Me and my mom sat at the living room table waiting for my dad to return.


    The atmosphere in the living room is a little heavy.


    We''re talking about something that has a lot to do with my future life, so me and my mom are both seriously considering it and shutting up.


    Then I hear a noise from the doorway and my dad comes back.


    ''Haha!　Oh no, the joys of the village!　All the hard work you''ve done to bring it back has paid off!


    My dad had returned from the royal capital and was distributing supplies to the people in the village, so he was feeling good.


    ''Hmm?　What''s in the air?　Ah, yes, Serena!　That back acupuncture tool you said you wanted!　I even got one of those unfamiliar shaped massage things!


    My dad is in a good mood and pulls out the massage tools that my mom told him to buy, but she smiles a little but still has a serious air about her.


    ''''Well thank you, dear. I''ll have to use it later.


    ''Oh, ah ... what''s going on?　What''s going on?


    As expected, my dad notices that our atmosphere is completely different from the usual, so he puts down his massage kit and takes his usual seat at the table.


    My dad is sitting right in front of me and my mom is sitting next to him.


    ''Dad I need to talk to you about something important.


    Well what?


    My dad gets into a serious listening stance when he hears my words.


    ''I was just talking to the people my dad brought in earlier.


    Oh, it''s those knights.


    ''Yes. I was asked about the monster attack. And then I was recruited by the Order.


    "...recruit to the Order?


    My dad repeats my words and surprises me with something a bit out of the ordinary.


    ''The guy I defeated, Felix, seemed to be pretty strong, and he recognized my strength and asked me to join the Order.


    Well that''s great, isn''t it?


    So I''m going to take this offer and go to King''s Landing.


    I tell him my intentions, and my dad crosses his arms and thinks about it.


    Mom is also standing next to me, silently waiting for my dad to say something.


    ''So you''re leaving our family........''


    I don''t think it will ever be a goodbye to this life. I''m sure I could come back here if I could get a decent vacation.


    But even so, it''s hard for me to leave my parents, who have lived with me and raised me for 16 years, and I''m sure my dad and mom have their own thoughts on the matter.


    ''''........If my mother and I oppose it, you won''t go?


    My dad glares at me and tells me so.


    My dad is probably testing my resolve.


    ''''Well no, it''s already my decision. Even if my father and mother oppose me, I''ll still go to the royal capital even if I have to push through.


    I tell him as I glare at my dad in response.


    ''Well I''ll have to do it. I would have beaten you up if you said you wouldn''t go because of my objections. I don''t remember raising you to be such a softy, you know.


    Dad said with a little laugh.


    ''That''s my son. You''re already a great man. Go to King''s Landing with confidence and come back here with your head held high.


    Dad...　Oh, thank you.


    I was very emotional about the fact that my dad recognized me.


    In a previous life, he had died to protect us.


    That determination and courage is something I haven''t forgotten, even now that I''m dead and reborn.


    In this life, he was badly wounded in the demon attack and the battle with Felix, and although Tina helped him heal quickly, he would still have been damaged to the point where he could no longer move.


    But apparently my dad was only worried about me and Tina, and he still came back to the battlefield even after whipping his body to death.


    My father was truly the Han Chinese.


    He was the same in his previous life and in this life, too.


    I was very happy to be recognized by that Han.


    ''''Do you have anything to say, Mom?''''


    My dad was talking to my mom as I was being moved inside.


    I hear his words too and look at my mom.


    ''Well the truth is I''m going to miss Eric-chan, but it''s his decision to go, not the other way around, so I can''t say anything.


    Mom smiled a little sadly and forlornly and said that.


    My heart aches when I see her face.


    ''Just don''t die, Eric, please don''t die.


    ''　Oh ... of course.


    You can come home any time you want and I''m looking forward to being able to say welcome home to you, Eric.


    Okay.


    I reply, trying to hold back and keep the tears from spilling over at my mom''s kindness.


    I don''t know if I''m in tears or not.


    Maybe I am, maybe I am.


    Mom heard my reply and gave me her usual gentle smile.


    -- really, I thought from the bottom of my heart that I had saved the village.................and that I was glad that I hadn''t let my dad and mom die.