“Hm. We can go to the Beastman Nation now…”
I wonder what kind of place it is.
“Zzz…”
Ha ha. Good night, Fran. You did good.
It was the morning of our departure, and we were in the dungeon to say our goodbyes to Lumina.
“You’re finally leaving, then. I must say I can’t wait to see what happens.”
“Hm…”
“Come now,” she said. “You shouldn’t look like that on the day of your departure. The surface is sunny today, is it not?”
While this wouldn’t be our final goodbye, it still made me misty-eyed. Lumina was special to Fran.
“I must thank you again for telling me where Kiara is,” said the Dungeon Master.
“Thanks for helping me evolve, too.”
Yeah. If anything, we owe you for expending your powers like that.
“Then I suppose we can call it even.”
Lumina laughed, but it didn’t help to lighten Fran’s mood.
“This will not be our final farewell. In fact, I would be less worried if you went off with a smile.”
“Hm…”
“Oh, what am I to do with you?”
Lumina got up and pulled her into an embrace. It was a warm and gentle hug, to which Fran responded by burying her face in Lumina’s shoulder and squeezing her arms. She didn’t know when we would see her again. Lumina patted her back and Fran finally pulled away. Her face was red with embarrassment.
“Sorry,” Fran said.
“Ha ha ha. You can still be adorable, I see. Come visit me if you ever feel lonely. I’ll hug you all you want.”
“Hm.”
There was no more doubt in Fran’s eyes. Comforting her was supposed to be my role, but even I couldn’t replace the maternal love Lumina had for her. I felt a mixture of frustration and admiration.
“I’ll be going now,” Fran said.
“Be safe.”
Lumina smiled as we left the dungeon. Before Fran teleported away, she whispered in a low voice:
“Bye-bye.”
A farewell she didn’t mean for anyone to hear.
We’ll come back.
“Hm.”
Let’s show her how much you’ve grown by then.
“Hm!”
An hour went by, and a mass of people had gathered at the city gate.
“Oh, Frannie! You’ll come again, won’t you? You’re always welcome!”
Elza came up first. She put her arms around her, crying her eyes out. Watch the snot now, Fran! The big adventurer almost suffocated her with her pecs, but Fran didn’t seem to mind. In fact, she was patting her on the back to comfort her.
“Sniff…thank you, Frannie.”
“Hm.”
“Here. A farewell gift just for you. Take it.” Elza handed her a basket. Inside it were ten bottles of liquid.
“Potions?”
“These are my specially formulated skincare lotions. Use them before going to bed and you’ll wake up with fresh and supple skin. You’re really strong and cool, but that doesn’t mean that you can skip out on being cute and girly.”
I couldn’t have put it better myself, Elza. Fran was made of excellent stuff, but I, her crude guardian, didn’t have a clue about fashion and makeup. We’d put her gift to good use starting tonight.
“I’m supposed to put it on my skin?”
“Yes, take a little bit into your hands and massage it into your skin.”
“Why?”
“You don’t have to understand. You’ll know when you grow up and fall in love.”
“Uh. Sure?” Fran nodded, still befuddled.
Okay, but hold up a moment, Elza. Fall in love? Fran? She was still twelve! It was too soon for her to fall in love! What if she became more beautiful because of that lotion? Hyenas would come circling! What if Fran fell for one of the better-looking ones? I supposed I could cut him down if he turned out to be nothing but a good-looking scumbag. But what if he was actually bright and cheerful? What would I do? What if he was reliable enough for Fran?
No. Looks and personality wouldn’t be enough to protect her. He would have to be strong enough to defeat Fran and me together. He needed to be financially strong enough to take care of her, and faithful enough to be with her all his life. If he couldn’t fulfill all of Fran’s selfish desires, I would not allow it!
“F-Frannie? Your sword’s rattling on your back…is it okay? That thing’s cursed, right?”
Teacher?
Oh no. I’d almost lost control there. I was about to Telekinesis myself out of my sheath.
It’s nothing. Just thank Elza for her present.
Well, no need to think about it so much now. Courtship was still in the distant future and might never come to pass. I was thankful for the lotions, though. Making Fran cuter was always a good thing.
“Hm. It’s fine. Thanks.”
“Come back if you ever run out. I’ll cook up a fresh batch.”
Now it was Dias and Aurel’s turn.
“What an excellent day for an adventure.”
“All the best to you, young lady.”
They bowed their heads, asking Fran to send Kiara their regards. I expected a letter, but they hadn’t prepared one.
“We remember it like it was yesterday, but we can’t say the same for her. She’s probably forgotten about us,” they said in a matter-of-fact tone, but not without sadness.
That was why they skipped on writing a letter. To Kiara, Dias and Aurel were probably acquaintances she met while she was young. They didn’t know whether she would remember.
“Just mention us in passing. Tell her these old adventurers in Ulmutt said they knew her and got nostalgic for the past.”
“More importantly, tell us how she’s doing.”
“Hm. Got it.”
Amanda came to hug Fran next. Forlund, Phelms, and Colbert stood behind her.
“Frannie, I can’t believe we have to say goodbye again! It’s too soon!”
She was crying, too. Amanda’s beautiful face was ruined with tears and snot just like Elza’s, but thanks to Elza’s Aesthetics skill, she was…hm. Let’s stop that train of thought here. Elza was a special case.
“Farewell.”
Forlund wasn’t a man of words. I always thought he was a little like Fran. That said, I didn’t think he’d come to send her off.
“Come on, boss, you can do better than that,” Colbert sighed jokingly.
“Don’t mind him, Fran. Forlund’s always like this. He doesn’t mean anything
