Nagai Koto Chapter 011

The Long Journey Until I Reunite With You

Yet Another Regret

I awoke. By awoke, I meant that I was still alive. But where was this place? As I thought of that, my body was met with a sudden impact.

「Velt! Thank goodness you’re okay, Velt!」 (Forna)

It was Forna. She had jumped at me vigorously as I lay on the bed. Large teardrops flowed down her face, and her body was trembling. It was as if she were confirming my existence, and once she had done so she transmitted her desire to never separate from me.

「Forna, this is...?」 (Velt)

「The castle’s sickroom. It has been three hours, and if you didn’t wake up... I, I...」 (Forna)

I see, I was saved. At that time, Galva and the others arrived, and then...

「Mom and dad, they...!」 (Velt)

My consciousness had completely returned. That’s right, that wasn’t all just a dream. Were my parents saved? However, before I could figure it out, Forna hung her head down.

「Velt, umm, about mother and father, you see...」 (Forna)

Don’t...

「Oi, what’s wrong? Why are you making that face? Mom and dad are here right? They were saved by Galva and the others right?」 (Velt)

They should have been saved. But why... why was Forna crying...

「Velt-kun, you’ve finally woken up?」 (Galva)

「Galva! Good timing, where are mom and dad?!」 (Velt)

Galva made his way over with a calm face. However, at the moment I asked, Galva had bit his lips and closed his eyes, shaking his head in regret.

「I’m sorry. We made our way over there as fast as we could but... it was already...」 (Galva)

「Oi...」 (Velt)

「The demi-humans ran away in a panic, but...those two were...」 (Galva)

「Are mom and dad here? Then let me see them.」 (Velt)

「No, that's, it's better for you not to see them.」 (Galva)

「It's alright, I'm fine now.」 (Velt)

「But,」 (Galva)

「Please.」 (Velt)

It's just, I said I wanted to meet them. And he said that it would be better if I didn't look. However, I said I wanted to see them. I was led out of the sickroom and walked about inside the castle, finally arriving at a gloomy room.

「...Dad...Mom...」 (Velt)

I told them to leave me alone, but Galva and Forna followed me inside. It wasn't about whether I accepted it or not, but that I wanted to affirm it myself. I looked down at the table, my mother and father lay on sheets, dyed red with their blood.

「I didn't, think about it at all.」 (Velt)

「Velt?」 (Forna)

It's not the attack by the demon. I haven't thought how I should feel now that the situation's come to this.

「Am I not Asakura Ryuuma? And yet, why, this conflict, these feelings...」 (Velt)

Truthfully, I thought, they were just some other people. In spite of that, why. Why do I feel this way, now that things ended up like this.

『Velt, won't you play with papa today?』 (Aruna)

『Velt, do you dislike being held by mama that much?』 (Bonapa)

Memories of playing with father. Memories of being embraced by mother.

「We were only related by blood... by blood...」 (Velt)

What is it, this feeling.

「They should have just been normal...」 (Velt)

Of course, mom and dad won't be there when I go home. Tomorrow and forever more, no matter how many years pass, I won't be able to meet them ever again. I can't hear their voices any more. Their noisy bantering, their jovial exchanges, me being spoiled.

「What use is it regretting it now!」 (Velt)

However, the tears didn't stop.

「Daaaaaaaaaaaaad! Mooooooooooooooooooom! *Waaaaaaaaaaaaah!*」 (Velt)

That they're strangers only related by blood is a lie. They really are my parents, and are important to me after all.

「I'm going to kill that, that monster! I'll tear it limb from limb and burn it to ashes! No matter how far I have to search, I'm going to slaughter it!」 (Velt)

As if I could forgive it. Of course not. Not that bastard.

Just wait for me, I'll find you one day and kill you for sure. Even if I die, if it's to...

「Stop thinking of doing something stupid.」 (???)

An unexpected person entered the room where it was only the three of us.

It's sensei.

「Sensei... Why...」 (Velt)

「I was asked by the princess. To be here for you. I heard what happened.」 (Melma)

When I saw Forna, she nodded her head slightly. It's none of their business... so I thought. Really, I don't want to see anyone right now, her most of all.

「Sensei, I, I didn't get the chance to introduce you to mom and dad.」 (Velt)

「Yeah. I regret not even being able to say hello. How did things manage to end up like this.」 (Melma)

I regret it as well. Why was I so difficult, why did I shy away from them.

「Hey, sensei. They protected me, gave their lives for me.」 (Velt)

「Aah, that is surely their love for you.」 (Melma)

「They knew they would die, but they, even though they should have known.」 (Velt)

「However, you were more important to them than their own lives. That's the kind of existence you were to them.」 (Melma)

「...Asakura Ryuuma's parents... If Ryuuma died, would they have cried?」 (Velt)

「I don't know. But you know, just remember this, you are Velt Jeeha. Not related to Asakura Ryuuma at all. And the one that loves Velt Jeeha from the bottom of their heart is right beside you. That is the truth, the undeniable reality.」 (Melma)

I know. It's just, I was putting a wall between us.

「Asakura, no, Velt. We've completely forgotten. Even though we've been reborn, it's over if you die.」 (Melma)

Of course. I should have regretted this life having died before.

「Aah, that's right. That's how it is. It's too late to regret when you're already dead. I should have realized that from Kamino already.」 (Velt)  (TN: Remember Kamino? Refer to chapter 000.)

Just how long have I regretted not telling her what I wanted to say?

「I really, wanted to be spoiled more... be together more! I actually loved mom and dad a lot.」 (Velt)

What a fool I've been. Even dying didn't fix me. This time it won't be the same. Instead of dying a second time, mom and dad died in my place. I will never regret things, ever again.

「Forna...」 (Velt)

Forna didn't say anything, but I think she really wanted to ask me and sensei something. Probably about who or what 『Asakura Ryuuma』 is. But, she never asked about anything. I guessed she hadn't heard about it until now. However, that's just my own childish line of thought.

「Someday... I'll tell you about it someday.」 (Velt)

「Velt?」 (Forna)

「Yeah, I'll tell you. That's all I can promise.」 (Velt)

I don't know if I can smile at all, but I've had enough of being a crybaby today. Forna seemed ready to cry again, and it made me want to cry. I can't say any more than this today, though.

「I'm alright, already.」 (Velt)

I bade farewell to my mother and father, strongly embracing Forna as she sobbed.

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