My Daughters Are Regressors

“Elizabeth!”“Naru!”

Elizabeth and Naru hugged each other tightly.How many days had it been since they last saw each other's faces?As far as I remember, it had been about two weeks since the vacation started.

“Naru, I met my grandparents and aunt! We spent the New Year together at the Junk Mansion! Naru ate four bowls of rice cake soup, so now I'm four years older! Naru is now ten years old!”

Naru chattered about what had happened to her friend Elizabeth. Elizabeth seemed not to understand the story, but she raised her hand high as if it didn't matter.

“You're already ten years old? That's amazing!”“What did you do, Elizabeth?”“Me? I went to the beach in western Plarua with my dad. I even met a huge dolphin! Do you know what sound a dolphin makes, Naru?”“I don't know!”“Actually, I don't know either! I didn't hear it!”

Kyakkyakkyak-In the morning, there are times when you hear the cheerful chirping of birds. The sound of the girls chatting after a long time was more lively than the chirping of those birds.The noisy Junk Mansion reminded me of what happened a while ago.

My parents and my younger sister visited this mansion in Freesia to celebrate the holiday.It was really hectic.My younger sister even whined to our mom and dad, asking if she could just stay here.She said she wanted to bring our grandparents and other relatives next time.There was no problem since the rooms and garden were spacious enough to accommodate many people.It was a bit annoying, though.I don't really like meeting relatives in the first place.

“Judas?”

Someone called my name at that moment.When I turned my head, I saw the face of the man sitting across the table from me.He was Ilgast, the dean of Graham Academy.

“Judas, did you hear what I said?”“No.”“It's okay. I can explain it again. I went on a vacation to the beach with Elizabeth for the first time in a long while, and the dolphin─.”

Ilgast was a man who talked more than I expected.Is this what happens when a man raises a daughter alone?Since his daughter would chatter all day long, he must have become talkative himself.

“So, what's the conclusion?”

I asked for the conclusion because I felt like I would have to listen to the dolphin story for a long time. Ilgast seemed to ponder for a moment and then asked me.

“Have you found Elle Cladeco?”“No.”“It's okay. She will eventually return to Freesia. As long as her daughter is breathing in the Freesia laboratory, she will come back.”

At the mention of the laboratory, the face of the girl who was asleep with life support devices attached to her body in a cold tank came to mind.She was another Tywin.She was under strict supervision now.

“This is a plant called 「Margo's Flower」 obtained from ancient ruins. It contains quite a mysterious life force. Is it possible to wake the child with this?”

I handed the flower I obtained during my desert journey to the new academy dean. Since Ilgast was a very skilled pharmacist, I thought he might be able to do something.Ilgast took the flower from me and looked slightly surprised.

“Elle Cladeco is the cause of many incidents. But to offer such a precious thing for her daughter, you are quite philanthropic.”Philanthropy.That didn't suit me at all.It felt like ants were crawling on my face.

“To be honest, it's not philanthropy, it's just unsettling. Maybe this is what it's like to be a parent with a daughter.”“Indeed... I think I understand the feeling. I also understand Elle Cladeco to some extent. If Elizabeth were to fall ill and couldn't wake up, I would...”

He would do anything.Ilgast was a rather timid man.But Elizabeth's father was a brave man.He would probably do anything for Elizabeth.

“Of course, I can't forgive Elle Cladeco. She is my wife's enemy. I will never forget that. She took Elizabeth's mother away.”“That's a legitimate grudge.”“Then I'll be going now. I'm quite busy as the dean─.”

CreakElizabeth's father, Ilgast, stood up from his seat. Soon, Elizabeth also grabbed her father's hand and was about to leave the mansion, but she seemed very reluctant to part with Naru.

“Naru, what are you doing tomorrow?”“I don't know!”“Then let's play with Elizabeth!”“Okay!”

Kids are lucky.They can play without any worries every day.Of course, they each have their own concerns.#         #         #

Cecily was deep in thought.Even while Naru, Elizabeth, and Hina were playing hard, she couldn't join them.In the end, Cecily was caught by Elizabeth, who was the tagger.

“Cecily, I caught you! Now you're the tagger! You have to count to 100 and then come find us!”“......”“Cecily, is something bothering you? You haven't seemed energetic since earlier!”

At Elizabeth's worried words, Hina, who was hiding behind the curtain in the hallway, revealed herself. And Naru, who was clinging to the ceiling, jumped down to the floor.

“Naru, where were you clinging to just now?”

Elizabeth looked at the ceiling where Naru had been. The ceiling of the Junk Mansion was smooth with no place to cling to, so she was curious about where Naru had been.

“It's a secret!”“It's a secret. But Cecily has been acting strange since earlier. She didn't even hide during hide-and-seek and was lost in thought. Why is that?”

