When Takumi returned to the Freya Familia mansion, the gates stood wide open, with rows of adventurers assembled inside. Each one radiated solid strength; at their head were the familia captain Ottar and vice-captain Allen Fromel.
Among them, Alfia was the most striking.
Her figure was unusually tall—around one meter seventy. Silver-white hair cascaded like a waterfall, soft and airy. A flawless oval face carried a noble, seductive charm. Her brows and eyes were exquisitely carved; long lashes lowered as she seemed to muse with eyes closed made her all the more moving.
Skin white as snow, and under a black evening dress it looked hewn from ice and jade, immaculate. Her lines were graceful, full yet slender, the dress tracing every curve just right.
A tantalizing collarbone, a rich swell, a supple waist, displayed to perfection: sexy yet never losing its elegance.
Even pushed back toward the corner as if not wishing for attention, she was like a cool queen from a dark fairytale, drawing every gaze without trying.
The moment her heterochromatic eyes opened toward the entrance and met Takumi's, Alfia's heart gave a jolt.
"Takumi!?"
Though some time had passed, she recognized him at a glance. That electric thrum of feeling stirred the longing settled deep in her chest.Tears welled before she knew it and slid from the corners of her eyes.
Dragging a body already frail, Alfia strode to him and, under everyone's eyes, wrapped him in a hug.
"Mm…"
In that beautiful breathlessness, Takumi felt the heavy weight of a mother's love.
"Alfia, I need to breathe…"
It was a public hall, after all; half-reluctant, he wriggled twice and whispered the tiniest reminder.
Donk!
Alfia's pink fist landed, tapping Takumi on the head. The speed was lightning-quick, the strength exquisitely measured—not a single hair harmed. So familiar.
"Want me to beat you up?"
"You already did!!"
"Hmph. I do recall teaching you how you're supposed to address me."
Facing his little complaint, Alfia gave a cold snort and pressed with a stern tone, her fist swaying as she spoke.
With that expert control of power, she could clearly feel how sturdy his physique had become.
The instant she touched him, instinct had her increase the force. Even so, that punch didn't move Takumi in the slightest.
Only a few years apart, and he'd grown this strong?
Under her strict stare, Takumi glanced around the hall… then still spoke the proper title.
"Yes, Alfia Mom."
The words detonated a wave of shock.
"Mom?! He's Alfia's kid?"
"No way—Alfia is only sixteen, right!?"
…
The crowd simply couldn't accept it. Her age was what it was; even if her voluptuous figure rivaled a ripe beauty's, she was, in fact, a sixteen-year-old girl. Takumi looked fifteen or sixteen himself—basically Alfia's size.
While everyone muttered, Alfia's face didn't change. Takumi, meanwhile, inwardly agreed with their confusion.
Because fate had been twisted, he had "appeared" out of thin air at around four or five. Back then the six-year-old sisters Alfia and Meteria found him, brought him home, and raised him.
By rights, he ought to have called them sister. But the two… seemed to enjoy being mothers. They made Takumi call them "mother" instead.
He protested—but it didn't help. He'd said it so many times over the years that they were still stubborn about it now.
Hearing him call her Mom again, Alfia's face blossomed with a happy smile. It was like sipping fine wine—she hadn't thought she'd hear it once more.
Then a sobering thought crossed her mind.
"Takumi, why did you come to Orario? Didn't I specifically write back telling you to stay home and behave?"
"Alfia Mom, you've been gone for over half a year without returning. I was worried."
Takumi scratched his cheek, earnest as he spoke. Flexing his muscles a little, he said with confidence, "And I'm really strong now!"
Looking at the boy before her, Alfia sighed and smiled helplessly.
"You're still this stubborn… and some outcomes can't be dodged."
"Alfia Mom, why were you deliberately keeping me away? For what reason?"
Under Takumi's gaze, Alfia lowered her eyes, expression dim. After a long silence, she whispered, "Takumi… can I not say?"
She knew exactly what condition she was in. After the last Dungeon expedition, her illness had accelerated.
Because of the innate skill Twin-Fated, her state was shared with her younger sister Meteria. Every minute and second, she could feel herself growing weaker.
Put bluntly, she didn't have many years left.
Alfia didn't want to tell Takumi, didn't want him worrying. Telling him she was dying—that was too cruel.
Her plan had been to leave a letter after her death and only then have him come to Orario. His early arrival threw her completely off.
Facing her refusal, Takumi sighed and said evenly, "Alfia Mom, you don't want to reveal the problem with your body, do you."
"Uh… how did you figure that out?" Pierced in a single line, Alfia blinked, utterly baffled.
She'd hidden this from everyone—how could he know?
Takumi didn't answer, he simply looked at her.
[Name: Alfia］
[Rank: Highest Tier］
[Entries: Archmage (Purple), Embodiment of Talent (Purple), Talent–Calamity Offset (Purple), Twin-Fated (Purple)…］
Embodiment of Talent (Purple): Your talent exceeds human limits; you can easily master any technique you have witnessed.
Talent–Calamity Offset (Purple): Your bodily potential is in a state of limit release, but with massive side effects. When the illness flares, it inflicts multiple status ailments—Poison, Paralysis, Functional Impairment—and will permanently and progressively lower attributes, stamina, and psyche until death.
Twin-Fated (Purple): Your fate is linked with Meteria; your potential and all attributes receive additional bonuses.
Alfia's entries could only be called cheating. [Talent–Calamity Offset] paired with [Embodiment of Talent] was essentially a low-spec see-and-master eye.
If not for the backlash, that entry would be at least Gold.
Yet precisely because of it, Alfia's life force now guttered like a candle in the wind. Others might miss it—but in Takumi's eyes, it couldn't have been clearer.
...
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