357 354. "Contract".txt (1/2)

Shh, that's great. I can use it to punish the people who always ignore me.

Sis seems to understand the mechanics of the 'contract' correctly, and is enthusiastic to try to imitate it elsewhere. As a developer, I have a word of caution.

As a developer, I'll give you a heads up: ”As I'm sure you understand, a 'contract' needs to be agreed upon by both parties. You can't make a 'contract' unilaterally, you know.

'Humph. I know!　Just make the other side nod yes!

I think it's a lot harder than you think, Sith. ......

I would advise you again, but I'm not listening to Sis-san anymore.

He was talking to himself, naming names (including the name of his supposed companion, Diprakra), wondering to whom he would offer the ”contract” to.

As I watched from nearby, Sis-san, who had been grinning all the time, suddenly turned to me and said

I knew Kanami was special. You deserve a little praise.

She speaks sullenly - and shyly - which is unusual for her.

'She doesn't make any funny faces when she listens to me, and she takes me seriously to the end. She'll be waiting for me the next day with a good answer ready, and she's terribly serious about her duties as a person .......

From his words, I can guess a bit about how Sith-san is being treated in this castle.

''Hey, Kanami. Why?　Why does Uzumi take me so seriously?

I couldn't immediately think of the right words to say to Sis-san, who was staring at me.

''Why? ....... It's probably ....... I think it's because we're friends.

But the answer I came up with after hesitation never seemed wrong.

'My friend ......?'　What friend is that friend?

'Yes. It's about the people you talk to and hang out with.

'Mmmm ......!　I may be consulting with you, but I don't remember playing around with you. I've always been a big, serious missionary. Unlike Diprakra and Legacy, hard work is what I'm sold on!

'Maybe Sis, but ...... I'm a bit different. It's a lot of fun talking to Mr. Sis.

For someone like me, someone as pure as Sis-san is painful to watch. She doesn't hide anything and genuinely conveys her feelings as they are. That's what makes talking with her so much fun. Really.

'Fun ......?　I wonder if I'm having fun too ......?　No, if I had fun, I would never admit to playing ....... I've decided I'm not going to forget my mission, even in death.

I know. But don't you sometimes relax and forget about your mission and all that?　You'll get tired if you're always looking over your shoulder.

'Ha!　This I forget the mission of the apostle!　That's the only thing that will ever happen!　Because I'm an apostle of justice!　Seigi no ne!

It was my own thoughtful advice, but Sis-san threw it away boldly.

In front of that, I make a troubled face and say, ”Hmm. Then, after a bit of hesitation, she concedes and accepts a part of it.

'--but, well, ....... I don't play, but I can admit that we're ...... friends at least part of the time. I'll give you special forgiveness for Uzumi.

Ms. Sis laughed back at me with the words I wanted most, though stoutly.

She was out of character, out of touch with human sensibilities, a sycophantic, selfish woman - but she had a smile that showed that she was not a bad person. I called her name with a bit of emotion.

'Sis-san: ......'

”Uzumi, you don't need to use honorifics anymore. ...... I mean, Uzumi sometimes lost the honorific title. His Japanese is not as good as mine.

Thanks for the ....... Honestly, I just thought there was something weird about using honorific language to talk to Sis.

'It's special special. Uzumi is a 'gentile' and not an ordinary person, so that means he can be equal to me, the apostle.

'I'm special ......?　That's a bit of a shame: ......

To the Sith, I'm not a normal person, so they say I'm safe.

'Pity?　Why ......?

He said, ”He wants Sis to have a friend who is a normal person one day, and to be able to laugh at normal people ....... That's what I'm hoping for .......

...... Yeah?　I'm sorry, but I'll never, ever come to you then. Because I am an 'apostle'. A being who was made to stand above others!　I'll never be equal to people!

But I hope that the fact that you accept me as your friend will be an opportunity for you to change little by little.

Maybe it's because I've only just heard that she was born, but I've been thinking about it as if I were looking at a big sister. It may be a big deal, but I keep talking.

'No, it doesn't have to be Imaugu, ....... Someday, after the Sith have done all their mission and everything, I'll be able to ......

'After I complete my mission ......?　I hadn't thought of that. ......

Perhaps the best way to change the Sith's values is to make her imagine herself as a non-apostle.

It's uncomfortable, like tricking a child, but when I try to guide her thoughts - I find them sneaking around and talking in the distance.

'Did you see that, Tiara? That's your brother's usual modus operandi. You see a little bit of a fragile girl, and he hits on her right away. Sis has been hitting on me since day one. ...... This morning, she was also trying to drop the castle maid. Do you understand how I feel about being that one's sister?

'What?　I thought it was a good story, though?　Master wants the apostles to have something to look forward to other than the mission they were born with, right?

'No, Tiara. Don't be fooled. It's a pretense, and the truth is that I just want to make out with a beautiful blonde. That brother.

'Heh. ....... Oh, I know that one from the book. It's called a seducer. Master is a seducer, isn't he?

'Correct!　...... haha. Quirky, Tiara. You're smart and cute!

Yotaki had blown something very unexpected to Tiara. I had no choice but to move away from Sis-san and try to move to stop Yotaki--

'Hey, Yotaki ....... Teach Tiara something weird--”Sith!　Are you here?!

