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Chapter 22: To Render Things Undone

Angelica: “Dad!? Hey, dad!? What did you see!? Why do you look like you’re about to die!?”

While Angelica was shaking my shoulders violently, Ayako-chan was just looking at us.

She’s a typical bookworm girl you find at the library.

I bet she never colored her semi-long black hair. Her skin is also fair all year long.

She’s bad at sports and talking with people. Her voice is also rather quiet.

Yet she got quite some volumes on her breasts pushed up by her apron, and today’s choice of everyday clothing is a vertical-striped sweater.

Who would’ve thought that the disposition of the personification of a man’s ideal Literary Girl Ayako-chan would be such things. Even if you ask me, this is…

Keisuke: “This is too much.”

If I remember correctly, Ayako-chan’s type of men she likes is a fatherly person, she said.

…Is that so. So I look like her dad when he was younger.

In that case the shopkeeper would also be pretty sweet to me. If i resemble her husband when he was younger, she would dote on me.

Angelica: “Dad……are you crying?”

I can’t put strength into my knees, but I did my best to move them and awkwardly stood up.

It’s like I have to forcefully activate a machine that hasn’t been oiled for a long time.

Ayako: “Are you okay, Nakamoto-san?”

Ayako-chan who got up from the cash register rushed over with a patter.

Hii!?

Don’t come closer you pervert!

I unconsciously almost let out a scream with a rather high level of girl power.

When I saw Rio’s favorability in her status appraisal, There was a degree of happiness as I thought “hey, I actually still have it with me”.

But right now, I could only feel true fear.

Angelica: “Dad, what is this girl? Is she a new species of demon?”

Keisuke: “…don’t worry, she’s harmless. She completely didn’t have any magic. Even if an evil spirit were to possess her, her MP is zero.”

Angelica: “Then, what gives?”

Keisuke: “She’s just an ordinary person with a crooked heart. No mistaking it.”

Angelica: “But if the Perception skill is triggered then that means there’s an evil on the level of an undead or a demon you know? Is this person really that bad that she could be put in the same category? Theoretically this is too much, but…”

Are you talking about a game? asked Ayako-chan, peering at my face

Ayako: “…Um, if you’re not feeling good, do you want to go to the room in the back? I have some drugs as well if you need.”

“I’ll hold myself back, it’s not that serious anyways.”

The way she said drugs in italics is scary.

Keisuke: “It’s just a gout. Don’t worry, sometimes I just got an episode.”

Ayako: “……my father also had a case of gout. So Nakamoto-san too, huh…you’re both similar…”

In a moment, I feel that an ominous light dwells within Ayako-chan’s eyes.

I hate this. I don’t want to be here no more.

I whispered to Angelica saying “Let’s get out of here”, but Ayako-chan stopped us.

Did she plan to strangle her rival right here?

Angelica stretched her arms as if to protect me, and the mad bookstore clerk said in a delicate voice.

Ayako: “Something about this person is a bit different today, doesn’t she?”

This person? Does she mean Angelica?

As I stiffened, Ayako-chan continued further.

Ayako: “How was that book? Could that be a good enough reference?”

She wasn’t talking to me, but rather she was talking to Angelica.

Angelica herself was making a face as if she’s saying what are you talking about?

Angelica: “Are you, talking to me?”

Ayako: “Yes, you came here before as well didn’t you? Thank you very much for your visit.”

Did her fathercon got worse that it conflicts with reality?

I stood stunned as I hear her talking about something that doesn’t connect with anything.

Even though she’s so cute, she ended up being so weird in this age.

I want to save her, but even as a Hero this is impossible. I can’t change a person’s heart.

Ayako: “Last week you came with an outfit that look like an old man, but today you wear normal clothes, I see……can I ask what is your relationship with Nakamoto-san? No, I am just curious…”

I think it’s starting to get dangerous so I pulled Angelica outside of the store.

It’s still the height of winter, so it’s cold outside.

I was drenched with sweat, so my bodily temperature is rapidly dropping.

In such a short time, the me who had saved a world had been backed up to a corner.

Angelica: “What’s with that girl?”

It’s a world you better off not knowing, I warned her.

Though I wish I didn’t know myself.

Somehow I suddenly feel tired.

Keisuke: “Let’s take a break.”

_______________________________________________________________

With unsteady steps, I guided Angelica to the nearby hamburger shop, and then we decided to take a breather.

We went to the toilet, rehydrated ourselves, chatted and killed some time.

Angelica: “But she’s scary, isn’t she? She’s an ordinary person, but she had the malice of a higher-class demon, there’s that piko~n piko~n sound at her.”

Keisuke: “What do you mean, pikon pikon sound?”

Angelica: “You see, when I’m using the Perception skill, there’s…a map-like thing on the edge of my vision. If I’m at a point where there is a malicious thing, it starts blinking like piko~n piko~n.”

Keisuke: “Heeh, that’s a bit interesting.”

As expected, Angelica’s skill feels game-like.

It’s totally like “the map on the top-right corner of the screen that shows where the enemies are”.

