Chapter 82

Previous summary:

【Good News】 The protagonist managed to avoid tandem with Kudo.

28

-- Right after Kudo offered to help.

The idea of returning to where Rose and the others were came to me when I heard Kudo say, "You can move by riding Berta."

Originally, I intended to chase Takaya Jun on foot.

If I could ride Berta, who is faster and has more stamina than me, the travel time would be significantly reduced.

Moreover, there were the monsters Kudo had sent ahead as pursuers.

According to Iino, Takaya is not particularly strong among the explorers, so at the very least, he could be delayed.

Going all the way back to where Shiran and the others were waiting would take too much time, and there was a risk of the connection being cut if the distance was too far, but I had enough leeway to return to where I had left Rose and the others.

I decided to retrace my steps.

... Of course, I was prepared for a confrontation.

＊＊＊

As expected, Iino was furious when I appeared on Berta.

"What's the meaning of this!?"

Iino, who had approached me, was injured in the leg, and her movements were extremely sluggish.

However, I did not run away from her, who was crawling towards me on her knees.

I was grabbed by the collar and pulled down to my knees. It was quite suffocating. As expected of a combat-oriented cheater, her strength was incomparable to mine.

"Master..."

Rose, who was being hugged on Kato's lap, reached for her axe with her upper body exposed, but I stopped her with a nod. Asalina, who had emerged from the back of my left hand, was about to bite Iino's ear, so I restrained her as well.

I turned to Iino again.

"Listen, Iino."

"Huh. What do you intend to explain?"

Her intense gaze returned to me.

"Of course, you and Kudo are in cahoots, right?"

"..."

Well, it was a situation where a misunderstanding was inevitable.

By the way, I didn't bring Kudo here.

It was obvious what would happen if he and Iino faced each other.

After borrowing a few of Anton's bodies, Berta and Tzezar, I parted ways with him there.

However, it seemed that Iino, who was a subordinate of MacLaurin, the Margrave, had heard about the two-headed wolf that attacked Fort Cheria, and she immediately saw through Berta as Kudo's familiar.

To be honest, I had no intention of hiding it, and this was a predictable development.

In a sense, it was a quick resolution. Thinking positively, I proceeded with the conversation.

"Just listen. I can understand why you think that, but don't jump to conclusions. I'm only borrowing Kudo's help to save Lily."

"I can't believe that!"

"Probably not. But it's the truth. That's why I came back here."

"... What do you mean? What are you talking about?"

Perhaps sensing my lack of agitation, Iino looked suspicious.

With a slightly wary and puzzled expression, Iino asked me.

"To be frank, Iino. I want your help too."

"Huh!?"

Iino let out a surprised exclamation.

She must have been quite shocked. Her round eyes gradually narrowed.

"Hey, are you serious?"

Iino's expression and voice suggested that she was half-serious about doubting my sanity.

Of course, I didn't come back here on a whim.

"Yes, I'm serious."

"Are you asking if I'm sane? But, if you're really saying that, you might be insane."

"That's a harsh thing to say. Why do you think that?"

"Why do you think that? Of course. Do you think I would help you?"

"Of course not."

I shrugged.

"Of course, I don't think that. I ended up borrowing Kudo's help, but you're different from him. You have no obligation to help me. I understand that much."

As I spoke, I grabbed Iino's wrist, which was clutching my chest.

Iino's shoulder twitched.

"Iino, you're the one who doesn't understand. I'm not here to beg for your help."

"... I don't get it. What are you trying to say?"

Iino, who showed a slight sign of fear, immediately showed her competitive spirit, frowning.

"Basically, what do you intend to make me do?"

"What do you intend to make me do... That sounds a bit harsh. I just came here to make a proposal to you."

"Proposal...?"

I nodded at Iino's puzzled expression.

"Yes. I want you to fight with me, Iino."

Iino's eyes widened.

"This shouldn't be a bad deal for you. You said, 'Are you going to make me kill someone to get back a monster?' You don't want us to kill each other, right? If so, you should do something about it. Isn't that right?"

"Wait a minute, Shinjima!"

Iino let out an anxious voice.

"Are you telling me to stop you from fighting?"

"Even if you can stop the out-of-control Takaya with your own hands, it would be better, wouldn't it?"

"Y-Yeah, if I could, that would be great, but I'm... I'm..."

Iino glanced down at her legs.

Her left thigh was bandaged, and her right ankle was immobilized.

I nodded at Iino, who returned her gaze to me.

