The presentation concerning God Killer by the Demon Lord left me with immense mental fatigue, but somehow, I managed to establish a cooperative relationship between the Empire and the Demon Lord’s Army.
However, that doesn’t mean we can immediately act in cooperation.
Given the lingering grudges between us, we’re not in a position to casually turn our backs on each other.
Therefore, we have to resolve some issues, even if only a little.
“…”
“…”
It is because of the alliance between the Demon Lord’s Army and the Empire, formed in response to the summoning of a god on the front lines, that individuals like these can meet.
However, this is hardly a friendly encounter.
Even if I try to be friendly, if you ask me if things went smoothly, I can definitively say no.
“Um, so if you don’t return this child, I’ll be killed.”
The man in front of me is a prime example.
He reminds me of someone I heard before, a man with a similar build to someone I fought to the death with just the other day.
Although I can vaguely sense with magical fluctuations that it’s him, we are introducing ourselves as if we are meeting for the first time.
The man named Dazzlo, who, without hiding his troubled expression, is desperately trying to persuade Himusumi, who refuses to come out from behind Princess Anri H, after taking off his hood.
Now that a ceasefire agreement has been made with the Demon Lord’s Army and an alliance to kill gods has been formed,
In an effort to reduce lingering grudges as much as possible, the Empire offered to return the person they had kidnapped.
This was part of that effort, and I thought I would feel a little lighter if Himusumi was returned in this manner.
“…”
“Come on, Black Knight. Don’t glare at him in silence like that, okay? This person just became our ally from this moment on, you know? On top of that, he’s quite high-ranking over there. If you don’t return him, something terrible will happen!”
It seems the return won’t be that simple.
His skin is pale and his hair has grown considerably, but there’s no mistaking him; it’s Himusumi Toru.
However, why has he become so cool when he was supposed to be a suave man?
Or rather than cool, should I say taciturn?
“This is quite troubling.”
“He seems quite attached to you.”
From the outside, he might look like a knight guarding the princess, but Himusumi’s attire is typical clothing worn by nobles in this country.
He wasn’t even allowed to be armed, so they probably intended to send him back as is.
His desire to protect seems to have taken precedence, and he refuses to leave the princess’s side, making him the perfect simile for a loyal dog.
At this rate, he might earn the nickname “mad dog,” but.
“Well, yes.”
“Let me ask you one thing, you haven’t brainwashed him, have you?”
“I haven’t! But I suppose you wouldn’t believe me seeing him like this. Haa.”
I had some inkling that he might have lost his memory, but he truly remembers nothing.
Did he hit his head when he was kidnapped, or did an angel do something to him?
Angels other than Himik never do anything good.
“He was always someone prone to strong convictions, perhaps he’s convinced himself that your circumstances are the correct ones and has come to accept them?”
“What? What are you talking about? Was that why you were sometimes so troublesome? You always followed the princess’s orders readily, but you only followed my orders reluctantly.”
However, this man, Dazzlo, emanates a considerable amount of melancholy.
I feel a strange sense of familiarity.
I used to give off a similar aura. The aura of someone who has been through a lot.
“Black Knight, no, Hisumi Toru. You are no longer my knight. You are to return to your original place.”
Seeing that his words, as someone who’s been through a lot, wouldn’t reach him, the princess spoke to Himusumi as if to persuade him, but upon hearing her words, Himusumi’s expression shifted from his previous cautious one to that of a neglected puppy.
As for me, taking him back is the correct course of action, but at the same time, I feel guilty and also find it troublesome.
Wouldn’t it be less stressful for everyone involved if I just left him be?
“You can’t do that just because you’re making that face. Oh, and stop glaring at him. The fault lies with us, and you were being used. It’s right for you to return to your original place.”
It’s fine to return Himusumi to his parents… but if you ask Himusumi if he has an original place, he doesn’t.
The situation has changed since then.
It’s clear that Himusumi is a victim, but the fact that he was missing while acting with Kawasaki has worked against him considerably.
Himusumi is completely dragged down by Kawasaki’s reputation, and his employee rating and popularity have sunk not just to the ground but into it.
Kawasaki, who was always trying to please everyone, was continually protected by the even more people-pleasing Himusumi, which, combined with his own falling evaluation, left him with the lingering label of “troublesome person” within the company.
Furthermore, his own family is distancing themselves from their son due to his poor relationship with MAO Corporation, which is currently gaining considerable fame on Earth.
I’m sorry, Nanase, but his situation is so precarious that I feel he might be happier living in this otherworld.
Himusumi, who shouldn’t have been aware of the situation, desperately shook his head and refused to return, showing his rejection.
His actions are not those of an adult. Has his mental age significantly regressed?
“Don’t be selfish.”
“…”
“This is troubling.”
The exchange is like a mother and father trying to reason with a child throwing a tantrum…
“Hm?”
Speaking of which, he hasn’t uttered a word this whole time, why isn’t he speaking?
It doesn’t look like his throat is injured.
