What exactly was going on here?
Why, at this very moment, was I sitting inside a succubus’s home?
I felt uneasy…
I needed to think this through carefully.
This succubus wasn’t entirely good, yet she wasn’t exactly evil either. After all, she wanted me to stay for dinner. Or was there some other motive behind it…?
Thinking back to what the catgirl had said earlier, was there something special about this boy? Perhaps he had some kind of negative status effect that made him exceptionally good at attracting hatred?
If that was the case, why would they keep an unknown threat like me around? Weren’t they worried I might cause them trouble? If I were in their position, I wouldn’t do it. And I certainly wouldn’t regret that decision.
I picked up my teacup, occasionally glancing at the succubus sitting opposite me from the corner of my eye.
To be perfectly honest, a succubus’s charm was practically unrivaled. However, that so-called charm had absolutely no effect on me. I was already well aware of that fact.
After finishing my tea, I put down the cup and glanced at the boy named Kalimel. He was standing beside the succubus and seemed quite close to her.
Well, she was his older sister, after all.
So, was she a good succubus?
“Anyway, what did you want to talk to me about, Miss Iris?”
I placed my teacup back on the coffee table and leaned forward slightly.
Hearing my question, the “succubus”—Iris, whom the boy had called his older sister—also set down her full teacup. She looked perfectly composed…
Why was I even describing her as composed? It wasn’t as though I were interrogating her. Besides, she hadn’t committed any heinous crimes.
“Child, after meeting Kalimel, have you noticed anything unusual about your body?”
Why was everyone asking me this question?
I shook my head, firmly denying it.
“I see. That’s good. Then we won’t have to cause you any trouble.”
“Cause me trouble? Well, if it’s nothing serious, I don’t mind.” Actually, I was rather curious about what kind of trouble they might cause me.
“No. If you don’t agree to it yourself, this matter would become a problem.”
Iris suddenly grew serious. Apparently, it really was a troublesome matter.
After she patiently explained things for quite some time, I finally learned a few secrets.
Kalimel was human.
And humans had gone extinct in this world several hundred years ago. As a result, other races had come to dominate nearly every continent. Their people could be found in practically every city and village.
When Iris first discovered Kalimel, he was still very young. She had been astonished to find a human child, so she brought him back to the village.
As time passed, Kalimel grew up…
Iris refused to reveal anything more about what happened afterward. Apparently, she didn’t think the details were particularly important to me.
“Oh, so humans have gone extinct in this world?”
“Huh?! You didn’t know? I thought every human who had grown to your age would have realized that by now.”
“How could I possibly know that? Think about it. Kalimel is still so young. How could he possibly realize that he might be the last human in the entire world?”
After hearing my explanation, Iris understood.
The smile that had lingered on her face grew brighter and brighter, as though she were delighted by something.
“Hehehe. Hearing you say that, Shiling Hayatsuki, you sound rather mature for your age.”
Had someone finally understood the problem?
I was genuinely moved.
I had lost count of how many times people had treated me like an innocent, naive little girl. They only saw the exterior and never understood what lay beneath it.
I secretly congratulated myself for a moment.
Then Iris suddenly added, “Are you feeling proud because my words made you think you were mature?”
That immediately brought me back down to earth, and I began contemplating my life again.
What right did I have to feel proud?
I couldn’t accomplish anything. At this rate, even a donkey might be worth more than me.
If only I had no power at all. If I were truly incapable of doing anything, perhaps things would be better. Living as an ordinary person didn’t seem so bad.
“…Sorry. I’ve just got something on my mind,” I muttered.
In truth, I was trying to comfort myself. No matter how I tried to justify it, I was still running away from reality.
But I liked fleeing from danger and avoiding trouble. I could escape all sorts of problems without even having to put in much effort.
I should have done that from the very beginning.
Unfortunately, I had been too young back then.
“…..”
(Drinking tea.)
“Miss Iris, could I ask you something?”
“…”
(She puts down her teacup.)
“What is it? Go ahead. Perhaps I can answer your question.”
“Do you think the world is fair?”
“…”
(She smiles.)
“That’s a rather tricky question.”
(I speak seriously.)
“You don’t need to feel pressured or worry about the consequences. Just tell me what you really think.”
(She ponders for a moment.)
“…I think the world is fair. When I was an adventurer, I worked hard and received rewards for my efforts. Everyone else earns money in much the same way, by doing their jobs.”
“…”
(I stare blankly.)
“I see…”
(Then, suddenly…)
“But I don’t think so. The world has always been unfair!”
(My emotions grow intense.)
“Just think about the slaves! They’re oppressed and trampled underfoot, unable to obtain even the most basic food. Meanwhile, those so-called nobles live in luxury, eating and drinking to their hearts’ content!”
“But that’s only one side of the story, and it’s all in the past. Things are very different now. You shouldn’t keep clinging to the past.”
