Chapter 45

Thank you very much for the 30,000 points in total!

The day after returning from the elf village.

Fortunately, there were no requests that required treatment, so Reta, who hadn't had a day off in a while, decided to spend the day with Mina, who was a bit more reserved than usual.

(I'll tell Mina today.)

It would be fine to just relax together, but there was something Reta had to tell Mina.

It seemed simple but was actually quite difficult.

—Let's become a family. Let's become parent and child.

Reta was struggling with how to convey these few words.

It wasn't as if their relationship would change.

They would probably continue to live together as they always had.

However, tension gripped Reta, preventing her from saying the simple words.

To ease the tension, Reta decided to take a walk around the town with Mina.

Upon reflection, since coming to Amrus, she had been so busy as a healer that she hadn't even had the time to explore the town.

As they walked through the town, Mina and Reta were greeted and waved to by familiar faces.

Starting with the couple of adventurers they had helped recently, various people called out to them.

Some even called Reta "sensei," which made her smile awkwardly.

Despite being shy, Mina seemed to have gotten used to the residents, smiling and waving back.

(Compared to when we first met, she's changed a lot. She smiles more and has become brighter.)

Reta felt happy about Mina's transformation.

The adorable girl, who looked like an angel, would grow up to be beautiful.

She would fall in love, get married, and have a good life.

Reta thought, a bit prematurely, that she wanted to protect Mina until then.

"Reta? Is something wrong?"

As they walked to the outskirts of the town, Reta, who had been watching Mina enjoy the fresh scenery, was asked by the girl.

"Even though I haven't known Mina for long, it feels like we've been together for a long time."

"Strange Reta. But, I also feel like I've been with Reta for a long time. And... no, never mind."

"What is it?"

"It's nothing, really."

Reta was concerned about what Mina had tried to say but then shook her head. However, Reta thought this might be the perfect opportunity.

Fortunately, there was no one around.

At the outskirts of the town, there was only one church.

There were small fields nearby, but fortunately, no one was working in them.

(Is this... the moment to tell her?)

If she proposed becoming a family in front of an audience, she might be teased.

She had been waiting for the right moment, fearing that Mina might be embarrassed and say no.

Now, with no one around, it was just Mina and herself.

"Um, Mina."

"Yes?"

She felt as if she were about to propose.

Her mouth was dry, and her heart was pounding.

She realized how terrifying it was to say just a few words.

However, swallowing all her fear and tension, Reta made up her mind.

She knew that if she didn't say anything, nothing would change.

"I know it might be sudden, but I want to set things straight... "

"Reta?"

"Ah, come on, just say it! I'm a man, Reta Dixon!"

Slapping her cheeks with both hands, she knelt in front of the surprised girl and took her hand.

"Mina, will you become my family?"

"---What?"

"Whether as father and daughter or brother and sister, I want us to be a proper family, not just a guardian and ward."

Finally, she managed to say it. Though simple, the words were enough to reach the girl.

Mina's eyes widened in shock.

"......"

After what felt like an eternity of silence, the girl slowly spoke.

"Is it okay?"

"Yes."

"Will you become my family?"

"Of course."

"Really... is it okay?"

"It's impossible."

The voice that answered Mina's question was not Reta's, but a third party's.

"Are you asking to become my family? I won't allow it."

It was a sweet-sounding girl's voice.

Reta quickly stood up and looked around, but saw no one.

The voice was clearly directed at them.

"Over here, mister."

"---"

The voice came from the roof of the church.

Turning her head sharply, she saw a girl there.

"Are you kidding me? Playing family with such a boring old man?"

She was a girl around fifteen or sixteen years old.

With brown skin and long silver hair tied up, she was a beautiful, petite girl.

Though her figure lacked curves, her long legs and good build were evident.

She wore a combat outfit that exposed a lot of skin, giving her a somewhat seductive aura. In her hands, she held two single-edged knives.

"Who are you?"

More than anything, Reta was on guard because the girl was clearly emitting hostility.

She had no reason to be hostile towards a girl she had never met before.

"I'm... Luna. I'm Mina's sister, and I won't let you become her family."