Translated: Sei, MTL-sensei-tachi
Edited: Sei, Grammarly no Danna
Source: Syosetu

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Interlude: In Hinomoto...


This time, the story is told from Kannagi's perspective.
　The Beastfolk country of the future, a place I had never known, wasn't as uncomfortable as I had expected.
　No, considering that my life up until now had been nothing but fighting, perhaps I could even say that I had been able to live a surprisingly peaceful daily life.
　Kanoko-san, Amako's mother, also welcomed me warmly, and the people of Hinomoto treated me kindly.
　... Although, from time to time, whenever disciples come to learn the teachings of the Kannagi Style, I end up writhing internally, but other than that, everything has been pleas———,

"Kanoko-sama has disappeared again!"
"She shouldn't have gone far yet!"
"Where did she go this time!? She was just here?!"

　If only this didn't happen.
　As I leisurely drank tea while basking in the sunlight on the veranda, I heard the panicked voices of the servants echoing from inside the mansion.

"It's so peaceful."
"Kannagi, don't escape from reality. Let's go find my mother."
"...Mm."

　Amako calls out to me from behind as I try to escape from reality.
　She is already preparing to go outside as if she were used to this by now. I weakly nod at her and get up from the veranda.
　Kanoko-san regularly goes outside for walks.
　She does not go far, just wandering around nearby for a little while, but considering her Foresight Magic, the fact that she had been unconscious for a long time, and that she is by no means physically strong, simply going outside is already a difficult thing for her to do.

"It's always been like this, but seriously..."

　Moreover, it is not a problem caused by the aftereffects of her years-long coma or anything like that. She was simply like this from the beginning.
　To tell the truth, that aspect of her is very similar to my older sister.

"My older sister was someone like Kanoko-san. She had a soft and gentle personality, completely unrelated to fighting... and she was also the kind of person who would disappear as soon as you took your eyes off her."
"A genetic trait passed down from my ancestors...!?"
"Eh, ah, well... I guess that's how it is..."

　They may have the same bloodline, but Amako seems much more responsible.
　I wonder if she took after her father more when it comes to her personality?
　We continue our conversation as we head into town and search for Kanoko-san.

"Kannagi's older sister... What was my ancestor like?"
"Hmm, she was a kind person. She always worried about me, since I was always fighting, and she was also the one who brought together the Beastfolk who had been freed from slavery at the time."

　She was also someone who tried to change the environment of the Beastfolk through means other than fighting.
　If I showed the strength of the Beastfolk through force, then it would not be an exaggeration to say that my older sister brought the Beastfolk together through her ideals.

"...Was it hard?"
"Hm? What was?"
"Waking up and finding that everything you knew had changed."
"..."

　To be honest, I was shocked.
　If possible, I wanted to see my older sister after she had found happiness, and I also wished that I could have lived to see the world after defeating the Demon King.

"It was hard, but I'm still enjoying my life now."

　The present I'm living in now.
　You could say it is a future made possible by a series of miracles that Hisago could never have imagined.
　I'm sure that stupid samurai-topknot hero believed there were only two possible outcomes: either the Demon King won, and humanity lost, or the Demon King died, and humanity won.
　That's why I want to laugh at him as much as I can.
　Because the future that exists here and now is filled with far more hope than that damn ideal future you imagined.

"This Hinomoto, the Kingdom of Lingle, and the Rescue Squad have all become like familiar hometowns to me. I do think about the past from time to time, but I don't think I wish to go back to those days anymore."
"...I see."

　For me, it is something that has already ended.
　From now on, I will simply live my life however I want.

"So, doesn't it get lonely being single all this time?"
"And suddenly, a question that hits this hard?"

　That came out of nowhere and hit me right where it hurts.
　Technically, I've only been alive for 18 years, but considering how many years have passed, it's pretty painful when you look at it that way...

"E-E~hto, uhm..."
"It's okay. I already understand."

　Well, I know I'm pretty easy to read, but still.
　How is this girl so mature about these things even though she's younger than me?

"...I think Usato fills his mind with things like his duties and training, so he unconsciously avoids thinking in that direction."
"Ah, I see. He has a lot of things he needs to do, after all."
"Mm. So I've recently realized that he's not simply dense."

　Usato had always carried some kind of mission with him.
　During the first war, it was his mission as a member of the Rescue Squad to save people.
　During his journey to deliver the letter, it was his mission as an envoy of the Kingdom of Lingle.
　His journey to defeat the Demon King was also for the purpose of ending the war... and this time, his dispatch to the Demon King's territory is for the sake of the mission he declared during his fight against the Demon King: to “stand between humans and demons."
　When I think about it that way, I can understand why he has no time to lose himself in romance.

"Even if you leave that part out, he's still dense."
"Ahaha..."
"Whenever you take your eyes off him, he ends up attracting some kind of weird person."
"..."

　This time, I couldn't even manage a dry laugh.
　It was an undeniable fact.

"I've already given up on Usato always attracting people."
"Ah, so you've given up."
"Because if you trace it back to the root, it's not really Usato's fault in the first place."

