My Daughters Are Regressors

I lightly tapped my foot, and this time the Marduk Imperial Palace appeared.The Sultan's palace was briefly thrown into chaos by our sudden appearance, but that wasn't really important.I handed Sultan Saladin two of the 「Margo's Flower」 I had obtained. The Sultan, receiving them, was extremely grateful and bowed his head repeatedly.

"Thank you. Thank you. Judas, you are my benefactor.""Hmm..."

I was used to being cursed at, but receiving thanks was still unfamiliar and rather uncomfortable and awkward.I didn't know what expression I should make.

"I declare today a national holiday! Let the music play!"

Just like in the oasis village, a feast was instantly spread here as well.It was really nice to be treated as an honored guest wherever we went.

"The Demiurge of Scorching Heat, Arnanna... It's a name I've never heard before."

The Sultan listened to what we had been through and expressed deep sympathy. The Sultan also seemed unaware of the name Arnanna, but that wasn't really important.

"Is this the egg?""Yes."

I held out Arnanna's egg to the Sultan.The Sultan took it, exclaimed "It's quite heavy," and then passed the egg back to us.He seemed curious about what would hatch from it, but noticing that I found various questions annoying, he didn't ask any more.

As expected of a man at the pinnacle of a nation's power.With that feeling, the banquet ended, and I wandered around the palace late at night. It wasn't just aimless wandering; I had someone to meet.

"So, have you found any answers?"

I asked Tywin, who was looking out the window from the balcony.Tywin startled slightly, then turned to me with narrowed eyes.

"...I don't know.""I see. You want to meet your mother, right?""How did you know? Did you steal my thoughts too?"

Tywin asked me as if she really didn't understand.Steal her thoughts?I could do such a thing, but there was no need to.

"Kids usually think they're good at lying. But adults can actually see through it all. They just pretend not to know most of the time.""...""And it's natural for kids to miss their mothers. But even so, why did you come all the way to this desert?""Goddess Epar told me. She said if I want to meet my mother, I need to go to the pyramid in this desert to have that chance."

I see.So Epar was involved in this matter.As expected of a being who has lived long and been revered as a god.Epar's words were usually mostly correct.As Epar said, Tywin heading to the pyramid would give her a chance to find her mother. I was also heading there.It seems too fateful to be just a coincidence.Perhaps this too was one of the predetermined outcomes in the universe?

"Do you want to meet your mother?""...Mom told me not to appear before her eyes anymore."

Elle Cladeco said such a thing?Thinking about it, she was definitely the type of woman who would say that and more.So that's why Tywin was so dejected.

"That's your mother Cladeco's claim, but what do you want to do, Tywin?""I..."

Tywin couldn't continue and started to sob.It looked quite pitiful.No matter how much she tries to act like an adult, she's still just a kid in the end.And the same was true for me as well.

"Actually, you know. I've never told anyone this, but I miss my mom too.""...What?""I miss my mom and dad. In this situation, I even miss my annoying little sister. It's natural to miss your family. It's not a weakness at all.""...""But I didn't know how to go back to my mom. So I just tried to forget about thinking about it. But after the pyramid incident today, I found a clue. I'm planning to cross the wall tomorrow.""Crossing the wall... You're like a thief, uncle, even though you've become such an amazing person."

...Uncle?I'm only twenty-five years old.

But Tywin was right.Climbing over walls like a thief.From climbing over walls to escape self-study sessions in school, to crossing the walls of strange worlds, and finally overcoming the wall of fate called Nocturne - is there a more fitting expression for me?The Demiurge of Wall-Climbing.Thinking about calling myself that, I patted Tywin's head.

"Tywin, you'll probably be able to meet your mom somewhere out there too.""Don't touch me so casually...!"

* * *

"Naru, hurry and pack your things. We have a long journey ahead, so we need to be quick.""Hngggg..."

Naru rubbed her sleepy eyes and got up from bed.She seemed still half-asleep.

"Are we going home now?"

To Naru's question, Brigitte nodded while wiping Naru's face with a damp towel.

"Yes, we're going home now.""The desert trip was fun!"

I see.So Naru enjoyed the desert trip.I wonder how Hina and Cecily felt?

"Princess Hina, how about staying here for just one year?""We have to leave already...!"

The people of Marduk were very sad to see Hina leave.It seemed Hina felt the same way, but she seemed more disappointed about missing the chance to show off to Naru and Cecily by being a princess.

"Mmm...""If you want to stay here, you can."

I gently patted Hina's head.If she stayed here, she could continue to be treated like a princess.However, Hina shook her head firmly, as if she had made up her mind.

"I want to go with Dad..."

