Chapter 309 (2/2)

Zwei vanished, chasing after the fleeing assassin… A mere seconds later, Ein could hear a muffled scream coming from their direction.

The last assassin, who remained in the room, began to chant an incantation. Hearing this, Ein hurried to interrupt him, but at that exact moment—

「…Ein!」

With a powerful thud and a yell from Kain, the room’s door was knocked down.

Startled by this sudden intrusion, the man stopped his chanting for a brief moment.

Ein swiftly put away the throwing knives in her hand and picked up a chair. She hurled it at the man.

「Gah-!?」

He flinched from this unexpected attack. Ein drover her knee into his chest.

「Ahh-…!」

Having the air forced out of his lungs, the man crumbled to the ground, unconscious, and Kain, rushing into the room, swiftly restrained his limbs.

「So they came for you as well…」

「What, did you think that I was gonna get killed?」

As Ein glared at him in irritation, Kain scratched his nose, not knowing how to answer.「Well, uhmm… uhhh」

「I don’t think I’m weak enough for you to really worry about me like that… You aren’t making fun of me, are you?」

「Wh-what!? Why would you think that?」

「Why, you say? You don’t know how insulting it is to be seen as so weak that other people worry about you…?」

After a short pause, Ein softened her expression.

「Well, well… I guess you wouldn’t really understand. Now that I think about it, you are human, after all.」

There were very large differences between humans and Mazoku. One of these differences lies in how they view their strength.

Though “strength” was certainly a trait that humans admired, to the Mazoku, it was something much more than that. You could even say that they were followers, worshippers of this coveted “strength.” To them, to be “strong” was to be “happy.” Even though “weakness” might be attractive to some humans, to the Mazoku, it was the equivalent of being “miserable.”

Therefore, there were very few Mazoku that would ever think or say that they were weak. The standard way of thinking was “I’m strong, but there are also many people stronger than me.” The pessimistic idea of being “weak” simply did not exist within their minds.

「…Ein, I-」

「Sorry, I was being inconsiderate. I understand that I’m your friend and you were just trying to look out for me… I appreciate that.」

As Ein tried to end the conversation, Kain fell silent. He understood that no matter what he said right there, his words would go over Ein’s head. But still, he had to say something. Even if it meant being hated by her.

「It’s not like I came here because I thought you were weak.」

「I see.」

「In fact, I think that you’re a lot stronger than me. But even then… Even if you were a hundred times stronger than me, I would still come here.」

「…I see.」

「Because you’re my friend. I don’t know how you feel about me, but that’s just how I feel.」

Kain turned to face the door.

「Well, good night, Ein. I’ll see you in the morning.」

「Wait」

As Kain began to walk out of the room, Ein called after him.

「You blew up your room with magic, right? Where do you plan to sleep?」

「Uhh. In the h-hallway, I guess?」

Clicking her tongue, Ein kicked Kain in the rear.

「Wha-!?」

「You should try to think more about the consequences of your actions. I’ll let you borrow my bed, so sleep there for the night.」

「Wha-what!? But where are you-?」

「Don’t worry about me. Either way, I’m gonna have to take these two scumbags to Zwei.」

「I see. Well then I’ll stay up until…」

「…If you don’t want me to kick you in the butt again, get to sleep within three seconds. One, two…」

「Good night!」

After making sure that Kain was tucked in bed, Ein took a deep sigh.

The night was still young. She predicted that there would be at least one or two more people coming to kill them.

Ein stood, thinking.