Chapter 152 - 152 - Reprimand and the White Flag (1/2)

152 – Reprimand and the White Flag

Turning into a yellow bullet, Eve slashed apart the approaching monsters.

Our enemies were the deserters of the great march.

They couldn’t even be an opponent for the Strongest Blood Champion.

Flinging away the blood stuck on her blade, Eve turns back to me.

[“You’re safe”…… or so I want to say but…]

Eve’s fur looks quite heavy as it has likely soaked up rain.

……She was chasing after me under the rain huh.

[As expected, you couldn’t stop staring huh.]

I wasn’t fully convinced that it was her.

However, I had already assumed so.

Eve has an obstinate part in her.

To put it well, she’s quite diligent.

Her sense of responsibility is stronger than others.

These types of people were both good and bad.

However, they’re still better than being an irresponsible person.

That’s what I think.

[I’m sorry…… But it’s my fault that those monsters were called towards us—-]

I raise my hand to tell her to stop.

[I’m already tired of hearing that. You only have to apologize once.]

Loosening up, I let out a smile.

[……Your sense of responsibility is really strong, you know?]

I start walking again.

[Hey, let’s go.]

Eve silently followed.

She looks quite uncomfortable.

This isn’t what’s supposed to happen— or so she had an air around her like that.

[Why…… didn’t you reprimand me?]

[Do you want me to reprimand you?]

[T- That’s not what I mean but……]

[I mean, I’ve already assumed that you would do something like this… And as a result of your arrival, you saved me from that tough situation. Now then…… It’s about to get dark soon. I’d be relying on your assistance in the darkness.]

[……I made landmarks along the way. We shouldn’t get lost on returning back to where Seras and Liz are.]

As expected of her.

[You being here means that you successfully persuaded Seras huh.]

[Your advice was quite helpful.]

[Good for you.]

[Umu…….—–I- It’s not only that……]

Eve turns the conversation back towards what we’re talking earlier.

[You’re really—-]

[“Too kind” huh?]

[N- No…… You’re not a kind man at all. I know that…… However, I feel that you’re a bit too tolerant.]

I exhaled.

[What’s your criteria when you say something about me being too tolerant?]

[C- Criteria……?]

[Based on my criterias, what you did doesn’t deserve any reprimanding.]

Yes.

[That’s all there is to it.]

Eve’s intentions weren’t malicious at all.

……Well, there were some evil people that didn’t have any maliciousness existing in the society.

It’s not that it’s troublesome if an evil person isn’t evil.

Moreover, there’s that.

Eve herself isn’t unaware of her actions.

She’s already being self-conscious and mentally punishing herself.

[There’s no point in reprimanding anyone that’s already aware of their own actions.]

[……Touka.]

[Moreover.]

“Kuku…” I leaked out a small laugh.

[I’m not such an important person that I could reprimand other people about their own actions……]

If you want to reprimand someone, it would be better if you just laugh at it.

Eve paused for a while.

We kept walking back with her quietly following behind me.

The curtain of the night began covering the Demon Zone.

The stuffy smell is sticking on my nose.

There’s also the smell of rain mixed along with the nearby plants.

The cool air after the rain lightly brushes against my skin.

[Is Slei and Pigimaru alright?]

[I think they should be alright but…… I think I’d better have Seras check them out too.]

Eve gently brushed Slei’s body.

[Together with Pigimaru, you protected Touka really well.]

[Pakkyyuuunnii~]

[Let me carry her.]

Eve snatched Slei away from my shoulder.

Moreover…

[……Why are you carrying me too?]

Eve also carried me on her other shoulder.

At first glance, she doesn’t appear to have muscular arms.

However, she still has this physical strength.

I’m amazed yet again.

I’m amazed that she looks quite unaffected even when carrying me.

[Fufu, this is my redeeming feature.]

She said as if she read what’s in my mind.

[I will put you down when a monster comes along our path… Or perhaps, should I rely on your power for dealing with them?]

[Yeah, just leave them to me.]

[Umu, I’ll be relying on you, my lord.]

Did she finally get a grip of her sense of responsibility?

Eve started walking without any hesitation.

Then after a few minutes, she stopped walking.

As if she remembered something.

[Speaking of which, there’s something I think you’d better know.]

[Hmm?]

[While searching for you, I came across a Hero from Another World other than you.]

▽

[——–Kashima and the Takao Sisters huh.]

[That girl named Kashima didn’t say her name herself to me but that’s what they call her.]

Those guys from 2-C.

They really came here.

Their purpose would be…

[—killing Golden-eyed monsters and acquiring experience points huh.]

And they were probably dragged into that great march.

I feel a bit awkward about dragging Kashima into that.

However, she should be safe if she’s together with the Takao Sisters.

[Touka, what in the world is that girl named Hijiri Takao?]

[Even if you ask me that…]

[That girl isn’t normal at all.]

[……Well, I agree with that.]

The Takao Sisters.

Those twins were different from the other students of 2-C.

Even Kirihara and his lackeys were consciously ignoring them.

Even that lustful Zakurogi kept a distance away from those sisters.

……Well, Zakurogi may have some interest towards those sisters in another kind of way.

They’re untouchable beings.

I can’t understand their personalities.

I could still somehow understand the younger sister, Itsuki.

However, the older sister Hijiri……

It’s as if I couldn’t grasp the emotions hidden within her heart.

[I didn’t refuse conversing with them and I think I established a normal conversation with them. Although their expressions are a little hard to read, the contents of our conversation itself were well-organized…… That’s my impression with them.]

[From what I hear about you, they look decent enough of a human.]

[That’s right. However—-]

[It feels like you’re not talking with a “Human” huh?]

[Y- Yes…… That’s what I felt.]

It’s just a guess but…

Takao Hijiri may be lacking some emotions.

It may also be that other pattern of simply just being someone who isn’t good at expressing their emotions.

I didn’t interact with Takao Hijiri that much back in our previous world.

I know that she was ranked high in the school’s bishoujo rankings.

One time, Oyamada tried to make fun of the older Takao using this ranking.

However, the older Takao treated it as unimportant just as usual.

“I think that people who were fond of ranking like this are better off with a matching appeal that’s popular in the public. Of course, they should only gather people who want to do something like this.”

“Those types who don’t have any interest in oneself” is one thing he’s trying to say.

[Even so…]

The fact that Kashima and the Takao Sisters were in the Demon Zone means…

[—that the other guys naturally came here too.]

Kirihara Takuto.

Oyamada Shougo.

Yasu Tomohiro.

Sogou Ayaka.

That’s only If no one among them has fallen yet…

[………………..]

There’s also 2-C’s Ikusaba Asagi.