Sunday morning should have been peaceful.
That was my first mistake.
Believing in peace.
My second mistake was waking up and thinking the silence inside the condominium meant everyone was still asleep.
Silence, I have learned, does not mean safety. Silence does not mean order. Silence does not mean children are resting like civilized beings. Silence means I have not yet discovered what went wrong.
I opened my eyes in my room and stared at the ceiling for several seconds, trying to understand why my body felt like someone had replaced my bones with wet cloth. Yesterday had involved sealing the Demon King again, making her sign house rules, explaining the situation to Ruruka, confiscating spoons, negotiating bedtime, and realizing that my enemy was currently sleeping in my guest room because I was too tired to think of a better solution.
A normal Saturday, apparently.
I turned my head toward the clock.
Still early.
Sunday.
No school, thankfully.
But children still needed breakfast. Children, despite being small, did not run on air and good intentions. They required food. Constantly. Repeatedly. With shocking commitment.
I pushed myself out of bed with the energy of a man being summoned to court for crimes he had not committed yet. My first instinct was to check on the girls.
That instinct had grown stronger recently.
Annoying.
Necessary.
I went to Karin's room first because if something had gone wrong, there was a statistically alarming chance that she was either involved or leading it.
Her bed was empty.
My heart immediately kicked my ribs.
The blanket was pushed aside. Her pillow was crooked. No Karin.
I opened the door wider and scanned the room. No suspicious towel weapons. No signs of climbing out the window. No tiny footprints on the wall, which should not have been a category I checked, but parenthood changes a man.
"Karin?"
No answer.
My pulse sharpened.
I moved to Hikari's room next.
Empty.
The ribbon she slept with was gone too.
That was worse.
Hikari without her ribbon meant intentional movement.
"Hikari?"
No answer again.
The hallway felt too quiet now. Not peaceful quiet. Bad quiet. The kind of quiet that makes every old combat instinct wake up even when you are standing in pajamas.
I went to Ruri's room last.
Surely Ruri would be there.
Ruri was the responsible one. Ruri did not randomly vanish before breakfast. Ruri understood the value of not causing her father's soul to leave his body.
Her room was empty.
That was when panic became very real.
Not loud panic.
Not dramatic panic.
Cold panic.
The kind that turns your thoughts sharp and narrow.
All three rooms empty. No sound upstairs. No footsteps. No giggles. No whispered plotting. No Hikari asking questions. No Karin declaring anything. No Ruri gently correcting them.
I moved before fully deciding to move.
Down the stairs.
Fast.
Too fast for a normal father, but I was not feeling particularly normal at that moment.
I reached the lower floor, rounded the corner toward the living room and kitchen, already preparing to activate detection magic, barriers, restraints, or whatever else my half-rested brain could grab first.
Then I stopped.
The kitchen was alive.
Not destroyed.
Alive.
Astrea stood near the stove wearing the cat apron again.
The cat apron.
Still.
Somehow, it had survived the night and returned to battle.
She held a spatula in one hand and pointed it toward the girls like a commander addressing troops before war. Her silver hair was tied back loosely in a way that looked accidental but somehow elegant, because apparently even domestic humiliation refused to make her look ordinary.
Ruri stood beside the counter, carefully arranging plates.
Hikari sat at the table with both hands raised, asking questions at dangerous speed.
Karin stood near the stove, arguing passionately.
"I'm telling you, cooking should involve bigger fire."
Astrea's eyebrow twitched. "Cooking requires control."
"Big fire is control if you control the big fire."
"That is not how culinary heat works."
"It works for me."
"You are a child."
"I'm strong-small."
"I despise that phrase."
"Hikari has a question," Hikari announced.
Astrea turned toward her with the expression of someone already regretting answering the previous fourteen. "Of course you do."
"If eggs become breakfast, do eggs know they are breakfast?"
Ruri gently placed a plate down. "…Hikari, maybe don't ask that before eating."
Hikari looked at the eggs with sudden seriousness.
Karin leaned closer. "Wait, do they?"
Astrea closed her eyes.
"Eggs do not possess awareness."
"How do you know?" Hikari asked.
"Because they are eggs."
"But Hikari was once in an egg."
The spatula lowered slightly.
Astrea went still.
Ruri froze.
Karin blinked.
I froze harder than all of them.
There it is.
There it absolutely is.
The dangerous household truth casually dropped into breakfast like seasoning.
