Relationships are temporary. Connections are formed on a surface level, and they come and go every single day. That’s just how life works. It’s nothing to be happy about… or sad… It’s just… indifferent.
Just like transactions, really. Kindness is repaid with kindness, hostility repaid with hostility, and so on… Unfortunately, only someone very na?ve would believe the system’s perfect. Relationships aren’t always fair, but only the few use that to their advantage. What’s most important is knowing your advantages. Knowing what others value, where you stand, and how much can be extracted before kindness turns into hostility.
It’s the same everywhere.
Doesn’t matter if it’s in the classroom or in some medieval fantasy mansion with two guys who think themselves great villains or whatever. As long as there are idiots around willing to be used, it’s only natural to take advantage of them.
“So again, this is Ayumu Asada. I met her the other day by coincidence, and I think that she’ll be a nice asset to our plans…”
“Huh… Can’t say I was expecting this. Since when are you so quick to welcome people into our inner circle? If we could call it that. Unless you brought her here on a whim, in which case, I may need to reconsider our partnership.”
The first to speak was a young-looking man named Thivadi, followed by a slightly younger Molt. Thivadi sat behind his desk while Molt and Ayumu were in front of him on opposite couches. Their postures were very relaxed. Leaning back, taking up space, projecting power. Ayumu was the same. Legs crossed. Leaning against the armrest. She could benefit from them, just as they could benefit from her. Any nicer than this would seem desperate, which she wasn’t.
Every word was measured. Every move strategic. This is the nature of most relationships. It’s all surface level. With most people it’s fine. Take as much as you can and leave before they can do the same.
Ayumu wasn’t the only one who understood how things worked. The other two were clearly playing the same game.
It was a pretense so transparent that it was nothing but a formality. It’d be sad if it wasn’t so mundane. These idiots at least were self-aware. Unlike the girls whom she called friends.
But was that really everything? Was there nothing more to relationships? Of course there was… Most relationships were just transactions, and most people were temporary. But not all of them… This was a truth that was hard to grasp for people like them that Ayumu only knew about from glimpses, not personal experience.
“How much have you learned about her? Can we trust her?”
Molt was suspicious. Why did Thivadi bring a random human to their meeting all of a sudden?
Thivadi could only meet his suspicion with laughter. “I can trust her as much as I can trust you! And you can trust her as much as you can trust me.” Which was to say, keep your expectations in check. “If you want to know more about her, why don’t you ask her yourself?”
“*Sigh…*” Genuine relationships existed. Very rare, but real. A lot of people went their whole lives without one. But these two clowns weren’t how she was going to find out. Not in a million years.
Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.
“That’s quite the attitude you got there…” Molt leaned forward, planting an elbow on his leg. Is he trying to intimidate her? “How exactly can you help us with that blonde girl? Do you know her? What’s your relationship with her?”
“…” She made him wait a few seconds. Who does he think he is? “I made a promise with her. I have a grudge against her and told her I’d make her pay.”
What a weirdo… Molt’s reaction immediately gave his thoughts away. Thivadi tried his best not to snicker too much.
He leaned back again. “So? That’s it? How’s a grudge gonna help? If that was all it took, there wouldn’t be any problems in the world. What can you do for us? How are you going to help us take her down?”
“I’m not. You’re not gonna touch her. I’m the one who’ll take her down. Iroha’s mine.”
Bold… Obsessive even. Molt had to give her some props. Not a lot of humans had goals this strong. Even fewer had her focus. Can she back any of it up, though?
“Okay, okay… Whatever you say, you crazy girl. As long as you can make sure she won’t interfere with our plans, we don’t care. But what can you even do? You don’t look like a fighter. Are you even aware of how strong she is?”
“You don’t really believe in me, do you?”
Ayumu reached for a pillow next to her and threw it into the air. The other two followed, confused. The next moment, the pillow grew a set of wings. A mouth with sharp teeth appeared on the side facing Molt, and it flew forward to tear his face off.