(I freeze.)
“Yes… Yes, you’re right. It’s my fault. This is my punishment.”
(I smile.)
“I’m stubborn. You hit the nail right on the head. I’m so stubborn that I kept moving forward, silently believing my companions would eventually change their minds and come around…”
(I emphasize the final words.)
“And yet, I was betrayed.”
“…”
(She suddenly interrupts.)
“Let’s stop talking about this. You look distressed. Would you like to rest for a while?”
“Could you at least let me finish? Why does everyone keep doing this…? I don’t need superficial comfort or sentimental platitudes…”
(She smiles.)
“Then what is it that you need?”
(My gaze turns distant.)
“I… I… I don’t know either. My future is shrouded in uncertainty.”
“Shiling… May I call you that?”
“…Sure. Call me whatever you like.”
“Shiling, would you like something to eat?”
“What?”
“A few days ago, Aria and I went to the city on business. We only returned this morning. Our friends prepared all sorts of rare ingredients to celebrate the successful completion of our commission.”
“…”
So this was an attempt to distract me.
“Since you’ve only just arrived, Shiling, I wanted to ask what you like to eat so I could have someone prepare it for you.”
“Thank you. Bread is all I need. However, I shouldn’t interrupt your meal any longer. I have somewhere else to be.”
I needed to hurry and find Lady Clyrol. I couldn’t waste any more time here.
I stood up, gave a slight bow, and turned toward the door.
However, someone grabbed my hand.
When I turned around, I saw Kalimel, who had been quietly listening the entire time. His eyes were slightly swollen, and the rims were red. It looked as though he had just finished crying.
Why? I was only trying to leave. Was it really necessary to make things this troublesome?
I reached out and gently patted his head, giving him a reassuring smile to let him know that I really did have to go.
But Kalimel continued gripping my hand tightly, just like a child clinging stubbornly to his mother and begging for candy.
“See, meow? Kalimel doesn’t want you to leave either, meow!”
The catgirl chimed in, taking advantage of the situation to add fuel to the fire.
Unfortunately, I absolutely had to leave this time.
Just as I was preparing to cast a spell and depart, the “succubus,” Iris, who had been silently pondering the situation, finally spoke.
“Since neither side is willing to give in, why don’t we follow the adventurers’ code and settle this with an honorable duel?”
“As expected of Miss Iris, a former adventurer.”
Although, personally, I had no desire to duel anyone. I still thought that leaving as quickly as possible was the best course of action.
“That’s right, meow! Let’s go duel in the backyard, meow!”
Aria eagerly joined in, seizing my hand and leading me toward the kitchen. There was a small door over there, which was presumably the entrance to the backyard they were talking about.
I could have easily pulled my hand away and forced Aria to release me.
But I didn’t.
It wasn’t because I was unresponsive, nor was it because I was being generous and reluctant to hurt a pretty girl.
Somehow, I seemed to be looking forward to something myself…
Ah, now I remembered.
It was that inexplicable laziness that made me let things unfold naturally.
Was I reacting to the word duel?
Did I actually want to bully someone weaker than me and enjoy that brief moment of satisfaction afterward?
“A duel.”
“A duel.”
Even after I had taken my place in the backyard clearing, standing face-to-face with Kalimel, I was still thinking about the duel itself.
“The first person to knock down their opponent wins.”
“Just so you know, meow, Kalimel is really strong, meow!”
“…..”
I really wanted to see just how “strong” he was.
“I’ve set up a training field, so no matter how intense the fight gets, neither of you will suffer any life-threatening injuries,” Iris explained.
That was a pretty convenient thing to have. I’d have to ask her how to set one up later.
I cracked my knuckles, rolled my head from side to side, and loosened my neck as much as possible. Then I fixed my gaze on the child standing opposite me.
“Three.”
“Two.”
“One!”
Don’t be ridiculous! He’s just a child. There’s no way he could—!
In an instant, I raised both hands and condensed blue blades of magic above them.
At the same time, the boy had already rushed right in front of me, his black sword gleaming as he charged.
He was fast.
In fact, he was even faster than any of the members of the security corps I’d encountered earlier.
I sidestepped the boy and sent a deep-blue, circular blade of light spinning toward him. Then I activated [Impression Teleportation], moving directly in front of him in an attempt to block his field of vision.
But things didn’t go as I expected.
He simply took a quick step to the side and dodged the spinning blade. His movements were so natural that it seemed as though the entire backyard lay within his control.
His field of vision is enormous. Could he have some kind of radar, too?
In an instant, I flooded the ground beneath us with blue magical energy, intending to make sharp blades burst straight out of the earth.
“Wh—?!”
But he charged at me again, interrupting my spell at precisely the right moment.
Just what kind of monster am I dealing with? Is this kid even human?
For now, I decided to keep dragging things out and see what happened next.
Who knew? Perhaps I’d get to enjoy myself a little.
