Chapter 151: 137.1

I couldn't return home with the level of rage boiling inside me.

To cool off, I wandered aimlessly through the night streets.

Perhaps it was because everyone had already gone to sleep, but the snow-covered city of stone felt unusually cold. That said, it was nothing compared to the snowy fields of Neomia. My skin froze and my flesh stiffened, but the cold didn't reach my bones.

My feet automatically brought me to the stores of my acquaintances.

Needless to say, both stores were already closed.

I left, and since the brothels would be a bad idea, I steered clear of them. The normally noisy streets were so quiet it was almost painful to the ear. There were neither prostitutes looking for customers nor intoxicated adventurers.

I was struck with a strange sense of loneliness.

It was as if everyone had perished, leaving behind nothing but the traces that they had existed in the snow. It seemed like I was walking through a city that had fallen into ruin.

It felt to me like hundreds of years had passed without my knowledge, and that no one would be there even if I returned home………………

「How utterly foolish」

Both my head and body have cooled off enough. I should hurry home.

However, the wintry landscape and the atmosphere of the night had made me lose track of where I was.

This problem would have been resolved right away if I had just asked Yukikaze, but I simply kept on walking aimlessly. By chance, I stumbled upon a place I recognized.

It was Tyutyu's store, which had a red awning over it.

Perhaps it was because she had more money now, but the tables and chairs were a bit newer. They were probably second-hand, but even though they looked a bit old, they were still an upgrade over the battered ones that were there before.

The snow looked freshly shoveled, causing me to think, “Surely not……”

「Welcome back, Barfuru-sama………………Sorry-nya, I guess I got your scents mixed up-nya」

Tyutyu had emerged from the shack. She had wrapped herself in a blanket, but she had practically been outdoors in this temperature. Even a beastkin must find it too cold. As proof, she was shivering a little.

「Surely you haven't been sleeping here?」

You have a proper house, so what are you doing here?

「Hmm? Whenever Barfuru-sama goes off, I sleep here instead of at home. That jerk-nya, he would never stop by my house-nya」

「………I see」

Barfuru had said that this was not the place he had to return to. And yet, there’s someone waiting for him in this place.

I was overcome with a feeling that was too much to bear.

「What about you, Souya? What are you doing here at this hour-nya?」

「I had just returned from work. I thought I'd take a quick stroll around, but at this hour……」

「Then hurry on home-nya. You have people waiting for you at home. You're a lucky man, Souya-nya」

「………………」

I wanted to reply, but found myself at a loss for words.

The person she's waiting for will never return. Because I've killed him.

「Tyutyu, about Barfuru-sama……」

「Hmm?」

「He's not going to come back here anymore」

I went and said it.

I just couldn't keep quiet about it.

「Why?」

The eyes that she had fixed on mine were terrifying.

I had thought that I had become stronger, but I guess I'm still weak against women.

「He's gone back to where he has family waiting for him. A place far away」

「………………Is that so?」

「So stop waiting for him here and go home. If you sleep in this kind of place, you’ll――」

「Don’t call it “this kind of place”!」

Tyutyu's voice echoed in the still of the night.

「Oh………sorry-nya. But this is the store my mother left me, and Barfuru-sama is………」

The hypocrisy I had spouted had been no better than a load of bullshit.

Tyutyu broke out in a shiver and crouched into a small ball. I stretched my hand towards her, but………

「Souya, please just go home. That kind of thing………I don't need it」

My shallow sympathy was rejected.

There was nothing more to be said. I dragged my legs, which were stiff with reluctance, and left her side.

I heard the sound of stifled sobbing.

It's just my imagination.

She's not such a weak woman.

If not for me, if I hadn’t come to this alternate world, Barfuru and Tyutyu's everyday life would surely have continued.

The beast from a nightmare, despite his obsession, would continue to distract himself with alcohol, and though she would only see him as a good-for-nothing, the beastkin girl would continue to experience what it was like to have family.

But……

But so what?

I had simply brushed off the sparks that had landed on me(defended myself from what was threatening my life). Why should I give a damn about the feelings of those sparks?

The sorrow of just one girl should be nothing to a follower of Misuranika, the god of misdeeds.

