My name is Tia. I'm Leme's mother. And this is my husband, Goe.

My name is Mira. I asked Reme-san to accompany me when I heard that he was going to attack the original dungeon. So, you see, what happened at the entrance to the village--

　My mother chuckles as she shakes her shoulder.

'I heard about the matter with the three idiots. If I'm not mistaken, you all tried to get rid of those idiots, didn't you?

　Mira nodded, her face turning red as she remembered the matter with the trio.
　Canary-san puffed out her cheeks like a balloon, "Totally, those girls have always been...! And I'm angry.

　Three idiots my parents and Fenix's parents know the trio well.
　After all, they are the ones my sons fought with every day when they were young.

'Yes, yes........ That's right, sir.

　My mother smiled as she broke down there.

'Thank you for my son,'

"!　No, no, no, no...!

So, the fact that you're the only one who came, you mean, you and Reme, that kind of...?

　Oh, no other members of the group that helped me with the three of us, but only Mira came with me.
　So you're a lover?　I guess that's what it means.

I'm a friend. A very, very good friend of mine.

　Not good, my face is ridiculously hot.
　I was going to say it more smoothly or unapologetically, but I sounded like I was going to squeeze it out.
　Again, my lack of experience was exposed.

　My mother made a dumbfounded face.

''........If you met him after you left Fenix-kun's place, then it hasn't even been a year. However, you're a friend....

"Leme!　You are a clever boy, but sometimes you have to be foolishly passionate!　Love is more beautiful when it runs out of control to the point where others laugh at you...!　I'm sure Mila would agree.　You want to officially call me Mom as soon as possible!

　Mr. Canary, the real story leaks out in the second half.
　Mira's cheeks flushed with a hint of a scowl and her lips relaxed with a slight tilt of her head.

'I think Reme-san has her own timing. Of course ... the sooner the better, the better.

　Mr. Canary shuddered as if he had been struck by lightning.

'Ka, you're too cute!　Don't worry Mira, your mom is on your side!

　After that, the meal proceeded peacefully.
　No, I guess "lively" would be more accurate. Mira-san seemed to enjoy listening to the four of us talk about the past between me and Fenix, and Canary-san was particularly gung-ho about our relationship, and it was hard for me to do anything but....

　Well, everyone seemed to be having fun, so it was fine.
　Surprisingly, the pursuit of my new job wasn't so tough.
　It was just a matter of being asked about it.

　My father and Hawk-san were in charge of cleaning up. Normally, it would be me and Fenix to help, but this time it was Mira's turn to help.
　In the meantime, I take out all the souvenirs we bought on the trip. I have a lot of them, so I can distribute them to everyone in the village, not to mention Fenix's parents.

The next one........this is the liquor from the village where the hot springs were located. It's strong, but has a nice aroma.

　Miss Mila jerked at the phrase "hot springs".

'Oh, are you alright, Miss Mila? 'Oh, are you alright, Miss Mila, or did your hand slip?'

I'm sorry.

"...your face is red. Leave the cleanup to us and get some rest.

　Mila shrugs at the sound of Hawk's and her father's concerned voices.

'Gentlemen, we don't need to worry about you. Thank you.

　A little late, my face heats up as I remember that day too.

'Oh?'　Oh, well, well?　Mom, your sense of smell is kicking in.　Well, you two, something happened at the hot springs, didn't it~?

Well, the next step is to pickle some vegetables from the village, and they're quite tasty, so...

You can't fake it, though, can you?

　After enduring the torture of tickling by Mr. Canary, I kept the information to myself.
　When we finished cleaning up, Hawk and Mr. and Mrs. Canary decided to go home.

'Speaking of which, where is Mira going to sleep?'

Well, we don't have a guest room.... Well, it would be better to let them use Leme's room. Reme will be fine on the sofa or something.

　Do you think you're treating your son too well?
　Well, I think the opinion itself is valid, so I'll keep it quiet.

'Oh no...!　I can't allow you to use Leme's room.

　While saying it, Mira-san's nose is a little rough.

''Alright........!　Well, let's do it this way!　I'm taking Mira home!

　Mr. Canary put his hand on his chest and said, as if it was a good idea.

''Well you're going to rent the room at the Fenix?''

'No, that wouldn't be good for Reme or Mira-chan. You will sleep in her room and me and Mira-chan will sleep with her!　What a perfect plan!　I'm afraid of this brain of mine....

　Mila was puzzled, "Eh, eh," but we had already given up.

'You don't want to...?　Mila. Am I being hated...?

　Canary-san's eyes watered.

''Well, no way, I would never........!

　For a change, Canary-san smiles like the sun.

''Then let's go...!　I'll let you sleep gently tonight, okay?

　With that, he grabbed Mira's hand and headed for the door.

Hey, Leme.

Uh ... if you don't mind, go out with him.

'If you don't want to, Mira, do you want to go against Reme?　I still--

I'll go.

