The Abandoned and Terminally Ill Lady Married a Monster - Chapter 98

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Whether a bizarre coincidence or fate, Father continued without pause.

[Anyway, he emphasized, ‘Don’t worry, I’ve made it so your soul will return once your abilities stabilize.’ So, the conclusion is! I’ll definitely wake up once my abilities are stabilized! But don’t try too hard to wake me. It’s tiring, you know.]

No, Father. I have to try. Otherwise, I can’t finish within three days. I might have even less time than that… If that happens, it will truly be the worst. Perhaps the worst thing I’ll ever do in my life. Dying, here.

I shook my head, fiddling with my fingernails. Unable to tell him I had to wake him within three days, I had to lie.

“I want to help you wake up as soon as possible.”

I decided to lie. To say I came here so urgently because I wanted to understand my own ability better.

“And I want to learn more about my ability in the process. I have no idea how to use it, so I thought it would be good if you could help me with this opportunity.”

Father hummed thoughtfully at my words.

[My dear wants to understand her ability, and I can’t tell her to take it easy. Alright, fine! I’ll do my best to help.]

Perhaps with Father’s help, we could make some progress. Trying to calm my racing heart, I met his gaze.

[You’ve probably tried this a lot, but let’s start with the basics. Focus on the flow within your body and try to feel a small gap, or a small egg-like thing. Even if you can’t feel it, try anyway. If anything happens, I think I’ll react first.]

Nodding at Father’s words, I closed my eyes and focused on my breathing. I could only feel the darkness within my body, but I concentrated, trying to sense even the smallest thread.

Despite my efforts, I achieved nothing. Father shook his head.

[I focused on feeling my body as much as I could, but unfortunately, I couldn’t sense anything either.]

I wasn’t discouraged by his words.

While I was determined to do this in three days, I didn’t expect it to happen instantly. I was prepared to do everything I could.

[It’s more difficult because this isn’t a visible ability. Hmm, considering how naturally you emit your ability, perhaps the ability itself is a first, and its manifestation is different from others. Maybe you’ve been using it so naturally since birth that you’re not even aware of it.]

“…I’ve never heard of anyone using an ability without an ability control organ.”

The ability control organ develops by the age of six, sometimes even earlier. But I didn’t have one. Not at six, not at seven. Not even now.

That’s why even I didn’t believe I had an ability. I had seen the test results with my own eyes. That’s why Mother would get angry whenever she tried to suggest I might have an ability.

Father hummed again in thought, then brought up the Ancients.

[It’s understandable that you haven’t heard of it. I wouldn’t have researched abilities this much if I weren’t in this state. Dear, have you ever heard of the Ancients?]

The Ancients? I’d never heard of them. My research consisted of sneaking into the library and stealing books. Even then, I had to return them before Lizzy and Lane returned to the academy. Mother, Father, even the servants paid little attention to me, but Lane and Lizzy would barge in and rummage through my room.

Father spoke seriously, his voice devoid of humor.

[It’s said that some Ancients used their abilities with their entire bodies, without an ability control organ—what we commonly call the ‘tiny gap.’ However, there aren’t detailed records of how they did it, so I can’t tell you more. Still, I think this is a significant clue.]

This was new information. Using abilities with the entire body…

…If taken literally, that meant I should body-slam Father, which seemed unlikely.

Feeling the entire body instead of the tiny gap. It felt like venturing into even more uncharted territory.

[Ah! Or, dear! Try spitting on me! All abilities are most concentrated in saliva and sweat!]

“W-what?! How could I possibly spit on you…!”

My horrified reaction made Father’s eyebrows droop sadly.

[If it were my son, he would have already flooded my face with spit. I suppose it was too much to ask of my sweet, dear girl. I’m sorry… Or, would you hold my hand? You might feel something through contact.]

This was the most reasonable suggestion yet. I quickly took Father’s hand, fearing he might say something even stranger.

As expected, I couldn’t see anything. If I could see something just by holding hands, I should have noticed it long ago, huh…uh…

[Oh…]

“…!”