When I reached the familiar house with the familiar front lawn that I grew up on, I heard a loud yell from inside. "Eric, you better let me out this instant, or I will blow this entire house up!"
"Mother, please think of your grandson!" I heard Rachel yell out. Using her own son as a means to quiet my mother down was a smart move. Sorry, Leo, but you are being sacrificed for the greater good.
Eric held his head in his hands as he shook it back and forth. "She has been threatening this for a few days now. I have almost resorted to tying her up. For now, I was able to seal her in the house."
"I will deal with it. But to be on the safe side, you, Rachel, and Leo should wait outside." I had no idea what my mother would do once I opened the door, so it was better to be safe than sorry.
"Alright…." Eric's face said it all. He was hoping the house wouldn't be destroyed because he would be the one to have to rebuild it.
"I will put up a barrier," I said softly. Only then did his mood brighten as he rubbed my head.
"You have gotten bigger," Eric said with a smile.
"Well, it has been about two years. I at least now look closer to my age." I did grow a bit taller over the past two years, although my chest was nothing to speak about. But if my dreams are truly real in some aspects, then I will eventually fill out. How many hundreds of years that will take, I do not know.
"That you do. You have grown even prettier than I saw you last. I am sure many people have confessed to you." Eric spoke as if he was a proud father. I couldn't help but chuckle. But he was also not wrong. I have had over thirty confessions in the past two years. And that is not counting Adel's daily confession.
I walked into the house with Eric, who did not waste time getting Rachel and Leo out of the house. I didn't even get to say hi to Rachel before she was whisked away. I guess Eric was really worried that Mother would go crazy and blow the house up. "Damn it! Eric, let me out now!"
"Mother, you need to calm down first," I spoke through the door. The whole house suddenly went quiet.
"Faith?" My mother asked softly.
"Mmmmm… It's me." I replied just as softly, but who would have thought the next words out of her mouth would make the little reunion moment we were just about to share get ruined just as quickly as it came?
"Tell that bastard brother of yours to let me out of this room right now! Your father… Your father might be in trouble!" My mother yelled at the top of her lungs.
I sighed and waved my hand, removing the barrier on the door. My mother burst through the door and was about to run out of the house, but I quickly grabbed her wrist. "Mother. No."
"Faith…. You!" My mother turned and looked at me. Her eyes were brimming with tears. I yanked on her arm and pulled her into a hug. "Don't worry. I have my team on the way. I will bring back Father whether dead or alive, I promise."
"Faith… Faith!" My mother hugged me tightly as she began crying. She must have been losing her mind with worry. I gently rubbed her back as her tears fell. My brother poked his head into the house and looked around. When he saw me holding Mother as she cried, he seemed to let out a sigh of relief.
"Master…." Diablo suddenly appeared in front of me.
"All taken care of?" I asked.
"I made sure that they were all taken care of. The soldiers of this village are currently inspecting the village below. And giving aid to the women and children who need it." Diablo replied.
"I figured they would. Thanks, Diablo. Your next task is to keep my mother in the house and protect it for the time being. I do not want anything unexpected to happen while I search for my father. I plan to enter the dungeon to take a peek at what kind of monsters are inside. Once I know this, I will be able to come up with a plan for when the others get here." I had to know what I was up against before I took a group into the dungeon blindly. It was never good to jump in without knowledge of what to expect.
"As you command Master," Diablo replied while bowing.
"Faith this is?" My mother asked as she looked at Diablo curiously. "My son in law!? Faith, you have not done badly for yourself! Look how good looking he is!"
"Mother, that is the first thing you jump to when you see a handsome man at my side!?" I yelled out. I could feel my cheeks heating up. Yes, Diablo was very handsome and would make any girl want to swoon over him, but he was a demon! A literal one!
"Why are you being shy? Come son in law, let me make you a snack. You have to tell me about faith's time in the capital." I could only stand there and watch as my mother dragged a very confused Diablo off to the other room.
My brother walked over to me and placed his hand on my shoulder. "Don't mind. You know mother likes handsome men."
"That doesn't mean she can just go and name any man my fiance! I don't even have a boyfriend! Diablo is a summon!" I yelled out, only to have my brother give me a sympathetic gaze. Why do I feel like the corner of his lips are twitching as if he is trying to hide his smile? This bastard is making fun of me in his head!
