By the way,

　I didn't leave the room right away, but Mr. Deales spoke to me.

'May I call you Kurohiko?'
You can call me whatever you want.
So, Kurohiko you're in a lot of trouble with your sister, I see.

　Ha," he chuckles.

'Maybe I'm the one who's being taken care of, though.
Humble.
I'm trying to make it look that way.

　Mr. Diares looked at him with a big smile.
　Then he smiled.

'I see. So that's the kind of man you are.
Um, yes I'm a guy.
'I hadn't seen Cecily in a long time, and she was somewhat different... well, I felt like I was in a huff. So I asked the people at home about it. I asked them if something was wrong. Then your name came up.

　Mr. Dearest said as he pulled back his chair.

I'm sure she grew up with me as a role model. But she is not that kind of girl by nature. He is an active child who used to be easily upset. But she was obsessed with a strange sense of duty, partly because of her father's policies. As a result, she has grown up to be a sniveling daughter, and I was afraid of her...''

　I see.
　So Cecily's current personality - or rather, her external appearance - was formed based on her brother's example?
　If that's the case, it's no wonder that the gestures and the way he speaks are strikingly similar.
　But there's one thing that's bothering me.

''Um........if you knew that, there were plenty of things you could have done for Cecily-san, weren't there?''

　I thought it was a glib question, but if I had known that, couldn't I have done something about it before I was in so much distress?
　A strong question outweighed my hesitation.

'What would you do?'

　Mr. Dearest asked back.

'What do you think, I mean?'
'If the person you're trying to cross over had to learn everything from you, and you crossed that person... would you be happy?
Hmmm, it's a bit of a long shot.

　That said, I don't want to leave it alone until I'm holding it up that far.
　Besides, I feel like that was a subtle shift in the argument.

'And I'm not a gentle person by any means - unlike you.
What?

　Ms. Dearles' smile switches to a florid one.

'At any rate, Cecily seems to have special feelings for you. I know she's an unworthy sister, but please do me a favor.
Ha, ha.

　And, there.

"Hey, we're going home, you black fox.

　It was the commander of the group who came out of the door.

''Forbidden Spell Maker, you can take what this man says lightly. Your character will be infected, and even you will lose your character.
'Eavesdropping is in poor taste....

　Mr. Dearles glares at the Commander with zit eyes.

'You don't mean me, the black belly fox?'
Oh?

　The Commander looked around the room with a stern face.

'Who else is here?'
Shh...

　Shaking his fist in frustration, Dearles-san shakes his fist in frustration.

You'd think Kurohiko would be cynical too, wouldn't you?
Oh, you don't expect me to agree with you...
The next head of the Holy Tree Order is no less twisted than you. Right, Dearest?

　I said and the Commander pulled his face away from the door.
　The footsteps are moving away.
　This time they seemed to be gone.

'd*mn, that guy,'

　Mr. Diaz is mortified.
　He squinted at Makina-san.

''It's just that the Commander was saying that just now he might be able to serve as the opponent of the Four Deadly Disasters, right?
...maybe...

　Makina, who was chivvying the remaining tea, replied.

''He still keeps getting stronger. One of these days, if he realizes that his power can reach the Four Deadly Plagues, he's going to resign from the Order, not just as a leader, but also from the Knights, and set out on a journey to find the Four Deadly Plagues. That's why from now on, he's making preparations to install me as the next leader of the group....

　--because I, of all people, would like to kill the Four Deadly Disasters more than anyone else with my personal vengeance.

　I remembered the look on the leader's face at that time.

''That Sacred Tree Order seems to have changed a lot since he became its leader. They are more active in attacking the Holy Ruins than they were when Chris Renoussphere was there, and the holy rank evaluation is now weighted more heavily on merit rather than family background or race. The morale of the members of the group has also been able to maintain a high level of morale... I've heard that all of this has changed since he became the leader of the group.
He's a very responsible man, isn't he?

