c45 (2/2)

「It's alright. My father is defending my hometown. He told me to use my strength to protect what I want to keep safe. So, I want to protect the people of this world together with Zenesys-sama.,」 Tsuyuha announced with a dignified expression.

Although Grey seemed to understand Tsuyuha's conviction, the attempt to persuade her completely failed.

Troubled, he looked at me expectantly.

What do you want. Are you trying to get my help because you're troubled? You must think I'm convenient.

I'm disgusted by this stale development.

Since things have stalled, do I try to persuade her?

「... Hey, Tsuyuha.」 (Izayoi)

「What.」 (Tsuyuha)

When she turned around, I was met with an angry expression.

「In order to protect everyone, you want to be by the king. That's what you said.」 (Izayoi)

「Yes, that's right.」 (Tsuyuha)

「First, your thought process is incorrect.」 (Izayoi)

「Incorrect? What does that mean. Are you on Grey's side?」 (Tsuyuha)

「No, that's not it. I'd rather die than side with that guy.」 (Izayoi)

「Then, what do you mean by incorrect?」 (Tsuyuha)

「Tsuyuha, you want to protect everyone, right? Then being next to the king isn't the best decision. If you're by the king, you limit your maximum potential.」 (Izayoi)

「I don't understand what you mean by maximum potential. Explain it more clearly please.」 (Tsuyuha)

「As I thought, you really are dumb aren't you.」 (Izayoi)

「It doesn't really matter! Even if I'm stupid, I can protect the people! That's what I came here for!」 (Tsuyuha)

「If you have power, you can protect everything. Is that what you think?」 (Izayoi)

「That's right. If I have the power, I can protect everyone even if I'm not smart. I'm still not as strong as Zenesys-sama though.」 (Tsuyuha)

「You are dumb.」 (Izayoi)

「Why! You stupid, the one who calls someone stupid is the stupid one! So Izayoi is stupid!」 (Tsuyuha)

「That standard reply, you really are an idiot. Well whatever, listen closely. There are things you can't protect with only strength. Who do you plan to protect?」 (Izayoi)

「Who, everyone. Everyone in this world.」 (Tsuyuha)

「Tsuyuha, you say you want to protect everyone in the world. How many millions of people in this world are there? You can't protect everyone. It's not a problem with your feelings, but a physical problem. Understand this first of all.」 (Izayoi)

「I kind of understand. It's a problem of willpower.」 (Tsuyuha)

「You want to protect all of the people of this world. Protect the people in this world. Then tell me. Within the walls of this large castle, can you hear them? Can you hear the voices of the people pleading for help? Will their cries reach a place like this?」 (Izayoi)

「If there are problems, aren't there people like the knights?」 (Tsuyuha)

「That's right. If high-rank monsters come out, they probably can't reach this place. They cannot get here, no matter how much time pa.s.ses. If they come, they come. However, those monsters are fundamentally dangerous to the people, but Emperor-rank swordmasters and spearmasters can do something about it.」 (Izayoi)

「Grey and Zenesys-sama are strong, so it's fine.」 (Tsuyuha)

「It's not fine. Think about it.」 (Izayoi)

「If strong monsters attack, it's fine if Grey and Zenesys-sama are there, right?」 (Tsuyuha)

「Yes, that's right. If you know that much, then why can't you understand.」 (Izayoi)

What should I do? She's tilted her head, puzzled.

Do I have explain it so clearly? There's no other way.

After a sigh, I placed my hands on Tsuyuha's shoulders.

「——You, are unnecessary.」 (Izayoi)

「...Eh? Not, necessary.」 (Tsuyuha)

She seemed to be confused, but when she saw my seriousness, she seemed to have accepted it.

「Am I not, needed...」 (Tsuyuha)

「That's right. You are an unneeded child.」 (Izayoi)

「Unneeded, child. I am...」 (Tsuyuha)

Her pointed ears slowly and gradually went down.

「You are unnecessary. This is not the place for you. Your default unhappy expression, lack of teamwork, and inability to read the atmosphere are the cause. You aren't needed. You are unneeded. Rather, you're a hindrance. Because you aren't necessary.」 (Izayoi)

Looking down, her shoulders shook.

「*Uu... sob... uuu...*」 (Tsuyuha)

Tsuyuha began to weep.

「Suuuper unnecessary. You're suuuper unnecessary.」 (Zenesys)

「That final attack was amazing. She's crying now though, isn't that enough?」 (Grey)

I disregard Grey who says so.

「You are absolutely unnecessary. In this place, that is.」 (Izayoi)

「*Uuu...*」 (Tsuyuha)

「Don't cry. Look at me.」 (Izayoi)

「...What.」 (Tsuyuha)

Her tears continued to flow, and she looked at me weakly.

「You aren't needed here. If it's somewhere else, you won't be unnecessary.」 (Izayoi)

「What does that mean. I'm not unneeded? Aren't I in the way?」 (Tsuyuha)

「I said, you don't need to be next to the king. That's how it is.」 (Izayoi)

「So it's not that I'm not needed.」 (Tsuyuha)

「...You want to protect everyone, right? Then you don't need to be by the king, but by the people, right?」 (Izayoi)

「By, everyone?」 (Tsuyuha)

「Become close with the people, make friends, and live together with them. Isn't that what a real hero does? The grand one inside the castle that n.o.body sees, or the friendly neighborhood cat-eared girl that interferes with everyone else's business. Which one do you think is better? I don't need either of them, by the way.」 (Izayoi)

「Wanting to be by everyone, talking with and protecting them. That is a real hero...? Am I really not unnecessary?」 (Tsuyuha)

「You say you're unnecessary, but aren't there people that need you? I'm not needed by the way.」 (Izayoi)

「You don't have to say it twice.」 (Tsuyuha)

「Well, that's how it is. If I had to say one last thing, you trained for two years. You never realized the real reason for your training though.」 (Izayoi)

「Reason for training? Wh, what is that.」 (Tsuyuha)

「Listen, heroes get along well with the people, and live amongst them. In other words, even though it was called training and you called yourself the successor of the hero, what were you really doing?」 (Izayoi)

「Live with the people... Traveling... No way.」 (Tsuyuha)

「That's right. Don't return here. That was the correct choice.」 (Izayoi)

「Wh, what do you mean.」 (Tsuyuha)

By the way, the twisting of the story is complete.

You said Zenesys sent you on a journey because you were annoying. That would be correct.

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