Monster no Goshujin-sama

22.

"Vegetables. What do you think of your husband?

The genuine vegetables that overheard my inquiry froze my expression.

I'm sure that must have been a word that touched a lethal part for her.

I took a step at this time into the inner surface of a girl named Kato Honeysuckle, whom no one had touched before, or let touch. I had that feeling.

"... won't you stop, Mr. Rose? I'm sure this conversation won't be pleasant."

The dialogue returned by the genuine vegetables was pale, at least on the surface. In just one beat, was it something like a boulder that was completely regaining its usual faceless expression? The genuine vegetables speak to me.

"Hey, Mr. Rose. You had a lot of fun today, didn't you? No well, I was embarrassed, and I did something bad to Mr. Gabella... but it was a good day. Different? And yet, it's a waste of time to talk weird at the end and ruin the day. So let's not, shall we?

"No. I won't stop"

I shook my head to the side.

It was fun indeed. I've also made some failures, but that's all laughable and talkative, this is one shard of our everyday life.

But even if the real vegetables are right, and this ruins the day... or if what I've been piling up collapses away, I couldn't stop talking about this.

There was a sense of crisis.

There must be no such thing as overlooking it without stepping in here. As certain as that was, the smile of the genuine vegetables when I was staring down at the fort seemed to disappear.

"For a long time, I've wondered."

So I step in.

The other vegetables themselves had given me the strength to just step in.

"I'm talking about the behavior of the real vegetables. Your husband suspected about the vegetables. I knew that myself. But you kept giving your husband a hand."

"... where does that make Mr. Rose wonder? If there's anything out there, I apologize."

"No way. That can't be right"

I waved for the first time.

"I just think. I thought you might have done a little more if you were a real vegetable."

All this time I have seen about your husband and the vegetables.

I've been thinking about them. I've been hoping to understand. I can stretch my chest that I have inclined my thoughts more than anyone else, if only between these two things.

This could have been the question I was supposed to have because I was like that.

That night I tried to get permission to do magic tricks on the truffles.

What was swirling in your husband's mind was his incomprehension and suspicion of genuine vegetables.

Originally, your husband was in serious human distrust from his harsh experience during the collapse of the colony. Anyway, right now, at least until that night, your husband was looking at the vegetables at a depth of suspicion that seemed unusual from me.

... But was that really only caused by your husband's trauma?

That's not what I'm wondering right now.

Your husband suspected the genuine vegetables.

Knowing so, the genuine vegetables continued to lend him strength.

During the battle against Gabella in the white Arakune-era, which still had no name, he not only planned the operation, but also put his life at risk.

He said he was a hater to calmly stand back his runaway sister Lily.

You reached out to me with an immature heart, because now, anyway, the first reason for this should have been little more than because I was your husband's family.

The girl, who did not say one of her grievances, neither angry nor obstinate, nor possessed one of her powers to fight, kept searching for anything she could do.

... without a single thing in return.

It would be natural to wonder what you are thinking and doing so.

But I really don't see the motive.

If so, what do you think? Why is it so common to wonder?

Not to mention if that's a person with a disease like your husband?

It doesn't seem so strange to be surprised that there might be hidden rewards and wondering what you're up to.

If you want to borrow the words that the real vegetables themselves used to say, you can only see the part of human greed that says' I want to do something for you 'and' I want you to do something 'and' I want you to do it 'doesn't exist in the behavior of the real vegetables.

Yet it is also like me, once imprisoned for being a doll. As a result, I can't see the 'humanity' of the genuine vegetables forever......

The strange thing is that things are quite different around there when it comes to me only.

Even if the terms were different between me and your husband, who hadn't really suspected anything about the genuine vegetables from the beginning, she had properly put it into words and communicated her feelings when she tried to lend me a hand: 'I feel empathy', 'I appreciate', 'I want to be friends', etc.

Yet there is no indication of ever having made such an 'effort to understand each other' to your husband. In a sense, it could also be said to be done as if watering a bud of suspicion.

And the biggest problem here is that you can't possibly be unaware of that brilliant vegetable, like even I have noticed in this way.

If so, after all, we have to come to this conclusion.

"Didn't the genuine vegetables deliberately behave like your husband suspected you?

From your husband's eyes, the appearance of the genuine vegetables must have looked suspicious.

At least there's not a girl there named Kato Mandarin that I know of. There is just some sort of 'monster' figure that hides and female the fangs of the plot.

But even so, that wasn't the only reason he was passing through his suspicious dark filter. Your husband couldn't help but doubt her because there was a part of the Vegetables themselves that behaved that way.

"If what Mr. Rose is saying is right..."

Without daring to deny what I said, the genuine vegetables tilted their necks with stiffness.

"- Why did I do that?

"That's where I didn't know until earlier."

I don't think you can understand that, even if it wasn't for me.

