Ain’s chaotic day had finally come to an end.
All starting with the separation scandal, he had come to Ishtalika.
And many things had occurred ever since he arrived.
All in all, the day had been packed with new information.
“Ahh, I’m tired……”
“Fufufu, good job hanging there, Ain.”
“Not at all, you had it worse, right Okaa-sama? “
The time was about ten o’clock in the evening.
Back in Heim, he always went to sleep only after doing some studying at night, so this time he was going to bed a little earlier than usual.
However, unable to fight back the drowsiness and fatigue on his body, Ain went to bed together with Olivia in her room.
“Okaa-sama. Is it alright if I ask something before going to sleep? “
“Yes, but of course.”
“Well then, first, what am…… Am I a human being? Or am I a dryad? “
What Ain was thinking about was his own race. On the outside, he looked like a human person, but he felt confused about this since he was told he had inherited the dryad’s racial skill.
“You got the genes of a human male, but also the genes of a dryad, so it would be more proper to call you a ‘half’. A half-human and half-dryad.”
“Then, next. I was born from your belly, right Okaa-sama? “
“Yeah……Uhmm, you see.”
Ain was a half-breed.
In other words, he was indeed a human person, but only half.
However, there seemed to be some differences in being born from Olivia’s belly.
“Have you heard the phrase “root dividing”? “
“It’s the first time I hear it. But, from what I can tell, is it about dividing a root and have another plant germinate from there? “
“Yeah. It’s alright to have that image. Your birth was pretty much like that root dividing. You certainly grew inside my body, Ain.”
“So, it was like that…… Then, was I born and delivered like a normal human? “
He grew inside Olivia’s body.
Hearing this, Ain had an idea of how he was born.
“Ah, but it was a bit different.”
“Eh? “
“There were a lot of midwives present, but I concealed it using hypnosis. Only when it was the moment to give birth to you, I revealed my body as a dryad. Otherwise, I couldn’t have done it. If I had wanted to birth you as a grown 15-years-old, I’d have had to stay in my dryad form for longer.”
“To be honest, I didn’t know this wasn’t your dryad body, Okaa-sama……why do you have a human body despite you being a dryad?”
“Fufufu. I will tell you about that later, okay? ……Ain, you were born from the fruit of a small tree that grew up from my roots while in my dryad body. That small tree is your dryad form, Ain.”
Ain then thought.
Wow, that’s amazing, this is completely fantasy-like.
However, recalling how this world was, he was convinced of this.
After all, this was a world with monsters in it, therefore, there surely would be many different ways to give birth……
“How should I put it? Since this is like a world I haven’t seen, it’s a bit hard to understand with just words.”
“You thought a child born from a dryad would be birthed the same as a human child? But for a dryad is just with a tree wrapped around your feet.”
She might’ve called that with ‘it’s just’, but for Ain, this gave him an incredible feeling.
“It’s alright, I have accepted that’s the way it is.”
“You’re a good boy, Ain.”
“Now then, how come you have a human-like body? “
“We dryads are a half-fairy race, this is only to hide the trunk and leaves.”
’This is quite convenient’, thought Ain.
In fact, this world had monsters and magic, so he had to convince himself this was such a world.
“After all, don’t you think it’d be hard to walk with roots as feet? “
“Well, that certainly would……”
“I’m sure that when you grow up, you’d be able to bring out a tree like a dryad, Ain.”
“If I had to say, I think I’m more like a human.”
“Certainly. I don’t think there will be a problem if you can’t become a tree, right? Rather, having the body of a tree might be a bit inconvenient……”
Olivia spoke frankly.
In truth, although having a wooden body could be considered special, it didn’t mean it was actually superior.
“Then, one last thing. Is it okay?”
After saying that, Ain’s face turned serious.
Up until that point he was lying on the bed as he talked, but then he sat up.
Seeing Ain doing this, Olivia too sat on the bed.
“Yeah. Of course, Ain.”
“Okaa-sama, about my ability, you didn’t tell the Roundhart family…… my father about it, right? “
“……Yeah.”
