Chapter 28 - Restart
Since defeating the Wraith, no ghost incidents have occurred.
The city has become completely peaceful. On my end, I'm as busy as ever, though.
"Father! You're messing with the computer again!"
"No... there are things, various things. Like looking for stuff."
After I finished explaining the situation to the landlord and the police, Angelica and I spent some time doing nothing.
A lot happened, and we were too tired. We just wanted to rest.
The next morning, when I turned on the TV and was blankly watching the news, I was on it.
Due to a mysterious meteorite impact incident or a UFO commotion, amateur footage of me and the Wraith engaging in aerial combat was being broadcast.
The filming location was probably that mountain where I slammed the Wraith.
I thought it was uninhabited, but apparently, there was a group camping for astronomical observation.
...I'm glad I didn't involve them.
It's good that not a single person was injured, but a photo of me was captured perfectly.
Thanks to the burning Wraith, the area around my face was illuminated, and I was captured in a way that my features were clearly recognizable.
So Concealment Magic only deceives human eyes and ears, and it shows up normally on machines. Seriously?
Having been caught in a blind spot, after a few days, I began to be troubled by a barrage of interview requests.
When I kept making incoherent excuses, I was given the nickname "UFO Uncle" and became the man of the hour overnight.
Apparently, in the eyes of the public, it settled in the form of me being a magician.
Magician.
A magician, huh...
Well, whatever.
I spend my days earning appearance fees by going on TV and producing Light Swords from my palms, or walking on fire even though I'm just sturdy.
Nearly a million yen rolled in within two weeks.
The work is still continuing to increase.
"I'm quitting because it looks like I can make a living this way now," I told the store manager, and he got all worked up, saying, "People like you always vanish as one-hit wonders anyway," while being persistent and petty.
The fact that Angelica and Rio were standing in front of the shop might not have been good either.
"Father! It's smelly here, so let's leave quickly!"
Angelica, who wasn't used to the smell of pork bones, dissed it naturally, and
"Someone who looks like Gondo is shouting jeers outside; what's that?"
Rio wondered while fiddling with her smartphone.
That Gondo guy was still dutifully continuing that. I have to tell him he doesn't have to do it anymore.
"People like you will eventually get arrested for laying a hand on a high school girl!"
I left the shop while hearing the store manager's half-crying shout.
I make sure to show my face at Otsuki Books once in a while.
For Angelica's sake, I have to keep collecting books that will help her study modern Japan.
...This place is the cheapest. And the selection is good.
Encountering Ayako-chan is terrifying, though.
Especially the pressure when I enter the shop with Angelica is something tremendous.
But beggars can't be choosers.
"What are you looking for on the computer?"
"A property."
My current goal is moving.
Partly as an apology for doubting Angelica once, and partly out of normal fatherly feelings, I decided to rent an apartment with two rooms.
Apparently, Angelica has to offer prayers due to her precepts, and she wanted a quiet, dark private room.
A Holy Maiden has to pray once a day in a place where men aren't watching. It's a pain.
Right now, she's reluctantly praying in the bathroom or on the balcony while I'm sleeping, so I thought I had to do something about that.
"Ange, you wanted a space to pray, didn't you? Let's move to a wider place. I'm looking into it for that."
"Really? I'd like that place called Hotel Amariris."
That's a love hotel. You can't live there.
"Ange needs privacy too, right? You could use the prayer room like your own room, couldn't you?"
"Eh? I don't really mind."
"We'll prepare two beds. If we move one to the prayer room, the bedrooms will be separate too. You're a girl after all, so you'd hate sleeping with me forever, right?"
"One bed is enough. ...If it's not one, I don't want it."
There she goes again, saying dangerous things. And she's turning red while imagining something strange.
As I returned my eyes to the computer in exasperation, a window flowed past the side of my vision.
【Angelica's Sexual Arousal has reached 70%】
【This is a value where sexual intercourse with consent is possible. 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】
Why is it so persistently trying to guide me toward laying a hand on women? I wondered. I even suspected, Does this thing have a will of its own?
【Keisuke, hurry and be with someone new】
【Be happy】
"...Ah?"
The finger I had on the mouse wheel trembled.
"El...sa?"
Is it you?
Have you been there all along?
Inside me.
You, who were absorbed by me and offered your life, are you still watching over me even now?
"Father? Is that okay? The bed is definitely one, okay, one. I won't allow separate bedrooms!"
"Yeah..."
I inflate my expectations for my new life while also turning my consciousness toward memories of the past.
In such a complex psychological state, I continue to browse the real estate agent's homepage.
"Father...? Are you crying?"
"Was having separate beds really that good!?" Angelica, having misunderstood, shook my shoulder.
"That's not it, that's not it, Ange. I was crying because I was happy."
"Eh? Geez. Tears of joy? Father, you really do like sleeping with me after all, don't you?"
Elsa... I'll do my best over here.
I won't act out of despair anymore; I'll show you I can live a proper life again.
After all, I am a Hero.