My Daughters Are Regressors

Mages.They were beings that consumed an enormous amount of money.From a young age, they had to brew and drink medicinal herbs, learn from good teachers, and have good equipment and good land....Money was needed at every step.

Even with talent, without money, one couldn't become a good mage.So the existence of mages generally meant people born with good parents and good circumstances in this world.A slightly unlucky feeling?

Of course, mage Brigitte was different from that kind of mage.Brigitte was a self-made mage who had managed everything by herself except for her bloodline.She lived a truly tenacious life.Even now, more than ten years later, she still felt tense when thinking about the hardships of that time.

'I know well that those intense days made me who I am today. But I didn't actually want to live so intensely. I just wanted to live ordinarily, leisurely, having fun every day.'

Brigitte recalled her past.Perhaps her non-interference with Naru was due to a compensatory psychology for her own childhood.

'But hasn't my selfishness troubled Naru instead? Won't Naru resent me someday in the distant future? Of course, Naru is too kind to do that, but still....'

Brigitte watched Naru dancing clumsily.At first, she creaked like an unoiled tin doll, but as 1 minute, 5 minutes passed, Naru's dance moves gradually improved until she was moving more naturally than Brigitte.

'What an amazing child.'

Even to Brigitte, Naru was a child like a shining raw gem.Her form was so brilliant that no matter how she was cut, she would shine. Brigitte wasn't sure if she should be involved in this child's growth and future.Even a normal mother-daughter relationship was unknown to Brigitte, let alone being in a position to teach a genius daughter.After much consideration, Brigitte carefully asked Naru.

"Naru, did you have fun today?"

"Ung, ung! I had fun yesterday too! I had fun today and I'll have fun tomorrow! Naru has fun every day! I'm glad I was born into this world! Thank you, Mom!"

Whoosh—Naru hugged Brigitte's waist.Brigitte had many things she wanted to say and ask, but it didn't matter anymore.

'To be honest, I'm a novice mom. I might be terrible as a mother. But Naru is a child overflowing with talent. A novice mother and a genius daughter. Could such a relationship really work out?'

Thinking like that, Brigitte gently stroked Naru's head.At that moment, Brigitte felt a slight warmth on her stomach. Slightly surprised, she looked down to see Naru sniffling.The belly part of her dress was wet because of Naru's tears.

"Naru, why are you crying?"

"Naru has fun every day, but soon I have to go meet the raccoon! I promised!"

"...Raccoon? Promise?"

Brigitte couldn't understand.Naru often said such incomprehensible things.

# # #

If Naru and Brigitte were in a relationship of an awkward mother and a genius daughter, this side was a relationship of an awkward mother and an awkward daughter.

Cecily and Cariote.They were a mother and daughter who had corners that weren't honest with each other.

Although their appearances weren't very similar, their personalities were more alike than anyone else's.Perhaps that's why their dance moves were quite out of sync.Cecily kept stepping on Cariote's feet, and Cariote's long-legged stride creaked as she couldn't be mindful of Cecily.

Still, they were managing to imitate those around them, albeit clumsily.At least that's what Cariote thought.Of course, Cecily sighed, "Hoo—"

"This isn't the kind of party I wanted."

"Is that so?"

"I thought the nobles' social gatherings would be a bit different. But everything that happened today was just nonsense! To think that my, Cecily's, high society debut would turn out like this, I can't accept it!"

"I see."

Cariote nodded appropriately.After all, the only responses Cariote had given to people at today's party were "Is that so?" and "I see."

It was the same even in the situation of dancing with her daughter Cecily.Cariote slightly regretted her lack of conversational skills.

If she had been an elegant and graceful noble, what would she have said to her daughter?Cariote thought of her mother.Cariote's mother was undoubtedly more refined than any of the noble ladies she had met at today's party.If it were her mother, she would have asked something like this.

"Do you have a boyfriend?"

Cecily frowned at that question.

"Don't you think it's too early for this Cecily?"

"But noble ladies usually have fiancés by the age of 6 or 7. Mostly arranged engagements between families, though."

Cecily thought of Lady Soso who came from the eastern region. She was only 1 year older than Cecily but already had a much older fiancé.Not just Soso, but most noble ladies generally had fiancés.

Marriage between families.That was the 'duty' of noble ladies after all.However, to Cecily, the noble young masters all seemed like fools or children, and she had no interest in them.

"All the men at the social gatherings are fools."

Cariote laughed, "Hoho—" at Cecily's scathing evaluation.

"I think so too. My mother... your grandmother also thought the same about the men at social gatherings. But in the end, both your grandmother and I married the most foolish men we knew."

"Are you saying Dad is a foolish person?"

Cecily recalled her father's face.He was certainly far from the noble and cool father Cecily had dreamed of. Could the word 'foolish' suit him so well?If it were the 25-year-old Cecily from the future, she might have used more vocabulary and called him an id-iot.Cecily suddenly became curious.

"Mom, why did you marry someone like Dad? He's a man who's taken three wives. I think Mom could have married princes from other countries."

Cecily liked her dad.Of course, she had never shown such feelings in front of her dad.But thinking coldly, Cecily's dad was a philanderer and a bad person. She couldn't understand why someone as capable and beautiful as Cariote had agreed to marry her dad.Soon Cariote said.

"Well, he's a handsome person. He has a lot of hair. He's strong too. Also, I like that he has a childlike side. But when it's time to do something, he does it. He's braver than anyone else."

Many scenes came to Cecily's mind as well.But she pretended not to know and shook her head.

"...I don't understand at all."

