Novel Bin
Chapter 395
Chapter 395. [The Beast's Roar]
《But why now, of all times......》
I ask the watcher—the flight attendant.
If they intended to kill or capture me, they should have done it much sooner.
To my question, she murmurs softly.
《If it were possible, I wished things could have stayed like this.》
《Huh?》
I don’t understand the meaning behind her words.
As I tilt my head in confusion, the local youth who had been her accomplice answers in her place.
《......It was for your sake.》《For my sake? What do you mean by that?》
The youth must have heard everything from the flight attendant.
He explains to me.
《Originally, both she and you were supposed to die. But you survived. And she found you. Normally, she should have disposed of you immediately. But, by some twist of fate.........》
《─You lost all means of contacting the outside world.》
《-----!》
《In that case, as far as the world is concerned, you were as good as dead. So, she chose to simply keep watching over you. Hoping that you could live out your life happily in this place.》
《You can't be serious...》
Was the flight attendant really planning to spend the rest of her life like that?
Torn between guilt and a sense of duty?
It seemed far too cruel to me.
Are orders for a soldier really that heavy a burden?
Or perhaps there’s another reason she hasn’t spoken of.
I have no way of knowing her true feelings, but......
《That’s why, as long as things stayed this way, there would have been no problem.》
The flight attendant speaks up.
Her voice sounds genuinely sorrowful.
《......So that’s how it was. Because I managed to establish satellite communication.》
Even if only for a moment, the connection was made.
That must have forced the flight attendant to act.
And perhaps the words of the Secret Service woman added to the pressure.
“Even if the data wasn’t sent, if the connection was made even for a moment, they might find us from their side.”
《Then, why did you cooperate?》
I ask the youth.
Regardless of her, his motives still remain unclear to me.
《Half of it was coincidence. And the other half...... was to protect themselves.》
《?》
《In exchange for his cooperation...... I promised that if the time came, I wouldn’t let any harm come to the residents here.》
That time, huh.
Which means, ‘now.’
《So, you threatened him.》
《That’s right.》
《No! I just wanted to help this person......!》
――Bang!
At that moment, a dry gunshot rang out.
A bullet was fired at the youth’s feet.
The flight attendant held a pistol in her hand.
Smoke rose from the barrel.
《You’re no longer needed. You don’t have to say anything more.》
《You......》
After that, the youth fell silent.
It seemed to me that he had been somewhat drawn to the flight attendant.
In the past, I wouldn’t have been able to pick up on such subtleties in others’ feelings.
Somehow, my experiences in high school had unknowingly enriched my heart.
Now, I could understand that feeling, even if just a little.
Yes, I thought, gripping the small case in my pocket.
《Iroha-san, you’ll be coming with me.》
《Not to kill me?》
《No. As part of the conditions, they promised ‘not to harm you.’》
《I can’t believe it.》
《I thought you might say that. But... I only just found out myself that while we’ve been living deep in this forest, the world’s situation has changed drastically. That’s why negotiations became possible.》
《What do you mean?》
《I can’t go into details. But it was decided that protecting you would be better than assassinating you.》
《You mean imprisonment, right?》
《You can call it whatever you like.》
《......I’m not here to play word games. They’re different things.》
《Perhaps so.》
Her reply was cold and dismissive.
There was no room for negotiation.
Yet, the flight attendant continued to press her case as if trying to convince me.
As if I had any right to refuse.
《Within reason, I’ll grant your wishes. I can’t send you back to your original place or let you contact the outside world, but...... it’s the same as here. In fact, it might even be better, since your life will be guaranteed.》
《“For now,” right?》
《That’s correct. And also...... I’ll make sure you can watch VTuber streams there.》
《Huh!?》
Wait, so I can just eat, sleep, and watch VTubers forever!?
Gulp... That’s kind of tempting.
《Though you won’t be allowed to comment.》
《Then no deal. Commenting and sending superchats to my oshi are part of my life. And with these conditions, I wouldn’t be able to go to live events either.》
I don’t want to lose the chance to meet the people I care about.
I want a life where I can go see my oshi with my own two feet.
《......I see. That’s unfortunate.》
The flight attendant points her gun at me.
At the same time, people begin to emerge from the surroundings.
【――Well done, dog. From here on out, it’s our job.】
The man referred to as “Captain” tosses these words at her in Russian.
Perhaps the flight attendant was a Russian agent planted in the American military...... or something like that.
There was nowhere to run.
No, I never thought I could escape in the first place.
Even if my opponents were just the watcher and her accomplice.
That’s why I tried to buy as much time as I could through conversation...... but......
【There, we’ve finally caught you.】
“Guh!?”
《Hey, that’s not what we agreed on! You said you wouldn’t rough her up!?》
My arm is grabbed roughly.
He’s a well-built, sturdy soldier, and his grip is so strong...... I can almost hear my arm creaking.
It seems this is my limit.
The Secret Service woman said that the American forces should be heading here after detecting the Russian movements...... but it seems they didn’t make it in time.
No help came.
Just as I was about to give up, it happened.
――From somewhere, the roar of a beast echoed.
What do you think?
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