Chapter 56 - Expanding Defensive Range
As soon as morning came, I immediately attempted a status appraisal on Ayako-chan.
"Ah, man..."
Just as I had feared, her level had gone up significantly.
Since her Attack and Agility hadn't grown much, I felt somewhat relieved, but her magic-related stats had become something quite extraordinary.
It seemed this girl had been hiding a talent for being a rear guard.
Moreover, she had gained one new skill.
[Debuff Magic]
That was it.
It was a so-called debuff, a skill that shouldn't have awakened unless one possessed Dark or Magic attributes...
I see, so Ayako-chan had the Dark attribute. It makes sense.
Well, that doesn't really matter.
More than that, what concerned me was the fact that an ordinary person had learned magic.
First of all, if she had lived her life in Japan, it's a skill she wouldn't have acquired.
I suspect she awakened to it because she received an extraordinary amount of experience points and skill points.
As I sat there with my arms crossed, groaning about what to do, I suddenly noticed something.
"A debuff?"
Could it be?
I beckoned Ayako-chan and pulled her close.
"Could you try chanting exactly what I'm about to say?"
"...Chanting?"
"I mean, didn't the way to use the skill float into your head yesterday?"
"...I was sleepy... and besides, I thought it was just my usual auditory hallucinations."
"You hear them all the time?"
That's scary, so I didn't dig deeper.
"Anyway, I want you to point at me while saying 'Power Down'."
"It'll activate then."
"Haa..."
While saying it was embarrassing, like playing pretend, Ayako-chan uttered the spell.
In an instant, my body felt heavy.
It was proof that my physical abilities had dropped to the point where I could properly feel gravity.
"Whoa... this is... an incredible multiplier..."
While Ayako-chan flustered, asking if I was alright, I instead thanked her, saying it was actually a blessing.
I grabbed both of her shoulders firmly and brought my face close to hers.
I couldn't help but do this out of sheer emotion.
"Thank you, Ayako-chan. With your debuff, I think I'll be able to live just like an ordinary person."
"...Eh?"
"Besides, Ange has become too strong, and it'll be bad if she doesn't get a debuff applied too, yeah."
"...What do you mean by that?"
It was a phrasing that might be slightly misunderstood, but I told her despite my hesitation.
"Won't you stay with me forever? I need you."
"Yes!"
Just as she gave an immediate answer, Angelica came bursting out of the bathroom.
"Making babies, making babies—!"
She appeared while shouting an outrageous line, but she froze instantly upon seeing me and Ayako-chan.
"...Huh?"
[Party Member, Holy Maiden Angelica's Possessiveness has increased by 500]
"No, it's not like that, there's nothing suspicious going on. Ayako-chan, say something."
"He told me he wants me to stay with him forever."
"Ayako-chan!"
[Party Member, Holy Maiden Angelica's Possessiveness has increased by 5000]
"Father... just one day after yesterday... after saying such things to me, are you proposing to another girl the moment you wake up...?"
"No, listen to me."
"I can't believe it!"
"I'm going to make a baby with you right now!" she shouted, lunging at me.
"Stop it, don't... Ah! My strength has dropped, so I can't shake her off!"
"What's wrong, Father? You're not resisting at all?"
"Is this actually what you wanted? They say 'no' means 'yes', right?" she pressed me, using a method that completely reversed the usual roles of men and women.
"Ayako-chan! Apply the same debuff to Ange immediately!"
"Awawa..."
Watching the panicking Ayako-chan, I thought to myself that, all things considered, I am happy right now.
It's chaotic, but it's fulfilling.
When I returned from the other world, my life had become like trash.
But now, there are girls who are desperately trying to pick me up.
I thought that maybe I should take a little better care of myself.
Is it okay to let the girls who say they love me become garbage collectors?
No, it's not okay.
I mustn't remain as trash.
"I'll train you up with one princess and two Taros—!"
As Angelica breathed heavily with excitement, Ayako-chan put her in a bear hug.
In order to protect this daily life, I suppose I have to protect myself too.
That's what it means to stop living a reckless life.
I have to make sure that my own self is included within the range of what I protect.
"Sorry, Ange, I've attained enlightenment. I've moved up to the next stage. So please forgive me."
"That makes no sense at all—!"
While being playfully attacked by an Angelica whose strength had been weakened by the debuff, I began preparing breakfast.
I heated the frying pan and spread the oil.
When I cracked an egg into it, to my surprise, two yolks came out.
These are definitely natural twins, right? I continued cooking with a wry smile.
[Just like Earthlings and Otherworlders.]
Elsa spoke to me via a system message, so I replied, "I guess so."
She said that we were originally the same existence.
There are still many things I must ask Kana.
If it were the old me, I would have brushed everything else aside and gone to interrogate her, but I'm not in that mood today.
I've reached a state of mind where I think... maybe I'll do that after playing with Angelica and the others a bit more.
Taking care of your own life—that's what that means, right?
[Author's Note]
Chapter two ends here. I'm thinking that chapter three might focus on Rio.