It's about Lara."
393.
394.Lara was already sleeping soundly.
395.Usually she had the most brazen expressions, but her sleeping one was that of an angel.
396.
397."To be honest, I had been thinking that was how it was."
398.
399.What is, I couldn't bring myself to ask.
400.It was what she spoke of today.
401.The fact that Lara can use the Migurd racial ability just fine.
402.
403."I had been quiet up until now...but every time I saw Zenith and Lara staring at each other, I considered the possibility."
404."It never came to mind for me."
405."I'm sure. You've been quite busy these few years, always moving around."
406.
407.I haven't been watching over my children, is what it felt like she said.
408.Well, if I had assert one or the other, maybe it would be that I haven't.
409.Maybe I've just been watching the cute parts and doting on them.
410.
411.I haven't done a single thing that would count as raising or educating them.
412.Frankly, I've just been taking advantage of Sylphy and Roxy for that.
413.
414."What kind of expression is that? I'm not blaming you for it."
415.
416.I appreciate she can say that.
417.No matter how much I worry and reflect over it, my hands are currently full with the Hitogami stuff.
418.I have no resources to devote to raising children.
419.
420."It's just, I was thinking a little."
421."About what?"
422.
423.Roxy was stroking Lara's head.
424.
425."I was born in this village. Once I became aware of my surroundings, I grew up always feeling alienated."
426."...."
427."Thinking back on it, those days were really difficult. Leaving the village, going to a town where they come to mutual understandings with words, making acquaintances there, and when I began my life as an adventurer, I keenly realized that the world I lived in was right here."
428.
429.She can't do what everyone else can.
430.Not being able to just such a simple thing.
431.When asked why she couldn't do such an ordinary action, she wouldn't even know.
432.Just unable to do it and spoken of as a useless failure by her peers, and she even recognized herself as such.
433.But that really wasn't common sense.
434.She was glad she couldn't do it.
435.When Roxy knew that, she undoubtedly had an indescribable sense of freedom.
436.
437."If Lara is raised as it is, maybe she'll have the same thoughts I did. I may be glad I left the village, but Lara isn't me. There aren't any other races that can use the same ability as the Migurds."
438.
439.Roxy, then, suddenly looked away.
440.
441.But she may be right.
442.The Migurds don't leave the village often.
443.Even on the Demon Continent, I had almost never saw a race like the Migurds.
444.It may not be exclusive, but they are a self-enclosed race.
445.
446.I can't say that Lara won't feel alienated in the future.
447.
448."So I was thinking," Roxy said, still facing away.
449.She had a troubled face as if she had no confidence in her own idea.
450.
451."How about leaving Lara with my father and mother?"
452."...Huh?"
453."I wondering that it might be best to live in the Migurd village as a Migurd Until she's 10 or 15, until she's grown to some extent. Afterwards, wouldn't it be for the best to decide if she should leave or stay in the village? That's what I was thinking."
454."...."
455.
456.I want to be with my son and daughters as much as I possibly can.
457.I think that's the obligation as one who conceived them. I view taking responsibility as including that.
458.Minus the Hitogami stuff, I want Lara to be raised somewhere I can see.
459.
460.But Roxy was telling me something she had thought hard over.
461.She isn't saying it because she wants to escape from responsibility or because she wants to resign from childcare.
462.It's because it will be hard on Lara.
463.She's saying it because Lara wouldn't want to go through the same things she herself had.
464.
465.A child with blue hair who has a different means of talking with others.
466.There's no way there won't be painful times.
467.It goes without saying a parent can't shoulder the child's pain.
468.
469."I'm against it... But if you think it's for the best, then I..."
470.
471.The words wouldn't come out.
472.I can't choose.
473.Should I prioritize my own feelings or Roxy's suggestion?
474.I could only keep silent, unsure.
475.
476."I'm sorry, Rudy. Please forget this. The conversation never happened," Roxy said after a brief period of silence.
477.That was where we ended the day.
478.
479.Roxy and I slept with our hands held.
480.
481.
482.
483.The Migurd village was a quiet village.
484.You can't hear any conversation.
485.Since the villagers talk with telepathy, there was no conversations in the village.
486.Maybe some of them would greet Roxy, but she couldn't hear it.
487.But Lara probably could.
488.The conversations of the people preparing food over there, or a lover's quarrel inside a home, or all other kinds of racket.
489.
490."Seeing this lack of change, I can understand the richness my past ten years had...or rather, the bustle of human livelihoods have," Roxy said, turning her gaze to our daughter that she was carrying.
491.Lara, as always, was staring at Roxy with a surly face.
492.I don't think this village would change even after another decade.
493.Or even were there a change, we wouldn't notice it.
494.
495."Then, take care, alright?"
496."You alright if you stay a little longer..."
497.
498.Royn and Rokary were seeing us off at the village entrance.
499.They looked rather lonely.
500.
501."Could I hold Lara once last time?" Royn asked, and extended his arms.
502.Grandchildren are cute no matter where in the world you are.
503.It didn't appear like they have any intention of having children aside from Roxy.
504.
505."It's perfectly fine, here."
506.
507.Roxy held out Lara, who she was holding, to him, or at least tried to.
508.
509."What's this?"
510.
511.Lara was firmly clinging onto the neck area of Roxy's robe.
512.It was like a scene I had saw somewhere.
513.
514."Come now, Lara, say goodbye to grandpa and grandma."
515."...."
516.
517.Lara, making use of both her arms and legs, was clinging onto Roxy like a cicada.
518.Just like that, she looked over at me.
519.The usual surly and brazen face she always had was...gone.