When did I first realize that Sylphy had grown up?
Was it in this very moment?
Or perhaps even earlier?
Or maybe it was last winter—after we returned from the Snow Valley—when her hair had already turned white, and yet she still comforted her mother with a gentle voice?
I can't quite say.
But if I think carefully, if I peel things back layer by layer...
Then perhaps it started with three people.
Because over these past two years, the only changes surrounding Sylphy have always come from these three.
The first: Allen—the person Sylphy admired. The starting point of her change.
The second: Roxy—the one Sylphy respected, who poured oil on that starting flame.
The third: Rudeus.
When I think about it like that, I begin to understand how Sylphy became the strong, self-assured girl she is now.
Why was Allen the starting point? Because it was he who pulled Sylphy from the mud in the irrigation canal.
As her father, it stung a little—that a newcomer had done what neither I nor her mother had managed.
Allen even said her green hair was beautiful?
What kind of cheap line is that?
…Fine. I admit it. I was just jealous.
Because if you didn't like green hair, who would willingly approach her?
And if it was only a fleeting act of pity, how could he have persisted in protecting her so patiently and completely?
Allen is… a good kid.
He even saved my life.
That was the beginning of it all.
But to be honest, when Allen first arrived, I worried.
Worried that Sylphy, under his protection, would gradually lose her independence.
And for the first couple of months, it did seem to be heading that way.
Then, Roxy came back.
Of course I knew who she was—Rudeus's tutor, a Saint-ranked Water Mage.
She had helped out our village more than once over the past two years, using her magic for irrigation at barely any cost.
Though she's a demon, she's undoubtedly a respectable person—and one far beyond the reach of our humble hunter family.
And Allen… knew her?
That was unexpected.
Then—
Things started spiraling in ways I couldn't have imagined.
With Allen's encouragement, Sylphy became Roxy's disciple?
That Roxy??
And not long ago, I heard she had already advanced to King-rank in Water Magic.
When I found out, I couldn't help but wonder—
Was this all part of Allen's plan from the start?
Did he deliberately orchestrate everything to give Sylphy a better future?
I wasn't there when it happened.
But afterward, Paul told me he was impressed by Allen's composure at the time.
His exact words were:
"Now that's what I call a true Greyrat. Rudeus still has a ways to go when it comes to this stuff. Allen handled it with the same swagger I had back in the day."
That just about confirmed it.
All of it… came from Allen's initiative.
And the moment that thought hit me—even though I'd already admired the boy many times—I still found myself marveling again:
This kid's really something.
But even with all that—wouldn't such meticulous planning only make Sylphy more dependent on him?
Then the second change occurred.
Allen and Roxy were both gone for a while.
When Allen came back—
Sylphy was different.
She was stronger.
The way she kept her journal had grown more resolute.
She even stopped letting me read it?!
It made me a little sad… but also proud.
I think—
She'd found a goal.
And judging by how she looked at Roxy and Allen, I think I know what that goal was.
She wanted to be someone who could stand beside them.
A sword prodigy.
A master of magic.
How could someone ordinary possibly stand next to them?
That's what I think she believed.
Later, I even tried to ask Paul what Allen had been doing during that time.
He was vague, just said it was "something dangerous."
I asked Sylphy too. Same answer.
But when she spoke of it…
She sounded full of longing.
It was as if she thought that "dangerous" thing was something beautiful.
My own daughter wouldn't tell me the truth anymore…
That stung.
But one thing was clear:
Sylphy had grown strong because she didn't want to be left behind in this village.
She wanted to go with them.
Even if that meant facing danger.
Sounded a lot like an adventurer, didn't it?
Allen was one. So was Roxy.
Could it be… they'd gone dungeon diving during that time?
It all clicked.
I asked Sylphy about it directly, and her eyes lit up—sparkling like stars.
She'd found her path.
She wanted to be like Roxy.
To travel with those two.
To become part of their story—of something romantic.
That was the "oil on the flame."
Allen hadn't turned her into someone helpless.
He had helped her grow.
And I have to admit…
That kind of influence—I don't have it.
He's still just a kid. But I admire him.
Still, I can't say it sits comfortably with me.
Not from a rational standpoint—just from a father's stubborn emotions.
But if I put Allen's influence aside—
Did Sylphy grow on her own?
Yes.
Last winter, in that terrifying incident in the Snow Valley—
When we went over what happened afterward, we realized:
Sylphy made a split-second decision against Allen's wishes.
That decision led them to fall safely to the bottom of the ravine.
The price?
Her mana was drained completely—her hair turned white.
That hurt to think about.
But Sylphy was… happy.
I didn't understand why—until one day, her mother told me:
"It's proof of her bond with Allen."
After that—
When Allen wasn't looking, Sylphy started to change.
She became braver. More confident.
She started expressing her feelings more.
It was a total reversal.
Compared to two years ago, she's like a different person entirely.
Though around Allen, she still wears that soft, gentle face.
But the change is real.
In just two years.
Just two years.
She grew up.
And now, tonight—seeing the two of them arrive together, their expressions, their request…
It all brings those memories flooding back.
Did I expect this day to come?
Yes.
Because they're forming an "adventuring party."
And Sylphy—
She was always going to leave me someday.
I just didn't expect it to come so soon.
Looking at her now—nervous, eyes flickering—
I can't help but ask myself:
Will Sylphy grow even stronger once Allen's gone?
Maybe.
But—
If she can grow stronger while being happy…
Then what's the point of forcing hardship onto her?
What does that prove?
And if you do force that suffering…
Will her smile—
Disappear?
And as I think this—watching her mother hold her, stroke her hair with eyes full of love, no trace of sorrow—
I find my answer.
And as for Allen—
Do I trust him?
I do.
I've said it before, sometimes straight out, sometimes not.
But this guy—he won't be satisfied until I say it clearly, will he?
So—
I heard myself speak.
Not just from my mouth, but from my heart:
"Allen."
"Take care of Sylphy."
"Don't let her cry."
"I want her to always wear that smile."
He gave a one-word reply:
"Okay."