"That's right. You've lost your pride in your legs. That's why you're sulking here, unlike yourself."

"That's right."

"But, Iino, the situation has changed."

I turned my gaze to the two-headed wolf that had brought me here.

"If you ride Berta, you can fight even in your current state, right?"

"Ride... her?"

Iino also turned her gaze to Berta.

After a few seconds, she gasped and turned back to me.

"Are you telling me to ride the monster that attacked Fort Cheria!?"

"If you don't want to, you can just stay here and do nothing."

"U-Uh, that's..."

I pressed on Iino, who was at a loss for words.

"If you fight, you might be able to prevent anyone from dying. If you don't fight, someone will definitely die. Think about it and decide what you want to do."

Iino let out a soundless groan.

"That's... That's unfair."

Her protest was somewhat weak.

"Doing something like taking the life of your enemy as a hostage..."

"However you interpret it is up to you."

I shrugged.

"However, as I said before, this shouldn't be a bad deal for you."

"That's true, but..."

I'm not trying to take advantage of Iino's weakness to force her to do something she doesn't want to do.

Rather, I'm giving her advice on what she wants to do.

Iino seems to understand that.

Yet, the reason she doesn't give a favorable response... unfortunately, it's probably because the one making the proposal is me.

Life is a series of encounters, and in that sense, our meeting was too bad.

Iino bit her lip and glared at me.

"... I'm telling you, if you try to kill Takaya-kun, I'll become your enemy immediately."

"You mean you won't tolerate betrayal? Then you can rest assured. I don't care what happens to Takaya after Lily comes back."

"That's so casual. Are you saying you don't care about her at all?"

Her tone conveyed clear suspicion.

To Iino, my words and actions must seem suspicious and hard to read.

Of course, there is a fundamental misunderstanding.

I narrowed my eyes and replied.

"Who said I don't care? That's impossible."

"... Huh?"

Iino looked taken aback.

"Why are you surprised? I'm human too. I can get angry and hold grudges. It's only natural. I'll remind you, I still hold a grudge about the time you hit me."

"U-Uh... But, if that's the case, why...?"

"It's simple."

I shook my head.

"Because getting Lily back is a hundred times more important to me."

With the current forces, we might be able to do well against a mere Warrior with the right tactics.

If we play our cards right, we might even be able to defeat him.

But this is about rescuing Lily.

Since we don't know what will happen, I want to secure the cooperation of "Virtuous One."

I don't have the luxury to worry about the root of the problem, being as weak as I am.

And because I am like this, I thought there was something I could say to Iino, which is why I am here now.

"I don't intend to lose something important to me. ... Iino, what about you?"

I asked Iino, who was looking up at me.

"Huh? W-What about me...?"

She didn't expect to be asked this.

Looking down at the puzzled Iino, I nodded.

"What do you want to do? Think about it and give me your answer."

I had no intention of adding more words.

As I said before, I came here to make a proposal.

No matter how many words I use, ultimately, the decision is Iino's.

What is important to her.

The rest is something she has to decide for herself.

"I... I..."

Iino released her grip on my chest.

Her eyes lowered as if searching her own heart.

The time she spent thinking was very short.

"... I don't want Takaya-kun to die, and I don't want to kill him."

Iino raised her face, as if confirming something.

She had a determined look, with strong-willed eyes.

Strangely, it was the first time I felt I was really looking into Iino's eyes.

"I won't let anyone die. I won't compromise on that, either."

She clenched her hands in front of her chest and said firmly.

"Alright, Shinjima. Let's work together."

＊＊＊

"It's settled, then."

I am here to save Lily.

Iino is here to stop Takaya.

Our goals are different, and we are not allies, but if our paths are the same, we can join hands.

The alliance was formed.

"Let's discuss the plan."

"Okay."

I immediately started.

Iino, who seemed to have no objections, nodded.

"Hey... Shinjima."

However, a question appeared on her face.

"Before that, just one thing. Okay?"

Now that we have built a cooperative relationship, there's not much point in talking about it here.

Still, going into battle with Takaya with lingering doubts would leave me uneasy.

"You can say what you want, but please be brief."

"Okay, I understand."

Iino agreed and spoke.

"Hey, you came back here because you thought I would agree to your proposal, right?"

"I came back here for more than just that, but I did expect you to accept the proposal."

"Why were you so sure?"

Unlike before, her tone was free of hostility and suspicion, purely curious.

Perhaps her question caught me off guard.

"Ah... That's..."

"That's?"

Facing Iino, who tilted her head, I scratched my head.

To be honest