Part 81: Chapter L-2: Reunions and Partings

L-2: Reunions and Partings

…And that’s another job done! Methinks we deserve a break by now…

We sure do! Where do you have in mind, Sue?

Hmm… it’d be nice to hang out in the garden and do some people-watching!


A Break and an Outing



Come on, Mom! Where shall we go next?

Hmm, let me think… There’s a delicious cake place nearby!

Cake? I’m getting a bit too old for sweet things…

Ah, don’t worry! I’ll eat your slice, Dad!

Hold on, what about me? …You can just pay, darling!

W-What! You leave me no choice but to eat it, then!

Hahaha! Grin and bear it, Dad! Come on, to the cake shop!



Oh dear. She still can’t tell where she is going, can she? …Don’t leave me behind, please!

Hahaha! It looks like the three of them have completely made up!

Yeah! They look so happy, I’m glad! We oughta pay a visit to the church later… we really saw something wonderful!


The Nun’s Future

You were out with your family, and you looked really happy!

Girls, you should have said something!

Hehe, I don’t think I’ve ever seen you look so happy! It was more fun to just watch, rather than speak up and ruin the moment!

Hehe. I think you need some punishment for your sneakiness. A spanking, perhaps?



Hehe, I’ll forgive you just this once. And how couldn’t I? After all… I got back something very special to me, thanks to you. After that, we talked a lot. About the past, and about the future… I haven’t spent time like that in more than a decade. It was so satisfying! Lydie, and Sue… Thank you so much for bringing us back together!

I’m so happy for you, Sister Grace.

Thank you! Me too!

I’m sad, too, though… Now we won’t be able to call you “Sister” anymore!

Right, of course… You’ll be living as Grace the puppeteer now, won’t you…

No? I’m going to carry on living here as a nun. I’ve been doing this for a long time, after all. I can’t go back to that life now.

Uwah! So you’ll still be Sister Grace! But I wanted to see your puppet show again!

Don’t worry about that. I’ll put one on during the next church gathering.

Great! Haha! What will it be this time? Romance? Tragedy? I can’t wait!



I-I’m sorry… I said a bit too much…

What are you doing, dear? Honestly. I’m coming, I’m coming. You heard them, girls. My mediation skills are needed. I will see you later. May the blessings of God be with you!

Hehe, and with you too, Sister Grace. And with you too!

Indeed! Now, that’s one side of the family accounted for… so you know where we oughta go next, right?

Sure do!


Drossel’s Dream

Hehe, that’s great! Congratulations!

Heh, it all worked out somehow. It’s all thanks to you two, really!

That’s right. The support you offered us really helped us get through, Lydie and Sue! Thank you so much, both of you!

This is great! Now you can all live as a family again!



What? After just meeting your mom again?

Yes… There’s something I want to do, so I can’t live with them.

I tried to persuade her, but it’s no good. She’s such a stubborn girl! Where does she get it from?

I see… Drossel, can you tell us what it is you want to do?

Sure. I want even more people to see the ultimate puppet theater we have created! It’s so good, after all. We want many more people to see it! So I’m going to leave the city and perform it in as many places as I can!

I see! To get more people to see your show.

Yeah. And that’s not all… I bet Mom and Dad want some alone time, too!



Hahah! It sounds like she’s totally outmaneuvered you, Mr. Fritz!

Aren’t you going to be sad though, Drossel? Not being with your parents?

Yes, I’m sad! I plan on coming back pretty often, you’ll see!

Hah! If your sense of direction doesn’t improve, we’ll probably never see you again!

Hah, you have to bring that up! Don’t worry, it’ll all work out!

Are you sure? Anyway, more than that, I think it’s about time you found a husband, at your age…



Hehe. Even after living apart for so long, it doesn’t take much to turn back the clock. The bonds of family are so strong, aren’t they! Stronger than rocks, than metal, than anything!

Yeah. So even if Drossel goes traveling, the bond between the three of them will be unchanged. Heheh! I wish all three of them endless happiness!


Expansion, Negotiations, and…

I told you not to call me “Boss”. How about… “Chairwoman”?

Of course, that’s right! Chairwoman. I’ll be more careful! And with your leave…

Well then… With our second store, I’ll be able to expand even more.



Hey, Lydie, Sue. Yes, thanks to you. We have a communications network and sales are up. Business in Adalet is going to be good…

I see, I see… And what about your dad?

He hasn’t come yet… But I can’t afford to just sit around waiting. Of course I want to see him. But growing my business is important too.

That’s the Corneria we know and love! Merchant among merchants!

Thank you so much… Hehe, I’ll just keep on doing my best! To spread the name of Corneria Enterprise and supply as many as I can with affordable quality items!

Great! We’re supporting you, Corneria!

Ah, I know. How about selling some of the stuff that we synthesize? An interest around this, and then a low handling fee…



Hahaha, you two are negotiating already? Come on, Sue, we can’t be taking so much of her time.

Okay, okay. We’ll continue this later, Corneria!

Very well. I look forward to it. See you later.

