory?
In the end, Sis spoke first.
"...Ronan? Is that you, Ronan?"
Sis slowly walked toward us. The door stood wide open, but no one cared enough to point it out.
The father and son's breathing grew ragged.
As the distance narrowed to five steps, Ronan3's lips finally parted.
"I-I'm back, Sis."
"Ronan."
"Sis... H-here."
He tremblingly offered the daffodils. Taking a deep breath, Ronan3 continued.
"Your favorite... White, right?"
Sis didn't answer. She didn't take the flowers. She just stared at her brother's face, entranced. She whispered softly.
"...Don't disappear."
"Huh?"
Ronan3 tilted his head. Instead of replying, Sis clenched her callused fist. She strained to keep from blinking.
"Please. Just a little longer..."
This is a dream. Can't be real.
Everything would vanish the moment she closed and opened her eyes. As she raised her trembling arm to touch Ronan3's face...
"Iril."
"...Huh?"
Cain called her. Following his voice, Sis turned and froze again. A reunion after over a decade. Cain slowly approached and stood before her.
"I missed you. I've committed a grave sin against you. I..."
"Don't come closer!"
Suddenly, Sis shouted and backed away. Her face twisted in a complex expression, like crying and laughing at once.
Cain faltered.
"...Why?"
"I know. If you touch me, you'll disappear... Please don't come closer."
Sis's voice cracked.
"Th-this can't be real. Ronan and Dad coming back together out of nowhere... It can't be."
"Iril."
"The happier the dream, the worse the awakening... The loneliness, the empty house scares me so much I can't bear it. So please, stay with me just one more second. Okay?"
Every word pierced the heart like a dagger.
Cain squeezed his eyes shut. A pained groan escaped his dry lips.
I couldn't fathom his feelings. No one but him could know the heart of a father who, after an impossibly long life, finally gained a family—only to leave under a cruel curse.
"I'm sorry."
Opening his eyes, Cain strode forward.
"But this isn't a dream."
"Ah..."
No chance to speak. Cain embraced Sis. Bold, yet gentle, like handling fragile treasure. Warmth spread where they touched. Sis's eyes widened.
"Wildflowers."
My eyes twitched. Suddenly, a story Sis once told from the original world flashed in my mind.
Before I was born, Father often strolled around Numburton with the family. Mother arm-in-arm beside him, Numburton shining much as it did now.
'A story I don't know.'
As a child, she always fell asleep before the walks ended. Father always carried her home when she dozed off unknowingly. Sis said she loved it. His broad back and the faint wildflower scent from his clothes—she giggled about it.
"...Dad?"
Sis's sunset eyes wavered like waves.
"Yes, Iril. It's me."
Cain nodded. Panting Iril buried her face in his shoulder.
"Really Dad?"
"It's me. I'm sorry. I was too late."
"Dad, Dad... Dad..."
Her slender shoulders shook.
Her voice regressed to that of the lonely girl left behind, not the gentle, steadfast head of household. Suddenly lifting her face, she pulled nearby Ronan3 into the embrace.
"S-Sis?"
"Don't disappear. Please don't disappear."
She hugged them both and began sobbing again.
Contrary to Iril's fears, Cain didn't vanish. Neither did Ronan3.
"Of course not. I won't... go anywhere anymore."
Voice, body heat, freely flowing tears.
Everything they saw and touched was undeniably real.
I stepped behind a tree, put the pipe in my mouth.
"Hm."
This wasn't my place. Exhaling, white smoke dispersed.
I silently watched the family reunion. Father's long-cherished wish was fulfilled only after reaching the third parallel world.
Today, parallel worlds didn't feel so bad.
Sweeping back my hair, I grinned at the sunset sky.
"Hey, you watching?"