Where does anyone act so that they don't believe in themselves?

If I tell you, it's a kind of self-inflicted act. There's no reason to do such a ridiculous thing. That's why there's no reward for doing so.

So I assumed, as I said earlier, that it was my own fault, even though I had always wondered thinly about the act of vegetables.

"But I could tell from looking at the real vegetables earlier. Genuine vegetables, you are..."

And I looked my friend in the eye, and told him from under the mask.

"- Didn't you want your husband to believe in humans?

……

The genuine vegetables were silent and just faintly opened their eyes.

The small emotional revelations that anyone else might have missed were enough to convince me. With that certainty held back, I go on.

"Becoming a believer in genuine vegetables means that your heartbroken husband, once again, is determined to try to believe in humans.... I can't even imagine, but that won't be as easy as it sounds with your mouth. Your husband may not be able to do this alone. I can't help you, and it will be the same around Gabella. Not to mention Asarina… Perhaps the closest thing you can support is your husband's sister Lily."

Even so, my sister is my sister, and I have a good temper for this problem. There's something else going on around there.

"It is difficult for anyone to help your husband on this matter. But genuine vegetables. I wonder if I could have unraveled your husband's heart."

"... that's a boulder, I think it's Mr. Rose's buyout"

The genuine vegetables were smiling bitterly.

That wasn't the look I made, it seemed like a real bitter laugh.

"... is that right? I don't think so, though. If that's what real vegetables are for, maybe it is."

I will not deny that there is a place where you are buying me vegetables, if there is no other person in person.

But I don't think so myself.

Only one person can believe and believe that Kato Makoto is an amazing girl who has guided my immature heart so far. That was enough for me to spin the word.

"But anyway about 'what if', it would be true that the real vegetables didn't even try it in reality"

"... you can't deny it. But that's why I did it, Mr. Rose thinks?

"It's..."

In the question of the truffle, I thought of the eyes of the truffle that I had seen earlier.

A genuine vegetable that, like me, had originally gazed upon the fort more enthusiastically than it did. If that heart has the same thoughts as mine...

"That's true vegetables. Because you don't want to leave your husband."

Here's the story back to the first cut.

True vegetables, like me, want to be beside your husband. Because reason makes sense. Because unlike me, the relationship between genuine vegetables and your husband is one with a deadline.

"Your husband said he'd 'take you to a safe place' from when he protected the vegetables thing. Your current husband is grateful for the genuine vegetables...... no, even if he isn't, he won't do anything to throw out his personality so irresponsibly. Your husband is responsible for finding a place where you can safely entrust yourself with the vegetables. … but this is very difficult"

"Is it difficult?"

"Yeah. Given your husband's personality, you can't be relieved to leave him with a genuine vegetable personality that is greatly beneficial to someone you can't believe in. But on the other hand, your husband doesn't believe in humans. So there is no place where your husband can safely be entrusted with the vegetables thing? At least as long as your husband can't believe in humans."

Of course, still, your husband will keep looking, and all of a sudden he will somehow straighten out his responsibilities. There is no question about the area, and he says it is not something I would worry about.

Yes. It's nothing to worry about.... but it was also true that it was difficult.

It was also for this reason that I believe that the reason for the action of the genuine vegetables lies around here.

"Even in relation to a deadline, that deadline can be extended and postponed. If resolving suspicions and clearing up misunderstandings shortens that deadline, I wouldn't dare to clear my suspicions. If that's the motive, it's possible to understand the incredible behavior of the genuine vegetables."

But the behavior is too barren.

I can't help but remember how painful it is.

By continuing to be suspected, the genuine vegetables can be beside your husband. That would certainly keep the relationship going.

But instead, no matter what their relationship is, it will never deepen.

"I don't mind staying suspicious, so the genuine vegetables are still trying to stay close to your husband. That's all I have in mind for your husband. And because you have those thoughts, didn't the genuine vegetables also do their best without asking for anything in return for your husband?

That may have been, like, a prayer feeling.

'Cause where the real vegetables are, it's possible your husband will overcome human distrust.

If that happens, the expired relationship will be punished. For the rest, only the girl who continued to be suspected would be left behind.

That's not how I could have kept my eyes shut.

"Vegetables should have very strong feelings for your husband. But why do you scorn your thoughts? Isn't it true that you told me not to kill my own heart?"

Even if you didn't use that method, the genuine vegetables should have been beside your husband.

To me, I just dare to think that the genuine vegetables are turning their backs happily and choosing a path of loss.

If you don't want to leave, just say you don't want to.

If you have any special thoughts about your husband, you can tell him.

Unlike me, genuine vegetables should know their emotions. Then you should always be able to tell him that.

"Somehow, I know. Isn't the emotion that the genuine vegetables have towards your husband the same as mine?"

- Why don't we make an effort so that our hopes come true?... because what Rose wants is something that can be fulfilled.

