EP.15.5 After the Fight
EP.15.5 After the Fight
"Wh-why are you doing this, Tia?"
"Heehee, you can't leave!!"
Tia had driven me into a corner of the room.
At first it looked like she was suddenly going for a wall slam, but then she completely isolated me by fixing both hands and both feet to the wall like a cicada.
She was blocking me in so I couldn't go anywhere.
I was baffled, sure, but this behavior of Tia's was still adorable, so in its own way, it wasn't so bad either.
It was just a shame that I could only take in Tia's cuteness through my right eye.
"Miss Miho, wouldn't it be good to burn him with fire...?"
"No. Rather than simply burning him, it would be better to skewer him first and then burn him, wouldn't it?"
While Tia was blocking my way, on the other side, a fox and a wolf were having a bloodthirsty conversation.
The topic of the discussion was none other than the punishment for the Divine Beast Qilin.
Grandpa Qilin hadn't committed any crime whatsoever.
The problem was simply that I had honestly told them that I'd given up half my senses when I formed a contract with him.
I only realized I'd messed up after I saw my companion animals' expressions chillingly harden.
He had merely given me power...but because of the single reason that I'd paid a price, he'd landed on Miho's purge list.
If the day ever came when I met him again, I'd really have to apologize sincerely.
"Woo-heehee! Pats! Pats! I wuv it!!"
I headed toward the wolf and fox while lightly stroking Tia's head.
Unlike the other companion animals, the only thing Tia wanted was my affectionate touch.
So all I had to do was stroke her, and I broke through Tia's iron wall effortlessly.
"Miho, Kor."
""Yes?""
"Both of you, let's stop talking about Qilin now. My body ended up like this because of my own choice, not that Divine Beast's fault."
"That may be so, Mr. Seon-ju... But still..."
"The whole right side of my body is perfectly fine, isn't it? It might be inconvenient in daily life, but it's not completely ruined. I think it's all right..."
"Husband."
"Hm? Wh-why, Miho?"
Miho, who had been walking softly toward me, came and squeezed my right hand tight. Miho's slender yet soft hand wrapped around my hand. It made my heart feel warm.
I couldn't help but think it felt like a touch that was benevolently embracing me.
But that warmth gradually grew cold, and I began to feel a faint pain as a crunching sound came from my right hand.
"M-Miho?"
"If it's all right, may I cut off this right hand...?"
"Uh...??"
"You don't seem to know, so I'll tell you. We are very angry right now about the fact that you acted on your own, husband. Because you've made us think things like: Why would you push yourself that far alone? Were we really that untrustworthy?"
"Th-that's...!"
—Crunch!!
"Agh...!"
"Husband? I think you're under a delusion, you see? To us, companionship is not simply a symbiotic relationship. It's a bond between those who have sworn to be together for the rest of their lives, a relationship where two act as one body. And yet, what did you do last night, husband?"
"Last night, you mean..."
"You got tricked by a crow's words, recklessly fought a Divine Beast and nearly died, and when we barely saved you, now you say you made a provisional contract with a Divine Beast in a dream and came back having lost nearly half your senses. And you did it all on your own, without exchanging a single word of discussion with us!!"
"Hngh...!!"
"I am always thinking this. I am my husband, and my husband is me. In other words, husband, your body is not yours alone. And yet...? Why are you wrecking your body all by yourself as you please?"
—Crack! Crunch!
The strength gripping my hand gradually intensified. At first it was only enough to make my body flinch, but now it was inflicting a level of pain that made my whole body thrash involuntarily.
An overwhelming force that felt like every joint in all five fingers was about to snap.
"Agh...!! Miho! I was wrong! So stop already...!!"
"No. I've already made up my mind! To tear off your right arm first, husband, just like this!"
"A-are you serious?!"
"Yes!! Because if I do that, you won't be able to do as you please anymore, husband! So I'll cut off your limbs and make it so you can't live without me entirely...!!"
"Nooo!!"
Along with a thunderous shout, Tia was smacking the back of Miho's hand repeatedly.
"Stop! Stop it!! Yuu's hurting, you know!!"
One sharp remark from Tia, her cheeks puffed up round with anger.
At that, the grip Miho had been applying to my hand began to weaken.
The madness radiating from Miho that had been gnawing at my mind also slowly faded, and before me stood a calm fox.
"Haa... Just this once."
"Huh...?"
"I said just this once. I'll forgive you for Tia's sake, so please don't do anything that dangerous anymore."
"Ah!! Okay!"
"I swear I'll never let anything like that happen again!"
"Can you swear it on both your arms and both your legs?"
She really had intended to tear off my limbs if Tia hadn't stopped her...?
It was terrifying. But I couldn't say anything. It was entirely my fault, after all.
