CH 106

Settlement

The day after I returned to modern times, untill 2:00 pm, which is the scheduled visit time for Kuroko-san, I did nothing but keep watchful eye on Momiji in case her sisters came out, watched TV and read manga while playing with app like a self depraved man.

The time flow inside the app was still 10 times faster, and although the world was changing at a rate that the naked eye couldn’t keep up with, it was clear from having the world map as a whole that both the territory of Galhart and the great country that had become the site of the battle with the Demon King seemed to be going about their lives peacefully.

Of course there have been some minor wars with other smaller nations, but for now I ignore it because it has no end.

After all, this is something that can’t be helped as long we are humans.

Then, while I was thinking about what to do with the occupation field that had been left empty due to my fusion into an [Akuma] profession, the scheduled time was finally approaching.

Well, it was almost time.

Then at just the right moment the doorbell rang and from across the door came a familiar voice.

“Saito-sama, it’s me, Kuroko. May I come in?”

“Ah, yes yes, please come and open the door.”

She seemed to come alone as promised, and as far as I could see from the door scope, I couldn’t see the usual black clothes bodyguards.

Although Kuroko-san had absolute power over the black clothes bodyguards, it was hard to imagine that they wouldn’t do something to the people associated with the Nine-Tails that the Togami family was trying to crush with all their might.

There was a risk that they would attack without warning, or that they would reveal my secret.

It would be a problem if that happened, so I let her come alone this time.

For the time being, I’ll let Momiji hide in the depths of the living room before letting the Ojou-sama in.

As always, she looks around at the interior of the room, but unfortunately you won’t be able to find the youkai-avoidance item, no matter how much you look.

I don’t have a millimeter of the secrets of Onmyodo, and so does the creation of items.

Although I could probably make it in creation mode if I wanted to.

“Excuse me.”

“Welcome.”

After pouring tea into a cup on the low table, I sat down across from her.

So, where to begin.

Slightly nervous.

“Then again, Saito-sama is really an incredible person. You have the financial resources to buy a company to work for, but you still enjoy such a simple life. …… It’s a bit rude to say this, but I guess a typical dignitary would go on a luxury trip. I’m sure you can’t be measured in terms of power and wealth.”

As I was confused about how to start the topic, Kuroko-san, who had been looking at the home decor for a while, spoke up to me.

But, a simple life? ……

Personally, I’m used to this life, so I’m not that unhappy with it.

I’m usually adventuring in other worlds, so even if I had the money for luxury travel I wouldn’t have anywhere to spend it.

In fact, I think the bigger reason is that I can’t completely change my salaryman-nature, so it’s hard to live a rich life.

I don’t think that life is compatible with my values anyway.

I think that’s the way I think as common man wherever I am, so that’s probably it.

The most elegant and liberating way to live is to work as a coffee shop owner and go on adventures in other worlds in moderation.

But alright.

If you want to pursue it, I have a question from here as well.

“This is a slightly heavy topic, and there is something about that matter for which I would like to seek an answer from you. If there was a powerless person not like me now who had assets that could be wasted but deliberately did not use them …… to use an analogy, a powerless person who could not keep up with changes in circumstances nor resist his superior’s orders, what would be your assessment of him, Kuroko-san?”

— The difference between this person and me is simply whether or not he has been given power and assets by luck.

— Despite this, do you still find the person attractive?

I asked her this.

Needless to say, this was a reference to Momiji. If you were to look at it from an uninformed point of view, Kuroko-san would probably think that what I said was inexplicable and confusing.

But at the root of it, without the APP, I am just an ordinary corporate-sl*ve.

That’s why I always overlap this corporate-sl*ve-youkai with myself.

Of course I don’t force others to forgive her for the bad things she’s done in the past, but nevertheless she’s a good person by nature.

She is just one of my kind who likes eat, sleeps, plays and sometimes wants to work every day. If you have good intentions for me, please do share that love with the person hiding behind – that’s all I’m saying is so trivial.

“Of course, even if there is such a person, it doesn’t mean that he lacks merit in himself. Even if he doesn’t have the power and assets of a man like Saito-sama, as long as that man is good in nature, then it’s enough to give him respect. This is a truth that is universal to all. Just why do you ask that?”

There was not a single lie to be sensed from Kuroko-san, who did not have a single dark cloud in her eyes.

That way, since she could say something like that, all that remained after that was to make her believe what she said.

I gave a signal to Momiji, who was hiding behind me, to show herself.

The next thing I knew, I heard the sound of gulping. Well, that certainly surprised her, it couldn’t be helped.

“Mmmm~ it’s been a long time~”

Momiji shuddered as she peered at the other woman’s appearance.

The character was still as coward as ever. This kid was hopeless.

“……!”

“That’s the reason for the question just now. If it was a hostile and unreasonable youkai then it would have to be retreated and cured, but the current Momiji has neither aggressive nor hostile intentions. The proof is that this kid hasn’t done a single bad thing since we met. …… If you meant what you just said, you should be able to somewhat understand this kid’s situation, right?”

Looking at Kuroko-san who was rolling her eyes in surprise, I couldn’t help but feel sorry. But there are always moments in life when we have to understand each other.

And that’s exactly what happened in this case.