MLOMH 32

Chapter 32

Dylan was witnessing a strange sight.

Flip. The sound of turning paper snapped him out of his thoughts.

“Dylan.”

“Y-Yes?”

Mehen, flipping through a pamphlet, glared at him over the rim of his glasses.

“I asked for a recommendation. Why are you zoning out?”

“Ah, haha. Ha ha ha…”

I just can’t believe what I’m seeing.

“Is it even possible for someone to change this much overnight?”

He resisted the urge to look outside to see if there were two suns in the sky, and instead stared at Mehen, who was flipping through a tourist pamphlet for Pegritsa.

“This doesn’t suit him at all.”

Even if Mehen had cleared out the mountain of paperwork in the room within half a day, Dylan wouldn’t have been as surprised as he was now.

“Or maybe not? That’s something I see almost every day.”

In any case, the reason Mehen was acting so out of character—

“Where do you think would be the best place to take the young lady?”

Thanks to his many nieces and nephews, Dylan was able to recommend the perfect spot quickly.

“I think Sharit would be the best. It’s in the southern part of the imperial capital Pegritsa, so it’s close by carriage. The joint operation between the Mage Tower and the Paraltree family gives it a stable reputation. Above all, the scenery is beautiful.”

“I like that it’s nearby,” Mehen nodded. Even now, it felt like he was approving a quarterly business plan.

“Will you be leaving now?”

“I suppose so.”

Mehen stood up, confirming his intent.

“I hope you two make good memories.”

Having always seen Mehen working non-stop since the day they met, Dylan found this entire scene strangely surreal even as he saw them off.

“What even is this situation…”

The ghost of Halbern.

The sight of workaholic Mehen leaving his office—it was absurd.

Left alone in the office, Dylan scratched his head, still unsettled.

After a moment of hesitation—

“I don’t know anymore.”

He wrote a neat letter and placed it in an envelope enchanted for urgent delivery.

Pop—!

“How long has it been since I went out, not on a business trip but for leisure?”

Mehen gave up counting the days he hadn’t been off work. Even if the circumstances were unusual, just being out felt like catching a breath.

“It’s a couple look!”

Fortunately, Arellin seemed to be in a good mood too.

“It’s just that our coats are the same color.”

“……”

Arellin pouted. Her cheeks were still plump with baby fat, making even her scowls look adorable.

“Yes, it’s a couple look.”

“Heehee.”

It was just the color of their coats. Was that really such a happy thing?

“Couple hats too.”

“Yes, couple hats.”

“This is my first time going on a trip like this.”

“……”

That wasn’t true. When she was younger, the caretakers had taken her out from time to time. Brief outings due to health issues, but outings nonetheless.

Even back then, the strange illness gnawing at Arellin’s life had been there.

Perhaps sensing Mehen’s silence, Arellin changed the subject.

“There’s a lot of people.”

“Well, it’s a famous tourist spot.”

At times like this, children could be frighteningly perceptive.

“Do you not like it?”

“No.”

Arellin looked around with wonder at the unfamiliar sights. What amazed her most was beneath her feet.

“There’s water under my feet.”

“Yes, this is Lake Sharit.”

“I’m walking on water—how?”

“They say a special magic field is cast over the entire lake. I’m not a magic specialist, so I don’t know the details.”

“That’s amazing.”

Thanks to the enchantment, they could see the rippling lake vividly underfoot.

A city built on water, atop a magical barrier.

There were no permanent residents due to the unique environment—it was developed entirely as a tourist destination. But people from across the continent longed to visit.

“Ah!”

While Arellin was distracted by the gentle waves of the lake, a spell triggered. The water of the lake gathered and passed through the barrier, forming into the shape of a dolphin that swam around her.

“It’s cold.”

Arellin frowned as the water-dolphin splashed droplets at her.

Mehen chuckled unintentionally.

“Sightseeing is nice, but shall we get something to eat first?”

“Okay.”

She carefully took Mehen’s offered hand and began walking.

Even knowing it was safe, seeing the water below must have made her naturally cautious.

This lake, where the great water beast Sharit was said to sleep, was now just a famous tourist attraction.

“Dad, I want that!”

