Chapter 2: Sena and Her Companions
After reuniting with Omi and Bordaf, Angelica, Orphelia, and Pulmy kept their conversation to the bare minimum necessary for sharing information, even as they continued to move forward. With Anon’s piercing gaze from behind, filled with a sense of resentment and sorrow, the four hurried toward their destination.
As Sensei and Orphelia advanced with a light step, Pulmy followed calmly behind them, while Angelica struggled to keep up, panting heavily.
At such a relentless pace, they managed to reach the foot of Hidden Mountain in less than two hours after contacting Sensei with the Communication Orb.
There, they found the White Girl—Sena. The sight of the girl, who was said to be beyond the treacherous mountains, standing at the base left the four in shock. More than that, they were captivated by her overwhelming presence. The three of them, excluding Sensei, instantly recognized her as the Sena Ichiro had mentioned. The girl was clearly unwell, her breathing ragged and her face pale. Yet, despite her condition, she radiated a divine aura that was unmistakable to anyone who laid eyes on her. Faced with this, they found themselves momentarily speechless.
“Sensei, I’ve been waiting,” Sena’s voice rang out, like the gentle chime of bells.
“Sena, you may already know, but your Son-in-law—”
“I have a general understanding of Ichiro’s situation. That’s why I’m here.”
“Then, Sena, you must also realize that we need to head back to the place where your Son-in-law was transported to another realm. That’s why I’ve come to bring him back.”
Concern for the girl’s condition darkened Sensei’s expression.
“I’m ready,” Sena declared, taking a step forward. Each step seemed heavy, and she wobbled unsteadily.
“Sena!”
Sensei moved faster than anyone else, catching the girl before she could fall.
“Sensei, I’m fine,” Sena gasped, pulling away from Sensei’s grasp.
“Ichiro is waiting for me.”
Having experienced despair and spent a long time healing her wounds, the girl had come to resent everything, trembling in fear of the outside world, avoiding it at all costs. Yet, she had found no issues living this way. When she felt like it, she would bask in the sun; when she felt like it, she would hunt for prey, living freely as she pleased.
However, for her, the boy had already become an inseparable part of her being. Imagining him suffering and in distress, she couldn’t hold back the tears she thought had long since dried. A fierce sense of urgency surged within her.
“I understand your feelings. Then your Master must also keep his spirits up,” Sensei replied, supporting the girl’s shoulder as they moved forward.
“Um,” a voice interrupted, belonging to Angelica. It was then that Sena finally glanced at them.
Without prompting, she turned her attention back to Sensei. “Sensei, who are they?”
“These three were with your Son-in-law when he was dragged into another realm. Just before he was taken, he sent a message to me and you through them. They insisted on coming here to convey it directly to us.”
Sena’s gaze shifted to the three she had previously ignored. Even Angelica, along with the battle-hardened Pulmy and the unflinching Orphelia, found themselves overwhelmed by the girl’s aura.
“Ichiro asked me to tell you both,” Sena said.
“‘I Love You.’”
As soon as Angelica finished speaking, the four of them, including Sensei, felt a surge of anger emanating from Sena.
“That’s something you should hear directly from Ichiro himself. Your words are unnecessary,” Orphelia retorted, unable to hold back.
“Listen, we came all this way because we wanted to honor his request. I’m not asking for a grand reception or anything, but a simple word of thanks wouldn’t hurt, would it?”
Ignoring Orphelia’s sulky expression and Pulmy’s flustered demeanor, Sena turned her face back to Sensei.
“Everything is already settled between me, Ichiro, and Sensei. I know his pain and suffering that haunts him every night, and his kindness that leaves him scarred for the sake of others better than anyone.”
Angelica lowered her gaze at Sena’s words.
“There is no room for anyone else to intervene between us.”
Sena continued, “In fact, Sensei—I’m angry with you too.”
Sensei remained silent, waiting for Sena to finish.
“Did you think that hearing Ichiro’s words from them would somehow aid me in rescuing him?” Sena asked, tilting her head in genuine anger.
“Such things won’t influence my determination to save Ichiro in the slightest.”
Faced with the girl’s intense emotions, everyone fell silent.
“In the end, the decision to rescue him is a matter solely between Ichiro, Sensei, and me.”
That day, the White Girl—Sena—overcame her long-standing emotional scars, whether out of affection for the boy, love, or perhaps both, and departed from Hidden Mountain.
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