…
"Oi!" — gasp, gasp — "Wait! We are not your" — gasp — "enem-" — gasp — "enemies."
By severe luck, we stumbled upon Yuuta at the end of our second day. Although, when we approached him, he tried to flee. This charlatan, Yuuta, is surely a good runner, he should have become an athlete instead.
Ahead of the direction Yuuta is running to, a familiar figure, haircut, and hair color appeared. It was Tal that walked to the tavern.
"Oi! Tal! Stop him!"
"Hm?"
"Don't just stand like a pillar!" — gasp — "Do something!"
"Beat him!" — screamed Yamazaki next to my ear.
Tal then stretched his leg, Yuuta tripped on it and collapsed on the ground.
"Gr-great job!"
"Who this?"
"The man we were looking for."
"Hm?"
Ah… right.
"He is my… my brother."
"Ouch… Who the hell ar- mhm?!"
"Shhhh! Calm down boy, your papa finally found you" — Yamazaki shut Yuuta's mouth with his palm.
Ugh… poor Yuuta.
"What are we gonna do now?"
"Take him to our place, what else?" — Yamazaki smirked.
"Do ya need a rope?" — asked Tal, while holding a rope.
"…"
What could possibly be a respectable reason for someone to carry a rope with himself?
***
"Here is your soup, good appetite!" — Maen served us three plates.
"Maen~ where is my soup?"
"Liars don't get food in this tavern."
"I ain't a liar! I stopped lying long before!" — he stood up — "I swear upon my love and fidelity to you! I ain't lying!"
"And why should I believe you? Hmpf!"
"Because I know that my Maen will never date liars!"
"Huh… so you really met a gigantic ant and survived?"
"Yes-yes!" — Tal nodded — "Kaz, tell her!"
"Fine, I believe you" — the receptionist sighed.
"He-he, you are excused! How about a meal with me?"
"I am excused, huh…"
Tal, you dumb brat, you put red flags above your head on your own.
"Tal~, how good do you know me?"
"Very good!" — he declared with a proud face.
"Then you should know that I hate reckless and stupid people as much as liars, do you?"
"Erh…?"
"You knew where you were heading to. You put yourself in danger. Moreover, you didn't stop our customers and put them in even bigger danger."
"I…"
"If you wish to oppose me, then choose a bone I should break. Choose wisely, I am kind-hearted today~."
"…"
Poor Tal… his heart selected a fearsome woman.
Maen turned to us, carrying a smile.
"Dear customers, please let me know if you need something."
"Uh… sure."
She then went back to the reception.
…
"I am excited to hear your reasons for running away from us?" — Yamazaki addressed a question to Yuuta, who was sitting between me and the wall.
"…"
The illusionist kept holding his silence and staring at his soup.
"I'll make sure to send you back to the camp where you belong if you keep being silent."
"Erh… that's why I ran away in the first place…"
"Oi-oi, who do you think we are? We aren't villains." — Yamazaki waved his finger.
"But you threatened to send me back to the camp right now?"
"…"
"…"
Yamazaki gave me a glance.
"Oi, Kazuya-kun, help me here."
Eh? But, he has a point…
"We were sent by Divine Reincarnation to take you back."
"I'd be pissed off if our candidate ran away from his task, but in this case, I am glad you are a coward." — Yamazaki pointed his finger at Yuuta.
"Thank you for insulting me, kind old sir."
"I am 33" — Yamazaki responded with an irritated voice.
"Old" — said Yuuta with a poker face.
Pf…
He got guts.
"Anyway, rejoice! As Kazuya mentioned previously, we came to take you back. You are coming back with us tomorrow."
"Erh? Actually…"
"Hm? What's the matter? You want to fight monsters?"
"Certainly not! But, I like it here. If you allow me, I would like to stay here."
Yamazaki came closer and stared at him.
"And the reason behind it is?"
"I entertain people on the streets. I realized that making children laugh is my destiny. It makes me feel important and happy."
What is this? Did you change your profession to a comedian now?
The old manager pulled back and raised his chin, staring at the ceiling. A moment after, he started scratching the back of his head.
"Might cause me a little problem, but we can do it."
"What do you mean?" — asked Yuuta with confused eyes.
I join you, Yuuta-kun. What does that perv have in his mind?
"I don't understand, do you want to stay here or not? Can you please decide?"
Yuuta rashly stood up.
"I want to stay!"
"Very well, then you shall stay here."
"Shhh, hey! What is this? Aren't we supposed to bring him back?"
"Don't worry, it's my concern now."
Hah? I don't understand him…
"So… am I free to leave?" — Yuuta asked.
"Yes-yes, free to leave" — Yamazaki waved his hand and yawned — "If you allow me, my beloved son, I'll leave for my room."
I was left alone in the tavern, without a clear answer on what was going on and how we should explain everything to piggy.
"Maen hates me. Maen hates me. Maen hates me."
Oh… this wounded soul was also here. I am not alone after all.
Tal was constantly mumbling the same sentence, with eyes staring at emptiness.
"Maen hates me."
Yeah, nothing I can help with. Stay strong, Tal-kun!
It's my chance to sneak before he notices me and starts whining about Maen.
I went upstairs to our room, Yamazaki was already lying down on the bed. I approached my bed and fell on it. Despite being tired, I couldn't sleep. As it seems, Yamazaki couldn't sleep as well.
"Hey."
"Hm? What is it, s-o-n? Do you need a lullaby?"
"Stop it, f-a-t-h-e-r, there is no point in acting now. Erh… is it really okay to let everything be like this?"
"You liked to be my son that much?"
"I mean Yuuto, old man."
