CH 113

Things That Never Change

Translated by LyraDhani

Edited by LyraDhani

The night after being brought to the hospital, Chidori was diagnosed as fine in the morning of the examination and went out on her way to the government for an interview about the kidnapping case.

After seeing her off in front of the hospital, Tsugumi slowly made his way home with gloomy thoughts. He didn’t use transportation at that time, because he wanted a little time to think.

–Chidori said she wanted Tsugumi to stay by her side. At least, that feeling wouldn’t change while her memory wasn’t restored. Because Chidori believed that Tsugumi was her true brother.

He didn’t know when her memory would return. It could be tomorrow, or it could be forever. Perhaps living in fear of that uncertain future was the punishment for Tsugumi.

And so, after spending hours traveling by train and bus, Tsugumi finally arrived at the front of the house. From inside the house, he felt a familiar presence–Bell.

–He wondered what Bell would say when she heard about this memory. It really bothered him.

Would she be appalled? Or would she scorn him? Or she might say she wasn’t interested at all. But being abandoned was the only thing that scared him from the bottom of his heart.

Now that his blood ties to Chidori had vanished, the only person he could truly cling to was Bell, his contract God. If the last support of his heart were to abandon him, Tsugumi who had managed to stand on his feet would easily break.

Thinking that far, Tsugumi slightly shook his head.

“No. Only Bell-sama—only my God, will never leave me.”

Clutching the top of his chest tightly, Tsugumi muttered in a small voice.

Tsugumi’s God was bossy, selfish, and always reckless. But, Tsugumi knew that such a self-reliant God was taking great care of him.

–Let’s believe in her. I’m sure only Bell-sama will be fine.

Tsugumi took a deep breath and opened the front door with a serious look. Then, he heard an angry voice from the living room with tremendous force.

“You’re late! You take so so long to call me!”

Bell, who had just emerged from the living room, glared at him with an angry look. Relieved by Bell’s usual words and actions, for better or for worse, Tsugumi chuckled and walked into the room.

“I’m sorry, Bell-sama. I was thinking about various things and ended up running late. …Well, there is something I want to talk about with Bell-sama, is that okay?”

“Hm? Well, go ahead. I’m generous.”

With that, Bell simply gave her permission, plopped down on a large sofa, and urged Tsugumi to continue.

“Ah. Let’s start with what happened yesterday–”

Then, when Tsugumi told her what happened yesterday, the past memories he recalled, the truth about the great fire eleven years ago, and the true relationship between Tsugumi and Chidori, Bell held her forehead with her small hand and let out a deep sigh.

“In other words. You were a child raised as a sacrifice, and the contractor of that disgusting white rabbit is not your sister but a stranger caught up in the ritual. …How could there be such a gathering of misfortunes in a time when there were so many Gods who had no time to impose trials on a whim?”

“…Even I didn’t think I had such a big situation hidden from me, either.”

After muttering this in a weak voice, Tsugumi turned his head down and stared at the floor. Although he had recovered enough from the shock of yesterday’s incident to be able to give a normal response, the gloomy mood was still there.

–He surely would have been happier if he didn’t know anything about it. If he had just enjoyed the everyday life he was given without looking into the past, he wouldn’t have had to go through such a painful experience.

He didn’t regret wanting to know about “Sakura-oneechan” who lent her strength in a time of danger, but he still couldn’t stop thinking about it.

“But it’s odd. Why did Amaterasu’s dog bother to revive your memories? What’s in it for him?”

Saying this, Bell shook her head in dissatisfaction.

“I don’t know that either. …But, the God who was borrowing the body of the burned woman at that time called Chidori ‘Akane’s daughter’. There’s only one Magical Girl I know with that name.”

“–Sakura Akane. Well if you ask me, they do look-alike.”

Tsugumi quietly nodded at the name Bell mentioned.

–Ever since his memory returned, he’d been thinking about that burnt woman.

The mysterious woman who had appeared in the Irregular battle. The name Akane and the strange sign of the ability she was using. Normally, it would be quite impossible for a person who had long since died to appear, but something inside Tsugumi was saying it was the correct answer.

“Yeah. At least that’s what I think. …In that case, Sakura Akane’s encounter with a Demonic Beast may have been a cover. And it would take a powerhouse of Jukka’s caliber to fight outside of the barrier. There’s a high possibility that it’s Sakura Akane. In other words, that God is…”

The God who once had a contract with Sakura Akane and who was now by Toono Sumire’s side as Amaterasu’s close aide – Yatagarasu. That God was most likely him. And Yatagarasu, the second most powerful God next to Amaterasu, could easily have faked the death of a single person.

Tsugumi didn’t know what Sakura Akane, who was a hero recognized by everyone, was thinking when she faked her own death. But the responsibility for destroying her decade of peace, which she had obtained by deceiving the eyes of those around her, undoubtedly lies with Tsugumi and his sister.

Thinking that far, Tsugumi tightly grasped his own hand to endure the pain in his chest.

“…I guess maybe I am hated. Because it would normally be unforgivable for someone who caused the death of his contractor–someone he cared about–to be living happily ever after with the daughter.”

When Tsugumi said this in resignation, Bell opened her mouth with a dubious look.

“I don’t know. I don’t understand what other Gods thinking. –And besides, it’s not something you should be so worried about. In the end, it’s the dead people’s fault. There is no reason for you, who survived, to hear their complaints.”

To Bell’s blunt response, Tsugumi replied with a wry smile.

“That seems a bit extreme, though.”

“What are you talking about? The losers are eliminated and the winners rise to the top. It’s no different in God’s world. There’s nothing more pathetic than clinging to the losing side. It’s funny that people like you care so much about the dead.”

To Tsugumi who was confused, Bell crossed her arms and snorted as she continued.

“What do you need to be so depressed about? You are my contractor now, nothing more, nothing less. If you are so worried about such a trivial thing, just forget about it all and do more for me. You really are a troublesome person.”

Tsugumi’s mouth opened wide at Bell’s self-centered words, and an unbearable laugh escaped from his mouth.

“Fufu, Bell-sama is really hopeless.”

Was she saying that on purpose out of concern for Tsugumi? Or did she genuinely think so? –It was probably 50/50.

Bell really didn’t think that Tsugumi’s past was that important. All she cared about was the “present” Tsugumi. That refreshingly simple truth made him feel relieved from the bottom of his heart.

Bell wouldn’t give up on Tsugumi as long as he behaved. Even if Tsugumi was a great sinner, that wouldn’t change. –Really, this God was good at capturing people’s hearts.

“Why do you start laughing all of sudden, it’s disgusting. …Still, I wonder what Amaterasu’s dog is up to. Depending on his moves, it may be necessary for me to step forward. You’re bringing nothing but trouble.”

“Ugh, I feel bad about that, but…”

To Bell who looked annoyed when she said that, Tsugumi responded with an apologetic look, but Bell gave a small smile and said in a gentle voice.

“Well, this world is a bubbling dream anyway. It’s not a bad idea to go through troublesome things for the sake of a pathetic servant once in a while. –You must try your best to keep me entertained.”

“I know, my merciful Lord. –Because of you I can stand up straight.”

With that, Tsugumi reverently kneeled down in front of Bell. Bell looked down at him with a satisfied expression. Tsugumi really liked this kind of silly and sacred exchange.

Things that change. Things that crumble. Things that break down. Even if he could only be at the mercy of fate, he still wanted to believe there were some things that would never change.

◆ ◆ ◆

–The play progresses slowly, centering on the singularity of Nanase Tsugumi. What choice will they make in the midst of all the intricate schemes? Surely, even God can’t predict that.