I'll be Back

Inside a white room.

"Ah..."

Eisha woke up from her sleep with a jerk and raised her body. Her gaze were blank as if she was looking at faraway distance.

".....So, it was prematurely awakened."

After a long pause, she sighed deeply while also smiling wryly.

"The quantity of the "Alpha Force" is still too low but it's genuine.... So what 'he' said is indeed right."

Her face was so solemn and subtle. Just now the boy she had paid special attention for a long time had finally used his own power but it was too fast and awakened prematurely. She didn't know what is the cause for that as there's no way for her to know the battle between Haruto and Yomi.

If Yomi was here and heard of what Eisha just said he would be so shocked as if a thunderbolt directly struck his body.

It was because Eisha just casually mentioned about the Alpha Force, a lost objective he already gave up on when he considered it as impossible to achieve.

But Eisha didn't possibly know about that, nor she knew about Yomi who once desire of possessing the Alpha Force himself but could never reach his hands on no matter how hard he tried. That's why he switched his objective now.

That's why she just silently accept the awakening of Haruto as coincidence and a stroke of luck although it also meant there's no going back anymore. His fate was bound to face against trials and dangers whether he wanted to or not.

Sighing deeply once again she raised her head.

"Is this really alright? Zalama-sama...."

....

Three days had passed after the battle with Yomi, the man who possessed the Sharingan.

The girls were flabbergasted when they saw Kaori returned home with the already healed beaten up Haruto.

She could cure his body in a short time but there's something inside of him that she couldn't do anything to and could only let it recover naturally.

From the information they gathered out of the entire capital, it was known that Yomi actually have placed some of his specimens on various hidden places.

The Emperor was extremely furious to know someone actually tried to mess inside his territory without him knowing.

Thankfully the hidden specimens consisted of humans and monsters both alike were quickly found and dispatched before they 'transformed'.

Yomi must be busy with fighting Haruto that he forgot to activate and transformed the people and monsters he placed.

And so just as they finished cleaning up, that was when Kaori and Haruto returned home with the latter being unconscious.

There's no way they were not worried, Rikka was crying while Asami smacked her brother's head for being reckless. A single instant he slipped from their sight and he already got in trouble.

For three days they exchanged turn and took care of him until he finally woke up on the evening of the third day.

....

Haruto was carried by a wheelchair by Elsie who looked at him with eyes full of concern.

The atmosphere was silent and neither of them talk to each other. His bang covered Haruto's eyes so it was hard to see what kind of face he was making right now.

She tried talking to him but refrain to because as of now everyone would know what's on his mind currently. That's why she chose to close her mouth in order to not rile him by saying something.

Before long the wheelchair stopped once they've reached their destination.

It was a room at the right corner most of the second floor. The door leading inside was half-opened.

"...."

Haruto did not say anything and stay there quietly. Elsie sighed and decided to excuse themselves.

"W-We're coming in...."

She pushed the wheelchair and entered the room alongside Haruto.

Inside the room was a woman with medium length light honey hair wearing a blue dress eating the meal brought to her a short while ago.

"H-How do you do Lena-san....?"

"Ah... Elsie-sama. I'm fine, please come in."

Elsie greeted the woman, Lena timidly while also pushing the wheelchair closer to the bed. Lena smiled gently and welcomed them.

"...."

"...."

The two people there didn't say anything. Thinking she saw probably in the way, Elsie decided to excuse herself and closed the door awkwardly.

"....Is your body already alright?"

Finally opening his mouth, Haruto asked weakly.

"I'm already fine... in fact I think I can resume my usual activity by now but everyone won't let me."

Lena smiled wryly remembering Selianna scolded her to rest for an entire week at least. She was very worried about her just like how Lena cared a lot about Selianna. They're quite close after all ever since she joined as her direct subordinate.

".....Is that so...."

"Well, instead of me it's Haruto-san who seemed like a dead person you know? Are you alright?"

"....My body doesn't matter."

Indeed, compare to Lena who already looked like a healthy person Haruto really seemed like a dead person.

Not only the after effect from the fight with Yomi still lingering, he also suffered from the pre-Growth state, causing a very severe physical exhaustion. In fact, the case this time was in a larger scale compared to before. The fact he could still have the energy to come visit other people already outstanding enough.

Well, it was by using his willpower that he could overcome the emotional impact from pre-Growth state.

After all this talk was very important to him.

Lena also knew what he wanted to talk about so she put her hand on her lower abdomen to caress the belly softly while lightly smiling.

After the battle with Yomi, Haruto was approached by Kaori who already dealt with the monsters.

Although he should already be unconscious but his mouth kept begging her to save Lena first. At that time, along with Haruto and Yomi, Lena too was expelled to the outside world when the Kamui's dimension was destroyed by the clash.

The fetus inside Lena was miraculously stay alive although the condition was very weak. As for the mother herself, Lena had actually lost her life not long after she returned to the outside world.

It was fortunate she only died for no more than five minutes and Kaori still able to secure her soul in order to revive her back using the combination of Regeneration Magic and Soul Magic.

The result was she's here safe and healthy along with the child inside her belly.

"Lena, I...."

"It's alright, the fact we're still here alive is already more than enough for me."

