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I Got a New Skill Every Time I Was Exiled, and After 100 Different Worlds, I Was Unmatched (Web Novel) - Chapter 361: There Is a Reason Behind Words and a Motive Behind Actions.
Chapter 361: There Is a Reason Behind Words and a Motive Behind Actions.
This chapter is updated by JustRead.pl
“Thank you so much for today! Looking forward to working together from tomorrow!”“Yeah, see you again.”
After concluding the discussion within the guild, we dispersed there. It seemed that the promise to treat the rookie boys to a meal, as a way of expressing gratitude, had completely flown out of their heads due to the unexpected turn of events. Well, since we would be acting together from tomorrow onwards, it didn’t really matter. There was no need to rush for the sake of deepening camaraderie.
So, we casually had dinner on our own, secured lodging, and were about to rest in our rooms… or so it was supposed to be. However, it came to the point where all that was left was to sleep, and once again, Tia had come to my room.
“What’s up, Tia? Good girls should be in bed by now.”
“Oh, my apologies. Then tonight, I’ll be a little bit naughty… So, why did you use such a provocative tone?”
“Well, what are you talking about… Ouch, ouch! I’ll tell you!”
Slightly displeased, Tia tugged at my ears playfully as I spoke. She had been smiling silently throughout the conversation with the guild master, but it seemed that her patience had its limits.
“Geez, resorting to violence right away is no good, you know?”
“Humph, it’s because Ed was being mean! But seriously, what’s going on? It’s one thing with me, but isn’t it a bit too threatening towards those kids?”
“I wasn’t lying, you know? Well, certainly, saying all that was mainly for us to continue working together with Jinku and the others.”
Just as the guild master’s final decision was to “pretend he didn’t hear anything,” the latter part of my report, except for the suggestion that the Earth Dragon might have been summoned, wasn’t strictly necessary. In fact, it didn’t matter whether I said it or not, as it was just piling speculation on top of speculation and stirring up a sense of crisis.
So, why did I do such a thing? The reason was clear – to push Jinku and the others to want to work together with us, or more accurately, to make them wish for it.
“Jinku and his friends form a trio of a swordsman, heavy warrior, and magician, while we are a duo of a swordsman and a magician… well, you are a spirit user, but… If the roles overlap, one is a novice, and the other is a capable person who can defeat an Earth Dragon. In such a situation, it doesn’t make sense for us to work together. Even if we want to be together, we can only take care of a novice for a month at most. Half a year, which is the time needed for banishment, is obviously too long. That’s why it was necessary to create a situation where Jinku and the others would find it natural to be with us. People around might say various things, but as long as Jinku and the others are convinced, the rest can be managed.”
Shrugging my shoulders, Tia released my ears and adopted a troubled expression.
“I see, that’s how it is… Ed, you really are amazing. I just thought it would be nice to get along normally and be together.”
“Haha, it might be fine if it’s just you, Tia. Joining a party temporarily when solo is not uncommon, and especially since you’re an elf, there’s an excuse for training a novice early for the future. But it won’t work if I’m with you. Even if we add Jinku and Doma, I alone can’t match up. So, the only reason left is something melodramatic, like ‘Tia falls in love at first sight with someone from Jinku’s group and insists on joining, but I can’t give up on Tia and forcibly tag along.'”
“I don’t want that! It’s not that I dislike Jinku and the others, but… pretending to be in such a play every day would be absolutely no fun!”
“True. That’s why, well, instilling a sense of fear might be one of the reasons.”
“One more reason? Are there other reasons?”
“Yeah, there is. Actually, this one is the main reason.”
As I spoke with a suddenly serious tone, Tia also straightened up with a solemn expression.
“I chose to be with Jinku and the others, even if it meant using forceful means, because… almost certainly, they are being targeted.”
“Targeted!? By whom!? Why!?”
“I don’t know who. But do you understand why they would be targeted? Although almost no one in this world knows… we know that Jinku is the Hero.”
“…Then, does it have something to do with the Demon King’s army?”
“Yes. We talked about the first loop, right?”
“Yes. Originally, Jinku lost two companions there, and he became disheartened, right?”
“Right. Before I was expelled, on the day I fought with a guy who claimed to be a subordinate of the Demon King in the north. During that fight, he mentioned, ‘We conducted a summoning experiment near a village inhabited by humans.’ As a result, Jinku went out alone to investigate the truth while I was sleeping… but doesn’t that sound fishy?”
Being present near the location where the Demon King’s army conducted an experiment. That alone might still be a possibility. However, the summoned Earth Dragon, for some reason, killed only Jinku’s two companions and spared Jinku. If it was a genuinely top-secret experiment, there’s no reason they would let Jinku, who could be easily killed, slip away. Moreover, the Earth Dragon caused no harm to anyone else and was immediately sent back. To top it off, the Demon King’s army soldier who appeared before Jinku happened to be related to the experiment, and he deliberately told Jinku the truth about the incident before dying? It seemed too convenient in every aspect.
“In this world, the will of the God is undoubtedly at play, and considering I have the power of the [Flag-maker], and all, I can’t deny the possibility that this entire sequence of events is preordained… a destiny set by the God. But if you think about it normally, the purpose might be to drive the Hero Jinku into despair and darkness. I don’t know what they want to achieve with that, though.”
“So, Jinku and the others are still being targeted?”
“As for that, I can’t say for sure right now. We managed to thwart their initial move, but whether they give up at this point or continue… If they are really aiming for the Hero, as long as Jinku is alive, the next Hero won’t be born. So, for now, the best we can do is keep an eye on the movements of the three supposed Demon Kings and protect him.”
“I see… By the way, among those three Demon Kings, which one is Ed’s doppelganger?”
“Hmm? Come to think of it, I haven’t checked that yet.”
At Tia’s question, I realized I hadn’t thought about it. Since all three of them have fragments of my power, it’s essential to confirm it beforehand. I materialized the [Akashic Compass] and specified my power’s fragments to search. Then…
“Huh?”
Seeing the image that appeared, I grinned knowingly. Well, well, this is getting quite interesting. It seems like a significant change in plans is necessary, but now…
“Uwaah, Ed is making that wicked face again…”
“Don’t say things that make me sound bad! Well, admittedly, I came up with a few ideas.”
“To the point of making that face?”
“That’s right. I’m sure we’ll get to see a good howl. It’ll be entertaining.”
“…You mean Ed’s howling face?”
“Yeah! …Yeah?”
Certainly, since the Demon Kings are essentially my face, that would be the case… right? Huh?
“Fufu, I wonder what kind of face it is? I’m looking forward to it. Uri, Uri.”
“W-well, yes. Hahaha…”
Smirking while Tia playfully poked my cheek, I chuckled awkwardly and continued to devise plans for the future in my mind.
