ãEhâ¦? what did you say just now, Dear mother?ã
A new morning had arrived, and everyone sat around the dining table in Ariaâs home. The one who spoke those words was none other than Aria herself with a dumbfounded look on her face.
ãI said Mama will participate in this battle too. The truth is that Mama had enrolled in the Amazoness corps after you left this town to become an adventurer, Aria. I awakened my combat skill, and now, Iâm the captain of the seventh squad, you know?ã
ã⦠EH!?ã
Aria became even more shocked.
In the short time she had left her village to become an adventurer, her mother, who had no relation to combat, had awakened combat skill, risen to the top of the newfound vigilante organization of the town, and become the captain of the squad.
Even though it sounded like a joke, Leona wasnât the kind of woman to spit such lies. Aria knew her motherâs character well. After all, Leona had stayed by Ariaâs side from the moment Aria was born until she left the village.
ãBy the way, Leona-san, what kind of combat skill did you awaken?ã
ããShockwaveã! Itâs the derivative skill of a reinforcement type skill. I went to the forest to try this skill the moment it awakened, but⦠I ended up getting scouted by the leader of the Amazoness corps, who happened to pass by that area. ã
Leona replied to Alisha while displaying the sweet smile of beautiful, big brea*ted m*lf.
According to her, the skill suddenly awakened in her when she woke up a certain morning, and it was derived from the ãLesser Powerã, a skill that slightly increased physical strength.
ãBut still⦠I wonât let Mama enter the battlefieldâ¦ã
There was no way Aria would let her only blood relative, her mother, enter a dangerous place.
Just imagining her mother entering those places was enough to send a shiver down Ariaâs spine.
Ariaâs father had passed away when she had been a child. She didnât want to see another one of her family die again.
ãAria, I understand your feelings, but Lumilusâs fate depends on the result of this battle. Additional war potential is better than nothing. Mama has also become stronger, so you donât need to constantly protect me, you know. Moreover, Mamaâs awakened skill, ãShockwaveã, is a powerful skill that can create a powerful ranged blast after a normal attack. Its power canât be underestimated.ã
Leona explained the effects of her skill while gently brushing the worried Aria.
After Leona thought that her daughter had calmed down, she looked at Tama, who was enjoying Ariaâs melon sandwich, and playfully asked a question.
ãRight, Tama-chan? Do You Like Mama And her Two-Hit Multi-Target Attacks?ã
The question puzzled the kitten.
ãNya~n! (Thatâs an amazing skill. As expected of Masterâs mother!)ã
Tama replied to Leona with adorable cries.
ãRare skill, interesting! Letâs have a match!ã
Stella became interested in Leonaâs skill and immediately proposed a match while chewing the meat on the bone steak.
Leona smiled and replied, ãOh my! Itâs such an honor to be able to have a match with an active A-rank adventurer.ã.
After the incident with the summoned beasts, Stella, Vulcan, Lily, and Faeri had been certified as full-fledged A-rank adventurers; although Faeri and Lily didnât understand what the adventurer ranks meant.
ãNya! But still⦠After participating in yesterdayâs meeting, I think the war potential of this village is quite powerful. I mean, in the span of few years after the attack of the demon race army, they constructed a rampart, formed a new squad, and strengthened the chain of command.ã
ãItâs because everyone in the village became united after the demon raceâs attack. Yet, our war potential alone is far from enough to stop the incoming invasion of one of the Four Demon Dukes.ã
Even though the first half of Leonaâs reply was filled with pride, in the latter half, her face distorted.
ãIt canât be helped, Leona-san. The Four Demon Dukes were already extremely powerful, and now, one of them is a semi-demon king level. Even the weakened hero, His Highness Julius, had a hard time just fighting the summoned beasts.ã
Alisha had alone killed one of the Four Demon Dukes, Levi, in a one-sided manner. But, the only ones who could perform such a feat amongst the participants in this battle were her and the Archmageâs brother-in-law, Cedric, who had received a part of the Archmageâs power.
However, even Cedric, according to his report, had quite a hard time fighting his opponent, Valac.
Therefore, Alisha knew just how powerful the now-revived Four Demon Dukes had become.
ãI canât understand the difficult story, but the fight against the summoned beasts was mortifying.ã
ãEven though we received special training from Beelzebub-sama, we couldnât do anything but stall for time!ã
Lily and Faeri became downhearted when the topic shifted to the battle against the Four Demon Dukes. Even the normally cheerful fairy duo couldnât get rid of the regret from their previous fight.
They hadnât made a mistake in that battle and acted as support for Aria and co. But the experience where they let the people they were supposed to support be exposed to danger left a deep gulf in their hearts.
ãNya~n! (Donât worry girls, your support enabled all of us to survive that battle!)ã
Tama approached the two fairies and let out a gentle cry. He then rubbed his head on them as if he were reassuring them.
ãItâs ticklish, Tama~!ãn/o/vel/b//in dot c//om
ãSo fluffy~!ã
The fairiesâ usual innocent smile returned when they noticed Tamaâs care.
â
ï¼Uhm, I canât⦠move.ï¼
Tama was in trouble. He wanted to enjoy a midnight stroll in this new environment, but he couldnât even walk right now.
On his right was⦠Boing!
On his left was⦠another Boing!
Tamaâs body was surrounded by wonderfully soft things from all sides.
ãUuhn⦠Tama⦠doing that kind of thing in your sacred beast form isâ¦?ã
Aria sleep-talked when Tama tried to move his body.
ãFufufu⦠I wonder what kind of dream Aria is seeing right now!ã
Even Leona was awakened by Ariaâs sleep talking. She gently brushed her daughterâs head when she heard her sleep-talk.
Since they had a reunion after a long time, Aria had slept with Leona in her bedroom.
Or so it was supposed to be. Tama had also been brought along into the room for some reason.
He slept in Ariaâs embrace like usual, but ended up being sandwiched in between Ariaâs and Leonaâs melons.
ã⦠Tama-chan?ã
ãNya?ã
Leona stopped patting Ariaâs head and suddenly called out to Tama. She spoke as gently as her daughter.
ãThank you for protecting my daughter. Itâs strange for someone like me to make this request of you, whoâs still an infant, but can I ask you to continue protecting her in the future?ã
Ariaâs fateful encounter with Tama and the various dangers they had met until now, Leona had heard it all from Aria. So she wanted to convey her heartfelt gratitude to Tama, the benefactor(cat) of her daughterâs life.
ãNyaa! (Leave it to me, Mama! Iâll protect master with my life!)ã
Tama replied to Leonaâs request with a lovely cry.
ãFufufu! You really look like Ariaâs knight!ã
Leona smiled upon hearing Tamaâs lively cry, which meant that he could understand her words and showed his confidence. Thus, she brushed his head again.
Tama easily succumbed to sleep upon receiving the gentleness resembling Aria. Leonaâs nice smell gave him a sense of security, and her patting skill was too godly.