The repairs on the Snow Crystal Sword were finally complete…
And so, the Snow Crystal Sword was reborn as the Meteor Sword.
On top of that, I was able to reunite with my father and mother after such a long time.
I was surprised to find out I now had a little sister, but…
More than anything, I was just happy to see everyone doing well.
Mint, too, hadn’t changed a bit—still just as energetic as ever.
With that, I’d done everything I needed to do here in Snowlake.
"So, what should we do now?"
With Sofia, Aisha, Licorice, and Snow all gathered in the room, I brought up the topic.
"We could always just stay in Snowlake and live a slow life, you know?"
"That sounds..."
It was a very tempting suggestion.
Of course, I couldn’t rely on my parents forever. I’d need to rent or buy a place and live on my own.
Make a name for myself as an adventurer based in Snowlake, alongside Sofia.
Or maybe I could follow in my father’s footsteps and become a blacksmith.
And then there was my little sister—Lutetia—who’d been born while I was away… I wanted to be there to watch her grow up.
But still…
"I can’t do that."
There was Aisha.
And then, there was the matter of the Dawn Alliance.
I couldn’t just leave those things unresolved.
If I ignored them, I had a feeling… something terrible would happen.
"I know. I just wanted to say it out loud," she replied.
Was she testing me?
"Still, we really do need to learn more about Aisha, don’t we?"
"Me?"
Aisha’s tail curled into a loop, like a question mark.
It was… cute.
"There’s just a lot we don’t understand yet."
Like the enormous amount of magic power she has.
The possibility that she’s a “child of the gods”… a shrine maiden, perhaps.
I wanted to clear all that up.
If we could do that, we might also come to understand the true goals of the Dawn Alliance.
"In that case, why not go to the beastkin village?"
"Dad?"
When did he show up? I turned to see my father standing there.
"If there’s something you don’t understand, then go ask other beastkin," he said.
"Easier said than done… it’s not like we know where that village even is."
"But I do."
"Seriously!?"
He said it so casually—but it was a huge revelation.
I couldn’t help raising my voice, and Aisha’s tail shot straight up in surprise.
Sofia quickly calmed her down… Sorry about that.
"Wait, what do you mean? Do you actually know some beastkin?"
"Yeah, I do. I do all kinds of work, and sometimes beastkin come to me for jobs."
"Wow…"
As expected of a man loved by the god of blacksmithing.
His name had clearly spread beyond humans—even the beastkin knew him.
"Well, like you said, there’s a lot going on. So I’ve taken a few secret commissions from them… but I’d say we’ve built up a decent level of trust. If you go and say you’re my son, they’ll at least be willing to hear you out."
"..."
"What’s with that blank look?"
"You’re amazing, Dad."
Not only did he become a master blacksmith…
He was even well-connected enough to earn the trust of the beastkin.
Truly amazing.
He’s on a whole different level compared to someone like me...
"Hey."
"Ouch!?"
He suddenly smacked me on the head.
"You were thinking something pointless just now, weren’t you?"
"Pointless? I wasn’t—"
"I’m me. You’re you. Don’t worry about the difference between us."
"Ah..."
"Besides, Fate, you’re still just a kid. It’s all ahead of you."
"…Yeah. Thanks."
My father’s words sank deep into my heart.
Yeah.
I won’t let myself fall into self-pity. I’ll keep looking forward and keep moving ahead.
And one day, I’ll become a man worthy of Sofia…
And a father Aisha can be proud of.
"So, what’ll it be?"
"Umm…"
When I looked at everyone, they each nodded at me with a look that said, “It’s your call.”
"Then… is it okay if I leave it to you?"
"Got it. I’ve got a regular beastkin customer coming soon—I'll talk to him when he shows up."
"Do you know about how long that might be?"
"Hmm… around a week or so, I’d say. I don’t know the exact date."
"Even just knowing it’ll be around a week is more than enough."
Until then, I’ll get everything ready for the journey.
"Alright then… our next destination is the beastkin village!"
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