Ren's pov
Coming home after shopping should have felt like victory.
It did not.
It felt like returning from a dungeon raid where the boss monster was a receipt.
The SUV—Fluffy, unfortunately—rolled into the condominium parking area carrying enough bags to make it look like we had looted half the mall. Clothes, shoes, phones, smartwatches, child-safe cases, a few school supplies, snacks I did not remember approving, and one sealed Demon Queen's newly purchased civilian starter set.
I parked, turned off the engine, and sat there for a moment with both hands on the steering wheel.
Nobody moved immediately.
That was rare.
Suspicious, even.
Then Hikari lifted her phone and took a picture of the back of my seat.
"Hikari is documenting Fluffy's brave journey."
"Please do not document the interior leather too much."
"Hikari thinks leather is also part of the journey."
Karin leaned forward from the back seat. "Can Fluffy have hidden storage?"
"No."
"What about normal storage?"
"It already has storage."
"What about secret storage?"
"No."
"What about emergency tactical storage?"
"Karin."
She leaned back with a pout. "Fine."
Ruri, who had been quietly checking her smartwatch again, looked at me through the rearview mirror. "Papa, thank you for driving."
That should not have been enough to undo some of the fatigue.
It was.
"Yeah," I said. "You're welcome."
Astrea, sitting beside the girls with shopping bags near her feet, looked out the window at the parking area with the expression of someone who had survived an ordeal of indignity. She had changed into the dark coat and fitted clothes Ruri chose for her, and unfortunately for my wallet, she looked good in them.
Not "final boss escaped from a ruined fortress" good.
More like "dangerous noblewoman who knows your weakness and has already bought your company" good.
Which was less suspicious in modern Chiba.
Probably.
Ruruka unbuckled her seatbelt and stretched lightly. "I'll help carry the bags up."
"You don't have to."
"If I don't, you'll try to carry too many and pretend your mana depletion isn't still bothering you."
"That sounds like slander."
"That sounds like history."
Astrea glanced at me. "You are weakened enough that carrying fabric troubles you?"
"No."
Ruruka and I answered at the same time.
"Yes," she said.
Astrea's lips curved faintly. "How pitiful."
I looked at her.
She looked back with royal satisfaction.
I sighed. "Welcome to civilian life. Everyone gets humbled by groceries eventually."
"These are not groceries."
"Shopping bags are cousins of groceries."
"That explanation lacks dignity."
"Most accurate explanations do."
We carried everything upstairs.
By "we," I mean Ruruka and I carried most of the bags, Ruri insisted on carrying one small bag carefully with both hands, Hikari carried her photo album like a sacred treasure, Karin attempted to carry three bags until Ruri told her she was swinging them too much, and Astrea carried her own clothes with the irritated dignity of someone who believed fabric should have servants.
When we entered the condominium, the place felt strangely quiet compared to the mall. The air was cooler, the sunlight softer, and for one foolish moment, I thought we might finally settle down.
Then the girls began unpacking.
Hikari started taking pictures of her phone case.
Karin tried to negotiate where her charger should go so it would be "quick-access."
Ruri began organizing the receipts.
Astrea stood in the living room holding two bags and looking mildly betrayed by how much labor homecoming required.
Ruruka helped put away what needed immediate attention, then checked the time and clicked her tongue softly.
"I need to go home for a while."
The girls immediately reacted.
"Auntie is leaving?" Hikari asked, clutching her phone with both hands.
"I have reports to finish from my last dungeon raid," Ruruka said, crouching slightly so Hikari would not look too abandoned. "I'll come back soon."
Karin crossed her arms. "Dungeon reports sound boring."
"They are."
"Then don't do them."
"If only life worked that way."
Ruri bowed her head politely. "Please take care, Auntie."
Ruruka smiled and patted her head. "You too, Ruri. And don't overwork yourself."
Ruri looked away slightly. "...I won't."
I watched that exchange and decided not to interfere. Ruruka had a way of saying things that landed differently with the girls. Maybe because she was strict without being tired in the same way I was. Maybe because she could say what I worried too much about saying badly.
Or maybe because she was their auntie, and aunties had strange authority.
Ruruka stood, adjusted the strap of her bag, and headed for the door.
"Take care," I said.
"You too, Nii-sama. And rest if you can."
"That phrase keeps appearing around me like a curse."
"Because you keep ignoring it."
She stepped into the entryway, then paused.
Her gaze shifted toward Astrea.
Astrea stood near the living room, arms folded, chin raised, wearing new clothes and still somehow looking like every wall in the condominium had failed to impress her.