Angelica: “If it’s powerful or if it gets close to something whose attribute is pure malice, it’ll go piko~n piko~n. But when we get close to that girl it goes pikopikopikopiko and it was blinking red super fast. Red is the color of evil. The redder the marker is, the more evil it is. Normally it’s the color of a demon, but sometimes it could also be the color of an atrocious criminal. I heard that a criminal in a death row is a thin red, but that girl is blood red…”

I thought to myself So for months I have been commuting to a store with such dangerous employee? I just start feeling the chills now.

Keisuke: “On that note, what kind of things did the Perception skill detect from when we were at my room? It was blinking slowly I bet?”

Angelica: “Dad’s room, is it? Hmm…it’s like, it’s spreading around me in the center. It was really scary.”

Keisuke: “Centered around you?”

Angelica: “Yes, yes.”

Angelica nodded her head.

Angelica: “It’s radiating white dots and I felt like it would surround me. White is the color of spiritual body.”

So it’s like they’re surrounding her, huh.

It was correct of me to cast a Sacred Circle.

It’s a magic circle that protects the target’s surroundings around in a radius of 300 meters.

Once I did that, I didn’t need to worry.

I’ve dispelled it for now, but once our search is over, I’ll cast it again.

Angelica: “But I think the accuracy of my skill has dropped. It couldn’t detect anything other than an ordinary person.”

Keisuke: “No I think it works like a charm. It truly sees through malicious presences.”

Eh? What’s with the sudden praise? Angelica said happily as she moved the menu screen in front of her away.

Keisuke: “Let’s buy something.”

I smiled, thinking I’d feel bad if I just came and buy drinks.

Angelica had been fidgeting for a while as well.

She’s been interested thanks to the aroma from the cooks prepping food and from the other customers eating around us.

Angelica: “Is that okay?”

Keisuke: “It’s a bit early, but let’s have some lunch. I’m hungry from walking around.”

Koppan~ Koppan~Angelica started humming some weird songs again.

Seeing her getting excited looking at the menu in high spirits makes me think that she’s really still a child.

Angelica: “…I can read it but it’s full of words that I don’t know the meaning of…

Keisuke: “Ah, as I thought. That happens, huh.”

When I went to the other world, this happens a lot to me too.

I explained to Angelica about what kind of food is what as I reminisced a bit

Angelica ordered the Cheeseburger set while I ordered a Teriyaki Burger set.

Once our orders are delivered, we split our burgers in half and exchanged the half to each other.

Once we’re ready, we bite into them.

Angelica: “I will look forward in enjoying both tastes.”

Angelica smiled with pickles on the corner of her mouth.

Seems like there’s some sauce on my chin as well, so you’re welcomed.

I felt nice that I treated her to lunch. It hurts my wallet, but it didn’t really hurt my conscience.

Both my wallet and my heart are feeling light.

For Angelica who’s not used to carbonated drinks, I ordered another Oolong tea on top of that.

Add another to the expenses list. And even still, I’m in a good mood.

……this is fun.

If I had been in Japan the whole time, is this how it feels to spend your day off with your wife and child?

But at my age, perhaps my child would still be very young.

For her, probably I’d buy her the set that includes some toys in it.

Then she would probably get sick of it soon, but for now she’ll be desperately collecting them as I look over her gently.

…Perhaps I could have had that life.

It’s a possibility way out of my reach now.

But it doesn’t matter.

My life is trash anyways. I’m a ruined hero drowning in sins. I won’t think of wanting to start over.

But it’s different for Angelica.

She’s still young and she hasn’t been dyed by the colors of evil.

If it’s her, she could still seize her future with her own strength.

A future where she can have a child with a man of her own generation.

And for that, I need her to have identification papers.

As we finished our early lunch break, we left the store.

—Time to threaten Gondou.

I bet the Yakuza have some way to prepare identification papers illegally.

Even if they don’t, I’ll order them to find a way or another.

I will use any method. I’ll gradually break some law, and I’m even willing to resort to violence.

I’ve determined myself to be Angelica’s guardian. She’s my family; she’s my daughter.

I will protect her. I will be a good father to her. I will devote myself for my daughter.

By doing that, I’ll have undone my past mistakes.

—undone?

What was that just now?

Was that scumbag train of thought what I really think?

Am I thinking that by pampering Angelica, I would’ve atoned my sins for those who died in the past?

Keisuke: “I’m the worst.”

My mood worsens as I sighed a monologue.

Yeah, that’s right. I know at least that much.

The reason I’m harboring intimacy with Angelica is not because of lust nor love, it’s regret.

It’s not that different than when my dad paid a girl to wear a sailor uniform when he was in his student days.

I wished to take back my lost possibility using Angelica.

The me who could be a good father.

Grrk, I ground my teeth.

Then what is it? If I wanted to make it so that I’m doing this for her, what sort of motive do I need?

Angelica: “Dad? Somehow you’re making a scary face.”

It’s nothing, Ange, I answered.

It’s because I’m your foster father, you see. I shouldn’t have done things that scares my daughter.

What I’m scared of are just villains and monsters.