Chapter 45 – Let’s Explore the Neighborhood Dungeon! (1)
“Are you an idiot?”
“Huh?”
Why was I insulted?
“Hmm, and? You were threatened, couldn’t say a word back, and that’s it? Then the kids and Aoi-chan were gone?”
“Haaaa”
Father let out a really deep sigh.
“Yes, Kunpei-kun. Stand up.”
“Eh?”
I stood up like I was told.
“Father Punch!”
“Buhaa!”
I was blown away and crashed into the wall.
“Okay, the punishment is over.”
W-wwait!
“Why’d you just hit me!”
I asked father a natural question while rubbing my right cheek that was punched.
I just explained the circ.u.mstances to my father and Shouhei who came home during dinner!
“For not knowing that, is the reason probably.”
He crossed his arms with a self-satisfied look.
Hey, lately, the people around me aren’t speaking j.a.panese.
“… and nii-chan, you didn’t take a step outside the room since earlier?”
Shouhei, who took my tea cup in exchange, was watching anxiously.
“Hey, Kunpei. How old are you?”
“Hah? 16, what about it!?”
Even as a joke, I’m the eldest son! Do you think I would not even remember my own age!
“Un, 16. Being a kid is also a good thing, isn’t that right?”
What was that about, old man.
“Eh?”
I still don’t understand what he’s trying to say.
“Yes, certainly, there are a lot of dangers if you live. I’ve also experienced it. The times that I thought I might die can‘t even be counted with two hands.”
There wasn’t that many.
But, I do remember several times.
When you marched into the tribes meeting, or when you were run over by a dump truck, I thought that you might die.
“Even so, I didn’t die. Do you know why?”
“Because… you were lucky?”
“That’s probably true. But, the main reason was…”
He smiled meaningfully.
“…because I really didn’t want to die.”
“Eh?”
“A human being can do whatever if they are worried about death, but they can also do that if they don’t want to die. Rather, the latter may be stronger.”
Well, even if they say they’ll die, I’ve never actually seen them die.
“You, and Aoi-chan are your thoughts about not wanting the kids to die that weak?”
… No such thing.
That’s why…
“That’s why! Aoi’s mother’s complaint!”
“You can quickly find a hole in her argument, right?”
What’s up with that! I’m an idiot, so I don’t understand!
“That’s because you guys are trying to do something with just the two of you alone.”
“Eh?”
Ah, but they only have us to depend on.
“Well, it’s a dragon, they’ve always done things alone so they think like that. But, think about it. Haven’t you and Shouhei been raised by an unreliable father since seven years ago?”
There is no reason that I can not rely on you…
“I wonder what I would do if you guys asked for help. If bad guys came, well, I just bought this house, but I could just sell it and move, and a life on the run with that money seems fun. I feel bad for Shouhei, how about that?”
“I’m different. I can’t live on alone.”
Shouhei quietly nodded while holding a pair of chopsticks in one hand.
“Look at the youngest child’s understanding. If Shouhei was troubled, would you sell some organs?”
Well, if it would help, then I would, but…
“You guys are still kids. Even Aoi, who is two hundred and fifty years old, still has traces of being a shut-in, and has not grown mentally at all. Are there adults who will make big decisions without talking about it?”
T-that’s…
“Also, you’ve not been like yourself recently.”
Eh?
“A reckless and unthinking simpleton. Where did that part of you go? I liked that you. My idiot, isn’t he cool?”
You don’t have to go that far!
“You’re over thinking. It’s important to think, but if you don’t understand, you can rely on me without reserve. Don’t underestimate me.”
F-father.
“I…”
Shouhei stood up.
“Recently, I always thought my brother was strange”
Huh? Shouhei-kun, are you crying?
“From the day Aoi-neechan came, it was all things about my brother and I couldn’t say what I wanted to do, it was a little unpleasant.”
Eh, no, those things were Jaja and Nana’s things.
“N-nii-chan, because nii-chan has braced himself to be a papa!”
Shouhei’s voice became restless.
He desperately endure to not cry.
Before I realized, both his hands were clenched on top of his knees, to the point of turning red.
“I don’t like it, I’m angry, Jaja was flying! That’s why! Even so nii-chan was doing his best, that’s why I wanted to help!”
Large tear drops. .h.i.t his knees.
“B-but, for, for some reason, m-my nii-chan, no!”
Maybe he doesn’t even know what he’s saying himself anymore.
He rubbed his eyes clean, the surrounding of his eyes turning bright red.
Then he took a deep breath.
“That kind of nii-chan! I hate it! Nii-chan, my nii-chan, is an idiot but frank, he’ll do what he wants before he says it! Nii-chan will never do anything wrong!”
Shouhei spilled everything that he was thinking.
“Okay, Kunpei. One more time for making your little brother cry.”
“Buhaa!”
This time my left cheek was struck.
I was blown away and collapsed onto the bed.
And, I thought about it.
That’s right.
I’m only thinking about what I can do to protect my promise with Aoi.
Where did my purpose go?
Jaja is cute.
Nana is cute.
Aoi is dangerous.
Mik.u.ma is scary.
And.
“… isn’t that fine.”
What am I afraid of.
That’s right.
It’s not like I have to deal with an armed group.
Even if it’s shameless, I’ll protect the kids while Aoi fights.
There was Officer Doggy and Officer Inoue, and although we never met, the police chief also helped.
I can just dial 110.
“Oh, you revived?”
I vigorously stood up.
“Father!”
“What is it, idiot son?”
“One more time! With abandon!”
“Leave it to me, eldest son!”
“Buhaa!”
He swung his right fist with a smile, an unprecedented pain resounded in the core of my head.
I woke up thanks to that pain.