episode_0020

“Well fought, young heroes.”

A low, solemn voice was heard amidst the loud, thumping sound of the heartbeat.

“Now, rest assured.”

A gold color closer to white, fluttering brilliantly beyond the field of vision.

“Justice is in your hands.”

A ray of light rises in the thick darkness.

Both the hero who was fighting for his life and the demon who was threatening the hero stopped and stared at that place.

“Easy…!”

The first to move was the demon. Its tail curled between its legs as if it was scared. Crack, crack. Every time its scythe-shaped claws scraped the concrete, goosebumps ran through my entire body.

Wheee

At that moment, my bangs, which had been neatly tied, became slightly disheveled.

A gentle breeze came, sweeping away the cold night air. Soon, the dawn that was breaking in the middle of the city appeared before my eyes.

I shut my eyes tightly in surprise, and when I opened them again, a muscular man was standing on top of the demon’s body, his blond hair fluttering.

“Oh, oh!!”

Among those who had evacuated in reverse, someone exclaimed in admiration.

““Waaa …

That small exclamation soon turned into a shout.

“Justice, it’s justice!!”

“Justice!! Justice, Justice! He’s a god!!”

It spread with joy and instantly caused a commotion.

People running down the stairs are flowing back. I looked back, worried that the children might be swept away, but fortunately, Hanna Yeon was standing against the wall, protecting them.

Cook, cook.

I turned my head again as I felt a pressure on my shoulder. The white-haired girl was looking up at me while being held in my arms. My gaze was once again stolen by her calm, red eyes.

“Justice!! It’s Justice after all! It was one shot, one shot!”

““Justice, Justice, Justice, Justice!””

A crowd of people gathered around the demon and chanted the hero’s name.

Certainly, Justice is a huge celebrity. If you turn on the TV, there is a very high chance that you will see Justice, and there are many goods related to him.

Of course, I also felt it was interesting. But now was not the time to just sit back and watch Justice.

If this continues, I’ll get trampled by people…

I picked up the child and hurriedly stepped back. There happened to be a park with a lake not far away, so I found a bench there and sat the child down first.

“Are you okay? Are you hurt anywhere?”

On the outside, she looked fine. It was easy to spot her because she was wearing a pure white one-piece dress. I turned her body around to check thoroughly just in case, but there wasn’t a single speck of dust, let alone a trace of blood.

Only then did I feel a little relieved, and I sat down on the bench and faced the child.

“I’m glad you look okay.”

As he said that, he let out a light sigh, and for a moment he felt a sense of uneasiness and shrugged his shoulders. The child did not seem surprised or scared. There was not even a hint of such a thing.

The bright red eyes that were just staring at me. At the same time, the image of the child standing still in front of the demon overlapped with the traces that Iharu had left behind when I was possessed.

“I don’t know why, but… .”

My voice wasn’t coming out properly.

What can I do for this child? If I can’t do anything for him, isn’t that just hypocrisy and self-satisfaction?

Besides, I don’t know this kid. That’s why it was even harder for me to bring up the subject.

Cherish your life. It is something your parents gave you, so it is precious. Even if it is hard, if you live, there will come a day when you will see the light.

Clichéd and unrelatable words.

A deception that can only be done because we live in the present.

These are words that can be hurtful to a child who is not yet fully developed and is still only a future peer.

“Ah, um… . Oh! Right. Do you want some candy? Chuchu, you know, Chuchu? My daughter loves it so much, and it’s also so cute.”

As I continued to groan alone, my mind suddenly flashed back to the Chuchu candy bar I had in my pocket.

“If you eat it, you will definitely get strength.”

I smiled at the child as I held out the candy. Here, a genuine smile would be more powerful than a few words.

“… … .”

The child looked back and forth between the candy and me. When I nodded, the child accepted the candy with both hands and looked at it with curiosity.

“Um… Did you get separated from your parents? Can you help me find them? Do you have a phone number or something?”

Judging by his appearance, the child must have had a guardian. Furthermore, he seemed to have a certain dignity despite his young age, suggesting that he grew up in a relatively well-off family.

The problem is that it seems like he has no intention of opening his mouth.

