CH 43

43 – Fifth of the Seven

That day, I was asked by Eleanor to come to a certain place.

The location of this place seems to be top secret, so she used Teleportation to get us there.

We teleported into a hall within a building.

The white-robed demons moved about restlessly.

I think this is some kind of research facility.

They all turned to look at Eleanor and I, Mika too, when we suddenly appeared, but they soon turned their attention away.

「I’m sure they’re curious, but they’re too busy.」

I didn’t wear the fake horns today.

As the only human in this country, and a Hero at that, I tend to attract attention regularly.

『Is this it? Is this where the magic tool engineer is?』

Eleanor, who was leading the way, nodded at Mika’s remark.

We proceeded down a wide, cold, white corridor.

「Yes, it appears that she is ready to meet with Sir Rain. By all rights, she should be the one coming out to see you, but she said that if you wish to get to know her, coming to her workplace is preferable, so…」

『It’s rare for you to prioritize someone else’s circumstances other than Rain’s.』

At Mika’s words, Eleanor let out a small groan.

「There are reasons for this… Sir Rain, I am deeply sorry for all the inconvenience caused…」

「No, this is fine. I am always in your care anyway, Eleanor.」

「Sir Rain…!」

In one moment, Eleanor went from being depressed to having a beaming expression on her face.

『You’re way too easy… Anyway, what reasons?』

Eleanor hesitates.

「…Previously, I believe I had given Sir Rain a headband?」

『The one that you decorated with horns that look like yours?』

She’s talking about the Magic Tool she gave me that makes it harder for people to find out that I’m human.

「Y-yes, that… She, the creator of that headband, found out about that…」

『It’s only natural for her to get mad when she found out that the thing she made for Rain’s sake was used to satisfy your own desires.』

The horns on the headband looked just like Eleanor’s.

For some reason, soon after she gave me that, I received various versions of the headband that had horns in the shape of the magic teacher Louto’s, the chief intelligence officer Vivi’s, and the maid Lejie’s.

「Urgh… Due to all that, it was hard for me to refuse her request…」

「I don’t mind. Magic Tool engineers are rare on the Human Territory side, so I’m curious.」

「Thank you very much, Sir Rain. She will be delighted.」

Before long, we arrived in front of a certain door.

「She awaits you on the other side of this door.」

「Are you not coming, Eleanor?」

「…I, I want to but…」

『Ah, meeting with Rain alone was a condition, huh?』

「Gh… But, if Sir Rain insists, I, Eleanor, would forego any such agreements with friends to-」

「No, it’s fine. If that’s the case, just Mika and I will go.」

With relief mixed with disappointment stricken across her face, she nodded.

「Well then, I shall wait for you here. If anything happens, please call for me.」

I open the door and step inside.

Somehow, I was expecting a research facility-like room, but this room was…more like a studio.

Various tools hung on the wall, and there were countless shelves packed with baskets. There was a plethora of what looked like workbenches and on top of each was a different type of machinery.

In the corner of the room, I could see a rolled-up sleeping bag.

It seems that she stays here sometimes.

However, the vital owner of this room isn’t present.

No, she is.

She’s just hiding.

Under one of the workbenches. I can sense a presence within the area where the chair on wheels fits into.

「R-rain?」

What I heard was a quivering voice.

「Yeah, we’ve met right?」

I chose my words carefully so that I don’t scare her.

She seems uneasy, either out of alertness or vigilance. I’m trying to calm her down.

「Y-yeah. A-are you really Rain?」

「Yeah I am. Uh…long time no see?」

「Yes, it has. A really long time. I wanted to meet you. Honestly, it would have been nice if I showed my face sooner, but… a lot of things happened.」

『I’ll just go ahead and point out that you technically still haven’t shown your face yet.』

「Wah?! Wh-who is…?! O-oh… that’s, that’s right… Rain has a holy sword.」

Out of shock, the desk shook for a moment, but the owner of the voice soon understood.

「Uh, uhm… I… I wanted to rejoice in meeting you face to face too. But… uh… I was scared.」

『Of what?』

「Eleanor, Louto, Vivi, and Lejie. You’ve already met these four, right?」

「Yeah.」

「I see… Well, they’re all stylish and beautiful, right? If I appeared after them, I’d look bad by comparison. I…well, I didn’t want to disappoint you…」

Her voice sounded…depressed.

「I’ve never been disappointed by a person’s appearance.」

「…That’s right, you’re a kind person. I just don’t have confidence in myself.」

Hm…

After everything that was arranged to get me here, I want to talk to her properly, but I can’t force her to come out from under the desk.

However, I don’t think it’ll be easy to encourage her.

「…Uh… So… I’m around fifteen years old, but I’m small for my age. Whenever I fight anyone other than the Saviors, they always call me “kid” or “brat” at first. Do you think I’m weird?」

「Of course not!」

「Thank you. In that case, I definitely won’t think you’re weird either. I promise.」

Quite some time passed before she replied to my words.

Still, I waited. I waited because I knew she was trying to give me an answer.

Eventually, she came out from under the desk.

She was a petite Majin. She looked the same age as me or younger.

She had blue hair that almost touched her shoulders. Her cute, round eyes were shaking with unease.

She wore what looked like a blue one-piece dress with the bottom part replaced with trouser-pants.

On her upper half, she had on a white robe with long sleeves.

「W-weird, right? I’m the same age as Eleanor and the others but I… my body didn’t grow any larger than this.」

If that’s all, then we’re the same.

Both of us are small despite our ages. It’s not unusual, but can be the cause of great concern for the actual person.

But, I’m guessing that…

That isn’t her only worry.

『They’re huge…』

「sob…」

Mika let that slip out involuntarily, and that was enough to bring her to tears.

『Ah, hey, no. There’s nothing wrong with that, okay? To each his own when it comes to that sorta thing.』

Her breasts were very large.

They are on par with Eleanor’s or Louto’s.

「Now that I’ve seen your face, I remember. We definitely met that time. It’s been a while.」

There were a total of seven demon girls that I rescued five years ago.

In terms of the order I’ve reunited with them, she would be the fifth.

When I smiled, her face turned bright red.

「Y-yes it has, Rain. I’m really grateful that you saved me that day.」

「You’re welcome. So, uh… you…」

「Wh-what is it? I-I knew it, I am weird?! Are they too big?!」

「No, it’s not that… Uhm, sorry. Could I please have your name?」

When I said that, she stared blankly, then her face burst into a smile.

「Ahaha, I haven’t told you my name yet, have I? Sorry, my bad.」

Almost as if her uneasy self from before was a lie, she said that full of confidence.

「I’m Monana. This country’s No.1 Magic Tool engineer.」

Ah, this tells me that she is proud of the work she does.

「Nice to meet you, Monana.」

And this is how I reunited with Monana.