Chapter 01 part 3: I Assure You I‘am Not Cheating!

“So Asagi-dono, I ask you again why are you here and why are you following me?” the question asked again by the princess. But rather than standing in the entrance like before we sat inside the gazebo. Well actually I asked her to let me sit inside the gazebo, because I don’t like being questioned while standing.

“It would be nice to have tea, the moons quite charming right?” I saw the three colored moons, as I thought there were too many. Thinking about tide circulation in this world made me wonder, maybe this world is bigger than earth or something like that? I can visualise ojouchan expressions right now, even though my eyes are not focusing on her. I can literally feel her gaze stabbing to my back.

“Answer the question Asagi-sama.” I can feel her frowned from just her voice. I tell you she is angry. I don’t know why though, does it because I’am not answering her question? Because iam following her? Because I’am calling her Princess not her name? because iam against this world hope and wish? Hmm.. can’t think of anything. Yes, iam innocent.

“*sigh I know you’re restless because it's our fault to throw all responsibility to you all, we are really sorry for that. But you must know just how cornered we are. The demon lord’s army already took almost half of our world, in only time could tell before our country became their next victim.”

“Just around that time, the Counselor, my teacher, found an ancient scroll that told us about the hero who came to our land in the time of chaos, they defeated the evil lord and became its savior, the world was saved. Its only fairy tale in our time but that fairy tale was the beginning of our hope. In the last 2 decade as we under the fear of Demon lord, we search on how to summon that hero to our time now. The sleepless night we spent to find the formula to summon the hero. Shouldered the feeling of people that lost their loved one in the war.”

“And the spell to summon the hero was completed, and Kouji-dono was summoned. We thought we could finally be at peace because the hero had come. The hero will save us all. We know the burden we bestow to Kouji-dono was heavy, we know because none of u s can shoulder it.”

“But we are scared, we don’t have any choice. We put our faith in strangers from another world. I know its stupid and your reason to oppose that is right and ours is just selfishness.” As she tells the story I can feel her overwhelming emotion in each word. As she told them, they are in desperate situations, desperate situations calling for desperate moves. In that time they can only hope some miracle will happen. Its not wrong, maybe it’s stupid, but it’s not wrong. In our world there are people like them who hope for miracles either from gods or the human itself. In Japan we rarely see that, but that’s something that happens even without most people knowing. I can't call that wrong because I don’t know what is right either.

“….” But ojouchan, the reason iam dodging your question is not because I hate your country's decision, well I am still furious about it though. But that’s not the reason to dodge your question and ignore you. I just don’t want to admit I was lost. That’s right I don’t want you to pity me for my poor direction navigate skill. I know it’s a petty reason and its kinda my fault. And you just have to tell that heavy story, now I can’t say anything!! I just wanna know a way to my room!! Now it's just too awkward to ask that now!! Well it's now or never they said.

“I don’t know what right, that time I was just furious about being called to this place. Kouji is probably okay with that because he has power.” I tried to put a strong front. And finally see her eye to eye.

“…” the princess went silent, she avoided my eyes too. Oh now you avert your eyes?!

“I said that not only because of the situation, but also because there’s Rin, Mia and Kouji to think about. Rin aside, Kouji is not a person to leave people in need. He is just that kind of person. As for Mia she’s as you can see, she can be quite timid, she will be overwhelmed by the situation and go with the flow. Just like now, Mia agreed because Kouji agreed to help. She is not the type of person who would say no.” This time I decided to be honest (?) with the princess.

“This world is dangerous, unlike the place where all of us came. We’re just normal stu- I mean people before. We came from a relatively peaceful world, we don’t know how to fight and there’s no magic there. We also have our own goal and future there. If we don’t get summoned by all of you we would continue that life, where we wouldn’t have to fear losing our lives. Now we have to sacrifice that very life, our own lives for you people and the world we don’t know.” I change my view toward the three moons, as I focus, I notice the color of each moons have subtle differences. The first one from the left has a bit of green, the middle is kinda red and the right is blue. Does that mean RGB color palette?

“You may call another hero in our place after we die. but for us we only have one life. And I have to remind you, we don’t have a choice to begin with.” I decide to stand and walk a few steps then turn around, face the princess to put on a more dramatic feel.

“from what you said before, this world needs a hero. If Kouji doesn't fulfill any of your requirements to be that hero. What will you- this country do to us?” I said this in a more serious tone as the distance between me and ojouchan grew closer.

“I already said all of this, and princess Alicia. What about you, are you Kouji’s ally or hero's ally?” I said this to the princess devoid of emotion. with only cold and straight manners too.

“because, i dont care if it's world fate, the empire's decision or even god's will. if something ever happens to one of them. not just Kouji but also Rin and Mia. Mark my words, forget demon lord, I will purge this world." In each word I tried to convey it in intimidating ways, it's not a joke or bluff. Every word I said is words that come from my sane mind.

“...” All the air around us is cold, the night is cold. With only silence around us it made it more cold. Please answer, it's cold out here!

“Yes, I don’t know about all the people in the country. But even if this country turns against you, even if this country abandons you. I stand with Kouji-dono and the others, even if I’am the only one there.” She said it and she looked straight into my eyes, there’s no doubt in those eyes. She really wants to be our ally. Why do I know? Woman’s intuition?

“I see, then I can leave Kouji and the others to you if anything happens.” I conclude that and then I present my hand to the princess. The princess took my hand and we exited the gazebo together.

“Just for your information, I also include you” as my feet touched the grass, the princess said those words to me, she smiled a little to me and continued.

“I will be your ally too, Asagi-sama. More like right now you are quite hated you know. Rather than Mia-sama or Rin-sama it's you who need protection.” She said that with a small grin to me.

“Well I reap what I sow. You can laugh all you want. For your information, I already used to all glaring or hot critics” I return those grins with a joke. As we walk. Then the princess stopped at the junction.

“Even so, I will be your ally. Not only because I feel responsible for summoning you. But also because I want to be friends with all of you. That’s why if anything happens feel free to consult with me.” She says that without any hint of ulterior motives, maybe she’s really a model princess like Ari@l, B@lle or other D&sney princesses.

“I see, then because you already offered it, can you hear me please?”

“with pleasure!” she pumped her chest and gave me a confident reply. I can see you have some mountains there.

“can you please tell me where my room is?” I finally decide to be honest with the princess, I throw my pride and tell her I’am lost.

“huh?” her beautiful eyes turned into dots as she tried to process the information.

“pfft-!”

“Hahaha” she laughed rather than answer my question.

“well are you gonna tell me or what?” It's quite irritating, her laugh continued as the night became late. In the end she told me the way to my room. She even escorted me to my room. After that she leaves and it's the last time I see her toda-, wait that sounds pretty ominous. Anyway, the night ended as I went to sleep.