Abyssal Chronicles-Chapter 1053: An Unexpected Surprise

Yela—a very ordinary woman—shouldn’t, by any stretch of the imagination, be able to sense Yumo’s presence. Yet for some unknown reason, her attention drifted toward the wall behind Satoru’s sofa.

As soon as Yela spoke, Fanzi and Yela both froze and held their breath while watching that very spot. Little by little, a timid figure peeked out from behind the wall. It was a black-haired youth in a simple white shirt, looking around seventeen or so. His features were almost too delicate, borderline feminine. Mid-length hair draped across his shoulders like strands of silk. Long lashes cast soft shadows, highlighting bright, clear eyes that hinted at a pure innocence.

His face had gentle lines and delicate features. There was a subtle curve to his nose and a playful tilt at the corners of his mouth. His skin looked pale and smooth, carrying a faintly sweet scent, like a flower bud on the verge of blossoming. At first glance, he could pass for a girl.

In that instant, Fanzi and Yela forgot to breathe. Yela’s gaze turned misty. Even though she’d been bracing herself for this, seeing their son, who was supposed to have died ten years ago, left her trembling with uncontrollable excitement.

"Yumo…" she barely managed to say.

Honestly, the moment they stepped inside Satoru’s place, Yela caught sight of half a special roasted squid pizza on the table. Her thoughts wandered to what someone else had said to her before. She used to think that person had just been talking nonsense, and she’d even felt annoyed. Yet a part of her sensed it might be true.

Once Satoru showed them his powers and revealed a side of the world they had never known, the feeling that she might really see her son again only grew stronger. Intuition aside, though, she had still been unsure. But now, the moment she saw that familiar face, her worries shattered, replaced with a rush of joy so intense she couldn’t hold back her tears.

At her side, Fanzi had a similar reaction, staring in stunned disbelief. Perhaps he seemed even more flabbergasted.

Under her parents’ wide-eyed gaze, Yumo—disguised temporarily as a teenage boy—lifted her hand in a small, hesitant wave.

"Dad, Mom. I… it’s been a while. I’m back… from another world…"

"Yumo? Is it really you?"

"Yeah, it’s me."

"Yumo," Yela whispered as she reached out with a slightly trembling hand, "come here."

Yumo plopped down between them on the couch, resting both hands in her lap, not saying a word. The moment he settled in, Yela pulled her into a fierce hug.

"You brat. You’re finally back…"

Yumo felt a familiar rush of warmth in her mother’s embrace. Her nose tingled, and she lowered her head, pressing closer against her soft sweater as she let herself savor the long-lost comfort.

"I’m home, Mom."

Fanzi, who was off to the side, pinched his own thigh to confirm he wasn’t dreaming. He breathed in sharply, then let out a long sigh of relief. Without a word, he wrapped both his wife and Yumo in his arms. A gentle warmth settled over the three of them, a moment of tenderness in that small apartment.

Watching them, Satoru quietly stepped away, leaving the living room so his friend’s family could have a private reunion. Even if the path taken had been stranger than expected, the end result was enough for him.

A few seconds went by. After fully soaking in her parents’ warm welcome, Yumo opened her eyes, spoke in a soft voice, and gently untangled herself.

"Mom, Dad, there are some things I should tell you."

Following Satoru’s advice, Yumo had decided not to reveal her identity as an Abyssal Lord—an enemy of civilization—just yet. She didn’t want her parents to be worried out of their minds. Still, there were some truths she needed to share.

"What is it, Yumo?"

"Well, when I died back then, only my soul crossed into that other world. The body I had… never made it across."

Yela nodded quietly. "I see."

"Since it was just my soul that transmigrated, I ended up with another body… the one you see now."

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"A new body?"

Yela loosened her hold and set her hands on Yumo’s shoulders, carefully taking in every detail. "Then how come you look the same as before?"

Yumo rubbed her neck, a bit sheepish. "I figured you might not believe me, so I used some power to copy my old appearance."

"So you’re saying you’ve been wearing a disguise?" Yela asked, catching on quickly.

Yumo nodded, feeling slightly uneasy. "Yes."

"Then what do you really look like?"

"I… well, it might be a shock."

"That’s fine," Yela said without missing a beat. "No matter how frightening or ugly you might think you’ve become, you’re our child. We won’t reject you."

Fanzi agreed. "Exactly. No matter what form you take, you’re still our daughter."

"It’s not an ugly or scary form…" Yumo paused, stumbling over her words. "Maybe it’s better if I just show you."

Shutting her eyes, Yumo let out a slow breath.

Fanzi and Yela stared as several tiny red butterflies fluttered onto Yumo’s shoulders. A deep crimson glow spilled from within her, wrapping her entire body in a shimmering aura.

"What… what’s happening?"

When the red light ebbed, a stunning black-haired girl appeared. She bore some resemblance to the Yumo they had known, but she was without a doubt female—beautiful in a way that seemed almost unreal, like an angel stepping right out of a dream.

Fanzi and Yela found themselves stunned for a second time.

Yumo twirled a strand of her silky hair and lowered her head, sounding a bit guilty. "Sorry if this is too sudden… but this is what I look like now."

She hesitated, keeping her gaze on the floor. She worried her parents might be unable to accept her new self.

Her worries, however, were unfounded. Yela flashed a bright smile, tilting her head in that familiar way. "We’re fine with it."

"Huh?"

"Why wouldn’t we be? Didn’t we say it doesn’t matter how you change? You’re still our child. Son, daughter… it’s not important. What’s important is that you came home."

Without waiting for a reply, Yela grabbed Yumo and hugged her tightly again.

"Besides…. it’s not like you turned into some weird demon, like a goblin or a minotaur. You turned into a beautiful young woman—there’s nothing here we wouldn’t accept, you silly."

"M-Mom…"

Yumo felt surprise and relief. After a few seconds of silence, she let out a breath and smiled with pure excitement glowing on her lovely face. "Thanks."

Yela stroked Yumo’s smooth hair and poked her soft cheeks, grinning like she’d just discovered a delightful secret. "Honestly, it’s nice that you ended up this way. When you were little, you looked like a girl, acted like a girl, and even helped me cook and tidy up around the house. Your dad and I used to joke about whether we should go ahead and let you live as a girl anyway. Then you took a trip to another world and came back exactly like that. Feels pretty satisfying if you ask me."

"Huh?" Yumo blinked. "So that’s what you thought of me?"

"Oh, by the way," she said, snapping her fingers and looking to both parents, "there are some little ones I want you to meet!"

""Little ones?""

"Yep, your adorable granddaughters."

Fanzi: "GGGGG-Granddaughters?! YOu… haVE KIDS?!"