CH 135

[Sakurai, After That]

“Man~, glad it turned out well.”

3 am. After the negotiation with the Asanagas, I head back with a spring in my step.

Arriving at the inn, I immediately go to the bath to wash off the sweat from practice-swinging before going to my room. But when I enter the room, I find Iris and Ethel waiting inside for some unknown reason.

I’m already half-asleep at that point, and the two just keep staring at me. Fumu, I mutter in front of them, before leaving the room and closing the door behind me.

“…Did I do something?” I lean my back against the door and think.

But I can’t seem to recall doing anything that would make them wait for me until this late.

(I haven’t done anything particularly bad or inconvenient to other people lately, though…)

The thing I did at the forbidden book section was something that had to be done to allow everyone to escape safely, and since I managed to extricate an important figure, that is the Saintess—aka Ethel’s mother—I can say with utmost confidence that I’ve done a good deed.

And I’ve declared that I’ll take responsibility by killing all the released monsters and capturing the dungeon ‘Elf Territory Cathedral’ that I unintentionally made, so there should be no problem on that side, either. I didn’t say I released the monsters fully aware that this was how it’d end up, though.

Yep.

No matter how many times I think about it, I couldn’t find anything that would make them angry at me. Why are they waiting in my room, then?

It won’t be weird if it’s just Iris, but there’s Ethel, too… It’d be better to just ask, eh.

Having made that decision, I turn around and reenter the room with a guileless smile and say, “I’m back~,” to the two.

“Welcome back, Sakurai-san,” says Iris.

“So, how was it? You went to talk with those guys, right? Now recount everything without leaving anything out,” says Ethel.

It appears that the reason they were waiting was due to my negotiation with the Asanagas. Come to think of it, they were right beside me when I told the Asanagas the meeting place.

Even back when we were stuck in the forbidden book section, I remember saying something along the lines of ‘I’d like to use the Saintess for negotiation’. Being a mother-con, Ethel must’ve been unable to settle down, worrying about what I’m planning, and feels that she has to get the answer out of me.

While Iris likely just came out of curiosity about what I was talking about with them.

Or perhaps she became anxious and couldn’t sleep because of the fact that I’d left the inn in the middle of the night… I can’t rule out that possibility because she’s still having age regression rooted deeply in her.

That said, now that it’s clear what they wanted to know about, I briefly explain the contents of my negotiation with the Asanagas, but in the middle, a retort comes from Ethel, “How did you know what they were after?”

I was in the middle of explaining the details of the ‘Deadly Sins Holy Staff’, so I just blurted out, “Because I’m a reincarnated person,” and as a result, I ended up explaining about a reincarnated person, too.

That Amanai. I don’t know if it was on purpose or if he simply forgot about it, but it seems he hadn’t told Ethel that he’s a reincarnated person.

But anyway, it was because of him that I had to explain something as absurd as a reincarnated person, which made Ethel look at me as if I was some suspicious guy.

“Haa~, a reincarnated person, hm. And the reason you know about all those things is that this world is a story in your previous life, eh. You really want me to believe that?”

“No, I explained it only because you’d told me to. I don’t care if you believe it or not. Regardless, it doesn’t change what I’ve gotta do.”

“Well, you don’t seem to be lying, but… haah. This is so absurd.”

“If I wanted to lie, I would’ve come up with a better story.”

“That’s true, but… hey, Tōru. With your knowledge, couldn’t you prevent the attack on my mother in advance?” Ethel asks, a tinge of anger laced in her voice.

“No, I couldn’t. As I said earlier, there was no relation or event between the Asanagas and Cordelia-san, so the attack was completely out of my expectation. If you want to pin the blame on someone, blame the ‘Black Sword’s’ Nanashino, another reincarnated person who told them the information about the ‘Deadly Sins Holy Staff’.” I reply.

“Right. On the contrary, you saved my mother, Tōru. Sorry for saying something strange.” Ethel exhales as if to calm herself and apologizes.

