If you forget the old characters, you might want to see their faces [HERE], but unfortunately, I don’t have Nei and Grandpa’s pics.
Chapter 357 : Welcome Home Party
After I saw Delica, Nei, and Pamella off to the kitchen, a middle-aged man with blond hair approached me and Nicola. Despite his stern face, he had a gentle smile on his face.
Yup. He was none other than our grandpa.
「Mark-tan, Nicola-tan, it’s your grandpa~ Welcome home! I missed you both so much!」(Grandpa)
「I’m home, Grandpa.」(Mark)
「I missed you too, Ojii-chan!」(Nicola)
Grandpa had been in a bad relationship with Dad since Dad married Mom, thinking that Dad had stolen his daughter, Mom, from him.
Nicola and I visited his armor shop to buy some gear for our trip before we went to Sadola Town. After we successfully persuaded him to fix his relationship with Dad, he began to pay Mom and Dad a visit regularly. (ch 106-108)
「Aahh~ I’m so happy to see my beloved grandchildren’s faces again! It’s already late, but, Mark-tan, Nicola-tan, happy birthday! I missed your birthday party, but I’ve prepared a lot of presents to make up for it.」(Grandpa)
A lot happened, and we had to celebrate our ninth birthday in Schultria Village. When we talked with my family through Resonance Stone, Grandpa promised us he would give presents. (ch 239)
「Thank you, Grandpa.」(Mark)
「Yaay~ I love presents! What do you have for me?」(Nicola)
「You will see it soon. Look forward to it!」(Grandpa)
Grandpa smiled at Nicola and stroked her head.
「Dad, be careful not to spoil them too much, okay?」(Mom)
「What’s wrong with that? They may be your kids, but they’re my grandchildren. It’s my duty as their grandpa to spoil them! Right, Nicola-tan~?」(Grandpa)
「Un! Spoil me more!」(Nicola)
「Hahh…」(Mom)
Grandpa stroked Nicola’s head. Watching him spoiling her daughter, Mom couldn’t help but sigh.
Meanwhile, there was another familiar middle-aged man approaching me. Unlike Grandpa, we’re not related by blood. Instead of family, he’s more like my friend despite the huge age gap between us.
「Yo, Mark, welcome home. Uhh… About your vegetable field… We need to talk about it.」(Gill)
That’s right. He is Gill oji-san. He’s been taking care of my vegetable field in the vacant lot while I was absent.
However, he looked a bit troubled. He scratched his head and frowned in confusion.
「Gill oji-san, I’m home. Is there something wrong with the field?」(Mark)
「Yeah, kinda.」(Gill)
Seems like I need to do something about my vegetable field, but I want to spend my time with my family today.
「Alright. I will check the field tomorrow.」(Mark)
「Got it. I’ll tell you the details later. For now, let’s enjoy the party.」(Gill)
「Yeah.」(Mark)
After smiling at me, Gill patted the head of the red-haired boy next to him who had been waiting for his turn to greet me, and then took a seat at the next table.
The red-haired boy was Yuuri, Delica’s little brother.
Unlike his energetic older sister who loves to play outside, Yuuri is a quiet kid who loves to spend his time reading books in his room.
「Mark-kun, welcome home. How was your adventure?」(Yuuri)
「It was fun. I learned a lot of things. I will tell you and the others my story later.」(Mark)
「Un. And… Umm… Nicola-chan, welcome home.」(Yuuri)
He shifted his gaze toward Nicola and greeted her. As always, he blushes when he talks to her.
「Yuuri-kun, I’m home!」(Nicola)
「…..!!」(Yuuri)
His face became even redder when Nicola replied to him with her angelic smile.
「Oh? Look what we have here. Seems like this little boy here fancies my beloved cute granddaughter. Hmm?」(Grandpa)
Noticing Yuuri’s blushed face, Grandpa who was stroking Nicola’s head glared at him.
「I, I’m sorry!」(Yuuri)
「Geez! Dad, you scare him!」(Mom)
「Eh!? I, I didn’t mean toー」(Grandpa)
「But your face looks scary! Just sit down already!」(Mom)
「Alright…」(Grandpa)
After being scolded by Mom, he obediently took a seat and behaved like a little kid.
I don’t know anymore who’s the parent and who’s the child here…
「The beers here!」(Delica)
「I, I bring some extra food too.」(Pamella)
「Enjoy, folks!」(Nei)
After a while, Delica, Nei, and Pamella returned from the kitchen with more drinks and food.
「Thank you, Delica-chan, Nei-chan, Pamella-chan. Well then, let the party begin!」(Mom)
「「Oouuu!!」」(everyone)
ーーーーー
We started eating, drinking, and laughing together.
Being surrounded by people I care about and having fun with them made me realize how I missed this place.
「Mmm~! Dad, your cooking is delicious as always!」(Mark)
When I said that, Dad silently replied to me with a grin as if saying, “Of course!”
I brought dishes Dad made in my Item Box before I left, but we consumed them all on the trip, so it’s been a while since the last time I ate his cooking.
I had eaten so many delicious dishes while I was staying in Tryon’s castle. He has talented chefs working for him. But, still, I like Dad’s cooking more.
While I was eating, I felt a gaze from Mom. I noticed she was looking alternately at me and Nicola.
