NOVEL WEB Chapter 1421: Back Home
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"Big brother!"
"Welcome back!"
As we stepped out of the airship, we were greeted by our families in the village's airport, which had been recently built to receive airships by this land's duke. My siblings were the first to run at us, hugging me with their cheerful voices.
It hasn't even been a year since my last visit, but they felt slightly more grown up now, perhaps it was their developed physiques or something else, but it truly felt like they had grown.
"Hello Allan, Anna, it seems you've been working hard, I can notice you've grown stronger by the intensity of your hugs."
"Yeah!" Anna said happily. "We've trained nonstop, big bro!"
"So we can grow strong and help…" Allan nodded.
"You are still growing up, please don't worry about things such as helping out, you have to also enjoy your childhoods," I said with a gentle smile, as I carried them both with my arms.
At the same time, Erika, Elizabeth, Eleanora, and even Saphira greeted them both with happy smiles.
"Hey! Did you miss your big sis too?" Erika said happily.
"Big sis Erika! Hi!" Anna said cutely.
"We missed you," Allan agreed.
"That's so cute because I've been missing you both as well!" Erika said as she hugged the two of them.
"It seems you've been growing healthily, that's good," Elizabeth said. "I see the training that your brother helped you go through has made you sturdier and your growth has accelerated, certainly."
"Yeah!" Anna agreed.
"Daddy has helped us hunt more," Allan said.
"That's nice to hear," Elizabeth nodded.
"Hello children, I hope you haven't put your parents into trouble," Eleanora said.
"W-We are good kids!" Anna nodded.
"I mean… the other day Anna-" Allan was about to reveal something, but Anna covered his mouth.
"Heheh! Let's play later! I missed home! Let's go to the grasslands later!" Saphira said.
"Yeah! I missed you Saphira!" Anna said.
"Let's play all day long," Allan nodded with confidence.
"Blake, my son! Welcome back!" My father greeted me first, hugging me tightly.
"Honey!" My mother came right afterward, doing the same.
"Hello, I'm back," I sighed in relief, hugging them both back.
"Erika! Elizabeth! Eleanora! Saphira! You're all back as well, I'm so happy!" my mother greeted them all.
"Hello!" Erika giggled.
"Good morning," Elizabeth said with a gentle smile.
"Ah, yeah…" Eleanora acted slightly awkward as usual.
"Looks like the rest of your friends already went with their families, shall we go back home and have some dinner?" wondered my father.
"Ah, well, I need to go to the church first, with Erdrich, but we'll return… Can he join too?" Elizabeth asked.
"Elizabeth, you don't really need to ask them, I'll be fine, I think I'll visit my family," said Erdrich. "We're literal heroes now, my father has to accept me, and my siblings must be missing me."
"He's not wrong," I nodded. "But even then, you're always welcome in our house too."
"Thanks," Erdrich nodded, quickly walking away.
"I'll get back there as quickly as I can!" Elizabeth said, walking with Erdrich back to the church.
"Anyway! Let's go!" Mother said. "Oh, Cattalina! I didn't see you!"
"Hello," Cattalina greeted them. "Blake and Erika got great news for you, but it would be better if we talk about that back home."
"O-Oh, sure thing!" nodded mother.
Like that, we made our way back home, where we were greeted by my grandmother, she was preparing lunch for us.
"Oh, Blake! Everyone, welcome back! I was just preparing lunch."
"Mom, you don't need to overexert yourself, leave that to me please."
"Ah girl, let me cook something for my wonderful grandson at least once, will you? He's even more of a hero now! Is it true you liberated that continent of elves, dear?"
"Yes grandma, it was quite hard though."
"I heard you fought a giant evil dragon!"
"Yeah, his name was Fafnir, we can talk more while we eat, let me help you."
Grandma cooked her specialty, Goat Stew with Sweet Potatoes and Cherry Tomatoes, which was an unusual yet delicious dish. That came accompanied by mother's other dish, fried rice with vegetables and egg, and lastly, my father barbequed Giant Wild Boar meat, which was as delicious as ever.
While we enjoyed the dishes, we shared our experiences, and midway through, Elizabeth joined us. Erdrich had managed to get back to his family, and his parent no longer acted adamant either, recognizing what his son had achieved and asking for his forgiveness for never having trusted him or loved him like the son he was.
"I see, looks like Erdrich finally had his happy ending then!" Erika said with a giggle. "I'm glad for him!"
"I don't really know if his father is interested more on his money and prestige rather than if he's his son though, but he apologized, so that's at least something…" Elizabeth sighed. "Nonetheless, these meals were wonderful!"
"Thank you dear," said grandmother. "Your journey in that continent sure was magical… In my entire life, I have never stepped out of my village. I sometimes wish I could… go somewhere else, meet new places but… Well, these bones are too old, and I don't know if I could survive a trip to that continent, I'm quite afraid of heights and airships… really scare me, hohoh."
"Grandma…" I muttered, realizing that despite her age, she still had many unfulfilled dreams. "Don't worry, I believe your dream might come true soon. You see…"
I explained to my parents one of the great news, the large territory I secured as a reward for my accomplishments in the Elven Continent. My family was flabbergasted, they were now members of a noble family, one that owned a third of the whole elven continent.
"W-What?! Blake how did you…?!" My mother gasped. "Is this real?!"
"Are we really owners of a whole land now? Even now, the land we have isn't completely ours at the end…" My father said. "It belongs to the King but… This changes everything…"
"Aaah! So wonderful, Blake! I wish I could go there on my own though…" Grandma sighed. "I might have to pass and stay here…"
"Nonsense, I will open a Portal here, which will allow us to easily move to the Elven Continent, grandmother," I said. "Just you wait, I simply need a couple of days to set it up."
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