Chapter 135: When I incidentally look, there are several paths (1/2)

Chapter 135: When I incidentally look, there are several paths

WARNING: There’s no carnage ahead. Only really humane thinking about consequences and actual thoughts of the future!????

Oh and btw, first side story chapter has been done.

Here’s the link: Side Story 1

[Both of you, are you fine with that? I will ask once more, you don’t have any regrets right?]

“Of course. The name of Eva and the family name Ansland. If you are saying that’s the price, I will give them to you. Please do as you wish” (Eva)

Eva-san didn’t hesitate and answered my last confirmation immediately.

I thought she would be more adhered to her name. How unexpected.

“I also don’t mind. To begin with, the time I was Ruria Ansland wasn’t that long, so I don’t have any attachment” (Ruria)

Following after her sister, Ruria also agreed.

Her gaze slightly strayed from me and directed it to the stage.

Ah right, Ilumgand was meddling with her.

I think her name has already turned into a name that’s only be called when criticizing her. A name with no worth.

“Raidou-sensei, you also asked Ruria huh. What an evil disposition. What did you intend to do if one of us were to reject it?” (Eva)

“Really. You even told me to keep it a secret from Onee-chan. That kind of thing, I think it is of bad taste” (Ruria)

[If your opinions didn’t match, I would have wanted the two of you to forget that decision. But, I am glad. In a close future, ‘the moment’ will certainly come in some way. Please don’t forget this agreement. It may just be a verbal promise, but if it is broken, remember that your lives will not suffice]

For a second, I remember Rona and add words.

This time, I am the side that’s granting the wish of these girls.

There shouldn’t be much to worry, but just in case.

“AAAEEEOOOOO!!!”

After confirming again that the sisters nod, that cry resounded in the whole competition ground.

The unpleasant voice was from Ilumgand. No, the former Ilumgand.

While enveloped in a sky blue light, he convulses every now and then, and all parts of his body were swelling.

His skin color also turned into an ashen concrete-like color, and was turning into something humanoid.

Currently, he looks like a 2 meter meat ball with legs.

Should I call it, in the midst of transforming?

His neck is stretched in a pretty strange way and it’s quite horrific.

“He is absorbing the magic power of the collapsed ones. From what I can tell, that necklace is a tool that efficiently absorbs magic power of things in a particular state” (Shiki)

Shiki’s calm words.

“Fumu, using emotions as its fishing hook, it ties up magic power and when the main body awakens, it will begin gathering magic power from its surroundings. If it’s able to add to its power, it would make him a monster with the magic power of 6 people. Also, if you scatter people like that around the area and one were to activate, that person can use the others as feed. How interesting-ja na” (Tomoe)

Without showing much interest, Tomoe complements Shiki.

“I wouldn’t want to eat that-desu wa ne. It looks as if he were in a drunken frenzy, and on top of that, he looks unappetizing. And filthy” (Mio)

Mio turns her head away as if treating him like a filthy thing.

Jin hasn’t returned yet.

They left temporarily to get their weapons after all. They will show themselves in time.

“Shiki, I understand how he turned that way now. And then, can he be turned back to normal?” (Makoto)

From what I have heard of Eva-san and Ruria, there are also turned variations infesting the town.

Just in case, depending if there’s a chance to return them to normal, my orders will change.

“That would be difficult. That thing is something similar to a dish that used hyumans as its ingredient. To turn something cooked into ingredients again is… there are times when it is just not possible. Even if it is really possible, it would get increasingly difficult depending on how many were affected, and I think that it would take quite a long amount of time to resolve the situation this way. I wonder if it’s worth enough to do that” (Shiki)

Shiki doesn’t seem to like the idea that much.

But as long as I am not sure if this will be targeted to people close to me, I want to at least leave a counter-measure for it.

Because in basis, we don’t have allies.

When I heard the comparison of turning cooking back to ingredients, the first thing I thought was that it was impossible. So this would be troublesome for Shiki.

“… Understood. Tomoe, call Mondo from Asora. Have him team up with Lime, make them give instructions to Akua and the others, and have them suppress the turmoil in town. I want some of them as samples for Shiki and the Arkes to research, so tell them that it is fine to use the Tree Punishment. Be the supervisor of their transportation as well please” (Makoto)

“As you will” (Tomoe)

After confirming that Tomoe nods and turns back, I tell her in thought transmission to order the standby personnel to suppress the town’s turmoil.

To call Mondo and have them listen to his and Lime’s orders.

The town seems to be in a terrible chaos, but our employees are all composed people.

In this kind of moments, they are truly reliable.

When the thought transmission connected for instructions, they already moved back all the merchandize that was in display, on top of that, they activated a defense barrier around the store and were in standby inside.

“Shiki follow-up for the students. No matter how monstrous Ilumgand turns, Shiki will still be able to handle it right?” (Makoto)

“Of course. Can’t even consider it a warm-up. But, the orders just now, with the current number of people in the company, I think it would be hard to cover the whole town” (Shiki)

Shiki must have noticed that he would end up doing something laborious from the orders I gave to Tomoe and seems to be dejected, but he nods at my question and points out the problem in my order.

