............

　He should have been eating in silence, but it seems like he was able to see right through his heart before he knew it.
　Perhaps, but this wasn't Kounel's 'innate difference (skill)', but rather the power of a rule of thumb she had accumulated over a thousand years.
　However, there is no mention of it in her acquired skills section.
　However, that doesn't mean it's not 'quantified' at all.

　While reaffirming that Kounel Chronicle Shulus Legia Ingrid is the highest 'real age' record holder as anyone else, I answer.

'Was that in your face?　Sorry, I was just wondering about my mom and dad.
"-- the Chairman shouldn't meet your parents. 'Please', please don't see them.

　Suddenly, I was cut off from the second 'please' hand.
　However, although we have a contract, it doesn't mean that I will listen to everything Kounell says unconditionally. I tell him that there are things I can ask for in a request and things I can't.

'I think we should meet,' he says. ...... me and my parents are 'family'.
'Mr. Chairman. What are you going to talk about when you meet with this 'family'?　First of all, they will definitely ask you about your sister Youtaki's absence. Are you going to tell the residents here everything, everything up to today?　To parents who have never even heard or felt 'demonic poison'?
Still, I think we have an obligation to tell you about Yotaki: ......
I don't think so. On the contrary, I think we have an obligation to keep them hidden. If you see your daughter and son turn out to be 'completely different' ......, your parents will be sad. Under normal circumstances, absolutely.
'My parents are not normal. They're very strong people.
'But I heard that you lost all of your ...... position, honour, and fortune when your life was swept away by the chairman and your sister?　Can you really say that they are strong enough to meet with the current chairman and not be affected by it?　Honestly, I don't think there's anyone stronger than the chairman anywhere anymore.

　The sudden drop in tension and the speed of the folding made me feel like I was being pushed around.

　In a complete change from earlier, she has the face of an old woman and is very preachy.
　When I couldn't give an immediate answer, Kounell asked a follow-up question to me.

'Does the Chairman know about ......, Ragne Kaikwola's mother?'
'La Lagune's mother?　I'm rather on the level of how do you know that guy: ....... I thought I was the only person who knew about it already. Even Sera-san, who was close to that guy, didn't seem to know Rielle-kun.
My guess is that it was Ragne Kaikwola's mother who killed Riel Kaikwola. We have interviewed the survivors of Sidoa's village at the time and found many things that didn't add up.

　Kounel will answer immediately.
　Perhaps, but she was cautious and thoroughly sussed out the person called Ragne Kaikwola during the information gathering stage to defeat the 'Gentile' Hitaki.

　That last battle started with Ragne's idiot killing me and the 'Senate', so it was a natural investigation.
　And I'm slowly learning what she's trying to say.

'Oh ....... As Kounell thinks, I'm living the same life as Ragne, and I've succeeded in 'affinity' once. Naturally, my parents and that guy's mother are very similar. Really, they're a lot alike.
"My guess is that he's a bitterly cold, rational man. He is not sad about the death of his own child, but rather has the strength of mind to rise above it...

　Quunel speaks vaguely.
　He says it's a guess, but I guess he's already convinced in Kounel's mind.

　That's right.
　My parents were cold-hearted people.
　Honest in their own desires and very selfish.
　The twisted upbringing and neglect of education they gave me as a child is proof of this.

　--I've learned the truth that the kind parents I remember were influenced by the Failure Magic.

　I have a hunch.
　No, this is already a 'premonition'.
　I'm not going to be the only one who has a problem with that.

　--I'm sure that the influence of Failure Magic on my father and mother, after the passage of a thousand years, is gone.

　I'm not going to be able to get the best out of them.
　I'm not going to be able to get it right.
　That's why my parents, who escaped the clutches of Youtaki and I, are no longer in prison.
　They've used their connections well and have already been bailed out by a friend of theirs. In addition, I've been able to cover up the scandal and return to the entertainment industry. He must be fabricating an unlikely story to sell the idea of two people who have unfortunately lost a child but are continuing to move forward.

'-- That's the nature of the people (・・・・・・・・), right (・・・・・・)?　Do such people still want their children to live?　No, would you want to meet with a 'chairman of the board' in the first place?　What will he look like when we meet again?

　This is also the same as Ragne's mother.
　She wouldn't want to see him because it would interfere with her work.
　If possible, she would want him to stay dead.

　No, it's more than that: .......
　My son, who was supposed to have been missing after neglect, suddenly appeared in front of me .......
　Somehow, he can read other people's minds, see the future, and is like 'magic' itself .......

　It's ridiculous.
　First of all, I can't even believe that it's my child.
　And even if I could, I'd be terrified.
　And above all--

Please believe in Ateki. It is happy for all of us to think that the chairman of this world was already dead (・・・・・) when he was summoned to Atei's world. Of course, it's also happy for the Chairman. ...... Now, I know that Ate is talking about selfish things. But please, I would like you to think about it for a moment. If I went to see him now, he would be sad.

　--the fact that I'm already (・・・・) dead (・・・・・・・・・・).

