If the motherland wants me dead, then I can only die."
Resolutely, he answers.
Maybe if you ask the warriors of the old, the soldiers of the old Japanese army, they might answer the same.
But, I need to stop him.
I don't want Zanoba to die.
But, I can't just be straightforward and reject him.
Because Zanoba right now is looking straight at me.
Or maybe I have changed.
I have nothing to say.
I don't know what to say.
"Shisho, Cliff, please don't look like that."
Zanoba shows a happy smile.
His usual smile.
"When I was in Shirone, duty was never a thing on my mind. But after meeting Shisho, meeting Cliff, meeting Nanahoshi, after living here, I thought about a lot of things. About what my purpose in life is..."
And that's how, his conclusion became [protect motherland?]
How did he connect the time we spent together with protecting motherland?
I don't get it at all.
"Ha, that might sound presumptuous, even I don't really know how that came about! Ha ha ha!"
Zanoba laughs, but I can't.
I don't want to argue about his conclusion.
Whether it's right or wrong, it's only up to him to decide.
I can only respect his choice.
The only thing is, what happens with that choice, that is, if Zanoba dies... I don't want that to happen.
Zanoba is my dear friend.
Thinking back, he has always been by my side.
He is the one that came to my aid in Shirone.
When I came to the university, if I hadn't met him, I might not have the friends I have now.
Meeting Rinia and Pursena, that was because of Zanoba's dolls.
Without Zanoba, Cliff and I might not have got along like we are right now.
When we went to the Magic Continent together, he single-handedly held back Atofe.
The Magic Armor as well, without him, making it would be impossible.
Now that I think about it, he has always come to my aid.
Moreover, when we make dolls together, those are always happy moments.
I'm really happy.
He always puts me on a pedestal, no matter what I do he showers me with praises.
Just being with him alone is comforting.
Maybe others think differently, but for me, without a doubt, it's very comforting.
And it's him, in my future diary, that stood by my side till the end.
I can't just stand by and watch Zanoba march to his death.
Rudeus Greyrat can't let Zanoba Shirone die.
... Oh?
Wait.
Future diary?
Suddenly, I realize something.
"Zanoba."
"What is it, Shisho?"
As if only natural I follow up with.
"I'm going too."
How Zanoba reacts, the mix of anxiety and happiness on his face, leaves a strong impression on me.