Chương 21: Chapter 20: Domestic Recovery

Freedom is the first word that comes to mind the moment I step out of the hospital—real, tangible, deeply personal freedom. No more IV lines tugging at my arm every time I shift. No more doctors staring at me like I personally offended medical science. No more nurses asking if I'm in pain every five minutes as if the answer is ever going to change. No more children hovering like I'm a fragile artifact about to shatter.

No more little sister sitting beside my bed with that calm expression that clearly translates to if you die, I will kill you myself, which is still one of the most logically confusing threats I've ever received. And most importantly, no more antiseptic smell that has somehow embedded itself into my soul as my default scent. I take a slow breath of actual fresh air and feel something dangerously close to peace. It's normal. Quiet. Suspiciously quiet.

Based on recent experience, that probably means something terrible is going to happen soon. I choose to ignore that for now, because for once, I am not actively dying, fighting, or being monitored.

"Papa, where are we going now?" Hikari asks, tugging my sleeve with bright curiosity.

"Hikari is free too!" she adds proudly, as if she personally orchestrated our escape.

"…Technically accurate," I reply, watching Karin stretch her arms like she just got released from prison.

"Finally! No more boring hospital!" Karin declares.

"It wasn't boring," Ruri says quietly, staying close to me.

"Papa was there." That lands harder than expected. I clear my throat, shifting my attention forward before it settles too deeply.

"… Right. We're going home," I say, even though"home" currently refers to a place that is objectively not suitable for raising three dragon daughters who have already demonstrated the ability to nearly burn down reality. That thought lingers longer than I'd like, because it leads directly to the real problem. We need a new place. Not eventually. Not soon. Immediately. Surviving an S-rank dungeon is one thing.

Raising three children long-term in my current apartment is something else entirely, and statistically speaking, far more dangerous. So a few hours later, I find myself sitting on the couch with my laptop open, brochures scattered around, snacks within reach, and three small presences gathered beside me. The atmosphere is strangely domestic. Controlled. Almost peaceful—if I ignore the fact that two of them are potential disasters waiting for the right trigger.

"…Alright," I mutter, scrolling through listings.

"Let's find somewhere that won't collapse under pressure."

"That sounds important," Karin says immediately.

"It is," I confirm, just as Hikari leans forward with sparkling eyes.

"Hikari likes that one!" she declares, pointing enthusiastically at something I haven't even properly looked at yet.

"…You say that about everything."

"Hikari has good taste!" she insists.

"…Debatable." Karin, meanwhile, has completely different priorities.

"This one has a big space! I can run here!"

"…That is exactly what I'm afraid of," I reply honestly, already imagining the consequences. Ruri doesn't speak right away. She studies the listings carefully, her expression focused in a way that feels uncomfortably familiar. Then she glances at me before returning her gaze to the screen.

"…Papa, this one is expensive." There it is. I feel a small, quiet sense of pride. She's thinking ahead, considering things that matter. Meanwhile, her sisters are evaluating properties based on how flammable or sprint-compatible they are. It's… a balance.

"… We have a budget now," I remind her. A very large one, even if it still feels strange to say it out loud. Two hundred fifty million. I nearly died for that amount of money, which is a sentence I never expected to think. Was it worth it? Financially? Yes. Emotionally? That remains under review. I continue scrolling, this time more seriously. Location matters. Tokyo is ideal, but that also means crowded, chaotic, and full of variables I don't want to deal with.

Osaka is an immediate rejection—I value my continued existence. Yokohama is decent, balanced, functional… but something about it feels slightly off. Then there's Chiba. I pause, scroll back, and look again. Less chaotic than Tokyo, still highly developed, good access, more space. It fits what I need—what we need.

"…Chiba," I say out loud.

"Is that good?" Karin asks.

"It's quieter," I answer.

"Hikari likes quiet!"

"… You absolutely do not," I reply immediately. She just smiles, which is not reassuring in any capacity. Still, decision made. Now comes the harder part—finding the right place within that decision. I refine the search: high-rise, multiple rooms, good kitchen, secure, spacious… child-proof. … Dragon-proof. Important distinction. And then we find it.

