Chapter 27 - Unique Skill: Fatherhood
"Gyahahahahahahaha! Correct!"
Laughing loudly, the evil spirit showed itself.
The thing that came billowing out from Angelica's back looked like white smoke.
Or perhaps, like a collection of midwinter breaths.
It spread out as if to envelop Angelica.
Eventually, it gathered in one place and took the shape of a large man.
It had a muscular upper body, but its lower body was just smoke.
It looked more like a djinn than a ghost.
In the places where eyes and a nose should be, there were only hollow black holes, and only the mouth was strangely human-like.
For a spiritual body at a level that could be visualized, there was only one race.
"A Wraith, huh."
Wraiths are said to be the forms of mages who failed at astral projection and became evil spirits.
In that sense, they are closer to living spirits than undead.
Since they possess a proper human ego, they would be perfect as the leader of an evil spirit group.
"Are you relieved, Lord Hero? So you weren't impotent. I thought you'd be a vegetable after killing your wife, but here you are flirting with the Holy Maiden. Or did you kill her because you wanted a young second wife? My, my, as expected of a hero, your way of doing things is different. Even when swapping women, you're thorough every time."
Only the mouth and tongue were truly similar to a human's.
Even the way it spoke was exactly like human scum.
When I glared at it, the Wraith moved behind Angelica and ran its fingers along her neckline.
"Gyahaha! He's mad! The Hero is mad! That's dangerous! Hey! There's still a tail inside Angelica-chan! If you don't wait until it's all the way out, you won't be able to dispel it completely, you know?"
That was true.
Until the possessed spiritual body has completely emerged, I cannot attack.
If I defeat it before that's finished, it will leave spiritual damage on Angelica.
While possessing overflowing combat power, right now I can do nothing but wait.
It's irritating and frustrating.
I want to beat this guy up even a second sooner, yet I'm just watching with my thumb in my mouth.<
Seeing me like that, the Wraith's mouth twisted as if it were having the time of its life.
Angelica looked like she was about to collapse.
She groaned "Father" in a small voice, and her legs below the knees were rattling and shaking.
Angelica, raised in a temple, had high status thanks to the results of her training, but she had almost no actual combat experience.
And she's a coward.
Such a girl is being touched all over by an evil spirit and is terrified.
I feel the blood draining from my face.
Passing through anger, I reach murderous intent in a single bound.
What is this guy doing to my daughter? Why am I just standing here like this? What am I doing?
A deep rage that almost made me forget the situation.
I can't stand it; I want to pounce and kill him. Yet I can't fulfill that.
If it's this painful, I think I might as well forget everything and just strike him.
But if I do that, I can't save Angelica.
Because I want to save Angelica properly, I endure saving Angelica right now.
"Man. It finally came out all the way to the tail. Sorry to keep you waiting. By the way, now that I'm out, look, I've finished securing Angelica-chan."
The Wraith had finished thrusting the claws of its right hand into Angelica's throat while the tail was coming out.
"Oh? Lord Hero, aren't you in checkmate here? Is there a way for you to target only me with your stupidly high firepower?"
"Do you intend to use her as a hostage? Stop it. It'll only make your way of dying more gruesome."
"You're saying that to an undead? I'm already as good as dead! Gyahaha! While I was astral projecting, my body rotted away! What could be a worse way to die than this? Hmm... maybe being skewered along with my own child by my beloved Lord Hero? Sorry, that was Elsa's way of dying!"
It's an evil spirit with no class and a disgusting way of laughing.
Vulgar, sadistic, and noisy. It has the typical personality of a Wraith.
I can't bear to listen to any more of this.
I close my eyes and activate a skill.
I'll stand here quietly to draw his attention so the Wraith doesn't hurt Angelica.
I'll leap at high speed and pierce him with the Divine Sword skill to pull the Wraith away from Angelica.
I have a means to make these two contradictory actions possible at the same time.
【Hero Keisuke consumes 2000 MP. [Skill: Double Action] activated】
【For 180 seconds, two actions per turn will be possible】
"Ahn...? Don't move. But I wonder what's with those eyes. You're doing something, aren't you?"
I have no obligation to answer. I just have to stand here silently.
While I do that, the invisible other me will settle everything.
"It's that, right? I know, I can guess what you're plotting."
"?"
"You're going to skewer me along with the hostage and then heal her later, right? Just have her endure a little pain, and as long as you win, it's fine. Something like that?"