　In this world, I would be classified as a so-called ghost or zombie or something like that.

　After becoming such a being, I remember the contents of a certain "deal of the world".
　I'm not going to be able to tell you what to do with it.

　The meaning of the "summoning" was carefully explained to me by the apostle.
　At that point in time, Diprakra-san told me that Yotaki and I were already 'special beings chosen as saviors'. The content of that transaction was the beginning of the other world's divorce tale, and the biggest transaction of the story--

"Perhaps, but the two of you ...... have lost your lives in the 'original world' forever. You can never return. Hence, they are as good as dead once. So the 'world' has judged you to be.
"I suppose I cannot return. At any rate, the 'deal with the world' when you summoned your--
　The 'price' of Aikawa Yotaki's summoning is 'Crisis on this planet'.
　The 'price' of Aikawa Uzumi's summoning is 'Aikawa siblings will live (・・・・・) permanently in this world (・・・・・・)'.
　It was decided. There were many candidates for the 'compensation', but we three of us discussed and decided on it.

　Without this much of a 'price', there is no way to make a 'connection' between the two worlds.
　And because it is really rare for an entity to make a new "connection" even at this level of "cost", I said at the meeting of the "Senate" that the invaders "don't come that often".

　At any rate, there is no doubt that Aikawa Uzumi, as a decent Japanese, is dead.
　If I chose to live with my parents in the 'original world', it would be the first and greatest rebellion of the 'deal with the world'.
　I don't know in what way the 'curse' will fall around me.

'Kounel's advice is right. Really, very true. ...... but at least let me see them from a distance. I'll see them from a distance ...... and if my parents' lives were going well at that time, I'll stop meeting and talking to them. At least until I can be sure that all the 'curses' in me are gone, it's not safe to meet with my 'living family (・・・・・)' .......
'............!　I think that's a good idea!　Go to ......, heh. Oh, I'm so glad. I'm very happy that the chairman chose "Atechi-Tachi's World" and now Atechi is very happy!

　--I chose (...).

　That's how Kounel expressed it to me, and I knew he was right.
　And in order to make me say this, I can see that Kounel wanted to come to the 'original world' with me, before anyone else.
　To make me prioritize the 'other world' instead of the 'original world'.

I'm really glad, I'm really glad. After all, the chairman is on our side!

　Kounell is pleased to have accomplished what no one else could have done, and he is pleased to be able to get it off his chest.

''You half threatened me with the word 'please' ....... If I renege on the contract here, this one has the real power of the 'North-South Union', and I don't know what Quunel will do to me.
That means that ......, the chairman of the board is seriously concerned about our world, right?　Oh, I know what I'm doing.　Hehehe.
Of course I'd be worried. ......

　There was no way I could leave it alone.
　All along, that place was "The Different World (・・・・・) where I met Rastiara".
　But after that last battle, it's now 'My World of Living with Rastiara (・・・・)'.

''--Whee!　I ate, I ate!

　When he had spoken that much, Kounell rubbed his swollen belly.
　The food that had been spread across the table had been flattened out without a trace.

　We sat down, paid the bill at the counter, and walked out of the family restaurant.
　My body, accustomed to the air-conditioned space, tensed up a bit in the cool, natural air.

　Kounel next to me rubs his hands together, blowing warm breaths from his mouth, and suggests to me.
　There was no longer any of the cold, knife-like atmosphere that I had felt earlier.

''Well!　It's cold, so let's hurry up and go to the next one!　Next stop, the clothing store!　I'd like to have a clothing store as my destination!
'Huh. ....... If it's my first time in a clothing store, I'd like to go to a department store. I hope there's a place like that nearby: ......

　I take out my smartphone and search for a store.

　I found a large shopping mall nearby that is owned by a nationwide group.
　From what I've found, I can see several brands of clothing here.

　Kounel next to me was peering at the scene with interest.
　When I told her that I could understand the geography of a strange land like this without 《Dimension》, she happily countered with a "I see...".

　Then, she hugs my arm and urges me to move as if she were pulling me.

'Then let's go, let's go!'

　I continue the conversation as I'm pulled along and walk away.

'...... Kounel, you've changed a bit. Compared to before, you're coming along amazingly fast.

　The last time I saw Kounel again, she was really running away from me, even though Titi, the Demon King, was next to me. I pointed out that she had always done her best to get away from me, but now it was the opposite.

　It was payback for Kounel's cold 'request' earlier.
　I also don't hesitate to ask the question as if I am dealing with 'the one who steals reason'.

''My [The one I love most will die] is because the 'curse' is gone, right?
............

　Kounel stopped in her tracks.

　At that time, now that she thought about it, she had been paying attention to both Yotaki and Tiara.
　She always made a sign to 'someone' that she would try not to do anything unnecessary, so please let me miss it.

'Did you know about the 'thread'?　Like Ragne.

　Threads" are thought to be all-powerful and invincible, but they are not without their weaknesses.
　There are times when it is easily perceived by strong 'people'.

　When asked, Kounel was rigid.
　Then he gradually relaxed from his body, and as he slowly walked out, he confessed.

