Episode 5: Like Weaving Words Together ①
We gathered in Ashley’s room. Present were myself, Sensei, Anon, Ashley, and Mr. Justus.
First, I want to explain why Mr. Justus was among this group.
After finishing the mock battle, I returned home carrying Ashley on my back. Upon seeing me, Mr. Justus turned pale. When he learned that I was the reason Ashley had collapsed, his face flushed red with rage. In the face of his fiery anger, I found myself offering countless apologies to both him and Ashley. Later, when it was decided that we would gather in Ashley’s room—
“You being near the Young Lady is normally unacceptable, but given the circumstances, it can’t be helped. However, I will be watching you to ensure you do not harm her.”
What does he think I am?
“Is that understood?”
“Understood…”
And so it was settled.
Sensei smiled gently at Ashley, who lay on the bed.
“Do not worry. Just because the seal has been broken does not mean anything will happen immediately.”
Ashley had received healing from Sensei. Although she was still on the bed, her complexion was clearly better compared to when she first woke up. Even her strawberry blonde hair seemed to shine more than before.
“Well done. It’s thanks to the effort you put into sealing away the magic that we didn’t face any emergencies as soon as the seal broke and the Labyrinth appeared.”
Mr. Justus puffed out his chest, as if to say it was obvious.
“Thank you, Omi. But I have merely fulfilled my duty as a Holy Knight, passed down from my master.”
“That’s something not everyone can achieve,” Sensei replied with a sigh.
“By the way, Omi, how do you know so much about this? The seal is supposed to be a top-secret matter known only to a select few.”
The question came from Anon. I had been curious about that too.
“Why I know about the seal—it’s not that I’m hiding it, but discussing it now would be pointless.”
Sensei spoke as if addressing not just Anon, but also me and Ashley.
“Rather than talking about that, it would be far more constructive to discuss our current situation and how we should proceed.”
That was certainly true, but I couldn’t shake the feeling that I was being sidestepped.
“What’s wrong, Son-in-law? You look like you have something to say.”
“Son-in-law?”
Ashley reacted to that.
“Is Row-kun married?”
Ashley waved her hands in front of her face repeatedly, saying, “No, it’s not like that at all.”
“That’s right, Row. I wanted to hear more about that too,” Anon said, her curiosity evident.
It felt like we wouldn’t be able to move forward without explaining.
So, I explained, “I’m not married, but there’s someone I want to live with from now on.” Satisfied with my answer, Anon and Ashley finally quieted down.
“Hmm, that’s not bad—” Anon muttered, though I couldn’t catch it all. As for Ashley,
“I’m surprised at your age. It’s nice that you can say it so clearly. If you don’t mind, could you tell me about how you met her and more about that girl?”
Her eyes sparkled as she eagerly asked me to share. It reminded me of my younger sister when she reads her shoujo manga. It might be unfair to compare her to a middle schooler, but she definitely had the vibe of a girl who loved love talk.
“Let’s save that for another time. I’ll tell you everything once things settle down.”
Ashley replied, “Okay, I’ll look forward to it after this is over.”
That’s right. Once we got through this matter, we would have plenty of time. I needed to focus and tackle this issue head-on so I could enjoy love talk with them later. I made a firm resolution.