Chapter 51
○○○
There was a Holy Knight who was subjected to baseless slander and defamation just because I left the Hero’s party.
And the party I used to be in failed to conquer the dungeon, so in an attempt to make up for their failure, they released a seal that should never have been broken.
「After telling Anon everything, he asked me what I planned to do─── but I couldn’t answer that question.」
The two of them listened to my story without interrupting until I finished.
When I took a break from talking and gulped down some water, Sena suddenly looked into my eyes and said,
「Ichiro, it’s okay.」
「Until you find the answer yourself as to what you want to do, I’ll think about it together with you.」
She took my hand in her small hands and gripped it tightly, as if to encourage and cheer me up.
Sena is here─── feeling her warmth makes me truly relieved from the bottom of my heart.
She’s always like this.
She’s always by my side.
And she spoils me thoroughly, but never lets me slack off.
Sena said, 「Let’s think about it together.」
What I will do from now on.
In the end, I have to decide for myself.
○○○
「Well, son-in-law,」
Sensei, who was sitting relaxed behind Sena, slowly sat up.
「I believe there was a similar line in their words on the other side. ‘Life is a series of choices,’ was it?」
I don’t know whose line it is, but it’s a line I heard many times when I was on Earth.
「It’s a trite line, but it’s surprisingly on point.」
Sensei stood up with an 「oomph.」 She came up behind me and knelt down.
「If that’s the case, then even at this very moment, we are choosing something and discarding something.」
Sensei leaned her weight on my back as if she were piggybacking me. I felt a soft pressure on my back.
What in the world is she doing…?
「Son-in-law. Let me tell you from the perspective of an old woman who has lived a bit longer. In the end, everything comes down to one of two choices: ‘do it now’ or ‘never do it.’」
Sensei put her arms around my neck and held up two fingers in front of my face.
「Do it now, or never do it.」
I unconsciously muttered Sensei’s words as if I were mulling them over.
「That’s right. Choose one and discard the other. In this case, you either interfere or go through life never getting involved. You have one of two choices, son-in-law.」
Sensei always has an overbearing attitude, but I could feel a definite affection for me in her voice.
「No matter what choice you make after agonizing over it, Sena and I will gladly accept your decision. And we will do our utmost to help you.」
Saying that, Sensei hugged me tightly.
「So, feel free to agonize over it as much as you like.」
Look, Sensei pointed at Sena in front of me.
「Yeah. Ichiro, just as Sensei says. I will help with whatever you want to do.」
○○○
Sensei, who had been behind me until a moment ago, was now sitting across from me with Sena on her lap. Perhaps because of the difference in height, she was resting her chin on the top of Sena’s head, which came up to about Sensei’s chest, and playing around with an 「uh-huh, uh-huh.」
What in the world is she doing? She was so cool just a moment ago…
「Could it be that you feel responsible for the Holy Knight’s current situation, Ichiro?」
Sena asked me.
「I do feel responsible, for sure. I mean, if it weren’t for me, they wouldn’t have been treated unfairly.」
「In regards to that matter, you really don’t need to feel responsible, Ichiro. So it would be perfectly normal for you to choose not to get involved in this incident.」
But, Sena continued.
「Even if Sensei and I say that, it won’t make you feel any better─── right?」
She’s right. From now on, every time I think about what happened to the Holy Knight, my chest will ache.
「But why is that, I wonder?」
「That’s───」
「That’s?」
This might just be my own conceit.
「It’s because I might be able to do something about her current situation.」
Saying it out loud, something fell into place in my heart with a thud.
「I see.」
Sena smiled faintly at my answer.
「Ichiro, you feel a sense of guilt towards her that you don’t need to feel. And that guilt can only be lifted by you taking action─── so what should you do?」
「What should I do?」
「That’s right.」
Sena nodded once.
「In the end, the answer lies within your heart.」
The answer lies within my heart───
That’s right, the answer was there.
I was simply averting my eyes.
They knew that, which is why they asked me about ‘my own feelings’ and gave me an opportunity to rethink my own feelings that I myself had trouble understanding. But───
「But I’m scared.」
「Scared?」
「Yeah. I’m terribly scared to meet them.」
If I get involved in this matter this time, there’s a possibility that I’ll run into them. I’m afraid to know what they think of me, how they’re living now.
「It’s okay, Ichiro, there’s nothing to be afraid of.」
Sena stood up.
Then she hugged me from the right side.
「Oh,」 Sensei said, and sat down on the opposite side of Sena─── on my left side, a moment after Sena.
「We’re here.」
That’s right, Sensei nodded.
「No matter what those unfamiliar folks say, don’t let it bother you.」
「Ichiro, I will be by your side until the last moment you are here. So───」
Sena’s hold on me tightened to the point of pain.
「───don’t forget that.」
After being encouraged this much, could I really call myself a man if I tucked my tail between my legs and ran away?
「Sorry, I showed you an uncool side of me.」
I’ve been pushed this far.
That’s why, even with this fear in my heart, I must move forward.
「Sena, Sensei. Thank you.」
「Oh, it’s nothin’ much.」
「It’s alright. You made the decision and took the step forward on your own, Ichiro.」
Sena released my arm and gently stroked my head.
「It’s okay, Ichiro. Everything will surely work out.」
I hope so.
To that end, I must do my utmost in what I can do.
「Alright! Since I’ve decided to do this, I won’t half-ass it! I’ll head to the Holy Knight’s── to Ashley’s place today!」
「That’s the spirit, son-in-law.」
「Yeah, Ichiro. Let’s give it our all. By the way, Ichiro,」
Huh?
「Where does this Holy Knight live?」
Time stopped when Sena asked me that question.
「…Where does she live, I wonder?」
「What’s this, son-in-law? You were saying ‘I’ll head to Ashley’s place! (smug face)’ without even knowing that?」
At Sensei’s blunt words, Sena burst out laughing with a 「pfft.」 So, as if to cover up my embarrassment, I raised my voice.
「What should I do?!」
I want to ask someone, but who can I ask…?
───Low! If you’re going to take action in this matter, please let me know! I’ll lend you my strength then!
It can’t be… I think.
But could it be that Anon threw that line at me in anticipation of this happening?
「For now, even though I just went there today, let’s try going to Anon’s place.」
I suggested to them,
「But hey. Before that, I’m feeling kind of hungry.」
Those who control food control the battle.
「I’ll prepare the meal now, so please wait a bit.」
Sena clenched her fist with a 「yay,」 and Sensei patted my shoulder saying 「I could eat as much as I want right now.」
I’m going to cover the table with so many dishes that they’ll be amazed.
That’s what I resolved to do.
If you enjoy it and wish to see more, please consider giving it a 5-star rating for the series on NU. Click Here.
Check out my Patreon for early access to upcoming updates. Patreon Link