gifting the wonderful world with blessings! - 03

8/17/2019 Gifting the Wonderful World With Blessings! - 03

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Prologue

-- Dearest.

It should be getting cold in your world. Dear father, mother, are you doing well?

“Defendant, Satou Kazuma. In review of your repeated inhumane

actions…”

Is the snow starting to melt in the world over there?

Is younger brother doing okay?

“And your actions that obviousy disrupt the peace of the town…”

I think everyone is doing well as usual.

“!he "ury concudes that the ar#ument of the prosecutor is ade$uate.”

I am doing well in this world too--


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“I find the accused #uity and hereby%%”

So I beg forgiveness from both of you…

“%%% sentence you to death.”

This unfilial son who is now a criminal.


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Chapter 1 - Requesting Aid Against This Unjust Trial!

Part 1

!here used to be somethin# feared by peope a over the word which

had a bounty. It is un&nown who came up with the name, which is…

'obie (ortress Destroyer.

!hat infamous bounty tar#et was ta&en down not on# a#o by us

than&s to my briiant command.

And ri#ht now, in order to coect the bounty reward for brin#in# down

the destroyer, I came to the adventurers #uid but%%

“Adventurer Satou Kazuma) *ou+re under suspicion of committin#

subversion of the nation) ease come aon# with us)”

!he situation too& a weird turn.

“-h… 'ay I as& who are you /r rather, what does subversion of the

nation mean I "ust came here to coect my payout.”


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I timidy as&ed the woman with a serious e0pression before me.

!he rowdy #uid fe into dead sience because of what the woman who

was accompanied by &ni#hts said.

“I am a prosecutor of the Kin#dom, Sena. Subversion of the nation

iteray means committin# an act that undermines the authority of the

nation. 1e suspect that you are either a terrorist or a minion of thedemon &in# army.”

!he woman with on# brunette hair cain# hersef Sena said as she

#ared at me with stern eyes.

She #ave the impression of a secretary, i&e an intei#ent beauty.

After hearin# Sena said that, A$ua shouted.

“-eeh) 2ey, Kazuma, what troube did you stir up this time 1hat

crimes did you commit whie I wasn+t oo&in#) Apoo#ize ri#ht now) I

wi apoo#ize to#ether with you, so do it $uic&)”


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“Are you an idiot) !here is no way I wi commit such crimes) And we

spend most of our time to#ether, you shoud &now I didn+t do

anythin#)”

As I was scodin# A$ua, 'e#umin said3

“1ait a minute, did you #et the wron# person Kazuma does commit

minor infractions i&e se0ua harassment from time to time, but he

doesn+t have the #uts to carry out such a ma"or crime.”

“Are you hepin# me or oo&in# for a fi#ht”

As I retorted 'e#umin, Dar&ness foowed up and said3

“*eah, I don+t thin& this man wi commit such a serious crime. If he

had the #uts, he woud do more than o##e at me with creepy eyes

when I wa& around the house in a s&impy attire. 2e is a oser who

doesn+t even dare to do a ni#ht raid.”

4!53 6i#ht raid as in &in&y stuff7

“1ho who who is oo&in# at you) Aren+t you too sef conscious)

Don+t #et conceited "ust because you have a se0y body, I have the

ri#ht to choose ari#ht)”


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1hen she heard me said that, Dar&ness+ face turned red instanty.

“After as&in# me to do a that in the shower, you are sayin# this

now…)”

“I was manipuated by a succubus that time) And you are the one with

the probem, bein# so docie and scrubbin# my bac& because of the

mood) And what do you want now Are you e0pectin# somethin# 8usthow #uibe and open are you)”

“I I I &now you sti have memories about that…) And as a crusader

servin# the #oddess -ris, my body is sti pure) Sayin# I am easy to

con and open I wi &i you)”

As Dar&ness said these dan#erous words, she attempted to stran#e

me as we #ot into a scuffe. /ne of the &ni#hts beside Sena bro&e up

the fi#ht.

Sena who didn+t even move a brow after witnessin# the commotion

said cody3

“!eeportin# the core of the destroyer, coronatite, was the instruction


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made by that man. And the pace the ore was teeported too, was the

mansion of the andord.”

After she said that, the entire #uid fe into deathy sience.

%% 9oronatite. Durin# the fi#ht with the destroyer, the one who as&ed

someone to teeport that stone which was about to e0pode, is me.

!o thin& that that stone%%

“:eay, so that andord died in the e0posion…)”

“2e is not dead, don+t &i him off) 9oincidentay, the andord sent

away a the househod staff and was in the basement himsef, so

there were no casuaties. ;ut the mansion was destroyed.”

2earin# that there was no death, I breathed a si#h of reief.

“1e then, no one died in the fi#ht a#ainst the destroyer, that+s

#reat.”


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*ou, you #uys…)

1hie I was feein# touched, Sena said cody3

“;y the way, the char#e of subversion coud be brou#ht on suspects

other than the mastermind. ;efore the tria ends, I wi advise

everyone to mind your words and actions. If there are peope who

want to #o to "ai with him, I won+t mind.”

!he #uid turned sient once a#ain after her speech.

After this%%

“...+Don+t worry) !he word is hu#e) 9ompared to a pace with ots of

peope, the chance of it endin# up somewhere with nobody around is

hi#her) Don+t worry, I wi ta&e a the responsibiity) I mi#ht oo& this

way, but my uc& is incrediby #ood)+... I remember that was what

Kazuma said durin# that moment…”

A$ua said suddeny.

… I did say that, but that #ir is usuay an idiot, why does she


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remember thin#s so ceary at such a time 9oud it be…

“A$ua, coud it be… you are thin&in# of pushin# a the bame… onto

me…

A$ua didn+t answer my $uestion, and "ust averted her #aze aw&wardy.

“;y the way, I never made it into the inside of the destroyer. If I was

there, I woud definitey have stopped Kazuma from ma&in# that

decision.


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“1ait a minute, I am the mastermind, and the one #ivin# the

instructions is me. ease et me "oin in the &in&y #ames in prison…

6o, I mean if you want to arrest Kazuma, ta&e me in and interro#ate

me too)”

“I heard that you ony stood in front of the destroyer and was totay

useess ri#ht”

“)”

Sena put sat in Dar&ness+ wound without hesitation, causin# her to

oo& at me with tears wein# up. ;ut Dar&ness bein# useess was a

fact, so I i#nored her since I don+t have the time for that.

In this situation , 1iz who was $uiet a this whie raised her hand

timidy.

“-rm, the one who casted teeportation was me, if you want to arrest

Kazuma%san, then I…”

A$ua #rabbed 1iz+s raised hand at this point.

“Don+t do it 1iz) If sacrificin# one person is enou#h, that woud be the

best) I &now you fee bad, but you need to endure this…) !hat+s ri#ht,


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Kazuma is not eavin# us forever. 1e need to wait patienty for

Kazuma to return safey from prison, understand”

!hat bitch) Don+t ma&e it sound i&e my "ai term is confirmed)

6o, the one who instructed 1iz was me, at the very east, I need to

protect 1iz)

“(or#et it, even if you are not with me, I can sti rey on the #uys in

the #uid)”

As I said that, I oo&ed one round throu#h the #uid. ;ut a the

adventurers averted their eyes after meetin# mine.

-v, even you #uys)

“2ey, what &ind of "o&e is this) ut in more effort you #uys) At east

resist a itte)”

As I ashed out at them, a #ir ma#e said softy3

“!he first time I met Kazuma%san… !hat+s ri#ht, I saw it that time. At


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the aey behind the #uid, Kazuma%san stripped a femae thief of her

panties. *es, his e0pression bac& then impacted me deepy.”

1ait…)

“!hat+s ri#ht, I aways thou#ht Kazuma wi #et into bi# troube one

day…”

“*eah, me too. I heard a rumor that he oc&ed the priest in his party

inside a ca#e and used her as bait for crocodies.”

“!here+s more, I heard thar when someone chaen#ed him to a due,

Kazuma stoe the chaen#er+s ma#ic sword and sod it.”

“/h, you #uys are turnin# on me now) I wi remember your faces,

oudmouths) ;etter watch your bac& after I prove my innocence…)”

As I was tein# them off, two &ni#hts #rabbed my arms forcefuy.

“I won+t for#et this%%)”


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Part 2

%% !he poice station in the midde of the town.

A buidin# a "ust adventurer i&e me won+t fre$uent.

:i#ht now, I am inside the poice station, bein# ed into its depths.

“/&ay, #o in obedienty.


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Sena didn+t answer my $uestion and i#nored me. 1hen the &ni#hts

heard what she said, they pushed me into the ce.

After this, Sena turned around and eft with the &ni#hts.


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“2ey) 1ait)... 2ey) … 2ey… :eay…”

Inside the dar& and cod ce, I #rabbed the iron bars with my hands,

osin# my composure with this sudden turn of events.

…


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-atin# the meas prepared by my parents, seepin# whenever I wanted

and #ettin# up whenever I peased, a sef%indu#ent ife.

;ut after comin# to this word, I had been ivin# throu#h hardship

everyday.

