kscans

Chapter 225 - Not for One Reason Alone

The briefing at the Dungeon Agency ended well after the sun had set.

Director Akasaka's 'request' was not something that could be agreed to on the spot, so of course it would take time.

A breath attack that could pierce a dungeon's outer wall. The results of a reconnaissance-in-force by the SDF revealed that portable firearms couldn't even properly damage its scales. Curses and poisons used with magical tools had some effect but were far from fatal. Its speed and other capabilities were unknown, but with an army of soldiers generated from its scales and its subordinate wyverns, diving into its personal space would be difficult.

While the path was wide enough to send a large army, without a certain level of 'quality,' it would just be adding more targets. Even with skilled fighters, the risk of getting in each other's way could not be ignored.

In other words, a small, elite force. A platoon-sized raid at most was desirable... or so he said.

This request was clearly beyond the scope of what should be asked of adventurers. Many participants voiced their objections... but complaining to Director Akasaka wouldn't improve the situation.

No. No matter who said what, nothing would get better.

According to the director, the world was already considering a 'nuclear strike' as a solution. In this global climate of exhaustion and chaos, no country wanted to expend its own military forces or munitions if it could be helped.

Therefore, the plan was to jointly drop a nuke to eliminate the dragon the moment it emerged from the dungeon... or so he said.

Of course, I wasn't going to take his words at face value. It could just be a bluff. In fact, I hoped it was.

B-Rank adventurers would have their own connections. After the briefing, everyone was surely looking into the possibility of a nuclear attack.

Director Akasaka hadn't expected an immediate decision, either. He concluded by saying he wanted us to take our time and think about it.

However, he added that we didn't have much time left.



"Haaah..."

After showering at the hotel where I was staying, I sat on the bed, drying my hair with one of the provided towels.

I was wearing a t-shirt and track pants I'd brought from home, my usual attire, but the luxuriousness of the room made it hard to relax.

I was staying in the same hotel as Erina-san and the others... but it still felt far too fancy for me.

I picked up my smartphone, but immediately tossed it back onto the bed. I wasn't in the mood for the internet or games right now.

After the briefing, I had asked Aira-san a few vague questions.

'If that white dragon comes out of the dungeon, do you think the governments of other countries will send reinforcements?'

To that question, she...

'...Grandma's old friends and relatives have been contacting her repeatedly, asking her to return to Britain. That's always been the case, but since the day you all encountered the white dragon... the number of calls has more than doubled.'

...is what she told me. Her tone was strained, as if something was stuck in her teeth.

It seemed I couldn't just dismiss Director Akasaka's words as a lie. And it was unlikely that Britain was the only country to abandon Japan. From what I'd seen on the news lately, they were a fairly pro-Japanese nation.

We couldn't expect reinforcements from abroad, and the SDF's forces alone were insufficient. At the same time, the SDF needed to be dispatched to the other world as soon as possible to prevent the increase of dungeons.

And if those two dragons came over to our side, the leylines would be encroached upon, causing a massive number of gates to appear. The likely response to that would be a nuclear strike the moment the dragons emerged.

To prevent that, we needed to defeat those two inside the dungeon. And for that, a small, elite operation was preferable.

...Yeah. I understood. Whether I accepted it was another matter.

"Fuuu..."

Another small sigh escaped me.

I understood the logic. I understood that what Director Akasaka was saying was necessary to 'save Japan.'

I also felt that civilians, even if they were adventurers, shouldn't be dragged into such an operation. But if a nuclear strike happened, there would be no room to say such things.

Furthermore, I couldn't strongly criticize the foreign powers for choosing the nuclear option. Because if I were in the same position, I'd do the same. If a fire next door was about to spread to your own house, it's normal to take a hammer to the burning house to prevent the flames from spreading.

That hammer might be abnormal in many ways, but the logic was sound.

...Maybe I should just run away abroad.

I could grovel to the professor, do whatever it takes, and evacuate to England with my friends and family. With an Awakened Person's body, I'd like to think I could find work somehow.

There would be language and cultural barriers, but thanks to the professor, I'm much better off than I was last year. And nowadays, you can even use translation apps. Also, it's pathetic to rely on the professor again, but it might be an option to ask her to help me find a job.

I was originally diving into dungeons on a request from her research lab. It wouldn't be unreasonable to rely on her as an extension of that.

The more I thought about it, the more I felt it might just work out. It might be the delusion of a naive kid who doesn't know the world, but it had to be better than fighting that white dragon.

—Or so I thought.

But for some reason, I just couldn't 'accept' it.

Yes, accept it. Logically, this decision seems correct, yet I can't accept it. Why is that?

It's not that I lack patriotism, but I'm the type who would run without hesitation if told to 'die for my country.' I don't have that much attachment to it.

Do I feel shame in fleeing across the sea? I'm not entirely without shame, but if I had to choose between pride and my life, I'd choose my life. Even if my opponent was someone I despised, I'd be willing to lick their boots for the sake of my life and my family's.

That's why it's a mystery. The more I analyze myself, the more I have to tilt my head in confusion.

"........."

My hand unconsciously reached for my smartphone.

I opened my contacts and tapped the name of the person I was looking for. She answered on the second ring.

'Hellooo? What's up, Kyouta-chan? Oh, are we hanging out now?!'

I gave a wry smile at her usual self and shook my head, even though she couldn't see.

"No, not that. I just had something I wanted to talk about."

'Hoh hoh. A consultation, you say? Very well! You may ask me, the ninja master, anything! Let's start with how to form hand signs!'

"Ah, no thanks, I'm good."

'!?'

I felt like the self-proclaimed ninja was making a dramatic, manga-style face, but I ignored it and continued.

