第９８３堀：誰にでも欠点はある (Part2)
"Yes. You said you wanted to avoid any confusion that might arise from oversight or failure to act, didn't you?"
I think that sounds just like Brother.
Brother doesn't win by fighting evil monsters all by himself, like the heroes or champions in picture books. He prefers to investigate the seeds of such monsters or disasters that might cause harm to those around him, nip them in the bud if possible, and even if they do occur, suppress them immediately with overwhelming force.
He says that heroes and champions are only born after the damage has already been done.
At first, I didn't understand what he meant at all. After all, I, Hiiro, and the others were grateful, believing we had been saved by a wonderful hero like Brother.
But now, I understand.
More than anything, Brother wishes for no harm to come to anyone. To him, the very fact that orphans like me and Hiiro are created is already a failure. Heroes and champions are merely the ones who clean up the mess after someone has been made to suffer.
That’s not to say that heroes and champions are bad, of course. But if it’s possible, isn't it better if there’s no damage at all? That’s all there is to it.
Working to protect peace is Brother's job—and ours as well.
And while it’s wonderful that Brother is so amazing...
"Come to think of it, Lady Schow, why are you here? Weren't you in a meeting with Brother and the Emperor of Upiya?"
That’s right; it’s strange for her to be here. She is one of the most important figures in the Zuraburu Great Empire. In Weed, she would hold the same standing as Lady Seraria or Lady Rurua. Why would someone like that be in a place like this before the others?
"Ah, no, Yuki-sama ordered you two to conduct this investigation alone, so I came to see how you were doing. As I mentioned earlier, this is an unorganized archive, and I was told that the materials here weren't very necessary... In truth, this archive exists as a result of the Emperor and me abusing our authority. So, it’s our fault that it’s not organized, and it’s only natural that we couldn't spare anyone to help sort it out."
"So, Lady Schow, you came here yourself?"
"That is correct. Well, my subordinates are scheduled to arrive later, though."
"Wait? Didn't you say you couldn't spare anyone?"
"That was the situation until now. We have information from Yuki-sama regarding a Great Monster Outbreak. While we don't know yet if it will occur in this region, the heavyweights of our Zuraburu Great Empire have begun to feel a sense of crisis. Thus, it has been proven that the materials the Emperor and I collected were by no means a waste!"
Ah, I see. So that’s why people were saying she was collecting such useless books all this time. It’s similar to how Brother uses his own DP on tanks and warehouses, even while the ladies ask him why he’s spending it on such things. It seems that effort has finally paid off.
"Well, I have to investigate to see if there is any truly useful information, and since the meeting has reached a certain point, I, who know this archive best, decided to come here."
"Yay! Reinforcements!"
"That’s a huge help."
One of the reasons our work was progressing so slowly was that the books were completely disorganized and of such varied types. But since Lady Schow is intimately familiar with this archive, the work should go much faster now.
"Then, let's start by organizing the books. I have no idea what is placed where."
" "Huh?" "
However, I feel like I just heard something truly unbelievable that has fundamentally overturned my expectations and trust.
"I am terribly embarrassed. I remember everything I see once, so after I’ve seen it, I tend to be quite careless with it."
"But if you remember everything, don't you remember where you put it?"
"Ahaha. As for that, I have no idea. I can't remember things I'm not interested in at all. My, I often find my room overflowing with piles of luggage before I know it."
" "..." "
Ugh, I see. Lady Schow has a catastrophic weakness. I thought she was a perfect superhuman—beautiful, intelligent, diligent, and honest—but she’s actually a woman who can’t tidy up!
"Now, let's start clearing these books."
"Ah, wait a moment. That part is already..."
Before I could frantically tell her that section had already been checked and organized, she pulled a book out from the middle instead of the top...
*Thud, thud, thud...*
"Ah. My apologies."
" "..." "
Reinforcements? No... Come to think of it, Brother has said several times that allies who get in your way are far scarier than any enemy. I feel like I finally understand the meaning of those words deep in my bones.
Everything has a balance. Everyone has at least one flaw.
Well, it’s just a shame when it manifests in the worst possible way.