-1092- Many setups

This is something that has been mentioned before.

The Lion King Agency searches for talented orphans from around the world and trains them to become attack mages capable of dealing with demons and completing missions. This is not just to help these children without families, but to use their power to achieve objectives.

Yukina is one of them.

"Just like how Avrora saw herself in Astarte, you also see yourself in Astarte. That's why you rushed out to save Astarte when her beast vassal went berserk, and you looked just as dejected along the way, as if you didn't want to pay attention to the wound that someone else tore open."

Rozen stated Yukina's thoughts directly without any sympathy.

"Perhaps you're even more concerned about Astarte's situation than Avrora?"

There's no way around it.

After all, Avrora has already been saved and now has the life she has always dreamed of. She can go to school with Rozen, participate in club activities with Nagisa, and even go out for ice cream with everyone, with a smile on her face every day.

In contrast, Yukina is still just a tool of the Lion King Agency, a disposable one at that.

"The Lion King Agency sent a little girl like you, who hasn't even graduated from middle school, to be around the monster that seals the Fourth Primogenitor. That's proof enough."

Rozen revealed this harsh reality.

If they really wanted someone to monitor the monster that seals the Fourth Primogenitor, then they could have sent someone of the level of the Three Saints. Relying solely on a newly minted attack mage, even if they are a sword shaman of the Lion King Agency with a Mechanical Demon-Purging Assault Spear Mark Seven like Yukina, is extremely dangerous.

Yet the Lion King Agency still sent Yukina.

Rozen couldn't believe that there wasn't a more competent attack mage in the Lion King Agency than Yukina, and he didn't believe that there was no one else in the Lion King Agency who could wield the Mechanical Demon-Purging Assault Spear Mark Seven.

Given this, the Lion King Agency knew how dangerous this mission was but still sent her. Even if Yukina were to die, the Lion King Agency would still have plenty of replacements. On the other hand, the death of someone on the level of the Three Saints would be a huge loss for the entire Lion King Agency.

And Yukina knows this about herself.

So, regarding Astarte's situation, Yukina had an exaggerated reaction and exhibited abnormal behavior.

"...Senpai, you're really smart."

Yukina opened her mouth as if she wanted to say something to cover up, but she gave up the next second.

"Whether it's seeing through my identity the first time we met or immediately seeing through the identity of the Apostle from Lotharingia just now, even though you're only a year older than me, you feel more professional and smarter than seasoned attack mages. No wonder Master values you so much and keeps warning me to be careful."

Yukina said so, but her gaze shifted away from Rozen.

"You're right. Like Miss Astarte, I was also cultivated as a tool to be discarded after use. I've sensed this for a long time, but I just didn't want to admit it."

Yukina finally confessed.

As a sword shaman of the Lion King Agency, Yukina is only fourteen years old.

But even at just fourteen, Yukina's skills as a sword shaman are already highly developed. Even without using the Mechanical Demon-Purging Assault Spear Mark Seven, she can defeat high-ranking demons and even rival high-level beastmen in combat, demonstrating her outstanding abilities among her peers in the Lion King Agency.

With such talent, becoming a combat spearhead specifically cultivated to deal with demons, Yukina has put in so much effort and endured such rigorous training. It's not hard to imagine.

Because of this, Yukina inadvertently realized what people like herself were trained for.

So, Yukina accidentally identified herself with Astarte, who was also manufactured as a combat tool.

These thoughts were not supposed to be shared with anyone.

Let alone with someone she had only known for a few days, and who might even become an enemy.

But Yukina's observational skills are also very high. After a few days of getting along, she has already understood that crude disguises and lies are useless in front of this seemingly same-age but extremely subtle and intelligent senior. In such a situation, Yukina seemed to find an outlet and began to speak out like she had given up on herself.

"Since before, I've been thinking, I wonder when I'll die in an unknown place, just to provide a little utility to the Lion King Agency."

Yukina said with a stiff face.

"When I came to this island and received the task of monitoring you, I also wondered, facing someone capable of sealing the Fourth Primogenitor and not knowing when the seal will be released, does my surveillance really serve any purpose?"

Yukina believed that her end was probably on this island.

Either she would be discovered by Rozen and eliminated.

Or she would be killed by the Fourth Primogenitor when the seal was released, and her body would be exposed in the wilderness.

With this in mind, how much pressure this girl accumulated can be imagined.

"After seeing Miss Astarte's fate, I couldn't help but think, is this the fate of a tool?"

Yukina lowered her eyelids.

"If that's the case, then why am I..."

Why continue to live?

Yukina was confused about this.

And then...

"Thud!"

A sudden burst exploded in Yukina's head.

Rozen fiercely hit Yukina's head, and it was the kind of blow that was very powerful.

"Ouch...!"

Yukina couldn't help but cover her head, took several steps back, and tears welled up in her eyes.

"What... what are you doing...!? Senpai!"

Yukina glared at Rozen, tears welling in her eyes.

To this...

"I'm the one who want to ask, why are you so sure that I'm a terrifying threat? What are you trying to do?"

Rozen spoke extremely dissatisfied.

"Although whether to monitor or not is your problem, because you think you're risking your life to monitor me, do you see me as a tyrant or a savage beast?"

Saying that, Rozen glanced at Yukina.

"Also, at such a young age, don't be so sentimental. It just makes people think you have chuunibyou syndrome, thinking you're the protagonist of an anime with so many setups, huh?"

With a wry smile, Rozen took out a photo from his pocket.

It was a photo that seemed to have been glued back together, as if it had been cut in half before.

It was the photo of Yukina, wearing only her underwear, holding a cat plush toy in the dormitory, with a happy smile on her face.

"W-Why is this photo here...!?"

Yukina was shocked, and at the same time, her pretty face turned red, her self-abandonment replaced by shame and anger.

Seeing this, Rozen showed an evil smile.