桔音がギルドへ運び込まれた時、勇者の『希望の光』の効果範囲外へと出たのか、はたまた勇者が『希望の光』を解除したのか、桔音の『臨死体験』が発動した。
桔音を死なせまいと発動したそれは、桔音を死の寸前まで追い詰めた相手、勇者の筋力ステータスの倍の耐性を会得させる。そして勇者のステータスは総じてAランク相当、その倍ともなればレイラの時と同様にSランクの自己回復能力を手にする事になる。
レイラの時よりも酷い重傷ではあったが、数分で桔音の傷は全て完治した。肩の風穴は塞がり、腹を貫通した傷も塞がり、そして何度も殴られてぐしゃぐしゃになった顔や身体も元に戻った。
「あー死ぬかと思った」
桔音はそう言って身体を起こし、全回復した身体を動かす。
『臨死体験』というのは、発動した後は危険が去るまでその効果を持続させる。上がったステータスは、一時的に桔音本来のものとなるのだ。
そして効果を発動させたあと『臨死体験』は一度なりを潜め、危機が去った後再度ステータスを戻す為に発動する。
つまり発動と停止の間もずっと発動し続けている訳ではない。その間は機能していないのだ。
それが意味するのは、『臨死体験』は発動してしまえば戦闘が終わるまで――――『希望の光』の効果を受け付けないということだ。
「きつね君きつね君」
「なにかなレイラちゃん」
「これからどうするの?」
桔音は薄ら笑いを浮かべ、ギルドの入口へと歩き出す。レイラもその後ろを追うように小走りで付いて行く。
「あの巫女ちゃんの目的は、フィニアちゃんを奪うこと。フィニアちゃんを見た時から、あの子の眼はずっとフィニアちゃんをどう仲間にするかを画策していたからね。だから利用した、勇者がルルちゃんを助けるとか言った時に思い付いたんだろうね」
「そうなの?」
「ねぇレイラちゃん、この国に居たなら知ってるんじゃないの? この国であんな勝負が認められているのかな?」
桔音はギルドの入り口から外へと出て、ルルを連れて去ろうとしている勇者と
「ううん、聞いたことない」
「だろうね......あんな勝負が認められたら、この国は戦争どころか内乱で崩壊してる」
レイラの答えに、更に歩きだし、嘲笑して桔音はそう言った。
そう、この国では決闘なんて制度は―――『ない』。
勇者の強い物が全てという言葉に対して、セシルは肯定した。だがそれは強者がなんでも奪って良いという話ではないのだ。
強者であることで多少得することがあり、多くの名声を得られるというだけの話である。今回の勝負はあの巫女、セシルが作りあげた、
――――決闘という名の、強奪の場だ。
桔音はそれを分かっていた。いや、正確には途中から気付いていた。だからこそ、最初は逃げようとした訳だが、そこから逃げ場を封じる様にセシルがあの光の輪を発動したのだ。
しかも予想外だったのは、勇者の『希望の光』だ。時間稼ぎをすればいずれ光の輪が解けると思っていたのだが、あのスキルのせいで時間稼ぎをする手段が全て封じられてしまったのだ。
故に負けてしまった。全てはあの巫女の掌の上だったのだ。
「気に入らないなぁ、やられっぱなしは趣味じゃない」
桔音はそう呟いて、立ちすくんでいたリーシェの隣に辿り着く。同時に、桔音のその言葉に反応して、去ろうとしていた勇者と巫女が驚愕の表情で振り向いた。連れていかれそうだったルルや、フィニアも同様に驚いている。
「な......あんた、なんで」
「ああ君はもういいよ、はっきり言って君は僕の敵じゃない」
「なっ......」
勇者が話し掛けてきたが、桔音はそれを一蹴してぶった切った。
既に桔音にとって彼は眼中どころか意識の中にすら入っていない。敵にするには考えも行動も意思も覚悟も足りていない。ちょっと力を持っただけの虫を気にするほど、桔音も暇じゃないのだ。
「いや、良くやったもんだと思ってね......従者失格と言ったけど取り消すよ。お前、結構強かじゃないか」
「......どうも」
「でもさ、勇者の従者って言うなら......やっぱり従者失格だね。まぁそこの勇者気取りの従者ならお似合いか」
桔音は薄ら笑いを浮かべながらそう言った。巫女の眉がぴくりと動いた。
「でもまぁ、まんまと君の掌の上で転がされたわけだし、負けは負けだ......ルルちゃんもフィニアちゃんも、奪って行くなら奪えば良い」
そして続けて言う。自分達が何をしたのか、自分達が誰を敵に回したのか、それを思い知らせてやる。そう思いながら、『不気味体質』を発動させて巫女に向かって歩き出す。
どうやら『希望の光』は発動していないらしい。まぁ『不気味体質』が発動しているのが分かるのは、桔音とその対象のみ、勇者はそれに気が付く事が出来ない以上『希望の光』で阻害する事は出来ない。
「でも、僕は君を許さない」
