Chapter 10 : Sensei’s Talk
The magic-driven four-wheeler dashed out at faster speed than when they’d departed, but the land-leveling function couldn’t keep up, so Tio, who was crucified on the ceiling, received the impact. The male students in the carrier received a mixer-like shaking.
Then, at that ti, he discovered the fully-ard bodyguard Knights who fiercely drove their horses in the area between the town of Ul and northern mountain range. Haji’s “Farsight” could see David in the lead wearing an oni-like expression while Chase who was beside him couldn’t hide his frustration as they swiftly rode.
Having ran for a while, they discovered a black object that created a clamor as it moved. It was natural for them to think what they saw was a demonic beast. With their weapons drawn, they changed their formation. Their response speed was fast, and indeed, it was clear how they were praised as the VIP’s bodyguards.
In particular, even if he was going to be attacked, Haji didn’t have any problem to just charge past them, but Aiko didn’t know that because she thought it’d be a serious matter if Tio, who raised a bewitching and charming scream, and the pale male students were exposed to such attacks. She showed her face through the sunroof and desperately waved her hands as she shouted at David to notice her.
As they drew near, David tried to invoke his magic. He narrowed his eyes as he could see a human-like figure suddenly spring up above the black object that ca in high speed. Normally, he’d do a preemptive strike as there was nothing to argue about, but sothing inside him told him to stop. It could be said that it was his sixth sense exclusive to Aiko, the so-called high-sensitivity Aiko sensor.
With his hand held out, he sent his subordinates the signal to stop their attacks. Although the subordinates were suspicious about it, they beca wide-eyed as they heard the familiar voice from the human-like thing that grew out of the top of the black object as it approached them. David had already displayed an expression as if he couldn’t believe it and muttered, “Aiko?”
For a mont, don’t tell Aiko’s lower half was eaten by that demonic beast!?, as David and the others beca pale, but Aiko waved her hands energetically and said, “David-sa~n, it’s ! Please don’t attack us~!”, with a voice full of life.
They understood that they had misunderstood the situation, and they let out joyful expressions at this reunion because the one on the black object was undoubtedly the person they held dear. As if he was drunk on the situation, David greatly spread his arms with an expression that said “Co! Jump into my arms!” Chase and the others at his sides also spread their arms as if saying, “Jump to —!”
Seeing the Knights’ appearances with their hands spread, Haji looked displeased. Although Aiko and the students thought Haji would obviously stop before David and the Knights… Haji suddenly poured more magic power, and they accelerated.
Because they were at a distance where deceleration was absolutely necessary, the Knights beca stupefied when the black object accelerated further, and moved away in panic.
Haji’s magic-driven four-wheeler just passed David and the Knights who spread their hands in smiles. Aiko could only shout, “Why?,” that beca smaller because of the Doppler effect, while David and the Knights just hardened and smiled as is. After that, in the next mont they scread, “Aikoo~!,” just like those separated from their lovers, and began to fiercely run after the four-wheeler.
“Nagumo-kun! Why, why did you do such a dangerous thing!?”
Aiko beca angry, getting back into the vehicle and fiercely protested against Haji.
“There’s no reason to stop, Sensei. If we stop, they’d likely ask about the situation. Do we have such ti? We’ll explain the situation in town after all, so there’s no need to do it twice, right?”
“Uh, th-that’s true…”
She was sowhat convinced, the things about them slipping out without permission and Haji’s four-wheeler would certainly take too much ti, so Aiko shut her mouth. Yue, who got back into her seat, drew her face to Haji’s ear and asked him.
“… Real intention?”
“Those smiling Knights made feel unpleasant.”
“… Nn, sa here.”
By the way, right behind the Aiko poking her face out of the sunroof, was Tio tied up on the vehicle. An expression of ecstasy floated across her face because her damaged body continued to be stimulated by the vibration of vehicle’s fra, but it seed the Knights and Aiko didn’t see her.
In addition, when they arrived at the town, Yue who knew of Tio’s disgraceful behavior said “… is this, the Ryuujin race?,” as she raised a slightly shocked expression. Since the first ti Tio released her Dragon Form at the Northern Mountain range, she was in a subtle ntal state and seed to “feel” the pain, that’s why Yue finally broke free from her illusion-like respect and yearning towards the Ryuujin race.
* * *
Arriving at the town of Ul, Haji and his party calmly walked, while Aiko and the others were running towards the town headman’s place. Haji thought of parting with Aiko and the students here and quickly taking Will back to Fhuren, but he reluctantly followed them because Will had started running before Aiko and the students.