I don+t have any &nowed#e about this different word, can+t find a

#ood "ob and coudn+t wor& we in the service industry. I had toperform hard abor after arrivin# in this word and seep in the stabes

every ni#ht.

And I had to cean up after those idiots and #ot burdened with

debts…)

!he more I thou#ht about it, the an#rier I #ot. 8ust wait unti I #et out,

a of you)

… ;ut.

“I want to #o bac&… I had enou#h, I want to #o bac& to 8apan…”


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I remembered my ori#ina #oa of returnin# to 8apan.

!his was a word with a feuda society and I was bein# char#ed in

court.

!he person I offended wasn+t a nobody, if I ma&e a wron# move, I

mi#ht #et the death sentence.

'y current circumstances was dire, and bein# paced in a dar& ce

made me very uneasy. At this moment...

As I was about to cry inside my ce, I heard severa sets of footsteps

draw near from the distance.

“2ey, I won+t resist so be more #ente)”

“Shut up, scum) faster)”

Aon#side the sound of can&in# armor, a nasty voice boomed out.

Seemed i&e another prisoner was #oin# to a ce near me.


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… 6o, wait. !here is ony one ce here.

9ome on, I don+t want to share a ce with an un&nown crimina)

“=o in) :eay, how many times do you want to come here !his is a

prison, not your room. And there is someone who went in before you,

don+t fi#ht now.”

“Ari#ht ari#ht, I #et it. Sorry for the intrusion… 2ey, isn+t this

Kazuma) 1hat are you doin# here”

%%!he one enterin# the ce was the infamous dein$uent adventurer in

town, Dust.

“2ey, what a coincidence to meet you here) So, what did you do”

After the &ni#hts eft, Dust who seemed happy for some reason as&ed

me.

“6othin# much, they seemed to thin& I am a terrorist… Durin# the

batte with the destroyer, I #ave the order to teeport away the core

that was about to e0pode. In the end, that thin# was sent to the


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andord+s mansion and bew his house apart.”

2earin# me say that, Dust burst into au#hter.

“1ahaha, that+s #reat, Kazuma) !hat stin&y andord is detestabe

anyway) 1e done) 1ahaha, he had it comin#)”

“2ey, hod it, it wasn+t intentiona) I didn+t do it because I had

somethin# a#ainst the andord) /r rather… I want to &now. what are

you doin# here, Dust”

(rom what the &ni#ht said, he seemed to be a re#uar here.

“'e 6othin# much. I heard the payout for defeatin# the destroyer is

comin#, so I ate and dran& to my content and eft tabs everywhere,

thin&in# that I wi cear the debts with the payout. I thou#ht the

payout woud be #reat, so I too& a oan to #ambe. In the end, the

payout was smaer than I thou#ht and I coudn+t pay bac& the money.

1ith no money, I had to seep in the stabes, but its cod in this

season. I woud rather come here so I won+t freeze to death and have

food to eat. So I ate at some pace without payin#. And the debtors

coudn+t chase me here too.”


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!his man reay ived up to his name.

Seein# the sorry state of the unrepentant dein$uent Dust made me

fee better about bein# oc&ed away here.


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Part 3

After &iin# time chattin# with Dust and eatin# dinner, I turned in for

the ni#ht.

%% I didn+t &now how on# I sept.

2earin# an e0posion from far away, I fet a si#ht tremor shorty after

and wo&e up suddeny. At the same time, I heard a soft voice.

“... Ka… Kazuma) 2ey, Kazuma, wa&e up)”

!he mooni#ht shone in throu#h the iron bars coverin# the windows.

It was probaby ate in the ni#ht.

“2ey, Kazuma, can you hear me Kazuma%%”

!he soft voice comin# from outside the window sounds famiiar.


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I oo&ed around me, confirmin# that no one was around aside from

Dust who was snorin#.

!his ce was situated in the deepest part of the poice station, they

probaby thou#ht that there was no need for anyone to #uard it.

!he window that was instaed with iron bars was at a pace much

taer than I am.

I wa&ed towards the bottom of the window, and coud hear A$ua+s

voice ceary this time.

“A$ua) 1hat do you want, dammit)”

“I+m here to save you of course) 'e#umin and Dar&ness are creatin# a

diversion ri#ht now to attract the attention of the #uards. 'e#umin

probaby set off her e0posion ma#ic somewhere near town, drawin#

the poice away. Dar&ness shoud be feein# the scene with 'e#umin

who depeted her mana in tow.”

So the tremor I fet in my dreams was from the e0posion ma#ic.

“Anyway, why are you #uys thin&in# of savin# me now If you wanted

to hep, you shoud have supported me durin# the day.”


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“If we did that, we wi be spendin# our time in prison to#ether) 1e

didn+t do this out of fear of what Kazuma wi do to us after he #ets

out, definitey not.”

2earin# the atter haf of her sentence, I had a rou#h idea of why they

came to rescue me.

;ut%%

“;ut woud it be fine to run away i&e this 1on+t it ma&e matters

worse”

“1hat nonsense are you sayin#, subversion of the nation is

punishabe by death. I heard from Dar&ness that the andord is a

despicabe and petty person. (or a nobody adventurer i&e Kazuma, he

wi use his infuence to twist the facts and &i you off.”

As e0pected of an aternate word with a midde a#e eve civiization.

5ives were treated i&e trash.


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“... I wi brea& out of prison then, but how do I eave this pace, cut

the iron bars in the window”

A$ua au#hed confidenty upon hearin# me say that, and threw

somethin# throu#h the #ap between the iron bars to my side.

Droppin# onto the #round with a si#ht metaic sound was a piece of

stee wire.

1hat shoud I do with this. 1as that #ir tein# me to…

“(irst, use that wire to open the oc& of your ce, "ust i&e a man#a.

*ou can then use your >hide+ s&is to escape the poice station) After

that, return to the mansion and prepare to run away in the ni#ht) !hat+s it then, I wi wait for you at the front of the poice station)”

A$ua eft after sayin# these words.

I pic&ed up the wire and oo&ed at the oc& of the prison ce.

… It+s an ? di#it number oc&.


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“... I wi "ust continue to seep.”

I covered mysef with the ban&et once a#ain.


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Part 4

“=et up) 9ome with me. !ime for your interro#ation)”

I was sti wrapped in my ban&et when Sena bar#ed into the ce and

wo&e me up.

“1hat is it, it+s sti eary…”

“It+s amost noon) 2ow do you spend your time normay)”


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!his set up was "ust i&e the poice interro#ation room you see in

movies.

/ne of the &ni#hts who escorted me over sat in the chair at the

entrance sienty and paced a piece of paper on the tabe.

!his action is &nown as ta&in# a statement ri#ht

!he other &ni#ht hurried me to the seat in the midde of the room.

2e then stood $uiety behind me, probaby standin# by to subdue me

if I turn vioent.

!wo &ni#hts in fu armor are in this sma room. As I was feein# tense

from the pressure, Sena sat down on the other side of the tabe and

paced a sma be on the tabe.

“Do you &now what this is !his is a ma#ic item that can see throu#h

ies, used in court and paces i&e this. !his be is synchronized with

the ma#ic cast in this room, and wi rin# when ies are uttered. ease

remember this… 1e then, I wi be#in my $uestionin# now.”


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After Sena said that, her face turned serious and the interro#ation

be#un in this heavy atmosphere.

She tapped her inde0 fin#ers on the tabe too, tryin# to e0ert pressure

on me.

“Satou Kazuma. A#e si0teen, wor&in# as an adventurer. *our "ob is

aso an adventurer… So, state your pace of birth, and what you were

doin# before you started adventurin#.”

A sudden hi#h difficuty $uestion.

1here did I come from, and what did I do, how shoud I e0pain that.

She said that be wi rin# if I te a ie%%

“I am from 8apan, and I was a student.”

%% :in#.

'y words made that be rin#… 2ey, I didn+t ie o&ay.


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Sena who was tappin# the tabe stopped and frowned.

“... 1rite this down, fasifyin# pace of birth and "ob history…”

!he &ni#ht in char#e of ta&in# minutes started writin#.

“1ait) I didn+t ie)”

%% :in#. 1hat is with that) 1hy is it rin#in#)

I am from 8apan and was a student…) 1as… a student....

“... I am from 8apan. I spent everyday in my house, ivin# a depraved

ife.”

After I answered once a#ain and Sena stared at that be.

I aso stared at the be cosey.

%% It didn+t rin# this time.


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“... 1hy are you so vain, yin# about bein# a student”

“I am not bein# vain…


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“... @e, very we. 6e0t $uestion. Do you bear any #rud#e a#ainst the

andord I heard that you had been compainin# about your debts.”

“Actuay, that is because the hu#e payout from successfuy ta&in#

down Duahan wasn+t enou#h to pay the reparation fees of the

dama#e done to the town, that+s why it became a debt. It was done to

protect the town, but it woud be meanin#ess if the town #ets

destroyed in the process. I am fine with this outcome.”

%%:in#.

“......”