Well, instant answer. Love.

I'm sorry, Leme, Miss Mira.

'No, originally, it was my fault for not thinking about where Mira-san slept...'

　For example, he could have asked to be picked up from camp.

If they were 'lovers' instead of 'friends', then we could have used Reme's room for the two of us.

　My mother would say something like that, and we would both blush.
　As expected, neither of us can say, 'We are co-sleeping friends, so there is no problem.

　And so the three of us left my house.

　.........Well, I guess this is where the real work begins.

　Probably, Hawk-san and Canary-san were both concerned about my parents.
　They were considerate enough to make time for me to be with my parents.
　Well, I'm not saying that Canary's desire is zero.　

　Naturally, all three of us sit down in chairs.
　My mother slowly starts to talk to them.

Are you eating your meals properly?

Yeah. I think I'll have a better nutritional balance and stuff than I did when I was an adventurer.

　Mila's cooking, Kash's sister Maka's cooking, and by the way, the cafeteria at the Demon King's Castle is solid in that area.

''The amount of money you send home hasn't changed even though your job has changed. You don't have to push yourself.''

I didn't. My new job pays well, too. They took care of me where I live.

Well. By the way, Mila, you're a good girl.

Oh, really.

　Formal or standard?　exchange is completed.

"...Honestly, when I saw on the news that you were out of Fenix-kun's party, I thought, 'Finally?'

Yes.

　From my mother's point of view, it's no wonder.
　I was a 【Black Mage】 who couldn't become a hero, and after graduating from the training period (school), I formed a party with Fenix directly after graduating. It's doubtful that I could have become an adventurer if he hadn't been there.
　After his debut, he was constantly bombarded with negative opinions from the public, and even the voice of the actual attackers on the video board (TV) broadcasts were harshly evaluated.

　That's how my son looks from his mother's point of view. From thirteen to twenty, my son's life.

I don't know the details, but his face. I don't know all the details, but your face, it got darker and darker every year, and I knew it wasn't a fun job for you anymore.

Yeah.

But I heard today, you know, the second place party is on your side.

　It's about the encounter with the trio. I chuckled and nodded.

'Right.'

"Tugto-Namanto?　Well, the first-rate warrior spoke very highly of you, Reido?　You see that girl in　Mr. Wraith?　She says she wants you in the party?

Uh... yeah.

　I refused Lace-kun's invitation, but he doesn't give up. As expected of the son of the [Indomitable Brave Man].

''The adventurer's, well, industry?　wasn't just a painful place for you, was it?

...it was a place worth the effort.

　It was just a difficult place for me to keep trying.
　I wasn't going to give up, but I could find a new dream.
　Wrong. I was able to take that which was shown to me and make it into a new dream.

And a new job?

Of course.

Then I don't have to tell you.

　With that, my mother gets up and heads to her bedroom.

'Oh, if you're no longer an adventurer, then you don't have a standing excuse for being too busy getting around the world, do you?

Well, uh, well, that's...

You need to show your face once in a while.

Well, sometimes you do.

Huh.... Good night.

Yes.

　My mother disappeared into the bedroom, leaving me and my father.

'Hmmm there's not much left for me to ask you...'

"Ha-ha.

'Yes, Leme. You're old enough to drink.

Yeah, yeah. ...No, I'm sorry, I'll be hiding in the dungeon tomorrow.

　My father looked disappointed, but nodded.

'I suppose that's true too.'

I'll show my face again when I'm done.

'Oh, that's good. I'm looking forward to it.

　My father laughed, as if he was really enjoying himself.

　Then we talked about other trivial things.
　We talked about how everyone in the village has already married and is having their third child, and how there are many restaurants in the town where the Demon King's Castle is located that serve good food.

''Yes, there's something I was going to give you when I met you,''

　My father said, and then excused himself once.
　When he returned, my father was carrying a rectangular wooden box.
　It wasn't a big one, but it was long.

'I wonder ... can I open it?'

Yeah.

　When I gently opened the lid of the wooden box, what was inside was - a sword.
　A sword in its scabbard, a single swing.

　Perhaps my father and I had memories of the same day in our brains.

　I've told my master about it.
　--''Well, when I was about six years old, I asked my father to buy me a sword once.
　-- 'But they wouldn't buy me because they said things like "it's dangerous" and "you're just a kid" and so on. I'm convinced now, but at the time I couldn't accept it. I wanted it, so why would they give me a reason and say no? I was still more willing to give up if they said I didn't have the money.'

Well you may not remember this, but...

I remember. I remember.

　If there's a reason you can't buy it, there's no way around it. You can give up as much as you want.
　But I think I was sad at the time because you kept giving me reasons not to buy it.
　It was like they were saying you can't handle it. Even if that was true, I was sad that he admonished me to give up with a roundabout expression.

'Well......... I couldn't forget the look on your face that day for a long time.

'Yeah...'

