Chapter 64 – The Hero’s Conclusion
This time I’ll ask the people in town.
First I’ll try ask the people around the stores.
「Black-eyed black-haired? Aah, is it about Sakura-chan? She’s a good child. I think of her like a grandchild you know.」
「Is it Sakura-chan? You, asking those sorts of things, you’re not thinking of doing something weird to Sakura-chan right? If you do such a thing, I won’t let you off you know?」
「Sakura-chan? Aah, I know her. It seems she’s living by herself na. She occasionally comes here for shopping you see.」
「Ahn? Aah, that jou-chan huh. She sure is an interesting kid na. Ah, if you’re an acquaintance, tell her to come make an appearance.」
「Yes? Aah, that girl, is it? Yeah, my magic tools that were called useless are selling like hotcakes thanks to her…」
「Sakura-chan? You, are you that child’s acquaintance? Then take these with you too. Aah, there’s no need to pay okay.」
「Sakura? You b.a.s.t.a.r.d, are you sniffing around for Sakura!?1 n? You’re not? fumu, so it’s like that huh… If that’s the case, I’ll tell you about her. Sakura is… (omitted) … ah, oi! Wait!」
Haa, haa… What, that last guy was?2 He gave off the same impression as that lady from the Adventurers’ Guild…
No, more importantly…
For the time being, although I went around various places and asked, there wasn’t a single bad rumor. Rather, everyone is favourable towards her.
Did the King lie to me after all…?
At the very least, that girl shouldn’t be the Demon King. If that’s the case, it means the royal family sheltering the Demon King is also a lie.
For now, I’ll return to the inn and consult… oh? Isn’t that Eleanor over there? Who’s the man that’s together with her? Mu, it appears they’ve entered an alleyway. Why, in such a place…?
Somehow or another, I ended up following after the two people but…
But I wonder why they came to a back alley like this?
「……If that’s the case, does it mean this plan is a failure?」
「Yeah, I think the Hero has various doubts after hearing the words of the target wa. As long as he’s not a complete idiot, he should realize he’s being deceived. It’ll be bad when that happens wa.」
「Understood. We’ll eliminate him before that happens. I’ll leave leading the Hero. The place will be the Great Western River. Okay?」
「Leave it to me. Will it be fine to carry it out tomorrow afternoon?」
「No problem.」
Ending with those words, Eleanor and the other man disappeared somewhere.
「……What is this… I was being deceived after all huh…?」
My pathetic voice echoed though the empty back alley.
I wonder how much time has pa.s.sed?
The surroundings have already begun to turn dark.
I sluggishly stood up and thought about what I should do from now on.
But my thoughts were jumbled up.
……At this rate, I’ll be killed tomorrow. Do I escape? But where to? In this unknown world, where could I escape to?
Ideas were rushing thr
ough my head, but not a single decent one came to mind.
When I was about to give up thinking, a voice echoed though the supposedly empty back alley.
「What are you doing in this sort of place? Uhm…… Takahashi-san?」
When I looked at the direction of the voice, that girl was standing there.
「……Fujino-san? Why are you here?」
「I’m on my way back from shopping you see. This is a shortcut. Well, I rarely go through here though. Leaving that aside, what’s going on? Your expression is as if it’s the end of the world…」
The girl has a concerned expression.
It’s somewhat strange to see that. To worry about someone who chased and aimed at your life just the other day… When I thought about that, I stopped caring about just about everything.3
「HAHAHA! It was just as Fujino-san said! I was being deceived! By that King, by Eleanor, by the country! It seems I’m going to be killed because I realized it. Summoned against my will, deceived, then killed in the end, what sort of s.h.i.tty game is this…!?」
How frustrating. I, who was deceived without even doubting it.
How frustrating. I, who got carried away after being called a Hero.
How frustrating. I, who was going to kill a girl who worried about someone like me.
And, how hateful. Those guys who deceived me, who are going to kill me.
But there’s probably nothing I can do with just me alone. I have no way to make a living even if I escape. Still, I don’t feel I can win even if I fight.
Even though I’m called a Hero, I’m still a human after all. It’s impossible for a single human to win against a country.
「So, what will you do? Are you going to wait to be killed just like that?」
Her voice echoed. It was a cold voice.
「What do you insist I do!? I have neither the ability to fight against a country, nor the power to make a living by myself! I can’t return to j.a.pan either, what do you insist I do!? Even I don’t want to die! But, I can’t think of anything…!」
I shouted. Although I knew it was futile even if I shouted, nevertheless, I couldn’t help but shout.
Hearing me shout, she still calmly spoke.
「Then, shouldn’t you find someone to rely on? Shouldn’t you appeal to a place that can oppose a country and get help? You don’t want to die, am I right?」
What did she say? Rely on? Where? A place that can oppose a country? Is there such a thing?
「Will you come with me? If you’re interested, for our connection of being from the same town, I’ll open a way for you, okay?4」
After saying only that, she turned her back towards me and began walking.
I didn’t know what I should do, but since I couldn’t think of anything else, I chased after her.
She bought me to a detached house.
She opened the door without any hesitation and entered inside the house.
I timidly followed along.
In the deserted house, she told me sit down.
A short time later, it appears that someone arrived.
The visitor was a man and turned up at the living room where I was sitting.
That man was one of the people who I asked in town about that girl.
