75. A Room in the Church and the World of Six
"Looks like I'll go help Ira after all."
Cecily shot me a meaningful glance, patted my shoulder, and slipped past me.
Back in the guest room, it was just me, Fam, and Mizuki.
"Mizuki, everyone's gone. Lemme grope your tits."
I plopped down on the bed and patted the spot next to me, inviting her to sit.
"Eh? Wasn't it just supposed to be a hug?"
She said that, but still sat down beside me. Fam took the spot on my other side.
I wrapped my arms around them both from behind, pulling them close, and started comparing the feel of their breasts. Pure bliss.
As I kneaded away, I racked my brain for how to bring up the topic.
I wanted to talk about Task, but I needed an opening. My thoughts kept getting sucked into the soft sensation of their chests. I got so absorbed that Mizuki let out a little gasp.
She’s getting into it even now? I glanced at her, and she glared right back. I yanked my hands away on reflex.
"...Mash, I want you to make it so I can only think about you."
Mizuki said.
"Whoa, hold up—this is a church, y'know. Kinda..."
I started to reply, but she lunged at me, shoving me down onto the bed.
"After groping us all you want, that's a pretty shitty thing to say, don't you think?"
She kissed me, slipping her tongue in. Her tears trailed down her cheek and onto mine.
"Mizuki, calm down."
"I'm messed up. These hands have killed people, and now this body's supposed to make new life."
"Mizuki, calm down."
I hugged her tight. She thrashed to break free, so I held on even harder.
"I gave the order. I stabbed him in the back and finished him off. You didn't kill anyone, Mizuki. It's not your fault."
"Mizuki, that guy brought disaster to this city. Even the townsfolk got hurt."
Fam chimed in after me, trying to comfort her too.
"Just because he's the bad guy, does that make it okay for me to do the same? Is that really right?"
"Mizuki, I did the killing. You're not to blame."
"Shu-sama, you're not at fault. The one hung up on it is Mizuki."
Fam cut in.
"You were trying to comfort her too, weren't you? How about shutting it for a sec?"
Fam looked like she wanted to argue back, but she clamped her mouth shut. Maybe I'd been too harsh.
"Mash, my special skill Super Kill only triggers randomly, but I can tell when it's about to. And I can stop it if I want."
Mizuki said.
"You saying you chose not to stop it? You were outnumbered two-to-one back there. That's on me for letting it happen. Blame me, not yourself."
"I... I wanna go home. But I don't deserve to go back to our world anymore..."
Her shoulders shook.
"What kinda bullshit qualification is that? If you wanna go back, go back. I'll help you."
"Mash... but I... can't go b...ack..."
Suddenly, her body went limp and heavy on top of me.
"Mizuki?"
I shook her, but she didn't stir. She'd passed out cold.
I readjusted my hold on her, kissed her cheek, and slipped out from under her.
Sometime while I wasn't looking, Cecily had entered the room.
"She was being loud, so I put her to sleep."
"...Cecily, you can use mental magic too?"
"I just noticed I'd hit level 30. Picked up mental magic, so I gave it a test run."
She said it so casually, like experimenting on friends was no big deal. Sketchy as hell.
"You can knock someone out that easily...?"
"Dunno. Probably harder if they resist. Mizuki wasn't on guard at all. Neither were you or Fam in that last fight."
Cecily replied.
"I held out, but Fam went down."
"Warrior types probably have weak resistance."
Adventurers get bonuses to all stats, so resistance should be up too, but maybe Fam and Mizuki's classes have penalties.
Never even considered it before, but we'd need countermeasures against mental magic from now on.
"I wanna keep talking to Mizuki. Wake her up, please."
The conversation wasn't over. Even if she woke up now, she'd just repeat herself.
"Mash, you can't handle her."
Cecily said flatly.
"Why not?"
"You and Mizuki share the same values. You both see killing as a grave sin. No matter how much you try to comfort her, it won't mean a thing if you can't deny that."
"...You're right. But I can't just leave her like this."
So, give up because it's impossible? That felt way too cold for a teammate.
"Exactly. You're pretending to be the villain so she feels less guilty, trying to convince her that way. That's just pouring fuel on the fire. You're denying her actions while pretending to comfort her. It won't get through."
"..."
I had nothing to say back.
I glanced at Fam. She looked at me anxiously. She cared about Mizuki too. Earlier, when she tried to butt in, she'd noticed the same thing Cecily did and wanted to steer me straight. I'd been arrogant thinking only I, from the same world, could understand and comfort Mizuki.
