Chapter 54
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I’m reflecting on what happened a few hours ago.
When we were descending the mountain to head to where the Holy Knight Ashley is.
「This time, no matter how strong Ichiro is, things probably won’t go so smoothly,」
Sensei mutters under her breath.
「Do you know something? 」
「I do. But it’s a long story. We’re in a hurry, so I can’t go into all the details here.」
Sensei’s eyes seem to be looking into the distant past.
「In any case, if you get involved in this matter… No, if the seal has been lost, it’ll end up the same either way.」
But that moment passes quickly.
「Well, don’t worry. If the worst comes to pass, I’ll figure something out.」
Coming back to herself, Sensei smiles reassuringly at Sena and me.
○○○
The route I use to descend to the town is one that Sena carefully instructed me on.
By using this route, we rarely encounter troublesome monsters or strange obstacles.
Since it’s already a familiar, well-trodden path, I take the lead as the three of us head towards the route.
This is what happened at that time.
Ever since we started talking about the three of us going down to the lower world together, something seemed off about Sena.
But precisely because Sena had never shown any signs of feeling unwell before, I blindly believed she would be fine.
So even when her pace was slower than usual, I didn’t think it strange and just waited for her to catch up to me.
As this continued, even I finally noticed that something was seriously wrong with her, and I turned back to where she was.
Sensei was hugging her tightly, repeatedly comforting and calming her, gently patting her back.
I was about to ask what was wrong when I finally realized.
Her small frame was trembling, and the skin peeking out from her neck, usually as white as snow, had lost even more color, turning pale blue, her blood vessels visible through it.
「Sena, are you okay?」
「Ichiro, sorry, I’m sorry. Just… wait a bit,」
Sena forces out desperately.
「Ichiro, it’s okay. I… I will save you.」
Then Sensei murmurs,
「Sena, I knew it…」
And says to her:
「It’s alright, Sena. Leave Ichiro to me. You stay here and pray for our safety. That’s more than enough.」
Sena was always strong, always dependable, always had the words I needed to hear.
「Sena, what’s wrong?」
I ask, flustered and not knowing what to say.
「Ichiro, just wait… a little.」
She says, on the verge of collapsing yet still trying to reassure me.
「Sena, no matter what happens, I swear I will protect Ichiro. You don’t need to worry,」 Sensei says, placing a hand on Sena’s head.
Sena murmurs something, and Sensei’s palm glows. Sena loses consciousness on the spot.
「Come, son-in-law, carrying Sena is your job. Let’s return to the cabin.」
I carry Sena on my back as Sensei hands her to me, and we head back to the cabin. On the way…
「Son-in-law… There’s a lot I need to tell you. If it’s something I can say, I’ll tell you everything soon…」
「So,」 Sensei lowers her long lashes.
「If you want to know everything, please wait without asking anything until Sena… until Sena’s wounds have healed.」
Sensei’s words are almost like a plea.
Seeing Sena trembling with something unknown, and Sensei considerate of her, I feel my chest tighten.
「Sensei, we’re like family… No, that’s not it. Let me say it clearly. We ARE family now, right? So don’t worry,」
I say, wanting to repay the casual kindness Sensei always shows Sena and me.
I mean every word.
「Don’t get cheeky, boy. No matter how much you try to act cool, you’re still just a little boy.」
Sensei says, the corners of her eyes crinkling.
「But you’re the finest young man, the best family, and the greatest son-in-law.」
○○○
I’m reflecting on what happened with Sensei and Sena earlier, sitting on the dragon’s back.
An especially strong gust of wind blows by.
The dragon is equipped with magical devices that protect against cold and air resistance, so most of the chill is cut out. But I feel an uncertain coldness.
The searing red sun sinks further, and darkness is about to show its face.
「Twilight,」 Sensei suddenly says from behind me, her hands around my waist.
「Huh?」
「The transition from day to night. The boundary between yin and yang. The border of things. This time when everything blurs together, it’s called twilight.」
I wait for her to continue.
「Evil energy and ayakashis are always oozing out from the boundaries.」
The setting sun looks hazy.
「That’s why… I don’t particularly like this time of day.」
Is she apprehensive about something?
「I just hope… everyone will be alright. 」
Sensei says it like a wish.
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