While it spouted off its wide-of-the-mark guess, the Wraith's body glowed with a faint light.
At the same time, Angelica's expression stiffened.
"Hyahha! A present of Panic for Angelica-chan, who has such a dangerous Papa!"
Panic state.
A debuff that makes the target susceptible to fear and pain, causing them to lose their will to fight.
If you get hit by this—it's said that the sense of pain increases several times over.
It was a move that undead-type monsters loved to use.
"Try piercing through me! Go ahead and try! Angelica-chan, who's become completely sensitive, might go insane if you do that! Well, isn't that fine in its own way? You get a beautiful broken doll, right? I'll have fun too, so go ahead and do it, Lord Hero?"
"...Your delusions are laughable at this point."
Look, the skill processing is almost over.
You will be defeated by the option I didn't choose.
By the option of "Prioritizing the attack on the Wraith over the hostage."
The me who is not me will end everything.
Or so I thought.
"...?"
It's strange.
I noticed something was off. It's taking far too long.
Normally, the effect of Double Action would have been triggered long ago.
And yet, why?
"I see."
There's only one possibility.
"You also have Double Action."
"Bingo. I wonder if our other selves are clashing right now. Oh, the memories are flooding in."
We were both using the Double Action skill, crossing swords beyond causality.
Me standing still in front of the Wraith, and the Wraith continuing to hold Angelica.
Me launching a surprise attack on the Wraith, and the Wraith intercepting the surprise attack.
If a momentary battle occurs with this combination, the result is "nothing happens."
However, the recognition that a fierce offense and defense took place simultaneously enters my brain.
...He's strong.
This is the first time I've faced a spiritual body that has reached this domain.
"I told you not to move, Lord Hero? Don't try any underhanded tricks. That's one penalty. I'm going to carve Angelica-chan's skin somewhere now. Gyahahaha! It's your fault!"
"Stop. You know I can kill you along with her anytime if I don't care about the means."
"Ah? Did you hear that, Angelica-chan? He said 'along with' you. Hyaha! As expected, the Lord Hero says things differently! He's going to involve his daughter, who's in super-painful mode with increased pain sensitivity! Gyahahahaha!"
The Wraith laughed mockingly, leaning back.
As if it were having the time of its life.
"Father, I'll be fine, so..."
Angelica was acting brave even while tears flowed from both eyes.
In a state of Panic, she's also more prone to feeling fear. Even so, she's trying to be considerate of me.
She's a well-behaved daughter. She's truly more than I deserve.
Why was such a good girl sent to me?
If she hadn't come to someone like me, she could have lived peacefully.
At the very least, I want to clear the Panic state with Dispel, but right now I can't move a single finger.
The Wraith is on edge from the Double Action surprise attack I launched earlier.
This time, it might truly hurt Angelica.
To the current Angelica, who is feeling much, much more fear and pain.
However, even if I do nothing, it said it would carve Angelica somewhere starting now.
What should I do?
Maybe it would be better to just pierce the Wraith along with Angelica already.
And then heal Angelica's wounds.
If she's going to suffer for a long time, wouldn't it be less painful in the end to finish it quickly even at the cost of intense pain?
As I began preparations for an attack, the Wraith spoke.
"Ah—wait, wait. I've changed my mind. I forgot she was the Holy Maiden. Even with a body like this, she must have worked hard at masochistic training, right? She might be able to endure the pain. I'll stop carving her skin. Hey Hero, lucky you. My mood changed, so you don't have to move. That's right, lower your hands."
I don't know what it's thinking, but if Angelica doesn't have to suffer, that's for the best.
I speak toward the Wraith's hollow eyes.
"What? Are you trying to negotiate?"
The Wraith was grinning, pressing its claws against Angelica's cheek.
"No—well. We evil spirits, you see, feed on human fear and pain. Eating despair fills our bellies. It's delicious. It gets us in top shape. I thought I'd savor it a bit more."
Is it trying to stall and drag this into a long-term battle?
I can't read its thoughts.
"I remembered a way to give the Holy Maiden Angelica-chan more fear than a physical wound."
Anything is fine. Making sure Angelica isn't physically harmed is the top priority right now.
Panic state isn't a debuff that lasts that long.
I'll wait for the time to run out.<
After her sense of pain returns to normal, I'll pierce the Wraith along with Angelica.
