Chapter 88
"Wow! It's the Commander!"
"It feels like we haven't seen you in ages...!"
"We missed you!"
Children welcomed me enthusiastically.
It happened to be their free time, so they were all playing together nicely.
When one small fox discovered me, the rest gathered around too.
Pitter-patter-.
Young ones running on short legs.
I leisurely spread my arms and embraced them as if receiving their jumping bodies.
Warm body temperatures clung here and there.
"Huhu... Have you been doing well?"
"Yes!!"
The answer came back energetically.
It was an atmosphere of childlike innocence characteristic of children.
"Commander, Commander! What brings you here today?"
"You came to play with us, right?"
"Dummy! He must have come for work! The teacher said we shouldn't bother the Commander!"
"I'm not a dummy!"
"You are a dummy! You dummy!"
"H-Hey guys... Don't fight in front of the Commander."
Though they seemed to be arguing back and forth, it was clear they were close because of that.
It was exactly the kind of reaction friends that age would show.
I watched with a pleased smile.
As I was listening to their chattering voices like that, Irene who appeared afterwards separated the siblings.
It was the scene of a blunt older sister dealing with mischievous younger siblings.
"You guys... Why are you fighting while clinging to an important person."
"Huh? It's big sis!"
"You came together after all!"
"Wah...! Big sis, we missed you!"
"W-Wait, if you suddenly cling to me......"
Though she had quite a stern expression, perhaps she couldn't withstand the affectionate assault of the softies after all.
It was a scene of even her stiff atmosphere crumbling instantly.
The girl sighing as if she couldn't handle it.
In the end, Irene gave up on scolding and stroked the heads of the siblings clinging to her.
The small foxes chirped while surrounding us.
"Huhu."
Seeing this.
Whoever ends up with Irene later would have quite a struggle.
They would have to support all these many foxes.
'It still feels like a distant story but.'
If a happy ending comes to this world someday, everyone will build their own happy lives then.
Of course, some will meet people they love too.
Though romance didn't appear in the original work, that didn't mean it wouldn't after the ending.
When that time comes.
The story of you all finally becoming happy, which I couldn't see to the end in my past life.
It seemed it would be enjoyable to watch that to completion too.
'Until then.'
I held a faint smile.
As I was saying such content as if lightly joking, Irene who was listening made an expression as if she had a lot on her mind.
Perhaps the word love was still difficult at her age?
Her cheeks were dyed with a faint blush, her ears perked up towards the sky, and her tail was swaying.
The girl cleared her throat briefly then asked.
"...What about you?"
"Hmm?"
"I want to know what normal men are like. Do you dislike having many children?"
"You're asking for my thoughts."
"Yes..."
So she does have interest in the opposite sex after all.
Since she always went around with a blunt expression, I thought she had no interest in this area at all.
Should I say it was unexpected?
Of course.
It wasn't particularly surprising.
She was a girl in the prime of her youth after all.
I smiled gently and answered.
"I like them. I think there's always something to learn from children's innocence."
"I-I see... Men are."
"It doesn't apply to everyone. Preferences vary from person to person."
"I see."
A conversation continuing indifferently.
As we spent time like that for a while, before long there was one person who appeared.
He was an impressive middle-aged man with deep red hair.
Wearing a cute apron that didn't match his large build.
"Commander! You're here!"
"Sir Kyle."
Kyle Stroban.
A star once said to have reached the night sky, and currently in charge of Astro's kitchen.
I smiled as if responding to his cheerful greeting.
"So you were here after all."
"Hahaha! It's the job I'm in charge of! I'm always teaching the children with a joyful heart!"
"Excellent. It was worth entrusting it to you."
"I heard you were looking for me! Is there something you need?"
"I have something to discuss."
"Hmm? A discussion?"
"It's about Baobab."
"...I understand. Let's go to the room next door."
His loud voice sank instantly.
Red eyes that had already cooled.
The middle-aged man calmly sent away the surrounding children.
The noisy air obediently retreated, and we headed to the nearby lounge.
The Sword Star's expression remained coldly frozen until then.
***
The reason I sought out the Sword Star was nothing special.
Now that the heretics were beginning to stir again.
I felt the need to consult to some extent.
As Kyle had the most experience among the members, and was someone who had fought on the front lines during the Great Purge period, he was suitable for discussing this matter.
I first explained the recent church attack incident.
Though he had probably heard about the general situation already, the content I was speaking of now was more detailed.
The 'Conductor' presumed to be the mastermind behind this attack.
We were discussing him.
"The Conductor... I see. So he's appeared again after all."
Kyle sighing as if it was troublesome.
As he briefly pressed his brow, I lightly threw out words about him.
"I heard you faced him directly. In that fierce war."
Five years ago.
Kyle had already encountered him before.
No... perhaps 'encountered' wasn't enough.
As they were each called the strongest in their factions, they must have clashed countless times on the bloody front lines.
The wounds they inflicted on each other would be no small matter either.
On the other hand,
Despite going through all that, both of them survived, so it was a stubborn ill fate in a way.
Kyle, who had been silent for a moment, soon opened his mouth.
"I know him well."
"Is that so?"
"Because he's an enemy I cut down. I sliced off his lower body. I made him into a body that can't live without a wheelchair for life."
"I heard about that part before."
"He was quite troublesome. Because he was a strong enemy."
"For a star to acknowledge that, it's impressive."
"I always had to face him alone. Otherwise I would often be attacked by allies corrupted by demonic energy."
