Chapter 52

"Aa-uu..."

"Kena-sama?"

Kena, who seemed to have completely wilted, was sprawled out on the living room table. She looked as if she had been so shocked and exhausted that she might have even developed a fever from all the sudden news. Roxane, who had poked her head out from the kitchen, hurriedly rushed over. As she did, she glared at Opus, who stood there with his arms crossed, looking completely calm.

"Alright, Roxane. Since you're the head of this kitchen, quickly finish preparing lunch. I'll take care of Kena-sama."

Siren, who then appeared, brought out a glass of water on a tray. Roxane, who seemed a bit flustered, bowed deeply to Siren and retreated to the kitchen. While checking if Kena had a fever or felt unwell, Siren busily took care of her. At that moment, Luca, accompanied by Roxilus, returned home and, upon seeing Kena, gasped and paled.

"Kena-sama!?"

"Mom!"

Handing over the care of Kena to Roxilus, Siren stepped back. Luca climbed onto the adjacent chair and peered at her stepmother's face. Kena, who had been lying face down, tilted the glass to drink water and her eyes caught sight of Luca. Her slightly dazed gaze suddenly focused, and she abruptly sat up.

"Luca?"

"Kena, Mom, are you okay?"

"Yes, yes..."

Forcing her slightly lethargic mind to switch gears, Kena smiled at Luca. Feeling a bit of stiffness in that smile, Luca hugged Kena's chest. Sensing Luca's vulnerability, just like the first time they met, Kena embraced her protectively. Seeing this, Roxilus sighed in relief and quietly stepped back to avoid interrupting the mother and daughter.

"I'm fine, Luca. I'm not sick or anything. I'm sorry for worrying you."

"..."

Feeling Luca's hand tremble slightly as she clung to Kena, she stroked her head. The mother-daughter interaction continued until Roxane finished preparing lunch.

Siren then pulled her master aside in the hallway and asked,

"What exactly did you tell Kena-sama?"

"Well, I might have crammed a bit too much information. She can't help but be energetic in front of her stepdaughter, you know."

"Since I'm the one who will be blamed by Roxane and the others, please think about it a bit more."

"I'll keep that in mind."

Siren, frowning, sighed at her master's unrepentant expression.

After lunch, Kena and Opus were chased outside by the servants.

"Since the weather is so nice, why don't you go for a walk to clear your head?"

Roxane, with a bright smile, pushed the three of them out the front door and slammed it shut, locking it from the inside. Siren, standing behind her, nodded coolly, which Kena found hard to accept. After all, if the master is the master, the servant is the servant, though Kena couldn't really say anything about that. Luca, who was dragged outside because she was holding onto the hem of Kena's robe, was puzzled by Roxane's unusually assertive attitude towards Kena.

"Shi, ... it's locked."

"Servants are like their masters, hmm."

"Shi, I think you set that up, so don't nod so smugly."

"Koff."

Kena punched Opus in the stomach. Pushing the exaggeratedly faking pain Opus out of her sight, she took Luca's hand, which was still holding onto her robe, and squatted down to meet her eye level.

"What do you want to do, Luca? Do you want to stay with me today?"

"Yes. ... Today, Ritt can't play, and Latem can't either."

It seemed that a few guests were staying at the inn today, even though she had only seen them briefly. According to Mailer, the number of guests visiting the inn to use the communal bath had increased after hearing about it from the Eline caravan. Some of them had made a detour to visit Helsper on their way to Felskeiro. Others were curious to see the hand-operated well. As a result, Ritt was helping out at the inn, and Latem was assisting at the small shop of the Sekiya branch. This left all the household chores to the maid and butler, leaving Luca with nothing to do.

Since the western outer trade route of Felskeiro was still closed, travelers and caravans heading to Helsper had to use either the inner trade route connecting the two capitals or the eastern outer trade route via the border villages. Some thought it was better to take this route, which offered supplies and a popular bath, rather than a long, empty road.

Opus, who had been ignored, stopped faking pain and apologized to Kena. The apology, however, was not for being punched but for something else, which confused Kena, causing a question mark to appear above her head.

"I wanted to get Opus's adventurer registration done, but I have to work hard as a mother too."

"Wouldn't it be fine even if Luca was there?"

"We can't form a party, and we can't teleport instantly. Even if we flew with a summoned beast, there would be people around..."

"Right, I should have included a skill to force NPCs into a party. Forgive me, Kena."

"No, it's not about including or not including it; you need the person's consent. Wait, did the version update I got the other day...?"

"Yes, you noticed. It only works with you and me."

Kena's shoulders slumped, but remembering her daughter, she quickly straightened her back. Fortunately, Luca didn't understand the content of their conversation. Kena, who had been sickly as a child, knew only reading and indoor games that required a power source. Looking around, she saw the blue sky and remembered her tower. She took out one of the guardian rings from her item box and handed it to Opus.

"Hmm? What's this?"

"It's the ring for your tower. Since you're here, it's useless for me to keep it."