「っ......!?」
鼻と鼻が触れ合う程に顔を近づけた桔音は、薄ら笑いを浮かべたままセシルに言う。『不気味体質』が発動していることもあって、セシルは逃げ出したいほどの恐怖に囚われ、身体がすくんで動けなかった。
「全力で逃げるんだね、僕はお前を追いかけて追いかけて追いかけて追いかけて、最後は僕にしたことを後悔する位に叩きのめしてあげる。その綺麗なお顔を涙と鼻水で歪ませて、足腰立たない位の恐怖を与えて、子供みたいに失禁させて、最後は地面に頭を擦りつけながら必死に僕に許しを請わせてやる」
「な......あ......っ......!」
「おい、あんた!」
「何かな勇者気取り君?」
先程までは優勢だったのに、何故か桔音の言葉が二人を追い詰めていた。
しかし、勇者はその剣を抜いて桔音に切り掛かる。桔音はその速度を追えず、刀身なんて全く見えなかったけれど、
「ッ――――!?」
「残念、効かないよ。言っただろ、お前はもう僕の敵ですらない」
刃は鈍い音を立てて桔音の首に当たり、肉どころか皮膚すら切り裂けず止まった。
『臨死体験』で向上した耐性能力値は、Aランクの力ですら寄せ付けない。
「まぁ、これ位にしておくよ。これ以上やると、君達泣いちゃうでしょ?」
「ッ......!」
桔音は嘲笑しながらそう言って挑発し、セシルから二歩三歩と離れた。そして先程から言われっぱなしの二人は言い返せないストレスに歯噛みする。
だがもう桔音の視線は二人に向いていない。
「ルルちゃん、フィニアちゃん」
「きつねさん......」
「きつね様......」
どれだけ言おうが、負けは負け。どれだけ卑怯だったとしても、敗北した以上は何も言えないのだ。だからこそ、桔音はここで無様に足掻いたりしない。卑怯卑劣には全力を持ってして叩き伏せ、屈辱を味あわせてやる。
「ルルちゃんにはさっきも言ったね」
桔音は先程、ルルにも言ったことをもう一度、はっきりと言葉にする。取り返そうと思えば、今にでも取り戻せる。
しかし、今はそうしない。それは悪足掻きでしかないし、卑怯な勇者達と同じになってしまうから、そうしない。
あくまで正々堂々と、真正面から挑んで、取り戻す。
「待ってて......絶対に取り返すから」
だから今は少しだけ、待ってて欲しい。そういう思いを込めて、桔音はフィニア達にそう言った。
「うん......待ってる」
「はい......!」
フィニアとルルは、その思いを受け取ってそれを受け入れた。待っていれば必ず取り戻してくれると、そう約束してくれたのだから、信じて待つことにした。
桔音はルルとフィニアを抱きよせて、優しく抱きしめた。
また一つ、守らなければならない約束が増えた。
「良かったのー? きつね君」
「何が?」
「フィニア達を行かせて、まぁ私は別にどうでもいいけど」
すると、レイラちゃんがそう聞いてきた。まぁ、良くはないけれど、ちゃんと取り戻すって言ったからね。約束は守るよ。
あの二人は本当に腹立たしいことばっかして行ったけれど、絶対いつか復讐する。泣きながら僕に頭を下げさせて、ごめんなさいって言わせる。
その為にはもっと強くならないとね。手っ取り早く強くなる為には、強い相手と戦えば良いんだし、今日からレイラちゃん相手にちょっと殺し合いでもしようかな。
「ふーん......うふふっ♪ そっかぁ......うんうん、きつね君らしくて良いんじゃないかな♡」
「だが、どうやって取り戻すつもりだ? 巫女はともかく、勇者の方はとてつもなく強いぞ?」
確かにそうなんだよねぇ。耐性ステータスをいくら上げたとしても、負けないだけで勝つ事は出来ない。まぁあんだけメンタルが弱いようなら言葉で滅多打ちにして心を圧し折るのも一つの手ではあるけれど、どうせならやられた分やり返してやりたい。
となれば、筋力とかをあげるのが最も効率が良いんだけど......僕の筋力値は限界値に達してるからどうしようもないよね。ただそうなると、もっと都合のいい戦闘スタイルを身に付けるしかないか。
「うん、なんにせよ......レベルをあげることが優先だね」
「まぁそうだろうけど......」
「なんにせよ、この国に居る意味はもうないわけだ......とっととこんな国出て行って、何処か別の所へ行こうよ。ミニエラに帰るのも良いし、他の場所へ行くのも良いし......」
どちらにせよ、グランディール王国は正直もう居たくない。勇者召喚した国だし、奴隷にシビアな国だし、僕に優しくないし。
それに城に侵入するのもあまり好ましくない。下手したら投獄させられてしまう。行動が制限される可能性がある以上、この国で何か行動を起こすのは不味い。
それに―――僕の『直感』スキルが、この場に留まるべきではないと告げている。
