Pink Spring. (2)
'Make a contract that you will never die. If you do that, I'll let you meet Rin.'
I said something like that.
Emily's expression had turned pale, and she had vehemently refused, but at the words, "Rin won't hate you," she had hesitantly made the contract.
Though, not long after, her expression had turned regretful.
"Emily, come here."
"...The only thing I contracted was not to die, it didn't mean I would accept your actions—"
"Emily."
"......Yes."
It was amusing how the situation had reversed.
The one who used to torment me was now wary of me, and though burdened by the affection I showed, she eventually accepted it.
Yes, Emily.
You were starved for love too, weren't you?
Enough to eventually accept it, even though it was love from a Demon—the Demon King—whom you so detested.
"Don't pat my head."
"Polite speech."
"...Yes."
Her pouting lips and bowed head were quite cute.
Perhaps because her hair and eye color were the same, she also looked quite similar to Rin.
Even aside from the fact that I gave birth to her, there was clearly another reason for me to feel this way.
"You resemble Rin."
"..."
It was an expression closer to fear than embarrassment.
Whenever I said she resembled Rin, Emily would always make that kind of face.
Does she think it defiles her Master's honor?
Or is there another reason?
"I'm back."
"You're here."
*Kiss*, their lips met and parted.
Emily was scowling fiercely as she watched the two of us.
Indeed, if the Demon King and the Hero were married after she had died and come back to life, such a reaction would be understandable.
"What did you do today?"
"Just had a conversation with the Queen..."
Even though Arthur was now serving Queen Evangeline, he wasn't really doing anything specific.
It was merely meeting the Queen in person and having a conversation.
Of course, I didn't like that either, but even that meeting was a duty, so I couldn't stop him.
"You worked hard today too."
Saying that, I patted Emily, who was quietly nestled in my arms.
Emily and Arthur always treated each other as if they didn't exist.
It was the result of the one harboring murderous intent and the one feeling anxious about possibly being killed, trying their best to be considerate of each other.
"It seems the Hero dislikes that human more than the Demon King-nim does."
Hallibel's eyes widened in wonder at Arthur's behavior.
Indeed, the two of them had been comrades who worked together to eliminate the Demon King.
They probably never imagined their relationship would turn out like this.
Now, all that remained for Emily was Rin.
Even so, she couldn't meet her right now.
'Rin, are you doing well?'
She was a reliable child, so she was surely doing well, but I couldn't completely hide my anxiety.
Even though she had her memories and was far more mature than an adult, she was still physically a child.
Moreover, with her horns, tail, and wings cut off, she must have been physically uncomfortable in many ways.
"Don't worry. She's a little kid who'll do well wherever she goes."
Hallibel said.
I hope that's the case.
***
"Are you alright?"
"...Yes."
She looked up at the Cat Beastkin, who had grown considerably, and nodded.
Even though she had changed from a child's form to an adult's, her size was almost no different from Bel's.
Indeed, perhaps because she was a Cat Beastkin, she remained small even as an adult.
She vaguely thought that.
"The other children are very worried. They say you haven't thought about getting out of bed lately."
"I'm truly fine."
She lifted the blanket covering her legs and pulled it up to her chest.
The chill filling the surroundings pricked at her head, making her brain feel numb.
"If you're cold, here."
A body temperature warmer than that of an ordinary human clung to her own, which was colder than an ordinary human's.
Beastkin are warm.
She exhaled, feeling the warmth of the Cat Beastkin who was holding her—or rather, whom she was nestled against.
"Mom, are you here again? I told you to just let her rest!"
"But, the child is cold."
She looked up at Bel, who had entered the room, with wide, sparkling eyes.
Unable to say anything to those eyes, Bel ultimately chose to stay with her rather than pull her away.
Her reason was to keep an eye on her mother so she wouldn't bother Rin.
"It's warm."
"Isn't it?"
"...Actually, it's hot."
If it were just one, perhaps not, but with two, it felt like being wrapped in several thick blankets.
It wasn't bad, but the problem was that the heat was too intense.
"How about this?"
"...It seems a little better."
