Chapter 142: Parent and Child’s Separation

Some time had passed since then.

After the conclusion of the Royal Battle, Shin and Alisha began living together in the royal palace.

Shin, who had been raised by monsters until then, had to learn about the etiquette of the royal palace anew. However, he seemed to have a natural talent for learning, and I heard that he was rapidly improving not only in martial arts but also in academics.

However, because he had had very little contact with people until then, and the trauma from the royal palace still lingered slightly, he often became extremely tense when talking to anyone other than us or Alisha.

Nevertheless, living with his sister was a happy time for Shin, and the same was true for Alisha.

I, on the other hand, continued cultivating monsters in the desert as usual.

I had already cultivated most of the monsters that inhabited the desert region, and I was also cultivating new monsters through combined cultivation.

Then, one day, after a few days had passed, I headed to a cave deep in the desert, far from the Arabia Kingdom, nestled in a sheer cliff.

「Hey, it’s been a while. 」

「What do you want, human? Don’t you value your life by entering my territory? 」

This place was the cave where the Manticore, who had raised Shin, resided.

As I dismissed Lily, who had accompanied me as a bodyguard, and lowered my backpack, I spoke to the Manticore.

「Your memories have returned, and you remember who I am, right? 」

「… 」

The Manticore didn’t answer my question, but that was enough for me.

The problems between Shin and Alisha might be resolved.

But even so, I felt that this Manticore, who had raised Shin, deserved at least a little bit of solace, which was why I had come here.

「Manticore, where did you bury your wife’s body? 」

「What…? 」

The Manticore looked confused by my question.

「…What do you intend to do with that knowledge? 」

After a brief silence, the Manticore questioned me, and I answered clearly.

「I know it won’t be exactly the same, but the Manticore female that was your mate… I will revive her with a new life. 」

It was an answer given with unwavering confidence, and the Manticore was surprised to hear it.

However, after looking into my unwavering eyes, the Manticore slowly rose and led me to the back of the cave.

「…Here it is. 」

It was a small space beyond the secret passage from the previous hall.

A tomb stood there.

「… 」

I approached the tomb and took out several monster seeds from my bag.

「So, what are you going to do with them? 」

In response to the Manticore’s question, I planted the seeds in the ground beneath the tomb.

「These seeds belong to a monster that bears fruit. By scattering these seeds on the carcass of an animal-type monster, an egg of a plant-type monster will hatch, incorporating the animal-type monster’s genes. 」

The Manticore looked confused by my explanation, but well, it would be easier to show than to explain.

「Basically…」

I planted the seeds and poured water from my water bottle onto the ground of the grave.

「Your mate will be born from the tree that grows from here. 」

—

…And then, one month later.

「Well, it seems my role is truly finished now, so I should be going. 」

「Okay, Kyou. Thank you so much for everything. 」

Now, we were riding the Kobuda provided by Shin, standing before the gates of the Arabia Kingdom.

The wasteland near the castle had now become a fine farming environment, where various monsters thrived, including the new species of monster I cultivated, like Jack O’ Watermelon, as well as Cactus Balls, Desert Jellyfish, Killer Plants, Jack O’ Lanterns, and even Cockatrices that had been cultivated on Cockatrice Trees. The area was teeming with diverse monsters, making for a bountiful harvest.

「Most of the monsters are growing completely naturally there, so even if you leave them alone, the next generation should be born on their own. Just manage them. That should be enough. Just make sure you water them regularly. 」

「Of course, I’m really grateful, Kyou. 」

Alisha bowed repeatedly as she said this, but I made her look up, by saying…

「I didn’t do much….Oh, and if you don’t mind, could you keep an eye on the World Tree seed as well? 」

「Yes. 」

Alisha nodded in response to my confirmation.

Yes, I planted one of the World Tree seeds I possessed in Arabia. I learned from Mo-chan that the best way to grow the World Tree was to plant it in a suitable location, so I decided to plant it in this country as originally planned.

The World Tree was a great tree that sprouted in sync with the growth of people.

Considering that, I thought planting it in Arabia was appropriate.

Valkyria, where Amines resided, and the Albrus Empire, where Rostam and others resided, served as role models, encouraging the growth of their people.

And now, this country also had a brother and sister, Alisha and Shin, who were trying to build a new way of being for the nation.

If these two led this country in a new direction, then it would undoubtedly lead to growth for the world.

That’s why I entrusted the World Tree seed to these two and planted it in this land.

「If it sprouts successfully, I’ll contact you right away. It’s not that far off, though. 」

「Okay, I’m looking forward to it, Alisha. 」

Saying this, Alisha displayed the same slightly condescending, cheeky attitude she had when we first met, but it was just a way of hiding her embarrassment, and I accepted it readily.

「Shin, you should get along with your sister too. 」

「Yes, Kyou-san. 」

The fearful look on Shin’s face when we first met was gone.

Having faced that royal battle to protect his sister, Shin’s heart had matured since childhood, and a definite strength seemed to reside in his timid expression.

However, at the same time, I noticed a slight cloudiness beneath his face.

It was true that Shin was able to live with his real family, his sister Alisha.

But even so, for the past few years, Shin had another family who had been with him.

There was someone Shin could truly call “father”.

However, the parting with that monster was far too sudden and one-sided.

For Shin, the parting was naturally sad, but even more so, he must have felt sadness at the thought of the Manticore being all alone.

I had come to understand this child’s kindness well after spending this past month with him.

「…Shin. There’s something I want to show you one last time. Could you ride my Kobuda with me over there for a bit? 」

「…? Hmm, okay. 」

Shin looked confused by my sudden invitation, but he nodded and mounted the Kobuda, and we started walking across the desert.

I pointed towards a small hill after walking for a while.

「Shin, take a look at that hill over there. 」

Shin tilted his head at my sudden words, but the moment he nodded and looked in that direction, I saw his expression change.

「…Father… 」

There stood the Manticore, Shin’s adoptive father and his true “father”.

Shin now had the King, a father who accepted him.

But even so, the Manticore was still Shin’s adoptive father.

The moment Shin saw his father safe and sound, and the small Manticore cub nestled beside him, he knew instinctively.

The small Manticore’s appearance, its aura, the loving presence emanating from it…Shin unknowingly murmured those words.

「…Mother… 」

This was the Manticore female who had raised Shin as his real mother for the past few years.

Her death had even led Shin to consider death.

But Shin wept after seeing his beloved mother reborn, and witnessing his father nestled beside the cub.

Soon, the two Manticores looking down on Shin also howled towards the heavens.

It was as if they were bidding a final farewell.

Like letting go of a grown child and watching over its future, they sent off Shin, their son, wishing him happiness in the future.

Soon, as the howling subsided, the two Manticores slowly turned their backs and disappeared into the distance across the desert.

They never looked back again.

And Shin didn’t chase after them either.

Shin simply accepted it quietly, as if leaving his parents, wiped away the tears that had gathered in his eyes, and turned to face me.

「…Thank you, Kyou-san. 」

Shin looked up after saying this and bowing deeply.

The smile I saw there was the biggest smile I had ever seen on Shin.

「Yes. 」

Now it was alright.

Shin, and the Manticores too.

I felt relieved that they had all found their own paths, and I took Shin’s outstretched hand.

And with that, the story of my invitation to the Arabia Kingdom had come to an end.

However, my own story was yet to come, and I was unaware of the new adventures and encounters that awaited me, as well as the unexpected encounters with monsters and the cultivation that followed.

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