As I entered the Elven Sanctuary undergoing massive reconstructions, I bolted straight towards the familiar life signatures I'd known all my life. It has been over a year since I'd last seen them, and while we usually kept in touch using text messages and calls… It would be the first time we would be meeting face-to-face.

Most of the Elves recognised who I was, and they didn't dare to stop my advances. I charged straight towards the outer reaches of the Elven Sanctuary and opened the rustic wooden door that barred my path. And sure enough…

"Jin!!!"

That nostalgic voice entered my ears, dousing my excitement almost instantaneously. The familiar warm smile, those sentimental crystal eyes, and… The homely scent. There was no questioning who this woman was.

"Mom!!!"

I ran over and brought the middle-aged woman into my firm embrace. Although my mother hadn't changed much during the past year, I sure have. My body was standing at a heaping 1.99 metres, and my bulging muscles were enough to suffocate a regular human being. Fortunately, my mom wasn't some random weakling. She leaned into my hug and wrapped her arms around my waist, seemingly unwilling to let me go.

"Mom, I missed you!" ????????????????ℯ????d. ????????????

"I missed you too, darling." My mom's sweet voice comforted my pounding chest as she separated herself from my bulky build. "Look at you, all big and healthy! Look at him, Jael! He's grown to look so much like you!"

"Mmmm, you've grown up."

My father's unperturbed voice sounded out from the corner. Standing over two metres tall, my father was clearly the bigger man. Yet, the man couldn't help but breathe out in wonder. And who could blame him?

All of Dad's memories of me were from when I was frail and defenceless. Heck, just a year back, I needed his help to go to the bathroom. My growth into the indomitable Vampire I was, came as both a shock and a pleasant surprise to him.

"Didn't you see me back at the Everwinter Estate? I haven't grown since then."

"Yes, you haven't grown, but… The aura around you seems to have matured." My father explained his rationale with a mixture of a frown and grimace.

"Has it? Well, I've been through a lot."

"Yeah… We heard…" Mom touched my face as if examining whether I was eating enough. "I was briefed on the way here… You've really made a name for yourself. Even our past exploits as A-ranked Hunters can't compare to your year of hardships."

"Haha, I did my best."

I circled my fingers around Mom's wrist and placed it by my side. Leading them deeper into their apartment, I gestured for them to take a seat while I poured them some Elven tea by the bedside.

"I'm sure you guys must have been bothered by all the trouble I caused."

"Not at all!" My mother's eyes lit up as she clenched her fists in front of her. "Do you know how proud we were when we heard you defeated Eyghon all on your own?! I couldn't believe it at first, but then the Hunter headquarters called, the country's Prime Minister called, and we'd even got visitors from the other races! We had no choice but to believe it then!"

"... Did they cause any trouble for you?"

I doubt that those bastards were only there for a friendly chat. Ever since I'd reached this status, I knew that my parents would be dragged into my matters. Which was why I'd always planned to bring them by my side once I've reunited with the four girls and settled my affairs with the Vampires. Alas, fate had been dragging me along, and I barely had the opportunity to text them about the dangers coming to them.

Fortunately, my parents weren't mere pushovers…

"Hahaha, look at you! Worrying about us now!" My mom laughed heartily. "Don't worry about us! Although we've been out of action for the past decade, we're still bonafide A-Ranked Hunters!"

My mother flexed her arms, exposing her somewhat lean biceps. Watching her exaggerated reaction, I couldn't help but chuckle. Goodness… What the hell was this woman thinking? A mage like her has no business showing her chicken arms.

"Besides, we weren't left completely unprotected." My father interrupted with a wry smile. "Some Vampires from the Blackburn House have been giving us protection. Apparently, they said you're their son-in-law, so we're by extension, family."

"The Blackburns did that?"

Come to think of it… Ysabelle's father, Enzo Blackburn, did mention something along those lines. During numerous conversations after I've killed Eyghon, General Enzo casually insinuated that my parents would need protection. Still, I didn't expect him to order the Blackburn House to do so directly.

I have to thank the man the next time I see him.

"Yes, I've been meaning to ask you about that, Jin…"

My mother, who had been cheery and upbeat moments prior, suddenly became sombre. Her eyes were gazing at me like a predator, with numerous strands of her black hair floating around. And with a grim voice, she muttered:

"Are you cheating on Irina, Jin?"

"... What?"

"Are you cheating on Irina???" My mom repeated her question, this time with far more vigour.

"First, the Blackburn family shows up and says you're their son-in-law! Then, the Moonreaver House claims that you're in a relationship with their heiress and treats us like royalty! And when we enter the Elven Forest, the Elves welcome us by claiming you're the partner of their esteemed forest maiden! I didn't raise you to be a cheater, Jin!"

"Ermmm, mom…"

"Just because you've grown a bit doesn't mean you can have relationships with multiple women! You were just like your father when he was young! Before we met, he went from woman to woman like a man whore and…"

"Elna!"

Dad and I took a few minutes to calm Mom's seething rage. And in the process, I'd learnt a little bit of my father's old history. Something about him going for any woman that threw himself at him and even maintaining multiple relationships at a time…

Hmmm, perhaps I could consult him about Master Issei's books? But that's not important now.

"Mom, let me explain! I'm not a womaniser! We just had… certain circumstances."

"Tell me!"

After cooling her rage, I began narrating everything, the story of my four lovers and me. From the early days when we'd met at my family home. To the reason why the Outer Demon attacked me, causing me to lose my memories. To how the four girls split their souls to save mine. Even though I'd forgotten about them, they never once gave up on me and continuously monitored my every movement.