“… I see. Then I will call the Mist Lizards too. It would be troublesome if they were mistaken for mamonos, so… after incapacitating Ilumgand, let’s have the students divide in 3 groups and help” (Makoto)

“In 3 groups?” (Shiki)

“Yeah. Later I will be calling the third Mist Lizard the students will be meeting” (Makoto)

“Understood” (Shiki)

“And then, Mio and I will…” (Makoto)

Grasp the number of monsters and their locations, after that, back-up everyone.

After saying all my thoughts, I closed my mouth.

…

Wait.

What am I doing?

I suddenly remember the bitterness of yesterday and my thoughts get interrupted.

It’s true that Rona got me good.

In her perspective, it is something I didn’t ask, so she didn’t tell me. And from my perspective, I thought we were partners.

In the first place, we are not from the same camp, and making a request as if predicting her future plans, I can’t help but feel stupid.

I don’t think I will be able to easily trust the demon race anymore, and the promise I did with her, has already changed subtly inside me.

But even with that, is there a need for me to mobilize the Kuzunoha Company to suppress this chaos?

It can put Rona in check. And I can also get back at her for deceiving me.

But aside from that, what merit do we gain?

Yeah, think about it.

Not the usual where I concentrate and think by myself, but the thinking method I am familiar with until now.

Maybe because it has been long since I have used the bow alone, I have been thinking about thinks by myself, and most of the time I have reached the conclusion in that way.

But after coming here, probably because of my own limits, things have not gone well.

My field of vision is too narrow.

I should place several things in the balance, think about the future of that decision, and the things I can do.

The way of thinking that the representative talked about, the way of thinking about putting advantages and disadvantages as priority; maybe I should use them as reference.

(Tomoe, sorry. Can you return?) (Makoto)

(Yeah. No problem. Should I have Mondo return to Asora as well?) (Tomoe)

Mondo is already in the company?

No real need to return him.

(No, that’s fine. Just that, please wait for a bit before shifting to action) (Makoto)

This is something that I should probably say in person.

(Then, I will order them to continue in standby and I will be returning) (Tomoe)

(Thanks. There’s something I want to consult about) (Makoto)

Well, this is fine.

“Shiki, the previous order won’t go. You two, there’s something I want to ask you” (Makoto)

Right now, it smells like an emergency situation.

Not for the company, but an emergency situation for the town itself. In other words, it is a crisis for everyone except us.

This is probably quite the chance for us.

There’s the saying ‘burglars in fires’, and this is exactly the fire.

Everyone is restless and being attacked by the menace called monsters.

I wasn’t the one who caused it, so the inhumane example of arson to steal is not that accurate though.

There’s absolutely no need for me to hurry.

Because we can get through rough directions after all.

Even if it’s not to the level of theft, I can move in a way where I can take advantage of the situation.

Luckily…

The surroundings are getting spacious.

Because everyone has noticed the abnormality and has escaped from the stage one after the other.

Truly a panic.

If I just deal with the thing that was Ilumgand, this place will turn in a pretty safe place. Well, we are the minority in here though.

Even so, in this kind of situation, Rembrandt-san will probably be looking for me.

I did tell him my seat number, so he should know my approximate location. Depending on the content of the meeting, it could be dangerous.

“Ah, Tomoe. Sorry for changing my opinion. There’s something I want to consult you three. This situation, what do you think we should do? For Kuzunoha Company and us, which action should be the most beneficial? Shiki, what’s your take?” (Makoto)

After waiting for Tomoe’s return, I ask the opinion of Shiki.

The one that knows the most about Rotsgard and Kuzunoha Company is Shiki after all.

“How should we move, is it? Eva and Ruria are here, so I think the first thing we should do is make this place safe. In terms of benefiting the company, I think there’s the option of only moving the minimum possible. Just when needed” (Shiki)

“So, don’t act?” (Makoto)

Eva and Ruria seem to feel relief after hearing Shiki’s words.

About those girls, I don’t mind what they hear from us.

I have established an agreement with those two after all.

Of course, it is not a pact made with magic, but more of a promise.

I have also told them that they should prepare for the consequences if they were to break it.

Those two are free to interpret it in any way they want, but I don’t think they are taking it too lightly.

“Yes. Including the demands of the merchants and several other factors, the more damage this incident causes, the more time it will take for it to happen. I don’t have any guarantees of how well it will go, but there’s the chance that several companies will disappear. No matter which, I think that it benefits us better than suppressing the turmoil promptly and showing our power. If we take the initiative imprudently, the guilds that were in cahoots for trying to bring us down and the major companies might treat us as their private army, and just like how the representative clamored, they might really demand for the 90% of our profits, and to share our transportation method” (Shiki)

I see.

Even if I move through my current emotions of Rona and bring down her plans, it won’t benefit us huh. The thing about keeping the demon lord in check certainly is a dangerous thought.

I still don’t know how the guild would act after all.

I can clearly see that it will not turn into anything good, so that’s why I am here thinking about struggling but…

“Tomoe, what do you think?” (Makoto)