CHAPTER 114…………………………………………..
“Per!”
I smiled brightly out of reflex at the sight of him, but immediately pouted again.
‘I shouldn’t be happy to see him!’
Per was the traitor who left me alone yesterday!
If you’re a friend, you’re supposed to face hardships and adversity together!
“Hmph.”
As soon as I finished that thought, I looked away from Per, turning my head with a sulky expression.
At the same time, a playful laugh rolled down from above my head.
Oh? Is he laughing now?
“Aren’t you going to greet me?”
Per spoke again in a voice still tinged with amusement.
This time, I quickly turned my head the other way and pouted my lips.
“You didn’t even say goodbye to me yesterday before leaving.”
“Ah ha.”
Finally, Per seemed to realize why I was acting this way and let out a small exclamation.
“Sorry, Cici.”
“…….”
“I instinctively ran away because I hate anyone touching my body.”
“Hmph.”
Well, I guess I could understand that reason.
Still, hating anyone touching his body… I thought he was actually the one who was more physically affectionate with me.
‘Wait, could that be why?’
Back in Pardes…
When I suddenly hugged him and he stiffened, maybe he really didn’t like it…!
“Sorry, Per.”
As soon as the memory surfaced, I quickly apologized.
Per widened his eyes for a moment.
“Ah ha.”
Then, as if he understood everything, he let out a calm exclamation again.
“I get why you’re apologizing, but it’s not necessary.”
He carefully held my hand in his and continued speaking.
“Whatever I say from now on, you’re the exception.”
His burning red eyes held me completely.
Looking into them made my heart feel strangely ticklish.
Something… something…
“Ahem, okay!”
Unaccustomed to this feeling, I immediately pulled my hand away and darted my eyes around.
This isn’t compatible with me!
“So—”
Fortunately, Per quickly returned to his usual calm demeanor and asked again.
“What were you really thinking about?”
“Huh?”
“Earlier. You suddenly jumped up.”
“Oh, that.”
What I had been thinking was…
“I can’t just lie here doing nothing.”
Right, that’s why I had jumped up.
“Why?”
Curious about my answer, Per’s eyes curved slightly as he asked again.
Come to think of it, Per probably still doesn’t know the conclusion Mom and Dad reached yesterday.
“Well…”
I swallowed and spoke slowly.
“Yesterday, Mom and Dad decided to turn the tables on the people targeting Mom.”
“Oh.”
Per raised an eyebrow at my words.
“That won’t be easy.”
“I think so too.”
Mom and Dad probably think the same way.
“But I don’t think they’ll lose.”
People who could destroy the world would surely be able to annihilate an organization no one knows about yet.
“That’s true too.”
Per nodded slowly, acknowledging what I said.
I continued, watching his reaction.
“Anyway, Mom was opposed at first, but she changed her mind right after listening to Dad.”
“What did he say?”
“That I could be in danger in the future.”
“Hmm.”
Per frowned slightly, still dissatisfied, and looked downward.
“It’d be fine as long as I’m around.”
Ah, that was his complaint.
Anyway.
“After hearing that, I realized something.”
What I had been thinking about all morning, what I wanted to say, was this:
“I don’t want to be a burden to Mom and Dad.”
“…….”
“I want to be strong enough to protect my own body.”
Of course, it’s nice to be able to heal others too.
I fully understand that I’m still at an age where I need adult protection.
But…
‘I don’t want Mom and Dad to get into trouble because of me.’
Even if Dad’s words yesterday were to coax Mom, what if someone uses me as a hostage to manipulate her?
‘Mom would definitely give in to absurd demands just to protect me.’
Just to protect me.
Maybe even those self-proclaimed world guardians would notice this and end up targeting me instead.
“I don’t want to hold Mom and Dad back either.”
So I want to train myself, to be strong enough to manage my own body.
“Hmm.”
Per had been listening quietly, and only after I finished speaking did he slowly open his mouth.
“You know this is entirely your own desire, right?”
“Mm.”
Hitting the nail on the head from the start.
“It’s funny for me to say this, but you’re still a child.”
Finally, Per looked at me sharply, continuing his critique.
“At your age, hardly anyone thinks about protecting their own body.”
“…….”
“The fact that your environment made you think that way is wrong. And above all, you have many people who would protect you.”
“…….”
“If you said this in front of your parents, you’d have been scolded badly.”
“That’s… true.”
They’d have just scolded me for thinking like this, no explanation needed.
Just imagining it made my shoulders shiver.
But—
“Both my dads were strong from my age.”
Mom possessed a mid-level spirit, so she’s an exception.
“And Per, you’re my age and strong too.”
Everyone around me is exceptional. Isn’t it strange to expect only me to be average?
Yeah, that’s right.
“To be honest, I just want to be strong by myself!”
I want to punish the bad people myself!
I can’t just keep stomping my feet and hope others solve everything.
I don’t want to!
“I want to be the best too!”
Yeah, let’s admit it.
I finally voiced the truth I’d kept hidden in my heart.
“Like my dads! Like Mom!”
And like you, Per!
I want the protagonist’s kid buff!
Not just protect Mom in words, but really be able to protect her!
“…….”
Per stared at me blankly for a moment.
“Ha ha ha!”
Then he burst into laughter louder than usual.
Watching him, I felt embarrassed and puffed out my hot cheeks.
“I’m serious!”
“I know, I know.”
Per wiped tears from the corners of his eyes as he spoke.
Wait, was it really that funny?
I’m serious!
“I know, it’s because it’s cute.”
“Tch…”
“If that’s the reason, fine.”
Per smiled brightly again.
“I’ll help too.”
And at that moment—
“I’ll help too.”
A familiar voice came from behind me.
I turned my head to see the source.
“Grandma Margo!”
She appears out of nowhere again today!
“Yes, yes, my little one.”
Grandma Margo immediately bent down and reached out her arms.
I instinctively went into her embrace, then tilted my head in confusion.
A lot of time seems to have passed with everything that happened.
But it hasn’t been that long since Grandma left for the Grand Palace.
How did she come back so quickly…?
