"Bel, you please brew tea for us?" ［Marianne］

  "Ehh～? But I wanna listen, too..." ［Bel］

  "e now, we don't want Big Bro and Big Sis to feel thirsty now, do we? e on, pretty please～!" ［Marianne］

  The little girl's cheeks puffed as she pouted, but even with her cute way of protesting, she still followed her mother's request, a bright smile soon blooming on her face as she headed to the kit all the while skippieps.

  Who were left in the bedroom was her than Marianne, Grey, and Yuna. As soon as Bel left, a silent atmosphere loomed about them. Marriahen looked at Grey and Yuna's dire, still fshing the same bright smile.

  "Sorry I 't provide you aer aodation. I would have loved to serve you tea myself, but as you see... I'm not really in a state to move." ［Marianne］

  "No, it's alright, bur... Missus Marianne, are you alright?" ［Grey］

  "Hm? What do you meanー" ［Marianne］

  "We know that you're still in pain. It's alright to rex yourself a little bit. Bel's not here right now." ［Grey］

  Hearing Grey's words, Marianne's face showed traces of surprise. She once again looked at the two youths before her, finding only worry and siy in their eyes. What followed after was a short sigh ing out of her mouth.

  "It seems like I 't fool everybody, huh..." ［Marianne］

  At the end of her statement, Marriane's face which was once brightly smiling was now a little torted and gloomy, finally showing the stinging pairied to hide from her daughter. Her faow looked more natural, her siess really showing, a few coughs following soon after.

  Well, it wasn't only a pained facial expression. Her hands and whole body were also trembling ever so slightly, feeling numb and cold. Just sitting up on the bed is already taking a toll on her body yet she stayed sitting, trying to be aodating.

  "Missus Marianne, you lie down if you want." ［Yuna］

  "No... I should sit every on a while. It's hard to breathe while lying down. It's the few pleasures I endure." ［Marianne］

  Yuna tried to be siderate, but Mariaood firm. She simply closed her eyes and breathed out a breath of fresh air. Though her whole body ained, she tried her best to stay strong and aodate the two.

  "Anyway, I heard you are able to help me? I appreciate the thought, but as you see... we really 't afford any sort of treatment right now." ［Marianne］

  With Marianne's words, everybody's eyes looked around the room. While it was true that it wasn't one one would sider bad, and just normal, normal citizens couldly afford thousands of kiels worth of medie. It was only natural that she essimistic about the thought.

  Well, with the minimum wage being at about 80 kiels a day and professionals w for about double the wage, it isly easy to save thousands of kiels. At the very least, it would take months worth of work. Not to mention that they also have to pay for living expenses. It was really difficult.

  "No, we're not here for the money. We treat you just for free!" ［Yuna］

  "E-Excuse me...?" ［Marianne］

  "Yuna... That way of expining is... You 't just suddenly spring that up, you know? People would get shocked by that." ［Grey］

  "Eh? Why not? It's fine, isn't it?" ［Yuna］

  "No, that's... You gotta say it more slowly..." ［Grey］

  Grey and Yuna in their own little heated discussion, Marianne's face couldn't be any more fused as she looked at the two youths. She has yet to prehend Yuna's absurd statement, her mind drifting in oblivion.

  "E-Excuse me! What do you mean for free?! I mean, treatment costs thousands of kiels! G-Giving it for free is just pin absurd! It doesn't make sense!" ［Marianne］

  And Marianne finally broke. Yuna's suggestion was just way too out there that she suddenly regained her energy to retainst them, her eyes swirling in fusion as she mumbled statement after statement, mind uo process suformation.

  "U-Umm... Missus Marianne, let's calm down first, alright? We'll expin things to you slowly so let's calm down a little bit." ［Grey］

  It was only when Grey asked her to calm down that she snapped back to reality. And as he promised, Grey and Yuna started expining why they wao treat Marianne for free, her listening ever so attentively.

  The reason wasn't really plicated. They just wao help them out. Although they only knew Bel by ow that they kheir situation, they couldn't just stay still and do nothing. Though they could just ighem, it would only gnaw away on their sd haunt them forever.

  As fiving free treatment, they really have no reason to receive money. Other than the fact that they only o use mana which could infinitely recover, they aren't really in dire need of cash as of the moment. If anything, they actually have too much, they don't know what to do with it.

  It may only be a ce that they met Bel on the way home from the market, but it could also be called fate. Well, it's not like they haven't been involved in such things in the past. Helping out one more time won't make a difference.