A high-rise condominium with two floors, a wide living area, large windows, multiple rooms, fully furnished interior, and enough space to actually function as a home rather than a containment zone. The kitchen is decent. The layout is clean. The ceiling is high enough that nothing feels cramped. … It works.

"…Oh," I mutter, leaning slightly closer.

"What?" Karin immediately shifts in.

"Hikari wants to see!" Ruri moves closer as well, and the three of them gather around the screen. For a moment, there's silence—rare, fragile, and unexpectedly comforting.

"Hikari likes this one," Hikari says without hesitation.

"Karin likes this one too," Karin adds, nodding with complete confidence. Of course she does. Ruri takes a moment longer, studying the details before nodding softly.

"…Papa, it looks nice." I glance at her, then back at the listing.

"…Yeah," I say.

"It is." And more importantly, it's enough. Enough space. Enough safety. Enough distance from the kind of chaos that seems determined to follow me. I save the listing. We'll contact them later. Because before that, there are other problems—moving, logistics, identity, cover story, school, work, and most importantly, how to do all of this without attracting attention. Because apparently, being a former SSS-rank archmage hiding as an A-rank while raising three dragon daughters is not considered a normal lifestyle.

Unfortunate. I lean back slightly, exhaling.

"…Alright. Let's plan this properly."

"Planning sounds boring," Karin mutters.

"Planning is not fun," Hikari adds in her usual third-person tone.

"Hikari agrees."

"It's necessary," Ruri says quietly. I glance at her again, that same quiet pride settling in my chest.

"…Yeah. It is." This story has been unlawfully obtained without the author's consent. Report any appearances on Amazon. Which leads to the next question—who do I call for something like this? Someone with resources, connections, and the patience to deal with my situation. There's really only one answer. I pick up my phone, dial, and wait.

"…Aaron," I say once it connects. A brief pause.

"…Master."

"…I need help." The silence on the other end stretches just long enough to feel deliberate.

"… I was wondering when you'd say that." I lean back against the couch while holding the phone against my shoulder, the condominium listing still open on the laptop as the girls continue crowding around me. I already spent the last several minutes explaining the situation to Aaron—how I'm planning to move out soon, how the apartment is no longer enough for three growing children, and how I need somewhere more stable if I actually plan to raise them properly.

Naturally, I also had to maintain the image of myself as a completely normal family man. Which means I may or may not have confidently told Aaron things like:"Yes, my wife is worried about the girls."

"Yes, we discussed settling down somewhere quieter."

"Yes, I am apparently a responsible father now." Honestly, saying those sentences out loud still feels surreal, mostly because I'm somehow committing harder to this imaginary married life than I originally planned. Aaron remains mostly silent on the other end beyond the occasional "Mm" and "I see," which somehow feels more judgmental than actual criticism. Meanwhile, the three girls are still fully invested in the house listing.

"Hikari thinks this house is nice," Hikari says again for what is probably the fifteenth time.

"Yes, Hikari," I reply tiredly.

"We know."

"It has big windows!"

"It does."

"And stairs!"

"…Unfortunately." Karin immediately points at the second-floor layout.

"I call upstairs!"

"No running on the stairs," I say automatically.

"That sounds negotiable."

"It is not." Ruri, meanwhile, is quietly studying the listing like she's preparing to negotiate property prices herself. Honestly, I wouldn't even be surprised anymore. I rub the bridge of my nose before finally explaining things properly instead of vaguely circling around the topic.

"…So basically, I'm moving," I say.

"The apartment isn't going to work anymore. It was fine when it was just me, but now there are three children living there, and two of them are energetic enough to qualify as natural disasters."

"Papa is exaggerating," Karin says immediately.

"You tried to breathe fire indoors."

"That happened once."

"It happened yesterday." Aaron stays silent. Honestly, I can already tell he's enjoying this far more than he should. I continue before Karin can defend herself legally.

"The girls need somewhere more stable," I explain.

"More space. Better security. Somewhere quieter. The apartment's too cramped now, and if I'm being realistic, it's not a good environment long-term."

"Hikari thinks the apartment is nice," Hikari says immediately.

"Hikari also nearly held a funeral for me while I was unconscious."

"That was emotional support."

"…That was a memorial candle." Aaron coughs once on the other line. Very professionally.

