Chapter 10
“So… that’s what happened.”
Since I hadn’t lived very long, the story wrapped up quickly.
Even though I felt miserable laying bare my trivial life story in such detail, no tears came. I’d never really sought affection from the Lamia couple to begin with.
I already had memories of receiving overflowing love from my parents in my previous life and from Sylvia in this one. Using all those happy moments as a shield, I took a certain pride in not being hurt by their mistreatment.
Even so, it was a time when I was growing steadily exhausted by my harsh life. The story I’d deliberately begun with a sniffle because of the fatigue that had piled up ended with a dryness unbecoming of a child.
‘…No, this won’t do. Should I start choking up again now?’
At the sudden thought, I lifted my eyes slightly. Ian was staring blankly at the table. He looked deep in thought.
It was quite different from the curt, cold expression I’d always seen. Was it because, as the protagonist, he couldn’t stand injustice?
Trusting my database, I shifted my gaze to Chiron this time.
He’d listened silently to my story. After a moment’s consideration, he slowly opened his mouth.
“I did think you were thinner than other kids and unusually cautious. But I never imagined something like that…”
Chiron shook his head with a sunken expression and trailed off.
“I’m sorry I didn’t notice sooner.”
Thinking how unfailingly kind every word he spoke was, I let out a small laugh.
“What do you have to be sorry for, sir? Even the other adults who’d watched me grow up for twelve years couldn’t bring themselves to intervene.”
“This is an apology as an adult of the same kind as those people. You must have had a hard time.”
“Ah, no. I’m just, um…”
My chest tightened at his gentle consolation, and the corners of my lips twisted. Chiron let out a light sigh and turned to Ian.
“Ian, you’re the one who brought Aisa here. Tell us what you think first.”
“I’ll follow Master’s decision, but… I do know that Aisa shouldn’t go back to that house.”
Ian answered with a slightly tense look.
“That’s true. But our own situation isn’t good either. You know that.”
Ian’s eyes met mine. Maybe I looked quite desperate. Seeing my face, Ian’s brows furrowed slightly in anguish.
“…You were the one who taught me not to turn away from the weak, Master.”
At Ian’s words, Chiron let out a snort of laughter. It was his usual mischievous expression.
“Honestly, it’s hard to set an example of a good adult. Raising kids really isn’t easy…”
There was no irritation mixed into his lamenting tone. As I gauged the mood, Chiron suddenly turned his head toward me. Startled, my shoulders twitched.
“Aisa. We can’t not ask your opinion too.”
“I, I…”
“My cute disciple seems to want to help you. As his master, I can’t help but go along with that stubbornness.”
“I…”
“What do you want to do?”
Could I say it? I swallowed dryly. At last, I formed the words that had been stuck in my throat.
“…I really, really don’t want to go back. As long as you’ll allow it… I want to stay here.”
My heart, melted soft by his endlessly warm voice, ended up blurting out a selfish wish. Even to my own ears, it sounded like too much to ask.
I held my breath, afraid they might refuse, but Chiron simply turned his body as if that settled it.
“Good. Ian, go upstairs and tidy up the attic.”
“Yes, Master.”
Ian answered briefly and stood up.
“Huh…?”
A stupid sound slipped out of my mouth.
‘Th-this is getting resolved that easily?’
I followed Ian’s back as he headed for the ladder, my face blank with disbelief.
It wasn’t that I’d had no expectations at all, but I knew better than anyone what position I held in this world.
A penniless, background-less, weak, utterly unremarkable little girl.
Someone who would be of no help to them whatsoever.
With a shred of conscience left in me, I reached out without thinking and stopped them.
“W-wait a moment.”
“Ah, if the attic’s uncomfortable, should I switch rooms with Ian?”
Chiron asked in his usual tone.
‘W-what? No, that’s not it.’
Startled by how unconcerned he seemed, my throat tightened and a pathetic, trembling voice came out.
“You really… mean I can keep staying here? My uncle has a fiery temper, and… so it’s obvious he’ll be displeased. And also…”
Chiron looked down at me with calm eyes and smiled gently.
“That’s not something you need to worry about. Protecting a child is an adult’s job.”
It was the most reassuring thing I’d ever heard in my life.
“Yes.” I answered in a whisper, on the verge of tears.
The greatest crisis of my life was resolved more easily than I’d expected.
As soon as dawn broke, Chiron took me to visit the Lamias’ house.
“O-oh my! Chiron, what brings you here?”
…I learned for the first time that Lamia could speak in such a syrupy voice. Even she seemed startled by her own tone and glanced to the side. The face of Nickel, standing beside her, twisted instantly.
Clearing his throat, Nickel stuck out his belly and stepped forward.
“So you’re the hunter who just moved in? Your son, yesterday—!”
“My son.”
Chiron abruptly cut him off. His voice was icy sharp.
“He came back terrified. He said four adults surrounded and threatened a single child.”
What? Who did that?
At the blatant lie, I reflexively opened my mouth and looked up at Chiron. But his gaze was fixed on Nickel, not wavering in the slightest.
Following his eyes, I turned to Nickel. He stammered out a reply.
“W-what? No, rather—!”
He looked strangely cowed. A huge man with a gruesome scar on his face was staring him down, so his knees must have been shaking. Even to me, Chiron’s pressure right now was immense.
“And I also heard yesterday about what you’ve done to this child I cherish.”
“D-don’t meddle in what’s none of your business. This child is my niece. It’s only natural that I discipline her.”
“Violence isn’t discipline. Someone who doesn’t even know something that basic can’t be a child’s guardian. So I’ll be taking Aisa with me. You don’t have any complaints, do you?”
“W-what nonsense is that!”
Just as Nickel was about to protest, Chiron took a long stride toward him. Nickel hurriedly stepped back two paces.
Perhaps his pride was wounded; Nickel’s face flushed red. He started to speak again, but Chiron cut him off once more.
“You don’t have any complaints.”
The growled words were terrifying even to my ears.
With a stiff face, Nickel muttered, “Do as you please,” and scurried back into the house. Lamia, who had been watching the situation, hurriedly followed him.
My goodness—he could press down that brute of a man this thoroughly.
“Sir, you’re amazing…!”
“Haha, you little rascal.”
I looked up at him with sparkling eyes full of admiration. Then he met my gaze with eyes far gentler than the ones he’d shown Nickel. My chest tickled unbearably at that look.
“Let’s go, Aisa. We should head home.”
I took the hand Chiron held out to me.
Only then was I able to smile brighter than I had at any time since Sylvia’s death.
And so, living together with them began.
The attic they’d given me that day became my home from then on.
Before I knew it, more than three years had flown by. During that time, I faithfully adapted to my changed life.
Two fugitives and an orphan girl.
It was a strange combination, but despite that, we got by without lacking anything.