Dialogue previously hung on a genuine vegetable is recalled.

If my desire is to be fulfilled, what is the hope that cannot be fulfilled?

Who was it that gave up, really? How is it that we were sympathetic to our families? What do you mean by the envy you've been saying over and over again?

More importantly, was it the gift of some sort of masochistic idea, even that modus operandi that repelled the white Arakune of 'breaking my heart by poking out of reach happiness'?

If so, too much of a girl named Kato Honeysuckle is miserable. There was no way I could have let it go. So -...

"Vegetables. What do you think of your husband?

I threw an inquiry at a girl who would not tell her thoughts.

……

True vegetables stared down at me with gauging eyes.

I also looked back into his eyes. I didn't mean to give in here.

Eventually, the genuine vegetables smiled all the time in their mouths.

"... To be honest, I'm surprised"

That was a rare and transparent grin that was peculiar to her.

... Yet I can't foresee intentions.

The same gentle smile you had when you were looking at the fort, why? It made my heart feel restless.

"'I don't know the finesse of people's minds,' said Rose, moaning, 'I don't know about your husband,' but I didn't expect you to notice my circumstances so quickly,"

"... it won't be surprising. In fact, I haven't."

I know best my own uncertainty.

"It's just that all of this was taught by the real thing."

"I see. He said Mr. Rose could have noticed because I was the other person. That's kind of a ticklish story."

True vegetables are my teachers, the people closest to me, and that is why I brought them closer to the truth in her.

And one more thing. True vegetables did not seek to delude me.

As much as flirting with words and flirting with me, there would have been no way for a genuine vegetable to do it.

Failure to do so is the sincerity she showed me. As a friend, the genuine vegetables are facing me. It wasn't a mistake to respond to her for telling me that she wanted to be 'friends'. It was only then that I could not leave her alone.

I guess the genuine vegetables figured out exactly what was inside me like that. I mixed a slight bitter smile into the smile on my mouth.

"What do I think of Senior Mashima?"

So crushed, the genuine vegetables twisted their hands together on their backs, twitching and changing their orientation from body to body.

That's how she saw it was a fort in a position to look down.

"It's not that hard. I think it's a common, rather mediocre reason."

With the same grin on his mouth or not, the genuine vegetables, somewhere with a momentary atmosphere, told him.

"But Mr. Rose may not know yet. What emotion does a girl who has been helped where she is in no more terrible sight in her life have for the boy who helped her..."

If I touch it inadvertently, it breaks. If I let go of my eyes, they disappear. Such an air had just given an ominous sense of transparency to the appearance of a luxurious, small vegetable.

But I could not say anything to her before such a peril.

Because, as the real vegetables say, I don't know.

I still haven't been able to grasp this feeling in me properly. So I cannot even speak in words in the hearts of the vegetables, who have the same emotions as me.

If they had told me that I would not know, I would not have remained silent. To me like that, the genuine vegetables returned their gaze.

"I do not intend to convey this feeling to Senior Mashima"

"Huh! Why......!?

"I don't want to tell you."

The genuine vegetables told only in a quiet tone. Its serenity seems to convey the renunciation of the vegetables, which I cannot keep calm.

"So why not? I know that's what matters, and you tell me so, and yet, why...!?

"Because this is all I have"

Vegetables don't break a nagging smile.

"I am not a strong man. If it's true, I think it was only fitting to die in the chaos of the colony that day when it was all over."

Look at that doll-like look on the genuine vegetable...... oh. I have noticed now.

The wounds on her heart since she came to this world have never healed.

"Yet I survived thanks to Senior Mizushima. That Mizushima senpai died, and now he lived forever where he should die in that mountain hut, thanks to Senpai Mashima. But at that point, almost all of my contents were gone."

A girl named Kato Minami wasn't strong enough to get in the dark, desperate, and still get up.

Instead, human beings may not be able to be so strong.

If you are hit by a catastrophe that covers your eyes, you will sometimes choose to die yourself.

I can't force myself to even lose that strength and never get up again.

It's a really rare case of just standing up for grudges being superior, holding a wound and still walking forward. If you could laugh and forgive me, you're a hero, and if you don't feel anything, you're a monster.

In that sense, the genuine vegetables were mediocre. She was a common girl and naturally delicate.

The girl, once weak and delicate, named Kato Mandarin, died in that mountain hut.

The heartbeat could have been beating. Maybe he was also breathing. There would have been warmth in the skin. But she was losing the most important thing.

... my heart was dead.

"Senior Mashima led Lily and the others to help me. The death of Senior Mizushima, the evil that drove her to death, the unreasonable, first-time killing that spreads to this world. There must have been a lot of things, too much by then, and the seniors' minds must have been frozen.... Yet my senior cared about me first. You came to me first. That's when I felt like I touched my senior's heart."

