Tsukaishi ⑬ – Ruriha and Mineha.
My name is Ruriha.
I am a Tier I Seeker, known as the 『Fairy Queen』.
I also serve as the chief of the Fairial village.
I usually stay in the village, so it must be three years since I last descended to the lower world.
And this time, I’ll be seeing my daughter, Mineha, for the first time in two years.
According to Emi, whom I entrusted her to, she’s currently active as a Tier III Seeker.
That is wonderful news. No mother would be unhappy if her daughter is achieving what she wished for.
However, I have a concern. It’s about the OOPArts my daughter favors.
The 『Fairy Phantom Spear』 holds deep sentimental value for me as well.
It is a keepsake from my late husband.
Of course, the armor and spear I use are also mementos.
The Witch found it, I received it, and my husband repaired it so it could be used.
It’s a precious memory from our adventures. It was my husband’s dying wish that I pass it on to our daughter.
Mineha knows this and continues to use the 『Fairy Phantom Spear』.
But the 『Fairy Phantom Spear』 is a weak OOPArts.
According to my husband, the 『Fairy Phantom Spear』 was a prototype. A failed one at that—unsuited for combat.
The weapon of a Fairial is the spear.
The spear is the pride of the Fairial people.
For the daughter of the chief and a Tier I Seeker like myself to use such a shoddy spear, no matter how precious the memory…
And what if something were to happen to Mineha?
If she is still… using the 『Fairy Phantom Spear』.
Anyway, I’ve arrived at the meeting place… this hero statue fountain is correct, isn’t it?
She’s not here. Where are you, Mineha?
Meeting in my Fairial form would attract too much attention, so I even assumed my larger state.
There’s a lone woman standing before the fountain. Oh my, she’s an incredibly, truly beautiful woman.
How should I put it? She possesses a dazzling beauty and allure.
Such a… fine figure that could make one feel jealous.
Honey-colored hair and honey-colored eyes. Coincidentally, the same as mine.
A coat, a shirt, a skirt. None are flashy, but they are well-tailored.
To have the purity of a young girl and the luster of a woman so openly displayed… I’m envious.
If I were younger, I would have wanted to become a woman like that.
Oh, my, my, yes. They wouldn’t overlook her, would they? Men are hitting on her.
But she seems troubled. Yes. If they persist too much, perhaps I should lend a hand.
Oh, she looked this way. With a radiant smile, she ignores them and comes towards me.
“Okaa-sama!”
“Eh?”
“Okaa-sama. Ah, thank goodness. I’m so glad I could meet you.”
“…Mineha…?”
“Yes. It is Mineha. It has been a long time, Okaa-sama.”
“…………It’s been two years since we last met, hasn’t it?”
“Yes. That is correct.”
“You are ten years old, correct?”
“Yes. I have turned ten.”
“……You are Mineha, right?”
“Yes. That’s right. Look, just like this.”
She becomes a Fairial.
Though small, she still has the appearance of a magnificent, beautiful, and even bewitching beauty.
This can’t be real.
“……Ten years old, you said?”
“Yes. That is correct, but Okaa-sama? What has been the matter since a moment ago?”
My goodness, in two years, my daughter had become a woman.
Just two years.
For us, who live for a thousand years, two years feels like two months.
No. Actually, two years is just two years.
And in those two years, my daughter… had become an adult woman so stunning that even I felt jealous.
Mineha had grown up.
“Who is he?”
“Okaa-sama?”
Mineha looks bewildered.
“The person you’re dating.”
“There is no one.”
She answered instantly. That can’t be right.
“Don’t play dumb!”
“There’s nothing to play dumb about; I have never dated anyone. What has gotten into you, Okaa-sama!”
My daughter raises her voice, looking troubled.
Judging by her reaction, it seems she’s telling the truth.
Then why is this child so…
“You… have someone you like, don’t you?”
“I have someone precious to me.”
“Is that so?”
Can one become this beautiful just by being in love?
Apparently so.
“Mother. I’m currently living together with that person.”
“Eh? You’re living together…? Such important news. You didn’t write about it in your letters.”
“I’m sorry. I wanted to tell you this directly.”
“You surprised me, Mineha.”
“I’m sorry, Okaa-sama. It was difficult to convey, so I couldn’t write it.”
“I understand that, but…………I’m worried. Are you living properly?”
“Yes. We are living quite well. Recently, I’ve been making breakfast.”
“Eh? Morning… kisses?”
“Okaa-sama?”
“My apologies. Right, you’re making it, are you?”
I taught her a few dishes, but this child never tried to make anything at home.
“Yes. I wasn’t really into it before, but I’ve come to like cooking.”
“…………”
What a dazzling smile. Was this child always able to smile like this?
I’ve seen her smile before, but was it ever this radiant?
“I want to meet him. Your precious person.”
“He is a Tsukaishi, so you can meet him.”
“Is that so?”
“Yes. He is the Witch’s disciple, named Wof.”
“Wof…”
I’ve heard that somewhere. No. Seen that name—The Witch’s disciple!?
“Let’s go, Okaa-sama. To Hydrangea Grand Hall.”
She starts walking. I walk beside her.
“Yes, I want to hear more details about this… Wof person.”
“Yes. With pleasure.”
“Speaking of which, I met a very kind person, you know.”
“A kind person?”
“Yes, when I was lost.”
We had exchanged letters, but talking like this is somehow enjoyable.
After some small talk, Mineha stopped.
