Chapter 171: Cooperation (1)

…Assassinate the mayor!? So, they wanted our cooperation for that…!!

I felt amazed at the words that came out of Colt’s mouth. I was a goddess, and Seiya was a hero. It was difficult for us to respond after hearing the proposal for an assassination.

「Excuse me…I think we can save the world without an assassination.」

「Okay then, goddess. Then how do we save it?」

「Ah, you see, that thing you call Artema Menace, am I saying it right? I think it we can save this world if we do our best to destroy it!」

The magical weapon Artema Menace that made the Demon King Artemaeus change with the power of magic. I thought the world would get better if we destroyed it. I thought so, but…

「The destruction of Artema Menace!? There’s no way that we can accomplish that!!」

Eich looked at me as if she were looking at an idiot. Caron, the engineer, also shook his head.

「Eich is right. No substance can penetrate Artema Menace’s armor. The only option is sealing. But we don’t even know how to seal it.」

「Wha…What do you mean by sealing? 」

「We need the four types of Artema to seal the resurrected Artema Menace. However, the great powers are competing for the ownership of Artema for the benefit of their own nations. In this situation, it is impossible for us to gather the four types of Artema.」

「But, the world will be destroyed if you don’t do anything at all!! We have to gather the Artema together no matter what!!」

When I shouted aloud, Colt smiled at me with a troublesome expression.

「That’s true. We can’t seal Artema Menace without the cooperation of the world. However, over the past few decades, there have been more than hundred thousand casualties in conflicts between the countries. No one is willing to cooperate.」

「But, its human beings we’re talking about, right? Can’t we convince them about it?」

「Ahh, c’mon!! Are you a brat!? Stop saying idiotic things that only children would say!!」

Eich yelled at me, while showing a look of contempt.

…Ugh…I was told by a child to stop behaving like a child…!!

I felt depressed. Colt smiled bitterly.

「The enemy nations killed parents, friends and even children. It will be impossible to get  them along with each other now.」

「But…Humanity will be destroyed at this rate… 」

「By the way, sis! Aren’t you misunderstanding something? Artema Menace hasn’t been revived yet!」

「Eh!? 」

The terrorists nodded upon hearing Eich’s words. The smoke of Caron’s cigarette spewed into the air.

「The Imperial Research Institute has announced that it will take another five years before the revival of Artema Menace. 」

「Ehhhhhhhhh!! Is that so!? 」

Artema Menace has not been revived in this century yet!? Five years was a good extension of time to set things into motion before the bad guy revived!! Some…Somehow, I felt ashamed of myself!!

「Have you finally understood this, sis? Instead of dealing with Artema Menace, now is the time to deal with our surroundings.」

「Countries are about to start a global war over Artema. The Principality of Galvano, which has jurisdiction over this town, is one of those countries. And if a war happens, the townspeople will be the first victims.」

Colt patted his sister’s head with love. He spoke while continuing the flow of Eich’s words.

「Many bad people gather in this town, but we have many young children living here. I want to protect this town first and foremost.」

「So, do you mean the assassination of the mayor? Wait a moment! Shouldn’t we do something about the Principality of Galvano first?」

「Hey, sis. Things have an order. 」

Eich glared fixedly at me again. Suddenly, Seiya, who remained silent with crossing arms until now, finally opened his mouth.

「The Principality of Galvano is heavily armed and the townspeople cannot easily enter or leave the country. And the mayor of this town is connected to the Principality. Therefore, killing the mayor comes first in order take control of the town, and then, use this event as a catalyst for the overthrow of the Principality…So this is the order of things, huh.」

Colt smiled and Eich whistled low.

「Yeah. You summarized the story quite fast. 」

「Is your name Seiya? You’re much smarter than that goddess. 」

Ugh!? Eich’s evaluation of Seiya went up in an inverse proportion!!

「As the goddess says, assassination is indeed a bad deed. I agree. The world even call us terrorists. However, if killing a few people saves tens of thousands of lives, then I see no problem whatsoever. In fact, this action will turn into a good deed that will pave a way for a bloodless revolution.」

「Well, I have no objections. 」

…!! Seiya, you had no objections!? Hmm, I wondered if this action was okay for someone labeled as a hero…It wasn’t okay, or was it…?

