“It’s alright, everyone. …Thank you for worrying about me.”
I approach the four of them and hug each one to reassure them.
Watching this scene, Kabunika-san, who had been explaining, gives me a puzzled look.
“…You’re quite calm, aren’t you? Even though you must stand on the battlefield with Flone as a [Saint].”
“…I have precious comrades and a right arm more capable than this one.”
“Ouga…sama…!”
Saying this, I grab Alice’s hand, which was about to harm herself.
“No way. I won’t allow any harm to come to that beautiful skin of yours.”
“Alice. No matter how many times I’m asked, no matter what the outcome, I don’t regret my actions.”
The only truth is that she’s by my side because of my efforts.
I wipe away the tears gathered in her eyes with my index finger and turn back to Ms. Kabunika.
“To begin with, my right arm was already on the verge of being severed, so even having it connected was a stroke of luck, you could say…”
“………..”
“Besides… I’m used to these kinds of setbacks.”
After all, my second life started with the disadvantage of being a noble without any [Magic Aptitude].
But by steadily accumulating time, I gained the weapons to break through such headwinds.
That’s how I’ve lived my life.
“Certainly, this incident is a major setback in the battle against Flone… However, an obstacle of this level isn’t enough to make Ouga Vellet give up.”
If I can’t use my right arm, I’ll just have to create new techniques that take that into account.
To fulfill my ambitions, he’s an opponent I must defeat no matter what.
“…It’s been a while since I’ve seen someone with such spirit.”
The words muttered were too quiet to hear clearly.
But it seems he wasn’t exasperated at all.
The expression on Mr. Kabunika’s face as he looked at me was very lively.
“Those little girls were hasty, but it’s not like there’s nothing we can do. We just need to prepare a new [Magic Circuit].”
“…!? Can you do that?”
“Yes. [Magic Circuits] can be created anew by channeling magic power. But your right arm is already densely packed with [Magic Circuits], so there’s no room for more.”
“Radinith. Don’t beat around the bush. Tell me what I need to do for my son.”
“Prepare a doctor who can perform precise amputation surgery on the right arm.”
The atmosphere that had just started to brighten suddenly grew heavy.
Amputating the right arm. Discarding a part of the body that was born healthy.
“…You’re not joking, are you?”
“Of course not. And then, attach a prosthetic arm in its place. But not just any prosthetic will do. If we use a prosthetic made as a magical tool, we can create new [Magic Circuits].”
“…I see. Magical tools are made with metals that conduct magic power. So by channeling magic power through it, we can create [Magic Circuits] as well.”
“If you understand it’s not a lie, quickly arrange tickets for the Wing Ship airship to that city. It’s a race against time.”
“Understood. Radinith, I owe you one.”
“Hmph, it’s just the whim of a senile old man. …Now then, boy. You lot should prepare for your journey too. You’ve already made up your mind, haven’t you?”
“…I’ll have to apologize to Mother later. For treating the body she painfully gave birth to so carelessly.”
“I came out of curiosity, but… I’ve found something quite interesting.”
Mr. Kabunika laughed out loud for the first time with a “Kah kah kah” and pointed out our destination with his aged finger.
“Head to the Independent Mechanical City of Encartón. There, you should be able to get a prosthetic arm worthy of a [Saint]… boy.”
READ THE ORIGINAL TRANSLATION AT GADGETIZEDPANDA.COM
From then on, time passed in a flurry.
Especially since the Independent Mechanical City of Encartón is located beyond the royal capital from the Vellet domain, we had to use the Wing Ship airship to get there.
The Wing Ship airship is one of the few air transportation methods in this era, and in the Kingdom of Rondism, it only lands in the royal capital and the territories of the four great ducal houses.
Even the number of flights is few, so tickets are always in high demand.
This time, Father happened to secure five tickets to Encartón immediately, and coincidentally, we were the only passengers on that flight.
Departure is scheduled for early tomorrow morning.
As a result, we had to hurry to prepare for the trip, and everyone is probably already in the world of dreams in their respective rooms, getting ready for tomorrow.
