“Welcome home!”
Aldo returned home after finishing his work, and at the same time, Iris rushed over to greet him.
“Welcome back, Dad!”
Iris hugged Aldo tightly. Surprised, Aldo responded, “Whoa,” and supported her small frame.
“Dad, hug me! Hug me tight!”
“Alright, alright. Here, a big hug,” he said, wrapping his arms around her shoulders and gently squeezing. Iris, satisfied, leaned into him with a happy smile.
“Hehehe, Dad, can you pat my head too?”
Smiling softly, Aldo stroked Iris’s head tenderly. Today, she seemed clingier than usual, making Aldo wonder what might have happened.
“I love you, Dad! Do you love me too?”
“Haha, of course! I love you so much, Iris,” Aldo said warmly.
Hearing those words, Iris spun away, looking pleased, and skipped further into the house.
“Clara, guess what? Dad hugged me and said he loves me. Hehehe!”
“That’s wonderful, Iris. You’re so loved by your dad,” 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 hadn’t known how.
“Thanks, Clara, for looking after Iris.”
“No problem. She was a very good girl today. Right, Iris?”
“Yep!”
Watching the two harmoniously agree, Aldo felt reassured that they no longer needed him to bridge their bond.
“Well, since you’re back, Aldo, I’ll take my leave,” Clara said.
“What? You’re leaving already?” Iris’s face fell, her expression tinged with disappointment. Clara smiled brightly at her.
“It’s time for you to have some quality parent-child time. Enjoy your time with your kind dad.”
With a teasing smirk, Clara glanced at Aldo, her lips curling mischievously as if holding back a chuckle.
“Bye, Iris! I had so much fun today!”
“See you later, Clara!” Iris waved energetically at the door as Clara left, her affection for her newfound friend evident.
The house grew quiet after Clara’s departure. Iris tugged on the hem of Aldo’s shirt.
“Hmm? What’s up, Iris?”
“Umm…”
Iris blushed deeply and fidgeted. “I… umm… about earlier… I…”
She covered her face with her hands, stomping her feet in frustration.
“Calm down, Iris.”
“Ugh… I’m sorry for earlier, Dad. I might’ve… overdone it.”
For someone like Iris, her earlier clinginess was unusual. After Clara left, self-awareness and embarrassment caught up to her.
“You don’t need to feel embarrassed, Iris,” Aldo reassured her. “It’s natural for kids to seek affection from their parents.”
“Really?”
“Of course! You can rely on me as much as you want.”
Encouraged by Aldo’s warmth, Iris beamed and exclaimed, “Okay!”
However, her next request caught him off guard.
“Then, carry me!”
“Eh?”
Iris extended her arms, asking to be picked up. Aldo, exhausted from mining, hesitated but couldn’t refuse her hopeful gaze.
“Alright. Come here,” 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 she’d grown.
“Yay! Dad, you’re so strong!” Iris cheered.
Her happiness was infectious, but Aldo’s legs began to tremble under the strain.
“Iris, is that enough?”
“Ah, yes! Thank you, Dad.”
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 world’s history was blank. This odd gap in his knowledge bothered him.
“Hmm… So, the history of this world is deeply tied to spirits and wraiths,” 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.
“The Spirit King’s salvation is what the Digger’s Guild is after, huh?”
As he pondered, Aldo noticed the late hour. Closing the book, he decided to call it a night, hoping for a good rest before tomorrow’s work.
