I see. So you're saying that Tsurugi-san's ability is like a space transfer?

"It's a little different, but that's the way it's currently perceived. I can move instantly to anywhere I can recognize. However, there are a limited number of people I can move, and I can't move anywhere that would interfere with my recognition.

"That sums it up, doesn't it?　There are wards that prevent you from recognizing important places in the castle of the emperor, and you're not allowed to rescue directly into the hostage room, etc.?

I see. As expected of Kyou-san's sister, she's very quick on her feet.

"Clunk, clunk, clunk, clunk, clunk.

　Since then, since it's been proven that neither Amanes nor Tsurugi have been brainwashed, they've held a strategy meeting.
　According to Tsurugi, the main body will attack the castle about a week after the advance team's retreat.
　But that means the castle will be less well protected and Tsurugi's ability will allow him to take advantage of that and bring down the castle at once.

"Well, of course, the emperor knows of my betrayal, so I'm sure they have that intention in mind when they left their main forces in the castle.

"The main strength of the other side ...... remaining seven heroes?

"Rostam the Emperor, his brother Zachary, Ferid the Heroic Hero, and ......

"Lily, huh?

　Probably all of them are half a force. On the other hand, this one has only Amarnes as an asset.
　I'm sure you'll be able to find a way to get a lot more out of it.

I'm sure you'll be able to see that ...... is one of the seven greatest heroes of all time, but I never thought I'd see Ferid.

　I knew that he was there.
　The mysterious young man Lily had found earlier. He stayed with me for a while, and we became friends through casual conversation.
　I thought he was one of the few same-s*x friends I've had since I came to this world, but I didn't realize he was one of the Seven Great Brave Men and a hero on the emperor's side.

I'm not sure if it's a good idea for you to be able to get your hands on some of these things.

　The man I know is a nice young man who fits the words hero and heroic.
　He's probably more deserving of the hero's position than I am.
　There was no other reason for him to be under the emperor's command.
　That's what I said.

What do you think?　I don't think the emperor would rather use his abilities for such a type.

"Yes?

　Tsurugi suddenly let loose such an incomprehensible line.
　But there was something about that line that stuck with me.

What does that mean, Tsurugi-san?

He used to say that the entity he truly wanted would not be brainwashed with his abilities, but would strive to join him. He seemed to deny that his brainwashing abilities were not royal.

　Denying your own abilities is also incomprehensible.
　I've been thinking about it, but a question that had been stuck in my mind seemed to come out of my mouth.

You're going to be able to find out what you need to do to get the best out of it. Amarnes, didn't you say that he's been skirmishing against your country for some time now?

"Yeah, but . What about it?

I knew something was wrong at that point. With his ability, he shouldn't have had to do that in the first place.

　Yes, Rostam's ability is probably the one that can control the strategy itself the most among the seven great heroes.
　With that ability, it should be possible to reach out to the heart of the country to control or brainwash people without having to skirmish with them. But...

But..." "To be sure. But I've heard about the temperament of the emperor's hero that Tsurugi was talking about earlier. That may be partly why I thought he simply enjoyed the skirmish itself. There's a true sense of accomplishment to be gained by attacking on your own merit rather than by using your abilities to attack easily. We're both brave in that respect. I thought he wouldn't be using his ability to fight with me. ......

That's another contradiction in terms. It's all about Lily.

　So, if he really wants to fight on his own merit, wouldn't brainwashing Lily deviate from his high road?
　...... No, it's not.
　The other day, the incident with Lily's secret leads to an answer: "I don't know about , but that guy was out of line with me.

...... but I don't know about Amarnes, but he deviated from the high road with me. That's enough. I want to beat the shit out of him.

　I don't know about Amarnes, but at least he crossed the line of what a human being should not do to me.
　Honestly, until I attended that meeting, I had the feeling that the emperor and hero were, frankly, strangers to me.
　Even if he was an enemy of Amarnes, I didn't recognize him as my enemy and I had no reason or motive to hate him.
　But after that meeting, the way he might have treated me was enough to make me recognize him as an enemy and give me a reason to throw my fist in the air.
　If it were just me, he would have hurt the whereabouts of my dearest companion. This alone must not be forgiven.

