[Adventurer's Guild – Axel]

Paperwork. The bane of my existence. Whether or not I was a Demon King, somehow someone always manages to slip in paperwork. I'd like to talk to the person who thought that it was a great idea to make paperwork a staple in everyday living.

"Guildmaster? There's a person that wants to see you." I blink, glancing towards the magical clock on the wall as I let out a soft sigh. It would seem like I've been working for a long while.

"Tell them I'm coming." I replied back, already rising up from my seat as I got out of my office and into the actual confines of the Guild itself.

By the entrance I saw the most beautiful person in my life, currently trying to comfort my daughter who was currently bawling into her arms. Silver hair was tied in an intricate braid, with soft blue eyes staring past our daughter and meeting my gaze. Her black robes seemed as regal as ever, but I could still see the hint of silver that belied the presence of armor. By her waist I saw a sheathed sword, one that doubled as her staff as well, and I couldn't help but let out a smile at the fact that she kept my gift.

"Bree."

"Esta."

She broke free from our daughter's waist and immediately took me in a tight hug, and I let out a soft sigh as I leaned into her embrace. "How long had it been?"

"Quite a long time, if I do say so myself. You wouldn't believe just how much our daughter bugged me about you."

I glanced behind me, seeing Eris stare at the scene while biting her lip, and I couldn't help but laugh as I beckoned her into the hug with [Telekinesis].

...Really, it's been a long time.

[Axel's Streets]

"So, how'd the retrieval go this time?"

Judging by my daughter's sullen face, it seemed that it didn't go too well. I could already see Esta trying to comfort our daughter, but I pressed a finger to my lips and glanced towards Eris.

My wife seemed to get the message.

"What happened, then?"

"That armor wanted to protect an innocent damsel in distress..."

Mm. It would seem like we would need to file for a relic disposal form soon.

"W-Wait! Mother, dad, the armor didn't actually do anything to me...!"

"Of course, dear." My wife soothed our daughter, but the steely gaze that she sent me was enough to let me know her opinion on the matter.

I seconded, of course. One doesn't just lay their hands on our precious daughter without being disintegrated to pieces.

"Everything's alright, my daughter." I smiled as well, "I'll just post a quest. It won't take long, I tell you."

"Ugh..."

Really, now. Don't act like you've been scorned, Eris. We're just making sure that armor wouldn't be a problem any longer.

Speaking of potential problems... "Eris, how is your assistant?"

"An assistant, you say?"

I nod in response to my wife's words. "That's what she told me. He assists her in retrieving relics."

"...A 'He', you say?"

"Mother!"

Eris' voice brings my wife out of her positively murderous thoughts as she glances towards her daughter with a serene smile.

"Yes, dear?"

"Please don't kill Kazuma-san. I still need him for this."

Mm. It would seem like she only incited her mother's bloodlust even further. That's not good.

"What our daughter means is that her assistant serves an invaluable role in capturing the wayward relic. She is not implying that her 'needs' are of...that kind."

"Ah, I see. My apologies then, my dear daughter. It would seem like I assumed that your relationship with this...'assistant' of yours is anything but professional."

"...Thanks, dad."

"I would still like to request a meeting with him, however."

"Mother!?"

A smile formed on my face as my wife met gazes with me. Like I'd dare go against her at a time like this.

"Dear, I know your father very–"

Esta, stop blushing. You're planting some ideas into our daughter's head. See? Eris is already flushing as well.

"...Intimately. And it means that I know of his standards. It is regrettable that for all of his intelligence and charisma that his standards when it comes to surveying suitors is especially lacking."

"Hey..."

My protest was ignored. I didn't hear my daughter snickering.

"As such, it would fall unto my domain to see if this 'assistant' of yours is worthy enough for you."

"I'm not interested in him, Mother! Nor is he interested in me!"

My wife scoffed. "Nonsense. I trust Bree to tell me the truth that you are attracted to that 'assistant' of yours."

"Dad..."

"It was a test, o daughter of mine." I replied with a smile on my face, even as Eris started to pale. "...Sadly, that reaction of yours meant that you failed."

"N-No, seriously. I don't like him. He's already got three beautiful women in his party, and he's an incessant pervert that won't stop until..."

She stopped as I placed a hand on her shoulder, shooting her a sympathetic smile. "It's alright. I fell in love with your mother for the very same reasons."

"That is information that I didn't want to hear. Ever."

"Well, now you know. And my work here is done."

My daughter blinked. "What do you...Oh."

Indeed. My wife had left, presumably to find and 'talk' to my daughter's assistant.

"You were the distraction."

"I am."

"Mother is...Mother would be..."

"Yup."

"Dad, what were you thinking!?"

I wince and stepped away from my daughter, trying to clean out my ears as I kept one eye trained on Eris, who seemed content to give me the stink eye instead of running off to find her mother before she kills her assistant.

"Eris–"

"Chris."

"Fine. Chris, you must understand that this is the first time in years that your mother is here."

"And...?"

"So this is the first in a long time that I'm allowed to spend time with her."

My daughter seemed to get what I was talking about, since her face looked like she was disgusted and stepped away from me in an instant.

"I didn't need to know that."

"You'll understand when you're older."

"Even then, I don't think that I want to."