One such day.
A letter arrived.
It was from Paul.
It seems to be a letter that was sent a year prior finally making its trip here.
[To Rudeus.
I saw the letter. That you're going to attend the Magic University. Congratulations!
Various things happened, but I feel happy that you're walking down your own path.
I'm sure you've heard from Elinalise, but it seems like we can somehow or other manage things with Zenith.
It's thanks to Roxy, Talhand, and Elinalise's help.
Please tell Elinalise thanks in that regard as well.
Well, I'm sure she'll just make an unpleasant face anyway though.
Well then, right now we're in East Port.
We're getting ready to head towards Begaritto Continent after this.
I've never been to Begaritto Continent before, but it's supposedly the next harshest land after Magic Continent.
Crossing over with children makes me a little bit uncomfortable.
Norn and Aisha are still nine years old after all.
So, the idea came up that we would send just the children up to your place.
Even though I say that, I know that letting the children journey on their own is dangerous.
Ginger said she would act as the escort for them, but I don't know what could happen.
It's dangerous, but if we're going to be separated again and worry about it, then it's better to take them along.
Just about the time I thought that, we reunited with a certain individual.
It's a person you know as well.
That person said he would take over escorting the children, so I left it to them.
I think you'll be surprised when you meet as well.
It's a reliable person.
Honestly, it was a mortifying option.
If something happens in the middle of the journey and it becomes something terrible when my eyes are off them.
When I think that, the feeling that I want to take them together with me is large as well.
But, after all I really want the children to stay in a safe place.
Including you as well.
After Norn and Aisha get there, I'd like for you to prepare a place for them to live and to commute to school from, it's fine even if it's small.
I've left money for school fees and life expenses in their possession.
It's a considerably large amount of money.
Don't buy a woman or anything.
...Like that could be the case. Well, I'm sure if it's you then you'll be able to handle it well.
Rather, it's something that I really should be doing myself though... sorry I'm a bad father.
I'm sorry, but I'm depending on you.
Thinking about it, you're already 15 years old, by the time this letter arrives you should be 16 huh.
You're an adult.
I feel bad that I wasn't ever able to congratulate you on your birthday.
I can't congratulate Aisha and Norn for their 10th birthdays as well.
But well, that's something grand we can do at the time when we reunite.
Together with all of our family.
It's alright for you to leave this side to us.
In reality, the Fedoa Region search group has disbanded, all that's left are Lilia, Talhand, Roxy, Vera, Shera, and I.
We should have enough combat potential to return from Begaritto Continent.
If things proceed favorably, with a one or two year delay we'll be able to head over there I'm sure.
In the beginning, I thought about having Lilia go together with the children on the journey, but it seems that Lilia is more worried about me than the children.
It's something I can't really accept. How pathetic.
Even though I say that, Lilia trusts in Aisha.
She seems to have taught her most things that she has to be taught.
Aisha is a genius.
Between you and Aisha, I'm scared of my own seed.
But, Norn is a normal child.
A bit different from you and Aisha.
That's why I'm sure you might feel impatient at many times, but please look at it over the long term.
Also, probably because I was spoiling her, I think she has some selfish points.
She also seems to hate you as well, along with that, her relationship with Aisha isn't very good.
Since that's the case, I think there's the possibility that she might end up being isolated, but... as an older brother I'd like for you to look after her without hating it.
Just in case, I've left the same letter with both of them.
I think it will be fine leaving it to that person, but if six months pass after the time this letter arrives, I'd like for you to search for them on your side.
For the time being, something along those lines.
It's come down to where I'm leaving every little thing down to you, I do feel apologetic about that.
I leave it in your care.
From Paul Greyrat.]
It was a letter overflowing with apologies.
Paul you... really now.
It seems Norn and Aisha alone are heading here.
I'm a bit worried, but I think it's probably better for them to come here instead of going to the Begaritto Continent as well.
But, I wonder if it would have been fine if they were left in the care of Zenith's parents in Milishion.
No, I think that in itself might have had its own problems associated with it.
Putting aside Norn, Aisha doesn't have Zenith's blood flowing in her after all.
The journey is, well it should be alright.
Comparing the Central Continent to the Magic Continent, the degree of danger is pretty low after all.
