Chapter 183
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After confessing to Sena and confirming our feelings for each other, I completely let my guard down. Perhaps it was the fatigue from fighting non-stop for several days, but I lost consciousness.
When I open my eyes, I find myself lying in an unfamiliar bed.
The first thing I see is Sensei’s back as she bustles around, her purple kimono slightly disheveled.
「Sen… sei…」
Even speaking that single word is difficult.
Hearing my voice, Sensei turns to look at me with obvious relief.
「Ah, you’re awake, son-in-law. Thank goodness.」
Though I feel the same kind of exhaustion as when I first arrived at Hidden Mountain and caused trouble for Sena, I manage to sit up.
「Sensei, what about Sena?」
She breaks into a smile at my question.
「Son-in-law, you’ve been sleeping like the dead for three days… and the first thing you ask about is Sena? You two are really something else…」
From her words and expression, I can tell that Sena is safe.
「I sent Sena back to the mountain. That child stubbornly insisted on taking care of you until the very end.」
For a moment, I wonder why Sensei sent her back, but I don’t voice the question. Remembering how terribly exhausted Sena looked when she came to help me, I immediately realize that just leaving the mountain itself acts as an intense poison for her.
「You’ve figured it out, haven’t you? Sena was pushing herself too hard. Keeping her here wouldn’t have been good for her or for the people living here… So that’s why Sena is keeping watch alone back home.」
Sensei is always guarded when talking about Sena.
I have a vague idea why.
Trying to change the subject, I ask Sensei,
「Where are we?」
I need to know what happened after I lost consciousness.
「This is a room in the Boldaf Guild.」
My last memory is of confronting the Tri-Head Dragon in that plain.
Does that mean they carried my unconscious body all the way here?
When I ask, Sensei explains:
「It’s not really surprising.
You were on the verge of death at that time.」
I had kind of figured as much.
「When you lost consciousness, your Light Magic was forcibly dispelled. Just imagine what happened. You can guess, right? I’m ashamed to say that I, despite my age, screamed when I saw it.」
At minimum, I had lost all four limbs and my torso had been split in half. Just thinking about what it must have looked like when the magic was dispelled makes me shudder.
I mentally bow my head in gratitude to Sensei for saving me from such a critical situation.
「Moreover, the Light Magic you created to replace your blood and cells had begun to invade and assimilate with your physical body.」
「Uh, what does that mean—」
「Yes, it was quite serious. If the symptoms had progressed, you would have become like spirits and shikigami, a being freed from the bonds of matter. In other words, you would have ceased to be human. So if the battle had continued any longer… well, both Sena and I were terrified at the thought.」
But facing Ainika, I didn’t have many options. Even if I could redo that scene multiple times, sooner or later, I would make the same choice to compensate for my body’s injuries with Light Magic.
「I’m sorry.」
「Huh?」
「To put you in such danger, son-in-law.」
Sensei’s eyebrows droop.
「I was there, yet I let this happen. Because of my inadequacy… no, that’s not it. I had the means to resolve that situation. If I had gone all out regardless of appearances, you wouldn’t have ended up like this—」
「Please stop.」
I grab Sensei’s hand. It feels somewhat cool and delicate.
「I made my own decisions and chose my own path. I have nothing but gratitude for you, Sensei. There’s no reason for you to apologize. If you insist on apologizing, that would be an insult to me.」
「Son-in-law…」
Neither Sena nor Sensei tells me everything. But there must be reasons for that. There must definitely be a reason why Sensei held back her power this time.
「Sensei, instead of apologizing, please praise me. Like you usually do, say ‘well done.’ That would make me happier.」
Suddenly, Sensei hugs me on the bed.
Due to our positions, my face ends up buried in her ample chest.
「Yes, indeed.」
Sensei’s embrace tightens, pressing her chest’s firmness and elasticity even more strongly against my face.
But so what?
After all, Sensei is family, our guardian, like a mother-in-law.
I can swear that I didn’t have even a trace of impure thoughts.
「Son-in-law, well done. Thanks to you, not a single person was sacrificed. If this isn’t a miracle, then what is— hm? Son-in-law, why are you counting prime numbers?」
「Prime numbers? Oh, 89, what do you mean 97, Sensei? 101」
「That’s exactly what I mean! Son-in-law, stop playing dumb—」
At this point, Sensei seems to figure it out, muttering 「Aha!」
Having apparently realized why I was acting strange, she immediately puts on a mischievous cat-like expression.
「What’s this, son-in-law? Could it be you’re embarrassed by my touch?」
She brings her face closer, teasing me with 「Hmm? Hmm? Were you embarrassed?」 「No need to be so shy, you cute thing, you cute thing,」 「Hehe, my chest just touched you a little bit.」
I, the Too-Pure-Pure Boy (legally an adult), am aware that I’m turning as red as the rival’s custom mecha in a nationally beloved robot anime. I’ve been reduced to just repeatedly saying 「I’m not embarrassed!」 「Really not embarrassed!」 「Not embarrassed at all!」 「Seriously not embarrassed!」
But can you blame me?!
It’s soft!! And warm!! And smells nice!!
Everyone would understand, right?! So please forgive me already!
「Such a cute thing indeed. No need to be embarrassed. I’m like your guardian, and to me, boys your age are still basically children.」
「Ugh… just… kill me…」
Sensei pats my head as I hide my face in my hands.
「Thank you for coming back, son-in-law.
I was truly happy that you returned to us.」
Her touch is infinitely gentle.
「Well, that’s enough appreciation from me—」
Sensei’s expression turns somewhat troubled.
「I have a small matter to discuss…」
「What’s this all of a sudden?」
「It’s about Sena…」
A dejected Sensei is refreshing to see, but some things are better left unsaid.
「What about Sena?」
「She’s angry with me. Very angry.」
I’ve never seen Sena angry at Sensei before.
Even when she was used as a hugging pillow, when her hair was played with until it became dreadlocks, or when she was thrown high into the air during 「upsy-daisy,」 Sena always seemed happy…
「What exactly did you do?」
That’s what I ask Sensei.
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