「もしかしたら、勇者以上のヤバい奴が来るかもしれないし......ね」
僕のその呟きに、リーシェちゃんもレイラちゃんも首を傾げた。
その頃勇者達はというと、グランディール王国の入り口にいた。桔音から逃げる様にルルとフィニアを連れてあの場を去った二人だが、元々ギルドで一緒に旅をする仲間を待つ予定だったのを思い出し、入り口で待つことにしたのだ。
魔法使いのシルフィと剣士のジーク、旅する上で必ず力になってくれる二人だ。ギルドであんな騒ぎがあった後故に、後からやってきた二人なら誰かから話を聞いてきっと此処まで来るだろう。セシルはそう考えたのだ。
そして現在、セシルと勇者は桔音という存在の事を考えていた。
二人とも、決闘の結果勝ったというのに、全く嬉しくない心境だった。それどころか、桔音という存在を敵に回してしまったこと、これを悔いていた。無論ルルとフィニアを連れて来た事に対してではない、桔音が怖いと思ってしまったからこそ悔いているのだ。
出来ればもう二度と関わりたくない相手が、地の果てまで追い掛けてくる。それだけで顔が青褪めてしまう。それほどまでに、二人は桔音に恐怖を植え付けられたのだ。
「......セシル」
「とりあえず気にしても仕方ないし、今すぐ追ってくるって訳じゃないだろ? 俺達の役目は魔王の討伐、こんな所で躓いている訳にはいかないんじゃないか?」
「そう、ですね......」
勇者、凪は自分に言い聞かせるようにそう言って、無理矢理作った様な笑みを浮かべた。セシルも、励ましてくれているのだろうと思ってなんとか気を取り直す。
そして、セシルがなんとか笑みを作ると、凪も重くなった空気を変えようと声を張り上げた。
「よーし! それじゃあ取り敢えず、折角の旅なんだ楽しんでいこうぜ!」
「えっ......と......フィニア、だったっけ?」
「気易く名前を呼ばないでくれる?」
「そう怒らないでさ、仲良くしようぜ?」
「いや」
フィニアの全く心を開いてくれない態度に、凪は引き攣った笑みを浮かべる。完全に嫌われているということが分かった。これまでその正義感の強さと優しさ、そしてルックスもあってあまり人から嫌われる経験の少ない凪は、此処まであからさまな嫌悪に若干ショックを受ける。
だが、なんとか踏みとどまって今度はルルに視線を向ける。彼女は桔音との家族の絆である首輪に触れながら、会話には全く参加する気はなさそうだった。表情も何処か浮かない様子だ。
「えーと......ルルちゃん......だったか?」
「何処か怪我とかないか?」
「......大丈夫です」
会話のキャッチボールが成り立たないとはこのことだ。幾ら言葉を投げかけても、ルルは全て受け流してしまう。けして投げ返して来ないのがその証拠だ。
すると、凪はルルが首輪を弄っているのに気が付いた。
「それ、窮屈だろ? 取ってやるよ」
すると、凪はここぞとばかりに剣を抜いて、その鍛え上げられた太刀筋を惜しげなく披露し―――
「あ......あああ......!」
切れた首輪はルルの首から外れ、地面へと音を立てて落ちた。
ルルと桔音が、家族になる為に二人を繋いだ首輪。勿論そんな物がなくともルルと桔音は心で繋がっている、首輪が無くなった所で家族でなくなることはない。
―――でも、ルルにとってはこの首輪が唯一の宝物だった。
それが今、非情な刃で斬り裂かれ、地面に落ちた。
「ルルちゃん!」
ルルは地面にしゃがみ込み、バラバラになった首輪を必死に元に戻そうと掻き集める。いつしかぽろぽろと涙が溢れ、どうしたってくっつかない首輪を何度も何度もくっつけようと手を動かす。
しかし、どうした所で首輪は元には戻らない。
ルルは涙を流す。首輪が壊れたことに対する悲しみにではない、桔音への罪の意識に涙を流す。彼と結んだ絆の証が壊されてしまった、申し訳なくて申し訳なくて、どうしていいか分からなかった。
「え、えっと......もしかして、首輪が好きだったのか? わ、悪い! 新しいのを―――」
「もういい」
見当違いのことを言う勇者に、涙を流すルルの前に浮遊するフィニアが怒りの形相で言葉を遮る。ルルに近づくなとばかりに、勇者とルルの間に入って睨みつけた。
「貴方はもう私達に構わないで......きつねさんが言うから一緒に行動するのは我慢する、でも貴方は私達に何もしないで」
「っ......はぁ......分かった、悪かったよ」
凪はフィニアの言葉に、今はもう何を言っても裏目に出るだけだと思い、素直に身を引いた。
どうやらフィニア達の自分への好感度はマイナスを振りきっているみたいだ、と考えながら、肩を落とした。