　Indeed, that's true.
　There are times when someone asks him for help, like my other self did, but most of the time, Usato is put in situations where he has to decide that he needs to help someone.
　Rather than being someone who easily gets caught up in trouble, I suppose it's more accurate to say that he's currently in a position and situation where trouble is likely to happen.

"! ...I found her"
"Looks like it."

　I see the scene of finding Kanoko-san through Foresight Magic.
　About ten seconds later, I spot her walking with a man at the end of the alley.

"Ara, Amako. Did you come looking for me?"
"Haa, so you really did wander off without telling anyone. Good grief..."

　Kanoko-san came walking over with Hayate, the chieftain of Hinomoto, accompanying her. She gave us an apologetic, gentle smile.
　Why is Hayate-san here?
　Noticing my gaze, he gave a wry smile and pulled a letter from inside his robe.

"A letter arrived from Usato addressed to you and me."
"From Usato?"
"What do you mean, Hayate-san?"

　Amako seems curious about it as well, so she grabs Kanoko-san's tail tightly to keep her from running away and asks him.
　If I remember correctly, he had a personal connection with Hayate-san and had a contract with a Foobird... right? Since he should be in the Demon King's territory right now, I suppose it's safe to assume he sent the letter from there.

"The part addressed to me is a request for permission to have you join Usato in the Demon King's territory."
"... Something happened, didn't it?"
"The details are written here. I've read it myself, but... yes, it would be quicker for you to see it for yourself."

　I open the letter Hayate-san handed me and read through it.
　Indeed, it's from Usato.
　The contents are...

"———!"
"Kannagi...?"

　I grip the letter tightly in my hand.
　I was speechless at the unbelievable contents, and I staggered backward as I felt dizzy, only for Kanoko-san to catch me.

"W-What happened? Hayate-kun, you shouldn't show Nagi-chan anything strange, okay?"
"No, that's not it. Why am I the one getting blamed here? ...Do you understand the situation now?"

　I nod at Hayate-san's words.
　The situation may be much worse than I had imagined.

●
——— read on seireitranslations.blogspot.com ———

I encountered a girl who possesses Hisago-san's memories and magic.
Her name is Shia Garmio.
She may be in a state where she is tormented by the memories in her mind to the point that she cannot even make calm judgments.
The Devils are also after her, so she is in a dangerous situation.
We may need your help.

●
——— read on seireitranslations.blogspot.com ———

　That old man... This time, he left something even more troublesome behind in this era.
　Neither the memories nor the magic are things that are absolutely necessary, so why did they end up being etched into the mind of an unrelated girl?
　At least the Hisago I knew wasn't stupid enough to do something so thoughtless... or so I thought.

"I'm going to join up with Usato."
"...I understand. However, to enter the Demon King's territory from Hinomoto, you will have to pass through the monsters' territory. I have no concerns about your abilities, but I'll have you make the necessary preparations, so please wait a little while."

　Shia Garmio... For her safety, I want to join up with Usato as soon as possible, but I can't rush and risk causing an unforeseen problem, so for now, I'll wait and calm down.

"Then Amako is coming with you."
""Hmm!?""

　Hayate-san and I happen to speak at the same time in response to Kanoko-san's words.
　Amako, with Kanoko-san's arms wrapped around her from behind, gives her a flat look.

"No, Kannagi is the only one who was called."
"I'm sure Usato-kun needs you too."
"And what makes you think that...?"
"A mother's intuition."
"I suddenly don't believe you anymore..."
"Areh~?"

　Kanoko-san keeps smiling despite Amako's exasperated expression.
　...Hmm.

"No, Amako should come too."
"Eh, Kannagi, you too?"
"Having someone with powerful Foresight Magic like you would certainly be reassuring, but if we leave you alone in Hinomoto, wouldn't it be difficult for you to return to the Kingdom of Lingle?"
"That's certainly true, but..."

　Even though people's perception of the Beastfolk has been improving, their position is still unstable.
　It would be far too risky to have Amako travel all the way from Hinomoto to the Kingdom of Lingle on her own, and Amako herself probably wouldn't want such a grand journey that required borrowing the strength of Mialak or another country.
　In that case, it would be quicker for her to go to the Demon King's territory with me, finish the two-month assignment, and then return together with Usato and the others when they go back to the Kingdom of Lingle.

"I was already planning to return to the Kingdom of Lingle after two months anyway, so that should be fine with you too, right?"
"...If I'm not causing any trouble. All right."
"We'll have to pass through the monsters' territory, though... Well, there are two people with Foresight Magic, and more importantly, I'm really strong, so I'm sure we'll be fine."
"I know that. There are even rumors that you might be stronger than Usato."

　For some reason, whenever Usato is brought up, I feel like people are treating me like I'm not even human.
　No, it's not like I think of Usato as a monster either.
　... Anyway, I've decided to join up with Usato and the others in the Demon King's territory... That Hisago guy really did nothing but cause trouble.
　Maybe I should have punched him while I still had the chance.

——— read on seireitranslations.blogspot.com ———

Author's Notes:
Hayate and the others are constantly being dragged around by Kanoko-san, who frequently wanders off.
Kannagi and Amako are now scheduled to join up with Usato and the others.