This would be the best option. ...I'll have to apologize to Angelica later.
Even though I'll close the wounds with magic, having her body pierced by her foster father must be the worst experience.
"There are types who are more affected by being poked inside than having their bodies scratched. Angelica-chan seems like that type, doesn't she?"
"What are you trying to say?"
The Wraith seems to be finding pleasure in taunting me.
If I play along, I might be able to stall for time until the debuff wears off.
As I waited for the Wraith's next words, it said gleefully, very gleefully.
"Someone like me was manipulating Angelica-chan's body, you know? And for nearly a week. Do you think I treated it properly?"
"So what?"
"I could have done anything in a week, right? Killing people. Stealing. Selling her body. The pure, pure Holy Maiden has become filthy!"
...I don't really care.
If it wasn't done by Angelica's will, it's not Angelica's sin.
But is Angelica okay? I quietly cast my eyes toward her.
"...Ugh, ugh..."
"Ange..."
"...Ugh..."
The girl I swore to play the role of father for was shedding tears, drop by drop, from both eyes.
Even though she had shown such bravery.
Even though she had endured while her fear and pain were heightened.<
The means to break Angelica's spirit.
For a girl who was hailed as an eternal virgin and longed for love, a treatment more effective than a physical wound.
So, this was it.
It was a base tactic, typical of an evil spirit. It's trying to shake her spirit and incite agitation.
Whether they win or lose, they make you feel terrible; that's the characteristic of this kind of monster.
But it's meaningless.
Fool. Did you think it would work on me?
"Ah—ah. What are you going to do, Lord Hero? You were all fired up about getting a young virgin, weren't you? Is this girl still worth protecting with such devotion? She's damaged goods, right? She's worthless. If you listen to what I say for a bit, I could even arrange a brand-new Holy Maiden for you."
If I listen to what it says?
Then this Wraith came to this world because it wanted me to do something.
Not to kill me, but to make me accept its demands.
Is it committing such atrocities for something so trivial?
It could have just killed me if it wanted, but it went out of its way to use Angelica?
"What are you going to do, Hero? Oh? Wait, am I in trouble now? I've informed you myself that the hostage's value is crap. Oops, oops. But man. I'm sucking up Angelica-chan's fear and despair, and I'm in great shape. Hey, hey, can't I beat you even in a normal fight? Oh? Oh?"
"What are you going to do, Hero?" the Wraith showed a distorted smile.
What am I going to do? My answer is already decided.
"Let go of Angelica right now. Get lost. I don't need any other maidens. If you don't comply, I'll erase you even if I have to use somewhat crude methods."
"Ha—? I don't understand what you're saying. Sorry, say that again? What should I do with this second-hand brat?"
"I'm telling you to let go, you ball of soul. Do you see a single horn growing out of my forehead? My class isn't Unicorn, it's Hero. Angelica's chastity might have been lost? So what? Don't feel like you've gained the upper hand over such a tiny thing."
I'm not that girl's lover; I'm her father.
Whether a daughter gets dirty, falls low, or does bad things, a father is someone who keeps watching over her forever.
Did you think I'd only love the clean parts? Leave that to some prince on a white horse.
I'm a dirty old man on a donkey, but I'll never hate my daughter.
The one man who is a girl's last lifeline and will never betray her—that's a father.
Since Angelica has no one else she can call a father, I have to be that for her.
I'll finish this quickly and take Angelica home.
There's no need to think about anything else.
Soon, Angelica's Panic state will wear off.
If her fear and sense of pain return to normal, I can take the tactic of involving the hostage.
The pain will stay within a range that won't break her spirit.
And once a debuff hits, a resistance is created for the rest of the day.
Angelica won't fall into this state again.
I will no longer be stalled by the hostage tactic.
"No good, Hero. You're insane. Or maybe you just like filthy women, since you're so into a former slave like Elsa."
Angelica's expression suddenly softened.
The Panic state had been cleared.
I moved my foot one step.
"Alright, alright. I get that you like second-hand stuff, so don't move. If that's the case, it means you still feel the hostage has value, right? Hihi! Lucky you, Angelica-chan! Your father is head over heels for you! Like this! If I carve you! I wonder what kind of reaction he'll haveeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!?"
"Stop, you'll die."
"Hyahhaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!"
As the Wraith screamed, a red line ran across Angelica's neck. It was a graze.
It had only brushed her with its claw for a moment.
It wasn't life-threatening.
