Chapter 65 The Disappointing Hero Swears To The Girl
No... this is really disgusting. I have no right to comment on others, but even in another world, if you're a teacher, students should be protected.
To turn a student who admonished you into the object of desire and drive them to death...
I temporarily turned off the microphone instructing Nada-san and asked Shibuya-san.
"If her testimony is true, isn't there any punishment for this?"
"...Unfortunately, there are no penalties for events in another world. We can only act on post-return actions."
"Well, I guess that's how it is."
In the first place, it's forbidden to take her story at face value. There's a possibility she's trying to deceive us. While we are talking, Ohashi Hana's confession continues.
"...So, while Minami-kun was hesitating, the teacher said that for now, he would keep Kurusu-kun's body in the 'item box' and put it away."
I see. If he put the body in the 'item box' right after death, there's a possibility of Kurusu-kun coming back to life.
"Why didn't you say that right after returning?"
"The teacher told me to keep it a secret... If I had said it, he would have [discard] of Kurusu-kun's body..."
I see. If you "discard" of the items in the 'item box,' they disappear from the mystery space and can never be retrieved. Once it's disposed of, it becomes a matter of debate regarding what happened to Kurusu-kun.
It means that he has the strongest piece of evidence, the body, in his possession.
"Has the teacher not discarded of the body yet?"
"No, from time to time, he show it to us briefly... but I don't know when it will be discarded of, and besides..."
"And besides?"
"...If I want to help Kurusu-kun, I must listen to him and do what he say... and then, he took various photos and it escalated, and three months ago, he demanded that I engage in those acts."
I asked Shibuya-san again.
"This would be considered blackmail, right?"
"Yes, if her testimony is accurate."
Alright. In order to make that teacher suffer, I want to make sure there's a dead body involved.
"So... I've been wanting to help Kurusu-kun, but I can't anymore... so I decided to use the [item] that I was entrusted with."
"The item?"
"Yes. Kurusu-kun said, 'If it becomes known to others that you brought back skills or items from another world, you might be detained by the government or face danger. So if you have any skills or items from the original world, it would be better to dispose of them or erase the skills.'"
Ohashi Hana's words intrigued Shibuya-san.
"Seems this boy's pretty sharp... In countries where human rights aren't really acknowledged, returnees are often detained, even used as experimental subjects... There are rumors. Agencies like ours apprehend returnees."
"The role of these agencies is also to 'protect returnees and visitors from being abducted by other countries, and prevent the leakage of items from other worlds,' you know."
Yoda-kun followed Shibuya-san's words.
Come to think of it, I feel like I was briefed lightly on this before.
I should confirm it thoroughly again.
"Is it forbidden to buy or sell items from other worlds?"
"Yes, each country cooperates on this, and if trading is desired, it's the country that purchases... Sometimes it ends up in the black market where prices soar. However, if you explain the risk of being identified as a returnee, most hesitate to dabble in the black market."
Returnees become targets for abduction from other countries just because they returned. While the allure of a large sum of money is undeniable, there's an increasing number of those who prefer to stay silent.
Ohashi Hana's story continued.
"So, I used the item [Seal Hall] entrusted to me by Kurusu-kun. When you enter a building where this is installed, you cannot use your skills for three months after coming out. I placed it at school."
[Seal Hall]...!
I see! It was an item from another world!
I had mistakenly believed it was something taken by skills.
The person who sets it up also loses the ability to use skills forcibly; that's the drawback.
The usual purpose is probably for someone without skills to counter skill users.
"If you disable the use of skills, [Item Box] becomes unusable, and Kurusu-kun's body inside the box cannot be discarded of, right?"
In response to Nada-san's question, Ohashi Hana nodded.
"I actually wanted to contact the Special Task Force in that state. But in the end, what if the teacher got desperate and chose to discard the body after his skill was restored... When I thought about that, I was scared. But I couldn't think of a good solution on my own... The effect of the 'Seal Hall' will wear off soon, and I don't know what to do anymore!"
"...You did your best, you're amazing."
As Nada-san placed a hand on her shoulder, tears overflowed from Ohashi Hana's eyes.
"Ugh, ugh, uuu, ugh..."
'Nada-san, please take care of Ohashi Hana like that. I'll discuss with Shibuya-san.'
I turned off the microphone again and confirmed with Shibuya-san.
"What do you think?"
"The story's coherence matches."
What should we do?
Of course, the best thing to do would be to ask other students for clarification and gather more information.
But... I want to believe in her.
If she's the 'Crack God' and there's actually another way to steal skills, what I'm trying to do right now is a really bad move.
Still, I want to free her as soon as possible.
"Shibuya-san, I'll be back in a bit."
"Eh!? Higashimura..."
Ignoring Shibuya-san's attempt to stop me, I [teleported] near the family restaurant.
I entered and headed towards the table where Nada-san and Ohashi Hana were sitting. Nada-san noticed me first, wearing a surprised expression.
"Hey, Higashimura-san, why..."
"Sorry, there's something I need to check."
Ohashi Hana, appearing smaller than through the monitor, apologized suddenly.
"Ohashi Hana-chan, sorry for the abruptness. I'm Higashimura."
"Higashimura...san?"
"Yeah. Can I ask you one thing? Can you think strongly about Kurusu-kun?"
"...Yes."
I don't really want to use it because the side effects are strong... When I use it, I have nightmares for several days.
Still, I remembered the Demon Lord's last words.
'Understand the feelings of the weak.'
I used the [Empathy Sharing] skill.
I shared senses with Ohashi Hana.
Various emotions flowed into my chest.
Regret, impatience, sorrow, and above all—affection.
I stopped the skill and called out to Ohashi Hana.
"Hana-chan... Is it okay if I call you that?"
"Y-yes."
"Hana-chan, I will definitely help Kurusu-kun. Don't worry, leave everything to me."
Hello, we have a new project about someone who has returned from an isekai. The main character is a hero who has defeated the Demon Lord. However, for some reason, the human-demon war has resumed and will take place in the MC's original world. The MC, unaware of this, meets a Saint from that world and asks them to join the war. But what does the MC say? They refuse. Is it because their love was rejected by the princess when they adventured together in the past or are they simply fed up? And are the MC will join later? You can find out by clicking on the following => [Link]
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