“!?” Molt stomped the low table and punched. The pillow was turned to shreds, and cotton flew everywhere. What was that? Molt adjusted his coat once he sensed no more threats and sat back down. “Not bad… You turned that pillow into a monster?”
“Yeah… Guess so…”
She shrugged. Knowing a little more would be nice, but he could read between the lines. She’s got something. She’ll be helpful one way or the other.
“Are you done with your questions now? Cause I have questions too, you know?” They didn’t stop her, so she continued. “I get why Iroha’s your enemy. You want to manipulate this heroine or whatever, and she’s in the way. But what’s the end goal? What are you really after?”
“What? Can’t you figure it out yourself? I’m helping my people take over the world. The most noble cause for us demons. Humans have long given up trying to match us, so it’s our duty to take over what’s rightfully ours.”
So straightforward… “But don’t you have human allies?”
“Humans have a place in the world. Loyal ones, like Molt, already have their place secured. The rest just need someone who can work them properly. You troglodytes were on par with us when the previous hero lived, yet in the millennia that we became the powerhouse we currently are, you’ve barely made any technological progress. It’s pathetic, really. How can you not even try to make life better for yourselves? We have to take you out of your misery, don’t we?”
“That’s your justification? Then again, if they’re not trying to make their lives better, maybe they deserve it…” She could understand. A bit. “What about you? You’re human… right? What do you get from working with the demons? Don’t you care about humanity?”
“Galene. The heroine. I want her to renounce.” Molt crossed his arms without going into detail. “She’s the only one who can stop the demons’ plan, so our goals align.”
“Why? That’s enough for you to sell out humanity?”
“As long as she renounces, I don’t care about anything else. It’s a personal thing. Just like you and that Iroha girl. But what about you? Don’t you care about humanity either?”
“Iroha’s the only thing I care about.”
The humanity of this world did not matter to her in the least. Would her answer change if her world was also under threat? Either way, settling things with her came first.
“You’re focused on your goals, huh? That’s important… I like that.”
“Ahahahaha! Isn’t she great? You’re getting along already!”
… (line)
“Iroha… Reward… Gimme gimme!”
“Ca- Carol?!” Why is she nuzzling up to me?! Ahh… Her cheeks are so soft… “What are you talking about?”
And why can’t I move? Where am I? A bed? “We helped you out, didn’t we? You have to reward us now.” Ririna too? She clung onto my shoulder while huddling with Carol. I know why I can’t move now. They’re holding me down. Carol’s on top. Hecate and Ririna both holding down one arm.
“That’s right… It’s reward time. Give in to your fate now…” Ahhh… Hecate too? What is this? Am I dreaming?
I have to be… They were all in dog girl cosplay while rubbing against me. Puppy ears, skimpy top and bottoms, and fluffy cuffs around wrists and ankles. When did we set this up? Are the clothes the reason they’re acting like puppies?
“I get it, I get it… I’ll give you your rewards, but for now, stop smothering me! This is too much!” It’s too warm… It’s too nice… Too crazy… They’re going to drive me crazy!
“Nyahahahaha! No no no… You’re not getting away! You’re our plaything now.”
Ahahaha… Their plaything… Sounds good… I wanna stay like this foreve- “?!” That’s just wrong. Sarasa had the same clothes as the others. No, just no. I yanked the puppy ears from her head. “Sorry, but I can’t let you wear that. It messes with your charact-”
Wait… where did her cat ears go? She looked like she was about to start bawling. No way…
“Waaaahaaa…! Iroha! You’re so mean! You stole my ears!”
“Wa- wait! How is that even possible?” My collar… She knocked everyone aside and shook me. “This doesn’t make any sense… Am I the only one who notices that something very weird is going on here? Anyone?”
“How could you, Iroha? You’re the worst! I hate you!”
I hate you…
I hate you…
“Nghhh… Hm?! What the… Ahh… ahh…” I found myself in my room at the dorm, in bed. Morning sun peeking in. “Oh… That was actually a dream?”
Chapters with just characters interacting?
