Chapter 141 - Intermission: Alice ~ The Thoughts Dwelling within the Shadows ~
To me, the life and death of others isn’t something that interests me.
My priority is the peace of the world, not the peacefulness of my own life. If I judge that you’re unnecessary for the world, even if you are the king of a country, you will have to disappear.
If I were to ask Kuro-san, she will probably just say that I’m dull…… but if you ask me, Kuro-san and the other members of the Six Kings are too lenient.
The turbulent people are like the sc.u.m gathering in the stew, they would keep bubbling up one after another without limit if left alone.
That’s why someone has to take out the sc.u.ms in order to keep the world peaceful.
However, I also tend to be lenient with those I’m close to.
On the day before the summoning of the Hero, I went to the location of the magic circle due to the information brought to me by my subordinates.
The fact that I, myself would be moving means that it’s a situation that my subordinates couldn’t handle……]
[……What are you doing, Kuro-san?]
[……Shalltear……]
[That’s the magic circle for summoning heroes, right? If you pour that much magic power into it…… It will go out of control.]
[……Unnn…… sorry.]
At my questioning words, Kuro-san turns around with a sad expression on her face.
What she was doing was tinkering the summoning magic circle…… Kuro-san poured a large amount of magic power into the summoning process, making the process of summoning to be almost run out of control, and if it were used, the likely result would be that the person being summoned wouldn’t be alone.
[……Kuro-san. I hate to say this, but even if you increase the number of people summoned, “your wish is”……]
[I know that! I don’t know if it’s even possible……]
[…………..]
I can understand why Kuro is trying to do this, and I can honestly feel her pain.
That’s why I hesitated. Should I stop her, or should I let her go……
Kuro is like a parent to me, and I owe her a great debt of grat.i.tude for raising me…… It’s painful to realize that Kuro-san has been holding onto this wish for a long time, that she herself even feels that she can’t make it come true.
[……Hahh…… Just this once, okay?]
[……Shalltear?]
[Just this one time, it can be explained that it’s just the residual magic going out of control…… I’ll make the necessary adjustments after this incident.]
[……Thank you.]
[However, I don’t think it’s possible. Even if you increase the number of people you summon, a person who will grant your wish won’t appear…… Well, you probably know that already.]
After saying that much, I left the room with the summoning magic circle.
I went outside and gave my subordinates instructions on how to cover up the situation and making it look like the magic power in the vicinity went out of control, and wishing that there won’t be any irregularities that would happen, I waited for the next day.
Yeah, well, as for the conclusion of the incident…… it did occur, an irregularity I mean……
The summoning magic circle that summoned the First Hero…… Hikari-san, it was adjusted by Shallow Vernal-sama to summon beings who are “close to Hikari-chan’s age when she was summoned”.
Hikari-san was 17 years old when she was summoned to this world. So, the person summoned by the summoning magic circle from another world should be about 16-18 years old.
That’s why, it was a real shock when I heard from the subordinates that I made to infiltrate that there was one of them that was 21 years old.
Miyama Kaito…… An irregularity who should be outside of Shallow Vernal-sama’s technique’s age of selection.
I immediately investigated the irregular being, Miyama Kaito.
As soon as I saw the reason for his summoning, I knew right away.
A piece of Kuro’s magic power was in him, he had the ability to become the being that Kuro-san wanted.
That’s why he was able to be summoned to this world, even though the person summoned should have only been 16-18 years old.
To be honest, I was quite confused about how to deal with him.
Having the qualities and being able to fulfill them are two different things…… I couldn’t quite believe that he was capable of holding his own against Kuro-san.
So, I decided to make contact with him and measure him myself.
There’s nothing crueler than making a person feel hope for something you can’t fulfill. If I decided it was impossible for him, I would immediately pull him away from Kuro-san.
With that thought in mind, I disguised myself as a human and contacted him……
[……Hahhh~~ Kaito-san should be in the Demon Realm by now huh~~ How boring…… wait, arehh?]
I became surprised by the words I muttered while sitting at the counter in the late afternoon.
Boring? What am I saying? That kinda sounds like I’m missing Kaito-san since he’s not coming……
It’s been about a month since I started interacting with Kaito-san using the name Alice.