Don't worry about it.

Don't pay it any mind.

My footsteps on the snow gradually became faster. Once the sobbing could no longer be heard, I started running.

I had no destination in mind. I ran, and I ran, and until I was out of breath and my heart was pounding, I kept on running. On impulse, I started to throw away the things I was carrying, but my calculating mind took over and stopped me at the last second.

Losing my balance, I slipped on the snow and fell awkwardly. I hit my back so hard that I couldn't move for a moment.

To Barfuru……

And the king of adventurers……

I offer these words with all my heart.

「If only I could live shamelessly like you guys! I'd have it so much easier!」

Go to hell.

No, live and suffer.

「You stupid bastards」

The sky looked so ridiculously beautiful.

I just lay there and watched the stars.

It took a while for me to get my ragged breathing under control and for the sweat on my feverish body to dry up. The sky was filled with so many stars that it felt like I was in space, and so beautiful that it brought tears to my eyes. Shining brightly, as if sneering at me, were the three moons.

「Souya」

Something intruded into the starry sky I had all to myself. It was a fluffy tail that was swaying in and out of sight.

「What’s wrong? Are you lost?」

「Yes, Misuranika-sama. I’m lost」

A cat with golden eyes, long gray hair, and an especially fluffy winter coat was talking to me.

According to Makina, she closely resembles a breed called the Norwegian Forest Cat.

「Come then, I'll show you the way」

"Hurry up and get up," the paw poking my cheek seemed to say.

I couldn't just lie there with god prodding me, so I brushed the snow off me, got to my feet, and followed god's lead.

「Misuranika-sama, did anything change at home?」

「If I had to say, I guess there were some changes. For one, Ea has returned to health. But these few days, all we've been eating is a rotation of udon, curry, and ramen. It's not bad, but I'm getting sick of it」

「Didn't Makina make any other dishes?」

「That one basically only makes what people want. Elves take a long time to get tired of a flavor or pastime they've grown fond of. For example, if you leave Ea to her own devices, she'll eat curry every day. Rana too, she'll eat eggs over rice non-stop. Bringing diversity into the home is your job, Souya」

「I'll bear that in mind」

Elves can be obsessed over one thing for a long time, I guess.

「Well, it probably wouldn't have been that way if Lanseal hadn't been locked up」

「How did Rana and Ea react to that?」

The sisters didn't storm the royal castle, did they?

「A messenger came from the castle and told the sisters that she had caught a cold. I saw through the lie easily, but I thoughtfully kept quiet about it. Anyway, I'd bet she must have acted on her woman's intuition and clashed with the king」

「Yes, well, you're exactly right」

「Well then, cook dishes that I like tomorrow」

「Understood. Do you have any requests?」

「Hot pot(nabe)」

Hot pot, huh? I guess that's a staple of winter. I'm sure it'll be delicious even if I just throw in bacon, cabbage, tomatoes, miso, and other things randomly.

But……

「I thought you disliked hot food, Misuranika-sama? The last time I made this dish, you made a big fuss about it being too hot the entire time」

「You simply have to blow on it till it's cool. Isn't that the duty of a follower?」

「………Understood」

Today, a new tenet was born.

『It is the duty of a follower to blow on food to cool it down for god』

I just hope that Maria doesn't see this and makes a fuss, saying, "Do it for me too."

「We've arrived. I'll go in first」

We had arrived at a certain section of the city wall. Even though I had only been away for a couple of days, I felt unusually homesick.

………………This is home.

Ducking through the cat door beside the iron door, my god went in first. Did Makina add this? I wondered. I tried sticking my hand into it and found that it went in quite a ways. I couldn't see far into it as well. I could feel air flowing through it though.

Rather than a cat door, it's more of a cat passageway.

Could this be connected to the basement? If so, then I guess there's no problem in terms of security.

「Ahem」

Feeling a little nervous, I knocked on the door.

I heard the patter of footsteps on the other side of it.

「Yes? Who is it?」

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「It's your husband」

The iron door swung open a crack and I took in the sight of Rana behind the door chain.