"Oh, right. Thank you for holding onto it. As a token of gratitude, here."

Opus, taking the ring from Kena, casually dropped a different-colored ring of the same type into her hand. Kena, with a bad feeling, reluctantly asked,

"By the way, whose ring is this?"

"From the continent of Kujyo."

"Ah, Kujyo... Wait! Could it be that the turtle incident was your doing!?"

"Yes, I had to confirm something. Don't worry, it was a harmless plan."

"How many times have you said that? I'm more worried! Can you guarantee that you won't put these people in danger? Or is it more worrying that you can't guarantee it!?"

"Sometimes I wonder if your habit of using rhetorical questions is a joke."

"You! It's because you cause a disaster every time! Who was it that activated the event monster item during a battle between countries? The official forums were flooded with complaints from players from the Purple, Blue, and White countries, not just the Purple country! After that, our guild's reputation suffered terribly!"

"Well, calm down (you were involved too, you know). Luca is startled."

"..."

Kena, brought back to her senses by Opus's soothing words, looked at Luca, who was holding her hand. Luca's eyes were wide open, and her mouth was slightly agape, looking up at Kena. Usually, the only ones who spoke loudly in the Kena household were Roxane and the others during arguments. This was the first time Luca had seen Kena speak so aggressively.

"Ah, ah, sorry, Luca... Did I startle you? I'm not angry at you, okay?"

"U... Yes."

Blushing and flustered, Kena apologized, and Luca, nodding, hugged her waist tightly. Relieved that Luca wasn't scared, Kena gently stroked her head. She sighed, remembering the familiar exchanges from the game days, while glaring at Opus, who had a Cheshire cat-like grin.

"You've been putting on quite an act."

"Thanks to you, I feel like I'm finally getting back to my old self, though I'm not sure if that's a good thing."

Kena smiled, but her smile was a bit troubled. Opus, recognizing that the stiffness from their first meeting had disappeared from her smile, stroked Luca's head, who was clinging to Kena's waist. Luca, not understanding why she was being stroked, looked at her curiously.

"Do you like Kena?"

"Yes. Kena is my mom, so..."

Opus, nodding, put the returned ring on his finger. He gently pulled Luca out of Kena's embrace, saying, "Don't interrupt the mother-daughter bonding." Kena, muttering, took Luca back from Opus. Holding both of them close, Kena, who had no immunity, turned bright red.

"W-What are you doing...?"

"Stay still. [Guardian of the Warring World, save the fallen world from chaos.]"

"Opusuuuu!?"

"?"

Suddenly, Ionic columns emerged from the ground, surrounding them, and the sky turned into a starry expanse. The ground beneath them disappeared, and the three of them fell like an elevator cable had been cut. To the villagers who happened to pass by, it looked as if the three had vanished in a mist. For them, Kena's sudden disappearance was a common sight, so they simply commented, "Kena must have gone somewhere again," and left the scene.

On the other hand, the two who were forcibly summoned to the House of Malice and Murder. Kena, who gasped and changed her expression, cast [Levitation] on Luca the moment they arrived, and the surroundings transformed into a completely different scene. They landed softly in the ruins of a temple, where the light was filtered through a pale green hue. Kena, tilting her head, and Luca, wide-eyed at the sudden change, were joined by Opus, who remained calm.

"Is something wrong?"

"Some minor incidents. The sad-looking High Elf replenished my magic, so I opened the entrance to the mansion. About ten rough individuals illegally entered and were eliminated at the entrance. They must have thought they could conquer this mansion with their low-level skills. What fools. Ohohohoho!"

"Times have changed, and overall, people's abilities have declined. Keep the entrance to the mansion closed until a three-digit level visitor arrives. If left unchecked, the cleaning demons will be overwhelmed with work."

The guardian, laughing maniacally, explained that it was unclear whether the visitors were adventurers or tomb raiders. Nevertheless, the skeletal guardian followed the order, saying, "There's nothing I can do about it." Meanwhile, Kena, who had been holding Luca, was exasperated by the sudden teleportation. The Guardian Ring could teleport a specific player to a designated coordinate, no matter how far away they were. This proved that the same could be done with a regular [Teleport]. One of the issues they had been concerned about was confirmed, and Kena was exasperated that it was due to Opus's impulsive action.

"You said to go for a walk outside, but you didn't mean outside the village, did you?"

"Now that we know we can return easily, there's no need to rush."

Kena, who was wondering what Opus would do if a teleportation accident occurred, was too exasperated to argue. She refrained from pointing out the obvious, as it might scare Luca. In reality, the teleportation accidents in the game were due to interference from the Readeil world, which was no longer a concern in their current situation, though they wouldn't realize this until much later.

In any case, undead creatures like skeletons and zombies were a source of trauma for Luca. Considering her rigid grip, Kena thought, "Let's go outside..." and her vision suddenly changed.