　Does this mean that you are properly thinking about the Knights of the Order after you leave?

''But ... whether I'll stay in the Holy Tree Order without Sogut Sigismus, that's a delicate question.

　Mr. Diaz smiles a wry smile.

There's nothing more boring than a life without goals.

　Is there anything more boring than a life without a goal?
　I felt that I could somehow relate to that statement.

''So........I'm looking forward to the day when Sagara Kurohiko and Currier Versteen join the team. Talk about joining the group, please think about it, okay?

　Ms. Diares' expression changed again and she laughed at us.

I'm sure a member of the group will report to you about the investigation of the holy ruins, principal.
Yeah, nice to meet you.
Now, if you'll excuse me. Thank you for your time today.

　Diares-san bailed briskly and left the room.

　Incidentally, originally, the Holy Tree Order, which is currently investigating the school's holy ruins, was also going to interview those who fought against the giants and small species.
　However, Cecily put together a report on the matter of the giants and submitted it to the Knights of the Sacred Tree through her brother Diares, so it was decided that the hearing was unnecessary.
　As expected of Cecily.
　What can I say?

I guess the hearing is over.

　Mr. Currier lifts his hips from his chair.

'May I also be excused from the place today?'

　Currier asks Makina-san.
　That's right.
　Currier-san, she has been fidgety ever since the leader left.
　It seemed like he hadn't been able to get much of what Dearles-san was saying into his head either.
　The sky above, or something like that.

''Um, Currier-san.''

　I called out.
　Yes.
　The problem is still not solved by being avoided.

Well, would you like to join me for a cup of tea in the cafeteria today?
Hmm... so this is just the beginning.

　Mr. Currier makes a slightly hesitant gesture.

'Sorry, I have an appointment today.
Promise?　Is that maybe--
Cecily and ...

　Oh, I knew it, Cecily....
　Your priorities are higher than mine?
　Nope.
　That's right........
　Compared to Miss Cecily, I can't even...

I'm sorry, Kurohiko.

　Mr. Currier hurriedly left the room.

　I thrust my hands on the floor and winced.
　I was shocked.
　Somehow.
　Somehow.
　I thought if I asked him out, he'd be okay with it.
　But he apologized to me with an awkward look on his face....
　Ugh.
　Did I do something bad?
　No, seriously, Currier-san is in love with Cecily...?

Are you okay?

　Makina, sitting in a chair, called out to me in a caring way.
　I looked up.

''Well, Makina-san........''
Hey, um, about earlier.
You mean before?
'In case you didn't know, I'd like to thank you ... oh, for putting it like that.
Like that?

　.........Oh, you mean the four evil plagues.

"What's that watery stuff you say? It's between me and Makina-san, isn't it?　Never mind me, Machina-san, bam, bam, it's done!　And just command me to do it.

　Makina-san's eyebrows are in a figure eight and her expression relaxes.

''You're so divisive in a strange way, aren't you? A person who really ... looks simple and doesn't understand.
I don't know what to say about your sister, you know, but...

　That's exactly what Makina-san did, with a divided expression on her face.

No, I'm sorry I haven't told you. I should have told you the story I wanted to tell you.

　I said.

'Surprisingly, he didn't want you to think he was using you for revenge... well, he's still using you.

　There was something of a forlorn, fragile smile on her little face.

'I'm a cowardly woman, after all,'
That's not true. Rather, I.......I think it's amazing that Makina-san thinks about the country without being swayed by emotions.

　Maybe because I only see what's going on around me.

'Not really. Even with this, when I learned of my sister's death, I cried for three days and three nights, you know?
Is that so?
'Oh, this is a story that only those in the house know about, so keep it to yourself, okay?
Yes but Makina-san...
Surprising?
Well from what I know of the Makina-san statue.
Which means there's still a part of me you don't know.

　Hmmm.
　I was given a quick and mature turnaround.
　By the way, I had to weigh the question of how old I was at the time.
　I don't have the guts to step through the mines that I could see.

