The Strategist of the Magic Emperor Shatters the Second Destruction - Volume 1 Chapter 9

“Mii-nya!”

“…Balam?”

“I picked her up.”

“…Balam?”

“Let’s talk about the details on the way back…”

After selling the magic orb and receiving the money, we leave the Adventurers’ Guild.

I keep explaining to Anim, who glares at me the entire time, sweating as I make up excuses on the spot.

About Alcent trying to steal my sword.

About her not having a family.

About how I’m considering talking to Sister since the orphanage also serves as a welfare facility.

“That’s why…”

“…Because she’s a girl?”

“No, that’s not why! How did it even come to that?”

“It’s fine… I don’t mind.”

“Nya?”

Anim’s slightly dissatisfied gaze makes me unconsciously slump.

This sulky Anim is a memory I remember even from my first life. Maybe she’s upset that I brought Alcent back without consulting her…

“Ah, right, Anim! We were going to buy bread on our way back, weren’t we!?”

“Ah, right, we were.”

“Just give me a moment!”

Feeling awkward, I weave through the crowded main street to a stall by the roadside.

“Bread with meat, please.”

“You got it, lad. That’s three copper coins.”

I take out the money received from selling the magic orb, and exchange it for bread.

Fluffy white bread with freshly grilled meat. The rich sauce smells delicious.

Yeah, it’s going to be tasty.

I return to where we were sitting and split the bread into two.

“Here, Anim.”

“Thank you… but”

Anim looks back and forth between the other piece of bread, and me and Alcent.

In the silence, Alcent’s stomach growls.

“Nya, nya…”

Alcent gazes intently at the bread in my hand, reaching out then retracting her hand.

Her mouth half-open, shamelessly drooling.

She seems to be struggling between her self-control and her nearing limit of hunger.

…Ah, can’t be helped.

Providing money and food was part of the deal anyway, and it’s too cruel to leave her hungry.

Might as well bribe her.

I stuff the fluffy white bread into her half-open mouth.

“Mufu!?”

“Eat. It’s tasty.”

“…Nam…~~~~~~~~!?”

After biting down on the bread, Alcent eagerly continues eating.

Hey, hold it yourself. Why do I have to feed you…?

After finishing the non-stop feast from the bread I held, Alcent looks blissfully dazed.

“It’s good Mii followed nya… umm…”

“Balam.”

“Mii will follow Balam for life, nya!”

This kid’s too easy to please.

Good thing I took her under my protection early.

No, that’s not it, not protection, but for utilization.

I’d use her for my purposes. I certainly didn’t sympathize with her past situation.

It’s entirely her fault she got executed anyway.

Well, if you ask me if I feel a bit about her childhood treatment…

“Seriously, can’t be helped…”

Then, Anim offers Alcent her piece of bread.

“Nya?”

“You can eat mine too. You’re hungry, right?”

“Is it okay, nya!? Uh, um?”

“Anim.”

“Mii will follow Anim for life as well, nya!”

“I don’t mind if you don’t.”

“Mii insists, nya!”

“Maybe you should hold back a bit!?”

Afterward, watching Alcent solemnly devour the bread, we continued to laugh and made our way back to the orphanage.

Returning to the orphanage, Sister happened to greet us, and Alcent cheerfully bounced.

“Mii-nya!”

Sister looked surprised for a moment before looking at me.

I explained, just as I did to Anim.

“I see, with no family…”

“Nya!”

Sister exclaims, and Alcent cheerfully responds.

Sister’s gaze lands on Alcent’s right cat ear. The slightly chipped part.

Reaching out her hand to pet Alcent,

“―――!?”

Alcent, reacting wildly, puts distance between herself and Sister.

“…Ah, wr, wrong nya… so, sorry”

Whether it was an unconscious reaction, or not, Alcent looked at Sister, still reaching out, with a frightened gaze.

Being abused seems to have been true.

Just reaching out her hand triggered such a reaction…

Sister smiles and urges Alcent to enter the orphanage.

“It’s okay. Welcome to the orphanage; we welcome you.”

“Is it okay, nya?”

“Of course. Let’s start with a bath, it’d be a waste to leave such beautiful hair as it is.”

“…Nya…”

Alcent, looking like she’s about to cry, looks at me. I gesture for her to go ahead.

Honestly, I don’t want her to be too dependent on me, and she needs to get used to this life as soon as possible.

It’s not about gratitude, but a match of mutual interests.

Otherwise, it’s not an equal relationship.

I’d utilize Alcent for my goals, and Alcent would utilize me for a better life.

From my first life, I was better at such dry relationships.