Looking around his throat, there aren’t any visible external injuries on Himusumi’s body.
The image of a male university student throwing a tantrum, shaking his head, and holding back tears with his eyes welling up might appeal to some older women, but as a man, I can only feel that it’s troublesome.
More importantly, the usual Himusumi would have made excuses with his mouth, regardless of his condition.
That’s missing.
“Ah, can I say something for a moment?”
“Huh? Ah, me?”
“Yeah, because if I call that princess over, the side effects will be severe.”
“Ah… right.”
Is there some kind of impediment?
Or did he get caught by some dangerous curse?
It might be an unexpectedly trivial reason.
With an expression of resignation, the man approaches me with a wry smile.
I ponder how to respond to the man’s sarcastic smile that emanates a sense of having endured hardships, but I decide to ignore it and not say anything unnecessary.
“I see. I’d like to ask the hired mage, why isn’t he talking? He doesn’t seem to be injured anywhere.”
“Yes, well, his body is healthy, isn’t it?”
“His body?”
“Well, I’m not exactly a doctor, so honestly, I don’t know the cause, but…”
Then, I ignore it and point with my chin to ask what that is, and Dazzlo scratches his head in distress.
“It seems that due to the shock of losing his memory, he’s regressed into a bit of a toddler.”
“…”
What is that?
Well, I did have a bad feeling about it from his gestures earlier, but I didn’t expect toddler regression, even if I suspected amnesia…
“Why did that happen?”
“Why indeed?”
However, this has become truly troublesome.
Or should I say, complicated?
If I imagine taking Himusumi back as is,
‘…’
There was no point. In an instant, I visualized everyone in the company as suspicious individuals, Himusumi’s future where nothing good would happen, and Kitamiya’s angry shouts as he thoroughly beat him down.
“What should we do?”
The two grown adults stand perplexed, but no conclusion is reached.
“… For now, I’ll leave him here.”
“Is that alright?”
I don’t have the luxury to forcibly take Himusumi and deal with the aftermath.
“It’s not alright, but I don’t have time to create unnecessary trouble. I’m sorry to bother you, Princess, but I’ll ask you to babysit.”
“It really looks like I’ll be babysitting, though.”
For now, I have no choice but to avoid trouble and prepare for my own tasks.
I can’t prioritize Himusumi over the decisive battle against the gods.
“…”
“Don’t glare at me. What am I supposed to explain to Kitamiya?”
Even so, I have a lot to do.
There’s no time, and it’s clear that if I cut corners on preparations, nothing good will come of it.
Himusumi glares at me over the princess’s shoulder.
“!”
“He reacts to that name, huh?”
However, when I mention Kitamiya’s name, he reacts, albeit slightly.
Well, for some reason, he hasn’t forgotten this.
It must be that he has such a strong attachment to it.
“…”
Himusumi’s eyes, which had been full of hostility moments ago, suddenly shifted, and he looked at me with pleading eyes, as if wanting to be told.
“Remember it yourself.”
However, I’m not that kind.
I’m already swamped with work.
I have no time to spare for any more unnecessary hassle.
“Alright, we’re going to take action now.”
“Yes, well, if anything unnecessary happens here, it would be ruin for us as well, and I have no intention of doing or allowing anything that would hinder you.”
“This time, it would be a fatal blow just by being a hindrance.”
“I understand that, but there are always people who prioritize their own self-preservation, aren’t there?”
Princess Anri and Dazzlo.
These two were the ones who rallied the main faction to fight the Demon Lord’s Army in the Empire.
Originally, I should be giving these two some sort of treatment, but that will be after this war is over.
If I do something foolish, it will leave lingering grudges between the Empire and the Demon Lord’s Army.
As I told Dazzlo, I honestly don’t want to shoulder the risk of him acting rashly out of vengeance at the last minute.
“If you don’t understand that, then you know what to do, right?”
I’m trying to create an environment that’s as favorable as possible, and if you’re not going to cooperate, I’ll get really angry.
“… Yes, I understand.”
“Understanding isn’t necessary. Do it.”
“Ah, yes.”
It’s not a matter of whether you *can* do it, it’s whether you *will* do it.
There’s no room for self-interest.
If you consider your own self-preservation here and try to save some effort, what awaits is the world being trampled by the gods.
Dazzlo, understanding this, might be tempted to slack off due to the annoyance.
I silenced him with my gaze, telling him not to.
While it’s not the tone one would use with an ally, it’s necessary right now.
“Well, if you slack off, it means our retreat, and by extension, the end of the inhabitants of this world.”
“How many people who say they understand that actually do?”
To engage with half-hearted resolve is to mean our defeat.
It’s a little painful, but I have no choice but to be strict.
Dazzlo understands this too, so he scratches his head as if reluctantly and agrees.
“Well, I’ll do my best. Fortunately, the areas where I can cooperate seem to be my strong suit.”
“Please do.”
Having confirmed this, I leave without paying attention to Himusumi’s gaze.
Today’s quote:
There is much that can be done.
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