88 88 "Decisive Battle Meeting" (1/2)

I see. So you're saying that Tsurugi-san's ability is like a space transfer?

”It's a little different, but that's the way it's currently perceived. I can move instantly to anywhere I can recognize. However, there are a limited number of people I can move, and I can't move anywhere that would interfere with my recognition.

”That sums it up, doesn't it?　There are wards that prevent you from recognizing important places in the castle of the emperor, and you're not allowed to rescue directly into the hostage room, etc.?

I see. As expected of Kyou-san's sister, she's very quick on her feet.

”Clunk, clunk, clunk, clunk, clunk.

Since then, since it's been proven that neither Amanes nor Tsurugi have been brainwashed, they've held a strategy meeting.

According to Tsurugi, the main body will attack the castle about a week after the advance team's retreat.

But that means the castle will be less well protected and Tsurugi's ability will allow him to take advantage of that and bring down the castle at once.

”Well, of course, the emperor knows of my betrayal, so I'm sure they have that intention in mind when they left their main forces in the castle.

”The main strength of the other side ...... remaining seven heroes?

”Rostam the Emperor, his brother Zachary, Ferid the Heroic Hero, and ......

”Lily, huh?

Probably all of them are half a force. On the other hand, this one has only Amarnes as an asset.

I'm sure you'll be able to find a way to get a lot more out of it.

I'm sure you'll be able to see that ...... is one of the seven greatest heroes of all time, but I never thought I'd see Ferid.

I knew that he was there.

The mysterious young man Lily had found earlier. He stayed with me for a while, and we became friends through casual conversation.

I thought he was one of the few same-s*x friends I've had since I came to this world, but I didn't realize he was one of the Seven Great Brave Men and a hero on the emperor's side.

I'm not sure if it's a good idea for you to be able to get your hands on some of these things.

The man I know is a nice young man who fits the words hero and heroic.

He's probably more deserving of the hero's position than I am.

There was no other reason for him to be under the emperor's command.

That's what I said.

What do you think?　I don't think the emperor would rather use his abilities for such a type.

”Yes?

Tsurugi suddenly let loose such an incomprehensible line.

But there was something about that line that stuck with me.

What does that mean, Tsurugi-san?

He used to say that the entity he truly wanted would not be brainwashed with his abilities, but would strive to join him. He seemed to deny that his brainwashing abilities were not royal.

Denying your own abilities is also incomprehensible.

I've been thinking about it, but a question that had been stuck in my mind seemed to come out of my mouth.

You're going to be able to find out what you need to do to get the best out of it. Amarnes, didn't you say that he's been skirmishing against your country for some time now?

”Yeah, but . What about it?

I knew something was wrong at that point. With his ability, he shouldn't have had to do that in the first place.

Yes, Rostam's ability is probably the one that can control the strategy itself the most among the seven great heroes.

With that ability, it should be possible to reach out to the heart of the country to control or brainwash people without having to skirmish with them. But...

But...” ”To be sure. But I've heard about the temperament of the emperor's hero that Tsurugi was talking about earlier. That may be partly why I thought he simply enjoyed the skirmish itself. There's a true sense of accomplishment to be gained by attacking on your own merit rather than by using your abilities to attack easily. We're both brave in that respect. I thought he wouldn't be using his ability to fight with me. ......

That's another contradiction in terms. It's all about Lily.

So, if he really wants to fight on his own merit, wouldn't brainwashing Lily deviate from his high road?

...... No, it's not.

The other day, the incident with Lily's secret leads to an answer: ”I don't know about , but that guy was out of line with me.

...... but I don't know about Amarnes, but he deviated from the high road with me. That's enough. I want to beat the shit out of him.

I don't know about Amarnes, but at least he crossed the line of what a human being should not do to me.

Honestly, until I attended that meeting, I had the feeling that the emperor and hero were, frankly, strangers to me.

Even if he was an enemy of Amarnes, I didn't recognize him as my enemy and I had no reason or motive to hate him.

But after that meeting, the way he might have treated me was enough to make me recognize him as an enemy and give me a reason to throw my fist in the air.

If it were just me, he would have hurt the whereabouts of my dearest companion. This alone must not be forgiven.

Well, I don't care what she thought at this point. We'll just beat him.

Everyone here agrees with that statement by Amanes. But even so, there are still factors that cannot be ignored.