Astrea's gaze slowly moved to Hikari.
Hikari stared back, innocent and curious.
Ruri quietly reached for Hikari's sleeve. "…Hikari."
Hikari blinked. "Did Hikari say wrong thing?"
Astrea's eyes narrowed, but before she could say anything, Karin pointed at the pan.
"The eggs are burning."
Astrea snapped back toward the stove. "They are not burning. They are developing color."
"That sounds like losing."
"It is not losing."
Ruri quickly adjusted the heat lower. "…Papa usually lowers it here."
"I knew that."
"You did not," Karin said.
"I did."
"You looked panicked."
"I never panic."
"You fought oil yesterday."
Astrea's pride visibly cracked.
I stood by the kitchen entrance, one hand on the wall, breathing slowly as my heart tried to return from the edge of tactical emergency.
They were fine.
All three of them.
Fine.
In fact, they were in perfect harmony.
A strange, chaotic, deeply concerning harmony involving one sealed Demon Queen commanding three dragon children like a tiny army with opinions and not enough supervision.
Relief hit me so hard I almost laughed.
Instead, I sighed.
Very deeply.
Astrea noticed.
Her gaze shifted toward me, sharp as ever.
"Oh. Mage. You're awake."
"That was the plan eventually."
"Your children are handfuls," she said, pointing the spatula toward Karin and Hikari. "Well, except for Ruri. Help me out here."
Ruri looked embarrassed. "…I'm only helping a little."
"You are the only reason the table is prepared and the small spoon creature has not interrogated the rice cooker."
"Hikari wants to know if the rice cooker dreams."
"It does not."
"How does Astrea-san know?"
"Because it is a machine."
"Hikari thinks machines might have quiet dreams."
Astrea looked at me.
I looked back.
For a brief moment, we understood each other perfectly.
Parenthood is war.
I walked into the kitchen before I consciously decided to help. My body moved on its own, reaching for the cutting board, checking the pan, adjusting the soup, finding the rice bowls. It was familiar. Automatic. Annoyingly domestic.
Astrea watched me with narrowed eyes.
"You move strangely efficiently for a man who looked half-dead moments ago."
"Breakfast survival instinct."
"Pathetic."
"Useful."
Karin leaned closer to the stove again.
I placed one hand gently but firmly on her shoulder and redirected her away.
"No fire negotiations."
"But Papa—"
"No."
"Just a little bigger?"
"No."
"What about medium bigger?"
"No."
"What about dramatic bigger?"
"Karin."
She pouted. "Fine."
Astrea looked satisfied.
"For once, the mage speaks sense."
"Do not get used to it," I muttered.
Ruri handed me bowls. "Papa, I prepared the plates."
"Good job, Ruri."
Her small smile appeared immediately.
Critical hit.
Still too early for emotional damage, but the day did not care.
Hikari raised her tiny spoon.
"Hikari set tiny spoon too."
"You set one spoon."
"Hikari's spoon is important."
"It is tiny."
"It works hard."
Astrea stared at the spoon. "That object has more household influence than many nobles I once executed."
I looked at her.
"Maybe don't say executed during breakfast."
"I said once."
"That doesn't help."
Breakfast came together surprisingly well.
That should have worried me.
Astrea cooked eggs and vegetables with a stiff, proud expression that suggested she wanted everyone to understand this was not kindness. It was not care. It was not helpfulness. It was merely tactical food production under temporary conditions.
Unfortunately for her, the food smelled good.
The girls noticed.
Ruri thanked her twice.
Hikari declared that Astrea-san's eggs "tasted like serious morning."
Karin said the fire could still be bigger but admitted it was good.
Astrea pretended not to enjoy the praise.
She failed.
I saw the corner of her mouth move.
Barely.
But enough.
After a while, the doorbell rang.
This time, I did not panic.
Mostly because Ruruka had messaged earlier saying she might drop by.
Also because if another ancient enemy arrived asking for revenge, I was going to pretend not to be home.
I opened the door to find my little sister standing there with a small bag in one hand and the usual expression of someone who had already prepared herself to be disappointed in me.
"Morning, Nii-sama."
"Morning."
Her gaze moved past me toward the kitchen.
Astrea stood there in the cat apron, holding a ladle, with three children around her.
Ruruka stared.
Then slowly looked at me.
"…It's been less than a day."
"I know."
"She's cooking again."
"I know."