“There’s more. You’re a great person, Okaa-sama. To the point you were able to singlehandedly search and find the Sea Crystals, which were a matter of life and death for Ishtalika.”
“……Yes, I guess you’re right. I can’t complain if you’re angry about it.”
After seeing Olivia quietly nodding, Ain continued.
“Then, why didn’t you tell them that!? If only you’ve told them……”
Ain thought about the reason why his mother didn’t do it.
Olivia remained silent about how to properly use Ain’s ability, and she too didn’t try to demonstrate her excellence.
“I’m, sorry……”
“Yes. If only you’ve told them properly this…… I’m sure……”
“……Yes. I’m sure everything would’ve been different for you, Ain.”
Olivia thought about how it would’ve been for Ain. And she understood it well enough.
If instead of this road, she had taken another path, the results would’ve been completely different.
Ain wouldn’t have been given up by his father, and more so, he could’ve lived a happy life with the Roundhart family.
“For me? This isn’t about me…… What I hated the most was the fact you were despised, Okaa-sama. I could endure it if it was about me, but I couldn’t bear watching you being treated like that! “
However, Ain’s thoughts moved in a different direction.
For Ain, what he wanted was what was best for his mother, he wanted Olivia to be happy and he’d prefer is her efforts moved in that direction.
“A-Ain……? Aren’t you angry? “
“Can’t you see it with a glance? I am angry! I was always worried about you, Okaa-sama…… seriously.”
“I’m sorry, Ain. I selfishly thought you would be happier here in Ishtalika than if you stayed in that house. What to do? I even went as far as making you walk this painful road……”
“It wasn’t really out of the ordinary, after all, I was together with you Okaa-sama. For me, it didn’t matter whether we came here, or even if we simply escaped from the Roundhart territory.”
“R-Really? “
I see Okaa-sama can also be clumsy at times, he thought.
Ain did love his mother Olivia, to an almost unnatural degree.
Nobody present really knew the reason for this feeling, but these were indeed his true feelings.
“Seriously……for someone as smart as you, why didn’t you give it some more thought? There’s no way I would’ve been happy in a place where they despised you, Okaa-sama.”
“But then, it really took quite some time…… It would’ve been better if I had done it sooner.”
“I guess you’re right. But well, it’s okay. I think this simply reflects what we value the most. For me, the most important thing was you, and for you, I was the most important. I’m sure it was like that……Since this time I think we failed at communicating this, I’ll forgive you this time. But there won’t be a next time! “
After Ain finished speaking, Olivia stared at him with a blank face.
Then, tears trailed down her face as she smiled.
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“Un. Thank you, Ain…… and I’m sorry.”
“It’s alright. But please, talk to me first the next time.”
Seeing him, people thought of him as an optimistic five-year-old child, but since he was Olivia’s child, nobody really had any discomfort with how he acted.
And for Olivia, who was quite doting, she thought of him only as a smart boy.
But Ain was at a loss as to whether tell her that he had memories of a previous life.
＊
“As expected, Ripple is really delicious. I mean this sort of magic stone. The taste is on the richer side.”
“Fufu, that’s great. Say, Ain? “
“Yeah, what is it? “
“This was a bit weak as an apology, but was it good? “
About 30 minutes had passed since they had that exchange where Ain conveyed his feelings.
And now, after having a hard time falling asleep, Ain was drinking tea with Olivia.
Of course, Martha had prepared it.
Near Ain, there were some pseudo-Ripple magic stones prepared.
For him, this was just a snack. The fresh aroma of Ripple, with the perfect combination of sweet and sourness, made his throat feel refreshed.
Taking one on his hand, Ain absorbed it.
“Was it good? “
“Yeah, was it good? Was the Dullahan’s magic stone yummy? “
“Ahh, that was quite delicious.”
The Dullahan’s magic stone certainly tasted like coffee.
However, the quality of that taste was so impressive there was nothing he could compare it with.
A luscious taste marvelous enough to be called addictive, almost like a drug.
“……There’s a bigger magic stone embedded in the ceiling of the audience room.”
“One larger than that? From w……”
“The Demon King.”
Olivia revealed the magic stone embedded in the ceiling of the audience room belonged to the Demon King.
