Kensei 79.3
Chapter 79: The Resigned Man
TL : Cnine
ED/PF :
R1[1-3], R2[3.5-5], R3[5.5-7]
Part 5.5
「You really are the spitting image of me in my youth。」
He murmured softly, almost as if speaking to himself.
I didn’t quite catch his words, but I didn’t ask again.
Whatever it was, it probably wasn’t that important.
After sliding his sword back into its sheath, Father jerked his chin toward the rear of the house.
「Come with me, Sheena. There’s something I need to tell you。」
「Something to tell me?」
「Yeah. Looks like this is the only chance we’ll get。」
「No, we should eat first。」
「It’ll be over quickly. Just come。」
He walked off before I could argue.
From the look on his face, it must have been something serious—so I followed.
「Wait! Sheena!」
My hem was tugged, stopping me in place.
「Sorry. You go on ahead. It looks like something important。」
「…Then I’ll come with you。」
「No. Stay here. I’ll be back soon。」
Usually, Mia never gives in so easily…
But this time she didn’t argue.
She must have sensed it too, from my father’s expression.
She was actually better at reading the atmosphere than most people realised.
===
My father was waiting behind the house.
He had his back to me, but when I stopped walking, he turned around.
「Sheena. What are you going to do about that girl?」
「That girl? Are you referring to Mia?」
「Who else would I mean? Tell me, do you love her?」
「Yeah, I love her。」
I answered immediately.
Undoubtedly, the current me loves Mia above anything else.
That was one thing I could say with certainty.
「Even more than Yukina?」
「Yes. I’ve already moved on. It wasn’t running away. Mia… Mia is a far better woman than Yukina ever was. It’s not even a comparison。」
「I see. Yes, Mia is truly a fine woman. In looks and ability, she lacks nothing. She’s strong-willed, with a clear sense of herself. Honestly, for a coward like you, she’s more than you deserve… but she has every important quality。」
「You’re praising her a lot, aren’t you?」
「…I was against you and Yukina from the beginning。」
Shrugging, my father continued.
「More importantly… for me, the greatest woman will always be your mother. Mia reminds me a great deal of how she used to be。」
Eh.
Don’t say that so casually.
「You’re joking, right?」
「She really does. After you left the village, I heard about you from Mia-chan. I heard how she treated you… There were plenty of things I wanted to say, but more than that, it reminded me of your mother. She was the same, you know. Honestly, she never listened to anyone。」
「Is that really the mother I know?」
I almost doubted my ears.
The mother I knew was…
「She never called herself a genius. If anything, she disliked being praised or idolised by everyone around her。」
My father narrowed his eyes in nostalgia and looked up at the sky.
「But she was without a doubt a genius. Too perfect, flawless in every way… So perfect that people relied on her too much, and in the end, it broke her。」
「...」
I had asked many times about my parents’ past.
But never once had they told me their stories.
So I didn’t push.
Surely, it was something I wasn't meant to hear.
「Sheena. Take that girl and leave the village tonight。」
「…Eh?」
My father suddenly said it with a serious face.
「No matter how you look at it, this village won’t last much longer. You don’t need to keep protecting it。」
「What? Wait, hold on. Dad… what are you talking about?」
I tried to stop him, but he spoke over me.
「The demonfolk problem isn’t yours to worry about either. The only thing you need to think about is Mia-chan. This might be the place where you were born and raised, but forget it. Forget it, and live — this time — for the woman you love. That’s the only path left for your happiness.」
「What are you saying? You know exactly what will happen if I just leave now!」
「I’m telling you, whether you stay or go, it won’t change anything. And so you don’t misunderstand me—let me be clear. This village won’t fall because of the demons. It’ll collapse soon, due to something else entirely。」
「What? Fall? This village?」
It was so absurd I couldn’t believe it.
What was he even talking about?
「Aye. And soon. That’s why you need to run. Run, and forget this village。」
「…What’s going to happen? What do you know, Dad?」
When I asked, he fell silent.
After a pause—once his hesitation left—he spoke.
「…Sorry. I can’t tell you. To know the future before it comes… The only ones allowed that unfair privilege were her and me。」
To know the future… beforehand?
No way… does that mean—
「Dad, are you—」
「If only that were the case. But no… I can’t tell you more. You understand, don’t you, Sheena? You’re her son. A genius like her. One whom the goddess blessed with a special gift。」
A journal I bought with money earned as an adventurer.
That journal, which I reread whenever I had time, recorded the goddess’s blessings confirmed so far—
a list of unique skills, complete with the name of the owner and a description.
「Oh, right. What was my mother’s skill…」
Among them was an entry corresponding to my own unique skill.
The skill’s real name was written there.
I had missed it before because it was listed under a different name.
Mom… so you’ve been hiding it from me all this time.
「Once you understand, pack your things. Time is running out. When night falls, I’ll lead you out of the village。」
After saying that, my father turned and walked away without waiting for my response.
I called out to his back.
「Dad, wait— What’s going to happen? Why is the village going to be destroyed?」
But he gave no answer.
I wanted to rush over and press him, but with the way he was acting, he likely wouldn’t say another word.
「I won’t run. I belong to this village too. If we flee, we all flee together. Yes—if everyone moves somewhere else…」
My father stopped walking.
「…This is a warning. Don’t speak of this to anyone. If you do, the situation will only get worse.」
When he turned back, his expression was deadly serious.
「You don’t want everyone in the village to be dragged out and publicly humiliated, do you? If we perish here, at least… We’ll be spared that added disgrace。」
「What do you mean?」
I had no idea what he meant.
I couldn’t understand any of it.
What did my father know?
Hanging my head, I tried to think, but with zero information, I couldn’t reach an answer.
「…I won’t back down。」
Lifting my head, I glared at my father’s retreating back.
「I refuse to run. I will defend them. I’ll protect them to the very end。」
I shouted, but Father kept walking without looking back.
I bit my lip in frustration.
Even though I thought my emotions were gone, this frustration gnawed at me.
As if he were saying, Give up. You can’t do it.
It felt like those words were directed straight at me.
「This is my home. As if I’d ever run away. Just watch me. Watch closely, you lousy old man。」
The sword at my hip gave a sharp metallic clink.
That’s right…
At the very least, I have to make sure Mia gets away.