Chapter 13
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 13
Chapter Title: Can I Touch Your Feet?
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“Can I touch your feet?”
“No, what the hell.”
The woman, who usually kept her cool as a bystander, looked thoroughly flustered.
“My god. Can the script really go this off the rails?”
Maybe she was thrown off because the genre had suddenly shifted to a slice-of-life family drama.
Whatever. Not my problem.
I had no stake in it.
Esira.
The moment our eyes met, the feral intensity in hers vanished completely.
“You're so late...”
Her face crumpled like she was about to burst into tears as she rushed toward me.
“Are you okay? Any injuries? Does anything hurt?”
Her pale hands frantically roamed over every inch of my body.
Gripping my arms, stroking my shoulders.
Her touch was frantic, as if terrified I'd have even a scratch.
“I didn't even fight.”
Well, technically, I'd tangled with some Abyss monsters on the way here.
But no need to mention that and worry her more.
I stroked her hair.
“I'm fine. Thanks for worrying about me.”
“Thank goodness...”
Esira's tense expression melted away like ice in the sun.
She whipped her head around and glared at Reina and Janet.
Her eyes burned with murderous intent, like she was ready to tear into them.
“Those jerks didn't bully you, did they?”
“If anyone's bullied, it's them. You think I lost after seeing them like that?”
I nodded toward the chainsaw and sword lying on the ground.
They might be the protagonists, but I wouldn't call them strong.
Esira didn't seem convinced.
She threw herself into my arms.
Like a lost puppy finally finding its owner.
She hugged my waist so tight it might snap, burying her face in my chest.
“Don't go. Don't leave me...”
Come on, Esira, you're making it sound like I'm some disposable goldfish that dies every other day.
The gap between the girl who'd been showing off expert swordsmanship moments ago and this one was jarring.
I didn't hate it.
No, it was so endearing it made my heart feel all fuzzy.
A sweet, signature Esira scent wafted up as she nuzzled my face.
I patted her back.
I'm loved, huh.
Ever since coming to this world, I'd had one goal.
To make Esira happy.
And here she was, needing me this much, worrying about me, cherishing me.
It felt like my dream had already come true.
“Yeah. I'm not going anywhere.”
My throat tightened with overwhelming emotion.
Me, who wasn't the sentimental type. Go figure.
Janet watched our tearful mother-daughter reunion.
She picked up the chainsaw from the floor.
“What's with this vibe? We feel like the scum of the earth who crashed some perfect family.”
Janet scratched the back of her head awkwardly.
They'd come to rescue the Commander, only to end up as the villains.
Reina ignored Janet's grumbling and turned her gaze elsewhere.
She looked at the man sprawled on the bench.
“Commander!”
Reina's school uniform skirt fluttered as she dashed over in one breath.
“Are you okay? Are you with us?”
She grabbed his shoulders and shook desperately.
“Uh...?”
The Commander's glazed eyes struggled to focus. His lips curved into a dopey grin.
“Oh, Reina... you came?”
“Yes, it's me! Do you recognize me? Any injuries?”
Reina scanned him anxiously, on the verge of tears.
The Commander ignored her concern and slurred thickly.
“Man...”
He stared at Reina's face. His eyes sparkled like a kid discovering a new toy.
“Up close like this... our Reina's gotten even prettier.”
“...Huh?”
Reina's ears turned red as ripe apples in an instant.
An out-of-place compliment on her looks in a crisis.
The Commander's gaze slid from her face, down her neck, lower, even lower.
Past her white knees, to her ankles, stopping at her shoe-clad toes.
“Y-yes? Commander?”
“It's been a while...”
The Commander swallowed hard. His eyes pure as a saint's, but the vibe all pervert.
“Can I touch your feet?”
“...”
This time, Reina's brain short-circuited.
Even I, holding Esira, stared in disbelief.
Feet? What?
“C-Commander? W-what did you just say...?”
“Your feet. They're so pretty. That perfect arch is a work of art. Heh heh...”
The Commander wiggled his fingers and reached for Reina's feet.
Reina recoiled in shock.
“H-have you been drinking?!”
“Nooo? I didn't drink any booze.”
He looked blackout drunk to anyone.
“Ate some tasty meat though? The sauce was delish... heh heh.”
No alcohol at all—just special sauce got him this wasted.
I get why Axiom's so feared now.
Reina panicked.
Her face beet red, she spun and glared at Dancing Butterfly, the culprit.
