Descending Into A Novel

"G-grandpa?!"

Rayez felt his own heartbeat stop. Like divine thunder striking from the heavens and directly onto him, his entire body stiffened as he stared at the little girl in front of him.

Erin persisted, calling him again.

"Grandpa?"

He stammered, eyes widened. "I-I’m not that old."

"But you’re mom’s dad! So you’re grandpa!"

If the first two times was what pushed him to the edge. This explanation by Erin was enough to fully chuck him off the cliff and into the deep end.

"What—?!"

His eyes flicked towards Ellen, grabbing her by the shoulders.

"Ellen, what is all of this?!"

Clara, who had been watching all of this from the sidelines. Stepped on and calmly put her hand on Rayez.

"Dear, she’s probably confused about a few things right now. Let’s ju- 𝙛𝒓𝒆𝙚𝒘𝒆𝓫𝙣𝓸𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝒄𝒐𝓶

"Grandma?"

Except even Clara couldn’t keep her cool when faced with Erin.

Despite not being an S-rank like her husband, she still easily swooped up Erin in one swift motion.

"Say it one more time."

"Grandma?"

"Hehe...you’re so cute."

Clara put her down, running her fingers on her head. Only to feel two invisible, rock-lile protrusions.

"This is..?"

Seeing that the jig was up, both Raymond and Ellen let out a quiet sigh.

Quietly covering Erin’s ears, the two of them began explaining everything that had occurred in Mirovia City. Ending with then deciding to take care of Erin at the academy to protect her.

Dispelling the magic, Rayez felt his tense shoulders relax.

With horns, wings, tail and red hair like that. She definitely wasn’t Ellen’s actual daughter!

Seeing was believing after all, he already knew about the events in Mirovia City. But he was unaware of this.

They already knew that Erin probably wasn’t actually related to them. No way in the span of only one and a half years could Raymond and Ellen manage to have a kid that was already this size.

Setting aside the fact that she looked to be at least six years old. It would also imply that Raymond and Ellen had...fallen in love enough to do the deed and have a child. Which they heavily doubted.

Lastly, Erin had red hair. While there were always some weird things that could happen to babies because of mana—being way too strong, or having golden blood. Babies usually remained consistent in that they inherited traits from either parent. New hair color mutations were definitely possible, but rare.

And white and gold would only make a more pale gold rather then such an intense fiery red!

The colour didn’t match, the age didn’t match, and Raymond and Ellen definitely weren’t like that!

***

"Well that was certainly something."

"The recording is still there right?"

The smile on their voices could be heard even with your eyes closed.

Ellen covered her mouth, just rememberimg her father’s shocked expression as he was called grandpa was enough to make her sides start hurting.

The two silently fist bumped each other.

The entire recording had already been saved and duplicated about a hundred times, along with every picture to make sure it would never be lost. Such a thing was too valuable to be lost!

"I’m glad they like her."

"Who wouldn’t like her?"

Once the two had finally managed to calm down, and the entire situation with Erin had been explained. Clara happily agreed to let Erin stay with them while Raymond and Ellen went out. So in the end, it was a win-win situation for everybody.

Now, the two of them still had another day before the concert. So they planned on going through the City of New Rayan.

Because likewise as Mirovia City. The City of New Rayan was also considered as one of the top ten travel destinations(for humans).

The City of New Rayan was the main hub of activity for the Grace Family after all, it was one of the most powerful families and the richest. So the cities under their control were those with some of the highest quality of life and income compared to others.

A true economic powerhouse that even the government relied on them.

And the City of New Rayan reflected the Grace Family in every way possible.

Because the Grace Family earned its money through one method.

Selling!

To say that they made and sold things was like saying the sun was a light. True, but it was a vast underestimation of their ability.

Weapons, cars, concrete, toys, just about anything and everything that could be sold was sold by the Grace Family. To the point that they had a monopoly on practically everything. Their only opponents in terms of selling goods and services would be other Families.

From harvesting their own raw materials, to processing it entirely in house and even selling through their own businessed. The sheer amount of money they earned easily put them into the richest family. Second place not even remotely close to them at all.

So despite New Rayan being called New Rayan, its other name was far more popular—The City that never closes.

As the name implied, the city was open 24/7. Packed to the brim with shops and malls that sold everything you could think of.

Naturally, Raymond and Ellen wanted to spend their few days here having fun!

With a small allowance of several thousand that they had to shake out from Rayez. The list of things they wanted to do here was continuously expanding. While Erin was at home, the two of them set off on their own.

