Jujutsushi Wa Yuusha Ni Narenai

Chapter 225.2 - Trust Problem

Yeah, what a wonderful relationship of trust. As expected of my most reliable partner… As much as I was annoyed by it, I had to force myself to stay as her partner without crossing the line. I really wished that I hadn't proposed the ban on love relationships. I mean, the current atmosphere was really perfect, right?

「Kotaro-kun, once this fight has e――」

「Stop Mei-chan, don't say another word, you almost jinxed us.」

I stopped her in a trice since she almost said the F word that was globally known as the death flag.

「There's something I want to ask before that.」

「Uhm, what is it?」

「It's about the matter after this battle. Once we reach the deepest part of the dungeon―― I've already been contemplating about the three people who can escape.」

This was the reason I wanted to talk in private with her on the 5th floor of the school tower, the clandestine room.

In most situations, the other party was the one who invited me,  but today I was the one who invited her.

「… Why did you choose Sakura as the main member of the infiltration party?」

It didn't seem to be a complaint. Though I had expected her to say something about this.

「It's just as I explained to everyone though?」

As a member of the infiltration squad, I chose to destroy the core of Orochi, Souma Sakura's job was to destroy the core. Randou-san would shave the bedrock, and I would make a hole in the shell. Thus,  shooting the flesh and destroying the core was the most appropriate job for Sakura who had advanced magic.

There was no problem in terms of firepower. And her attack could pierce the flesh for sure. In the first place, we needed a long-range attack to destroy the core after I made a hole through the shell.

「Other than finishing off Orochi, Sakura-chan also has the all-purpose 『Oracle Field』. That defensive magic will protect us during the excavation process.」

Naturally, she had to use healing when push came to shove.

Though there was the option of retreating in the worst-case scenario, we wouldn't have this option during the real operation. In the most critical battle where every second counts, Sakura's healing ability to heal injuries would show its true value.

「And this is something that the person herself agreed to.」

Surprisingly, Sakura readily accepted her role when I nominated her. I expected her to flip the table and curse angrily at me, but maybe she realized that resistance was futile when everyone readily accepted their role yet she alone rejected it.

「I know that… But still…」

「So what do want me to hear now?」

My theory was correct, Sakura herself accepted her role. She wasn't stingy at all.

If only my relationship with her didn't get strained.

「Momokawa, I never expected that you would choose Sakura to carry such an important role.」

「I agree that I can't get along with Sakura-chan, but the most important thing we need right now is to accomplish this plan. Just as I explained before, she's the most suitable person for this.」

「I know that this isn't the time to worry about such a Love-Hate relationship. But if it's you, you should be able to come up with another method without having to use Sakura's power.」

「You're overestimating me. The power of 『Saint』 is formidable. It's unique and irreplaceable.」

「But still, you're the kind of man who won't entrust his back to those that you can't trust.」

Yup, that's absolutely correct, Souma-kun.

Although we came to the point of being able to talk normally, it didn't change the fact that I was his target of revenge. Though I knew that he wasn't the kind of person who would stab me in the back due to his extremely good nature… Souma-kun understood me the best.

Or should I call it the intuition of a hero?

The fact that Souma Yuuto pointed out was absolutely correct. Yes, I didn't choose Sakura solely based on her ability. Naturally, I was telling the truth when I said that her power as saint was the key to the subjugation battle, but I was deliberately hiding my other reason.

Namely, the fact that she was a hostage.

「Man this is getting troublesome since I really mean it but――」

I mean, properly speaking, given a choice, I wouldn't take Sakura with me. I mean, the infiltration party would surely get into a hellish battle. Who knows when she would shoot me in the back with her arrow of light during the ensuing chaos.

Nevertheless, the only reason I could willingly take that ticking time bomb along with me was to ensure that our plan succeeded.

I couldn't just give up in the middle for personal reasons because losing even one person would make it literally impossible for us to defeat Yamata no Orochi.

That's just how formidable that monster was. That was the reason I gave my best shot, but I couldn't rely on luck either.

The problem being I had no idea if the others felt the same way as me or not. That wasn't something I could say or ask them.

