Responsibility (2)
that evening.
“If you have time, go for a drink.”
At the invitation of Douglas, who came by suddenly, he was almost dragged into a bar to work on his masterpiece.
He seemed to need someone to talk to, so he calmly filled his glass.
“Have you stopped working as a mercenary?”
“I’m going to take a break. like a senior You should be back soon.”
The preliminary preparations that can be done at this point have been completed.
Now it was the stage of making plates while teaching children. To do so, it was better to move as a mercenary.
Again, I will have to take a break next year or the year after that.
“Then, if you happen to meet my daughter, please help me. I guess I won’t be able to move because I’m teaching Rize for a while.”
“I didn’t think you would need my help.”
“Hmm, I only know how to handle a sword, but I’m still a kid. Now that I think about it, I think the S-level screening was too early.”
“You don’t have to worry too much because you have the skills.”
In fact, she experiences several failed requests afterward, but turns failed requests into success through re-challenges.
Judging from the progress we have heard so far, the future will not change.
“When you say that, it eases my worries. Still, if you ever meet… … .”
“I will look at the situation and make a decision. I don’t see you as someone who would appreciate my help.”
Fortunately, Douglas was not obstinate, and quickly moved on to other trivial topics.
Although the mainstream story was that these days, mercenaries had no guts, like a great senior.
“To be honest, I was very surprised.”
Then, without hesitation, he started talking about Rize.
“I didn’t take it very seriously when you were so proud of your daughter. The reason I came here was because I wanted to look at the sword a little while I was taking a short break.”
Have I ever been that proud?
I couldn’t remember it well, but I’m sure he said it without exaggeration.
Of course, that wasn’t easy to believe.
“It’s been a while since I felt like that. I only swung the sword once. It was like watching my daughter when she was little. At this age, I can’t just leave a child like that, that’s right.”
Douglas burst out with a short, boisterous laugh, took the glass in front of him, drank it down, and spoke again.
“Didn’t they say they also learned magic? My daughter also has no talent for magic, and I envy her for that. Since Lize isn’t a child to learn awkwardly, it must be a strong point. Wield swords and magic freely… … . hahahaha, isn’t it like the old hero of light?”
“It’s too much of a compliment, senior.”
At the sudden words, I tried to keep my expression on my face and responded.
Douglas may have said it as a joke, but he is startled that someone will hear and notice something like that. I wonder if there is such a person, but there was nothing wrong with being careful.
“It seems like you’re always giving too much praise… … Compared to others, Rize’s wick is really straight. Even though it’s a pretty tough training, aren’t you following along without saying anything?”
“It’s just extraordinary. I didn’t mean to do it this far, but I couldn’t help it because I wanted to.”
“hahahahaha, that’s what a father is.”
At my words, Douglas smiled broadly and filled my empty glass, which I accepted without hesitation.
“Still, a child who listens as well as Rize would not be easy to raise. that’s really embarrassing How hard my daughter suffered when she was Rize’s age… … .”
That was the part I really agreed with.
Up until now, apart from the hardships I had while raising Rize because I was a new father, I had never had a hard time with Rize.
But is that a rebound… … It seemed like he was going to have a hard time raising other children.
* * *
As we approached the lonely house, something harsh grew louder.
When I finally got to a place with a panoramic view of the house, I could see four children rolling around in the front yard, raising dust.
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“Ah, it’s a man!”
“uh? Hey, stop!”
Scary to find me, the children who had been arguing immediately finished organizing and stood in a line and bowed their backs.
“Hello, mister!”
“Hey, how are you?”
I greeted the children who greeted them with one voice and patted their heads once for no reason.
Thanks to eating well for two months, unlike the first time we met, I gained weight well, and I had enough stamina to do the same training as before.
The children who finally learned that they could receive proper training grew up day by day. It was because they were talented enough to become the main forces of the Dark Truth Church.
“Did everyone do their homework?”
“… … .”
At my question, the children secretly averted their gaze.
Whenever I had time, I taught liberal arts and learning, but I didn’t show much interest.
These things were all blood and flesh in fighting, but I couldn’t understand these things because I was still a child.
Should we have some fun with something like decryption?
The only consolation was the quiet nod of Nora, the youngest.
Rowen, the eldest, cautiously opened his mouth as if to continue the gloomy atmosphere in an instant.
“Have you heard of Claire?”
“… … I came here in a hurry because of that. Are you inside?”
“yes. Grandpa went out for a while to look for medicine.”
At that, Delan and Frederick made dark faces. No, to be precise, the feeling of resentment was thick.
In Nora’s case, I felt like crying right away.
“Okay, I’ll go in, so keep training.”
“Me, uncle.”
I was about to enter without delay, but Nora grabbed me by the hem of my dress and called me quietly.
Hesitating, Nora managed to say a word in a subdued voice.
“Claire, can you get better?”
He patted the crying Nora on the head lightly as if he were really worried about his blood, and told her not to worry.
“of course. Trust me.”
Nora nodded and gave a strong look, perhaps because of the trust she had built up over the years. It was quite burdensome to see the three of them share the same look with him.
When I went inside, I was greeted with a cold energy unlike usual.
