Jared Murphy visited Luzer Fischer the day after Cornelia Alway was apprehended.
“I wasn’t aware I was being brainwashed. But I always remembered feeling a sense of unease about my hatred for you,” Luzer confessed.
Upon awakening, Luzer found his brainwashing had indeed been undone, just as Wahash had said.
His head still felt heavy from the brainwashing, and he was also injured from his fight with Jared, making movement difficult. However, the brainwashing was undeniably lifted, and he had regained his senses. To be sure, Almeida had personally visited to examine him, so there was no mistake. Jared deeply trusted her, a magician of unknown age who had reached far greater heights than him.
Luzer clearly remembered everything that happened after parting with Jared, including the period he was brainwashed. He was deeply dejected by the fact that he had harmed so many people, even if he couldn’t resist.
The presence of his mother, whom he had reunited with, was a significant factor in preventing him from acting rashly.
He and his mother, Rosina, rejoiced in their reunion. They were genuinely relieved that both were unharmed and, needless to say, continued to express their gratitude to Jared, who had saved them, to the point of being troubled.
“I’ve asked the Duke to handle Viscount Philips as well, so please recuperate in this mansion for a while.”
“I’m sorry for everything.”
“Truly, I am eternally grateful to you, Lord Jared.”
Being thanked repeatedly, Jared found himself at a loss.
The matter with Viscount Philips was still uncertain. The problem wasn’t with Viscount Philips, who was Luzer’s father, but with his main wife. Unless she changed her mind, hardship might visit the parent and child again.
What worried Jared even more was whether Luzer, who possessed lightning element magic and great strength, would act impulsively based on his emotions.
He had told him not to act rashly, but if his mother were harmed, Luzer would surely not remain silent.
While it was unlikely that the presence of the Fischer parent and child in this mansion would become known, they couldn’t let their guard down in case of any unforeseen events.
“Jared Murphy.”
“Yes?”
“Is it alright for me to be here as well?”
Mia asked.
Like Luzer, she was being protected by his family at the Daum Barony. Neither Luzer nor Mia were official members of Waalthe. They had been under Dolf Ein’s command, used as expendable assets with no other options. Jared hadn’t inquired deeply about Mia, but he had decided to treat her the same way if Luzer had no intention of distancing himself from her.
Moreover, Rosina, having heard from Mia about the time Luzer spent away from her, couldn’t bear to separate them.
As a mother, Rosina continued to hear from Mia that her son, though he had no choice, deserved to know everything he had done. While she sometimes cried hearing about his past actions, there were also moments of great joy when hearing episodes that reminded her of her son’s kindness, even during his brainwashed state, which lingered in Rosina’s memory.
Mia, too, had only been with them for a day, but she had already grown quite fond of Rosina, making it difficult for Jared to consider separating them.
“I aided Dolf Ein in brainwashing Luzer. I worry if it’s right for me to be living so comfortably here.”
“Please stay here, Mia,” Luzer replied, not Jared.
“I remember everything clearly. You were always by my side for me. You held me when I was suffering. I can’t possibly tell you to go away now.”
“That’s right,” Mia agreed.
“…Luzer.”
With tears welling up in her eyes, Mia looked up at Luzer. Luzer, smiling with a troubled expression, looked to Jared for help, but Jared simply smiled back and left it to him. Mia was likely seeking words from Luzer, not Jared.
“That was a rather indirect way of putting it. Mia, please continue to stay by my side.”
“–Yes! I will do whatever Luzer desires!”
Mia responded to Luzer’s request, which could be taken as a confession, with a beaming smile that lit up her face.
“It’s wonderful to be young. It reminds me of when my husband asked for me…”
Rosina wriggled her body, watching the passionate scene between son and Mia, causing Luzer to grimace.
“I don’t want to hear about how my father and mother met.”
“Oh, what a shame.”
Rosina, puffing out her cheeks, had become dramatically brighter since reuniting with her son. This Rosina was likely the woman she was meant to be, Rosina Fischer.
She had been dejected by her son’s disappearance and his prolonged suffering from illness, but now she felt she no longer had to worry.
“I am happy. My beloved son has returned with his wife… We’ve been through a lot, but from now on, let’s overcome everything together as a family of three.”
“–*cough*.”
“…W-wife… you mean, me?”
Rosina’s statement caused Luzer to choke, and Mia’s eyes widened. However, Mia, not entirely displeased, blushed and fidgeted.
“Oh, is that not so?”
“If… if Luzer wishes it, I will gladly!”
Before her son could object, Mia blushingly replied, leaving Luzer speechless.
However, he showed no signs of displeasure, and his reddened face suggested he was simply embarrassed, which Jared found heartwarming.
Watching the three happy individuals, Jared felt his own heart warm. He was truly glad that they had been able to get Luzer back.
“W-well, you know, being a wife and all, let’s take it easy and settle things down first. But before that, Mother.”
“Yes?”
“The family isn’t three. It’s four. Please don’t make that mistake again.”
“–Right, right. How foolish of me, I apologize, Lord Jared.”
Jared, also taken aback by Rosina’s hurried bow, urged her to lift her head.
“Even though I said I thought of you as another son, I held back at such an important moment… It’s too much to have received so much help from you, so calling you family… It just slipped out.”
“Please don’t apologize. If you think of me as family, it’s only natural for me to help Luzer and all of you. Please, allow me to continue to take care of you as another son.”
Rosina’s eyes welled up at Jared’s sincere words.
“It’s wonderful that I’ve gained another good son. And I’ve gained a wonderful younger brother too.”
“Yes, I truly feel that way too.”
“Thank you. Jared Murphy, I will repay your kindness someday.”
Being thanked by all three made Jared feel a sense of bashfulness.
He thought, *If we’re family, it should be more casual…* but realized that would likely take time.
For now, he was simply content to celebrate the reunion of his beloved older brother and his family.