Well, I don't care what she thought at this point. We'll just beat him.

　Everyone here agrees with that statement by Amanes. But even so, there are still factors that cannot be ignored.

The problem is that, like the emperor himself, Lily's ability to fight and ...... the abilities of the other two are unknown.

　Yes, there is a difference in strength at this time, but in this case it's even more amazing that the other side's abilities still have a trump card.
　The abilities of the seven great heroes, whether it's Lily, Amarnes or Rostam, clearly exceed their individual abilities. If the remaining two of them also have these abilities, it's dangerous to go into enemy territory at this point.
　At the very least, if we knew what their abilities were, we could take countermeasures.
　As I muttered to myself, Tsurugi replied casually next to me.

I know what FERRID is capable of, so shall I tell you?

"Huh?　Seriously?



"Seriously

　Really? This guy tells me these things easily.
　But he doesn't tell me anything about himself.
　You didn't tell me why you kissed me or tell me who you are.
　But when I asked him why he kissed you, his face turned so red that I could see through his robe and he started to get upset, which was cute.

His ability to, well, in a word, evolve.

　Hmm?　What's going on?

In other words, the more you are pushed, the more you improve, awaken or awaken abilities and skills appropriate to the situation at hand. That's the privilege of being a hero. It's a skill that comes with it.

　What's that, that's the main character's opportunistic skill.
　You mean that, right?　Like, you're about to be beaten by the enemy, but something magical happens and you wake up and turn the tables?
　Like a certain golden vegetable or the main character fighting a certain golden armor. I'm not sure if it's a good idea to have him as the main character.
　The more you fight, the more you evolve.

You're acting like some convenient protagonist. That's foul!

　And my sister, who knows a lot about kitchens, immediately plunged in.
　Hmmm. But this is certainly a foul. It's an ability the enemy shouldn't have, no matter if our allies have it or not.
　It's frankly impossible to kill. No, exactly, if you try to defeat it, some kind of convenient power-up will occur, and you'll go around in circles, won't you?　No. .

I see. Well, then, I guess I'm the best person for him.

　And that's as far as one person who has heard this much will come forward.
　Ah, you are.

Kyou-sama. Can you leave it to me to deal with him?

　Hel and I looked at the confident person who said that, but then we quickly agreed.
　I see. Is that so. Certainly, then, if there's any chance of crossing over among these guys, this is the only one.
　If you specialize in crossing over, not beating them.

Okay. Then it's up to you to deal with him.

　He nodded quietly at my words.

　The only thing left is Sacherk's ability to be the older brother of the emperor and hero, but Tsurugi didn't answer me about that.
　Perhaps he doesn't know, or he has a reason for not being able to talk about it.
　Either way, it's important to know who will be in charge of which partner when we enter the castle.
　Of course Jack and I want the Four Heavenly Kings to come with us.

...... What about you, Ys?

　Ys, the Snow Witch, is one of the Four Heavenly Kings, but she is not good at fighting by nature.
　That's why she didn't take part in the battles between people and demons and stayed away from the fights alone in the snow mountains.
　This case is just like our situation. It's none of your business and there's no need for you to get involved in the battle. But.

...... and I'll go to ....... ......

　I'm sure you're not going to be able to get away with it," muttered Ys with a small tremble in her voice, but her eyes had a look of determination in them that had never been seen before.

I'm sure you'll be able to find a way to make your life easier by using the ...... promise of a cooking competition with me again. ...... Oh, that's ...... my, my, and my friend ......!　It's ......, so that's enough of a reason for me to go help my friends. ...... It's not irrelevant, not ......, so I'll go with you, too. There is ......!

　That said, Ys-chan's eyes were so strong that she was determined not to regret jumping into her own fearful battle to get back her stolen friends.
　That's right. She had acted desperately for her friend Doriad before.
　That's why she did what she did. It was for his friend, that's all.

Yeah, okay. All right, I'll go with you, then.

　With that said, Ith and I held hands and spread the final push for the invasion of the imperial castle.