I passed through the hallway, stood in front of the door to Claire’s room, and carefully knocked.
smart.
“Claire, are you there?”
“… … .”
There was no answer, but I felt a strong presence through the door. No, along with pretending to be popular, even other strange auras.
After waiting for a while, I raised my hand to knock again when I heard a voice from inside.
“Don’t come in.”
“I’m going in.”
I heard the answer, so I opened the unlocked door and went inside.
Claire, who was sitting on the bed with her knees together, had a feeling of melancholy emanating from her body.
It wasn’t just that, though.
“Don’t come any closer.”
Claire tried to stop me with an unusually cool tone.
Of course, I didn’t dwell on that at all and continued walking and sat down on the bed. Claire, who didn’t even move, opened her mouth again after a while.
“Uncle, I… … I hate it.”
Claire let out a self-deprecating voice and squeezed the hem of her clothes with both hands as if it would tear.
“How did I get this ability? Am I the only one who hurts others, looks ugly, and has to be lonely? If not, am I being punished for having a bad heart?”
As Claire’s emotions intensified, the faint greenish smoke from her body rose little by little into the air.
The ability to exhale poison from her body was out of Claire’s control. No, it must be leaking out without knowing how to properly handle it.
The other children are also inexperienced in handling their abilities, but they don’t endanger people indiscriminately like Claire.
Because of that, Claire shut herself up in her room and forcibly suppressed her emotions.
It was my fault for not expecting this situation at all. But Claire was looking for the fault in herself.
“I hate darkness. You made me like this I know you’ll need this ability to punish them, but… … If this is going to happen, it is better not to have it.”
It was only for a moment to burn out anger against the Dark Truth Church, but Claire was depressed about reality again.
Her eyes, barely visible when she lifted her head slightly, were so swollen that it was hard to see how much she had cried.
If I had known this was going to happen, I would have come sooner.
“Do I have to live like this for the rest of my life? I can’t eat with my kids, I can’t play with them, I can’t live with them… … Am I dying without holding hands with the person I love?”
What kind of bleak future is drawn in those eyes?
do not do that.
No matter how much I brought these children out of necessity and educated them to fight, the future of these children must be bright.
I quietly reached out and grabbed Claire’s hand, and Claire, startled, tried to remove it.
“No! Even the uncle who touched me… … !”
“Look at you, Claire.”
As I spoke in a strong tone without letting go of my hand, Claire stared at my hand with tears in her eyes. And as soon as I confirmed that nothing was wrong, I turned to me with widened eyes.
It was clear that the poison Claire was spouting was still weak. It would have an immediate effect on young children, but it was ineffective for me, who has some tolerance for poison.
“are you okay. It will be fine.”
At my words, Claire couldn’t stand it any longer and hugged me. I didn’t avoid it either, and I gently patted her on the back and soothed Claire, who eventually burst into tears.
Then, I calmly thought about how to solve it.
It was the first time for me to come across such a case, so I didn’t have a sharp idea right away.
Well, if you count only the probable ones, the number will be small, but first of all, it was first to examine Claire’s body and pinpoint the symptoms accurately.
“Claire, wait.”
To that end, I tried to pull it off, but Claire held me tightly as if she didn’t want to fall. After trying and calming her down a few times, she took a closer look at Claire.
It was not difficult to take a look at his physical condition because he had a career as a doctor and had medical knowledge.
It was just perfectly normal.
In the end, it was only the result of Claire’s ability moving at will, and as expected, it was fortunate that there was no harm to herself.
However, if you can’t properly control your abilities, eventually Claire’s body will also be eaten away.
I thought for a moment, then met Claire’s eyes and opened my mouth.
“Sorry. There is no way right now. So, can you trust me and wait a little longer?”
I don’t know if it can be solved right away, but unless that’s the case, I had to approach it carefully.
Claire, who was still weeping, stared at me, then nodded heavily.
“Uncle, I believe. I’ll be waiting quietly. instead… … .”
Claire mumbled for a moment, then summoned up the courage to add her words.
“If you wait until you come back, please do me one favor.”
“Yes, if it is not difficult.”
I don’t know how great a favor he would ask, but he had a face full of determination and had erased his crying.
I was about to forget the situation for a while, but I soon came back to my senses, hugged Claire again, and went out.
Immediately after stopping the children who rushed at him, he moved away and blew the miasma from his body into the wind.
I took a chair out and sat down and waited for Hazel to think about Claire’s treatment for a while longer. No, should I say ability control rather than treatment?
Since I was also an outsider in this area, it might be better to ask the children.
If not… … .
“wait.”
Suddenly, a thought came to my mind and I quickly recalled what had happened at this time.
It’s not that, it’s not this either.
yes, this is it
Ever since I met Rize, I have no choice but to believe in destiny.
Claire is showing symptoms like that, and this incident happens soon at the right time.
An incident related to ‘poison’, nothing else.
I wanted to run straight to the guild, but soon changed my mind.
It was a bit annoying to be directly involved, and there was no room for uninvited guests to intervene. So, I needed to disguise myself as ‘someone else’.
Let’s see.
this time… … The fifth job, an alchemist, was perfect.