Chapter 33: Confession
Just as he entered the corridor from the arena to the infirmary, a man appeared in front of Ren. The man dressed in black was a guild soldier under the direct command of the guild leader, whom Ren also recognized.
"Good work."
"Big failure"
“What is that supposed to mean? We saved the hero candidates. We captured the attacker. That's a big success, isn't it?"
"I stood out too much"
"That's... this time, you deserve it right?"
The guild didn't instruct him to put on such a performance on the podium. It was something that Ren did on his own accord.
"I know. So?"
"The full-scale interrogation is yet to come, but we have a rough idea."
"That was fast."
He can imagine it's not just an interrogation.
“Come to headquarters first thing tomorrow afternoon. We need to talk about the future."
"It's good that you act fast, but me too?"
"Give up already. You have shown that you have the ability worthy of the title."
"...That's an overstatement. But I can't refuse anyway. I understand."
"See you tomorrow. At the guild."
Saying that, the man proceeded in the direction from which Ren had come. As soon as the man disappeared, Kazuki, who was walking behind him, approached Ren.
“Ren, what was that?”
"A guild employee"
"No, it's not that, it's what you were talking about."
"I can't talk about requests"
"No... don't deceive me. What was all the fuss about?"
What had happened? Kazuki didn't know this yet. No, she knew exactly. She knew, but she didn't want to admit it.
"I'm not deceiving you. You do understand, don't you? It's a terrorist attack targeting hero candidates."
"……Terrorism"
As expected, the word "terrorism" still takes Kazuki's sense of reality away. She has never thought of terrorism happening near her.
"Isn't that the correct way to describe it? And a suicide bomber? What a fanatic."
"You think it's religious?"
"There is no religion in this world that is the same as the one in the original world. Naturally, there is no religious conflict. Is it similar to old China? Not like God, but like the many beings in the heavens, like the 8 million gods in Japan, who are freely worshipped?"
"But the church says it's a blessing from God."
“They just brought in the concept of God from another world. But because it is not an original idea, it has hardly penetrated the world. That's why they call it the Church of Heroes, where they worship otherworldly heroes who actually existed."
"Why heroes?"
“The more people honor heroes, the more people will recognize the greatness of the church, claiming that it was God who summoned them and bestowed his blessings upon them.”
"Is that true?"
A knowledge completely unknown to Kazuki. The hero candidates belong to the church, but they have little opportunity to learn about the church itself.
"Maybe it's true, maybe it's wrong. But it's definitely better not to say it in public, especially to church people."
“I guess. But, as always, well-researched."
"I don't like stories like this."
"If it's not a religion, why a suicide bomber?"
"They gave up their life for what they believe in. The object of belief is not limited to religion."
"Then what?"
"Heroes bring calamity to this world. They seem to believe so. I haven't heard the details yet."
"Tomorrow?"
"Maybe"
"...Will I be targeted too?"
"You're probably fine"
"Is it because I'm a dropout?"
"To be frank, yes. I said calamity, but it's about war. A hero candidate who doesn't have the strength to fight won't be a calamity."
"Should I be happy about that?"
"You should be happy. It is not a good thing to have one's life threatened."
"Yes. Ah, the infirmary is here."
Kazuki pointed to one of the doors lined up in the aisle and announced their arrival. Kazuki entered inside without hesitation, knocking on the door lightly, followed by Ren.
The infirmary is almost the same as Ren imagined. It felt like a school infirmary. He wondered if the injured were accommodated elsewhere since there was no one here.
"He said it was in the back, so it's probably that door."
Kazuki, who had been there once, seemed to have already made a guess, and immediately found a door that looked like it and walked over.
"As I thought, it's here. Shall we go in?"
"Ha?"
"...Just kidding. Ren is worse, so go ahead."
“Shouldn’t we prepare some water first?”
"I boiled a lot of water, so I think there's some left."
"I see. I'm grateful for the hot water. It's refreshing."
"Because we're Japanese."
"It's not the hot water, it's the bathtub, isn't it?"
"That's right."
After confirming that the water was indeed boiling in the bathroom, Ren began to undress on the spot. The clothes are also soaked with a great deal of blood. He intended to wash them together.
Ren's upper body, which has been stripped of his shirt, was quite well-toned. His body is toned, with no hint of flab, and his muscles are as supple as those of a beast. The manliness of Ren, who usually looks so young, is unimaginable.
"......I'm going to take off my bottom too, though?"
Even though Ren had taken off his clothes, Kazuki was staring at him from the adjacent changing room.