"So... Erina-san, what do you plan to do about the white dragon?"

'Obviously, I'm gonna go kill it! That thing dared to give the `Invisible Ninjas` the stink eye, you know!!'

"Well, I thought you'd say that."

'Besides, taking on a giant enemy with the fate of the nation at stake is so ninja-like!'

"I thought you'd say that, too."

It was so predictable that I couldn't help but laugh.

I could tell that on the other end of the line, she was wearing her usual smile.

'Senpai is definitely going to fight, and senpai is going to come with us, too!'

"Aira-san is? Wait, did you tell her the details?"

'Yup! She heard about it from Grandma, so she said it's no problem!'

"I see..."

Considering the SDF dispatch, it's natural to assume the professor was briefed at around the same time.

Aira-san... well, she's brilliant in many ways, so the professor probably told her as a research assistant rather than a granddaughter. Probably right after I called her after the briefing.

'So don't worry, Kyouta-chan!'

"Huh?"

In her usual tone, but with a strange amount of force behind her words, Erina-san declared.

Surely, with that same sun-like smile on her face.

'Your grudge for Byakuren-chan and all of Kyouta-chan's worries, this ninja leader Erina-san will solve them all for you!!'

"—...Ah."

With her words, thud.

Something settled into place inside my chest.

With the phone still to my ear, I stared at the spotless ceiling, then turned my gaze forward.

Imagining the carefree face of this self-proclaimed ninja through the phone.

"Erina-san."

'What is it? Oh, if you're going to England, I think there's this property that's unpopular there but pretty good for Japanese people—'

"I'm going to grab those pigtails and throw you, you fool."

'TAWAKE?!'

All my worrying started to feel ridiculous.

Erina-san, because she has a firm sense of self.

Aira-san, because she cares for her family.

Mia-san, because she wants to be special to someone.

Shizuku-san, for her family's factory. Aika-san, for friendship.

Because they had all decided to stay here, to fight with a single, strong conviction, I had convinced myself that I had to do the same.

It's rare to be able to risk your life for a single reason. It seems a lot of strong people have gathered around me.

It's something that an ordinary person like me can't imitate.

So, my own answer is fine.

"I'll fight, too. I won't run away."

'...Are you sure? Is it because I said I'm going to fight? You don't have to go along with me, you know?'

"Well, to be honest. That's part of it."

'I knew it. In that case—'

"But that's not all."

'...?'

Not for one unwavering reason. But for the many things I can't let go of.

"I don't want to be separated from you."

'—'

"The right to fight alongside you... I hate the idea of giving that up forever, even if it's just temporary."

'Wha? Ah, yeah?'

"And I don't want to be separated from Aira-san or Mia-san either. Or Shizuku-san, or Aika-san. And of course, my family. They're all important to me."

"...Yeah. You're right."

"And besides... I can't stand the thought of running away without smashing the skull of that damn lizard that turned Byakuren to ashes."

'Exactly!'

"So."

If I say this, there's probably no turning back.

I have a feeling about that. But even knowing that, I can't stop. I don't feel like stopping.

"Let's go slay a dragon. Please, fight with me."

'You got it! Let's show 'em what we've got, partner!!'

We laughed together over the phone.

Whether this exchange becomes a curse or a charm... that depends on what happens from now on.

But for now, in this moment, it felt very good.

...However, there was still a reason I couldn't tell her, the person who called me her partner.

Ending the call, I placed the phone on the bed and gently covered my face with both hands.

"There's no way I can say it..."

—I want to be with you because I'm in love with you.

"Confessing one-sidedly at a time like this is just creepy...!"

Erina-san is kind to everyone and deeply values her friendships. I'm sure there have been countless idiots like me who got the wrong idea.

She must have cut them all down with that cheerful smile, or perhaps a troubled one.

This is bad. If I get shot down now, I'll never recover. I'll end up escaping to a homunculus wife like the `Alchemy Enthusiasts Club`.

No, what if? What if, by some chance, my feelings for Erina-san were mutual?

"And on top of that, admitting that I might like Aira-san, Mia-san, Shizuku-san, and Aika-san too goes beyond unfaithful, I'm just scum...!!"

Hey, have I always been this much of a loser? Seriously? I'm starting to want to die a little.

No, it's not like that. High school boys, you know, when they're surrounded by beautiful girls, they want to date all of them! They might even want to do more than date them!

But even so! All my thoughts! They're all! Below the belt!

Is there any love in there? There is! And that's why this is so much worse!

Ahhh... In the professor's classes, topics like 'Cultures with Polygamy,' 'The Pros and Cons of a Harem,' and 'Is Polygamy Evil If It's Legal?' came up often, so maybe I was influenced?

No, it's not right to blame others. In the first place, there's no way the professor, a model educator, would have such intentions. Get a grip, me.

So that means this promiscuous idea came from within me...?!

Maybe I should just die? No way. My shame is about to overcome my will to live.

Maybe I should commit seppuku... not that it would kill me. It would just be painful.

"Haaah... If only Japan had a polygamy system, and they were all in love with me... What kind of eroge is this?"

It's sad just saying it. So empty. I'm really overthinking this whole virgin thing.

I'm just going to sleep. I'll surrender myself to this unbelievably fluffy bed and pass all my worries onto tomorrow's me.

For now, I'll kill that damn lizard. It's mostly its fault anyway.

I'll chop off that ridiculously large neck of its. I just found another reason to aim for dragon-slaying.

I connected my phone to the charger, went to the bathroom, and then got into bed.

I turned off the light with the remote and closed my eyes.

Was it because the bed was so good? Or was it for another reason?

I had a feeling I would sleep well today.