304 The Reincarnated
Having finished breakfast, we proceeded directly to the Demon King's quarters.
The Demon King would likely still be asleep, but I was there to retrieve Oni-kun, who served as his Guard.
When meeting with the Reincarnated, Oni-kun's communication ability was essential.
The difference in mission success rate with or without Oni-kun was drastic.
Arriving at Oni-kun's location.
We exchanged Oni-kun for Melah.
No prior explanation had been given, but Oni-kun—remarkable in his perception—understood my gesture and acted accordingly.
Thus, I smoothly removed Oni-kun and left Melah behind as the Demon King's Guard.
At that moment, Melah did make a slight expression—something along the lines of "I still have to work?"—but I shall pretend I did not see it.
Regardless of inner feelings, I like you—someone who takes responsibility seriously and completes every assigned task without fail.
Conveniently convenient.
Well then, preparations are complete. Time to infiltrate the reincarnated ones.
...Do I have to?
Not feeling it.
Meeting the reincarnated ones who know the color of Wakaba-hime.
Just that alone is enough to kill any motivation. Now I must open my mouth to explain things, no matter what.
What kind of punishment game is this?
Ah. Don’t want to go.
Don’t want to go—but must.
Really?
Upon closer thought, do I even have an obligation to explain the situation to the reincarnated ones?
Just stay silent. Let them flounder, clueless.
Is that acceptable?
Yes.
“Shiro. Are you thinking something improper?”
Guh!
Are you an ESP?
Hmm.
Haa.
No choice.
Oni-kun has delivered a sharp retort. Time to brace myself and move forward.
Thus arrived the transmigrants at the Treehouse.
Packing so many transmigrants into one space is cramped, admittedly, and I apologize—but it’s easier for us to manage this way.
Gender separation should be in place inside, so no errors should occur.
Watchers are present, properly stationed.
Consent given? I don’t know.
Something about this door feels unnaturally heavy.
Ah, once opened, there they will be—the transmigrants.
Depression. Not death, but still—depression.
Beyond the door, Kusama-kun and Ogihara-kun were bound with rope.
Patan.
Huh?
Hnn?
Hnnn!?
I nearly shut the door again—what was that?
Hallucination?
Are there truly masters of such advanced illusion that they can make me see this…?
To confirm it was not a misperception or the like, he slowly opened the door once more.
There, as expected, Kusama-kun and Ogihara-kun were bound with rope.
...uh.
Well, yeah.
Hmm, yeah.
Even granting that they are bound—well enough.
Soyama and Ogihara are tools of the Divine Word Sect.
Sogama is the perpetrator who attacked this elven village—the very one we call our faction—and Ogihara was a spy who deliberately allowed himself to be captured by the elves to leak information from within.
To other reincarnated individuals, he might as well be a traitor. Capturing him for interrogation—understandable, too.
But why are the two of them bound together as if embracing?
Typically, wouldn't they bind you back-to-back in a situation like this?
The direction’s wrong, isn’t it?
Sōma and Ogihara are both turning their faces away, yet their faces still touch.
The angle is wrong—almost close enough to kiss.
Why are the girls staring with dreamy expressions?
It’s the kind of scene that would be photographed if there were a camera.
Only the teacher, former class president Kudō, and Kurayu are acting normally.
Wait—no.
The teacher says, “This kind of thing doesn’t happen often,” yet peeks through fingers covering her face.
Kudō sighs, muttering, “No, no—it’s different. It’s two-dimensional, so it’s allowed. Three-dimensional is not allowed!”
Only Kurayu remains coherent.
Huh… what is this… what…?
“Yamabuki-san! Help!”
I’m frozen, staring at this strange scene, when Sōma meets my gaze—and in an instant, he’s calling for help.
The voice was strained—on the verge of breaking.
H-hey, don’t expect me to handle this all at once!
Every person present turned their gaze toward me, drawn by the voice of Kusama.
Stop it!
Don’t look at me at this completely random moment!
Don’t look at me!
“Impossible.”
“Yukihara-san?”
“E-eh, but…”
“Real?”
The reincarnated ones whispering among themselves, glancing this way.
From among them, one steps forward—representative.
Former class president, Kudo.
“Long time no see, is that acceptable? You’re Yukihara-san, correct?”
It’s not true, but saying so now would complicate things. I nod silently.
Upon my affirmation, the teacher visibly flinches.
“Just to confirm—behind you is Sasajima, right?”
“Yeah. That’s right. Long time, President.”
“Ah.”
Oni-kun's gentle greeting caused Kudo to slump his rigid shoulders, as if the venom had been drained from him.
Yet immediately after, he straightened his posture once more, turning his gaze to the other figure.
"You're the one eliminated by process of elimination—Nogizaki?"
"Yes, that's right."
The Vampire Child's affirmation caused a murmur to ripple through the reincarnated ones behind Kudo.
Picking up on the conversation, most of them were expressing surprise at the Vampire Child's transformation.
Kudo snapped his fingers—pan!—to quiet the murmuring reincarnated ones.
"And now? What is your purpose for coming here?"
He asked, his suspicion laid bare.
Understandable, really.
The reincarnated ones had learned, at least, that the Imperial Army had attacked the Elven village.
but after that, I didn’t understand anything about the situation. I was subjected to spatial isolation, and when I regained awareness, I was here—captured.
What will happen to us now?
What exactly occurred?
Nothing is clear. Suddenly, three other reincarnated individuals appeared all at once. Given the timing, suspicion is natural.
Others seem confused.
Kudō-san, Tanikawa-kun, Kushiyama-san, and Sugiwara-san appear wary.
The rest seem primarily confused.
“Relax. We mean no harm.”
Oni-kun speaks before me.
“Even if you don’t believe me, we are not enemies. Please believe that much.”
The sincerity in Oni-kun’s words brings silence to the room.
A few of the reincarnated individuals glance nervously toward the teacher.
Yet the teacher did not notice, lips opening and closing in confusion.
Perhaps attempting to speak, but no words came.
"Today, we are here to talk. We must speak with one another."
Oni-kun declared, scanning the room.
No one objected.
Indeed, bringing Oni-kun was the correct choice.
"Um… before that, can I get this untied?"
"Idiot! Can't you read the atmosphere?!"
Kusama-kun pleaded weakly, and Yagihara-kun rebuked him.
"...Standing isn't working. Let's sit and talk."
The tension dissolved after Kusama-kun's air break, and Kotake suggested, shoulders relaxing.
Kusama-kun and Yagihara-kun were left unattended, as before.
Kotake: Engaged in corrupting activities, but limited to two-dimensional only—three-dimensional territory was outside the scope. Yet there were no two-dimensional media in the elf village, so the other girls who had been corrupted turned to three-dimensional pursuits. Despite being the leader, I ended up isolated—this illogical situation. How did this happen?