"I see, but someday you'll understand. Because you're my daughter. Although, I couldn't become the wonderful noble lady you wanted..."

Cariote felt embarrassed as the hem of her dress, torn for easier movement, felt particularly empty—. Of course, Cecily didn't mind such things and snorted, "Hmph—"

"It's okay. I, Cecily, have made my social debut, so I'm an adult now and past the age of caring about such things."

Those were her honest feelings.Cecily had seen plenty of children at today's social gathering boasting their parents' glory as if it were their own. It was quite an eyesore, which made her reflect on herself.

"What's important is myself, not my parents. I, Cecily, am more noble than anyone, so naturally, my mom and dad become nobles too. It's like when there's a shining sun, the stars next to it shine as well."

It was a splendid story.Cariote was glad that her daughter Cecily was better at speaking than herself.It made her feel extremely cute.

Chomp—Cariote lifted Cecily up and sucked on her cheek as if devouring it.It was something she had always wanted to do but couldn't because she thought Cecily would get angry.

"Hieek! Fuck-!"

Of course, Cecily got angry as expected.

# # #

"Hina, Mom told you that you always have to be the best."

Salome lightly scolded Hina.In Salome's opinion, Hina was a child who 'could do anything if she tried hard enough'. Whatever it might be.So she thought that even becoming a little princess and being adopted by Princess Ordor at this party was entirely possible if Hina just set her mind to it.

'Hanging out with Naru and Cecily is making our Hina wishy-washy too. I want to make Hina the best!'

It was Salome's desire.Hina had to be the best, no less.Because in Salome's opinion, Hina was slightly, just slightly, faint.

—In terms of presence!

Having a faint presence was an innate talent that couldn't be exchanged for anything as a thief, as someone who had to walk the back alleys, but Salome hated it.Salome wanted Hina to be the best anytime, anywhere.For that, first of all, Hina needed to keep some distance from Naru and Cecily.

'Naru and Cecily have too strong presences. If she's with them, Hina with her faint presence might always end up as a supporting role instead of the lead.'

"Hina, you need to become like the sun."

Salome wished for Hina to shine like the sun despite being a thief's daughter. She wanted her to be adored and loved by people like the brightest light.Proudly, anywhere.

Although Salome had made numerous mistakes and lived a false life until now, she hoped Hina wouldn't turn out like that.She was willing to do anything for that.Hina was a smart girl who could 'do anything if she tried hard enough' as Salome thought. So she understood well what her mother Salome was thinking.

"Hina will try hard."

Hina nodded to please her mother.Salome was very satisfied with that answer.

"Then shall we become the main characters at this ball too?"

"Ung, ung."

Hina nodded.Before they knew it, Salome and Hina were dancing gracefully and skillfully towards the center of the stage.People watching them recited elegant appreciations like "Oh my." or "It's like two pink roses have bloomed."Hina and Salome were shining brighter than anyone else here.But Salome opened her mouth slowly after opening her thin eyes.

"But Hina, you don't really want to do this, do you?"

"......"

"Actually, you prefer playing with Naru and Cecily rather than studying hard, right?"

"...Ung, ung."

Hina slowly nodded.In fact, Salome also knew what Hina was thinking. Because Hina could be smart thanks to taking after her mother.Salome was a smart woman, so she clearly knew Hina's thoughts but pretended not to know. And Hina also already knew this.In other words, it could be said that they were acting.However, Hina now wanted to put down her role and speak honestly.

"Hina... actually likes Naru and Cecily. Mom told me not to play with them... But Naru is Hina's good rival and Cecily always takes Hina's side..."

"But didn't Cecily hit your head?"

"...We made up! Because we're family...!"

"Foolish. You'll only lose every day like that."

Salome clicked her tongue, "Tsk—"But on the other hand, she was glad that Hina had such a family.Because Salome didn't have such a family.

A cold winter world where you never know who might be aiming for your back.Salome's life had always been like that.Although she had stolen numerous treasures and filled warehouses, Salome's back was always chilly, and because of that, her heart felt empty—.

If only I had a family who could watch my back—.It was natural to think like that.Fortunately, it seemed Hina had such sisters.And Hina thought Salome had such sisters too.

"...Brigitte and Cariote are good people. Hina's other moms... So I think Mom can trust them a bit more too..."

"Hmph—"

Salome snorted.Then she let go of Hina's hand and gently pushed her back.

"If you're going to say such things, go tell your dad."

"Ung, ung!"

Hina ran towards her dad as if she had been waiting for this.And she clung to his right leg, Whoosh—

It looked just like a flying squirrel spreading its body wide— and flying to cling to a tree from a high place.Soon, Cecily, who had finished dancing with Cariote, also approached Judas.And with a reluctant feeling, saying "Mom told me to," she clung to Judas's left leg.

Judas's legs now had children dangling from them.Naru, who came late, was flustered.

"...No place for Naru!"

"Hehe—"

Hina smiled victoriously.Had she finally beaten Naru this time?Then Judas, with an awkward feeling, scratched his nose bridge and picked up Naru with both hands.

"Can't be helped. I'll hold you."

"Wow, holy shh—!"

"Grr—"Even this time, Naru got the best spot.While Hina was building up her competitive spirit against Naru, Judas started moving.

A strange dance with three daughters.The movement was so waddling like a penguin that it was quite funny.Because this kind of dance move couldn't be seen in any ballroom and surely wouldn't be seen in the future, all the people laughed out loud.

"Look at that!"

"Hilarious!"

Louder.And louder.The laughter grew louder and people even clapped their hands.So that when the children grow up and recall today's events, even if they forget everything else, they will surely remember this big laughter.