Ruruka's expression sharpened.
"I'll be watching you."
Astrea snorted.
"Then watch carefully, swordswoman. Perhaps you may learn proper posture."
Ruruka's smile became dangerous.
"My posture comes with a sword."
"Mine once came with armies."
"You have neither right now."
Astrea's eye twitched.
I stepped between the verbal blades before they became physical.
"Safe trip, little sis."
Ruruka looked at me, then sighed.
"Call me if anything happens."
"I will."
"I mean anything."
"I know."
She left after one last glance at Astrea, and the door closed behind her.
The condominium settled into a new kind of silence.
Not peaceful.
Unoccupied battlefield silence.
It was just me, Astrea, and three dragon girls with nothing specific left to do.
That sentence alone should have worried me.
It did.
I stood in the living room for a few seconds, surrounded by shopping bags, receipts, and the faint emotional damage of expenses. Then I remembered the account.
The bank account.
My points.
My precious, hard-earned, saved-from-years-of-dangerous-work points.
I took out my phone.
Opened the banking app.
Looked.
Paused.
Closed the app.
Opened it again because surely I had misread.
I had not.
Before all of this, I had around two hundred fifty million points.
A nice number.
A comforting number.
A number that whispered, "Ren, you may retire quietly, buy snacks, raise children, and avoid work for a while."
Now, after the condominium, the vehicle, furniture, school preparation, electronics, clothes, household supplies, and the financial assault known as "Demon Queen Civilian Starter Pack," that number had dropped to less than one hundred fifty million.
Still huge.
Objectively.
But the drop itself felt like being stabbed by an accountant.
I sat slowly on the couch.
The girls were busy in the living room. Hikari was taking pictures of her new smart watch from five different angles. Karin was trying to convince Ruri that phone cases needed "defensive reinforcements." Ruri was telling her that normal children did not reinforce phone cases.
Astrea, meanwhile, had taken one of the outfits Ruri chose and was looking at it with suspicion.
I stared at the banking app.
Condominium.
Vehicle.
Furniture.
School items.
Clothes.
Phones.
Watches.
Food.
Astrea.
Life.
I did not regret it.
That was the annoying part.
The condo was good for the girls. The vehicle was useful. The furniture made the place livable. The phones and watches were necessary. Astrea's clothes were practical if I did not want a sealed ancient sovereign terrifying civilians in hallway robes.
No regrets.
Just pain.
Financial pain.
Different category.
Still pain.
I closed the app and leaned back.
Then another problem rose from the pit of adult responsibility.
Chiba guild.
I was registered before in Saitama. Moving to Chiba meant local guild transfer, area permission updates, emergency response jurisdiction, address confirmation, hunter activity verification, and probably more forms designed by people who hated happiness.
I stared at the ceiling.
More paperwork.
Of course.
Why wouldn't there be more paperwork?
I stood up slowly.
Astrea noticed.
"Where are you going, Mage?"
She had changed out of the dark coat and was now holding one of the more casual outfits Ruri selected for her. A soft dark blouse, simple long skirt, and cardigan. She looked annoyed by the concept of comfort.
"I need to do something at the guild."
"The guild."
"Hunter administration. Dungeon management. Local jurisdiction. Paperwork."
Her face shifted into disdain.
"Your modern warrior institutions are ruled by documents?"
"Yes."
"How pathetic."
"Correct."
She blinked, apparently not expecting agreement.
I continued, "Since I moved from Saitama to Chiba, I need to register at the Chiba guild properly. New address, local hunter profile update, rank confirmation, emergency contact lines, activity permission, all that."
Astrea smirked. "And this is important?"
"If we want to keep living comfortably, yes."
"Comfort," she said, as if tasting the word and finding it suspicious. "You speak of comfort often for someone once called an archmage."
"I retired."
"You are not retired. You are besieged by children, documents, and expenses."
"That is a different kind of retirement."
"A miserable one."
"Accurate."
She gave a faint laugh through her nose, which was almost too close to amusement. "Your life choices are your own punishment."
"Some of them, yes."
I glanced toward the girls.
I did not want to leave them.
Not because I thought they could not handle themselves. If anything, the opposite. Three dragon children were a disaster category all on their own. But leaving them with Astrea after less than two days felt like the kind of decision that could become a guild incident report.
Unfortunately, I needed to go.
And Astrea was here.
Powerless.
Signed household rules.
Surveillance cameras active.