  "I see... So it's because you met Bel in the market..." ［Marianne］

  But rather than joy, the only thing to be seen in Marianne's face was sadness as she thought of her daughter. It was subtle but it was clear that she was biting her lips and g her fists, clearly frustrated about something.

  "Bel, that girl... I never wanted her to sell flowers in the market... I'm happy that she's doing it for my sake, but I 't help but worry for her. There's just too many dangers lurking around outside...

  But as you see, she always mao slip out the house and sell flowers. Though me and Ross, my husband, have scolded her every time, she still goes out the day to sell flain. She's always been like that. A strong-minded aermined, cheerful girl..." ［Marianne］

  Before she even noticed, tears had already started trig down her face, dripping towards the bed sheets. It was not only sadhat she felt. She was also feeling frustrated with herself for letting her daughter experience such hardships.

  Rather than pying outside with friends and enjoying her days happily, she is instead selling flowers outside, trying to earn money for her mother's treatment. As a mother, she felt like she was a failure for burdening her instead of supp. Such truth only brings pain to her heart.

  Her smile which was sht and blinding in front of her daughter now all seemed but a fleeting lie. There was oiness, guilt, and disappoi in her eyes as the tears tio trickle down.

  "Oh, dear me... Sorry for letting you see su ugly sightー" ［Marianne］

  "No, it's okay. We uand your circumstances. You've done more than enough in staying strong until now. You might think of yourself as a bad mother, but... When we walked on the way here, Bel's face was only full of smiles as she talked about you... She was very happy talking about her mother. She roud of you." ［Yuna］

  There was no lies in Yuna's words. Though Marianne had already thrown a lot of self-depreg words at herself, Bel had never bmed her. If anything, she only talks about how kind aiful her mother was, a bright smile on her face.

  Yuna's words, though ing from one who she just met, weighed very heavily to her. The tears she oried to wipe away were now tinuing to fall even harder, uo stop her swelling and overflowiions. It took some time before her tears finally stopped.

  "Fufu! Sorry for letting you see su ugly sight." ［Marianne］

  They were the same words, but of totally different meaning. The bright smile now returo her face, her heart calmer and lighter thahough she still hasn't received any treatment, she felt much better and stronger.

  "Well, Missus Marianne, are you ready to receive treatment right now?" ［Yuna］

  "Fufufu! Please, and thank you." ［Marianne］

  Like mother, like daughter. Marianne didn't even doubt the two for a sed and quickly trusted them, not showing any sembnce of distrust in her beautiful face. It was a little bit w.

  Not wasting any more time, Yuna opened her palms and faced it towards Marianne. Soon, the surrounding mana started to glow, warm ale light illuminating the surroundingsー or so what should have happened.

  "Marianne, I'm homeー!!!" ［Ross］

  But Yuna couldn't even t. Just as she was about to, a maered the bedroom, freezing as soon as he saw twers before him. There was ation in his eyes, he quickly jumped in front, spread his arms, and shouted...

  "Who are you?! What are you doing to my wife?!" ［Ross］

  ... With a loud and wary voice, trying to intimidate Grey and Yuna. Well, it was only natural. After all, who wouldn't a such a way when twers suddenly show up in your house and are about to do something to your wife. He was very defensive.

  "Ross, it's okayー" ［Marianne］

  "Don't worry, Marianne! I'll protect you! Just stay still!" ［Ross］

  "No, Rossー" ［Marianne］

  "You two! I might not look it, but I'm quite the fighter myself! If you don't want to taste my wrath, you better leave right now!" ［Ross］

  It was the usual trope. No matter how much Mariaried to voice out her words, Ross would always interrupt, not listening even a little bit. Such a se made Grey wonder why people in Merusia are so bad at listening to others.

  "Bring it on! I'll take you both onー Urk!" ［Ross］

  "Dad! Stop it!" ［Bel］

  And strangely enough, it wasn't Grey, Yuna, nor Marianne who mao stop him. Rather, it was the little Bel who just finished brewing tea. As soon as she saw the situation, she quickly put dowray and jumped towards her father, hitting the man's sor plexus with her head.

  A pained groan resounded in the air as soon as Bel's head ected with her father's stomach. Grey and Yuna hadn't experienced su attack yet, but they could tell from the groan alohat it was very painful, the man's eyes almost jumping out of their sockets.

  After such a se, everything was then carefully expio Ross. From how Bel met Grey and Yuna all the way to the point where Yuna was about to cast a healing spell on Marianne. Only a couple things were fotten to be mentioned.

