Chapter 97
“You both look great! Everything’s okay, right?”
Elena laughed.
Roen opened the locked door and welcomed Elena inside.
“Yes, we’re fine. Come on in.”
“Sister! Come on!”
Sera ran inside, taking Elena’s hand and leading her.
“Slow down, Sera.”
At the same time as Roen heard the startled tone in her voice, Elena’s body was pulled inside.
The family’s new home was even prettier when viewed up close.
A soft lawn suitable for children to run around and a yard full of verdant trees.
And a white and gorgeous abode that came out of a fairy tale.
“Wow! The house is charming.”
Elena couldn’t help but be amazed every time.
“Right?! It’s absolutely beautiful!”
Sera ran around like a puppy.
“… It was all thanks to Elena that we were able to have this.”
Suddenly approaching her side, Roen expressed her gratitude with moist eyes.
“Ah, it’s not that much.”
Elena smiled awkwardly and shook her head, but Roen held her hand tightly.
“Thank you so much. If it wasn’t for Elena, I wouldn’t have even thought of meeting him again.”
“That’s right! Thanks to Big Sister, I can live with my dad!”
Even Sera looked up at Elena, shouting enthusiastically.
In the end, Elena had no choice but to accept it.
“Haha! If the three of you are happy then that is enough.”
She could tell how happy the two of them were just by looking at their expressions, more at peace than before.
“Oh, I guess he’s not finished yet?”
In response to Roen’s question, Elena nodded.
“Yes. I think he’ll be back a little later.”
“Then play with Sera, Sister!”
Sera grabbed Elena’s hem and shook it.
Finding her action cute, Elena nodded willingly.
“Sure. What are we going to play?”
“Playing tag!”
Sera ran around the yard at the same time as she spoke.
Apparently, she was meant to catch her.
Elena watched her and then reached out a hand.
The magical energy that emanated from her hand transformed into the shape of a red rabbit.
The rabbit hopped and ran towards Sera.
In the slums, she refrained from using magic for fear of putting the two of them in danger, but that was no longer the case here.
The new home was far from the other houses, so privacy was assured.
Thus, it would be okay to use this amount of magic power.
Furthermore.
“Hey! It’s a rabbit!”
Sera’s reaction was receptive.
With the rabbit she created to play with her, Elena sat down at the tea table with Roen.
While she played with the child, Roen prepared a light tea for her.
“Ah, thank you.”
“Hm.”
Elena took a sip of her tea.
The savory yet sweet flavor spread in her mouth.
And with this delicious tea, the sunset that magnificently embroidered the sky, and the ringing laughter of the adorable child, when it all came together, made her feel blissful.
******
About an hour had passed before Jacob returned home.
The dining room overlooked the garden.
The table was filled with food that Roen had prepared herself.
Finally, Jacob was home.
“Dad’s here?”
At the sound of the door opening, Sera was the first to run.
Looking at Jacob, she bowed down to her waist and said hello.
Jacob’s mouth twitched at the sight.
“How’s my little Sera?”
Jacob took his daughter into his arms at once and asked tenderly.
Sera screamed happily at the action.
“Good!”
Watching their interaction, Roen naturally approached them and touched Jacob’s shoulder.
“You had a hard time today.”
“Yes.”
Jacob kissed Roen lightly on the cheek, and the three entered their home.
Elena stood in the dining room and smiled at them.
“You three make a great picture.”
Seeing them together made her feel like it was her responsibility.
The reunited family smiled brightly at her words.
Only then did the meal begin.
The four of them sat around the table and ate while talking.
“Roen, you are brilliant when it comes to cooking. It’s absolutely delicious!”
Elena muttered, amazed at her as she enjoyed the ripe shrimp meat in her mouth.
Roen’s cooking skills were as remarkable as Lexion’s.
‘No, maybe….’
Elena’s eyes lit up.
“I’m glad you like it.”
Roen blushed.
In front of Roen, Jacob picked up a shrimp meat and held it out.
“Roen, you should eat too.”
“Yes, I will.”
He then gave Sera a good serving of seafood.
Seeing Jacob take care of Roen and Sera, Elena was greatly pleased.
Sera and Jacob still looked a little awkward, but it was clear that they liked each other.
It was nice to see everyone happy.
