Chapter 118

The pageant was going well, but I was growing more and more impatient .

Because of the demon who suddenly appeared, our plan started to derail .

The plan was, the girls and I would be assigned as guards for Princess Amelia who was aiming for the championship, and Waki, Tsuda and Nanase would guard Satou who might win .

It might seem like we weren’t providing enough protection for Princess Amelia, the favorite to win, but we had Akira and Yoru in reserve, so our fighting power was nothing to scoff at .

The ones that we should be vigilant against were the subordinates of Gram, the guildmaster .

According to the information that Tsuda obtained, it seems that every single one of Gram’s subordinates were wearing the crest of Uruk somewhere on their bodies .

The crest was comprised of three claw marks above a circle .

As I searched with bloodshot eyes for these crests, all while trying to keep a low-profile from Akira, this demon named Latisnei had appeared .

It seems that the rumor about Gram having ties with the demons was true, and even though I was extremely troubled that there was one more person whom I needed to be wary of, Akira was completely unguarded against that demon .

I was told that it would be fine if we don’t lie or say discriminatory words towards her, but I don’t trust demons .

I had heard from Yoru, but when we were on the boat that was heading to the beastmen territory, it seems that they had abducted Princess Amelia, and Akira who chased after them to rescue her had been pushed to the brink of death by the demons .

If Kurou-san had not showed up in time, he would’ve actually died .

Even though Akira had almost been killed by them, he was still talking to that demon .

It was extremely dangerous .

There were several times when I tried to raise my voice to warn him, but the demon was clinging onto Akira, and I couldn’t talk to him .

「That demon, is it really going to be ok?」

「It seems the demons were the primary customers in the organ trade that Tsuda-kun had talked about . I wonder if that demon came to participate in that as well . 」

I could hear Ueno and Hosoyama worriedly talking about it .

It seems that the two people were of the same opinion as me .

「You guys think that too, huh . 」

When I asked them in a low voice so that Akira and the others wouldn’t overhear us, the two people nodded .

「Coming here at this time, isn’t it suspicious?」

TN: 時期が時期やし、怪しんとちゃう？This is the sentence in Japanese . I know what the second part means, but have no idea what the first part is, so I made a very educated guess . If anyone is more proficient in the Kansai dialect, please let me know what the first part means .

「Leave Amelia-san to us, Asahina-kun should go stay near that person . 」

I nodded at Hosoyama’s words .

I was going to propose that as well .

It’s different when it’s these two people, but if it were me, it wouldn’t be strange for me to talk to Akira who was standing next to that demon .

When I approached them, the two people who were happily chatting looked up at the same time .

「Oh, Kyousuke, is it their turn already?」

I nodded at Akira’s words .

The two people walked towards the stage together with Princess Amelia .

I thought that it would take time for them to go around, but it was unexpectedly fast .

Maa, I saw several women who turned pale and left when they saw Princess Amelia’s face . I understood why they would do so .

If there was a face that was as beautiful as that one, I would like to see it .

And then, I looked at the demon who was wearing a hood .

「Is it alright for you to not go?」

Suddenly remembering that she had to go, the demon headed towards the stage in a hurry .

I thought that if it was almost time for Princess Amelia, Ueno, and Hosoyama’s turn, then the same would go for the demon who came after them, and it seems that I was right .

I stood next to Akira who gave a wry smile and looked up at the stage .

「…Akira, you probably forgot Ueno and the others’ names again . 」

I did not miss the fact that he cleverly did not call them by their names just now .

Akira shrugged, and laughed .

「I can’t hide anything from Kyousuke . 」

「Of course not . Akira might not remember, but I’ve known you for a long time . 」

I’ve been with Satou and Akira for about ten years .

Akira was smiling, but his eyes sharpened .

A chill ran down my spine .

「Then, you can’t hide anything from me either . I have no interest in other people, but if it’s your poker face, I can see through it somewhat . …maa, Kyousuke, just what are you guys planning?」

His look was by no means one you would use towards your friends .

Akira was not like this when we were in Japan .

「What are you talking about?」

When I feigned ignorance and tilted my head in confusion, Akira’s gaze became even sharper .

「At the very least, you should’ve had the Kansai-dialect girl and the animal trainer get out of my sight . Ever since the pageant started, that girl has been restless the entire time . 」

Certainly, Ueno and Waki were easy to understand .

However, if we had just those two go somewhere else, then that would be suspicious .

「And then, you as well . You were flustered ever since Latisneil came . I’m going to ask you one more time, ok? What are you guys planning? …no, is something going to happen after this?」

Seeing that he had keenly pointed everything out, I unconsciously let out a sound of admiration .

Did my friend become a detective?

Was this the intuition of someone who had gone through life and death?

I shrugged my shoulders and saw Ueno who was on stage waving towards us .

「If it were a plan that I had thought up and executed, then I would, without hesitation, tell Akira, but this was something that everyone in our party had come up with . I can’t talk about it at my own discretion . 」

I continued to speak with my head hung down .

I was not betraying him, but even so, me keeping a secret from Akira was extremely suspicious .

「Something is definitely going to happen after this . That is for certain, and Gram is involved . …be careful, Akira . Make sure to keep an eye on Princess Amelia . 」

「…got it . 」