"O-Oh yeah, sorry about that…. U-ummmm anyways, what did you want to ask me?" My daughter quickly redirected the awkward air.

As she placed her game system down and she turned towards me on the bed, digging her face into my chest, I slowly cracked open my lips.

"Well… this shard that you have… do you like it?"

"Oh, the one in my status?" She looked up at me with innocent eyes while I swiftly nodded. "Well, I guess. It's really powerful, though I do feel it's a cheat code in a while. I think I'll start using it less because I want to really improve my base and get good from the foundation up. I was able to make up for my weak foundation in my past life through various overpowered skills, but now I realize I could have been much, much stronger.

"Okay… then… let me request something."

…

(Ada POV)

As I hugged my mother even tighter, she took in a deep breath and slowly let it out, as if to calm herself. This made me a bit worried because this meant she was about to ask a tough question, so I just prepared myself for the worst.

"Ahem… I need to take back that shard of yours… it's something very important, and seeing how you aren't interested in using it, I might as well-"

"AHAHAHAAHAAHA!"

I immediately burst out laughing, surprising Mom as her eyes widened and her pupils scraped over my face. She was clearly confused, but to me, that question was just pure and utter nonsense.

"Of course! Why are you even so nervous?" I slowly calmed myself down, wiping my watery eyes that had been moistened from the laughter.

"Well… the process of extracting the shard will be tough… so please hear me out, but I will essentially need to cut open your soul and take it. I can use anesthetic and such, but there is a chance that you will wake up, and I will guarantee you that it is the most painful thing you will ever experience."

I gulped down a drop of saliva before responding. "W-Well, can I ask what it's for? Do you just want it to improve your power- not that I won't give it to you, but it's just… I need to know the reason first."

"God told me to take it from you. The singular most powerful god in this existence of ours contacted me and threatened me to take back that shard from you."

"W-What? R-Really? Why didn't they just take it from me, then? If they're that powerful, couldn't they have just taken it from me?"

"There are certain limitations, and she's also caught up with other things. This is but a mere setback in her plans, and she sent me to get it… otherwise, she would have taken everything from me."

Mom tried to hide the nervous aura from me, but I could immediately tell just from how hard she was trying to keep up that fake expression of hers… that she was scared for not only her life, but her family's life.

"I understand. Don't worry, Mom, there is no need to be so scared right now," I smiled, radiating a bit of joy into her husk of a body drained from the overwhelming emotions.

Mom chuckled ever so slightly before wrapping me tighter in her embrace. She smelled so good, and the fabric of her shirt was so soft that I could barely stay awake. I was about to drift off to sleep.

"You can get some rest, honey. I should be the one taking care of you."

"But you being scared makes me scared…." I replied, shuffling my face from out of collar bone and looking up at her stressed expression.

Her pupils quivered while her teeth came biting down on her lower lip.

"Don't do that," I muttered, and as she looked down at me, her eyes softened. Her expression almost seemed to go limp with joy as she stared into my eyes. This woman truly loved me, and I could never ask for anything more.

"Y'know, I have dreams sometimes of you laughing at me. I have dreams that you played me this entire time just so you could crush my life. The shift in personality between this life and your previous life is so drastic that it almost makes it hard to trust you."

"Y-You can trust me," I stuttered as I couldn't make up for the past unless I focused on the present.

"Mia tells me you're a changed person, but there is always that dark thought in the back of my mind, telling me over and over not to trust you… so, Ada… can I trust you?"

"Of course!" I exclaimed, causing the woman to smile ever so gently. "I will make it up to you. All the pain and anguish that I put you through… I-I will be sure to make it up. I promise! I swear on everything that I will make it up to you!"

"Then can I trust you with a higher position within Tolf? Well, to be exact, when your physical age reaches eighteen years old. Can I trust you with a position like… hmmmm… a general? You would be pretty good at that."

"Yes!" I exclaimed with glee, hugging my mom back so tight that she groaned as I hugged inwards. "I love you! I love you!" I continued to repeat while my mother tucked my head back into her collarbone and slowly stroke my hair.

"I love you too, Ada. I apologize for having those lingering thoughts."

"No, it's completely fine, and I understand. But don't worry, I won't fail you or Tolf if I become a general. I promise, so please place just a bit of trust in me."

"Then I will hold you accountable to that… do you want to sleep some more, or do you want to go train? It's up to you. You have me for the entire day."

"I-I just want to sleep next to you. Hugging you… is… comforting…"

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