I get where she’s coming from, though. She must’ve thought ‘if you have such knowledge, then why—’ or something along the lines. I mean, her family became a victim, so it’s natural that she’d have one or two complaints. But I don’t think she needs to apologize.

“By the way, Sakurai-san. You said you are going to cooperate with the other party to head to the forbidden book section. Will you be all right?” asks Iris.

“Well, that’s why I divide their force by having one of them make a diversion by manipulating information or whatnot. Oh, and don’t worry, I can easily cut open the barrier surrounding the cathedral and the great library—I’ve tried it. So, breaking in wouldn’t be a problem!”

“That’s not what I’m asking about, and although this is the first time I’m hearing something Sword Saint’s disciple-like from Sakurai-san, why does the usage have to be for illegal activity? But that’s just the usual with Sakurai-san, I guess. The important thing is, what are you planning, Sakurai-san? Could it be that you’re seriously thinking of handing over Cordelia-san to the other party?”

“Huh? I’m not, though?” I answer Iris’s question without delay.

To begin with, the one I was supposed to make deal with was Asanaga Ayako, and I don’t remember signing any contract with Joseph.

Regardless of what the other party thinks, I’m fully prepared to renege on the clause of handing over the Saintess once I get the information on the hidden passage.

That’s just sophistry, you say? I think I once heard someone somewhere say that if the person who objects to it disappears from the world, sophistry will be accepted, so that’s not a problem.

“I don’t think that’s a good thing to do…” Iris mutters.

“Then will you be fine with handing over Cordelia-san? Even if you tell me to get her back afterward, I’m gonna decline, you know? Once I get the information, I’ll be rushing back to the academy as fast as I can.”

“Well, I’m not gonna complain as long as it doesn’t involve with giving my mother to them. But wouldn’t it be a hassle if they retaliated after you’d broken your promise?” asks Ethel.

“Before we start talking about retaliation, I’ll be getting rid of the danger factors anyway, so there’s not gonna be a future problem. No worries,” I say without hesitation, and both Iris and Ethel shake their heads, looking as if they’re dealing with a hopeless person.

Geez, it’s a plan I came up with everyone’s happiness in mind, yet look at their reactions.

In the first place, Joseph and Ayako are, in fact, in a hostile relationship. Ayako’s end goal is to get rid of Joseph, so once that’s done, there’s no reason for her to retaliate against us.

I’ve thought up a plan to get rid of him, though it’s still rough around the edges. But it’ll work just fine as long as I can persuade Ayako with it. It’s no exaggeration to say that this is why I added the condition to separate Joseph and Ayako during the negotiation.

By the way, I haven’t thought about how I should go about persuading her, and to be frank, I’m planning to just play it by the ear. Well, this method somehow worked when I was explaining my escape plan in the forbidden book section, so I’m sure it’ll work this time as well.

But if I give this kind of thing straight, chances are I’m gonna get a retort again, so this time I’ll puff out my chest and have a fearless smile as I do. Showing confidence is the key to deceiving people—that’s what grandma said.

“I’m not really sure about this, but since you insist… I’ll trust you on this one. Just make sure everything works out, alright?” Ethel says.

“I can understand Ethel-san’s worries. After all, Sakurai-san is making that face he usually makes when he doesn’t really have a solid plan…” Iris looks at me suspiciously.

“I’m gonna do everything I can to make this plan a success. And in case it flops, welp, we’ll cross the bridge when we get there.”

“That’s not very reassuring, but I’ve gotten used to Sakurai-san’s antics. In any case, I’ll be escorting Cordelia-san, yes? It’s already very late, so let’s discuss the details at a later date and call it a day,” says Iris.

“I second that. I’m so sleepy already.” Ethel agrees with a yawn.

Well, no wonder. It’s almost 4 am. Heck, it’ll be sunrise in another hour.

The dungeon capture is scheduled for a few days later, so let’s take a nice sound sleep and start preparing from tomorrow.

Okay, the meeting’s over, you’re all dismissed…… Why’s Iris not leaving?

“Iris? You still have something to say?”

“Yes? Nothing, really.”

“Then, why don’t you go back to your room?”