「Mom, what’s wrong?」(Mark)
「Hmm… Mark, Nicola, can you stand up for a second?」(Mom)
「Hm?」(Mark)
「Hmm~?」(Nicola)
I didn’t know what she was trying to tell us, but Nicola and I stood up and lined up side by side.
「I knew it… It’s hard to tell but, Mark, you’re taller than Nicola now.」(Mom)
「Re, Really!?」(Mark)
I had been exactly the same height as Nicola ever since we were born. We’re twins, so I thought it was normal, but honestly, as her older brother, I secretly wished to be taller than her.
「Yup. You’ve gotten taller.」(Mom)
「Awesome!」(Mark)
However, it seems that my wish has come true. I feel so happy.
「How much is the difference? Tell me, tell me!」(Mark)
I was so excited. I pressed my back against Nicola’s so that Mom could see the height difference between us better.
「Umm… About this much.」(Mom)
Mom stretched her thumb and index finger and showed me the gap between them. It was about one centimeter, or probably less.
It’s not much but it still makes me happy. This means that I’m growing taller, slowly but surely.
「Mama, how about me?」(Nicola)
「Nicola, you’ve changed too. Not your height that has gotten taller, butー」(Mom)
Mom crouched and poked Nicola’s stomach with her finger.
「ーYour stomach has grown bigger.」(Mom)
「…Eh?」(Nicola)
「You’re getting fat.」(Mom)
「Mama… You’re joking, right?」(Nicola)
「I’m not.」(Mom)
「Aa! Your mom’s right. Nicola, you’re getting fat!」(Delica)
Delica looked at Nicola and giggled as she put a glass of wine on Celine’s table.
「Ara~ I’ve always been with her, so I didn’t notice it. But, Leona-san’s right. Nicola-chan, you look chubbier.」(Celine)
Delica and Celine seemed to share the same opinion as Mom.
I took a closer look at Nicola’s face. I could see a bit of fat in her cheeks and chin.
She ate a lot on our trip, especially while we were staying in Tryon’s castle. I think Liane fed her too many sweets.
「Th, that’s not true! It’s just your imagination!」(Nicola)
「Aa! It reminds me. Nicola, you said you ate a lot of sweets every day at the castle, right? What kind of sweets did you eat? I’m curious. Tell me~」(Nei)
When Nicola shrunk her stomach, trying to look as slim as possible as she denied everyone, Nei asked.
She didn’t seem to ask that with any ill intention, but hearing what she said, Mom smiled at Nicola, but… with a terrifying-looking smile.
「Ara~ Ni~ co~ la~ Is that true~?」(Mom)
「Hiiiyy!!」(Nicola)
Back then, we were talking with Delica and Nei through the Resonance Stone while Mom was busy. Nicola was boasting about eating a lot of delicious food to them.
「I told you not to eat too much, didn’t I~? Hmm~?」(Mom)
「That’s… Umm…」(Nicola)
『Onii-chan, help me!』(Nicola)
She begged me for help, but…
「As Nei said, she ate a lot of sweets and snacks every day in the castle, and she rarely helped me with chores.」(Mark)
『Aaaa!! You traitor!!』(Nicola)
『Khu khu khu~!』(Mark)
Well, I can’t lie to my mom, right?
Nicola had been working for Ester’s parents, helping them with their catering business while we were staying at Schultria Village, but after we left, she returned to her old lazy self.
She did nothing but eat and sleep, and left the chores to me and Celine while we were traveling.
「Ara~ I see, I see~ But, Nicola, you don’t have to worry~ You will lose weight in no time because I will make you work reeeally really hard starting tomorrow~ Prepare yourself~」(Mom)
「Noooooooo!!」(Nicola)
「And, Mark~」(Mom)
Mom then shifted her cold, terrifying smile at me.
「As the older brother, you know you shouldn’t spoil your little sister too much, don’t you~?」(Mom)
「Eh? But I didn’t.」(Mark)
「Then why did she gain weight~? This plump belly is the proof that you let your little sister turn into a slacker, and for that, you will get punished too~」(Mom)
「Hiiiiyy!」(Mark)
『Khu khu khu… Onii-chan, let’s enjoy hell together, shall we?』(Nicola)
『Ugh…』(Mark)
Well, Mom has a point. I might have spoiled her too much. I’ve never been a strict bother to her.
「Hahaha! Mark, you never made such a terrified face when you fought those monsters and bandits, but look at you now!」(Celine)
Celine suddenly burst out laughing. Her face is kinda red, seems like she is a bit drunk.
「Ara~ Celine-san, so you say that I look scarier than monsters and bandits~? Hmm~?」(Mom)
「Hiiiiiyy!! That’s not what I mean! I’m sorry!」(Celine)
Even a C-ranked adventurer like Celine is afraid of Mom…
「Fufu! I’m just kidding!」(Mom)
Mom stopped making a terrifying smile and giggled.
「Geez, you almost gave me a heart attack.」(Celine)
「That’s Mark-kun’s mom for you…」(Pamella)
「Ugh, I’ll try my best not to upset her…」(Delica)
「Hahaha! I didn’t know Boss could be funny sometimes!」(Nei)
Nicola and I got lectured publicly, and it was kinda embarrassing, but we ended up laughing.
The fun party continued.
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