Chapter 184
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After reuniting with Sensei at Boldaf, Angelica, Orphelia, and Purume keep their conversation to the bare minimum, discussing only essential information as they walk.
With Anon’s somewhat resentful and sorrowful gaze burning into their backs from behind, the four of them hurry toward their destination.
While Sensei and Orphelia move along swiftly and Purume follows behind them nonchalantly, Angelica can barely keep up, struggling to catch her breath.
At this grueling pace, they reach the foot of Hidden Mountain in just two hours after contacting Sensei through the Contact Pearl.
There, they find the white girl—Sena.
All four are surprised to find the girl at the mountain’s foot when she was supposed to be beyond the treacherous peaks. But even more than that, they’re struck speechless by her overwhelming presence.
Except for Sensei, the three instantly understand that this is the Sena that Ichiro had spoken of. Though the girl is clearly unwell, breathing irregularly with a pale face, she still radiates an unmistakable divine presence that leaves them speechless for several moments.
「Sensei, I’ve been waiting.」
The girl’s voice rings out like tinkling bells.
「Sena, you may already know this, but son-in-law—」
「I more or less understand what happened to Ichiro. That’s why I’m here.」
「Then, Sena, you probably also know that we need to go to the place where son-in-law was transported to another dimension. That’s why I’ve come to get you.」
Concern shadows Sensei’s expression as she considers the girl’s condition.
「I’m… prepared.」
Sena takes a step forward.
Each step is heavy, and she suddenly wavers, losing her balance.
「Sena!」
Sensei moves faster than anyone else, catching the girl before she can collapse.
「I’m fine, Sensei.」
Sena pulls away from Sensei’s hands, her breathing still ragged.
「Ichiro is waiting for me.」
This girl, who had experienced despair and spent long years healing her wounds, had lived avoiding contact with the outside world, hating everything and trembling at everything.
And that had caused her no problems.
When she felt like it, she would bask in the sun; when she felt like it, she would hunt prey—living as she pleased had posed no issues.
However, the young man had already become like an inseparable other half of herself. When she imagines him now, probably wounded and in difficulty, tears she thought had dried up long ago stream down her cheeks uncontrollably. She’s filled with an intense restlessness that makes it impossible to stay still.
「I understand how you feel. Then you must stay strong.」
Sensei responds to the girl’s feelings, supporting her shoulder as they move forward.
「Um,」
The voice belongs to Angelica.
At this point, the girl finally glances at them.
Without prompting her to continue, the girl asks Sensei:
「Sensei, who exactly are these people?」
「These three were with son-in-law when he was dragged into the other dimension. Apparently, he left messages for you and me just before being pulled in. They insisted on coming here to deliver those messages to us directly.」
Sena turns her attention to the three she had previously ignored.
Even Purume, with all her battle experience, and Orphelia, who never flinches even at the most vicious monsters, are overwhelmed by the girl’s presence.
「Ichiro asked you to tell us two something?」
Unable to bear the tension any longer, Angelica speaks up.
「He said, ‘I love you.’」
The moment Angelica finishes speaking, all four, including Sensei, sense something like anger from Sena.
「I’ll hear those words from Ichiro himself. Your words are unnecessary.」
Orphelia can’t help but retort.
「Listen, we came all this way because of his request.
We’re not asking for grand hospitality like being served tea or anything, but don’t you think we deserve at least a word of thanks?」
Ignoring Orphelia, who stands with her arms crossed and a sullen expression, and Purume, who appears somewhat flustered despite her reputation for being cold and calculating, Sena turns to Sensei.
「Everything that matters involves only me, Ichiro, and Sensei.
I know better than anyone about his suffering that gives him nightmares every night, and his kindness that always leaves him scarred for the sake of others.」
Angelica lowers her head at Sena’s words.
「There’s no room for anyone else between us.」
Sena continues:
「Moreover, Sensei—I’m angry with you too.」
Sensei silently waits for Sena to continue.
「Did you think having his words delivered through their mouths would help motivate me to go save him?」
Sena tilts her head as she asks. It’s genuine anger.
「Such a thing doesn’t affect my decision to go save Ichiro in the slightest.」
Everyone remains silent in the face of the girl’s strong emotions.
「In the end, going to save him is, and always will be, solely a matter between me, Ichiro, and Sensei.」
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That day, the white girl—Sena—whether out of affection for the young man, or love, or perhaps both, overcomes her long-standing emotional wounds and leaves Hidden Mountain behind.
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