She was wearing a one-piece knit dress that perfectly highlighted her curves and breasts. Her fleshy thighs were bare, and she was wearing warm-looking fur slippers. Her blonde hair hung straight down, and her long ears were peeking out. Her cute baby face seemed a little sleepy.

「Give me a second please」

The door closed once more and I heard the sound of the chain being removed.

When it opened again, I heard the words of my dreams.

「Welcome home. Would you like to take a bath? Would you like to have a meal? Or――」

「You~!」

With great eagerness, I cut her off.

To be honest, in a lot of ways, I can't take it anymore.

「Shhh」

Lanseal, who had come back earlier, shushed me with a raised finger. Inside the kotatsu and next to her was Maria, who was sleeping soundly.

Come to think of it, I'm feeling sleepy too. I must have slept for a long time, but that dream sleep seems to be different from regular sleep.

It had become prohibited to wear shoes in the home.

In the entrance area, I found shoes and indoor slippers lined up neatly.

Around the kotatsu, there were now a bookshelf, snacks, and other recreational items. There were also pillows, cushions, and other things to help achieve restful sleep. All of these things had been placed within easy reach.

That's a space that can completely spoil a person. Depending on the situation, I might consider getting rid of it.

「She said that she was going to stay up until you got home, but she gave out just a little while ago」

Lanseal carried Maria in her arms.

「I'm going to sleep too as I was unable to sleep well in the castle. Welcome home, Souya」

「Yeah, I'm back」

The two of them disappeared upstairs.

『Souya-san, welcome home』

「Oh, I’m back」

I handed Yukikaze to Makina, who was in the kitchen.

In the short time that I had been gone, the kitchen had evolved into a clean and functional place. Modern cooking utensils had been hung up, and storage space had been installed under the countertop. The countertop itself had been replaced with a sparkling new marble one. There was also a gleaming set of new kitchen knives.

Like a mother-in-law, I ran a finger across the countertop.

This sure is nice.

But it must have been expensive, right? I haven't gone into debt without knowing it again, have I?

『Yukikaze-chan, you're not as worn out as Makina thought you'd be』

『Yukikaze had nothing to do this time. In effect, Yukikaze didn't do anything that different from Makina』

『Let's begin the data integration and optimization process. Souya-san, the bath hasn't been drained yet, so please feel free to take a bath. Maintenance of your armaments will be done early tomorrow morning. Please put your equipment on the equipment rack in the basement. Thank you for all of your hard work on this adventure. Good night』

「Good night」

The two A.I.s went into standby mode.

「Rana, where's Ea?」

Come to think of it, I don't see my sister.

「She went to bed long ago. This is hardly a time when a child should be awake」

「I see」

I handed Rana my cloak and top hat.

When I set the burlap sack full of stuff on the ground……

「By the way, what's in this?」

Misuranika-sama emerged from the basement and began fishing around in it right away.

「Souvenirs」

「Hoho, there's some good salted meat and alcohol in here, I see. I'll accept these gratefully」

Taking the form of a little girl, she also disappeared upstairs, carrying the burlap sack over her shoulder like Santa Claus.

I hadn't assigned her a room, so whose room is she going into, I wonder?

Or rather, I've been presenting stolen goods as offerings to the two gods I'm contracted with, but……… Oh well, I guess it's fine.

『………………』

Both of us looked around.

There was no one in sight and no need to be concerned about being heard.

「Well then, would you like to take a―――――」

「A bath then you!」

With great eagerness, I cut her off.

When Rana helped me wash away the blood and sweat in the underground bath, she noticed all the scars I had gained.

The scars from fighting the wolves and the demonic monster, as well as the memories, were all too real to be just the stuff of dreams.

I was unable to come up with any good lies to explain them.

When she pressed me, I confessed everything.

After much discussion,

It was decided that from now on, rather than lying, I should just tell the truth from the beginning, even if it would cause others to worry.

I should have done that from the very beginning, but I guess that goes without saying for a person like me.

Rana promised me that she would wait for my return calmly, no matter the circumstances.

Just like the wife of the shadow knight.

However, I'm different from that guy. No matter what happens, I'll return. And to be perfectly frank, Rana is not a weak person. More often than not, she will be able to fight shoulder to shoulder with me.

