21 - The 21st episode of "Collecting Hiro II"

--Suddenly...

For Helian, the game [Tactics Chronicles] was an ideal box garden where his dreams and romances could come true.

For example, adventure, for example, the one-hit wonder, for example, the champion of the world.

In the real world, dreams and men's romance that could never come true, Helian has continued to make them come true in his fantasy world of "Hakoniwa".

A good example of a character is the Commander of the 8th Army.

Dragons are a man's romance.

I do not allow any objection.

There can be no objection.

A man who does not feel romance with dragons is not a man.

That's why I made him my friend.

He overcame many obstacles and unreasonable trials, and when he finally made the dragon his friend, he struck a gut-punch like a striker scoring a goal in the World Cup.

Although he did not intend it at first, the commander of the Seventh Army also turned out to be a romantic figure.

A decisive battle weapon is a man's romance.

No one can argue with that.

There can be no objection.

No man is a man who does not feel romanticism when he hears the words "final," "decisive battle," and "mobile weapon.

That's why we built it.

We excavated ancient ruins, spent money like hot water, and when it was finally completed, we screamed with all our might, as if we were the hit-making machine that hit the winning run in the WBC.

And then, the Commander of the 6th Army Corps.

At the time of the Cold War, Alkimaira needed to be able to fight information warfare, entanglements, and sabotage.

However, there were no demons with high aptitude in these fields, and they were considering creating new ones or capturing them.

Then, Helian saw an announcement from the public relations department of the management company.

It was an announcement that a new demon had been added to the rare gacha.

Among them was the "Succubus" race.

Succubus is a demon that appears in men's dreams and performs so-called adult s*xual acts.

And Helian was definitely a man.

--That's what I meant.

"But it's been a long time since I've been your companion. When was the last time I accompanied you?

"M...... well, you know."

Up close.

Camilla, the commander of the 6th Legion, speaks to me at a distance where our shoulders are almost touching.

The group of travelers, including Camilla and Helian, is once again walking through the forest toward the village. However, the presence of Camilla, who was walking right next to them, made Helian's state of mind hardly normal.

She has changed from the sensational clothes she was wearing at the time of the audience to a more practical search outfit. Her usual Victorian gothic clothes would not have been acceptable in the setting of a traveler. The rank of the equipment is considerably lower, but for the sake of the mission, I had him change into a disguise that is as inconspicuous as possible.

However, whether or not this actually made them less conspicuous is a definite negative.

In any case, even with their rugged and plain equipment, they could not hide the s*x appeal of their bodies. The group is making its way toward the village, but the particular part of her that shakes every time she walks continues to disturb Helian's spirit.

"I am rarely called to the capital. I can hardly remember the last time you and I walked together like this. It's a new feeling."

Yes, I see.

Since she is also a corps leader, she has repeatedly reincarnated and evolved to a high rank in her race.

Originally a Succubus, she has become a Nightmare Queen, the highest rank in the Dream Demon family, and although her combat power is one step below that of other corps leaders, she has become a force to be reckoned with when it comes to information warfare and sabotage.

And as a part of information warfare, he was engaged in operations such as entangling enemy soldiers to obtain information.

Camilla wrapped her arm around Hellian's left arm in a very natural gesture.

She clings to him not only with one hand, but with both hands.

At first glance, Camilla seems to be having difficulty walking, but she does not show any such signs and proceeds as if there is no problem at all.　

The problem was on Helian's side.

(Don't feel, think ......!)

Helian tells himself this, but to little effect.

What matters is that it hits him in the arm. It's called a close contact. I can't tell you what's hitting me, but I can say that it's a good fit.

It was soft and fluffy, exactly how Hellian had imagined it would feel.

One of the twins, which had not been allowed to be touched in the game, changed its shape when pressed against his arm, sometimes bouncing, and even felt a slight warmth... I'm sorry, please forgive me, it was just a passing fancy.

What's the matter, my dear?

"No, it's nothing."

Helian does his best to cover up the turmoil in his heart.

She mustn't be exposed. Never.

If she finds out, she will die. It would ruin his dignity.

"...... Hey, Camilla. If you've been watching without saying a word for a while now, you're too familiar with the Lady Helian, even if it's just to disguise yourself."

You've seen it coming.

Rieve spoke bitterly against Camilla, who was sticking close to the master she was supposed to serve.

Then Helian gives her a hearty shout out. With all her might.

"What are you talking about? I am doing the best I can. I am, after all, a frail companion who was left alone in the Abyssal Forest, a place filled with danger. Then it is perfectly natural for me to actively seek physical contact in order to feel the presence of my friends whom I have finally met again, even if only a little.

"But I don't want to tell Mr. Helian..."

"Are you saying that it is more natural for you to cling to Nushi and Ertina, who are set up as your bodyguards?　That's just silly. You don't understand the subtleties of the s*xes. These things are not logical. The woman who has been wandering in the woods for so long should cling to you, my lord... the only man in the group. Since my mistress, who is an expert in this field, says so, there can be no mistake.

