[FMMISM] Chapter 19: She is My Mother

As the city lights flickered on, bellies full and thirst quenched, Ragna loosened his belt and left the izakaya with two big sisters.

In the end, all good things must come to an end.

Morgan waited outside while Aoko led Ragna to a quiet alley with few passersby.

"I have a few things to tell you in private."

Aoko began to speak, her face serious.

"Although you probably won't listen to me, you still need to be careful. Battles between mages and their familiars aren't as straightforward as you might think. If you die unknowingly, Alice will be heartbroken. She'll blame me for pushing you into the Holy Grail War."

Her sudden seriousness surprised Ragna, albeit just a little.

"What about you, Aoko?" Ragna asked.

"What about me?" Aoko tilted her head, confused.

"Would you be sad if I died?" Ragna continued.

"Of course, I would be sad." Aoko blurted out her response without a moment's hesitation.

Upon hearing that, Ragna felt touched, but his feeling was quickly shattered by her next words.

"After all, it's not easy to find a handsome boy with a lot of money. You're my long-term meal ticket. So please, don't die, Ragna."

"...Alright, thank you for caring, Aoko." Ragna chuckled, shaking his head. 

"Do you really understand? If you encounter any difficulties, just come find me..." Aoko suddenly sighed, kicking a small pebble at her feet. "Aahh... You have a more competent woman now. You probably don't need me anymore."

"That's not true. Just chatting and drinking with you already comforts my soul. Aoko, I truly had a pleasant time today." Ragna said sincerely, looking up at her face. "This must be something only a woman like you, who knows how to lighten the mood, could pull off. I really enjoy being with you, y'know."

"Wh-What are you saying so suddenly?!"

Faced with his sudden straight confession, Aoko widened her eyes in surprise.

She stood in place, forgetting to breathe.

In the next moment, she felt the noisy advertisements on the electronics street vanish in an instant, and her normally composed face unexpectedly flushed crimson.

"Waaaahhh!"

In order to cover her embarrassment, Aoko hurriedly moved beside Ragna and fiercely pounded his shoulder.

"W-Why would you say something like that all of a sudden! Don't say weird things, you dummy!"

"Hahaha, Aoko has a pure side too... Ouch, that hurts, stop hitting me, it really hurts!"

"You deserve it! I'll beat you up!"

Aoko's small, white fists rained down on Ragna like a violent storm.

Before long, they chased and played like elementary school children, leaving the dim alleyway behind.

"Well then, I'm off."

Turning his back to Aoko, Ragna waved a single hand and walked toward Morgan's position.

"Yeah, bye... Take care..."

===

In the evening, at the Sajyou residence.

Ragna, standing at the doorway humming a tune, had no inkling that the greatest crisis of his life awaited him inside the familiar house.

Once he led Morgan inside, he noticed that tonight, Hiroki and Ayaka seemed to have gone out.

The daylight bulbs were off, leaving only a few scattered ambient lights on in the house.

Manaka sat at the dining table in a beautiful light blue dress, her eyes closed, breathing gently, while the soft yellow light reflected on her flawless and serene face, enhancing her beauty even more.

Ragna lifted his hand, about to greet her, when the smile on his face abruptly froze.

He noticed that the table was covered with a lavish and diverse array of dishes fit for a feast.

Fried pork chops, beef stew with potatoes, tuna salad, creamy corn soup, sweet and sour pork, shredded pork with green peppers, and spicy chicken.

There were Japanese, Western, and Chinese cuisines, each dish steaming hot.

In the center was undoubtedly the squirrel fish that Ragna had requested two days ago.

'Holy shit... I think I forgot something before heading to the izakaya...'

Ragna thought, memories of his past life stirring.

'Back when I was a high school student... No, that's not it. When I left Tokyo, I promised to come home and eat Manaka's squirrel fish!'

'Damn it, I had a promise with her!'

This table full of dishes clearly took Manaka the entire day to prepare.

This must be why she ended up falling asleep in the dining chair, eagerly anticipating this meal.

In Ragna's mind, he pictured a fairy in an apron smiling happily in the kitchen, busy and content cooking for him.

'Oh no... Mom! I've been so ungrateful!'

Ragna was panicked.

"Miss Great Fairy Princess Caster—no, the Chosen Lady King Caster from Britain—"

"...If you have something to say, just say it straight. Don't blabber nonsense." Morgan's mouth twitched.

"Do you have any magecraft that can instantly remove the smell of sake and hotpot from me?" Ragna asked with an almost desperate tone.

After spending the afternoon at the izakaya, there was no way he wouldn't smell, and even if he tried to lie to Manaka about not eating, he would be exposed in seconds.

Morgan glanced at Manaka, peacefully asleep in her chair before nodding slightly.

"Yes."

"Fantastic!" Ragna softly clasped his hands together and looked up at her with hopeful eyes. "Big Sis, go, go!"

"..."

Staying silent, Morgan raised her hand and waved gently, fingertips emitting a faint, beautiful radiance.

In the next matter of seconds, the scent of izakaya on Ragna and Morgan disappeared without a trace.

"We're saved! Thank you, Morgan." Ragna said with a smile.

"..."

Being thanked sincerely by someone, Morgan paused for a second, then sighed and shook her head.

"...So, who's this girl?" Morgan asked, clearly referring to Manaka.

Earlier today, she had encountered the Magician of the Fifth Magic.

However, what she saw now was an existence even more dangerous and dazzling than a Magician.

'...I see.'

If there was anything more impressive than a Magician, the answer was about to reveal itself.

As Morgan scrutinized Manaka's body carefully, she soon grasped Manaka's true identity—she was someone connected to the Root.

Since her Master was a Beast, Morgan wouldn't be surprised anymore no matter who appeared around him.

However, what intrigued her was why this girl could make Ragna so fearful and panicked. In terms of power and authority alone, he surpassed this girl by far.

"She is my mother."

As Ragna answered in a serious tone, Morgan was stunned, her body froze.

A witch possessed a rational mind capable of understanding all phenomena in the world, yet the one thing she couldn't grasp was feeling.

Ragna came to Manaka's side and placed his hand on the girl's shoulder.

"Good evening, Manaka."

"...Mm."

Manaka's eyelashes fluttered lightly as she opened her eyes.

Before long, the drowsy girl, like a kitten, nuzzled her cheek against Ragna's hand, revealing a faint smile.

"Ragna, welcome home... Are you hungry?"

"Yeah, my stomach can't stand it anymore." Ragna pulled out a chair and sat down beside her. "Wow, tonight's dinner looks so abundant!"

"Right? Heehee..." Manaka glanced nervously, her slender index fingers tapping together. "I think I might have overdone it a bit today. I made too much... Sorry, Ragna... Did I trouble you?"

Seeing her adorable gesture as she asked that, Ragna quickly shook his head, picked up his chopsticks, and casually replied, "Nope, not at all! It's never too much, Manaka. Your cooking is always delicious, so I'll finish it all!"