Chapter 91
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 91
Chapter Title: These Are My Daughters
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I once read in a book that parting is a blessing given to humans.
But few people can truly nod in agreement with such words. Most farewells leave behind faint scars that linger for a lifetime, aching in one's heart.
Look at Roselia's face now, standing before the gravestone. The bitter expression on her lips was proof enough.
"These are my parents."
Roselia's voice rode the chill wind straight to my heart.
I didn't offer any empty consolations. At just sixteen, what weight could my words possibly carry?
I simply clasped my hands together and stood silently by her side.
People my mother had cherished. I engraved their names from the gravestone deep into my memory.
"Hello."
I bowed deeply toward the stone. It was nearly a full ninety degrees.
"I'm Bella, Roselia's daughter. Our blood may not be shared... but I truly think of us as family."
Come to think of it, if Roselia was my mom, that would make these two my grandparents, right?
But calling them that felt premature. It seemed too forward, so I tucked the thought away in my heart.
No words came to mind. Having lived as an orphan in both my past and present lives, I had zero experience with this.
In the end, I kept my head bowed, hesitating for a long while before finally murmuring softly.
"Um, please take care of me from now on...?"
"Pfft."
A thin laugh leaked from beside me. Roselia covered her mouth with her hand as she looked down at me, a clear smile hidden in her eyes.
Was that too much? Embarrassment flooded up to my neck, my face burning hot.
Roselia's hand came down on my head. Slender fingers gently ruffled my hair and stroked it softly.
Camilla approached silently as well, taking her place quietly on Roselia's other side.
"Hello."
Camilla offered a short, polite greeting. Her posture as she gazed wordlessly at the stone was neat and composed.
Seeing her like that made my earlier actions feel overly dramatic by comparison.
Roselia's gaze returned to the gravestone.
"These are my daughters."
Her red eyes were far softer and warmer than before.
"Of course... I'm not exactly the best at playing parent."
Roselia's self-deprecation kicked in again.
Why say something like that in front of her parents? This was a time for kind words, not criticism.
"No, you're not."
I cut off Roselia's lament firmly.
"Thanks to you, Mom, I've been able to chase my dreams. If I hadn't met you, I probably couldn't smile like I do now."
With every word I spoke, Roselia's eyes grew wider.
"Roselia... you're the best parent I could ever ask for."
Beside me, Camilla slowly nodded. We usually bickered, but right now, we were in complete agreement.
"Thank you for letting me meet Mom."
I bowed my head again. This time, Camilla bowed quietly beside me toward the stone as well—a short, polite gesture.
Roselia's hands came down, resting on our heads. She stroked our hair with tender affection.
The bitter wind still blew, but now it carried a faint warmth within it.
I'd always thought graves were depressing places, but maybe they weren't always like that.
I carefully took Roselia's hand. We couldn't interlock fingers, so this simple touch was all we had.
Her red eyes met mine. I didn't look away, whispering softly in a gentle voice.
"Let's come visit and say hello often from now on."
Roselia gazed at me wordlessly.
Then, suddenly, she grabbed the back of my collar and yanked me toward her. In the old days, she would've hoisted me right up.
But things were different now.
"Guhk...!"
My collar tightened around my neck. My breath caught, and a weird noise escaped my lips.
Roselia chuckled. Mischief danced in her eyes.
"M-Mom!"
"I used to pick you up like this all the time."
Ignoring my flustered gaze, Roselia deftly slipped her arm under my armpits and lifted me up with ease.
"You're still as light as a feather."
In an instant, I was dangling in midair, my legs kicking helplessly.
The first thing that hit me was shame. I wasn't a kid anymore.
"I-I'm heavy! Put me down quick...!"
"Heavy? Are you even eating properly these days?"
I did eat less than most people.
Even compared to before, my portions hadn't really increased.
"I need to fatten you up. You look like you'd topple over if I poked you."
Roselia's determination sent a chill down my spine. At least her face looked much lighter than before—that was a relief.
"Are you feeling better now?"
"Yeah."
A short reply. But it was enough.
"Congrats on topping the ranks, kiddo."
Roselia continued. Her voice brimmed with sincerity, making me scratch my cheek in embarrassment.
"Thanks. With this, the Rahel Tani name will—"
"Not that."
Her alluring red lips curved up slightly.
Roselia smiled slowly and said,
"I'm just proud of you."
I was still hanging in the air. Roselia pulled me closer to her.
And then...
Smack.
A soft sensation landed on my forehead. It took only a moment to realize it was Roselia's lips.
"Thank you for becoming my daughter."
In any other circumstance, those words would've brought tears of emotion. But right now, I couldn't hear a thing.
All my focus was on the spot in the middle of my forehead where her lips had been.
"Uh, um... er..."
My vision spun. Heat surged through my body, flushing my face.
Sweat beaded across my skin. Tears welled up in my eyes.
"...Bella?"
"Sister?"
Roselia and Camilla called out to me at once. Roselia's face filled with alarm as she quickly set me down on the ground.
