“Nn…a…re…?”
Hearing a voice coming from below his face, Georg woke up.
Last night, freed of his feelings of staying in the village, he held the young girl, went to the nearby forest, sat leaning on a suitable tree, and made it his sleeping place. Of course, because he took off his armor, the young girl did not sleep on the floor but rather on his lap pillow. (He can’t deny there were sort of some thoughts of side benefits)
“…Did you wake up?”
In order to avoid frightening her, he greeted her as gently as possible. Her memories were probably interrupted at yesterday’s violent jeers and violence. And it seems his predictions were right.
“Eh?…Ah!”
Jumping up to her feet in a panic, she put distance between Georg, who was too close, pressed her head against the floor, and then.
“Iamsorryiamsorryiamsorrymyapologiessopleaseforgivemepleaseiamsorryiamsorryiamsorry…”
Georg was at a loss towards the young girl who was apologizing while crying.
Unconsciously, the hands placed on his legs gripped tightly. The anger which was once settled, flared up again. Calming down after taking slow deep breaths, Georg turned towards the young girl who was still apologizing.
“…It’s fine.”
Even after saying this, the young girl still hasn’t stopped apologizing.
“It’s fine…please stop…it’s already fine.”
Saying this again and laying his hands on her shoulder, the young girl let out a short scream of “Hii!!”, her body quivering and eyes closed.
Why did so many tears come out of such an excessively pitiful figure.
He was troubled by what to do with his hand on her shoulder. Probably to the girl, other people might be things that only bring pain to herself. However, he thought he must not let her possess such a recognition. He doesn’t understand the reasons well. He sure doesn’t have the time to think about it.
By the time he realized it, he strongly drew the girl towards him, and hugged her.
“Hi…-o!!…noo…”
The young girl writhed in his arms, nails raised, biting his shoulder. But something like this had no effect on his body. Even if it was effective, he wouldn’t let go.
“It’s alright, I won’t let you go through any more scary experiences and painful things, and your pretty ears and tail won’t be lost again, so be at ease. Calm down, you’re not alone anymore.”
He used light magic with his hands wrapped around her back. It wasn’t for healing injuries, but for calming her down. Georg continued to repeat his words over until the young girl calmed down. With his protecting strength as a Dragunir, the villagers won’t be able to put their hands on her ears and tail anymore. He continued to say any words he could think of.
“Did you calm down?”
“…Yes.”
Roughly 10 minutes have passed. He wanted the young girl to regain her calm by herself as much as possible, and stopped using magic after she calmed down to some extent. It was probably why the time it took prolonged, but he has no regrets.
“I’ll let go but…don’t run away, ok?”
“I won’t do something… like running away…”
“I see…”
After this short exchange, Georg released the girl from his arms. Looking at her after they separated, her eyes were red.
“Sorry, you had those unpleasant experiences. But I swear the words I said are the truth.”
“…”
“You aren’t something like livestock, nor are you an object, nor are you a human’s, no, anyone’s possession. It’s alright for you to choose for yourself, act for yourself, and live for yourself. If you’re scared being alone, or if you want someone to trust in, I’ll become that for you. I’ll stay by your side. Not as a leader or a master, but as a friend, a partner, or family. So…”
“Will you…believe in me?”
The young girl who was silently listening opens her mouth.
“But I am…a beast person?…For me, who is a lowly hybrid of beasts and humans…”
“What is lowly. If such an idiotic rumor causes you sorrow, I’ll use this long life to wipe it out.”
“I-…I…will greatly depend on you.”
“Depend on me, you should still be at the age where it’s allowed. And what’s bad about depending on family.”
“Making my ears and tail pretty, saving me from despair, giving me such gentle words, I probably won’t separate from you. Even if you think it’s unpleasant or annoying, I’ll follow you the whole time.”
“That’s what I want, no, rather I never thought of separating?”
“Also…also…”
With a thundering voice, Georg told the young girl who kept repeating contradictory, self-torturing words.
“No more buts, and alsos. Didn’t I say? You have the right to choose for yourself, act for yourself, and live for yourself. What do you want to do? As an equal existence, I respect your decision, and that’s all there to it. So, choose. Confess the first choice, the first desire of your life.”
Saying up to there, the young girl sank into silence, and there was a pause. After a short time.
“…to live.”
“I can’t hear you.”
“…I want to live.”
“That’s it?”
“I want to…live with you.”
“Your voice is quiet.”
“With you!! With you who saved me and gave me everything!! I want to go together!! Live together!! No matter where, together!…together…”
“Nn, well said.”
He hugged the young girl, who started shedding tears again, this time gently as if tucking her into feathers. She also hugged, clinging onto him. Georg caressed the young girl’s hair gently.
“A crybaby family member has been raised.”
“…It’s too late…for regrets.”
“Who would do that idiot. Same for you, have you resolved yourself to the fullest? It will become a bit busy after this.”
“Why…is that?”
“What, just changing the world a little.”
“…?”
Like this, the world’s two member family started.
In the future, these two people’s names were left in many history books, but that’s not a story for now.
End Notes:
The mostly-conversation has ended…
Next time the story will certainly progress.