The genuine vegetables shook the sauce and shook their heads.

"Of course, this would be such an illusion. I know. Because I am human. Such illusions may even be an unpleasant story for Mr. Rose, his family.... but it could have been an illusion. I lost everything and it was the only plush thing to tease me about."

The genuine vegetables put their hands on their breasts.

As if to recall the feeling that did exist there.

"At that time, something was created in my cavity. I didn't know what that was at first, but I just thought I had to go about this guy. What I was clearly aware of was that that was the night Mr. Garbera attacked me. When I realized it, I had to move now. And I am here now."

He was trampled, messed up, and once the contents died, only the flesh that was supposed to follow him soon afterwards survived.

To the boy who helped me about myself, the girl who was a tease holds a 'certain emotion'.

That was the driving force, and things that weren't supposed to work came into play.

Such authentic vegetable ways resembled, in a sense, our family monsters.

The difference would be about whether it wasn't from the beginning or lost.

True vegetables lost everything. If you don't have anything, you won't lose anything. That's why the vegetables are so strong right now. Beat Sister Lily's heart, to the point where she has nothing to be afraid of standing in front of a white Arakune-era gabella.

She's already dead, there's nothing to be afraid of. Even if a corpse just moves, it makes money. Where he died. That's just until then. No untrained. I'm not obsessed. What holds her soul in this world does not exist as one. You have no fear or hesitation, you don't move one eyebrow as the ruin passes through the tip of your nose, and the genuine vegetables will continue to move toward their purpose.

Then she's a monster now. A 'living corpse' that feeds on just one emotion in its chest and just keeps walking straight towards its purpose. That was the identity of the 'monster' named Kato Makoto.

"When this is gone, this time I will return to my original corpse. If I tell you what I think and you say no, that's where I'm done."

"So you don't tell your husband what you think? So do you want some real vegetables...?

"Fine or nothing, isn't this the best result"

True vegetables said that for real.

"Senior Mashima survived the biggest crisis: the White Arakune Raid. What was at stake to Mr. Lily was also overcome by her growth. Mr. Gabella was also accepted, and all that's left is Mr. Rose's thoughts on Senior Mashima. You'll hardly need my help with this anymore. Even if I'm gone, it's okay. Mr. Rose has grown more than I thought, so while it may take some time, I'm sure he'll be able to do it alone."

"… genuine vegetables. You're a little."

Seeing the clear smile to be directed, I glanced again.

I knew genuine vegetables were looking for something I could do.

Not to mention what you've done for your husband and us so far, but because you said you wanted to master restorative magic, it would be part of it. Everything she's ever done, no matter how trivial, is something she's been desperately thinking about and finding, almost powerless in this other world.

But what if it's all gone?

While we're moving towards purpose, it's still okay.

But what if it's over?

I saw a genuine vegetable smile and felt it was going to disappear now.

But that wasn't the case.

This smile now in front of me was the smile of those who were accepting to disappear sooner or later.

True vegetables want to disappear, holding the only one of their own. That must have been unacceptable for me to lose my special feelings as a result of revealing my feelings for your husband.

And I wonder if the genuine vegetables are already about to see its' end '. I wonder if that's why he was smiling such a smile when he saw the fort where your husband was.

"It's okay, Mr. Rose. Nothing to worry about. I'm sure everyone will do well."

Seeing that I am upset, the genuine vegetables give me a voice of care. However, that dialogue does not thoroughly include the genuine vegetables themselves in the accounts. There is no real vegetables themselves in the mouth of "everyone."

Such a future forecast is too unacceptable for me.

"Everyone is happy, and the story of Senior Mashima and everyone surrounding him ends with a happy ending. So..."

"Don't be silly!

- When I realized, I was blocking the words of the genuine vegetables aloud.

"Mr. Rose......?

With a decent face, a genuine vegetable is staring at me.

Oh, I'm angry at that incomprehension.

The fact that you do not understand my wrath here represents a distortion with a genuine vegetable. Kato Mandarin was broken a long time ago. How ironic is it that your mind is scraping because you are so clever in other people's minds?

"Stop saying stupid things about people who would also be genuine vegetables. Makes us all happy? Isn't that possible? Because there's no real vegetables in it."

"... oh. Mr. Rose is sweet."

The genuine vegetables smiled bitterly at his mouth.

"But you don't have to worry about me. I am not a family member. The story of Senior Mashima and his relatives is just an end-user.... Besides, he's dead once anyway. I don't dream about being happy anymore."

As desperate as it was, my words had not reached the genuine vegetables. How much did I tell you to be happy, and if you hadn't recognized the value in person, you couldn't have gotten that far?

- You can't kill yourself.

- You can't give up.

- Your wish is fulfillable.

I can't give you back the word I gave you for the truffle.

No dialogue has power where I have spoken. 'I don't know' what the emotions we have. I can't help but make them persuade me to overturn the determination she has laid down 'I know'.