When Kitsune was brought into the guild, as if he was outside the area of effect of hero's "Ray of Hope", "Near-death experience" immediately activated.
Then moment it was activated, to not let Kitsune died, he gained resistance stats equal to double of hero's -who cornered him to the brink of death- strength stats. And then, since hero's prowess was equal to that of an A rank adventurer, Kitsune received S rank self-recovery ability equaling to the time when he was attacked by Leila.
He was at a state which was worse than the time with Leila, but just in several seconds, all of his unjuries were rocevered. The hole at his shoulder was closed, the pierced wound at his abdomen was closed, and then his whole body -that was attacked numerous time and ragged- was recovered.
"Ah, I thought I were going to die."
Saying so, Kitsune raised his body up, and moved his just recovered body.
Once "Near-death experience" activated, this skill's effect would last till there was no danger to its wielder. The increased stats was temporarily turned into his true stats.
After it activated its effect, it would soon deactivate itself, and the moment there was no danger to its wielder, it would activate itself again to return the stats to its original value.
That meant, from the moment its effect surfaced till it disappeard, this skill didn't always activate, and would deactivate itself in between.
That meant, till the end of this battle, its effect... wouldn't be nullified by "Ray of Hope".
"Kitsune-kun, Kitsune-kun."
"What's up, Leila-chan?"
"What are going to do?"
Floating his usual faint smile, Kitsune walked toward guild's entrance. Leila trotted behind him as if to chase after him.
"That miko's intention was to, snatch Finia-chan away. Ever since the moment she saw Finia-chan, her eyes said that she was always thinking about how to take Finia-chan to their party, after all. That was why she utilized it, I'm sure she realized this chance the moment the hero told his intention to save Lulu-chan."
"Is that so?"