At first, I thought it would really be impossible for him, but Kaito-san was far more than I could ever imagine.
He drew Shallow Vernal-sama’s interest and pulled Isis-san away from loneliness.
I don’t think he realizes it though, but those were extraordinary achievements…… at least, enough to astonish me and make me change my mind.
If it’s Kaito-san, he may be able to grant Kuro-san’s wish…… That’s what I have judged, and so, I started moving behind the scenes.
If he’s going to seriously stand before Kuro-san, he would need to have a strong heart…… Yes, for example, to the point where he wouldn’t lose himself when he’s facing off all of the Six Kings……
That’s why I have given him all sorts of trials. Whether or not this person’s heart would submit or whether or not this person’s heart would be distorted…… However, Kaito-san was unwavering.
He could be shaken, he could be confused…… but still remaining upright, he won Megiddo-san’s trust.
And that also includes mine……
I honestly didn’t think that a mere mortal could disturb my mind to such an extent.
I enjoy talking to Kaito-san, feeling glad even as the seriously concerned Kaito-san is scolding me when I do stupid things…… Missing him at those times that Kaito-san’s not here.
Haahh… Good grief…… I’ve already lived for a long time. Who would have thought that this adult me would feel love…… You’re really something……
In the shop at dusk, I hear the door open and a small shadow enters.
[Welcome, Kuro-san.]
[Unnn.]
The one who came in was Kuro-san.
Right from the start, I had told Kuro-san that I was in contact with Kaito-san under the name of Alice, and even when she came to our business meeting before, she properly understood my intentions and kept quiet.
[……Kaito-kun. How is he?]
[He pa.s.sed. I don’t have any complaints here…… Well, in my opinion, he has already pa.s.sed after the fourth trial, but the fifth one was just something like a bonus.]
[……I see.]
Hearing my reply, Kuro-san has a complicated expression on her face.
The meaning of the fact that I told her that Kaito-san pa.s.sed, Kuro-san obviously knows that.
[……Kuro-san. Kaito-san is the one you’ve been looking for.]
[……That is something…… I still don’t know……]
[You’re really stubborn, aren’t you? Well, that’s fine. I’m sure that it won’t be too long before Kaito-san…… stands before you. And then, he will go challenge the depths of your soul that neither I nor the other Six Kings have been able to reach.]
[……………!?]
Kuro-san looks as if she’s about to cry.
There’s something she’s been seeking for a long time…… but she’s given up hope of ever getting it.
Neither Kuro-san nor I could get it…… but now, Kaito-san is getting as close to that as possible.
Maybe, if it’s Kaito-san…… having such a faint hope is probably making Kuro-san suffer more than ever before.
It took too long for him to show up…… Long years has she become caged, and being suddenly offered a miracle in front of her would make her reject it.
[……Shalltear, what if I…… “kill Kaito-kun”…… What will you do?]
[……It’s not like I will do anything special.]
When Kuro-san quietly told me that, I also quietly replied.
[If you kill Kaito-san…… I will mourn, regret, and feel angry…… I will fight you to the death…… and probably “die” because I’m not strong enough to defeat you.]
[………………….]
[It’s nothing special. If Kaito-san dies, I will die too, I didn’t intend to fall in love without that level of commitment.]
[………………….]
In my words filled with determination, Kuro-san remains silent and doesn’t say anything.
Kuro-san also understands. She also knows that the day when that will happen isn’t far away……
Well, as far as I’m concerned, I’m only thinking about what to do to win over Kaito-san…… After that, I would make my approach and make her see me as a woman as well.
Well, let’s put a stop to thinking about this for the future.
Because at some point, when that time comes, whether we want it or not…… the answer will come to us by itself.
Kaito-san…… I adore you. That’s why, please…… More than anything, I wish for you a happy ending……
Kuro: “………….. (I was just in the mood to mutter a whole lot of dots here, but she’s replying very seriously now!? What should I do, I can’t really say that I made that face as a joke now……)”
What’s new?
- Kuro is the culprit who manipulated the magic circle.
- Kaito wasn’t supposed to be summoned, but he switched places with a highschool boy when he was summoned.
- Kaito was called in because he had the qualities that Kuromueina wished for.