“!o be fran&, I used words i&e this to convince my an#ry comrades.;ut honesty, for him to treat the heroes who saved the town i&e this,

it ma&es me want to &i him.”

“I, I see. !hen ne0t…”

“-0cuse me… can I say somethin#”

I interrupted Sena who wanted to continue the $uestionin# even

thou#h she didn+t i&e it, and said3


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“1oud you i&e to "ust #et strai#ht to the point 5i&e >Are you wor&in#

for the demon &in# army+, or >Did you #ive that order because you

had a #rud#e a#ainst the andord+. I have said this many times, I

ony as&ed someone to perform a random teeport, I am not tar#etin#

the andord I never thou#ht that thin#s woud turn out this way. I

#ave that order because I wanted to save the town. I am tein# the

truth.”

Sena &ept her eyes on the be as she istened to me.

%% And of course, the be didn+t rin#.

After confirmin# this, Sena si#hed heaviy.

“... I seem to have been mista&en. -verythin# I heard about you had

been bad rumours, that+s why… I am very sorry…”

Sena chan#ed her attitude, becomin# more humbe and poite as shebowed to me.

I thin& her earier tone was meant for criminas, this is her usua

manner of speech.


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Since I had been ceared of any suspicion, I decided this is a #ood

chance and said3

“:eay, istenin# to rumors without investi#atin# it first, do you &now

how to do your "ob, prosecutor”

“


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“;ut ;ut what Anyway, now my suspicion had been ceared, why

aren+t you servin# me tea 1hat is with this poice station) ;rin#in#

out a Katsudon is fine too)”

“or& cutet rice Sorry, we don+t have that here… I wi serve you

some tea immediatey…”

Sena eft in a hurry, and returned with a cup of brewed tea.

I too& a sip…)

“It+s too warm) Don+t the prosecutor here &now how to brew tea) And

with your fierce attitude you probaby don+t have a boyfriend ri#ht

Since there is a ma#ic item here, it+s my turn to as& the $uestion. Do

you have any man you are cose with”

“6o.”

Sena oo&ed at me e0pressionessy and said firmy3

“6o. *es, because of my personaity, I never had a boyfriend even


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after ivin# unti this a#e. Are you happy now I advise you not to #o

too far.”

“Sorry.”

5oo&in# at the be that didn+t rin#, I apoo#ized fearfuy.

“Anyway, what are the bad rumours you heard about me 8ust those

that were brou#ht up by the adventurers yesterday”

“-rm, we… apart from those, I heard you stripped the panties off a

youn# #ir adventurin# with you in pubic, forced a crusader ivin# in

the same house as you to wash your bac& in the shower. *ou thin&

your party+s priest is troubesome and want to abandon her in adun#eon, a these rumours made you a suspicious character%%”

……

Seein# me turnin# stiff, Sena oo&ed at me with suspicious eyes.

“... Are they "ust rumours”


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“8ust rumours.”

%% :in#.

Sena turned bac& into her cod po&er face and said3

“... !hat+s "ust probems within your party, so I won+t ma&e any

comments. ;ut do you &now what the peope ca you in the streets

Kazu"er&, Kazutrash%%”

“2ow, how mean) 1ho is the one who #ave me that sort of

nic&name)”

;ut I &new about the thin#s she brou#ht up, I can+t deny it)

Seein# me i&e this, Sena si#hed and…

“:eay. !o be safe, I wi as& you a#ain. *ou have no reations to

anyone in the demon &in# army, ri#ht 5i&e an ac$uaintance of a

demon &in# army boss, anythin# of this sort…”


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“6o such thin#, do I oo& that #reat%%”

%%:in#.

I didn+t finish sayin# >of a man to you+.

I reaized I made a bi# mista&e.

5istenin# to the echo of the be reverberatin# in the interro#ation

room.

I remembered that 1iz was a demon &in# army boss.


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Part 5

“2ey, there is not enou#h rice) And #ive me somethin# with meat on

it) 1ho coo&ed this) I want to see the ady mana#er%%)”

I was depressed for ma&in# this hu#e mista&e, whie the dein$uent

beside me was bein# noisy.

!he man arrested for dine and dash was pic&in# on the $uaity of the

food.

'aybe I shoud act shameessy i&e he does.

… I don+t reay want to act that depraved thou#h.

“2ey Kazuma, cheer up. I can+t count the number of times I was

char#ed in court with a my fin#ers. *ou aren+t reay an adventurer

unti you have been brou#ht to the poice station once. 1e wi both be

attendin# court tomorrow, so we shoud eat somethin# #ood and have

a #ood rest. I wi #et you some nice food) !he cops here don+t i&e

troube, so they wi brin# thin#s over if you compain a bit.”


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After sayin# so, Dust started compainin# in a voume oud enou#h to

be heard throu#hout the station.

In the end, the poice came over to warn Dust to not push his uc& and

beat him up. Dust turned $uiet and I sept to be prepared for the ne0t

day.

%% As it was #ettin# ate, I was wo&en by a tremor and sound of an

e0posion from a distance, "ust i&e ast ni#ht.

I sat up immediatey and heard A$ua+s soft voice sayin# “Kazuma) 2ey

Kazuma, wa&e up)”

2earin# her voice, I cin#ed to the wa with the window and said3

“*ou are here a#ain. 1hat happened in the end ast ni#ht Is everyone

fine”

“'e#umin and Dar&ness were sure they weren+t seen by anyone on

the way bac&, but they were sti made a suspect for the e0posionincident for some reason. !he investi#ation capabiity of this word is

amazin#. ;ut never mind that, I forced both of them to wear a hood

they hated, so they woud definitey not be found out this time.”


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6o matter how you thou#ht about it, the probem wasn+t bein# seen

by others whie committin# the crime, but the imited number of

peope who coud use e0posion spe in this town.

“5et+s eave that for ater, I was waitin# for you the entire time, why

didn+t you escape I waited unti my head was covered in snow, I was

even $uestioned by the poice severa times, how miserabe.”

“It+s not a oc& and &ey padoc&, but a rotatin# number oc&. And I

don+t have any oc&pic&in# s&is at a, there is no way I can do that

with "ust a wire.”

2earin# me say that, A$ua was $uiet for a moment.

“... !hey #ot me this time, I didn+t thin& their prison was so secure.”

“It+s "ust a number oc&. 'ore importanty, what are you pannin# to

do If I don+t brea& out toni#ht, I wi be char#ed in court tomorrow.”

2earin# me say that, A$ua snorted a coupe of times, she sounded

confident.

1here does her baseess confidence stemmed from


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“!he method yesterday was too roundabout. I prepared two saws

today, I wi throw one of it to your side.”

… Saw

“... *ou want me to saw the window+s iron bars and escape”

“So you do &now. !he time imit is daybrea&, there is no time so

hurry)”

After sayin# that, A$ua threw a saw in throu#h the #aps of the iron

bars.

I see, if both of us wor& to#ether, we coud doube the speed of cuttin#

the bars.

;ut the probem is%%

“... !he window is too hi#h from my side, I can+t reach it.”

!he window was paced hi#h up on the wa to prevent prisoners from


53/376

brea&in# out, I coudn+t reach it even if I "ump.

“Don+t worry, I am not stupid, I aready thou#ht this mi#ht happen. I

prepared a steppin# stoo, you can saw aon# with me if you used it.

!here is probaby not enou#h time for one person sawin#, but itshoud be fine with both of us wor&in# to#ether.”

I see.

“So how do you pan to #et the steppin# stoo in S$ueeze it throu#hthe #aps between the bars”

A$ua was sient for a whie after I as&ed her this simpe $uestion.

“... 1ait for me a minute.”

After sayin# this, A$ua ran off.

Some time ater%%

“6o, this is… a necessity for Kazuma, I have to #ive it to him…”

“I have never heard of anyone sendin# such a thin# into a "ai ce. And


54/376

why are you here at this ate hour…”

A$ua+s voice coud be heard in the distance.

She seemed to be tryin# to #et the #uards to pass that thin# to me.

'aybe I shoud earn to act as earnesty as that idiot.

Surprisin#y, as I istened to A$ua and the #uard s$uabbin# in the

distance, I was no on#er uneasy about #oin# to court tomorrow.

%% !o dispose of the evidence, I threw the saw out of the window and

sept whie wrapped in my ban&et.


55/376

Part 6

!he "ustice system in this word was very simpe. !he prosecutor wi

coect evidence, and the accused wi be defended by arepresentative.

If the "ud#e concudes that the char#es are true, he wi pass

"ud#ement.

!here were no awyers in this word, the accused are defended by his

friends.

!he buidin# structure was the same as the 8apanese courts, the

accused in handcuffs and the representative standin# in the center of

the court. !he "ud#e, prosecutor and paintiff sat opposite them some

distance away.

:i#ht now%%

6o need to be so tense. Don+t worry, we wi stay by your side.”

'e#umin said, attemptin# to cam me down as I was so nervous that

my whoe body was stiff.

%%!hat+s ri#ht.


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!he ones standin# beside me as my defence representative were the

members of my party.

