Free Web NovelWhen Vieya arrived at the scene, that enormous violet slime had already beaten Jasmine’s group into a miserable state. Their mana and stamina were both completely drained; all three girls could fall into danger at any moment.
The gray fog had begun thinning as time passed, but a large number of novice mage parties still chose to forfeit. For most people, if they lost this opportunity they could wait until next time— but if they lost their lives, there would truly be no next time.
After catching the little pink-haired girl who had run headfirst into her and looked absolutely pitiful, Vieya only took a moment to confirm the situation around them. Then she raised one hand and activated the Tenth Authority—Gravity Control, the Weight of the Mournful Rooster—
Boom rumble rumble!
The round rolling slime-wheel suddenly distorted in shape, as if smashed flat by an invisible giant hammer, sticking to the ground completely immobilized.
After dealing with the only threat, she no longer bothered with her original plan of hiding in the shadows to observe. Grabbing the back collar of Rorina’s clothes, she lightly jumped and landed in front of Jasmine and Maixi.
“Captain Jasmine, y-your mom is leaking air!”
Maixi was wide-eyed, unable to take her gaze off Vieya. She simply could not comprehend why the tall, stunning white-haired beauty she met days ago had now become a tiny girl barely one meter forty in height.
Could she possibly have the same ultra-amazing function as those inflatable dolls— inflate to get big, deflate to get small?!
“It is just a disguise.”
Vieya tossed the pink-haired girl to Maixi, snapped her fingers, dispelled her disguise, and returned to her original full height. Arms crossed, she looked down at the silent Jasmine.
The so-called “large form” had one main use in Vieya’s eyes: putting pressure on her tiny daughter.
Look at that—just by standing in front of her, Jasmine was so nervous she could barely speak.
This was the technique of adults.
“I am sorry, Mom.”
Jasmine hung her head, her face pale, her voice gloomy and wronged. “I disappointed you. Not only did I mess up your vacation plans, I even forced you to come all the way here to rescue your useless daughter.”
Vieya: ?
“......”
Maixi froze, snapping out of her awe at “Jasmine’s mom is so strong” and darting her gaze between mother and daughter. frёewebηovel.cѳm
Wait, your daughter is injured!
Should you not be hugging her and comforting her? Should this not be an emotional mother-daughter moment?!
Why... why did it become a competition of mutual pressure?!
“T-then, Jasmine’s mom, you are misunderstanding.”
Maixi supported the unconscious Rorina while whispering, “Jasmine only had to protect us slowpokes, so she had no choice—”
“It has nothing to do with you.”
Jasmine immediately cut her off, looking straight at Vieya with unwavering eyes. “This happened entirely because my abilities were lacking. I am sorry, Mom. I must have gotten ahead of myself. I even boasted in front of you before, and now you had to come help me again...”
Facing a daughter who was polite to the point of excess, Vieya sometimes felt helpless.
Every night she needed to be held and told a bedtime story to fall asleep, yet during the day she always put on the stiff, mature attitude of a proper little adult.
What kind of daughter tries to act like an adult in front of her mom?! Does that not make the mother look foolish?
Oh. Mine does.
Vieya narrowed her eyes dangerously, moved closer, and crouched down in front of her daughter, meeting her gaze.
Then she suddenly reached out, grabbed Jasmine’s cheeks, and began kneading them mercilessly while Jasmine stared blankly in confusion.
“Mmmf— Mom, do not do that— my classmates are watching— mmf!”
Pinched like this, Jasmine could barely talk. Her eyes sparkled with tears, but she could feel a warm force spreading from her mother’s hand into her body, healing her wounds. Caught between pain and comfort, she did not know what to say—she could only accept her mother’s affection with suffering and joy.
“Hmph hmph, my good daughter, no matter how big you grow, you can always rely on me as much as you want.” Vieya said softly.
“R-really?” Jasmine asked hopefully.