This was the most treasured possession and one of Ishtalika’s national treasures.
The Demon King’s strength seemed to have been extraordinary and caused a huge crisis across the country.
“Demon King!? T-That sounds like something……. really strong.”
“Ara, Ain? Are you just thinking of strong? “
“And something really delicious! “
Ain was also thinking about its taste.
How delicious would it be? What sort of taste would it have?…… Would it be like the main dish? Or maybe more like a dessert? He wondered many things in his mind.
“But if you were to eat that, I think even Otou-sama would get quite angry……”
“That seems very possible, after all, he said to stop talking about that back in the conference room.”
“It apparently belongs to a Demon King who was defeated about 500 years ago. It suddenly appeared in the continent of Isthar…… that place, however, is quite far away from here. “
“It happened a long time ago, huh? I can’t imagine how that Demon King looked, but I suppose it was really strong.”
“He was such a strong enemy that it was reported half of Ishtalika’s talented people had died at that time. I’m sure it would be really delicious for you Ain, but……yeah, I guess it’s impossible. “
Ain rejoiced when he heard about the Demon King’s magic stone, but he also thought it would really be a problem if he were to eat it.
Apparently, it was used in the country’s last line of defense, so it seemed that even Silvird would get quite angry if he were to eat it.
“Next chance I get I’ll put up with just smelling it……”
“You can’t eat it and claim it was unintentionally, okay? “
“Whenever I’m to go to the audience room, I’ll go after being full.”
“That sounds good.”
According to what Chris had said, it seemed he would eventually have some control over his absorb skill.
For that, it was also said he would have to train himself.
This was a necessary training for Ain in order to avoid causing some unintentional damage.
“By the way, Ain.”
“Yes, what is it?”
“Krone-sama and then…… yeah, I think you’ll be allowed to have one more person. Krone-sama is beautiful and smart, so I think she’s okay.”
“Wh-……? Uhmm, what does that mean?”
“About your future queen. As for my place, let’s see……I just want you to please let me stay close and watch over you. “
“Well, of course, I really care for you, Okaa-sama, but……why mention Krone?”
Olivia suddenly began talking about Ain’s future bride.
And from her words, it appeared two people were allowed.
“But about Krone, I think my social position is a bit too low…… ahh.”
“If it’s about your position, I think currently it’s a lot better, so don’t worry about it, okay? “
“You’re right, that seems to be the case.”
“As for the second person, that’s Chris…… she’s a nice girl and beautiful despite being clumsy at times…… well, let’s think about that later, for now, it’s time to sleep, good night Ain! “
After bringing Chris’ name, Olivia ended the talk there without going into further detail.
While saying that, Olivia lied down on the bed.
And with this, today’s talks finally reached an end.
“Krone, huh? I wonder what she’s doing now?”
His thoughts went to Krone, who was far away, in another continent.
His first impression on her was that she was a great girl.
She was smart and beautiful, and Ain found her very charming.
＊
“A child who grew up without knowing any motherly love……”
God was alone in the white space, thinking about a time before Ain turned the gacha and was born into this world.
About Ain’s previous life growing up in an orphanage.
His core memories had almost been erased, however, the strong desire to know a mother’s love still resided.
“I feel sorry for what happened to him, but still, his love for his mother is far from normal.”
There was a reason why Ain’s previous life was spent in an orphanage.
His mother had died from heavy blood loss after giving birth to him.
Afterward, his father, not being able to bear watching that child, abandoned him at the doors of an orphanage.
“I wonder if it remained buried in his unconscious? His feelings of wanting a mother……. his regrets about it.”
A mother who died while giving birth to him.
With those feeling about his mother, the desire to protect his mother became stronger than anything else.
God thought this might have been the case.
“That baby couldn’t have those kinds of memories, and Ain right now doesn’t have them either. That’s why I don’t understand.”
Even then……
Even then, his love for Olivia suggested that there might be a considerable influence from his previous life.
Was it something that had affected his soul directly? Or was this simply how the person named Ain was?
God had watched Ain so far.
And after making up her mind, she decided to continue watching over him.