Vol. 15 - Ch. 1 - Ultimate Clan Battle – Qualification Rounds (1/22)

The qualifiers for the Ultimate Clan Battle were about to start, and my whole family, the Ernol household, had gathered at the venue.

“Good luck, Halt-sama.”

“Yup. Tina, I’ll do my best.”

By the way, not everyone in my family is participating in the battle. Tina, Mai, Mei, Ryuka, and Elmia are all here just to cheer us. The slime girls, who have taken human form, haven't registered as adventurers yet, so they're cheering us on too.

"Go get 'em, everyone!" (the girls)

“Although I’m not participating in the battle, I’ll handle the healing.” (Ryuka)

“With Ryuka here, we’re safe even if someone dies, huh?” (Ryuushin)

Well, that’s technically true, but… I’d really prefer no one dies in the first place.

“Hey, Seira, maybe you could just watch?”

“Elmia, I can’t do that. If someone gets injured while fighting, I want to be there to heal them right away.”

“Then I’m joining the fight! I’ll protect Seira!”

Elmia suddenly declared, but since she’s carrying my child, I’d rather she not be doing anything too intense.

“That’s not going to—” “No way, Elmia.”

“Eh?”

“You need to stay completely calm and safe. You’re carrying a baby, remember? You promised we’d raise that child together, right? I’m really looking forward to it.”

“Ah… Yeah, you’re right.”

Elmia blushed and settled down. Wait, Seira’s helping to raise Elmia and my kid… So they had a promise like that huh.

I mean, I get it if it's the other way around. Elmia’s always clinging to Seira, so if Seira and I had a child, Elmia would definitely take care of it. But somehow, Elmia and I had a kid first.

Of course, the whole family’s going to help raise the kids.

It’s going to be tough with five all at once, but if we all work together, we can manage. There’s even a chance we’ll have twins, so it could be more than five. But we’ll make it work.

“Halt, take care of Seira.”

“I will. I’ll do my best to protect everyone.”

—— *** ——

First Round of the Qualifiers

“Oh, we’re up against them for our first match.” “Fufufufu, what a coincidence.”

“E-eh!? W-Why!?”

Standing in front of me were some very familiar people.

“Long time no see, Halt.”

“I-It’s been a while, Mother.”

There she was, my mother, dressed in some kind of sleek white armor I’d never seen before.

“I’m here too, bro.” “Yo, Halt! Long time no see!”

Behind my mother were Cain, in the official uniform of the Royal Guard, and Leon, clad in the armor of the Royal Knights. And right next to them was another member of my family.

“You really should come home more often, Halt.” Charles stood there dressed in all-black gear that looked like something straight out of a spy agency.

Wait a minute… Is this what I think it is?

Somehow, my gut is telling me that this is exactly what I think it is. But really, are they showing up in their work uniforms to a public event like this?

“That’s just to show how serious I am.”

“W-Wait, are you reading my mind?”

Charles has the skill to read minds. Ever since we were kids, she could always read my thoughts.

“Ufufufu, sorry.”

The fact that she can read my mind even though I’m cursed and my status is [Fixed], and I’m resistant to mental attacks, means that no one’s better suited for espionage than her. No spy could ever keep a secret from Charles.

“Halt. I’m here as well.”

“Ancestor Dragon?!”

Standing there was the most powerful creature, the Ancestor Dragon. He is the one who supplies mana to this world.

“You’ve been dragging your feet about bringing my descendants to visit me, so I came to you.”

“I-I apologize…”

I’d promised to take Hakua and Ryuka to visit the Ancestor Dragon, but I had completely forgotten.

But I did invite him to the celebration after we defeated the Evil God, so it hasn’t been that long. Still, this ancient dragon, who’s lived for thousands—if not tens of thousands—of years, couldn’t wait any longer and decided to show up.

“Anna invited me, but I didn’t expect an elf to be among the enemies.”

“Eh… D-Dairon?”

He was no other than the first king of the Alheim Elf Kingdom, who had been reincarnated as an elf due to the Evil God’s curse. He had once fought alongside me to protect the World Tree from demons.

“And who are you, human? How do you know my name?” “Dairon. His name is Halt Ernol.”

Sarion was also there among our opponents.

“Ernol?”

“By the way, he’s that Ernol.”

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