"Why?"
"Breakfast happened."
Ruruka closed her eyes for a moment.
"I'm coming in."
The girls noticed her immediately.
"Auntie!" Hikari shouted.
Karin rushed in next. "Auntie is here!"
Ruri followed more calmly but with clear happiness. "…Good morning, Auntie."
The three of them rushed toward Ruruka. Hikari hugged her waist first, Karin grabbed her arm, and Ruri held onto her sleeve with both hands after politely waiting for space.
Ruruka's expression softened in defeat.
Every time.
No matter how serious, sharp, or competent my little sister tried to be, the girls could dismantle her in under three seconds.
"Good morning," she said, patting Hikari's head, then Karin's, then Ruri's. "Did you all sleep well?"
"Hikari slept with ribbon."
"I guarded the hallway in my dreams," Karin said.
Ruri quietly added, "…I slept well."
Ruruka looked toward me.
"You checked for actual hallway guarding?"
"I confiscated a weaponized towel last night."
Karin looked away.
Ruruka sighed.
Astrea, from the kitchen, muttered, "That explains the towel."
Breakfast became larger by one person.
Ruruka joined us at the table, though she kept a careful eye on Astrea the entire time. Astrea noticed, of course. She pretended not to care, which meant she cared deeply.
"You may stop staring, swordswoman," Astrea said.
Ruruka took a calm sip of tea. "I'm not staring."
"You are observing."
"Yes."
"That is staring with discipline."
Ren: one.
Astrea: surprisingly accurate.
Ruruka smiled politely. "You're dangerous."
"I am sealed."
"For now."
Astrea lifted her chin. "Your caution is not unreasonable."
Ruruka blinked.
I blinked too.
That was almost respectful.
Astrea noticed our reaction and immediately looked annoyed.
"Do not look at me as if I offered praise. I merely acknowledged reality."
"Sure," I said.
She glared at me.
"Hikari thinks Astrea-san and Auntie are both scary."
Karin nodded. "But Auntie is scary with a sword. Astrea-san is scary with words."
Astrea looked pleased.
Ruruka looked amused.
Ruri quietly said, "…Both are kind too."
Silence.
Astrea and Ruruka both looked away at the same time.
Interesting.
Dangerous.
Possibly useful.
After breakfast, the girls moved to the living room. Ruri arranged her school papers and then reluctantly let Karin and Hikari drag her into some kind of game involving cushions, crayons, and "kingdom borders," which I allowed only after declaring that no actual kingdoms would be recognized under household law.
Karin argued.
Naturally.
I ignored her.
That left me, Ruruka, and Astrea sitting in the living room.
Astrea still had the apron on.
At this point, I wondered if she had forgotten.
Or worse, if she remembered and refused to remove it because removing it would mean admitting it had been there too long.
Pride is strange.
I glanced at the time.
Morning still young.
The day still available.
Unfortunately, that meant the day could still hurt me.
I leaned back and exhaled.
"Alright. Time to head out?"
Ruruka looked at me. "To where?"
Astrea narrowed her eyes. "For what purpose?"
I looked at Astrea from head to toe.
Ancient sealed-chamber clothes, slightly cleaned but still completely unsuitable for modern society. Cat apron. No ID. No shoes that matched current surface standards. No bag. No phone. No practical civilian existence.
Then I gestured toward her.
"For our dear Demon Queen here. She needs to look like a civilized person."
Astrea's expression sharpened instantly.
"I am a civilized person."
Ruruka and I looked at her.
Then, in perfect synchronization, we shook our heads.
Astrea's eye twitched.
"You insolent siblings."
"You charmed a receptionist yesterday," Ruruka said.
"You paid a taxi driver with a mana crystal," I added.
"You threatened to kill me at dinner."
"You almost broke my table."
"You are wearing a cat apron," Ruruka finished.
Astrea froze.
Her hand moved slightly toward the apron.
Then stopped.
"I am wearing this because your brother forced it upon me."
"And kept wearing it," I said.
Her face colored faintly.
"Hmph. Fine. I am coming then."
"That was easy," I said.
"I am merely ensuring you do not purchase tasteless garments."
"You currently look like a sealed calamity doing kitchen duty."
"I will not accept fashion criticism from a man whose shirt is wrinkled."
I looked down.
My shirt was wrinkled.
I looked at Ruruka.
She gave me a look that said Astrea was unfortunately correct.
