I Became the Final Subjugation Target of That Era’s Light Novel

If it doesn’t hurt, that’s a lie.

There’s no way that being sliced and torn wouldn’t hurt. Until I got a job, I used to whine even when I just cut my fingers on paper.

No, I often whined even in ordinary daily life. I didn’t want to be in pain when I didn’t have to be.

But how about now?

The pain in my body is gone. Anyway, this body doesn’t leave wounds. No matter how many times I’m cut or torn.

Probably, my body won’t break either. Right. This was different from Koko. Even when I was bitten by that bear-like monster, I managed to keep the shape of my body.

I thought maybe I should have asked that thing that spoke to me a bit longer, but, well, it doesn’t matter anymore. Either way, I’ve lived like this.

Probably, my family is safe too.

When I opened my eyes, the ceiling I saw wasn’t the one I’d seen yesterday. It was a place I visited, so it was just a once-seen ceiling.

It wasn’t the ceiling of an ordinary person’s house, but more like the ceiling of a large building. It had a typical shape.

My body… couldn’t move.

It wasn’t like my body was tied up or anything—

No. In a way, you could say it was.

Kagami lying next to me was hugging me so tightly that it was a bit hard to breathe.

Realizing that late, I felt that warmth. It was that kind of warmth that always puts my mind at ease. It was mom’s embrace. The hug I regretted losing only after losing my entire family in my previous life.

“……”

Moreover, Koko was also attached to me, making it even more difficult to move.

What should I do, I thought.

“Kotone.”

I heard Kagami calling me.

At that voice, my body stiffened.

Kagami’s hug was warm, and it was always what I wanted, but Kagami’s expression wasn’t always the one I hoped for.

I liked it when Kagami smiled. I wished she would smile happily, hug me tightly as if I were truly adorable, and pat my head. After all, once you become an adult, you can’t do such things anymore.

Still, I thought she could at least keep smiling.

However, Kagami’s voice calling me was low.

“Kotone. How’s your body a bit?”

Kagami asked still hugging me tightly. I turned my head, and Kagami was still with her eyes closed. She looked as if she could fall asleep right there.

“…I’m okay now.”

Even though I felt like Kagami wouldn’t believe me for some reason, I answered that way.

“……”

Kagami stayed silent for a moment before quietly opening her mouth again.

“Is it always like that…?”

“No, it’s not always like that.”

I answered coolly. At least this wasn’t a lie, so I could say it without much thought.

“So it’s not always.”

“Uh, well…”

But I got flustered by Kagami’s next words as I couldn’t properly respond.

Saying it’s not always means, conversely, that there are situations when it is “always.”

“…In the end, I knew I’d end up living this kind of life, but still, I didn’t want to see you getting hurt like this.”

What should I say to that?

Kagami is my mom. I’m Kagami’s daughter.

That daughter, bleeding and torn, fell right in front of her. Covered in blood.

Yet, Kagami could hardly do anything for me. That fight was mine after all.

I found it hard to imagine that feeling.

I could only guess it wouldn’t be much different from the emotions I felt when I lost my family.

“I’m sorry for being such a mom.”

Until I heard that,

My heart hurt. It wasn’t just because it was beating hard; it literally felt like someone was digging into my chest.

“Not being any help at all…”

“No.”

I cut Kagami off sharply.

Then, I forced my body to turn and lie towards Kagami. I escaped from Koko’s arms that were holding me tightly and wrapped my arms around Kagami, burying my face in her embrace.

“No.”

Right. Absolutely not.

The reason I’m here, I honestly don’t know well. Maybe I’ll never know.

But I think that doesn’t matter.

I could have been born in any world. I could have been born as anyone in this world.

If I had become Shii, I would have grown up thinking that ‘mom’ was just that kind of existence. In that world, neither I nor Kagami existed, so I suppose I would have lived in that state until Sota rescued me.

Kagami perhaps ran away with me even in situations that could have been worse than that.

And somehow, she fed me. She never abused me even once, and she tried not to let me starve, even at that young age.

Even when I was still of the age to be protected as someone’s daughter, she did that.

If that’s not sacrifice, who in this world is living in sacrifice?

“I’m here because of you, mom.”

So I could say that without any hesitation this time.

The reason I’m here isn’t because of anyone else. It’s because of Kagami.

So, it’s okay not to do anything. Just watching me live from there, smiling at me sometimes, and hugging me warmly like this is enough for me.

Kagami seemed like she was going to say something, but she soon fell silent again.

Then she just pulled me closer, wrapping me snugly in her warmth.

*

People who worry about me, of course, aren’t just Kagami.

Fortunately, Shii, Sota, and Nanami didn’t see my bloody figure. The three of them were still sleeping.

Sota is supposed to be sensitive to youkai, but it seems that intensity isn’t severe yet.

It was like I ended up being rushed into the emergency room at midnight.

…Well, that’s not exactly a lie. After all, I did go to the emergency room. It seems to be a hospital designated by the government, meant for people like me.

However, even if the three who are still ordinary people didn’t see us, there are still many who worry about me.

First, Koko.

Since the morning after waking up, Koko has been sticking to me like glue. At least Kagami let go when I got out of bed, but Koko had been hugging me tightly since earlier.

She was even holding onto my arms completely, so it restricted my movement considerably.

And there was Yuka, watching us with a very complicated expression.

“……”

It’s understandable it would be complicated.

A friend almost bled to death. Now that the situation was over, there was some strange magical circle drawn on my wrist, and the knife I was holding was literally squeezed from my blood. By the end of it all, there was so much blood that it left a red mark on the sandy beach.

But because of that power, many were able to survive.

And probably, it would still be useful in the future. When fighting against beings that seem impossible to defeat. When fighting against enemies too numerous to count.

No, even if it’s not so, youkai are usually stronger than ordinary people. If you have the power to cut them down in one go, there’s hardly anything better.

I wouldn’t be dying.

But at the same time, I could easily see Yuka telling me not to use that power. The Yuka from the original work tried to keep Sota away after finding out about his powers too.

It was Sota’s role to meddle like a protagonist, always helping Yuka.

“You…”

Yuka was choosing her words carefully, then let out a long sigh.

Scratching her head,

“Are you okay?”

She completely changed the subject and avoided bringing that up.

I wonder if the government people know? I don’t really know, but at least Yuka would tell her father and grandfather. The sense of duty Yuka carries is by no means small.

“Yeah. I’m okay right now.”

“…I see.”

Yuka seemed to decide to reserve her judgment a little. It’s unavoidable. The more conclusions are reached, the more tangled the story becomes in a strange way.

If we follow efficiency, we should utilize that power, but then a close friend could get hurt. But since that injury will heal quickly— such logic would continuously circulate.

The best method would be for me to just use it right away, but—

“……”

Kagami’s gaze piercingly was glaring at me.

With a slight smile on her lips as she slices fruit, she looked like the gentle mother as always, but did that seem a bit threatening only to me?

…Well, whatever.

In the end, it means my mind is complicated as well.

What should I do from here on?

I think I’ll need a bit of time to reach a conclusion.

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