It must have intended it as a warning.
A signal that if I approached any further, it would inflict a more serious injury.
However, this scratch, like one from a piece of paper, will be the cause of its death.
"I told you to stop. From here on, even I can't stop it. I don't like it because it becomes difficult to narrow down the attack range."
"Ah?"
Countless system messages appeared in my field of vision, flowing at high speed.
【Hero Keisuke has witnessed the injury of a younger party member】
【Unique Skill [Skill: Fatherhood] activated】
【For 180 seconds, status and skill multipliers are adjusted upward, and status ailments are neutralized】
【HP +1000%】
【MP +1000%】
【Attack +1000%】
【Defense +1000%】
【Agility +1000%】
【Magic Attack +1000%】
【Magic Defense +1000%】
【Skill Multiplier ✕ 10】
I hope this park doesn't get destroyed.
That was what I was worried about right now.
【Hero Keisuke consumes 2000 MP. [Skill: Double Action] activated】
【Due to the effect of the Unique Skill Fatherhood, a 10x correction is applied to the skill multiplier】
【For 1800 seconds, eleven actions per turn have become possible】
Double Action is what increases the number of actions by one. If you multiply that by ten, it increases by ten.
Eleven options are carried out simultaneously.
The Wraith's Double Action won't be able to respond at all.
"Well, it might be for the best since I can avoid letting Ange feel any pain."
As I said that, the laws of the world moved according to the skill.
I stand still to draw the Wraith's attention.
I cast [Skill: Strength Enhancement] on myself.
I dive into the Wraith's chest, pierce it with a [Skill: Light Sword], and pull Angelica away.
I treat the wound on Angelica's neck.
I pick up Angelica and carry her to the front of the apartment.
I pin the Wraith to the ground with a Light Sword.
I grasp the hilt of the pinned sword and drive it in further.
I cast a 10x multiplier poison spell on the Wraith.
I sever the Wraith's right arm.
I sever the Wraith's left arm.
I thrust Light Swords into the severed surfaces.
From my perspective, I had remained standing the whole time, but the Wraith's body was blown back about five meters and pinned to the ground with a Light Sword. It was in a state where it had lost both hands and could barely move.
Like an insect specimen.
A few moments later, the memories of having acted eleven times surged within me.
It was as if I had forcibly twisted fate, leaping across time and space.
"...Ah?"
With eyes that were only hollow holes, the Wraith was nevertheless skillfully making a "puzzled" face.
It might be a kind of talent to be able to convey such an expression to others even with a face missing so many parts.
"...Aah? What did you do?"
With a glowing sword thrust through its stomach, the Wraith was dumbfounded.
It hadn't realized what had happened yet, and therefore the pain hadn't reached it.
They say some soldiers don't notice their arm has been cut off below the elbow when they're fighting frantically.
Not knowing is a happy thing.
So, I'll tell it.
"You were stabbed. Because you did some petty harassment to a man's precious daughter, you were skewered and lost both hands. Do you understand now?"
Finally.
The face of the Wraith, having finally understood the situation, began to distort.
"Hikii!"
The Light Sword generated with the Divine Sword skill has a special bonus against spiritual bodies, demons, and undead.
A Wraith is included in both spiritual bodies and undead. The bonus works exponentially, and the pain must be beyond imagination.
"Gyaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!"
An ear-splitting scream.
It's not a pleasant thing.
I'll pull out the information quickly and finish it off.
"Soul-man, what do you know? Is this the High Priest's doing after all?"
"...Hihihi, die, just die already..."
I thrust two additional Light Swords in.
Aiming accurately at both eyes, they pierced through to the park pavement with a thud.
"Gagya!"
"Watch your words. Do you want me to do it ten times in a row again? You should know I won't hold back if the opponent isn't human."
I begin preparations to chant a Panic spell.
I'll treat it to the same thing it did to Angelica, with ten times the power.
For spiritual bodies, it's best to attack with the holy attribute or use mental attacks.
Giving it enough pain to go insane and lose its ego is very good.
It will surely vanish while writhing in agony.
"You know the power of this well, don't you? You did plenty with it, after all."
"W-Wait, wait, wait! I didn't do anything! I didn't do anything to that Holy Maiden! Her magic defense was too high, and I had my hands full just possessing and manipulating her! It's true! She's still a virgin! Besides, while I'm possessing her, the ego becomes mine, right? There's no way a man like me would do something like selling my body to a man!"
