Chapter 95

Their Coworkers
As the New Year's party reached its final stages and the number of guests dwindled, Grandfather and Grandmother came over to us.

"Well? Are you having fun?"

Grandfather lifted me up as he asked.

"Yes, Grandfather."

"We're going to the lounge now to chat with some former members of our unit. Would you like to join us?"

“""We want to go!!!"”"

Brother Gene, Vee, and I answered in unison. Behind us, Brother Noel and Brother Aran nodded.

ーーーAt the lounge.

In the lounge near the party room, six men and two women were already chatting with Father and Mr. Abe. When Father spotted us entering the lounge, he grinned broadly and beckoned us over.

Together with Grandfather and Grandmother, we approached Father.

"Everyone, let me introduce you again. You already know my parents, right? Then, starting from here, this is my eldest son, Noel, my second son, Gene, my sister Julieta's eldest son, Arandolph, her second son, Vince, and lastly, my adorable little angel, Joan, who's so cute I could just eat her up."

… Father, you're quite drunk, aren't you? You'll definitely get scolded later. Grandmother’s eyes aren't even smiling anymore.

Brother Noel and the others greeted them, and I finished by curtsying. Then, a large-built man stepped forward to introduce himself.

"I'm Dominic Diesel. I was the former captain of the Monster Subjugation Unit and your father's superior. This is my wife, Letty Diesel. Nice to meet you all."

The bald-headed man with brown eyes, whose body and voice were both large, was apparently Father’s superior.

Suddenly, the woman next to him pinched his upper arm...

"What kind of introduction is that?! … Oh, pardon me. I'm Letty Diesel. I was the former captain of the Mage Corps and your mother’s superior. I should have brought my children along too."

Letty was a beautiful woman with long black hair and pale gray eyes, and she seemed undoubtedly stronger than Dominic.

The Diesel family had three children, and their youngest was apparently the same age as me.

"I'm Brian Walker. I used to be your father's subordinate. Nice to meet you."

He had curly light brown hair and matching light brown eyes, with a youthful face.

"I'm Hector. I was a subordinate too. Your father was really strict and scary when it came to work."

The short-built man with short green hair and black eyes said with a friendly smile.

… So he was only serious at work?

"I-I'm Luke Johnson. I was formerly under Lord Stanley's command and am currently the Commander of the Monster Subjugation Unit. P-pleasure to meet you."

The man with short black hair, dark brown eyes, and tanned skin seemed quite nervous, avoiding eye contact altogether.

"Luke, you're way too stiff. I know you're shy, but... Oh, my bad. I'm Jacob. Like Luke, I was under Lord Stanley, and now I serve as the Vice-Commander of the Monster Subjugation Unit. Nice to meet you."

The slender man with long dark gray hair tied back and green eyes teased Luke as he introduced himself.

"I'm Mia. I was in the Mage Corps under Lady Margaret. Ahh, to think I could meet Lady Margaret’s children—thank you, gods!"

The cute woman with her orange hair styled up and pink eyes introduced herself while offering a prayer to the heavens.

"Sorry about Mia. She absolutely adores Lady Margaret. Oh, I'm Harry. I was also in the Mage Corps, serving under Lady Julieta. Nice to meet you."

The man with medium-length light blue hair and navy blue eyes turned out to be Mia's husband.

By the time introductions wrapped up, Mother, Aunt Julieta, Uncle Gilbert, Gray, Nancy, and some of Father's former unit members—Mr. Al, Mr. Dai, Mr. Matsu, and Mr. Usa—had also joined after seeing off the remaining guests.

Once everyone had exchanged updates and the atmosphere had relaxed, I decided to ask,

"Um, could you tell us what Father and Mother were like at work?"

"Oh, yes, I’d also like to hear about Mother’s work."

Vee raised his hand.

"There aren't really any interesting stories."

Father replied.

"No way, there are plenty," Dominic countered. "Like when you got snatched away by a Ruffbird, or when we camped out only to find ourselves surrounded by a horde of goblins."

[Ahhh~~~]

All the former Monster Subjugation Unit members, including Stanley, groaned with bitter expressions.

"Oh yeah, Lord Stanley was often chased by female goblins, wasn't he?"

Hector added.

"That happened... I don't even want to remember it."

Father sighed.

"That’s true~ because goblins are so—"

[Stinky!!]

They all shouted in unison.

Are goblins really that smelly? To think Father was chased by female goblins...

Hehe, how popular.

"Joan, being popular with goblins isn't something to be happy about."

"Oh, did I say that out loud? Ehehe."

"Do Mage Corps members go on expeditions too?"

"Of course! We often went on expeditions with the Monster Subjugation Unit.”

Harry answered.

"That's right. The Monster Subjugation Unit was the front line, and the Mage Corps provided rear support. Oh, that reminds me—it was during the wyvern mission that Lord Stanley and Margaret got close, wasn't it?"

Letty remarked.

"Wh-why do you remember that?!"

Father panicked.

"Ehehe, because of course I do. When we were forming the mixed team of the Monster Subjugation Unit and Mage Corps, my husband requested that Lord Stanley and Margaret be in the same group. Originally, the plan was for the Lampail siblings to be paired up instead."

Hearing Letty reveal this backstory, both Father and Mother blushed and hung their heads.

"So it’s thanks to Commander Letty, then. Thank you very much."

I expressed my gratitude.

"Oh my, well, I suppose that's how it turned out. Young lady Joan, you don’t need to call me Commander. Oh! You should address me the same way you address Julietta."

The way I call Auntie Juliette…?

"Understood. Then, Big sister Letty, please call me without honorifics as well."

""Big sister Letty?!""

"Julieta, what kind of name are you making your niece call you? You are her aunt, aren't you?"

Letty frowned.

"Ehh, but I wanted a little sister and a daughter! It’s fine, isn’t it?"

Aunt Julieta pouted.

"Haah~ Um, Little Joan, just call me Auntie Letty."

"Oh, okay. Auntie Letty."