Chapter 100 Special: A Future That Might Have Been II
Last time got a bit too wild, so today’s chapter will be a serious one.
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After parting ways with Baaya, I headed to the dining hall, where Aerith, Yuffie, and Myuri were already seated and waiting.
「Good morning, everyone.」
「Good morning, Yuuki-sama!」
「Morning, Aerith. You’re as beautiful as ever.」
As I said that, I hugged Aerith and gave her a light kiss.
「Yuukii~ mornin’~」
「Morning, Yuffie. Still working on magic tool research today?」
I patted the sleepy-eyed Yuffie on the head.
「Good morning, Husband.」
「Morning, Myuri. Our training’s in the afternoon, right?」
「That’s right, mm…」
I pulled Myuri into a slightly forceful kiss.
After greeting all three, I took my seat at the table.
「Huh? Yuuki-sama, where’s Yuki?」
「Ah… she’s still asleep.」
「I suppose it can’t be helped. Let’s go ahead and eat without her.」
Aerith rang a bell, and the maids entered. We sometimes prepare meals ourselves, but usually, we leave it to them.
「Well then, let’s eat.」
「「「Itadakimasu」」」
The itadakimasu greeting caught on with everyone after I started doing it. By the way, I use Appraisal and Discern on all our food, just in case anything happens.
「Hmm, it’s delicious today too!」
「Agreed. The chocolate kneaded into this bread gives it such a nice flavor.」
「It really does. It used to be far too bitter to eat, but thanks to your wisdom, Husband, we can enjoy it now.」
「Delish (thumbs up).」
Yuffie gave a thumbs up to the kitchen staff, who responded with subtle fist pumps.
「Hey, Yuuki-sama. About today’s schedule…」
「What’s up? Need to adjust something?」
「Yes… apparently the Beast King is coming today.」
「Garius-san?」
「He says it’s something important…」
「I wonder what it could be.」
「Then, Husband, shall we move our training to the evening?」
「That would help. Thanks, Myuri.」
「Mmm…」
She suddenly started squirming. Myuri does this sometimes out of nowhere.
「zZzZ」
「Heeey, Yuffie, don’t fall asleep now.」
「Huh? Where am I? Oh, tastes good.」
「Yuffie… choose one: either eat or sleep…」
「M’kay… mama…」
「I’m not your mother… honestly. Yuuki-sama, could you take Yuffie back to her room to sleep?」
「Got it. Leave it to me.」
I lifted the completely asleep Yuffie in a princess carry. Despite her rather large chest, she felt as light as a feather. So light, in fact, that it made me worry she wasn’t eating enough.
One of the maids opened the door for me, and I carried Yuffie toward her room. It was located in the same hallway as ours. After about five minutes of walking, we arrived, and the maid who had come along opened the door for us.
When I activated the light magic tool, the room was in its usual disastrous state.
「Still a mess, I see…」
Yuffie had accompanied us on adventures as a Sage, but her actual profession was a Magic Tool Artisan. She constantly worked on research papers and design blueprints, so if left unattended, her room always turned into a disaster zone.
I had the maid clear the documents and papers off her bed just enough to lay her down.
She was probably sleep-deprived, but I appraised her just to be sure.
The result showed her body was on its third consecutive all-nighter. She was overdoing it again.
I patted her head and cast a basic healing spell with a continuous recovery effect. It was originally meant for treating injuries like back pain or broken bones, but it also worked for fatigue, so I used it just in case.
As I kept stroking her head, she mumbled in her sleep, 「Ehehe~ I love you, Yuuki~」
I gave her a gentle kiss and stepped away.
Then, the maid and I returned to the dining hall to finish breakfast. The other two had finished eating and left to prepare for the day.
「By the way, what time is the meeting scheduled for?」
「At eleven… so less than an hour now.」
「That’s cutting it close. I’d better hurry too…」
I quickly finished my meal and went to change.
◇◆◇◆
At the appointed time, I was in the courtyard, also used as a training ground, wearing formal attire I was used to, along with Aerith in her dress. Overhead, a large wyvern flew into view.
「Looks like he came by wyvern express.」
「Must’ve been urgent if he took that.」
A large shadow descended to the ground. The figure that emerged was far taller than me, about four heads taller. It was Garius, the Beast King, a lion-type beastman.
「Yo, Yuuki! Sorry for the short notice!」
「Hello, Garius-dono. What brings you here today?」
「What’s with the formality? We fought side by side, didn’t we?」
He laughed heartily and gave my back several firm slaps… it hurt even with body reinforcement.
「It’s been a while, Garius-sama.」
「Oh, Lady Aerith. You’ve gotten even more beautiful.」
「Naturally. I’m Yuuki-sama’s wife, after all.」
「Gahaha! Yuuki, you lucky bastard!」
「Indeed. I’m probably the luckiest man in the world.」
「Hah! Bold words! I’ll have to brag about my wife and daughter next time!」
「Please… go easy on me…」
「Ahem! So then, Garius-sama, what is the reason for your visit today?」
「Ah, right! I nearly forgot! There’s a dungeon on the edge of our territory, and something happened there that seems connected to you.」
「To me?」
「Yeah. Hey! Bring her in!」
At his command, his attendant, Jiv-san, brought forth a woman.
「Eh……」
It was someone I knew very well.
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