The one who told me to forgive Morgan was, surprisingly, not Johanna.
Johanna said she would try to persuade Morgan, but the decision was mine.
I had a strong feeling that she believed I would surely forgive her, but her words themselves respected my decision.
The one who raised their voice the most in favor of forgiving Morgan was Draco.
"How miserable would it be to have clung to just one thing after abandoning everything else, and for no one to affirm that path."
"...Did you sympathize with Morgan?"
"Hmph. I am merely magnanimous."
Draco, who ultimately could not meet her end in Luoyang, and Morgan, who could not take me to the Fae Kingdom.
Perhaps Draco saw a reflection of herself in Morgan.
While there were those who affirmed Morgan, there were also those who remained silent.
"What do you think, Tamamo?"
"I will simply follow Father's choice."
It felt so dry it was almost heartless. Tamamo's following remark was particularly harsh.
"If all she does is cling to Father's mercy, she will eventually break down. Wouldn't it be better to leave in search of another freedom?"
"Do you really think so?"
"I too have much to apologize to Father for, but at least I haven't repeated the same mistake as that woman."
Tamamo, as if she had something to be pricked by, rubbed her head against my embrace and acted cute.
"Right? I'm different, right? Father~♥"
"Not everyone can be the same."
"Oh my. Such a meaningful tone. I feel like my heart is going to drop!"
I calmed down the increasingly desperate Tamamo. At this rate, she was about to lick my feet.
I pondered for a long time while stroking Tamamo's fluffy tail.
The answer to this problem was not with me.
What Morgan thought was the most important.
Had Morgan really changed? Would it be okay for me to trust her again?
My head hurt.
Morgan is not the Tonelico I knew.
The returned Morgan was more erotic, arrogant, and dogmatic.
She doesn't speak her true feelings. She deceives me with a fake smile. She repeats betrayal after betrayal.
That pure and kind child was sent off from Orkney. With my own hands.
I have to accept that she's a different person now, but...
-You promised, brother!
Tonelico is still screaming in a corner of my heart.
Because of that one thing, I can never let Morgan go.
Morgan was stuck to me and showed no signs of leaving.
Tamamo, who couldn't watch any longer, stood in front of us.
Just a moment ago, she was holding hands with me and playing, but she was pushed aside when Morgan came, so she had many complaints.
"Move aside. It wouldn't do for fur to be scattered in Cael's path."
"What is this?! After squeezing out a few tears, you brazenly take Father's side, huh?! That spot was originally mine, you know?"
"I just lent you the spot that was allotted to me. Didn't you know?"
Morgan put on a bold face. She pushed Tamamo away with Gilgamesh-like words.
It was only natural that Tamamo would tearfully appeal to me.
"That's a foul! Father, it's your first daughter~. You haven't been bewitched by a strange fae, have you?"
"Is that all you have to show off. How pathetic."
Grind. I could hear the sound of teeth grinding.
Tamamo's eyes turned. There's no stopping her.
"Oh...hoho. It seems the time has come to return to being a martial arts Caster."
"I will show you the difference in our strength."
Morgan rolled her wrists and stepped forward in front of Tamamo. Even though she had no magical energy, I saw an illusion of flames soaring.
"Then, I'll take this spot."
The quick-witted Gilgamesh took the empty spot.
Gilgamesh, feeling my gaze, puffed out her cheeks in protest.
"If one of those two wins, it's a spot that will be taken away again anyway. Can't I just enjoy it for a moment?"
"That's not what I meant. I was thinking of giving you a shoulder ride."
"I'll allow it!"
Her eyes sparkled like stars. Is it something to be so happy about?
I asked for Johanna's understanding, who was holding my right hand. Because if I give a shoulder ride, I can't walk holding hands.
Johanna smiled and agreed, and I put Gilgamesh on my shoulders.
"Hehehe... this is nice. So nice."
"Isn't it uncomfortable?"
"It's a special seat, so I don't mind."
Gilgamesh, just like Draco did, grabbed my hair and gave orders like Ratatouille.
"Forward, march!"
"Ooh. Forward."
"There's not enough power in your voice! Forward!"
"Forward!"
Johanna burst out laughing at us. She even clapped her hands as she laughed, and I felt a little embarrassed.
The first owner of the shoulder ride, Draco, was surprisingly still. She was too busy eating her pearl ice cream.
It's already her fourth. She'll probably say her stomach hurts soon.
"Turn left here."
"Yesh."
"Right!"
"Yes."
"Kiss my hand!"
"Yes... huh?"
"It didn't work. Tsk."
What a sly little thing.
I put her down on the ground as a punishment for her insolence. She looked refreshed, as if she had enjoyed everything she wanted to.
"Are those two still fighting?"
"They're fighting, but they're arguing over something really strange."
There was no barbaric fight like a fistfight.
Instead, the two had brought a whiteboard from somewhere and were holding a quiz show.
The combination of Tamamo asking questions with a serious face and Morgan answering questions with a serious face.
It was just funny.
"What is that."
"Let's go take a look. Aren't you curious about what the questions are?"
"I'm quite curious. Could it be a question about magic?"
We guessed about the topic of the questions, but no one got it right.
"Question! How often should a 0-1 month old baby be fed?"
"Every 2 to 2 and a half hours."
"Tsk... that's correct."
"Easy."
Gilgamesh nudged me.
When I looked, she was twirling her finger near her temple.
"You shouldn't do that."
"Yes, yes."
Gilgamesh's bored-looking reaction. But her gaze is still on the whiteboard.
Huh? Why is Johanna over there?
"I'll be considerate. An easy question. When do a baby's milk teeth come in?"
"Milk teeth? Hmm... Father-chance!"
I feel really sorry for Tamamo.
I don't know either. You were already grown up from the beginning.
Behind the sunken Tamamo - ho, Johanna suddenly rose.
"Correct! 4-5 months!"
"...That's correct."
"Yay!"
Johanna showed a very proud expression. Cute.
No. Why is she answering questions over there too? In the first place, why are the questions related to childcare?
"Of course! The woman who takes care of children the best is the most suitable bride for Father, isn't she?"
"That is correct. If one cannot even take care of a child, one cannot be called a wife."
I'm dizzy. It seems to be right, but I feel strange.
"My child will be cute like Father and intelligent like me, so there's no need to worry about childcare."
"Intelligent? How amusing. That's a word that suits my daughter. She will become a pillar that supports the Fae Kingdom with Baobhan Sith."
The story is proceeding on the premise of having children.
I'm confused. Can Morgan control the gender of her child?
In the first place, Tamamo is a yokai and Morgan is a fae, can they have children?
"Nothing is impossible. Just because I'm a yokai doesn't mean I have four hearts."
"Likewise. I will make the impossible possible."
Their gazes are scary. The gazes of predators.
I was backing away from the strangely excited two and was blocked by Johanna.
"This is great. Calm those two down a bit... Johanna?"
"If there's only one child... won't they be lonely?"
You too, Johanna!