Chapter 126

“Lady and Sir. What are you two talking about so intently?”

The hero’s wife, returning home with their daughter, looked at me and the hero questioningly.

“Just some stuff… nothing too exciting for you to worry about.”

The hero smoothly dodged his wife’s inquiry with a casual wave of his hand.

But… this is something even your wife should know, I think.

I lightly smacked the hero on the back as I turned to his wife and said,

“It was about our daughter’s future.”

“Nee-san?!”

“Be quiet. Doesn’t she have a right to know?”

And with that, I gave the hero another solid whack on the back.

“H-Hey, but…”

“Be quiet, you idiot.”

With my one-sided violence against the hero, his wife tilted her head in confusion.

Though it seems strange for someone in their 50s to move so youthfully, her appearance looks around 30, so it’s not too out of place… though maybe even 30 is pushing it?

“What do you mean, my daughter’s future? What kind of story is this?”

“Hmm… it seems the power inside her might cause problems later.”

“Power? I don’t know what that means, but does this mean there’s some kind of Auntie’s magic inside me?”

The hero’s daughter asked me, slightly startled.

It’s understandable that she’d be surprised. Magic is still a mysterious force to humans. Just knowing such power flows within could naturally shock anyone.

By the way, they’re researching magic in Procyon, but haven’t had much success yet…

Oops, got sidetracked.

“Did you put something inside me? Is it safe?”

“Without it, you wouldn’t even be alive.”

I gently nudged the girl’s forehead with my index finger.

At that moment, the magic inside her stirred slightly, causing the hero’s daughter to fall over like a turtle flipping onto its back.

“What just happened?”

“That was the magic inside you reacting. Even a small movement can have quite an impact.”

“But, b-but this is scary! Can we get rid of it?”

I shook my head slowly.

“This is what keeps you alive, from the day you were born until now.”

I’ve been protecting this fragile child since she was a newborn.

Watching her daughter, the hero’s wife worriedly asked,

“Miss Dragon Priestess, how will this magic affect her?”

Effects…

“She’ll become more like me, transcending humanity.”

Unlike the hero, I couldn’t tell his wife everything.

While the hero knows my true identity, his wife only sees me as the Dragon Priestess.

“Like Miss Dragon Priestess? Does that mean she’ll become the next one?”

“Become like Auntie? No way, that sounds bad.”

What? Not wanting to become like me? That’s unexpected…

“What’s wrong with becoming like me?”

“But Auntie, you don’t do anything!”

Ah, no! I work hard! As the Goddess of Life and Creator Dragon God, I’m busy every day!

Not to mention Death Gods trying to offload work onto me…

Most temple duties are handled by dragons, but occasionally they consult me for advice!

All remotely from home, of course!

“All you ever do is stay cooped up at home, refusing to even step outside when we try to get fresh air. Everyone else in the family works hard, but only Auntie doesn’t do anything.”

Grrr… I DO work hard! But I can’t reveal myself to this child…

The hero, knowing my true identity, awkwardly chuckled.

“Anyway, I don’t want to be like Auntie. I’d rather be like Mom and Dad.”

“Well… true… but if you were like me, you’d gain great power and live an incredibly long life.”

“So what can I do with great power?”

What indeed…

“Anything you desire, surely.”

With the amount of power in her, far surpassing ordinary humans.

Though using it all might endanger her life, such extremes are unlikely.

“All I want is to live happily with Mom, Dad, and Auntie.”

You little…

Her innocent words moved both the hero and his wife, whose eyes glistened with emotion.

“But with such power, you could truly do anything.”

“Hmm… but aside from living happily with family, I don’t really want to do anything else.”

A child content with simple happiness.

“And you could live a very long time.”

“So what’s good about living a long time?”

Her innocent question left me momentarily speechless.

Living a long time… what’s good about it?

“To experience everything you desire?”

“I don’t really have desires beyond being happy with family. If I want something, Mom, Dad, or Auntie usually help me.”

“To travel the world?”

“Auntie already takes me where I want to go. Remember how fun it was at the beach last time?”

“To meet many people?”

“Family is enough for me. Meeting too many people would be tiring.”

Such mature answers from a child.

Living a long time… what’s truly good about it?

Through countless years, a question I’ve never pondered fills my mind.

Why does life continue?

To achieve one’s goals? To spread descendants far and wide?

What exactly is the meaning of life?

As the Goddess of Life, am I failing to understand such basic truths?

What should I give to life? What is my purpose as the Goddess of Life?

“Auntie?”

My thoughts were interrupted by the hero’s daughter.

“Ah, sorry. Got distracted for a moment.”

Cough. Enough contemplation for now.

Instead of dwelling on life and death, I should focus on this child’s future.

“And I heard lots about Dad’s adventures as a hero! If I had such power, shouldn’t I become a hero too?”

“Not necessarily… though others might seek you out for that power.”

“Sounds annoying.”

Indeed, a surprisingly lazy child.

“I don’t need great power or long life.”

She dismisses powers that countless would die for, treating them as trivial.

Well, perhaps that’s not entirely bad.

“Seems like we’ve made a decision. Hero.”

“Yes, seems so. Quite extraordinary for my own daughter.”

To so easily renounce such immense potential… this child is no ordinary being.

Still, better safe than sorry. Let’s prepare a safeguard.

“Since this is her wish, sealing the power seems appropriate… temporarily, until she reaches adulthood. Then we’ll ask again.”

“Huh? Isn’t that troublesome?”

“This is important enough to warrant caution. If she feels the same after reaching adulthood, we’ll seal it completely. Understand?”

Time may change her perspective.

Then we can always release the seal if needed.

“Will this seal have any other effects on her?”

“Effects… hmm… perhaps her hair color will gradually return to normal.”

Already grown silver hair will remain, but new growth should revert to its original color.

Though fully developed bone structure and appearance likely won’t change much.

“Wait, hair color?”

The hero’s wife cradled her daughter’s head.

“This radiant silver hair disappearing?! That’s unacceptable! It’s so beautiful!!”

“But…”

“Well, then… can we at least keep the hair? Every time I stroke her hair, it feels like having a sisterly connection with the Dragon Priestess… it gives me an indescribable sense of satisfaction…”

Eh? Has she changed since marriage?

I shook my head slightly.

“Is that even possible?”

“But…”

“Mom, come on! It’s just hair color, no big deal!”

“Not a big deal…”

“Alright, ladies. Let’s calm down. How about we temporarily seal it, then decide on complete sealing after she becomes an adult?”

“Temporary sealing would be fine right now!”

“Ugh, this precious silver hair…”

“Mom, stop being so silly!”

Between the two, the hero intervened, calming the atmosphere.

“Then let’s proceed with temporary sealing, and revisit the decision after adulthood. Agreed?”

“Temporary sealing is fine right now!”

“The precious silver hair…”

“Mom, stop it!”

Their familial scene made me smile softly despite myself.