—–

“Hmm… I don’t think so, maybe I need more kills.” I mused.

“Haha! That sounded strangely eerie… Anyways, can you save this one in your bag? Let’s go around for another hour and then let’s go back. It seems that the forest is mostly empty of beasts in the first layer.” Said my father.

“Sure.” I agreed.

We continued exploring, but we couldn’t find anything notable, aside from a small trio of young Walking Mushrooms, which were only the size of cats. We still slayed them. They had small spirit orbs which were still worth something.

We couldn’t pity these weak and smaller creatures. They were still a pest in most farms and if we let them thrive, they’ll sneak into the farms at night and eat the plants and infect the soil with their spores. My father had already suffered many loses in the past due to these monsters, so exterminating them on sight was encouraged.

“Four spirit orbs for today, not bad at all. How do you feel? Do you still fear taking another life?” wondered my father.

“Hmm… At first, it was rather terrifying… But I’ve gotten a bit used to it… I still think sometimes about it, but then I realize that I am doing it to survive…” I reply.

“I see… I know it’s hard, son, but when you feel the weight of every little life you take, yet you keep doing it for your survival or that of your beloved ones, it means you’ve grown up. You’ve adapted very quickly to this life as a Hunter. I was thinking about bringing you into the Group Hunts we do in the second and third layers… the monsters there are very dangerous, so we go in large groups to take them down… Maybe in a year or two though, your frame is too small still,” he said.

“Oooh! Really? Then I will be waiting for that moment, father. Thanks for offering me the opportunity.” I said.

“Yeah! You’ll surely become a good hunter! Well, to be honest, I wish you could become an alchemist before a hunter… but you never know how that might go, so it’s better if you know both.” He said.

“Yeah, I agree… It is better to learn as much as I can.” I said.

My father was a nice person. I had a lot of fun when I was with him. Despite my past life persona resurfacing from time to time and reminding me that I was someone way greater than my father, I can’t help but admire him.

The simple life of a hunter, even for a being such as me, that had reached the stars and beyond, was admirable. The simplicity of hunting, taking the lives of others, for his own survival and that of his family, for the thrive of his son, his offspring, and the descendant of his lineage… it is all so extrinsically beautiful in a way I cannot describe properly…

Perhaps this happiness I felt came with the happiness and the beauty of being alive. Despite having thought I would die and would be dead forever when everything ended against Lucifer…

“(Your new father is a good person, my lord. He also got a lot of potential, whenever he awakens Qi, I believe his power might even double!)” said Eleanora. She was more interested in superficial things such as these, as she hadn’t spent years with my father.

Nonetheless, in these weeks, she had grown fond of my family and their hospitality. Much like me, Eleanora grew up without parents, and perhaps, deep down, she was slowly filling the void left behind by such a thing.

“You’re very strong, sir.” She said.

“Oh? Thank you, little Eleanora, you’re also a formidable spirit! To think you can even speak and all… It feels like I got daughter all of the sudden.” Laughed my father.

“D-Daughter? Do you see me like that?” asked Eleanora while blushing.

“Oh yeah, why wouldn’t we? We already welcomed you in the family.” replied my father, with a gentle smile.

“I-I see… that makes me happy.” She said.

I held Eleanora’s hand tightly while walking back home with father. She blushed back at me as I smiled at her. I was glad she was feeling welcomed, it soothed my heart. I really didn’t want her to feel detached from me because I had grown close to this new family.

“(I see that you’re also enjoying my family’s kindness. I am glad.)” I told her through telepathy.

“(My lord… I-It is not what you think… I…)” she muttered.

“(You don’t have to hide it… I always feared you would feel detached from me as you saw me with my family… And well, didn’t I tell you to stop calling me “my lord”?)” I sighed.

“(Uwah! S-Sorry… It is still a bit hard…)” she admitted.

“(Well, we had been together all that time, and we are together once more… I suppose it is hard to forget these customs.)” I said.

“(That’s right…)” she sighed.

“(Slowly, you’ll get used to it. I want us… to grow closer than before, Eleanora. Is that okay with you?)” I asked.

“(C-Closer? You’ve never told me that in our previous lives…)” she said.

“(Amongst the many regrets I have… there is one regarding you… In these years I’ve spent with this family, I’ve realized how beautiful a fleeting life can be, and I’ve realized how foolish I have been to not truly enjoy the long life I once had… With you…)” I sighed.

“(Ahh… T-To say such things out of nowhere… You don’t have any shame? Geez….)” she sighed.

“(Sorry, maybe it came out awkward? I won’t say it again.)” I said.

“(Oh! N-No! I didn’t mean it like that… I do like it… when you get like this…)” she said.

“(Really?)” I asked.

“(Yes… I also think the same… I also… Want to grow closer to you, Asmodeus…)” she said.

“(Eleanora…)” I said.

“(Asmodeus…)” she said.

“Erm… son?”

As of now we were looking at each other’s eyes with Eleanora, until my father interrupted our romantic telepathic speech.

—–