Kensei 79.2
Chapter 79: The Resigned Man
TL : Cnine
ED/PF :
R1[1-3], R2[3.5-5], R3[5.5-7]
Part 3.5
However, that didn’t make it any less unpleasant.
「…Hah. You’re looking a bit decent for once, aren’t you, you foolish son of mine。」
My ears were ringing. The scenery around me was starting to move sluggishly.
I didn’t ask for his concern. It was meddling I didn’t need.
I’ll shut this bastard up with my own strength.
That’s why… get out of my way.
「You told me to come with the intention to kill, didn’t you?」
「…Oh? Bull's-eye, eh? Ha — it’s all true, isn’t it. Ha! Honestly, don’t make me laugh. Tell me, Sheena: Your current situation is pretty comfortable, isn’t it? Because you couldn’t have the girl you truly loved, you just ditched her and found someone else. Then some sweet little thing comes along, fusses over you and looks after you… And that’s how you forget。」
My father’s mouth twisted into an ugly grin.
「Running away feels good, doesn’t it?」
「Right back at you。」
I channelled power into the sword held in both hands, lowered my stance, and stepped forward.
What would you know?
You, too, let the woman you loved die.
You couldn’t save Mother.
You failed to save her.
And worse—when she was suffering…
You were drinking at the militia post.
Mother, even while writhing in pain on her sickbed… she called your name until the very last moment.
Not the son who held her hand and kept calling to her… but you, her husband.
You, who ran away all this time. You, who got away with it until the very end.
「You have no right to insult me now of all times!」
「ENOUGH, BOTH OF YOU!!!」
「!!!」
I froze in my tracks when I heard that sharp, familiar voice.
I let out a sigh and lowered my sword.
「Mia。」
「What on earth is going on, Sheena? What were you about to do just now?」
Mia stepped forward and looked up at me from almost directly under my nose.
What a terrifying look… honestly, she looked really scary right now.
「Wait, don’t get the wrong idea. We just got a bit carried away。」
「‘A bit carried away’ won’t cut it. You were pointing a sword at your own parent—an ill parent at that. What were you thinking? And with my sword, too。」
「Er… ah, no. This is—」
Oh no. I should’ve started by saying I was only receiving training.
「Seriously? That’s pathetic. Stop making excuses. It’s disgraceful… It’s re-education tonight, mark my words。」
「Hold on. This is—」
「Stop making excuses! Where’s your reply?」
「Please, just listen. I’m not making excuses. It was only sword practice。」
「Where！Is！ Your！Re！ Ply!?」
「... Yes。」
Once Mia gets like this, there’s no point arguing.
Sadly, I know that far too well.
All I could do was give in quietly.
「Pathetic. She’s got you completely under her thumb… Anyway, I’m off to get some breakfast. You young lovebirds can sort the rest out。」
…That bastard.
If I could just wipe that smug grin off his face with a punch, I’d feel so much better.
「Pardon? Hold it right there, Father-in-law. Why are you acting like this has nothing to do with you?」
「Eh?」
He waved a hand dismissively and turned his back.
Mia, however, stopped him without mercy.
「Sorry, Father-in-law. I understand him well enough. Do you honestly expect me to believe he’d truly point a sword at his own father without a reason?」
「Huh? No—wait. Mia—are you angry with me too? It’s not that it was a misunderstanding—」
「…From what I can see, it’s obvious you egged him on, Father-in-law… wouldn’t you say?」
「…Er… well?」
...Eh?
Don’t look at me. I’m not going to help you.
Her way of speaking was that of a noble lady.
I’d seen Mia act like this more than once, yet I still couldn’t get used to it.
「Where are you looking? I’m the one speaking. You’re not actually thinking of the pathetic act of asking your son for help, are you?」
「Eh? Ha… ha-ha. Of course not。」
「Then answer me. And let me make it clear beforehand… Sheena has never once lied to me.」
Man, she was downright terrifying right now.
There was a certain intensity—an overwhelming presence.
But this feeling…
Ah, I remember.
It was the same as when Mother got angry.
「…I’m sorry. It was me. I said I’d train Sheena。」
「Oh, really? Oh, and just so you know—I was actually watching from the very start. Good. Thank you for answering honestly. Thanks to that, your scolding will be a little shorter。」
「... Ugh. My bad。」
Wow…
Mia actually managed to silence my father.
Not since Mother passed away had anyone been able to scold him.
It seemed he had been receiving quite devoted care.
As expected, even my father must feel indebted.
「It’s good to see your recovery going smoothly… But I didn’t nurse you and bring costly medicine just for you to exert yourself with reckless training like this。」
「... My bad。」
Seeing Father like that eased the knot of frustration in my chest.
But then, something she said caught my attention.
「Hold on—costly medicine? That’s the first I’ve heard of it。」
「Sheena, that’s not something you need to worry about. Good grief… why are men such foolish creatures?」
「There’s no way I’m letting that slide. I’ll definitely pay you back。」
Even so, I could only sigh.
After all the care he’d received, the moment he started feeling a little better, he pulled a stunt like this.
When I glared at him, my father turned his face away, looking awkward and guilty.
Good grief…
「It’s fine, really. Come on, let’s have breakfast first. Hurry along, or there won’t be any time left for me to scold you。」
「Wait a second. Why am I the one getting scolded?」
「Isn’t it obvious? Provoked or not, your opponent was an invalid. Someone like you should’ve been able to handle him easily。」
Mia’s faith in me was a burden that felt far too heavy.
「C’mon, that’s too much. You saw it yourself, didn’t you?」
「Yes. And that’s exactly why I’m saying it. Which means I won’t hear a single word of backtalk. If you keep making excuses, I’ll get very angry, you know?」
…She had far too much faith in me.
Oh whatever. Any more arguing would be dangerous.
「Dad… as I thought, I really don’t like you。」
「Yeah, figures. I don’t like you either。」
My father gave a small shrug, a bitter smile tugging at his lips.
I mean, what kind of father tells his own son—straight to his face—that he dislikes him?