MHGA Chapter 203 – A Mother Only Wishes for Her Child's Safety
At that moment, in David's home…
"Mom, I really…"
David was kneeling properly on the floor in front of the sofa, his head bowed, unable to meet the tearful eyes of Gloria sitting on the couch.
"I worked so hard just to make money… for what?"
Gloria wiped away tears as she spoke. "And you went and dropped out of school while I was in a coma… You're such a talented child…"
"And you even secretly installed such a dangerous piece of cyberware… What were you thinking?"
As Gloria's voice echoed beside him, David felt his head practically pressing into the floor.
He had installed the military-grade Sandevistan on impulse, but he never imagined he'd be getting scolded by his own mother afterward.
It would've been easier if Gloria had just yelled or hit him—but ever since waking up and learning about his dropout and his military cyberware, Gloria had done nothing but cry.
"Help me help me help me—"
David's desperate pleas for aid kept popping up in the Gathering Hub's comms channel. Even the Hunters not currently patrolling Night City were getting his SOS.
"Ahahahahahahahahahahahaha!"
Kairo Retsu's triumphant laugh rang out in David's ear. "David's still kneeling at home? Want me to come save you?"
"My mom is seriously mad this time!" David answered, filled with regret. "What am I supposed to do?! I'm completely stuck!"
"And… there's no way I'm actually going back to school, right? What, I'm gonna go back and study properly, then graduate and join Arasaka, climb to the top of Arasaka Tower? I mean, I could do that… but it just doesn't make sense anymore!"
"I hate you genius-types the most!" Kazuma shouted with pure envy. "Why the hell do we have an honor student mixed in with us?!"
[Hunter Fact: David was an honor student at Arasaka Academy.]
"Mr. David, your mother truly is worried about you," Tanjiro said earnestly. "You should really talk things through with Ms. Gloria."
"But every time I try to say something, my mom just starts crying!" David said, clearly distressed. "I really can't talk to her properly right now."
"What am I supposed to say—'Hey Mom, I'm a Hunter now, and I'm going to be going off to other worlds to hunt monsters, and probably become someone who'll change the world'? How am I supposed to explain that?!"
"You can tell her."
The sudden reply in the comms caught David off guard.
Kairo Retsu had quietly chimed in.
"Just tell her everything about the Gathering Hub. If you're willing—there's nothing illegal about us," Kairo Retsu said confidently. "Just don't go shouting it across the rooftops, and it's fine."
"As long as your mom doesn't come into the Gathering Hub saying stuff like—'What kind of organization is this?! You're ruining my boy's life!'—then it's totally fine!" Kairo Retsu's voice was invigorating. "If this will help ease your family's mind, then just go ahead and tell her."
"So it's okay to tell her?!" David finally exhaled. "Then I can explain it to her properly…"
David gathered his courage and looked up at Gloria.
"Mom, actually…"
He quickly explained everything—about the Gathering Hub, about what had happened to him recently.
He even told her about how he could now travel between worlds, and about the incredible healing potions and other wonders he'd encountered.
But what David didn't expect… was that Gloria, after hearing all this, suddenly rushed forward and pulled him into a tight embrace.
"David!"
She frantically felt his forehead. "Did you hit your head in that crash? We need to see a doctor—no, a hospital! The best hospital!"
"Listen to Mom, okay? Let's replace that cyberware—it's way too dangerous." Gloria clung to him, heartbroken. "If anything were to happen to you… what would I have left to live for…"
"…Mom."
David listened to her words and felt a lump forming in his throat.
"I'm fine, Mom."
He gently held her by the shoulders and looked her in the eyes. "Everything I said is true. I can prove it."
"And… Mom, haven't you noticed?" David said gently. "Your cyberware is gone."
"Eh…?"
Only then did Gloria react. She instinctively reached for her face.
The cold, mechanical sensation of cyberware was gone—replaced by the warm, living touch of real flesh.
"This is…"
Just as she was about to gasp in shock, someone knocked on the door.
A gentle voice of a young man followed.
"Ms. Gloria, good afternoon."
When David opened the door, he was greeted by Tanjiro Kamado, standing there with his usual radiant smile and a ribbon-wrapped gift box in hand.
"I'm David's companion, a fellow Hunter—Tanjiro Kamado!" Tanjiro said with his ever-infectious cheer. "I heard from David that you woke up, so I brought a little something!"
He set the box on the table. "These are sweets from Lord Ubuyashiki. Please enjoy them!"
"E-Eh…?"
Gloria stared at Tanjiro in utter disbelief.
When David had first told her everything, she was convinced it was some scam—a virus had infected his neuralware, and someone was deceiving him…
But this sunny, absurdly wholesome boy standing in her living room—what was he?
"David! We came too!"
Another knock came, followed by the arrival of Rakuro Hizutome and Shirou Emiya.
"We brought some stuff too. Though I'm not really sure why, the Guildmaster told us to bring… a carton of eggs?"
In Shirou's hands was a pack of fresh eggs from the local supermarket.
This left Gloria even more confused.
Natural, organic eggs?
What is this gathering—some kind of scam ring or a group of eccentric rich kids…?
Like this story Leave a review ; it would really help me out a lot.
Want to Read Ahead in Advance?
Join my Patreon!
+75 Chapters
Support me in
Patreon.com/BestElysium