Chapter 120.1 - False United Front
「Thanks Yamajun. Things settled down in peace for now.」
I spoke to Yamajun in the further part of the plaza while those greedy members waited eagerly for their breakfast.
「Uhm, back at you, Momokawa-kun… you're simply too awesome.」
「That's not true. I mean, the one who made Ayase-san willing to consider her action and Yamada-kun act like a good child is your skillful persuasion, Yamajun.」
Blending in with the Totem Pole Trio that was greedily devouring the stew as they kept saying "IT'S SO D*AMN GOOD!" and Yamada-kun who took a bite on to the stew as if he ate an at*omic b*omb after experiencing a broken heart was Reina who ate with a delightful smile on her face.
She was allowed to eat the stew after negotiation of course.
「You did a really nice job there when you cut in with Souma-kun's story.」
The one who stopped that loser l*olicon, Yamada-kun who seemed like he was about to punch me, was none other than Yamajun who interrupted at the right time by bringing up Souma Yuuto's heroic deed.
Yamajun managed to pacify the broken-hearted Yamada-kun who had lost the will to do anything to me after he heard the harsh reality straight from Yamajun about Reina being in love with Souma-kun. If he were a girl, Yamajun's gallant interruption would undoubtedly have made me fell in love immediately.
He was also the one who persuaded Reina to join the battle while pacifying the broken hearted Yamada-kun.
The summary of his long persuasion was something along the lines of 「Let's do our best together, Souma-kun is waiting for us beyond this point after all」. Reina was an easy prey as long as we could abuse the name of her most beloved childhood friend.
That's why Yamajun was making the full use of the Hero, Souma to make Reina willingly working along with us. But still, persuading her in this way had the highest chance of failure since she could dismiss Yamajun with a "Humph, so what.". In short, we'd be in greater danger if Yamajun failed to persuade Reina.
In addition, I didn't have Yamajun's level of communication power. I mean, all I could do were presenting simple pros and cons, making a deal, or threat.
I gave a shock theraphy to Reina by excluding her from breakfast. In short, I whipped her. And then, Yamajun enter the stage, convinced Reina with SOuma-kun's story.
We're literally baiting her with her avarice, namely a guarantee of comfortable sleep, delicious meal, hot bath, and a chance to meet Souma-kun again. We whipped this f*ucking NEET to do her job for the above reasons.
Even though his action was adlib, Yamajun had fulfilled, no surpassed my expectation.
「At least, please tell me if you anticipate this kind of development.」
As if, even I couldn't predict this kind of development. Only prophet or that guy who trapped in two-week loops* could do that.
[TL* : Maybe referring to "Mother of Learning" or "Suzumiya Haruhi, Summer Holiday Loop"]
It was basically telling my entire journey up until this point, about who I met, who I killed, who became my comrade… to other classmates who I’d only just met in the dungeon.
I mean, I didn't even tell them that I killed Higuchi, I deliberately kept it a secret to avoid any friction with the Totem Pole Trio the deceased's friends.
That's why, I placed my bet and decided to trust Yamajun, telling him in private about some of the darker side of my story. Souma-kun's story was amongst the ones I told him.
「I’m also kinda surprised seeing how easily she took the bait, I mean, it's kinda hit or miss gamble after all.」
Rather, I noticed that he won the gamble when I was still busy thinking about needless things.
「Nevertheless, it's thanks to Momokawa-kun that everyone is starting to look like a real party. Honestly, I don't think I could’ve changed the situation if I was by myself.」
Well, being able to make Reina fight on her own accord was already a brilliant achievement.
「But using my method will only quicken the process towards the breaking up of this party. Now that everyone's heart is united, we can start the capture operation of Goma's fortress but… this false united front is extremely fragile as it doesn't give a damn about trust.」
「You're trying to cheer me up huh, Momokawa-kun. It's okay, I'll do my job properly.」
Yamajun was truly reliable after all. He was the only one who understood my train of thought far more than Mei-chan or anyone I met so far.
My method was devoid of any emotional sentiment but… that's the best way to unite our force for the time being. Rather, our chance to come out alive in this battle was equal to zero unless everyone's heart was united.
I was being considerate about everyone's feeling and definitely didn't wish to die a dog’s death with them. Even if I was making an enemy of everyone with my method, I'd do my best to survive and win along with everyone.
「Thanks. If we managed to capture the fortress and reunite with Souma-kun and Co. someday, I'll be relying on you to explain the situation to everyone.」
「Ahahaha, yeah, I'll protect you when such day comes, Momokawa-kun.」
Well then, I should do my best in order for that day to come even a second faster.
===
Well then, now that everyone's heart is united, let's march toward the fortress! Or so the positive minded bunch would do.
「That's why, Ayase-san's job is eliminating the Gomas around this tower.」
「E~h.」
Reina let out a cute shrill as she puffed her cheeks making my hand itch to punch her on the face.
Calm down! This isn't the time to open a boxing match yet.
Currently, I was assigning Reina with job to exterminate the Gomas around the tower who came to observe our situation.
Reina was powerful, or should I say that her sacred beasts were powerful. Defeating the likes of Gomas wouldn't be enough to raise my current level to the next level.
But, Reina's fighting experience was equal to zero. So far, she could only rely on her sacred beasts to protect her when she chanced upon a danger. She never ordered her sacred beasts to attack her enemy, she just screamed in fear. Naturally, she never ordered them to "attack like this", or "aim for that place" like I did with Rem.
Battles weren't supposed to be left to the others.
I wouldn't go as far as asking for resolution or responsibility from her. I mean, I might not have those two factors myself.
Anyway, I would let Reina have a fighting experience even if it's just a little bit. In short, it's training time. She wouldn't be that scared as long as she grew used to a fight so that she could make snap decisions when push came to shove.
Well, in the worst case, I would be back stabbed by Reina who was used to battle but… the current urgency was to make Reina used to battle.
「You're going to participate in this operation right, Ayase-san?」
「Yeah.」
Reina replied with indifferent voice.
No, in fact this indifferent reply from the get-go was an expression of her irritation as if she wanted to beat me up to pulp. Be strong, the mission hasn't even progressed to 1%.
「I don't mind even if you don't want to fight. I won't force you either since you're scared of a battle.」
It's not like I was her superior, nor had I employed her. That's why I didn't think I'd the right to yell at her a 「JUST DO IT ALREADY, S*OW!」- like the spartan trainer.
Well, I didn't have the right, but I did have my trump card.
「But then, you can say goodbye to sumptuous lunch and go back to walnut. In addition, I'm obligated to tell the truth to Souma-kun when we meet again, about the fact that you're the kind of woman who breaks her promise.」
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