True Family Never Breaks
True family never breaks. There were all sorts of commotions along the way. There was the tragic incident where Multrenung got branded as the worst black mage ever, but since he just went "Huhu... I'm used to infamy," I figured he'd be fine and let it slide. From the moment we arrived in the Holy Kingdom, we were wrapped in mystery and lulled into a cozy haze, so there was even a kidnapping fiasco... but that got sorted out when Multrenung showed up to rescue us. Afterward, right in the middle of the plaza, we witnessed a rare spectacle of purifying and reforming devil worshippers with holy fire and holy water.
The reunion with the mom I'd longed to see again happened in the most haphazard way. She looked nothing like the mom I'd seen my whole life at home— all flashy pink, dazzling, and glowing way too brightly—so I didn't recognize her. That must've hurt her deeply, because she went into shock and nearly died before barely coming to.
"S-sorry, Senior! I was just trying to figure out what was going on..."
"Nah, it's fine. What're you sorry for, Junior? It was your first kidnapping, so you didn't know. If I had, I'd have run 'em through the grinder."
"Eek!"
Is our junior that timid? The bold front she showed at first was gone, and she was trembling like a baby bunny—it was adorable. I got the urge to pat her head and lifted my hand just a bit, but Tani hunched her shoulders, tucked in her neck, and shrank back. Seeing that, the furious Void Mask—who had Multrenung stuffed in a barrel and beating his ass—chimed in.
"Huhu... Do you know that liking someone... can hurt them sometimes?"
"Huh? What do you mean?"
"Some people hate it when you suddenly get too close. Humanity's full of variety, huhu... There are trash like me, and folks who get wary about getting friendly... To put it in terms you'd get, Wiyu—like grabbing a bunny's ears just 'cause it's cute and it's got strong instincts?"
"Ah... Sorry, Tani~ Big bro wasn't being thoughtful."
I'll hold back on the head pats and getting too buddy-buddy from now on! With this cute witch junior around, I'd started treating her like the baby livestock back home. Freshly born critters are so cute you just gotta pet 'em... And baby pigs are all soft and tender, bones all squishy... Hmm, lunch time yet?
Wiyu, drooling at the thought of food, kept a polite distance without crowding her. Tani stared in shock. This psycho witch actually listens and reflects on advice?! A psychopath who's learned social skills is terrifying!! But she's a Witchcraft, right? Aren't you scared she might grind you up if you piss her off? No? Then she's one of those "fine adults" the seniors said you can live in society with!!
"Whoa, you're popular."
"Huhu... It's just a moment's thing... Back at the academy, they won't even acknowledge me."
Suck it while it's sweet, spit it out once the juice is gone. That's the black mage life, he chuckled with his worldly experience. Still, Wiyu thought, there's plenty to learn from a guy who at least gets some affection like this.
"Coming to the Holy Kingdom means... Senior—no, Big Bro, what's your job?"
"Huhu... Bla—mmph!"
The poor guy whose life had turned him into an aspiring black mage, but he wouldn't lose his pride. Just as Multrenung tried to introduce himself as a black mage, the God of Nurture clamped his mouth shut.
"What's our cute little one's job, hmm?"
"Uh, certified Holy Kingdom inquisitor."
"Must rake in the cash...? Let's scam her, believer."
"Huhu... And that's why I'm just trash..."
"Call me Big Bro too!!"
This mess was next-level chaos. Why's only Multrenung getting the "big bro" treatment? Wiyu flopped on the ground in protest. The goddess eyed Tani's wallet, wondering how much cash an inquisitor carries. Multrenung, still getting his ass beat in the barrel, just stared at the sky like "whatever." Tani, terrified of the crazy lady, clung to the barrel without noticing her wallet getting picked.
Someone needed to sort this out—when a streak of black light crossed the sky and perched on Multrenung's head. The Grand Duke (Change) had arrived. Joy at his entrance was short-lived; Mom's earlier eye-searing glow was gone. Aris Witchcraft revealed herself.
The goddess bolted, ditching her believer without a backward glance. Tani shrieked "Aaaah!!" and trembled. She didn't have the guts to beg to be taken along. All she could rely on was Drum-Barrel Big Bro(?).!
"You okay, Mom?"
"Y-yeah... I'm fine."
