第１０５５堀：彼女は予定通りに動かない (Part1)
Chapter 1055: She Doesn't Move According to Plan
Side: Hairen
"...Mmm."
Oh, it looks like the goddess named Senal is waking up.
"Alright, I'll leave the rest to you."
"Ah, okay."
"Kagura, Enora. If Hairen does something reckless, call me immediately."
"Yes. We'll count on you if that happens."
"Indeed. I won't hesitate to call."
"Hey!?"
Why do both of you listen to everything Yuki says so obediently! I’m not the type to go on a rampage or do anything strange!
Before I could even protest, Yuki briskly walked away. And really, why do I have to be the one nursing this Senal person? Lilishe-sama would be the best fit for this, wouldn't she? Ah, but she was acting strangely prickly earlier... No, that’s not it. The problem is that they pushed this onto me!
"Ugh!"
"Hairen-sama, please calm down. Senal-sama looks like she’s about to wake up."
"Yes. We need to handle this properly, or she’ll get suspicious."
"Muuu..."
I think to myself, *why did the descendants of my dear friends end up with a man like that?* But for now, I must endure. I must endure. First, I have to properly deal with this goddess named Senal sleeping on the bed in front of me.
I calmed my heart as a mature woman should and turned my gaze toward the bed. Just then, this mature—oops, I mean, this fully grown woman slowly opened her eyes.
"...Nn."
Alright, first things first. I should treat her like a normal injured person, right?
"Are you awake?"
When I called out to her, Senal turned her face toward me.
"Wh-who are you?"
"Oh, don't push yourself. I'm Hairen. And you are?"
"Me? ...I am..."
Here it is, the first hurdle. Kagura, Enora, and even Yuki and the others are on standby. Yes, once she clearly remembers who she is, she’ll surely go on a rampage. I have to suppress that somehow and get her to talk. I had braced myself for this, but Senal, who had been holding one hand to her face, slowly lowered it. She looked around with a puzzled expression for a while before turning her gaze back to us.
"...It seems I’ve been saved. I am Senal."
Huh? She’s surprisingly calm, or rather, docile. I heard she was a subordinate of a mid-tier god, so I expected her to go wild like Aquenoki...
"Is something the matter? Is there a scar on my face?"
"Ah, no. You're fine. Here, a mirror."
I said that and handed her a hand mirror. Yes, one has to check if there are any scars on their face; it’s only natural to be worried.
"Thank you. ...Yes. It seems there are no injuries."
For some reason, Senal looked a bit surprised when I handed her the mirror, but she immediately checked her face and seemed relieved.
"Um, Senal, how much do you remember?"
For now, confirming how much she remembers is the top priority. Yuki said that if we don't confirm if she has a firm grasp of her situation and isn't delirious, there’s no point in even trying to talk. Honestly, even I have to say, asking me to handle such a troublesome and difficult conversation is a bad idea. That sort of thing should be left to Lilishe-sama, Hifie-sama, or Nonoa-sama. Why me...?
Ah, come to think of it, Lilishe-sama and the others seemed unusually bloodthirsty this time. I see—considering that, maybe I really am the only one who can do this?
As I was pondering all this, Senal, who had been thinking for a moment, spoke up.
"I remember clearly that I intervened between the Hairen Empire and the Zrable Great Empire. Then, it was made to look like a natural collapse, I was dropped into a dungeon, and I was defeated by a slime."
Whoa, she remembers everything clearly. But why don't I feel any bloodlust from her? Kagura and Enora are also tilting their heads, observing Senal's demeanor. Ignoring our confusion, Senal tilted her head at her own situation.
"But if that’s the case, my treatment is strange. Neither country should be able to leave me alone. After all, I summoned that many monsters. And above all, being defeated in a dungeon means there is a high probability that a Dungeon Master, a pawn of the high-tier gods, was involved."
*Gasp!* She’s accurately deduced her own situation. Does this mean she knows we’re the enemy!?
"Wh-wh-wh-what do I do? Hey, Kagura, Enora."
"Hairen-sama, please calm down. She is strangely calm for someone who thinks she’s been captured by the enemy."
"Indeed. We must not panic now. Let’s stay calm and do our best."
While we were having that little side-meeting, Senal asked us in a surprisingly composed voice.
"Having said that, I don't feel anything particular from you all. If you were associated with a Dungeon Master, you wouldn't have kept me alive in the first place. That’s why this state of affairs is impossible. I don't understand why you would treat me with such courtesy. So, was it Hairen? Where am I, and what is my current situation?"
"Um, I don't know if you'll believe me, but we saved you."
"Yes. I understand that. And I understand that if you intended to kill me, you wouldn't be providing this kind of treatment. But what is the reason for saving me? Besides, I don't think you could have saved me from those powerful slimes in the first place."
Yeah, I think so too. After all, not just me, but even Lilishe-sama and the others can't defeat Surakichi-san and his group. Actually, within Weed, even Deryu can barely hold her own against Surakichi-san, and even then, she ends up losing. It’s only when Yuki, Taiki, and Taizo go all-out that they can win.
"Hmm, considering the situation, are you perhaps allies of the Dungeon Master?"
"Eek!?"
*Whoa, she figured out we’re the enemy after all!?* Am I about to be attacked!? I braced myself instinctively, but Senal just gave a bitter smile.
"Don't be so guarded. I don't attack just anyone. I know you saved me. But that is exactly why I want to ask: why would a Dungeon Master save me, an enemy of the high-tier gods? You aren't unaware of my deeds, are you? I went around killing Dungeon Masters."
"Um..."
Hmm, what was the line again? I think it was...
"Hairen-sama. The setup is that we hold a grudge against Luna-sama."
"Yes. That way, we gain Senal-sama's trust and extract information."
Kagura and Enora whispered to me. Ah, that’s right, that was it. But something feels off. This person, Senal, doesn't seem to be fixated on one thing like the violent Aquenoki. Hmm, but if I don't follow the plan, Yuki will surely be angry.
"What's wrong? Why are you hesitating?"
"Ah, yeah... Alright, I’ve decided. Hey, Senal. What would you do if I told you I was your enemy? Would you kill me after all?"
"Hairen-sama!?"
Kagura and Enora cried out in surprise at my statement. Sorry. I’ll apologize to Yuki properly later.