"Callius, don't talk about this with others."
"I won't, don't worry. Everyone's morale is at the bottom; there is no need for tension."
"…. Good."
After we returned and buried the body of the ranger Euan, the convoy started moving again.
Everyone was tired again because of the fight. But we needed to move again, considering the possibility of other monsters being attached to the smell of blood and the sounds of the fight.
<Ding! The temporary trait [Dark Lord of Thunder] is disabled.>
And around that time, my hair returned to normal, making my strength also return to the base.
"Kurgh---"
Making me remember that I was injured.
Since the torture session took only fifteen minutes, the effects of adrenaline and my newfound strength were still there.
"Are you okay?"
With worried eyes, Aliya asked while extending a potion.
"Not now, but going to be."
/GULP/
Gulping the potion, I said.
"How was it? Did you learn something?"
"Nothing much. His identity is still unknown."
"I see….."
"I need to be the one to ask you. Are you okay?"
"Am I okay? Maybe."
With her eyes still shaky, she said looking at my eyes.
"To be honest, I was scared when Mister Euan died at the hands of those bandits. When Elven Sisters lost the fight or when father lost his consciousness."
"…."
"And when that man was touching me."
/CLENCH/
"He is dead now. Don't worry about him."
Seeing her hands being clenched, I reassured her.
"…. I know. But I was scared more when I thought of losing you, you know? When I wasn't able to see you, when I wasn't able to hear anything about you, I felt like my world lost its color."
"….."
"Therefore, don't ever think of dying, okay? I want my world with colors, not something dull."
Looking at me with slight tears on her face while holding me on my collar, she said.
'How cute….'
"I value my life, don't worry."
Touching the corners of her eyes, I said.
"…. I hope so."
/SNUGGLE/
With her face snuggled on my chest, she said with a muffled tone.
"Can I stay like this for a while?"
"You can stay like this forever if you want."
"….. Cheeky."
"I am."
/SNIFF/ /SNIFF/
'Hmm?'
Feeling a slightly wet sensation on my chest, I slowly grabbed Aliya's back, hugging her.
"Thank you….."
"For what?"
"For everything. For consoling me right now. For understanding me better than anyone else…."
"You did well enduring that."
"….. Sob…"
Feeling the slight sobbing sounds coming from her mouth, I slowly caressed her head.
'Ah… She is asleep.'
With her breaths getting steady and slow, I thought.
At that moment, a person entered the carriage.
"Mister John."
It was the father of Aliya.
"Is she asleep now?"
"Yes. She is sleeping."
With his eyebrows knitted, he slowly approached me, sitting in front of me.
"Care to explain why my daughter is hugging you right now?"
And asked with a strict sound.
"You must have figured that out already."
Saying that without backing off, we entered the staring contest.
"….."
Blood red eyes were facing with green eyes that showed years of experience.
"…."
"…."
The atmosphere getting heavier and heavier.
"Mother, NO!"
Interrupted by a sound of screaming, we turned our attention to the source of the sound.
Aliya was having a nightmare, it seemed, seeing her hands holding my body tightly.
"Sigh…. Sorry for coming like that."
With a loud sigh coming from his mouth, John said, his eyes getting warmer.
"She is just my precious daughter….."
"Don't worry, I understand."
"Thank you. Thank you for everything."
"Don't mention it."
"No. If not for you, we would have been a plaything in their hands."
"Everyone did their own part."
"I know. And I have thanked them all."
"I see."
"I was unconscious at that time, but everyone said you were the one who suddenly jumped out of nowhere and broke the equilibrium."
Standing up, he said.
"Thank you for everything."
And then bowed his head.
However, after that, his eyes turned serious again, looking at me with a different gaze.
"Now, explain what you are doing with my daughter."
"She is mine."
/THUD/
"What did you say?"
"I said she is mine."
"Do you think my daughter is some sort of property?"
"No."
"The-"
"She is not some sort of property, but she decided to be mine."
"….. She decided?"
"Yes. Do you think she would do this if not?"
"….. I see. Certainly, she would never get closer to a person she didn't like, let alone hug him like this."
With a low voice, he muttered, thinking I wouldn't hear him.
"If that is what she wants, I have no right to say anything else."
'Wow, that was a straight line coming from the mouths of American fathers.'
"But that doesn't mean I will hand over my daughter that easily."
With his eyes looking at the depths of the mine, a smile bloomed upon his face.
"Heh…. Now, you are talking as a merchant?"
It was a smile of a merchant.
"You are sharp."
"What do you want then?"
"Heh…."
Letting out a snort, he leaned back.
"I want only one thing."
"One thing?"
"Yes."
"What is it?"
"I want my daughter to be happy."
"….."
"No matter what, the most important thing in my life is my daughter. Not my money, nor my business. They can go to hell if my daughter wants."
"I see."
"So, I want you to promise me that you will make my daughter happy no matter what."
"Why do you think I won't?"
"Because you are noble."
"…. I am not."
"Then you were. Your origins are related to nobility. And you are pretty talented, seeing your strength."
"So?"
"Therefore, you will probably have more than one wife in the future or a lot of demand. That is the reason I want to make sure you won't abandon my daughter no matter what happens in the future."
The moment he said that, a certain girl with platinum hair came to my mind.
"I see."
"So, can you make an oath about that?"
With his eyes serious, he asked.
'An oath, huh? Why not?'
Thinking that, I started the oath.
"In the brightest day or blackest night of my life, I swore on the name of my goddess that I will support Aliya Norris with my life as long as she supports me with her life."
Finishing the chant, a dark symbol appeared in front of my eyes.
"The oath you swore is accepted, Callius."
With a divine sound entered my head, marking the first time I had sworn an oath in this world…..
