Chapter 129: A Future That Should Never Come True

Chapter 129: A Future That Should Never Come True

After finishing the morning training, Tashian headed to the kitchen to prepare a meal, placing me at the table and beginning to chop the ingredients on the cutting board. It was all very natural and skillful.

“Um, are you feeling okay?”

“Every time you see me, you ask the same thing. I can handle household chores just fine, so don’t worry.”

“No, it’s not that... I’m worried if there’s something wrong with your body since that time.”

Even though she didn’t consider it a big deal, I couldn’t help but worry.

Currently, she had completely lost her power as a dragon.

Even before the fight that day ended, she was someone who frequently experienced the risk of her body collapsing due to her inherent power.

Now, considerably weakened, there was no telling if her body might deteriorate at any moment, even with promises made.

“You don’t need to worry about that. In fact, because I have no power left, my body feels much lighter.”

“...Really?”

“Yes, so you don’t have to worry. I’ll be with you for as long as you live.”

During my lifetime, she would watch over me and care for me as a mother.

This was a sentiment she hadn’t fully expressed to the adopted daughter she had taken in the past.

“As long as you live, I will do for you what I couldn’t do for that child. Everything I can as a family...”

“...”

“...Well, there’s not much I can do in this state.”

“Ah, no, I’m thankful for what you’re doing now.”

It was genuine, not pretense.

Although her daughter would not return, I also felt that her remorseful heart was sincere.

“Even so, you’ll continue to do dangerous things, right?”

And from her sincere perspective, what I intended to do also seemed unsettling.Alll latest novels at novelhall.com

“...Do you want to stop me?”

“I want to dissuade you, but it seems inevitable. After all, gaining strength is for the purpose of protecting yourself and those around you.”

Yes, the world now was even more dangerous than in her prime.

It’s natural to want to protect oneself by taking risks in such a world.

So, in her weakened state, rather than stopping me, she would choose to help me gain the strength to protect myself.

“Coincidentally, I find it hard to adjust to human standards, so it’s difficult for me to advise on training or handling spirits, but I can still teach you about equipment or manage it as much as needed.”

“Equipment, you say?”

“Having lived so long, I have my own expertise in handling materials.”

Come to think of it, legends about dragons often include details about their obsession with jewels or their collection of special equipment.

Most of it might be fiction, but given their long life span and their status as the pinnacle of all creatures, there might be no one who can match their skill in handling materials.

Choosing to disguise herself as a craftsman and deciding to create an ego weapon as a means to fulfill her promise must be closely related to that aspect.

“So if you need to handle equipment in the future, don’t leave it to others unnecessarily. Make sure to consult with me first, alright?”

“Haha, yes. If I need anything done with equipment, I’ll definitely come to you, Tashian.”

“Really?”

“Yes, really...”

“Hmm~ I don’t quite believe you.”

Tashian turned away from the pot for a moment and stared at me.

Her half-closed eyes showed a hint of doubt directed at me.

“I respect my son’s opinion, but if you leave it to someone else, Mom will be disappointed.”

“...Have I really been that unreliable?”

“Hmm, maybe I’ll believe you if you just say one thing~”

A meaningful smile faintly appeared on her lips.

It was something I had seen several times over the few weeks we had lived together.

“...What do you want me to say?”

“Do you love me?”

Ah, I knew it would be this.

Still, I thought it was better than calling her “Mom,” so I endured the embarrassment and said to her,

“I love you.”

It was still too much for me to fully embrace the idea of family.

But I wanted to reciprocate the kindness she had shown me.

“Yes, I love you too, my son~”

Tashian responded with a bright smile to my words.

Despite the disparity from our first meeting, it didn’t feel awkward because I vaguely understood through Tacchia’s memories that she also had this side.

Before she left, she possessed the same kindness, which made it impossible not to cling to her existence even more...

“Ahem!!”

Just as I was having those thoughts, a coughing sound came from behind.

The appearance of the Red Knight was something even she hadn’t anticipated.

It could have led to the extinction of humanity, but clinging to that one event and losing confidence would be too wasteful.

“Don’t be too disheartened. It’s not often that prophecies go wrong... The power you possess now might even be greater than what I had in my prime.”

“...Do you really think so?”

“Of course~ Didn’t you accurately predict what would happen after I changed my mind?”

While the future changes the moment a whim occurs, such altered futures tend to continue unless another variable arises.

Being able to immediately observe the changed future when a variable occurs means she could be interpreted as having a higher ability to respond to variables than anyone else in this world.

“So have confidence. If you don’t give up... you’ll surely find a way to make everyone happy, even in this chaotic world.”

With that confidence derived from her years of experience, Tashian firmly held Airi’s hand.

The warmth emanating from her taught that she, in her current state, possessed a thoughtful heart for others.

Having confidence, as she said, she was convinced that it would surely lead to a future where everyone could be happy.

“But that’s the problem!!!”

Yet, Airi couldn’t shake off her anxiety because the word ‘happiness’ Tashian mentioned gave her a chilling feeling.

Being with a loved one and being rewarded for efforts can be considered happiness, but losing one’s mind to drugs can also be seen as a form of happiness.

And the future that might await them could be even more dreadful and bleak than being addicted to drugs.

“Come here, my babies. It’s time to eat♡”

In the prophecy she saw right after they first met.

The beginning of an absolute future that must not come to pass was starting to show signs at this moment.

“I had no idea. I never thought Tashian, after completing her mission, would change this much...!”

The change in atmosphere from before was partly due to wanting to fully resolve lingering regrets, but more so because she now had something one could call ‘leisure’.

Even elders who lived for just about a hundred years were treated as sages, so how vast could the generosity of a dragon that lived for ten thousand years be?

Of course, choosing to keep Tashian by his side was partly her decision, but it was crucial to guard against the path leading to the future she had seen.

“What’s wrong, my daughter? Is the food not enough?”

“I-it’s enough!”

Therefore, during the weeks since she joined, Airi had no choice but to show her vigilance towards her at every moment.

To some extent, she mingled but made sure not to cross the line, and she tried to ensure that the ‘bond of family’ she talked about, at least in her case, would not continue.

‘Absolutely, no matter what happens, such a future must be prevented.’

Thus, Airi quietly ate the meal prepared by Tashian, steadying her heart.

On the other side, Tashian, watching Airi, tilted her head to the side with a puzzled expression.

“Hmm... Is this what they call adolescence?”

It was the best conclusion she could come to, not knowing the future.

And then, on the way out of the house to the funeral hall mentioned in the letter.

During this process, I met a familiar face.

“Oh my~ Hyo-sung~! Are you going out?”

Merilyn Sutherland.

Like Airi, she lived with us, but as a wandering minstrel, she often left home to gather stories needed for her profession.

Since she spent many nights out, meeting her on the street early in the morning wasn’t too unusual.

“Ah, yes. I’m just heading to a friend’s funeral for a bit.”

“Oh, is that so? Can I come with you?”

“You too, Merilyn?”

“Haha, I feel like I could gather some good stories if I go with you, Hyo-sung.”

Saying so, Merilyn swiftly took a place by my side.

Her wanting to be with me wasn’t unusual by now, but why?

Feeling a sense of unease upon facing her at this moment.

“Did you change your makeup?”

“What?”

“Well, you look a bit different from usual.”

“...”

Her expression slightly stiffened.

I could tell just by looking that she was holding her breath, as if I had hit the mark.

What was it? Did I step on a landmine or something?

“Aren’t we in a hurry for the funeral?”

“Oh, yes. This way...”

Despite the unease, I was prompted by Merilyn to continue walking.

I was concerned, but I didn’t want to do anything that might upset Merilyn.