第６３０堀：目覚めた外交官殿 (Part1)
The 630th Excavation: The Awakened Diplomat
The Awakened Diplomat
Side: Kagura
My vision suddenly brightened.
What was that?
My thoughts wouldn't coalesce.
Bright? Why? I'm sleepy...
Sleepy?
Ah, I was sleeping.
As soon as I realized that, my consciousness rapidly cleared.
Work, I have to do it.
Because I caused trouble.
Trouble? What was it, what kind of trouble did I cause?
Hmm, my thoughts won't come together. I should get up for now.
Thinking that, I twisted my body and felt the sensation of a fluffy bed.
Huh? Was the academy's bed this high quality?
Or rather, it felt even better than my bed at home, but I know this bed's texture.
What was it? Ah, right, it was the fluffy bed from when I went to Weed.
But I don't remember bringing a bed back from Weed. Ah, I should open my eyes for now.
If I stay like this, I'll fall back asleep.
"Nn..."
When I opened my eyes, it wasn't my familiar room.
"Huh? Where is this?"
I was lying in a bed in a room I'd never seen before.
...Or rather, I've never seen such a neat room.
It wasn't cluttered like the academy or my home, but neat, and somehow systematic.
It wasn't barren. The furniture was arranged with a sense of elegance, and... the light switch caught my eye, letting me know who the owner of this place belonged to.
"Ah, is this somewhere related to Yuki?"
Only people related to Weed have light switches.
For now, I can see the door, so if I go out from there, someone should be there.
Thinking that, I put my feet on the floor and tried to walk...
*Thump.*
I couldn't muster the strength and ended up sitting down.
"Huh? Why?"
I can't put strength into my body as I want.
It's strange.
Why am I so weak?
For now, the coldness from the floor is unbearable, so somehow I managed to get back onto the bed and take a breath.
"Haa. Somehow, I'm more tired than I thought... Ah, I'm tired. That's why I can't muster strength."
Saying that to myself, I opened and closed my hands to check.
As expected, it's harder to put strength into them than usual.
While I was doing that, the door opened and Miko and Solo came in.
"Ah, good morning to you both. Long time no see?"
Even though it was evening outside, for some reason, those words came out of my mouth.
I thought it was strange, but for some reason, it felt right.
"Aaaah!?"
However, the two didn't return my greeting and instead shouted and hugged me.
"Kagura!! Oh, thank goodness!!"
"Senpai, you're awake!!"
"Huh?"
For some reason, the two were crying with joy.
While I was completely unable to grasp the situation, more people entered through the door.
"You're awake!? Wow, it's true!! Hey, Eoid, go over there!! Don't look at a woman just after she's woken up!!"
"Wha, fgeh!?"
Amanda and Eoid arrived, but Eoid was immediately kicked out.
I felt sorry for him, but as Amanda said, it wasn't proper behavior towards a lady, so it couldn't be helped.
"Honestly, I was so worried. I heard you vomited and collapsed, so I came over, and you've been sleeping ever since. It's been three days, you know?"
"Eh?"
Three days? I slept for three days?
And I vomited...?
The moment I questioned those words, I remembered the events up to that point.
"Ugh"
Remembering that object in human form, I involuntarily covered my mouth.
"S-sorry!? Did I remind you of something unpleasant!?"
Thanks to Amanda hastily rubbing my back, the nausea subsided quickly.
Besides, after sleeping for three days, my stomach was empty, so there was nothing to throw up but stomach acid.
"Don't worry about it, I was just weak."
Saying that, I covered my face with both hands.
Of all people, I had to make such a mistake in front of Yuki...
Yuki was kind, but no one would whip someone further in that state.
"...Hey. Everyone, what happened after that?"
"After what?"
"After I collapsed. Yuki said he'd move quickly, right? Isn't there some work I have to do?"
That's right. There must be work.
Even if Weed is taking the lead, the connection with Haiden as an informant is essential.
Since I collapsed, everything must be stalled.
I have to apologize immediately and catch up, or Yuki will be disappointed.
I'm sure Tori-san and the others who cheered me on must be disappointed too.
Thinking that, I put my hand on Miko's shoulder and tried to stand up, but my legs still lacked strength, and I fell back onto the bed.
"Senpai. You can't overdo it!?"
"That's right. We were also haunted for a day after seeing that."
"But the work Yuki entrusted me with..."
As I said that, intending to ask them to take me,
"You don't have to worry about that. Sou-san and Kanna are already moving in your place."
Yuki said that as he entered with the usual Riel and Deryu.
"Father and my older sister?"
"Ah. Originally, Kagura is an ambassador to Weed, not someone to crush the Haile Church. It was officially approved by the Princess to dispatch Sou-san and Kanna as support personnel to investigate the Haile Church, so Kagura can finally focus on being Weed's ambassador."
"Eh?"
I didn't quite understand what he meant.
"That's great, Kagura. Yuki-san said to take it easy here in Weed for all three of you."
"I'm looking forward to it, Senpai."
"We'll come with you too."
"Ouch... I'll guide you as promised."
"..."
Everyone said that to me, but I couldn't react.
Because that means... I'm useless, so I'm fired, right?
"We made Kagura and the others overexert themselves with this incident. My consideration was insufficient. I apologize."
Saying that, Yuki bowed his head to us.
Even though he was apologizing, it felt like he was saying "useless."
"N-no. It's not Yuki-sensei's fault, is it? Please look up."
"That's right. It's the Haile Church's fault!!"
"..."
I couldn't say anything and looked down.
I thought if I looked at Yuki's face, I would probably cry.
If he looked at me like a useless person, I would probably cry a lot.
And I was terribly afraid of the possibility of him showing me such an expression.
"Well, since we can use the gate to move to Weed immediately, you can go tomorrow. We'll settle things with the Haile Church along with Sou-san and Kanna, so don't worry."
"Yes. But please be careful."
"Those people are strange."
"If anything happens, we'll help too!! Right, Kagura?"
"Ah, u-un."
"Hey, Amanda, you're leaving me out!?"
"Hahaha..."
Everyone laughed at the joke, but I could barely manage to reply.
Seeing me like that, did Yuki get in a bad mood...?
"Well, I still have work, so we're heading back. You guys can relax with your friends."
"Yes."
Saying that, they left the room.
...And then I found my own patheticness laughable.
What do you mean, Yuki got in a bad mood because he saw me.
It was clearly just him being considerate...
"Sob... hic... auuu..."
Overwhelmed by my own patheticness, I couldn't hold back the tears and they overflowed.
"Kagura, are you okay?"
"Senpai. Are you feeling unwell?"
"Should I call Rurua-san!? Call her!?"
"N-no..."
Hurriedly, I grabbed Amanda's hand and stopped her, managing to avoid further embarrassment.
Amanda didn't seem to intend to break free from my grasp, and waited until I stopped crying.
"Are you calm now?"
Miko said that as she handed me a juice.
"Yeah. Thanks. Haa, crying right after waking up, I'm the worst."
"No, no, anyone would be normal after seeing that tragedy. Solo and I also hugged each other when we woke up and cried 'Thank goodness'."
"Yes. Rurua-sensei said that you'll probably dream about it for a while, and that you should stay with everyone when you're alone because you'll feel anxious."
"...No. It's just that I thought my selfish desires wouldn't come true anymore."
"Selfish desires? What kind?"
There's no point in hiding it anymore.
These people already know.
"...Um, I was sad that I couldn't be with Yuki, and also, because I caused trouble, I thought I was discarded."
"..."
When I honestly spoke my heart, everyone fell silent for a moment, and then immediately smiled.