Ruruka definitely paranoid enough to check if I sent her access, which I had. Because I valued my life and hers.
I looked at Astrea.
"Can you watch over the kids for a while?"
She stopped folding the blouse.
Slowly, she turned her head.
"Pardon?"
"I need to go to the guild. It should not take too long. Watch them."
Her expression sharpened into royal offense.
"You ask me to babysit?"
"Temporarily."
"I am Astrea."
"Yes."
"Sovereign of the abyssal dominion."
"Yes."
"Former terror of kingdoms."
"Currently in my living room holding a cardigan."
She looked down at the cardigan.
Then back at me.
Her eyes narrowed.
"This fabric is irrelevant."
"Most humiliations are."
She placed the cardigan down with controlled precision.
"Aren't you worried I might do something to your daughters?"
Her smirk returned. Elegant. Sharp. Testing.
I sighed.
"One, you can't beat them right now."
The smirk cracked.
"Two, you're not stupid enough to try."
Her eyes narrowed further.
"And three..."
I pointed toward the corner of the ceiling.
Astrea looked up.
The surveillance camera stared back.
"I am watching you. And probably Ruruka too."
Astrea followed the camera with her gaze.
Then looked toward another corner.
Then another.
Her face slowly shifted.
"You placed observation devices throughout your home?"
"Common safety measure."
"Against me?"
"Against Karin."
Karin looked up from the floor. "What?"
"Nothing."
Astrea's mouth pressed into a thin line, and for a moment, she seemed genuinely unsure whether to be offended or impressed.
Finally, she exhaled.
"Well. As you said, I cannot do much about it anyway. Be on your way, Mage. I can handle the children."
I stared at her.
She lifted her chin.
"What?"
"You said that confidently."
"I am capable."
"You fought oil yesterday."
"I defeated the oil."
"The oil splattered."
"It lost discipline."
I decided not to argue.
I walked toward the living room.
"Kids."
All three turned toward me.
"I'll be out for a while. I need to go to the guild. Behave while I'm gone."
Hikari immediately raised her hand.
"Hikari will behave."
I looked at her sincere face.
I tried to believe her.
I really did.
"Good."
Karin raised her hand next.
"I'll behave too."
I looked at her.
She looked back with clear eyes and dangerous confidence.
Doubt.
Immediate doubt.
"Define behave."
"No fires."
"Good start."
"No climbing dangerous things."
"Better."
"No conquest strategies."
She glanced at Astrea.
Astrea looked away.
"Fine."
"Good."
Ruri folded her hands and nodded. "...I'll try to overlook things."
"That phrasing worries me."
"I'll do my best."
I smiled despite myself, walked over, and ruffled her hair gently.
"If you want something, just ask Astrea."
Ruri looked at Astrea.
Astrea blinked.
Ruri nodded. "...Okay."
Astrea looked almost startled by that quiet trust.
Interesting.
I turned to Hikari.
"No excessive pictures of Astrea."
"Hikari will take reasonable pictures."
"Define reasonable."
"Hikari does not know yet."
"Ask Ruri."
"Hikari understands."
I turned to Karin.
"No installing games."
Karin froze.
"I didn't—"
"No."
"Just one—"
"No."
"What if it's educational?"
"No shooting."
Her mouth closed.
Smart girl.
She knew I knew.
After one last scan of the living room, I headed for the door. The sight behind me was strange. Ruri near her school things. Hikari holding her phone. Karin trying to look innocent. Astrea standing there in modern clothes, arms folded, trying to look like she had not just accepted babysitting duty.
I opened the door and paused.
"Don't destroy the house."
Astrea scoffed. "I am not the child."
"Karin, don't destroy the house."
"I know."
"Hikari, don't encourage house destruction."
"Hikari will discourage destruction."
"Ruri..."
Ruri gave a small smile. "...I'll watch them."
That child.
Too reliable.
I nodded and left, hoping everything would still be standing when I returned.
*****
Astrea's pov
The door closes.
For several seconds, I stand in the living room and listen to the quiet that follows.
The mage is gone.
The swordswoman is gone.
The surveillance devices remain.
The three children remain.
I, Astrea, sovereign of the abyssal dominion, former terror of kingdoms, breaker of chains, survivor of imprisonment, now stand inside my enemy's home with the formal responsibility of watching his children.
There are many humiliations in this world.
This one is oddly specific.
The smallest one, Hikari, raises her phone and takes a picture of me immediately.
A small artificial shutter sound echoes.
I turn toward her.
"Hikari."
Her eyes widen.
"Astrea-san remembered Hikari's name."
