Episode 129. A future that should never come true
After finishing morning training.
Tasian headed to the kitchen for a meal and started chopping the ingredients on the cutting board, leaving me seated at the table.
After entering the kitchen, very naturally and with skillful hands.
“Well, are you feeling okay?”
“My son says that every time he sees his mom. “There is no problem with housework, so you don’t have to worry about it.”
“No, that’s not it… …. “Since then, I have been worried that something is wrong with my body.”
I didn’t think it was a big deal, but I couldn’t help but feel worried.
Now she has completely lost her power as a dragon.
Even before the day’s fight ended, she was someone who often faced the risk of her body collapsing due to her innate strength.
If you are now in a much weaker state than that, your body may be ruined in real time no matter how much promise you have.
“If that’s the case, you don’t have to worry. Rather, I have no strength left at all, so my body feels much lighter?”
“…Really?”
“Yes, so you don’t have to worry. We will be able to be together for as long as you are alive.”
As long as I live, I will watch over your life and take care of you as a mother.
Those were the feelings she had never realized she had for the adopted daughter she had taken in in her past.
“As long as you live, he will do for you what he couldn’t do for that child. “Everything we can do as a family…”
“… ….”
“… Well, there’s not much you can do with a body like this.”
“Oh, no, I’m just grateful for what you’re doing right now.”
It was sincere, not pretentious.
Even though her daughter would never come back, I also felt that her atonement for her was sincere.
“But you’re still going to do dangerous things in the future, right?”
And from her point of view with such sincerity, what I want to do seems unclear.
“…… “Do you want to stop me?”
“I want to stop you, but I guess it can’t be helped. In the end, developing strength is to protect yourself and those around you.”
Yes, there are greater dangers in the world now than she was in her prime.
In such a world, it is natural to want to take risks to protect oneself.
So, from her weakened perspective, rather than trying to prevent that from happening, she would rather choose to help me have the strength to protect myself.
“Unfortunately, it is difficult for me to give advice on training or how to handle spirits because it is difficult to meet human standards, but I can still teach you information about equipment or provide management.”
“Equipment, you mean?”
“Because I have lived for a long time, I have a good knowledge of handling materials.”
Come to think of it, dragon-related tales often include stories about being crazy about jewels or collecting special equipment.
Most of this may be fiction, but in reality, it is a long-lived species and is said to be the pinnacle of all things, so there may be no one who can catch up with it in handling materials.
The fact that he chose a craftsman as a fake identity and the fact that he decided to create an ego weapon as a means to fulfill his promise must have had a lot to do with that.
“So, if you have anything to do with equipment in the future, don’t just leave it to someone else. Be sure to consult with me first. Understand?”
“Ahahahaha, yes. “If I need to leave equipment to Tasian, I will definitely leave it to Tasian.”
“Really?”
“Yes, really…” ….”
“Ugh~ I don’t believe you?”
Tashian soon turned his back on the pot and stared at me.
Doubts toward me were visible in the two slightly opened eyes.
“I respect my son’s opinion, but if I leave it to someone else, my mom will be upset.”
“… Was I that untrustworthy?”
“Well, if you tell me just one word, maybe I’ll believe you~”
A meaningful smile vaguely drawn at the corner of his mouth.
That was something I saw several times while living together for several weeks.
“… “What do you mean?”
“Do you love Mom?”
Ah, yes, this is probably it.
Still, I thought it was better than calling her mom, so I spoke to her while suppressing the tickle of her face.
“I love you.”
It is still difficult to realize that we are a family.
Still, to give revival to the person who gives for me.
“Yes, I love my son too~”
Tasian answered my words with a bright smile.
The reason why I didn’t feel awkward about her appearance even though it was different from the first time I met her was because I vaguely understood through her memories of other teeth that she also had this side.
Before she left, she had the same kindness as she does now, and that was why she had no choice but to cling to her existence even more…
“Keuhum!!”
Just when that thought occurred to me, a coughing sound came from behind.
When I stiffened and turned around, I began to see the murderous eyes looking down at me.
“Oh, Airi?
Iri Haven.
A person closer to me than Tasian, with whom I have a family bond.
“Mr. Hyosung.”
