Chapter 73

"Happy New Year.

'Mother doesn't want to meet me, does she...'"

"No, I think she's just shy, you know."

In the city of Outarokus, in a treehouse café with a good view from the balcony, Keena, who had brought the dejected Sahara Shade to have tea, scratched her cheek and tried to comfort her niece, who looked like she was about to cry.

To be honest, the incident had just happened. Keena had forcibly brought Sahana to Outarokus. When Sahara Shade called out to her, Sahana, panicking, used a "Transfer" spell to escape somewhere.

"To think she would run away like that... I thought if she was in front of me, she would give up and meet me honestly. It was my mistake for not sealing her magic beforehand. I'm sorry, Sahara Shade."

If Sahara Shade heard this, she would probably turn red with anger at her sister-in-law's betrayal. But at this point, it wouldn't have made a difference either way.

"N-no! It's not Aunt's fault! It's because I'm not good enough, so please lift your head!"

Sahara Shade, who was flustered by Keena's bow on the table. At that moment, a third party spoke up.

"You two..."

Keena and Sahara Shade turned to the voice, which was trembling with suppressed anger. There stood a knight of the demon race with an anger mark on her forehead, accompanied by the confused Cro siblings.

"Ah, ah, Sarge?"

The queen, who was sweating and had a strained smile, was approached by the knight, called Sarge, with a threatening smile. When Keena looked around, the customers in the shop were crouching at their tables, watching them. When her gaze met Crof behind the knight, he bowed his head in apology.

"If you're going out, please let us know first! You are the queen of this country!"

"Can! I'm sorry!"

The queen, who shrank back from the explosive anger and apologized, received sympathetic looks from the customers, who were not surprised. Keena somehow understood that this wasn't the first time she had run away.

"You too, Lady Keena!"

"Eh, me?"

Keena, who had been nodding, was also scolded. When she looked puzzled, the knight lectured her about the dangers of being attacked in a place with a good view.

"Anyway, do you have any ideas?"

"Mother... Why are you bringing such a story to us?"

At the temple of Felskeiro, Skargo, who received Keena's visit early in the morning, gathered his sister and brother and frowned at Keena's request.

"Well, I thought you might have some thoughts from the same child's perspective."

"...I'm surprised that the queen of Outarokus is actually my cousin."

"Uh-huh."

Kataz, stroking his chin, sighed, and Maymai nodded. Keena looked at Skargo, who did not agree with his sister and brother.

"Did you know, Skargo?"

"I've traveled around the country as part of my diplomatic work. When the topic of your mother came up, we hit it off and had a blissful time."

Skargo, enveloped in a 'pink trip space' and blushing, was completely ignored by the three of them. In the end, the conversation turned into small talk, and after seeing off Maymai and Kataz, Keena returned home. When Skargo, who had been in a trip, realized it, everyone was gone.

"Hmm, what should I do?"

"...?"

After dinner, while taking a bath, Luka found his mother looking up at the moon from the living room window, deep in thought. Since yesterday, when his aunt visited and they went out, he had only seen her thinking. During dinner, she was distracted, and when she started pouring stew on her salad, the whole family was surprised.

"Hmm!"

Although Siren suggested leaving her alone for a while, Luka, feeling sad at Keena's lack of energy, decided to take action.

"Hey, Keena"

Thud

"Ouch!?"

Keena, who suddenly received a strong blow to the back of her head, writhed in pain. She held her throbbing head and turned around to see Opuketten Shurthaimer Krostetbonner standing there with a bored look, holding a ten-centimeter iron block.

"What's the meaning of this sudden violence!"

"Hmm"

As Keena tried to approach, Opus pointed behind her. There, Luka, supported by Roxine, was looking worriedly at Keena. When their eyes met, Luka hid behind Roxine, peeking out with half his face.

"...Luka?"

"That's why I told you not to show a dejected face in front of a child. He was quite worried about your lack of energy when he came to your room earlier."