"That was not difficult."
"Hikari is happy."
"Delete that picture."
"Hikari thinks Astrea-san looks serious."
"I am serious."
"Hikari will keep serious picture."
"No."
The sharp-eyed one, Karin, looks up with interest.
"If she keeps it, can we call it a wanted poster?"
"No," the quiet one, Ruri, says before I can answer.
Karin crosses her arms. "It's not bad though."
"I am not wanted," I say.
Karin tilts her head. "Didn't you conquer stuff?"
"I was feared."
"So wanted."
"Not in the sense you mean."
Hikari holds up the phone. "Astrea-san is wanted at home?"
That sentence is nonsense.
It should be nonsense.
Yet I find myself with no immediate answer.
Ruri, sitting at the low table with her remaining schoolwork, looks up gently.
"...Hikari means Papa said you can stay."
"I know what she means."
I do not.
Not entirely.
The mage left me here.
A reckless decision.
Or a calculated one.
Likely both.
He knows I have no power. He knows the cameras watch. He knows his daughters are strange, ancient creatures hiding beneath childlike forms. He said I could not beat them right now, which was insulting, humiliating, and possibly true.
Possibly.
The sharp one would attempt violence without hesitation.
The smallest would ask a question during combat and disturb concentration.
The quiet one would probably apologize while doing something devastatingly effective.
Dangerous children.
All three.
And yet, none of them are attacking me.
They are simply... here.
Karin paces near the television with the confidence of a tiny commander. Hikari sits beside me before I grant permission. Ruri continues her homework, pencil moving neatly across the page.
I remain standing.
Because I do not know what else to do.
That realization annoys me.
How does one watch children?
Do they require instruction? Constant correction? Strategic deployment? Feeding at intervals? The mage mentioned behaving, games, house destruction, and asking me for things, but he did not provide a full command structure.
Irresponsible.
Very irresponsible.
I sit on the couch, because remaining standing in the middle of the living room like a ceremonial statue helps no one.
Immediately, Hikari climbs onto the cushion beside me.
I look down at her.
She smiles.
"Hikari will sit here."
"You already are."
"Hikari is informing Astrea-san."
"How courteous."
"Hikari likes being courteous."
Karin takes the remote control and turns on the television.
The screen flares to life.
I tense.
Not because I am frightened.
Because the device erupted with color and sound without a spell circle.
Modern civilization is grotesque.
A scene appears on the screen.
Bright colors. Moving drawings. A boy with a straw hat shouting something dramatic while stretching his arm in a manner that is biologically offensive.
I narrow my eyes.
"What is this?"
Karin jumps onto the other side of the couch. "Anime."
"Drawn illusion?"
"Anime."
"That explains nothing."
Hikari leans closer. "This is Hikari's favorite."
Karin points at the screen. "One Piece."
"One piece of what?"
"Treasure."
"Then why not call it Treasure?"
Karin stares at me like I have failed a basic exam. "Because it's called One Piece."
Ruri, from the table, quietly says, "It's a story about pirates, adventure, friendship, dreams, and fighting strong enemies."
That is a better explanation.
I look back at the screen.
Pirates.
Adventure.
Dreams.
Fighting strong enemies.
The straw-hat boy is now yelling at an enormous woman with terrifying presence, while other characters run, shout, and move with reckless determination. The woman on the screen is massive, dangerous, and clearly accustomed to being obeyed.
Karin points at her.
"That's Big Mom."
I stare.
"...That is her name?"
"Yeah."
"How direct."
Hikari nods. "Big Mom is scary."
"She is loud," I say.
"She's strong too," Karin says.
"She has authority," I concede.
Karin grins. "See? You understand."
I have no intention of watching this ridiculous surface entertainment.
None.
I am merely observing it because the children are occupied, and because the screen is bright, and because understanding the entertainment of modern children may be useful for maintaining order.
The straw-hat boy launches himself forward.
His arms stretch unnaturally.
I lean in slightly.
"That boy's body is rubber?"
Karin nods enthusiastically. "Yeah! Luffy!"
"Why?"
"He ate a Devil Fruit."
"A fruit altered his physiology?"
"Yeah."
"Absurd."
Hikari smiles. "Luffy is fun."
"He is reckless."
Ruri continues writing but adds, "...He protects his friends."
The boy on the screen gets knocked down.
Then stands again.
Shouts.
Charges.
I watch.
Only briefly.
Then longer.
The enormous woman attacks again. The allies scatter. The music rises. The straw-hat boy refuses to yield despite the difference in size and overwhelming force.