"Say, Leila-chan, since you come from this country, do you know anything about it? Is such duel really approved at this country?"
Kitsune stepped outside through guild's entrance, and gazed and the hero and the miko who intended to leave while taking along Lulu.
"Hmm, I've never heard of it."
"Thought so... if such duel is approved, not by war, this country would have crumbled long ago because of civil war."
Hearing Leila's answer, he walked again, and said so in scorn.
That was right, there was... 'no'... such system for duel at that country.
The hero's word about strength is everything, Cecil affirmed it. However, it didn't mean that the strong could take everything as they pleased.
It meant, if you were strong enough, you would be able to more of less live prosperously and received great fame there. This time duel was that miko, Cecil's self-stated thing,
--that so called duel was nothing but a cover, for her plundering scheme.
Kitsune just realized it. No, more precisely, he realized it midway. That was why, at first he thought about running away, but as if to block his escaping path, Cecil activated that circle of light.
Moreover, the most unexpected thing was, the hero's "Ray of Hope". If he could buy some times, that circle of light would surely disappear in a given amount of time, but because of that skill, he lost all means to buy time.
That was why he lost. Everything was according to that miko's plan.
"I don't like it, being schemed against isn't my style."
Murmuring so, Kitsune arrived at the petrivied Rishe's side. Simulatenously, reacting to Kitsune's word, the intending to leave hero and miko were floating surprised expressions. Similarly Lulu, who was being led away, and Finia were surprised as well. The only one who knew about "Near-death Experience" was none other but Leila, so there was no helping it.
"Wha... you, how...."
"Ah, I'm done with you, I've fully understood that you aren't my enemy."
"Wha...."
The hero talked to him, but Kitsune interjected and ignored him.
All of sudden, much less consideration, Kitsune didn't even give the hero any thought. The hero's thought, act, will, and resolution, were all insufficient to become Kitsune's enemy. And Kitsune himself, didn't have that much free time to waste to be bothered by a mere insect that had quite a bit of power.
"Not at all, I just thought that you've done it pretty well... I take it back for calling you as a disgraceful follower. You, aren't you quite a crafty one?"
"...thank you."
"But, if you call yourself as hero's follower, then... as I thought you're still a disgraceful follower. Well, as a follower of that fake hero, you both are quite suited for each other, though."
Kitunse said so while floating his usual faint smile. The miko's eyebrow twitched slightly.
"But, well, even if all of this are all merely your scheme, a lose is still a lose... either it Lulu-chan or Finia-chan, if you want to take them then just take them with you."
And then continued so. What did they just do, who was the one they just made an enemy of, he wanted to make them realized it. With such a thought, he walked and activated "Eerie Constitution" toward the miko.
Seems like "Ray of Hope" wasn't activated. Well, the one who realized the activation of "Eerie Constitution" was, Kitsune and his target, and since the hero didn't notice it, that was why he didn't activate "Ray of Hope".
"But, I won't ever forgive you."
"....!?"
Closing his face to hers till their noses almost connected, Kitsune said so while faintly smiling. Together with the fact that "Eerie Constitution" was activated, Cecil was seized with fear that even made her wants to run away, however her body was frozen and couldn't move even an inch.
"Just do your best to run away, since I'll keep on chase, chase, and chase after you, and finally, I'll beat you enough to make you regret what you've done. I'll definitely give you enough fear that will make that pretty face of yours covered by tears and nasal mucus, that will make your legs limp and unable to stand up, and finally, it will force you to rub that head of yours on the ground in desperate for asking for my forgiveness."
"Wha... a...!"
"Oi, you!"
"What is it, fake hero-kun?"
Up until just a moment ago, they were the superior one, and yet, somehow Kitsune's word cornered them.
However, the hero brandished his sword and swung it at Kitsune. Kitsune was unable to follow the hero's speed, he couldn't see the sword at all,
"...!?"
"Too bad, that won't be able to hurt me. Haven't I told you before? That you aren'y my enemy anymore."
With a dull sound, the sword stopped at Kitsune's neck, much less flesh, it couldn't even cut his skin.
Kitsune's increased stat under the effert of "Near-death Experience" was something that couldn't be compared to a stat that of an A rank.
