第６２８堀：成果と限界 (Part2)
There's no way one can live in peace in a country that punishes the suspicious. I'd rather not be punished just for being called 'suspicious'. We could just do as we please and feign ignorance, but no matter how you look at it, Heiden would suspect Weed, and it's entirely possible they'd view us as a threat from a military standpoint. We're planning to conduct investigations on the New Continent, and if relations worsen over something like this, it would only cause trouble for Weed.
That restraint has now been lifted. Heiden told us to do it. Even if it's a tacit approval in secret, it means we have permission from Heiden's higher-ups.
“Now, it's our exclusive stage. There's no need for Kagura, Mikos, or Solo to put their bodies on the line. They've been pushing themselves until now. They should go to Weed or somewhere and rest. You also promised to show Mikos and Solo around, didn't you? This is the perfect opportunity.”
“Yuki…”
He seemed to be subtly concerned for Kagura, but in reality, she was a hindrance. If she came along for the operation, explaining everything would be a bother. Until now, the pretense of cooperating with Heiden was necessary, but not anymore. Who would carry dead weight while working?
I'll raid the main temple of the Haire Cult within a week. Prepare yourselves, you fake gods. Paper or other things with various uses would be more useful to me. I won't show any mercy.
As he was thinking such thoughts, Kagura swayed, and he instinctively supported her.
“Are you alright?”
“Ah, yes. But I was just putting on a brave face. Even I was affected by that sight…”
Kagura said, looking down. Ah, of course Kagura wouldn't be fine. She had been pushing herself for the sake of the report. I wasn't very considerate. I should have discussed the details tomorrow. Kagura was an invaluable asset for smoothing relations between Heiden and Weed, so he absolutely had to avoid overworking her to the point of being disliked. He should take her to an empty room somewhere to rest…
As he was thinking such thoughts, Deryu, who was with them as a guard, peered at Kagura's face and exclaimed.
“Yuki!? Kagura's face is completely pale?!”
At her words, he looked at Kagura's face and saw that it was indeed pale. He wondered if she had caught some terrible illness, but…
“Ugh…! *Blech…*”
Ah, so that's it. Well, it's only natural. Kagura's stomach contents splattered onto the floor. Since she was expelling it right next to him, some of it naturally landed on him, and the room was enveloped in a distinct odor. Even so, Kagura still seemed to have her work ethic…
“I-I'm so s-sorry…”
She apologized, but he, not being a cruel boss who would scold her, immediately rubbed her back. “There, there. Just get it all out here.” If she were to fall asleep and then expel it, it could block her throat. Just get it all out.
“B-but…”
“Don't hold back, Kagura. Yuki wouldn't get angry over something like this. Here, if you feel bad, try to direct it into this bag instead of the floor.”
“T-thank you…”
Deryu had, at some point, produced a plastic bag and fashioned it into an emergency receptacle. Kagura, still affected by the acidic odor of her own expelled contents, continued to heave. It happens, doesn't it?