Chapter 12: Shizuku’s Pov

The Heiligh Kingdom, Royal Palace.

A little back in time.

In a room given to the summoned heroes, Yaegashi Shizuku was staring at her best friend's sleep in the dark.

5 days have passed since they had a taste of battle and loss in the Dungeon. When they exited the Dungeon, they stayed overnight at Horald. The party came back to the capital on a high-speed carriage early in the morning. There was no one in the mood to continue the combat exercises in the Dungeon. Incompetence was the cause of death for a brave man. Both the king and the church would need to hear the report. They were not allowed to break into this place. Before something worse happened, they needed to care for the party of heroes.

Shizuku remembered when they returned to the kingdom. She wanted to wake Kaori up in the morning, so she went to sleep early. When they returned the news of Hajime's fall and Rihito's disappearance was reported. Everyone was astonished, but they breathed a sigh of relief when it was the 'Useless' and 'Unruly' Hajime and Rihito both passed. Even the king and Ishtar were the same. There wasn't any of the strong heroes to die in the Dungeon. If they could not return alive from just exploring the dungeon, how would they fight the Devils? The chosen heroes of God must be unrivalled.

The king and Ishtar had discretion. There had been among them who had slandered and abused Hajime. Rihito's swordsmanship might be fenominal but his unruly behaviour brought him the discontent of many nobles. It was not spoken to the public, but it was talked about in secret in the noble society. They thought it was good that the incompetent and unruly had died. An apostle of God who was useless and unruly, naturally would die. Now they were speaking ill as one pleased. Shizuku really wanted to go berserk and kill those people many times.

Kouki and his strong sense of justice did not stand up against such mistreatment; she thought something was weird. Did he think that if he protested against the king and church, it would leave a bad impression? People who cursed Hajime and Rihito seemed to be penalized… rumours were spread that Kouki was an anxious brave hero who pondered his incompetence. Hajime and Rihito's reputation would not change just because a few people said so.

At that time, it was undeniable who saved them. Hajime was the one who kept the Behemoth in check to allow them to escape. To think that he died because of a stray shot from a classmate…though that is what he said.

Then there is the disappearance of Rihito. What happened to him? Did he teleport to somewhere else, is he alive? Thinking about him made Shizuku's heartache. She has been keeping herself together, her friends need her in this precarious situation, and she can't let herself cry. If she lets go she will lose it. In her heart, she prayed, "Please be alive".

To escape reality, she wondered what Hajime did to cause such a thing. Dead man tells no tales. Rather than look for the culprit recklessly, if she left it alone then it would be done. The classmate's opinion was in harmony and they did not communicate it.

To clarify the details at the time, Meld thought it was necessary to interview the students. Just like the students he chose to escape from reality, even if it was hard to regard as a mistake. Even if it was negligence he carried it out for the benefit of the students. To leave such a thing unsettled would only bring trouble later on. Above all, Meld wanted to make clear. Meld failed in his promise to save Hajime and then there was the disappearance of Rihito. Thinking about that Meld's heart ached at that.

Meld's action did not come true. Ishtar had banned any scrutiny of the students. Meld clung to it, but even the king forbade it.

"If you knew, you would get angry."

Kaori had not woken up since that day. The doctor's diagnosis discovered no abnormalities. Probably because of mental shock, the body went into a deep sleep as a defence mechanism. Time will pass normally if they sobered up.

Shizuku held Kaori's hands. She prayed not to let her best friend hurt anymore.

Kaori's hand twitched at that.

"Kaori! Can you hear me!? Kaori!"

Shizuku desperately called out. Kaori's closed eyelids started to shiver. Further, Shizuku called out for her friend. In response to that call, Kaori gripped her friend's hand, then she slowly awoke.

"Kaori!"

"…Shizuku?"

Leaning on the bed, Kaori saw Shizuku overlooking her with tears in her eyes. Kaori just blindly looked over her surroundings. Shizuku looked at her and waited until Kaori gathered herself more before calling her.

"Yeah, it's me. Kaori. How is your body? No discomfort?"

"I'm fine. Just weary because I was sleeping…"

"Well, you have been sleeping for 5 days…"

Shizuku forced a smile and tried to assist Kaori in standing up, who was trying to ask Shizuku how much she slept. Kaori reacted at that.

