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"There you go, dear," Alma said, placing another steaming bowl of stew in front of her son, accompanied by freshly baked bread and more. "Hm? Is everyone else here?"

"Ah yeah, they should’ve finished school, sparring, and all that," Maria nodded.

And then...

BAAAM!

The door flew open with a kick. A girl with long red hair tied into two large ponytails stormed in, dressed in black-and-red Gothic Lolita attire and tall black boots studded with spikes.

"Ohohohooo! Mother! I have returned! And we are quite hungry! I expect a grand feast!"

This dramatic vampiric lady with her signature ojou-sama laugh was none other than Scarlet and Maria’s daughter, Ernestina.

She dragged along a massive beast she had hunted, dropping it heavily right behind Liam and startling him.

"Ugh! Big sister, would you stop bringing beasts into the house while we’re eating?!" Liam snapped.

"Huh?! And who are you to raise your voice at your big sister, Liam?!" Ernestina shot back fiercely. "Wanna fight?!"

"Hah?! Well, if you’re pushing it that far...!" Liam started to rise, fists clenched.

"Liam, please don’t fight your big sister..." Alma pleaded, gently pressing her hands on his shoulders to keep him seated.

"Ernestina... behave," Scarlet murmured, materializing from the shadows and patting her daughter’s head.

"Eek! M-Mom?! Where were you?!" Ernestina gasped.

"I was right there the entire time! Is this how you treat your little brother?" Scarlet asked, arms crossed sternly. "We’ll need to talk later."

"I-I’m sorry..." Ernestina whimpered. She never liked facing Scarlet’s disappointment. "Please forgive me!"

"I also hunted a big beast from the interdimensional rift!" A young, handsome blond elf strode in next, unfurling his long fairy wings with a charming grin—Emeraldine and Maria’s son, Oberon. "Heh! My archery skills have reached another dimension by now!"

"Oh dear, stop lying. You have zero talent for archery..." Emeraldine said gently as she walked beside him, offering a soft smile. "I’ve told you many times it’s perfectly fine to just be a mage..."

"W-What!" Oberon gasped. "But Mother, archery is our family’s legacy! I have to keep practicing earnestly!"

"You keep shooting in the completely wrong direction, dumbass!" A third figure stepped forward—big, muscular, towering over both Oberon and Ernestina.

She had clear brown skin, long blue-and-green hair, and emerald eyes that occasionally flared red. Her outfit, crafted from the fur and leather of her hunts, left most of her well-toned, tattoo-covered body exposed—magical and spiritual markings swirling across her skin.

This was Celeste, Nia and Maria’s daughter.

"Eeeh?! I’m doing my best, you know?!" Oberon protested, face full of desperation. "I’m trying everything I can!!! Not everyone has it easy like you with those huge muscles...! Ugh, why can’t I get big muscles?!"

"Son, that’s simply because you’re a fairy," Emeraldine said warmly. "We’re slender and tall, majestic beings. There’s nothing to feel ashamed of—you should accept and love your body as it is."

"I do, but I wouldn’t mind getting a little jacked!" Oberon grumbled, slumping into his seat. "Ah, hey Liam."

"Oberon..." Liam glanced at his big brother. "What’s wrong?"

"He kept shooting arrows wrong and one landed right on my butt cheek!" Celeste complained, patting the spot. "That’s what happened!"

"Ahh..." Liam’s eyes widened. "Big brother Oberon... please just stop already... You’re going to hurt someone who isn’t as tough as big sister one day."

"I-I...! I’m getting there, okay?!" Oberon whined.

"I told him he could learn an Archery Skill, but he said that’s cheating," Emeraldine said, rolling her eyes. "He was so determined to master Archery Martial Arts from Murim that I couldn’t stop him..."

"Yeah..." Maria sighed. "Still, it’s nice to see how hard he works. Maybe one day he’ll awaken his latent talent! I believe in you, my dear son!"

"Mother! I knew you would support me!" Oberon beamed. "Oooh! We’re having Aunt Alma’s stew today?! Nice!"

"Heheh, enjoy it, Oberon," Alma giggled, serving him a generous portion.

"Celeste, you should behave better and show more respect, alright?" Nia said calmly, sitting beside her daughter. "Your siblings all love you dearly, and you love them too, is that right?"

"Uuuh, yeah," Celeste sighed. "I know, Mom... It’s just sibling banter—harmless... until an idiot shoots an arrow into my butt!"

"I already said I was sorry!" Oberon cried.

"Hahahahah!" Ernestina burst out laughing, smugly propping her big boots on the table. "Heh, you two are like jesters, always entertaining me—ACK!"

A sharp karate chop landed on her head. She yanked her foot down instantly. Scarlet glared down at her already-adult daughter with quiet disappointment.

"Ernestina, what did we say about putting your foot on the table?! That’s terrible manners! You’re an adult now—act like one!" Scarlet scolded.

"Uugh... sorry... geez!" Ernestina muttered, crossing her arms sulkily.

"Come on now, no more fighting. Let’s have a good meal together," Maria said with a warm smile. "I brought some of your favorite desserts from Earth."

"Really?!" Ernestina asked, eyes lighting up. "You got brownie cheesecake with extra cookies-and-cream ice cream on top?!"

"Yes," Maria confirmed.

"Ahh, did you bring doughnuts from Krispy Kreme?" Celeste asked eagerly.

"Indeed!" Maria replied.

"A-And chocolate-covered cream puffs with strawberry cream inside?!" Oberon asked.

"Of course," Maria said.

She revealed the precious, mouthwatering desserts. With the promise of good behavior hanging in the air, her children finally settled down and began enjoying their meal in relative peace.

FLUOSH!

A black gate opened. Four figures stepped into the dining room after a long day away.

"We’re back! Exploring Azure Star’s outer space is always exhausting," Lucifer yawned as he entered.

"Hahah, but it’s the perfect place to train and push our limits!" Jonathan laughed, now close friends with Lucifer after so much time.

Beside them walked two of Maria’s children, now appearing as young adults: Thanatos and Isabella.

"I was able to refine quite a few black nebulas," Thanatos said with a satisfied smile, his dark aura rippling outward. "Oh? Ah, my dear siblings! Have you started lunch without me?" Despite being younger, he loved playing the part of a villainous dragon, giving his speech an oddly theatrical flair.

"Hey guys! Sorry for being late, heheh!" Isabella greeted everyone with a radiant smile—so bright it blinded the room for five seconds before the light dimmed. "Oops, sorry! I just absorbed a tiny star..."

While one tried hard to be edgy and dark, the other was a clumsy yet luminous little star.

And both were overwhelmingly intense presences for the other three siblings.

"Ah, welcome back!" Maria said cheerfully. "Let’s eat together, dears!"

"Wow, is it just me or is everyone getting along unusually well today?" Isabella wondered, glancing at her siblings. "Hehehe! Well, I’m glad!"

"Actually, when they got here they already started fighting..." Liam said. "Mom had to bribe them with desserts to calm down..."

"Really? Wait, Mother! Did you also procure a dessert for me?" Thanatos asked.

"Yes, dear, don’t worry," Maria nodded with a small sigh. "I got one for everyone—no need to fret."

"Well, that’s a relief!" Thanatos said. "Wait... is it the waffles?"

"Yes, hahaha," Maria laughed.

"Alright!" Thanatos instantly dropped character, making Maria giggle again.

"Wait, where’s Nyx and Celes at?" Ernestina wondered.

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