She's my wife and also a fellow adventurer.

But I can't help but wonder sometimes.

Our relationship began with a lie. It's a fact that I often forget about when I let my mind wander, but if she also forgets about it, then I suppose it's probably alright to let it fade from our memories. Because the warmth that seeps into me from her touch is an undeniable truth.

After freshening up, I ate a light supper then got ready for sleep.

It was nearly dawn. In all likelihood, I would only wake up around noon.

So.

In the end, we shared a bed. It was because Rana's room had been taken over by Misuranika-sama.

Somehow, the bed in my room had grown to double its previous size.

"I worked hard on it!” Rana said.

She said that she had a lot of free time, so she learned to make things by watching and imitating Makina. It also served as rehabilitation for her fingers and she apparently enjoyed it immensely. Some of the improvements to the kitchen and the bookshelf near the kotatsu were also her work.

They’re all pretty nice. They might even be good enough to sell.

She's also planning to build a plastic greenhouse in the basement and transplant the vegetable garden from the camp to our new home. I had forgotten about it, but I’ll have to bring Lars, who's currently hibernating, over here as well.

It seems that she has a knack for crafting. The gods sure have endowed her with an unexpected talent.

「Please let me sleep on your arm」

「Yeah, sure」

In this, she's no different from Maria.

We put our warmth together and tucked ourselves under the covers. Her calming scent was lulling me to sleep. I touched her gold dust-like hair. And then drowned myself in her softness. Her warmth soaked deep into my bones, making it hard for me to want to separate our bodies.

One half of my consciousness fell asleep right away.

As I dreamed, I listened to Rana talk about her dreams.

According to her, there were now so many things that she wanted to do. She had been able to find a whole lot of them.

She thanked me.

She said that it was all because of me.

When she had talked about it in the past, she didn't even have the smallest of wishes.

People do change, I suppose. The only ones who don't, are beasts.

Feeling a little fearful, I hugged her close. I clung to her tightly and nuzzled my cheek against her like a cat.

If this is a dream, then it's surely a sweet dream. Or is it just an interlude between nightmares?

A whisper and a prayer.

A tiny wish and a dream.

A hope to never awaken.

Enveloped in warmth, I fell into a deep darkness.

A dream……

I had a dream.

A dream where I was a white wolf running through a snowstorm.

Following behind me was the rest of the pack.

All I could hear was the roar of the white wind and distant howls.

White wolves ran across the field covered with snow from the snowstorm.

The white wolves searched for their prey with their bright red mouths hanging open.

Then, a man appeared.

A man who was like a shadow.

He wore a top hat and a black cloak.

With his katana, sword, and magic sword, he fought with the wolves like a nightmare.

Is this a dream that I’m having?

Or is it a dream of me that a white wolf is having?

I cannot tell.

＜End＞

That ending~~~! This entire volume does the “is this a dream or is it not?” thing so well, doesn’t it? Really makes you question the reality of things!

Those first few sentences with Misuranika. So much double meaning there, isn’t it? And so brilliantly done too. I really take my hat off to the author, that part was just masterful. However, the hot food joke is so much funnier in Japanese. This is very typical of Japanese, but the literal words there were, “isn’t FUU FUUing the duty of a follower?” and “It is the duty of a follower to FUU FUU for god”. XD

What a volume, huh? Twists and turns galore. But those who are astute would have noticed that the numbering of this chapter is different from usual. That’s because, just this once, the author has written an afterword! Now, this afterword is not required reading. In fact, if you’re a purist who only wants to experience what the author intends for the readers to experience, then you should skip it. That’s because the author details all the plot points of this volume in the afterword, including the parts which they have deliberately left vague to allow the readers to fill in the blanks with what they want to imagine. However, if you want to have a glimpse behind the screen and see how orderly and detailed the plot actually is despite how it is presented, then you’re in for a treat. Oh yes, the reason why it’s going to a separate release all by itself is because it’s LONG. If you thought my afterwords were long……heh, you ain’t seen nothing yet. It’s as long as a normal chapter, I kid you not.

So, stay tuned! Or if you’re skipping the afterword, see you next volume!

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