Aris was gawked at so hard passersby nearly snapped their necks. She couldn't meet her son's eyes, fidgeting like a dog desperate for a poop spot—total dork.
"...You mad at Mom...?"
Her voice barely a whisper, she mustered the courage to ask. Wiyu silently pulled her into a hug. Their massive chests made it awkward compared to when she was a guy, but the warm love flowing through was the same—no issue.
"It's all 'cause you love me, right?"
A male witch's position was ambiguous; his very existence could be Mom's weakness. But she'd worry more about him getting hurt than that. That's why she paid an enormous price to pull forth the "history where he was born a female witch."
Because she loved her child. She'd rip out her own heart if his hurt. No words or metaphors could price that love. You call a kid without parents an orphan, but there's no word for parents without kids—just ones heavy with guessed pain.
Sure, Mom must've agonized, consulted Poppins Aunt, worried how her son would react. Being honest scared her; she already felt sorry for his mana-less birth. She just wanted freedom, happiness, his desired life for him—no denying his academy dream. Sure, nobles and races dragged him around due to Mom's wild youth, making it tough.
But that reckless path he chose existed because of Mom's love, right?
"I thought I was commoner-folk, so I worried about repeating a year as nobility... but I've made tons of friends, learned lots, and it's fun."
"R-really...? No anger at suddenly turning girl or anything?"
Staring at her ever-child-worrying, lovable mom.
"Happy you had me?"
"Yeah."
"Then we're good."
She'd eyed her nervously, voice shaking, but on birthing him, the great witch had "confidence." After her long life of unimaginable trials, the one thing she'd proudly say no regrets on was having him. What words to add to that love—not just birth, but total devotion?
"We're family, and you're the best in the world to me."
Forgiveness? Weird. Nothing to forgive. Family loves, cherishes, stays together forever.
"Academy enrollment... Honestly feels like puberty hit. Wanted to head to the city, work, make your life easy..."
"My son loving me so much caused this mess—makes me happy... But kinda my fault!"
Mom's first time parenting—she knew zilch! Tried hard with love, but so clueless it was baffling; she scratched her head with a dopey grin. Ahh, my nostalgic mom...
Out and about, full makeup or whatever...
"You were so different, didn't recognize you..."
"At least you didn't call me sis."
Instinct sensed motherhood, but brain failed, so "auntie" slipped out. True auntie, so no big hit, Mom laughed. If unrecognized again, she'd have died terrified.
"Oh! Grand Duke's been great!! And!!"
"What? That wasn't a lie?"
"I lived, fuck yeah!!"
"Oh, and he buys me women's undies and clothes to wear. Saving 'em for guy-mode. Learned crossdressing from him too."
Hell Warlord No.1. The great demon Change, born from human hearts and nature's phenomena... Just Aris glaring pissed him to ash particles.
Wiyu's dumb too, but just a glare disintegrates foes. Vermilio and Multrenung blankly watched: "This is why Witchcrafts scare us."
Terror maxed out past numbness to acceptance.
"Professor Vermilio's great too. Brought me to sightsee the Holy Kingdom!"
"Huh? Still teaching? Remember me?"
"Forgetting wouldn't be the issue."
"But like back then, when you marrying?"
Vermilio spewed blood from every orifice and keeled over. Even crazy Witchcraft has a kid, but you, that age, no lover? Hearing it from her hit too hard; she flatlined. Priests revived her. Better off dead for peace?
"That's the half-witch? Thought you lived in Sword City Arista~ Became witch hunter, huh. Makes sense."
"Mom saved and ditched me, got twisted."
"But~ back then, our pup was crawling age? Couldn't leave for a second without Mom going insane—how?"
"Ah, my fault! Gotta treat you better! C'mere, Junior! Hug of love!"
"Must miss maternal love at that age. Want a hug from me?"
Terror freezes screams... Golden liquid trickled down thighs in the pitiful scene; the mother-daughter duo reflected. Multrenung adulted up: "Act mature around her, please."
"Your friend?"
"Taught me black magic. Turned into resurrection, but whatever."
"Huhu... Did I teach you...?"
Wasn't it closer to marmot stuff? Memory's flexible, prettied up nice.
"Commoner, so we vibe; I'm socially inept, so she teaches me stuff?"
"Oh, good friend. Didn't scream at Mom—reliable?"
"Huhu... Got nothing to lose... What's worse than death?"