1hy did thin#s turn out i&e this

Sittin# in the seat of the prosecutor was Sena, who was starin# at me,

who coudn+t hide my nervousness, with cod eyes.

“6o probem, eave it to me. !he crimson ma#ic race have hi#h

intei#ence, I wi ma&e that prosecutor cry throu#h our debate.”

!he one to my ri#ht ma&in# this reiabe speech is my defendin#

attorney 'e#umin.

“Don+t worry, if events deveop beyond the point of redemption, I wi

thin& of a way to hep you. *ou are not at faut for this incident at a.”

Dar&ness who was standin# to my eft said.

2ow reiabe, I fee at ease… ;ut%%


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“8ust eave it to me) As a woman of the coth, my words are very

convincin#) 8ust eave everythin# to me)”

!hat+s ri#ht, the probem ies with this #ir. I as&ed A$ua to come over

and whispered into her ear3

“5isten carefuy A$ua. I+m be##in# you, pease don+t say anythin#. If

you &eep $uiet obedienty for the entire tria, I wi buy snow crimsoncrab for you.”

“1hat nonsense are you sayin# If Kazuma is sentenced to "ai or

death, you won+t be abe to buy crab for me. Don+t worry, the one

most famiiar with bein# an attorney is me. Kazuma i&es to pay video

#ames ri#ht 2aven+t you heard about peope in 8apan payin# >;ased

Attorney+ and >'an#anronpa+ I payed both of them before.”

“/&ay, I #et it now. ease, don+t say a word.”

A$ua responded to my re$uest by turnin# her head away unhappiy.

!his itte%%)


58/376

%% A midde a#ed man that appeared to be the "ud#e rapped the tabe

with a maet.

“/rder in the court) 1e wi now be#in the tria for Satou Kazuma for

the subversion of the nation) !he paintiff is Ae0ei ;arnes Aderp)”

/n the cue of the "ud#e, a fat man stood up.

2e was ta and bu&y, his badin# head shiny. A midde a#ed man fu

of body hair.

So that+s the andord who is suin# me.

5andord Aderp #ared at me, as if he was "ud#in# my worth. 2e then

used his echerous eyes to oo& at the three adies standin# beside

me.

After oo&in# at every inch of A$ua and 'e#umin+s body, he turned his

si#hts on Dar&ness…

And he stood stiffy there with a oo& of surprise.


59/376

“2ey, that fat od man &ept oo&in# at us. I fee the presence of evi

and have the ur#e to po&e his eyes out.”

“I+m peadin# with you not to do that… And isn+t he ony starin# at

Dar&ness”

“2e is oo&in# at her for a very on# time. 2is eyes is the same as

Kazuma when he is oo&in# at Dar&ness when she wa&s around themansion in fimsy attire.”

“


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maet fe a#ain.

“Sience) I wi have order in the court. rosecutor, step forth) 1e have

a ma#ic item here, so any ie wi be e0posed in this court. :emember

this when you spea&.”

!he "ud#e rapped the tabe a#ain, and Sena stood up with this cue.

“I wi now read out the char#es… !he accused, Satou Kazuma, too&

part with other adventurers in the batte a#ainst the mobie fortress

destroyer when it attac&ed. 2e #ave the order durin# the batte to

send the 9oronatite that was #oin# to e0pode, away via teeportation.

!he 9oronatite that was teeported e0poded after appearin# in the

mansion of the paintiff. !he mansion of the paintiff, Aderp

disappeared. :i#ht now, ord Aderp is forced to ive in an inn withinthis town.”

As Sena was readin# the char#es, the paintiff andord was sti starin#

at Dar&ness.

“1hen transportin# monsters, dru#s and dan#erous items such as

e0posives, the use of random teeportation is prohibited. It is stated

ceary in the aw, and the instruction #iven out by the accused ceary

contravenes this aw Aso, threatenin# the ife of the andord coud


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potentiay sha&e the foundation of the nation. 2ence, the prosecution

re$uests for the accused to be found #uity of subversion of the

state)”

“/b"ection)”

It happened ri#ht after Sena finished readin# the char#es.

A$ua who was standin# beside me moved in front, raisin# one arm as

she shouted.

“It isn+t time for the defendant to spea&. See& permission before you

say anythin#… 1e, this is your first time in court, I wi #ive you a

pass this time… !he defence may spea&.”

!he "ud#e prompts A$ua, but she simpy shoo& her head with a oo& of

satisfaction3

“I "ust wanted to try sayin# >ob"ection+, it+s o&ay.”

“!he defence may ony spea& when defendin# the accused)”

!his idiot, I reay fet i&e #ivin# her a ti#ht sap.


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A$ua who was scoded by the "ud#e ri#ht after the court session

started seemed contented and returned to my side.

Sena who was thrown off her #ame seemed to be panic&in# a itte.

“... -h, that+s a I have to say. In short, we are as&in# for Satou

Kazuma to be found #uity of subversion of the nation…”

After Sena finished and returned to her seat, the 8ud#e said3

“6e0t, I #rant permission for the accused and his defence to spea&.

*ou may pead your case)”

“%% And so, the demon &in# boss ;edia and the destroyer was ony

defeated than&s to my efforts. It is stran#e to accuse me of subversion

of the nation with my contribution to the town. In fact, I thin& that

everyone shoud be compimentin# me instead)”

1ith the permission of the "ud#e, I stated my piece in the center of

the court.

I described how coo I was in the fi#ht with ;edia.

-mphasizin# how #reat my coordination was in the batte with the

mobie fortress destroyer.


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!he "ud#e oo&ed at the ie e0posin# ma#ic be severa times durin#

my statement, but I didn+t mind.

I mi#ht have e0a##erated a itte, but I didn+t ma&e any of these up.

“-nou#h, enou#h, I understand what the defendant is tryin# to say.

'ovin# on, prosecutor. ease present the evidence showin# why the

accused shoud be found #uity of subversion of the nation.”

!he "ud#e hurried Sena to submit the evidence with an irate face.

Sena #ave a #esture to a &ni#ht standin# beside her.

Seein# that, the &ni#ht wa&ed towards the waitin# room in the court

as Sena pic&ed up a piece of paper and read.

“!he prosecution wi present the evidences, provin# the accused is a

terrorist attemptin# to subvert the authority of the nation, or that he is

reated to the demon &in# army. 1itness, pease ta&e the stand)”

1ith the instruction of Sena, the &ni#ht brou#ht the witnesses into thecourt. !hey were mosty adventurers.

/r rather%%


64/376

“Ahahaha… I was summoned…”

!he first witness was 9hris who was oo&in# at me with a troubed face

as she scratched the scar on her face.

Incudin# the thief 9hris, the ones summoned to court as witnesses

were famiiar faces.


65/376

Part

!his situation was bad.

“1hich means, the accused used >stea+ under the watchfu eyes of

the pubic to strip your panties. Is this true”

“-rm%% it is true) ;ut that shoud be an accident)”

“*ou "ust need to confirm this is true, than& you for your testimony.”

“2mm 1ait) I+m not bothered by that incident anymore…)”

Sena concuded the $uestionin# in a hurry and chased 9hris out of the

court.

!he other witnesses were troubesome too…

!he one who came from 8apan "ust i&e me, whose ma#ic sword was

stoen by me and sod, swordmaster 'itsuru#i. 2e wa&ed to the front

with his two underin#s ri#ht behind him.


66/376

“'itsuru#i%san. I heard your ma#ic sword was stoen by the accused

and sod. And the two adies were threatened by the accused that he

wi stea your panties if you tried to #et the ma#ic sword bac&. Is this

true”

“*es, you are ri#ht. ;ut that incident was started by me…”

“!hat+s ri#ht, he threatened us) 2e said >I beieve in #ender e$uaity, aman who dares to use drop &ic&s a#ainst #irs+)”

“*eah) 2e aso said >since you are #irs, I mi#ht humiiate you in pubic

usin# my BsteaB s&i+)”

'itsuru#i+s two underin#s &ept interruptin# his words, usin# this

chance to #et bac& at me for threatenin# them that time.

!hese two #irs probaby hated me deepy, stic&in# their ton#ue out

whenever our eyes met.


67/376

After 'itsuru#i and the others eft the court, Dust was summoned as a

witness for some reason.

I didn+t remember doin# anythin# bad to this #uy.

If I reca correcty, Dust was the one who su##ested swappin# teams.

After Dust #reeted me warmy, Sena said3

“!his man is the defendant of the ne0t court case. I thin& the court

shoud be famiiar with him. 2e is a dein$uent that causes troube and

&ept #ettin# sued.”

“2ey you "er&, you are the one who as&ed for me when I was "ust

waitin# for my turn in court. I "ust #ot here, so stop spea&in# i about

me) Are you as&in# me to massa#e those bi# tits of yours”

Sena+s words made the short tempered Dust ash out.

As the 8ud#e was frownin# because of Dust+s vu#ar words, Sena

pointed at me and said3


68/376

“Dust%san, I heard that you are rather cose with Satou Kazuma%san

here. Is this true”

“2ow coud there be any doubt. 1e are i&e brothers, and drin&

to#ether often.”