My fingers rest against the cushion.
Karin leans forward.
"Come on, Luffy..."
I glance at her.
Hikari's eyes shine.
Even Ruri's pencil slows.
The straw-hat boy smiles through pain.
Something about it irritates me.
Not because it is foolish.
Because it is familiar.
I look toward the door where Ren left.
No.
Absolutely not.
I will not compare Ren Arclight to a rubber pirate.
The thought is beneath me.
The fight continues.
I sit back.
Then, without realizing it, I ask, "Why does he not retreat?"
Karin answers immediately. "Because he's Luffy."
"That is not an answer."
"It is."
Ruri looks up. "...He doesn't abandon people."
I study the screen.
"Hmph. Reckless loyalty."
"Hikari likes reckless loyalty."
"You would."
Karin grins at me. "You're watching."
"I am supervising."
"You're leaning forward."
"I am examining combat choreography."
"You like it."
"I do not."
The straw-hat boy lands a hit.
The room erupts.
Karin cheers.
Hikari claps.
Ruri smiles.
I sit very still.
Then say, "Adequate."
Karin points at me.
"You cheered inside."
"I did not."
"You did."
"I acknowledged a successful strike."
"That's cheering with fancy words."
I now understand why the mage sighs so often.
Time passes.
I do not notice at first.
The story continues, and against all reason, I find myself asking questions.
Why does the swordsman use three blades?
Why does the cook fight with his legs?
Why is the skeleton alive?
Why is the reindeer speaking?
Why does the ship have a face?
The children answer with the confidence of scholars explaining sacred texts.
Karin explains the fights.
Hikari explains feelings.
Ruri explains the actual plot.
Between the three of them, the world of this absurd pirate tale becomes strangely coherent.
At some point, Ruri finishes her homework and joins us on the couch, sitting neatly near Hikari with her workbook closed.
"You finished?" I ask before I can stop myself.
Ruri nods. "Yes. I only had a little left."
"Good."
The word comes out too naturally.
She smiles.
I look away.
It was merely acknowledgement.
Nothing else.
Then Hikari suddenly checks the digital clock on the wall.
Her eyes widen.
"Astrea-san."
"What?"
Hikari grabs my sleeve and points at the clock.
"It is three."
I look at the clock.
3:00 p.m.
"Yes."
"Snack time."
I stare at her.
"Snack... time."
Ruri nods. "Papa usually gives us snacks around this time if we're home."
Karin leans back. "Snacks are important."
"Of course they are," I say dryly.
Hikari tugs my sleeve again.
"Astrea-san, snack time."
"Am I expected to produce snacks?"
Hikari nods.
Karin nods.
Ruri looks apologetic but also nods.
I close my eyes.
This household has rituals.
Breakfast.
Homework.
Anime.
Snack time.
Surveillance.
House rules.
It is structured chaos pretending to be family life.
Strangely effective.
"What do snacks require?" I ask.
Ruri stands immediately. "I can help. There are cookies in the pantry and milk in the refrigerator. Papa also has chips, but he said those are his emergency stash."
Karin's eyes sharpen.
"Emergency stash?"
Ruri freezes.
Hikari gasps softly. "Papa has secret snacks?"
I look at Ruri.
She looks devastated by her own accidental betrayal.
"...I'm sorry."
Karin rises like a hunter sensing prey.
"Where?"
"No," Ruri says quickly. "Those are Papa's."
"Hikari thinks emergency snacks are for emergencies."
"This is not an emergency."
Karin points at the television. "Luffy is fighting Big Mom. That's an emergency."
I stand.
"No chips."
All three look at me.
I feel, for one terrifying second, like I have inherited Ren Arclight's position.
The enemy of children.
The gatekeeper of snacks.
The cruel adult.
Unacceptable.
I turn toward the kitchen.
"Milk and cookies."
Karin groans.
Hikari follows happily.
Ruri follows with relief.
Preparing snacks is simpler than cooking. Ruri shows me the glasses, the cookies, and the proper tray. Hikari insists her tiny spoon should accompany the milk even though it serves no purpose. Karin tries to convince me cookies should be stacked like a tower for "morale."
I allow a small tower.
It collapses.
Karin calls it a structural lesson.
Hikari takes a picture.
Ruri cleans crumbs.
I do not hate this.
That is the strangest part.
This is unfamiliar, undignified, and completely beneath the status I once held. Yet the kitchen is warm, the children are loud but not malicious, the tasks are simple, and the television continues in the background with enough noise to make the home feel occupied.
