Chapter 81
Then That's Fine.
I Also Swear. I Won't Bring Anyone.
Translator : PolterGlast
"Eldorado.
There's something I want to talk to you about."
Honestly, I wasn't
very surprised that Yuko called me Eldorado.
Certainly, the
Eldorado from the game looked completely different from the current me, and I
had even changed my eye color from red to blue using my illusion skill. But
when I saw her conversation with Nabari-san in the Mirror of Foresight, Yuko
was looking for me. The future I saw indicated that the search for Eldorado was
facing difficulties, but I didn't know how things had changed since then.
Three years ago, when
a demon named Veja, or rather Vejasha, Lotus's childhood friend, attacked the
town of Velvect, I revealed myself in front of a large crowd. Many people
thought that the appearance of that demon in strange clothes resembled the
little girl who had been scurrying around working at Harapeko-tei. So, Yuko
might know that information too.
But she probably never
imagined that I would be acting together with Lotus in the capital of Kasei.
If I stayed
inconspicuous and quiet, Yuko's attention would have been entirely focused on
Lotus. She might have just thought, "Oh, there's some small, cleaning-loving
thing wandering around over there?" But I had been prepared ever since I
snatched the megaphone from her. I had noticed Yuko staring intently at me from
the corner of my eye, and I thought, "Well, this is it."
"...Okay, where
should we talk? Not here, right?"
"Hey, El."
"Lotus, honestly,
now that we've come this far, I want to have an open and honest
conversation."
I was aware that I
wasn't good at subtle maneuvering. If that was the case, then we had no choice
but to face each other directly and talk it out. If Yuko hadn't contacted me
like this, I had been planning to go to her myself. I had asked Lotus to just
observe for the time being, even if something unexpected happened. Perhaps
remembering that after calling my name, he sighed and narrowed his eyes.
"I want to be
alone with her."
"Okay."
When I nodded at
Yuko's next line, a heavy atmosphere flowed from Lotus this time. I was
determined not to look at him since he definitely had a scary face.
"How about that
place, the top of the wall where we were until just now? Veda is repairing the
part where the water sphere membrane broke, but the other parts are all muddy,
so I don't think anyone will be there now. We were planning to clean it up in
the morning after the sun rises."
"Then, let's do that."
"Now?"
"...If I'm gone
for too long, Nabari will be noisy. Before the lantern light goes out would be
good."
"Got it."
"Before the
lantern light goes out" meant a little before the date changed. Several
lanterns—magic tools for managing the membrane—were suspended from the water
sphere membrane that enveloped the capital of Kasei. Even now, the warm orange
light above us was gently illuminating the bustling city, but right around the
time the date changed, all the lights would go out for a moment, plunging
everything into darkness.
Just like machines,
magic tools would overheat if they were lit for too long. They had a system
where they would automatically turn off once and then reset.
"Alright
then," Yuko said in a low voice and turned to leave, but I said,
"Wait." There was something I absolutely had to confirm. "Can
you swear that you'll definitely come alone? You won't lie and bring someone
with you?" Yuko's eyebrows furrowed in annoyance. She looked at me and
Lotus.
"...Of
course!"
"Then that's
fine. I also swear. I won't bring anyone."
"Oh, is that
so!" she shouted and disappeared into the crowd. "..........Hey,
El." Well, this was to be expected, I thought, and gave a smile to Lotus,
whose gaze had sharpened to its maximum intensity for the day.
"That's how it
is, I'm going to go settle things for a bit."
"...She probably
knows who you... are, right?"
The town was a lively
party, and no one was even looking at us. But just in case, I spoke without
mentioning the word "demon." Even if that's the case, we can just run
away. Lotus said so. It was rare for me to stir up trouble for the usually
laid-back Lotus. He frowned, his lips pressed into a straight line.
Being able to run away
with our tails between our legs if anything happened was our biggest card. We
could overturn the board, do whatever we wanted.
"There's no point
in trying to figure each other out. If there's something she can't talk about
with Lotus around, I think I should hear it."
Besides, Lotus didn't
know about our kind. "Yuko is a Saint, you know. A Saint who came from
another world." --And a girl who knows about the concept of
"oshi."
"I think Yuko
will probably come alone. I won't say 100%, but I can tell. No, I'm sure of
it."
Lotus had a "what
are you talking about?" look on his face, but this was something that
wouldn't get across even if I explained it. So, I told him various theories
that it would be okay, and I waited for her at the promised place and time. The
night deepened.
--In conclusion, Yuko
did come alone after all.
"You really did
come alone."
"...So did
you."
The mud that had been
stuck to my feet was now completely dry. There was a rough feeling on the soles
of my shoes. Yuko raised the hood of her reddish-brown robe and revealed her
face under the lantern light. Surprisingly, she had a calm expression.
"Since I was in
front of Lotus, I'll keep my promise..."
That's right, her oshi
is Lotus.
She couldn't lie in
front of her oshi. That was our kind. Well, I could lie normally. But Yuko was
different. Unlike a newbie like me who had only played casually, she truly
loved this game, as a game. Even if Lotus's current appearance was different
from her imagination, the core remained the same. That's why I was sure. No, I
felt it in my soul.
"I see,
indeed."
Having said that, the
reason I knew Yuko would come alone was thanks to Ichi and the others' search
skills. This time, I somehow managed to reacquire my detection skill with a lot
of effort, but actually, Ichi and the others had much more excellent unique
skills.
--In front, it's just
Yuko-chan!
--At six o'clock, no
one there!
--Spin around and face
forward! Okay!
Listen, Yuko. Humans
are nasty things. Well, I'm a demon though.
Despite saying I would
keep my promise, I was blatantly breaking it. Three slimes, whose figures I had
concealed with my illusion skill, were protecting my surroundings, though Yuko
couldn't see them.
--No one can break
through our three-slime encirclement!!!
Nyoin, they stretched
out their arms, crossed them, and struck a pose...
Lotus was also waiting
a little ways away, having concealed his presence. As expected of the chivalry
of a warrior, he was in a place where he couldn't hear the conversation, but if
I were to shout loudly in an emergency, he would be close enough to arrive
instantly with his speed.
Rather, the current
predicament was on Yuko's side, a normal girl who hadn't even leveled up
properly.
A one-on-four that
looked like a one-on-one. The breakdown of the four was one person and three
slimes. Even the silver-haired demon who attacked Velvect would have been
surprised by such cowardice.
I'm sorry. I am
Eldorado, a pure-blooded villain.
I didn't intend to
choose any means from the beginning, actually. Don't underestimate a villain.
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