Chapter 1: Shall We Dance?

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So much time has passed that even scenes I used to take for granted now fill me with nostalgia.

This is my second go-round, after all, so there's no need to rush. I leisurely sit on the bed in the room from my previous life on Earth while waiting for the Goddess.

I wanted to read some of my favorite manga while passing the time, but apparently, not too long had elapsed.

Long time no see, Goddess. Has it really been more than ten years since we last met...?

Yes, my wife and children are doing well, thank you. So today, ah, something happened then, didn't it? Hm? A celebration?...For what exactly? You say I shouldn't worry about it? Well, it feels somewhat uncomfortable celebrating without knowing the reason, if you know what I mean. Ah...so it's alright not to question it? I understand, just as before.

Hmm... Ah, I see now... Ooooooh.

Well then, all I have to do is accept it, right? Yes, if that's the case, I won't hesitate to take it. Sure, sure. Of course.

But still, what exactly am I being congratulated for?

"Can you not tell me at least?"

"Lord Ain...?"

Apparently, my sleepy mumbling sounded like sleep-talking from her perspective; she must've thought I was having a nightmare. Gently stroking the cheek of my beloved wife who peered anxiously over me, I reassured her:

"Mm...I just had a bad dream."

"Oh, really...was it good, then?"

"Yes...?"

"I'll explain tomorrow, so let's get some rest tonight. Sorry to wake you."

When I gently tapped her arm, Maria blushed and hesitantly rested her head on it as she lay down on the floor. Surrounded by her sweet scent and soft body, my eyelids grew heavy almost immediately.

"Seriously, how can you be so calm about this?!"

"Well, what do you expect me to say?"

"It's not 'tomorrow' anymore! We're talking about last night! Don't you think that calls for immediate discussion?!"

"I just feel it's important to get enough sleep for our health."

"Aghhhhhh!"

The children watched anxiously from afar as their mother tugged at her beautiful blonde hair. When I sent a reassuring glance toward my eldest daughter, she understood right away and took her younger siblings elsewhere. As their father, I couldn't be prouder of how wise they've grown up to be.

"Since she didn't tell me what exactly we're celebrating, I don't think it's worth dwelling on too much."

"But the fact that you received something directly from the Goddess—! It's enough to turn the whole kingdom upside down!"

"I appreciate your concern."

"There are some things about you, Lord Ain, that I simply cannot understand..."

"Now, now."

Maria slumped her shoulders dejectedly, and I continued gently stroking her back. Although I could have conformed to this world's customs and revered the Goddess like everyone else here, I deliberately chose not to—for one thing, because Maria panicking over my eccentricities was just adorable (though I couldn't possibly admit that to her). Another reason was that the Goddess seemed quite pleased with my straightforward attitude.

"So what did you receive this time? More sake?"

"Yes, actually..."

The liquor we received to celebrate our first child's birth was absolutely delicious. It probably tasted even better because I enjoyed it while getting cozy with Maria.

However, this time, the gift wasn't food or drink.

"Here it is."

"It seems quite large for a book... Is it an encyclopedia perhaps?"

"They call it a catalog."

"A catalog?!"

"I'm told we can choose one outfit each from any of these pages for you and me."

"For m-me too?!"

"Of course."

Even flipping through casually, most items listed were women's clothing. There were some men's pages toward the back, almost as if they had been forgotten, but since I have little interest in fashion, all the designs seemed similar to me.

That was just my impression, though; Maria, peeking over my shoulder from beside me, scrutinized each men's item as if it were a precious treasure.

"Since we're here, why don't we pick something out for each other?"

"You would allow me to choose your attire, Lord Ain?"

If such a simple suggestion could light up her face this much, it seemed like a bargain to me. Please feel free to select any of my clothes. For Maria, I'd even try rocking the single leaf look.

Not wanting to disturb her as she pored over the catalog, I decided to head over to where the eldest daughter had taken the younger children. The kindhearted kids appeared worried about their mother at first, but once they heard everything was fine, the younger ones seized the opportunity to swarm around me with gusto, now that their strict mother wasn't watching. Their eldest sister tried to stop them, but her pleas fell on deaf ears—it was simply adorable.

As I repeatedly grab and toss my beloved, swarming children, we all get filthy playing together—and naturally, Maria comes down on us like lightning afterward. Even at such times, our reliable eldest daughter never spares me from her mother's wrath. She truly is a sensible girl.