As for me, I’m lying in bed, staring at the ceiling.
By the way, Mr. Kabunika simply flew back using magic.
The uniformity of his magic control was unsettling.
…Well, I guess it’s time to address what I’ve been overlooking.
“Alice? I thought I told you to leave?”
After she helped me pack, I told her to return to her room, but she was still standing next to the bed.
…But I’m not that dense.
I can guess what she wants to do, what she’s trying to do.
In that case, I should take the initiative.
“Lord Ouga… I’m sorry–“
“–Would you sleep beside me?”
“…Eh?”
I remember clearly.
Mashiro and the others saying they were looking forward to tonight. Alice carefully making the bed.
Unfortunately, we have to start early tomorrow morning, so the three of them aren’t here, and this isn’t the guest room, but Alice probably stayed in the room due to her excessive loyalty to me.
She’s been unusually eager to say something all this time, probably waiting for the right moment to bring it up.
“L-Lord Ouga… I, um…”
“Alice.”
“…As you wish.”
When I called her name, she slowly climbed onto the bed and came to my side.
I pulled her arm to lay her down next to me and covered her with the blanket.
I could only do this smoothly because it was Alice.
If it were Mashiro and the others, I wouldn’t have been able to handle things this smoothly.
In fact, they would have taken the lead as usual, and I would have inevitably acted like the virgin I am. Well, considering I’m a virgin even including my past life, it can’t be helped to some extent.
I reach out to stroke her beautiful golden hair.
Alice then begins to apologize with a very pained expression, tears falling.
“Lord Ouga… I don’t deserve such kindness. To have made you make such a decision…”
My right arm, which has regained its freedom after being fixed for so long, is embraced by her.
…Ah!? So that’s what Alice wanted to talk about!?
This is bad… I’ve done something embarrassing due to a misunderstanding…!
As I rack my brain for a way to recover from this blunder, I decide that calming Alice down takes priority.
I certainly don’t want her to serve me while bearing a sense of guilt.
“It was the price necessary to save you, Alice. That’s all there is to it. …Are you saying that the choice your master made was wrong?”
She opens her mouth to argue but buries her face in my chest as if to hide her conflicted emotions. I gently place my hand on her head and embrace her.
“…Lord Ouga, you’re a cunning person. When you say it like that, I’m left with nothing to say.”
“I understand well that Alice is a person with a strong sense of responsibility. So, sleeping next to me like this is your punishment. …How’s that?”
“That… isn’t a punishment at all, Lord Ouga.”
Alice hugs me back tightly.
If it weren’t for that choice back then, I wouldn’t have this warmth in my arms now.
No matter how many times she comes to apologize, I won’t blame her.
It was the result of my own decision to save her, so complaining about it would be far too petty.
“Rather, I’m excited. Since the prosthetic arm is a magical tool, I’m thinking we might be able to try out some unprecedented gimmicks.”
Modification is a dream that every man has had at least once. Of course, I’ve been down that road too.
That’s why I don’t have much aversion to cutting off my right arm and attaching a prosthetic.
This will undoubtedly be an opportunity to become even stronger.
I want to include either a rocket punch or a flamethrower. A hidden blade might be good too. In my case, I’m stronger fighting barehanded though.
“I’m sure you can do it, Lord Ouga.”
“I’ll probably ask for your opinion again, Alice. Will you lend me your strength?”
“Of course. All of my knowledge of propriety, everything for you, Lord Ouga.”
Looking at her now, it seems I’ve managed to dispel the dark emotions in her heart.
And it looks like I’ve successfully covered up my misunderstanding as well…
Not only did I cover it up, but I even managed to sleep next to her. Talk about killing two birds with one stone!
It seems my genius intellect shines even in situations like this.
But sleeping next to Alice, who said she wanted to be my wife…
This is practically like being married already, isn’t it?
“Come on, let’s go to sleep.”
“Yes… like this.”
Our usual bedtime is approaching, and consciousness is starting to shift to sleep mode.
“Good night, Lord Ouga.”
After letting out a yawn, I use Alice as a body pillow and drift off to sleep.
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