第２２６掘：友人 (Part2)
I didn't know what to say to her.
"……I have no intention of running away."
"Why not?"
"Before I answer that, may I ask what is driving you to such lengths? What is your reason?"
She trembled slightly, her lips moving as she spoke.
"……I simply realized something. I have lost my family and my lover right before my eyes. So, this is just meddling. It’s my own self-satisfaction. I don't know what kind of pasts you or the women behind you might be carrying."
"I see. If you say it yourself, then it really must be self-satisfaction."
"Yes. I selfishly just wanted you, Jessica, and the women behind you to laugh, find happiness, have children, raise them, see them leave the nest, grow old together, and live out your full lives. Now, would you mind telling me why you won't run?"
Yuki averted his gaze from Hivia’s intense stare, tilting his head in thought.
"Let’s see… why I won't run? Probably because..."
"Probably?"
"To me, not running is the path to happiness right now."
"That is a heroic way of thinking. Such naive ideas will cost you everything. I thought you might say that… which is why I’ll force you to understand!!"
Hivia brandished her knife and lunged at Yuki. There was no killing intent in her movements; her intention to merely knock him unconscious was clear. It was a selfish answer born from her wish for our happiness.
"Hey, cut it out. I’m no hero, and I don't want to be one. Besides, if it’s time to run, I’ll run!"
"Eh?"
Hivia’s momentum faltered. It was no surprise; while they had been having a serious conversation, Yuki’s answer—though perhaps serious from his own perspective—was entirely inappropriate for the gravity of the situation. Her strike, now lacking its edge, was easily dodged.
"I don't fight battles I can't win, and do you really think I’d put my wife in danger like that?!"
"That’s absurd!?"
Hivia raised her voice, clearly bewildered by his nonsensical words as she missed another strike.
"Because the plan is to either steal the enemy's supplies or burn them so they have no choice but to retreat!"
"Excuse me!?"
At those words, Hivia stopped her attack.
"Now then, Marly’s excellent adjutant, we have many people here with the skills of a Magic Sword User. Between acting individually to sabotage their supplies and force a retreat, versus clashing head-on and trying to push them back, which is the better overall strategy?"
"……The former. No, rather than choosing one or the other, I think it’s best to try everything. Including Princess Miffy’s desperate negotiations."
"Right? It’s not just a binary choice of 'run' or 'fight.' Well, as you said, Hivia, there is a non-zero chance my wife could die. But if I run now, I’ll be a wanted man regardless of whether Zilba wins or loses. I refuse to accept that."
"……"
"Princess Miffy wasn't the only one who went rogue. I know you love Jessica, Hivia, but Jessica is my wife now, so I’m not giving her up."
As Yuki finished, Hivia turned back toward me with a grinding sound.
"Um, Hivia, I gratefully accept your feelings. As a friend, I am happy to hear them."
When I said that, Hivia’s face turned bright red.
"Hyaaaaaaaaaaaaa……!!"
She sprinted off into the wilderness.
"Well. You certainly delivered the finishing blow, Jessica."
"No, I don't want to hear that from the man who just shattered a serious conversation."
"What are you talking about? My words were perfectly serious. I just explained that strategies must be flexible, that running isn't the best policy, and what options we have available."
"……Couldn't you have said that in a slightly cooler way?"
"To get someone to listen, that kind of approach works best. Besides, given how serious she was, she probably intended to fight a desperate defensive battle to the bitter end."
It seems Hivia was up against the wrong opponent.
"Come to think of it, Ria, why didn't everyone else intervene?"
I finally realized that everyone acting as Yuki’s guards hadn't moved a muscle.
"Eh? Because that was just a conversation about how much she loves Jessica, right?"
"Exactly. There was no killing intent, so what were we supposed to do? Right, Tori?"
"Yeah. She’s a good friend, Jessica."
"Just like us."
"That’s right."
"We’re best friends!!"
"I think she’s a wonderful friend."
Everyone smiled at me as they said this.
"Well, let’s go to the conference room and explain the strategy before Hivia comes back."
Yuki walked briskly into the fort, and everyone followed him. By the time Hivia returned, she was fully in favor of our strategy, and the plan to raid the supplies was approved without issue.
So, what did you think? You might want to tell the soldiers to stay calm, but in reality, who would want to drag their happy friends into a war? Hivia is by no means a bad person; if anything, I think she is the most human of us all. And Yuki, as always, is just being Yuki. He continues to work at his own pace for his goals today.
It’s best not to be too serious when dealing with Yuki.
As for the contents of that meeting, honestly, the initiative was entirely...
Well, look forward to the next time.
"Winning Dungeon Management Method 1" goes on sale May 29th—only 5 days left.
The sample copies arrived yesterday. I’ll just say this: Falmaro-san used the scene of the early slave members in the open-air bath to introduce them in their natural state. Naturally, Aslin, Firia, and Labyris are included too.
Loli-out!!