Jiro Tanaka, 28, Married
Wife: Suella Handelberg
Memoria Tris
Occupation: Dungeon Tester (Full-time Employee)
Magic Aptitude: 9 (Quasi Demon Lord Class)
Position: Warrior
The ticking of the wall clock in the shop was the only sound.
That’s how quiet the shop had become.
In that silence, a bead of sweat trickled down my cheek.
After the appearance of Memoria’s mother, a vampire who was far too bright, the atmosphere shifted dramatically due to the stark contrast with the appearance of her father, a man who seemed like a dignified and stern gentleman. I was completely out of my depth.
There was no need to panic, but all I could do was straighten my back and await their lead, facing them.
However, in my current state, surprised by the sudden appearance of Memoria’s parents, I was too tense to notice.
They, too, seemed unsure of what to say and were waiting for me to speak.
Perhaps that was understandable. After all, I felt as if I were standing naked before a wild lion, facing the vampire man before me. It was a life-or-death situation, and asking me to greet them calmly and cheerfully was too much to ask.
“Really! Gray, you and our son-in-law are too tense!! Come on, smile, smile!!”
It was Memoria’s mother who broke the tension.
With light footsteps that suited her, she approached the gentleman behind him and patted his back. Then, she smiled brightly at me, her face similar to Memoria’s. Her actions, despite her age, made her look younger, and I felt my shoulders relax.
It seemed to have the same effect on them, as the atmosphere felt considerably lighter than before.
“I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to scare you, but my husband’s attitude did. Gray is good at his job, but he’s not very good with words. He’s not like that once you get to know him, but he gets stiff when he meets new people. Just now, he was so caught up watching Memoria and our son-in-law talk that he missed his chance to enter and stood at the door for about ten minutes! Well, that’s kind of cute though!!”
Memoria’s mother nudged Gray with her elbow, calling him a social recluse. Despite being poked, Gray remained expressionless, but upon closer observation, I noticed him glancing at her a few times, trying to lighten the mood. He looked like he was asking for help. Seeing that, and feeling a sliver of his intimidation, I somehow started to feel a sense of kinship, wondering if he was desperately trying to think of something to say.
The atmosphere had lightened considerably. The only words I could offer them were:
“Nice to meet you. My name is Jiro Tanaka. I am in a relationship with your daughter, Memoria.”
It was nothing more than a self-introduction. I knew they were Memoria’s parents due to their sudden appearance, but I hadn’t properly introduced myself. I believe it was a correct way to start.
My mother-in-law, upon hearing my greeting with a slight bow, looked momentarily bewildered. Then, as if suddenly remembering something, she laughed.
“Ah! I’m sorry. Auntie completely forgot to introduce herself. I’m Miruru Tris. And this is my husband.”
“Gray Tris.”
“As you probably know, we are Memoria’s mother and father!”
Her energetic gestures made her seem like a middle schooler, so her referring to herself as “auntie” seemed a bit forced. I almost let out a wry smile, but I held it back. The gentleman beside her had a deep voice, just as I had imagined. I hoped this would help the conversation flow, but…
“……”
“……”
Unfortunately, it seemed that wasn’t to be. After the introductions, silence fell again. He looked behind him for help, but Miruru watched me with a smile. Her posture seemed like she was assessing me. I glanced behind me; Memoria was silently by my side, observing. She squeezed my sleeve, as if to say, “Do your best.” Her attitude made me feel like we were family, despite our different ways of showing support, and I decided to show some courage.
“Um, I work as a Dungeon Tester.”
“I’m a merchant.”
“I’m 28 years old.”
“I’ve stopped counting.”
“You look young.”
“Vampires don’t age easily.”
“I-I see. Vampires here are quite strong, so I suppose that’s part of it. I’m also reasonably strong myself.”
“……I have destroyed a human division.”
My courage was starting to waver. The conversation wasn’t progressing. I had an urge to scream at him, “Please, stop replying with short sentences!!” And I wanted to shout, “Are you socially awkward?!” Also, Miruru, like Memoria behind me, please stop trying so hard to hold back your laughter!!
