Chapter 78
Chapter 78
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 78
Chapter Title: Mother
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The Ikimizu Sanatorium was renowned not just across Aonia, but throughout the world.
That was why our mother had trusted its reputation and come all the way to Aonia for her convalescence.
The place we found after asking the Sword Empress for directions was larger than I'd imagined, bustling with people coming and going.
"There are a lot of people."
"Yeah."
Ariel was by my side.
The day before, right after deciding to visit Mother following my meeting with Yoru, I'd immediately asked Ariel if she'd come along.
-Mom's in Aonia. Want to go see her?
Ariel's expression had been strangely hard to read when I asked.
It wasn't that she looked emotionless or blank.
She just seemed genuinely unsure how to take the question.
-......
Ariel had hesitated, averting her gaze in a rare show of uncertainty.
It was unlike my little sister, who usually followed my lead without question.
Yeah. Truth be told, I'd half-expected something like this.
'Ariel's never had Mother around since she was born.'
Mother, Ash Leonhart, had grown frail while carrying Ariel in her womb.
Pregnant with the Backside World itself, her body had naturally suffered for it.
She'd gone straight to Aonia for treatment right after giving birth to Ariel.
And she hadn't returned even once since.
So Ariel knew nothing.
Who Mother was. What kind of person she was. What she looked like. What her voice sounded like.
She had no idea, so she felt no particular attachment.
Of course, if Ariel were a typical girl her age, she might still long for a mother she'd never met.
But my little sister didn't have those ordinary emotions.
So Ariel had no choice but to say this:
-Is it okay if I go?
I had no idea what weight those words carried.
How deeply she'd pondered them. How much inner conflict they'd caused.
I couldn't be sure of any of it, but I answered firmly anyway.
-Yeah. Of course.
And so I'd taken Ariel by the hand and come all the way to Ikimizu.
"......"
Ariel stared blankly at the sanatorium's front gate.
Even now, I had no clue what was going through her mind.
But I believed a mother-daughter meeting would mean a great deal.
That it would have a positive impact on Ariel.
I took Ariel's hand and stepped inside.
As we approached the reception desk, the attendant stood up.
"Welcome. Here for a visit?"
"Yes. We're Ash Leonhart's children."
"Ah. Uh. Patient Ash Leonhart? Yes. Please wait just a moment."
What was that?
Her reaction felt off somehow.
The attendant seemed flustered as she hurried away.
'Is something wrong with Mother?'
All the reports I'd heard so far said her treatment was going well.
I waited with growing tension until a man strode purposefully toward us.
"Are you Ash Leonhart's son and daughter?"
"Yes. That's us."
"Follow me."
A therapist... Mother's primary physician, perhaps.
He didn't even glance back as he marched ahead.
I gripped Ariel's hand and hurried to keep up.
We still had a ways to go to Mother's room.
In the meantime, I decided to ask the question on my mind.
"Has something happened to our mother? The receptionist's reaction wasn't great earlier."
"......"
The physician didn't answer right away.
He furrowed his brow slightly, as if debating whether to speak.
"Don't be alarmed. Patient Ash Leonhart's condition has worsened significantly."
Those dizzying words made my head spin.
"What? What did you say?"
"It's getting harder and harder to keep the illness in check. We're proceeding with maximum treatment without fail, but how much longer her body can hold out..."
"Wait. Hold on."
I almost raised my voice but caught myself.
Calm down. Panicking won't change anything.
Especially now.
"......"
I squeezed gently.
My little sister was right beside me.
I held her hand softly to keep her from startling and continued.
"Why? Wasn't the treatment going well?"
"That's what I thought too. There was visible progress, in fact. But recently, her condition has deteriorated sharply."
"Any reason why?"
"......It's embarrassing to admit, but I don't know. The Backside World can't be fully understood with current human knowledge. We don't know what mechanism caused the worsening."
"Hah."
What a load of crap. Useless.
I ruffled my hair and let out a sigh.
Haa.
Right now, blaming the physician wasn't important.
There had to be a more... constructive response.
"How much longer can she hold on?"
"I can't say precisely. But I don't think it will be long. The Backside World is still poisoning her body even now."
"Not right away, at least?"
"Yes. That's certain."
Good enough.
As long as there was still time for me to act, I could turn this around.
"We're here. Go on in."
The physician stepped aside by Mother's room door.
I swallowed hard and gripped the handle.
Mother, whom I hadn't seen in ages.
The duchess with beautiful ash-gray hair and kind eyes of the same hue, gazing at me with affection.
And then... the invalid who had left for treatment after just five years.
'How ill is she now?'
Would she even recognize me?
What about Ariel?
Pushing aside the doubts and worries, I turned the handle firmly.
The room was spacious even for a private suite.
Sunlight streamed through the window, giving a warm feel, and instead of the usual hospital drug smell, a fresh scent lingered.
That alone might have put me at ease.