After their delightful meal, Elena suddenly had a thought.
“Oh yeah. When are you two getting married? Last time I heard from Jacob, you two were getting married soon.”
Elena asked with a sly smile.
Meanwhile, Roen couldn’t help blushing.
“We decided to have it once winter passes when spring comes.”
“Wow, really? You’ll be a spring bride then!”
“That’s right! The wedding will be set in springtime.”
When Elena expressed her excitement, Sera also did the same.
“Sister, sister! When mom and dad get married, sister must come too! Sera will wear pretty clothes too!”
Sera held out her little finger to Elena.
“Yes. Okay. I will definitely go.”
Elena was only able to recover her hand after making several promises to the girl.
******
After dinner, while Roen and Jacob were busy washing the dishes, Sera grabbed Elena and dragged her around the house.
Thanks to this, Elena was able to properly tour around the house.
“Sera, slow down or I will fall.”
Elena smiled helplessly, having no choice but to follow the child.
“Here! Here! This is my room!”
Sera’s room was on the second floor.
The interior was decorated in yellow and sky blue, and it was filled with various dolls and toys.
“Wow, Sera’s room is so pretty, isn’t it?”
Sera beamed at Elena’s praise.
Then she opened up her closet.
“I have dresses too!”
The closet was full of high-quality dresses that were commonly worn by children of noble families.
Jacob was the Tower Lord of the East Tower, so it was natural.
After looking around the room, the two sat on the bed and played with a doll.
Although it was a one-sided thing for Elena to play house with Sera, it was quite enjoyable.
After playing house a few times.
Sera spoke softly to Elena for the first time.
“Sister, this… This is a secret. I might have a younger brother.”
“Younger brother?!”
At the startling news, Elena unconsciously shouted.
Sera immediately pressed her index finger to her lips.
“Shhhhh.”
“Ah, shh.”
Elena quietly gestured back.
“Then, is Roen pregnant already?”
Elena knew they were on good terms, but already…?!
Sera shook her head.
“Not yet. But my dad said he was trying!”
Sera’s eyes twinkled.
And Elena just laughed.
‘Roen, fighting…’
*****
Elena – after spending a wonderful time with the family – returned to the tower before dark.
Originally, Jacob would have returned to the tower; but now, he had a family and was now practicing a life of going to work early and leaving work early.
‘So it’s possible to have a younger brother….’
Elena laughed softly.
Returning to the Magic Tower, she quickly left the East Tower where Jacob’s portal was located.
She then headed to the opposite side of the tower, the West Tower.
Tonight, the bright moonlight illuminated the Magic Tower.
The garden was quiet.
Elena passed the flower field, approaching the West Tower.
When she was about to pass the Central Tower.
Something fluttering in the sky caught her eye.
It was a small, bird-shaped, golden herald.
And it contained a familiar magic.
Elena caught the golden bird.
A note with elegant handwriting appeared.
‘Come to the basement of the Central Tower…?’
Elena’s eyebrows narrowed spontaneously when she saw the Archmage’s message.
The basement of the Central Tower.
‘It’s….’
Elena walked towards the Central Tower, even though it was a long and quiet trip.
Unlike the other towers, there were no portal rooms or training centers in the basement of the Central Tower.
Instead, there was only a dungeon where wizards who had committed grave crimes were kept.
However, ever since Elena entered the tower, the dungeon had always been empty.
There were no severe crimes committed due to rumors that the Archmage used a terrible method to kill a wizard who performed a dreadful crime.
‘If Lupes hadn’t been excommunicated, he would have gone to the dungeon.’
Elena thought so and shook her head.
Eventually, she reached the Central Tower.
It was late at night, so it was deathly quiet inside.
Only the sound of Elena’s footsteps reverberated, which made her feel kind of nervous.
She clenched her fists and proceeded towards the stairs leading to the basement.
The path to the basement was dark, only the light of the lamp was on.
Passing the stairs, and going deep inside, a dark space appeared.
There was only one person there.
As if forcibly seated in a chair, the man’s eyes were covered while his mouth was gagged.
It was so dark that she couldn’t tell who it was.
Just then, Karen appeared out of thin air.
She looked at Elena and pointed to the man.
“Lupes.”
Elena’s eyes widened at the unexpected name.
