Chapter 28: You Should Listen to Others

While helping out Gina and Gold in the kitchen, Shou waited for Falco and Leon to return. At that moment, the inn’s door opened—it was about time for the carriage from another town to arrive. Gina turned to greet the new guests but instead clicked her tongue.

"Tch."

Shou, startled by the rare display of irritation, glanced at Gina.

"What a greeting, Gina."

"What do you want this year, Lyla? The Northern Forest guardians have already been decided."

"I’m just stopping by while traveling this time. Just for a night—two people."

"Well, if you’re paying, I guess I can’t refuse. There’s a room with a sitting area available. You want that one?"

"That’ll do."

If Gina was the goddess of harvest, then this woman was undoubtedly the goddess of war. Lyla stood tall and poised, her golden hair tied high and her sky-blue eyes sharp. Her hunter’s gear only enhanced the impression.

Shou briefly tried to estimate her age but gave up. By now, she had stopped bothering with such things—until they reached Sain’s age, people around here all looked vaguely the same to her.

Instead, what caught her attention was Lyla’s companion. Behind her stood a towering man—his hair was green, his eyes an unusual shade of violet. Definitely otherworldly. Shou unconsciously gaped at him before quickly shutting her mouth. That was rude.

"He’s from the Lakes. Rare to see someone from that region out here," Gina murmured to her.

The Lakes—the land of knowledge and magic.

"Haru?"

A deep voice rang out. The green-haired man was looking at Shou. Had he just said… Haru?

"No… on second thought, you’re different. Haru had straighter hair and was more reserved."

"And who exactly are you?" Gina asked.

"My apologies. I am Dred, a magician from the Lakes."

At that moment, Gold muttered under his breath.

"The Calamity Magician…"

"Oh my, even people around here know about you? That’s impressive, Dred," Lyla remarked with amusement. Dred himself looked entirely uninterested.

Then Gina turned back to him.

"So, Dred, who’s this ‘Haru’?"

"A black-haired girl found in the Lakes last winter. Due to her high magic capacity, she was taken in by the Magic Academy."

Shou’s heart leapt. The other child reincarnated by the goddess!

"Shou."

"Yeah… um, is she doing well?"

Shou asked, prompting Gina to glance at her with concern.

"You two have the same coloring… Do you know her? She was supposed to be all alone."

"Not personally, but we might be from the same place."

"Hmm. She’s well-protected. Knows a lot of peculiar things, so she’s drawn the interest of the professors."

"That’s good."

Shou felt a wave of relief. She didn’t even know the girl’s name, but as long as she was being cared for, that was enough. Maybe she had already learned how to protect herself.

"Here’s your key. Dinner is as usual."

"Got it. Thanks, Dred."

"Mm."

Just then, the hunters returned.

"We're back, Shou!"

"Welcome back, Falco, Leon!"

Shou called out from the kitchen, smiling.

"Oh? Falco, you’re still here?"

Falco froze in place at the familiar voice.

"Mother..."

"I told you to call me Lyla."

For a moment, Falco stood motionless before casting a brief glance at Dred.

"Dred, this is my son, Falco."

"Dred."

"Falco. This is Leon."

"Hey, I’m Leon."

Leon greeted him cheerfully, looking amused by the situation.

"What do you want, Lyla?"

"Is that any way to greet your mother? You didn’t think I came to see you?"

"No."

"Fair enough. I just stopped by on my travels."

"I see. Gina, dinner."

"Got it."

Lyla sighed dramatically.

"You’re not even going to ask what I’ve been up to?"

"Like you ever ask what I’ve been doing."

Gina smirked.

"Gina, don’t encourage him. Fine, I’ll take dinner too. Dred, you in?"

"I don’t mind. I’ll eat separately, though."

"That’s fine. Right, Falco?"

"Leon, Shou?"

Both nodded. Falco, however, remained completely expressionless. Shou had heard that families in this world often drifted apart once children became adults, but this… this felt tense. Even Gina seemed unusually prickly.

Still, this wasn’t something she should meddle in. Best to just eat dinner quietly. Besides, it was black rock lizard stew tonight—one of her favorites. They had preserved the meat from the summer hunt.

As the five of them sat down to eat, the atmosphere remained stiff. Leon, as always, was a lifesaver in these moments.

"Hey, you—you're the 'Flame Magician,' aren't you?"

Shou blinked. Earlier, Gold had called Dred the Calamity Magician. She glanced at Leon curiously.

"People get all sorts of titles," Leon explained. "There’s a well-known green-haired, violet-eyed magician who wields massive flames."

"That might be me."

"It’s rare for a Lakes magician to leave their territory."

"Well, most of them are obsessed with research. I guess I’m a bit different. I wanted to travel, and Lyla happened to be heading out, so…"

"So you hit it off and decided to travel together?"

"Ah, so the two of you are… lovers?"

Shou nearly choked on her stew. Wait, wait, you’re just going to ask that in front of Falco?!

"That’s right."

Oh.

Falco, meanwhile, looked utterly disinterested. Feeling awkward, Shou focused on her stew and tore off a piece of bread. Yep, black rock lizard is great in stew.

As she tried to escape into her meal, she suddenly noticed the two travelers looking at her. What now?

"Falco, who’s this little one?"

For a moment, Falco looked like he was going to ignore them. Then, in a quiet voice, he answered.

"Shou. My ward."

"I’m Shou," she greeted briefly.

"You took in a child before even having one of your own?"

What’s that supposed to mean? Shou bristled.

"I have plenty of help. We manage just fine." Falco’s response was curt.

"So, you have a house now?"

"Yeah."

"Perfect. Let us stay there starting tomorrow."

"…What?"

"Why not? You’re my son."

Technically, they did have a guest room, but…

"Aren’t you two together? That’s not exactly good for Shou’s upbringing."

Wait, what’s that supposed to mean?

"We’re not going to be inappropriate in front of a child."

"Even so—"

"You have a spare room, don’t you?"

"Just one."

"That’s fine. We’ll take it."

And that’s when Shou realized why she felt so irritated.

This woman doesn’t listen to anyone.

Shou glanced at Dred, wondering if he even cared that their hosts clearly didn’t want them there. He didn’t seem the least bit concerned. Did he even realize that Falco wasn’t thrilled about the situation?

"…Don’t make extra work for Shou," Falco muttered.

"Oh, please. I can take care of myself."

And Falco can’t say no to her. Just like always. This must have been going on since his childhood.

Shou didn’t know the details of their relationship, nor did she intend to get involved. But one thing was clear—when Lyla asked who Shou was, she had answered properly.

Yet Lyla had not introduced herself in return.

She didn’t see Shou as a person, only as a child.

One thing was certain.

I don’t like this woman.