After that, the children continued to grow well, and as the house became too small, we demolished my father-in-law’s house and our own house, and built a new one on the combined land.
I had thought that once the children transformed into their human forms, they would gradually leave the house, but so far, none of them have left.
By the time they turned 10 years old, the children’s beast forms are no different from adult Akinists, and both Cal and Dee, who tend to prioritize their own time, as well as the other children, would need their own spacious rooms.
Even Jay, who resembled me in appearance, has grown bigger than me.
The clingy May often storms into everyone’s rooms and occasionally gets chased out.
Especially Cal, who values his own space and daily rhythm, scold him from time to time.
Below May is his younger sister Isabella.
Being the youngest for now, she can be a bit spoiled.
I try to make sure it doesn’t become excessive.
After Rod and I pass away, there will be no species capable of opposing the half-Akinists.
Precisely because they are a species that can do as they please with few consequences, I don’t want them to become complacent.
So far, it hasn’t been a major issue, as the extent of their actions has been limited to killing those who instigated fights with them.
Most people perceived it as “they deserved it.”
Apart from combat situations, they rarely have a desire to kill others.
They don’t have an interest in killing; it’s more like wanting to eliminate those who bother them or engage in self-defense.
Rodo, before he met me, had the same perspective.
I am currently 47 years old, but my appearance hasn’t changed.
I don’t feel old, so I wonder if my lifespan has indeed been extended.
I understood that my constitution had changed when I was able to have children, even though I spent all my life in Japan before that.
It’s still hard for me to fully grasp because I can’t sense magic or the mana within myself.
My relationship with Rodo remains unchanged.
During the day, everyone is out at the barracks or the tower, so only my father-in-law and I are at home.
I take care of the household chores during that time.
I don’t have a regular job, per se.
There are times when I’m called upon to assist in cases of severe injuries or limb loss, but other than that, I have no active role.
If the Third Division receives a support mission, the whole family goes together.
El, Cal, Dee, who can transform into humans, and Jay, who naturally had a human-like form, are already working as soldiers or apprentice mages.
May, although he didn’t go to the barracks until he turned 5, now actively participates in training.
During break time, it seems he sticks close to Rodo and El.
But since he can switch between on and off modes, I’m not worried.
The one I’m most concerned about is still Bell, after all.
“Mom! Bell is getting in our way! Bell doesn’t need to come to the barracks anymore!!”
It seems Dee got angry today.
They quickly left after setting Bell down inside the house.
…I wonder what Bell did this time…
Dee, in her human form, has an appearance that is a blend of my mother-in-law and me.
Her hair is straight like mine, rather than the curly hair of Rodo and the others.
She has reddish-brown hair and black eyes.
…Back then, when I saw her resemblance to my mother-in-law, I couldn’t help but shed a few tears.
“I didn’t do anything wrong! It’s Dee’s fault!”
Bell refused to apologize, which probably ended up making everyone even angrier.
“What did Dee do?”
“They said I was getting in the way! They told me not to come back!”
“What did you do, Bell?”
“I didn’t do anything!”
…I can’t see the whole picture.
(I’m powerless…)
Since I wasn’t there at the scene, I didn’t know what happened.
Dee, the other party involved, had already returned to work.
Dee, who is already working as an apprentice, often comes home late.
I always go to pick up the children who are not apprentices yet.
“Why is Dee angry?”
“I don’t know!”
“Why is Bell angry?”
“I’m not angry!”
She clearly looked angry…
If sheโs not angry, then it must be…
“Did something unpleasant happen?”
“…Nothing happened!”
Ah, I’ve hit a snag.
In that case…
“Did something frustrating happen?”
“…………”
Silence.
It seems something frustrating did happen.
“What was frustrating? Did you lose to someone?”
Among the siblings, Bell is the most competitive.
But as a five-year-old, there’s no way Bell can win against her older siblings.
Feeling frustrated when told “it can’t be helped” was also something Bell often experienced.
Neither Rodo nor I are as competitive, so I wonder who Bell took after?
“…I can’t win! I can’t win against anyone!”
Even May, who is three years older, is physically different.
Excluding Jay, who is in the tower, the remaining three have already completed their human transformations.
Although they are still considered children in this world, they are on par with adults.
There is no one else besides Rodo whom they can lose to.
Even May, who hadn’t completed his human transformation yet, is currently eight years old.
He is about the same size as Rodo’s beastly form, or maybe slightly smaller.
When standing next to five-year-old Bell, you can clearly see the difference in size.
In this world, it seems that a three-year age difference during childhood is significant.
“Right. It’s frustrating to not be able to win. But it’s not good to interfere with Dee, you know?… Maybe there was something you wanted to say to Dee?”
