After waking up in the morning, I run and train with Norn.
When I return home, I give Sylphy, who is busy taking care of Lucy, a tight hug.
I drop by the living room to greet Aisha and Lilia good morning.
I help the still sleepy Roxy braid her hair.
I call Zenith, in the midst of a staring contest with Beet, in to eat.
All of the family eats breakfast together.
As if nothing actually happened, life returns to normal.
But the truth is, something did happen.
I did indeed have a duel to the death with Orsted.
I got my ass whupped... yet I'm alive.
The proof of that is -- I look at my hands.
If I curl them up into a fist, I can feel my fingertips in both hands.
After that.
After I prostrated myself before Orsted and swore loyalty to him...
As promised, Orsted cast healing magic on me.
Both of my hands grew back, and I finally regained all my limbs.
After casting another magic on me, he handed me a bracelet he was wearing.
Then, he said, [After your magic has replenished, contact me again] and left.
I'm wearing that bracelet right now on my left hand.
I don't know what effect this bracelet has.
Maybe it helps to replenish magic power?
Or perhaps it helps to prevent Hitogami from spying on me?
It's been 10 days since then, but Hitogami has yet to reappear in my dreams.
Orsted said that under the protection of the Dragon God, Hitogami's interference could be prevented, so maybe the latter.
Then again, it could be meaningless, just a symbol of being a subordinate of the Dragon God or something like that.
Regardless, I lost to Orsted and joined his camp.
I betrayed Hitogami and joined the other side.
I won't take off this bracelet.
I don't regret betraying Hitogami.
Honestly, I feel great.
Rather than [What have I done?], I feel more like [I did it!]
There's no going back.
In the future, no matter how annoying Orsted is, I can't betray him.
We're on the same boat.
Even if this was within Hitogami's expectations, what's done is done.
Still, in my personal opinion, Orsted seems to be more trustworthy than Hitogami.
Somehow, he somewhat reminds me of Ruijerd.
He doesn't have Ruijerd's high pride, neither does he seem to care for children like Ruijerd.
Still, compared to the Hitogami that just stares down from above doing nothing, he feels more like someone who puts his all into what he does.
In any case, a load was taken off of my shoulders.
The pressure in my chest has been relieved.
Maybe it really hasn't been relieved, but it feels like having climbed a mountain and seeing beyond.
Afterwards.
I talked with Sylphy and Roxy, who were at the place.
Sylphy cried, and Roxy reprimanded me.
They regretted not knowing how dangerous an opponent I was facing and felt anxious that I became Orsted's subordinate.
I told them it couldn't be helped, that there was no other way, and they consented for the time being.
I returned to Sharia.
After safely returning to my family, I reported to those that helped how I lost to Orsted and joined his camp.
By the way, Perugius looked the most relieved out of everyone.
Well, I guess nobody really wants to make an enemy out of someone like Orsted.
Everyone I met on the way seemed startled.
When I asked what happened, it looks like my hair has turned white.
I don't really get it, but maybe it's a similar phenomenon to what happened to Sylphy.
If my hair keeps growing with its original brown color, maybe it's a transient thing.
Even if it's permanent, since Sylphy and I match now, I don't really mind...
It's been ten days since I returned to my original lifestyle.
Though I'm vigilant of Hitogami's next move, for now, he's done nothing.
My body condition has gotten better.
I think that my dried up magic has been replenished.
Speaking of which, it seems that Orsted knows some secret about my body's magic power.
Laplace Factor or something like that...
Well, if there's a need, I'll ask Orsted to tell me.
For now, I'll wait.
By the way, speaking of good things,
There was one change to my comfortable everyday life.