Peaceful.
Oddly peaceful.
I carry the tray back with the care of someone transporting ceremonial offerings. The children follow like attendants who do not understand rank. We settle again on the couch, snacks placed on the low table.
Hikari hands me a cookie.
"Astrea-san should eat too."
"I do not require sweets."
"Hikari thinks Astrea-san should try."
I take it.
For evaluation purposes.
It is sweet.
Plain.
Crunchy.
Acceptable.
"...Adequate," I say.
Karin grins. "She likes cookies."
"I do not."
Ruri quietly places a glass of milk near me. "Here."
I look at the glass.
Then at her.
"Thank you."
Again, too soft.
Too natural.
This is dangerous.
Far more dangerous than I expected.
The mage's home is not protected only by cameras, seals, or his own ridiculous instincts.
It is protected by routine.
By warmth.
By children who ask too many questions and share snacks with enemies.
I understand now why he is tired.
This kind of place demands constant surrender.
Small surrender.
Again and again.
Until one day, perhaps, a person finds herself sitting on a couch, watching pirates, eating cookies, and forgetting for an entire hour that she came here for revenge.
I bite the cookie harder.
Unacceptable.
The straw-hat boy shouts again on screen.
I point at him.
"This rubber man is about to do something foolish."
Karin leans forward. "Yeah, but it'll be awesome."
"Hikari believes in Luffy."
Ruri smiles. "...He usually finds a way."
I look at the screen.
Then, very quietly, I say, "Then he had better strike properly."
Karin whips her head toward me.
"You're cheering."
"I am issuing tactical advice to an illusion."
"That's cheering."
"It is not."
Hikari claps. "Astrea-san likes anime!"
"I do not."
The rubber man charges.
I lean forward.
Only slightly.
*****
Ren's pov
Guild paperwork is proof that humanity survived dungeons only to invent something worse.
The Chiba guild building is larger than the one near my old place in Saitama. Cleaner too. More polished. More glass. More reception desks. More terminals. More people who looked like they had somewhere to be and forms to submit.
I entered with my new address documents, updated ID, transfer approval, hunter license, residency confirmation, and the dead-eyed expression of a man who had already spent money today and was now being asked to spend patience.
The receptionist greeted me politely.
"Good afternoon. How may I help you?"
"I recently moved from Saitama to Chiba. I need to update my guild registration."
"Of course. May I see your hunter license and transfer documents?"
I handed them over.
She scanned them.
Then paused.
Then looked up.
Then back down.
Ah.
There it is.
A-rank.
Recent emergency raid participation.
Special approval from Guild Master Aaron Shanks.
Address change to a high-rise condo.
Guardian of three dependents.
The receptionist's professional smile became the kind people used when they were trying not to ask questions.
"Please wait a moment."
"Sure."
Waiting is dangerous because it gives the mind space to worry.
I sat in the lobby and checked my phone.
No alerts from the home cameras.
No emergency calls.
No messages from Ruri.
No pictures from Hikari.
No angry message from Ruruka saying Nii-sama, why is your living room on fire?
Good.
Probably.
I opened the home camera feed discreetly.
The living room camera showed Astrea sitting on the couch with Karin on one side and Hikari on the other. Ruri sat nearby with homework open.
The television was on.
Anime.
One Piece.
Astrea was watching.
Leaning forward.
I stared at the screen.
No way.
I zoomed slightly.
Astrea's expression was focused. Not bored. Not disdainful. Focused.
Karin said something.
Astrea responded.
Hikari clapped.
Ruri smiled.
I closed the feed slowly.
Huh.
Not dead.
House intact.
Demon Queen watching anime.
Unexpected but acceptable.
A guild staff member called my name, and I went through the rest of the process.
It was exactly as unpleasant as expected.
Forms.
Signatures.
Confirmation of rank activity.
A short interview about whether I intended to accept Chiba-based dungeon work.
I answered, "As needed," which was guild language for "please do not call me unless something is on fire."
They asked about availability.
I said limited due to family obligations.
They asked if my dependents required emergency guild contact enrollment.
I said yes.
That created more forms.
Of course it did.
They asked if I had a spouse listed.
I stared at the form.
The fake wife problem stared back.
I marked the required fields carefully and avoided saying anything that would create more lies than necessary. The official line remained that I was primary guardian, mother unavailable, emergency contacts through my sister and guild. Clean enough. Not perfect. Good enough for now.
