When she saw Mejiro Asama pulling out one property transfer agreement after another from the desk, Dream Weaver understood immediately—she and the Northern family's grandmother were, at their core, the same kind of person.
The year Dream Weaver's mother passed away, she also took with her all their motivation to move forward.
Mejiro Asama and the grandmother seemed to be living in the past, stubbornly trying to atone for a mistake they had both played a part in.
But the one they wished to redeem had long since departed.
So all that remained was to pass this compensation on to Dream Weaver—the final limiter the grandmother had exhausted everything to obtain, and the lifelong savings of Mejiro Asama, were given for this very reason.
To them, life had truly ended many years ago. What remained in this world were merely hollow shells burdened with regret.
"Because the plan failed, I cannot pass on the prestige and authority I built within the Mejiro family to you."
"But these land deeds, along with some collected artifacts, are my personal assets. No one has the right to question how you use them."
Mejiro Asama let out a soft sigh as she spoke, her eyes filled with remorse, as if blaming herself for not having worked hard enough in life to save more for Dream Weaver.
Dream Weaver looked at the small mountain of documents piled before her but made no move to take them. Instead, she said to Mejiro Asama:
"Isn't Mejiro Ramonu your granddaughter? Isn't it a bit too harsh to cast her aside like this?"
Hearing this, Mejiro Asama's expression dimmed, but she forced out a few words in reply.
"I have faith in that child, Ramonu. Her talents far surpass mine. With the lessons I've learned, I believe she will do better."
"Are you implying that I'm inferior to Mejiro Ramonu, and that's why you're giving all your assets to me?"
Mejiro Asama's face paled visibly.
It was the first time since their conversation began that Dream Weaver had seen such intense emotion from her. This deeply calculating head of the Mejiro family, who had deceived so many, had ultimately been defeated by her own past.
"No, that's not it! I only wanted to…"
Before she could finish, Dream Weaver cut her off.
"You only wanted to make some kind of amends… right? Because you can no longer atone to Mother, I, as her last trace in this world, became the inheritor of this property."
Dream Weaver paused, her gaze calm as she watched the inexplicably flustered Mejiro Asama.
"As I thought—you really only think of yourself."
Her words pierced Mejiro Asama's heart like a sharp blade. Staring into those familiar dark eyes, a wave of panic surged through Mejiro Asama's entire being.
It was as if she had returned to the past, face to face with the Uma Musume who had fallen because of her obsessive pursuit of the Emperor's Prize. Shame and regret had woven a net around Mejiro Asama, trapping her tightly, without a moment's relief for years.
Seeing Mejiro Asama's pale face and lost, frightened eyes, Dream Weaver showed no intention of stopping.
"Because you feel guilty, you want to make up for it. But also because of that guilt, you never dared to truly face me—even at our first meeting, you hid behind a disguise."
"A fool trapped in the shadows of the past, stubbornly clinging to your own way."
"Did you ever ask Mejiro Ramonu? How much pressure has she borne because of your stubbornness?"
"Did you ask Mejiro Ardan? She was manipulated like a doll—isn't she also your granddaughter?"
Dream Weaver stood up, forcing the other to meet her cold, reprimanding gaze.
"When you did all this, did you ever consider my feelings? What do you think I, the last Uma Musume of the Northern family, felt when I heard I was being forcibly absorbed into the Mejiro family?"
"In the end, you don't really care about me, much less your own descendants. All you want is to rid yourself of the guilt that has haunted you for years."
Dream Weaver's words became a demon blade, slicing away Mejiro Asama's strength, leaving her slumped helplessly in her seat.
Had it not been for the chair, Dream Weaver had no doubt she would have collapsed to the floor.
"In the end…"
"You're still only thinking of yourself."
Watching Mejiro Asama, pale and lost, wanting to defend herself but unable to speak, Dream Weaver felt as though the tangled grudges binding her to the Mejiro and Northern families had been cleanly severed, as if by that same demon blade.
A long-absent sense of relief filled her heart.
Truth be told, Dream Weaver had been carrying too much pressure—not only the burden of reviving her mother, but also the intricate, unresolved conflicts of this scripted world.
In fact, her most carefree days had been back in Kasamatsu. Facing T.M. Opera O, she had to overcome the pressure of her own perceived lack of talent to defeat the "Conqueror of the Century's End."
In this world, she had been caught between the grudges of the Mejiro and Northern families.
But now, thankfully, those resentments had been cut away within her, thanks to these heartfelt words.
Mejiro Asama was not some deeply scheming, power-hungry pursuer of the Tenno Sho. She was merely a fool trapped in the past, unable to find peace for years, desperately seeking a moment of tranquility.
At least the Northern family's grandmother had someone to direct her hatred toward, and portraits of ancestors and peers to offer some comfort.
Mejiro Asama's regrets and frustrations could only be confided to herself in the dead of night. Under this daily and nightly torment, her once-sharp mind had long since become distorted.
That was why she had concocted such an absurd and foolish plan. It never even occurred to her what would happen if Dream Weaver refused her property.
Regret had driven her to the edge of the cliff; all she truly wanted was a single moment of peace in her heart.
Looking at the white-haired old woman before her, Dream Weaver sighed softly.
In the end, the grievances between the Mejiro and Northern families were like a tangled mess of threads. No one could clearly say who was at fault, yet none could escape their own inner torment. That was why each of them had piled the greatest blame upon themselves.
Quietly, Dream Weaver helped her up, smoothing the disheveled white hair ruffled by emotion. She looked Mejiro Asama squarely in the eye and said:
"The past between the Mejiro and Northern families, and between you and my mother, is over. I have cut it away. From now on, this grudge no longer exists."
"Be a proper head of the Mejiro family. Keep living for those who love you."
After straightening the wrinkles on Mejiro Asama's clothes, Dream Weaver nodded, turned, and walked toward the door.
Still dazed, Mejiro Asama could only watch as Dream Weaver moved away, her back to the light.
After a few steps, Dream Weaver paused, as if remembering something. Without turning, she waved a hand and said:
"Be good to Mejiro Ramonu and the others. They are your real granddaughters, after all."
--+--
T/N: While I am an inexperienced Translator, I have a Patreon! Webnovel will get 3 Chapters Every Day, and advanced chapters will be uploaded on Patreon.
It may not seem worth it now, but maybe in the future. Who knows!
[email protected]/AspenTL
If you guys wanna check it out.