"Certainly... he seemed to have an annoying power."
"He was a devilish fellow. I don't even remember how many sacrifices there were anymore."
He seemed to be recalling memories of that time.
Kyle muttered with a complex expression.
"Many people will die again......"
Perhaps the hero's heart still remained?
His red eyes were shaking.
I smiled lightly and threw out words to reassure him.
Based on the life he had devoted to me.
"Don't worry. I'll be here this time."
"That's right... I can't tell you how relieved I am. No matter what that guy prepares and returns with, he won't even be a single bug to you, Commander."
"I think you might be overestimating me."
"You're not denying it outright though."
"Huhu."
The stiff atmosphere loosened too.
I conveyed words of request.
"As I said last time, don't step forward as the chef."
"May I ask the reason?"
"Because it's better to hide good cards as much as possible."
The Red Sword Star.
Among the cards I held, he was the card that would lead to the most excellent joker in the future.
The world thought Kyle was dead.
Only the members stationed at headquarters knew he was alive.
It was information we monopolized in this vast continent.
"For now, it's enough for you to protect headquarters."
"Understood."
"Moreover, you have a family to protect. To not lose precious things again, you need to act more carefully from now on."
"Family... You're right. I'll keep it in mind."
Kyle nodded his head vigorously.
For some reason, his eyes were reddened.
He seemed moved by the feeling of being worried about it.
Well.
Saving him and his wife who were nearly killed by heretics.
Not only returning his daughter who had become a monster.
Now I was even giving advice worrying about his family.
'He's loyal.'
He was falling into a puppet that couldn't disobey orders.
He was truly a desirable subordinate.
I'll work him hard with extreme welfare from now on too.
"Sniff... Hahaha! I'll do my best!"
"I look forward to it."
After a few meaningless words.
I brought up the remaining business.
If earlier it was about future work, this time it was a personal request.
I pointed to the fox standing beside me and spoke.
"And... could you help with Miss Irene's training for a while?"
"You mean to act as her master?"
"She's just reached a realm. It's a time when she needs a guide to lead her in the right direction."
"No problem."
The Sword Star looked over the girl with serious eyes.
Then, as if surprised, he let out a clear exclamation.
"Amazing... She's certainly changed. It's talent worthy of being called a genius."
"Will she be able to reach the realm of touching the stars?"
"That's unknown. Just because one has talent, not everyone rises to the night sky. Most fall in the middle."
"You mean it depends on how she does."
"That's right."
Kyle nodded plainly.
"Still... I can teach her the basics."
"That's enough."
"To think I'd take on a disciple in my life."
"I'll be counting on you for a while. I'm planning to be away for a few days."
"Understood."
The Sword Star answered briefly, then rose from the sofa.
Then he stood in front of the fox.
Red pupils looking down.
Though it was a gaze that seemed about to crush her, the girl only fixed her head upright.
Perhaps liking that appearance, Kyle laughed heartily.
"Hahaha! I like your eyes from the start!"
"......"
"It will be quite harsh teaching. Can you follow a hellish path?"
"If I can stand beside him... as much as it takes."
"Mm mm! Excellent!"
The Sword Star reacting positively.
Irene put aside the middle-aged man and threw a question this way.
Her black pupils were shaking strangely.
"What do you plan to do while I'm here?"
"I have somewhere I need to go."
"Where?"
"The Imperial Palace."
"You're going to that princess."
"Because I made a promise."
The situation wasn't suitable for her to accompany me.
Since it was a matter entangling with the Imperial Family.
I came to headquarters to attach a good master to her on this occasion.
The fox who seemed lost in thought for a moment soon exhaled deeply and nodded her head.
It meant she would follow.
"I'll... work hard."
"Good."
"But."
Grab-.
Suddenly pulling my necktie, Irene embraced my body.
The girl pressed her cheek against my cheek.
Warm body temperature transmitted through each other's skin.
The fox who was quietly hugging like that soon murmured faintly as if whispering in my ear.
It was a strangely bitter resonance.
"...Don't get hurt."
The girl recited worry she couldn't fully express.
I who had been blankly frozen smiled slightly.
Then I answered with our cheeks touching.
"Of course."
She was a troublesome fox in many ways.
***
A few days later.
I was riding in a carriage.
The scenery outside the window crossing the long extending road.
Beside me sat a platinum blonde girl.
Doll-like features, blue eyes resembling the sea, even her characteristic expressionless face.
It was none other than Charlotte.
We were on our way to the Imperial Palace.
"Can you really fix it?"
Charlotte suddenly threw a question.
Though it was a faint resonance of emotion, the anxiety embedded in it couldn't be erased.
I deliberately answered as if I didn't know.
"I think I'll have to see the condition directly first. My ability isn't entirely omnipotent."
"I see."
A strangely powerless response returned.
I smiled faintly.
Could she possibly notice this dark inner thought?
The innocent girl only put her hands together and spoke a faint request towards me.
The face of a wicked snake was held in her transparent pupils.
"Please... save Elise."
Elise.
'Elise Rose von Staufen.'
The Second Imperial Princess of the Empire.
Charlotte's younger sister.
A character modeled after roses.
At the same time, a terminally ill patient who meets death in all routes of the original work.
I was on my way to the Imperial Palace teeming with schemes to meet a girl full of misfortune.
I chewed on a small monologue inwardly.
'This time.'
This time, I will definitely save her.