“Uh…”
“……”
Despite this, I continued with a few more self-introduction-like exchanges, but we hadn’t managed any real conversation. I learned that he was a merchant who had lived long enough to stop counting, and his combat power was likely higher than mine. I wondered why a merchant would fight, but I decided to ignore it. It wasn’t a matter of wanting to step on a landmine. I regretted what I said, as I meant it in terms of being able to protect Memoria.
After such exchanges, I had no idea what else to say. The fortunate thing was that my words received a reply, but it was difficult to sustain the conversation with that alone. The ticking of the clock echoed again. I had thought that introductions between parents would involve more conversation, but there was hardly any, for better or worse. I had braced myself for Memoria’s parents, and even Suella’s parents, to say, “We won’t let you have our daughters!!” So, the complete lack of such a reaction was unexpected. My resolve to even grovel if necessary was being used in a completely different way, and I was starting to feel lost.
“Honestly! Gray! What happened to the questions you were going to ask when you came out?!”
“……I forgot.”
“Oh dear, after thinking about it for three days and three nights… Well, I guess it can’t be helped. Besides, he doesn’t look like a bad person.”
“Ah.”
A lifeline was thrown to me. Perhaps sensing the lack of conversation, she gave a wry smile and said, “It can’t be helped.” I breathed a sigh of relief as Miruru finally joined the conversation.
“It seems to be alright now.”
“Ah, I don’t understand what just happened in that conversation, but it’s good that I wasn’t given a bad impression.”
“No, it’s not that. I was worried my father might attack Jiro-san.”
“Was I that dangerous?!”
“I’m joking.”
“You’re joking… Give me a break, your jokes sometimes don’t sound like jokes.”
“Is that so?”
“Yeah.”
“Hehe, perhaps so.”
“Oh, Memoria actually laughed.”
“Hmm?”
“Is it that surprising?”
I was surprised, not realizing there was a risk of physical harm during the previous exchange. However, when Memoria said it was a joke, I felt relieved and playfully tapped her head with my fist, understanding I was being teased. Memoria tilted her head slightly and gave a faint smile. Seeing this, Memoria’s parents looked surprised. Gray, in particular, widened his eyes slightly.
“Yes! But it’s not a bad thing, okay? Memoria, like you, doesn’t show her emotions much! Yes! I’m so happy to meet a son-in-law who can make her smile like this!!”
When she sought agreement from Gray, he nodded briefly.
“Hey, hey! Try calling me ‘Mother-in-law’! I always wanted a son, too.”
“Hmm.”
“No, well…”
“Father, Mother, Jiro is having trouble, so please calm down.”
The deciding factor, as always, was their daughter. Seeing that I had earned their daughter’s trust, their atmosphere softened, as if their assessment was complete. In other words, the distance between us closed. Miruru’s request was so casual that it made me feel that way. However, it was difficult to be called “Mother-in-law” by a woman who looked significantly younger than me, and could easily be mistaken for my daughter, not to mention the silent pressure from Gray to call him “Father-in-law.” I was honestly confused to receive such a positive reception before even asking for permission to marry. However, it was also difficult to refuse this request. If they showed me such kindness, I couldn’t just dismiss it. Despite it being premature, I followed my heart, which was not opposed to calling them so.
“I— ‘Hold on there!! Son-in-law!!’”
Just as I was about to open my mouth, intending to fulfill their wish and ask for permission to marry, an unfamiliar voice echoed through the shop.
“—I have arrived!!”
A dark elf man, who could be called a handsome young man, clad in a deep green robe, burst into the shop. Fortunately, the entrance was left open, so despite his dramatic entrance, the building itself was unharmed.
“No need for caution, son-in-law!! My name is Muil Handelberg!”
However, the sudden intruder caused me and Memoria’s parents to instinctively assume a combat stance. I reached for the hilt of my ore tree, and Gray lowered his stance, his eyes glowing red. But upon hearing the surname of the man who announced himself, I had a hunch.
“Handelberg? Could it be–”
“Yes! Suella’s grandfather!”
“Not her father? You’re so young!!”