And we knew what kind of feelings we had for each other.
Of course, I am also aware of how she views her current situation.
“It seems like you’ve become quite friendly with Tasian over the past few weeks.”
“Well, that’s it…”
I understand the situation between Tasian and I, but in the end, unless we are related by blood, it is clear that we will be seen as strangers in the eyes of others.
Right now, fights break out all the time, especially with Marilyn, but if Tasian gets involved in it, wouldn’t the feeling of betrayal inevitably increase?
“hehehe, it’s natural for us to become friends. “Because they are a son and a mother.”
Even though she felt Airi’s gaze, she approached Airi without hesitation.
In fact, it wasn’t just a day or two that the current friction occurred, but in the case of Tashi An, unlike Yen Airi, she didn’t seem to be very emotional about her current relationship.
It was a natural result. For her now, her Airi, like me, was considered ‘an object to be embraced’.
“Well, I’ll prepare food soon, so my daughter, please sit down and eat it too.”
He is like another child to me.
“… Tasian.”
“Why are you doing this, my daughter?”
“Even so, Hyosung, since when did I become your daughter?”
“So, if you’re with this child, you’re all part of the same family?”
Family. The concept of her still holding on to this world when she should have left it long ago.
The tolerance Tasian gained by accepting me was not limited to just me.
At least, I wanted to show that people around me, such as Irina and Marylin, consider them like children and keep them in my arms.
“Excuse me, is this Woo Hyo-seong’s house?”
It was time to think about how to reconcile the conflict created by such a difference in position.
She immediately responded to the voice coming from her front door, and hurriedly headed there with her feet.
Standing at the entrance is a postman who works within the empire.
When I received the letter in my hand and checked its contents, my face immediately became stiff.
“… Tasian, Mr. Airi. “I’ll go out for a moment.”
“You’re leaving without even eating?”
“Yes, I heard that a friend of mine’s funeral is being held today, so I think we should eat there.”
This is also news of the death of a ‘worker colleague’ with whom I was somewhat close in the past.
It’s been over a year since I last saw him, but since I’ve had a good time, it would be reasonable to attend the funeral.
****
After he was away for that reason.
Tasian and Airi, left alone in the kitchen, continued eating while facing each other.
And the relationship, as usual, was very one-sided.
One side feels nervous, but the other side watches with a smile.
“How does it taste? “Is it seasoned well?”
“… Yes I’m okay.”
“hehehe, I’m glad. “It was worthwhile studying through the cookbook.”
I did a lot of cooking half a century ago while raising a child, and even after that, I still had a lingering desire to cook, so I learned a lot of things.
Such efforts went so far as to put her sincerity and love into it after meeting him, and her feelings were also conveyed to her Airi, who continued to eat with her at this moment.
Even if you can’t see that his heart is aimed at the opposite s*x, it’s enough to make you think that it might be bigger than yourself.
“By the way, my daughter seems to be having troubles recently… ….”
“… “Yes, I’m always thinking about how I can make her give up calling me her daughter.”
“This guy. “Does Mom get upset when I say things like that?”
But no matter how different it is from before, it hasn’t changed too much.
Although she couldn’t get used to the stark difference from her previous appearance, she still felt the class and elegance that a superior being would have.
And also the experience that I have naturally developed while living for a long time.
“If you have any concerns, please tell your mom anything, because she can give you advice. For example, about prophecy…”
Shocked. Airi’s body stiffens at her words.
Tasian, who was watching her, smiled happily and began to rest on her chin.
“Anyway, if you were able to prophesy normally, she would have guessed that the child was going out.”
In fact, after she joined, the prophet in front of me did not appear to make a prophecy or give advice even once.
For a prophet, seeing the future is a great power, but he was often seen quietly watching him train or read a book in his room.
“Well, your confidence is bound to drop. Even if it’s not perfect, if something goes wrong at a critical moment, your abilities may be considered useless.”
But how can we say it is her fault and incompetence?
Even he didn’t expect that a red knight would appear there.
It could have led to a situation that almost led to the extinction of humanity, but now that it is over, it would be such a waste to lose confidence by only focusing on that alone.