"And?"
"This is what you're worried about, right? Right? So help... treatment... treatment... it hurts... it's poison, right? This is poison, right? It's not normal, what is this, guge, boge, gebobo, gebbo."
"Well, it's poison with ten times the concentration, after all."
I interrogate it while grinding the Light Sword thrust into its stomach.
"Is it the High Priest's doing?"
"That's... right... hurry, the antidote... gaggaagagaga... antidote..."
"Why?"
"...Gihi... Because you! You became too strong! There are many who fear that you'll retaliate someday! The people higher up are especially like that! You... because you had to sacrifice Elsa and the brat for the Demon Lord's subjugation... they're afraid you'll hold a grudge and come to that world on your own..."
Trash.
While spitting that out, I kicked its face.
"Were you planning to kill me?"
"...I-If possible... if that was impossible, the instructions were to... take the Holy Maiden hostage and make you submissive..."
To be feared and shunned by the masses I saved. That's what a Hero is.
Just a dog. Nothing more than a gopher.
"...I told you, right? The antidote... quickly..."
Would its tongue loosen more if I showed a little mercy?
Judging so, I cleared the poison.
The Wraith formed a smirk and raised its head.
"Ahi, ahihihi. As expected of the Lord Hero... how merciful... hihi, hihihihi."
I can tell it's plotting something.
Well, for a colony-type spiritual body, there's only one action it would take.
Calling its comrades.
"Don't get drunk on your own good deeds! Gya-hah-hah-hah-haaaaaaaaaa!"
From somewhere, countless souls were drawn into the Wraith's body.
It was the swarm of evil spirits I had been searching for, which must have come to this world with it.
Spiritual bodies have the property of gathering into one and fusing.
The reason this Wraith was so talkative might have been because it was also aiming to stall for time.
To make preparations to gather all its comrades here and make them its own combat power.
"As long as the poison is gone, I won't lose that easily! Now, die along with the maiden!"
I block the fist it swung at me with a Light Sword.
"I see, then if I kill you, I can settle them all at once. I never thought I'd have to go all out on Earth."
"Ah?"
—Eleven actions.
I chant a materialization spell on the Wraith pinned by the Divine Sword. A debuff that makes all physical damage pass through to a spiritual body.
I slam the Wraith onto the ground. The road cracks, and its body is crushed.
I run while pressing the crushed Wraith's face against the road surface.
Gagagagagagagaga! It's ground down while making a roaring sound.
I kick the worn-down Wraith up again. It flies up to the stratosphere and glows red-hot from frictional heat.
I defend my whole body with Strength Enhancement, which has its multiplier pulled up. I can withstand the heat and impact without issue.
I leap and chase after it. I hear the wall of air making a 'domun' sound behind me. I've exceeded the speed of sound.
I grab the Wraith, which has become a red comet, in mid-air.
I tear the grabbed body in two. Into an upper half and a lower half. The latter burns up and is destroyed as charred remains.
Everything was completed in an instant.
"Geaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!?"
Like this, the Wraith and I fall toward the ground.
I choose a location.
A mountain.
I land as if slamming the Wraith into an uninhabited wild mountain. A small crater is formed, and the trees shake.
Now, only the Wraith's head and above remain. Their core is in the head. If I destroy this, it will never revive.
I strengthen my grip on the head I'm holding while applying every debuff.
Deadly poison, paralysis, blindness, panic, curse.
Every weakening effect that increases pain, as many as I can think of.
"Gyaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!"
The Wraith let out a scream while twitching and convulsing.
"N-No... this world has no heaven or hell! A spiritual body whose HP reaches zero here will just be annihilated!"
Isn't that a good thing? Being granted eternal life even after death is nothing good.
My country considers dying gracefully to be a virtue.
Though a floating cloud from another world like you probably wouldn't understand.
"Aaaaaaaaaaa! No! No, no, no! I don't want to vanish! I don't want to vanish! Aaaa! Don't erase me! Noooooo!"
While cracking with a 'miri-miri' sound, the Wraith, which had become only a face, pleaded with me.
"Five more minutes, just one more minute is fine! Just let me live for one minute! I don't want to vanish, I don't want to vanish! Aaaa! Don't erase me! Nooooooo!"
You messed with a daughter in front of her father.
That's why this is happening.
A father is someone who will become an ogre or a demon for his child. Did you not even know that?
