The Time-Stop Breeding Uncle Wants To Retire – Chapter 93

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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: FusionX
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Did I just say the penalty for time deceleration was weak?

I take it back.

I wasn’t lying, it really felt like I was going to die.

A pain like my head was being struck by an ax had been persisting.

But if I released time deceleration, that crazy red storm would engulf us for sure.

So, I gritted my teeth and endured.

Then, the headache intensified.

The pain, which felt like an ax striking my head, now transformed into the feeling of an electric saw grinding it.

I couldn’t even speak properly.

Eventually, I screamed.

The red storm that seemed to devour everything began to slowly subside.

Thankfully, it ended before I completely lost my mind.

I collapsed to the ground.

My legs wouldn’t move, as if my muscles had been severed.

The headache still lingered.

I wanted to just lie down on the ground, but I couldn’t even do that.

“…Damn it.”

I couldn’t feel anything.

My vision blurred, as if I was about to faint.

How long did it last?

I don’t know.

But in the meantime, someone approached me.

“Are you alright, Teacher?”

“Helia, is that you?”

“Yes, it’s me.”

Hearing Helia’s voice, I was finally able to relax.

Perhaps because my body had lost its strength, I started to lose balance and crumble.

Helia caught me.

“Teacher, your arm…!!!”

“This is nothing.”

“…I see, as expected of Teacher.”

“But where are the others…?”

As I felt puzzled by Helia’s heavy reply, a jingling sound caught my attention.

Thanks to that, I was able to see it.

The pendant in her hand.

“As expected, I think this is what we need to do with Teacher.”

I remembered that item.

It was the one Comprachico had used for mind control.

But why was it here?

I was sure Helia wasn’t around at that time…

“All of this is for Teacher.”

The pendant in Helia’s hand began to glow.

It was dangerous, I had to look away… but I was more curious.

Why?

But without finding a proper answer…

My consciousness slowly faded into the light.

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The commander’s bombshell announcement had been enough to shake everyone.

It seemed like he was leaving them, especially with most of them already relying on him.

It meant that the commander was leaving them.

Of course, Hans hadn’t thought that far.

He planned to stay and help the Royal Knights at least until peace was restored.

But they weren’t in a situation where they could afford to realize that.

So, after much deliberation, Helia revealed it in front of everyone.

The silver pendant sat proudly on the table.

Yuren’s expression hardened instantly as she looked at it.

But Helia calmly said,

“It’s Comprachico’s artifact. It’s probably the item that allowed that demon to control minds.”

“But didn’t you report that it was destroyed back then?”

“I was the one who reported that.”

“You deceived the commander. You deceived us all.”

Cluna’s gaze, filled with hostility, turned towards Helia and the other members felt the same way.

But Helia remained calm.

She opened her mouth and said,

“That’s not what’s important right now, is it?”

“Not important? You could have used this power to brainwash us! And you’re saying it’s not important?!”

“Yuren, I understand what you’re trying to say. But if you analyze this, you won’t be saying that.”

“…”

“No, you might already know.”

Helia’s words hit the mark.

Yuren was the only one here who had been properly affected by Comprachico’s mind control.

To her, the power contained in the pendant now was very weak.

[Unless you break the target’s mind or exploit a moment of weakness, you can’t control them!]

“Damn it, useless thoughts…”

“At first, I wanted to make teacher my own. But there were too many risks involved.”

“What kind of risks, specifically?”

“For example, demonic magic power could be mixed in, negatively affecting Teacher.”

Cluna nodded at Helia’s words.

Indeed, this was an item used by a demon.

There was no guarantee that it would be safe for a human to use.

And at the same time, everyone, including Cluna, realized what Helia was saying.

Surprisingly, the first to object was Clara.

She slammed her hands on the table.

“Are you kidding me?! You’re saying we should brainwash the commander?!”

“Is there another way?”

“Even so, we can’t do that!!”

She was right.

It was wrong for anyone to control another’s mind without their consent.

But surprisingly, few agreed with her.

Not even Cluna.

Most remained neutral.

They needed to cooperate after all.

Helia didn’t push her opinion too hard either.

Instead, the analysis of the pendant was left to Cluna.

While wondering if this was really okay, Cluna thoroughly analyzed the pendant during that time and completely eradicated all remaining traces of demonic influence.

And finally, today had come.

The sudden attack by the true demons was certainly disconcerting, but that was still manageable.

However, the biggest problem was the commander.

Everyone who had returned after dealing with the true demons had witnessed it.

The commander with one arm missing.

The first thing they felt was self-reproach.

They were trying to become stronger.

For the commander.

‘Can a person go that far for others?’

‘Like his body wasn’t his own… how could he…’

‘He must have a story from his past.’

Cluna thought.

Those who acted like that had usually lost something precious in the past.

That was why, unable to forgive themselves, they threw themselves into danger.

Even if it meant death.

Reaching that conclusion, Cluna had to clutch her aching chest.

Why was she feeling this way all of a sudden?

No, didn’t she already know?

That figure, throwing himself into the inferno for others… it was exactly like the first hero she had fallen for!

‘I thought this wasn’t right.’

‘Yes, the commander would never abandon us.’

‘But… seeing him like that, I feel like I’m going to collapse.’

Clara believed in the commander.

Because she believed in his strength, in his righteousness… she had vehemently opposed it back then.

But seeing the commander now, Clara suddenly felt fear.

As if the commander might disappear one day.

That fear consumed her mind.

The commander disappearing?

No, that couldn’t happen.

He had to be by her side always, her commander!

‘I had given up on everything.’

‘Revenge, the glory of the Royal Knights…’

‘I want to dedicate everything to the commander who brought it all back.’

The girl who had lost her family found a new family here and her heart pounded uncontrollably, as if she was sick.

But it definitely wasn’t a bad feeling.

At first, she was too embarrassed to admit it, but now she did.

She wanted to love him.

Even if it meant burning her whole being.

The near-disaster of losing something precious had awakened that feeling.

“Cluna, do you have it?”

“Yes, I have it here.”

“Anyone opposed?”

There was no one who opposed it.

Just look at the commander’s current state.

Didn’t it seem like he could disappear at any moment?

She didn’t want him to disappear.

She wouldn’t allow him to leave.

“Well, I’ll take the punishment. I’ll take it all on myself.”

Listening to Yuren’s words, Helia walked forward.

She held the pendant she had received from Cluna in her hand and as the commander’s body collapsed, Helia caught him.

At first, she wanted to monopolize him.

She didn’t want to share her teacher with anyone.

But as time passed, she had made precious friends.

They were like family to her.

Of course, her teacher was still the most precious to her.

But she didn’t want to lose them.

Then, what should she do?

There was only one way.

It’ll be okay if we’re all together.

Everyone, without exception.

Without anyone being hurt or abandoned.

Wouldn’t Teacher have done the same?

The pendant in Helia’s hand shone brightly.

Perhaps his mind had weakened, as Hans instantly fell into a trance upon seeing it.

Looking at her hypnotized teacher, Helia said,

“There’s only one thing we want from you, Teacher.”

“Punishment…”

“Y-Yuren, w-we can do that later, can’t we?”

Bayard stepped in and silenced the unnecessary comment from behind.

Feeling relieved, Helia spoke with sincerity.

With her… no, with their sincerity…

“We want you to be our commander forever.”

And to embrace us warmly.

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