If it was just sulking, there wouldn’t be a reason for Dee to interfere.
There must have been something she wanted to say.
But Dee got angry and felt interrupted before she could hear it, I suppose.
“Because I can’t win, I wanted Dee to teach me how to fight. Dad told me to ask Dee, so I was waiting… but I got scolded.”
Bell, who was previously in a sour mood, now burst into tears.
It seems like the problem was just the wrong timing.
“When Dee comes back, apologize for interrupting and then ask her to teach you how to fight, okay?”
“No way! She told me not to come anymore!”
Bell seems completely sulky right now.
Now, what should I do…
“If you talk properly, she will understand. Mom will also go with you to Dee’s place, so we can apologize together.”
“…But Mom didn’t do anything wrong, why should you apologize?”
“Mom is your mom, Bell. When you apologize, Mom apologizes too. It’s not just for you, but for El, Cal, Dee, Jay, and May as well. It’s Mom’s role.”
As parents, it’s the bare minimum.
…Even if it’s our own child on the other side, it’s only natural to apologize when it’s necessary.
If it means encouraging Bell, who is hesitant to apologize, I can bow my head as much as needed.
After all, Bell is precious to both Rodo and me.
“If Mom is with you, can you apologize to Dee?”
“…Yeah.”
“You’re a good kid, Bell.”
Despite being a bit selfish and stubborn at times, our children are generally well-behaved.
—
—
“So that’s why you went to apologize to Diadora as soon as we got back.”
“Yeah. Bell cried and said she felt disliked by Dee, so I ended up siding with Bell. It’s not that I want to make Dee suffer… It’s complicated, isn’t it?”
After everyone had retreated to their respective rooms, I talked to Rodo about the recent incident.
If I had sided with Dee, Bell would have genuinely believed that Dee disliked her.
But I also understand Dee’s perspective.
It’s not unusual for siblings close in age to feel competitive with each other.
Moreover, Dee shared Bell’s competitive nature.
For Dee, who wants to become independent as soon as possible, getting in her way would naturally lead to anger.
… I wonder if Akinists are more competitive among females?
… Or is it just a coincidence?
My mother-in-law didn’t seem competitive at all.
“Kou, you’re still the same.”
I felt Rodo’s hand on my cheek.
“Because they’re our precious children, you know? I understand that it’s not right to take sides and only support one of them, but no matter what, I find myself siding with the younger child.”
Bell is 5 years old, and Dee is almost 20.
Although both of them (including me) are still young in this world, I can’t help but see Dee as an adult.
Even in their human form, they look older than me, and people often say that.
While Dee would prefer to be treated as an adult rather than forever being treated like a child, it was cute to see her blush when I patted her head.
“Thank you for forgiving Bell. You’re such a good sister.”
But every time I say “cute,” they always respond with, “The cute one is Mom.”
That goes for Dee as well as all the siblings.
Isn’t it funny?
I’ve given up on being seen as someone who can protect others because my body is not as strong as everyone else’s.
Maybe it’s because of this feminine face?
Or maybe it’s because I stand out as a slim and toned figure among everyone’s muscular builds?
I mean, I did play tennis, so my abs are well-defined.
…But I can still be effortlessly lifted by Rod or my father-in-law.
Recently, I was quite surprised when El lifted me with one arm and placed me on his knee.
And then Cal, Dee, and Jay started imitating it.
In the end, I found myself sitting on Rodo’s knee.
Rodo was quite unhappy about it and told the children, “Don’t lift Kou unless it’s an emergency!”
Rodo then carried me and took me to our bed.
This was how our nights usually are.
It’s been 28 years since we got married, but our intimate moments haven’t decreased much.
Neither Rod nor I have experienced a decline in our physical stamina, so it’s only natural… I guess?
Since most people here are from long-lived races, it seems that such things are less common.
But it might be because Rodo and I are mates, as people often say.
Well, that’s probably why we ended up having six children.
Children are considered blessings from the heavens, and we don’t particularly worry about contraception.
We plan to have as many children as we can, so our family will continue to grow.
Even though they are apprentices, they receive a salary.
Jay also became an apprentice magician, and the four of them saved their individual salaries for the future.
Our lifestyle can be easily sustained solely by Rodo’s salary.
Ideally, we would manage our expenses with that income alone.
But as Akinists, due to their aura emission, they would have to leave the dormitory early.
Houses are typically given by parents or provided by the government, it seems.
Even El’s house would be funded by the national budget.
…However, since none of our children have left home yet, those plans have yet to be realized.
I buried my face in Rodo’s broad chest.
No matter how many years passed, the most reassuring place for me is in Rod’s arms.
