It was late in the evening.
　We were to make camp.

　The driver lies in the coach while the others sleep in the back.
　We put holy water around the wagon, but we decided to stand guard in front of the campfire, just in case.

　Pair by pair.
　Your man is tired from driving all day, so he is excused, and my daughters and I will take it in turns to keep watch.

　Elsa and I will keep an eye on them first.
　Sit in front of the fire.
　There was an hourglass at our feet. When the sand at the top has settled to the bottom, the next one will take over.

Father. I'm glad we got to fight together today for the first time in a long time. I also learned a lot from watching your sword.
Haha. Elsa is a Knight Commander and an S-ranked adventurer. What can she learn from my sword skills after all this time?
"Of course. I was reminded of that. With my sword skills, I can't even land a single blow on your father.

　Elsa muttered to herself as she watched the fire.

'When I saw your father's sword skills ...... I felt frustrated that I was still no match for him, but I was more than happy to see it.
Happy?

　Elsa nodded her head.

My father, whom I admired, is still much stronger than I am. I was unbearably proud of that.
Elsa: "Elsa: ......
'I want to surpass your father, but maybe somewhere in my heart I want him to be stronger than me.

　Elsa grew up to be a great person.
　She became a knight-errant and the S-ranked adventurer I never was.
　But it seems she hasn't grown apart from her parents yet.

Then I can't skip the training. I'll continue to stand as a wall for Elsa to cross.

　When I said that, Elsa huffed and smiled.
　She smiled, like a lost child who has finally found her parents.
　She looked relieved and happy.

"Since we're just here to watch, why don't you tell me a story. Why don't you tell me a story. What happened after Elsa left the village and went to King's Landing?
Yes. Yes.

　Even after Elsa left the village and came to live in the capital, she continued to send me letters once a month in the form of a status report.
　But there must have been a lot of stories that slipped off the paper.
　Events and feelings.
　I've been so busy lately that I haven't had a chance to talk to each of the girls.
　Maybe now is a good time to talk.

　Like a jigsaw puzzle, Elsa's words carefully filled in the blanks when we were apart.
　We filled in the gaps by trading blows with each other.
　The strength of the sword she wielded spoke more eloquently than anything else about the time she had accumulated, her love for it.
　After battling with Elsa for a while, I looked at the hourglass at my feet.
　All the sand on the top had fallen off.

"It's about time for my turn," I said. "Go wake up Meryl.
I see. ...... Nothing like your father, after all.

　Elsa's expression was filled with more joy than regret as she muttered that.

''Is your father okay with not having to switch?''
I'll be fine. Can you go check on Meryl?　And if you're sleeping soundly, I don't mind being on my own.

　When I was an adventurer, it was not unusual for me to stand guard alone until morning.
　But I decided to work in pairs with my daughters because I wanted to talk to them and have a chance to do so.

　☆

　When Elsa returned to the back of the wagon.
　Meryl came running up to me right away.

That's weird. I would've thought you'd be sound asleep by now.
Because it's a chance to be alone with your father. It's your chance to be alone with your father. If things go wrong tomorrow, we can't afford to sleep on it.
You need to get some sleep on that one.

　I chuckle.
　I'm focusing on the wrong things.

"Daddy. I wish you would hold my hand.
Yeah. That's okay.

　I squeezed the hand that Meryl had offered me.
　Meryl intertwines her fingers between mine. Carefully, one by one. It's like a snake coiling around me.

"Heh-heh. Now we've bonded.



　Meryl looked up at him.
　His cheeks were slightly elevated.

"Daddy's hands are so big and hard.
I've been holding a sword my whole life. I can be a hard man.
I think I'm pretty cool.
I'm sure Meryl is the only person who would say that.
Yay. I guess I get to have my dad all to myself, huh?

　Meryl said and gently rested her head on my shoulder.

"Mmm-hmm. Daddy, I love you.
I like Meryl, too.
Really?
Of course.
Hehe. I'm so happy~

　Meryl's face lit up.

"My dad and I have feelings for each other. Even if death do us part, we are destined to reincarnate and meet each other again and again...
I don't know that much.
I'm sure of it. --Oh, but don't worry. One of these days, I'll make the Elixir of Immortality and create an eternal world.
............

　Elsa said she wasn't ready to leave her parents, but Meryl is far worse. They'll be together forever.