"A, ah, ...I became a Wraith because I wanted eternal life... ah... stop... stop..."
Pagya.
With a dry sound, the Wraith's core shattered.
"Aaaaaaaaaaaaa! Noooooooooo! I don't, want, to vanish, h-h-h-h..."
The Wraith melted away like a faint mist.
As if it hadn't existed from the beginning.
As if there had been nothing.
The foreign object that didn't belong on this planet, which is governed only by physical laws, vanished after letting out its death throes.
I return to the apartment.
Police cars have already gathered, and there's a commotion over the discovery of the body.
Angelica was sitting in the corner of the stairs, but no one paid her any mind.
Concealment is still active on both me and Angelica.
That's why we aren't found.
Angelica stood up unsteadily and walked out in front of me.
"Father..."
It's dark and a bit hard to tell, but there's no doubt she has traces of having cried her eyes out.
The light emitted by the police cars grazed Angelica's face.
Eyes swollen red. Traces of dried tears.
"It's okay if you hate me."
"Ange...?"
"That ghost said it, didn't it? It was doing strange things with my body, right? Isn't it dirty? I thought it would be gross if it were me."
"There's no way that's true."
That was just his bluff. They are the kind of things that gain power by inflicting mental pain.
He just said whatever came to mind.
I have to tell her that quickly.
"Besides, if you say so, maybe I'm... ahaha. A nympho? I was made to live that way from the start. Father, shouldn't you be with the girl named Rio? That person looks like Elsa-san, right?"
【Keisuke Nakamoto has won the battle!】
【Gained 30,000 EXP】
【Gained 1,500 Skill Points】
【Performance of Unique Skill [Skill: Fatherhood] has been enhanced】
【Party Member Angelica's feelings toward Keisuke Nakamoto have changed from 'Sympathy, Attachment' to 'Trust, Affection'】
【Angelica's Affection Level increased by 9,999】
【Angelica's Affection Level has broken through the upper limit】
Angelica is urging me to like a woman other than herself.
It's the same as what I kept saying to her. Thinking she was worthless, I kept telling her to look at someone else.
Good grief. How similar can our actions get?
Even though your Affection Level toward me has become something outrageous.
Even so, are you forcing yourself to say "It's okay if you hate me"?
"Your face is a total mess. It only looks like you're acting tough. Let's go home."
"Uuuuuu—..."
I pat her head.
【Analysis of Party Member Angelica's body complete. Purity is maintained with 100% probability】
【Promptly inform the person themselves】
【Promptly inform the person themselves】
【Promptly inform the person themselves】
Man, the system messages are being unusually helpful today, I thought strangely as I scanned them.
"Ange, system messages appear in my field of vision. It's a perk of being a Summoned Hero. These never tell a lie. They convey only facts very mechanically."
"...System message?"
"That thing is being noisy about how Ange's body is still clean. It's true. Nothing was done to your body. That was all just a threat from that classless evil spirit. Its goal was to shake your spirit and suck up your pain."
"...Aren't you just comforting me appropriately..."
"There's no way that's true."
【Angelica's Affection Level has reached a level where sexual intercourse without consent becomes intercourse with consent midway through】
【Proceed with execution?】
【If executed, there is a certain probability of conceiving a child】
【The born child will inherit part of the parents' status tendencies and some skills, and sharing of equipment and items will also be possible】
【Furthermore, transfer of class to the child will also be possible】
It's saying something outrageous.
It's ruining everything in various ways.
I closed the window in exasperation and took Angelica's hand.
"Let's go back to the room... It'll be noisy being asked about the old man's circumstances, but once that's done, let's eat and sleep."
"...Mm."
Angelica followed behind me while sniffing.
We climbed the rusted stairs with a 'ton-kan' sound.
"Father... was nothing really done to my body?"
"Are you still doubting?"
"...I can't believe it until you actually confirm it for me."
"Hmm?"
"Please confirm it."
"Do you understand what you're saying?"
"...I want to do it with Father."
"It's still too early for you," I said as I stood in front of the entrance.
I unlocked the door.
"I'm definitely going to become Father's bride."
"...You've been saying some pretty intense things for a while now, aren't you embarrassed?"
"I don't know. Maybe I'm numb. Maybe my head has melted into mush because I love Father too much."
Together with Angelica, who had recovered but started making even more dangerous remarks than before, I said, "I'm home."