To me, the life and death of others isn't something that interests me.
My priority is the peace of the world, not the peacefulness of my own
life. If I judge that you're unnecessary for the world, even if you are the
king of a country, you will have to disappear.
If I were to ask Kuro-san, she will probably just say that I'm dull… but if
you ask me, Kuro-san and the other members of the Six Kings are too
lenient.
The turbulent people are like the scum gathering in the stew, they
would keep bubbling up one after another without limit if left alone.
That's why someone has to take out the scums in order to keep the
world peaceful.
However, I also tend to be lenient with those I'm close to.
On the day before the summoning of the Hero, I went to the location of
the magic circle due to the information brought to me by my
subordinates.
The fact that I, myself would be moving means that it's a situation that
my subordinates couldn't handle…]
[…What are you doing, Kuro-san?]
[…Shalltear…]
[That's the magic circle for summoning heroes, right? If you pour that
much magic power into it… It will go out of control.]
[…Unnn… sorry.]
At my questioning words, Kuro-san turns around with a sad expression
on her face.
What she was doing was tinkering the summoning magic circle… Kurosan poured a large amount of magic power into the summoning
process, making the process of summoning to be almost run out of
control, and if it were used, the likely result would be that the person
being summoned wouldn't be alone.
[…Kuro-san. I hate to say this, but even if you increase the number of
people summoned, "your wish is"…]
[I know that! I don't know if it's even possible…]
[...]
I can understand why Kuro is trying to do this, and I can honestly feel
her pain.
That's why I hesitated. Should I stop her, or should I let her go…
Kuro is like a parent to me, and I owe her a great debt of gratitude for
raising me… It's painful to realize that Kuro-san has been holding onto
this wish for a long time, that she herself even feels that she can't make
it come true.
[…Hahh… Just this once, okay?]
[…Shalltear?]
[Just this one time, it can be explained that it's just the residual magic
going out of control… I'll make the necessary adjustments after this
incident.]
[…Thank you.]
[However, I don't think it's possible. Even if you increase the number of
people you summon, a person who will grant your wish won't appear…
Well, you probably know that already.]
After saying that much, I left the room with the summoning magic
circle.
I went outside and gave my subordinates instructions on how to cover
up the situation and making it look like the magic power in the vicinity
went out of control, and wishing that there won't be any irregularities
that would happen, I waited for the next day.
Yeah, well, as for the conclusion of the incident… it did occur, an
irregularity I mean…
The summoning magic circle that summoned the First Hero… Hikarisan, it was adjusted by Shallow Vernal-sama to summon beings who are
"close to Hikari-chan's age when she was summoned".
Hikari-san was 17 years old when she was summoned to this world. So,
the person summoned by the summoning magic circle from another
world should be about 16-18 years old.
That's why, it was a real shock when I heard from the subordinates that
I made to infiltrate that there was one of them that was 21 years old.
Miyama Kaito… An irregularity who should be outside of Shallow
Vernal-sama's technique's age of selection.
I immediately investigated the irregular being, Miyama Kaito.
As soon as I saw the reason for his summoning, I knew right away.
A piece of Kuro's magic power was in him, he had the ability to become
the being that Kuro-san wanted.
That's why he was able to be summoned to this world, even though the
person summoned should have only been 16-18 years old.
To be honest, I was quite confused about how to deal with him.
Having the qualities and being able to fulfill them are two different
things… I couldn't quite believe that he was capable of holding his own
against Kuro-san.
So, I decided to make contact with him and measure him myself.
There's nothing crueler than making a person feel hope for something
you can't fulfill. If I decided it was impossible for him, I would
immediately pull him away from Kuro-san.
With that thought in mind, I disguised myself as a human and contacted
him…
[…Hahhh~~ Kaito-san should be in the Demon Realm by now huh~~
How boring… wait, arehh?]
I became surprised by the words I muttered while sitting at the counter
in the late afternoon.
Boring? What am I saying? That kinda sounds like I'm missing Kaitosan since he's not coming…
It's been about a month since I started interacting with Kaito-san using
the name Alice.
At first, I thought it would really be impossible for him, but Kaito-san
was far more than I could ever imagine.
He drew Shallow Vernal-sama's interest and pulled Isis-san away from
loneliness.
I don't think he realizes it though, but those were extraordinary
achievements… at least, enough to astonish me and make me change
my mind.
If it's Kaito-san, he may be able to grant Kuro-san's wish… That's what I
have judged, and so, I started moving behind the scenes.
If he's going to seriously stand before Kuro-san, he would need to have
a strong heart… Yes, for example, to the point where he wouldn't lose
himself when he's facing off all of the Six Kings…
That's why I have given him all sorts of trials. Whether or not this
person's heart would submit or whether or not this person's heart
would be distorted… However, Kaito-san was unwavering.
He could be shaken, he could be confused… but still remaining upright,
he won Megiddo-san's trust.
And that also includes mine…
I honestly didn't think that a mere mortal could disturb my mind to
such an extent.
I enjoy talking to Kaito-san, feeling glad even as the seriously concerned
Kaito-san is scolding me when I do stupid things… Missing him at those
times that Kaito-san's not here.
Haahh… Good grief… I've already lived for a long time. Who would have
thought that this adult me would feel love… You're really something…
In the shop at dusk, I hear the door open and a small shadow enters.
[Welcome, Kuro-san.]
[Unnn.]
The one who came in was Kuro-san.
Right from the start, I had told Kuro-san that I was in contact with
Kaito-san under the name of Alice, and even when she came to our
business meeting before, she properly understood my intentions and
kept quiet.
[…Kaito-kun. How is he?]
[He passed. I don't have any complaints here… Well, in my opinion, he
has already passed after the fourth trial, but the fifth one was just
something like a bonus.]
[…I see.]
Hearing my reply, Kuro-san has a complicated expression on her face.
The meaning of the fact that I told her that Kaito-san passed, Kuro-san
obviously knows that.
[…Kuro-san. Kaito-san is the one you've been looking for.]
[…That is something… I still don't know…]
[You're really stubborn, aren't you? Well, that's fine. I'm sure that it
won't be too long before Kaito-san… stands before you. And then, he
will go challenge the depths of your soul that neither I nor the other Six
Kings have been able to reach.]
[...…!?]
Kuro-san looks as if she's about to cry.
There's something she's been seeking for a long time… but she's given
up hope of ever getting it.
Neither Kuro-san nor I could get it… but now, Kaito-san is getting as
close to that as possible.
Maybe, if it's Kaito-san… having such a faint hope is probably making
Kuro-san suffer more than ever before.
It took too long for him to show up… Long years has she become caged,
and being suddenly offered a miracle in front of her would make her
reject it.
[…Shalltear, what if I…"kill Kaito-kun"…What will you do?]
[…It's not like I will do anything special.]
When Kuro-san quietly told me that, I also quietly replied.
[If you kill Kaito-san… I will mourn, regret, and feel angry… I will fight
you to the death… and probably "die" because I'm not strong enough to
defeat you.]
[...]
[It's nothing special. If Kaito-san dies, I will die too, I didn't intend to fall
in love without that level of commitment.]
[...]
In my words filled with determination, Kuro-san remains silent and
doesn't say anything.
Kuro-san also understands. She also knows that the day when that will
happen isn't far away…
Well, as far as I'm concerned, I'm only thinking about what to do to win
over Kaito-san… After that, I would make my approach and make her
see me as a woman as well.
Well, let's put a stop to thinking about this for the future.
Because at some point, when that time comes, whether we want it or
not… the answer will come to us by itself.
Kaito-san… I adore you. That's why, please… More than anything, I wish
for you a happy ending…