「Sakura, he is…?」
The man looked at me, then asked her.
「A self-proclaimed Hero. Summoned by the country of Soutines, a resident of the same world as I. Takahashi-san, this is this country’s Second Prince, Sedrim-sama. Won’t you try speak to the Prince?」
Although the man twitched at the name of the country of Soutines, after the man’s introduction was followed by mine, he stopped worrying about it.
Why is a prince of an entire country here in a private house like this!? Rather, why is Fujino-san acquainted with a prince!? Furthermore, they appear to be fairly close!!?
「fumu, summoned by the country of Soutines? If that’s true, then it seems it’ll become quite a problem… Being here means that he’s not a danger, right?5 Is it Takahashi? If you have something to discuss, then shall I listen?」
I was more and more surprised at Prince Sedrim’s words. If what Fujino-san said was true, there’s hostility between the country of Soutines and this country. Even though a person of an enemy country is in front of him, he said I’m not a danger, furthermore, he said he’ll listen to my story even with my unknown background. Could the person in front of me be quite an important person, or is he an idiot?
However, if…… if this prince hears my story and I can get him moved…6
Fujino-san’s words comes to mind.
『Shouldn’t you appeal to a place that can oppose a country and get help?』
Although I didn’t understand at that time, I now realize ‘a place that can oppose a country’ means a another country.
If I’m able to request a hostile country’s protection, I should certainly be able to protect myself.
I’ve got nothing to lose. I resolved myself to speak.
Before I knew it, I placed the prepared tea to my mouth, and opened my mouth after I moistened my lips.
「The truth is…」
「So it was like that huh…」
After finishing explaining the situation, Prince Sedrim took a deep breath.
「So, what will you do, no, what do you want to do?」
His deep green eyes piercingly gazed at me.
「…If possible, we would like to be sheltered in this country. Me, and my three comrades, excluding Eleanor, who came along without knowing anything. At this rate, I think they’ll be killed if they return to their country. Please, please save us!」
Although I’m still sitting on the sofa, I lower my head as much as possible.
I remained in that state for a while, but before long, I realized the stabbing atmosphere softened up.
「There’s a condition. Takahashi, you’ll enter the Chivalric Order and work for the sake of this country. The treatment of the other three people will decided according to their abilities. Though you won’t be treated badly, it might not go according to what you guys expect.7If that’s still okay, I’ll protect you.」
There’s no way I’ll have an objection. Not only will my life be saved, I’ll obtain a foundation to live in this world. There’s no way I’ll reply with a no.
「Please! Although I won’t know until I ask the other three people, I’ll persuade them!」
Completely different from the despair a little while ago, I can see hope.
「Alright. However, don’t speak to the others yet. It’ll be bad if they even slightly suspect it. Takahashi, pretend you don’t know anything and follow their lead tomorrow. Don’t worry. I’ll have some hidden people follow you guys, the area around the great river will also be surrounded by sufficient people. You guys will be the so-called decoy. You’re able to do that much, right?」
Even though it’s somewhat dangerous, I understand it’s necessary in order to protect my life. I vigorously nodded.
「Dinner, it’s ready.」
With a perfect timing, I heard Fujino-san’s voice.
「Let’s go eat. Sakura’s food is delicious you know?」
「Hey Prince, even though I was the one who made it?」
Seeing Prince Sedrim speaking with a smile and Fujino-san’s dissatisfied expression, I unintentionally bursted into laughter.
「Pft, kukuku…」
「Hey, what are you laughing about?」
Fujino-san had an even more dissatisfied expression after seeing that.
Somehow, I feel it’s been a long time since I’ve laughed honestly like that.
「Delicious! Did Fujino-san make of all these!?」
「That’s right you know? Who else do you think made it?」
Fujino-san’s cooking was absurdly delicious. Even in j.a.pan, I’ve never eaten something with this sort of flavour. This, wouldn’t this make money? The sort of dishes Fujino-san makes has very nostalgic flavour somehow.
「Oi, newcomer! Stop resting and do another!!」
Right now, I’ve entered the Chivalric Order and I’m doing my best as a newcomer. Although the training is harsh, everybody are all good-natured comrades.
The next day, as discussed with Prince Sedrim, Eleanor lead us to the great river because she had something important to talk about with us. Although there were around twenty people there ambushing us, around fifty knights immediately turned up and defeated them and Eleanor.
The eyes of Adela, Fillice, and Matilda, the three people who weren’t aware of the situation, was trying to decide what was right and wrong, but it seems they understood after I explained the circ.u.mstances.
And so, because of the lives of the three people were saved, and being deceived by their country, they decided to follow Prince Sedrim’s instructions.
It seems Adela and Fillice became female knights and each made use of their specialty.
Matilda appears to have enrolled as a mage of this country, and started studying once more.8
I entered the Chivalric Order just as planned, and obtained a foundation to live in this world.
It’s all thanks to Fujino-san. Because if we didn’t meet Fujino-san at that time, we wouldn’t be here right now.
After that, I only met Fujino-san once. Well, although we only had a short conversation, I was given a little bit of bread and food at that time. Fujino-san’s cooking was delicious.
The day after I met Fujino-san, my training became even harsher for some reason…… was it my imagination?
「Don’t stand there like an idiot! If this was a battlefield, you’d be dead instantly!」
「Yes! I’m sorry!」
I think I can happily do this.9