So... so? What are we gonna do?

You give up, you keep your mouth shut, and you admit what the real vegetables say?

So the truffles will eventually disappear silently, and we'll live happily ever after with your husband?

... That couldn't have been admitted.

At any rate, I must tell the genuine vegetables.

I was sure. The genuine vegetables are wrong. I am making a fatal mistake without any help. I don't even realize I'm making a mistake that doesn't seem like it. Even if you smile like you understand, you don't understand.

That's natural, too. Even if the current vegetables are a kind of monster who has accepted his death, there is no way he can understand anything.

Even your husband was worried about his immaturity. Vegetables are one year younger than that. Even if she knows more than I do, there will be things she doesn't know. There must be something I know and I don't know the real thing.

I have to tell you that.

... but I don't know how to tell you.

My heart cries out that the deed of the truffle is wrong, but I cannot logic it.

I can't tell. I can't tell.

That itches my teeth. Regrettably. I tremble at my impudence.

I thought I had grown a little, but can't I save one of my friends?

How can we not have a genuine vegetable and a pass connected? Assuming that was the case, I would never have thought of a real vegetable so far.

"True vegetables, I..."

Still, I wanted to convey it somehow, so I gave up and spinned the words badly.

But that never passed on to the genuine vegetables.

Not because I failed. Not to mention because I gave up.

Because that chance has been lost.

I heard a little noise.

It sounds from afar. They're getting closer. The small sounds grew gradually and even the destructive sounds began to mix.

"... sounds like ground?

I looked up at the slope that the cliff, which was now with the vegetables, bore.

Something is rushing down the slope towards this cliff on the edge of the mountain.

Sound approaches instantly. High number. The danger is near.

Take the real vegetables and leave this place - we won't make it. Too early to raid...

"Ko, is this... Huh!?

Ravaged by mass and propulsion, the bushes crumble and the branches scatter.

What showed up was a giant potato worm - the Green Caterpillar.

It's a monster that we've come to encounter since we recently came around here, northward from Gabella's "Arakune Nest". It uses giants as a weapon for intense assault and a lot of vitality.

To be clear, it wasn't a lot of enemies.

I am still a rare monster. That, too, has brought down dozens of monsters since becoming a family member of your husband, during which he has gained combat experience and has simply gained more strength. Even though one or two steps are inferior to Gabella and Sister Lily in combat, if you fought one-on-one, I wasn't that difficult opponent to give down.

However, the Green Caterpillar that appeared was not one and the same.

This was unusual, but not so much impossible. It's a limited story to monsters of the same species, but even if they're not herd monsters like Fire Fang, it's because sometimes there are multiple bodies acting together.

So it was the 'number' itself that upset me.

"Hey, what a number......!?

So many Green Caterpillars were running down the slopes as they slid or broke through the trees.

Wouldn't it be close to a hundred if you did poorly? It was a sight to suspect that a strip of Green Caterpillar had rallied around here.

It's an obvious anomaly. What the hell is going on?

... No. I don't have time to think.

Some of the countless Green Caterpillars running down the slopes - a few were coming towards the cliffs where we were on the path.

I tend to get closer to the sound of jaw-beating.

In no time, the double eyesight of the left and right looms to the present - …

"Vegetables!"

"Geez."

And I flew away from the place, holding the vegetables. The whole Green Caterpillar passed and rolled down the cliff where the real vegetables had been until just now.

Successfully avoided. But I don't have time to be relieved.

The flat ground on this cliff is narrow. Another Green Caterpillar rush was imminent even before he flew away.

"Shh!

It's too risky to bump into that giant from the front while holding a genuine vegetable. Having so judged, I cast a one-handed battle axe against the imminent great potato worm.

Green Caterpillar is highly vital. It would be difficult to kill them off with a throwing blow. But you should be able to do as much damage and stop your legs.

Buh-oh, and the axe roars.

A magical black blade eats into the green outer shell of the potato worm. Crush the double eyelids on one side, break the thick and sturdy outer shell, make a stirring and heavy noise, and the thick blade almost embeds in the head.

More Critical Hits Than Expected -... Yet The Breakthroughs Don't Hold.

The giant looms without one of the frightened appearances.

"Stupid......!?

Wasn't there any damage? That can't be right. My head is cracked in two. That can't be happening, not even for a moment. Really, what happened...

"Come on, this - heh!

I didn't have time to intercept with a spare axe on my back.

It is also impossible to avoid. For example, all we have to do is endure.

To the wounded great potato worm that came upon me at the same time as I landed, I thrust a round shield of one arm.

Make sure you hold the genuine vegetables in your arms, stick your left half to support your shield with your head and shoulders and prepare for impact -...

"... Gi, Ga!?

An awesome shock struck my doll's body.

