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Chapter 268 – Intermission (Psychic Maiden)

The first thing I remember is a world full of grown-ups around me.

――Is this the girl? The abnormal female sample?

――Yes. The subject can levitate, destroy almost anything just by extending her hand without using magic, and she displays even more violence with emotional fluctuations.

――It seems that her parents died in the war, and after that she was in the hands of slave traders, but apparently she was beyond their ability to control… however, this was a most unexpected find.

――If she is well-tamed, she will be a great asset on the battlefield. We can demonstrate our power to other countries that have looked down on us as a weak nation.

――Very well. Conduct various tests to determine her potential. In addition, educate her so that she cannot rebel.

They made me float things, twist things, float myself in the air, and if I could do that, they would let me eat.

If I couldn’t do it, they would beat me.

One time, I broke someone who beat me a lot, and they locked me in a dark place and didn’t give me anything to eat.

I won’t make a mistake anymore.

I’ll be a good girl.

So please let me eat.

Please don’t hit me.

――O Espie, our national treasure. From this day forth, you will be conferred as one of the Seven Heroes. In recognition of your recent heroism in single-handedly dealing a blow to the forces of the Damsel Commander Norja.

――My King. Am I….. good?

――Hmm. You are a good child. I think of you as a daughter. Do you understand? You should listen to what we say. Don’t listen to people from other countries.

――Yes, I understand.

―― Always report information about other countries. They may let their guard down around a child like you and reveal important information. Also……

――?

―― If any of the other Seven Heroes are seriously wounded in battle, and there are no witnesses at the time… Kill Them.

――Even though they’re friends?

―― Not friends, but allies. When the war is over, they will be the next enemy. Is that clear? Our treasure, Espie. For the sake of this country’s future, all you have to do is what we say.

I will do whatever you say.

I will do what you tell me to do.

――Heya~, you’re Espie! Nice to meetcha! I’m Hiro!

――Hold on… how can they send a kid like this to go to war… if you need anything, count on us, okay? We’re your friends.

They will become enemies one day, and I might even kill them, so we can’t be friends.

――Say, Espie… this girl here is Sadiz. Her mom and dad died… well, you’re close in age, so why don’t you be her friend? Oh, wai, Espie, don’t ignore me~

The other Seven Heroes are not my friends.

And, Hiro and the others like little girls who are smaller than me… I don’t care…

――Espie, I have an important mission for you. One of the Six Supremacy and Great Demon Generals of the Demon King Army…… Assassinate the Titan God Gouda. This will determine the future fate of our nation. Failure is not an option. Succeed no matter what. No Matter What.

Only the people from the same homeland… are my friends…

――Is that okay? What if Espie dies here…

――I understand. However, compared to the Seven Heroes and warriors of the Empire and Japone, our contributions are scant…

――That’s…

――Even with such risks, we need a great achievement. Otherwise, we will be asked to pay more money instead of more strength! In general, no matter how much Espie rampages, it is always overshadowed by the military exploits of the Empire’s Hiro! This cannot go on! We desperately need achievements that the world will recognize!

But if I’m no longer useful, I’m no longer needed.

I need to do this properly…

“Huh!? I….. uh…”

It was a dream. When I opened my eyes, it was night. Was I sleeping?

My body hurts.

But, there were bandages on my body. It smells like medicine.

Did someone do this?

“Guh, cut the onions… argh, tears! And potatoes and carrots … eh? Too big? And the onions are cut too much? I’ve never cut vegetables before!”

It’s noisy… ah… is someone cooking?

That man…… I don’t know who he is, but he helped me…

He saved me. He’s cooking right now. Who is he talking to?

“Light a fire … I mean, if it’s bit class, I can use fire, so if I pick up branches from around here and burn them… huh? How to choose firewood? Thickness? Eehh? Why do you even care about that stuff?”

It’s just, he’s talking by himself.

“Err… this leaf is the ignition agent… a few dry twigs … and 【Bit Fire】…… oh, it’s burning… is this a campfire? Hm~m…… so, add some more twigs… when the fire gets bigger, add some more firewood…”

Un, he’s weird… I’ve never done it before, but when I camped outside with the military men of my country, they did it more with speedy speed.

This man looks like he’s doing it for the first time while someone is teaching him how…

“Garam Masala… cardamom, coriander? This one… um, this and… turmeric, cumin… chili powder…… I don’t get it anymore… is this okay? It’s kind of strange…”

He’s kind of slow… and clumsy…

“So, put the pot here… throw in the chopped onions, and fry it until golden-brown … what kind of color is golden-brown? Ah, something’s sizzling! So, add some garlic… add the curry powder, stir fry until it all comes together… and then add some potatoes or something… stir fry again so that it doesn’t burn, keep stirring it … uh, add some water… bring it to a boil…… and what about the secret ingredient? Not yet? Timing? Hey, hey~, what’s this color… sort of… yellow…”

Watching… Squirming? Looking frustrated? Like a no-good person.

Before, he was so fast and was swinging around the enemies of the Demon King Army, but he couldn’t do what all the grown-ups could do properly.

He’s just a weird person.

But…… it smells so good…

“Leave it alone for now and… oh? Are you awake?”

“Fugu!?”

Ah, I opened my eyes, so he saw me…

“Are you okay with your injuries?”

