The Incompetent Noblewoman Marries the 'Devil of the Far East' as a Substitute Bride—Told by Her Parents to 'Die in Place of Your Sister,' She Left the House, but Her New Family Turned Out to Be Wonderful and She's Happy - Episode 1.5
“Awake?”
Satoru-sama was peering into my face.
He lets out a sigh of relief.
“Since you suddenly collapsed, I was worried, you know?”
“Worried…?”
Me?
Worried…?
Lies, or rather, just pleasantries.
Then, Satoru-sama pouted as if sulking.
“You have no idea how much I’ve worried about you.”
He helped me up.
That was the sushi restaurant from earlier.
The tatami room next to the counter.
Using a zabuton as a pillow, it seems I was laid down there.
My body, which had just gotten up… Satoru-sama hugged me tightly, very tightly…
“Sa, Satoru-sama!? What’s wrong!?”
“Be a little quiet.”
And so, I belatedly realized.
His body is trembling.
Why am I trembling?
Fear? What about?
The invincible Satoru-sama, who can use barrier techniques, what on earth could he be afraid of?
“I was worried sick thinking you might have died.”
Whisper softly.
It’s really small.
As if no one else could hear it but me.
“You are… the only woman I can touch. The only woman who gives me warmth. I told you, didn’t I? You are special.”
Satoru-sama hugs me tightly.
warm.
“You’re feeling this warmth too, right? So am I. I… once I’ve known this warmth, I can never go back. I don’t want to go back. Being alone… is lonely.”
The warmth conveyed from him. And then… the trembling of my body.
I can really feel that you genuinely care about me.
If you’re not around, it would be a problem…
“Why are you going so far with someone you just met…?”
“Oh, how frustrating. Truly, so frustrating…!”
Suddenly, Satoru-sama raises his voice.
“How can I make you understand? That I’m serious.”
“I’m so sorry…”
Right now, I can’t understand at all what Satoru-sama is saying.
But… there is one thing that is certain.
He truly, truly cares about me.
You carried me to my room when I fainted and have been taking care of me like this.
“I’m sorry for making you uncomfortable, Satoru-sama…”
“No, it’s fine. It’s my fault.”
“That’s not true! There’s not a single thing wrong with you, Satoru-sama! The problem is… me, the foolish one who can’t understand what Satoru-sama is trying to say…”
Sighing, Satoru-sama let out a long breath.
“I told you not to apologize.”
“Ex-excuse me…”
Then he leans in closer. And… shh.
You placed your finger on my lips.
“Every time negative words come out of that mouth, should I just cover it with my lips?”
W-What… are you saying…?
W-w-with my lips… c-cover it?
“Just kidding.”
“Y-yeah, that’s right… It’s a joke, right…?”
On one hand, I feel relieved, but on the other hand, I can’t help but feel a bit disappointed.
How disrespectful.
Someone as incompetent and worthless as me, kissing the head of the Ichijo family, who possesses such natural talent… it’s utterly unthinkable.
“Weren’t you just putting yourself down again? I’m serious, I’ll cover your mouth!”
I was about to say “Sorry, it was a reflex,” but then I closed my mouth.
Because Satoru-sama had a serious look in his eyes.
“Very well. Now then, bride. I shall impart some knowledge to you.”
“Are you saying it’s study time?”
“Well, that’s about it. The ride will be here soon. In the meantime, there’s something I want you to know.”
It doesn’t seem like much time has passed since the commotion with the fish yokai earlier.
Even though I tried to distance myself from Satoru-sama… he wouldn’t let me go.
“Ah. Um…”
“Well, just listen to this. What I’m about to explain is why you were able to detoxify the fish demon’s poison.”
That’s right. I was curious about it.
With just my touch, the poison from that demon vanished from the girl who was suffering.
“To put it simply, it’s because you negated the power of the demon with your own supernatural ability.”
Did I just nullify the power of the demon with my… ability to kill ability users…?
“What do you mean? I should only be able to nullify abilities, right? Demons have nothing to do with abilities, do they?”
“No, it’s not unrelated.”
Then… Satoru-sama loosens his kimono a little.
“Try pressing your forehead against my chest.”
“Huh!?”
M-Master Satoru’s… bare skin… to touch…?
M-me, someone like me?
Negative words are about to come out again.
Satoru-sama stared at me with half-closed eyes. My lips were almost sealed…
“I-I understand.”
“Being honest is the best. Keep it up like that from now on.”
I approach Satoru-sama.
What peeks out from the loosened kimono is a well-trained… body.
Mr. Satoru is slender, yet his muscles are trained like steel.
I press my forehead against his surprisingly thick chest.
At that moment, an image surfaced in my mind.
What… is this…?
I am in a completely white place.
And in front of me, there was a gigantic… mountain.
No, that’s not right.
“A big… turtle…?”
A giant turtle so large that you have to look up to see it.
It looks so much like a mountain range.
Wow, it’s so big…
Glaring, its overly large eyeball stares at me.
Hello, miss.
W-What is this…?
Whose voice… ?
Thank you for coming to Satoru.
The large eyes narrow slightly. Could it be…… that this turtle spoke?
That’s right. I am the Spirit Tortoise, Reiko. I am the spirit beast that the Ichijo family has inherited for generations.
I see, right?
Zashiki-warashi, and, oh my, even the power of the gluttonous beast.
Zashiki-warashi…?
Tao Tie…？
There are only a handful of reincarnation-type ability users, but the reincarnation of two demons is an unprecedented rarity in history.
I can’t understand what you’re saying…
Miss, what is your name?
“Uh, um… I’m Rei. Rei Saiga.”
Rei, please… support Satoru for a long time.
Before I knew it, I had opened my eyes.
“Did you see it?”
“Y-yes…”
I was still inside the sushi restaurant.
That was… what on earth…? Where could it have been?
“That’s inside my heart. There, I keep a spirit turtle.”
“Raise a spirit turtle…?”
“Ah. We have demons living inside our bodies.”
“!?!”
Even the Spirit Tortoise… is a demon.
“The power of the supernatural abilities originates from the demons within the body. The stronger the presence of the demons within the body, the stronger the person is as a supernatural being.”
My ability cancels out other abilities.
In other words… I can erase the power of the youma, the source of the supernatural abilities.
So… with the power of the youma (the power of the supernatural), I was able to neutralize the poison of the girl who was on the brink of death.
“Correct. It’s a relief to have a smart woman like you. I’ve truly gained a wonderful wife.”
Satoru-sama praised me and patted my head.
I wonder when was the last time I was praised like this…
I can’t help but feel very happy.
and then, I can’t help but think.
I don’t want to leave this person’s side…
I dared to think it, though.
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