Haruto made a guilty and bitter face but Lena shook her head denying his self-accusation. He was so affected by the case this time around no matter what the outcome is, the fact he let Lena died did not change.

"Lena, regarding that child.... I cannot protect the both of you properly right now..." He said frustratingly.

"....Maybe you're right." The smile on her face faded.

"...."

Yes, there's no word to excuse the fact their child and herself beyond saving. But Lena still haven't finished talking yet.

"That's why I'll wait."

"Huh?" Haruto was perplexed.

"Once you're confident enough to protect me and our child, at that time I'll gladly give birth to him/her."

She smiled again and held Haruto's hands. He may not know but actually since she regained consciousness, she and the other girls already talked about this case and Lena asked Kaori using her Regeneration Magic to slow down the growth and development of the fetus by a hundredth times than normal.

Not only that, she also applied some protection magic in order to help protect the fetus. Now unless something very extreme happened, there's almost no way for something happened on the child.

Once Haruto was ready, at that time Kaori would remove the magic to allow the child to grow at normal speed again.

Other reason was that Lena was feeling bad of having a child with Haruto when she learnt Rikka was his first official lover so she also wanted to give birth after her at least.

"Alright, I promise I'll be the best father when time comes."

He grabbed her hands back tightly. This was the time for him to show his guts as a man rather than dwelling on his failure.

"Make sure you will, so I won't regret anything heh heh heh." She giggled.

"Right, also. About 'that' matter, umm...." Haruto nodded but his face turned very awkward soon after.

"Ah..."

Lena realized what he's trying to say and blushed. By 'that' matter, it was surely regarding the time Haruto devoured her deliciously like a beast.

What should he say regarding that? Even now he still didn't remember anything damn it!

"A-A-About that, umm what should I say.... I-I-It's not like I was trying to hide it! It's just kinda awkward and embarrassing at that time so umm well....." Lena flailed her arms and said with tomato face. Panic and embarrassment was drawn all over her face.

"I-I-I-Is that so? B-But I think you should just tell me properly you know? It was my responsibility after all!"

Haruto also very awkward with a red face. Imagining what they might have done that day but couldn't remember any of it made him wanted to cry tears of blood as a healthy young man. He cursed his weak brain for forgetting such wonderful moment.

"....Umm, If Haruto-san still not remember...."

"?"

"....Should we try it again...?"

"...."

...

.....

....WHAT!?

"Fufufufu, your face is very red Haruto-san, you're actually a very innocent boy despite your temper eh?" Lena chuckled with a teasing smile. Haruto gasped when he realized he was being teased.

Of course the fact his inner demon was very tempted and wanted to answer "Yes, gladly!" was left unsaid.

"Heh heh, please don't be mad. I'm only joking. Besides for me to that again when there's still Rikka-sama...ah."

She was still giggling before she mentioned about Rikka and seemed to remember something.

Haruto had his lover and both her and Rikka already talked about this two days ago. Rikka didn't mind because it was also an accident so there's no problem with that.

The problem was her own forgotten lover who was currently staying at Latia as an ordinary guard. What should she do with him?

There's a flash on Haruto's eyes when he saw through her mind based on her complicated expression.

"*Sigh* I guess I have to apo-"

"I won't give you back."

"Eh?"

Lena was stunned when her speech was interrupted by Haruto who was looking at her seriously.

"Lena is mine now. I don't intend to give you back to your old boyfriend. That's why you don't have to apologize to him."

"...."

Her face turned red when she heard him saying she belonged to him and becamr speechless.

"Well, considering how I force you at that time maybe you have a grudge on me but even so I don't want to let you go." There's a hint of guilt on his face for a moment but he still stare at Lena strongly.

"....I don't hate it." She opened her mouth after a short pause.

"...Excuse me?"

"...I was very confused when that happened so I don't know what should I do."

"...."

"But what I'm certain is that I don't hate that or bore a grudge against you. In fact when you came to save me a few days ago, I was so very happy...."

"Lena..."

"That's why it's alright. If you're fine with me then I don't mind to be yours." She smiled lovingly when she said this.

"...Thank you. I'll make sure you won't regret it." He grabbed her hands and hug her body close to lean on his chest.

"Un...." She snuggled while answered shyly.

They kept in that position for a few minutes before Haruto released her from his chest.

"Ah, that's right. Haruto-san is planning to go to the beastman country right?"

"....Ah, yeah...." He forgot about that and nodded awkwardly.

"Then I'll stay here." She said smiling.

"Eh? but...."

"It's okay. Even if I go I'll just be a burden and worried you because of my pregnancy. And to be honest, I don't really like fighting either, maybe it was about time I quit my job too."

"...."

"I'm going to stay here and guard the house but make sure you return quickly okay?" She caressed Haruto's cheeks.

"...If that what you decided then it can't be helped."

He sighed deeply while scratching his head before he faced her again.

"....I'll be back."

"Un, be back soon."

They smiled and hugged each other one last time tightly while saying their temporary goodbye.

Tomorrow morning was already the time he should be on his way to the beastman country in order to participate for the tournament qualifier.

At the very least before he went he already received a very precious gift along with a new resolve.