"Go ahead."
"...Do you want to see it?"
"Yes"
"Do you know what you're talking about?"
"Eh? Ah, I'm sorry. I was a little fascinated."
"...Okay, get out."
"Close the door. I'm washing my face here."
"......Okay."
When the door between the bathroom and the changing room was closed, Ren took off all his clothes and poured hot water over his head. The color of the flowing water is red.
"...Feels good"
He wanted to do it again and again, but he restrained himself, knowing that the hot water was limited, and began to carefully wash his blood-stained body, spot by spot.
"I wish I had some soap, but that's as good as it gets."
It is not that there is no soap in this world. But it is a luxury item, not something that is generally available.
"Do you want me to wash your back?"
"Ha?"
Kazuki, who was supposed to be washing her face in the changing room, opened the door and entered the bathroom.
"What do you think you're doing?"
"...I was wondering if there's anywhere you can't reach."
"I'm fine"
"I see"
"You're strange. What happened?"
"...Shall I take a bath too?"
"What!?"
"Let's do it"
"Wait! Wait a minute!"
Despite Ren's restraint, Kazuki takes off her clothes and ends up in her underwear. Ren doesn't know what's going on, and he's just confused.
"It's a little embarrassing."
"What are you thinking?"
"Nothing. I am this kind of woman. Don't you like it?"
"...Are you kidding?"
“…………”
“Kazuki?”
“…Yes. Just kidding. That was a little too much. Ren, don't look at me like that, it's embarrassing."
"Even though you took it off yourself, if you don't want to be seen, just leave."
"I'm leaving. Make it quick. I washed my face, but I just didn't feel like it fell off."
"……Okay"
Ren hurriedly washed himself, wondering at Kazuki's behavior, which made no sense whatsoever. He had decided that it would be enough if he could get most of the blood out of his clothes, so he just poured hot water on them and wrung them out a couple of times. The same goes for drying the clothes. He finished quickly, put them on half-dry, and left the bathroom.
"Finished"
"...I'm sorry. I rushed you."
"I'll take my time getting them off when I get home."
"I see"
"Go ahead"
"Yes……"
"What's up?"
"There's blood clogged my throat, so I can't help it."
"Huh?"
"From Jin's mouth..."
"I know what it was, but?"
"I can't get rid of the smell of blood. Do I still have blood on my face?"
Saying that, Kazuki turned her face to Ren. The blood around her mouth appears to be dripping.
"I think it's dripping"
“I see. But the smell of blood is going to be so traumatic that I won't be able to kiss."
"That's not okay, is it?"
"......I guess so."
"Why don't you go wash up? I'm going to dry my clothes some more and then I'm going home."
"You're leaving?"
"If I stay, the people will bother me."
"……I understand"
For some reason, Kazuki had a different atmosphere than usual Kazuki. Even so, the fact that Ren doesn't try to find out what it is is what makes Ren, Ren.
After drying his clothes in the infirmary, Ren rushed home.
◇◇◇
Kazuki went back to the arena alone. There are still a lot of people left in the arena. Many of them are knights dispatched by the Church to investigate the attackers.
The area around the arena was already off-limits, and Kou and the others were standing at the exit of the aisle waiting for Ren and Kazuki to return.
"Huh? Where's Ren?"
"He went home"
"He ran away."
"He will run away. After what he did."
Kazuki vaguely understands the extent of what he had done.
"What did you hear, Kazuki?"
Instead of Kou, Riko asked Kazuki.
"A little bit about the attacker"
"Does Ren already know who they are?"
"He told me there are people who believe that the heroes are the ones who bring calamity."
"Calamity? What is that?"
After hearing Kazuki's explanation, Riko is confused. The same goes for the others.
“Ren said it was war.”
"Why?"
“That's all we talked about. Ren said he hadn't heard the details yet, either.”
"I see"
With this information, Riko had no idea what was going on. This was supposed to be the end of the conversation.
“Is this story true!?”
"Eh?"
There was a person who came from the side and bit into the topic. It was Heinz of the Lemberg Empire.
"The story that the heroes bring calamity."
"I don't know the details yet."
"Not so!"
"Sorry"
"...Ah, I'm sorry. I didn't explain myself well enough. But first, let me introduce myself."
"Heinz Ruben-sama of the Lemberg Empire"
Kazuki already knows about Heinz.
"...I was rude again. You're in the same class as him."
"No, I just listened to the story without permission."
"What is your name?"
"My name is Kazuki."
"Right. Then Kazuki, tell me. Did Ren say that this attack was the work of someone who believes that heroes bring calamity?"
