After-Story Chapter 32: Souma Goes to Yumuen (Part 3)

“This… this might be a bit serious.”

Several days after informing Colbert of my intention to visit Yumuen, I muttered this while reading a letter from Mary in the state office. The letter described the current state of Anne, Fuuga’s Saintess. Her mind was broken from the repeated purges in the Papacy, and she suffered night terrors. I probably had an expression like I had just chewed on a bitter insect.

“Souma? Is something wrong?” Liscia, who was watching me suspiciously, asked.

I decided to let her read the letter. Liscia took the letter and read it, gradually furrowing her brow and looking deeply conflicted. After finishing, she sighed.

“While there’s an aspect of self-inflicted consequence for Anne, who continued to look away from the result of being idolized… it’s also too cruel to simply dismiss her, considering her circumstances.”

“Yes. In the end, she was just a pathetic doll manipulated by adults.”

It was her choice to remain a doll. I heard that Mary had extended a hand to Anne before she became a Saintess. Not taking that hand was Anne’s choice. As a result of that choice, Anne is suffering now, but the Anne who made that decision couldn’t have known this. Pointing out that her choice was wrong is judging purely by the outcome.

“Mary is supporting her, but her condition doesn’t seem to be improving.”

“Mental wounds are hard to heal… aren’t they?”

“Yes. Being crushed by one’s role isn’t something I can consider a stranger’s problem.”

“True. I wish we could help her somehow… Do you have any ideas?” Liscia asked.

I groaned, crossing my arms. “Hmm… Perhaps bringing some suitable personnel when I go to Yumuen. Someone like Brad.”

“A doctor? Why Brad, and not Doctor Hilde?”

“Apparently, the research on mental health treatment was conducted by Brad and the priests of the Kingdom’s Orthodox Church. Hilde was busy supervising the junior doctors, so Brad cooperated with the research while looking after his daughter, Ludia-chan.”

At the time, using his connection with Soji, who was the Archbishop of the Kingdom’s Orthodox Church, they enlisted the cooperation of clergy—who often hear people’s troubles—for the world’s first research into psychotherapy. Brad was the one who participated from the medical side. Brad, being somewhat prone to chūnibyō (eighth-grade syndrome) and lacking in communication skills, left the instruction of junior doctors entirely to Hilde.

As a result, Brad had time to spare (compared to Hilde) and participated in the psychotherapy research alongside babysitting his daughter, Ludia-chan. I wondered if that grumpy man was qualified to be a psychiatrist, but he seemed to be strangely successful, as we received no complaints.

“So, I plan to take Brad… and, let’s see. Should I ask Tomoe-chan to come too?”

“Tomoe, too? Why?”

“I have an idea. Well, I don’t know if it will work out,” I said, grinning at Liscia’s puzzled face. “I’ll also take Aisha as a guard… but Maria has borrowed Naden for a charity event. …Oh, should you come along too, Liscia?”

“What, me? Are you sure?” Liscia asked, looking surprised. “I thought I would be staying behind if Souma traveled abroad.”

“That used to be the case. But the world is stable now, and Cian and Kazuha are quite grown up. Even if we ran into some trouble and couldn’t return for a while, we have Father-in-law Albert, Mother-in-law Elisha, and Excel here, so the Kingdom won’t fall into chaos. Lady Juna, Roroa, and Yuriga will look after things in our absence.”

In the past, Liscia was the only one who could unify the Kingdom if something happened to me, so I often had her stay behind to guard the nation when I traveled or campaigned abroad. But those times are over. In this stable era, my absence won’t have much impact. I thought it would be good to travel far with Liscia, who had so often been left behind.

Liscia looked thoughtful, saying, “I see…” but eventually nodded. “That sounds nice, too. Then I think I will come along.”

“OK. In that case, I’ll contact everyone.”

Thus, I decided to head to Yumuen, taking Liscia, Aisha, Tomoe-chan, and Brad. When I requested Brad’s presence, he told me, “I don’t mind examining Anne, but I want to bring Ludia.” Is Hilde busy? I decided that one child as an accompanying person wouldn’t be a problem and agreed.

