Chapter 3.2: Yukina’s Parent
No matter how much I think about it now, the destination beyond it was unclear.
In short, unknown territory.
Why? Despite how much I loved her, why was it so easy for her to dump me just like that?
「Ah.」
When I snapped out of it, both of them were looking at me with sad looks on their faces. It was as if they were both pitying and begging me at the same time.
… I forgot that we were still in the middle of a conversation.
I heaved a sigh.
「… Anyhow, I have nothing to say anymore in this regard. I will give up on Yukina. Instead, no matter what happens to her in the future, I won’t save her. I won’t talk to her either. But well, that’ll be a great help for me though. I mean, the current her has the Hero, her comrades, and the people around her.」
Both of their expressions became even darker the moment I told them that.
Rather, did they still have any arguments for their cheating daughter? Did they still want to defend her?
I still love her, but I definitely wouldn’t tell these two about that.
If the one who did this was any other woman… I would’ve surely called her a b*tch by now. I would even stop caring about her.
「Well then, that’s all I want to say. I won’t help with the preparations for the welcome banquet in the village. Please tell everyone in the village about this matter for me. Also, please tell them that I’ll leave the village until the Hero’s party departs. I really want to sort out my feelings for now, and calm my head somewhere else, but… to be honest, I… simply don’t wish to see Yukina next to the Hero. Honestly, I really have no idea about what to do from now on. Both of you called me today because you knew this was going to happen, right?」
「Yes, but wait. Please don’t leave the village!」
「… What?」
What the hell is this man talking about despite me granting his wish to break up with Yukina. Even I felt surprised by the cold tone in my voice due to how disgusted I was right now.
「Sheena, I understand your feelings! I understand it very well! Both of you have been promised to get married after all! I know how angry you are now after finding out that Yukina has become the Hero’s lover! But, please don’t leave the village!」
「No dear, you clearly don’t understand at all.」
「SHUT UP! SHUT! UP!」
Uncle seemed to be irritated since a while ago.
I felt that auntie was right about him not understanding my feelings at all. He should be the one who shuts his mouth. My favorability towards him turned into hatred the moment he tried to stop me.
「Why? You’re not going to ask me to help with the reception, right?」
When I asked him those questions, uncle’s eyes swam around as if trying to avoid my gaze.
Bull’s eyes, huh. But, are you serious?
「P-Please listen to me first, Sheena. Surely, both Yukina’s heart and body have already been stolen by the Hero-sama.」
Seriously, her body too?
Thank god I didn’t read those letters.
That Yukina had actually…
Crap, imagining it alone almost made me cry.
I mean, she just nonchalantly dumped me.
「But, she had no choice. The fate of the world laid on Hero-sama’s shoulders. Yukina has confirmed that matter too. From what she told me, Hero-sama is a good man. And since she has been around him… It’s only a matter of time before something like this happened.」
Did this uncle really feel sorry for me? He wasn’t actually trying to provoke my wrath right?
I mean, are you serious?
「That’s why, Sheena, please give them your blessing even if it’s just for formality’s sake. Will you give them your blessing? As the childhood friend of the Sword Saint, you must be proud of her becoming the Hero’s wife, right? That’s something you can proudly tell everyone… Right?!」
I was left completely dumbfounded upon hearing such unbelievable remarks from the man before me. Even his own wife was no less surprised than me.
Uncle… Just how much of an idiot are you?!
I see now, all my efforts to improve myself weren’t wasted since all this studying allowed me to differentiate between good things and bad things.
Since a long time ago, uncle had always been like this when it came to Yukina!
「M-Moreover… Aah, geez! Anyhow, please let go of Yukina! That girl keeps apologizing to you in her letter! She keeps apologizing for falling in love with Hero-sama. She wants to tell you about that matter, but she’s afraid that you won’t let go of her if she tells you. Actually, this homecoming is Yukina’s selfish wish… Which was allowed since Hero-sama permitted it. You know Sheena, that girl is actually just returning to meet you! Just to meet you! This will be your first meeting with her after that adulthood ceremony. She wants to apologize, talk to you, and wish you to get along with the hero. That’s why s—」
「Enough, I’ve heard all that I wanted to know, I’ll take my leave, auntie.」
「Y-You’re right. I really have no right to stop you from leaving, She-」
「Wait! At least hear me out till the end!」
Like hell I wanted to hear something like that till the end.
Please don’t make me hate you more than this, uncle.
Rather, you’re actually telling me the contents of the letters without even noticing the underlying meaning behind those words.
I heaved a sigh for who knows how many times today.
「Why are you making such poor excuses just to make me do something as repulsive as showing them my hospitality. Are you an idiot or what?」
「I-It’s not an excuse! That girl has a—」
「Never ever trust anyone who betrayed you once, no matter how close their relationship with you. That softhearted feeling might cost you your life the next time they betray you… That’s one of the the wisdoms my mother left for me.」
My mother was a former adventurer. Once, she forgave the comrade who betrayed her.
And that said comrade betrayed her again right after that.