After hearin# that, Sena turned and said to me3

“Satou Kazuma%san, are you best friends with this unruy dein$uent”

“8ust an ac$uaintance.”

“2ey%%) Kazuma)”

Dust yeed, but the be didn+t rin# under the watchfu eyes of Sena

and the "ud#e.

“I, I see, pardon my rudeness. I wanted to brin# up the point that your

friends are dein$uents, that+s why…”

“It+s fine, it+s a fact that I am ac$uainted with him.”


69/376

“Kazuma%%) Is our friendship so shaow%%)”

As the &ni#ht dra##ed the yein# dein$uent out of the court, Sena

turned to face the "ud#e.

“!hat ast witness was disappointin#, but the other witnesses shoud

suffice to prove that the accused has a fawed personaity. And the

accused bored a #rud#e a#ainst the paintiff. ;ased on these facts, it

is very possibe that the accused didn+t order a random teeport to be

used, and instructed for a norma teeport to transfer the stone to the

mansion of the paintiff, and dis#uised it as an accident%%”

Sena tried pinnin# me down with circumstantia evidence.

“!hose are not evidence at a) I admit that Kazuma has a twisted

personaity, but I can+t accept such a circumstantia char#e) ;rin# out

somethin# more concrete) And this tria is too stran#e) -verythin# is

too forced, don+t you find this weird”

“!he defendants are to watch their words, ony spea& up when

#ranted permission)”

“*ou want evidence @ery we, I wi brin# it undeniabe proof) !hey

wi show without a doubt that this man is a terrorist determined to

destroy the town, or is a minion of the demon &in# army)”


70/376

Seein# 'e#umin becomin# a#itated, Sena, pic&ed up a piece of paper

and read it out oud.

“/ne) !he party ed by adventurer Satou Kazuma mi#ht have defeated

the boss of the demon &in# army durin# the fi#ht with ;edia, but

e0tensive dama#e was done to the town due to the hu#e amount of

water that was con"ured%%”

A$ua trembed.

“!wo) Settin# up a #iant barrier in the pubic cemetery, causin# the

spirits in the cemetery to wander, creatin# havoc in town%%”

I #rabbed the hands of A$ua who was coverin# her ears and facin# the

bac&, peein# them off her ears so she coud hear what the prosecutor

was sayin#, and…

“9astin# e0posion spe in the area outside of town day after day,

chan#in# the andscape of the territory. :ecenty, it coud be heard in

the wee hours of the ni#ht, rousin# the citizens from their seep in the

midde of the ni#ht%%”

It was 'e#umin+s turn to cover her ears and turn around.

'y defence team was too useess)


71/376

“2ey, wait, this is too stran#e) It+s weird no matter how you thin&

about it) !he thin#s you isted out have nothin# to do with me) 1e,

they were troubes caused by the members of my team) ;ut you

shoud brin# out evidence that has somethin# to do with me)”

In repy to my outburst,

“And aso, we have reports of the accused usin# a s&i ony avaiabeto the undead, >Drain touch+. If you are not reated to the demon &in#

army, pease e0pain why you can use >Drain touch+%% *ou can+t "ust

i#nore this by coverin# your ears)”

Sena pointed at me who was coverin# my ears i&e A$ua and 'e#umin

and shouted.

:emain sient) I want to e0ercise my ri#ht to remain sient)

“(inay, the most damnin# evidence… Durin# the interro#ation insidethe poice station, I as&ed if you had any deain#s with a member of

the demon &in# army. *ou answered no bac& then, and the ma#ic item

detected a ie. !hat is the best evidence)”


72/376

/h no oh no oh no%%)

I was out of ideas and speechess, at this moment.

“%% 2od it)”


73/376


74/376

!his confident voice came une0pectedy from A$ua.

!o thin& this #ir woud hod a trump card at this "uncture…)

“A$ua, te them) Show them the decisive evidence that proves my

innocence)”

“2uh !here+s no way I have somethin# i&e that, I "ust want to try

sayin# that.”

“:emove that person from court)”

“Sorry) I apoo#ize on behaf of this counse)”

“Ahhh that hurts)”

I #rabbed the tempe of A$ua and s$ueezed ti#hty as I apoo#ized.

Shit, this damn idiot%%)

At this moment, someone seemed tired of our #ames.

“-nou#h) !hat #uy is definitey reated to the demon &in# army) 2e+s


75/376

their minion) 2e sent e0posives to my mansion) Ki him) Sentence

him to death)”

!he paintiff who had been sient a this whie, andord Aderp stood

up suddeny and roared an#riy at me.

1e done od man, now+s my chance)

“6o, I am not reated to the demon &in# army) I am not a terrorist) I

do bear a #rud#e because he made me shouder that debt, but I didn+t

send the 9oronatite over on purpose) 5isten carefuy, oo& at the

ma#ic item cosey) I am #oin# to say this a#ain) I am not a minion of

the demon &in# army, I have nothin# to do with them)”

'y words didn+t ma&e the be rin#, renderin# the andord speechess.

Sena frowned and bit her ower ips when she saw this.

If a testimony stated in the presence of the ma#ic item coud be ta&en

as evidence, my words that didn+t tri##er an aarm woud aso be

ta&en as evidence.

!he words of the paintiff andord heped me out of this situation.


76/376

!he "ud#e shoo& his head sowy.

“It is aways i&e this when we use the ma#ic item to detect ies, the

resuts aren+t cear. !he prosecution motioned for the reaction of the

ma#ic item to be endorsed as evidence. ;ut from the resuts ri#ht

now, I cannot accept it as e#itimate evidence. !he circumstantia

evidence presented so far is too wea&. And so, I hereby "ud#e that the

accused, Satou Kazuma innocent from the ac& of%%”

Durin# this decisive moment when the "ud#e was passin# his

sentence.

“I wi say this a#ain. !hat #uy is definitey affiiated with the demon

&in# army, one of their minions. Sentence him to death.”

!he andord who was sti standin# said that.

In response, Sena said3

“6o, no one was hurt for this incident, it shoudn+t ead to the death

penaty…”

1hen she said that to the andord, he "ust stared at her.


77/376

“... 6o, you are ri#ht. !he death sentence is the most appropriate…

ri#ht”

%% 2mm)

“2ey hey, wait a minute) !his is too weird, too weird)”

“*ah, what is with that "ust now) 1hy did the prosecutor+s ar#ument

chan#ed)”

1hie 'e#umin and I were protestin#, Sena was reactin# stran#ey

too. She was the one who said that, but her face oo&ed confused as

she tited her head.

A$ua suddeny pointed at the "ud#e, Sena and the andord and said3

“I fee an evi presence) Someone amon# this #roup is attemptin# to

twist the facts with evi powers)”

A$ua+s une0pected speech made the court fa into sience.

'aybe it+s due to her idiotic words earier, a the eyes watchin# A$uawas doubtfu.

-veryone oo&ed towards the ma#ic item, and the atmosphere

chan#ed when it didn+t rin#.


78/376

A$ua was an arch priest, a "ob with a hoy nature.

!his made her words more convincin#, which made the e0pression of

the "ud#e chan#e.

“owers of evi… So you are sayin# someone is usin# underhanded

means to infuence this sacred tria”

“*es, that+s correct. 'y eyes are more accurate than that ma#ic item)

!ruthfuy spea&in#, I am a #oddess of water with C miion devotees

in this word) =oddess A$ua)”

%% :in#.

A$ua+s decaration resuted in a crisp rin#in# sound in the sient court.

“1hy%%) 1ait, I didn+t ie%%)”

“Defendant, pease choose your counses carefuy.”

“'y apoo#ies, I wi refect on this seriousy.”

A$ua who ost the trust of everyone was sti bein# noisy as 'e#umin


79/376

consoed her (or some reason, the andord was bitin# his ips, starin#

at A$ua with a pae face.

“I #et it, it must be because I was actin# too vainy. !he ma#ic itemthou#ht I was yin# because of the number of devotees) C miion is

e0a##eratin# a bit, I shoud had said somethin# in the re#ion of E.?

miion.”

2earin# A$ua mumbin# behind me, I wanted to retort that her

beievers probaby numbered ess than a thousand. ;ut I can+t do that

now as the "ud#e coud #ive his verdict any moment now.

!he "ud#e ceared his throat.

“... Defendant Satou Kazuma. !a&in# into account your inhumane

actions and your disruption of the peace in order to society…”

2e started sayin# somethin# that contradicted his previous verdict.

“I find the sentence motioned by the prosecutor to be ade$uate. !he

accused is found #uity and%%”

2mm)


80/376

“%% Sentenced to death.”


