Volume 7, Chapter 4: Persuasion by Elder Jurojin
For now, I entered the first-class cabin reserved for nobles and royal family members, securely locking the door.
Seeing the disheveled bed, my heart was slightly unsettled, but there's no helping it.
"Let's just give up and go back like this."
I collapsed onto the bed.
"Are you an idiot? You?"
Before me stands Elder Jurojin.
"Sigh... oh well."
I sighed, then opened a key-locked box resembling a personal chest, and packed Elder Jurojin into it tightly before closing and locking it.
"This should do."
I breathed a sigh of relief, but then Elder Jurojin grabbed my collar and shook me.
"What's the meaning of this?"
Elder Jurojin looked at me with a stern expression.
He seemed to have teleported out of the treasure chest.
"Well, you see, it's like something you'd put in a drawer of your heart."
I explained, and Elder Jurojin gave me a skeptical look.
It just doesn't sit right.
At that moment, the door was pounded on, and Aoi's voice could be heard.
Elder Jurojin extended his hand towards the door, and despite having four locks, they all opened simultaneously.
"Hey, hey, what's going on?"
Mitsuki entered the first-class room.
"For now, let's pretend we didn't see anything..."
I suggested, and Princess Miyabi sighed.
"Why did you turn out like this? You?"
Elder Jurojin asked.
Everyone's attention was on Mitsuki.
"Huh? Me? Even if you ask me, it's troublesome."
Mitsuki said looking puzzled.
"Brothers! The dark feelings have vanished! That old man is amazing!"
Apolit enthused.
"It's true! My heart and voice are both healed!"
Colonel Kunihito appeared delighted.
Wait, wasn't Ikeda Hideto's voice more charming?
"Why do you all change sides so quickly? That's no good. It's because of such things that you'll be taken down by birds of prey."
I grumbled to Apolit and Colonel Kunihito.
They both seemed taken aback.
"But you're the same way."
Colonel Kunihito pointed to a pile of crumpled paper in a trash bin near the bed.
The moment Colonel Kunihito said that, Princess Miyabi and Mitsuki started beating him up.
Ah, they're really back.
Colonel Kunihito retorted.
"You there. You must not forget that you are not only the hope of all humanity but also the hope of everything, including monsters."
Elder Jurojin advised me earnestly.
"Becoming the hope of all humanity, doesn't that sound like it's overdoing it?"
I replied with a cheerful smile.
"Who exactly turned out this way?"
Elder Jurojin looked genuinely troubled.
"That's how the world is."
I answered before anyone else.
"Listen. People go through various sufferings and get polished through them."
Elder Jurojin pleaded.
"If you give too much fertilizer, things will rot."
I responded with an even brighter smile.
"You must understand that you are the hope of everyone."
Elder Jurojin continued.
"I never said I wanted to be everyone's hope."
I replied.
"That's fate."
Elder Jurojin stated.
"Then, let someone else take that role."
I answered.
"... It's true. What should we do? A formidable one is growing."
Elder Jurojin held his head in his hands.