"A slave? We're supposed to believe that you'd do anything we say?"
"Well, you see, this is another world, and we have something for that here!" With those words, Hanakawa pulled something out of thin air.
"Wait, what did you just do?" Yogiri was immediately on the alert.
Their adversary had been empty-handed just a moment before. But now, out of nowhere, he was gripping something tightly in his fist. Yogiri didn't feel any killing intent from him, so it didn't seem like they were in danger, but it looked as if there was still much more to learn about the full extent of the Gift. He would need to be more careful than ever.
"I just pulled something out of my item box."
"Can everyone do that?"
"Ah, this is also the result of a rare skill, so without that skill it's impossible. But it makes handling a Hero's belongings rather simple. Aha! If you let me join you, I can offer you this special service! With the item box, I can carry all of your luggage for you! With my recovery magic, I can heal any injury with ease! And since this is my second time here, I have plenty of knowledge about this world! Isn't it a great deal? I would definitely be useful! So please, don't kill me!"Hanakawa bowed from his knees, pressing his head against the ground. "What do you think, Miss Dannoura? I wouldn't want to exclude you from this decision and leave it entirely in Sir Takatou's hands..." he continued, his gaze flickering back and forth between Tomochika and the ground.
She, in turn, thought it over for a moment. He was someone who had come here with the intention of attacking her. It must have been a complicated mix of feelings.
After having apparently gotten her thoughts in order, she spoke slowly.
"I'm only alive right now thanks to Takatou. I'm certainly not going to complain about how he chose to save me, and I don't feel that I need a say in how he deals with you, either."
"Noooooo! You're too cool about it! You should be getting more emotional, telling him he doesn't have to kill anyone without thinking of the consequences! It's not just about being a good person — that's the correct behavior for a proper Heroine!"
"Moving on. What's that in your hands?" Yogiri looked at the object that Hanakawa had retrieved. It was a simple metal circle and looked like a kind of collar.
"This is a slave collar. Whoever wears it can never disobey the first person they see after putting it on. It is an Ultra Rare magic item! See, you just do this!" Hanakawa did something with the collar, making it split in two. Then, fitting it around his neck, he immediately looked at Tomochika. "My master! What, pray tell, is your command? I would even lick your shoes should you instruct it!" Still on his knees, he began shuffling towards her.
"Ew! Stay back!" she shouted, and Hanakawa immediately stopped moving."I see. But it's hard to believe that you'll really obey anything. For all we know, you're just faking it."
"This feels kind of gross...no, it's extremely gross. Is there no way you can stop calling me 'Master'?"
"I don't want to! Truly, it is against my will! However, I cannot disobey your instructions...regardless of what happens, I will never be able to undo my being a slave, but it is theoretically possible to transfer the right of ownership to someone else."
"Oh. Well, in that case, Takatou can have it." Without the slightest bit of hesitation, Tomochika threw away that right.
"Noooo! Why?! WHY?! I thought at least being a slave to Tomochika would be something I could handle!"
"Even if you push that on us...fine. I won't kill you." Yogiri felt like things were getting ridiculous.
"Truly?!"
"But it's not like I plan on taking you with us. That's a forest over there, right?"
"Ah yes, the Forest of Beasts. Ruled over by the Beast King, it is a territory not in human hands. It was unrelated to our adventure in vanquishing the Demon Lord, so as such I have not had the experience of visiting it, but I am told there are prolific amounts of monsters within its confines. However, as the beasts within have resolved to distance themselves from humanity, so long as one does not attempt to enter, it presents no danger.""Go wait there till I give you further instructions."
"Were you not listening to my explanation?! I was just saying how dangerous it — no! Stop! Why am I standing up?! My feet won't stop!" Just as he had been instructed, Hanakawa began walking towards the forest.
"Oh, right, I forgot," Yogiri said again, a new thought occurring to him.
"What is it?! Perhaps, after all, this instruction was just a clever joke?!" He turned only his head as he walked, his expression filled with hope.
"No, I just forgot the gag order. Don't tell anyone anything about us.""That is all?! Wait, it's not too late! I will exert my fullest efforts in making myself an asset to you!"
"And one more thing."
"What is it?!" Once again, his eyes began to glitter. He must have thought that this time he would be saved for sure.
"Leave any valuables you have here."
"Now you rob me?!" Hanakawa began retrieving things from his item box, leaving them in the grass.
"See ya. Run along now."
"No, wait! Please, don't just send me off to my death after wringing me dry of information and money! Seriously, please!"
But no matter how hard Hanakawa screamed, his feet never stopped moving. As much as he hated it, he had no choice but to continue walking straight towards the forest.
Yogiri stood up and began collecting the objects that Hanakawa had left on the ground. There were various bits of gold, silver, and precious gems. He didn't know the economy of this world very well, but it seemed to be a significant amount of wealth."It would be nice to have something to put them in."
"Oh, I'll go find something. I think there was someone who had a big bag on the bus."
Tomochika went and retrieved two backpacks from the destroyed vehicle. Although they were clearly in an emergency situation, it was surprising how quickly she had accepted the idea of grabbing other people's belongings. And despite the fact that numerous students had died around her, she didn't seem to care. Of course, rather than her being particularly brave, it may have been that the reality of the situation simply hadn't hit her yet.
"All right, let's split it, then. Make sure you keep the expensive-looking jewels and stuff well hidden. Who knows, they might be useful someday." Putting the assorted valuables into the two backpacks, Yogiri sat down again. Maybe he had been standing up for too long...he was starting to get sleepy. "Next would be food. It doesn't look like there's anything here but candy, though.""I guess we never got dinner, did we?" Tomochika pulled out a number of cookies and other snack foods. The original plan had been to eat dinner once they'd arrived at their hotel, so of course they were hungry. With the gathered snacks, they managed to have a crude meal.
"For now, all the pressing issues have been dealt with, I guess."
As Yogiri gave a relieved sigh, Tomochika looked at him in amazement. "Are you sure it's all right to leave Hanakawa like that?"
"I'm not fond of the idea of bringing him along. We have no proof that he's actually become a slave, and we have no idea when he might betray us."
"You're not very trusting, are you? It didn't look like he was acting."
"Even if he wasn't, we can't know how long it will last."
"And what about me? How do you know I won't suddenly betray you?"
"That would be fine. Deciding to protect you was just a selfish last-minute thought anyway," Yogiri admitted.
"Umm, I know it's probably kind of weird to ask, but the two of us have never really spoken before... Why are you willing to go so far to save me?"
"Huh? I wonder why..." Yogiri pondered the question. It had sort of gone without saying that he had to protect her, but now that she mentioned it, he wondered exactly what sort of thought process had led him to that point.
"No, no, no, there's gotta be something, right? Like I'm so beautiful that you naturally stood up to protect me without thinking about it?" Although she said it as a joke, a note of disgust still came through in her tone.
"Ah!"
"What? Did you think of something?"
"Maybe...because your boobs were soft?"
Tomochika's scream echoed across the field.
"Is there not a single decent guy in this whole damn world?!"