Painful.
I turned toward the living room.
"Alright, kids. Let's prepare. We're going shopping."
All three girls reacted immediately.
Hikari raised both arms. "Shopping!"
Karin jumped up. "Can we inspect stores?"
"No."
"Can we inspect some stores?"
"No."
"What if the inspection is important?"
"No."
Ruri quickly gathered the crayons. "…I'll clean up first."
"Commander Ruri," Karin said solemnly.
Ruri blushed. "I'm not commander."
"You're cleaning commander."
Hikari nodded. "Hikari follows cleaning commander."
Good.
Very good.
While the girls rushed to prepare, Astrea remained standing in the living room.
Completely still.
Completely clueless.
It took me several seconds to realize why.
She did not have clothes.
At least, not modern ones.
I turned to Ruruka.
"Little sis."
"No."
"I haven't asked yet."
"I know your face."
"Can you please lend her spare clothes?"
Ruruka looked at Astrea.
Astrea looked back with royal offense.
Ruruka sighed.
"Fine."
She disappeared into the guest room she often used when staying over, rummaged for a while, then returned with a simple outfit: fitted pants, a blouse, and a light jacket. Practical, clean, modern enough to get through a mall without anyone assuming ancient royalty had escaped a dungeon exhibit.
Astrea accepted the clothes like she was being handed a treaty written by peasants.
"These are… acceptable."
"They're clothes," Ruruka said.
"I can see that."
"Then go change."
Astrea lifted her chin and walked toward the guest room.
The door closed.
For a few moments, the condominium was peaceful.
Then I looked at Ruruka.
"She's going to complain."
"Obviously."
"She complains elegantly."
"It makes it worse."
"Agreed."
A few minutes later, Astrea emerged.
The clothes fit.
Mostly.
The blouse strained in ways I absolutely refused to examine. The pants were technically wearable, but clearly tighter around certain areas than Ruruka probably expected. The jacket helped. Somewhat.
Astrea adjusted the sleeves with a dissatisfied expression.
I made the fatal mistake of asking, "Are you fine?"
Astrea looked down at herself, then back at us.
"The clothes are a bit tight. Especially around my bottom and chest."
Direct hit.
Ruruka went still.
I also went still.
Survival instincts activated.
Astrea, unaware or perhaps very aware, continued adjusting the jacket.
"Your sister's proportions are more modest than mine."
There are moments in life when a man must choose between laughter and survival.
This was one of them.
I chose survival.
Barely.
Ruruka's smile became terrifying.
"I'm not that small," she muttered. "You're just too big, you cow."
Astrea's eyes narrowed. "Cow?"
Ruruka smiled sweetly. "Did I say that aloud?"
"Yes."
"Then yes."
Astrea stepped forward.
Ruruka's hand drifted toward her sword.
I moved immediately toward the hallway.
"I'm helping the kids prepare."
Cowardly?
Yes.
Alive?
Also yes.
Behind me, Astrea said, "Your sister lacks manners."
Ruruka replied, "Your chest lacks restraint."
I increased my walking speed.
The girls, thankfully, were easier to handle.
Not easy.
Easier.
Ruri was already ready, bag packed, hair neat, shoes placed near the entrance. Hikari needed help fixing her collar because she had somehow twisted it while looking for her ribbon. Karin had packed a small "shopping inspection kit," which included a notebook, a pencil, a snack, and something that looked suspiciously like a folded towel.
I confiscated the towel.
Again.
"It's just for emergencies," Karin argued.
"You are the emergency."
"That's unfair."
"That's parenting."
By the time everyone reached the entrance, Ruruka and Astrea had stopped verbally attacking each other, though the air between them remained sharp enough to cut vegetables.
Astrea wore Ruruka's spare clothes with visible resentment.
Ruruka looked smug in a way only a younger sister could.
The girls looked thrilled.
I looked tired.
Normal formation.
We headed to the parking area and loaded into the SUV.
The SUV, despite my repeated objections, had been named Fluffy.
Officially.
I lost that battle sometime between Hikari saying "Fluffy is nice" and Ruri quietly saying "It does sound gentle."
Karin still preferred Black Dragon.
I still preferred not naming vehicles.
Nobody cared.
Astrea stood in front of the SUV and stared at it.
"This is the vehicle?"
"Yes."
"It is large."
"Family size."
"It is named Fluffy?"
I closed my eyes.