"Then, when we get closer to the village..."

"Amateurish. In this kind of thing, it is important to create an atmosphere in advance. It is not something that can be managed by delineating a line that says, "This is where the performance will begin. It is a small discomfort that lurks in the viewer's subconscious and sometimes has an unfavorable effect.

Since the fate of Alkimaira hangs in the balance, I will do all I can to eliminate such possibilities and take all possible measures. Or are you asking me to cut corners?"

"No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no.

Then shut up. You're ruining the mood."

It was a sealed deal.

I couldn't even finish my line.

Rieve, unable to refute the argument, backed down, biting her teeth.

Even she understands the importance of this return visit.

But seeing the expression on Camilla's face as she clings to Hellian, she just couldn't help but to speak up.

"And by the way, did you remember the ...... setting?　Camilla."

In order to change the subject, Hélian confirms that the travelers' group is set up.

Of course, my dear. I have already memorized them perfectly.

Good. We're getting close to the village. All three of you should be ready.

Helian tells his three companions that he, too, will change his mind.

--The setting is as follows.

A group of travelers led by Helian.

While exploring an old castle, they are suddenly struck by a mysterious phenomenon: they are enveloped in a mysterious light.

They went through a tunnel ......, but when the blinding light cleared, they found themselves in a completely unknown land covered by a deep forest.

The forest had a deceptive effect on people, and because of this, I was separated from my companions, and after five days of wandering, I finally met people - the people of Rattestwood.

Although they managed to survive thanks to the various items they found in the ruins, the group was ignorant of various common knowledge, including the situation in the surrounding areas.

Later, they received a call from their friends who had been separated by their treasured magic tools (magic items), so they left the village of Rattestwood in a hurry to join their friends.

I apologize for leaving without exchanging a proper greeting, as I could not stand to hear the news from my companions whom I did not know if they were safe or not.

Fortunately, I was able to meet up with my friends safely, and I would like to apologize for the other day and talk about our future relationship.

I am also aware that the food aid we provided last time was well received, and I intend to do the same this time as well.

--The above is the set-up of the meeting.

To put it simply,

>.

.

>.

I hope that this will be conveyed to the RATESTWOOD side.

Frankly, I cannot imagine what they will do when I visit the settlement again.

I think it is unlikely, but if they are interpreted as Noblewood's pawns, they may attack us out of the blue.

However, we cannot cut off relations with the valuable source of information, LATESTWOOD. If it is necessary to make contact with them again, we have decided that it would be better to do so as soon as possible.

I am not sure if this decision is the best one, given the various problems we are facing.

However, a king who makes no decision is no better than an ornament.

A leader's job is to make decisions.

And once he has made a decision, he has to do his best to prove that he made the right choice.

"Tactical Window: Open" (Tactical Window)

The virtual window opened by verbal operation is manipulated with a finger to display a .

I used the spoken operation and direct operation (tap) because it was easier and more reliable than the thought operation, but I was worried about the stares of my subordinates as if it were a new thing. I wonder what my current behavior looks like to them who cannot see the virtual window.

In [Tactics Chronicle], I did not care about the NPC's gaze, but in ...... this is not the case in this world.

If direct manipulation looks like a strange pantomime, it is better to use thought manipulation when you can afford it. I make a note in my mental notebook that when I return to the castle, I will have to check in the mirror at some point.

(...... I think I can see the settlement soon...)

The that I called up shows topographical information, location information, etc., as far as I could find out in my previous search. The symbols indicating small villages and hamlets are getting closer. When we are only about three minutes away from the village, a strong wind is blowing through the forest.

Suddenly, Rieve's nose twitched.

The wind was coming in from the opposite direction, whereas it had been downwind from the direction they were traveling.

In other words, it was carrying the scent of the village.

When Helian tried to open the detailed information about the village on the map, Rieve frowned uncomfortably and muttered, "I wonder if he sensed something...".

"...... Mr. Helian."

"What's up?"

"I smelled blood coming from the direction of the settlement."

"-...hurry!"

He ran out as soon as he heard.

He used the to display detailed information about the settlement, and found the creature's response.

There were several white spots of light. The problem is that the number of these lights is much smaller than the last time I visited the settlement.

Lieve, who is following us, reaches out her hand to hold Helian's body as she did the last time.

"Master Helian, please excuse my body..."

"I don't need it!　Instead, I want you to keep a tight perimeter!　There is a strong possibility that there has been a major battle in the settlement!"

I want to keep Levee's hands free.

Last time there were only a few enemy forces, so we prioritized movement, but this time we don't know the scale of the enemy.

The light dots on the are all white, but this should be taken as a sign that the map is not neutral, rather it should be taken as a sign that the map is not able to determine friend or foe. If all of them are enemies, there is a sense of uneasiness when one of Liewe's arms is blocked.

A calm part of my mind told me that we should not rush in and should watch from a distance, but I ignored it. If the village was under attack at the moment, one second's delay could lead to an irreversible situation.