“There is one more thing I haven’t told you.”
“What could it be?”
“—It’s about the 『Fairy Phantom Spear』.”
“You… you’re still using that, aren’t you?”
I could tell from the atmosphere.
I suspected as much, but it’s still harsh.
Mineha takes the spear out of her pouch.
It’s different. That one was a pure white spear.
But this one is white with a spiral pattern of blue triangles.
That’s not all.
My own beloved spear, the 『Fairy Edict』 in my pouch, reacted slightly.
“This is the 『Phantom Star Spear』.”
“That’s not it.”
“No, Okaa-sama. It is the 『Phantom Star Spear』. I have obtained a 『Star』.”
Mineha’s expression at that moment held a sharpness, as if challenging me.
How interesting.
“You have finally started to move forward, haven’t you?”
“Yes.”
“Very well. In that case, perhaps you will prove it to me in the Exhibition Match.”
“Okaa-sama… Understood. I will prove it.”
“I shall see your 『Star』.”
“Yes. To your heart’s content.”
Ah, I never thought a day like this would come. Mother is so happy she might cry.
I’m looking forward to it.
By the way, what exactly is a 『Star』?
“Putting that aside, I’m hungry.”
“Me too. I know a good place, so let me show you.”
Mineha puts her spear away.
It was at that moment.
“Oh, there she is♡ There she is♡”
“Heh, not just decent, she’s pretty damn good.”
“And she’s a Fairial, right?”
“Ooh, mother and daughter. Doesn’t look like we’ll be bored.”
Oh my, men are surrounding us.
They look like Seekers from their appearance. Or perhaps thugs?
“You’re the ones from before.”
“That was cold, wasn’t it? Ignoring us like that.”
Oh dear, one of the men casually tries to place his hand familiarly on Mineha’s shoulder.
But Mineha slaps his hand away with disgust. Rightly so.
“Ouch!”
“Hey, hey. That’s rough, isn’t it?”
“My, what do you gentlemen want? If it’s hitting on us, we refuse.”
“This ain’t hitting on you♡”
“Okaa-sama. Let’s go.”
“Whoa, whoa. Wait, wait.”
The men block our path. Oh dear.
One man forcefully grabs Mineha’s arm. How awful.
Another grabs my arm. That hurts.
“What do you think you’re doing?!”
“Enough already. Let’s just drag ’em into an alley and have our fun♡”
“Yeah, let’s.”
“Come on, come on, be good girls!”
“Don’t resist, or I’ll stab ya!”
The men draw swords and knives. How impatient.
But an alleyway… that’s perfect. I speak to Mineha, who is trying to resist.
“Mineha. Be quiet.”
“Okaa-sama!?”
“Alright? Don’t resist.”
“Oh, she gets it.”
“It’s useless to resist anyway♡”
“Let’s enjoy ourselves thoroughly.”
“After that, we sell ’em off. A Fairial mother and daughter pair? They’ll fetch a high price if they’re this pretty.”
“Okaa-sama!”
“Let’s go. To the alley.”
We were dragged into an alley by the men.
I wonder what will happen now, hmm?
The alleyway.
Mineha looked quite cross.
“You don’t have to be so angry, you understand, don’t you?”
“That may be so, but I wish you would state things clearly.”
“My apologies. The alley was just convenient, and I thought it would be easier if they took us there.”
“Haaah, so, Okaa-sama. What happened to these guys?”
The men from before are lying there, convulsing.
The moment we arrived in the alley, I sent an electric current through the ground from my feet to theirs.
I don’t mean to brag, but I have mastered the [ Thunder ] Relic.
Performing a feat like this is only natural for me.
“I don’t know.”
“This is your doing, isn’t it, Okaa-sama?”
“Indeed. I sent a rather strong current through them, so I don’t know if they’re alive or dead. Besides, whatever happens to them is none of my concern. Right?”
“That may be so, but…”
Whether they’re dead or alive, it makes no difference to me.
Even if they’re alive, they won’t be able to move for a while. The guards will find them eventually.
Considering what they tried to do to us, it’s only natural.
That boy mentioned it, but this place really is dangerous.
“Now then, let’s go.”
“Whoa, what’s this?”
“What’s going on?”
“Those guys…”
Just as we were about to leave, more of them showed up, one after another.
Are they cockroaches? They say if you see one, there are thirty more.
I suppose there are about twenty of these ones.
“What do you want?”
“Ooh, look what you’ve done.”
“Hey, aren’t these guys dead?”
“Oh my, well now, it doesn’t really matter if they’re dead, does it?”
“Okaasama?”
I got irritated. I don’t want to waste any more precious time with my daughter.
I take my beloved spear from its pouch. A silver Spear adorned with four black wings.
It’s wrapped in a yellow sash inscribed with black characters.
I chant.
“‘Fairy Edict, Article 1: In the name of the Fairy Queen, fools shall prostrate themselves!'”
As I swing my beloved spear down, they all slam face-first into the ground simultaneously.
“Guh!”
“Guaah!”
“Gaaaaah!”
“Gyaaaah!”
“Gugaaaaaaah!”
Such filthy, ugly screams.
“So this is Okaasama’s Relic…”
“Mineha. Let’s really get going this time. I’m hungry.”
“Okaasama. Are you just going to leave them like this?”
“Don’t worry. Someone will clean them up.”
“…”
Don’t make that face. You’re so stunningly beautiful it makes me jealous.
But you don’t need to surpass me in allure. Not yet, anyway.