Konbini Ossan Volume 4 Chapter 29 — Old Man Loved Even by a Boy

While I was still reeling from that shocking confession, Joan kept talking.

“At first, I just thought you were amazing, Ossan—cool and strong and all that. That was it.

…

But the more I watched you work so hard, the more I couldn’t stop thinking about you. My chest would feel warm, my heart would start pounding, and I couldn’t look away.

…

Then I realized it—I really love you, Ossan. I want you to hold me, I want to kiss you, I want to stay with you for the rest of my life. I mean it, I’m serious!”

The longer he spoke, the clearer it became. Joan truly did like me — romantically.

“Um, Joan-kun?”

“Even if you say no, I’m not giving up! You can’t do anything about how I feel! I love you, and that’s not gonna change!”

“Well, yes… lately, I’ve been learning that sort of thing firsthand.”

Ever since I started getting oddly popular with women, this sort of confession no longer felt strange to hear.

Still, that didn’t mean I could accept it.

“Listen carefully, Joan-kun. I’m an adult, and you’re still a child. And we’re both men. Loving each other like that—it’s a bit too much to ask, don’t you think?”

“That’s fine! I’ll wait till I’m an adult! And if being two guys is the problem, then I’ll just become a girl!”

That’s… quite the declaration. To say he’d even become a girl for me.

But still, I couldn’t possibly accept that.

No matter how you looked at it, a grown man being with a young boy was wrong on too many levels—ethically, socially, and morally.

So, I decided to reason my way out of it.

“First of all, Joan-kun, there’s no such technology that can turn a man into a woman.

…

Which means it’s fundamentally impossible for me to be with you in that way.”

Of course, if he naturally looked like a girl, that might be another matter—but that was a thought best left unspoken.

“Also, even if you wait until you’re an adult, that’ll still be many years from now. I’m happy you care for me, truly, but you can’t live your life only for that.

…

You have limitless potential and a bright future ahead of you. If you focus only on me, you’ll close off those possibilities—and that’s something I don’t want for you.”

Joan frowned and tilted his head in thought.

“Hmm… I don’t really get it.”

Well, of course. That was a bit too complicated a speech for a child.

“But if you’re saying that’s what I should do, then I’ll do it! You mean I should work hard and get stronger for now, right?

…

Then I’ll do my best! And when I’m strong, grown up, and a girl, I’ll tell you I love you again!”

“Yes, please do. I’ll give you a proper answer then.”

Knowing full well that becoming a girl was impossible, I felt safe making that promise.

That should prevent any further disasters involving a boy willingly throwing himself into the clutches of an old man like me.

After that, we fought a few more monsters before finally withdrawing from the dungeon.

Joan seemed to have returned to his usual self, which was a relief.

As we made our way back to the orphanage, Joan slowed his steps to walk beside me.

“Ossan, thanks for today. I’ll keep our promise, okay? You’d better keep yours too.”

“Of course. A promise is a promise.”

Not that it would ever come to that. Joan turning into a girl was impossible, so I had nothing to worry about.

Though… I had a strange sense of déjà vu, as if I’d had this kind of overconfidence before.

“And, you know… waiting until I’m an adult feels kinda long.”

“Yes, that’s true.”

“So I want an advance reward! Hey, Ossan, crouch down for a second.”

“An advance… reward?”

Doing as he asked, I crouched so that we were at eye level.

The next moment —

Chu.

A soft, warm touch landed on my cheek.

“Hehe. For now, that’s enough. But when I’m grown up, I’ll kiss you lots more! It’s a promise, Ossan!”

With that, Joan ran ahead to join the others.

All I could do was stand there in stunned silence, watching his back as he disappeared down the path.

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E/N:

So much passion! This shi messed up, bruv! Stay tuned! (3/3 chapters)

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Check out my other translation -

Soul Devourer of Infinite Growth

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