Chapter 129: Chapter 129

-----------------------------------------------------------------

Translator: Vine

Chapter Title: A New Dawn

-----------------------------------------------------------------

A dramatic escape from the Otherworld.

I breathed a sigh of relief, having barely made it back alive.

"Lucas."

Feeling the lingering knot in my heart, I gazed at the closed gate to the Otherworld.

It wasn't time yet to stand proudly before him.

That could wait until after the world was fully protected.

As I buried that thought, I felt a hand gently tap my cheek.

It was Sharin, her head tilted.

"Husband, why the long face?"

"Just… can't quite believe I'm back alive."

"Want me to help you realize?"

Saying that, Sharin raised her hand and pinched my cheek.

She then gave a languid smile.

"How's that?"

"Ow."

"I saved you, you know."

Why was she acting so smug?

As I set Sharin down and turned my head, everyone else looked just as exhausted as I did.

But Act 4, Chapter 5 wasn't over yet.

My eyes fell on Vinesha and Grantony.

The two of them hadn't exchanged any significant words yet.

It wasn't clear yet what had happened to Mushika.

'Though by the atmosphere, it seemed to have worked out well.'

I couldn't tell what had transpired.

"Sister Vinesha."

At that moment, Grantony called out to Vinesha.

Vinesha, hearing Grantony's call, stood there, meeting his gaze.

After a moment, Vinesha slowly nodded.

At that instant, Vinesha tightly gripped her pendant.

Soon, light began to seep from the pendant.

A gentle yet warm light.

As that beam of light enveloped her completely.

Vinesha's formerly violet eyes glowed a cerulean blue, reminiscent of a clear sky.

I noticed that the aura emanating from her was distinctly different from before.

Everyone held their breath, awaiting the situation.

Presently, Vinesha's lips slowly parted as she raised both her arms.

"Ugh-duh-duh-duh-duh!"

Vinesha suddenly began to stretch.

Soon after, she placed both hands on her hips and smiled sweetly.

"Grantony, your face has aged quite a bit."

Before I knew it, Grantony had rushed forward.

He tightly embraced Vinesha, swallowing his tears from within his skull.

Mushika, retrieved from the Abyssal Lord.

She had possessed Vinesha's body.

Mushika wrapped an arm around Grantony's back and gently patted him.

"Grantony, was it really that hard living by yourself without me?"

At Mushika's playful words, Grantony merely struggled to hold back his tears.

However, Grantony wasn't the only one crying.

Tears also streamed down Vinesha's face.

Vinesha was crying because Mushika had returned safely.

Beside the three, a faint silhouette was visible.

Presently, she embraced all three of them together.

Before long, light began to seep through the sky above.

Dawn was ending, and the sun was beginning to rise.

A new sun was rising.

It was a bright light that untangled the threads of the four individuals who had suffered tragedy at the hands of the Abyssal Lord.

"Hanon Airey."

At that moment, Eve approached me.

Just like me, she was a mess. She let out a sigh, then revealed her hand and lightly tapped my arm.

"You owe me one."

Eve's help had been truly immense this time.

Therefore, I willingly accepted the debt.

"But I won't hold it over your head."

That was unexpected.

"Because that was enough."

Eve watched the four of them, a faint smile on her face.

Leave it to the protagonist of a side story to be so utterly sentimental.

"Eve, if you smile like that, even the kids won't be scared of you."

Eve's shoulders twitched.

It saddened Eve that children still ran away when they saw her.

"And while we're on the subject, there's someone else who needs your help."

"You're truly shameless."

I'd be a corpse without my shamelessness, so there's nothing to be done.

"Anyone but you, I'd help."

And I was excluded from that help.

Good.

"It's fine. I live perfectly well without needing any help."

When I grinned, Eve looked at me with a displeased expression.

"More importantly, don't spout nonsense, you're the one who needs help."

Eve still treated me like an explosive.

With that, she declared she needed rest and left first.

Even so, she told me to tell her who that person was next time.

In the end, she was indeed the type to help others selflessly, no matter what.

'I should go back and rest too.'

Act 4, Chapter 5 had concluded safely.

The problem was that Act 4, Chapter 4 hadn't happened yet.

An even bigger problem was that school was about to start soon.

"Grantony, Vinesha. You two have to go to school and work, don't you? You should get going."

"Heh, you're right."

When I called out to the two of them, Grantony reacted first.

"You're the one who helped me recover myself the most."

Just then, Mushika, possessing Vinesha's body, spoke to me.

"Thank you. Thanks to you, my sister, Grantony, and I are all safe."

She spoke with a confident smile.

Hearing those words, I found myself smiling along with her.

Because I had worked hard precisely to hear those words.

This was the most valuable reward for my efforts.

"There's something I want to talk to you about."

I had a vague idea of what that conversation might be about.

And it would have a profound impact on the next scenario.

"Let's talk tomorrow after the academy, along with Sister Vinesha."

With that, she relinquished control of the body back to Vinesha.

Soon after, Vinesha's eyes returned to their violet hue.

It seemed I would have to speak with Mushika again tomorrow.

"Husband~"

At that moment, Sharin's voice came from beside me.

She was slumped on the ground, stretching both her arms out to me.

"Carry me."

Sharin said that, her face utterly exhausted.

She had adapted to magic in the Otherworld and directly confronted the Abyssal Lord.

Even for Sharin, she had consumed a lot of magic power.