“Hahaha! I’m told that often! I’m a Luna Elf, after all!”
However, the person who appeared was someone completely unexpected. I deserve a medal for not shouting out, “Who is that?!”
“Come on, son! Hurry up! You almost lost the chance to be called father-in-law! That would be a disgrace to our Handelberg clan for generations!”
“H-Huff… Please don’t push it! Unlike Father, I’m a researcher! And why are you suddenly bursting into someone’s shop?!”
“Oh my, Father-in-law.”
From behind him, a dark elf man, who must have run at full speed, entered, panting, and shouted at the man. He somehow reminded me of Suella during work. Behind him stood Suella, looking more relaxed, and a dark elf woman who, with age, would likely look like her. Seeing this scene, the initial caution vanished, and we could only watch their exchange. My initial reaction to charge forward had subsided, and I had released my hand from the ore tree. Gray had also relaxed his stance.
“Ah, so you’re the parents of the other bride Memoria told me about~ I’m Miruru Tris, Memoria’s mother. The vampire next to me is my husband. Pleased to meet you!”
“Oh my, so you’re the one. Thank you for your kind introduction. I am Smilasta Handelberg, Suella’s mother. The ones shouting and arguing now are my father-in-law and husband. We also look forward to your kind acquaintance.”
“I heard. Congratulations on your daughter’s pregnancy. How envious.”
“Oh, thank you. For us dark elves, children are treasures. It’s truly happy news, so we couldn’t resist coming.”
“I understand that feeling. If Memoria has children, I’ll surely come visit right away too.”
“Yes. Let’s be good friends, as we are both species who have difficulty having children.”
“Indeed!”
They continued talking as if leaving me and the others to our own devices. I had worried about a clash between parents, a common trope in fantasy stories, but the mothers-in-law had already become fast friends. Gray was somewhat neglected, his gaze wandering. The two dark elf men who had appeared had forgotten their original purpose and were engaged in a parent-child argument. Watching the shop become unusually lively, I pondered what to do, but decided to start with what was easiest to handle.
“Nice to meet you. I am Jiro Tanaka. Um, I am dating Suella with the intention of marriage.”
“My, my, oh my, so you’re the one. I’m sorry we started talking without properly introducing ourselves. I am Smilasta, Suella’s mother. My daughter has often spoken of you. Yes, as Suella wrote in her letter, she seems to have found a good person.”
“Uh, um…”
I tried to speak to Suella’s mother, the one Dark Elf who seemed receptive, but Smilasta approached me, scrutinizing me. I took a step back. Why? Because she was strangely alluring! While Memoria’s mother, with her build, didn’t evoke such feelings, this woman, resembling Suella, made me more conscious. So, to avoid any strange thoughts, I maintained a physical distance. There are things a man must do!
“By the way, does Suella know you’re coming, Smilasta?”
“Yes, I informed her.”
To change the subject, I asked about Suella’s whereabouts, as she would normally have come with them.
“However, my father-in-law was more enthusiastic than I expected. Although I got permission from the company, he rushed here directly. I imagine Suella will be contacted by now.”
“I’ll contact Suella right away, so please wait.”
I wondered how they found me, but overwhelmed as I was, I had to set that question aside for later. Keeping it in mind as a topic for later conversation, I used telepathy to connect with my other lover to resolve the situation.
“Ah, maybe I should call my parents too?”
At that moment, the faces of my parents, who had coincidentally returned home that day, flashed through my mind. To be precise, it was my mother’s bright smile. Their appearance, too timely to be a coincidence, made me sweat, wondering if my mother’s intuition had predicted this. I waited for Suella to connect via telepathic call.
Jiro Tanaka, 28, Married
Wife: Suella Handelberg
Memoria Tris
Occupation: Dungeon Tester (Full-time Employee)
Magic Aptitude: 9 (Quasi Demon Lord Class)
Position: Warrior
Today’s Word: Please don’t exceed my processing capacity!!
This concludes this chapter.
If you enjoyed it, please leave a review, bookmark, etc.
We look forward to your continued support of this work!!