「Well then, Mister Seiya. Will you cooperate with us?」

Colt looked at Seiya with hopeful eyes. Colt’s companions also stared attentively at Seiya, who had his arms crossed. After a while…

「I want to ponder about it. 」

Seiya told everyone those words. Eich dropped her shoulders and showed a disappointing look.

「What the hell! I thought you were motivated because you didn’t oppose to our idea!」

「Mister Seiya. How long will it take you to reach a conclusion? If possible, I’d like to start my plan in two days…」

「Hmm. It can’t be helped though. I’ll decide by tomorrow.」

「I see. I appreciate it. I am looking forward to a favorable reply.」

「By the way, you Seiya…Why are you so bossy…? 」

Eich stared disdainfully at Seiya as if he was behaving like some Buddha, but Colt still smiled gently despite Eich’s remarks.

「It is already late today. This room is small, but there’s enough space for you to sleep here with us.」

Colt offered us to stay with them, but Seiya shook his head, saying, “No, it’s fine”.

「Ah, Seiya. Are we going back to the Underworld? 」

「Ohh!! I can finally go back to the Underworld!!」

Suddenly, Celseus shouted happily. I was shocked and quivered. I mean, he really was here, with us, Celseus! If he didn’t speak, he would look like a dead figurine! I was startled when the steel-colored inanimate figurine began to speak!

However, Seiya’s idea was quite unexpected. It took Celseus and me aback.

「I am not returning to the Underworld. First, we need to secure a safe place to live in this Twisted Exfolia.」

「Ehh, is that so!? 」

「Why…Why aren’t we returning to the Underworld!? Seiya, didn’t you say that the Underworld was safer than the twisted worlds!?」

「At that time, yes. But the situation is changing every moment. A place that was once safe could turn into an unsafe place later on.」

「Do…Does that mean the Underworld is becoming dangerous!?」

Celseus and I took a deep breath as we waited for Seiya’s words, and…

「…I don’t know. 」

「What do you mean you don’t know!? 」

Although I asked him that, I also felt a vague anxiety about the irregularities happening in the Underworld. This time, I understood Seiya’s concern, so I smiled instead.

「Okay. If so, wouldn’t it be better for us to stay here? 」

「No. It’s absurd to sleep in the same room as the guys I just met. Who knows what they could do to us while we sleep.」

「Wha…Wha…What did you say!! Even if I die, I won’t sleep in the same room as you!!」

It seemed that they heard our conversation, as Eich raised her voice against us. Seiya approached the angry-looking Eich.

「Hey, Eich. You built this hidden room, didn’t you? 」

「Yeah. I combined the magic power of my characteristic, the earth element; with the latest magic tool…Wait a second. How do you know that?」

「Because you created an underground settlement with earth magic. 」

「What are you talking about? 」

「Anyway. I want you to build a hidden room for us right next to this hidden room.」

「Ehhh!! Seiya, do you mean to make another room next to this place!?」

「That’s right. Eich. Can you make it? 」

「Ahh, c’mon, you are so annoying!! Okay, I understand, I will create one!!」

Eich stood up, and while scratching her short hair, she picked up the iron toolbox on the floor. Then, she headed straight to the front door. Seiya also followed Eich.

「How do you do it? I can also use earth magic. Tell me how to do it.」

「What!? There’s no way you can do it straightaway, you amateur!!」

「You don’t know that until I try. 」

「Don’t you dare try to imitate a craftsperson, you idiot!!」

「You only say idiot this, idiot that. In other words, you are the idiotic one.」

Seiya left the room, while arguing with a girl as tall as his waist.

「…Oh my, oh my. 」

I looked back and saw that Colt was smiling gently.

「Eh, excuse me. I’m sorry how things turned out. You even recommended us to stay here with you. But, Seiya has no ill intent toward any of you. He is just an abnormally fastidious freak and abnormally cautious, or to put it simply, he is abnormally abnormal…」

「Ah, ah, ah. But he is certainly reliable.」

On this very moment, Eich’s surprised voice was heard from the front door.

「Who the hell are you!! How could you do it so suddenly!? You were extremely quick to remember the steps!! And this, what on earth!! This is a bigger room than the one I made, isn’t it!! What’s going on here!?」

It seemed that Seiya learned it fast as usual. From the flow of the story, it seemed that Seiya had already created a hidden room, so I bid farewell to Colt, and I pushed the loading wheelbarrow with Celseus on it.

Previous | Next

Have a nice sunday! 😉

—————–

Thank you to the Patrons for the continued support!