077. Miscalculation
To tell the truth, I'm thinking "anything is fine as long as I can have sex with Philly," and depending on the negotiations, I might be able to get things to go my way――that's what I thought right after I got off the mountain in the first place.
I had mentioned something about "minimum manners" to Philly and the others, but it was more convenient for me to ignore them and go back to Hanaria.
If I wanted to stick to my affair with Philly, I could have returned to the village after returning home, which would have been even more convenient.
(But――)
I never expected that they would make "killing the king" as a condition of exchange.
Furthermore, the proposal was made after Philly went out of her way to say, "That's worth considering, right?"
It's not worth it――Or it's easy to refuse for all sorts of reasons, but that would be the same as having to give up on Philly.
Because in the future, if I demanded it as a condition, it would give them an excuse to say, "You didn't agree to it before, did you?", and it will give them a chance to refuse.
Either give up on Philly or take on a request that is nothing but trouble.....When I wondered about that,...
「The deadline is――within a year. The method and details will be left up to Yuuto. And――As a "sign of confidence," the reward should be paid in advance. Any questions?」
Now, you have to make a decision, Philly told me. I looked her in the eye for a moment and said
「If I betray you,.....just kidding, I don't even need to ask, huh?」
I exhaled a stupid word even for me. Still,...
「What makes you think that?」
「Hmm? Because if I did that, it would mean a "complete break up" with the Elves, Dark Elves, and Spirit People, at least in this land, and if you people, who are positioned higher than the human race, would not "truly" choose any means――Well, well. I wonder how much damage is going to be done to Hanaria.」
It is obvious that not only personal relationships but also various other matters will be fiercely criticized from various quarters.
And besides ― I muttered to myself.
(From the King's point of view, why couldn't they have stopped these guys from leaving beforehand? Why didn't they try to fight them all out after driving them here? Above all, ......)
Philly once assured me in front of me that they were not fighting with the humans.
Nevertheless, she requests the murder of King Hanaria at the top of the country――she is being too incoherent.
(......Not yet. There is still a 'piece' I don't know about.)
The old man Iru, but above all, the existence and purpose of the "Evil Group" and the Dark Elf named "Leige" whom Philly and others call a traitor. The background of the connection and relevance―More to the point, there are many things left to be concerned about, such as Lodl transforming into the Goblin King, the Eastern Front, etc.
(Not good. As expected, I'm getting too carried away)
I put my sexual desires first and made the mistake of going about it the wrong way――there were easier and more delicious ways to eat Philly, but I had plunged myself headfirst into a ditch.
I let my thoughts wander around in my head for a while, and then
「――Instead of assuming that the king will be killed, we will assume 'handing him over after capturing him,' and if it is difficult, I will kill him. One more thing. As for the reward, "pay later" is fine, but the deadline should be abolished. Also, as a general rule, you must follow my instructions while in action. I also guarantee treatment and "no sexual activity until the request is completed". However, ......」
「"Don't betray me" ― is that what you said?」
I had no choice but to affirm it silently, biting my back teeth as I was told in advance. Because...
「That means Yuuto will cooperate with us after promising a reward that will be paid later――That's what it's going to be like, but is that okay~?」
Philly said with a happy expression on her face, a complete change from earlier.
I could only yell wildly, half in desperation, "Yeah, that's okay!".
A schemer, drowns in his own tricks――I demonstrated a classic example of this, and I was so frustrated that I was about to stomp on the ground, but...
「BUT! If I complete the request, I'll do whatever the hell I want to you! That's exactly what I'm going to do to XXX (bleep!) or ○○○○ (bleep!) or ○○○○○ (bleep bleep!) I'll do whatever I waaant!」
Philly understood what I meant when I said it with tears of blood and said, "Pervert! Pervert! Pervert!" She then pulled away from me. And then
「...... I don't understand what's going on anymore」
Roselia said, puzzled.
「Elders. Please leave him in my hands. And - at least as long as he cooperates in solving the case, please do the least you can do. At the very least, please do not antagonize or provoke him. He is - for us - the "Joker"」
The three Elders looked at each other and then said
「I understand. We will accept your offer and at the very least be considerate.」
「In addition, I will also take responsibility for making sure that others are aware of the situation.」
「However――in the unlikely event that you do something treacherous...」
Though I was threatened, I waved my right hand from side to side and denied it, saying, "I won't do that, I swear". Because
「I want to have sex with Philly as soon as possible. Since it's come to this, it's better to be in a good mood at best and make a good impression than to do something stupid.」
In the end, I settled on the conclusion that "steady is best". Furthermore.
「Oya, oya~? You say that, but... I wonder if you can really increase my favorability to you~?」
Philly said as if she was peering down into my face, smirking at me with a nasty grin on her face.
