Chapter 158

Akira returned when the sun began to rise, around that time .

I sat on a chair in the living room, and watched as the black turned into a dark blue, the world being dyed in the sunlight .

Watching as the bright sunlight streamed through the window and hit my face, the black figure entered the room through an open window and I was surprised .

In the end, I didn’t get a wink of sleep, but perhaps I felt relieved when I saw that face of his, as I was suddenly attacked by a bout of drowsiness .

Incidentally, Kurou had immediately returned to his bedroom .

He’s an elderly person, so he will get up soon .

「Akira…!」

I was about to rush over to him, but there was such a strong smell of blood coming from Akira that one could choke on it, and I unconsciously stopped one step away from Akira, frowning .

His black cloak, if you didn’t look closely, then you wouldn’t know, but there was something of a different color on the black fabric .

And in addition to that, it wasn’t Akira’s, and it didn’t seem like it was just Gram’s .

「Sorry . 」

Akira said that to me .

That, what was he apologizing for .

Was it for pretending to not hear me when I tried to stop him from leaving?

Or, was it for killing a person, Gram?

My emotions grew violent, and for some reason, my tears spilled over .

「Why…for what reason… . 」

When my tears fell as I muttered these words, I messed up my hair even more roughly than usual, and Akira indifferently began to speak .

About how, before killing Gram, he killed someone of the same profession who saw him—-an assassin who had similarly been requested to assassinate Gram .

And how he was emotionless when he killed a person .

Because his back was facing the window, I couldn’t see Akira’s face, but he definitely had a pained look on his face .

「Up until now, I was just a half-baked assassin . If I had been like this since the beginning, Commander Saran wouldn’t have died . 」

Akira was surely talking about when he found out about the king of Retice’s scheme after he had been summoned .

Even in this world, while it was true that people did have an occupation as an assassin, there weren’t many who actually worked as an assassin .

The occupation that one was born with could not be changed, but it was not something that was absolute .

Like the guildmaster of Ul, Linga, there were people who took up employment that was completely different, but in most circumstances, they become adventurers .

Despite this, Akira chose to be an assassin .

「No! That is not Akira’s fau… . 」

「Even so, I could have killed those guys at that time . The fact that I did not kill them, was because I was naive . 」

I was appalled when Akira interrupted me in a quiet and dark voice .

I didn’t know which point in time Akira was talking about .

I thought that Akira would be fine if he avenged Saran Misray .

Despite this, the look on Akira’s face right now was worse than when I made him go to sleep against his will .

However, this time, even if I made him go to sleep, there would be no meaning to it .

I, needed to do something .

I roughly wiped my tears with my sleeve, raised my head, and looked up at the backlighting Akira .

「…but, if that’s so, then I might not have met Akira . I might have been swallowed up by that slime in Continent Dungeon with my magic absorbed . And then, I wouldn’t have been able to reconcile with Kirika either . …Akira, if it was like that, or like this, there are many things that could’ve been different . However, we are living in this moment . 」

“We are living in this moment” .

Even I was surprised by the words that came out of my own mouth .

To think that there would be a day where I, who had even thought about wanting to erase the things that I did, and my past self, would say such words to someone else .

「I won’t tell you to not regret, to not brood over it . However, please do not be caught up in it any more than that . The most important thing is what you will do from now on . Isn’t that right?」

Within the dim room, Akira;s finger moved slightly, and gently touched my eyes that I had roughly wiped .

Perhaps he washed his hands before coming back, as that hand was surprisingly cold .

「…I won’t live for a long time like Amelia . That’s why, I wouldn’t be able to change so easily . …I, who didn’t think anything of killing people is scary . I who thought that I should’ve killed the king of Retice and the others at that time is scary . 」

This, was definitely Akira’s true thoughts .

He was afraid of himself for thinking that he regretted not killing the king of Retice, enough that he put it into words and said it .

Akira was a child, so perhaps his mind was still unstable .

His voice was somewhat painful to hear .

Akira who had lived in a peaceful word up until now and me who had seen hell multiple times throughout my long life .

There were many things between us that we mutually didn’t know, nor understood .

Even so, I wish to be together with Akira .

I took a step forward and extended my hand .

「I’m sorry, I don’t understand why Akira is scared . However, it’s alright . It’s not scary . At least, when you’re with Yoru and me . 」

I pulled his head down towards my chest, and stroked his jet black hair .

Akira remained quiet .

Slowly and gently, as if reminiscent of a mother, I muttered this .

「No matter how Akira is, I want to be with you . It is the same with Yoru . What about Akira?」

When I asked that, a hoarse reply reverberated within the room .

His shoulders that had been covered up by the cloak seemed to be trembling .

「…me too, I want to be with Amelia and Yoru . No matter what I will be like hereafter, that will never change . 」

When he said that, Akira raised his head, and hugged me who was looking down towards him this time .

「Thank you, Amelia . I have yet to completely recover . But, I feel better . 」

「If I could be Akira’s strength, then that’s good . Now, why don’t you take a shower?」

I patted Akira on the back and urged him to go .

When Akira let go of me, he nodded, his eyes slightly red .

He probably didn’t want to be thought of like this, but Akira was cute when he’s meek .