"Hikari named Fluffy," Hikari said proudly.
Astrea looked at me.
I looked away.
"He failed to resist," Ruruka said.
"I did not fail. I strategically surrendered."
"That is failing with vocabulary."
Astrea seemed to consider this, then said, "Fluffy is an absurd name for a black vehicle."
"Thank you," I said.
"Hikari thinks Fluffy is brave," Hikari added.
Astrea paused.
Then looked away.
"…Absurd, but not entirely offensive."
Hikari beamed.
Powerful.
Very powerful.
Astrea sat in the back with the three girls because there was no other arrangement that made sense. Ruri sat by one window, Karin by the other, Hikari in the middle, and Astrea between the chaos and the door in a way that immediately made her look like a reluctant prison guard.
Ruruka sat beside me in the passenger seat.
I started the engine.
The routine began within thirty seconds.
"Hikari has a question."
Astrea closed her eyes. "Of course."
"Why does Fluffy move without legs?"
"The machine has an engine," I said.
"Hikari knows, but why not legs?"
"Because wheels are more efficient."
"Are wheels better than legs?"
"Depends."
Karin leaned forward. "If Fluffy had legs, could it fight?"
"No."
"What if the legs were strong?"
"No."
"What if we add armor?"
"No modifying Fluffy."
Astrea looked offended. "Why would you name it Fluffy and then refuse to improve it?"
"Do not join her side."
Ruruka smirked. "Too late."
Ruri gently pressed Hikari back into her seat after she leaned too far forward. "…Please sit properly."
"Hikari is sitting."
"You are question-sitting."
"That is still sitting."
Karin looked at Astrea. "Do you know conquest strategies?"
Astrea's eyes sharpened.
I immediately looked in the rearview mirror.
"No."
Karin blinked.
"I didn't ask you."
"I answered anyway."
Astrea's lips curved faintly. "The child has ambition."
"Rule six," I said.
Astrea's smile vanished.
Karin turned toward her. "What's rule six?"
Astrea looked away.
"Nothing."
Ruri quietly said, "…Do not teach Karin conquest strategies."
Karin gasped.
"There's a rule about me?"
"Yes," I said.
"Why?"
"Because I know you."
Astrea crossed her arms. "It is oddly specific but not unreasonable."
Karin looked betrayed.
Hikari patted her arm. "Hikari thinks Karin can learn peaceful strategies."
"I don't want peaceful strategies."
"Then learning strategies."
Karin considered that. "Fine."
The drive continued with Hikari asking questions, Karin negotiating exploration rights, Ruri trying and failing to contain them, Astrea judging modern traffic, and Ruruka quietly enjoying my suffering from the passenger seat.
Astrea complained about traffic lights.
Karin asked if we could ignore them.
I said no.
Hikari asked if red lights were angry.
Ruri said they were instructions.
Astrea said instructions should be obeyed only if written by someone worthy.
Ruruka told her to never say that near Karin again.
I agreed.
By the time we reached the mall, I had already aged another year.
Maybe two.
The Chiba mall appeared ahead of us, bright, intact, and blissfully not destroyed by an S-rank dungeon. That alone made it better than our previous local mall experience.
I parked Fluffy.
I hate that sentence.
Everyone got out.
Astrea stepped onto the parking area and looked up at the mall with narrowed eyes.
"This structure is excessive."
"It contains stores," I said.
"So many?"
"Yes."
"For clothes?"
"And food. And furniture. And entertainment. And unnecessary expenses disguised as convenience."
She looked at me.
"You understand civilization's corruption."
"I've been shopping with children."
"Ah."
The moment we entered, the girls grabbed Astrea.
Not aggressively.
Worse.
Enthusiastically.
Hikari took one hand.
Karin grabbed the other sleeve.
Ruri stayed close beside them, trying to maintain order.
"Astrea-san needs clothes!" Hikari announced.
"I know good stores," Karin said confidently.
"You do not," Ruri said.
"I know where exciting stores are."
"That is different."
Astrea looked back at me with an expression that said, Control your offspring.
I waved slightly.
"Good luck."
"Mage."
"You need civilian clothes."
"I do not require escort by small creatures."
"Hikari is escorting!"
Karin grinned. "I'll inspect your battle outfit."
"I am not wearing a battle outfit."
"You should."
Ruri gently pulled Karin back. "…We're buying normal clothes."
Astrea was dragged away.
