[Yo~o, Usagi lass. I’ve got a few questions for you. …...What happened to my subordinates?]
[Subordinates? …..Um….what do you…..]
From Grid’s sudden question.
For an instant, although Shia had no idea what he was talking about, she seemed to have guessed and her eyes were opened wide in astonishment.
The empire soldiers who had a direct relation to Shia were limited. It was naturally, the group of people that cornered the Hauria tribe when leaving the Sea of Trees. Many family members were killed, abducted, placed into slavery, and it was the enemies that drove Shia to go to the [Raisen Great Canyon].
[It’s odd huh? Even though she’s returned, none of my subordinates came back, why are you still alive and in such a place? A~a?]
[Ua~.....]
Grid gradually approached to corner Shia.
Right, he was the commander of the forces that attacked Shia’s group that came out of the Sea of Tree’s before. Because Grid who was the regiment commander didn’t personally come to capture Shia, she had no memories of ever seeing Grid before, however Grid firmly recalled that there was a rare Usagininzoku with blue-white hair.
In Shia’s mind, the expressions of the empire soldiers had when attacking to tease them and the sense of hopelessness of losing a family member at that time, flashed back. While unconsciously raising out a groan and her expression stiffening up, one step, trying to back away…..she felt a warm touch on her cheeks and became startled.
If you look, just as usual, Hajime picked up shia’s cheeks. And, immediately after that, she felt warmth in her hand. That was Yue.
Her eyes looking up showed no worries, if anything it was amazement, a slight color of scolding appeared though. It seemed to imply, [Don’t be overwhelmed by small fries of this level, Greenhorn].
Shia who was looking at Yue and Hajime, with a wry smile said, [I’m alright now]. No matter how you looked at it, the events which took placed was a trauma, the present Shia was unmistakably a strong person who had enough power and spirit to crush the monsters in the great labyrinths to pieces. There’s no reason for her to be overwhelmed by the pressure that one officer was releasing.
Shia with an attractive smile after decisively straightening her spine towards the approaching Grid. And declared to Grid who instinctively stopped advancing.
[I don’t know a thing about your subordinates. They were likely people who were slow in the head, maybe they were eaten by some kind of demon that appeared somewhere? Also, there’s no reason for me to answer your questions at all]
[.....You sure are getting full of yourself. A~a? Did you think you were safe because you’re with the Hero’s group? If you’re not a slave, then you probably solded away that body of yours? A prostitute's life, I won’t be taking such tongue from you]
Although Grid said those dangerous words while dangerously steeling up his eyes, Shia had already removed eye contact with Grid, her eyes told that she didn’t care. Rather, having called Shia a prostitute, the other women looked at Grid with anger.
While looking at Shia’s attitude, his veins appeared and his expression twisted with anger, when he noticed the looks, to deceive them he smiled and declared to Kouki.
[I’m terribly sorry, Hero-dono. This Usagininzoku seems to know something something about my subordinates that have been missing since 2 months ago, Will you listen to my request? If you need an Usagininzoku woman, I can prepare another for you, this time around…..]
[Oi, underling]
However, a voice interrupted before Grid finished talking. At the same time that Grid glanced towards the voice, his expression cramped up because of anger, there the annoyed looking Hajime was seen.
[What……]
[Don’t open your mouth, underling. Your role is already over. Making us stay forever over foolish things. Quit wasting time and guide us quickly]
[Why you little……]
[Can you not understand the meaning of being silent? To us, we don’t even have a miniscule amount of time to spend on you. Know your place]
To Hajime’s words, Grid’s face is dyed completely red because of the hooligan who picked a fight since they didn’t want anything to do with him. His eyes became bloodshot in anger. Even then, self-control was something a regiment commander was required to have, with just one wrong line to “God’s Apostles” he would definitely be cut from his position, he became silent and the subordinate in the back began to guide them.
Disregarding Grid who was staring at Hajime with bloodshot eyes, Hajime’s group left the room as if nothing happened.
Although Kouki’s group had slightly cramped cheeks because of Hajime’s objection, the females looked refreshed. As for Hajime, there was no intent on being sarcastic…...If he knew of that, blood might have gushed out from Grid’s blood vessels.
However, it seemed that a “crotch smash” was about to happen if he still didn’t understand because he had called Shia a prostitute…...Grid should be happy for himself to have such self discipline.
Hajime’s group didn’t worry about the piercing gaze that came from behind them, the huge suspension bridge was extended and they followed the pale expressioned guide.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
[And?]
That was the first word that Ririana said to Hajime’s group as they were guided into the room in the Imperial castle. Although she wore a smile on her face, her eyes were cold and didn’t smile at all. It seemed to express, [Explain the circumstances right away damn it!].
Most likely she was busy to death from the Empires conferences. Inside of her, no matter how she looked at it Hajime’s group appearing was troublesome, unexpectedly, there was no helping that she said such things. In a sense, it was a sign of familiarity…...though it might not be as well.
[Besides the farce at the Imperial capital, why on earth is everybody here? I demand a clear explanation. Yes, I strongly, strongly, demand for one. I won’t forgive you if you trick me! Especially, Nagumo-san! It was definitely you who pulled the strings from behind the scenes! Don’t treat others as if they were someone elses problems and stop feeling Shia-san’s fluffy usamimi’s! Yue-san’s also caressing and touching Shia-san’s cheeks as well!]
Ririana’s lost it! She glares at Hajime with enough power that it seems to create sounds.
It’s exactly as she said, Ririana thought it was Hajime’s idea in the Imperial capital, and it was also his idea to come to the Imperial castle. Putting it simply, Hajime has been recognized as the leader of the group, the schemes which would normally be considered insane could only be formed from Hajime’s mind.
And, Hajime who was being blamed, was unusually gently feeling Shia’s usamimi’s while she sat on his knee. On the other knee, Yue had both hands from the front and was caressing and touching Shia’s cheeks.
[Your voice is too loud, princess. What’s the problem? Today, Shia’s kinda unstable]
[Unstable…..you say? is she not feeling well somewhere?]