〜〜〜 Amy at Four Years Old 〜〜〜

Upon opening the door to the house, I said, "I'm home," and as I entered, my beloved child came running towards me with a smile.

"Father~! Welcome home~!"

"Amy, I'm back."

After returning from work, I lifted up my beloved child, who had come running, and happily stroked her head.

"Father, did you work hard today protecting peace?"

"Yeah, Amy. After all, I'm a knight."

"Father, you're so cool!"

"Hahaha! Thank you, Amy."

"When I grow up, I want to be like Father~!"

"I wonder if I can become like Amy, who wets the bed."

"Hmph!?"

After puffing out her cheeks, my adorable child said this.

"I'll definitely become like Father!!"

Even now, I remember the strong determination in her eyes...

〜〜〜 Amy at Ten Years Old 〜〜〜

"Congratulations, Amy!"

"Well done, Amy!"

"Thank you very much, Father, Mother."

She expressed her gratitude, holding the trophy from the swordsmanship competition hosted by the Liedgarm Magic Academy for ten-year-olds, where she won first place.

"It's impressive that you've come this far, Amy."

"Father... No, it's all thanks to Father's training!"

Seeing Amy's face, I received her response with a smile. She seemed happy to be praised by me.

"I see... I look forward to your future."

"I'm happy, but I still have a long way to go!"

"Why is that? There's no one in the Magic Academy your age who can match you, is there?"

"No, Father. Although I won this time, I don't know what will happen next. Also, my goal is to become as strong as you, Father, so I can't be satisfied here!!"

"I see, I see..."

Having a child who aims so high and takes pride in herself... I felt so blessed!

I still remember feeling so joyful that I could jump for joy...

〜〜〜 Amy at Fifteen Years Old 〜〜〜

"Amy, congratulations on graduating from the academy."

"Thank you, Father!"

My grown-up child responded to me with tears welling up in her eyes, looking very happy.

"And congratulations on joining the Second Knight Order. It's proof that your abilities are recognized by the country."

"Yes, Father! I'm happy, but..."

"Hmm, what's wrong?"

Unlike before, she looked at me with a dark expression.

"Father, you are retiring as the commander of the knight order, aren't you?"

"Yes, that's right. I can't remain as the commander forever. I appointed Guell, who I believed was suitable, as my successor."

"Father... I wanted to fight alongside you."

"I also wanted to see your abilities, Amy, but it coincided with the timing of my retirement. It couldn't be helped."

Placing my hands on Amy's shoulders, who remained bowed with a downcast face, I spoke to her.

"..."

Even though Amy remained silent without responding, I continued speaking, concerned about her.

"Listen, Amy? I may have resigned from the knight order, but that doesn't mean I've stopped fighting."

"Eh?!"

"I'm going to the General Guild to register for the Adventurer Department and embark on a journey."

"A... journey?"

As she looked up at me and asked, I spoke to her gently.

"That's right. There are things in this world that I don't know. There are many people stronger than me. So, I intend to travel around to learn about them."

"I see..."

"Pursue your own dreams, Amy. Dreams of becoming a splendid knight like me."

"Yes... Yes!"

Brightness returned to Amy's face.

"Father! I'll become a splendid knight and show you! So, please do your best, Father!"

"Yeah, I'm counting on you, Amy."

"Yes, Father."

Later, I registered for the Adventurer Department and set out on a journey, watched over by my family.

〜〜〜 Present 〜〜〜

"Whyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy!!? Waaahhh!!!?"

Peach's crying echoed inside the café.

Afterward, I was asked by Beiger to chase after her. I really didn't want to, but I couldn't refuse after being begged so persistently.

And when I went to look for Peach, I found her in the middle of the road, crying while sitting like a little girl, so I helped her up and took her to a nearby café. And the stares we got while walking were painful.

"Why is Amy-chaan... sniffle!? She used to say she's proud of meee...!"

...Well, no wonder Amy wouldn't feel proud seeing her like this. I mean, she's dressed as a magical girl, but she looks like a muscular middle-aged man? If you walked around the streets like this on Earth, you'd probably get reported to the police.

"Whyy... Why is Amy-chan avoiding me like thiiiiiis...!?"

While crying, she took the tissue I prepared and blew her nose before throwing it into the nearby trash can.

Well, anyone would be shocked if their parents became like this.

And I'm surprised that Amy had such a father complex. Ah! The tissue box is already empty.

I picked up the empty tissue box from the table and placed a second tissue box from the item box on the table.

"Laina-chaan... sniffle!? Thank you~..."

"Umm, Ms. Peach?"

"What is it~?"

Let's just go ahead and say it here.

"S-so, maybe if you would change into normal clothes and revert back to your previous way of speaking, Ms. Amy might agree to meet you again, right?"

"...Sniffle!? Is that so~?"

"I, I think so."

Let's do my best to restore Amy's and Peach's relationship!

"So, let's go to a nearby clothing store and buy some clothes!"

It was embarrassing to walk beside her, and hearing whispers through the headset was mentally draining. In a way, this is tiring.

"That way, Ms. Amy will probably treat you like before!"

"...I see~, hmm..."

Is it... not working?

"Certainly, wearing 'Cuticle Peach' invites cold stares from those around mee~. This morning, even the gatekeeper had his hand on his swoord~. It's something that would be unthinkable in the Maiden Kingdoom~."