"But who hits someone with an iron block!"

"You get results faster when you anger someone. Here."

Opus, who had a slightly difficult-to-argue-with reason, moved aside to let her pass. Keena, still pouting, walked up to Luka and easily picked him up when he tried to hide behind Roxine.

"?!?"

"Come on, Luka, let's sleep together tonight! Let's do it! Yes, it's decided!"

Keena firmly hugged the wide-eyed Luka and led him to the room without giving him a choice. The two who saw them off smiled and chuckled.

"Then, Sir Opus, I'll take my leave. Good night."

"Yes, I'm sorry."

"I feel like I'll have a good dream tonight," Roxine said happily as she returned to her room. Opus, shaking his head, looked up at the moon and smiled darkly.

"Sahana. The sin of making our beloved child sad is worthy of death. Hehehehehe..."

The shadow of Opus on the wall was distorted like a demon.

---

The next day.

Sahana visited unexpectedly in the morning, and Keena greeted her with a puzzled look.

"I'm sorry about the day before yesterday, Sahana. But to come today..."

"Please don't say that, Onee-sama. But I... After receiving such a passionate letter, I don't know how to face you..."

Sahana, with moist, feverish eyes, glanced at Keena, blushed bright red, turned away, and wriggled her body while saying "Kyaa." Keena, who couldn't understand her behavior, looked at her with concern, wondering if her sister had gone mad. This only seemed to excite Sahana more.

The pointless exchange was interrupted by the sudden appearance of a familiar object in the sky.

"...I announce."

A six-winged angel descended with a halo in the blue sky, announcing to those below. Keena and Sahana, distracted by the angel, didn't notice that the villagers were completely uninterested in this second unusual event.

"The management announces to the players the activation of a special quest. For details, please see the staff at the event venue. I repeat, ..."

"Opus? What is he doing!?"

"What are you mumbling about? Let's go quickly, Onee-sama!"

"Ah, uh, right! Right!"

Keena and Sahana, who had nodded at the solemn announcement in their heads, and Sahana, who had instantly snapped out of her daze, were about to leave when a flustered Roxine rushed over.

"Please wait, Lady Keena!"

"What's wrong, Roxine? Why are you so flustered? I'm just going to the event, so I'll be away for a while."

"It's not that, it's Luka-sama!"

"Eh!?"

Keena, startled by the name mentioned by the maid, looked up at the angel, then at Roxine, and then at Sahana, repeating the motion in a panic, unsure of what to prioritize. Sahana gently took the transfer stone from Keena's hand, who was struggling to balance the world's crisis and a family emergency.

"Then, I'll take care of this side, so you go to Luka-chan."

"Sahana... Is it okay?"

"I'm a level 800 expert. Don't worry."

Sahana, making a fist and smiling broadly, received a thumbs-up from Keena, who said, "Then, I'll leave it to you." When Sahana gripped the transfer stone, her body turned into a beam of light and flew off to the southwest.

"So, Roxine! What's wrong with Luka!?"

"J-just come back to the house, please. He's in the living room."

Roxine, who was pushed by the fierce expression of Keena, leaned back and responded. Watching her master run off as a beam of light, she sighed in relief, "I thought I was going to be eaten..." and smiled.

"Luca!"

Keena burst into the living room with such force that the door almost flew off its hinges. Siren and Luka, who were there, were surprised and wide-eyed.

"What's wrong, Lady Keena?"

"...Mom?"

"A, ah?"

Looking from head to toe, Luka didn't seem injured or sick. He was just kneading something like white clay with Siren, wearing an apron.

"A, ah? What's going on?"

"I was just about to make some sweets, and I sent Roxine to call Lady Sahana and you. Did she say something that caused a misunderstanding?"

Keena, realizing she had been set up after hearing the story from Siren, immediately smiled and approached. Roxine, who suddenly had her collar grabbed by her master, froze under the stern gaze.

"Rox-ine?"

"H-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h