''In any case, I don't want you to think about the Four Deadly Disasters just yet. You must first have a set of forbidden spells, and then you must master them, and then decide that you have a chance of defeating the Four Deadly Disasters. Of course, we're going to gather as many friends as possible to fight the Four Deadly Disasters. So for now, enjoy school life for the time being.
I understand.

　The Four Deadly Disasters, huh?
　
　Hmm.
　As expected, as Hibigami said, 'they might be stronger than me,' so the four evil spirits are not going to be easy to deal with.
　So, for now, we should wait for the forbidden spellbook to come together and think of other ways to get stronger, right?
　Let's keep practicing with Mr. Currier but what do you think?　Can't we get Commander Sogut to train with us?
　After all, he's the kind of person that can be named after Hibigami, and he's actually fought against the Four Deadly Disasters.
　I have a feeling that if I could get him to train with me, I could become much stronger.
　The question is whether it's possible.

　Before that.

　I've got bigger problems on my hands now.
　We've got more pressing matters at hand.
　It's about Miss Currier.

"By the way, mr. Machina...
Hmm?
I'm sorry to trouble you, but...
That's unusual. You talk to me. Okay, what do you want to tell me?
Thank you. Actually--

　I confided in Makina-san about my problem that Currier-san has been avoiding me lately.
　After listening to the story, Makina-san turned into a thoughtful expression and went into silent contemplation.
　Not long after that, she opened her eyes, which had been closed, thinly.

''I guess the time has finally come,''
What?

　Has it finally come?
　What's come over you?

I knew it, Blackbird.

　What's wrong with you, Makina?
　What does she understand?

'I've been thinking about it for a long time.

　Makina-san got out of her chair.
　The sound of her shoes echoed in the room with a thump.
　Ms. Machina facing me.

''What you are lacking. Do you know what it is?
Oh, am I missing something?

　There was a slight pause, and Makina said.

'Confidence and positivity,'
Confidence and positivity?　Um, what the hell is that--
That's it!

　A fingertip is thrust into the tip of my nose from below with a shake.

''Huh?　I mean, that's... what?
Too many crisp responses like 'that', 'that' and 'eh'!
What did you say?
That 'n'
Oh, no...
Here we go again!
Ugh!

　Makina enters into life's teacher mode with her arms loosely folded.

'I know that your personality, which is not able to say anything too strongly about others, is in a way an advantage. But it can sometimes be a fatal disadvantage to girls!
What?

　It was a close call.
　I almost said, 'What, what?' I was about to say.

'Maybe the girls have gotten tired of your simmering attitude,'
The attitude of the stewardess...
'Think back. Can you proudly say that you have responded to their actions and determination with every fiber of your being when they have demonstrated their positivity?
Oh, I'm...

　Nope.
　You might be right.
　Maybe Currier-san, Cecily-san and the others were getting more and more dumbfounded because they didn't respond to my actions.
　Now that I think about it, I certainly may not have been proactive enough.
　I might have been sloppy in my responses.

　So that was it.
　I remember feeling comfortable in the relaxed space - such as that time at the party - but they were looking for a more cool Kurohiko Sagura? .........
　And when they are dismayed that they can no longer expect this, they go to a secret garden of dazzling maidens only--

If that's the case, how could I have done something so irreversible...
If I may speak frankly as a woman, I want a man to take a firm stand, and to be proactive in his actions. You may be kind, Kurohiko. But the moment you make the mistake of being kind and passive...

　Makina-san's eyelashes were laid down lazily.

''At that point, your defeat was already confirmed.
I was already losing...

　No, I didn't even realize that I had been losing, I was - I was - I was - I was.

"d*mn it!

　I pounded the table with my clenched fist as hard as I could.
　And then I hung my head.
　I had become a grown-up.
　When did it happen?
　That forbidding king said (well, I haven't seen it recently), 'Don't you dare!

'I see you finally understand but it's not too late.
What?