If you were to call it a worry, then I am worried that there are many kidnappings in this world, but kidnappers fundamentally only target the weak.
If there are two of them and they have an escort with some amount of skill, then I'm sure no one will try to forcefully abduct them.
It was written in the letter that they have an escort with them.
Ginger was a female knight imperial guard belonging to Zanoba.
I don't remember how skilled she was.
It's just that, since the knights of Shirone had learned the Water God style, I'm sure she'll be useful for the duty of escorting.
And then, there's one more.
It's written that it's a person I can trust.
I wonder who. Maybe Gisu?
There's no way it could be Eris right.
Thinking about other reliable people that Paul and I know... ah, maybe it could be that person.
They did say they were going to search the Central Continent after all, it could be that luckily they managed to encounter each other.
If it's that person, then I can leave it to them.
To the point where Ginger is unnecessary.
In any case, I could really feel Paul's trust in me from the contents of the letter.
It won't be good if I don't respond to that trust.
I'm the eldest son after all!
However, if that's the case it's really a success that I already bought a house.
We have plenty of leftover rooms as well.
We can receive them without any problems.
If there was going to be any problems, it would be that my two younger sisters are still young.
Sylphy's and my love life might not go very well in regards to their education.
Well, it should be fine as long as we prepare a room for them away from our bedroom.
It's something to look forward to.
I wonder when they'll come.
Maybe about two months later.
And before that.
"It's no good if I don't properly discuss these things."
I'll go discuss it with Sylphy.
Around this time she should be in the kitchen cooking.
After looking into the kitchen, a girl with a small build was chopping vegetables with a [chopchop].
Short height, small shoulders, a slender and well-proportioned body.
After seeing such a figure from behind, I started to feel a bit turned on.
"Sylphy...!"
I embraced Sylphy from behind.
I put my hands inside the hem of her apron and groped her soft chest.
"Ouch!!"
"Ah."
After looking Sylphy cut her finger.
The red blood was creating a glob and dripping down on top of the chopping board.
In the moment I embraced her, she cut her finger.
"...Geez. Rudi, that's dangerous when I'm holding cutlery."
Sylphy said it in an unusually criticizing tone.
The cut on her finger was healed in no time at all.
She seems to be using chantless healing magic almost subconsciously.
"I'm sorry. I won't cling to you when you're in the middle of cooking."
"Yeah. Please endure it when I'm cooking. It will be done soon after all."
I retreated from the kitchen and waited in the dining room.
I was a bit nervous.
I ended up getting her hurt.
I was getting a bit too ahead of myself.
I sat on the chair and waited.
And then, since Sylphy came out from the kitchen, I lowered my head.
"I am very sorry for just now."
"I'm not that angry. If you're going to apologize just do it normally."
"Yeah. Sorry."
"Yes. It will fine as long as you're careful next time."
We sat together on two chairs and started eating.
The distance to Sylphy is close.
It seems she isn't angry.
Recently, I might have been loving her too much, I'm afraid of the recoil from the time when she gets tired of courtesy. [10]
"So, what is it? It's unusual for Rudi to be that cheerful."
"Yeah, I received a letter from my father."
"Eh!! From Paul-san!?"
I handed Sylphy the letter while she was surprised.
With a tense expression she started reading the letter and then looked a bit disappointed.
"Ah, it seems like the news that we got married still hasn't arrived yet."
It seems she wanted to know my family's reaction to our marriage.
However, after she continued reading it her face turned serious.
In the end she whispered, "I see."
"That's great isn't it, Rudi. Everyone's safe."
"Yeah."
Come to think of it, it was said pretty nonchalantly, but Sylphy already lost her parents.
I might be lacking a bit of delicacy.
After seeing my face, Sylphy made a bitter smile.
"Really, Rudi, don't make that face. Certainly my mother and father died, but now I have Rudi and Elinalise-san here as well, so I'm not lonely."
While saying that, Sylphy grasped my hand and smiled with a "yeah~"
Recently, Sylphy has been getting even more adorable.
Her very short hair has grown a bit and is just short now, it's making her seem even more girlish.
Her white hair is silky and the long ears that extend out from the sides of her hair are cute.
This kind of girl is