How admirable.Hina was generally more thoughtful than Naru or Cecily.Her usual quietness must be because she thinks a lot.Is this how it feels to see the eldest son silently holding his ground?Of course, Hina isn't the eldest son, and Naru is the eldest daughter!

Suddenly, Hina hugged one of my legs tightly.

"...Dad, don't leave Hina behind...! Hina doesn't need to be a princess...!"

Did she think I was going to leave her behind?

"Let's leave Naru behind. While we're at it, let's leave Naru's mom too."

Someone whispered, joining the conversation.Leave Naru and Naru's mom behind?It was Salome.

"Where's Naru anyway?"

Since it came up, I went to see what Naru was doing.Since last evening, Naru had been decorating pottery she had made by baking clay, and she had placed it on a shelf.

"Compensation for the pottery I broke before...!""Ooh, such a magnificent piece of pottery...! I, the pottery master Bottleman, have never seen such a wonderful piece...!""Oh, Miss Naru, such skill! Such beautiful curves, it could be a national treasure!"

Naru was receiving praise from adults for the pottery she had made.You might think they're being too flattering to a young child, but even I could see that the pottery Naru made was well-crafted.Is it Naru's mom Brigitte's free-range education that's making Naru so artistic?Anyway.

With that feeling, the packing was mostly done.Now it was time to go home.

"Are we going to spend another week on a ship to return? I, Cecily, enjoyed the noble-friendly luxury cruise, but I've had enough of ships for now...!"

Cecily seemed tired of the idea of getting on another ship.Cariote nodded in agreement with this.

"I'm from the plains, so I'm not quite comfortable with the sea."

The return journey is often tiring.If we're going to change the schedule, now might be the chance?

"How about if we make a quick stop somewhere on the way back? We won't need to take a ship."

I asked everyone if they'd be okay with changing the schedule. I was asking for their understanding in advance. Brigitte, Salome, and Cariote looked at me.Their expressions seemed full of suspicion, as if asking me what I was up to.

"I, Cecily, would be happy if we don't have to take a ship...!""Naru likes it if the trip continues too!""...Mm-hmm."

The children seem to like it.Looking at the unusually quiet Tywin, I saw her watching the adults' reactions. She must have realized that the future schedule would be adjusted based on the adults' opinions.

"Will it take long?"

Salome asked.I shook my head.

"No.""Is it far?"

This time it was Cariote's question.I nodded.

"Extremely far.""Is it somewhere we absolutely must go?"

Brigitte asked lastly.I pondered that question for a moment.Of course, the deliberation didn't last long.

"Yes. I'd like it if everyone could come together."

At my answer, the three women looked at each other's faces.And finally, they answered "Alright" simultaneously.I knew this would be the response, of course, but it felt good to hear it directly.I lightly tapped my foot again.Then everything in front of us changed in an instant.

"Wh-where is this place...? I, Siphnoi, was enjoying the final banquet surrounded by golden brown sugar...! I'm curious about where this suddenly appeared place is...!"

Siphnoi was being noisy, as usual.I simply moved my steps to press the elevator button.Ding—A familiar noise was heard, and when I pressed the button for the 17th floor, the machine started with a Whirr—.Everyone seemed to want to figure out where this unfamiliar place was, turning their heads around.It must have felt awkward.This place felt very unfamiliar and awkward to me too.But with each honest second that passed, I felt all my old senses awakening.Finally, I was able to reach the high place on the 17th floor.A fairly high view.It was a place where many things could be seen at a glance.Looking at that scene, Brigitte said,

"Whenever I look at you, I always feel anxious that you might suddenly leave for somewhere, and this must be that 'somewhere'."

Is that so?It was a very important statement, but my heart was pounding so hard that I didn't care either way.

Before I knew it, there was a door in front of me, and it had an unfamiliar lock that couldn't be seen anywhere in the Pangaea continent.

"There's no keyhole!"

Naru was surprised.As Naru said, this wasn't a door that opened with a key.

"What was the number again?"

I forgot.Damn.It's understandable to forget after more than two years, but still.However, when I put my hand on the number pad, my body moved on its own as if following a flow, naturally pressing the numbers.Beep— Beep— Click—Clunk—The sound of something unlocking was heard, and beyond that, there was a sign of people.

Click—When I pulled the doorknob and opened the entrance door, a familiar scene came into view at once.A living room neither wide nor narrow. An old sofa. An old TV. Bright fluorescent lights. A tree with twinkling light bulbs....And three people standing there, looking bewildered.

"..."

What should I say when we meet again?I had thought about it and even practiced a bit when I was bored, but now that the moment had come, I couldn't say anything.

As everyone was sinking into this bizarre and strange silence-The first to speak was Naru.

"Wow, holy shh...!"

Then the twenty-one-year-old girl with black hair similar to Naru's said.

"Wow, holy shh..."