　But I woke up as a [Black Mage].
　That's probably why I couldn't buy him a wand. Because it's like confronting my son with the fact that I couldn't become the 【Position(Job)】 I'm aiming for.

''Haha.......the sword.''

　I held it in my hand. I could feel the weight of the staff.
　It's different from the preparation staff I used at the tag team tournament.
　It was purely a weapon, a sword.

I watched the tag team tournament, and I'm surprised you can use a sword now.

You've got a good teacher.

Looks like it.

　He smiled, then there was a pause in his father's next words.

'Well, I mean, this isn't very expensive, and it might be a hindrance, but if you don't mind--'

What are you talking about? I'll take it.

　I wipe my arm across my hazy vision and clear it with my arms, and with the emotions bubbling up from deep within my chest, I smile.
　I laugh with all my might, even for the me of that day.

Thank you, I'll take good care of you.

"....!　...Oh, I believe you can handle it well now, I believe you can handle it well.

　My father holds his eyes and stands up as he does.

'You have work to do tomorrow. Go to bed now.

　My father turns away to avoid showing his expression.

'Yeah, goodnight.'

Yeah.

　My father, too, went to his bedroom.

　Once again, I look at the sword.
　If I had bought it myself, I wouldn't have been as happy as I was.
　I'll update the information tomorrow so that it can be reproduced in its magical body (avatar).

　I watched the sword for a while as I pulled it out of its scabbard and put it away, but then I got up to go to sleep.
　I turn off the light of the magic lamp and head to my room.

''........hmm?''

　At the end of the dark hallway, a faint light.
　As I was sucked in, it seemed to be leaking through a doorway.

　That room is a study........or is it? Whatever the official name of the room, ever since I became addicted to dungeon attacks, it had become a room for watching videos. I used to ask my father to buy me a device that I could use to watch capture videos whenever I had time.

　Not to mention the device, the magic stones that cost a lot of money to operate and communicate with it, but he said he was paying it off.
　Now my parents must be using it.
　If I don't cut the connection to the magic stone, it will continue to consume magic power, so I enter the room.

''-----''

　I was speechless as I turned on the light in the room.
　There were frames all over the walls.

　Inside were pictures of me at a fenix party, newspaper articles and magazine clippings.
　If that was all I could do, I was still convinced it was something my parents would do.
　I was embarrassed, but I was convinced.

　But, to my surprise - there was a picture of Remeghton (...) on display as well.

"...haha, haha.

　-- 'Uh-huh, nah. I'm just kidding, Mira. I want to eat Sitri and Carmilla. Also, I think it's Remeghton-kun.
　-- 'Cana, no Remegeton.'

　That wasn't just a matter of liking the Demon Remegaton - it was a matter of liking it.

''You figured it out long ago...''

　I don't think Fenix said that.
　But even that best friend didn't realize it until he ate the black magic.

　So how did he...?　I don't know, but what I know for sure is that he was aware of my identity and pretended not to notice.
　No, he asked me about it, or maybe he asked me about it so that I would be more likely to tell him.
　They were waiting for me to explain to them.

　Why the Demon King's Castle, how he won against Fenix, and what the horns meant.
　You can't help but be curious about it, but it's not strange to ask questions.
　He didn't mention it and watched the activity.

''I'm no match for you...''

　If there's one thing I can be proud of to people, it's that I've been blessed with people.
　My best friends, my mentor, Mira-san and the Demon King, the many friends and colleagues I've gotten to know since serving in the Demon King's Castle, and my esteemed adventurer predecessors.

　Ah, but first and foremost, the person called Reme - I was blessed with parents.

　They believed in their child's future, they didn't abandon him even if he became a [Black Mage] and looked for a job, and even if he told them he was going to be an adventurer, they finally approved of him.
　Even after I left the party, became a Demon King's Army Counselor, and even grew a magician's horn, he welcomed me home as if nothing had happened.

　Once again, I felt the greatness of my parents, and after a while, I started to move as I remembered.
　I dimmed the lights and turned off the terminal before going back to my room.

　My room is still the same as it was when I was a kid. It was clean, as if it had been cleaned regularly.
　He went to bed and slept with his sword in its sheath in his chest.

　I dreamed that I would fight with the sword like a brave man.
　The fact that I was still dressed as a [Black Mage] was interesting because it was realistic, even though it was a dream.

　I woke up in the morning, added Canary-san and Hawk-san who came with Mira-san, and had breakfast.
　We left the house as the time approached for the carriage to pick us up.
　I exchanged a word or two with everyone and got a hug from Ms. Canary.

　I start walking alongside Mira.
　After a few steps, I look back at the four of them.

　We'll talk properly about our current work after the original dungeon attack.
　But I should at least say this.

''I'm........still trying to be a brave man. The form has changed a bit since I was a child, though. My heart has always been the same.

　The four of them didn't say anything, they just laughed softly.