Gracefully, somehow.
Even while being pulled by children, she looked like she was choosing to walk in that direction for diplomatic reasons.
Impressive.
Ruruka stood beside me, watching the scene unfold.
"Well," she said, "would you look at that."
"Yeah."
"They seem oddly peaceful."
I watched Astrea being led into a clothing store while Hikari chattered at her nonstop, Karin pointed at mannequins like evaluating armor, and Ruri quietly apologized to a staff member before anything bad happened.
"Peaceful might be too strong," I said.
"But not terrible."
"No. Not terrible."
Inside the store, Astrea's pride faced new enemies.
Modern clothing racks.
Changing rooms.
Size labels.
Sales assistants.
Children with opinions.
Ruruka and I followed at a distance because this shopping trip was technically necessary and also because leaving Astrea alone with the girls inside a mall seemed like how legends of property damage began.
The first outfit Karin chose was black and dramatic.
Astrea approved immediately.
Ruri gently pointed out that it looked too formal for daily wear.
Astrea looked offended.
Karin looked betrayed.
Hikari found a soft sweater and pressed it against Astrea's arm.
"Hikari thinks this feels nice."
Astrea looked down at the sweater.
It was pale, soft, and completely lacking intimidation.
"No."
"Hikari thinks Astrea-san would look gentle."
"I do not require gentleness."
"Hikari thinks everyone needs gentle sometimes."
Astrea stopped.
Ruri looked up quietly.
Karin blinked.
Even I felt that from across the store.
Hikari, terrifying little creature, had once again fired an emotional arrow without aiming.
Astrea's expression tightened.
Then she took the sweater.
"…I will try it only to prove it is unsuitable."
Hikari smiled brightly.
Ren: zero.
Astrea: also zero.
Hikari: undefeated.
Ruruka leaned toward me. "She's dangerous."
"Hikari?"
"Yes."
"I know."
Astrea tried several outfits.
She complained about almost all of them.
Too loose.
Too tight.
Too plain.
Too bright.
Too peasant-like.
Too modern.
Too restrictive.
Too casual.
Too lacking in presence.
The sales assistant, to her credit, maintained professional composure despite being judged by a sealed Demon Queen who used phrases like "unworthy fabric."
At one point, Astrea stepped out in a fitted dark coat, simple blouse, and pants that actually suited her. Elegant, modern, and sharp enough that she looked like a dangerous executive rather than an escaped calamity.
Karin clapped once. "That one looks strong."
Hikari nodded. "Astrea-san looks pretty."
Ruri smiled. "…It suits you."
Astrea lifted her chin.
"Hmph. Naturally."
I looked at Ruruka.
"That one works."
Ruruka nodded. "Agreed."
Astrea glanced at us. "Your approval is unnecessary."
"We're paying," I said.
Her pride took damage again.
She looked away.
"…Then your approval is minimally relevant."
We bought the outfit.
Then several more.
Basic clothes. Sleepwear. Shoes. Undergarments, which I wisely allowed Ruruka to handle because I am not suicidal. A bag. Hair ties. A phone, eventually, though Astrea declared modern communication devices suspicious and beneath her until Ruruka explained that without one she could not contact anyone or be contacted.
Astrea asked who she would contact.
Hikari raised her hand and said, "Hikari."
Astrea paused.
Then accepted the phone.
Interesting.
Very interesting.
The shopping continued.
The girls dragged Astrea everywhere.
Not only clothing stores. A stationery shop because Ruri needed more labels. A kitchenware section because Hikari wanted to show Astrea tiny spoons. A toy store because Karin claimed she needed to demonstrate modern childhood weapons, which I shut down immediately.
Astrea tolerated it.
That was the strange part.
She complained constantly, yes. She judged everything. She insulted modern design, mall lighting, cheap fabric, loud children, weak chairs, useless decorative items, and the concept of seasonal sales.
But she stayed.
She let Hikari hold her hand.
She allowed Ruri to choose a small notebook for her "because it might help you learn things."
She listened when Karin explained that school had "rules, but some of them are negotiable," although I interrupted before Astrea could agree.
She was not soft.
Not exactly.
More like a blade wrapped in a towel and told not to cut anyone.
But the girls did not mind.
Actually, they seemed to like her more because of it.
Karin respected her sharpness. Hikari liked her hidden kindness. Ruri trusted actions more than words, and Astrea's actions had been inconveniently good so far.