"…In any case," I continue tiredly, "I'm planning to relocate to Chiba. Less chaotic than Tokyo, still developed, more space, better environment overall. It'll be easier for the girls to settle there."

"And your wife?" Aaron asks carefully.

"…"

"Ah yes, My wife," I answer smoothly. Aaron stays silent for a moment before asking the actual terrifying follow-up.

"…And what does she think about all this?" Right. Because normal husbands are apparently expected to know things like their wife's opinion.

"…She's worried," I answer after a brief pause, committing fully to the lie at this point.

"Mostly about the girls. She thinks the apartment's too cramped now, especially after… recent events. She wants somewhere quieter before they properly settle down."

"Hm."

"She also said the girls need more space," I continue, somehow improvising an entire marriage in real time.

"Better environment, safer neighborhood, better schools, less chaos overall. Which is ironic considering our children are the chaos." Aaron remains silent. Not skeptical silence. Just the exhausted silence of a man trying very hard not to question how I suddenly became a functioning family father.

"What I mean is," I continue casually, trying to sound like a completely normal married man, "she's been worried ever since the girls started growing up. The apartment's too cramped, there's barely enough room anymore, and she keeps telling me the girls need a better environment before they start school properly. Somewhere quieter, safer, more stable. Chiba fits that better than Tokyo."

Aaron remains quiet for several seconds, clearly trying very hard to process the image of me discussing family life like a functional adult. Honestly? I understand his confusion. Just a few months ago, my daily routine consisted primarily of avoiding responsibility, eating snacks, and pretending society didn't exist. Now I'm comparing school districts and discussing residential stability. Life is horrifying.

"…Master," Aaron finally says carefully, "I will respectfully pretend I believe all of this."

"…Thank you."

"You are welcome."

"Hikari thinks Papa is suspicious too," Hikari adds helpfully from beside me. I slowly turn toward her.

"…Traitor." She giggles proudly. Aaron sighs on the other end—a deep, ancient sigh filled with responsibility, stress, and what is probably the realization that helping me has permanently damaged his peace of mind.

"…In any case," he continues, regaining composure, "I can help arrange things before your move." That immediately gets my attention.

"Oh?"

"You'll need updated records, a new evaluation, and revised registration status before relocating properly. Your current profile will create unnecessary complications." …Right. Because officially, I'm still registered as a lower-rank support mage who somehow keeps accidentally surviving catastrophically dangerous situations. Very inconvenient paperwork.

"You'll also need transportation," Aaron adds.

"You do have a driver's license."

"I do."

"Then I can assist with acquiring a vehicle." Now that? That is beautiful news. Because while public transportation is functional, trying to manage three children through crowded stations sounds like the kind of challenge specifically designed to shorten my lifespan.

"Hikari wants a cool car," Hikari declares immediately.

"I want one that survives," I reply.

"A big one!" Karin adds excitedly.

"So we can all fit!"

"That is generally how family vehicles work, yes."

"Papa should get black," Ruri says quietly.

"It looks calm." I blink. Then slowly nod.

"…That's actually reasonable." Again. Proud. Very proud. Aaron goes silent for another moment, probably listening to this entire conversation while reevaluating every life choice that led him here. Then his tone shifts slightly. Not dramatically. Just enough.

"And… there is another matter." Ah. There it is. I already know what he's about to say.

"The S-rank dungeon that emerged at the mall several weeks ago." The atmosphere changes immediately. Subtle. But noticeable. Even the girls quiet down slightly. I pause for a moment, my gaze drifting toward the window as the memories return far too clearly—collapsed stone, overwhelming mana pressure, blood, exhaustion, the Abyss Throne Guardian, and three terrified children crying behind me. …Yeah. That.

"…Understood," I say calmly. Because there's really no avoiding this conversation forever. An S-rank outbreak appearing inside a crowded mall is not something the guild can quietly ignore, especially when the dungeon mysteriously collapsed before an official strike team even arrived. Very troublesome.

"There are… questions," Aaron says carefully.

"I assumed as much."

"Many questions."

"…Even better."

"I delayed as much as I could," he admits.

