Volume 2
Chapter 19
Returned the Favor
Translator : PolterGlast
【In's POV】
"Ugh...
cough..."
Right now, I was about
to be killed by the enemy in front of me, a woman who called herself the
Goddess of Tree Love, Natura.
Numerous tree trunks
that were probably manipulated by her were piercing my body. I had barely
managed to avoid being hit in the head, but even with these wounds and this
bleeding, I didn't think I could survive.
"Ufufufu♡ Oh~, my love. Thank you, and goodbye."
The monster in front
of me smiled dreamily and turned to leave.
If I let this happen,
Akana-sama will be in danger.
I can't even buy time
properly... will it end like this? Will I end up without being able to repay
those people?
...I can't... I can't
let that happen!
□□□
【In's POV】
I was from the slums.
I didn't know who my parents were, and I survived by stealing things. I lived a
miserable life.
But then, one day, a
turning point came. Murid-sama, the head of the Gilmberg family at the time,
and his son, Nine-sama, passed by the slum where I lived.
The Gilmberg family
had always been a compassionate noble family.
They didn't say
foolish things like wanting to save all the poor people in this country, but
while they were realistic, they couldn't abandon people in need right in front
of them. They were such people.
"Would you like
to come with us?"
The sight of them
reaching out to me like that was, truly, hope itself.
When I was taken to
the mansion, I was surprised by everything.
Those who were taken
from the slums were all hired as live-in servants, and that we would be
provided with food and clothing we had never even dreamed of. The people in the
mansion treated us with kindness, not showing any bitter expressions to us who
didn't know anything about the world.
It was like being in
heaven.
"In-chan! Nice to
meet you!"
Even though she was
the daughter of a noble, Akana-sama never showed any unpleasant expressions,
but instead greeted us with a sunny smile.
How happy I was that
slum dwellers like me, who were needed by no one and looked down upon by
everyone, were smiled at without discrimination.
Even when the family
was on the verge of ruin, the Gilmberg family did not abandon us.
"It's okay, don't
worry. I won't let you guys end up out on the streets again."
Even though his father
had passed away, Nine-sama still smiled at us and said so.
"Akana-sama must
be having a hard time too, with everything that's happening..."
I remember when I was
out in the flower garden as Akana-sama's attendant.
"Hard? Hmm, I
don't think I'm having a hard time."
"Eh?"
"It's my father
and mother who are having a hard time. Not me."
"───! M-My
apologies!"
I realized my slip-up
and quickly bowed my head. I was being supported by the Gilmberg family, so
what was I saying───I was so ashamed of
myself.
"Oh come on,
In-san, stop with that stiff tone."
"But..."
"Hmph"
Akana-sama pouted.
"Fine~ I don't
care. No matter how stiff In-san is, I'll always be casual with you."
"───"
I widened my eyes at
such a childish sulk.
"………Hey,
In-san"
However, after a few
moments, Akana-sama lowered her head and started talking in a somewhat wistful
tone.
"In-san, you
treat us with courtesy, but... you don't have to be so stiff, you know? Look at
Kem-san, he's so casual with us."
"───! Kem's behavior is
simply too disrespectful. Even if Akana-sama and the others are tolerant, there
are things that need to be corrected when necessary."
"Gosh...
In-san."
Akana-sama sighed.
"You know,
In-san, I'm really glad you came."
"Eh?"
"I'm sure Father
and Mother feel the same way. After all, they didn't let go of any of you.
That's the best proof."
"………"
"I'm grateful to
In-san. No, I'm grateful to everyone, not just In-san. I'm grateful to Kem-san,
Amui-san, Kaku-san───and everyone."
"Akana-sama..."
"So, In-san, you
can live your life however you want, okay?"
"───!"
"You don't have
to keep up with us in everything. If you ever want to leave, it's okay to go
anytime."
"A-Akana-sama!
That's───"
"If In-san is
happy, that makes us happy too. So───In-san, please think of yourself first. I would be sad if In-san
couldn't be happy."
"───!!!!"
I still remember the
feeling of gratitude and excitement I felt back then.
They told me that our
happiness was important. Even though they should have been the ones suffering
more, they were kind enough to wish for the happiness of others.
I realized at that
moment that I was already happy just by being taken in by these people.
I had been given so
much, and taken care of to such an extent. How could I call myself a human if I
didn't repay them?
That's why I
volunteered to be a shadow.
I thought that by
doing so, I could repay all the feelings and gratitude I had for them. ───But in the end, I
wonder what I was able to give back? Compared to what they gave me, my efforts
were insignificant.
So, I thought I had no
choice but to dedicate my entire, meager life to them.
□□□
【In's POV】
I couldn't do
anything. Nine-sama died, and I couldn't stop Arie-sama's execution───I couldn't do anything
to repay them!
There's only so much
we can do now.
───With this life, I will
protect Akana-sama. That's the only way we can repay them.
That's the only───meaning of our lives!
This can't end here!
"───!"
I chewed on something
I had prepared beforehand in my mouth.
"......?"
Perhaps noticing this,
Natura stopped and turned toward me.
"Are you still
alive?"
"......"
I don't even have the
energy to speak anymore.
But I can feel the
heat in my mouth.
"What have I
done... I'm sorry I couldn't kill you instantly. Is it painful? Does it hurt?
I'll relieve you of your pain now."
Natura thrusts her
right hand towards me.
I'm going to die soon.
But───I won't let you kill
me.
───Even if it costs me my
life, I will kill you and protect Akana-sama!!
Heat overflowed from
my mouth───
And a scorching shock
wave swept through the entire area.
□□□
【Sage's POV】
"Haa, haa"
We're almost out of
the forest. Just a little bit more.
"………"
The Gilmberg daughter
I'm carrying still doesn't say anything.
But... it feels like
her expression has changed slightly. Was she influenced by the words of the
shadow?
Well, it doesn't
matter. The priority now is to get out of the forest.
Just as I was about to
increase my speed───
"Haai~ ♡"
As if twisting her
body out of a log, she appeared.
"To think she
would go as far as to explode and burn my body, just to eliminate the time I
needed to merge with the tree... Oh, what a loving person she was!!///"
Apparently, the
shadow's attempt to buy time failed.
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