'...... Yes. At that point in time, I understood, if only faintly, the danger to Tiara-sama and the others.''
You did a good job of guiding me when I saw my memories with Distance Mute. Now that I think about it, that was a real tightrope walker, wasn't it?
'No, I didn't mean to walk a tightrope. I knew the Chairman's personality well, so I was sure that if I said that beforehand, he would never look at my private life except as it related to the bloodsucking species.

　I find that word certainty a bit frustrating for me.

　It's a story that makes me acutely aware of the rule that even foul magic is up to the magician.
　Back then, I had mastered a number of magic and was pretty confident, but for ...... types of people like Ragné and Kounel, it means there were a lot of gaps.

''Oh, um, ....... Chairman, could it be that you are quite angry?
I'm not angry. I'm just saying that I wish I could follow your example, because you're really good at crisis management.
No, no more!　I'm not hiding anything from you anymore!　Please believe me!　Really, really, it's all gone now!　That's why I'm trying to be so blatant about this!　Be prepared to be read in a lot of ways!

　Kounel embraces, makes contact, and indicates that he's willing to read his memories again with "Distance Mute".
　At the end of it all, somehow, finally--

"Mr. Chairman, I'll tell you the truth!　I'll be honest, I'm going after the position that Mr. Rustyala Hoozeyers was in!

　Quunel's land mines, which she never intended to dig up, are shown to me by her own hands.

　Right now, Kounel is the only one who can say this with impunity.
　This is because unlike the other companions such as Dia and Maria, I knew Rustiala only through information and never liked her.　

'Kounel, there is no 'replacement' for Rustiala. For the sake of 'proof' and 'curse', I definitely can't stay anymore. Even if there was, it would be--
Yes, that would be the Chairman himself.

　Kounel seemed to have noticed.
　That for the past two months, I've been doing 'what Rustyala wanted to do' instead.

　No, all of my people have noticed, and I'm sure one of them told me about it.
　It's the reason why everyone's eyes have been kind, warm, and somewhat sympathetic to me lately.

'Just what can I say: ....... Even if I can't replace Lady Rustyala's lover position with anyone else for the rest of my life, I feel like the sidekick position she held at the same time is firmly open!　And I'm going for the position!　And on top of that, I don't want to be the only one to lose to that guy, Seldra, in the fight for that position!　In other words, I feel exactly the same way as Master Snow these days!

　With the momentum of the scene, Kounell declares things that don't even need to be said.
　I give a wry smile and repeat one of the names mentioned.

''Kounel is strangely pertinent only to Seldra, isn't he?
'I confess that too. The reason why ...... Aware is suspicious of Seldra in so many ways is because he heard a story from the recovering head of the Siddharq family. He told me that the reason that Glen Walker didn't want to go with him on his escape from the Blood Land is very simply ...... that he sincerely disliked Seldra Queenfillion.

　My pulse quickens a little.
　Indeed, the more I know of Mr. Glenn's mild and gentle nature, the harder it is to ignore his "sincerely disgusted" reputation.

'This man Seldra is, as far as good or evil is concerned, evil!　Absolutely, a bad one!

　Then Quuner took a step away and pointed his index finger at me with a snap.

'A bad guy is ....... Quunel isn't a bad guy?
No, no, no, let's not worry about that now. ......

　Kounel swept her eyes when she was asked back about herself.
　She was aware that she was doing a lot of bad things behind the scenes too, which is why she could understand the same Seldora.

'Yes, ....... Seldra was the worst of the 'reason-stealers'. I know that there are a lot of good things about him, but that's just it.

　I can only appreciate that now that I know the inner workings of all the "Stealers of Reason".

　Indeed, the man named Serdra--
　It was worse than Tida, whose life was all about sprinkling betrayal, and it was worse than Tida.
　It was worse than Rowen, whose life was all about sprinkling death around.
　Worse than Fafner, whose life was full of insanity, and worst than Fafner, whose life was full of insanity.
　Even more so than those three knights, it completely surpassed them.

''Right!　That's why I don't want to be the only one to lose to Seldora!　We all know the chairman is heartbroken right now and is trying to heal a little bit!　That's why--

　Pointing his finger back once again, Kounel declares.

''-- I'm excited to make the most of this second chance, and I'm excited to take advantage of it out of character!　To get the safest and most comfortable position in the 'whole world', including the 'original world' and the 'other world'!　Yikes, seriously!

　Daringly, Kounell made his own aims fully public.

　I'm not lying.
　The current clashing, honest 'discussions' have convinced me, too.

　She wants my power.
　To be precise, she wants the absolute power of the magic stone of Yotaki and Tiara to give her a sense of security.
　However, she's judged that it's impossible to take that away from me, so she's turning to seek my protection with all her might.

　In other words, Kounel is the only person established as the "Senate" and practically controls the countries of the "other world" while still being ...... afraid. Now, the last 'reason-stealer' in front of you.

　-- let me reassure you quickly.

　It's okay (...).
　That's why I'm visiting the 'original world' with Kounell before all the Dear Maria Snow Reapers.