So, the sooner she forgets any sense of obligation she might feel towards me, the better.

Otherwise, Alcent would be bound to me for life. That’s too pitiable… no, I mean troublesome, for me.

“Thank you, nya!”

Watching Alcent follow Sister, Anim and I head to the courtyard.

Now, for our usual daily training.

“Balam, you’re kind.”

“I can be kind if it benefits me.”

“Are you embarrassed? You’re so awkward.”

Somehow, I feel like we’ve had this conversation before.

At that time, it was something like…

“Balam, you’re bad at being kind to someone other than me, right? …I’m happy, but you won’t make more friends if you don’t show your kindness more.”

“I don’t mind being disliked by anyone other than Anim.”

“…That’s just like you…”

Just as these words implied, my point of view led to the creation of an unorganized Magic Emperor’s subordinates.

When Anim wasn’t around, they wouldn’t listen to a word I said.

Looking back, before strength was even considered, it was probably because I was unlikeable.

Maybe I was too fixated on Anim.

I have to change, bit by bit. Even if my changes can only make a slight difference, maybe the future can change bit by bit.

I swing the wooden sword and sometimes try the stone sword.

Checking its unstable posture, I switch back to the wooden sword.

“Balam.”

“Hm?”

Swinging the sword, I listen to what Anim has to say.

Anim tries to say something several times, then stops.

Struggling to express something, with slightly moist eyes, she looks at me.

“I’m going to the holy city.”

My movement freezes mid-swing.

Words don’t come out.

I knew it. The fact that she’s heading to the holy city, I knew it, but…

“…I see.”

Those are the only words I manage to say, and Anim smiles faintly at my response.

“…When?”

“In a week. It was decided quite a while ago, but I couldn’t say it. Actually, it was supposed to be a bit later, but my growth was faster than expected. Maybe it’s because I tried hard after hearing Balam was going to fight a monster.”

It’s much earlier than the future I knew of.

Maybe because Anim found a different goal of fighting monsters together with me, she learned magic faster than in my first life.

Trying to act calm, Anim looks a bit sad.

“I thought you’d be sadder…”

“I am sad. But if it’s for Anim’s growth, you absolutely should go.”

“…Come with me?”

“Don’t say stupid things.”

Laughing amusingly, Anim lowers her head, tapping the courtyard grass several times.

“Ahーー! Maybe I’ll just say I won’t go! If I do that…”

“Don’t. Anim needs to go to the holy city.”

“…Why…?”

Anim will learn and grow in the holy city, becoming known as the Magic Emperor.

But if she doesn’t go, who knows what will happen? Even if I become strong, it means nothing if Anim is weak.

I can’t talk about the future, but it’s definite that she needs to go for her sake as well.

For both of us to become stronger.

“Anim, study magic in the holy city. And when you become strong, let’s become adventurers.”

“…Eh?”

The first time was different. We met in the holy city, hit it off, studied magic together, and I could only watch as you drifted further away from me.

But now is different.

“In five months, I’ll go to the holy city too. I’ll learn swordsmanship there. So Anim, you’re just going ahead. I’ll catch up soon.”

“Balam is coming too?”

“Yeah, my teacher told me to come. There are conditions, though.”

Swinging the stone sword at my hip, I fix my gaze on Anim.

“I’ll definitely go. So, it’s just a little time apart, we can meet soon.”

Anim hugs her knees, her lips twitching slightly as she nods, “So, so then.”

“Send letters. I’ll be lonely.”

“I understand.”

“When you come to the holy city, visit me when you’re free.”

“I’ll try my best.”

“Don’t make friends closer than me.”

“That’s unlikely.”

“Don’t say it because I’m aware I’m being clingy… Also, be nice to Mii, but not so much that she gets too attached.”

“Okay, okay…”

Wiping her slightly flushed eyes, Anim smiles, creating flames and wind in her palm.

“By the time Balam comes to the holy city, I’ll definitely become as amazing as you! Then let’s become adventurers together!”

Becoming as amazing as me, huh. That was my line…

But let’s stay confident.

I’m done just looking up to you.

“Then, I’ll work harder so I won’t be overtaken by Anim. When we meet in the holy city, I’ll be even cooler.”

“How much cooler… I’ll prepare a spare heart… Let’s make our meeting here the last. If I see you tomorrow, I’ll hate to go again…”

“Understood. Take care.”

“You too, Balam. Definitely send letters. If you don’t, I’ll send about ten letters of protest a day!”

“Yeah, I’ll send them.”

Though we won’t see each other for just half a year, we both feel a bit heavy.

“See you, Balam.”

A week later, Anim was taken away by a carriage, leaving Dazril.