“Eh, I don’t want to. I’m going to sleep here.”

Is she too sleepy to move? It’s so rare of her to be willful like this, but maybe she’s just that sleepy.

Can’t help it, I guess. I’ll be sleeping in her room…… Why are you tightly grabbing my arm, Iris-san?

“Uh, Iris?”

“Sakurai-san. I have to escort Cordelia-san tomorrow, right? Because I can detect it if there’s a puppet among those who approach Cordelia-san with the power of my ‘Magic Eyes’. Because I can distinguish which one is sent by the other party to monitor her, and as a preparation in case an unexpected situation occurs… am I right?”

“W-well, that’s right. There’s a possibility that the other party will make a move while we are capturing the dungeon, at that time I’d like you to cooperate with the elves to repel him or protect Cordelia-san.”

“In other words, during that time, Sakurai-san and I will be separated from each other, right? Sakurai-san, you will be leaving me alone again, right? So, until then, can I at least stay with you at bedtime?”

“Iris. I hope I get it wrong, but are you saying you want us to sleep together?”

“Please sleep with me! I’m somehow getting anxious, and it’s making me feel cold!”

“Leave me alone while we’re on a trip at least, will you!”

“I’m getting anxious because we’re on a trip! It’s cold!!”

Perhaps her anxiety has reached the limit, as Iris tries to pull my arm to drag me to bed while saying, “It’s cold, it’s cold.”

I don’t hate the idea of sleeping together with her, per se, but in this state, she’d sleep like a log because of the sense of security she got from being able to sleep with someone else. The problem is, she’d tightly hug the person and not let go until she woke up, which is usually at noon.

That being the case, the one she hugs has no other choice but to wait until she wakes up, leading to a decrease in their daily activity time.

That’s what makes me averse to it, and when this happens, I always force Higaki to sleep with her, but the sacrifice is absent this time.

Which means, I’ve got no choice but to step up and do the jo… no, wait, I do have a perfect sacrifice candidate (Ethel) right here, don’t I!

“Ah, err, I didn’t know you guys are in that kind of relationship. Then, I’ll be taking my leave, and uh, have fu—”

“Ethel, wait! I’ll pay you! Please sleep with Iris in my stead!”

“What are you trying to make me do!?”

I grab Ethel’s arm as she’s trying to make her escape and pull her back.

Ethel resists in a panic, but in addition to the force of my pulling her arm, Iris is also pulling me.

In other words, Ethel is facing the strength of two people. As such, despite trying to leave the room, Ethel ends up being dragged back inside.

“Hey! Are you kidding me!? No matter how much I like money, I won’t ever do something such as sell my body!! Or rather, she’s a woman, isn’t she!?”

“As long as she falls asleep, that doesn’t matter! So, please sleep with her in my stead! Or else, I’ll end up not being able to move for a while!!”

“You won’t be able to move!? She’s that demanding!? No, I mean, I’m straight, I can’t sleep with someone of the same sex!”

“Higaki is straight too, but she still sleeps with Iris, so that’s not a problem!”

“Higaki-san sleeps with Iris-san!?”

“Then let’s all sleep together~. With the bed being this big, I’m sure it can fit all of us~.”

“Okay, let’s go with that. Iris will be in the middle while Ethel and I sandwich her!”

“Why did you agree right away!? Nooo! I don’t wanna experience my first time in this way!”

“Do it for money!! Just think about the money!!!”

“Let’s sleep already~.”

“Noooo~!”

In the end, it took me a while to realize that Ethel had a totally wrong idea.

And by the time I corrected her misunderstanding and finished explaining my relationship with Iris, the morning sun was shining through the window, and Iris was sleeping soundly in bed before we knew it.

“…suu, suu… munyaa.”

“…………”

“…………”

Looking at her sleeping figure, Ethel and I, exhausted from the useless battle, see ourselves out of the room, and go to the room that’s originally reserved for Iris and her.

“Haah, bed at last.”

“Goodnight.”

“You too.”

We tightly lock the door so Iris can’t rush inside in case she wakes up later, and crawl into the beds that are placed side by side.