Chapter 192: From Destination to The Next Commission (1/2)
Loren drowsily thought that he remembered this sensation.
He remembered swaying in a vortex of unthinkable magic power and could only cry. He couldn’t tell exactly when it happened, but he was strangely sure that it really did happen. Loren didn’t even remember when the last time he cried, so it was probably from a long time ago. He vaguely remembered someone else being there and kept soothing him though.
As he reached out for help because of the recalled pain, something warm enveloped his hand, and his body relaxed in relief.
“Oh, that’s bold.”
“Mother? Could you please explain in way I can understand why you are here?”
“To evaluate the man my daughter brings home.”
“That’s too blunt.”
The two women’s conversation forcibly pulled Loren back from the realm of sleep. Upon opening his heavy eyelids, the first thing that appeared in this sight was an indignant-looking Lapis. Next was a woman in a rather extravagant dress who was, for some reason, straddling him. The woman had long black hair that casually flowed down her back, and somehow resembled Lapis. From the conversation he had overheard earlier, she must be Lapis’ mother, but appearance-wise, she didn’t look like someone who had such a big daughter at all.
The woman’s eyes were a surprisingly clear purple, so there was no doubt she was from the demon race.
“Oh, you’ve woken? Sorry for being so noisy.”
“Mother, please get off Loren. That is my place.”
“Is that so?”
The woman asked, but still obediently got off. As the weight atop of him was gone, Loren sighed in relief. But for some reason, Lapis climbed up and sat on him in the exact same spot, and Loren choked again.
“Sleep a bit more, Loren.”
“Don’t do that. Get down, Lapis.”
Loren lightly tapped at her knee and asked, and Lapis slowly got down with a somewhat dissatisfied look on her face.
Loren’s clothes were not completely taken off when he was put into this bed, but his boots and jackets were. Both were now neatly placed together near the wall. Nigg was still on the jacket, as if it had really claimed that spot as his lair.
Looking around, Loren understood that he was in a bedroom of sorts and bright light was streaming in from the window.
“I am… still alive? Where is this?”
Recalling what had happened before he lost consciousness, Loren was sure it wouldn’t be strange if he just died. It was such a strong force. Loren wanted to know what happened after the black-clad man clashed with whatever power Lapis was wielding, but he also didn’t want to know. It was a complicated feeling.
“You’re alive, and this is my home. Is this explanation alright for you?”
“Home?”
Loren asked and looked at the other woman, who was standing smilingly next to Lapis. According to what Lapis had just said, he was lying in one of the rooms in her home, and the smiling woman was indeed her mother.
“How much time has passed?”
Loren didn’t add ‘since I passed out’ because he thought Lapis would get it. She answered immediately.
“It’s just past dawn.”
Not that much time had passed then. Loren wanted to leave the bed, but Lapis and the other woman stopped him.
“Please sleep a bit more, Loren. I’ve healed you, but it was pretty severe.”
“I’m sorry that our Lapis acted without thinking of the consequences.”
Loren wondered what she was talking about for a moment, but then immediately realized she meant the clash with that black-clad man. It seemed like he had passed out because of it, and that was what she was apologizing for.
“I couldn’t do anything else at the time.”
“In that case, you haven’t really grown up, have you, Lapis-chan?”
The woman smiled, and Lapis seemed to lightly gritted her teeth. Loren coughed lightly while wondering if it was alright for him to cut in.
“Ah, Loren, let me do some introduction. This is mother.”
Loren had no idea how managed to clear he throat so fast, but Lapis pulled the smiling woman by the shoulder with one hand and pointed at her with the other and made a perfunctory introduction. The woman gave him a polite bow.