“But don’t be too upset. It’s not often that prophecies go wrong……. “The power you have now is probably greater than what I had in my prime.”
“… “Do you really think so?”
“Then~ Didn’t you actually predict exactly what would happen after I changed my mind?”
The future changes starting from the moment when a whim occurs, but the changed future will continue as is unless another variable occurs.
On the contrary, just because she can immediately observe the changed future when a variable occurs, it can be interpreted to mean that she has a higher ability to respond to variables than anyone else in the world.
“So, have confidence. If you don’t give up……. Even in this chaotic world, we can definitely open a path for everyone to be happy.”
Tasian holds Airi’s hand tightly with confidence that comes from his years of experience.
The warmth I felt from him taught me that the person she was now had a considerate heart for her partner.
If we follow her words with confidence, we are certain that we can achieve a future where everyone is happy.
‘So that’s the problem!!!’
Nevertheless, the reason I couldn’t shake off the impatience in my heart was because the word ‘happiness’ she mentioned gave off a cheap feeling to the current Airi.
Hanging out with someone you love and receiving rewards for your efforts can be said to be happiness, but in a way, losing your mind by getting drunk can also be said to be happiness.
And the future that may await you afterwards can be considered more terrible and bleak than having your whole body marinated in medicine.
‘Come here, my babies. It’s time to eat it~♡’
What she saw in the prophecy he made after she first became connected to him.
This is because there were signs that the starting point of a future that should never come true would begin at this moment.
‘I didn’t expect it at all. She never thought that Thasian would change so much after completing her mission…!’
The reason why her mood has changed so much compared to before is because she is trying to relieve her unrequited attachment to him with all her might, but more than that, it is also because she has something to call her ‘comfort’. .
If even an old man who has lived for just over a hundred years is treated as a wise man, how extensive can the generosity of a dragon who has lived for ten thousand years be?
Of course, his choice to keep Tasian by his side contributed to some extent, but he must be wary of that decision leading down the same path as the future he saw back then.
“What’s wrong, my daughter? Is there not enough food?”
“Chu, that’s enough!”
Therefore, in the few weeks she had joined, Airi could not help but show her wariness towards her at every moment.
She fits in to a certain extent but does not cross her line, and tries to keep the ‘family ties’ she speaks of at least to herself.
‘Absolutely, no matter what happens, we must prevent such a future from happening.’
Airi quietly eats the meal Tasian prepared for her and takes her heart away.
Tasian, who was looking at Airi from the other side, tilted her head to the side and made a puzzled expression.
‘Hmm… Is this what puberty is like?’
It was the best conclusion she could make, not knowing her future.
***
And then, on the way out of the house and towards the funeral home mentioned in the letter.
In the process, I met a familiar face.
“Oh my~ Mr. Hyosung~! Where are you going out?”
Marilyn Surgeland.
She, like Airi, lives together, but as a bard, she is often away from home to collect necessary stories.
As I often spent the night outside with her, meeting her on the street early in the morning was not very strange.
“Ah, yes. I’m going to go to a friend’s funeral for a moment.”
“Um, really? Then can I come with you?”
“You mean Ms. Marylin too?”
“hehehe, I think we can collect good stories if we work together with Hyosung.”
Marilyn said that and quickly took a seat next to me.
Her wanting to be with me couldn’t be said to be a normal thing, but why?
The moment I face her, I sense her discomfort.
“Have you changed your makeup?”
“Yes?”
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“Well, it seems like the atmosphere is a little different than usual.”
“……..”
A slightly hardened expression.
Even at first glance, I could feel my breathing becoming stiff, and it seemed like something had hit the nail on the head.
What is it? Could it be that I stepped on a landmine?
“Shouldn’t we hurry to the funeral?”
“Huh? Ah, yes. Then this way…”
Despite that feeling of discomfort, I tried to walk down her path, encouraged by Marylin.
It would be a lie if I said I wasn’t nervous, but I didn’t want to do anything that would make Marylin uncomfortable.
Okay, if there is a problem, let’s think about it after taking care of urgent matters.
“…hehehehe.”
I am trying to accept the feeling of discomfort.
I ignored the faint laughter coming from behind and continued to move towards my destination.