Chapter 38: The Last One
“You got lucky.”
We gathered in the courtyard as usual and held a strategy meeting.
After discussing yesterday’s events, Bellfist said that.
We got lucky.
There was nothing to say in response to that.
Well, isn’t it great? We managed to retrieve it, right?”
“Yeah, perfectly.”
“For some reason.”
Yesterday, Belfist was also hiding in that place.
It was supposed to be a failure.
I couldn’t fill the gap in Alma’s heart.
That’s what I thought, but later I was surprised by Bellfist’s response when I asked him about it.
“I was surprised too. I never expected you to come out like that.”
It seems that a part of the Demon King’s power was released from Alma’s body.
As a result, I achieved my goal.
“Nothing went according to plan.”
“I was on the edge of my seat watching you. Especially when you went off-script.”
“That’s true. I’m reflecting on it.”
“It doesn’t bother me, though. Like I said before, I’m not the one who will be in serious trouble. Whatever you prioritize is your choice and will.”
He’s giving advice in a roundabout way.
This time, I prioritized my own emotions and rejected Alma.
It just happened to work out well and I achieved my goal.
There could have been irreparable consequences.
In that case, our contract would have fallen apart.
“Well, I’m counting on you in that regard too. You have a strong will. You have the power to challenge me. If possible, I want you to achieve your goal and become my bride.”
“A bride… Are you serious about that? Becoming a bride to such a weirdo?”
“You always say such awful things.”
“It’s the truth! There are better people out there for Slayer-san!”
“Thank you. But it’s okay. I just want to live properly.”
Originally, i was supposed to meet an ending of destruction and death.
I am struggling to avoid that.
Even marrying him is a necessary step for that.
At least for now, I don’t hate him enough to reject him.
“If I ever grow to hate you, then I’ll just fight.”
“Haha! I hope it doesn’t come to that.”
“I’m on Slayer-san’s side!”
“It’s reassuring to have you.”
We’ll cross that bridge when we get to it.
For now, I don’t need to think about it.
“Next is the last one.”
“Seika-senpai, right? I’ve only talked to him once, so I don’t really know him. . .but I’ll do my best if there’s anything I can do!”
Flare was enthusiastic.
She probably wanted to make up for declining Alma’s request.
“Thank you. But this time, it’s okay.”
“. . .Are you going to do something reckless again?”
She looked at me with concern.
“It’s okay. It’s not me who will do my best――”
My gaze was not on Flare but on someone else.
“Is it me?”
“Yes, it’s your turn.”
A friend character Seika Renoir.
In his story, Belfist held a pretty important position.
Flare may have been the one who started it, but he undoubtedly contributed the most to solving the problem.
“Your words will reach him, Belfist.”
“. . .Phew, well, whatever. This is the last one. I’ll do my best too.”
“Oh, do your best, okay? You want to marry me, right?”
“Yeah, I definitely want to. For that, leave it to me, Seika――.”
Almost at the same time, Belfist and I sensed a presence.
It was a rustling sound, Flare noticed it late.
“Oh, you were talking about me? That’s interesting.”
He appeared eerily from behind the trees.
The hero of the story, the last one standing.
Seika Renoir.
“Oh, Seika-senpai?!”
“Hey, Flare-chan, right? It’s our second time meeting.”
“Y-Yes! Thank you for helping me when I was lost the other day!”
Flare bowed energetically.
This child… got lost somewhere again.
“Don’t worry about it. You don’t seem lost today… or so it seems.”
“Ah, yes. Um. . .”
Flare was at a loss for words.
Seika’s eyes had a strange color, and when he looked at her with those eyes, she felt like he could see through her heart for some reason.
“What are you doing in a place like this, Seika?”
His friend Belfist asked casually.
They met after entering the school and became friends.
They weren’t childhood friends, nor could they be called best friends.
There was a slightly strange sense of distance between them.
“It’s rare for you to come to a place like this.”
“Is that so? Well, this place was often where you came, Bell. I thought it would be best not to intrude, so I kept my distance.”
“Why would you hold back? We’re friends, aren’t we? No need for such reservations.”
“Yeah, I guess you’re right… It’s just a bit of a shock, that’s all. To think you were keeping secrets from me.”
Seika’s gaze grew colder.
He was not glaring, just quietly observing.
With his mysterious eyes.
“You guys have been acting suspiciously lately, haven’t you?”
“What, what? Are you jealous because I’ve been secretly meeting two beautiful women?”
“Haha, I wouldn’t have minded if you were just fooling around. But. . .you’ve been using magic without permission several times in the past few days, haven’t you?”
“――! What are you talking about?”
“Don’t play dumb. You should know. This is my school, right?”
He was the grandson of the head of the school, and he was also his right-hand man.
One of Seika’s assigned roles was to always be on the lookout for any suspicious activities within the academy and take appropriate measures.
I had expected that we would notice, as he had been quite active, but..
“It seems you’ve come to us instead.”
A little unexpected.
I was planning to tell them the plan and prepare, but that seems impossible now.
“Can you tell us what you were doing and what your purpose is?”
“What if we refuse?”
“Then there’s no helping it. I’ll have to extract the information by force.”
His gaze became even colder.
He was serious.
There’s no more room for deception.
“Bell, it’s your turn.”
“I know. I should be the one to deal with this guy.”
Belfist stood in front of Seika.
“What are you planning?”
“We won’t let you interfere. We can’t tell you our purpose either.”
“I see. Then, there’s no other choice.”
“Yeah, I guess i’ll have to extract the information by force!”
