"Why?!" 2x
Suzuki looked at the two and asked, "Do you think it is so easy for me to just go back like that?"
"...."
Shizuku and Kaori were confused, tilting their heads.
"Let's say that if others know that I have this skill, the penthouse, what will happen?"
"What will happen?"
"I don't care about the classmates, since they only think to enjoy it, and they are going to be happy if they can stay in a 5-star-like hotel room. Instead, I can gain their loyalty, and they won't cause trouble for me."
"That's true."
"Then, what's the trouble?"
"The problem is this kingdom and the church."
"..." Shizuku and Kaori.
"They could summon us to this world, a group of people who knew nothing about fighting and would scream when we faced a rat, telling us to fight demons, and save this world, when there is a huge chance for all of us to die."
Suzuki looked at the two helplessly and said, "If they know that I have this type of power, what will they do?"
"..." 2x
What would the kingdom and the church do?
Shizuku and Kaori couldn't tell, but it was normal for Suzuki to be wary.
"So... what are you planning to do?"
"I will clean this dungeon first."
Could you?
Yet, somehow, they had the confidence that he would clear this dungeon. It might be a blind trust. Still, they knew he wouldn't say anything without a basis. If he said that he could clear this dungeon up, then he could really do it.
More importantly, this penthouse.
This was the reason for their confidence, since even if something went wrong, Suzuku could just become a turtle by hiding in his penthouse.
In the eyes of Kouki, or those who believed in the rigid righteousness where everything had to be fair, Suzuki's method might be cowardly, yet this method of his would relieve them.
Lastly, whether it was Shizuku or Kaori, they knew that once Suzuki had decided to do something, it was impossible to stop him. This part of him, which others might think was similar to Kouki's or others', was kind of a liability on its own, yet there was a huge difference between him and them.
What was the difference?
Pragmatism.
While the others had blind confidence, thinking they could do well without any basis, which, in the end, became burdens for others, causing trouble and even risking injury to those involved due to their selfishness, Suzuki wouldn't do that. He wouldn't do something that he didn't have confidence in. This was also why he did so little, even though there were many moments when he could prove to everyone that he was the best of the best.
"...how long?" Shizuku asked helplessly.
How long?
This was a hard question, but he thought for a while, and did a calculation with the Manager, then said, "A week."
"A week..." 2x
It wasn't that long, yet it wasn't short either. It was just right.
"...but, what should we do?" Kaori asked worriedly.
Suzuki wasn't within the group, so for them, who might be led by liability, whether it was Shizuku or Kaori, they were just worried.
"Hmm..." Suzuki thought for a while, wondering what kind of advice he should give. "A week isn't that long a time, so Aiko-sensei might have come to us when she heard that I had fallen. At that time, some of you might decide to leave the group to follow Aiko-sensei."
"What is Aiko-sensei going to do?" Shizuku was confused, wondering how Aiko could even bring the group when the kingdom and the church had tasked them to clear up the dungeon.
Could they really leave?
"She is going to be a food supply to the kingdom. As we walked before, you had seen it, right? While we can eat well due to our status as heroes, it is different for the rest, especially the commoners. The fact that they can eat once a day has made them lucky, given the difficulties of finding or growing crops. Aiko-sensei's importance might be even greater than Amanogawa, which is why it is impossible for the kingdom or the church to let her be in danger, so a group of us can follow her as bodyguards while the rest..."
"The rest?"
"What else? Following Amanogawa, of course."
"...." 2x
Neither of the two wished to do that.
"But, is it okay for you two to stay here for a long time?"
Entering the penthouse meant that the two of them vanished from their location.
Would they be alright to stay out like this for a long time?
After all, there might be a chance for either of their classmates to suddenly enter their tent.
"It's fine."
"Everyone thought that we were mourning you, so they wouldn't bother us at our tent."
"...."
Suzuki knew that everyone thought that he had passed away, yet when he heard those words from the two, it made him strangely uncomfortable somehow.
"I live well."
"Yeah, I can see that."
"You are so lively."
"....."
Suzuki was helpless, yet he also read the meaning behind their words.
"So... it's alright for you two to stay for a bit?"
Kaori and Shizuku smiled, then pushed him to the bed to rest.
Yes, their day was just too exhausting, so now they're just taking a nice, deep rest.
"What are you doing here, Amanogawa?"
However, when the three were taking a rest, the group of girls, who were all exhausted, yet stayed outside to take care of each other, couldn't help but look at Kouki, who came their way.
While some of them were helpless, many also had an annoyed expression as they looked at this guy, especially those whose jobs were mages, who took the chance to shine and helped everyone during the crisis, yet the result was
Kouki called them cowards.
If they could feel happy when they faced this guy, then they definitely weren't right in their minds!
Suzuki's fall also meant the person who handled all the logistics was gone. While they still had some food, tents, and other necessities, the numbers were low. Still, it was fortunate that the guys could read the mood and sleep on the ground, sacrificing comfort for the girls.
Then again, the guys weren't comfortable, so they had been bullying Hiyama, who had caused all of this.
The one who bullied others became bullied by others.
Isn't this ironic?
Yet, as Kouki came to the female area, all the attention was on him once again.
"I just want to talk with Kaori and Shizuku."
Yet, Kouki was Kouki. It was impossible for him to read the mood since, except for him and the heroines, the rest were just NPCs, extras, which he didn't pay attention to. "They need to move on! They can't be sad forever! I will tell them that they have to—"
"Can you just shut up for a moment?"
Nana, who was blunt, blurted out the cruel remarks directly.
"....." Kouki.
"Amanogawa, this hasn't been a day. It hasn't even been a few hours." Suzu felt an intense headache as she rubbed her temple.
"But they shouldn't be sad! They should move on! They should face all of this!"
"Suzucchi..." Eri shook Suzu's shoulder as if it were impossible to say anything.
Yet Suzuki snapped. She looked at Kouki and said, "Okay, I will talk to them. You should go back."
"But..."
"Then, next time, when you die, I will just tell them to move on. Don't worry, Amanogawa."
"...."
Kouki's eyes twitched. His mouth was wide open, hesitating for a while, then he shouted, "Shizuku, Kaori, no matter what, I will always be by your side! You should move on! I will always protect you two!"
"..." Everyone.
Kouki didn't wait for their reaction and just turned like a hero, then walked away to the guys' area. He thought of talking with someone about their future.
"Everyone, listen to me! We have to face this battle! We have to fight... are you listening to me?"
No one said anything. They all ignored him.
"Hey, listen to what I am talking about?!"
While Kouki had a certain patience with the girls, he didn't have it with the guys. "Do you not know what we're about to face? If we don't take this seriously, we can't save this world! We have to save this world from the demon—"
"Amanogawa, can you just rest for a while?" Meld opened his heavy eyes for a moment. "We're all tired. Let's talk tomorrow."
"I..."
"If you still have energy, then let's have a spar here and now."
"...I will rest."
Meld sighed as he closed his eyes, wondering why Suzuki had fallen.
'Why can't it be that guy?'
Meld didn't have to open his eyes, but then again, it might be what made Suzuki different from others.
Yet, Nagumo stared at the tent where Kaori and Shizuku stayed, thinking that he should talk with the two. Naturally, he wouldn't do it in the annoying way, like Kouki.
Then again, no one would have thought that Kaori and Shizuku would be returned in a fresh, comfortable state the next day.
---
By the way, is Goblina a smash or not?