Beneath the feet landed at the inches, the ground shreds with frustration.

More importantly, the relatively fragile joint section screams at the feathers that take the power type monster's momentum full of attacks directly from the front.

If I stay like this, I'll break somewhere in my body. Even if we know that, we can't just jump back and let the shock slip. Behind it is the slope of a cliff that is almost cut off.

"Gi, gi, gi...... heh!

My legs slip without being overwhelmed.

A toe sticking out like a bear hand on the ground bounced off a couple of them, unable to withstand the load.

"Gi...... gi, gi"

The push came together in a position where it really was too much and if we took one more step back, we would roll down the slope.

"Here, now, do something..."

I have a lot of gutter in my body, but I still succeeded in withstanding it.

I was deeply relieved.

I'm not afraid of Green Caterpillar if I lose the momentum I had at first. And then whatever with my hands I put the real vegetables down to the ground and then I'm free...

"Huh! Not yet, Mr. Rose!

"- Nah!?

The scream of the vegetables reaches me. At that time, one beat late, I was also sensing the situation.

There was a big shadow that appeared in front of me as I circled around the giant of Green Caterpillar.

Large beast type monster. The body of a bear on the head of a rabbit overlooking me with a vicious red eye. His name as a monster is Raph Rabbit.

"Guruuuuu!

Unlike Green Caterpillar, Raph Rabbit, meaty to me in a giant but agile move, has already shaken up his thick arm.

... Why are Green Caterpillar and Raph Rabbit in the same place?

Such a question of mine was broken out and scattered in shaken arms.

Because of my selfless obsession and movement, I don't have a clear front or back of my memory.

Noticed, I was clinging to a steep slope in the middle of a cliff.

"... true, vegetable"

The first thing that came to my mind was about a dear friend.

The genuine vegetables, the genuine vegetables... are relieved. It's okay, I'm still holding it in my arm.

With a pale faded face, the genuine vegetables look up about me. The abrasion on her cheek is painful, but she does not appear to be seriously injured.

"Injury, is... Ama, can't you? Genuine vegetables"

Still, check.

It must not happen in case. Right now, I don't have a sister Lily here. You can never let a real vegetable get hurt.

"Mr. Rose! Mr. Rose!"

My response to the confirmation was a cry.

Tears streaming down the cute, neat face of the truffle.

I wondered if something had happened to make her cry, and I leaned my neck just a little.

- And from my orbit, my left eyeball spilled.

The eye of the build rolls in a stiffness and falls straight down the cliff.

I quickly lost sight of it.

"... ah"

I remember.

I was punched in the face by Raph Rabbit. The mask I was wearing seems to have been shattered by that time. From the fact that the eyeballs rolled off, it appears that the parts on the cornered face have also been damaged.

Nevertheless, it is a creation anyway, so there is no obstacle to the combat surface where the eyeballs have fallen.

Still, for once, you'd better keep track of the state. I touch my face with the left arm of the one who does not hold the genuine vegetables, carefully straining myself on the slopes like a lizard.

I can't touch it.

There was no ahead of me from the wrist of my left arm.

...... oh. I thought of this one too.

I was beaten by Raph Rabbit, and I rolled down a slope chopped apart with a real vegetable in my arms. As it gained momentum and fell to the bottom, I was in danger of the life of a genuine vegetable anyway. I braked my left hand toward the slope, but because of the considerable momentum, I was to be scratched from my fingertips.

The experience of being shredded from your fingertips is not a very pleasant one, but it still doesn't replace your life. And then I was already desperately clinging to the slope. I can say that I was fortunate enough to manage to kill momentum.

There was also damage to the knee, which stood as a push of the genuine vegetables against the slope, and the clothes borrowed from my sister were torn by the way. My toes are buried on the slope, and there's no sign of any fingers left on this one either.

After inspecting them all, I turned to the genuine vegetables.

"So, genuine vegetables. I ask you again, is your body okay?

"-! Something about me!

And the truffle that cried out unto Gala reached out unto my face.

Palms are hit so as to cover the left side of the broken face.

"Is Mr. Rose better than me?!? You're so hurt... aren't you blurry all over your body!

"It doesn't matter. That much."

"I can't believe you don't mind!

"I don't mind. Because the real vegetables were safe."

When I said so, the eyebrows of the vegetables hung as I looked.

It was a truly unusual, genuine look of anger.

"What are you talking about! Mr. Rose, take care of yourself more!

"Yes, I do."

I answer instantly. The genuine vegetables shook her lips in the way she lost her words.

I guess I soon found out that I'm not saying the right thing. There was a thin, puzzling stick on his face. I lay my words on her like that.

"I take good care of myself. I didn't do anything to scorn you. Because that's what the real vegetables taught me, and your husband told me."

Now, I don't need to be told.

I am certainly not smarter, but I wonder if that would be too foolish for a boulder. Even I am about one of the growers.

