...Though I said that, I ended up not forgiving her, and was antagonistic with her for years."
"Antagonistic?"
"Time and time again, I was almost killed by Eris. She would chase me no matter where I went, and every time she found me it would turn into a no-holds-barred battle. Well, she took it easy on me. If she wanted to, there were plenty of ways to kill me. She would make sure never to pick a fight where she'd kill me.
On the contrary, if I was ever in a crisis, she'd save me from the shadows. Almost like Vegeta." [2]
'Vegeta'...
"Well, she's different from the prince of the vegetable country. She just wanted to be by my side. She had always loved me. She loved me and did her very best for me...
But she's bad at expressing herself, and didn't know what she should do, so the only thing she was able to do was hit me."
Even if he tells me that.
I'm someone with wives and a child.
It's true that there was a time when I loved Eris.
But, that's... in the past.
"But Slyphy and Roxy..."
"Not a problem. Sylphy's tolerant about that kind of thing, and Roxy doesn't think that she suits me, so she'll allow it. Even Eris, if you give her an explanation in advance, will agree. Oh, but prepare to get hit. Because she's that kind of woman."
"Even if you say that..."
"Protect all of the women who say they love you. Isn't that nice? What's wrong with that? A man should be reliable."
"Don't say it like it's somebody else's problem."
"I'm saying it because I was left with no one."
There was a strange sense of weight to the old man's words.
But you know...
"I have a responsibility toward Sylphy and Roxy..."
"If you're talking about responsibility, you have one toward Eris too. She's been persevering for your sake the whole time. She's a poor talker so it didn't get through to you, but the whole time. If you don't take responsibility for her, what about all her effort?
...You'll be condemned by Ghyslaine. In front of Eris's body."
Eris's... body?
"Eris... dies too...?"
"Yeah, to cover me. If I remember right... That was when I had a rematch with Atofe. A serious Demon Lord was stronger than I thought, and I let my guard down."
The old man said that nostalgically, the corner of his mouth twisted.
To be able to be inattentive toward Atofe, just how strong is he? This future me.
It seemed doubtful, is he really me?