"But eventually you will need to provide some form of explanation." …Right. Not ideal. Mostly because the truthful explanation sounds completely insane. Yes hello, sorry about the S-rank abyss outbreak. I accidentally killed the boss while protecting my secretly dragon daughters during a family outing. Very difficult to explain professionally.

"I'll report to the guild," I say eventually.

"That would be best." The call ends shortly after that. I lower the phone slowly and stare at the ceiling for a moment.

"…Troublesome."

"Papa?" Hikari tilts her head.

"We have responsibilities now," I answer tiredly.

"That sounds horrible," Karin says immediately.

"…Correct." Still, things are moving forward. Slowly. Painfully. But forward. New house. New city. School for the girls. Transportation. A proper life. It still feels strange thinking about it seriously. A few months ago, my biggest concern was whether I had enough snacks left to avoid leaving the apartment. Now I'm planning relocation logistics for a family. Life is terrifying. I exhale slowly before sitting up properly.

"…Alright, girls," I say.

"Before we check the house out, we need to go to the guild first." That immediately gets reactions.

"Hikari wants to see big boss guy again!"

"We're seeing him again?!" Karin asks excitedly.

"The scary serious guy?" Ruri quietly stands up and immediately starts fixing herself up with surprising composure. …Adorable. Very responsible. I point toward the hallway.

"Alright. Go get dressed. We're leaving soon." And just like that, chaos resumes. The three immediately rush toward the room with completely different energy levels. Karin sprints. Hikari follows while loudly announcing that "Hikari is preparing!" And Ruri walks quickly behind them while trying—and failing—to maintain order. I watch them disappear down the hallway before leaning back into the couch again. Silence returns briefly. I close my eyes for one peaceful second.

Then immediately hear Karin shouting from the room:"HIKARI THAT IS MY SOCK."

"Hikari found it first!"

"THAT IS NOT HOW OWNERSHIP WORKS." I let out a slow breath.

"…We're definitely buying a bigger place," I mutter.

End of Chapter 20 Dad Status Report: Name: Ren Arclight Former Occupation: Retired Archmage / Former Demon King Slayer Current Occupation: Full-Time Dragon Dad Primary Objective: Establish stable living conditions while preventing daughters from accidentally destroying civilization.

Daughters Under Supervision: *Karin – Fire / Chaos / Competitive / Property Damage Risk *Ruri – Ice / Logic / Financial Awareness / Emotional Anchor *Hikari – Light / Chaos Support / Emotional Instability / Candle Risk Chapter 20 Activities: *Successfully discharged from hospital *Regained partial physical stability *Avoided immediate post-recovery death (critical achievement) *Initiated housing search process *Evaluated urban relocation options (Tokyo rejected, Chiba selected) *Reviewed high-value property listings with dependents *Managed conflicting child priorities (space vs fire vs aesthetics) *Established relocation intent *Maintained false "wife" narrative under interrogation *Secured logistical support from Aaron *Initiated transportation planning *Prepared for guild reporting obligations *Maintained parental authority under mild chaos New Developments: *Transition from survival to domestic phase *Children actively participating in decision-making (mixed results) *Ruri demonstrating financial awareness (high value) *Karin prioritizing movement space (high risk) *Hikari prioritizing vibes (unreliable metric) *Successfully sustaining fake married life narrative (unstable) Guild investigation pressure confirmed "Normal life" officially initiated Threat Level (Current Life): Temporarily Stable Hidden Risks: Active Daughter Safety Status: Alive Recovered Energetic Unsupervised Risk Level: High Dad Physical Status: Recovered (Partial) Functional Still Medically Questionable Dad Stress Levels: Moderate Managed Internally Screaming Parenting Skill Growth: 24% Current Dad Status: Active Planning Financially Enabled Still Not Retired Immediate Priorities: *Finalize housing acquisition (Chiba) *Secure transportation *Register children for school *Maintain cover identity *Handle guild investigation *Prevent indoor fire incidents Operational Assessment: Mission Type: Relocation + Stabilization + Cover Maintenance Difficulty: Socially Complex Emotional Status: Tired - Responsible - Slightly Hopeful Chapter Outcome: Survival Phase Complete Domestic Phase Initiated Future Instability Confirmed Dad Personal Statement:"We're definitely buying a bigger place."

Reality's Response:"Approved. New problems queued."