That was the reason why I couldn't back down in this regard. If I lost my guts here, everyone would surely follow suit.

Now, let's analyze the scenario where I’d exclude Sakura from the infiltration party.

Though the subjugation plan could go according to the plan in the beginning, if Yamata no Orochi suddenly showed its ace in the hole, breaking the seal, and appearing in its complete form with eight heads, unleashing a barrage of finishing moves, some of our vanguard could die but―― What would that girl, Souma Sakura say under such a circumstance?

「Momokawa's plan has failed. Let's retreat, Big Brother.」

I'm sure that was what that woman would say.

If even one person was killed during the battle, she would definitely use it as a reason to retreat. And that would make everyone even more anxious.

What would Souma-kun do in that kind of situation?

Would he believe me and hold the ground? Or retreat since he judged that the plan had failed?

If he chose to retreat, it meant that he would leave the infiltration party behind. Meaning that we would be left to die.

The problem was the fact that all members of the infiltration party were―― Composed of people who happened to be perfect for him to do that.

The first on the list was, of course, me. Sakura surely wanted to kill me without having to dirty her hands. Heck, she might even thank god for that.

Next was Mei-chan. Dangerous combat force that was capable of killing her or her comrade if she wanted to. This was a golden chance to kill her.

[TL: Unfortunately for Momokawa, Sakura is just as good-natured as her brother, with hysteria.]

Then we have Shimokawa. Sex offender die.

Randou-san was a gal whose attitude was unacceptable, Yamada was a mob. There was no problem for her even if they died.

From Sakura's perspective, she wouldn't have any problem even if all the members of the infiltration party died. She might feel refreshed instead.

That was the reason the one who was most likely going to shout that the plan had failed first was Souma Sakura.

Someone might die during the fight against Yamata no Orochi. Nevertheless, as long as someone kept fighting without giving up it would surely lead to victory―― And the one who might crush that chance of victory was none other than Sakura and not Orochi. And I might be the only one who realized that the cause of our defeat might be our own ally instead of our enemy.

This was the reason I had to prevent withdrawal.

No one should abandon the fight midway.

That's why Souma Sakura, you're a hostage. No matter what happens along the way, I won't allow you to stop this subjugation operation at all costs. Yes, you're the only one I won't allow to hinder this operation.

「―― Souma-kun, I know that you're worried about your little sister, but we cannot make an exception, you know?」

「….」

It seems he understood that. Otherwise, he wouldn't come all the way to talk with me.

「It's not just me, everyone else is also risking their life in this operation.」

「I know, but still, I…」

「Moreover, try to imagine what would happen if I told everyone that Sakura-chan won't participate in the infiltration party now. Even if that's possible, it's only for your own convenience, not Sakura-chan’s or everyone else's.」

Sakura aside, I wouldn't give anyone preferential treatment. I might lose their trust if I did that. And if I saw someone else doing that, I would rebel for sure.

「Souma-kun, this matter has been decided during the class meeting. If you disagree with it, then you should come up with a better plan than mine. I'm open to a better alternative plan, no one wants to die after all.」

「… The reason I told you this is because I still don't believe you.」

「I know that.」

Rather, it would be even scarier if he suddenly trusted me, the man who killed his childhood friend, in this short span of time.

「But I have no choice but to trust you now. That's why please don't breach my trust, Momokawa.」

「I have no intention to force everyone to their death either. I'll do my best to ensure the success of the operation and return with everyone.」

「Please look after Sakura for me.」

「I'm the one who should say that. And though she accepted it obediently, I'm sure Sakura-chan is just as anxious.」

Make sure to warn her to not lose her temper and suddenly shoot me in the back.

「Rather than summoning me, you should talk with Sakura-chan in private right now.」

「Never expected those words to come from you… But, I guess you're right.」

Souma-kun smiled wryly as if he had given up and left the room.

「As expected, if I have to lie, I have to lie throughout.」

Properly speaking, if I told him that Sakura was a hostage since I couldn't trust that pair of siblings, the situation might worsen instead.

Not that I would tell them.

===

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