  "Sorry about that. I've been on edge these days that I've beeive to almost everything. Sorry, really." ［Ross］

  "No, it's alright. We uand." ［Grey］

  Of course, what came after the expnation ology from Ross which Grey and Yuna accepted easily. Though... Seeing a father kneel on the ground, lectured by his daughter... It was quite the surreal sight.

  "Anyway... About healing my wife... you really do it?" ［Ross］

  The mood quickly ged with Ross' question, a fierce seriousness now burning in his eyes. Though he isn't as wary as before, it was still hard to believe that such a ve blessing arrived when they are struggling.

  "I don't mean to doubt you, but... In my experience, something free isn't a real thing. I just don't want to take any ces. I hope you uand" ［Ross］

  "That's true... Then how about we settle the payment ter once Missus Marianne is cured of her siess. That's fih yht?" ［Grey］

  "Haah... I guess that's fiー" ［Ross］

  Cough Cough Cough

  Ross couldn't even finish his words when Mariaarted coughing again. It wasn't like before which was on the softer side. It was an intense series of coughs one would feel pain just from listening to it.

  "M-Marianne, are you ok! W-Wait, I'll get your medie!" ［Ross］

  "N... No... I-I'm fine... It's just... A little painful..." ［Marianne］

  Or so she says, but it didn't look like little at all. Everyone except Bel all khat the pain she felt just now was no joke. They just didn't want to worry the little girl. It was one of their responsibilities as adults.

  "Then, we should take care of Missus Marianne right now. Grey, would you care in assisting me?" ［Yuna］

  "Of course. o tell me twice." ［Grey］

  Fearing Marianne might suffer any lrey and Yuna didn't waste any more time. They quickly approached the sick Marianne and once again had their palms face her, the mana in the surroundings starting to ge.

  ??Perfect Cure!?? ［Yuna］  ??Perfect Heal!?? ［Grey］

  Two distinct voices resounded in the air, warm and golden light soon illuminating the whole room and filling Marianne's body with gentle ease and fort. All the pains and disfort she once felt started to melt away, vanishing to nothingness.

  It was as if everything was all but a dream. There was no more disfort nhtness in her chest and her breathing has bee lighter. Not only the insides, even her plexion has bee healthier, life and colors ing back to her eyes, slowly but surely.

  When the light ended, albeit thihan normal, Marianner felt as if she was relieved by the burdens she had been carrying for the past years. She tried moving her body but there wasn't any bit of pain nor disfort.

  "I... I'm alright... It doesn't hurt anymore... I'm... Hic... I'm finally... Hic..." ［Marianne］

  "Hic... Mom... Hic..." ［Bel］

  There were tears, there were smiles, and there was happiness. Three people cried and embraced one another as if there was no tomorrow. Though they were just watg, there was no awkwardness in the air. Only warmth as they watched the three with gentle gazes.

  "Yuna, are y?" ［Grey］

  "Shut up... I'm n..." ［Yuna］

  Their words seemed like they were teasing one another, but if oo look a little closer, it was easy to see that they were, in fact, holding each other's hands, fingers interlog ever so slightly.

  Time passed and the room only became warmer. It took a little while before everyone calmed down, and after all that g, all there was left were a pair of red faces, they were Ross and Marinannem of course, embarrassed about g before the guests.

  "Sorry about that, we just got a little bit emotional... Anyway, about the payment. Don't worry, even if I work my entire life, I'll make sure to repay it." ［Ross］

  "M-Me too! I will also be doing my best. I may have just been cured, but I will still do my best. You rest assured!" ［Marianne］

  "Fufufu! That's great then! It's perfect!" ［Yuna］

  There was no time to ponder. As they were g and hugging, Grey and Yuna then decided on the payment they wao receive. And seeing that the two were willing to spend their whole life on it, it erfect.

  "For your payment... You just o make sure that Bel keeps smiling brightly. That's more than enough for us." ［Grey］

  To Grey's words, both Ross and Marianne were dumbfounded, uo believe what they just heard. Both of their hearts were moved, uo say anything as smiles bloomed on their facesー or so how Grey and Yuna expected it to happen.

  "No! We 't do that! We're her parents so that's already a given! We 't have our beors be repaid with nothing." ［Ross］

  "Ross is right! It's unthinkable that we don't do something in exge! Even if we have to work years, we'll make sure to repay you!" ［Marianne］

  Unfortunately for the two, things didn't go exactly as phough it was true that their hearts were moved, the married couple was quite stubborn in their stahey were not ones who would simply fet a debt, especially one so life-ging.