Trust was the most important thing for adventurers. That’s why it was only natural for them to want to kill those who knew their ill nature.
That’s why I never betray anyone. Instead, never trust someone who has betrayed you, ever again.
That was one of my dear mother’s wise words.
「… So, you already…」
「Yes, I won’t trust Yukina again, forever. She betrayed me.」
The matter about me still being in love with her was something beyond my control. The truth was, I wouldn’t completely give up until I see Yukina and the hero with my own eyes.
「That’s why, uncle. I won’t trust you too.」
「W-What?! Sheena, I just…」
「Once you smell a stinky odor from the root itself, don’t ever hesitate to throw something out no matter how important it was to you, that’s one of the secrets of a long and peaceful life. Thoughtlessness and sympathy isn’t the kind of food you can eat. I’ll live my life with calm and collected judgement.」
「Another one of your mother’s wise words, eh.」
Auntie Shirona was still smiling lightly.
When my mother was alive, she got along with auntie.
「Yes. Well, it’s more because I feel disgusted by what uncle said though. I have no idea whether he feels sorry for me or is actually looking for a fight?」
「Ah, N-No…」
When I glared at him, uncle’s shoulder stiffened, and shrunk down.
And then, I looked at auntie.
「Naturally, the same goes for you, auntie. I won’t trust you too. You have my gratitude for all the kindness you showed me until now, but… I guess you really are Yukina’s parent since you also didn’t tell me about Yukina’s letters.That’s why, despite all the kindness you’ve shown me so far, I can’t trust you ever again.」
「… Yes. I understand. My deepest apologies.」
I nodded lightly to respond to auntie’s deep bow, marking the break of our relationship.
Today, I lost three important people in my life at once.
My childhood sweetheart and her parents.
This was the first time since the death of my dear mother that I experienced such a huge loss.
「I won’t trust you two again, nor will I come into this house again in the future. To be honest, I feel really disappointed with the both of you. But thanks to this, it’s easier for me to make a decision. I won’t help with the preparation or show any hospitality, but I’ll meet Yukina tomorrow. I’ll meet her properly to bid her farewell. I really don’t want to do this for the both of you and Yukina. But, I guess I have no choice but to do this… right? I will show her the result of my training this past year. I’m really gonna show her. And then bid her goodbye…」
I heaved a sigh.
And then, closed both of my eyes.
I remembered what these two did for me in the past.
「W-Wait! I don’t want to do this either! Surely, nothing can be done since this matter has already happened, but my daughter is rea—!」
「Dear, please stop spouting such ugly excuses already. This is our daughter… and naturally, our fault too. Right, Sheena?」
I kept my eyes closed without replying to them.
I couldn’t answer now, only curses would come out of my mouth once I replied to them in my current state.
I won’t be able to go through with my decision once this happens. That is just how important their existence is to me.
「Let me tell you for the last time… I loved both of you.」
This was my goodbye to them.
Thus, I opened my eyes.
「Yes, both of you have treated me like your own child until now. It isn’t something that can be paid with mere words of gratitude. I’m extremely grateful for the affection that Shirona-sama has shown me till the end. I’ve been indebted to Shirona-sama until now. But, my deepest apologies, I can no longer bring myself to show respect, love, and gratitude to you as if you’re my parents anymore. That’s why, from here on, we’re nothing more than neighbors. I will help you when you need my help, and I’ll be even happier if we can still get along with each other, as good neighbours.」
Both of them widened their eyes in shock upon hearing my words. Some parts might sound off since I was not used to giving this kind of speech. But, that was something that they would never understand; this was the language used by nobles.
I merely learnt them and chose the most appropriate words for this kind of situation.
It was by no means the kind of speech used by mere villagers.
I noticed a fact during the process of learning this speech a while ago, the fact that I could speak to the other party without showing my emotion.
Maybe my body was simply not used to this kind of speech, thereby preventing me from pouring my emotions when I used this speech.
Or maybe, this speech was specially designed to erase the emotion of the speaker no matter how much of a nice person they are.
「S-Sheena. That’s…」
「…」
「Your eyes…」
Eyes?
Honestly speaking, I didn’t really care about what they thought anymore.
Auntie was also looking silently at me.
I did it… These two… and their words… Had become a trivial matter to me.
This will make it easier for me to leave this place as soon as possible, and return to my usual self. And then, I could finally sleep with all kinds of negative emotions that were on the verge of exploding in my chest.
「… Well, I shall excuse myself.」
I left my seat to follow my own greedy plan, opened the door, and left the house.
I then met the angry blacksmith uncle who shouted 「OI SHEENA! HOW DARE YOU, THE YOUNGEST ONE, PLAY TRUANT!」 at me.
Everyone was really busy right now.
「Let’s talk later!」
I shut the door while shouting back at him. Right before the door closed, I turned around and nodded at Yukina’s parents.
Thank you for the kindness you both gave me until now. This light bow was my last respect and gratitude for you two.
.
..
…
….
…..
「Good bye.」
With those words of separation, our relationship went back to that of neighbors.