Volume 2 Chapter 15 Chaos In Thousand Ways
"If you're going to make Nightfather your enemy, then I'm out."
"Don't worry about it. It's just a threat."
"...Really?"
While trying to calm down the complaining Frain, I put earplugs in Frowdus's ears. With this, his eyes, mouth, ears, and of course, his body's freedom were completely restricted.
The three of us dragged Frowdus to the 2nd floor of Frowdus's shop, which is his own room, and completely secured his body to the chair.
Frain and I were diligently working on restraining him, but Toxy seemed to have various thoughts and was crouching in the corner of the room. From time to time, I could hear her muttering "Father..." so she must be thinking about her family.
I approached Toxy and asked, "Are you okay?" Toxy lifted her face while holding something in her mouth. Tears marks were visible on his cheeks.
"...Wade..."
"If you have something to say, I'll listen. If you want him to disappear, I'll make him disappear."
"...Sit next to me"
"Yeah."
I sit beside Toxy. Then, Toxy starts speaking slowly.
"...It's strange, isn't it? I never really paid much attention to it before. But, once I saw his face, something, I, I just couldn't understand... It's weird, right?"
As Toxy speaks, tears quietly stream down her face. I say,
"It's not weird. Toxy, you thought you had everything under control, but deep down, you were just hiding your pain. I think you lost that control, and now it's all pouring out."
"Ugh, ugh, ughhh...!"
Toxy continues to wipe away tears, but they just won't stop flowing.
"Why am I suddenly remembering my father now? He was kind, gentle, and serious. He loved me. Even knowing about my dirty magic, he never got angry. He'd say, 'We'll figure it out. Don't worry, Toxy' with a serious face...!"
"Yeah..."
"Finally, even though I've become able to live on my own. Even though I gained the confidence to live without my family... It flickers. In the dark room, the sight of my father tied up and swaying."
"..."
"Uuuuuu...!"
Uncertain of what to say to the tearful Toxy, I ponder. It's my ego that's unsettling Toxy. I don't deny that. It's because that's what adventurers are like.
However, adventurers come with responsibility along with freedom. So, I think it's also my responsibility to comfort Toxy here.
I speak up.
"I mentioned before that I would tell you my secret, right?"
"Huh...?"
"You know, when you were threatened by thugs about the debt. I ignored Toxy and kind of pushed forward with 'just tell them' to the thugs."
"...That did happen, huh. I thought it was a joke at that time though."
"Sorry. But, I thought things would get worse if I left it as it was. I only just met you recently, Toxy, but your're still a party member. As the leader, I felt like I had to protect you, but it backfired."
"No... It wasn't a backfire. I feel like I was saved by that. Even now, maybe I'm in the middle of being saved by Wade. It's tough, but it's necessary..."
"..."
I waited for Toxy to calm down before starting to speak.
"Okay. So, my secret, probably all my classmates know, but I... I abandoned my family."
"What...?"
"My old man was terrible. He thought of me as a sl*ve. Made me work, do household chores, and soaked himself in alcohol. Dad was fat, but I was skin and bones, barely fed."
"S-So, that's how it is...?"
"Yeah. Violence is just a part of everyday life. Even if I try to resist, I'm too weak from not eating. If I fail because I lack strength, there will be more violence. ...If I hadn't gone to the training center, I might still be that skinny guy, or maybe."
"...I see."
Then, I continue.
"I envy Toxy a little. You had good parents you could cry for losing. ...But, I can't think that way about my parents. I'm still scared to go back to my family in the slums."
Toxy looks serious as I fake a smile.
"Sorry. I didn't mean it that way, Wade."
"No, it's okay. So, um, what was it. Darn, it's complicated. I didn't mean to make you feel guilty when I tried to comfort you, I mean..."
As I struggle with my words, Toxy shakes her head.
"No. ...I can feel it, Wade is trying to comfort me. That's right. Even though my father is gone, that's a sad thing, but it's also proof that I was blessed with a good father."
"Wade, you're kind," Toxy wipes away her tears and leans on me.
"Since I bestowed with the poison magic, there hasn't been anyone who has been this kind to me. ...But now, it's different, isn't it?"
"Well, I've never seen anyone as decent as me."
"That's a lie! ...Haha, hahaha."
While unable to stop her tears, Toxy chuckled softly. Then, she clung to me with trembling hands.
"Um... Can I lean on your shoulder?"
"As much as you need."
"Thank you...----"
Toxy's sobbing voice echoed in the dark room. I said nothing, waiting for Toxy to calm down.
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