Heinz once again asked Kazuki what Ren had said.
"Yes. He said it was a terrorist attack targeting hero candidates."
"Terrorist attack?"
"It's the language in our original world, it means something similar to a raid."
"Is that his opinion?"
"...I can't judge whether it's okay to talk."
Kazuki is also an adventurer. She knows the guild's policy.
"I see. The guild also knows about it."
But on the contrary, Heinz understood it.
"...It's no good. I."
"Now that was inevitable. Besides, I didn't need to ask."
"Why is that?"
"Without the guild involved, I don't think he would act like that."
As an individual, Ren would pretend not to see it. Heinz understands Ren to some extent.
"I agree"
"But it did exist"
"Do you know the attacker?"
Heinz's words indicate that he has a clue about the attacker.
"It's not like I know, but I'll tell you what I know."
"Please"
“It has been rumored for a long time that there is an organization called the Anti-Hero Alliance, but only among a limited number of people."
"Anti-Hero Alliance? What kind of organization is it?"
"The actual situation is unknown. We know for certain that the Anti-Hero Alliance's ideology is spreading, but we have no idea who is sympathizing with them or where they are coming from."
"You don't even know where it's coming from?"
If there are rumors, there must be a source for those rumors. That might be a clue to grasp the reality of the Anti-Hero Alliance.
"...They're sharper than we thought. I am ashamed to say that our country has no clue. I suspect the same is true for other countries."
"This doesn't end there, does it?"
"I find it hard to believe that the Alliance is only four people."
“They will continue to target lives.”
"You say that as if it were someone else's problem."
Kazuki and the others are also hero candidates.
"Ren said we'll be fine. He said that a war can't be started by a hero who doesn't have the strength to fight."
"...Do you think he really meant that?"
"Eh?"
"They are the kind of people who would lay down their lives to attack. You should think that they will not choose any means. They can use you as hostages or whatever they want to use you for."
Kazuki and her group do not have the fighting skills to be considered heroes. That can make them a presence to be disregarded by the Anti-Hero Alliance, but at the same time, they could be seen as an easy target.
"No way..."
"I don't think he's a man who doesn't realize that. You were anxious, so he said it to put your mind at ease."
“…………”
Kazuki thought that what Heinz said was correct.
"Well, things are getting complicated. The situation may change at once."
"Situation?"
"Yeah, Jin Takamiya almost died. Yuya and Mei too. Countries will have to review their policies at once."
"Is that what you're worried about?"
"...Did I do it again? Of course, I will try to protect your lives."
"Try"
As for Kazuki, she wanted him to say that he would protect them. She felt as if they are being disrespected by saying that he will make an effort.
"Let's be honest. Right now, I don't have the confidence to protect you guys completely. I don't know who they really are. It could be the guy sitting next to me right now. I have no way of knowing."
“…………”
Heinz's words were not meant to disrespect them, but out of sincerity. Kazuki understood this, but at the same time, her sense of urgency was heightened.
"I would like to hear from him. He seems to have caught the attacker's movements quickly. How the hell did he do it?"
"Ren left."
"Yeah, I just heard. Tomorrow. I'll see you tomorrow."
"Yes"
As Heinz left the place, those who were listening around also pulled up. Only the four remained.
"Are we going to be in mortal danger from now on?"
Riko opened her mouth, sounding dissatisfied.
"Don't worry. I'm sure Ren will protect us."
"Ren?"
"That's right"
“Are you telling me to trust him, Kazuki? Ren hates people.”
Ren never does anything for others. This is something Ren himself has stated publicly.
"Riko, Kazuki, that's..."
Manami, who still thought it was harsh, tried to warn Riko.
"My life is on the line, you know? I don't know about Kazuki, but I......"
Riko does not listen to her. It seems that when lives are at stake, she can't make any honorable remarks.
"Believe. It's useless if you don't."
"What are you talking about?"
"The truth is, it's a mistake to rely on Ren. He has no obligation to protect us."
"......When you put it that way."
Even so, it is even more wrong to complain that you cannot believe.
"We still have to believe him. If we don't trust him here, he will never trust us."
"Kazuki..."
“We can't do anything for Ren. We don't have that power, and Ren won't ask for it. So we have to at least believe in him."
"...So direct. Have you learned to trust men?"
Hearing Kazuki's thoughts on Ren, Riko seems to have calmed down a bit.
"That's... I don't know. But."
"But what?"
“Just now, I wanted to be held by Ren.”
"Ha!?"