The town was full of liveliness. The dishes ca in wide varieties and abundantly, and the town was near a lake. It was the location where people and nature gathered. No one would ever dream that this town would be trampled by an army of demonic beasts in a day. Haji and his party were looking at such a town, rembering they didn’t have any als since yesterday, so they advanced towards the town hall as they enjoyed skewers from a stall.
Haji and his party finally arrived at the town hall, and the place was already in a commotion. The branch head of Ul’s town guild, town executives, and the priests from the church were gathered and in a state of uproar. All of their expressions showed they couldn’t believe and didn’t want to believe the information brought by Aiko, the students, and Will as they closely questioned them.
Normally, they’d just put it off as nonsense from a madman if they heard tomorrow the town would be annihilated, but they were words that ca from Aiko the “God’s Apostle,” and also known as the “Goddess of Good Harvest.” That was followed by the recent fact that the Demon race was capable of manipulating demonic beasts, so they couldn’t just ignore this information.
By the way, from the discussion inside the vehicle, Aiko and the students had agreed to hide Tio’s true form and there was a possibility of Shimizu Yukitoshi being the mastermind behind this. It’s undesirable for the Ryuujin race’s existence to be exposed, so Tio asked them to stay silent about this, and the mastermind’s identity was just a possibility, so Aiko didn’t want to carelessly convey it.
Aiko sohow or another agreed to conceal the information about the existence of the Ryuujin race because the race is sothing half-taboo for the Church of Saints, and it’d only cause chaos followed by the formation of a subjugation unit.
Within such commotion, Haji ca towards Will. He only thought of the surrounding chaos as blowing wind.
“Oi, Will. Don’t just run all of a sudden. Rember that you’re under my protection. If you’re done reporting, let’s quickly go back to Fhuren.”
With Haji’s words, Will, Aiko and the others were surprised as they looked at Haji. The others, the town leaders seed to feel displeased as they looked at Haji interrupting the ergency discussion, as if saying “Who the hell is this?”
“Wh-What are you saying? Haji-dono. It’s a ti of ergency now, right? Don’t tell , you’re going to desert the town…”
Will started arguing with Haji with an expression as if he couldn’t believe what he’d just said, and Haji replied with an expression as if he expected this hassle.
“Deserting or whatever it is, in the end, aren’t you also going to abandon the town, take shelter, and wait for rescue to co? I’m already aware of this town’s defenses from sightseeing… if you want to take shelter, it’d be okay to go to Fhuren. For a while now you’ve only talked about quickly evacuating the people.”
“Th-That’s… right… but, I can’t just run away by myself in such a serious situation! Even I should have sothing I can help with. Even Haji-dono…”
“Haji-dono, please cooperate too,” was the continuation of Will’s words, but his words were interrupted as he was frozen by Haji’s cold eyes.
“… Do I need to speak more clearly to make you understand? My job is to take you back to Fhuren. I don’t have anything to do with this town. Listen, I won’t hear your opinion. If you still don’t want to go… I’ll just crush your limbs and drag you back.”
“Wh—, th-that’s…”
From Haji’s atmosphere, Will guessed those words were serious as he turned pale. His expression said he couldn’t believe it. Haji, who could overwhelm the dragon that easily annihilated veteran adventurers like Gale’s party, looked a little like a hero to Will. That’s why even if he was rciless, Will unconditionally believed Haji would sohow help the townspeople under such an ergency. That’s why Will felt betrayed by the cold words thrown out by Haji..
As he was at a loss for words, Will unconsciously distanced himself from Haji, but Haji decided to approach him. Because of such a strange atmosphere, the surrounding people could only alternate looks between Haji and Will without moving. Then soone suddenly moved and blocked Haji.
It was Aiko. She imdiately looked up straight at Haji with a resolute expression.
“Nagumo-kun. If it’s you… can’t you do sothing about the army of demonic beasts? No… you can do it, right?”
Aiko’s voice carried conviction, he can do sothing if it’s Haji. In other words, she declared he would be able to save the town. With those words, the surrounding town leaders started to make noise.
If they were to believe the reported threat from Aiko and the others, the enemies were tens of thousands of demonic beasts. Furthermore, they gathered from several mountain range areas. That ant it was on the scale of a war. Consequently, an individual wouldn’t be able to influence the war. That’s common sense. To overturn such common sense, there was a special existence even among the ones summoned from another world, that’s a Hero. But, it didn’t really an he could win alone against an army. What it ant was leading the human race and together with his companions, simply using quantity. That’s why they couldn’t believe the boy in front of them who wasn’t even a Hero could do sothing, even if those words ca from Aiko. Even if they were words from the “Goddess of Good Harvest”
Towards Aiko’s powerful gaze, Haji waved his hands gloomily as he tried to deceive her by denying it.