A man in a suit eventually arrived from administrative review and introduced himself as one of the Chiba guild's local coordinators. He was polite, efficient, and clearly aware that Aaron Shanks had attached some kind of approval note to my transfer.
He did not ask too many questions.
Good man.
May he live long.
"Your registration is now updated," he said after what felt like an hour of small administrative rituals. "You are officially listed under Chiba jurisdiction. Your A-rank status remains active, with restricted emergency priority unless otherwise authorized."
"Restricted emergency priority?"
"Yes. Your file indicates you are available for exceptional incidents but not standard rotation."
Aaron.
That man worked fast.
Dangerous, but useful.
"Sounds right."
"We also updated your dependent emergency contact protocol. Would you like the guild alert system linked to your registered device?"
"Yes."
More tapping.
More confirmation codes.
More signatures.
By the time I left the Chiba guild, the sun had shifted and my soul had aged.
The entire visit took almost two hours.
Only two hours.
It felt longer.
I got into Fluffy, sat in the driver's seat, and checked the home cameras again before starting the engine.
The living room was still intact.
The girls were on the couch now.
All of them.
Astrea too.
Snacks were on the low table.
My snacks.
Wait.
I zoomed in.
Potato chips.
My emergency stash.
A cold feeling passed through me.
Betrayal.
Deep betrayal.
I drove home carefully because grief should not affect traffic safety.
When I reached the condominium, I parked, rode the elevator up, and entered quietly.
The first thing I heard was the television.
The second thing I heard was Karin.
"Hit her! Come on!"
The third thing I heard was Astrea.
"Yes, rubber man. Strike the annoying large woman properly."
I stopped in the entryway.
Shoes half-off.
Brain half-loaded.
Living room ahead.
There they were.
The girls sat on the couch and floor around the low table. Hikari had a glass of milk and a cookie. Karin was sitting forward with both fists clenched. Ruri sat calmly with a small plate in her lap. Astrea sat in the center of the couch, comfortably settled, holding a potato chip between two fingers like it was a delicate royal appetizer.
A bag of my hidden chips sat open on the table.
Open.
My stash.
My sacred emergency stash.
Astrea noticed me first.
"Oh, Mage. You're back."
I stared.
She pointed toward the television with the chip.
"Right now is not the time. This rubber man is about to beat this annoying big lady."
Karin nodded without looking away. "Papa, don't block the TV."
Hikari turned and smiled. "Papa is back!"
Ruri stood immediately. "...Welcome home, Papa."
That softened the chip betrayal.
Slightly.
I walked into the living room.
The screen showed Luffy in the middle of a fight against Big Mom. Bright colors. Dramatic music. Everyone very invested.
Including Astrea.
Especially Astrea.
I looked at the Demon Queen.
Then at my daughters.
Then at the TV.
Then at the snacks.
Then back at Astrea.
"You seem awfully peaceful."
Astrea took a bite of the potato chip.
My potato chip.
She nodded.
"Yes. It is interesting. I never knew the surface offered this kind of entertainment."
"You're watching anime."
"I am observing a mythological moving illustration about pirates."
"That is anime."
"It is strangely compelling."
Karin grinned. "She likes Luffy."
"I respect his persistence."
"That means like."
"It means respect."
Hikari nodded solemnly. "Astrea-san cheered for Luffy."
Astrea froze.
"I issued tactical advice."
Ruri smiled softly. "...You did say, 'Stand, rubber man.'"
Astrea's face tightened.
"That was not cheering. That was instruction."
Karin leaned back and smirked. "You're a fan."
"I am not a fan."
"You ate chips during the fight."
"I was sampling surface provisions."
I looked at the open bag.
"My provisions."
Astrea glanced at the bag, then at me.
"These were hidden poorly."
"They were hidden in the upper pantry."
"The quiet one revealed their existence."
Ruri looked horrified.
"...I'm sorry, Papa."
I sighed.
"It's okay."
Karin pointed at the screen. "Papa, sit. This part is good."
I should have scolded them.
I should have reclaimed my chips.
I should have checked if any homework remained, asked about snack time, reviewed what happened, and made sure Astrea did not accidentally learn enough anime logic to influence Karin.
Instead, I sat down beside them.
Because I was tired.
Because the house was intact.
Because the girls were smiling.
Because the Demon Queen was sitting on my couch in civilian clothes, eating chips, watching One Piece, and not plotting immediate murder.
Probably.
Hikari scooted closer and leaned against my side.
Ruri sat back down near me.
Karin did not take her eyes off the screen.
Astrea glanced at me once.