I stood beside Ruruka near the edge of a store, watching Astrea being pulled toward a display of scarves by Hikari while Karin debated whether scarves could be used tactically and Ruri quietly said they were for warmth.
Ruruka folded her arms.
"Well. I hate to say this, but I think one of your worries will be fixed soon."
I glanced at her.
"Which one?"
She looked at me.
Then rolled her eyes.
"Figure that out yourself."
I stared at her.
Then at Astrea.
Then at the girls.
Astrea was pretending not to care while Hikari wrapped a scarf around her neck. Karin declared it "not bad, but less threatening." Ruri adjusted the scarf neatly and said it looked nice.
Astrea turned her face away.
But she did not remove it.
My brain, exhausted as always, attempted to connect the pieces.
One of my worries.
There were too many.
School paperwork. Mother documents. Household help. Ruruka being busy. Aaron eventually discovering another ancient entity in my house. Karin forming school factions. Hikari possibly creating a cloud philosophy club. Ruri becoming too responsible. Astrea being homeless, powerless, and murderous. My own strength still reduced.
Which one?
Ruruka saw my expression and sighed.
"Nii-sama."
"What?"
"You are impossible."
"That is not an answer."
"It is a diagnosis."
I looked back toward the girls.
Hikari had now convinced Astrea to try a scarf.
Karin was giving combat feedback.
Ruri was smiling.
Astrea looked irritated.
But not angry.
Not truly.
The scene was strange.
Oddly peaceful.
Dangerously warm.
A thought tried to rise in my head.
I pushed it away immediately.
No.
Absolutely not.
Too complicated.
Too dangerous.
Too soon.
Also absurd.
This woman tried to kill me yesterday.
She is the Demon King.
A sealed Demon Queen, apparently.
She is proud, judgmental, violent, dangerous, legally nonexistent, and currently wearing clothes bought with my money.
She is not a solution to any paperwork problem.
Probably.
Ruruka smirked faintly beside me.
I sighed.
Women.
Still one of the strangest existences in this world.
And somehow, I am now responsible for four of them.
*****
End of Chapter 29
Dad Status Report:
Name: Ren Arclight
Former Occupation: Retired Archmage / Former Demon King Slayer
Current Occupation: Full-Time Dragon Dad / Accidental Demon Queen Caretaker
Primary Objective:
Raise three daughters while successfully integrating one sealed Demon Queen into modern civilization.
Dependents Under Supervision:
Karin – Fire / Chaos / Shopping Enthusiast
Ruri – Ice / Household Commander
Hikari – Light / Curiosity Incarnate
Astrea – Former Demon Queen / Civilization Tutorial (In Progress)
Today's Activities:
Experienced early-morning parental panic
Confirmed three daughters were merely eating breakfast
Assisted with breakfast preparation
Witnessed Demon Queen wearing cat apron (Again)
Prevented excessive cooking fire
Survived breakfast diplomacy
Recruited Ruruka into shopping operation
Acquired civilian clothes for former Demon Queen
Successfully avoided sibling crossfire
Transported entire household using "Fluffy"
Supervised peaceful family shopping
Observed unexpected bonding between children and Astrea
New Developments:
Astrea showing gradual adaptation to household life
Children increasingly comfortable around Astrea
Ruruka beginning to lower her guard (Slightly)
Household dynamics expanding naturally
Ren remains completely oblivious to obvious emotional implications
Threat Level (Environment):
Civilian Mall (Low Risk)
Children (Persistent)
Women's Conversations (Unfathomable)
Daughter Safety Status:
Stable
Shopping
Closely Supervised
Dad Stress Levels:
Recovered
Confused
Financially Responsible
Parenting Skill Growth:
40%
Current Dad Status:
Shopping
Observing
Still Outnumbered
Immediate Priorities:
Purchase suitable wardrobe for Astrea
Prevent Karin from "inspecting" everything
Answer Hikari's infinite questions
Keep Ruri from becoming the household manager before adulthood
Ensure Fluffy survives another family outing
Operational Assessment:
Mission Type: Domestic Integration + Retail Expedition
Difficulty: Unexpectedly Manageable
Emotional Status:
Relieved – Curious – Cautiously Hopeful
Future Outlook:
Household Expansion Continues
Dad Personal Statement:
"Women... Still one of the strangest existences in this world."
Reality's Response:
"She's already becoming part of the family."