“No no, Sensei. Isn’t that impossible? Aren’t there more than 40,000 of them? It’ll be very, very—…”
“But, at that ti in the mountain, you didn’t say it was “impossible” when Will-san asked if Nagumo-kun could do sothing about it. Also, didn’t you say “the obstacle would be too big and it’d beco a fight till the last one standing for alone”? To put it plainly, there’s a possibility it’d beco a fight till the last one standing, right? Did I hear it wrong?”
“… What good mory”
Because of Aiko’s good mory, Haji’s face distorted as he awkwardly said that. He didn’t regret what he’d said. Aiko requested with a more serious expression to Haji who averted his face.
“Nagumo-kun. Can’t you sohow lend us your power? If this keeps up, not only will this beautiful town be destroyed, a lot of lives will surely be lost.”
“… How unexpected. I thought you held students as your top priority. Even all the things you’ve done were inevitably because there’s the possibility it’d be able to return you even a bit earlier, right? Nevertheless, for the sake of unfamiliar people, you are trying to send a student to his death? You don’t have the intention, but it’s as though you’re just like those guys from the church who tried to spur us to war, you know?”
Haji’s words were full of ridicule, but Aiko was still the sa. Her expression was not the worried expression from just a minute ago, it was a resolute and “teacher”-like expression. There were priests from the church who listened to Haji and Aiko’s conversation nearby. They frowned and watched him with narrowed eyes because Haji’s words were full of disdain towards the church. That’s why Aiko didn’t move from her spot as she straightened her gaze and posture.
“… If there’s a thod to return to our original world, I’d quickly return the students, and my feelings haven’t changed even now. But, if that’s impossible… then, we are living in this world now, the words we exchanged and the people who smiled at us, at the very least I don’t want to abandon the people within my reach. Thinking like this is natural as a human. Of course because sensei is a teacher, my priority will not change even under such an ergency…”
Aiko spun her words of confirmation one by one.
“Nagumo-kun, you’re calm even now, that’s why I think you’ve experienced sothing beyond our imagination, to beco like this. That’s why I feel that you have the composure to think about other people. The words of a teacher who couldn’t be by your side when you were most hurt… might be too light for you. But, please hear out, sohow.”
Haji kept quiet as is, and he returned Aiko’s gaze, urging her to continue.
“Nagumo-kun. Last night, didn’t you say you’ll absolutely return to Japan? Then, Nagumo-kun. Are you going to return to Japan with everyone important to you except the ones who obstruct you? Are you going to leave everyone who becos a hindrance to you? Will you be able to live like that in Japan? When you return to Japan, will you change your way of life? The reason sensei didn’t want the students to actively fight is because I am concerned if they would be able to return to their old lives when they returned to Japan. Killing is… , I don’t want you to beco accustod to that.”
“…”
“Nagumo-kun, you have your own sense of values, your choice for the future is your own. In addition, you don’t have the obligation to hear the words from sensei’s mouth. But sensei thinks that no matter what kind of future you choose, the way of living which casts others away, other than those important to you… is a truly “lonely” one. Surely, that way of living will not make you and the ones important to you happy. If you wish for happiness, at least for those within your reach… please don’t forget how to sympathize with them. From the very beginning, that’s the important and priceless thing you once had… so don’t throw it away.”
One by one, Aiko spun words filled with her feelings, and she tried to convey all of them in front of Haji. The leaders of the town and even the students heard Aiko’s words in silence. Especially the students. They looked down as if they were scolded as they felt bad they got carried away by their power. At the sa ti, because Aiko was serious about bringing them back even now, and even thought about how they’d live afterwards. With newfound feelings, they could be seen smiling happily as if sothing tickled them.
For Haji, even if he crossed the worlds, no matter what the situation would be and even if the students had completely changed. Aiko who didn’t even deviate from a “teacher” made him smile wryly inside. It wasn’t out of contempt, but admiration. Aiko was treated special because of her rare value. She didn’t experience Haji’s hardships, so he’d easily refute her with “Even though you don’t know anything!,” or “Don’t spout things as if you know them!” In a way it’s just like what Aiko had said, her words were “light.”
But, Haji couldn’t do that. Even now the “teacher” was looking straight at him, so to refute them as “light” words would be too unsightly. Moreover, Aiko hadn’t even once pressured him about the “right” thing to do. All of her words were only for the sake of wishing for Haji’s future and happiness.
Haji imdiately turned his gaze towards Yue at Aiko’s side. Yue sohow looked at Aiko as if feeling nostalgic. However, when she noticed Haji’s gaze, she imdiately matched him straight with a serene gaze. Her eyes said that she’d adhere to whatever answer Haji gave.