"Well, let's just leave it with this much. If I go any further, you both may cry, after all."
"...!"
Kitsune said so in scorn to provoke them, and took several steps away from Cecil. And then, both of them that couldn't say a word at his provocation, could only grind their teeth in distress.
However, Kitsune's gaze was already turned away from them.
"Lulu-chan, Finia-chan."
"Kitsune-san...."
"Kitsune-sama...."
No matter how much words he said, a lose is still a lose. No matter how unfair it was, as the loser he couldn't do anything about it. That was why, Kitsune wouldn't disgracefully flounder them. By knocking them down at their own unfair game, that was the best way to humiliate them.
"Lulu-chan, I've told you before, didn't I?"
Kitsune was going to once again say the word that he said to Lulu just now, clearly. If he simply wanted to take them back, he could do it even now.
However, he wouldn't do it now. That was the final struggle if he really didn't have any other choice, but since it would seem similar like what that cowardice hero did, Kitsune wouldn't do it.
To the bitter end, fair and square, challenging face on, that's the right way to do it.
"Just wait for me... since I'll definitely come and take you back."
That's why, for just a bit, I want you to wait.
"Yes... I'll be waiting for you."
"Yes...!"
Finia and Lulu, receiving his thought, they accepted it. If they waited for him, he would definitely come and take them back, he had promised so, that was why they decided to believe him.
Kitsune hugged Finia and Lulu, gently hugged them.
The promise he had to keep, increased by one.
"Are you fine with it? Kitsune-kun?"
"With what?"
"Letting Finia-chan and Lulu-chan go, well, I don't particularly care about it, though."
Well, there's no way I'm fine with it, but I've promised to take them back again later after all. I'll definitely keep this promise.
Those two were really irritating, I'll definitely take my revenge at them. I'll make them bow their head in cry, and ask for my forgiveness.
For that sake, I need to be stronger. And a way to become stronger in a short amount of time, is to fight against strong opponents... hmm, should I do some bloody spar with Leila-chan, I wonder?
"Hmm... ufufu, I see... yup, yup, a way that's so like you, Kitsune-kun."
"But, how are you intending to take them back? Leaving aside the miko, the hero is undoubtly powerful, you know?"
That's surely right, right? No matter how high my resistance, even if I won't lose, there's no way for me to win either. Will, with such weak mentality, there's an option to crush him mentally, but in the end, I want to repay them back in full.
That means, the best way is to rise my strength stat, but... sadly, since my strength stat has reached its limit already, there's nothing I can do about it though. With that only means, my only choice if to find a more convenient  battle style for me, huh.
"Well, anyhow... leveling up is the top priority."
"Well, that is surely the case...."
"Anyway, we have no reason to stay at this country any longer... let's leave this country immediately, and go to some other place. We can return to Miniera, and we can also try to go to other place...."
Either way, I don't want to stay at this country any longer. It's the country that summoned the hero after all, it's a country that oppress slaves after all, it's a country that is harsh at me after all.
Moreover, it's unlikely possible for me to infiltrate the castle. If I do it poorly, I might get imprisoned. Not just there's a possibility that this country may restrict our movement, it would be bad if something happen at this country.
Moreover-- my "Instict" skill, have been telling me that I shouldn't stay at this country any longer.
"Perhaps, something worse than the hero may come, after... all."
At my murmur, Rishe-chan and Leila-chan incline their heads.
At the same time, hero and co. were at the Grandile Kingdom's entrance. Hero and Cecil, as if to ran away from Kitsune, they immediately took Finia and Lulu to the country's entrance, however, recalling their other party members who they were supposed to meet at the guild, they decided to wait for them there.
Magician Silphy and Swordman Jik, people who would undoubtly be helpful for their journey. After making such ruckuss at the guild, they were sure that if both them went to the guild later, both of them would definitely heard about what happened there from someone and then go to the country's entrance. Or so Cecil thought.
And then, currently, Cecil and Hero were thinking about the existence named Kitsune.
Even though both of them won the duel, they weren't happy at all. On the contrary, they were regretting the fact that they had made an enemy of the exinstence named Kitsune. Of course, it wasn't because they took away Finia and Lulu, they regretted it exactly because they thought that Kitsune himself was fightening.
