There wasn’t anything to celebrate other than our return, but that seemed to be already a big deal for the people of Agartha. Mother was their Duchess after all, so they were immensely happy to see their leader and guardian finally back. Compared to other places, the relationship that the governing family had with the commoners was much different here in Agartha.

We constantly interacted with people all the time, every day. They knew we were here protecting and helping them every day, and therefore, held a great amount of respect for all of us. When they saw Faylen coming back, they didn’t saw her as just their governor, someone that just asked for taxes and only made their already hard lives difficult.

No, they saw her as their protector, their friend, and their leader. I suppose her reputation as the Saintess also helps a lot, right? Yeah, I should guess that’s a big part of her respect.

Agartha has already gained a lot of popularity across the entire continent and is now called "the city of heroes" where five heroes live.

It might be considered the safest place in the entire world, maybe... Considering how it is a border city, I guess grandfather made a good decision giving it to my mom, he knew that this city, which was often threatened by monsters, would become the safest.

And because it is at the border, instead of becoming a weakness, it has now become a near impenetrable wall protecting the whole region.

Wow, now I get it...

Maybe this is why grandpa is so grateful to all of us, fighting Arachne wasn’t just an act of justice, or to avenge Luck’s village. No, this was also done to protect the entire country.

If we had let her do as she pleased, she could have ultimately brought her army of insectoid demons inside the capital, and millions of people would have died.

Grandpa is a hero himself, an old one, but he can’t be everywhere... He truly appreciates what we did.

"It’s a pretty beautiful night, isn’t it?"

Grandpa appeared by my side, as I had distanced myself from the party, which had extended now to late hours at night. I was alone, looking at the stars. Aquarina was distracted with my friends, doing an eating competition with Luck, Mist, and Zack.

"Grandpa... Yeah."

"May I sit by your side, granddaughter?"

"Eh? Sure..."

The King of perhaps the most ancient Kingdom of the entire world walked to my side, sitting over the grass, and looking at the sky.

||

I didn’t know what to talk to him. I didn’t hate him anymore or something, but I still barely knew him. And his personality made it hard to talk with him. His title, his aura, his face, it was a really hard to approach person.

"Thank you, Sylphy."

"Huh? Why...?"

"For everything you’ve done to protect my country, with your family and friends."

"Oh... Well, it’s nothing much... It’s not like I’ve fought a war, or done something noticeable..."

"You’re wrong. You saved this country." He said. "If you hadn’t stopped Arachne and then Lolth, this country... Not even I am sure I could have been able to protect everyone. I’ve grown old and weary. Age comes to all of us, no matter how strong you grow. I once was seen as the pinnacle of the world, but as my age increased, my strength has deteriorated."

"Grandpa... Is it that bad?" I wondered.

"I am already reaching the end of my lifespan..." He looked into the skies.

"Eh? Really?" I asked.

"I might have... perhaps another hundred years left." He sighed.

"...That’s still a lot of time!" I said.

"Hah, I suppose for humans, it is a lot of time." He looked into my eyes. "But for us elves, a hundred years go by like the wind."

"What... Are you trying to say now?" I wondered.

"The future might soon be on your mother’s hands, and then yours." He said. "I am not saying anything else, but... I am just grateful, for everything. I treated you harshly at the beginning, I was proving your worth, but I did that wrongly. I shouldn’t have judged my grandchild like that."

"A bit late to begin thinking like that, grandpa..." I said. "But I understand you were busy protecting everything..."

"Your mom said the same, but the guilt I feel is still there. Perhaps I am being a hypocrite now. But at the very least, in these last years I have left, I want to try to be a good father and grandfather..." He looked rather regretful. "Once again, I’m sorry."

"It’s fine, a King such as yourself shouldn’t be apologizing so much!" I said. "It’s alright, grandpa. It’s ok."

"You’re so forgiving. Most elves have tremendous pride." He said. "You’re a humble person... You’ve been raised well."

"Yeah, mom and dad are amazing parents... I couldn’t have asked for better people to be my mom and dad... I’m very lucky to have been born as their daughter..." I smiled silently.

"I wish I could live longer, so I could see the future you will build with your friends." He said. "But I will be rooting for you, my granddaughter. I knew it since the moment I saw you. Within those emerald eyes, that fiery red hair... You are someone that is destined to change the world."

"Hah, that sounds really tiring and stressful though..." I sighed.

"I know you like a laid-back life; you’ve been raised with many luxuries." He smiled. "But I also know you won’t reject the responsibilities that will once befall upon you. You possess the heart of a hero after all."

"Huh, not wrong..." I shrugged. "But I hope that’s in like a hundred or two hundred years~"

"Haha..." My grandfather laughed a bit more, his serious expression having changed for a while, he was smiling. "To think second youngest granddaughter would make me laugh and smile this much... you’re truly a unique girl, Sylphy."

"Nah, I think I’m a pretty normal person... Elves are maybe just too stuck-up?" I laughed.

"Hahahaha! Perhaps! You’re not wrong there!" He continued laughing. "My granddaughter, somehow you have the tongue of a cheeky dwarf! Hahaha! I have not laughed this much in many years..."

Glad I made this old man smile for once.

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