I returned three days after setting out for the continent and reunited with Suella and the others.
Upon returning to my room in the employee dormitory, I immediately contacted Suella and Memoria.
“Haa, I had a feeling you wouldn’t return without any incidents, but this is unexpected, or rather, how should I put it, Memoria?”
“Indeed, if I may say, it’s as if you’ve gone beyond what was expected? What do you think, Jiro-san?”
“I’m sorry.”
This was the reaction to the situation everyone had gathered for, but it couldn’t be helped.
After the commotion, conflicts tend to subside, and despite some troublesome procedures, I managed to return to the company safely.
Well, it would be more accurate to say I returned to Suella and the others rather than the company.
After defeating the Golem, I immediately began preparing to return, but with the current situation, I couldn’t just go back without doing anything. So, I pushed the post-incident procedures onto the reliable guild masters.
They almost stopped me with tears in their eyes, begging me to at least do something, but after reminding them of their obligation to let me fight while they did nothing, I told them the Golem’s remains were their reward. Their hesitant faces immediately lit up, their eyes turned to dollar signs as they urged me to leave it to them and go ahead.
Their financial situation must have been dire.
I wondered about the ownership of the Golem, but this was the meritocracy of the Demon Lord’s Army.
It seems to fall under the category of spoils for the one who defeated it.
Having safely started my journey home, I pondered how to explain the “bomb” named Himik I encountered along the way. I concluded that making up excuses would only complicate things.
So, I explained everything plainly, clearly and without any reservations, including the details of my contract with Himik.
I had resolved to accept judgment boldly, like a man.
The result of my explanation, given while kneeling in seiza, was a resounding sigh.
While I wouldn’t go as far as to say I was a victim, it wasn’t a situation where I could claim I wasn’t at fault.
So, I apologized sincerely.
“No, I should have been a little more considerate. Given your mother’s potential, Jiro-san, you might be of the Hero lineage.”
“What’s with that ominous title? I don’t think my family line was anything special, but… or rather, my mother’s side was quite peculiar.”
A family tied to a shrine, with some peculiar tales attached, would certainly qualify as a special lineage even in Japan.
Words that sounded like they came straight out of a game setting popped out, and I reflexively denied them, thinking about my own family. While my father’s side was normal, I remembered my mother’s side was indeed unique.
However, I still couldn’t believe there was a Hero among our ancestors.
“No, it’s probably not what you imagine, Jiro-san. The Hero lineage doesn’t mean you have a Hero as an ancestor. What we call the Hero lineage is a general term for those who have the potential to become Heroes, people with the potential to become Heroes. Statistically, those with a Hero as an ancestor are more likely to possess such aptitude. However, occasionally, individuals with high magic aptitude can also have the potential to become Heroes, and your mother fits that possibility.”
“So, you’re saying that I, her son, might become a Hero in the future… Right now, it’s just a possibility. I was worried they’d tell me to save the world, like ‘Hero, save us!'”
“In that case, you’ll have to challenge the Demon Lord, will you do it?”
“I’d rather not, as I might turn into charcoal in a few seconds.”
“Being able to fight the Demon Lord, even for a few seconds, is amazing though.”
I have no idea how much 500 gold would be in Japanese yen, but if that’s the only salary I’d receive, followed by a life of self-sufficiency, I can picture a future I’d want no part of.
Moreover, compared to my instructors, whom I can barely contend with, challenging the President would be an endeavor that couldn’t even be described as reckless.
“Well, Jiro-san’s matter can probably be concluded as an unfortunate accident, so let’s postpone the decision. More importantly, let’s move on to the main topic. What shall we do about her situation?”
“Indeed, there seems to be nothing to gain from postponing it.”
“Hm?”
“…Did you like the dorayaki?”
“Ah, this sweet is quite delicious!”
“I see.”
While exchanging a few jokes, my own situation wasn’t completely absolved, and we agreed to discuss it again later, deciding to first address the most pressing issue.
Shifting from seiza to a cross-legged position, I ignored the lecture being given to me and turned my attention to the awaited sweet, the dorayaki, which the fallen angel was enjoying.
She was eating the dorayaki, placed on a small plate on the table, one bite at a time, savoring each one.
Her demeanor was befitting her former status as an angel, eating elegantly.
At first, I thought about saying something about it, but with every bite, Himik’s eyes would light up, radiating pure happiness, leaving not only me but also Suella and Memoria, who were meeting her for the first time, speechless.
It was like… I don’t know.
Happiness can be visualized, I guess.
Well, perhaps it’s a technique only former angels can perform, but her radiant smile just lit up.
As I watched, she noticed my gaze and turned to face me. Holding a dorayaki in one hand and displaying an innocent smile despite being a fallen angel, I found it hard to sternly tell her to be serious.
Memoria, on the other hand…
“Here, some tea.”
“Thank you.”
“No, would you like to try some of this castella as well?”
“I will!”
She was feeding Himik, who was smiling like that, with treats.
The fallen angel sipping green tea from a teacup presented an extraordinary scene, yet it didn’t feel particularly out of place.
What does a fallen angel drinking from a teacup even imply?
Perhaps, in the future, I’ll need to be cautious about combining Himik with confections.
“The supervisor told me to leave it to you… What do you think, Suella?”
“For my part, I’m at a loss as to how to manage a fallen angel so suddenly.”
“Yeah, I can see that.”