It was atonement that I rightfully deserved, for having caused worry without saying a word.
"All right, if it ever happens again, I'll personally tear off my own limbs and beg for forgiveness."
"...If you put it that way, I have no choice but to forgive you."
"Thank you."
"However, the forgiveness is only from me."
"Hm?"
"Husband, there are still two people left you need to apologize to, aren't there? Make sure you apologize properly."
Ah... I understood now.
The mad behavior Miho had suddenly shown was all intentional.
She had put on that act because she wanted me to apologize to the others as well, while drawing an apology out of me.
It meant that even the jealousy-prone Miho was properly looking out for the other companion Divine Beasts.
My speculation turned to certainty when Miho gently pushed Kor forward until she stood in front of me.
Miho really was kind after all.
"Ah...! U-um, well...!!"
Suddenly pushed forward, Kor was at a loss right in front of me.
Seeing her ear and tail fur all standing on end, she looked flustered, not knowing what to say.
I guessed it was right for me to step up first here.
I gently stepped one foot back and bent at the waist, showing her my heartfelt apology.
"I'm sorry, Kor! My greed made you worry so much!"
"I-it's all right...! I'm satisfied just by the fact that you came back safely like this...!!"
"Even so..."
"Miss Miho already said everything I wanted to say, so it's truly all right... Still, if it would ease your mind, could you make me one promise as well...?"
"Just say the word."
"Then, exactly one month from today, I'd like you to go to a certain festival with me, just the two of us..."
"A festival?"
"Yes, it's a festival that's important to me... And it's also a festival where there's a lot I really want to show you, Mr. Seon-ju... I-is it impossible after all...??"
"No, it's fine. Hearing you say that makes me want to go so much that I should be the one asking you. So I promise: I'll go with you."
"Yes...!!"
As if she was already greatly looking forward to the festival day, a satisfied smile spread across Kor's face.
Then she glanced briefly at Tia, and moved back to where Miho was.
That meant it was Tia's turn now.
Tia seemed to know this too, and she walked boldly up in front of me.
What would Tia ask of me, I wondered.
She'd been angry enough to scratch Yata's cheek, so Tia must have been sad and worried because of me too.
I hadn't wanted to be a burden to Tia of all people...
Even if it tore my mouth apart, apology aside, I had nothing else to say.
"Tia. I'm so..."
"Yuu!!"
"Hm?"
"Hug me!!"
"Huh? Oh, okay."
I accepted Tia's demand to be hugged, before I even had a chance to apologize.
I wrapped my right arm around Tia's waist, and with my left arm I supported the girl's thighs, lifting her right up.
Simply from being picked up, Tia began to beam with smiles.
"Next!! Pet me!!"
"Okay, okay."
While keeping my left arm in place, I gently stroked Tia's hair with my right hand that still had sensation.
Tia's soft hair.
The texture was one thing, but the clear, happy laughter that I could hear with every stroke was insanely addictive.
Watching the baby dragon giggling with glee, I felt like I could spend the whole day just like this.
"Tia, is this everything you want from me?"
"Hehe, yep!!"
"You don't want anything else? I could grant you anything right now, you know?"
"Nuh-uh!! It's enough for me if Yuu hugs me and pets me!!"
"Yeah? Then I'll hug you and pet you as much as you want, Tia."
"Okay, so Yuu."
"Hm?"
"You can't die now!! 'Cause you have to hug me and pet me by my side forever and ever...!! You can't try to die...!!"
At the sound of Tia's voice beginning to quaver with tears, my heart grew heavy.
Just how badly had I messed up?
If I ever made the Divine Beasts worry like this again, would it be better if I just quietly went off and died?
Tia's sobbing stirred up a chest-tearing sense of guilt so strong I even had that thought.
"I'm really sorry, Tia. I won't ever do anything that puts my life in danger again."
"Really? You really mean it...?"
"Yeah, so let's stop the crying now, okay? All done!"
I carefully wiped Tia's face, smeared with tears and snot, with my hand.
I didn't think it was dirty. How could I, when these were tears and snot shed because of me?
Besides, to me, Tia is no different from a child I've cherished with all my heart.
For my adorable daughter, I could do anything without breaking a sweat.
"Husband, do you see now? The fact that your life is never something light."
"Yeah, I'm reflecting on it bitterly."
"Then that's a relief. And now that crow wench can be at ease too."
"Why Yata, out of the blue?"
"Because the crow told us everything — that you fought risking your life for our sakes, husband."
"The one who asked us to give you, and herself too, a harsh scolding was Miss Yata..."
"Yata did?"
"She said if we didn't scold you properly, Yuu might try to sacrifice himself again!!"
"Haha, good grief..."
My companion animals, every single one of them precious and dear.
With them here, I could truly say I was happy.