Chapter 35

Aina's mother—Stella—was smiling at me with a gentle smile.

"Sorry for dropping by so suddenly. I've been meaning to come and greet you because Aina has been helping out at your shop..."

"Hehe. It's fine. I'm glad we could meet like this. Aina is always so well taken care of."

"No, no, I'm the one who should be grateful. The shop wouldn't run without Aina."

"Oh, Aina is working hard, huh?"

"Yeah, Aina works really hard at Shiro-nii's shop. She serves customers and hands them products."

"That's great. She's doing so well."

Aina must have been happy to be praised. She giggled, blushing.

"Shiro-nii, Aina loves working at Shiro-nii's shop, really, really loves it."

"Really? You're happy, Aina?"

"Really, really happy."

"Yay!"

Aina jumped around, and the floor creaked with each landing.

"Can I call you Shiro-san?"

Stella asked.

"Sure, you can just call me Shiro."

"Then I'll call you Shiro-san. I'm sorry, Shiro-san, for greeting you in such a disheveled state."

Stella looked down at herself in her pajamas and smiled shyly.

"Unfortunately, I've been having trouble standing up lately... ugh."

Stella tried to sit up, and I quickly waved my hands.

"No, no! You don't have to get up. Please stay in bed."

"But in front of a guest..."

"Mom, you have to stay in bed, okay!"

Aina puffed out her cheeks, showing her displeasure.

"Really, don't worry about us. It would make us uncomfortable if you tried to get up."

"Um, Shiro is right. Please stay in bed and rest."

After a pause in the conversation, Karen made her grand entrance, followed by Rolf a moment later.

"Aina, are these people...?"

"The mayor."

"Oh my."

Stella looked surprised. It would be shocking to have the mayor of your town suddenly show up at your house.

"Why is the mayor here?"

"I asked her to bring me here to your house."

"Huh?"

To Stella's puzzled look,

"His Excellency the mayor came to visit because he heard from Aina that her mother is ill."

Rolf explained, and Stella nodded in understanding.

"I see. I'm sorry for the trouble."

"No, I should be the one to apologize. As the mayor, I feel responsible for not being able to help a sick resident. I'm truly sorry."

Karen bowed her head, clenching her fists tightly, perhaps out of frustration.

"No, please look up. The people who live on the outskirts of town know that the mayor has been helping them. Everyone was grateful to you."

"...I see."

"That's right. So don't make that face."

"......I see. I understand."

Karen's expression hardened, entering her cool beauty mode.

"Still... I didn't know Aina had become so close to the mayor. I didn't know about this."

"Hehe. Surprised?"

"Yes, I'm very surprised."

"Aina has made lots of friends! Shiro-nii, the mayor, and Rolf-nii over there."

"Nice to meet you, Stella. I am Rolf, a priest serving the Sky Goddess Florine."

"Nice to meet you, Rolf. My daughter has been well taken care of."

"And, and, there are others who aren't here, like Ria-nii, Nesk-a, and Kiki-a. They're all 'Adventurers of the Great Forest.' Isn't that cool?"

Aina introduced us as if showing off her treasures, and Stella smiled genuinely, looking truly happy.

"Aina is so lucky to have so many friends."

"Yep!"

Aina nodded energetically and then trotted over to the bed, holding Stella's hand.

"Aina is so lucky!"

"That's great."

"Mom, have you eaten? Aina is going to make Nash soup for Shiro-nii and the others."

"I'm sorry, Aina. I should be the one to make it..."

"No, it's okay. Aina likes cooking."

"Thank you. Can I ask you to make it then? Actually, I'm really hungry."

"Really hungry? Will you eat the food Aina makes?"

"Of course. I can't wait to eat it."

"Okay! I'll make it right away!"

Aina went into the back room and came back with a bucket.

"I'll go get water from the well."

"Aina, I'll help you."

"Thanks, Rolf-nii."

Aina and Rolf went outside to fetch water. After seeing them off, Stella turned to Karen.

"Mayor, could you please step outside for a moment? I need to talk to Shiro alone..."

"Understood. I'll wait outside. Shiro, let me know when you're done."

"Got it."

Karen went outside, leaving just Stella and me in the room.

Since she wants to talk alone, it's obviously about Aina. Maybe she wants to discuss the employment situation?

"So, what do you want to talk about?"

"Actually... I want to ask Shiro to take care of Aina."

"Ask... me?"

When I asked, Stella looked at me seriously and said,

"Yes. After I die, could you please take care of Aina?"