"L-Lips... on the... forehead... not supposed to..."
My words trailed off. My vision flipped upside down.
Damn rejection reaction.
※
Inside the carriage racing back to the estate.
The thick silence was filled only by Bella's steady breathing.
Roselia carefully brushed aside the hair of her daughter, who lay with her head pillowed on her lap.
Unconscious as she was, Bella didn't resist the unfamiliar touch. These moments of sleep were the only times Roselia could touch her freely.
"Mother."
Camilla, seated across from her, spoke up. At the same time, a faint mana barrier gently enveloped Bella's ears.
"You found it, didn't you? The clue to the Black Altar."
Her words hit the mark. Camilla's intuition was as sharp as ever.
"Yes, a fairly high-ranking executive."
A brief silence. Then Camilla spoke.
"...Are you going?"
"Who knows. In the old days, I'd have rushed off right then and there..."
Roselia poked Bella's cheek with her fingertip. The soft, squishy feel was just like pressing into mochi.
"Mm..."
Bella murmured softly at the tickle. It was a tiny reaction, but endlessly adorable.
"For now, I want to put it off."
Delaying when she could storm in right now was basically the same as giving up.
Camilla let out a small breath of relief.
"Raising my granddaughter properly feels like a greater act of filial piety for my parents."
Roselia's gaze stayed fixed on Bella. She'd never imagined this little one could make her set aside her revenge.
"...Yes."
Camilla nodded.
An invisible warmth passed between mother and daughter.
"I meant that 'thank you for becoming my daughter' for you too."
Roselia patted the seat beside her. Camilla sat down gingerly, a touch embarrassed.
"Want to feel? She bounces every time you poke her—like a bunny."
Camilla extended her finger without hesitation, lightly tickling her sleeping sister's cheek.
"Mm..."
The reaction was immediate. It was so cute that Camilla couldn't stop.
Soon, the two women's fingers were taking turns poking and prodding Bella's cheeks.
"Nng..."
In the quietly speeding carriage.
The only one secretly suffering inside was Bella.
※
A beast's roar tore through the air, sending chills racing down spines just from the sound alone.
'...This is impossible.'
That was the first thought in Adelina's mind.
The Blue Flame Guild, consisting of just four members.
While scouting the continent's remote outskirts on a subjugation request, they'd stumbled upon traces of a high-grade Black Beast.
She had to judge coolly. It was time to retreat and regroup. Charging in recklessly meant total annihilation.
But Adelina chose to advance. She had to take risks to grow. Only then could she surpass the obstacles and earn forgiveness in the end.
She pressed deeper in. Alensia followed right behind.
A obsessive desire to surpass Bella pushed her onward relentlessly.
And now.
The result stood before them.
A Black Beast baring wide eyes and savage fangs. Its massive body rivaled an adult wyvern.
"It's a Black Wolf."
One of Blue Flame's rear-guard members muttered.
Black Wolf. The most dangerous of wolf-type Black Beasts. Normal wolves hunted in packs, but Black Wolves were the exception.
The reason was simple. In a world crawling with violent Black Beasts, they were strong enough to need no pack.
"Focus! This one's no pushover."
At Adelina's shout, everyone steadied their breaths and heightened their tension.
Instinct warned them first. Slack off even a little, and their necks would be ripped out.
We can't lose.
Adelina gripped her sword tighter. Her body might have stiffened slightly, but fear was not allowed.
Adelina and Alensia exchanged glances and leaped forward in unison.
The rear handled archery. The other member read the terrain and scouted paths—minimal help in combat.
In the end, the front line was just the two of them. Adelina and Alensia had to bear the blade of this fight themselves.
The Black Beast was unreasonably agile for its size. Its sharp claws deflected swords, and its fangs lunged viciously at prey.
But its opponents were no easy marks either.
Adelina's blade slipped in quickly, carving a gash into the Black Beast's flesh. Alensia's struck deep into its flank with heavy force.
After dozens of exchanges, it was the Black Beast whose movements slowed first.
"Push a little more!"
At Adelina's cry, everyone summoned their last reserves. Alensia gritted her teeth, forcing energy into her weary body.
The two sweat-soaked warriors charged the Black Beast together.
And in that instant. The wind whipped up fiercely.
Faint currents of electricity flickered through the gusts, enveloping the Black Beast and swelling into a massive storm.
"No way..."
Adelina's steps halted before the obvious anomaly. But inexperienced Alensia couldn't stop.
"Stop! Alensia!"
By the time the shout reached her, it was far too late.
The raging storm erupted into blinding lightning, mercilessly raining down on the surroundings.
It was magic.
"Gah?!"
The bolt pierced Alensia. Her body seized in agony, frozen stiff.
The Black Beast didn't miss the opening.
Cleaving through the whirlwind, it lunged in an instant, raising a massive forepaw to smash down on Alensia's head.
"Alensia!"
Bam-!
A direct hit. The Black Beast's paw struck Alensia's head dead-on.
But it didn't end there. It slammed her head straight into the ground.
Krunch—
The sound of something shattering to pieces.