The Otherworld Was Way Too Brutal – After I Healed the Mutilated Girl, She Turned Into a Completely Obsessed Yandere Guard Dog - Chapter 24.2

Chapter 24.2

“A strong leader coming back means stability and order. But if that power’s too overwhelming, it just turns into rule by fear.”

Her words hit heavy.

I’d helped carry that weight.

When we reached the square, Ray was sitting on a bench staring up at the sky.

The second he spotted us, he jumped up and ran over.

“Jin! Lady Cattleya! You’re okay!”

“Yo, Ray. Sorry for worrying you.”

“Yesterday was insane. Screams from magic beasts and earth-shaking roars coming from outside the wall… the guards were freaking out.”

Ray was talking super excitedly.

“So what happened to that stampede in the end? Word is by morning every single one was a corpse.”

“Yeah, we took care of ’em.”

“…Huh?”

“And while we were at it, we killed the big frog that caused the whole thing.”

I said it casually, and Ray just stood there opening and closing his mouth like a fish.

“Y-you… you two stopped a stampede by yourselves? And took down that huge frog…?”

“Well, we were one step away from dying, but yeah.”

“I can’t believe it… Are you even human, man?”

Ray grabbed his head like he was losing it.

But then his face turned serious again.

“Still—don’t let your guard down. That big frog showing up means the northern forest ecosystem is completely trashed. Way weirder magic beasts might start coming down from now on.”

“Yeah, I know. Once Tsugumi’s leg is fixed, we’re getting back to serious hunting.”

“Leg…?”

Ray reacted right away to that word.

“Wait—don’t tell me…”

“I hit level 4. I can regenerate now.”

When I told him, Ray went completely speechless this time—then he broke into this teary-eyed grin.

“…You did it, huh. Congrats, Jin. Seriously.”

“Thanks. Couldn’t have done it without you, Ray.”

After saying bye to Ray, we stocked up on food at the market and headed home.

Best way to recover mana is eat good nutritious stuff and sleep.

On the way back, Cattleya suddenly spoke up.

“Jin. What’re you planning to do after this?”

“After what?”

“After the girl’s leg is healed. Your goal’s done. You just gonna keep doing whatever Lord Sumeragi tells you forever?”

Sharp question.

Truth was, healing Tsugumi had been my entire purpose.

Once that was finished… what the hell would I even fight for?

“…Dunno. But to protect Tsugumi, I need power. So while I answer Genzou’s demands, I’ve gotta get strong enough to surpass him eventually.”

“That’s a path of carnage, you know.”

“Bit late to say that now.”

I laughed a little, and I swear I felt Cattleya give a tiny chuckle inside her helmet.

When we got home, the room smelled like sweat.

And I could hear this rough panting—hah… hah…

“Tsugumi!?”

I rushed inside.

Tsugumi was collapsed on the floor.

But she wasn’t hurt.

She was just drenched in sweat, breathing hard through her shoulders.

Empty water containers were scattered all around her.

Looked like she’d been using them as makeshift dumbbells for strength training.

“Welcome… back… Jin…”

“I told you not to push yourself…”

“I’m… fine… this much is…”

Tsugumi pushed herself up with her new left hand.

Her face was flushed from exhaustion, but her eyes were shining bright.

“I think… the muscles that got weak are coming back a little.”

“You’re moving too fast. It’s not too late to wait till your leg’s healed.”

“No. I wanna be able to move right away once my leg’s back.”

I sighed but still wiped her body down and gave her water.

There was no winning against Tsugumi’s stubbornness.

After dinner.

While I was meditating on the bed to recover mana, I overheard Tsugumi talking to Cattleya.

“Hey, Cattleya.”

“What.”

Cattleya answered without stopping her sword maintenance.

“Teach me how to fight.”

I couldn’t help opening my eyes.

Cattleya stopped her hands too and looked at Tsugumi.

“…How to fight, you said?”

“Yeah. Sword, knife, whatever. Something to protect myself and kill enemies.”

Tsugumi’s voice was dead serious.

This wasn’t a joke or whim.

“You still don’t have a leg. And Jin will protect you anyway.”

“That’s not enough.”

Tsugumi shook her head.

“Jin’s too kind. He’ll hurt himself to keep me safe—like he did with that big frog.”

She clenched her left hand hard.

“If I get strong, Jin won’t have to push himself. If I can kill the enemies, Jin won’t get hurt.”

“…That’s pretty extreme thinking.”

“Please. Once my leg’s healed, I wanna be useful right away.”

Cattleya stared at Tsugumi for a long moment.

Finally she sheathed her sword and let out a small breath.

“Fine.”

“Really!?”

“Yeah. But my training isn’t gentle. Even Jin would groan through it.”

“That’s okay. If Jin could handle it, I can too.”

Tsugumi answered instantly.

Cattleya’s mouth curved up a little.

“I like it. That look in your eye. You’re not just some princess who needs protecting.”

Listening to the two of them, my feelings were kinda mixed.

It was good that Tsugumi wanted to get stronger.

But the fact her reason was so aggressive—about killing enemies—made me a little uneasy.

Well… with Cattleya watching over her, it should be fine.

I closed my eyes again.

I could feel the mana pool inside me slowly filling up.

By tomorrow morning, I should have enough.

It was finally time.

The day Tsugumi would stand on the ground with both legs.

And that day would also mark the start of us moving to the next stage.