"We'll revive you anyway. Killed you by accident once..."
"Can't revive? Mom'll undead you. Take care of our pup, ho ho."
Aris handed over mystery top-shelf sweets with a grin. Multrenung politely accepted from the lady who'd vaporize the barrel with a look.
"Get friendly. Rare to talk back to Mom like that."
"Huhu... Trash life... No backing down..."
"He's learning lots—good friend, see?"
Multrenung saved the sweets for the road, considerate to drooling Wiyu. What a friend... Academy was the right call.
Tani clung to her senior for survival, her huge chest making him a shield. He just smirked in resignation.
Thus, Wiyu and friends headed back to Pluwitch Academy from the Holy Kingdom. Kissed Mom's cheek goodbye, promised frequent letters. Said "I love you" seven times. Aris teared up watching her son go. Beside her, the Pope eyed the madwoman wonderingly: "She cries too, huh?"
Tears acidic enough to melt the ground—but minor damage, overlooked. Protected by divine realms, not mortal level!!
"Seriously shocked. Didn't think you'd have a kid."
"'Bout 50 years ago? Adventuring together, learned life's preciousness and junk. First thank-you letters from kids then."
Like cloth slowly soaking, facing unknowns, crises... Even Aris Witchcraft felt the world's vastness, daunting journey.
This hero party might earn "Legendary Three" title? Epic feats barely achieved by history-makers. Some dropped mid-way... Looking back, tumultuous, unforgettable memories, she smiled.
Pope watched her laugh: "She has a human heart too."
"Skipped subjugation rewards, vanished after... Know why?"
"Huh? I took mine."
"What reward..?"
"Yup, two balls? You're clergy, can't use 'em."
? Pope blinked: Did I hear right?
Others snuck one each as "reward," Aris said. Took the whole [factory] for safety, but Pope froze. "Healed without trace," fell on deaf ears.
"How was our pup?"
"Uh, uh... Good kid.."
"Felt 'cause your daughter? Great personality?"
Whose daughter?! Pope spewed tea, world-crumbled face staring.
Wanted a lovable kid too. No mom herself, age, woman—why not one? Heroes' adventures, smiling kids sparked it. Post-quest, stole party balls, mixed best genes for birth. "Royal in a way," Aris cackled.
"Pope can't have heirs, but blood daughter could be saint. Oh right, permanent ban from Holy Kingdom? Won't see her now."
"Eh?"
"Pup always wondered 'bout dad. First bio-dad banishes her... Hurt, she might kill you—cool?"
"You should've TOLD me!!!!!"
Spilled tea, Pope sprinted full-tilt. Age forgotten, lungs bursting, still ran. Too frantic for divine magic.
Unknown daughter shock, but he banished her as father now. Sweet kid's future hurt worried him—but train pulled away perfectly timed.
"Huhu... Pope's there."
"Eh, really, Senior?"
Tani, prepping enrollment in Sword City Arista early, puzzled the chase. Permanent ban—why visit? Still, good meeting.
"Pope!! Won't see you again, stay healthy~!!"
Aris's acquaintance, so emotional farewell from Wiyu. To Pope, distorted: tearful daughter "Daddy, glad we met once."
"St-stop... Train, stop!! Waaah!!"
"STOP THE TRAIIIIN!!!!"
Desperate Pope's wail echoed unheard; train rolled on. First and last Holy Kingdom trip, but memories forever—Wiyu waved smiling till end. Pope tumbled rolling.
"No need responsibility. Unknown daughter—pretend she never was, live on?"
"Like hell!!!!!"
What does she think people are?! Aris's ice-cold emotionless line broke Pope to sobs, invoking his god.
Did god know truth? Pity—he'd rip even gods if knowing. Just wipe his kid's tears possible. Such tragedy again?
"Fine, plenty dads besides you. Treated pup well, but bad end—minus points."
"Don't grade it!!!!"
"If pup wants, keep a dad around?"
This mad witch—what's people to her? Son needs dad... Pope fainted regretting.
"Holy Kingdom was suuuper fun!! Hehe!!"
Learned aerial flight, flapping arm-wings like a chicken. Got cute witch junior, rode train with friends munching bentos.
Chattering like a kid, the Divination prof smiled warmly, listening all. Such details build respect for adults.
Wiyu gone, prof turned to her banned companion.