“Mom, Mom!”

Naturally, it was a popular destination for families.

“……”

Everywhere they looked, there were family groups: parents holding toddlers, fathers giving their sons piggyback rides.

Should I carry Arellin too? Mehen hesitated, conflicted.

Arellin’s gaze remained fixed on the loving families around her.

“Young lady.”

Her deep stare stirred something in Mehen—stifling, sharp, unfamiliar emotions.

He suppressed the feelings that disturbed his composure. He could ignore them, pretend they didn’t matter, and she would go along.

But he didn’t want to.

“Are you envious?”

“…It’s okay.”

A small hand gripped Mehen’s large one tightly.

“Because I have you.”

Her rose-pink eyes, gentle and soft as rose quartz, gazed at him.

“You said you’d be my mom.”

“I’m not… your mom.”

The title mom was a high hurdle for an unmarried man. But Mehen no longer had a choice.

“…Sigh. Okay.”

If that’s what you want.

“Heehee.”

Arellin giggled.

She was so cute like that—maybe that alone made it worth it.

“But why Mom and not Dad?”

“Because I already have a dad.”

“Ah.”

“I’ve never seen him, but he exists, right?”

…Why is she so logical?

She had a point, and Mehen had no rebuttal. It wasn’t like he could say he wanted to take the dad’s place either.

“I see.”

“I like you better.”

“…Sorry?”

“I like you more than a dad I’ve never met.”

Worried that he might be hurt, she said it proudly.

Mehen gave a wry smile.

“Well, that’s only natural.”

After all the hell I’ve gone through raising you, no way I’m getting beat out by a guy who hasn’t even shown up.

After lunch at the most famous restaurant, the two headed to the central square for the fountain show.

“There’s a reason why people gather here.”

“It’s your first time too?”

“Yes. I’ve always been buried in paperwork.”

The central square was already packed.

“Buy some flowers!”

“Pretty flowers!”

Though he usually avoided crowds, the lively bustle felt refreshing today.

“Shall I buy you one?”

“Yes!”

He bought a small bouquet suited to a child and handed her a flower. Arellin smiled brightly.

“Hehe.”

Beastkin, rarely seen in Albrecht, called out to passersby in various spots, adding to the unique scenery.

“Do you feel better now?”

“Thanks to you.”

Arellin replied with mock dignity.

“I have to cooperate if Mom’s making an effort.”

“Cooperate?”

“Good girl, right?”

“…Ha.”

She reached up and patted Mehen’s head. His first-ever head pat. He could only laugh.

Wuuung—

Magic circles on the square’s floor glowed as the fountain show began.

Pop! Pop pop pop!

Water burst from all directions. The droplets gathered and shifted forms.

Rabbits, butterflies, wolves, dolphins, fish—a surreal parade of water creatures flying through the square.

“Mehen.”

And then—

“If I die, don’t build me a grave.”

Arellin smiled faintly, holding a white lily.

“I want to disappear without leaving any trace I was ever born.”

Her voice was low, dry—devoid of any emotion.

“But leave a flower, at least? I like this one.”

“Young lady…”

“You bought it for me. My first flower from you.”

In that ethereal, dreamlike setting, Mehen had no idea how to respond.

“Arell…”

Looking at the lost expression on Mehen’s face, Arellin smiled.

“It’s okay.”

“Young lady.”

“I know better than anyone that this disease isn’t curable.”

“Who is it? Who dared—”

“No one told me.”

Sometimes, you just come to understand things naturally.

“I can see it, that’s all.”

Mehen clamped his mouth shut.

“You didn’t want to get too attached, did you? Because you knew I’d die anyway?”

“That’s not true.”

“It’s not?”

“…It’s not like that. Haa…”

Where do I even start?

“I swear it’s not.”

“I believe you.”

“Young lady, I truly…”

“But still, don’t make a grave.”

Her clear, vivid eyes met his.

“Because I don’t want to be alone in a place no one visits.”

Just as tangled emotions overwhelmed him, just as the wind blew through the square—

“―Hey there, lovely father and daughter! Would you like to try a fun and unique experience?!”

A perfectly timed interruption arrived.