Mewi had never really relied on anyone else before this. It sounded nice to be able to do everything yourself, but that was such a lonely way of living. I hadn’t achieved my current skill and status entirely through my own efforts either—my connections with many people, starting with my mom and dad, had enabled me to keep going. It was anyone’s guess when someone might come into their own, but having the help of others along the way was better than toughing it out alone. In most cases, the more connections, the better.
“Hee hee... It’s thanks to Master Beryl that I’m finally able to face the future,” Surena said. “I’m also able to reflect on the lives of others... I’m very grateful.”
“I’d like to tell you there’s no need for that,” I replied, “but I’ll accept your gratitude.”
“Yes, please do.”
Defeating Id Invicius had definitely been a major life event for her. I’d wanted to throw some karma at the monster too, but her need for retribution had been on an entirely different level. I’m glad she got what she wanted...and that she feels able to reflect on how she connects with other people. She’s grown a lot too.
“What’ll you do now?” I asked.
She’d gotten her revenge. She’d built up trust and accomplishments for years, all to that end. So how was she going to be using those boons from now on? I was definitely interested. A small part of me wondered whether she would retire as an adventurer. She’d achieved the shortest path to reaching the greatest heights in her field, but now, she had no reason to fixate on adventuring. Would the guild even accept her resignation? Who knows. Regardless, Surena was free to choose her own path forward.
“Ms...Surena,” Mewi murmured.
“Hm?”
“Are you gonna quit adventuring?”
I froze. Mewi was very sensitive to the subtleties in other people. She’d needed such skills to survive before moving in with me, but at this level, we could pretty much assume that this was an innate skill she had. Still, I hadn’t expected her to be this observant. She knew pretty much nothing about Surena’s background and circumstances but had still understood enough to ask her that—she’d likely followed the same train of thought as me.
Mewi was going entirely off of intuition this time, but if she kept accumulating experience and knowledge, her insight would probably grow many times stronger and become a tremendous weapon—not only for swordplay and magic, but for life itself.
Though I had great hopes for her future, I was also slightly apprehensive about it. Having an affinity for magic was already amazing, and adding her tremendous insight to the mix, it was entirely possible for her to grow into a heroic figure.
“I wonder...” Surena said. “It isn’t like I really have a reason to quit.”
Surena didn’t have a clear picture of her own future right now. What Mewi was asking required making a decision that would influence the rest of her life. Personally, I believed it would be a waste for her to retire now—I’d had the same thought when I’d heard of Randrid’s retirement. But people lived their lives for their own sakes, and it was rude for an outsider to butt in. In Surena’s case, she hadn’t actually decided on quitting yet.
“But, you have a point...” Surena continued. “I’m starting to think I’d like to try chasing a more ordinary happiness.”
Mewi fell silent. The word “happiness” reminded me of a conversation I’d had with Allucia. She’d also posed questions regarding “ordinary” happiness. Surena and Mewi had endured some unfortunate years, and there was no erasing the scars of the past. That didn’t make them unhappy, though. Surena had cut open a path toward her own future after being warmly welcomed by her adoptive parents. If Mewi ever ended up unhappy, it would be a result of my failures.
So what exactly did happiness mean to them? Mewi was at an age where she could discover that in the future. She even had mentors ready to lend her a hand. But what about Surena? I would never know unless I asked her.
“Surena Lysandra’s happiness, huh?” I said. “An interesting topic.”
“Well, I suppose so,” Surena agreed. “To be honest, I was thinking of trying to raise a family or something.”
“Hmmm.”
That her words came as a shock would be quite rude to say...but yes, I was a bit shocked. After giving it some thought, though, it really wasn’t so strange. Surena had lost her parents as a child but had received plenty of love from them before that. Even when we’d taken care of her, we’d coddled her. After that, her adoptive parents had raised her with love, molding her into who she was today. It was only right that she had a longing for familial love.
However, from the way she put it, a good portion of those feelings seemed to come only from admiration. Things would be a little different if she’d had her heart set on a partner, but that didn’t seem to be the case. Still, I thought it was fine. Maybe an old man with no wife or children of his own isn’t particularly persuasive, though...
“Have you ever given it any thought, Master?” Surena asked.
“I’d be lying if I said it never crossed my mind...but I have Mewi right now.” I brushed my hand over Mewi’s hair.
“Hmph...” Mewi huffed, but lately, she hadn’t been wary of my hand, and she didn’t try to swat it away. I was truly glad for this. Patting her head was great, though of course, I made sure to do so only at the right place and time.
“But let’s see...” I took my hand off of Mewi’s head and glanced at the wall. This house had practically nothing you could call art except for the one decoration in the living room. Due to the nature of the conversation, my eyes naturally drifted toward it. “If I ever marry someone I love and am blessed with a new life...” I started. “I’m sure it’ll be a wonderful child who loves admiring the flowers in the garden.”
“Hee hee. In that case, you’ll have to choose a very kind partner,” Surena teased.
“Really? You’re plenty nice yourself.”
“Even if I am, I’d still lose to you in a kindness contest.”
“Hmmm...? Well, let’s leave it at that.”
I was pretty sure being kind wasn’t a matter of winning or losing, but if Surena was set on it, then I didn’t see a reason to argue.
At any rate, freed of the pressure of her past, Surena’s smile carried the brilliance of someone who was gentle to her very core. That was what I believed. And after twenty years, that smile was blooming once more. For now, that was worth celebrating above all else.