"5 days? Why…I…I went to the Dungeon…and then…"

Her eyes gradually came into focus. Shizuku tried to change the topic when she had a bad feeling. However, Kaori recalled her memories too fast.

"And then…Nagumo…"

"…That is."

"..."

Shizuku's face morphed into a painful expression when wondering what she should tell her. Kaori realized the tragedy in her memories when she saw the state Shizuku was in. However, it wasn't easy for her to accept such a reality.

"…Kaori, you understand, right? …He's not here."

"He might be dead"

"…Lies. Isn't it? Shizuku. When I fainted, you guys saved Nagumo, right? Right? Isn't it? This is the castle room. Everyone came back, right? I wonder if Nagumo is training. In the training centre. I'll head over for a moment. I have to thank Nagumo. Say something, Shizuku…"

Kaori who wanted to escape from the harsh reality spun her words over and over again, while she mentioned searching for Hajime. Shizuku caught her arm and didn't let go. She understood her predicament very well. She had a sorrowful expression, but still, she stared at Kaori.

"…Kaori, you understand, right? … He's not here."

"Stop… don't say that"

Kaori tried to struggle with Shizuku, to get out of there to find Hajime.

Shizuku didn't let her. Shizuku grabbed Kaori and pulled her into her chest.

Kaori dropped her face into Shizuku's chest while shouting "Let me go!" and sobbing. Clinging to each other, she started to shout louder. Shizuku just continued to hug her. Hoping it would soften just a little of her pain.

How long did they stay like that? The sky was dyed red by the setting sun. Kaori was motionless in Shizuku's arms while she sniffed. Shizuku asked in worry.

"Kaori…"

"…Shizuku…Nagumo…He fell…He isn't here…"

Kaori whispered in a voice so quiet it sounded like it would disappear. Shizuku did not want to sugarcoat it, it would only be a temporary comfort. The lie could come back and hurt more than it was softened. She did not want to see her friend in pain.

"That's right."

"That time, whose magic hit Nagumo? Who?"

"I don't know. No one wants to mention that moment. It's scary. What if it was me… they all think that."

"That so."

"Do you have a grudge?"

"…I'm not sure. If someone knew…I will surely blame them. But…no one knows…I think this is better. For sure, I wouldn't be able to stand it…"

"I see…"

Kaori looked downcast as she talked. She wiped her face and eyes and faced Shizuku, and declared resolutely.

"Shizuku. I, I don't believe it. Nagumo is alive. I don't believe he is dead."

"Kaori, that is…"

Shizuku had another sorrowful expression trying to persuade Kaori. Kaori clasped Shizuku's cheeks with both hands and said with a smile.

"I know. I know it's weird to think that someone could survive that. …But it's not like we checked. The possibility is less than 1%. If we did not check, it's not 0%. I'm going to believe."

"Kaori…"

"I'll become stronger. I'll become strong enough to prevent an event like that from happening. I will make sure with my own eyes. Nagumo's fate…Shizuku."

"So, you also can't give up."

"What?"

"I remember Rihito also disappeared right after we teleported. He also is not with us, is he?" Hearing her question Shizuku fell silent, her eyes became watery. "You've been holding yourself back this whole time. I can tell just by looking at you, but it's ok, I am with you". Saying that Kaori hugged Shizuku in her chest, "We will find them together."

"Let's do this together."

"…"

Hearing her Shizuku thought it might be possible, that Rihito was alive. Just as Kaori said the possibility is not 0%. Then there might be a chance, thinking about this she stole her heart. I will find you, and find out what happened to you.

This time I won't let go. She had the same glint in her eyes as Kaori whenever she looked at Hajime.

She promised herself. [You won't get away from me.]

"Of course, I'll agree. Until we are satisfied, I'll tag along."

That day both of them determent themself to find Hajime and Rihito.

...

At Labyrinth, while Rihito was training he suddenly got shivers down in his spine. Thinking of a monster might be nearby. He vigilantly looked around but there was no monster around, even with his <Mana Sense> he found none. 

He confusingly scratched his head, "What was that."

...

"Chapter end"

(a/n: I won't be able to upload on Tuesday so hear an early chapter next upload be on Friday)