"Fam, sorry about before."
I apologized. She shook her head.
"Mizuki just wants empathy. Right now, she wants you to be there for her, Mash."
"You think so?"
Her words rang true. But was that really what Mizuki wanted?
"Mash, don't forget—she steeled herself and took down Task. Even if she's regretting it now, that's for her to resolve."
"I get it now. I was wrong. Thanks, Cecily."
Cecily nodded and stroked Mizuki's sleeping head.
"Sorry, but could you wake her up?"
"First, are you okay, Mash? You look pretty wrecked."
"Eh... No real guilt, weirdly. But that fight was one we absolutely should've avoided."
I didn't feel much about Task's death. Was I just that kind of guy? Or would the guilt hit later?
"He was talking way more than he needed to. No matter what you did, he was set on killing us."
"Yeah."
I nodded. No avoiding it, so let it go? Cecily's way of comforting me, I guess.
"But right now, it's about Mizuki."
"That's what you're thinking, huh? Well... she's your girl, so do what you want."
Cecily still seemed uneasy about how I treated Mizuki.
"Anyway, wake her up?"
"Eh, me?"
Cecily acted like it was someone else's problem.
"Who else...?"
She knocked her out without even knowing how to wake her? What was her plan if she didn't?
"Hang on, I'll go get Ira."
Cecily dashed out in a panic.
Ira's healing magic woke Mizuki up. Her eyes were red.
Incidentally, Ira had hit level 30 too.
"Mizuki, I'm at 24 now. Fam's 22. You?"
"Mine... went up to 21."
Mizuki checked her character sheet and answered.
Probably from my special skill effect, past fights, and Rakushel wiping out all those Big Hoppers today. Weird since I didn't really fight, but experience is experience.
"Nice. But Mizuki, getting stronger might make Super Save harder to trigger. Mixed bag."
The stronger she gets, the less she needs it to protect herself. She relies on chaining them to boost defense and Super Kill odds.
"Mizuki, remember what I said earlier?"
"Yeah." Mizuki nodded.
"Can I take it all back?"
"What do you mean?"
She asked back.
"I forgot you're fighting for us."
"Not for everyone. In the end, it's for me."
"I get that. But let me share the burden you're carrying."
"But..."
"In exchange—kinda—next time I have to carry something, you take some too."
"...What the hell?"
Mizuki muttered. No bite in her tone, though.
"Mizuki, Shu-sama always says it. We're together." Fam.
"Mizuki, I'll stick with you too. Until Migurutto, anyway." Cecily.
"Mizuki, I'm here too." Ira last.
"Myra's not here, but I'm sure she'd say the same from beyond the grass."
"Shu-sama."
Fam shot me a look, pissed I'd used Myra as the punchline again.
"We can't stop traveling. Stuff like today will happen again. It just hit you this time."
"...I get what everyone's saying. Can't sort my feelings yet, but let me lean on those words for now."
She clearly wasn't convinced. If I were her, I'd feel the same.
But for now, it felt okay.
That was just one voice among her tangled emotions. I wanted to believe she'd overcome it. And the emotional scars from when I jumped her, too.
The next morning at breakfast, Momoka showed up at the church with bad news.
"Citizen council's summoned ya. Executive officer named ya personally. Come on, ya gotta."
"Nah. Headin' to that hero's grave from 100 years ago. Promised you and Karupana. Plus, I'm outta here soon anyway."
Stick around with god-like powers, and you'd upend the power structure. Rulers hate that. They probably want me showing up to parade that I'm under the council's thumb.
"Say that, and we can't stay in town either."
Momoka pouted.
"When?"
"Right now."
"..."
No need to drag everyone. I looked at Myra. She nodded—she'd come. As we geared up to go just the two of us, Fam started prepping too.
Was it okay bringing her to a human council? Would they hurl insults? I hesitated.
"I'll come too. But I won't go in. I'll wait outside with Fam."
Mizuki must've sensed my worry.
Then Karupana approached.
"Karupana, sorry—gotta head out."
I explained briefly. She nodded.
"Why not swap info with Chihiro while you wait?"
"Hm? What, ya tryin' to split me an' Chihiro up?"
Momoka's sharp ears caught it.
"Ties to the wandering folk would be good for you guys too."
"True that. Aight, I'll guide ya to the council, Mash. Chihiro, wait here."
We left the church after Chihiro nodded.