Chapter 15
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 15
Chapter Title: Morning Aftermath
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"Yeah. I can't live without Asrania. Asrania made me like this."
A strange ceiling came into view as he opened his eyes.
The Commander sat up, his head throbbing like it might split open.
Sunlight poured through the gap in the curtains, utterly serene.
'Is this heaven...?'
He remembered enjoying the feast prepared by Axiom's Dancing Butterfly.
The problem was everything after that.
His memory had blanked out.
'Something feels off.'
The moment he got out of bed.
Knock, knock.
"...Uh, who is it?"
The door flew open. It was none other than Janet.
"J-Janet?"
Just last night, before dinner, Janet and Reina had been somewhere in the forest.
"I'd love to say good morning~, but not today."
Her eyes were hollow, her face etched with exhaustion.
"...What happened?"
Janet stepped inside and collapsed into a chair, rubbing her dry face.
"Commander, remember anything from yesterday?"
"After dinner? Not a single thing."
"Wow, for real...?"
Her sigh carried a torrent of emotions.
"We thought you were a goner trying to save you. Know you did the tap dance at the gates of hell yesterday?"
"An attack?"
"If it'd been an attack, that would've been better."
"We were fine, but you were the problem."
Janet clicked her tongue.
"...What did I do?"
"Looks like Dancing Butterfly spiked your food. Fried your brain filter, and all your hidden true feelings came out in full technicolor."
"D-Did I say something stupid?"
"Stupid would've been forgivable. What gave you the guts to tell Asrania to her face her legs are gorgeous?"
"...Legs?"
"It was a sight to behold."
Janet exaggerated her voice, mimicking the Commander.
"Miss Asraniaaa~ Your legs, your legs! They're a work of art, pure art. This angle! This proportion! A marvel of human anatomy. Ohhh, just let me touch them once. I'm going crazy here~ Ehehhe."
"..."
"And the finisher: 'You have a kid? Even better! Married women are way more thrilling!'"
The Commander clutched his head in agony, then suddenly snapped his gaze up. His eyes turned deadly serious.
"Wait, hold on. Janet. She really has a kid?"
"As unbelievable as it sounds, I guess we have to accept it now."
"Uh... well, you know."
"What, got an excuse?"
"Janet, let's make this clear."
"Clear what?"
"Did I really say married women turn me on?"
"Why?"
"That was a lie."
"...What?"
"I don't touch married women. That's my code."
Even without the memory, the Commander was certain.
"I'll own saying her legs are pretty. It's my type, so it might've slipped out subconsciously. But I don't have a hobby of wrecking families."
"Isn't saying her legs are pretty already game over?"
"...That's different from this."
Janet let out a disbelieving chuckle.
"Sure. What a brag, huh?"
"I stick to my principles."
Janet stared at him intently, then nodded.
"Fine. I get it. The married woman bit was a lie. Wanted to mess with you."
"Right?! Even drunk, I wouldn't sell out my morals!"
The Commander patted his chest in relief.
Harasser? Maybe. Homewrecker? Never.
Janet stuck out her tongue and stood up.
"Thrilled, are we? The leg worship and slobbering were 100% fact, so go apologize."
"...Is Miss Asrania super mad?"
"You're a miracle for not being dead. And she's Axiom #4."
Asrania was Axiom #4.
"Fourth strongest in Axiom?"
"No. Fourth registered. Numbers aren't strength rankings. Reina explained before."
"Oh... right. Yeah."
"She was already a person of interest as an early Axiom... but."
Janet recalled yesterday.
Does having a kid flip your personality 180 degrees?
Shed heard the rumors.
That after getting a child, Asrania's personality had completely changed.
Shed never bought it.
That's why shed come here to see for herself.
'Rumors were true.'
Janet shook her head in utter disbelief, muttering.
"Maternal love is terrifyingly powerful."
She shuddered again at the thought.
"The kid grabbed a sword yelling shed chop off your head. Reina and I barely held her back. Thought wed get sliced too."
Janet swallowed the rest.
That tiny kid packed a filthy strong punch.
