Leanne came to Inez's house to talk to me.

　She told me that I had been invited to the coming-of-age ceremony of the prince of the Holy Mithraic Kingdom.
　He said he came to see if I would go with him.

　──── To be honest, I don't really understand.

　It doesn't feel real to me at all.
　I thought it was like a dream.
　But it seems to be true.
　So I wasn't sure how to answer.

　Mithra hates the demon race.
　I don't know much about them, but I know that much.
　It's a country that has long been at the forefront of the hunt for demons.

　In that country, you are to be defeated and destroyed.
　If you are found, you deserve to be killed.
　I've always been told that's what we ...... are, and I think that's just the way it is.

If I go there, I'll probably be killed.
　"If I go there, I'll probably get killed. It's probably different from here.
　I'm sure they hate the demon tribe.

　I'm sure that they lied about inviting me in and feeding me good food, and if I go there, I'll be captured and killed... That's what I thought when Leanne told me.
　So I just said what I thought.

Yes ......, as Rollo knows, everyone is afraid of the demons.

　Of course, I think she knows that much.
　Why would she want me to go to such a place?

But maybe it's because she's never seen the real thing.
　It's just a simple thought, but ...... I think it would be different if we actually met and talked.

　That's what Lean says.
　I'm not sure that's true.

But even though they saw me, even though they knew me, they were scared of me, they hated me, they hated me.

　That was the norm for me.
　I was simply stating a fact, but she (Lean) looked sad.

But at least we don't think so. You know that, don't you?

"Yeah, ...... pretty much.

There are going to be a lot of people there.
　Of course, Rollo's right, there's always the possibility of danger.
　But I thought it might be a good opportunity.

"...... a good opportunity?

Yes. If anything, it's selfish of me, but ...... if I can, I'd like them to get a good look at you and see that my friend is not so terrible.

　My friend.
　That's what she called me.
　I've gotten used to the idea of a princess calling me that, but ...... it still doesn't feel real to me.


　But at least there was no lie in her words.

　I had told her before that I had the ability to read minds, but that didn't seem to bother her too much.

　She doesn't have any fear of me or the demon race in her heart.
　Not to Inez, not to Noor.
　When I met Lean's father, King Crace, I didn't feel such dark emotions.
　If anything, he treated me with warmth.

　Of course, not all of them did... but most of them did.
　It seems that there are a lot of people like that here in the Kingdom of Crace.

　The people around me now are all very pleasant.
　They're so nice that I often wonder why.
　Sometimes I even think that I am already dead and have come to heaven.

　......, but I guess it's real.
　There are people who change their attitudes as soon as they find out that I'm a demon, and some of them show dislike and contempt for me.
　I think that's natural and unavoidable.
　We are used to being hated by others.
　On the contrary, I can't feel alive without it.

　When I said that, Lean gave me a very sad look.
　I don't really care about that.

　──── She's so sweet.
　She is so kind that she cares about me.

I always wondered, "...... why does Leanne care so much about me?

　I always wondered that.

Is it strange that I want a hero who saved my country to be given proper recognition?

But that's because Noor is ......

That may be true.
　But Rollo ...... wouldn't have done so well without you.
　I think you should be a little more proud of yourself.

　Proud of myself.
　That doesn't sound very nice.
　When I said that, Leanne smiled a little sadly.
　Thinking about it, Inez gave me the same look.

　Inez asked me one day.

　──── "Rollo. What do you want to do now?

　She said I could do whatever I wanted.
　But I couldn't answer anything.
　What do I want to do?
　What the hell do I want?
　I was told that I could want anything, but I didn't know what to want.

　But...
　When I look at her face, I understand a little bit more.


　Now, what I want (・・・・) is .

　When I see her sad face, it makes me sad too.
　It is very sad and painful to see such a sad face of someone who is kind to me.

　If I can get rid of such feelings, even if only a little, from in front of my eyes.

　I'm ────

All right, ......, I'll go with you.

　I'm a little scared to go to Mithra.
　I'm a little scared to go to Mithra because I know I'll be met with a lot of scorn and fear.

　But I'm just scared.
　I'm used to being hated and disliked and it doesn't bother me.
　I'm used to being hated and disliked, and it doesn't bother me.
　If you get hit and it hurts and bleeds, you can just live with it.
　I'm very used to pain.

I'm very used to pain. "......, Rollo.
　Never think that you can sacrifice yourself, okay?
　As I said earlier, you can do whatever you want to do, okay?
　I want you to be saved more than anyone.
　You don't have to go with me if you don't want to.

No, you don't. No, it's not. I want to go.
　Because that's what I want to do (・・・・・・).

Okay. .......
　If anyone tries to hurt you, I, Ines, will not let them.
　Above all, Dr. Noor will never allow it.
　We will protect you with our lives, so please trust us on that.

"Yes, ......, I understand.

　I'm sure you'll agree.



　I just said so.



　I'm not sure if I'm going to be able to do that.

So?

　I'm sure you'll agree.

I'm sure you'll be able to understand what I mean.

　And then I told her the other thing I had in mind.

I think I want to be an adventurer.
　I'm pretty sure anyone in this kingdom can be trained to do that, right?
　I'm not a human, but the king made me a citizen.
　So maybe I can be a citizen, too. ────

Oh, I'm sure you'll be fine then.
　You are already a citizen of this country.

　Inez did not show much emotion.
　But at that moment she seemed to be a little happy.



Let's go talk to the instructors at the training camp. There's a meeting today where they're all going to be present and I was planning on showing up, so it's a good idea. Follow me.

　With that, Inez began to walk quickly, and I followed her without hesitation.

　Yes, no more hesitation.
　Because I finally know what I want.
　It was easy once I figured it out.
　I don't know why I didn't know that before.

　I want to be like ──── Noor, the person who can just take away the sad face in front of me.

　I want to be like ──── Noor, someone who can just take away the sad faces in front of me. ──── In order to do that, I need to be much, much stronger.

　If it is okay for me to want something.
　I'll do whatever it takes to make it happen.
　I'll do anything from now on.

　That's what I promised myself.

　Even if I can't get what I want right away, I'll do it until I can.
　It's like I died once and was reborn.
　This time, I'm going to be useful and needed by someone.

　Because that man ──── Noor showed me that I can do that.