第１２４２堀：お互いをよく知るにはお話をする (Part1)
Chapter 1242: To Know Each Other Well, We Must Talk
Side: Yuki
" " "We are terribly sorry." " "
It was just past noon. Fiora, Orelia, and the others—who I thought were supposed to be off today—came storming into the workspace. Before I could even react, they lined up and bowed their heads deeply in apology.
"What on earth happened? I thought today was supposed to be your day off?"
I had been working in the office with Cleena and Samantha, and I stood there, eyes wide, completely bewildered by this sudden turn of events.
Their confusion upon hearing the truth about me was only natural. I hadn't expected them to process it in a day or two. At worst, I figured they’d need at least a week to sort through their feelings.
After all, "my circumstances" are nothing short of a miracle.
If someone told you, "Hey, I'm a god," and you just accepted it at face value, I’d like to meet you—and then I’d have to conclude that your brain is fundamentally broken. That’s how troublesome and unbelievable the whole story was.
"Hmm. Just as Yuki said. The confusion of Fiora, Orelia, Hovis, and Yayui is natural. Therefore, there is no reason to apologize, nor was there a need to come here today."
"Indeed. Though it is not my place to say, it is all quite preposterous. I am well aware that asking you to 'understand' is an impossible request. You bear no fault in this."
Naturally, neither Cleena nor Samantha uttered a single word of reproach. They understood better than anyone just how absurd the things I had told them were.
Come to think of it, I’m amazed Cleena and Samantha accepted it so readily themselves. Actually, I don't even remember how I got them to accept it back then. How did that go? No, wait, I think it started with our marriage... well, never mind that. Right now, the focus is on Fiora and the others.
"So, by apologizing like this... does that mean you want to be 'returned to normal'? That you don't want to be involved in the secrets of Weed or the things I'm carrying?"
Yes, "apologizing" in this context usually implies that they can't keep up with the hidden side of Weed or with me. Even if they could grasp the facts, the content is so far-fetched that few would willingly choose to get involved.
Still, having to confirm a "resignation" is painful. I could understand if it were the others, but even Fiora wanting to leave? Ugh, how am I supposed to handle this? If they leave, I lose the leverage I have over the Dafaio Kingdom and the smaller nations... Or should I try to persuade them by saying, "Just stick to that part"?
As I agonized over this potential loss of manpower, they spoke up.
" " "That is not it at all!!" " "
Whoa, they denied it with such volume that I actually recoiled.
"We decided from the very beginning that we would follow Yuki-sama! And above all, I am your wife. I would never do such a thing! No matter what confession was made, it changes nothing!"
"Yes! Just as Fiora-sama says! From the moment you bought us back then, we decided we would follow Yuki-sama for the rest of our lives!"
"That’s right! There’s no way we’d ever leave Yuki-sama’s side!"
"Y-yes! T-that is why we came here!"
*Phew.* Oh, thank goodness. Honestly, the thought of being handed a resignation letter gives me a stomachache. My direct subordinates haven't done that before, but I’ve heard from Ratz, Eris, and Milly that people they’ve hired sometimes quit, and they have to consult with the HR department quite often.
I’ve sat in on those discussions a few times, and it’s always a headache. Work, after all, is built on human relationships, and many people leave because of them. Back when I was teaching at the vocational school, I’d give guidance on which jobs suited them best, only for them to quit shortly after. It was exhausting. I’m truly relieved it didn’t come to that.
"I see. Thank you. Well, you’re probably still confused from yesterday, so just take it easy today. Ah, but since you came all the way here, you must have things you want to ask me. It would be cruel to just send you home, wouldn't it?"
"Hmm. If we were turned away here, we would assume we aren't trusted. And then we would commit suicide."
No, that’s taking it a bit too far, don't you think?
"Oh, she is not joking. To them, Yuki-sama is their true master and husband. It is only natural they would be prepared to die if that trust were lost."
Why are you like this? And stop reading my mind when I haven't even spoken!
"Hmm. It is easy to read the inner thoughts of Yuki regarding this. Yuki is a complete klutz when it comes to 'liking' and 'love'."
"You possess such incredible skill in political maneuvering, yet in this regard... why is it so?"
"I don't know, even if you ask me."
What I don't know, I don't know. That’s just how it is. Especially when it comes to human emotions. I really don't get the nuances of affection.
As I was trading barbs with Cleena and Samantha, I noticed Fiora and the others staring at me with blank expressions, as if they’d seen something truly bizarre.
"What's wrong? Is there something stuck to me?"
I checked behind me, wondering if a ghost had appeared, but there was nothing there. I thought maybe Noriko had shown up, but that didn't seem to be the case either.
"No... it is just that we were surprised to find there are things that even Yuki-sama 'does not understand'."
"Well, I'm full of things I don't understand. That's why I ask for everyone's cooperation and have you all look into things for me."
I’m just doing what I can. That said, the gap in knowledge—including basic education—between this world and Japan is like night and day, so they probably have this misunderstanding that "Yuki knows everything."
I thought I had explained that yesterday, but the talk about gods and such was so overwhelming that my actual limitations must have flown right out of their heads. It seems I need to talk about that again.
"Alright. Let's call it a day for work and spend some time talking properly with Fiora and the others."
" " "Eh?" " "
"Hmm. There are still many parts that weren't explained well enough yesterday."
"Indeed. It is quite common in Weed to hold recreational activities to deepen our bonds."
Cleena and Samantha were on board, too. I half-expected someone to chime in about how we played airsoft when Fiora first arrived, but no one did.
So, as for our talk...
"Is here a good place?"