"You completed your guild matter?"
"Yeah."
"Was it as miserable as you expected?"
"Worse."
"Good."
I looked at her.
She looked back with faint satisfaction.
Then, after a pause, she pushed the chip bag slightly toward me.
It was not an apology.
Obviously.
It was not kindness.
Surely.
It was merely practical snack redistribution.
I took one chip.
"Thanks."
"I did not offer it for your sake. You looked pitiful."
"Sure."
"I mean it."
"Sure."
She looked away, annoyed.
The anime continued.
Luffy shouted.
Karin shouted with him.
Hikari clapped.
Ruri smiled.
Astrea leaned forward again despite herself.
I watched all of them from the side.
A thought settled quietly in my chest.
Not loud.
Not dramatic.
Just there.
The condominium was not silent anymore. It was full of movement, questions, snacks, arguments, and strange warmth. Ruruka was probably watching the cameras somewhere and judging all of us. Aaron did not yet know the Demon Queen had discovered anime in my living room. My bank account hurt. My paperwork was not finished. My life was still a disaster.
But for the first time since Astrea appeared at my door, the scene did not feel like a crisis.
It felt...
Peaceful.
Very peaceful.
Dangerously peaceful.
Astrea took another chip and said, "The rubber man has poor defense but excellent spirit."
Karin nodded. "Exactly."
"Hikari thinks Luffy's heart is stretchy too."
"That is not anatomically sound," Astrea said.
"It means he loves people a lot."
Astrea paused.
Then looked at the screen.
"Hmph. Reckless."
Ruri looked up at her. "...But good?"
Astrea did not answer immediately.
Then she said, "Perhaps."
That was probably the most approval she could survive giving.
I leaned back against the couch and exhaled.
"Huh."
Astrea glanced at me.
"What?"
I looked at the kids.
At the TV.
At the open snack bag.
At the former Demon Queen sitting comfortably in my living room like she had been there longer than one day.
Then I looked forward again.
"Not bad at all."
Astrea scoffed, but there was less bite in it than usual.
The girls kept watching.
The house stayed intact.
My hidden chips continued to suffer, but sacrifices were necessary for peace.
For now, I let it happen.
*****
End of Chapter 31
Dad Status Report:
Name: Ren Arclight
Former Occupation: Retired Archmage / Former Demon King Slayer
Current Occupation: Full-Time Dragon Dad / Administrative Survivor
Primary Objective:
Complete guild transfer paperwork while ensuring the household remains standing during temporary Dad absence.
Household Members Under Supervision:
Karin – Fire / Chaos / Aspiring Tactical Engineer
Ruri – Ice / Organization / Household MVP
Hikari – Light / Photography / Memory Collector
Astrea – Former Demon Queen / Babysitter (Unexpected Success)
Today's Activities:
Successfully transferred guild registration from Saitama to Chiba
Updated hunter records and emergency protocols
Survived multiple administrative forms
Left daughters under Astrea's supervision
Confirmed zero structural damage upon return
Discovered Astrea watching anime
Lost emergency snack stash
Returned home to a peaceful household
Witnessed successful bonding between Astrea and the girls
New Developments:
Chiba Guild registration officially completed
Household functions without Ren's direct supervision
Astrea successfully survived babysitting duty
Astrea officially invested in One Piece
Emergency snack location compromised
Family routine becoming increasingly natural
Revenge motivation showing signs of domestic corruption
Threat Level (Environment):
Domestic Residence
Paperwork: Cleared
Emergency Snacks: Lost
Household Safety Status:
Excellent
No Fires
No Property Damage
No Demon Queen Incidents
Dad Stress Levels:
Administratively Exhausted
Financially Recovering
Emotionally Relieved
Parenting Skill Growth:
43.8%
Current Dad Status:
Registered
Relaxed
Hungry
Immediate Priorities:
Relocate emergency snack stash
Rest after paperwork
Continue settling into Chiba
Monitor Astrea's growing anime addiction
Prepare for the girls' school routine
Protect remaining chips
Operational Assessment:
Mission Type: Administrative Survival + Domestic Stability
Difficulty: Paperwork > Demon Kings
Emotional Status:
Relieved – Content – Hopeful
Future Outlook:
Household Stability Increasing
Family Bonds Deepening
Peace... Temporarily Maintained
Dad Personal Statement:
"I left a former Demon Queen alone with my daughters... and somehow the greatest casualty was my emergency chips."
Reality's Response:
"Congratulations. The Demon Queen has discovered anime. There is no turning back now."