Isekai Journey Of The Magic Archer

"Grandpa Zhen...? What happened? Where's everyone?"

The garden was empty, and he was the only one greeting us here with some other butlers of his shadow squad.

They were handling the gate, so they were naturally the mage ones.

But he was alone here, with a complicated expression, no less.

He had this complicated expression that was wondering how to tell what was on his mind.

He wasn't worried, and it didn't seem like anything had happened while we were gone, so I wasn't worried.

Just that my whole family wasn't home. Not in this home, at least.

I had already used (: Scan) and they weren't in this entire estate at the very least and… now that I was looking at him, there was also something in his hand.

A piece of paper? Maybe a latter?

Did they have somewhere they just had to go, so they weren't here or something?

If so, then... well, I can understand.

Everyone was busy, and this was a weekday, so they all had their duties to attend to.

But then again, where were Alf and Carla? 𝐟re𝐞w𝐞𝒃𝓃𝒐𝐯𝚎𝒍.c૦𝚖

I was in this deep thought when grandpa Zhen just shook off the feeling in his mind and just walked forward.

It was still morning and our morning had gone pretty fun till now, so I wasn't expecting something like this.

I was holding Anna's hand while my other hand was holding Rein's.

She also saw his complicated expression, and even in her eyes, this was not normal.

Anna was just confused while I looked to the other side at Zoe… there was a knowing smile on her face? As if she knew what was going on and everything that would happen now.

Maybe this was something good? Like, this was something that was part of their plan for my birthday party?

But, at the very least, Zoe was smiling, so I had nothing to worry about.

I told Rein not to worry with this touch of our interlocked hands, so her heart was also at ease now.

Grandpa Zhen saw Zoe smiling and shook his head like he was just helpless in this matter and didn't understand their minds.

He first came up to us, bowed respectfully, and then handed me the letter.

Without saying anything more than that, he asked Anna if he could pick her up and, as confused as she was right now, she couldn't help but just blankly nod at him.

He picked her up and asked for Zoe's hand and she just cheerfully held his gloved hand and he bowed one last time.

I was still confused as the mage assassins that had set the gate also went to their guarding posts.

Zoe waved her hand at the two of us, and... grandpa Zhen disappeared.

Like he literary vanished, and this wasn't stealth but more of a teleportation skill like Rein's.

So he was gone, and… this was really weird.

This big garden now only had some servants doing their own garden work while the two of us were here, waiting, alone.

"Is this... some kind of game?" she asked as I released her hand to see what this piece of paper that grandpa Zhen gave me was. free𝒘ℯ𝗯𝙣𝗼ν𝑒𝗹.𝒄o𝒎

"Maybe? Let's see what's this..."

There were actually two papers when I opened the folded one and when we looked at the first one filled with mom's handwriting, a smile appeared on our hands.

[ Hello baby~!

Today's your birthday and I wish you a very fine day from everyone~!

Remember how we used to celebrate your birthday, your daddy's birthday, and mine in our small house?

I still remember how the little five-year-old you accurately figured out everything your dad and I had prepared and then you even guessed our gifts, right?

Huhuhu... I remember how that little baby looked when already knowing everything going on around him from those toddler days.

I know you remember everything and I know how smart you are.

If we prepare anything there, I knew you would just figure out everything the moment you set foot there.

So~! We prepared everything in Theo's house~!

And there's just your favorite food and some special dishes prepared by your grandma and daddy here.

The main thing is over there, which is our main event we prepared with a looooooot of work.

People call it a treasure hunt game nowadays, so I will also call it just that.

A treasure hunt~!

You are the finder and there are gifts from all of us hidden throughout the house.

There is a clue for the first gift and you will get another clue if you get the gift from the first clue.

This is really exciting, huhuhu!

We all did our best to prepare an awesome gift from our side and I already know you will consider Anna's gift the best, but I know you won't be able to decide on any second or third rank~!

Every one of those things is just awesome~!

Especially mine. Hehehe. If you want, you can give the second spot to me, but then again, I don't know what Zoe and Elle would be giving, so I can't say...

But! I know you will have fun in this game~!

Looooooooove you baby! Do your best~!

Ah! If you can't find anyone or more of the gifts, which seems highly unlikely to me, you will have to grant any one wish of the people the gift belongs to.

Carla and Alf had faith in their hiding abilities, children~, hehehe, so they even made a bet with me.

But I know my baby Eon and he will find everything before the afternoon and come here to thank us all~!

But, Eon, I know you already used magic to see the whole house but, after you read this one, you are prohibited from using any magic or skills.

Elle is there to supervise you, so... Elle. Don't let him cheat or if we find out you helped him or he used any magic or skills, you both will be punished and won't be able to meet for a month~!

And I mean it will all my heart so~ don't do anything foolish and just use your awesome mind, strengths, and talent~!

It's just a fun game for your birthday so don't worry~!

Ba-bye~.

-Your best mom~.]

"You heard her. No magic, skills, or cheating. Ptff. This really is fun. Hehehe... I should have thought of something similar.

Hiding a coin in the forest and then giving you a small clue to find it.

Let's do it next time~!"

She was really excited after hearing this and I also couldn't help my excitement on this one.

They had prepared something really fun for me to play and if I think about it, this was a really good method for celebrating my birthday.

I would have fun. They would be fine while doing their work and I would also have fun with Rein by my side.

It was... really a good game.

Rein wouldn't do anything that could have her stay away from me for much longer. And a month-long restriction from the meeting would be like a year-long separation plus torture for her.

Not that I disagree with that. It would be good for her to learn to be away from me so that she can understand the true meaning of staying together.

It would also increase her mental fortitude, so it was alright in the end.

We were standing in the garden, and my dear family was preparing in Alf's house.

So... what are they actually doing?

'I can't use the skills and spells, but there were no restrictions on having Celes's help, right?'

And just as I was thinking of this thing, to pour cold water on these thoughts of mine, Celes spoke up in my mind.

[[ Sorry... master. Little Anna and Zoe just requested me not to help you this time. Their pleading eyes were soooooo innocent and pure that I couldn't help...

I'm really sorry master... hick. hick.

I-if you really want... t-then please feel free to ask for anything.

I will just... t-tell them I couldn't help it. Or j-just apologize... ]]

'This little pure one... they sure know how to trick someone even though they are pure.'

One of Celes's clones always stayed with Anna and Zoe so they can talk with her through them and then she would tell me if there was anything important.

Her main body stayed with me most of the time and that was the most ideal, as her clones were something that was more 'normal' compared to her.

So, as she said, they masterfully tricked her into agreeing to their request, and... the sudden helpless look on my face was all it needed for Rein to understand that they had dealt with my last option, Celes, already.