LGHTNOVELBOOK Chapter 7.2 - Three Days Before the Return
“And don’t forget Starga and Matts! Just think about it—if a meteor shower causes catastrophic damage, there might be no Matsumaru stores left on Earth! I’m definitely stocking up. Please, gods, let me take my item box back with me!”
Ane clasped her hands together and prayed toward the ceiling.
When we were first transported to this world ten years ago, being able to use status screens, skills, and item boxes was a godsend—an unexpected gift from the gods. And now, the gods had granted us the choice to return to the Earth we thought we’d never see again. Hoping for more than this might seem greedy.
The day after the divine revelation, I had prayed for Tau-san and the others who chose to return. But now that I had made the same decision, I felt hesitant to ask the gods for any more.
…Still, I couldn’t help but think: It would be nice if I could take the item box with me.
Tau-san told me to begin preparing for my return.
As soon as he said that, Mark clung to my back.
Since waking up this morning, Mark had been following me everywhere, as if afraid I would disappear the moment he looked away.
Dan and Alisa approached and began speaking to Mark, who was still attached to my back.
“We… we were loved by Dad as if we were his own children. More than his own, even. But sometimes, I felt uneasy. I had this feeling Dad might leave us someday. That he might go back to the world he used to talk about.”
…Wait, was I really like that?
“Yeah. Sometimes Dad has this incredibly lonely look on his face. Like a child who’s been left behind. That’s why I wanted to grow up as quickly as possible—to make him feel secure. But I couldn’t. We can’t move the time that’s frozen for Dad. The time he’s stopped in loneliness.”
Tears spilled again from Alisa’s swollen, red eyes.
“You’re right. Dad needs to move the time that’s stopped for him, in his own world. We can’t help him with that. All we can do is wait for him.”
Mark, clinging tightly to my back, hugged me even harder.
“But… what if waiting isn’t enough? What if Dad can’t come back? What if he goes back there and never returns to us?!”
Behind me, Mark began sobbing uncontrollably.
I’m sorry, Mark. I’m sorry for being such a useless dad. I’m sorry for being unreliable and selfish.
Even so, I’ve made my decision—to return to Earth.
Dan pulled Mark away from me and took him somewhere else. Without Mark on my back, I felt an uncomfortable chill.
I called out to Acchan and headed with her to her room on the second floor.
I had a favor to ask her—it was part of my “return preparations.”
The “storage bag” I received during the Goddess Statue quest in the royal capital had been upgraded to its maximum capacity. It could now hold 500 items.
When I first acquired it nine years ago, I didn’t use it because I had my item box, so I gave it to Mark to carry.
I still remember how adorable three-year-old Mark looked, slinging the small bag with a chain across his tiny body.
Two years ago, when Mark registered as an adventurer with the guild and started taking requests with his companions (other kids), he stopped carrying the bag. They had made a pact to obtain their own storage bags when they turned 15, the age of adulthood.
Even though he was only ten at the time, I was deeply moved by how grown-up he was acting.
Now, I intended to pack items into that storage bag and leave it with Acchan.
Inside, I would place magic tomes, WIZ weapons, equipment, and other items that Mark might need as he grew into a full-fledged wizard.
When I explained this to Acchan, she suddenly handed me a tablet.
“What’s this? …A tablet?”
“Yeah. It’s one from Yamato Trading. Remember when you brought your office desk here when we first came to this world? It was in one of the drawers. I charged it, so it works.”
“Huh… but what am I supposed to do with it? It doesn’t have internet, so…”
“It still has a camera, calendar, and memo functions. You can record videos with the camera.”
“Videos?”
“Exactly! Record messages for Mark. Like, a birthday message for 13-year-old Mark, 14-year-old Mark, and then ‘Happy 15th birthday, Mark!’ You can record lots of messages. And put birthday presents in the storage bag, too. I’ll help you wrap the magic tomes.”
I see… so that’s how it works.
Even if I won’t be there to witness Mark’s growth, through the tablet, I can send words to the Mark of the future.
“Thanks, Acchan. I’ll borrow this… Though it feels like one of those things parents do when they don’t have much time left.”
“You do only have three days left, Kaoru! Make sure you record properly!”
Acchan really is amazing. Strong and always dependable. Thank you, Acchan.
…Through the door, I saw Riddle (Acchan’s husband) peeking in. Don’t worry, Riddle—it’s not what it looks like.