Chapter 419: The Falling Family
Cari gently squeezed the hand he had been holding.
"It’s okay. It doesn’t look like he’s hurt, and Big Brother Albe is with him. No matter what happens, he’ll protect Mama."
Everything had happened so suddenly that Cari had been unable to react.
Even though Albe had fallen as well, his older brother was still by Qiong Xing’s side.
This was their second time visiting this dungeon, and so far they had not encountered any overwhelmingly powerful monsters.
If it was those two together, Cari believed they would be alright.
He was still worried, but unlike last time, he did not feel overwhelmed with panic.
"Papa and the others will find Mama soon."
"...Okay."
Lian nodded timidly, but she did not cry.
"Good girl."
Cari smiled as he gently patted her head.
With Mama gone for the moment, he was the one who had to keep everyone’s spirits up.
"Mayo’s here too, so it’ll be alright. Right?"
"Mayo~"
Mayo nodded as if to say exactly that.
Because Mayo had a familiar contract with Mama, they could communicate even while separated.
If Mayo said everything was fine, then it surely was.
Mama is waiting for us too.
Cari repeated those words to himself as much as to his sister while following after the adults.
"Big Brother Albe told me Mama fell into water like this before."
"Really?"
Albe had secretly told him about it once.
"Mama probably won’t ever tell you himself."
"He said Fenrir fell in too. Everyone rushed to rescue them, but they were grilling fish and eating it."
"Mama’s so silly."
Albe had said he was relieved that Mama had not been hurt, but he had also been completely dumbfounded.
"He also said the smell made everyone hungry."
"What? Really?"
Even after falling into a trap inside a dangerous dungeon, Qiong Xing had somehow remained calm enough to cook.
Albe had said he could not help admiring him for it.
Watching Lian giggle and say, "Mama’s funny," Cari felt relieved to see some of her worry finally disappear.
"Then maybe they’ll keep grilling it for us?"
"Everyone might end up getting hungry too."
"I want miso flavor, Lian."
"I want soy sauce!"
They were laughing together about how much they were looking forward to eating.
Then, suddenly, the sensation of the ground disappearing beneath them made a chill run down Cari’s spine.
This is bad.
He tried to let go of Lian’s hand, but...
"No!"
The moment he tried to release it, Lian tightened his grip even harder, and before Cari could react, they were both falling.
Above them, he could hear their fathers shouting something.
Thinking quickly through his panicked mind, Cari pulled Lian closer, wrapping his arms tightly around his little sister.
"Big Brother Cari, it’s okay. It’s like a high high."
"...Eh?"
The voice that came from his chest made him look up in confusion.
The next instant, a strange floating sensation hit him.
They were rising and falling, rising and falling, as if being gently tossed upward like Lian had said.
"Lian... are you doing this?"
"Yep. Lian loves Mama’s high high."
Hearing that, Cari suddenly remembered.
Mama had once done the same thing with Lian before.
He had never seen anyone else do it, but judging by his brother’s reaction, it was clearly not normal in height.
Still, the person involved had looked so happy that he had not thought much of it.
He had never imagined it could be used like this.
Thanks to it, Cari managed to calm down and regain enough composure to look around.
"Lian, can you keep it up a little longer? I’ll check below to make sure it’s safe."
"Okay!"
While carefully making sure they did not crash into anything, he scanned below for monsters or other threats.
It would be disastrous if they survived the fall only to be attacked immediately after landing.
Lian’s magic that was inherited from Mama, felt stable and reliable, but Cari had no idea where this drop would lead.
That uncertainty made him uneasy.
"Ah, Big Brother Cari! Mama!"
"...Huh? Ah, you’re right."
At first he did not understand what she meant.
But when he looked more carefully, he felt a warm magical presence that did not belong in a dungeon.
It seemed they had already fallen very close.
"Mama, move!"
"...Eh? Cari?"
"Brother!"
"Eeeeeh!? W-w-wait, wait, wait, Qiong Xing, this way!"
Seeing Mama looking up at them in a daze, Cari immediately called out to his older brother, thinking this was bad.
Whether he understood the intent or not, Albe quickly moved to evacuate Mama to safety.
Thanks to Lian, their falling speed had already been greatly reduced, and Qiong Xing added wind magic of his own to slow their descent further so they could land gently without injury.
"Lian, are you hurt anywhere?"
"Nope! Mamaaa!"
The tension from moments ago vanished completely, and Lian happily ran toward Mama.
Cari let out a relieved breath and followed after her.
"How did you two even... more importantly, are you hurt? Did you hit anything?"
"Nope! It was like a tunnel, it was fun!"
"I’m fine too."
Cari could not exactly say he enjoyed the fall like Lian did, but he was just relieved they had safely reunited with Mama.
After explaining that they had also fallen into a pit trap afterward, Mama hugged them tightly, relieved that they were safe.
Even Qiong Xing had been surprised by the children suddenly dropping from above, but seeing they were unharmed brought him relief.
"Why isn’t Mama grilling fish?"
"...Eh?"
Fish?
Qiong Xing tilted his head, then glanced back at Albe who quickly looked away.
There was no doubt Albe had told them about his past actions.
"...I suppose we might still have some time before Papa and the others arrive. Shall we prepare something and wait?"
"He gave up so fast."
Once it was pointed out, there was no helping it.
Accepting the situation, Qiong Xing decided they might as well cook and wait.