Morning sunlight tickled her eyelashes.
As she opened her eyes, a warm, soft bundle filled her arms.
Esira.
The child slept soundly, burrowing into her embrace oblivious to the world.
Even half-asleep, craving her warmth like a baby bird, she nuzzled deeper.
'...Adorable.'
Irresistibly lovable, Asrania reached out as if entranced.
Silver hair slipped through her fingers like smooth silk.
Yesterday, this little one had drawn Blackjack's sword to protect her.
『To the person I love most in the world.』
Incredibly reliable, yet heartbreakingly pitiful.
Esira was changing because of her.
Shed worried if her ways truly made the child happy, but seeing her now, snuggled close and breathing softly, she knew.
This was enough. Truly happy.
Oh, gods above.
Thank you for summoning me to this world.
Being this child's guardian must be my fate.
Her chest felt refreshingly light—then the child stirred and rubbed her eyes.
"Asrania...? Good morning."
"Yes. Good morning."
Esira sniffed her scent upon waking, then rubbed her face against Asrania's chest.
A faint fragrance wafted from her nose tip. Soap from last night's bath or the child's natural scent? Now indistinguishable.
"Esira."
"Yeah."
"You okay yesterday?"
The child clutched her clothes, eyes half-open.
"...Honestly, no."
I see.
"He held a sword to you, so..."
"Thank you. But seeing you angry and hurt scares me more."
"I was so mad."
The child's fingertips tightened.
"The most precious person in the world, and some jerk dares point a sword. Gotta kill him."
Such brutal words from an innocent face.
Her grip crumpled the shirt impressively.
"Am I that precious?"
"Yeah. I can't live without Asrania. Asrania made me like this."
Was the last part a joke or serious? Hard to tell.
As if it were obvious, Esira nodded firmly.
"So don't go to dangerous places on your own."
"You know I'm strong."
"Still no."
Esira looked up with teary eyes.
"You're strong, so you always go alone. Like you'll vanish far away any moment."
"..."
Speechless.
Asrania was missing at the original story's point.
Only known for silver hair and greatsword.
Life or death unknown, possibly dead or gone forever.
Did the child instinctively sense Asrania's fated disappearance?
"I'll never leave you first."
"...Yeah, I believe you."
The child sank lower.
Leave her like this, and the mood would plummet endlessly.
Change the subject quick.
Before she could, Esira blurted,
"But what's the Commander?"
Brain into overdrive.
Who was the Commander?
From another world, all memories lost.
Telling the truth here complicates everything.
Recall the original.
『You're like a father to me. The only one I can rely on.』
Original Esira's line.
Yes, that's it.
Frame it positively from the game.
Protagonist, firm moral compass, eventual hero.
"Hmm, like a dad to you?"
They grow super close later.
Esira's face filled with shock at the answer.
"...Dad? Dad?"
Her pupils shook like an earthquake. Utter incomprehension.
"Dad... If he's dad, then for me, mom is... Uh, mom... I mean, mom? Mom?"
Esira's tongue tripped. Her brain overloaded, info scrambling.
"Mom?"
No, she only said he was like a dad.
Why did "mom" keep coming from the kid?
"..."
Wait. Why's Esira's gaze like that?
Her confused eyes chilled instantly.
No clue what wild fantasy she spun.
"I-I'll be right back."
"...Esira? Why take the sword?"
Bad premonition.
Wrong choice.
Total failure.
She even recited her own canon line, yet this reaction.
Expected, but she hates it so much.
Then, untimely knocking from outside.
Knock knock.
"Uh, excuse me..."
The Commander's voice.
"Came to apologize..."
Why now, you idiot?
Commander, worst timing ever.
Open that door, and your head splits!
"He shows up on his own."
"...Esira?"
"I won't accept it. Really, I won't."
Esira ground her teeth.
"That pervert dares..."
Her eyes were terrifying.
"Gonna kill him right now."
Esira dragged Blackjack's sword toward the door. Her back like an executioner from hell.
"Esira, wait. Put the sword down. Let's talk."
Ah, such a refreshing, peaceful morning. Damn it.