On the day we left for Yumuen, in front of the Royal Wyvern gondola, I, Liscia, Aisha, and Tomoe-chan met Brad, Hilde, and Ludia—the whole family. Hilde wasn’t coming along but had come to see off her husband and daughter. Ludia-chan was peering at us shyly, hiding behind Hilde.

“Now, Ludia. Say hello properly.”

“Hee! H-Hello, Your Majesty,” Ludia-chan said, prompted by Hilde, bowing quickly.

She was an adorable girl with Brad’s silver hair and Hilde’s small [Third Eye] characteristic of the Three-Eyed Race sparkling on her forehead. I believe she was born shortly before Cyan and Kazuha and was around the same age as them. I had met her once during the demon-bug illness, but she’s grown up quite a bit.

“Wow~, what a cute young lady.”

“Indeed. I’d believe you if you said she was a fairy,” Aisha and Tomoe-chan praised Ludia’s cuteness.

Ludia immediately hid behind Hilde and Brad. She seemed to have a timid personality. She had an endearing, small-animal-like charm that was unexpected for the child of Hilde and Brad, who usually spoke frankly even to those in authority.

“Her face clearly shows she’s your child, but her personality isn’t similar at all,” I commented.

Hilde shook her head with a wry smile. “No. Her personality is definitely like Brad’s.”

“Is that so?”

“The only difference is whether shyness makes you reserved or if you give up on building relationships and act aloof. I personally don’t want Ludia to turn out as painful as Brad in the future.”

“Hey, I can hear you.” Brad glared at me with a sidelong glance. “I’d appreciate it if you stopped talking carelessly in front of Ludia.”

“Then let me ask you. What will you do if Ludia starts saying things like, ‘I wish to heal the sickly stray dog rather than the fat, healthy pig’? What if she strikes a pose and declares, ‘I have no intention of becoming a lackey for the powerful’?”

“…” Brad was speechless. Well, if he imagined his daughter imitating his usual (chūnibyō-like) behavior, it would be an awkward feeling. As a parent myself, I sincerely hope my children don’t inherit my complexes or bad habits. This is a wish every parent has. Though, those traits often end up being passed down anyway.

Brad groaned, resignedly. “…I’ll make sure to educate her so that doesn’t happen.”

“Kukuku, you understand now, don’t you?” Hilde laughed merrily.

This couple seems to get along despite always seeming to be at odds. I asked Hilde with a wry smile, “But is it really okay to bring Ludia-chan along? If you’re busy, we can look after her at the Royal Castle.”

“It’s fine. In fact, if Ludia doesn’t go, I think you’ll run into trouble.”

“? What do you mean by that?”

“Hmph. You’ll find out as soon as you get there. I’m leaving my husband and daughter in your care, Your Majesty.”

“O-Oh. Understood.”

Although I was a little unconvinced, I nodded. We boarded the gondola and took off into the sky, seen off by Hilde.

Inside the gondola, Liscia and Aisha sat on either side of me, and Brad and Tomoe-chan sat facing us, with Ludia-chan sandwiched between them.

“…” (Stare)

Ludia-chan seemed fascinated by Tomoe-chan’s fluffy wolf tail. Her eyes were fixated on the tail, which was positioned out to the side so as not to be sat on.

“Fufufu, you can touch it, you know.”

“Really?”

“Yes. Just be gentle, please.”

“Yay!”

Ludia-chan began gently stroking Tomoe-chan’s tail. Watching the beautiful girl and the beautiful child play reminded me of the words ‘Sacred’ and ‘Precious’ from my previous world. However… Brad and Ludia-chan… a genius doctor and a cute girl combination…

“Say, Ludia-chan.”

“Y-Yes? What is it?” Ludia-chan looked at me with a nervous face when I spoke.

I put my hands together in a begging gesture. “Just once is fine. Could you cup your hands over the sides of your face and say ‘Achonburike’?”

“???”

“What are you trying to make my daughter do?” Brad glared at me.

Well, come on, right? I want to see a real-life Piko-chan, you know?

As I was thinking this, Liscia elbowed me from the side. That hurt…