"But don't you have a choice? Your husband is more important to me than I am to take care of myself... because it's the same with the real vegetables."

"Wow, me, is it...?

The genuine vegetables were obviously werewolf. I can't believe it, so my eyes are open.

I can't help it. Neither did I once think that a human being would appear who I would speak to in the same line as your husband.

Not now.

I was able to snort with certainty at the question of the genuine vegetables.

"Yep. So don't die, genuine vegetables"

I don't regret being desperate to protect the genuine vegetables and getting blurry as a result. By realizing so much about myself, I was once again aware of what was important to me and how important it was in the end.

But that precious thing will soon be lost.

And it came to pass, that I could no longer choose the word.

"Stop saying 'me or something'. Don't disappear. I need real vegetables."

"Lo, Mr. Rose......?

"Didn't you tell me you enjoyed your day with me? I thought you and your husband were having such a happy chat. I was so happy to see such a genuine vegetable thing. I was happy. So..."

I stopped thinking about the details. I don't think about how to tell you. If doing so meant shutting your mouth, there was no point in logic.

I keep all the feelings in my chest in my mouth. I'm fine. I'm sure the real vegetables will understand. Believe so, I told.

"- Please live. Be happy.... Wouldn't my story be a happy ending even though the genuine vegetables wouldn't make me happy"

"... ah"

The genuine vegetables gave me a stunned face.

He looked like he noticed his calculations were wrong.

- In fact, the genuine vegetables were failing.

Vegetables have not found value in their happiness. I gave up all of that from the start, just walked out with my thoughts on your husband, and kept walking so far. The way these vegetables are now so complete that I can't help it.

On the other hand, however, she acknowledges its proper value for human well-being other than her own. Otherwise, you can't be so sincere in trying to help me fulfill my wishes.

True vegetables cannot ignore mine, even if they abandon their own happiness. It is a denial of her previous efforts, and more importantly, I'm sure that the heart of a girl named Kato Mandarin has not been able to scorn others.

True vegetables can't be established without her. I can't ignore my happiness.

That meant that the genuine vegetables could no longer give up their own happiness.

"Ah, uhh..."

The momentary atmosphere in which the genuine vegetables have been clustered is removed.

Nowhere is it going to disappear anymore. The real vegetables are here. Surely he was in my arms, and looked up about me.

"Yeah, but no, no. That's not true."

As much as I don't think it belongs to that genuine vegetable, the objections I returned were obnoxious.

"Mr. Rose's happiness and I have nothing to do with..."

"I'd be mad if I said 'irrelevant', genuine vegetables"

The pickles and the real vegetables trembled.

Now I spoke to her, frightened as a young child, as tenderly as I could.

"Isn't it the genuine vegetables that made you want us to be friends"

"... ah"

Here is the failure that only one genuine vegetable has committed.

I am not going to be ruthless or heartless enough to know that my dear friend will have a tragic end and I will be happy only myself.

If you really just want to disappear, the real vegetables shouldn't have been friends with me.

This is an irrevocable failure.

I won't let you take it back.

"Don't tell me you're sad you don't have anything but feelings for your husband"

Because I don't have anything, the existence of Kato Mandarin was a monster.

For by the time you get a friend named me, the real vegetables are no longer monsters.

She's just a girl, my dear friend.

And be a friend who is not a monster, and deliver my word as well.

"Let me pray for the happiness of my friends. Show me the real vegetables that made me happy. I don't like the happy end of real vegetables without real vegetables."

Trying to pluck the tears that began to flow again from the eyes of the truffle, I realized that I had no hand for it.

After a little thought, I hugged the face of the truffle to my chest with my safer hand holding the truffle.

Tears stain my clothes. Tremors pass on to my body.

"Mr. Rose. Wow, I..."

It wasn't a word more.

I'm sure, for the first time since we met in that mountain hut, the genuine vegetables cried back to the normal girl.

With my breasts the genuine vegetables are crying.

He turns his hand around his back, squirms all the time, and quietly swallows and cries without even raising his voice.

I had a desire to make her cry like that to the fullest as a friend.

But the situation doesn't seem to forgive me for that.

"... impeccable"

"Mr. Rose......?

When I crush, the genuine vegetables lift up their faces.

Crying and crimson eyes gazed at me.

"I'm sorry. Genuine vegetables. Can you keep your weight so that it doesn't fall and hold onto it? I don't have one arm right now."

Confirming that the nodding vegetables would turn their arms around their necks, I took the spare battle axe on my back with my free right arm.

Looking ahead, there was a monster with semi-liquid body tissue about to come down this steep slope.

"Now slime, is it?... No. Isn't that all?

If we turned our consciousness from the cliff to the outside, there were many shadows running down this cliffy mountain belly.

