Parental Feelings

Returning home, everyone was already gathered, and most of the meal preparations were complete. Thinking they might have kept others waiting, I offered greetings and apologies for being late.

"Work, right? There's no help for it,"
Teisha smiled as she finished preparing and took her seat. We enjoyed a warm meal together, engaging in lively conversation.

"I've heard the news. How is the defense situation? Is there any danger to Riza?"

Ast, involved in village defense, seemed exempt from the information blackout. I shared details about the current situation within my knowledge.

"...Going to the battlefield..."
Muttering with a pained expression, I couldn't help but lower my head, overwhelmed by guilt. No parent wants their child to go to war.

"From the moment she decided to become an adventurer, I made up my mind. If possible, please protect her."
With sincere eyes, she looked at me, and before I knew it, I nodded in agreement.

"I will protect her with my life."
I responded without hesitation, meaning every word.

"No good. Both of you must return together. That's absolute."
Teisha interrupted firmly, but the atmosphere softened as a result. The rest of the meal was enjoyed in a cheerful mood.

After finishing the meal, we stepped out into the garden. Recalling recent movements of the defensive stance, I thought about strategies that didn't rely on magic. I adjusted my movements to counter imagined enemy actions, transforming centrifugal force and thrusting power into circular motions, linking them continuously. I visualized controlling muscles during a strike, imagining the precise application of force.

"Protect me,"
I thought, as I swung the blade upward from the ground toward my upper body.

"I'm powerless. I can't protect her or bring her back safely."

Raising the blade and sweeping it sideways to stop, then swinging widely using centrifugal force.

"Therefore..."

Bringing the blade up high and slashing downward with full force.

"Live and return!"
Stopping the slash at my feet, I swung it diagonally upward.

"I decide... that way!!"

Raising the blade and correcting it to a high position, then swinging it diagonally.

Exhaling sharply, every part of me ached from the strain.

"Yes, I decide,"
I said through ragged breathing, my chin lifting as I looked up at the moon shining above. I continued training until it was time to rest, knowing tomorrow would be a group training day and some fatigue wouldn't matter.

"Akihiro..."

As I practiced parries, I thought about using the pommel for further control, but after modifications, it might not work as intended.

"Akihiro!"
Startled by her loud voice nearby, I realized Riza was standing there, slightly annoyed.

"Oh? Sorry, I didn't notice."

I must have been deeply focused; I hadn't even noticed her approach.

"I called you multiple times!"

She sounded truly upset.

"It's just that your cute voice is so distracting,"
I joked.

"No excuses! I don't want to hear them!"
Her pouting didn't faze me.

"Thinking about the future, I can't stand still. So maybe I overfocused. Sorry."

"Mm... That's so sneaky. There's nothing I can say."

"Thank you for worrying about me,"
I said, gently touching her cheek with my lips.

"It's a good time. Is the bath ready?"

"Yes, it's prepared. It'll get cold if we wait."

"Sorry. Thanks."
I ran my hand through her hair as I headed back to clean up.

In the basin filled with warm water, I washed while thinking about Riza.

"I decided to protect you," I thought. "But what if I fail?"

Negative thoughts began to surface from deep within me.

Lost in thought, I finished washing and got dressed. Knocking at the door, Riza entered the room.

"Let's go to bed," she said with a smile.

I embraced her as she approached, feeling her presence and silently reaffirming my resolve to protect her.

Is this a kind of dependence?

A voice in my heart asked, but I pushed it aside for now. Trusting the warmth, softness, and certainty of her presence, I climbed into bed.

Protect her. Live and spend time with Riza.