Seeker 334

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Chapter 334. Kushina’s Resolve (2)

“That's why… I’ve already said it. All that’s left is for me to sacrifice myself. There are already seven children who have been sacrificed before me, so to not let their sacrifice go to waste—”

Seeing Princess Kushina repeating the same words like a broken machine, my patience snapped.

I stood up, looked down at Princess Kushina, and said,

“Alright. Princess Kushina, I’m done with you. ──Let’s go, Kazane, Yuzuki.”

“But, Daichi-kun.”

“Senpai! This isn’t like you!”

“What do you mean ‘like me’? I can’t do this if it means putting Kazane and Yuzuki in danger.”

I turned my back to Princess Kushina and headed for the door.

Kazane and Yuzuki, though reluctant, followed me.

The griffin in my arms pecked at my chest as if in protest.

Even being chastised by my familiar didn’t quell my irritation.

“W-wait! Please, I beg you!”

Mikoto’s voice called out from behind us as we were leaving.

But I had no intention of stopping.

I slid open the door and stepped into the hallway.

Incidentally, there had been a notification about a special mission a bit earlier.

───────────────────────

Special Mission: ‘Defeat Yamata no Orochi and Save Princess Kushina’ issued!

Experience Points upon completion: 250,000 points

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Another 250,000 points.

If it’s the same pattern as with the Kraken, defeating Yamata no Orochi should yield 500,000 points combined with the original mission.

Even so, I no longer care about Princess Kushina’s feelings.

We will only consider our own benefits.

Just as we were about to leave the room,

“…Hey, wait.”

Kushina’s voice leaked out.

I stopped in my tracks.

I had no intention of stopping for Mikoto, but if it’s Kushina herself, that’s different.

I turned around to see a girl with tears in her eyes.

Though scared, her eyes were clearly focused on me.

Without responding, I waited, and Kushina spoke next.

“Is it okay… for me to live? Is it okay for me to want to live?”

Normally, such words wouldn’t come out.

Is there anyone in this world who shouldn’t want to live?

After a moment’s thought, I answered,

“The one not allowing it is you, Kushina─no, Kushinosuke. Isn’t it you yourself?”

To me, she isn’t just a general’s daughter.

She’s a brave girl disguised as a boy, Kushinosuke.

Despite her clumsiness, I don’t dislike her.

I could never think she didn’t deserve to live.

I’m not the only one.

Kazane, Yuzuki, and obviously Mikoto don’t think that either.

In this situation, the only one not allowing Kushinosuke to want to live is herself.

“Not allowing it… is myself…?”

Kushinosuke looked surprised.

Then she looked down, silent for a while.

A painfully quiet moment passed.

Still, I waited quietly.

Kazane, Yuzuki, and Mikoto watched in suspense.

Only Griff tilted its head in my arms, saying, “Kupi?”

Eventually, Kushinosuke lifted her face.

With eyes full of tears, she looked at me and said clearly.

＊＊＊

──Side: Kushina──

“Alright. Princess Kushina, I’m done with you. ──Let’s go, Kazane, Yuzuki.”

“But Daichi-kun.”

“Senpai! This isn’t like you!”

“What do you mean ‘like me’? I can’t do this if it means putting Kazane and Yuzuki in danger.”

Daichi-sama was angry.

He seemed irritated.

He seemed to be like Mikoto.

Kushina didn’t understand why he was angry.

But─for some reason, it seemed like he was angry about her trying to sacrifice herself.

Mikoto seemed to feel the same.

Though prepared to sacrifice herself, her resolve was being denied.

Why?

What should I do then?

“…Hey, wait.”

I don’t understand.

I don’t understand, but it feels like that’s what’s being said.

“Is it okay… for me to live? Is it okay for me to want to live?”

Then the young adventurer answered Kushina’s question.

“The one not allowing it is you, Princess Kushina─no, Kushinosuke. Isn’t it you yourself?”

“Not allowing it… is myself…?”

Kushina felt like she was told something unexpected.

Being a “Miko” and sacrificing herself to Yamata no Orochi was her duty.

But when told, “The one not allowing yourself to live is you,” her mind went blank.

Is that so?

Indeed, Mikoto seemed to want her to live.

If Daichi, Kazane, and Hotaru felt the same.

Then the only one thinking she should fulfill her duty as a “Miko” is…

Indeed, no one but herself.

At least no one here thinks that way.

What about the citizens?

What would the commoners of this country think?

While seven peasant girls have been sacrificed, would they think it unfair if only Kushina survived and lived on?

It’s imaginable that some might criticize her.

Even if explained in detail, it’s hard to believe that no one would feel the general’s daughter is getting special treatment.

(Ah, I see…)

That’s when Kushina realized.

What she was afraid of.

Duty or whatever is just an excuse.

She was scared of being criticized by the people of the country.

She wasn’t prepared to face criticism from some of the citizens.

Because of that, she trampled on Mikoto’s desire for her to live.

She trampled on the feelings of Daichi and others who were willing to risk their lives to save her.

Her mind felt clear.

The fog lifted, and everything became clear.

Yes.

Daichi-sama had asked many times.

What does Kushina herself want?

Her own hope is──

To laugh and have fun with Mikoto, father, grandfather, and others.

To eat more delicious food.

To relax in a warm bath after a tiring day.

And above all, to experience more happiness and joy.

Kushina made a new resolve.

Then she shouted her feelings aloud.

“I want to live… I want to live more…! Please, help me. Save me! Defeat Yamata no Orochi!”

I don’t want to die. I want to live. So help me.

I felt like I could finally say these simple words.

＊＊＊

Eventually, Kushinosuke lifted her face.

With eyes full of tears, she looked at me and said clearly.

“I want to live… I want to live more…! Please, help me. Save me! Defeat Yamata no Orochi!”

I don’t want to die. I want to live. So help me.

Hearing these words from her, I felt there was no room for doubt.

Looking at Kazane and Yuzuki, they both nodded with smiles.

They hadn’t opposed it from the start.

I looked at Kushinosuke and, meeting her eyes, replied firmly.

“Got it, leave it to us. We’ll crush Yamata no Orochi.”

“Legendary beast or whatever, it’s nothing to us.”

“We’ve already taken down the Kraken, another so-called legendary beast. Rest easy, Kushinosuke.”

As Yuzuki and Kazane continued, Kushinosuke finally burst into tears.

“Waaahhhh! Thank you so much!”

Mikoto gently patted her head, and Kushinosuke threw herself into Mikoto’s chest, crying even more.

Is it cruel to think she’s a crybaby?

Mikoto hugged Kushinosuke with one arm, patting her head with the other.

Mikoto herself was also in tears.

The female warrior known as the Sword Saint looked at us while holding her lord’s daughter.

“Daichi-sama, Kazane-sama, Hotaru-sama. Thank you so much. I am deeply grateful.”

“Yes. But if we do this, we’ll do it without losing anyone.”

“Of course. We will not let anyone else suffer.”

And so, we began planning to defeat Yamata no Orochi.

The next morning,

We set out for the decisive battle.