Chapter

ch61-ch80 · 073-ch72

Chapter 72: Embrace

"Ai?... Ai!"

I was shaken by Papa's shoulder and snapped out of it.

He had been calling out to me, but it seems I wasn't mentally here at all.

"Ai......"

Papa's worried face.

No, no, no. I have to stay my usual cheerful self.

"I'm sorry, I was spacing out a bit."

"Ai, I..."

"It's fine, it's fine! You don't have to make that kind of face. I was just a little surprised and yelled out loud earlier. But even though you said we're not related by blood, Papa is still Papa. I don't know Iris-san or Satchio-san, so it doesn't really hit me. So I'm totally fine, totally fine"

This isn't the kind of era where people have conflicts because "they're not my birth parents" or whatever, and I'm not the kind of age to throw a tantrum about that anyway. Rather, I understand that I should be grateful to the person who raised me.

Besides, I'm a high school girl in my prime. School life, future plans, part-time jobs, sweets, fashion... there are so many more things I need to think about, and I don't have time to worry about how I was born.

So, it's fine.

Nothing will change from now on. Just me and Papa, our family of two, that won't change.

So, it should be fine, and yet...

"...why won't the tears stop?"

"Ai!!!"

As Papa screamed, the Black Knight's armor disappeared like a heat haze.

"Rock-san!"

<Stop, Rock! With your body like that――>

Ignoring Chartreuse-san and Penta trying to stop him, Papa completely detransformed.

Immediately, red fluid started overflowing from the wound on his side.

"Papa, you're bleeding!"

Ignoring my surprise, Papa embraced me just like that.

So strongly it was a little painful, yet with a mysteriously pleasant warmth.

"A parent and child's embrace is tasteless when it's through armor, after all"

Parent and child. That's right, parent and child.

My face is buried in Papa's chest so I can't see it, but from his voice, I can picture his usual gentle smile.

"Ai, my very kind, proud daughter. But, you might be too kind, so you might be blaming yourself."

...how did he know?

"How did I know? Well, because I'm Ai's papa, of course.... Ai, thank you for being born. Thank you for coming to me. Because you were here, I was able to keep living. So, you must not blame yourself. There's absolutely nothing to blame yourself for."

...I'm glad... I'm glad I was with Papa.

"Of course.... Ai, you are my one and only daughter. The most important daughter in the world. Even if Iris-sama or Satchio came back to life and tried to take you, I wouldn't let them have you. Because Ai is my daughter."

Yeah, yeah...

"So, please don't go anywhere. No matter who comes, no matter what happens, Papa will protect you. Didn't I tell you before? For the sake of his beloved daughter, a father can do anything. He's stronger than anyone."

"Yeah... I'll stay with you forever. I won't go anywhere! I'll stay with Papa!!"

"Ai!!"

Papa's arms filled with strength.

I held onto Papa's back even more strongly, tightly.

――I wonder why, I'm remembering things from when I was little. When I would finish daycare and run to hug Papa who had come to pick me up.

　　―　◆　―

<Goodness, all he does is reckless things>

Penta, flashing irregularly to express its exasperation.

Lying on the concrete, Papa smiled even with his pale face.

"This is nothing. For my daughter's sake, this isn't that reckless."

"If you're doing it for my sake, then please take care of your body!"

"G-gorry..."

When I scolded him, he became all meek.

I feel a little sorry for him.

"However, I am moved! This is what you call a true parent-child bond. Nothing can surpass this, I suppose."

Chartreuse-san seems kind of worked up.

Ah, Chartreuse-san made a smaller green square than before, and we're inside it now. It's to prevent Papa's eiyōso from leaking out too much, and also to help this person use her powers, apparently.

"Woahhh! What have I been doing all this time! I thought I was forced to betray my country after being abandoned by it, but now I can deeply feel the fortune of being able to follow Master Rock and the young lady!"

The Samoyed stuffed animal... Melkid is placing its fluffy hands on Papa's stomach as he lies on his back, emitting a faint light.

It's apparently an eiyō technique for healing wounds. Just like an RPG.

Normally, the eiyōso is too thin to use it, but inside Chartreuse-san's square and with Penta giving him eiyōso, he can use techniques at the same level as when he's in human form, just for now.

"To think that Melkid remained in Limilaru in this form..."

"Please listen, Sir Lime! To this tale of this wagahai's suffering, who has received such a sad treatment that would make you weep whether you listen or speak of it!"

<Enough, focus on healing. If you don't heal it enough, we won't be able to move from here for a while>

"Y-yes, my apologies!"

Getting scolded by Penta, Melkid straightened his back? He's completely humbled himself since learning that Penta is the Blue Bird.

Even so, for some reason, Penta has been kind of harsh toward Melkid since a little while ago.

Is it a mascot character's rivalry, or is he jealous that Melkid can move his body?

Penta apparently has a tremendous amount of eiyōso, but by himself, all he can do is 'speak directly into your mind!?' or so.

That, even a flashlight or a smartphone can do, you know.

And, I've said this many times, but stop reading my mind!