What the heck's a 'Maiden Kingdom'!? Is that a country for real?

I was about to say those words, but I managed to hold back and listen to what Peach was saying.

"Especially when I got caught by soldiers or went on quests with other adventurer teams, I was avoideed~. Even old friends and colleagues avoided me when I met them agaain~..."

Seeing Peach lowering her face and speaking dispassionately, I felt like this was my chance! So, I decided to push forward all at once!

"U-um, maybe just this once, should we change your appearance and meet Ms. Amy, MS. Peach?"

Upon hearing my words, Peach looked at me with a troubled expression.

"...W-would Amy-chan meet me if I did thaat~?"

Oh, this is looking good!

"Yes."

"And would my wife meet me too~?"

"Um, yes..."

Wait, even her wife is avoiding her!?

"Can I enter my own houuse~?"

"...yes."

She's even banned from entering!?!

"S-so, let's go and prepare for that... okay?"

"..."

Uh... is she okay?

Seeing Peach still facing down without responding made me worry, so I leaned closer and was about to ask if she was all right, when suddenly...

"But I refuse!"

"Whoaaaaa!?!"

Peach suddenly lifted her head with a triumphant look, causing me to fall backward, knocking over my chair.

"Ouch..."

I hit my head as I fell. Oww... it really hurts.

"Sorryy~, Laina-chan, but I can't go along with your suggestioon~.

I~... want to remain as Peach~. Besides, it would be unfair to the other four if I left them suddenlyy~!"

"Eh? ...Other four?"

"Yes, that's riight~! The members of the Fruit Pretties~! We are a team of beautiful and strong 'maidens'~!"

"Huh... I see..."

So, there are four other people like Peach? ...No, I can't even imagine it! Or rather, I don't want to imagine it!?

"So, Laina-chaan, I'll stay as Peaach~!"

"I-I see..."

I'm sorry, Amy, it seems like I can't do anything about it...

"Oh, both of you are here! We've been looking for you!"

"I see you've gotten yourself into trouble again. Is it this guy's luck, or is it Elaina's misfortune?"

"Oh, Mr. Kioli! And Mr. Aid too! But how did you know we were here?"

When I asked the two who approached me while walking inside the shop, they answered with a smile.

"We asked around. Then we heard that you two came into this café, so we came here!"

"Well, your appearance is quite distinctive, so it was easy to find you."

Ah, right. The only person in this world with white hair together with someone in a magical girl costume. If someone really wanted to find us, it might indeed be easy.

"At any rate, we came to talk to you two."

"Oh myy~, is it about the incident with the Uble Trading Company earlieer~?"

"Yes, that's right. You saw that we arrested the commander of the First Knight Order and the president of the Uble Trading Company along with their associates. The captured individuals are currently being interrogated."

He used respectful language with Peach, just in case.

"And Elaina."

"Yes?"

"When you've delivered the requested items, I'll need to take the delivery confirmation documents. I received the documents from the Fang Oni Group earlier."

"Oh, right! I forgot to hand them over to Miss El. I was planning to go to the General Guild to deliver them in her place, but then I was approached by this guy from the General Guild."

"And then, in the course of the conversation, we ended up searching for you two together."

Oh, I see. That's what happened.

Thinking that, I brought out the menu and selected the item box, taking out the delivery documents.

"Here you go, Mr. Aide."

"Oh, are you finished already?"

After taking the documents from me, Aid began to check them over.

"...Alright, the report and reward will be given tomorrow. You should go back to your lodgings and rest."

Huh, shouldn't the report be given today? I was about to say that when Kioli cut in.

"That's right! Miss El should rest! Today's promotion exam will be postponed until next week, what with getting tangled up with the First Knight Order and all."

"Well, now that you mention it..."

Today might really be an unlucky day. Let's go along with what these two said.

"Oh myy~, that's quite unfortunate~... Wait, that's iit~!"

Huh, what's she come up with now?

"Tomorrow, we'll dive into the dungeon togetheer~!"

"Huh? Huuh!?"

"Do you~ have some sort of complaint against mee~?"

"Th-that's not it! I'm still only E-rank, so I can't go into the dungeon yet!!"

So please don't make such a scary face!

"There are various rules, but as long as there are two B-rank escorts or one A-rank escort, you can enter the Labyrinth of Demi-humans. This is something you'd be taught from B-rank and above, so it's natural if you didn't know."

"I'm A-rank, so I'm fully qualifiied~!"

She's A-rank? I thought she was really strong, but she's A-rank!!

"Well then, Elaina. Since it's not against the rules to explore the dungeon, it might be a good idea to go and check it out."

"Haah... If you say so, Mr. Aid, then I'll go."

Peach isn't a bad person, so it should be fine to rely on her, right?

...Probably.

"If you would, Ms. Peach."

"Alright then, Laina-chaan, let's meet at the north gate at 8 a.m. tomorroow~! Make sure you're well-prepaared~! I'm going home to see my honey noow~! Oh, I'll leave the money heere~! Bye-bye~~~!"

With that, she skipped out of the shop.

"Huh? Wasn't she... banned from entering the house?"

"Edrick wasn't like this before..."

Yeah, I thought so as I listened to the old stories.

"Indeed, you never know how people will turn out..."

"...That's true."

"Yeah."

We sighed deeply at Kioli's words.