They appeared on the shore of a lake on a small island, where the guardian's tower was clearly visible. After a moment, Opus materialized beside Kena. The area was a lush, humid wetland, and the sky to the west was tinged with red. Using [Eagle Eye], they could see the spires of Helsper and the giant windmills in the distance.

"See, Luca. It's safe now, there's nothing to be afraid of."

"Where are we...?"

"Near Helsper, far to the northwest of the village."

Kena patted Luca's back and encouraged her to look around. The girl, who had been tightly closed, opened her eyes wide and looked around curiously. While teleporting would make securing a place to stay easier, it would mean leaving Opus behind. On one hand, Kena thought it would be fine to go ahead, but on the other, she didn't want to leave him unsupervised, as he might cause trouble. So, they decided to camp here for the night.

"Still, the wetland makes it difficult to camp, so we'll have to move a bit."

"You can go ahead if you want. Don't hesitate to leave me behind."

"Rejected. I feel bad for this country if I leave Opus alone."

"...I feel like I'm being insulted indirectly."

Kena summoned a [Fire Elemental: Lv1] and a [Lightning Elemental: Lv1]. The two creatures, about the size of puppies, were a fire monkey and a lightning lion cub. They followed Kena around, and their cute, deformed appearance made Luca smile. Despite their adorable appearance, they were powerful elemental beasts, far surpassing the average adventurer at level 110. Kena summoned them to avoid scaring Luca, but their flickering flames and lightning flashes were intimidating enough to keep people at bay. Luca, however, seemed less wary and was captivated by the two creatures as they moved.

They set up camp in a clearing in the forest. Along the way, Opus, who had suddenly disappeared, returned with some dry wood for the fire. The fire monkey ignited the wood with a single touch, creating a campfire. Since the [Barrier] spell couldn't be used, Kena cast a [Repulsion Barrier] to keep harmful entities away. She took out food supplies from her item box and handed them to Opus to cook, while she and Luca wrapped themselves in blankets and gave one to Opus.

"I'm glad I packed camping gear in my item box. It's almost thanks to Opus, though!"

"You seem unusually irritable."

"It's because you involved Luca. ...Really!"

Opus filled a makeshift bucket with [Blessed Water]—a spell that fills a container with spring water, often used to create lakes in dungeons or pools in castles. Luca, peering into the bucket, was fascinated by the water that didn't run out no matter how much she scooped. The fire monkey and lightning lion cub were playfully wrestling at her feet. Despite muttering complaints, Kena seemed to be enjoying herself, while Opus, ignoring her, calmly prepared the meal. Luca, tilting her head at their interaction, watched as the night deepened.

---

That night, a round, bluish moon cast a mystical light over the land. While it didn't illuminate everything, the gentle light filtered through the branches and leaves, creating a soft glow. A normal traveler might have thought the campsite was too exposed and unprotected, but the stepmother and stepdaughter were sound asleep, wrapped in blankets.

The campfire, now reduced to embers, was guarded by the fire monkey elemental, who stood with a serious expression, though its youthful appearance made it less intimidating. The lightning lion cub, with its tail held straight, slowly patrolled around Kena and Opus, maintaining a distance to avoid disturbing their sleep with its sparks. Despite its cute appearance, it was a powerful creature capable of defeating high-level adventurers like Crophia, just in case.

Kena and Luca slept peacefully, unaware of the danger. On the opposite side of the fire monkey, Opus sat on one knee, looking at the two under the blankets with a serious expression. His eyes held a protective gaze, similar to that of a parent watching over their child.

"Phew, I got quite a scolding. I hope she's not too disappointed... What do you think, Master?"

Although he was speaking to someone, the only ones present were the sleeping Kena and Luca, and the fire monkey. Nevertheless, the space above Kena's head, slightly above the blanket, distorted. A phosphorescent light emerged, forming a shape. It was a thick, snake-like form with a bulbous end. It coiled itself and flicked its tongue.

[Master, have you become too accustomed to this, Crow?]

The voice was not a voice but a resonance in the mind.

[Well, this time, the master doesn't expect to be revered by the servant, or even a pet.]

"I don't expect you to belittle yourself as a pet... What do you think, Snake?"

The phosphorescent snake, called "Key," raised its head and stopped flicking its tongue.

[Is this the first time we meet, ...I believe you are "Opus," Crow.]

"Yes, Snake. You are 'Key,' right? I thought I met you once in the hospital, but there were others around, so we didn't get to talk."

[It's not worth mentioning. It's rare for us to even speak, after all.]

Key's gaze shifted to Kena, who was wrapped in the blanket. The gaze was tender, and Opus, who also looked at her, had no hostile intent, so it didn't trigger Kena's alert skills.

[I hope Kena-sama can go about her life without thinking about me.]

"Are you planning to leave the aftercare to me...?"

[That was your wish, Opus. It might be good for you to experience some hardship occasionally.]

"The world is harsh, and it's nice to receive a kind word from someone."

[Why don't you ask Kena-sama?]

"..."

Kena imagined herself preparing a high-level lightning attack, as if looking at something that had eaten a candy from the road,