Chapter 19
Chapter 19
Translator : Elizabeth
Anyway, amidst busy hands. The lights including lanterns inside the house disappear. The moment the last lantern went out just like that. The surroundings are covered in complete darkness. While returning by fumbling through the darkness barely. Eventually, I lay down at the designated position having fallen for Haley’s scheme and spoke.
“…This is the only time.”
Haley’s shape where only blue eyes are clearly visible. Rustle at the end of the firm permission saying this is the only time. The sound of nodding head tickled my ears. Then as if keeping the unilateral promise soon…. The freedom of my left arm was taken away by Haley.
Still, nothing special happened. She just brought my hand to her face and rubbed her face against it, or put her palm against mine comparing sizes. Around the time I couldn’t sleep at the soft texture of the left hand and was staring blankly at the ceiling. Not long after, the persistent movement toward the left hand stopped, and only quiet breathing sounds repeated like whispers.
‘Fell asleep?’
With such a thought, I tilt my head slightly to the side. At the end where my gaze reached, there was Haley fallen asleep hugging my left arm tightly. Softness of skin becoming more vivid in the darkness. It wasn’t good for the heart of a thirty-year-old middle-aged man. Even if I try to pull it out stealthily, the tightly held left arm is immovable. It seemed I had no choice but to give up my left arm tonight.
Like that, a day passed within the consciousness snapped suddenly snap. In addition to reduced sleep, my eyes opened naturally at dawn. Dawn where dim light shines outside the window. It seems the two haven’t opened their eyes yet. While slowly pulling out my arm from Haley’s weakened restraint.
‘Arm is numb.’
I headed to the kitchen kneading my left arm press press which was tingling due to the aftermath of being tied tightly overnight. Still early hours for shops to open doors. Eventually, I decide to make do with what’s left in the basement for breakfast. The meat for Tangsuyuk leftover from yesterday could be used for soup, and there are plenty of vegetables in the basement. For now, as long as there is meat and vegetables, there is no worry for breakfast.
Around the time meat chunks thrown into the pot start screaming deliciously each. When the meat stuck to the bottom was about to be fried making a popping sound, I put in various vegetables. Around the time the vegetables that went in late joined the oil party. Along with a basin of lukewarm water, the noisiness stops. In addition to the noise whoosh, the sound of oil boiling filling the kitchen changes to the sound of soup boiling in an instant. Luxurious meat soup with oil floating float float. It was a hearty breakfast to warm the body in the dawn of early autumn.
After meal preparation ended to some extent, I approach the bed with big strides preparing to wake the two up. One is a top-class adventurer and one is a Vice Captain of somewhere. Considering their daily lives, they can’t be heavy sleepers. Surely they must have heard the sound of cooking in the kitchen…. Since it didn’t make sense that they didn’t wake up at all even hearing that noisy sound, I spoke with my hands on my hips.
“Haley… Shane, both of you wake up now.”
But as expected, no answer returns. Struggle of those who want to sleep even a little more. Since I walked the same path, I could know better. When waking someone up, there is nothing as good as external stimulation. Throw open the window immediately, and take the blanket by force…? Thinking so, I grab the blanket and pull but it doesn’t budge. Take the blanket, you know, by force….
“…Ugh, these rascals?!”
Since pretending to sleep doesn’t work, the two holding out with pure force. Even while doing so, keeping eyes closed stubbornly was absurd, so I shouted.
“Cold….” “Just a little, more, sleep… please.”
Only then low sleepy voices flowing. Eventually, I give up attacking the front where the blanket is.
“No breakfast if you don’t get up?!” “Groan….” “Kuh-ugh.”
Smack smack smack smack, tapping backs following the breakfast threat. The guys whose guard at the back was loose compared to the front, soon opened their eyes drowsily with heavily frowning faces.
Like that, Haley and Shane regained consciousness. We ate together at the table that seemed a little narrower.
“Haa, melting, melting.”
Although they had quite a hard time getting up, anyway, Haley and Shane eating well faithfully what was given. The two put slightly cold hands on the bowl receiving warmth, or drank the soup that didn’t cool down easily due to oil in one go, making happy expressions.
At the time when the hot breakfast of early autumn continued. Suddenly Haley turned her head slightly and asked.
