Kensei 80.1
Chapter 80: You Who Brought Me Back to My Feet
TL : Cnine
ED/PF :
R1[1-2], R2[3-4], R3[5-6], R4[7-9]
Part 1
「Sheena?」
I raised my head when I heard a voice beside me.
Before me lay a campsite nestled in the woods.
A red-haired girl seated at a table was gazing at me with her golden eyes.
「What aileth thee? Thou seemest sorely unfocused this day. Doth some trouble weigh upon thy heart?」
「It’s fine. Really, nothing at all.」
Startled by Meltia’s observation, I replied without thinking.
Damn, my mind’s been wandering. I need to focus.
「Hmm? Thou seem’st unwell. If thou wouldst unburden thy heart, come, speak, and I shall lend thee mine ear.」
「I said there’s nothing wrong, didn’t I?」
「Perchance… this is my doing? Hath some villager uttered spite, seeing thee in our company?」
She might look like a sweet, innocent girl, but she was a long-lived creature, one who’s lived many times longer than I have.
She was the one who had once shown me the vast gulf between us, the one I could never overcome.
Before Meltya, I felt as though my heart had been laid bare.
「If such be the truth, then pardon me… ’Tis meet that I should go, and make due amends unto the villagers.」
I still can’t fully trust her, but lately, I’ve came to realisation that she wasn’t a wicked being after all.
Seeing Melthia’s face, I felt a small sense of relief, and a certainty.
一つだけ安堵し、確信出来る事がある。
It reminded me of what my father had said that morning:
『The village won’t be destroyed by the demonfolk.』
And somehow, I knew he was right.
Meltya’s lowered gaze carried a trace of remorse, maybe even self-blame.
She and her people were only fighting to survive.
When they raided the village, it wasn’t out of malice, but because they had no other choice.
Now that we’ve built a sense of trust, I couldn’t imagine her becoming our enemy again.
今更。彼女が敵に回るとは到底考え辛い。
「No, it’s not like that. I was just lost in thought, that’s all. Don’t worry about it.」
「Truly? Thou needst not withhold thy heart. If aught burden thee, speak it plain. Whether thou knowest it or no, I would fain be thy friend. Shouldst thou suffer in silence, I shall aid thee. Mia, was it called? E’en that which thou canst not confess to her, thou mayst speak unto me.」
Her words were kind, genuinely kind.
Monster... Was it?
The instant the thought crossed my mind, I felt ashamed of myself.
It was a rare show of goodwill.
As an apology, perhaps I should try consulting her a little.
「It’s really nothing. If I had to say, I suppose I upset Mia. I was just thinking about how I might make amends with her.」
When I mentioned Mia’s name, Meltya narrowed her eyes with keen interest.
She looked positively delighted. It was rather irritating.
「Oh? Truly now? Then let us take a brief respite, and as one woman to another, I shall offer thee counsel. Come, speak. What hast thou done to anger her?」
Her tone carried an air of concern, yet Meltya’s face remained bright with mirth.
「…I’ve nothing to say to someone grinning like that.」
「!? A-hem! Surely thou dost not believe I would smile whilst a friend is troubled?」
As I fixed a cool gaze upon the flustered Meltya, Shirayuki opened her mouth to speak.
「Sheena, Meltya-sama has quite the weakness for tales of romance — she simply loves meddling in others’ affairs. That look on her face has long made me wonder… Yet she’s helped many. Speak with her; I daresay you won’t regret it.」
Enjoys meddling in others’ love lives, does she?
That was a rather tasteless hobby.
But then, the village aunties were pretty much the same.
They’d constantly ask about Yukina and me, weaving tales and laughing amongst themselves.
Though she looks a child, Meltya’s years number more than most grandmothers’.
I guess it was a natural hobbies for someone of that age.
「Is that so?」
「I, her aide can vouch for it. She'll give you the most suitable advice.」
With arms folded, Shirayuki gave a most solemn nod.
Well then… Perhaps I’ll talk to her.
A long life brings much experience, after all.
I’d rather not return and endure that awkward air, and besides, this night I mean to ask that they let Mia, who is to leave the village, go unharmed.
This could prove to be an excellent topic of discussion.
Nevertheless, Mia remains unconvinced...
When I asked her to pack her things this morning, she flew into rage.
Though I tried to explain, she would not allow me to continue.
…I suppose I shall rely on her goodwill for now.
「…Very well. If that is so, I hope it’s not too much trouble to ask you to listen?」
「Aye! Very well, speak thy mind!」
Seeing Meltya’s expression brighten, I sat upright and spoke with the respect befitting my role as one seeking counsel.
「The truth is…」
With that, I struggled to organise my thoughts into a coherent explanation.
Taking into account what had happened the previous evening, I carefully outlined my connection with Mia to the two.
「“So… What do you think I should do…?」
Having concluded my explanation, I was about to close the discussion.
I looked up, only to find myself speechless before their expressions.
Both Meltya and Shirayuki bore extremely grim expressions.
「Uhm... Girls?」
「Sigh...」
The pair said nothing, holding their silence stubbornly.
Watching the two of them in such a state, I ventured to ask, somewhat fearfully… Meltya heaved an obviously exaggerated sigh.
「... What's the matter?」
「Sheena. I’ve no such experience, nor the knowledge Meltya-sama possesses. So I may not be the best one to understand you… But even I can tell this much.」
The first to speak was Shirayuki.
With an expression of utter exasperation, she swiftly pointed a finger right before my eyes.
「You're the one at fault.」
she said flatly, brushing the matter aside with that alone.
「Yes.」
Meltya, arms folded and eyes closed, gave an exaggerated nod of agreement.
「Of course I’m aware of that… Yet—」
Her golden eyes shot through me like arrows.
「A man’s plea of excuse is an unseemly thing. Though I know not the manners of thy realm… Yet from what I have heard, thou art already bound by duty to that girl.」
「Wait, responsibility? What do you mean?」
「A woman did beseech to dwell at thy side, and thou, being a man, didst grant it, didst thou not? Then is that maid thine, save she herself withdraw by her own will. When man and maid of ripe years are bound by affection, lust is but nature’s decree. The propagation of one’s seed is but nature’s command.」
「Well… Yes, that’s true enough.」
The continuation of the species, eh…
In short, she’s telling me to hurry up and make children?
…I’d like to shout to the heavens that she was the reason nothing happened.
「If you understand, then why refuse? Did you find her advances unpleasant? Or are you by chance… Impotent?」
「Is that so?」
「Wrong. How rude… wait, where are you even looking?」
Their eyes fixated on my lower half; I quickly hid it with both hands.
Honestly, these two... Especially Meltya; for someone who looks like a little girl, spoke such vulgar words.
「So, did it get hard?」
「Of course it did... Rather what kind of question is that?!」
Really now, what kind of man needs women fretting over his virility?
「Then cease thy fretting and busy thyself with the work of procreation.」
「Stop saying "Procreation" will you?」
What an indecent woman she is.
Still, Mia and I… Yes, I do want that.
My body was capable, so lust was not the issue.
If I could hold her, I would.
「Aye, but ere all else, Sheena, there is one thing I would have thee hold fast within thy heart.」
Melya placed a hand upon her chest.
「I count all who aid me as my family, and their loved ones as well. Earlier, I said I’d like to be thy friend… But if thou shouldst choose to follow me, then thou, too, shalt belong among my family. Thou knowest full well what that signifies, I trust?」
Meltya’s tone carried rare solemnity.
In essence, she was asking me to become part of her family.
or perhaps declaring that if I were to make Mia my wife, she would take Mia under her protection too.