The image of the sisters who had given up their own lives to save their people came to my mind.

I felt nauseous at my own rashness and hypocrisy in trying to save them, even though I was still refusing to get involved in their problems.

But that didn't mean I could stop now.

I had already chosen to run.

"--!　Hey, you there, stop!　Or I will shoot!"

I stopped when a voice came flying from the front.

Someone was standing in front of the village gate, holding a bow. The backlight makes it hard to see him. Who is it? Is it Noblewood or Lattestwood? Or is it a third force?

Are you ......?

The figure holding the bow let out a stunned voice.

I recognized his voice.

"...... Wenli-dono?"

It is Wenli, a close aide of Leifa, the Queen of Lattestwood.

Good.

The fact that she is acting as a gatekeeper does not mean that the settlement has fallen.

The white light spots in the settlement shown on the must belong to the people of Rattestwood.

"You are safe. I'm glad..."

"You people!"

A step toward him was severed by an angry voice.

There is a sound of the wind breaking, and something comes flying in.

It was not until he saw the arrow in front of him that he realized he had been shot.

"No!　Don't kill me!"

I shouted in reflex.

Rieve, Eltina, and Camilla, who was about to leap out of the way, stiffened themselves.

--It was so close.

If I had been even a moment too late to stop them, Wenli might have been killed.

"d*mn it!　Everyone, meet me!　Enemy attack!

"Wait, Mister Wenli!　I am Helian, a traveler who was recently taken care of--"

"What a traveler you are, you white devil!　You Noblewood minions!"

Second shot.

Once again Rieve grabs the arrow.

"......, you misunderstand!　We have nothing to do with Noblewood!"

"Shut up!　If you really have nothing to do with this, then why are we being subjected to this!　Why do you think Noblewood's soldiers will come pouring in after you are gone?

The sunlight was hidden by clouds.

Wenli's expression, obscured by the backlight, becomes apparent.

Her expression was severely distorted.

I had never seen this expression before.

Her face was stained with the color of pure hatred that Hellian had never seen in the eighteen years of Tsukasa Misaki's life.

"What's going on?

A small figure came out, protected by some soldiers.

There is no mistaking that voice or that figure.

It was Leifa.

"Leifa!　It's me, Helian!

Raise your voice.

We need to clear up this misunderstanding somehow.

And my men are acting suspiciously.

It seemed as if they were about to attack Wenli at any moment.

Helian has ordered them to stop, but I sense a disturbing presence from Camilla.

The third shot could have triggered a worse situation.

"-------- Mister Helian."

Leifa utters Helian's name in a somewhat stunned tone.

The emotion in her voice was very weak.

I could not read anything in his voice.

Is she calm or not?

Is he hostile or is there room for him to be heard?

A bead of sweat runs down Hellian's cheek.

"...... Wenli. Put down your bow."

"No, Master Leifa!　They are the pawns of the Noblewoods!"

"Put down your bow, I said. Obey me.

Master Leifua, you have been deceived!　Archers, ready..."

"Wenli!"

Leifa shouted in the harshest voice Helian had ever heard.

She held her right hand straight out, and a small magic circle floated in front of her palm.

And her hand was pointed toward ...... Wenli.

"......Reifa ......Sa,yet?"

Wenli looked at Leifer, who was about to cast a spell on him, with eyes as if he had seen something incredible.

"Wenli! Put down your bow."

"......Why ...... why, Miss Leifa? These people are ...... the reason why you are ...... being so bad, Master Rilifa!"

"Right now, I am the queen of this land. Obey my word. If you cannot, kill me and become the new king."

"Hey, ......!"

"I am grateful to you for taking care of us sisters since we were very young. I consider you like an older sister. But now you are insane. If you continue to do more harm to this country with me as queen, I will not tolerate it."

"............"

"This is the last time. Put down your bows."

Wenli hesitated for a moment.

Herian's eyes are still stained with hatred.

"............!"

Still, she did not have the option of antagonizing Leifa.

She lowered her bow silently, though her expression remained grim.

Helian also lowered his right hand to restrain Levee and the others.

Somehow, they managed to avoid a confrontation.

But Helian did not breathe a sigh of relief.

There was no relief.

The sudden attack was one thing, but more than that, there were words that he just couldn't let go.

"What's wrong with Rilifa?"

Wenli uttered those words on the spur of the moment.

She did indeed say, "It is because of them that Master Rilifa is dead.

Then, what was the word that followed?

"......Helian, it is a pleasure to see you again. First of all, I would like to offer my deepest apologies for any rudeness on my part. I know that my apology will not satisfy you, but please accept my forgiveness.

No, it's not.

What I want to hear is not an apology.

I don't care about that,

"You said Noblewood attacked you.　What the hell happened after that?　What happened to Lady Rilifa?　What happened to you?"

Helian asked a series of questions as if he was being driven by something.

Then Leifa, with an emotionless expression on her face, spoke a simple fact.

"--I was kidnapped by soldiers from Noblewood.