It was natural for her to be tired.

But the problem was, Sharin wasn't the only one here.

My eyes, filled with an uneasy premonition, turned to Vinesha.

She merely blinked, saying nothing special.

Normally, her excessive affection-deprivation would have exploded, making her act as if she'd kill Sharin on the spot.

But now, no such emotion emanated from her at all.

It was merely a nonchalant, 'whatever' kind of reaction.

Presently, Vinesha herself seemed to realize this fact, letting out an 'Ah.'

She wore a thoughtful expression for a moment.

Then, she slowly turned back to me.

"My dear husband."

Vinesha clutched her pendant dearly.

She smiled at me apologetically.

"It seems this maiden has been selfishly using you all this time, my dear husband. This maiden simply needed somewhere to vaguely pour out her emotions."

Hearing those words, I realized.

Vinesha had regained her memories.

And in that process, she had also realized anew what was most precious to her.

Mushika, her master, and even Grantony.

She had finally recovered the things most precious to her.

She no longer needed to obsess over me.

Because what was precious to her lay elsewhere.

What Vinesha had felt for me wasn't love.

It was merely a temporary refuge.

"I apologize. You must have suffered, being swayed so carelessly because of this maiden."

Vinesha's face looked more peaceful than I had ever seen it.

Finally, peace had found its way into her heart.

"Vinesha, just as you used me, I merely used you as well."

Watching her, I actually smiled.

Vinesha mirrored my smile.

"Thank you."

What she needed to offer wasn't an apology, but thanks.

From now on, she wouldn't need to pour out her emotions onto others anymore.

After all, even scars eventually heal with time.

Vinesha would no longer dwell on the past but live brightly.

I had no doubt about this.

"Sharin, hop on."

Thanks to that, I could now carry Sharin without needing to worry about anything.

As I crouched down in front of her, Sharin stretched out both arms and wrapped them around my neck.

Then, she rested her chin on my shoulder and spoke.

"You got dumped."

So that's how it is.

Just like with Nikita, I seemed to have been dumped again without even confessing.

"Husband~"

As I walked with Sharin on my back, she whined.

"What is love, I wonder."

She was saying something out of the blue.

I couldn't see her face since she was on my back, but I could tell she was particularly deep in thought today.

"Indeed."

Unfortunately, I didn't know either.

Because love had disappeared from me.

Hearing my answer, Sharin buried her face in my shoulder.

Then, she quietly inhaled and exhaled.

"...Comfortable."

Her last words were truly enigmatic.

* * *

We returned safely that way.

The commotion in the Otherworld had been widely publicized by the Soul Mages who detected it, but our story wasn't mentioned.

Only, Iris glared at me with a very sulky expression.

"Why didn't you come last night? And you skipped morning training too."

I was living as Iris's comfort doll every day to help resolve her nightmares.

It had gotten to the point where Hania was now accustomed to moving around in my form.

"I thought Lady Iris might need some alone time."

"I've had more than enough of that kind of time already."

That stung a little.

After all, Iris didn't really have anyone she was close to besides Hania and me.

It was only after I promised to definitely come today that I was able to end Iris's scolding.

"Speaking of which, Lady Iris, it seems someone else will need to visit with me soon."

Moreover, I had no intention of visiting alone this time.

Now, there was Eve.

The time had come to truly eliminate Iris's nightmares.

Iris showed her puzzlement but gave her permission.

Because she knew well that I genuinely cared for her.

"You, you got hurt, didn't you?"

Just as I finished with Iris, Isabel spoke to me this time.

I had definitely stopped by the infirmary and received treatment before coming to school today.

I had lied to the nurse, saying I got like this from overdoing morning training, but a moment ago Iris had mentioned I didn't show up for morning training.

"What? Prince Sweet Potato got hurt?"

Then, Seron also joined in, staring intently at me.

"Why do you keep getting hurt?! It breaks my heart!"

"Do you realize you're getting rougher with your body the more time passes?"

Kids can get hurt, can't they? Why are they so concerned?

"It certainly does seem like you're getting rougher with your body."

Then Hania also joined in.

"Shouldn't you get a mental health check-up?"

"No way. Then Prince Sweet Potato's idiocy would be exposed."

"I think it's a good idea to do it."

I think there's one person in the middle who isn't actually worried about me?

I reached out and stretched Seron's cheek.

Meanwhile, Hania and Isabel were conversing with serious eyes.

Those two genuinely looked like they were going to send me for a mental health check-up.

"Both of you, calm down. I'm perfectly fine."

Hearing my words, the two began to whisper to each other again.

I had no idea when those two had become so close.

Creeeeak—

Just then, Professor Veganon entered.

The students finally finished their conversation and went to their respective seats.

As an alcoholic, Veganon normally had a perpetually tired face.

However, today she was different.

She walked in with a distinctly grim expression.

Seeing this, all the students immediately understood.

"I apologize for this first thing in the morning, but there's news from the Demonic Palace."

At the mention of the Demonic Palace, the students' expressions uniformly changed.

All the students here were gathered to protect the world from the Demonic Palace.

Naturally, the Demonic Palace took precedence over everything else.

"There are signs that the Demonic Palace will open earlier than expected. We will be deploying immediately tomorrow morning, so today's class will prioritize team formation."

Act 4, Chapter 4 was about to begin right after Act 4, Chapter 5 had just concluded.