242 237 嵐の前の静けさってのは、こういうのを言うんだろうな (1/2)

The date of the training was announced a week ago, and we trained up to the last minute and took a rest period so as not to leave ourselves exhausted from the training.

The dungeon capture and report submissions were done yesterday, so that each of us can have three days of freedom, including today.

We all wondered if this was how Japanese soldiers felt before they went off to war, and then went back to our respective homes for winter break after forcing a positive attitude.

Kaido and I returned to our dorms and went back to our respective lives.

We tackled the training program in a perfect state of mind and body.

And finally, the day has come to prepare for the training, and it's time for the three days of rest and relaxation.

I was supposed to...

”What are you talking about, Jiro?

”I was just reaffirming that the world is not a convenient place to live, Mother.

Sorry to Suela and Memoria who are working, but today was supposed to be a relaxing day in my room with Himik.

But last night, my mom called me out and I was driven out into the cold Tokyo streets early in the morning.

I figured if she called me up, that means there was some progress on the New Year's issue, so I followed her around to the meeting place, and sure enough, that's what she said.

......

”......

The evidence of this is the figure of a demon girl wearing a deep hat next to her mother.

She sat face to face with you and made eye contact with you, but she didn't seem to have very good feelings for you as she stared at you.

That's probably true.

After all, I'm the one who ruined the demons' plan, even if I was used to ruin it.

I know that this is a soldier for hire and that the resentment is outrageous, but I'm emotionally convinced that it's not surprising that they hate me.

So you quickly avert your gaze and sip the coffee you ordered at the coffee shop you met at.

A moderate bitterness spreads in your mouth, and you feel as if it has eased the chilly air a bit, but that's just a comforting thought.

After all, you're being watched now.

You are taking your time with your coffee, but your breathing is just in case of an emergency.

I've been taking an antibody potion that works for a certain amount of time when I leave the office, just in case something gets into the coffee.

This potion is not potent against poisons, but it will boost my physical immune system significantly.

This way I won't die instantly if anything goes wrong.

This coffee shop was set up under my mother's direction.

But there's no way you could bring a girl who's an ogre to an ordinary store even if she was wearing modern clothes there.

I had expected this store to be a purveyor of such things, but as I entered, my expectations were confirmed.

The master standing at the counter, a girl who looks like a part-time worker moving about the floor, a man in civilian clothes sitting a little apart reading a book, plus three ladies who look like they are making small talk, would be the same.

You're looking at me too much.

Customers and shopkeepers are all related.

You're looking at them naturally, but unfortunately we're dungeon testers who are in the dungeon all hours of the day.

We need to be sensitive to the enemy's gaze to survive.

I'm sensitive to observational glances, even if they aren't obvious.

Well, I don't resent that observation myself because we're watching each other.

”And then?　What the hell is wrong with my dad, who is caving in behind me?

”Ichirō?　Yeah, it sounds like you've been trying to get to know this girl a little better, and you've been doing everything you can to get her to open up, but you've come up empty. So, pfft. I'm depressed that she finally asked me to leave her alone yesterday.

”You're laughing at me, you're really upset with me, Dad.

It's okay, it's okay, fantasy fantasy has been so noisy lately, it's so quiet and balanced.

I chuckle at that.

As I turn my gaze to the seat behind my mother, I can see my father who has been glancing at me since a while ago.

You'll be able to see a relieved expression on his face as he pretends to be concerned about a civilian father who is, in a way, inappropriate for this place.

The fact that Haruna is sitting a little far away from you because she gets nervous is also a melancholy sign.

You're going to be able to find out the best way to get the most out of your newborn baby.

Then I turn my head toward my mother, taking care not to look at the spots in my field of vision in that direction, just enough to avoid looking in that direction.

I'm sure that this gesture wouldn't have been noticed, but my mother's intuition is keen.

You have to be careful not to be noticed by our surveillance.

Yes, if the Japanese side is watching you, then the Demon King's Army side is also watching you this time.

As expected, they can't enter the store, so they are watching outside, but their surveillance ability is guaranteed by the supervisor.

There are magically disguised beings among the passers-by and places at a distance, such as the rooftops of buildings.

Even at a distance, that distance can be covered by magic.

Rather, the distance makes it possible for them to magically conceal their presence from the top of the building and watch you.

As expected, she couldn't come here unannounced for once.

As soon as I got word from my mother last night, I reported to the supervisor and we were able to set up this kind of situation.

That's about it.

”You'll understand when you get married. You'll understand when you're married. The key to a happy marriage is for the man to be f*cked by the woman.

I'm scared. But looking at my moms, there's no denying it.

”Hahahahahahaha!　That's right!

I can hear my mother laughing a little in the quiet space.

My parents are close for some reason.

Otherwise, they wouldn't be able to fly around the world together.

And if we weren't being watched by two organizations, the Japanese and the Demon King's Army, this conversation would have been a little more enjoyable.

Well, Jiro. About this case...

I guess my mom is in on it too.

It's time to change the atmosphere and say that it's time to stop talking forever.

Your voice lowers as if to say that the conversation you've been having with your mother and child is over.

The fact that you are talking normally and not in a hushed voice indicates that everyone here has no problem listening to this conversation.

Are we done?

No, I'm going to put it on.

”In what way?

”Don't panic. I'm going to tell you.

”I have a bad feeling about this, so what's the alternative to not asking?

”I'd love to give it to you, but that's not going to happen when you get here.

”Okay.

What my mother says will happen from now on.

That means I've been invited to the party and I'm going to be involved in some way to solve it.

First of all, they caught the main culprit who planned this whole mess.

”That was nice.

Let's start with the good news, my mother will tell you that she has successfully caught the main culprit, but there are implications in the way she says it.

To begin with, that means there's more to come.

But not all of them were caught. I think you may have missed some of the leaders.

”Oh, come on, that's not good.

”Don't worry. I'm not at full alert to do anything. I'm sure they don't know Jiro is there, but you should still be wary of him.

I see.

Up and down the storyline, now up or down.

Here's the girl's story.

The topic is the demon girl, Haruna.

I can see that the intention of bringing her here is to have some kind of connection with me.

But...

I've convinced Kirie that she's my daughter through adoption, so I'll take physics.

”Hey Maté, how did you convince me with physics?

What we have in front of us is a mother dressed in an unconventional outfit.

She doesn't do anything that would be considered normal.