That gesture was so hateful――She was so cute, so I crossed my arms and snorted, "Hmph!", then turned my face toward the day after tomorrow.
◇◆◇◆
Based on the clues that the old man Iru had left behind beforehand, we planned this and that, but...
(At this stage, it's obvious we're "not prepared" enough.)
Although some direction has been given, if we have almost no information, we may end up as sheep jumping into a tiger's mouth.
How big is the enemy, what is their objective, and how should we respond?――Do we have enough hands? What are their individual abilities? What equipment do we need?
「...... and many other things, I couldn't help but feel that it would be nothing short of suicidal for Philly and me to search one of the hideouts alone.」
Above all, I had not forgotten the fact that the "biggest problem" remained at the moment. That is.
(Is the mastermind of this incident―the "enemy" to be defeated―really that king?)
We met face to face after being summoned and exchanged words for less than 10 minutes, but is that man really "the one to be defeated" or "the mastermind to be captured"? There is no proof.
(Well, it's true that I personally thought "I don't like him" and "let's bum the king and his entourage.", but..)
Short-sightedness could cause irreparable consequences.
「............」
It is the second day since I left the village.
We were in the "Hanaria Great Sea of Trees," which is known as a terrifying forest that keeps people at bay. Philly and I were heading for Hanaria with her guiding me along the roadless path, but...
「――Look, Yuuto. Can you please stop staring at my butt and thinking with a serious face?」
Philly stopped abruptly and turned around to face me and said that. I had a question mark in my head, "?".
「――Oh. Now that you mention it, your ass, though small in size, is so tight♪――They look so good to touch, don't they?」
When I told her of the thought that had suddenly occurred to me, she gave me a tremendous stare, as if she were about to slay me at any moment.
「Good grief. Even though I brought this up myself――looking at you, it makes you feel really pathetic」
「Why is that?」
「Because, you know. You're a well-known "skilled fixer" in Hanaria, and you're blessed with talent. You are smart, and you have good instincts. Above all, your "growth rate" is nothing short of phenomenal――And when you add the fact that you are from another world, it is only natural that you would have visions of a "Hero" no matter what, right?」
「Hero――hero, huh?」
I thought it was a selfish thing to say, but I couldn't complain in general since there was also the matter of Karguri and others.
「Of course, I'm just putting my hopes in Yuuto, and you're innocent of any wrongdoing, but――To think that the person himself was such a lascivious and irresponsible. I'm disappointed.」
I'm really, really disappointed. ...... She didn't actually say it out loud, but I could almost hear that line, and Philly's shoulders slumped in disappointment.
「Though, well, maybe that's what's "human" about it―I just don't understand how anyone can seek only physicality and pleasure without love.」
「Hmmm ......」
I was a little annoyed at Philly's attitude, but from what she said, I couldn't help but feel that there was some kind of "difference in perception" or "misunderstanding" with her.
Originally, I am a human and she is an elf.
Just because we share a similar appearance, we were completely different races――though I mean, if you think about it, her attitude may be rather blissfully honest.
(No. Rather, in Philly's case......)
It was when I thought so.
Almost as a reflex, the sharp word "stop" came out of my mouth.
「? What is it? What's wrong?」
Philly tilted her head.
「――the direction of 10 o'clock. There's a slight reaction. Is this ...... someone fighting?」
A faint smell of "strife" in the air
「Say, Philly. Just to confirm, though――if we keeeeeep going on like this, we'll eventually get to the Hanaria Bridge area, right?」
「Sure is? I've used it many times myself, and as you can see, it's an animal trail, so it's easy to get lost, though, I also have the "Blessing of the Spirit of the Forest". I'm also very good at folia.」
Hmphmm♪ she said proudly, but unfortunately, I haven't had the chance to see what she can do.
Of course, the demonic beasts themselves appeared at a rather high frequency, but it was quicker for me to go out on my own, so I had to order her to support me and stay on standby.
「――There is a possibility that someone may have been attacked. Can you follow me?」
「Of course♪」
When Philly affirmed, I activated my [Physical Enhancement] and kicked the ground as hard as I could.
Then, while easily avoiding the overgrown trees, I rushed to the scene of the crime...
「Ugeehhhh!? What-What the hell is thiiiiiiis!?」
Philly, who was standing behind me, raised her voice when she saw the scene.
I understand that feeling painfully well. Because...
「The demonic beasts――they're being slaughtered.」
It's literally, "covered in blood and corpses"―in such a place, even I was taken aback, but then...
「!?」
I felt the presence of someone and turned my head to look in that direction while reaching for the hilt of the sword at my waist――and when I saw who was there, I felt a shock as if my head had been hit with a blunt instrument.
「――Lilyza?」
......Yes. Standing there was the figure of someone I knew who had somehow cut her hair short and was covered in the fresh blood of a demonic beast all over her body.
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