Riko did not expect that Kazuki would make such a statement here at all.
"I tried to seduce him by showing him my underwear, but it didn't work. I asked him to kiss me, but Ren didn't notice."
"Hey. I'm also a man, and that subject is a bit stimulating."
"Ah, Kou, you're here?"
"...You don't give a shit. I'm just that level of existence, anyway."
Kou is a little peeved at Kazuki's way of saying it.
"Because of that kind of existence, I'm friends with Kou."
"Yes?"
"I'm famous for being a woman who sleeps with anyone."
"Kazuki! What are you saying!"
Riko rushes to stop Kazuki, who suddenly begins to confess.
"It's fine. I want to tell Kou about it."
"But it will cause a misunderstanding."
"So I'll tell him everything."
"Everything... is that okay?"
Riko knows it all. She knows, so she's surprised by Kazuki telling Kou about it.
"It's okay. Kou, you see. I was deceived by the boyfriend I liked."
"What do you mean you were deceived?"
"Um... taking pictures of me casually having sex with him."
"That's stimulating..."
This is an exciting story for the virgin Kou. But this was as far as he could go with such a reaction.
"He threatened to spread them around."
"Eh?"
"He made me do a lot of embarrassing things and even...... with another man in front of him."
"Enough! I don't want to hear it anymore!"
Instead of stimulation, only disgust comes to Kou's mind. It is not toward Kazuki. It is disgust for those men.
“After he got tired of me, he started spreading rumors about me, and then strange men started coming to me.”
"That's enough!"
"I don't care anymore. I couldn't trust men. I thought I would never love anyone again."
“…………”
Kou doesn't really know what Kazuki was thinking. Still, it is Kou's kindness that allows him to honestly feel her sadness.
“I came to this world and thought of starting over. But there are people who know the rumors. I'm still afraid of what those people will say."
"But it was forced."
“It's true that I slept with a number of people. That alone is very embarrassing."
She was desperate. Even so, that fact will not go away. Kazuki herself cannot allow that to happen.
"……I see"
"Ren is strong, right? It's not about strength, it's about the heart. With various eyes, there are many unfavorable gazes, but he doesn't mind it at all."
"So you fell in love with him?"
“I think I like him, or rather, I want to be Ren. I wanted to be someone strong enough to push myself through without worrying about the people around me."
Kazuki admires Ren. No matter what kind of person Ren is, just the fact that he has that strength of mind makes him a person to admire.
"Yeah, me too. I'm jealous of Ren's strength because I'm a coward."
"I want to know more about Ren. But as it is now, Ren will never show us who he is."
"So, by trusting, I'll make Ren trust me."
"Yes"
"I don't think it's good. We who are powerless should at least have the strength to trust others."
"Ha, don't be so smart. But that's a good thing for Kou to say."
Riko affirmed Kou's words, even though she showed an astonished expression.
"I think so too"
Manami also agreed.
"Everyone……"
“I don't need to thank Kazuki for anything. I just have no choice but to believe."
"Yes"
"But it's just frustrating."
"Riko?"
"Do you want to try it seriously?"
"What?"
"Training. I gave up because I thought I was a failure, but fighting isn't everything. It would be nice if I could become the best in the world on that path."
No fighting ability. But they have a talent given to them. Riko thought that she would try to develop it.
"...The best in the world. It would be amazing if I became the best in the world."
Now it's Kou's turn to agree with Riko's words.
"What's so great about it? But...... if I become the best in the world, maybe people will rely on me a little."
"...I think I'll try my best too. Can I do it?"
Manami was a little unsure, but that didn't change the fact that she was willing to give it a try.
“The first thing to do is to try. But if you don't try, there's no way you can do it."
"Those are wise words."
"It's secondhand. But I think I've finally accepted those words."
Ren's words. Kazuki was able to feel like talking about it with her own mouth.
"Then let's do our best and see."
"Yes"
For the first time, the four people who were dropouts were in a position where their lives were being targeted, and they began to be motivated. Maybe that's why they are dropouts. Still, it's never too late. They are still children in this world.
◇◇◇
Ren had no way of knowing that the Class C dropouts were getting excited. Ren quickly returned home and decided to take a short rest before his night training.
Apart from his body, he was mentally exhausted from the tension. He would lie down on the bed in his room and spends his time in a daze... or so he thought.
"Eh, ah!"
When Ren opened the door, what caught his eye was Rin's white back, which seemed to be shining. Hastily shutting the door, Ren stood outside the hallway for a while.
"……Come in."
