「This event, did Umbra come aiming for me?」
Umbra possessed Alicia and stopped my actions.
If he were going to do something to me, destroying the barrier with this timing is……No, that’s somehow lacking.
「No. ……This is just speculation but, I think that the fact that Yuu was here was an irregularity for Umbra.」
「Eh?」
「It looked to me as if Umbra facing off against you was secondary. If not, I don’t think he would have used me to “keep you confined”.」
……I see, if he had that kind of initiative, there’s probably no mistake that he would have kidnapped Alicia.
If he did, I would chase after him and come to a situation where I would step into their encampment alone.
Despite that, he didn’t do anything to me.
……But, if that’s the case, a new problem comes to mind.
That Umbra, what did he really try to do?
「Hey, Yuu. May I ask you one thing?」
「Huh? ……Yeah, it’s fine but what is it?」
When I was immersed in a sea of thoughts, a strangely renewed Alicia asked a question.
「Do you still, not intend on fighting as the Hero?」
That was, something that I left in the corner of my mind……something that I unconsciously tried to not think about.
「Do you still only fight for yourself? ……Do you still, dislike others?」
I, can only fight, for the sake of the small world that is centered around me.
If it’s between 1 person I care about and 100 guys that I’ve never seen before, I’m a human that will cut down 100.
And then, three years ago, I came to dislike humans, myself included.
Moving only for their own sake. Moving only for the sake of their own greed. I came to hate those kinds of humans.
「Can you still, say that you like that kind of world?」
「I do like it. Because I realized that, everyone, is only desperately trying to live.」
……Olivia. The one that summoned me to this world, and then the one that died, leaving me and Sylvia and the others behind. Leezelion’s First Imperial Princess.
She, was the one that taught me what humans were.
「……I see, thank goodness.」
The young lady that was very similar to her two older sisters looked at me while shaking her eyes that were very similar to those of her older sisters’.
Those jewel-looking emerald eyes that I was reflected in, I turned my eyes, that seemed to be looking into the distance, to Alicia’s eyes.
「Hn, ……What’s wrong, Alicia?」
Suddenly, Alicia embraced me. Not an embrace with a force that could break my back, but a tender embrace that was enough to come rushing over me.
「You haven’t changed. Yuu, you’re still the same as when Olivia-onee-sama liked you. You know? I really like the Yuu that liked Olivia-onee-sama. ……That’s why, I’m so happy!」
「……I see, I really like you too, Alicia, you know? Though, that’s only after Olivia, got it?」
「Nfufu! If Sylvia-onee-sama were to hear that, it feels like she’d get really angry.」
「Ugeh, please don’t tattle that to Sylvia, okay!?」
Showing a smile appropriate for her age, Alicia laughed.
◇
「Were you going to leave without saying a word to me? ……If you’re all on your own, this Reynbrook is way too vast, you know?」
「What the heck are you saying?」
As I tried to depart for Be Io from Lizwadia’s north entrance, right in the middle of the road, a Sister with folded arms and a “How do you like that” face spat out lines that would come from an orthodox heroine.
「Eh? Wh, what’s with that reaction? Isn’t this usually the part where you silently just smile, pull on the heroine’s arm, and ride off on the horse……since there isn’t a horse, ride off on that Kulkel?」
「You, you’re not the heroine, you know?」
「N, No way!」
Ah~, she’s troublesome as usual. ……Well, I guess it’s alright since her bare legs that extend out from her vestment and her well-shaped breasts are erotic as usual.
「So, why are you here?」
「No, no, same to you, Yashiro-san, why were you trying to go out on a journey without saying a single word to me!? Even if you say you’re a wanderer that goes from journey to journey, please at least properly say some words of farewell!」
Seeming to be somewhat seriously snapped, the black Sister clothing wearing Bernadette puffed her cheeks and drew closer to me.
Mana and Eri, who came along to see me off, nodded at Bernadette’s words beside me.
「Sorry about that, Bernadette……」
「Jeez~, there’s no helping it, is there~. Due to my and Yashiro-san’s relationship, there really is no helping it, but I’ll forgive yo, ouch!? Y, you hit me again, didn’t you!?」
「Ah, sorry, I unconsciously did that.」
My hand that involuntarily rushed out at the Bernadette that instantly got carried away hit Bernadette’s chest with a *Pechan!*
Not good, not good, it’s because I wasn’t controlling my emotions. Fuu, I’m also still green.