Whatever, just have fun first. Everything would work itself out.

***

"That will be 79.90 please."

Ellen checked her purse, counting the amount of money she had.

"Raymond, how much money did you bring?"

"I didn’t bring any?"

This was supposed to be just a small outing for dinner after all, since Ellen was already paying. Raymond didn’t bring anything with him. Even his dimensional storages were mostly filled with their earlier purchases rather then his wallet.

She re-counted how much money she had, letting out a tch as the amount stayed the same.

"...I’m short ten."

"What? You’re Ellen Grace, how are you short on money?"

"I didn’t think it would cost nearly eighty dollars!"

The cashier, seeing their problem let out a sigh.

It was already late, and he wanted to go home. Now these two customers were dragging out the time just because they didn’t have enough money.

Just then, he remembered something that could get him out of this situation.

He inquired them, "Are you two a couple?"

"Sorry?"

"We have a discount for couples. If you two are a couple then you get the discount."

Both Raymond and Ellen stared at each other. The same thought going through their heads.

’...just this once.’

Oh the things that they had to do just because of a lack of money.

"Yes."

"Great. Can you prove it?"

"Prove it?"

His next words were like a bombshell to the two of them. Causing them to both freeze in plnow as they processed his words.

"Just hold hands for a bit."

Already Raymond felt himself start to regret this decision. Wondering whether he should just quickly teleport back to the Grace estate and grab some cash there. But he was in too deep already!

Admitting that they weren’t really a couple just felt really shameful for some reason.

Like they were desperate for the discount, and had lied about it...

He definitely didn’t want to do that!

Their eyes met. Steeling their nerves, he quietly extended a hand. Feeling as Ellen did the same.

They had held hands before, when teleporting or when invisible in order to not lose track of each other. But that was for necessity’s sake, whereas this was also for necessity?

Their hands touched, finding each other as they both settled into a palm-to-palm handhold.

Was her hand always so soft? It felt really warm as well.

Raymond felt a strange heat rush to his face, turning his head away so that Ellen couldn’t see it. His heart was racing, his heartbeat the only thing he could hear. It was so loud that Raymond was pretty sure Ellen could hear it as well.

He didn’t know why, but the thought that other people could be seeing them like this embarrassed him.

It’s not like they were actually dating or a couple!

Even standing felt hard, his brain spun—all too aware of what was in his hand. Making him feel light-headed, a ticklish sensation forming inside his stomach.

The cashier corrected them, "Hold your hands with your fingers entwined."

’What?’

Ellen who had been looking at the floor trembled slightly, quietly moving her hand and interlocking fingers with him.

Just for a few seconds. She threw all her rationality into the wind.

She already thanked her lucky heavens that Raymond decided to turn his head away. Because right now, she didn’t even know what was happening to herself.

Her ears burned crimson, despite it being night. Her hand and face were warm, her face was red. Blood rushed to her head, making her slightly dizzy and barely even able to think about anything.

Her hand was hot, her face was hot, her body was hot. Everywhere, a strange heat like butterflies spread. Her hand which was touching Raymond’s felt extremely sensitive as well. Keeping her head tilted down as she bit her lip and stared at the floor.

She felt that if someone had asked her what the color of the floor was, she couldn’t even answer them.

The awareness of his hand in hers, fingers intertwined was practically burning a hole in her. Enough to make her toes curl and her heart pound.

’How much longer?!’

Was Raymond’s hand always so comforting? Despite the embarrassing situation, she couldn’t help but think of how nice his hand felt...

"That’s enough now."

After what felt like ages, the two finally let go of each other.

With her face still red, Ellen quietly handed over the money. The two of them practically running out the door the moment they were done.

The two of them looked at each other.

Immediately, the two formed an agreement at the same time. Without even needing words, they already swore to never speak of the events that had just occurred.

"We will not speak of today’s events ever again."

"Never in my life."

Making their way back home, the silence between them felt exceptionally heavy.

Strangely however, neither could keep the thought of how soft the other’s hand was out of their heads.

Meanwhile, a certain cashier quietly stared at the ceiling. Letting out a sigh as he turned and stared at the entrance where the two had just left.

Damn it. He already knew those two weren’t a couple.

But seeing them like that. Red and blushing just from holding hands a little. Probably feeling all warm and fuzzy and ticklish inside.

It made his own loneliness look real ugly.

’I want a relationship like that as well...’