Chapter 77
○○○
I keep thinking about all the things I want to tell her as I ride on the dragon’s back.
Though brief, it was an intense period.
There’s so much I want to say.
And yet, despite all that—
「Welcome back, Ichiro.」
The moment I hear her voice, everything else vanishes from my mind.
「I’m home.」
For this moment, at least, that’s enough.
○○○
Sena rushes over and leans against me with a soft thump.
There’s something I need to say to her.
「Um, well… I’m sorry for leaving you behind.」
The weight of Sena feels comforting.
It’s like something missing is being filled.
「Ichiro, that’s not right. You don’t need to apologize.」
The petite girl looks up at me, still leaning her weight on me.
She’s unintentionally giving me puppy dog eyes.
「I’m the one who encouraged you to go this time.」
She continues,
「And I’m the one who couldn’t leave this place.」
「That’s───」
I start to protest, but Sena moves away slightly and shakes her head, as if telling me to listen to the end.
「You’re going to say ‘that’s not true,’ right? You probably feel responsible, thinking ‘I made her do something unreasonable’ or ‘I left her behind.’」
I listen quietly to what she has to say.
「In the end, both my argument and yours are correct, and both are wrong.」
She squeezes my hand tightly.
Her hand is so delicate it seems like it might break at any moment.
「Think about it.
I don’t believe for a second that you did anything you need to apologize for, and I’m sure you don’t think I did anything wrong either.」
I can feel her warmth slowly spreading from where our hands touch.
I sense the strength of her feelings.
「So, let’s stop apologizing to each other.」
Sena’s expression softens slightly.
「More importantly, Ichiro.」
「What is it?」
「I’m hungry.」
Her words are surely a sign of her kindness.
○○○
The day passes in a flurry, and even the dusk is coming to an end.
It’s dark enough outside that we’d need lights to see clearly. At the market, they’d be closing up shop by now, while bars would just be starting to get busy.
Before returning, I had prioritized meeting Sena quickly, so I left the Barbarian Mercenary Group’s barbecue almost untouched and headed back.
Still, it had looked delicious.
As expected of those outgoing guys. They’re always grilling meat, so they’re experienced. The meat Milo offered me then was perfectly cooked barbecue, with just the right amount of dripping fat and doneness.
「The meat they offered was dripping with fat and looked so tasty. I should’ve brought some back as a souvenir.」
Hearing this, Sena stops just as she’s about to enter the hut.
「Ichiro.」
「Yeah.」
I can tell what she’s going to say.
「I want to eat meat too.」
「I know.」
My prediction was spot on.
Telepathy?
「I want to eat delicious meat grilled outside too.」
She says, her breathing becoming more intense.
「I don’t mind, but the sun’s already starting to set. If we start preparing the meat now, it’ll be pitch black outside.」
Sena shakes her head hesitantly.
「I don’t mind at all.」
—Because, look.
「We can just use lights.」
She raises her hand and waves her sleeve.
With a rustle of silk, particles emanate from her and spread around us, illuminating us both.
「This will do.」
「Yeah, I guess so. But do you really want meat that badly?」
I ask, trying not to laugh at her serious expression.
Sena looks at me and replies,
「If you did something somewhere, I want to do it together with you too.」
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