While we were leisurely enjoying sweets, angels were, in the eyes of the Demon Lord’s Army, a symbol of fear.
Even though she had fallen and her mindset had shifted towards our side, her abilities remained unchanged.
There was no way to avoid feeling a sense of caution, not knowing when her power might be unleashed.
Incorporating such a being as Himik into the organization carelessly would be reckless.
Doing so would create friction within that very part of the organization.
That said, it also felt wrong to let her live a life that was, in the best sense, like a caged bird, or in the worst sense, like a NEET.
“According to her own account, she’s good at fighting and can do paperwork, but dislikes it. It’s questionable whether she can hold back in battle. She can, but her execution is either all or nothing, with a wide swing. Perhaps it would be more productive to send her to a Dungeon.”
“That would provide us with valuable data, but do you think she can create a report?”
“I wouldn’t expect much in terms of detailed content.”
Although it was self-reported, I conveyed Himik’s information to Suella, but we were still struggling with how to utilize her.
Certainly, if we asked Himik, she would probably challenge a Dungeon or two with ease, and for the Demon Lord’s Army, which was preparing for Dungeons against Heroes, it would undoubtedly yield invaluable data.
However.
“I can’t say for sure, but if we throw her into a Dungeon, she’ll probably just obliterate everything. Her true strength is too much of an unknown.”
“Indeed. I only have rudimentary knowledge of the Twelve First Angels, so I can’t even imagine their power.”
“I know, right?”
My initial thought was of complete devastation. I had a feeling the Dungeon would have to be rebuilt from scratch.
While she has no previous offenses, her numerous statements seem to support this imagination.
In a way, it might settle into a trial-and-error approach, but that would likely involve enormous costs.
It’s truly a case of high risk, high return.
“Haa, I guess I’ll have her be my training partner for a while…”
“That’s the most feasible option for now. I’ll think about other possibilities on my end as well.”
“Don’t push yourself too hard. Your body isn’t just your own anymore.”
“Yes.”
Since we couldn’t easily decide on a course of action for such a being, we could only establish a temporary measure.
While being considerate of Suella, who agreed with me, I pondered the future.
In the past, I would have felt anxious about the current situation, where problems were simply postponed without resolution, but now, I found myself looking forward to what the future held.
“Memoria! This sweet called castella is also delicious!”
“I’m sure it is.”
Despite Memoria appearing younger due to her appearance, she and Himik were engaged in a casual conversation that made Himik seem even younger.
Just watching it felt like it was healing my fatigue.
I suddenly wondered if this was happiness, but I kept that thought tucked away in a corner of my heart, not denying it.
“And Jiro-san, there’s one more thing I’d like to ask.”
“What is it?”
In the midst of the leisurely atmosphere.
“Is it alright to consider her as the third wife?”
“Gof…!”
As Suella reached for my teacup and took a sip, she dropped a bombshell.
Tea went down my windpipe, and for a moment, I couldn’t breathe. But calmly processing what she had said, I looked at Suella, my gaze conveying my confusion.
“Well, given her existence, we can’t just leave her alone… Besides, didn’t Evia-sama tell you to manage her?”
“Gof-gof, yes, but how does that relate to marrying her?”
“You might not be familiar with it, Jiro-san, but it’s not uncommon to secure talent through marriage, even without romantic feelings. I suspect Evia-sama’s instruction to ‘manage her properly’ meant to ‘keep her close and not let her go.'”
“Hm?”
I briefly consider if this is a noble convention, but then I recall that the Demon Lord’s Army permits polygyny. At the same time, I remembered the supervisor’s words.
“Ah, yes, Jiro.”
“Yes?”
“You’d better come up with an excuse for Suella and the others.”
“!?”
“This woman is lenient, but also quite jealous. Be careful not to get completely drained by her when you return, and try to get back to them quickly.”
The word “lenient” could be interpreted as being lenient towards infidelity, but before that, the supervisor also said:
“The existence of a fallen angel also benefits our army. Especially if it’s a being with a stable psyche. And I didn’t just give my permission for nothing. I am merely granting it in recognition of your achievement in having contracted with that fallen angel. However, if she causes any problems, it will be your responsibility. Just keep that in mind.”
I had contracted with a fallen angel.
In other words, he had seen through my connection with Himik.
This means…
“Ahhh, I see what you mean now.”
If that’s the case, then the supervisor must have made that statement anticipating my situation of marrying Himik.
And with that, my right to refuse was effectively nullified.
If I were to cast Himik out now, problems would arise for me.
And if that happened, the damage wouldn’t just fall on me, but also on Suella and the others.
The outer defenses had been completely breached.
The supervisor’s malicious grin flashed in my mind.
“What’s wrong, Master? You look pained, are you alright?”
“No, it’s nothing.”
“I see!”
A brief headache struck me, but Himik peered into my face with concern.
Her expression was worried, but when I assured her I was fine, she smiled brightly.
Seeing that, I strangely felt like things would work out, perhaps I had become quite accustomed to the customs of this world.
While not everything was resolved, perhaps this was for the best.
“It can’t be helped, I suppose.”
“I’m sorry to make you both go through this.”
“It’s alright. Right, Memoria?”
“Yes, please rely on us more.”
“Honestly, you two are so dependable.”
Enveloped by their kindness, which seemed to read my heart, I truly felt happy at that moment.
Quote of the Day:
When adapting to environmental changes, it’s important to fully accept the facts.
This concludes this installment.
This chapter will likely end with the next one.
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