　A glimmer of hope spread before me.
　She was a goddess of light.
　Still..........not finished, right?

I didn't miss the fact that Currier looked lost when you stopped him earlier.
Oh, really?

　Dangerous.
　I almost said, 'Ho, really?' I was about to say.

''Yeah, seriously.''

　Machina was serious, too.
　But I--

What the hell am I going to do, Mr. Machina?
The day before the next rest day at Cirrus Baths.
The battlefield...

　When we talked to you earlier, I told you that we were going to Cirrus Baths.

It's not an exaggeration to say that your future life in Yggdrasier will be determined by how you behave towards these women there.
Go, go, go, go!

　I was just about to gulp down some spit when I said, "Gulp! I tried to cover it up with a spirited shout of "You're not going to have to go that far, are you?

"Well, you don't have to go that far, you know.
Ha, ha, ha.

　Makina-san's two small hands wrapped around my pitiful hands that mixed 'Yes' and 'Kehokon' unintentionally.
　She looked at me with sincere eyes.

'There's no need to force yourself to draw a line of demarcation to your past self. Rather, if you are self-contained and your personality changes without context, you'll be sickened and the curtain will rise. The curtain never rises again.
Well this is very useful.

　And who the hell are you, Makina?

'You ... you like them?'
I love it.
So now it's your turn to make things happen. It's not looking good but that doesn't mean we can't have a chance.
Yes, sir.
'Engage with them confidently and positively. Don't try to trick them. Don't be afraid to confront them.
'Okay I'll give it a go!　No, I'll do it.

　Makina-san huffed and nodded with satisfaction.

''Good answer.''

　I'm going to do it.
　No.
　I have to do it.
　This is my last chance.
　I'm gonna go in.

And that's all I can tell you.

　Makina takes her hand away and ruffles her hair.

'I'll ask you about the results on the afternoon of the day off, when we go shopping for our example. I'm hoping for a good report, Kurohiko.

　'Hmph,' I sniffed and lifted the corners of my mouth.

'Yes, look forward to it. I'll definitely live up to your expectations.
..........
Hmm?　What's wrong?
'In exchange for giving you one honest thought from me, a woman, I have one question I'd like to ask you, a man.

　Soooo, Makina-san put both palms on her own chest.
　And while making her cheeks slightly upturned, she averted her gaze.


"Huh?
So, so I'm going to tell you about the breasts.

　If it was my normal self.
　Here's what I would have said, 'No, that's not true. Makina-san is a wonderful person', I would have replied, 'No, that's not true.
　But that's not me now.
　No. I said.

'Three people, ten people, ten colors, a hundred people, a thousand different people... the world is full of diverse values. The world is full of diverse values. And it is this diversity that has nurtured a rich culture of people.
You mean...?

　I put my hands on both of Makina's shoulders.

'I mean--'

　The moment I show embarrassment here.
　I'm probably going to lose.

'It's a lot of things, and it's okay,'

　Ms. Machina gasps and looks up at me.

'There's nothing to worry about. I'm not in love with your breasts, Makina-san. I fell in love with your mentality.

　With all the sincerity and tenderness I could muster, I said.

'Kurohiko--'

　Isn't that right, Mr. Machina?
　This is what you mean by positivity, right?
　I sat up.

'So, Makina, that's it for today. Advice, very helpful.
Yeah, yeah...

　I said goodbye to Makina-san, who was pouting with a peach-colored cheek with her hand and a face as if she had been taken by surprise, and I sashayed out of the room.
　As I was leaving, I thought I heard Makina-san's voice from inside the room saying, "I think I've gone too far..." but I had no idea who or what had gone too far.

　As I walked down the corridor, I was making up my mind.
　I wouldn't let them down anymore.
　Most importantly, I now have a foot pressure point massage approved by Makina and even a pleasure massage directly from Mia.
　I can't see any reason to lose.

　Watch.
　Here's the thing.

　The battle will take place at Cirrus Baths.

It's my turn.