81/376

Part

“!his is weird%%) 6o hod it, wait a minute) 1hat is with this rushed

verdict) ;rin# out stron#er evidence) Sentencin# a man to death soi#hty, there must be somethin# wron# with your head)”

“Defendant) 1atch your behavior)”

“Kazuma is ri#ht, this is stran#e, there is definitey somethin# wron#. !hat+s ri#ht, Kazuma did bore a #rud#e for havin# to shouder the

reparation cost of the food, i&es to compains and hates the andord,

which mi#ht ead to troube one day. ;ut despite a that, he doesn+t

have the #uts to send the coronatite over)”

2ey, are you defendin# me or #ettin# in my way, ma&e it cear)

As I was wonderin# how to shut A$ua up, 'e#umin too& off her eye

patch and said3

“@ery we, since you want to thin& of Kazuma as a terrorist, I wi show

you what a rea terrorist is i&e… 2ey, what are you doin#) :eease

me)”

Seein# 'e#umin+s crimson eyes #owin#, the #uards rushed in to


82/376

subdue her.

“6ah%%) !his is weird) !oo weird) 'y cear eyes coud see evi in#erin#

in the air inside this court) 8ust wait for a moment I wi purify the airri#ht now… Ah) I am not usin# any suspicious ma#ic, don+t #et in my

way)”

“


83/376

out from her chest.

It was a pendant that oo&ed vauabe with an insi#nia on it.

I don+t &now what that was, but it was somethin# everyone in court

&new about.

“!hat, that is… *ou, you are…”

!he "ud#e stood up in surprise, starin# wide eyed at the pendant.


84/376


85/376

“Ari#ht, since you are the one re$uestin#, I wi #rant this man more

time.”

%% After bein# #ranted permission to eave the courts, I as&ed Dar&ness

who was foowin# behind me3

“1hat was that "ust now /r rather, you &new that od man Aderp”

“... *ou coud say that. -ver since I was youn#, he had some &ind of

obsession towards me. -ver since his wife passed on, he as&ed for my

hand in marria#e severa times. ;ut my father re"ected him due to our

a#e difference.”

2ow terrifyin#, how persistent is he

“Are, are you ari#ht, wi it be fine to promise doin# anythin# for that

&ind of od man (rom the way he was chec&in# you out, he wi

probaby as& for somethin# horribe.”

“... Somethin#, somethin# horribe…”

“*ou… return my sympathy to me…”


86/376

As I was turned off by the pervert who is breathin# heaviy with her

face bushin#, I went to#ether with dar&ness to fetch A$ua and

'e#umin who were bein# detained.


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Part "

%% After Dar&ness+ ne#otiation, the court #ave me two orders.

!he first is to prove that I am not a minion of the demon &in# army.

!he second thin# is to compensate the andord for his mansion.

In order to raise funds, I brou#ht A$ua aon# with me to 1iz+s shop.

I wanted to come aone, but A$ua &ept foowin# me.

“I understand what Kazuma is thin&in#) *ou #ot into a this troube

because of that undead. *ou are pannin# to rob her shop to pay off

the debts ri#ht”

A$ua who didn+t understand anythin# said spiritedy in front of the

shop3

“=et out here you undead monster) I wi send you to the other

word)”

She shouted somethin# siy as she &ic&ed the door into 1iz+s shop

open.


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“1ha, what :obbers !he mafia... -c&%%) It+s, it+s A$ua%sama)”

(or some reason, 1iz was afraid of A$ua more than robbers and the

mafia.

I moved into the shop, went to 1iz who was terrified because of A$ua

and tod her the verdict for the case.

“I see… (irst, con#ratuations on bein# reeased) I am terriby sorry,

Kazuma%san. It was a because I teeported that stone…”

“!hat+s ri#ht, if you understand then u#h…)”

“Don+t worry about it. If 1iz wasn+t there bac& then, we woudn+t have

made it throu#h unscathed. It bew the andord+s mansion up, but no

one was hurt. I "ust need to prove to Sena that I am not a minion of

the demon &in# army to be ceared of any suspicion. ;ut the ne0t

probem woud be raisin# the funds to rebuid the andord+s mansion.”

I don+t &now what nonsense A$ua was #oin# to spout, so I covered her

mouth and said that to 1iz 1iz was reieved when she heard that.


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“I see, you mana#ed to buy some time. ;ut as for money… I reay

want to hep you, but my shop is osin# money, so I don+t have much

cash on hand… I had a friend bac& in my days in the demon &in#

army, he was #reat in ma&in# money but was an unfathomabe

person, I don+t understand what he is thin&in#… It woud be #reat if

there is anythin# I coud hep you with…”

1iz said with a troubed e0pression and started thin&in# behind her

counter.

“6o, I am here because you can hep me with somethin#.”

“!hat+s ri#ht. !he thin# we need your hep with, is for you to move on

from this word)”

I i#nored A$ua+s nonsense and discussed with 1iz.

Simpy put, with my e0istin# debt and ac& of cash on hand, it was

difficut to raise the funds to rebuid the mansion of the andord.

Since that is the case, maybe I shoud put the pan I thou#ht about in

the past into action…

!he civiization eve here was more bac&ward than earth, peope who


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coudn+t use >tinder+ had to rey on fints.

If I start sein# i#hters in this word, it woud definitey be a hit.

;ut I &new how much s&is were needed to ma&e such deicate items.

-ven if I mana#ed to ma&e one, it was impossibe for any shop to

suddeny a#ree to sein# my wares.

!hat+s why I am discussin# with 1iz to see if I coud dispay my

merchandize somewhere in her store for a whie.

%% I e0pained the whoe thin# to 1iz.

I tod her I woud be ma&in# some convenient items, and as&ed for

permission to dispay it in her shop.

If it ses, I wi share a part of the profit with 1iz.

I tod her that she mi#ht want to ta&e a oo& at the thin#s I made

before ma&in# a decision.

“It is not easy to ma&e a ivin# with adventurin# as a career. 2ence, I


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have to rey on doin# business to do so… and the ony one I coud rey

on for such a short notice is 1iz.”

“In other words, Kazuma is sayin# that we wi be ta&in# over this

shop, hurry up and #ive us the deed… !hat hurts)”

I hit the bac& of A$ua+s head with the hit of my da##er. I owered my

head and as&ed 1iz sincerey.

-ven thou#h she was afraid of A$ua who was nursin# her head whie

roin# on the foor, 1iz sti repied with a #ente smie3

“If it is somethin# i&e this, there is definitey no probem. I woud very

much i&e more variety with my merchandize. 'y shop isn+t thatpopuar anyway… And if you are ma&in# reparation for the andord+s

mansion, I am reated to it too… I don+t &now what you pan to se,

but I am oo&in# forward to it, Kazuma%san.”

Seein# 1iz a#ree with a smie, I smied aon# too.

If not for that thin# roin# on the foor, the atmosphere woud be

much better.


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As an undead, 1iz shoud fee uneasy in her presence.

“... 6o, that+s not it… It+s fine for A$ua%sama to visit, but she wi ta&

to the customers when she is here, sayin# that the merchandize here

are made usin# unspea&abe methods by the shop ady, and its better

not to buy them…”

“2ey, what is that a about”

2earin# my ow pitch $uestion, A$ua who was nursin# her head on the

foor trembed for a moment.

“It+s, it+s fine) It+s a in the past now) !he amazin# thin# was, thin#s

i&e hoy water inside my shop was widy popuar with the mae

adventurers, so it+s fine…”

Shoud I say thin#s wor&ed out fine since it sod so we…

;ut was it o&ay for a ich to se hoy water

(urthermore, in a sorts of manner, were the adventurers in this town


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reay fine

“'ore importanty… A$ua%sama touches a the merchandize in my

shop, causin# a the cursed and necromancy items to be purified,

many of the items became unusabe…”

“1hat are you thin&in# you damn #oddess)”

Seemed i&e she had been visitin# 1iz+s shop and causin# her troube

every now and then.

I dra##ed A$ua up and pushed her head down to apoo#ize to 1iz.

“I am sorry 1iz) (or the dama#ed #oods, I wi ta&e responsibiity and

pay usin# her money) *ou "er&, don+t resist and apoo#ize propery)”

“1ait Kazuma) I don+t wanna) And the water bein# purified after

#ettin# in contact with me is because of my hoy aura, it can+t be

heped) It+s "ust i&e pants photosynthesizin# when the sun shines on

them, it is automatic) I reay can+t contro that)”

6o, you shoudn+t touch the merchandize in the first pace.


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A$ua resisted with her nec& and refused to bow down, so I bowed

deepy in her pace.

I had been forced to bow down to a ot of peope because of her

recenty.

“ease, pease raise your head) It+s fine, it+s a in the past now) I "ust

hope she wi try not to purify the #oods from now on. I had troubed

A$ua%sama a ot too, i&e sendin# the ost sous in the cemetery to the

other word and e0orcisin# that mansion…)”

1iz bowed in a hurry as she spo&e.

1hen A$ua heard what 1iz said, the cuprit that caused the spiritinfestation in the mansion because of her aziness in purifyin# the

cemetery averted her eyes.

… *ou shoud "ust switch "obs with 1iz.


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Chapter 2 - #elping the Cri$son %agi& 'irl %a(e )riends!

Part 1

“6ah%% Kazuma%% 1here is Dar&ness%% Isn+t she bac& yet”

In front of the firepace in the ivin# room, A$ua, who was seated on

the couch she caimed as her private seat, as&ed in a bored manner

whie hu##in# her &nees.