At Elizabeth's question, Naru and Hina looked at each other.Then they shrugged lightly.

“She was like this since yesterday!”“Cecily is sometimes strange...”

According to Naru and Hina's memories, Cecily often fell into deep thought alone. The reasons were varied.This time, there must have been various reasons for her worries.

“Cecily, what are you worried about!”

Naru asked.

As the leader of the sisters, Naru had a reason to guide them on the right path. Of course, Naru didn't really care about being the leader.

“......”

Cecily still didn't say anything.Seeing this, Hina muttered softly.

“This Cecily is... worried about the upcoming birthday party of Princess Ordor...”“H-Hina, how do you know that?”

Cecily was really surprised.How did Hina know about the worry she hadn't told anyone? Was it a miracle created by the bloodline flowing between the sisters?While Cecily was slightly moved, Hina took something out.It was a notebook.

“Cecily, I read your picture diary...”“...Damn it! I told you not to read my diary without permission!”

Whip—Cecily snatched the picture diary from Hina's hand. It was a notebook given to her by her grandfather, and she had written in it with crayons received from Santa.She hadn't shown it to anyone, but Hina had read it without permission!

“...Hehe... it was fun.”“Grrr...! I can't forgive you!”

Cecily raised her hand and hit Hina on the head with her fist. With a thud, Hina let out a strange scream, “Ugh!”

“You...!”

Hina growled angrily, holding her forehead.Then she tried to hit Cecily back on the head.Of course, Cecily leaned back to avoid the attack, and Hina got even angrier and shouted.

“...You deserve it! You hit me first!”“Why should I! It's your fault for reading my diary!”

“Still... hitting my forehead wasn't that bad!”

Cecily and Hina glared at each other, ready to pounce.Elizabeth didn't know what to do and was restless.

“What should I do! They shouldn't fight! What should I do! Should I call the adults? What should I do!”

She felt like it was her fault.It seemed like the fight started because she suggested playing hide-and-seek.Of course, it was a ridiculous thought, but Elizabeth was a bit timid and thought that way.

“Wow, holy shh...! Hina and Cecily are fighting again...!”

Wham—At that moment, Naru raised both hands high.Naru had a habit of raising her hands and shouting “Hooray!” when she was bored, and she did it now. But Elizabeth felt a bit puzzled by Naru's words.

“Hina and Cecily are fighting again? Does that mean they've fought before?”

Elizabeth thought Cecily and Hina were quite close sisters. She thought if anyone would fight, it would be Hina and Naru, who often clashed.Naru answered.

“Hina and Cecily have huge fights when they do!”

Naru's words were true.Now, Cecily and Hina were growling at each other from a distance.

“Hina! Apologize for reading my picture diary without permission!”“...Cecily, you should apologize for hitting my forehead! And... you ate the peach jelly I was saving for last night!”

Seeing the two girls raising their voices, Elizabeth recalled something she had witnessed before.It was when a small wild weasel and the neighbor's cat fought in her yard.

─Hiss!─Meow!Elizabeth thought both the white-furred weasel and the long-haired cat were cute animals, but their fight was so fierce that they drew blood.She was shocked to learn that small, cute animals could be so ruthless in biting each other.Screech— Swish—

While Elizabeth was lost in thought, imagining various things, Hina and Cecily drew their weapons from their waists.Hina took out the Thunder Shuriken she received from her mother, and Cecily took out the hunting knife she got from Cariote.

“Hiiik...!”

The sight of the gleaming metal made Elizabeth almost faint. Her heart pounded, and she felt like taking medicine!

“Guys, stop...!”

But there was no time to take medicine, so Elizabeth hurriedly reached out to stop them, but the two little beasts had already pounced on each other.

“Hina, it's a duel!”“...Bring it on!”

Clang, clang clang—!In an instant, a chaotic fight with weapons ensued.‘If this continues, someone will get hurt!’

Elizabeth wanted to cry.At that moment.“Wow, holy shh...! Naru wants to play too!”Naru jumped into the fray between Hina and Cecily, who were holding weapons. Soon, Naru struck Hina and Cecily's necks with her hands, making them collapse to the floor.

“Ugh.”“Argh.”

It happened so quickly that Elizabeth didn't even have time to be surprised.But she felt like she understood why Naru was the leader of the children.

#            #              #

“Cariote, you barbarian! Today is your death day!”“Fine, I've disliked you for a long time. You cowardly thief.”

Screech— Swish—

Cariote and Salome were drawing their weapons.Didn't we agree not to draw weapons inside the mansion?

“What? What's going on?”

Brigitte, who came to the room due to the sudden commotion, felt dizzy.

‘Why are they suddenly fighting...!? Weren't they indifferent to each other...!?’

While Brigitte was in a very awkward situation, Salome and Cariote shouted.

“Brigitte! You be the judge!”