Chapter 302: Between Lover and Pet Dog (8)
Chapter 302: Between Lover and Pet Dog (8)
“I-I tried my best, too... but all I’ve ever learned my whole life is that kind of stuff, so my heart won’t do what I want! I... I want to apologize with all my heart, too...!”
I endured her sobbing for a while.
Before long, Senior Elsie’s whimpering turned into a helpless wail.
“...I’m sorry. I really am. I know I was wrong. I’ll keep trying. So that one day, I can earn your forgiveness. But right now, I don’t want to be hated by you for even a single second.”
Her tone was closer to a plea.
Her tear-filled blue eyes held my reflection with desperate longing. I felt as if I might drown in those eyes, clear as a mountain lake.
She was a woman who had once been so proud and haughty.
In the past, she probably wouldn’t have even spared a glance for a commoner.
Yet, that same woman had cast aside all her pride and honor, walking with her head bowed low. She had reached a point where she wouldn’t say a word even if she were cursed at or struck.
All of it was because she didn't want to be hated by me.
Perhaps one day she would truly change, offer a sincere apology, and receive forgiveness.
But regardless of that, she was saying she didn't want to be away from my side for even a moment.
It was a truly trivial reason.
In the end, I let out another hollow laugh.
Senior Elsie asked me, her voice thick with anxiety and nervousness.
“Do you... hate me for being like this?”
That was Senior Elsie’s true heart.
I hesitated for a long time before recalling the advice Reto had etched into my mind.
The only way to respond to sincerity was with sincerity.
And so, for the first time, I decided to confess my own fragile side.
“...Senior Elsie.”
At my call, Senior Elsie chose silence.
She seemed to realize that the atmosphere around me had shifted.
“To be honest, I’m not actually that strong. I’m scared of dying, I’m narrow-minded... but what I fear most is the number of precious people in my life increasing.”
It was the first time I had ever shared this, and it was incredibly embarrassing.
My face flushed slightly, but Senior Elsie listened to my words without saying a thing.
Her attitude remained solemn.
Thanks to that, I was able to continue speaking with a slightly more comfortable heart.
“As you know, it wouldn’t be strange for me to die at any moment... I’m scared of failing to protect and losing those dear to me, but I’m also terrified that if I die, the people I care about will have to suffer through that pain.”
“...Aren't I already someone precious to you?”
“Even so, it wouldn't be the same as being lovers.”
I didn't know when it had started.
When the burden was suddenly thrust upon my back, I couldn't properly feel its weight. It was an affair so monumental that it didn't even feel real.
But as time passed, I slowly began to realize just how heavy the load on my back truly was.
I was scared and terrified.
The fact that it had to be me, the future where the world might perish if I didn't succeed.
Why does it have to be me?
Driving myself forward as if in an act of self-abuse, walking the ridge between life and death, I had asked that question countless times.
It was a question for which no answer existed.
I simply hoped that this burden would end with me. Even if I were eventually crushed to death by its weight, I hoped that the number of people hurting would be even slightly diminished.
That was why I had pushed Senior Elsie’s feelings away for a time.
Without even knowing what my true feelings were, groaning under the weight of the burden on my shoulders.
“That’s why I couldn't accept your feelings... It was never because I hated you, Senior. I’m sorry for lying back then.”
It was a long confession.
It was a truth I hadn't even been able to tell Reto or Celine yet. I was afraid it would only make them more anxious for no reason.
The enemy I had to face was a force in the dark, its true scale still unclear. If I, who had to be the center, wavered, there was a risk that the anxiety would become contagious.
Especially in the case of someone like Senior Delphine, who followed me solely because of my strength.
I couldn't show her a weak side.
Senior Elsie didn't say anything for a long time.
She just stared at me intently.
Her blatant gaze made me feel awkward, and I turned my eyes away.
She might have been disappointed in me. After all, Senior Elsie, like Senior Delphine, seemed to admire my strength.
If that was the case, I couldn't help it even if she left.
It was bittersweet, but it was better than deceiving her. Standing by my side was no different from staking one's life, after all.
Then, after a long while, Senior Elsie stammered as she opened her mouth.
“Cu... Cu...”
The word was uttered after an anxious silence.
Just as my eyes turned back toward her, wondering what she was trying to say—
Whoosh.