But seeing Mother's pallor as she lay in bed made that impossible.
"Mother."
I kept my voice steady and calm, not wanting to raise it.
Even repeating that to myself, it wasn't easy.
I gripped Ariel's hand tightly and walked to the chair beside her.
"......Ah."
Mother seemed to have been resting with her eyes closed.
She slowly opened them at the sound of my voice, then widened them fully.
"......Kline?"
"Yes, Mother. It's me."
I sat beside her and took her hand.
A smile formed on Mother's lips.
"You've come. My son. And...... my daughter."
Ariel flinched.
Her gaze was toward Mother, but not directly.
Slightly off, toward the wall.
Her face was expressionless. Like she had no idea how to act.
So I took the lead in the conversation.
"Have you been well?"
"Yes. This place is surprisingly livable. A bit different from the Empire, but it's fine."
"I'm glad."
It had only been five years of memories, but I remembered them clearly.
How kind Mother had been. How thoughtful.
She was a noblewoman of impeccable character, admired even by other aristocrats.
That was our mother.
But the mother I saw after ten years had weakened greatly.
Her once-beautiful ash-gray hair was dull and frizzy, her shining gray eyes dimmed.
It hurt my heart.
"Have you been well, Kline? No troubles in the meantime?"
"I'm fine. Even you could say your son's got some talent. Nothing's been too hard."
"Hee-hee. Good to hear. I was worried. I heard there was some incident at the palace, and you got caught up in it."
"Ah, that? Listen to this, Mother. What happened was—"
We chatted warmly, dredging up memories from ten years ago.
I tried my best not to mention her condition.
No need to bring up depressing topics.
Those could wait. For now, I focused on sharing the stories we'd put off.
By the time the sunlight faded and the window glowed reddish.
Mother smiled softly after hearing everything.
"I see. So you've become engaged to the Third Imperial Princess."
"Yes. Honestly, it hasn't fully sunk in yet. But I've accepted it."
"I see. Then I really must live to see my son get married."
"......"
Silence.
I hesitated for a moment on whether to bring it up, then decided not to dodge.
"Mother."
"Yes."
"Your condition is critical...... Is that true?"
"......Yes. You've heard."
Mother closed her eyes.
She spoke softly, like singing a lullaby, about her own state.
"It's true. The physician said the Backside World has become more aggressive. My body can't hold out much longer."
"......Is there no way?"
"It's a poisoning of the soul by the Backside World. If we could treat the soul itself, maybe. But something that precious...... who'd know where to find it?"
Mother looked resigned.
She knew it too. There was no real path to recovery.
Backside World poisoning was an intractable disease.
Treatment took ages, the cure rate wasn't high, and death was a real risk.
And now Mother's condition was worsening.
Just as she'd said, unless we found something to 'treat the soul itself'...
'Wait.'
And the reward for that is insane. There's Azure Dragon Water that can directly heal a human soul...
Didn't Master mention it?
The Azure Dragon Cup rewards include Azure Dragon Water. It can heal human souls directly.
My mind raced, and I shot to my feet like I'd been struck by lightning.
Crash!
"Kline. What's wrong?"
Mother asked, startled by the chair I'd shoved back.
"I've found it. A way to save you, Mother."
"Really? ......No, son. You don't have to push yourself. Just relax. Don't worry about me."
"No. There really is a way. Just wait a little."
In my haste to leave the room.
I suddenly noticed Ariel had been sitting silently the whole time.
"......"
Our eyes met—her white ones lost.
Was she still processing, or did she understand but not know what to do?
I stroked Ariel's head, like she was a lost child.
"Ariel."
"Yes."
"I'll go ahead. I need to sort out my thoughts."
"What about me?"
"I think you should talk with Mom a bit. What do you say?"
"......"
"If it's too hard, you don't have to. There'll be plenty of chances later. I'll make sure of it. So don't stress—just do what feels right."
"......I......"
Ariel turned her head weakly.
There sat Mother, gazing back and forth between her son and daughter.
Their eyes met for a moment.
"......"
Ariel parted her lips slightly, then closed them.
"......Yeah. I'll stay a little."
She answered.
"Good. I'll take my time, so come when you're done. Talk as long as you want."
"Okay. ......Brother. Be careful. You're still not fully recovered."
"Don't worry. It's not like I'll get taken down by some wild beast."
I waved to Ariel.
Bowed deeply to Mother one last time, and closed the door.
"Phew."
Out in the hallway, I caught my breath.
My goal was set.
Sudden, but unavoidable.
If it meant saving Mother, I'd do anything.
'The Azure Dragon Cup.'
I'd had no interest at first.
Not in the world's martial artists competing.
Not in House Heiragi targeting me.
Not in the Sword Empress goading me to prove myself.
Not even in Yoru challenging me to the finals.
None of it appealed.
But now things had changed.
'Time to win it.'
What the hell—let's do this.