(So… I got caught.)
After the bath incident, my sisters dragged me away, made me get dressed, and told me
"Mama and Papa want to talk to you."
Now here I am.
In the living room.
Facing… everyone.
(…This feels like a trial.)
My throat felt dry.
(Did they find out everything?)
(No… calm down… just stay quiet…)
I took a slow breath.
(Still… this might be my chance… to understand what kind of people they
really are.)
"Haruwiko-chan," Cecelion spoke calmly, "You know why you're here, right?"
My shoulders stiffened.
"…Yes."
I nodded.
"Haruwiko-chan…" Carmela's voice was soft, "Can we see it?"
My fingers twitched.
(…So they really did notice.)
(There's no way out of this…)
"…Okay."
Slowly—
I raised my left hand.
"Hey, darling," Cecelion leaned in slightly.
"Look at his guardian tattoo. It's pretty impressive."
(…Eh?)
My thoughts froze.
(…Impressive?)
"You're right," Carmela smiled warmly.
"It's really beautiful."
(…Beautiful?)
(Wait… what?)
"…Ma…ma… Pa…pa…" My voice came out smaller than I expected.
"…You're not… angry at me?"
Carmela blinked in surprise.
"Eh? Why would we be angry?"
"Yeah," Cecelion added casually.
"What made you think that?"
(…What?)
(They're not… angry?)
"…You're saying… you're not angry… because I have this…"
I looked at my hand.
"…this big blue dragon mark?"
"Of course not," Cecelion said without hesitation.
"Marks like that are completely natural for all races."
(…Natural?)
(Then… this isn't something dangerous?)
(All that worry… was for nothing…?)
"…A-Are you serious…?" I asked, still unsure.
"Of course we are," he chuckled.
"In fact—we called you here to congratulate you."
"…Congratulate… me?"
(…This isn't what I expected at all…)
"Wait…" Cecelion smirked slightly.
"Did you really think you were the only one with a guardian mark?"
My eyes widened.
"…What?"
"…Let me show you mine."
"Calibarus."
A glowing yellow lion mark appeared.
My breath caught.
(…They have them too?)
"Then I'll show mine too," Carmela said gently.
"Orion."
A green moon and star mark glowed in her hand.
One by one—
Everyone revealed theirs.
My vision felt like it slowed.
(All of them…?)
(Then… I was never alone?)
"…Eh…"
"…All of you… have mark… on your right hand?"
"Of course," Cecelion said.
Then—
He looked at me again.
"…But yours is different."
My chest tightened.
"…Different…?"
"It's on your left hand."
(…So I really am different…)
"…But don't worry too much about that."
He gently placed a hand on my head.
"…Anyway—congratulations, Haruwiko-chan."
(…Congratulations…)
(I thought I was in danger…)
(But instead… they're happy for me…)
A strange feeling spread in my chest.
Relief.
Confusion.
…And something warm.
"…Pa…pa…"
"I have a question."
"If all of you have mark… why didn't you show me before?"
"That's because you never asked," Cecelion replied.
"…And guardian marks are sacred."
As he explained—
I listened more carefully than ever.
(Only in battle… or with people you trust…)
(So… this isn't just a mark…)
(It means something important…)
"…Understood?"
I nodded.
(I'll remember this…)
"Haruwiko-chan, here," Carmela said, handing him a book.
"…Mama, what is this?"
(…I can't even read this…)
"It contains information about all guardian marks, their powers and how to hide them" she said.
(…So I can hide it…?)
"…Thank you, Mama…"
"…But I can't read yet."
I hesitated.
"…Can you tell me how to hide it?"
Carmela froze slightly.
"…Ah…"
"You see… nothing comes instantly…"
(…She doesn't know, does she…)
I nodded anyway.
"Haruwiko-chan!" Soffie stepped forward.
"I can teach you how to read!"
"Me too!" Sappeh added quickly.
(…Right…)
(They're ahead of me…)
"…If that's okay…"
"…Onee-chan. Nee-chan."
"Of course!"
"Let's go to the study room!"
Before I could react—
They grabbed me again.
(…At least this time… I'm not being dragged to my judgment…)
(Still…)
I looked at my left hand.
(This mark…)
(Bakunawa why you don't say anything about this....?)