Paul's Future, Words Left Unsaid

After Paul clapped his forehead and assured Mrs. Somal that Allen hadn't bullied Somal, the lady finally blushed and left, satisfied, under Zenith's fervent gaze.

Mmm.

Truly the one and only pure love warrior of Buena Village, in every sense.

Subsequently, egged on by Allen and with Lokkishi not being good at refusing, it wasn't long before the group gathered in a circle in the yard to begin testing Sylphy's magic control and mana level. This also drew Zenith and Lilia to watch.

"Alright, Sylphy, cast a Water Ball Spell, okay? And be careful not to hit Mrs. Zenith's carefully cultivated trees."

"Okay! Water Ball Spell!"

"Hey! Sylphy, you splashed the Water Ball Spell on my head! Where are you looking?!"

"...I-I'm sorry, Rudy!"

Sylphy apologized distractedly and flustered, her eyes constantly flitting towards Lokkishi.

The latter looked at the two of them somewhat helplessly, scratching her face.

By this time, Lilia had already gone inside and retrieved a dry towel, and was now wiping Rudy's hair.

Zenith, meanwhile, wore a helplessly doting smile, standing by serenely watching the children's antics.

This scene, like a painting, was etched into Allen's pupils. He chuckled happily.

In ten years or so, when Rudy settles in Sharia in the Ranoa Kingdom, perhaps he'll have a similar scene... I feel like I'm vaguely seeing the future.

He blinked, took two steps back, and looked at the five people again.

Rudy... Lokkishi... Sylphy... Lilia... Zenith.

The summer sun was dazzling, clearly illuminating the faces of the five.

The smile on Allen's face slowly faded.

The characters I've seen at this point in the story... Everyone who should be at Rudy's home in Sharia in the future is here.

"The people who shouldn't be absent in the future," Allen thought, turning his head to look behind him.

Not far away, Paul leaned against a tree trunk, the tree's shade like an umbrella, concealing his figure in the shadows beneath the tree.

He and Zenith and the others were not bathed in the same sunlight.

The leaves cast dappled shadows, and Allen felt Paul's gaze lingering on the group in the sunlight, yet he couldn't quite make out his expression.

He squinted, then turned and stepped into the shadow beside Paul, turning his head to look at his face.

Paul leaned quietly against the tree, his arms crossed, a smile playing on his lips as he silently watched his wife and children in the sunlight, seemingly quite content. He didn't turn to look at Allen approaching, merely kept his gaze fixed on the distance, and said with a smile, "Oh? What brings you over here?"

Allen looked at Paul's profile, silent for a long time, before finally speaking.

"Uncle, honestly, I don't have a concept of family, so I've always been curious: if I were to die, how would my family feel?"

Paul paused, tilted his head to look at Allen, and after a long moment of hesitation, sighed.

"Well, I really want to tell you some pretty words, but I'm sorry, Allen."

Paul glanced at Zenith and Rudy in the distance, then looked apologetically at Allen.

"Honestly, I can't empathize with you... But I think—"

Allen immediately interrupted him.

"What if I said, hypothetically, putting yourself in that situation, that one day in the future, Uncle, you passed away due to some accident? In your final moments, would you have any lingering regrets for your family? Would there be anything you'd want to say...?"

Allen looked at Paul's surprised expression, completing his sentence.

"...Or would you say nothing at all in the end, just watch your family, and quietly accept death?"

Just like in the original story.

Paul had been somewhat annoyed, but seeing Allen's serious expression, and realizing the other party's current lack of family support, he couldn't help but sigh inwardly. He didn't dwell on Allen's rash words.

After a moment of silence, he thought for a long time before speaking.

"If this were back when I was an adventurer a few years ago... I might have said nothing and accepted death calmly. To be honest, I've always had one regret, something I wanted to talk about with my deceased father face-to-face to resolve. So death doesn't mean an end for me. Besides, adventurers face numerous dangers every day, and everyone is mentally prepared to die from an accident."

Allen blinked, about to speak, when he saw Paul look up at Zenith and Rudy, a gentle smile on his face.

"If it were now, I couldn't be so open-minded. If I really died in some accident in the future, if possible, before I die—"

"I'd want to see Zenith and Rudy one last time."

Allen looked up at the tear mole near his eye.

"See them?"

Paul's smile gradually faded.

"Yes, to see if they're alright... If they're both safe, I might feel a little relieved, haha. Besides that, there's also my own little thought... I might think..."

"Perhaps everyone would cry for me, this incompetent head of the family?"

Allen no longer looked at Paul. He lowered his head to look at the scabbard by his hand. Paul's words continued.

"...If Zenith, Rudy, and even Lilia would cry for me."

"That would be wonderful then."

After he said this, a moment of silence fell between them.

"But just one look, and I wouldn't be satisfied."

Allen didn't lift his head, his eyelids slightly lowered.

Paul gave a self-deprecating laugh.

"Anyone can say pretty words. Maybe there will truly be a day when I force myself to accept reality and pretend to be calm as I face death, but deep down, I'd undoubtedly be wailing things like, 'I don't want to die.' After all—"

"...I still have so many things I want to do."

"...I can't bear to leave Zenith. Maybe in a few years, we might even have a few more children. And I can't bear to leave Rudy. I want to see Rudy and my children grow up. Are they doing well in school? Are they being bullied? If all goes well, when I'm old, I'd hear my grandchildren calling me Grandpa... that would be nice too."

"Turns out, I really don't want to die. Just thinking about it fills me with things I'd regret leaving behind."

Allen subconsciously began to rub the knife at his waist.

"What if you and Rudy were in an extremely dangerous situation, and only one of you could survive? Or, what if the situation became so critical that you would die to save him...? In that case, what would you think, Uncle?"

Paul froze, Rudy's distant figure reflected in his pupils.

He didn't pause and weigh his words like before. He merely blinked once, then immediately turned to look at Allen.

"Even though there's a pile of things I still want to do, if it had to be one or the other, then never mind..."

He smiled.

"I'd rather die."

Regarding the plot: Novel readers might find this more impactful, but anime viewers might be confused. Well... if you're still watching the anime, you might feel it in about a week.