%% It had been severa days since the verdict had been passed. In order

to fufi her promise, Dar&ness went off to see the andord…

;ut after settin# off ast evenin#, she had yet to return.

I remembered the echerous way the andord chec&ed Dar&ness out,

and fet stuffiness in my chest.

After a, Dar&ness woud foow her instincts and desires even whenshe faced a boss of the demon &in# army, wantin# to foow him

home.

!he situation ri#ht now shoud be to her i&in#.


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I didn+t i&e Dar&ness in that way, and didn+t harbor any feein#s of

ove towards her. If she wanted to #o off with anyone, I had no ri#ht to

stop her.

;ut she stayed out the whoe ni#ht after sayin# she was #oin# to fufi

her promise, which meant she stayed in the hote room rented by the

andord, and was probaby…

“... Ahhhhhhhhhhh%%)”

“2ya%% what+s the matter 2ey, what+s wron# with you, why are you

screamin# whie hu##in# your head) Kazuma, you are aready stran#e

usuay, but you are actin# especiay weirdy today)”

As I was screamin# and A$ua was aarmed.

%% 'e#umin came to our side whie hu##in# somethin#.

'e#umin didn+t say anythin# to the two of us who were actin# noisy,

and "ust hed on to that thin# $uiety.

%% /r rather, I had been curious about that since on# a#o.


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“'eow%%”

!he anima &nown as a cat… !hat+s what 'e#umin was hodin# in her

arms.

'e#umin didn+t say anythin#, and "ust &ept starin# at us.

“... *ou want to &eep this thin# in the mansion”

“... *es. !his is a #ood chid, and woudn+t cause troube for everyone…

Is it fine”

I didn+t &now where the cat usuay hid itsef, but I saw it by

'e#umin+s side every now and then.

It aowed 'e#umin to hu# it, s$uintin# its eyes aziy.

“It shoud be fine I #uess I don+t thin& anyone ivin# here is aer#ic to

cats… /hh, what+s with this #uy, she is #ood with peope.”


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I offered my hand to the cat in 'e#umin+s arm, and she used her paws

to pay with my fin#ers.

… !his was a dan#erous word.

Stayin# in this party fu of probematic chidren induced a ot of stress.

'aybe I needed a pet that woud hea my body and sou.

“!hat hurts) 1hy is this cat ony cawin# me) 1hat is #oin# on, be it

the bac& fur or that arro#ant attitude… I can fee the fames of evi

emittin# from the body of this cat)”

A$ua who was scratched after harassin# the cat was furious.

!o protect it from the crazy bue haired beast, I too& the cat from

'e#umin+s arms.

I turned my bac& to A$ua and paced the cat onto the carpet in one

swift motion, protectin# it.

… Spea&in# of which, we didn+t finish the fish we had for brea&fast.


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“6ah, 'e#umin. 1hat is the name of this evi beast”

“9homusu&e.”

I pic&ed up the pate with the eftover fish from the dinin# tabe…

“... 1hat did you say the cat+s name was a#ain”

“It is 9homusu&e.”

… I hed the eftover fish and s$uatted before the bac& cat…

9homusu&e. It must be hard on you to have such a weird owner…

I paced the fish before 9homusu&e, but she didn+t eat it immediatey,

and "ust sniffed it a itte.

“6ah, 'e#umin. !hat+s a femae cat ri#ht I don+t thin& that name

suits her.”

“6o. It+s name is 9homusu&e.”


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As I istened to the conversation behind me and was oo&in# at

9homusu&e.

%% 9homusu&e spit out a sma burst of fire to #ri the fish si#hty.


102/376


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… 1hat was that

I hu##ed my &nees and sat on the carpet, watchin# 9homusu&e eat

the eftover fish…

“... 6ah, A$ua, this cat can spit fire.”

I tod A$ua softy.

Since the cabba#es in this word coud fy, cats spittin# fire wasn+t

anythin# unusua.

“1hat &ind of siy ta& is that Kazuma, are you ari#ht”

“9ats don+t spit fire. 9ats are animas that purrs and meows.”

“!hat+s ri#ht. And they i&e to eat fish and oo& cute too.”

I &now that.


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105/376

“2e is a andord after a, what coud someone with such status do to

Dar&ness… 1ait, I did hear $uite a bit of ne#ative news reated to this

andord, but Dar&ness is an adventurer. I don+t thin& she wi "ust et

him have his way with her.”

!his idiot) She don+t understand Dar&ness at a)

“9hidren are reay naive) *ou spent so much time to#ether with

Dar&ness and you sti don+t understand that pervert She wi

definitey say the foowin# to you with a bushin# face, >


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usua.”

“I, I wi) Since Dar&ness has became an adut, we can+t as& her what

happened either, ri#ht”

“Ahwahah…) Dar&ness… Dar&ness, she…)”

A$ua cenched her fist to show that we coud count on her whie

'e#umin+s face turned pae from hepessness.

If not for Dar&ness+ actions, I woud have been e0ecuted. I was

#ratefu for what Dar&ness did for me and had no #rounds to

compain, but…

… Ah, damn it)

I stress this a#ain, I didn+t i&e Dar&ness that way or had any feein#s

for her. -ven thou#h there were no feein#s of ove, I coudn+t hep

feein# frustrated for some un&nown reason.

1hen a femae friend hitched up with another #uy, that was the

compicated feein# I fet bac& then. At that moment%%

“Satou Kazuma) Is Satou Kazuma here%%)”


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1ith this an#ry shout, someone pushed open the door into the

mansion suddeny.

!he one who pushed the door open in a rou#h manner was the

pantin# Sena. 2er face was red and her shouders were unduatin#.

“2ey hey, what are you doin# here, there is sti some time before the

deadine for me to prove my innocence ri#ht Sorry, I don+t have time

for you ri#ht now, my comrade…”

“*ou say you have no time for me Don+t bushit me) So you reay are

a minion of the demon &in# army) *ou #ot #uts to cause this mess)”

It was a fase accusation, but seein# Sena act so a#itated #ave me anominous feein#, so I as&ed cautiousy3

“1ha, what do you mean by this mess…”

“It+s toads) !he toads that shoud be hibernatin# came out and are

movin# everywhere outside the town)”

She shoud be referrin# to the #iant toads that were synonymous with


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monsters here. ;ut what did such a thin# have to do with us…

“Don+t frame us for this. /r you are insinuatin# that we are controin#

the monsters and wo&e the hibernatin# toads up !hen show me the

evidence for that)”

'e#umin moved in front, ready for a $uarre.

“Accordin# to the reports from the #uid staff, the toad seemed to be

fearin# somethin# when they emer#ed from the #round… Spea&in# of

fear, it reminds me of someone castin# e0posion spe not far from

town, terrorizin# the citizens.”

A$ua and 'e#umin made a run for the interior of the mansion, but I

#rabbed the bac&s of their coars before they coud #et away.

“1ait, et me e0pain, I ony did it because A$ua as&ed me too) I was

the one who did it, but the mastermind is A$ua)”

“2ow sy 'e#umin) 1eren+t you e0cited when I came to discuss withyou *ou even said >et me show you my power)+”

=rabbin# the coar of the two who were turnin# on each other, I said3


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“6ow is not the time to fi#ht so dis#racefuy) =o and cean up the

mess you made)”

5oo&in# outside, the town was aready covered in snow.


110/376

Part 2

“6o%%%) I had enou#h%%) I don+t want to be eaten by the toads%%)”

A$ua+s scream echoed out oud.

“;ut to thin& the toads are sti so a#ie even in this cod weather. !hey

are movin# as fast as usua. ;oth animas and ve#etations are stron#

around here.”

I watched the toads chasin# A$ua around on the snow fied and

commented thou#htfuy.

“;ecause of the harsh environment in this word, a ivin# bein#s try

their hardest every sin#e moment. 1e mustn+t ose to them we have

to become stron#er in order to survive in this dan#erous word.”

'e#umin answered my words with a serious e0pression.

%% 1hie her body beow the shouders was inside the mouth of a toad.

It mi#ht be due to her e0perience of bein# swaowed by toads earier

that 'e#umin remained cam in such a situation and did not resist,

aowin# the toad to swaow her.


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rior to this, 'e#umin had aready casted e0posion ma#ic and too&

out many toads.

'e#umin coudn+t move after e0haustin# her mana. !he toad didn+t

continue its swaowin# action and stopped movin#.

'aybe 'e#umin+s staff was stuc& in its mouth.

“2od on, I wi save you.”

I raised my sword and faced the toad that was eatin# 'e#umin.

“6o, it+s fine for you to ta&e down the toad chasin# after A$ua first. It+s

cod outside, I prefer the warmth inside the toad+s mouth.”

I thou#ht this #ir was norma aside from her obsession of e0posion

and didn+t e0pect her to have such #reat toerance.

“1hy you… /ne of your comrades is bein# swaowed by a toad whie

the other is bein# chased around, how coud you remain so cam”


112/376

Sena who was here as a witness found this stran#e and as&ed

stupendousy.

!hat mi#ht be so, but this was norma for our party.

