That Time My Anime Life Got Cursed by Outer Gods-Chapter 30 - 29: The Burden of Power

"But wouldn't it be too wasteful for you to give me something so precious?" Eriri asked, still unsure. She was keenly aware of her own situation and felt that it would be almost impossible for her to train seriously.

Shiro smiled reassuringly. "Don't worry, this is something of my own. It has nothing to do with the family, and even if they found out, they wouldn't say anything." He paused, his thoughts wandering briefly before he added in his mind, Besides, if you marry into my family in the future, it'll still be mine, right?

"And the Dragon Slayer Crystal will gradually transform and strengthen your body on its own, adapting you to the power of the dragon. There's no need for special training."

Eriri nodded, her worry starting to fade. "I'll keep this a secret, I promise. I won't tell anyone."

Shiro gave her a reassuring smile. "Good. Keeping your abilities a secret in the world of the extraordinary is a key part of self-preservation. It's not wise to reveal your power unless absolutely necessary."

He continued, his tone light, "But don't worry, if anything happens, I'll be there to protect you."

Shiro gently rubbed Eriri's head. For once, she didn't push his hand away but instead leaned into it affectionately. It was a rare moment of warmth from the usually feisty Eriri.

"Shiro Sakamaki, come down for a moment. I have something I want to whisper to you," Eriri said, her voice suddenly shy.

Shiro, sensing something playful in her tone, leaned down, curious.

In an instant, Eriri took a deep breath and, without warning, kissed him on the cheek. Then, without looking back, she sprinted away, her face flushed.

For a moment, Shiro was stunned, unable to react quickly enough to the bold move. His hand instinctively touched his cheek, where he could still feel the warmth of the kiss and the faint scent lingering.

"That... was cute," he muttered to himself, a rare smile tugging at his lips.

But then, his eyes widened in realization. "Oh no, I forgot to tell her about the aftereffects!"

The essence of the Dragon Slayer Magic was that it used the power of dragons to transform the human body. This transformation would adapt the body to the dragon's power, but it would also have some side effects.

One such effect was on the semicircular canals in the inner ear, which played a crucial role in maintaining balance. The transformation would destroy these canals, leading to temporary dizziness.

Though this wasn't a major problem in everyday life, Eriri might experience severe dizziness when traveling by car. Shiro couldn't help but chuckle at the thought of the little golden retriever being caught in such a predicament.

Eriri, however, was completely unaware of this. Embarrassed and shy from the kiss, she had rushed into her room and buried herself in her bed, hiding under the covers.

Meanwhile, Sayuri, who had heard the commotion, entered Eriri's room, only to find a small mound under the blanket. Shiro wasn't in the room, and Eriri's absence seemed odd to her.

"Eriri, didn't Shiro-kun come back with you?" Sayuri asked, raising an eyebrow.

Eriri's voice came from beneath the covers, muffled but clear. "He's in the back. Don't worry about me, Mom. Go ahead and do what you need to do."

Sayuri still found it strange. Just a moment ago, Eriri had been fine, and now she seemed to be hiding under the covers. She approached the bed and lifted the quilt, revealing Eriri, who was lying face down, her head buried in the pillow.

"Eriri-chan, what's wrong with you? Your head feels hot. Do you have a fever?"

Sayuri quickly reached for the phone to call the doctor, but Eriri sprang up, snatching the phone from her mother's hand.

"I'm fine, Mom! I'm not sick!" Eriri said quickly, her face crimson.

Sayuri glanced at her daughter, her expression softening. She waved her folding fan in front of her face and smiled knowingly. "Ah, I see. No need to worry, it seems."

Having been through similar situations before, Sayuri easily recognized the signs. Eriri had been acting a little too flustered, and from her mother's experience, this wasn't a health issue.

Just a moment ago, Sayuri had been concerned about her daughter's future, wondering what to do about Eriri's potential lifelong companion. But in the span of half an hour, the answer had practically revealed itself. Eriri had clearly become attached to Shiro, and Sayuri could rest easy knowing her daughter hadn't run away from the situation.

Sayuri had a good impression of Shiro Sakamaki. Though the transcendental powers of the Sakamaki family might lead to polygamy in other countries, Sayuri trusted that Shiro would never let Eriri be mistreated. In her eyes, he would treat her well.

By the time dinner was ready, Eriri was so embarrassed she couldn't even look Shiro in the eye. Her face was flushed, and she kept her gaze low, trying to avoid his gaze.

Shiro, being considerate, didn't bring up the kiss, allowing Eriri some time to regain her composure. He also refrained from teasing her too much, understanding how awkward the situation must be for her.

Sayuri, acting as the unofficial "mother-in-law," observed Shiro closely, and he could feel her eyes on him as though she was evaluating him. It made him a little uncomfortable, but he knew there was nothing to worry about.

After dinner, Shiro said his goodbyes, still thinking about the situation with Yukinoshita Haruno. His concern for her was growing, and he was eager to check on her personally.

Sayuri didn't stop him. She told Shiro that he was always welcome to visit when he had time, and Eriri, now back to her usual self, gave him a quick nod of acknowledgment as he left.

After the goodbyes, Shiro called Hiratsuka Shizuka, confirmed the location, and headed out in a taxi.

When he arrived, he rang the doorbell. There was a quick response from inside, and with a click, the door opened. Hiratsuka stood in the doorway, dressed as usual, wearing a white coat with a beer in her left hand and a cigarette in her right. She didn't look anything like a teacher.

"You're really slow to come," Hiratsuka said, taking a sip of her beer. "If it had been an emergency, you'd be eight steps too late."

Shiro rolled his eyes. "Don't tell me you can't handle this by yourself, Mrs. Hiratsuka?"

Hiratsuka choked on her beer, nearly coughing it all out.

"Anyway," Shiro continued, "Let's get to it. How's Yukinoshita Haruno doing? Is there anything I can do?"

Hiratsuka frowned. "She's not doing well. She's in a really bad state, and I don't know what to do. Do you have any idea?"

Shiro sighed, not responding immediately. Instead, he took off his shoes and walked straight into the living room.

Upon entering, he immediately saw Yukinoshita Haruno. She was sitting at the table, drinking beer one after another, her hand trembling slightly as she poured. Her eyes were bloodshot, her hair a mess, and she seemed to be lost in a sea of thoughts, not even noticing Shiro's arrival.

Shiro walked up to her and, without a word, began chanting a meditation mantra. As the words left his mouth, the air seemed to calm, and Yukinoshita's chaotic emotions slowly began to settle.

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Within moments, she fainted, her body slumping into Shiro's arms. He quickly caught her before she could fall.

"Hiratsuka-sensei, where's the room?" Shiro asked, already preparing to carry Yukinoshita Haruno to a place where she could rest.

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