If I Had To Say, I Would Say I Am A Evil Magician 220 (Patreon)

Promise Of A Promise

"......eeh"

From Hazen, an incomprehensible voice leaked out. Why, did it get exposed. Was his acting bad. Or, has he been baited. He doesn't know what he should do, how he should reply. It was a voice that came out from such emotions.

"Otou-san......sorry. But, I had thought that that might be the case since a long time ago. But......I was scared, and I acted like I didn't know the whole time"

"......"

Indeed, coughing continuously for an extended period is a symptom of God Guided Disease. It's not something of the sort that's treatable if you notice it early. It's over the moment you contract this disease. It's probably precisely so, that Liana herself, went on with her life, believing that that's not the case.

"......don't you worry. I'm Hazen＝Heim, you know. A disease like that, I'll cure it for you to see"

Hazen muttered that like he was saying it for Liana to hear, and then, like he was saying it for himself to hear, and he left the room.

"Asch......."

"......"

"Sorry"

"......why, are you apologising"

The one at fault isn't you. The one at fault, is the world. Unable to even treat the single illness of a girl, even though it exists like it's a given. The one at fault, is God. Despite bestowing life to people, it bestows nothing but sorrowful deaths. The one at fault......is me. I can't do anything for you......whom I love more than anyone else. 

"You know, I......had thought that I would surely get married to you"

"......"

"About 2 years later, maybe. You graduate from school and propose to me clumsily. Despite saying you don't want to, you'll help me choose the wedding venue and such. Despite saying you don't want to, we'll have a wedding ceremony, and even the oath, you'll say it begrudgingly. We'll have a daughter, and Otou-san will end up doting on her and coming over every day. And, he'll bicker with Asch every day, and you'll occasionally battle for real. In reality, Asch, you want to pamper her, and yet you can't because of Otou-san, and you get sullen, and I watch that scenery from the kitchen and smile awkwardly......I'd thought that such a future would come......but, sorry"

Don't apologise to me.

While making such a sorrowful expression.

Don't say such heartbreaking words to me.

"......impossible"

"Eh?"

"I'll propose to you 2 years later? Are you saying you have that much charm? Let me say it beforehand, I have no such intentions at all. I adamantly, wish for you to rectify your vision for the future"

"Wha-, wha-, what did you say!?"

"Hahaha......are you saying that you make a good match for me? You have to work even, even harder to make a good match for me. Yeah......at least, another 50 years......no, I can give marriage a thought if it's after 80 years"

"......eh?"

"Even that's cutting it close. From here on out, I plan to discover the treatment for the God Guided Disease and receive the Continent Magic Association MVP award, so I'll probably be real popular. There'll probably be as many charming women approaching me as I want, so you also have to work hard to become a woman who matches me; well, even so, it'll probably be 80 years later"

"......puu......fufufufufufu, as I thought, you're clumsy. Then, it'll be a wedding ceremony after I become a hobbling old lady, won't it"

"I like older ladies, so there's no problem at all"

"Fufufu......fufufufufufufu"

Liana, while making a smile, places her hands near her eyes.

"Kukuku......"

The two of them laugh together.

Before long, 

the Dark Magician, stuck out his pinky in front of Liana.

"It's a promise. I'll definitely, treat your illness for you to see. That's why, read a book or something, and wait for me"

"......un, I promise"

Liana, happily, sticks her pinky out and intertwines them.

"Don't you worry about a thing. Have I ever broken a promise before?"

"......you occasionally do though"

"Guh......it's a promise of a promise. That, I have never broken before, right?"

"Fufufu......eeh, since this will be the first time"

"Kuh......you always have something to say, don't you! It's that part of you, you know!"

"Eeh, I do"

After exchanging such banter, Asch left the room slightly angry.

A few minutes later, he enters a certain room.

"......Asch huh"

Hazen, who was prepping inside the room, mutters without even turning around.

"Hazen-sensei......please let me help out as well"

"......come with me"

The Strongest Magician's words, reverberated very, very deeply.