Hey, Sue… do you think Corneria will…?

It’ll all work out! I know it will!



What? … Are you… my father…?

…Thank goodness for that!

I know!

Hmm, might as well, since I’m curious… Pamela!


The Roles of Grace

What are you doing today? Some shopping? Buying some things, right?

Hahaha, nope! I did loads of shopping from you back in Reisenberg!

Sure, but it still isn’t enough! I want you to buy more… more of everything!

Fine, fine, we’ll come back to that in a moment. I’ve got something to ask you first. It’s about my mom. Is she always like that, when she’s in the church?

By “like that”, I presume you mean…



Oh…

Yes, I think she is. That’s all I’ve seen from her.

I see… Mom used to be a bit more lively than that, that’s all.

Lively…?

Oh. I’ll try and show you.



So settle down and prepare to shout your little heads off! Sparky-sparkles! …Ahem. Like that.

Ah, hold on… She did something like that when we did a puppet show the other day.

She did? So this solemn Mom is all just an act!

Yes, you might be right. It sounds like Grace has quite a checkered past, too… I think I’ll ask her about it! I can’t wait to see what she says!

…Alright! It’s a new day, and we have some errands to run…

And shopping to do. So with that…


Reunion and Waiting

There is? What is it?

I’ve been reunited with my father. He came and visited my shop!

Ah, I knew it! Corneria, congratulations!

You must have had a lot to talk about. Did he tell you the reason why he left?

Yes. It was simple, really. Apparently, he copied too many things…

Excuse me?

He took on a lot of work, for the sake of my mother, and shrunk down to the size of a bug! Then my mother thought he had gone missing. It was all a misunderstanding, actually.

Hahaha… I was only joking about becoming that small, but it’s actually possible?



Hey, I’d never go that far! Although, if I actually saw her, my resolve…

Hehe, I’ll be careful, then. I don’t want to end up as someone’s pet, that’s for sure.

So, where’s your dad now?

He isn’t in the city anymore. I gave him this.



Yes. A ticket back to my hometown, Kirchen Bell. There’s so much more I want to talk to him about, but only when my mother is there too.

I see! I’m sure she’ll be happy about that! When will you be going back?

It will be a while, I think. Business is just getting on track here. I can’t afford to step away at the moment.

What, are you sure? I think you need to get back there!



Hehe, I can see that. I bet he’ll wait as long as it takes.

Thank you. So in the meantime… I’ll be relying on your patronage a little while longer, girls. Lydie, Sue… I hope you’ll continue to come and visit the Corneria Enterprise!

Hehe! You bet, Corneria!

So we’ll need the usual, today…

Meanwhile, at church…


Kirchen Bell’s Top Clothier



Ah, I see. I bought some new clothes, and I just wanted to show them to her.

Oh, some clothing? Show me, show me!

Sure. Say, Pamela, do you remember Leon? From back in Kirchen Bell? I saw some of her clothes at the shop, and just couldn’t help myself.

Oh, Leon’s work? Of course I remember her! She’s a real big deal now. Got loads of students too, so I hear!

Really? I didn’t know that! So she’s doing well too, is she? Good to know. If I bump into her again, I’ll be sure to take her out for a drink.

Hehehe, I’m sure you’ll see her again one day. I just have that feeling. I’ll join you, when that time comes. We can chat about Sophie over some drinks!

Indeed! Now, here are the clothes…

Lovely! As expected from Leon…

Aren’t they? Now, then! I’ll be taking my leave… Ah, Lydie! Sue!

Hello, Mr. Fritz! Here to see Sister Grace?

Yes, but she’s not here right now. And you…?

Hehe, we figured we might buy something from Pamela!

Hmm, I wonder if Sue knows… well, I guess she’ll find out sooner rather than later…


A Memory Repressed

W-What’s up Pamela? Something seems to have seriously surprised you…

Guess what! It seems sales at my shop have reached my target figure!

Wow, that’s great! Congratulations!

Thank you! Hahaha! This is thanks to all of your purchases, too! I’ve set aside money for gifts this time. Now I can finally go home!

I see… You’ve made your money, so it’s time to move on?

Yeah… We’re going to be sad!

Say, Pamela! One last time… Could we call you “Mom” again, one last time?

Yes, of course!



Ah! That settles it! I’m going to become a nun who travels between both Kirchen Bell and Merveille!

What?! I’m happy to hear that, but are you sure?

It will be exhausting, so no, I’m not, but if I get serious I should be able to manage it! I’m really starting to like this place, after all… And I want to see the two of you grow up! So I’m going to use all my powers and just fly there and back!

Ah, of course! You can fly because you’re a ghost!



Uwaah… Uwaaaaaaaaah!

Kyaah, Sue! Are you okay?! Water, get some water!

Hmmm… What should I do with all the money I’ve made, though? Buy lots of gifts, I guess! Hmm, what would be best…? I hope everyone in Kirchen Bell is doing well!





Oh my, Sue! Calm down before you turn into a ghost yourself…!

YOU’RE NOT HELPIIIIING!!