"...I got it, slow down," Su'er couldn't help but rub his shoulder. He didn't know if it was his illusion, but he always felt that Jibril's playful hits were getting heavier and heavier. She didn't treat him like a person at all.
Such a protest was naturally passed over by a certain pink-haired Flügel's giggle. Su'er looked at how he was wrapped up tightly by Think and Jibril, just like last time. At his request, his ears and halo, which were obvious features, were also hidden.
Apart from a welcome when they returned to the settlement, Su'er and his group's return to the settlement did not cause much of a stir. After all, the main reason for the festival-like atmosphere last time was that even though Riku had been saying that Su'er was still alive, many people had already sentenced the man who had gone on a long expedition alone in this cruel world to death. Naturally, they were happy to see him appear again.
This time, it was more of a reunion after two years of not seeing each other.
"Hey, hey, Brother Su'er, what have you been doing outside? Take me with you!" Credo, the boy whom Su'er had risked his life to find herbs to save, had now become a man. Even though he had not seen Su'er many times in the past few years, his trust had not changed. He asked impatiently, clinging to Su'er's side.
"You're a man with a child now. Be a bit more stable," Su'er's mouth twitched as he pushed this man, who he saw as a little brother, to the side. Credo, who was like Nonna and wanted to hug his arm and shake it, was a bit scary.
Yes, the little brother who used to follow him around saying "Brother Su'er" had now become the father of two children. This change, which was completely out of his impression, made Su'er feel much more emotional in addition to feeling relieved.
"Hehe, are Klara and Morena very well-behaved?" As soon as he talked about his children, Credo showed a silly smile, "By the way, Brother Su'er, why haven't you and Sister had a child after all this time?"
Children's words are innocent, children's words are innocent!!!
Almost the moment Credo's words fell, Su'er put his hands together and bowed to Think at the speed of light.
When Su'er and the two of them returned to the settlement last time, Credo had naturally seen Think and Jibril. Although Think had claimed to be Jibril's mother at the time, this statement was clarified to be a joke not long after (Su'er was afraid of a bloody incident happening).
"Hmm?" Think, who was talking to Couronne on the other side, undoubtedly heard Credo's question. She suddenly turned her head and showed a kind smile. Her eyes had already narrowed into two curved arcs.
Although she looked very friendly, Credo couldn't help but shiver for some reason.
"...Brother Su'er, Sister is so fierce..."
Please don't say it again! You silly child!
Although Credo was whispering in his ear, how could Su'er not know that those two guys' hearing would not miss this silly child's words?!
Look, look! Jibril, who was lying on the rock over there, was already trembling from laughter!
"Ahem, Credo," Before this child could say anything shocking again, Su'er quickly coughed twice and said earnestly, "The thing is... it's not what you think it is... well, just don't talk nonsense."
"Oh," Although he didn't know why his trusted big brother would say that, Credo still nodded obediently.
Su'er covered his face at his dazed look. How did such a simpleton raise those two smart children?
Because of his silly little brother's unintentional words, the atmosphere in the cave became a bit awkward for a while, especially when Couronne was mentioned!
This red-haired woman, who was the general manager of the settlement, had been scanning Su'er and Think back and forth with her strange gaze for who knows how many times. She even deliberately or unintentionally led the normal conversation topics to strange places.
Fortunately, the angel who broke this atmosphere that made Su'er's scalp tingle finally appeared - Nonna!
Four years of time had turned the strong and sensible little girl into a young woman. Although there was still an unremovable childishness and youthfulness in her eyebrows, her style of speaking and acting had undoubtedly become like Couronne's back then. In fact, she was now the capable assistant who was helping Riku and Couronne manage the rapidly growing population in the settlement.
However, in front of Su'er, this girl, who was already considered a young woman, did not have the astute and capable appearance she usually had in front of others. She was still the child in Su'er's memory who liked to follow him around and ask for stories.
She unceremoniously pushed Credo to the side and sat down right next to Su'er. She then picked up the two children who were following her and said, "Wait a moment, Brother Su'er. Riku has something to take care of, and he'll be here soon."
"Ah, no rush. It's really not easy for him to handle all the matters of the settlement now," Su'er said as he took one of the children from Nonna's arms.
The boy was named Klara, and the girl was named Morena. These two little ones were Credo's children. And seeing his children smiling happily as Su'er played with them, Credo also started to smile foolishly.
This child is hopeless, Su'er commented.
"Ah, no, wait! Brother Su'er, you still haven't answered me?" Credo, who had been smiling foolishly for a long time, finally remembered his question. He didn't know Su'er's opinion of him in his heart. "No matter what you're doing outside, just take me with you! I can help too!"
"Oh! And me!" Nonna, who heard Credo's words, also had her eyes lit up. The blue-purple-haired girl hurriedly shook Su'er's arm and said.
"...The settlement still needs you," Although he had indeed returned to find helpers for this trip, Su'er found it especially difficult to speak at this moment. He was even instinctively resisting.
"Brother Su'er, you've been outside for so long that you might not know, but thanks to the food and new food you risked your life to find, everyone's expeditions outside have become less frequent. The population in the settlement has grown several times in the past few years~," Credo said with a lot of pride. "And because of this, everyone has been holding their breath, wanting to help you!"
"Yeah, yeah. And there are a lot of capable people in the settlement now. It's completely fine with them here, so take us with you! Brother Su'er~~," In Credo's shocked eyes, which wished he could stab himself, Nonna even drew out her voice and acted spoiled softly.