Hearing a voice from inside the room, Ren slowly opened the door and peeked inside. Rin was standing in the middle of the room, clad in a loose robe.
"I'm sorry to bother you while you're getting dressed. I should have called out."
"No, it's just that I'm too inexperienced to sense any presence."
"No, I'll be careful next time. But today is a strange day."
"Strange day?"
"I actually saw a woman in her underwear earlier."
“…………”
Rin turned to Ren with a lightly glaring gaze.
"I didn't mean it in a weird way. I was in the bathroom trying to wash up, and she came in as a joke."
“A joke… from a woman?”
Rin's impression after hearing the story was whether she would do such a thing.
“Yes. I think she was teasing me because I told her I was a virgin before that."
"That's……"
"I'm not trying to invite you. I won't break my promise."
"……Yes"
"Well, I'm tired, so I'm going to rest for a while."
"...The smell of blood"
Rin is a race that is far more sensitive to the smell of blood than humans. Even if he washed it a little, she can immediately feel it.
"It still stinks? It can't be helped. I'll wash it again."
"I..."
"No, thanks. I'll wash it myself."
“Aren’t you tired? In that case, I'll wash it for you, so please take a rest, Ren-sama.”
"...I'll leave it to you then."
The fact that he obediently accepted being taken care of was proof that he was that tired. Rin was also surprised to find out. It's because she can't imagine a situation where Ren would get tired if she watched his normal training.
"What happened?"
“Tending to the wounded. Doing something I'm not used to takes a lot of my nerve. It's even more so when I know that if I mess up even a little, he will die."
"I see... shall I help you undress?"
"Eh? No, that's fine."
"...Then, on your own."
"Yeah"
After taking off his shirt and becoming naked from the waist up, Ren puts on a robe. After that, he takes off his trousers, and finished undressing. Rin gathered up the clothes Ren had taken off and put them in a small box on the floor.
"Well then, sorry about it..."
As soon as he lay down on the bed, Ren began to take sleeping breaths. He was always a fast sleeper, but today, it was especially fast.
"...Then, I'll go do the laundry."
Rin calls out to Luna, who is probably at his side, and tries to leave the room. However, no voice is heard in response.
"……Luna?"
There was no response when she called her name.
"Are you not there? ......I'm going to kill someone you care about, you know?"
There is no reaction to this as well.
“…Is it okay to be so defenseless with no one to protect you?”
Rin's mutter was directed at Ren. There was no reaction from Ren. He was only breathing lightly.
“…Do you trust me? If so, you're a very good-natured person."
Rin muttered again while standing by his bedside and staring at Ren's face.
After confirming that there was no reaction to that, Rin brought her face closer to Ren. Slowly, a little hesitantly.
"Are you going to suck his blood? Or?"
"Luna!?"
"Which one?"
"You let your guard down and left him alone."
"Which one?"
"Like I said."
"Is it a kiss?"
"Wrong."
Rin flatly rejects Luna's words. Her face is dyed red.
"Hmm. Did Rin want to kiss Ren?"
"No."
To Luna, who is even more prejudiced, Rin responds with words of denial again.
"It is better to be held. Because that's what I want."
"……No"
Rin's expression as she returns the denial is somewhat pained.
"If you refuse too much, Ren will be taken by another woman."
"...It looks like he was invited."
"Yes. But Ren is insensitive."
"I see... I'll do the laundry. Please take care of the rest."
After looking at Ren once, Rin left the room while carrying the box.
“Ren, that thing will fall soon.”
"……Is that so?"
Ren, who should have been sleeping, answers back. Luna and Ren are connected. No matter how soundly he sleeps, Ren wakes up when he receives Luna's warnings and other emotions.
"That's right"
"I don't think so. More than that, Luna."
"What is it?"
"Which one?"
Ren asked Luna the same question that Luna asked Rin just now.
"...What are you talking about?"
"Did you save me when I was about to be killed? Or did you interrupt the kiss?"
"...Now then, Luna is also tired, so I'm going to take a rest."
Luna deceives someone in a very blatant manner. This is the answer.
"......Then, why don't you sleep next to me?"
"Yes!"
After finishing the laundry, Rin returned to the room and saw the two of them sleeping side by side, looking like they were getting along well. Ren, who was already sound asleep, didn't know that Rin, who saw it, let out a lonely sigh.
(Fufufu. This is a teasing strategy. The more she is teased, the more Rin will fall in love with Ren.)
Even Luna didn't know if this was her real intention or an excuse.
thanks for the chapter
ReplyDelete