Chapter 85

An oppressive silence filled the room.

“Ugh...”

(Huh?)

The sound that broke the silence made everyone look at the four of them. The source of the sound was... Sukuna. Kō and Mei still hadn’t moved a muscle, their hands clasped together, while Aina was grinding her teeth in frustration at her own weakness.

But Sukuna was, “Ugh, ugh... ugh...”

Crying.

“A, eh...?”

It was unexpected. I never thought she would cry.

“A, ah... S-Sukuna?”

The moment I said Sukuna’s name!

“I’m sorry‼︎”

She cried and apologized, then left the room.

“A, S-Sukuna...”

I could only mutter her name. In my place, Aina jumped up.

“Sukuna-san!”

Aina called out and chased after Sukuna.

Silence filled the room after the two of them rushed out. But we couldn’t stay like this forever. Father and nearly 30,000 troops were waiting for us.

“I guess I really am useless, aren’t I? What do you think, Kōmei?”

I said this with a self-deprecating tone and turned to Kō and Mei. In response, Kō and Mei remained silent, saying nothing.

“Maybe I did say a bit too much... But I’m really happy. Mother cried for me. Even though it might be inappropriate at a time like this, the fact that someone else is crying for me is the greatest happiness I could ask for.”

In my previous life, no one would have come to my funeral. I had no friends, and even my family treated me as a nuisance. There was no one who would cry for me.

I am blessed. I can honestly say that.

So... so,

“Kō, Mei, thank you.”

For crying for me.

That’s right. Kō and Mei were quietly crying, their hands still clasped together.

“I’m sorry.”

I don’t know who said it, but they apologized.

“There’s no need to apologize. I’m really, really happy.”

I truly feel that way from the bottom of my heart.

I’m sure they want to go with me. But these two know their own weaknesses. Sukuna and Aina are indeed strong for children. They could probably defeat a peasant soldier in a one-on-one fight. But they are far weaker than trained elite soldiers. They know that going with us would only be a hindrance.

So, they decided to give up.

Kō and Mei made this decision after careful thought... and after much deliberation.

“That’s fine. I’m also happy about Sukuna and Aina’s feelings. But going to the battlefield without the necessary strength is a high risk. I... I would be very sad if you died.”

I’m happy about Sukuna and Aina’s feelings, but going to the battlefield without the necessary strength is reckless. I don’t want to die. It might sound childish, but I just don’t want to.

“W-We know, we know!”

Kō nodded multiple times, his voice trembling with tears.

“Is that so... Thank you.”

I couldn’t think of anything else to say. My eyes started to sting.

“R-Rainzama, actually, we really want to go with you‼︎ But, but, we...”

Mei, who hadn’t spoken until now, said this.

“I understand. Of course, I understand.”

I understand everything. I know that Mei, who only imitated his brother in front of me, trained alone all the time. I saw it all with my Divine Eye.

I know they were trying to be useful to me.

“But now is not the time. When you’re a bit older, we will definitely fight together!”

I concluded with that.

It’s a pity, but we don’t have time.

“Please tell Sukuna and Aina. And apologize to them.”

We don’t have time to search for Sukuna and Aina.

“I understand. Rainzama, please don’t die.”

Kō said this, his voice choked with tears.

“I won’t die. I can’t die.”

I can’t die here. I haven’t done most of the things I couldn’t do in my previous life. I can’t die until I do them.

When I said this, Kō and Mei straightened their backs, their tear-streaked faces set, and they saluted with their right hands, saying in the loudest voices they could muster,

““Then, please go with our best wishes‼︎””

“Then, I will go.”

I said this, closed the door, and left the room.

The age difference between me and Kōmei is 2 years. They are twin dwarf brothers who are smaller than me. I will never forget their “courage to choose not to go.”