The fragrant scent of a woman invaded the tip of my nose.
I felt the touch of soft skin. It took me a moment to realize what was happening.
Senior Elsie had pulled me into her chest.
For a moment, I felt my breath hitch.
Due to her frame, Senior Elsie’s breasts looked small, but they were surprisingly large. At the very least, they were more than enough to cover my mouth and nose.
It was impossible to pull away.
If I tried to force myself out, I might further damage her injured shoulder.
There weren't many options available to me.
In the end, suffocating, I had no choice but to tap on Senior Elsie’s forearm.
Regardless, Senior Elsie only let out squeals of delight.
“Cu... Cute! My Master, were you that scared of me being sad? Is that why you pushed me away? Aww, there, there!”
No, more importantly, I want to breathe.
I desperately wanted to express my intent, but it was impossible. This was because Senior Elsie went a step further and started nuzzling her cheek against mine.
Only then did I remember a fact I had forgotten.
Senior Elsie had mentioned before that she quite doted on her younger brother.
Apparently, she had a weakness for the "younger brother" archetype.
Part of me wanted to play along for a bit. To be honest, being in Senior Elsie’s arms felt good.
But as time passed, it became harder and harder to breathe. Just as my hand finally gripped her arm, unable to take it anymore—
“...Then, can’t we try together?”
Thump.
With those words, the strength that had been tensing my body vanished.
At the same time, the force with which Senior Elsie was hugging me loosened.
Released from the restraint, I panted and gasped for air.
I couldn't help but turn a bewildered gaze toward her.
She had an incredibly gentle look in her eyes. It was an expression I had never seen on her face before.
Yes, she looked like an adult.
Well, obviously we were both adults, but...
“From now on, I’ll apologize sincerely and earn your forgiveness, so you should decide on an answer too, Master... I’ll wait until then.”
Listening to that sweet voice, I suddenly realized.
The fact that Senior Elsie was older than me.
Why hadn't I realized it until now?
Unable to find the answer, I could only give a dazed reply.
“...Yes, I will.”
Trials and tribulations make a person grow.
Perhaps the battle with the Corpse Giant had caused Senior Elsie to mature by a layer.
Of course, after that, Senior Elsie returned to her usual self.
As she tried to push herself up, she let out a scream and slumped back down.
Judging by the crack I heard, it seemed her shoulder bone had been jolted.
Senior Elsie bit her lip and, as usual, let out a string of curses.
“Agh! Seriously, because of that fucking bitch...!”
Then, when our eyes met, she immediately shut her mouth.
She avoided my gaze and spent a few moments checking my reaction.
Eventually, Senior Elsie let out an awkward laugh and began to act cute toward me.
“Ehehe, you know I wasn't talking to you, right Master? Th-this was all directed at that bitch Ludmilla...!”
The mature image she had shown just moments ago felt like an illusion.
Nevertheless, a faint smile escaped me.
Yeah, I liked this side of Senior Elsie, too.
In fact, this was more comfortable.
It felt like my relationship with her had finally returned to normal.
Later on, Senior Elsie would cause quite a stir by claiming to be "more than a pet, less than a lover," but that was a story for another time.
I decided to simply enjoy the present.
On the day the conflict with Senior Elsie was resolved, I had a drink.
Through my hazy consciousness, I read the fourth letter once again.
I could roughly guess who the sender of this letter was.
It was likely Senior Elsie.
If so, did I become lovers with her in the future?
In the past, I would have denied it as nonsense, but somehow I had a feeling that it might actually become reality.
All the pieces were falling into place.
The path I had walked matched exactly with the future described in the fourth letter.
Once again, I had protected the future described in a love letter from the future.
I didn't know how many more letters would come, but if I kept going as I had been, the end would surely arrive one day.
With that heartening thought, I fell asleep, and before long, I began to dream.
The long dream was a chaotic mess of vivid ideals.
How much time had passed?
Gasping, I opened my eyes and instinctively looked toward the table by my bedside.
And there, as if it were the most natural thing in the world, sat a letter.
It was the same as always.
No, actually, it wasn't the same as "always."
Because a situation blatantly different from any of the letters that had arrived so far was unfolding before me.
Without even being able to wipe away the cold sweat, I let out a hollow laugh.
“...What is this?”
On the table, there were two letters.
It was the start of a new incident.