There is a figure of a magical puppet of my kind. Fire Fang, Trent, Stub Beetle are running down the mountain at each speed. Many other monsters we had never seen, such as Kamakiri with two pairs of sickles, left and right, and a shadow from the black waist to the top like a shadow pressed and consolidated, and a giant dog with as many heads as his body.

The most numerous was like Green Caterpillar in the first row, but if you count all the other monsters, five hundred won't go down. It was an obvious anomaly.

"How can so many kinds of monsters act together...?

The genuine vegetables that hugged my neck muscle were also breathtaking when I noticed the situation.

She's right, it can't be the first time a fae monster shows up at the same time. Even though it's not always a battle if you encounter it, it's basically because Fae monsters don't flock to each other.

"And there are monsters you don't see around here."

I was able to find a number of uninhabited monsters around here, including Raph Rabbit, who had been attacked earlier.

The anomaly is ongoing. If possible, I just want to know what's going on...

I immediately interrupted my thinking. You can put that behind you.

"Vegetables. I know what it's like to wonder. But first, we have to overcome the danger in front of us."

"Right."

The cliff slime was slowly, but surely, approaching us.

Normally, there is no such thing as an opponent, but now I am in the middle of a cut slope. I can't move properly, and even the vegetables that are holding themselves in my body will be shaken off if they move big.

"It's a pretty tough situation, but what's Mr. Rose going to do?

"It'll be one or eight, but I thought I'd throw this axe"

"I thought I'd tell you, but I think you should stop. Angularly, maybe, and then that slime will fall down here."

"... then let's go down one by one as we buy time"

Fortunately, there was a degree of inclination that I could get off if I was careful. The question is if I can't keep up with that slime...

"We should act first rather than think, right? Intercept me if I have to. Once you get down somewhat, you may also be able to jump"

"I think I'd like that too"

"But it hurts not to have one arm"

There's an obstacle to getting off or making an interception. As there was nothing we could do about the current situation, it was necessary to take measures once we had overcome this.

"If this is the case, we should have had even one of the means of ranged attack available. Should I always carry spare parts for my hands and feet? But when I do, my luggage really..."

"Mr. Rose."

Where I began to descend the slope carefully and as quickly as possible without taking my attention off the slime, the genuine vegetables called my name.

"What is it, genuine vegetables"

"Please protect me."

――

It was obvious that that wasn't all I was saying right now.

That must have been a definite sign of change, visiting a girl who had always accepted to disappear.

"Yes. Not necessarily"

I snort.

I will surely protect this little, luxurious and delicate friend.

I vowed so firmly to my heart that I saw a white shadow at that time.

... Apparently, this is not the scene where I come out.

"Be careful, genuine vegetables. - I'm coming."

"Huh? Whoa, whoa!?

I interrupt the descent and again hold the body of the vegetables.

- At the next moment, a white bullet stabbed the slope and the body of the slime, which was at the point of landing, bounced off into the wood dust.

The vibration rocked the cliff tremendously, and I clung to the cliff with the genuine vegetables as I was about to fall. Fine pebbles poured down, and the sticky body fluids of bouncing flying slime plummeted.

Are you all right, Lord Rose?

The earthen smoke cleared and what stood there was an indication, a giant spider.

The figure of holding onto the slope with eight legs must be the perfect fit for this terrain. Even if it isn't, it's not what she's fighting for.

Gabella glanced faintly at her good eyebrows.

"Don't be flashy about it. It was dangerous."

"... it was the most dangerous thing that was about to fall due to the current shock"

"I have no problem with that. If you're about to fall, I'm ready to catch you."

I guess this is true because I'm talking about a gabella with a special ability called spider yarn.

There are many unfortunate things, but in terms of battle, there is no more dependable being than she is. I stroked my chest down.

"I thank you, Gabella. Thanks for your help."

"It's no big deal. Let's pull it up now."

When Gabella came to us, she fixed our bodies firmly with spider thread. I walked out of the cliff, holding the truffle.

"But it seems like something strange is going on. Those elephants have pushed me to my concubine."

Apparently, Gabella also went to a large group of those monsters. Even Gabella, who has lived longer than me, seems to have no idea what's going on.

"Is Gabella safe?"

"I don't even have to be questioned. I smashed whatever came my way. I left the boulder out of my reach. With all that, there's no kiri... and I'm worried about Lord Rose and the others. When I found out about Lord Rose and the others who were in the cliff, I wondered if that would get my heart together..."

Gabella pulled us up to the top of the cliff, when she abruptly cut the words. What is wrong with it?

As I pulled my body up on the cliff with the genuine vegetables held around my neck, I looked up to the beauty of Gabella, who opened her red eyes, and turned to what she was seeing in her eyes.

And, like Gabella, I was out of line.

"The fort..."

The crisp voice of the vegetables echoes on the cliff.

There was a giant fortress there, made of hundreds of monsters as if they were worms.