“…… it hurts…”

“I see… geez… but I’m glad that you’re okay anyway.”

Why is he helping me?

Why does he look so worried about me?

Is he thinking of something bad?

“…… ah…”

My stomach was going “Ku~” … it’s embarrassing……

“Ah, you hungry?”

“…………”

“Just wait a bit, I’ll feed you something. I don’t know if it’s good or not, but…”

Will he let me eat a meal?

Then, he’s going to let me eat and make me do something?

This man is not from the Union, not from Bethreal, what is he going to make me do?

“I… what should I do?”

“Huh?”

“After you let me eat… what am I going to do?”

“………… be full…… eat a lot and get better quickly…”

“?”

I don’t know what this man is talking about.

I’m a weak, useless, unwanted child…

“Ah~…… well, anyway… hey, earlier… you thought about dying so easily… don’t do that anymore…”

“…… why?”

“W, why… just… ah~, don’t say things like that anymore… damn, really, in this era, in this world, really…”

Why? I’m not asking anything weird. He’s the one saying weird things.

Why? Like I said something weird…

“That… I also, I can’t say it right, but…”

“Huh!?”

Why? It was the same when he was running away. Why is this man patting my head so gently?

“Maybe you don’t know anything because you’re still a little kid, but… live and try to learn more things. Grow up and become stronger so that you can go anywhere… go out into the world and see the world by your own will, not by an order, not for the war, for you. It’s such a waste to die… You’ll realize what a small world you’ve been in… you’ll meet people that way… you can make friends too.”

“……?”

“If you do that, you won’t think about dying because you’re not good enough… it will make you want to live and work harder to change your hopeless self…”

Why? I don’t know what he’s saying right now.

Grow up? Be stronger? The world? A waste? Meet people?

“I… I don’t know who my friends are.”

“That may be true now. But just by going out into a world you don’t know… you can easily find good-natured friends you get along with surprisingly well, even though they are of different ages, countries, upbringings… or even species. But also … if you don’t live facing-forward…… you may pass them by unnoticed.”

“You’re looking forward, but you don’t notice them?”

“Oh~, damn, that’s what I meant… no, I can’t say it right. That’s a boomerang… well, even though she’s such a kid, what can I do for one of the Seven Heroes… anyway! You should be more energetic! I know it’s hard! I know I’m ranting and raving with half-hearted sympathy, but still, kids shouldn’t have that kind of look in their eyes!”

I don’t understand. And he got angry. But it’s strange.

――Don’t talk about dying so easily! If you live, you’ll be able to make a frivolous face when you burst out laughing, and you can even get a handsome boyfriend!

Come to think of it, he was angry in the forest too…

――I have no reason to abandon you, so it’s okay!!

Even though he’s so angry……. it’s not scary at all…

――But don’t worry. I’m a man who will eventually surpass that Hero. In other words, I dare to do what the Heroes can’t do! That’s why I’ll definitely save you! Espie!

He said he would help me…

“Oh, sorry, wait a minute! Right now, add in the secret ingredient … I wonder if this will give it richness… oh…… it’s creamy… I’m not sure about the color, but… I’ll give it a taste… hmm!!??”

He scratched his head and continued to cook, but… umm… I don’t understand what he said at all…

“Uh, it’s spicy… but… whoa, what is this! Oooooh, something, something in my body feels hot and invigorated… i, it’s so good! What is this! Hey, Espie! Here, have a bite too!”

“?”

“Here, try it?”

He said that, and put something on the spoon… yellow creamy soup?

“What is this… it’s kind o——”

“That’s what I thought too, but don’t say it, taste this! Here you go!”

“Mmm!?”

I didn’t like it because I thought it might be something dirty, but he put the spoon in my mouth and… huh!?

“Ha, hah, hah~!?”

“Eh, ah… was it too hot for a kid’s tongue?”

“Hiii~, phew~, phew~…”

“M, my bad my bad! Water right now… are you okay?”

“…… un… un hmm…”

Spicy! My head went bong, and it’s so hot and tingly… but…… it was the first time I’ve ever eaten this… it’s delicious……

“Delicious…”

“…… Oh?”

“It’s so delicious…”

Even though it was only a bite, it was so delicious.

I’ve never eaten anything like this… it’s spicy, but… it’s delicious…… hot……

“Well…Kuhaha, no~, that’s good. I did that too! All right, I’ll let you eat a whole bunch!”

A little salty? Huh? Salty… Salty…

“Hmm? Oh, hey, Espie… what’s wrong? Was it too spicy? You’re crying…”

“……… Huh?”

Huh?

“…… Higg, ugh, hig… ugh…”

Why? I cry when they get mad at me, but… why do I cry, when someone is nice to me and feeds me good food?

“Hey? Are you okay? Huh?”

“Huh!?”

Why? This man was patting my head again………

“Uh, uh… UAAAAAAAN, AAAAAAAN, AAAAAAAAAAAAAN!”

“Whoa! Oh, hey, what’s wrong, suddenly jumping at me… eh…… Espie?”

“EEEEEEEEEHHH, ah, uaaaaaaaaaah, AAAAAAAAAAHHH!”

Why? I wanted this man to hug me… I want him to pat me more… I don’t understand… it’s so warm……