Hanna Yeon is not a talkative person, but this child is far superior to her. Even now, the child is just staring blankly at the candy with a faint smile on her face.

Are you listening to what I’m saying? I asked again, poking my head in front of the child.

“Hey… Mom, Dad. Or maybe Grandma or Grandpa. Um… Didn’t someone like a relative come with you? Were you wandering around alone?”

The child glances at me. His eyes meet mine very well, but… somehow his tightly shut, cute lips don’t seem to open.

“Bitch─!”

At that moment, Japanese suddenly came from behind.

Oh my god!

I think it meant young lady. I was able to interpret it without much difficulty thanks to the knowledge I had accumulated in the past.

“… Huh?”

At the same time, the child jumps up and runs towards the men in black suits who appear to be bodyguards.

Only then could I see the child’s lips open. I couldn’t hear what he was saying, but I could tell that he was definitely an acquaintance because he was still smiling.

I’m glad I found it quickly… I feel embarrassed that I was the only one talking without even understanding it…

I got up from the bench feeling a little dizzy and wiped my butt. And just as I was about to turn back, I saw a child bowing from afar.

“Goodbye!!”

He waved his hands from side to side and greeted the child.

It’s a good thing I know how to use Japanese in daily life. Thanks for the anime!

The child disappeared with the men in black suits, and I also turned around, as I had no reason to stay here any longer.

“Please be careful as you pass by as it is being incinerated.”

“Yes, yes… .”

The fallen demon was being burned by people holding large flamethrowers.

These are the guild’s incinerator.

When heroes with fire-type abilities fight the demon beast, they usually burn without a trace, but if not, the incinerator comes and disposes of the demon beast’s corpse.

During this time, the entire area will be closed to traffic, but most people will be able to finish within 10 minutes, so it is considered to be just a traffic jam.

Also, the recovery team had already arrived and was taking care of the damaged areas. The city’s wounds were slowly healing with some unknown ability. The crowds that had been gathering around seemed to have dispersed as soon as Justice disappeared.

“Mom, Mom!!”

As I approached the station, Mirae, who had been taking refuge on the stairs, ran towards me, sobbing.

“The future… .”

The small hands that held my cardigan trembled pitifully. They were trembling more than when I had embraced the future at the appearance of the devil.

“Um, huh, maa… Don’t leave the future behind! Wooow…!!”

My heart ached when I saw her face covered in tears and snot.

I was so impatient that I didn’t consider the future. When I changed my perspective and thought about the future suddenly jumping out at me, I felt dizzy.

“Future, Mom, it’s okay. Don’t go anywhere. I’m sorry, Mom, I’m sorry… .”

No words could reassure her. She could only hold the future deep in her arms, caress it, and feel the warmth that she can share because she is alive.

“Leeharu.”

Hanna Yeon, who approached from behind Mirae, moved her lips as if she had a lot to say. Then she swallowed it all and let out a sigh-like sound, placing her hand on my head.

“… I’m glad you weren’t hurt.”

“Thank you… .”

Slender fingers run through my hair. The soft touch adds to the warmth of the future. That alone makes me feel how much Hannayeon was worried about me.

“Madam!”

“Seohuya… .”

The people behind me weren’t much different.

Seo-hoo’s eyes were red. He seemed to be trying not to show it, but he was clearly very surprised.

“He was like a hero.”

Still, Seo-hu forced a smile and raised his thumb.

Rather than comforting, it gives encouragement and a driving force to keep going. Perhaps this is Seo-hoo’s greatest weapon.

“Sorry for worrying you… .”

“Uuuuu… slurp… .”

I looked around, patting the future on the back.

Mirae, who barely stopped crying while being held in my arms, and Hannayeon, who wanders around me in case there is a wound she missed.

“The future is going to be tough for you, Auntie.”

“What the heck, we, huh, it’s mom!”

Seo-hu, who worries about my physical condition even while hearing the voice of Mirae, and Na-rin, who breathes a sigh of relief from a step away.

“Come here! This mommy will hug you!”

Who knew that the seat next to Iharu would become so crowded? These people are truly more than enough for me.

“… What are you talking about?”

It would have been a little better if Hanna Yeon had set the mood.