“Mister has to go to Grandpa’s again, right?” “Hm, I’ll return and prepare dinner.” “You don’t necessarily have to prepare it….” “How can I do that in a position of living off you.”
Trivial morning conversation as always. After the short answer, I slurped a sip of soup slurp. The heat kept by the floating oil heats up the inside.
“You are living off her here?” “It became like that, dragged here after being stuck in the countryside for a few years.”
While doing so, suddenly Shane cutting into the conversation. It seemed quite unexpected that I was living off someone.
“With magic like yesterday, it’s not to the extent of living off….” “I found out I had mana only a while ago too.”
He tried to explain that with magic like yesterday it wasn’t to the extent of living off, but I cut him off midway.
“Yees? What were you doing when we were measured?” “You ask that first too.”
Then the guy Shane startled. Just like Haley, asking what I did when they were measured, speaking as if unbelievable. Indeed, based on being born here, there would be no person who hasn't tried mana measurement until this age. But I can’t say I didn’t do it because I came from another world, you punk. …Can’t say that either.
Anyway, it’s tiring to keep talking about the same topic. Let’s just pass it over appropriately. “Naturally I thought I wouldn’t have it, and even a penny of measurement cost was wasteful so I did that! Don’t ask anymore.” “So there really was such a person….”
Ending the talk in that way, Shane leaked words blinking his eyes as if seeing a creature in legend. Is that such a rare thing. If lived without a guardian, it would be a quite common thing.
While I was drinking a sip of soup again with such thought, Shane continued speaking stealthily.
“Or how about learning magic properly? There is a place specializing in teaching magic in the city where I work….” “No!”
Bang-!
Short shout and loud noise echoing at the end of Shane’s suggestion. Haley slammed the table out of nowhere. It wasn’t just Shane and me surprised by the sudden action. Haley herself also seemed unable to hide her fluster, as if it was an action committed unconsciously.
“Ah, that is… I mean.” “If learning anyway, isn’t it better to learn properly?”
While Haley was surprised and couldn’t continue words properly, Shane thrusting correct logic like a storm based on logic.
“Mister thinks so too, right?” “Huh? Hmm….”
I groan at the arrow of question suddenly directing at me. Naturally, legal tutoring would be better than illegal tutoring. Looking strictly rationally, that would be correct but…. Simultaneously with such thought, I read Haley’s mood. Lips bitten as if being sucked in and rippling eyes. If stimulated even a little more, tears seem likely to burst.
“That, well, I have no thoughts for now.” “Yees? What a waste….” “It is fascinating in various ways, but I don’t feel the necessity to handle it well yet.”
I couldn’t bear to say abruptly I would follow there, so I refused listing various excuses. Only then a sigh-like breath bursting out from Haley who lowered her head ‘Phew’. Shane also sent a gaze toward Haley for a short moment at that sound, then looked at me again and continued speaking as if resigned.
“Can’t be helped, send a letter anytime if you change your mind.” “You mean ask Mr. Huton right? Understood.”
Conversation with Shane ended with a small agreement. Afterward, Haley started using her mouth only for eating silently, and didn’t come out even when seeing Shane off. Eventually, I came out alone to see Shane off. Shane’s cleanly polished armor was boasting subtle reflected light under the morning sunlight.
“By any chance, can I come to play if I think of it occasionally?” “Wouldn’t that depend on Haley’s mood, I think….”
Afterward, Shane asked if he could come to play if he thought of it occasionally, but I blurred the end of the sentence at the uncertain future.
“Aha, that… anyway, it was fun meeting you! Seems I slept properly deeply after a long time too.”
Whether Shane also expected this part sufficiently, he sighed shortly ‘Ah’ and attached words of farewell awkwardly.
“Yeah, see you again next time. Take care.”
Shane’s back moving away with a waving hand. Didn’t know that reckless guy would become like that.
‘Feeling is new.’
Perhaps because I saw Shane who grew up well, I am curious about the current appearance of other children besides Haley and Shane. What would that child who liked books look like now. That kid who admired and loved magic so much? That little kid who mimicked a witch while crushing grass? I smirked imagining such things for no reason. Those kids I did my best for within the line I could. If only things didn’t go wrong, wouldn’t they each be living a peaceful life.
And, the moment to confirm that…. Was coming faster than I thought.