As she created a small gap, cold air seeped in.
Though her skin instantly turned chilly and her body trembled slightly, she comforted herself, thinking it was better to endure the cold than the heat.
By the way, Cat Beastkin are indeed flexible.
It was quite amazing to see her looking up in a posture that an ordinary person couldn't manage.
"She's kind of like a cat. Even though she is a cat..."
"Mhm, mhm... stroke a little more there."
As she stroked under her chin, the Cat Beastkin rubbed her face and ears against her.
Bel, who was next to them, was blushing intensely as she watched her mother.
"D-Don't do things like that, I told you!"
"Oh, my daughter. Are you pouting because I didn't do it for you? Come here."
"Mom? Mom?! Mom?!?!!"
*Sniff sniff*, as her nose twitched, the room filled with the scent of cats.
It was quite a sight to see the little cats tumbling and squabbling with each other.
Looking at them like this, it was hard to tell who was the mother and who was the child.
Well, since their physical ages were similar, perhaps they could be called friends in a way.
"If I had known this, maybe it would have been better to make a cat my familiar..."
It was a mistake to choose a mouse, following my Master's words that the smaller the familiar, the better.
Certainly, if it had been a cat, it would have been perfect to hug and sleep with when it was cold.
"By the way, when are you going to meet Benefactor-nim? We should leave before it gets colder..."
"...That."
Bel's gaze turned to Rin.
With Elli also absent, it was safe to say that the choice regarding their movements rested with her.
If she wanted to meet Ariel, she would go; if she judged it wasn't time yet, she would wait.
'I haven't fully recovered yet, but this might be enough...'
Rin assessed the mana surrounding her heart and the knowledge filling her mind.
Perhaps because she had lived for a long time, the process of regaining her memories was slow.
Especially when it came to things related to magic.
"Let's depart."
Regardless of her damaged body, Rin's current feeling was to return to her side as quickly as possible.
Mother. My poor Mother.
If I can be of help to you, I will gladly do so.
"Then I'll go tell Miko-ssi first!"
"Oh, Mom!"
It's hard to tell who's the child and who's the adult...
She smiled faintly at Bel, who was sighing repeatedly.
A normal family is truly beautiful like this.
"Rin?"
"No, it's nothing."
Perhaps she, too, had wanted something like that.
To be born to ordinary parents, to receive ordinary love, and to live an ordinary life.
It must be because she desired such a reality that she clung to her so desperately.
In a way, it was obsession and self-satisfaction, but Rin knew very well that what lay at the end of it was love.
"Will Mother ever realize?"
That obsession is just another name for love.
No, perhaps it would be better if she never realized it at all.
Because if she were to fall in love with that man, who had no advantages other than being the Hero, the end certainly wouldn't be good.
It was a regrettable story, but it would be far better for the two of them to remain in a relationship of mutual hatred.
"...Hm?"
While lost in thought, Rin turned her head at a small sound coming from nearby.
She subtly moved aside a table placed near the wall, revealing a small gap behind it.
"Jerry?"
What appeared behind it was none other than a mouse.
It wasn't an ordinary mouse, but a mouse that existed as a Magician's familiar.
There was no way she could forget.
Because this child was the familiar I had personally gifted to Emily.
"Where have you been, and why are you only coming now?"
She extended her hand, and it scurried over to sit on her shoulder.
She subtly curled the corner of her mouth at the faint fragments of her mana that remained.
Yes, that's right.
Yes.
...You went to look for Emily?
Squeak.
"...I see."
She reached out a finger and gently stroked its small head.
It squeaked and trembled, seemingly having missed human touch a great deal.
After stroking Jerry for a long time, Rin turned her head towards the window in the wall.
"Emily, that child has been reborn."
Through Mother's body, again.
Her mouth felt bitter.
That child would surely be sharpening her claws at Mother.
And Mother would be hurt by the harsh words Emily would spew.
Even though Rin still loved Emily despite what she had done, if Ariel was involved, it was a different story.
'It might be best to go as quickly as possible.'
She had to hurry before Emily could hurt Mother any further.