Chapter 36: You Can’t Live Without Me
“Hey, Kenta. It seems Lindor has performed another Summoning at Admos’s request.”
A few months after Princess-sama Weimar visited, Ivern returned from town with that piece of information.
“Looks like you’ve really settled into the role of a merchant.”
“…I’m tired of that joke.”
“Oh really? Then how about ‘information broker’?”
“…That gives off a strong Underworld vibe, so I’ll pass.”
“What’s with the bad mood?”
As I said that, I tickled Leon, who was sitting on my lap.
“Kyaah! Kyahaha!”
“See? Uncle Ivern is in a bad mood, right?”
“Huh?”
“Hey, don’t fill the kid’s head with weird stuff.”
“It’s the truth, isn’t it?”
“No, it’s not!”
“Are you two at it again?”
As I was bickering with Ivern, Yulia approached, holding Aira in her arms.
Seeing that, Ivern’s face softened into a goofy grin.
“Oh, Aira! Come here!”
He reached out to Aira, but his hand was swiftly swatted away by Yulia.
“You just got back! First, go take a bath and change your clothes!”
“Ah, okay…”
After being firmly told off by Yulia, Ivern trudged back home.
He had just traveled a long distance, sweating and probably covered in dirt.
Ivern’s house next door was already completed, and his family was living there.
However, he often spent the day at my place, only returning home to sleep.
“Good grief, Daddy can be such a handful, huh?”
“Huh?”
Yulia spoke to Aira in her arms, but then quickly turned back to me.
“Hey, about what Ivern said earlier, do you think it’s okay?”
“About the Summoning?”
“Yeah. If they’re targeting you like Victoria-sama said… does that mean this place will become a battlefield?”
I chuckled at Yulia’s worried expression.
“What’s so funny?”
“You don’t need to worry so much. I’ve been in this world three years longer than that guy. That means I have a constant three-year lead. I’m still developing my magic and training my body. Do you really think I’d lose to him?”
When I said that, Yulia seemed to relax a bit.
“That’s true. Besides, if they’re only after you, then if it comes to it, Meileen and I will be the first to run. Just make sure to cover us.”
“You probably shouldn’t say that so openly, you know?”
While we were having that conversation, Meileen approached us.
“Sorry, Yulia. If it comes to that, I’ll fight alongside Kenta, so please take Leon and escape.”
At Meileen’s words, Yulia’s face turned sorrowful.
“Eh? Let’s escape together! Kenta will be fine on his own!”
“That’s why you shouldn’t say that in front of him. But it’s true, Yulia, I’d prefer it if you and Meileen could escape together.”
When I said that, Meileen’s expression hardened.
“Huh?”
Then, she lifted Leon from my lap and handed him to Yulia.
Yulia was now holding two children in her arms.
“O-oh my…”
Ignoring Yulia’s situation, Meileen cupped my face in her hands and brought it closer.
“Kenta.”
“Y-yeah?”
“You are my everything.”
“Uh…”
“I can’t live without you. Even if Leon is here, I might neglect him.”
“I-I hope you can try your best with that…”
I asked Meileen to hold it together, but she shook her head.
“Leon is adorable. But that’s only because you’re here. You exist, and Leon exists. Without you, I can’t maintain who I am. Please, don’t leave me behind.”
As she said that, Meileen looked like she was about to cry.
Honestly, I thought it was an unfit thing for a mother to say.
But I couldn’t help but find Meileen, who cared for me so deeply, utterly adorable.
“…Alright. When the time comes, I’ll fight alongside you. But I promise, I’ll protect both you and Leon. Don’t even think about leaving Leon behind.”
When I said that, Meileen finally nodded.
“Okay, I understand.”
“…Meileen.”
Yulia said that as she handed Leon back to Meileen.
Meileen held Leon tightly and embraced him.
“Leon… I’m sorry for being a bad mom. But I can’t live without your dad. Please forgive me for that.”
“Huh?”
Meileen apologized to Leon, but he looked at her with a puzzled expression.
Still, it seems Meileen is somewhat broken in her own way.
I’m confident that if anything happened to Meileen, I’d destroy this world, too. We’re both dependent on each other’s existence.
“How should I put it… Kenta and Meileen are like each other’s safety nets. If anything happens to either of them, it could lead to something catastrophic…”
Yulia said that with a hint of concern, but I wish she’d just give up on it.
We’re both aware of it.
As we were discussing this, Ivern walked in, freshly bathed.
“Ahh, that feels refreshing. Aira~ come to Daddy!”
Ivern, with a blissful expression, scooped Aira into his arms.
“…I mean, Ivern really is happy, huh?”
“Huh? I’m happy!”
Yulia probably meant that sarcastically, but it seemed to have flown right over Ivern’s head.
The serious atmosphere that had been hanging over us vanished with Ivern’s arrival, and our living room suddenly felt warm and cozy.
In that sense, maybe he really is a necessary presence in this house.