Chapter 41 — The Building Fallacy

Lena continued to describe the fight with infectious excitement.​「Yah, yah, he cut them so fast and his ka... Ka— Papa, what's your swords called?」​「...Chuckle... Katana.」​「Yes! His katanas were so sharp, it cut real cleanly! ...They go in the restaurant...」​Jay turned to his daughter, sensing she was hiding something about the fight.​「So, yah, Lena, I couldn't help but wonder what you meant when you said 'I don't leave blood on me when I do it.'」​「Err... Errr... Umm... I meant nothing b-by it!」She tried to whistle but blew nothing but air.​Jay sat down at a table, his expression firm.​「So, Lena, do I pinch your ears or cheeks for lying?」​Lena's eyes immediately welled up.​「Mama!」​「...Giggles... OK, remember that stain you found on Lena's dress?」 Iris revealed.​「Yah, it was ketchup, right?」​「No. It was blood.」​「...Sighs... Figures. Was it self-defense?」​「Yes. Wait, you're not mad?」 Iris asked, surprised.​「Nah. Just tell the truth next time, both of y'all, a'ight?」​「...Happy... Yes! ...Wipes her tears away...」​The Waiter approached their table, immediately taking issue with Lena and Saalin.​「So, are you all ready to order?」​「Yah, you go first, Princess.」​「I'd like steak, please!」​The Waiter's face twisted in disgust.​「Tsk! Sir, I'm sorry, but we don't serve garbage animals in our establishment, so I'll ask you send them out!」​Iris stood up, sighing.​「Seems like we ain't eating here anymore.」​「Yah, we'll be outside. C'mon, Rina, let's go.」 Liani said, already moving.​「What's going on?」 Rina asked, confused by the sudden change.​「Just follow us!」 Lisa instructed.​Rina stepped onto the pavement.​「What now?」​Saalin counted down with a blank expression.​「Three... Two... One... And cue Waiter. ...Then the Waiter flew through the window...」​Iris watched the inevitable outcome.​「Now, the door remains standing.」​​The entire restaurant structure buckled and crumbled to the ground, leaving only the front door standing upright, somehow completely intact.
​Jay calmly walked out the intact doorway, dusting himself off.​「Sons of bitches!」​Lena looked at the rubble, her voice small.​「Papa, am I rotten?」​「Let me ask you this: I'm your Papa, right?」​「Yah.」​「You see, so by default, I'm rotten too.」​「No! Papa's not rotten!」​「...Chuckle... Then you're not, also. Get it?」​「...Giggles... Yah, a little.」​「There's that winnin' smile. A'ight, ...He summons the SUV... let's go! ...They got in... So, we're not forgettin' anything, right?」​「Yep. ...Then someone knocked on the door... Oh, that's right. ...Opens it and that person got in...」 Iris added.​「Who that? ...Iris closes the door...」​Liani explained the unexpected passenger.​「Oh, yah, it's someone we saved in one of the traders' places, and she decided to follow us.」​「I see...」​Lena, excited by the new friend, immediately took charge.​「What's your name?」​「I don't have one.」​「Well, how about Cara? Since it rhymes with mine, Lena! That's your name from now on, OK?」​「C-Cara?」​「Yes! And you're a cute puppy girl, but remember, I'm the older sister. ...Points at Jay and Iris... They're our Mama and Papa, and the others are aunties. Got it?」​Iris nudged Jay with her elbow.​「Did she just—」​「...Chuckle... She did.」​Cara's tail gave a small, happy wag.​「Err, really?」​「Yes! Say, Cara, can you use magic?」​「Yes, sensory magic, but I can only sense objects my nose can't smell.」​「Like valuable stuff?」​「Yah, that's what the bad men said.」