Listening to Rod’s heartbeat and being embraced while he gently stroked my head, I easily drift off to sleep.
I always feel bad because I’m the one who relies on him so much.
…But just thinking about it won’t change anything.
I’m still awake, but I lazily rolled around in Rodo’s arms.
I love this time of the day.
The children don’t need my attention, and I can indulge in Rod’s embrace almost every day.
If our children were born like Jay, it would be a different story, but since they were born in their beastly forms, they require very little care.
That’s why I can wholeheartedly rely on Rod without any reservations.
“Kou, on our next day off, how about we leave Maynard and Isabella to my father and Eldred and go somewhere?”
Sometimes, I receive invitations like this.
Rodo makes sure we have time alone together, not just at night, and everyone around us cooperates.
Especially Eldred, he’s always been helpful.
He takes care of his siblings and watches over them.
As a token of appreciation and apology, I make sweets and give them to him.
That’s all I can do.
“Going to another country would be troublesome, so let’s stay within Marhect.”
If we go to another country, it becomes a big fuss as soon as people recognize us.
The king and the commanders gather, and it becomes quite busy.
I want them to stay out of our date.
Even within Marhect, soldiers and magicians often gather around us.
But at least the king doesn’t come, so it’s better.
“Shall we go to Uriest? Let’s bring a packed lunch.”
“I’m looking forward to it.”
I’m in the mood for a picnic.
I think it would be nice to bring the children along, but the soldier apprentices and magician apprentices can’t take time off on their own, so there’s no choice.
If we were to take them, it would only be Maynard and Isabella.
Since the children have different days off, there are times when it’s just the two of us going out.
I try to create moments where the children have time alone with me or time alone with Rodo as much as possible.
There are things that are easier to consult with me, and there are things that should be consulted with Rodo.
To prevent the siblings from growing distant, we also create opportunities for the whole family to gather.
Eldred is still a great older brother.
He comforts a defeated Maynard, who charged at Cal again and got shot down, and he carries Jay, who fell asleep on the couch, to his room…
Cal is the one who spends the most time alone among the siblings.
He dislikes interference and doesn’t talk much at home.
But sometimes, he won’t leave my side.
Even during those times, if I ask him if something happened, heโd move away.
So I just rub my head against his shoulder.
After a while, he leans his head against mine, and just when I think he’ll move away, he lets out a soft giggle.
Those moments are so adorable.
“Should I put Ronva, Rodo’s favorite, in it?”
“Whatever you make, Kou, it’s always delicious, so I look forward to it no matter what’s in it.”
Rod always eats my cooking with such delight.
It’s rewarding to see him enjoy it so much.
…Our Engel coefficient at home has become quite impressive.
It’s a happy complaint.
Still, it seems like everyone isn’t a big eater.
I understand why they say I have a small appetite.
I mean, I can’t eat as much as Bell, who is five years old.
โI’m looking forward to it. I’ll have to wake up early and make the bento, right?”
Rodo has a day off, but the kids have work.
Since I always pack bento for them, the effort of making them remains the same.
But if we’re going on an outing, I’ll put a little extra effort into Rod’s bento.
“You don’t have to push yourself, you know?”
โIโm not pushing myself. I just want to see your happy face while you enjoy the food.”
If Rodo enjoys eating it so much, I can make as many bentos as needed.
I still feel deep love from Rodo.
And my love for him hasn’t changed… no, it had grown even stronger.
Do you know what a ‘relationship rut’ is?
I’m in a state like that…
“Rodo, I love you.”
I embraced him tightly.
Even if I hold on with all my strength, Rodo won’t suffer as I did in the reverse situation.
Even if I suddenly act clingy, Rodo just looked happy.
I’ve been spoiled too much since coming to this world.
“I love you too, Kou.”
“Hehe… I love you too.”
I hope we can continue to be happy like this forever.
Authorโs Note:
It’s been a while, everyone! (^-^)/
My smartphone broke, so I couldn’t write for a while, and just when I was about to go to the shop to fix it, an earthquake happened… ฮฃ(ใใญใ;)
I wonder what’s going on… (ยดใปฯใป`;)
Things aren’t going well for me… (ใคะด๏ผ)
Thanks for translating it to the end! It was ride and Kouโs shift in mentality by the end (concerning other people and their lives) felt a bit abrupt for me (still miss the bunny co captain man who was friends with Kou) but Iโm happy to read it all the way through so thanks for translating!
Also, you did a great job, especially in the beginning when you translated Kouโs baby speech and made it coherent for us dummies. Did the extra work and I really appreciate it.
So thanks again!
Thank you thank you so much for translating this untol the end I really love your works and how you translate specially the first part of this story. Thank you for your hard work!! Send loves <3