Chapter 107

I jumped down from the tree and landed in front of Amelia .

Amelia was trembling, frightened .

「A, akira…when did you start listening?」

I cocked my head to the side and stroked the back of my neck .

「Since the start . Well, that’s mostly because I got here first . 」

Then, Amelia’s face turned pale .

It was truly a coincidence .

After Kurou told me that the thing he was most afraid of was a hand not reaching, I entered the forest to contemplate in silence .

Climbing a tree was because being up there calmed me down, and not because I was trying to hide . I was thinking it over so deeply that I didn’t even notice until Amelia had come to stand at this tree, so it wasn’t like I purposely move to this tree .

Even if I explained it, Amelia’s complexion probably wouldn’t get any better .

The blood completely drained from her originally pale skin .

I place my hand on top of her head to calm her down .

「You don’t need to worry, I won’t leave you, and I won’t forget about Amelia either . 」

Certainly, kaasan and Yui were important too, but Amelia was just as important .

There were tears in Amelia’s eyes, and she held on tightly onto the cloak that I was wearing .

And then, she looked up at me and tilted her head to the side .

「Really? You won’t leave me behind, or forget me?」

While bewitched by Amelia who was behaving like a puppy, I nodded .

「Aah, I promise . …on the contrary, I’m the one who’s worried . Since we don’t seem to be suited for each other . Just talking about looks, it’s annoying, but the hero would definitely be a good match with you . 」

I took out my dagger, and had the frowning Amelia hold onto it .

「I don’t like that person . Akira is cool, and strong . …what are you doing?」

I gave a wry smile, at that .

Certainly, the hero was weak, but I’m not cool .

I couldn’t deny that there wasn’t the suspension bridge effect when Amelia and I met either .

TN: the suspension bridge effect is when someone does something dangerous and sees someone . Then, they mistake the heart-pounding from the dangerous activity with that of the heart-racing from falling in love, thinking that they fell for the other person

I covered Amelia’s hand that was gripping the dagger with my right hand, and moved it closer to my left hand .

Amelia pulled back, frightened .

「I’m not sure how it works here, but in Japan, there is a custom where a man and a woman who’ve promised to spend their lives together would put a ring on the fourth finger of their left hand . Such things like an engagement ring or a wedding ring, I’m not well-informed about it since I had no interest in them back then, but now, I’ll make a ring on my finger . 」

The blade sank down into the skin around the third joint on my ring finger .

The pain, along with the blood that was so red that it could be seen within the darkness, slid down my hand, continuing down my arm, and then fell onto the ground .

「Wh, what are you… . 」

Amelia’s eyes widened as I, without a change in expression, continued to use her hand to carve a ring onto my finger .

Deeper, deeper, deep enough that the mark would not disappear, but wouldn’t cut through necessary veins .

「…look, doesn’t it look like a ring . 」

When illuminated by the moonlight, one would find that there was a red mark around my ring finger on my left hand .

「Didn’t you want to leave a mark on me?」

With this, her wish had been realized .

When I looked at Amelia, she was looking back and forth from my finger to the dagger .

「A ring on the ring finger of a man and woman… . 」

This time, Amelia had my hand take hold of the dagger, and without hesitation, cut at her own pale and slender finger .

「…I’m happy that we match . 」

Standing next to me, the moonlight illuminated her hand that had the same mark on her finger .

Perhaps it was because her anxiety had dissipated into the night, or perhaps it was because she was happy that we matched for the first time, but normally, I would not have approved of Amelia injuring herself .

However, for some reason, I was in an extremely good mood today .

『What I’m most afraid of is, my hand not reaching . 』

Kurou’s seemingly pained voice resounded in my mind .

Even when extended, my hand might not reach .

The demons were so strong that if Kurou hadn’t arrived in time, Amelia would’ve been abducted and we might’ve died too .

Even so, with the same ring on our fingers, we would always be connected .

「Amelia, if you wish for it, I will destroy this body . If it pleases you, add more scars . In return, if there’s anything you want to do or if you are worried about anything, let me know immediately . If I am able to, I will definitely grant it . 」

I kneeled, then and there, and dropped a kiss on the back of her left hand .

Was I being a bit too pretentious, when I looked up, Amelia’s cheeks were dyed red, and then, she put a hand on my cheek .

「In that case, promise me this as well . Do not die, do not forget me, do not separate from me, and always, look only at me . 」

I stood up, and embraced Amelia .

I held her small and slender frame close .

「That wish, I have heard it . I will fulfill it without fail . 」

Not separating seemed excessive, but other than that, it seemed fine .

Since I did not have the intention of dying, forgetting her, nor being distracted by another woman .

Amelia was smiling happily, within my arms .

Amelia, who had been somewhat melancholic ever since I was injured in the dungeon, was truly smiling for the first time in a while .

It wasn’t the kind of forced smile you have when you first meet someone, but a genuine smile that only Yoru or myself would be able to see .

I want to go back because of my kaasan and younger sister .

However, in this moment, I had the thought of not wanting to separate from this smile .