โWelcome home!โ
Aldo returned home after finishing his work, and at the same time, Iris rushed over to greet him.
โWelcome back, Dad!โ
Iris hugged Aldo tightly. Surprised, Aldo responded, โWhoa,โ and supported her small frame.
โDad, hug me! Hug me tight!โ
โAlright, alright. Here, a big hug,โ he said, wrapping his arms around her shoulders and gently squeezing. Iris, satisfied, leaned into him with a happy smile.
โHehehe, Dad, can you pat my head too?โ
Smiling softly, Aldo stroked Irisโs head tenderly. Today, she seemed clingier than usual, making Aldo wonder what might have happened.
โI love you, Dad! Do you love me too?โ
โHaha, of course! I love you so much, Iris,โ Aldo said warmly.
Hearing those words, Iris spun away, looking pleased, and skipped further into the house.
โClara, guess what? Dad hugged me and said he loves me. Hehehe!โ
โThatโs wonderful, Iris. Youโre so loved by your dad,โ Clara replied with a laugh.
Aldo realized what was going on. Clara had encouraged Iris to be more affectionate.
Yet, at the same time, Aldo felt a twinge of sadness. He wondered if Iris had always wanted to ask for affection like this but hadnโt known how.
โThanks, Clara, for looking after Iris.โ
โNo problem. She was a very good girl today. Right, Iris?โ
โYep!โ
Watching the two harmoniously agree, Aldo felt reassured that they no longer needed him to bridge their bond.
โWell, since youโre back, Aldo, Iโll take my leave,โ Clara said.
โWhat? Youโre leaving already?โ Irisโs face fell, her expression tinged with disappointment. Clara smiled brightly at her.
โItโs time for you to have some quality parent-child time. Enjoy your time with your kind dad.โ
With a teasing smirk, Clara glanced at Aldo, her lips curling mischievously as if holding back a chuckle.
โBye, Iris! I had so much fun today!โ
โSee you later, Clara!โ Iris waved energetically at the door as Clara left, her affection for her newfound friend evident.
The house grew quiet after Claraโs departure. Iris tugged on the hem of Aldoโs shirt.
โHmm? Whatโs up, Iris?โ
โUmmโฆโ
Iris blushed deeply and fidgeted. โIโฆ ummโฆ about earlierโฆ Iโฆโ
She covered her face with her hands, stomping her feet in frustration.
โCalm down, Iris.โ
โUghโฆ Iโm sorry for earlier, Dad. I mightโveโฆ overdone it.โ
For someone like Iris, her earlier clinginess was unusual. After Clara left, self-awareness and embarrassment caught up to her.
โYou donโt need to feel embarrassed, Iris,โ Aldo reassured her. โItโs natural for kids to seek affection from their parents.โ
โReally?โ
โOf course! You can rely on me as much as you want.โ
Encouraged by Aldoโs warmth, Iris beamed and exclaimed, โOkay!โ
However, her next request caught him off guard.
โThen, carry me!โ
โEh?โ
Iris extended her arms, asking to be picked up. Aldo, exhausted from mining, hesitated but couldnโt refuse her hopeful gaze.
โAlright. Come here,โ he said, mustering his strength to lift her.
Despite being slender for her age, Iris was still heavy for a 9-year-old. Feeling her weight reminded Aldo how much sheโd grown.
โYay! Dad, youโre so strong!โ Iris cheered.
Her happiness was infectious, but Aldoโs legs began to tremble under the strain.
โIris, is that enough?โ
โAh, yes! Thank you, Dad.โ
Sensing his fatigue, Iris let him put her down. Though reluctant, she was thoughtful enough not to overburden him.
Later, Aldo relaxed with a book after dinner and a bath. Iris, having exhausted herself playing with Clara, was fast asleep.
Aldo flipped through a history book. Despite having basic knowledge like reading, writing, and arithmetic, his memory of this worldโs history was blank. This odd gap in his knowledge bothered him.
โHmmโฆ So, the history of this world is deeply tied to spirits and wraiths,โ he murmured, intrigued.
About 995 years ago, the Spirit King created the first dungeon to seal away powerful wraiths. Even after nearly a millennium, it remained unconquered.
โThe Spirit Kingโs salvation is what the Diggerโs Guild is after, huh?โ
As he pondered, Aldo noticed the late hour. Closing the book, he decided to call it a night, hoping for a good rest before tomorrowโs work.