"How rude to call me old, I am just slightly older than you."
Your perspective of "slightly" is a bit wrong.
"Sigh, if he enjoys his life here, then it's fine."
"What about our task?"
"I don't care."
"…"
Quite a few minutes of awkward silence later, Yamazaki questioned me.
"What is our purpose, Kazuya?"
What is this sudden question?
"Erh… to make profit for our company?"
"Do you think so? Very well, then what is the purpose of our company, Divine Reincarnation?"
"Erh…"
Never thought about it, it is irrelevant to me, to be honest. I try not to bother my mind with topics over which I have no influence.
"Who are you, Kazuya-kun."
"Erh? I am who I am. What kind of question is this?"
"Oh, excuse me. Then let me rephrase it. Who is Fukuhara Kazuya, in his past, and current life? What is your task currently?"
"…"
"You might get a hint if I explain to you who a man named Yamazaki Satoshi was. Yamazaki Satoshi was nothing but a failure for his entire life. Yamazaki Satoshi never experienced genuine affection from the opposite sex, nor did he fall in love with someone. Yamazaki Satoshi never felt he could trust anyone, even the people he considered his close friends, even his close family members. Yamazaki Satoshi is a miserable man who wished for a better life. I could say that after his death, his wish was accomplished. The life Yamazaki Satoshi is living now, is certainly better than his past one. So let me ask you again, who is Fukuhara Kazuya and why is he at the place he is right now?"
"…"
I am here because a certain monkey screwed his job…
Ugh…
"You don't have to answer right now, just think about it with a clear mind. You have to answer that question yourself in the first place. Who are you, and why are you Yuuta. Which one is the Divine Reincarnation's priority, the candidate, or the client?"
"Yuuta?"
"The name is irrelevant, you'll understand once you realize what I mean. You'll understand why we need to let that man stay here once you do that.
Yamazaki turned over and almost immediately started snoring.
You are an incredibly evil person, leaving me alone with such a question during the middle of the night. I couldn't close my eyes until the very morning. What the hell did he mean? I am not paid enough to solve such riddles! Besides… I am Yuuta? What kind of nonsense is this? Is there really any meaning behind this statement, or did he intend just to tease me? Who am I, and why am I Yuuta…
Ugh… I can see the sunlight slightly appearing outside the window, soon enough Yamazaki will wake up and we will depart back.
…
"Mhm."
There he is, the first yawn of the day.
"Good morning, perverted old man."
"Mhm? Good morning… erh? The hell is wrong with your eyes?"
"It's because of you."
"Hey, don't just blame me! Take insomnia pills with yourself next time."
I truly hope there won't be a next time, though.
We went downstairs and were greeted by Maen. Strangely enough, I couldn't see Tal anywhere.
Well, Maen's words yesterday were as sharp as a knife, stuck right into Tal's heart.
"Eh?! Are you leaving already? That's a shame… then, if you come to our city again, please, visit us"
"Um, sure."
We turned and went to the exit. Before stepping outside the building, I turned my head and looked at Maen for the last time.
"Tal might be an idiot, but he sincerely loves you, don't be too harsh on him…"
Maen looked at me confused, then released a small laugh and smiled.
"He is an idiot indeed, but he is my idiot~. Please, have a safe trip home!"
Huh… well, I'm glad she has feelings for him in the end.
***
"You look awful, go home and rest a bit."
"Very kind of you, Yamazaki."
Even if you are the reason I am in such a state. Before leaving for home, I wanted to test if my conclusion, or rather call it thoughts, were correct.
I turned to Yamazaki and stared at him.
"Stop, it's creepy, go home."
"Before I go… cough, cough. Fukuhara Kazuya, just as Yamazaki Satoshi, was a miserable man who sought for a better life, even if it was the afterlife. His wish was accomplished after his death. Fukuhara, Yamazaki and Yuuta, they are all the same."
Yamazaki nodded — "Please, continue."
"I think your question was phrased incorrectly."
Yamazaki tilted his head.
Please, explain."
"You asked, who is our priority, the candidate, or the client. In my opinion, after thinking over it the whole night, the roles should be switched. We are looking for the right job for our candidate rather than the right candidate for the job. At first sight, it seems there is no difference, whatever order our workflow has, but it has a significant difference. The candidates are our priority, it's their wish we fulfill, not the wishes of random Gods. The candidates are those who come to us, begging, if I can call it like that, for help. While Gods just amuse themselves."
I looked at Yamazaki, he seemed to be satisfied by my words.
"The company's purpose is to help people find a better life, be it a reincarnation, a transmigration or whatever other option there might be. We, the consulters, are the guides of pitiful souls. And just like that, letting Yuuta live there, is the best decision we could make."
Yamazaki nodded, his face resembled that of a proud father.
He patted my shoulder.
"I knew you would eventually get the point, but I didn't expect you to answer me that soon. That was a great answer, I am proud of you, Mr. Best Employee."
I am glad I pleased you, you old perv. This cost me a healthy sleep.
"Hm? Did you come back already, you two? Where is that guy Yuuta?" — just a few minutes passed since we returned, and we already met the branch manager. Not a very pleasant experience.
"Hello, Sir. We met him and came to the conclusion that it's better for him to stay there." — Yamazaki greeted him and answered his question.
"Hah?! How did you come to such a ridiculous conclusion?! And who will pay us?! You?!"
"…"
Yamazaki, are you sure we did the right thing? I'm starting to doubt everything I said a couple of minutes before…
…
Even if we hit the right, moral decision, our company had different thoughts over it. In the end, Yamazaki had to pay a $4,500 compensation to our customer and an additional $2,000 as a fine.