Before he could say it, he was interrupted by the sound of the hall's entrance door being violently opened.

'Diprakra?　What's going on?　So much hurry.

Sis-san looks at her colleague who had the same entry manner as her and returns the question.

I felt the same way, so I stopped talking to Yotaki and watched the two of them. It's rare that the always calm Diprakra-san is this distraught.

''--The guy (...) is here. I have to go to the defense, so help yourself.

It wasn't very calm.

I didn't understand what it meant, but Sith-san was different and started to get upset as well.

I'm going to be the first to admit that I'm not a fan of ......?　That body is already healed ......!

Yes, faster than before. You seem to be getting more vital every day.

As you might have guessed, the person who fought the Apostles before appears and is in a hurry.

It must not be unrelated to me, who has a cooperative relationship with the apostles.

'Excuse me, Mr. Diprakra. Can you explain to us as well?

Mmm, vortex waves. ...... Perfect. Let me tell you about him.

He seemed to be in a hurry to realize that we were there now.

Diprakra took a deep breath and told us three, who didn't know what was going on, the details of the situation.

A man named Serdra is trying to force his way into our Lord's office in the 'deepest part' of the world. We need to intercept him. After all, the Lord is weak and vulnerable. If you allow him to make contact, there is no telling what will happen.

An intruder in the 'deepest' part of the world.

With that one word, I understood the danger of the thing (thing).

As for the Lord of the Apostles, I've been briefed to a certain extent over the past few days.

His name is Noi El Lieberrul. It seems that he is an immortal being, a god-like being who has been watching over this other world for a long time. That god is the one that has been weakening, so the 'circulating ability' of the stars has fallen, and the world is in this state now. If Lord Noi were to lose his life in an accident, that would be the end of the world.

''Is this Seldra person strong?''

He's a dragon witch. ”He's strong, he's a dragon wizard. He's probably the most powerful man in the world right now.

The most powerful man in the world.

He must be quite a man to let Mr. Di Prakula, who chooses his words carefully, assure me so.

But before I could break out in a cold sweat, Diprakra-san continued with a further explanation.

''But there's no need to worry that much. Our apostles are stronger than that 'strongest' demon, Serdra. Even if they follow the roots of the World Tree (Yggdrasil), they will definitely be able to defeat them before they reach the deepest part. To say the least, they are different in rank (level) as creatures.

My fears were easily put to rest.

Surprisingly, it seems that the apostles, including the Sith here, are able to lightly twist the strongest man in the world.

I knew that the Sith's physical strength was extraordinary, but I didn't know they were that strong. It seems that he is not a representative sent by God.

Seeing me begin to be optimistic, Diprakra-san nailed it.

But that's just the present stage. Unlike us, who have already completed their work, he is still growing. There may come a time when even the three apostles can't control it. And that's what I fear.

The quintessential Mr. Diprakra is calm and cautious.

Unlike the Sith, he is not caught off guard and is looking to the distant future.

''Yotaki is slowly but surely becoming able to move ....... Uzumi is also growing rapidly ...... as a spell user. This attack is not a problem this time, but if, in the unlikely event ...... that it happens in the future. Looking ahead, this place is--

Diprakra-san dropped her gaze and began to ponder with a frown.

Even in a situation where it's okay to just go out and intercept, he's probably looking for a better option. I'm learning from that attitude as I watch the apostles' conversation.

'Sith. We're going to split up into three groups.

'What?　Three moves, where are you going?

”You and Legacy must head to the World Tree. Handle it well and with just enough force to keep the demon Serdra from growing.

That's all well and good, but what about Diprakra?

I will not leave Foozierd's Land. I can't afford to be away from Foozier's Country in case I'm not here and the country disappears when I come back. It's not a good time to be away from home, and we can't afford to lose our base and Yotaki at this delicate time. --I will stay behind with Yotaki.

'I think you care too much, but ...... well, I get it. So the last one is ......?

”I will have Vortex Wave secretly head northeast to Fania. Then I will have the 'Stealer of Darkness' and the 'Stealer of Fire' brought here secretly.

My name came up at the very end and I couldn't help but say, ”What? I let my voice trail off.

Sis has the same reaction and asks him strongly what it means.

'Diprakra, are you moving the vortex wave here?　By yourself?　You were the one who told me I needed to work out?

These past few days, Uzumi has become a better magician than we are. His physical abilities are also close to ours. I'm sure he'll be able to withstand the monsters as they move through the streets. ...... Now, you know best why I'm letting Utsuwa go out there alone. This is a mission only Utsuwa can perform.

'............. That may be true, but ......

But the Sith easily snap.

I myself, frustrated with myself, have no choice but to ask a strong question.

''Mr. Di Prakula. Why am I alone ......?　If I were to go, I'd like at least one person from the Apostles to follow me: ......

Our apostles are bitterly resented by those who steal from them. When we came in contact with them before, they had no understanding of the subtleties of human emotions. We made him angry. If we went along, they would kill each other just to see us.

'Oh, you said I pissed you off ....... Maybe .......

It's like, ”From the top, you should be honored to have been chosen. ...... A little.

Mr. Diprakra unusually slurred his words and looked away.