"Move out of the village?" At the dinner table, the Greyrat family, who had just finished breakfast, all looked in surprise at Allen, who ap
"Move out of the village?"
At the dinner table, the Greyrat family, who had just finished breakfast, all looked in surprise at Allen, who appeared rather awkward.
It was already the spring of the 414th year of the Ankylosaur Calendar, and this was the fourth time Allen had tried to hint that the Greyrat family should move out of Fitoya Territory.
The most direct and effective way to avoid the consequences of the Great Relocation would be for the Greyrats to leave the Fitoya Territory.
However—
Making the decision was one thing; actually executing it was another.
He couldn't just knock them all unconscious and drag them away, right?
So, all he could do was try to come up with more "pertinent," "practical," and "well-founded" suggestions.
Right?
Paul crossed his arms and frowned.
"You've said we should move out of the village four times since last winter, haven't you? Do you really dislike Buena Village that much?"
He furrowed his brows, arms folded, and began counting on his fingers as he reviewed Allen's "pertinent suggestions" one by one.
"The first time, it was about how the winter was too cold, the snow was too heavy, and not seeing Sylphy every day was bad for the kids' mental and physical growth. Never mind that argument—but you even proposed that the Lortz family move away with us. Isn't that too much?"
Allen covered his face in agony.
Lortz and his family were kind people. As a Jobless Reincarnation fan, he had admired them. How was it "too much" to want Sylphy to have a complete home?
"And when I brought it up with Lortz, he was stunned for a moment and then agreed without hesitation?? Completely baffling! When did your relationship get so good? And since you came back from monster-hunting last winter, Sylphy's been coming over every day. What do you mean you can't see her every day?"
"It's Sylphy who squints at you all day long. Tsk tsk, going by age, she should be closer with Rudy, but she struck first with you. Those wicked little ideas… Well, I have to admit, she's just like a Greyrat. Just like me when I was younger—ouch! Dear, why'd you step on me?"
"I said, Allen—ouch! Lilia, you too?!"
Paul grimaced in pain as he looked at the heeled leather boots of his wives under the table.
Allen, meanwhile, had his head buried in his bowl, trying to disappear.
'You're baffled? I'm even more baffled! I just casually mentioned it to Lortz, and he agreed so happily. And Paul—Paul, you're such a big mouth! How could you sell out your brother like that?'
Paul, pretending to casually brush his hand against Senis and Lilia's legs under the table, seized the moment when they both dodged and quickly continued.
"The second time was even more ridiculous! You got Rudy to claim that staying in the snow all winter could cause impotence? So you suggested we move south? I mean—what did you even learn during those years in the capital? What kind of nonsense are you spouting?"
Paul slammed the table and glanced sideways at Rudy.
Rudy's mouth twitched. He looked at Allen as if to say, I thought we were brothers, but you're out here trying to ruin my manhood?!
"I know you and Rudy are close, but you can't joke about stuff like that, right?"
'Damn this narrative arc! What's that got to do with me? I was clearly talking about how cold weather affects the autonomic nervous system and can negatively impact mental health. Just because you didn't get it, how could you turn it into something so outrageous!?
'And the worst part? Your made-up version was nearly identical to the original plotline! Is this the legendary Northern God intuition or something?!'
"There's also the third time! You claimed Aisha must have talent for magic and that we should move to Sharia so she can go to school there? No, logically, it should be Norn who has magic talent, right? After all, Rudy is so gifted."
At that, Paul quickly glanced at Senis, then added with a hint of guilt:
"Besides, Aisha can't even talk yet, not even call me 'Dad.' How can you tell she's talented in magic? You're just making things up."
"Ai Alan! Ai Hei. Alan!"
From the cradle, Aisha waved her tiny hands at Allen.
Paul abruptly fell silent.
The entire house fell quiet.
He looked grimly at Allen, whose embarrassment was reaching new heights. Strangely enough, even though Paul had played with both kids equally over the winter, Aisha only seemed to call Allen's name now. He couldn't help but feel uncomfortable.
Paul looked over at Lilia, who was secretly laughing with her hand over her mouth. He sighed and turned to Rudy, speaking seriously:
"Rudy, as your older brother, you must treat Norn equally and take good care of her."
"Ai ai."
This time, it was Norn who opened her hands in the cradle, asking Allen to pick her up.
Paul:
Lilia:
Senis:
Rudy:
The entire family fell into stunned silence.
Just then, Aisha heard Norn's laughter beside her, pouted, and suddenly burst into tears.
Allen rubbed his forehead, slowly raised his head from the bowl, turned to Aisha, and made a hush gesture. At the same time, his other hand flicked out, releasing a thread of finely controlled Dou Qi using Water God Style, and gently tapped her forehead.
Her red hair fluttered from the airflow, and her hands excitedly waved in the air.
She stopped crying immediately.
Everyone froze.
Allen's hand hovered mid-air, and he once again looked embarrassed. Silently, he lowered his face back into the bowl.
After a long pause, Rudy cleared his throat.
'This atmosphere's getting awkward. I better change the subject and save Allen. Let's see… I got it!'
He turned to Allen and said seriously:
"Do you dislike the village? But everyone in Buena seems to like you—especially Madam Somar."
Before he could finish, Allen leapt to his feet, slapped a hand over Rudy's mouth with a horrified look, tucked him under his arm, and dashed for the door.
"Wrong! We're going to find Somar—I mean Sylphy!"
And with that, Allen bolted from the house, leaving behind only a gust of wind that blew everyone's hair into disarray.
Once the breeze settled, Paul sighed and muttered:
"Allen… Do you really dislike Buena Village?"
He smiled bitterly at Senis and Lilia.
The two wives had been watching the father-son chaos unfold for a while, resting their chins in their palms and smiling. Senis retracted her gaze from the open door and thoughtfully looked up at the ceiling.
"It seems that way… but I think the reason he doesn't want to stay in Buena Village might be something else."
Her tone made Paul and Senis both turn serious. They exchanged glances, their expressions puzzled.
At that moment, a letter on the desk in their bedroom fluttered gently in the spring breeze wafting through the open window.
The contents were blurred.
The handwriting was elegant—
Clearly not the work of a commoner.
(Volume 1, end.)