“I am a reliable adult. I do not lie to children.”
Vieya released her cheeks and looked at the dazed Maixi, patting Jasmine’s back. “Go on, treat your two teammates.”
“Yes, Mom.”
Jasmine stood and headed to her friends.
“Ahaha, my injuries are small. Heal this young lady first.”
Maixi generously pushed the pink young lady forward. “She is sickly—heal her first!”
Jasmine nodded gently, setting the unconscious Rorina onto her lap. She took a handkerchief from her pocket, carefully cleaned the wounds on Rorina’s face, and then began casting her healing spell.
Meanwhile, Maixi sneaked closer to the zoning-out Vieya and plopped herself down beside her. She looked completely unafraid of her classmate’s mother. Seeing no reaction, she scooted her backside even closer.
The distance between them shrank.
“Hm? Child, do you need something?”
Vieya finally spoke, sounding like an NPC.
“Uh...”
Maixi glanced at Vieya, then at the massive violet slime stuck to the ground. Awe filled her voice. freēwēbnovel.com
“Big sister, you are amazing! You knocked that slime flat in one go! Is it dead?”
“It is fine.” Vieya said. “I only hard-controlled it in place. Later it will be left for you girls to finish off.”
“Waaah... hard control. And you even left the credit for us. Big sister, you are too nice! Thank you so much!”
Her tone was full of admiration and gratitude, but her true focus was elsewhere. Her eyes sparkled with curiosity.
“Big sister, how did you turn into a little girl and then turn back? Can you teach me?”
“If I teach you, you still will not be able to learn it. It requires talent.”
Vieya answered.
“Waaah... a talent-based expert. But that slime—no matter how we attacked it, nothing worked. ➤ NоvеⅠight ➤ (Read more on our source) Big sister, are you sure we can really finish it off?”
“It is you girls, not ‘we’.”
Vieya corrected her, then stood and walked toward the immobilized slime. Maixi blinked, then hurried after her.
“So seeing a slime up close is like this... so big, so soft...”
She reached a hand toward it.
But before she could touch it, Vieya pinched her wrist. “Do not get too close. I am holding it down with a gravity field. If your hand goes in, it will suffer the same gravity. I do not want to see your little hand flattened into a cookie, only for me to spend mana healing you.”
Maixi quickly withdrew her hand and obediently stepped back two steps, her mood not dampened in the slightest. In fact she seemed even more excited.
“I knew it. Since Captain Jasmine is so caring, so gentle, she must have learned it from you, big sister.”
“...You think I am gentle?”
Vieya sounded odd. Was this child being sarcastic?
No. She was just a little human girl with basic magic. She was probably just honestly expressing her feelings. No need to overthink it.
“Yes! Very gentle. You saved poor Rorina and saved us all from a giant-slime crisis.”
Maixi said sincerely. “You are a good mother. I like you.”
“You child. Do you even know what ‘like’ means?”
Vieya’s expression did not change.
Maixi thought about it, then said:
“Like is when a puppy licks your hand.”
Vieya chuckled. Yes—she really was just a child.
She was about to leave the slime and check on Jasmine’s progress. Why was that pink child still not awake after all this time?
As Vieya walked away, Maixi sighed.
“Even if you no longer need puppies...”
“...Hey—big sister, do not walk so fast! I am scared standing near the slime alone!”
She quickly ran after Vieya with little pattering footsteps, just like a child seeking an adult’s protection.
“—Maixi, do not act so close to my mom the moment I look away! She is my mom, not your mom!”
Jasmine had just finished healing and looked up—only to see her teammate holding her mother’s hand and blinking at her from afar. It was clearly meant as a greeting... but in Jasmine’s eyes it was provocation.
Instantly, displeasure welled up in Jasmine’s heart.
Unbelievable.
What kind of teammate is this...
Meanwhile, leaning against a rock, Rorina struggled and slowly opened her eyes.
