Chapter 40

6th place in the daily high fantasy ranking!

7th place in the weekly high fantasy ranking!

5th place in the monthly high fantasy ranking!

Thank you so much!

That day, a feast was being held in the square of the elf village.

Of course, the reason was the defeat of the Black Dragon.

Although part of the village and the forest had been burned, the residents were greatly relieved that there were no casualties thanks to Reta's healing magic.

Reta, who played a crucial role in defeating the Black Dragon, was treated as a hero in the village. She was seated at the head table with Mina, whom everyone mistook for her daughter, and the village chief and Hildegarde. They were being treated to drinks and food.

"…Damn, I drank too much."

"Reta, you really did it this time."

Drunk on the elves' fruit wine, which was different from the human alcohol she usually drank, Reta closed her eyes and enjoyed the night breeze, feeling very satisfied.

More than anything, for Reta, who had always been a low-level adventurer, being thanked and treated so well by so many people was a rare experience. She could only remember one other time, when she healed some young men who had fought monsters in a small village called Morleria before reaching the town of Amrus.

(Even when I was in a party, I didn't do much to help others.)

For better or worse, she used to take on more self-centered quests. She aimed for rewards but tried to do the easiest jobs possible. Of course, as a human, she wanted to take it easy and get good rewards, which wasn't a bad thing. However, Reta felt dissatisfied. She always wanted to be more helpful to others.

Reta had a past where she was saved by adventurers. Therefore, she dreamed of becoming an adventurer like them. Unfortunately, after becoming an adventurer for a few years, she had a string of unproductive days, but she finally felt that her efforts were paying off.

(Still, I didn't know I had such a talent for magic… Before, it was just a substitute for potions.)

What surprised her the most was the single strike that cut off the dragon's wing. She had been able to use magic before, but her magic over the past few days was truly remarkable.

(I don't think it was this powerful before… I'm past my growth spurt, right?)

Reflecting on it, she felt her healing magic had also improved. She hadn't treated anyone with severe injuries before, but the fact that she could heal many seriously injured people with a basic "Heal" spell was astonishing. She had only recently started studying healing magic, thanks to the guild in Amrus.

—Has something changed in me?

It wasn't a bad change, but rather a good one. However, not knowing the cause was a bit unsettling. If she had to guess, it might have been meeting Mina, but she didn't think such a meeting could cause such a change.

However, there was a change she was aware of.

It was about Mina.

She decided to become Mina's guardian after meeting her.

It was a decision made out of a sense of responsibility as an adult, who couldn't leave a young girl alone. In a way, it was a form of self-satisfaction.

But now, it felt different.

When fighting the dragon, Reta wanted to return to Mina.

The short time they spent together might have been the most fulfilling in her thirty years of life. When Mina smiled, Reta smiled. When Mina was happy, Reta felt happy.

(…Am I a father?)

After being mistaken a few times, she got tired of correcting people. Those who knew realized that Reta and Mina didn't look alike and weren't related. Correcting people often led to awkward speculations, which she found annoying.

Recently, she noticed that Mina often smiled without denying when people called them father and daughter, even though they weren't related. If asked whether she felt like a father, she wasn't sure. She hadn't done many fatherly things.

She had taken care of children before, but living with a young girl was a first for her.

A new town, a new life, and days full of things to learn and remember.

Living with Mina was fresh and enjoyable, but she felt there were more things she should be mindful of.

(I'm… no good. I need to think more about Mina.)

"Reta? What's wrong? Are you sleepy?"

"Ah, I might have drunk too much."

"Ugh! Reta always drinks too much!"

"I'm sorry."

"Ho ho ho, how touching, my dear guests."

Dold, the village chief, smiled and spoke to Reta and Mina.

"It seems even our hero has trouble with his daughter."

"…Hehe, embarrassing."

Dold knelt before Reta and bowed deeply.

"Truly, I am grateful. Not only did you heal Hildegarde, but you also fought the Black Dragon. Reta, you are a friend to us elves."

"Please stand up. I also had someone I wanted to protect in this village."

"Thanks to you, the village will surely change. I, too, will change. We elves have decided to form friendships with humans."

"…I think that's a good thing."

"Thank you. The main reason is that we want humans to buy the Black Dragon's remains. However, with someone like you, we believe we can work together with humans."

"I also hope that humans and elves can help each other."

The Black Dragon they defeated, though heavily damaged, was of immense value. It was valuable enough for the elves to use as material for weapons and armor, but it was even more valuable to humans.

If taken to the guild, it would fetch a high price at auction. The elves planned to use the funds for the village's reconstruction. To do this, they needed to interact with humans, but they seemed to be thinking positively about it.

"Actually, I have a request."

"Sure, anything you need."

"Are you a member of the guild as an adventurer?"

"Yes, that's right."

"Could you please introduce us to someone from the guild? We want to sell the Black Dragon but don't have the connections."

"Sure, I'd be happy to help."

"Thank you! By the way, about the reward…"

The word "reward" made Reta unconsciously tense. She wanted to be helpful to others, and while rewards were important, she felt uneasy about taking a reward from a village that had been attacked by a natural disaster like a dragon.

"I am—"

"Don't say you don't need it."

Hildegarde interrupted Reta. Slightly tipsy, she patted Mina's head and sat next to the chief.

"Everyone knows you helped us out of kindness. That's why we want to show our gratitude. However, since the village doesn't have much money, we will give you a portion of the money from selling the Black Dragon."

"Wow…"

The amount was unknown, but it would certainly be a large sum. Even a small percentage would ensure she wouldn't have to worry about money for a while.

"Let me be clear, I don't intend to let you refuse. Your modesty is a virtue, and I do have some good feelings for you. But you are a parent. Even without blood ties, as Mina's guardian, you are her parent. Having money will only help."

"…!"

It felt like a punch to the head.

Right. Money would be helpful for Mina's future. They were currently taking on quests together, but she also wanted to send Mina to school someday. For that, money was necessary.

(I really didn't have the awareness of being a guardian.)

Feeling a bit down, she thanked Hildegarde for pointing it out.

"Will you accept the reward?"

"…I gratefully accept it."

It was a moment of growth for Reta as a guardian and a parent.

"Well, just giving you money doesn't seem like a proper reward for a friend of the elves. Also, thinking about the future is a bit premature. So, I want to give you something I can give immediately."

"I appreciate the sentiment, but is it okay to give so much?"

"Don't worry. After all, the reward is me! —Hildegarde!"

"…What?"

"Eventually, Mina will grow up and there will be things she can't discuss with her father. What she needs then is a mother. So! I'll be her mom!"

To the flat-chested girl,

"Mom!? What's that!?"

Reta let out a scream.