  "N-No, like we said, that's really all we want." ［Grey］

  "No! As a man, a husband, and a father, how could I just accept such goodwill without any payment?! That goes against my values!" ［Ross］

  Grey and Yuna tried to vihe two but it was futile, they were just too stubborn to back down. No matter what they say, they were fixed on repaying them and no words could shake their resolve.

  And just as they were being wrung out for payment, in the er of Yuna's eyes, she saw a beautifully carved wooden statuette on dispy at one of the bedroom's shelves. It was one hard to miss with how beautiful it was.

  "Umm... Excuse me, that... Where did you buy it?" ［Yuna］

  "By that... You mean the wooden sculpture?" ［Ross］

  "Un! It's beautiful. I also want to buy one for dispy." ［Yuna］

  "Ah... I made that. Would you like one?" ［Ross］

  It was totally ued. Grey and Yuna had heard from Bel that his father works with many odd jobs he could find, but he never knew he also worked as a craftsman. Not to mention the quality of the statuette, it was not something even experienced artisans make.

  "Then those charms and sculptures in the living room..." ［Yuna］

  "I also made those... I don't want t, but I was often called the best woodworker ba our hometown. As for Marianne, she was called the best tailor." ［Ross］

  "Geez... Ross, that's all in the past. I'm just a simple housewife now." ［Marianne］

  There were no lies in Ross' words. In fact, ba their home vilge, they even had a shop which was often visited by travelers to buy souvenirs from. It was also quite the famous ooo, earning a good amount.

  It was only when Maria sick that they had to close it and move to the city to find treatment. If it weren't for su i, they would have tinued selling various merdise in their home vilge. It was as if it was destiny that they met with Grey and Yuna.

  "Then... I have a proposition...." ［Grey］

  It was also thanks to that that Grey and Yuna finally got something which satisfy both sides. Though it might hardly t as payment, with how it would be proposed, it is already more than enough.

  The proposition was very simple. Grey and Yuna would provide Ross and Mariah materials, tools, and ts whilst the tter would make the merdise. Of course, they would also be paid for their services. In addition, Grey and Yuna would also get top priority if they were to order something.

  Not only would it be an advantage frey and Yuna, it would also provide a job for the two whoing to start life anew and also settle the matter about the payment. It was killing not just two, but three birds with oone.

  "That does sound nice, but... Is that really alright? I'm thankful but this would barely t as payment..." ［Ross］

  "No, it's more than enough. We have a lot of spare materials on our side and it would only be a waste if they go uhis will be us both." ［Grey］

  "Un! And the items are also all beautiful! I 't wait to put some in our house! I'm sure it will look good!" ［Yuna］

  Everything was now settled. With Grey and Yuna putting it that way, her Ross nor Marianne could retort with anything. All they could do was just thank them from the bottom of their hearts, smiles appearing on their faces.

  "Mom, Dad, did something good happen?" ［Bel］

  "Yes. Something very, very good just happened." ［Marianne］

  "I see! That's great!" ［Bel］

  It was unclear whether Bel fully uood what had just transpired, but even then, even when she was still puzzled, she couldn't help but smile after seeing her mother and father do the same. She was such a warm and lovely child.

  "Ah! Big Sis, Big Bro, what about me?" ［Bel］

  "Hm? Is something the matter?" ［Yuna］

  "Yes! I also want to pay!" ［Bel］

  Well, now that the parents were do was the child's turn. Grey and Yuna had just finished with a tiring discussion and just as they thought they were finally done, a new one suddenly arose. Thankfully, it was much easier to deal with the little Bel.

  "Then... For Bel, how about you deliver flowers to our house every week? They're very beautiful, you see." ［Yuna］

  "Okay! How many should I deliver?" ［Bel］

  It was as easy as that. There was o iate or anything of the sort. Bel quickly accepted their terms without even asking what the other ditions were. She really was a bright and cheerful child.

  "Hmm... What do you think, Grey?" ［Yuna］

  "If it's flowers... Then I think 20 would be enough. Of course, we'd also pay you every time you do." ［Grey］

  "Really?!" ［Bel］

  "Of course. How does one bronze sound?" ［Grey］

  "Yaay～! Then I'll do my best!" ［Bel］

  "Fufufu! We're looking forward to it then." ［Yuna］

  Happiness aement was all over the pce as the little girl jumped up and down, a bright smile painted on her face. She was like a lovely sunflower, shining brighter than anyone. A child one couldn't help but look at warmly.

  Time quickly passed and very soon, the day for settling the matter between their partnership has arrived. It was also the same day the two learnt of Grey and Yuna's true identities, their faces shocked as one be. But hey, that's a story for another day.

  CHAPTER 204 END