「Ku, Kuu~. Wh, what are you doing to a maiden’s chest……W, well, putting the anger for what happened just now aside for later, since there’s something I need to tell Yashiro-san first, let’s have that take the privilege of being priority.」
Bernadette, who was patting her chest with teary eyes, corrected her posture, and, *Kohon*, made a light cough.
「I, the enforcer Bernadette, have been given the duty of being Yashiro-san’s guard, and it was decided that I am to protect you from the attacks from other enforcers. And, with that being said, please take care of me from now on!」
Sticking her hand inside her slit skirt, Bernadette pulled out a rolled up scroll and said that as if she were giving a verdict.
「Eh? What’s up with that, that’s kind of bothersome for me.」
「P, please don’t hate it in such a real way!」
Ah, I tried to act a bit bothered by it but it seems that it was more damaging than I thought.
「Nadepo!」
「Wh, what are you doing all of a sudden!」
「Nadepo, nadepo!」
「Is this some kind of ceremony!?」
In order to stop Bernadette from bursting into tears, it was the secret technique allowed to be used by protagonists, 『Make the one whose head you’re patting (nade) fall in love with you and, *Po* (blush), make their cheeks go red』, so 『Nadepo!』 for short.
There haven’t been any successful trials until now, but I didn’t have anything else but this, so I bet it all on this technique. The result was,
「Ugah! The hairdo that I went through all the trouble of setting has gone to waste!」
Bernadette, who repelled my patting with a banzai, howled like a kaijuu.
Yup. Naturally, I didn’t think that it would work. After all, the only ones allow to use that are Pretty Boys.
「You’re so mean, Yashiro-san. Just what do you think a maiden’s hair is!?」
Her teary eyes had disappeared but Bernadette was angry as she brushed and fixed her hair.
「So, does that mean you’re coming along with me? ……Weren’t you searching for the Hero?」
I asked that last part in a small voice. Since Bernadette was an agent sent to kill me, the Hero, if I don’t fool her now, who knows when the truth will get exposed.
Doing something like travelling together with the agent aiming for me, you’ve got to be joking. ……Putting Bernadette’s temperament aside, though.
「About that. When I did a report about Yashiro-san to my superior, since there was a possibility of you being troubled by those related to the enforcement, I was temporarily resolved from my duty and was told to be Yashiro-san’s guard. Well, it can’t be helped, right. Seeing as how you’re close in age, and your features such as your appearance and your names match, there is a very high possibility that you’ll be aimed at by an enforcer.」
Maybe to match me, Bernadette said that in a small voice.
No no, you should still realize it! ……Is, is this religious organization really okay?
When I worried about the Ulquiorra Religious Organization, Bernadette put the parchment away under the slit of her skirt, and looked at me with eyes that seemed to be expecting something.
……Bernadette is looking this way looking like she wants to be a comrade. Will you make her a comrade?
Yes ←*Pi*
No
Yes
No ←*Pi*
Yes
No ←
Yes ←*Pi*
No
Bernadette has joined as a comrade.
「Ohh, I sort of feel like I’ve been added to the party.」
「You’re going to stay in the ranch, got it?」
「Isn’t it a bit too excessive of you to be treating me the same way you would a Kulkel!?」
Well, if I were to say my real motive, I was also thinking that traveling as a lone guy was lonely, and although Bernadette’s speech and actions are annoying, I don’t hate it.
Rather, I’m at the point that I think of it as enjoyable.
Plus, I’d be weirdly suspected if I refused……I guess I don’t really have any particular reason to refuse.
「Let me say this formally, pleased to be travelling with you, Bernadette.」
「Fufufu! Yes, it’ll definitely be pleasing to be travelling with you!」
She has an awfully high tension, this girl. Did somethin’ good happen to ya?
Well, I guess it’s fine.
「Well then, we’ll be going.」
「Un. Be careful, Yuu.」
When I lightly wave my hand and say that, Alicia nodded and replied like that.
「Yashiro-san……See ya.」
「Ou.」
Iyah, Eri really is a girl whose facial expression doesn’t change.
Even though this is a time of parting, I don’t see any change in her somehow sleepy-looking stare. ……No, tears are coming out a bit.
「……Thank you, very much!」
And then, Mana, taking a step forward, greatly lowered her head and shouted with a tearful voice.
「I, I! I’m going to be a splendid magician……magic swordsman like Yashiro-san!」
「One like me?」
「Yes!」
When I reflexively asked in return to the words that she said while fumbling them, Mana vigorously nodded.
……It’s kind of like, although that makes me happy, this is extremely embarrassing. No matter how many times I taste this feeling, it doesn’t feel bad. But,