“What the hell did you do to the Commander?!”
Reina exploded in fury.
Dancing Butterfly replied calmly, unruffled.
“...I didn't give him any alcohol.”
She pointed to the meat chunks on the table.
“Just added a very special sauce.”
“Sauce??”
“The man just spoke his true desires. Pity.”
The Commander did love feet in the original story, but I never expected a live show right in front of me.
Successful guy's kink?
Hmm, not sure.
Just seems pervy.
Reina pulled herself together.
“You're the one who shot down the shuttle too? Is all this...?!”
“Oh? Me?”
Dancing Butterfly tilted her head innocently.
“Blackjack took down the shuttle. Though he didn't exactly follow orders.”
“No, seriously! I'm innocent! I didn't even have my sword—couldn't fight! I don't know how the shuttle went down either!”
“Oh, the junior's talking back now?”
“Ugh, I swear...”
Blackjack waved her hands protesting innocence.
But she was already branded a sly, vicious Axiom member.
“I'd sooner trust a stray dog than you.”
“That's harsh!”
Then Janet noticed me and cocked her head.
“And who are those two? More Axiom?”
“But we've never seen them...”
Me and Esira?
I'm Axiom. Esira's future Axiom.
Dancing Butterfly just tilted her head amusedly, saying nothing.
Blackjack stared at me intently.
Clearly curious how I'd answer.
Anything to hide?
“Asrania.”
I brushed Esira's hair as she clung to me.
“This child's Esira.”
“...Wait, did I hear that right? Asrania?”
Janet's jaw dropped.
She scanned us up and down in disbelief.
“Axiom #4, the one we've only heard rumors about? The murder ghost who never showed her face while killing other Axioms... that's her?”
Yeah, the killer ghost. So what?
Asrania's so enigmatic, all that's known is silver hair and greatsword. Makes sense.
Reina was shocked too.
But for a different reason.
“So...”
She asked in a trembling voice.
“The rumor that Asrania has a secret child... it's true?”
“Huh?”
“...Asrania's a mom?”
What kind of reactions are these.
She does have a kid. True.
But those faces—what's with them?
Like they just saw the sun rise in the west.
No blood relation, but she's my most precious child.
Why? Is it so weird for me to be a guardian?
I wanted to snap back, but swallowed it.
They looked like they had plenty to say but held back.
No one with a shred of sanity would say to my face, “Yeah, a monster as a guardian? Horrifying.”
Reina and Janet exchanged awkward glances, fidgeting.
One of Axiom's strongest stood right there.
Plus, Esira had just clashed blades with them fiercely.
They were tense, fearing retaliation.
Esira didn't mean any harm.
Esira's a good girl.
She might be merciless to enemies per the game lore, but she's still sensitive and fragile.
In the original, she got along best with the protagonist's party.
Even called the Commander “Dad” once.
Dancing Butterfly nodded intrigued.
“Hard to believe. Surviving that level of teasing...”
I couldn't kill them. Plenty of mitigating factors.
I tried to brush it off.
Esira didn't miss it.
“Teasing?”
Her face iced over instantly. She pointed her sword at the Commander.
“What teasing?”
“Esira, it's...”
“If you don't tell me, I'll really lose it. Please, just say it.”
“...”
Ah, headache.
I'm the one about to lose it.
It took forever—seriously, forever—to calm her down.
I literally had to pry Esira off.
“Esira, calm down. We can't kill him now.”
Not sure if the Commander's that important, but someday their relationship might matter. Had to say it.
Such a good girl, my Esira.
Esira reluctantly sheathed her sword.
Well, just the sword.
Still fuming, she pursed her lips tightly, face full of pouty anger.
Felt like holding a live bomb.
We were staying the night in the village. Protagonist party in one room, Axiom crew in another.
I had to pat her back twice as much, stroke her hair endlessly, whisper nonstop that she was the best, cutest girl in the world.
Whether my sincerity worked or she sensed my exhaustion...
Esira turned away abruptly.
“...I'll wash up first.”
She slipped into the bathroom.
The sound of running water followed.
While she bathed, I stepped out.
Before the day ended, someone I needed to talk to.
Headed to Dancing Butterfly's room.
I knocked. She opened cautiously.
No nightclothes—just the same elegant dress, flawless as ever.
She smiled, opening her mouth to speak.
No patience for pleasantries.
I raised my sword.
Stopped right before her throat's vital point, instead of slicing.
“What the hell did you do?”