If possible, he was an existence they didn't want to meet again, however he'd said that he'd chase after them even to the end of the world. With only that fact had made their face pale. That was just the extent of how much fear Kitsune planted at them.
"...Cecil."
"For now, let's not let it bother us too much, it isn't like he'll chase after right away, after all, right? Our duty is to subjugate the demon lord, we couldn't just let something like it hinder us, right?"
"You are, right...."
Hero, Nagi, said so as if saying to himself, and then forcefuly floated a smile. Cecil also somehow pulled herself together as if got encouraged by his word.
And then, when Cecil somehow floated a smile, Nagi shouted as if to blow away the heavy atmosphere.
"Alright! Well then, for now, it's finally journeying time, let's enjoy it to the fullest!"
"Eh... um... Finia, was it?"
"Could you please don't call my name so casually?"
"Please don't be angry like that, let's get along well together, okay?"
"No way."
At Finia's act that didn't open heart at him at all, Nagi floated a cramped smile. He understood that he was completely hated by her. With his sense of justice, prowess, kindness and appearance, Nagi, who was rarely hated by anyone thus far, receved quite a great shock by her blatant disgust.
However, he somehow held it out and turned his gaze at Lulu this time. She -who was always touching the collar which was the sign of her familial bond with Kitsune- showed an expression as if she had no interest to join the conversation at all. She also looked somewhat gloomy.
"Umm... Lulu-chan...was it?"
"Are you injured somewhere?"
"...I'm fine."
That was the so called one sided conversation. No matter how much words he threw at her, Lulu'd simply ward all of it off. The proof was the fact that she didn't throw any word back at him.
And then, he noticed that Lulu was always touching her collar.
"That, it must be cramped, right? Let me remove it."
Then, brandishing his sword -that was rarely out except at a crucial time- without any hesitation he showed his polished swordmanship--
"Ah... aaa...!"
The cut off collar was sliding down from her neck, and dropped to the ground with a 'thud' sound.
The collar, that tied her and Kitsune as a family. Of course, even without such a thing, their hearts were connected, and their familial bond wouldn't be cut off even if the collar did.
--but, that collar was her sole treasured thing.
And right now, it had been heartlessly cut off, and dropped to the ground.
"Lulu-chan!"
Lulu crouched on the ground, and desperately scraped up back the scattered collar. Without noticing that she was covered in tears, she moved her hand in try to attach each parts back into one.
However, no matter what she did, somehow it wouldn't return like the one it back then.
Lulu was shedding tears. It wasn't because she was sad since her collar was broken, but it was because the guilt she felt toward Kitsune. The sign of her bond with him was broken, she felt a very very guilty of it, and didn't know what to do.
"Umm... could it be, you liked that collar? Wha, sorry! I'll buy--"
"Just go away already."
At the misunderstood hero, Finia floated in front of the crying Lulu and said so in anger. As if saying to not approach Lulu any longer, she glared at the hero while positioning herself between Lulu and him.
"Just stop bothering us already... it's only because Kitsune-san told us to go with you that we endure it and do so. That's why you don't need to do anything with us."
"...haa... got it, I'm sorry."
At Finia's word, Nagi thought that no matter what he said, it would only bring the reverse effect, so he obediently pulling back.
It seemed like Finia and Lulu saw them at negatives side, with such thought, he dropped his shoulders.
I Kinda Came to Another World, but Where’s the Way Home?
【書籍化】異世界来ちゃったけど帰り道何処？
https://www.novelupdates.com/series/i-kinda-came-to-another-world-but-wheres-the-way-home/
Action Adventure Comedy Drama Fantasy Harem Shounen Slice of Life
Apathetic Protagonist Bullying Calm Protagonist Demi-Humans Demon Lord Demons Dense Protagonist Fairies Game Elements Ghosts Heterochromia Knights Level System Male Protagonist Murders Naive Protagonist R-15 Royalty R*pe S*aves Sword And Magic Transported to Another World Weak Protagonist Yandere
https://ncode.syosetu.com/n2650bx/
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