Then, I narrated my travels through the Vampire realm. From the fight against Sirius in the Moonreaver Dimension to the Bloodborne House's invasion to the battle against Eyghon and finally, the moment I ascended into a Progenitor.

When they realised I'd become a higher being, the look on their faces was an expression to remember. However, that wasn't the point of my explanation. I focused primarily on the four girls who had shaped my life and the girls with whom I would spend the rest of my existence.

Everything about the relationship between the four girls and me was laid bare for my parents to hear. I'd also explained that I loved them all and could never bear to separate from any of them. Not to mention, I will cherish and protect them just as I would a true wife. No, I would go even further than that. After all, they were my everything. I wouldn't give them up for anything.

My parents listened earnestly, particularly my mother, and they remained gobsmacked by the revelations. Taking a few moments to collect herself, my mother gulped before saying:

"That's a lot to take in…" My mom grabbed her head and groaned. "I see… I never knew that there was such a story… I'd always thought that a stray Outer Demon attacked you. Never would I have guessed…"

"No wonder Irina insists on calling you Brother… You were truly her Brother for those few months…" Dad sighed heavily before grabbing my shoulders. "Jin, I'm sorry. We shouldn't have left you alone while we went on missions. Otherwise, we might have been able to prevent this whole debacle."

"What are you saying, Dad? You're not to blame!" I laughed and expressed my sincerest thoughts.

"If you guys didn't leave, I doubt that I would have met those four girls who have become the loves of my life! In fact, looking back, your leaving was much more of a blessing than a curse!"

"You little brat…"

My father let out a rare laugh as he looked back at my mother: "Elna, you should excuse him. Those girls seem to really love him. Is he supposed to choose one out of the four? When they've done so much for him already? How can he make it up to the other three, then?"

"T-This…" My mom expressed her hesitance with a distinctive frown, but it was quickly washed away by a dismissive pout. "As a woman, I don't like how my son is dating four girls at once… But fine! I'll allow it this once! However, if you take in any more women…"

"Cross my heart, I would never!" I declared right then and there.

Take in another girl? I wasn't suicidal! Just managing four of them was hard enough! In fact, it was a miracle that they hadn't ripped each other's throats out yet.

"Good!"

My mom folded her arms and scoffed. It went against her heart's decision, but she could only endure it since I was her only son. Fortunately for me, my Dad's got my back.

"Thanks, Dad."

"No worries," he smiled and tapped my shoulders. "But remember, Jin. Women can be a handful. Keeping your mom happy is far more difficult than killing Outer Demons. And you have four of them. It's going to be a colossal task ahead of you."

"H-Haha, I know…"

There was no need to imagine the future. Even just recently, Irina was ready to fight to the death with Rosa and briefly before that, Lilith and Irina attempted to stop me from meeting Ysabelle. And even before that, when Lilith and Irina met, the two entered into a battle that could destroy dimensions.

Should I make any of them unhappy… Well, my mother's wrath would be the least of my concerns.

"Putting that aside for now! Mom, Dad! I have something to ask you."

"Hmmm? What is it, son?"

I abruptly changed the subject and drew both my parents' attention. While I did want to move away from my love life, the subsequent topic was the main reason I came to meet them anyway.

"Mom… Dad… I know I've made this offer to you in the past, but I'll ask you again… Would you two become Vampires?"

"Vampires? Us?"

"Yes," I repeated decisively. "Now that I have become a Progenitor, I can easily convert the two of you into True Vampires. You won't be Blood Servants, and neither would I lose a part of my soul in the ritual. All you need to do is give your consent, and I can make you into Vampires right now."

"Jin, that…"

"Dad, I know that you guys are strong. But the people that want to use you against me are far stronger." I said grimly.

Being a vampire who could communicate with any plant in the world, Rosa told me all about the Holy Church's plan to assassinate me. Not only that, there were numerous countries, Vampires, Werewolves, and other mysterious organisations that would want to seek leverage against me.

And unfortunately, my parents were my weakest link.

My four lovely beauties could defend themselves with their immense power and influential families protecting their backs. My parents, on the other hand, were just mere A-Ranked Hunters. Yes, they might be strong against Outer Demons, but against entire organisations and a monolith existence such as the Holy Church?

They needed reinforcements.

"Becoming a Vampire, huh? That's a hard thing to ask." Mom let out a dry cough, unable to fathom a life where one feasted on blood and lived eternally.

"Jin, I appreciate your kindness, but everything is too sudden for us. We feel like we've been bombarded with information." The cooler head of my parents, Dad, calmly explained his thoughts. "We're still trying to comprehend how you managed to get four girls and become a Progenitor! We'll need time to digest it all."

"Yes, I know that it's sudden…"

Yeah, I can't blame them for being hesitant. It was a life-altering decision, after all. I couldn't convert them just for my selfish desire to protect them.

"I know you have your reservations, and I will respect your decisions. But in the meantime, you'll have to stay with me. It's too dangerous to lurk outside now."

"I see…"

"..."

"Mom?"

My mother, who had been quiet ever since finally freed herself from deep contemplation and exclaimed:

"Okay, let me meet my daughters-in-law first! Then I'll decide!"

"M-Mom?!"

What did that have to do with anything?! I was utterly flabbergasted, but my Mom didn't care about me or my concerns. Instead, she ran out the door, searching for Irina and the rest.

Goodness… Looks like there'll be more drama this early morning.