Inside the Abyss, she was his precious person who held his humanity right before he “fell,” that’s why Haji certainly wished for her happiness. He thought it’d be okay if he did it by himself, but if he were to believe Aiko’s words, Haji’s way of life wouldn’t be able to make Yue happy.
When he changed his gaze further, he found the rabbit-eared girl who looked at him worriedly. Towards his world which narrowed to only Yue and him, she was the girl who brought liveliness. No matter how many tis Haji treated her unkindly, she desperately chased after him curiously, and now she was just like Yue, soone he loved as a friend and companion. For Haji to accept Shia, didn’t it bring happiness to Yue?
For Haji, this world was like a prison. A cage that obstructed him from returning to his hotown. Therefore, it was extrely difficult for him to accept the people and everything in this world. Inside the Abyss, he discarded everything for the sake of returning, it wouldn’t be an easy thing to change the sense of values carved in his mind which wouldn’t forgive those who obstructed him. But even if it was difficult to “sympathize with other people,” he could do it. As a result, his precious things… if that’d bring happiness to Yue and Shia, he wouldn’t be that stingy to pitch in and help.
Haji didn’t agree to all of Aiko’s words. Even so, it was a serious “scolding” from “his teacher.” To disregard it as nonsense would be too childish. WIth this ti’s rampage, the possibility of the trouble of Haji’s existence being published would suddenly beco bigger, but it’d be okay to work hard as just “Aiko-sensei”‘s student. Whatever he chose, he already knew he’d be marked sooner or later. He had prepared to strike all of the troubleso things, he decided not to respect this world. That’s why it wouldn’t be bad to flashily show off his power.
With that, he thought a while for an excuse, then Haji looked at Aiko again.
“… Sensei, no matter what happens after this, are you still my teacher?”
What Haji implied was if she’d be his ally.
“Of course.”
Towards that, Aiko replied without hesitating.
“… Whatever my decision? That’s, even if the result isn’t what sensei hoped?”
“That doesn’t have to be said. Sensei’s role isn’t to decide the students’ future. I’ll just help to make a better decision. Nagumo-kun has heard sensei’s talk, so I won’t refute your decision”
Haji watched Aiko for a while to confirm whether there was a lie in her words. For him to intentionally have such commitnt was because Haji himself didn’t want to beco hostile towards Aiko. After he confird there’s neither lie nor deception in Aiko’s eyes, Haji turned towards the entrance. Yue and Shia imdiately followed after him.
“Na-Nagumo-kun?”
Seeing such a Haji, Aiko panickedly called him. Haji looked back, he shrugged his shoulders and replied, having been beaten by Aiko’s “teacher style.”
“As expected, to take on a huge crowd of tens of thousands as opponents, I’ll need so ti to prepare. Continue your discussion without .”
“Nagumo-kun!”
Aiko’s face shone because of Haji’s reply. Haji could only smile wryly at such an Aiko.
“It is advice from the best “teacher” I’ve ever known. Moreover, if it’s connected to these girls’ happiness… I only need to consider it a bit. Anyway, I’ll just kick those guys around for now.”
As he said that, he patted Yue and Shia’s shoulder, then once again he turned his heels and went out of the room. Yue and Shia raised a truly joyful atmosphere, and began to run after Haji in small steps.
Patan, the sound of the door being closed, the leaders of the town who shut their mouth after being drowned by the atmosphere between Aiko and Haji, and imdiately asked about the situation from Aiko.
Aiko, whose shoulders were shaken, stared at the door which Haji went out of. Her face didn’t transmit any joy towards Haji. What she said to Haji were Aiko’s true feelings, that his way of life was a sad one.
But, in the end, there’s no denying that she made an important student confront an army of demonic beasts. While she said she didn’t want them to grow accustod to using their power, she was conscious of the contradiction she’d made by sending him off to fight. She thought she wanted Haji to rethink his way of life, but she also thought of wanting to help the townspeople of Ul. As a result, both of them seed to be fulfilled… but she wanted to search for better ways. Aiko secretly let her shoulders droop because of her helplessness as a teacher.
She prayed, for all of her students to not lose their hearts, and to return to their hos… but, Aiko’s wish couldn’t be fulfilled. After hearing Haji’s story last night, Aiko herself felt that her wishes were already just an illusion. However, she couldn’t stop wishing for it.
Surrounded by the leaders who raised a ruckus and the students who looked at her in respect and affection, Aiko didn’t realize she let out a sigh.
By the way, Tio who had co to the town hall with Haji and his party muttered, “Although this one is an important witness… i-is this neglect play… as expected of Mas—”, with a flushed expression, and she was naturally ignored.
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