The Corrupted Daily Life of an Alchemist Who Returned on His Own - Episode 12: A Step Toward Repaying Kindness

Episode 12: A Step Toward Repaying Kindness

“Tadaima.”

The next day, early morning.

“Ah, Onii-chan, welcome back!”

“Ah, it’s Minato Shō, welcome back.”

“Shō-chan, welcome back. We were waiting for you.”

“Onii, you’re late.”

For some reason, it seems my entire family was sitting formally in the living room waiting for me.

“Oh, wait a sec.”

Umm, let’s see…

I rummage through my bag and line up the bento and drinks I bought on the way home on the table.

“I bought these. If it’s okay, let’s all eat together.”

Hm?

“What’s wrong, everyone?”

When I look up, everyone’s expression is unusually serious.

“Minato Shō. We need to talk.”

“Whoa… Dad, why so serious?”

Because of the intense pressure, I sat down directly in front of him and opened the bento as I spoke.

“Minato Shō, you didn’t do anything bad, did you?”

“Dad, that’s way too direct.”

“That’s right. Shō-chan must have his reasons.”

“It’s fine, it’s fine. So, how about it, Minato Shō?”

Dad brushes aside the two of them and looks me in the eyes.

“I didn’t do anything bad. I swear.”

Well, although on the other side, just calling myself Kelvin almost got me killed a bunch of times.

“Hm?”

Then, silently, Dad slides two items over to me on the table.

“A passbook and a card?”

“Yesterday, while you were out, the chairman of Shiranami Holdings came directly to our house.”

That old man… To do this while I’m not home.

“He said it was a thank-you for helping him.”

“Ah… yeah. The knowledge I studied was super helpful.”

“Is that so? I happen to know someone lucky enough to get into Shiranami. In times like this. But apparently, it’s not the kind of job you can do just because you graduated from a good university. To hand a passbook to a mere 15-year-old child—Dad figured you must’ve done something outrageous.”

Well, he’s not wrong.

The chairman probably understands that too.

“I swear I didn’t. I’ve just been studying investment stuff. And my prediction just happened to be right. He said he wants me to help out from time to time.”

A few seconds of silent stares stab into me.

Isn’t this scarier than a Demon Lord?

It’s been a while…

Since I’ve seen this uniquely warm expression of my family.

“…I see. Sorry for doubting you. Maybe our Minato Shō is a genius after all.”

“Stop it. I’m not a genius. I only studied to make this house a little better.”

“That’s such a nice thing to say.”

“By the way, how much was in it?”

When I said that, Dad’s face hardened.

Looks like he even saw the amount.

“A few hundred million?”

“…You knew?”

“Well, I told the Shiranami chairman. I asked him to prepare an amount equal to the potential damages. I said, ‘It’s only natural if you value life the same.’”

He probably doesn’t know the details of the deal. So I’ll just be vague.

“My son, just how brave are you…

…Sigh, I understand. I’ll properly hand this over to you.”

That must have been a sigh on the adult level of complex emotions.

From a normal person’s view, it’s like winning the lottery. And his son got it by pushing forward.

And the opponent is Shiranami.

A group capable of anything outside common sense.

“Dad, Mom.”

Jeez, I thought I was finally going to enjoy breakfast──but I…

“Minato Shō, you—”

“Of course I’ll take some. But I want this──used for the debt.”

“No! That’s the money Shō-chan earned, right?”

“I know. But—”

ーーHahaha! Minato Shō, you ask? Our child? Tokyo University? He’s a genius capable of going even higher than that! Yes! Absolutely!

ーーOur Shō-chan is such a good boy! Our pride and joy! If anything happens, Shō-chan will fix it all! So we’re happy!

ーーO-Onii… Th-thank you, always…!

ーーMinato Shō-Oniichan! Let’s make mud dumplings next time!

Suddenly, I hear them──voices from the past.

They come back. Along with vivid memories.

“I’ve already──received enough happiness.”

The only words that came out of my mouth were these.

It’s a feeling I never received on the other side.

Fear, awe, domination.

I, who could do anything, never once had──no, was never even allowed to have this feeling or these words.

“I──”

Yes. I saw hell.

ーーMom, why aren’t you home at night?

That desperate, forced smile.

I can’t forget Mom’s face, always filled with sadness.

ーーMinato Shō, today’s dinner is, you know!

Yeah. I know.

That Dad and Mom often didn’t eat.

I saw them about to puke in the toilet with empty stomachs.

Even so, they never showed sad faces in front of us. And they understood they shouldn’t.

Realizing that hurt me.

But I couldn’t do anything.

No money, no connections.

That’s why I thought I had no choice but to take the entrance exam to save this family.

ーーOh my, Izaki-san hasn’t bathed again?

ーーAhaha. Sorry.

I saw Mom apologizing desperately while being bad-mouthed.

I saw Dad forcing a smile to pretend it didn’t happen.

When the people you live with are treated that way, who could stand it?

So I tried desperately to pass the entrance exams.

Minami. Kensai.

If I could pass, if I could land a job,

then we’d never have to suffer like that again.

But fate didn’t allow it.

“Minato Shō…”

“So use this, to let our family live a normal life. Parent, child—it doesn’t matter, right?”

I couldn’t say it back then. Maybe this is redemption for my past self. I don’t care what it is.

──I’m saying it now.

“I know, okay? That you and Dad didn’t get to eat.

That Kensai and Minami whispered so they wouldn’t disturb me, that they tried to smile at dinner. I know it all.

It made me happy. Really happy. But that alone doesn’t make everyone happy.

So I don’t care how much money it takes.

Let’s pay off the debt, move to a normal house, and live a normal life.

If it’s for that, then I’ll──”

I know I’m getting emotional.

But I can’t help it.

Not because of who I am now, but because I’m still pulled by my past.

Back then, I couldn’t say it.

But now, I can.

“I’ll make it happen, even if I have to kill everyone on Earth.”

“S-Shō-chan…”

“I don’t care. My whole world is this family right here.”

Mom covering her face, crying. Minami and Kensai silently bowing their heads.

And Dad looking up, expressionless.

“I disagree with that view.”

“Of course you’d say that, Dad.”

“But, Minato Shō──”

Maybe swallowing his pride,

Dad paused.

Took a breath, then bowed his head deeply to me.

“I’m proud of you.”

The clenched fist behind his back, hidden from Mom and the others, told me that Dad had long held back feelings he could never say.

Back then, I didn’t realize even that. That’s why I had a complicated expression.

Being a parent is hard, huh.

“Papa.”

“Dear…”

“I could never do what you did. That’s why I’ve caused trouble for everyone. And I think it’s my punishment. So I’m sorry──Minato Shō. And from the bottom of my heart… thank you.”

“This is the value of the happiness I’ve received. I can make as much money as we need. So, so──”

“It’s okay, Shō-chan! You don’t have to say that! I’m sorry for being a useless mom!”

“Waaahhh!!! Onii-chan!!”

“Onii!!”

We suddenly overturned the table and hugged each other.

The bento spilled… but who cares.

“This is what a family is… right?”

Even a quiet murmur like that couldn’t be heard.

Influenced by Mom, the two others started crying too. And we all bawled together.

This time, maybe—just maybe—we turned things around a little.

Seeing Dad cry silently made me feel a bit relieved.

And after that, all of us picked up the spilled bento and ate it together.

Ten years from now, that won’t be a sad memory──

It will definitely be a good one.

I never thought I’d be crying, even half-crying.

Seems I haven’t completely given up on being human yet.