I decided to save 'e#umin ater. I stuc& my sword into the #round and

too& out my bow and arrow I purchased earier.

Durin# the invasion of the mobie fortress, I defeated some #oems

and raised two eves.

After #ettin# the s&i points, I was troubed over what s&is to earn.

After carefu consideration, despite havin# a tou#h iron wa in

Dar&ness, we ac&ed someone who coud attac& from ran#e.

'e#umin coud be considered as one, but she coud ony attac& a

sin#e time, and mi#ht dra# Dar&ness into the e0posion.

And so, it woud be up to me. I mi#ht be wea&, but I coud earn the

s&is of a the "ob casses.


113/376

As its name su##est, >bowmanship+ was a s&i that aowed a novice

i&e me to earn how to use bows.

As for snipe, it increased the ran#e of pro"ecties, raisin# accuracy

proportionay with uc&, and was a s&i we suited for me.

I noc&ed an arrow and aimed for the toad chasin# A$ua…)

“Kazuma%%) 2urry%%) 2urry up%%)”

Seein# me pu open the bow, A$ua shouted as she fed.

… I fet i&e ettin# them chase her for a whie on#er.

Seein# that I wasn+t intendin# to shoot the arrow, A$ua ran towards

me. It made me fee i&e I mi#ht #et in dan#er too, so I had no choice

but to fire the arrow at the head of the toad.

!he arrow brushed over the top of A$ua+s head, and pierced the toad+s

head.

A$ua who was on the ver#e of tears continued char#in# me.


114/376

“1e then, I wi save you now, 'e#umin.”

“6ah, Kazuma, were you waitin# for me to be eaten "ust now 6ah,

you were #oin# to et the toad eat me ri#ht) And your arrow touched

the charm point on my head)”

I i#nored A$ua who was pressurin# me and pued out the sword in the

#round.

“... Do you aways fi#ht in such a dan#erous manner Is… Is this

bunch of peope reay reated to the demon &in# army…”

Sena was mumbin# somethin# as she noted down the on#oin# batte.

I raised my sword at the immobie toad to rescue 'e#umin%%

“1ait, there+s toads…)”

'e#umin who was stic&in# out from the toad+s mouth said tensey.

A$ua and I who were facin# 'e#umin turned when we heard what she


115/376

said.

“... Ah.” 0F

Another three #iant toads came out of nowhere.

I was coo and coected earier, but I coud fee cod sweat on my bac&

ri#ht now.

!his was bad, now there were four toads.

In that case, the baits… 6o, I mean there weren+t enou#h peope to

distract the toads.

I coud snipe them one at a time if there was some distance, but…)

“A$ua, we wi spit up) I wi pu away and try to dispose of one, you

continue urin# them)”

“I don+t wanna%%) I don+t want to be chased by toads anymore%%) *ou

be the bait%%)”

“*our attac& power isn+t enou#h to defeat toads, stupid) If we can ta&e

one down, there wi "ust be two eft) 1e can stop them with you and


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Sena)”

“-hh) I, I am "ust here to inspect on you, I shoudn+t ta&e part in the

fi#ht…) And are you pannin# to use a norma person i&e me as bait”

As A$ua was waiin# and Sena was shoutin#, 'e#umin said3

“-0cuse me, I am bein# swaowed #raduay now, you can save me

anytime now.”

“I+ve had enou#h, if ony Dar&ness was here) !hat armored #ir

woudn+t be swaowed by toads) 1hen wi she come bac&%%)

As I raised my sword towards the toad preparin# to swaow

'e#umin%%)

“5i#ht of Saber%%)”

%% A cear voice echoed on the snow fied.

At the same time, a beam of i#ht shone across the body of the toad.

A moment after the i#ht faded away, the toad spit in haf.


117/376


118/376

“!hat was hi#h tier ma#ic "ust now…) In this town fu of roo&ies, there

was someone who coud use hi#h tier ma#ic…”

As Sena who was behind me shouted in surprise, I bowed towards the

#ir before me.

“I don+t &now who you are, but than& you for savin# us.”

After I than&ed her, the #ir stoe a #ance at me, and seemed a itte

shy as her chee&s bushed.

“I, I wasn+t pannin# to save you. It+s "ust that havin# my riva eaten by

a mere toad wi eave a bad taste in my mouth, that+s a…”

She owered her head and mumbed.

“1hat *ou and 'e#umin &now each other”

After the toads were defeated, A$ua re#ained her composure and

as&ed that #ir e0citedy.

“:ather than &now each other, we are more i&e rivas… %% 5on# time

no see, 'e#umin) As promised, I have returned after competin# my

trainin#) As you can see, I can use top eve ma#ic freey now) Ari#ht,

it+s time to fufi the promise I made) I wi sette our on# time rivary


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today)”

!hat #ir said as she pointed at 'e#umin, she seemed reay happy.

1hat &ind of hot booded deveopment was this.

As for the one who was as&ed for by name%%)

“... 1ho are you”

“-hh)”

'e#umin who was covered in #oo said nonchaanty, ma&in# that #ir

shrie&.

/n coser inspection, that #ir seemed to be dressed in a simiar way

to 'e#umin.

!he bac& robes and coa& on her body were simiar in desi#n with

'e#umin+s.


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121/376

She hed a siver staff in her hand, and had a short sword sheathed in

her waist.

She was si#hty taer than 'e#umin, and had a thin and

proportionate body.

She had a determined e0pression and oo&ed #ente. She was aso a

#reat beauty.

If she was in 8apan, she woud be the cass monitor or the student

counci president she #ave off a mode student &ind of feein#.

2er bac& hair was tied to#ether with a ribbon, and the most stri&in#

thin# about her were her crimson pupis.

!hat+s ri#ht, her eye coour was the same as 'e#umin.

“It+s, it+s me) *ou remember ri#ht, we were cassmates in the home of

the crimson ma#ic academy) 'e#umin was aways the top student,

whie I was number F) And I said I woud #o on a "ourney to train

mysef unti I can use top tier ma#ic…)”


122/376

!he crimson ma#ic #ir pointed at her own face as she e0pain

franticay with teary eyes.

6o, what she mentioned casuay "ust now was amazin#.

“... 2ey, she "ust said somethin# we can+t i#nore, somethin# about

you bein# at the top of your schoo.”

2earin# me said that, 'e#umin smied softy.

“It has been so on# why are you sti sayin# this 1hen I first met

Kazuma, I aready tod you I am the best wizard in the crimson ma#ic

race. Kazuma was "ust too dumb to reaize the truth. ;ut after &nowin#

me for so on#, it is about time for you to beieve me ri#ht”

“If someone beieved what you said after seein# you covered in #oo, I

woud want to see how that person oo&s i&e.”

“1hy, why you)”

“ease, pease wait a minute)”


123/376

Seein# 'e#umin and I $uarrein#, the 9rimson ma#ic #ir interrupted3

“6ah, it+s me 'e#umin) Did you reay for#et about me !ry to reca

how I was aways chaen#in# you in everythin# in schoo. And you

aways said I had to pace an ade$uate bet, and woud accept if I betmy unch) And you conned me of my unch every time)”

So she had been doin# this since a#es a#o.

I oo&ed at 'e#umin, and she averted her eyes.

“6ah, I thin& they wi ta&e a on# time, can I #o bac& to the #uid first

/therwise, the toads+ meat wi #o bad. 9an I #o #et the peope from

the #uid to ferry the toads bac&”

A$ua said whie she pointed at the carcass of the toads.

!o be honest, it woud be a pain for me to stay behind aone.

;ut #iven our current situation, whatever money we coud scroun#e

heped, so it woud be better to send A$ua bac& to sette this.


124/376

And that way, 'e#umin and I woud be abe to return to the mansion

directy, and I coud dump 'e#umin who stun& i&e the insides of

toads into the shower.

“... 2mm. Seemed i&e you sti have much to ta& about. 1e then, I

wi ta&e my eave today… Kazuma%san, your adventure today was

pathetic, but I won+t throw out the possibiity that this was "ust an act

to deceive me… I can+t trust you yet.”

After oo&in# at me with stern eyes, Sena returned to town to#ether

with A$ua.


125/376

Part 3

After bein# eft behind on the snow fied, I as&ed 'e#umin once a#ain3

“And so, why did she &eep sayin# she &now you She seemed to &now

you very we, so remember her $uic&y ari#ht”

“I don+t &now her. And she didn+t even mention her name, that is

suspicious. !his must be the scam Kazuma tod A$ua that she mustn+t

pu, that >it+s me it+s me+ scam. *ou must absoutey not trust her.”

4!53 #oo.#GHF=wm7

'e#umin pued on my hand after sayin# that and wanted to eave.

Seein# that we were pannin# to eave for town, that #ir said in a

hurry3

“1ait, wait%%) I, I &now, it is embarrassin# to do this in front of others,but I wi introduce mysef)... I am *unyun. An arch wizard, wieder of

top tier ma#ic. !he one who wi be the chief of the 9rimson ma#ic

race in the future…)”

After *un

gifting the wonderful world with blessings! - 03

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