Vol 3 Chapter 58 – Well Then, It’s All His Fault

“Master!”

“Ann!”

Right in front of me, Al and Antares embraced each other tightly.

I can understand Al, but I never figured Antares for this kind of personality.

The way she squeezed her eyes shut and squealed with delight made her look like any other girl her age.

Though, for the record, both of their eyes were murky and gross.

Ruru, watching this unfold next to me, had a completely fed-up look on her face.

“…I can’t believe these two know each other. This has to be the end of the world.”

“They say birds of a feather flock together, don’t they? There are probably a bunch more just like them that we just don’t know about. I’m sure of it.”

“You can’t be serious…? This sight alone is enough to make me faint…”

Ruru was in despair, but I was certain.

The seriously messed-up just naturally gravitate toward one another.

Humans are creatures who, for better or worse, form packs and build communities.

I can only imagine all the other weirdos cozying up to Al.

…I need to get away from him as soon as possible.

“W-Well, it has nothing to do with me anymore. This will be the last time I ever have to talk to you people. For sure.”

“…”

“Wh-What is it? Even if you give me that resentful look, I’m not changing my mind.”

Ruru puffed out her chest with a triumphant huff.

…The fact that she’s pointlessly well-endowed is irritating.

But to think she can just walk away and have nothing more to do with this… she’s got the mind of a kid.

The world isn’t nearly that sweet.

Just look at me! I was a shut-in who wanted nothing to do with the secular world, and now I’ve been dragged out into the open and forced to fight against my will!

“Hmph… No, that’s wrong. This isn’t a look of resentment or envy. If that really happened, I’d just spend my entire life genuinely putting a curse on you.”

“That’s terrifying!”

Of course it is.

There’s no way I’d ever allow someone to find happiness while I’m stuck here.

However, I had no reason to direct such resentment toward Ruru.

There was simply no need.

“I can tell. You’re destined to live a life of constant misfortune. So even if you run, you’ll undoubtedly get dragged back into Al’s business. Absolutely. One hundred percent.”

“D-Don’t be ridiculous! That’s obviously a lie!”

No, it isn’t. It’s absolutely going to happen.

The world will always force upon Ruru the very things she doesn’t want.

I can feel it.

“Aah… I should have run away with Alan and Lois… I’m the one who got stuck with the cleanup after that incident…”

She’s already pitiful.

The other heroes made a quick getaway, but Ruru stayed behind to handle the aftermath.

She should have just ignored the cleanup and bolted, but her inability to do so is the very personality trait that acts as a powerful magnet for misfortune.

Not that I’ll tell her that, of course.

Besides, I need someone other than me to get pushed around by Al!

“Hmph. Now then, Ann. I would love to hear the tales of evil you have reaped, but…”

“Of course! I will tell you anything, Master!”

“That, however, will be a long story. First, let us cleanse our bodies.”

“An excellent idea! Understood!”

It seemed their joyful reunion was, for the moment, concluded.

Having saved the town, we were staying in a rather magnificent inn.

It was the kind of inn fully equipped with baths, a true luxury.

Al didn’t seem to mind the idea, and he began striding heavily toward it.

And, as if it were the most natural thing in the world, Antares followed right behind him.

Huh.

“Whaaaaaat?! H-Hey, hold on?! Why are you following him like you’re supposed to, Antares?!”

Ruru made a perfect save.

Stopped in her tracks, Antares tilted her head, looking puzzled.

“Hm? What do you mean…? To cleanse my body, of course?”

“No, there’s only one bath here! We can’t go in separately!”

Some public bathhouses have separate sections for men and women.

Though, I hear mixed bathing is generally the norm.

It’s not like being naked is anything to be embarrassed about, so I wonder why they separate them at all.

Humans develop a sense of shame over the weirdest things.

Apparently, Ruru was one of them.

“I am aware. Besides, if we bathe together, it will be quicker. And I can be with Master even in the bath! It’s simply the best!”

“Is your head full of fluff?”

Ruru’s shoulders slumped in defeat.

Trying to preach common sense to a madwoman was utterly pointless.

She decided to try asking Al, who had been quiet this whole time.

“Are you okay with this?”

“Hmm, I do not mind either way, but…”

“For an unmarried man and woman to—to be naked in a bath together… it’s ethically wrong!”

Ruru flared up, her anger palpable.

…For someone who pretends to be a free-spirited cat-person, what’s with that ironclad sense of chastity?

So much for being free and uninhibited. You’re the complete opposite.

“Rest assured. What you worry about will not happen. This is something we’ve done since long ago.”

“Indeed it is.”

“Eeeeeeeeeeeh?!”

Ruru let out a dumbfounded cry.

So, Al and Ann lived together in the past, I see.

And back then, they must have bathed together as a matter of course…

Normally, if a healthy man and woman were to face each other naked, one’s imagination might run wild, but I can’t imagine anything of the sort happening between these two.

They were probably just gleefully discussing how to slaughter villains in the most gruesome ways possible.

Scary.

“Well, if he says nothing’s going to happen, then isn’t it fine? It doesn’t matter to me.”

We couldn’t keep this up forever, so I said that to placate Ruru.

“…Though if Master were to ask, I would do anything for him.”

“…”

I ignored the words Antares muttered under her breath.

Telling Ruru would only make things more complicated.

Seriously, Al, how many messed-up people are this into you?

Wait, he’s the one who created her. Well then, it’s all his fault. Idiot.