"So, assassination?"
"That's right. If they become our enemies, even the slightest bit of composure will lead to the blade of darkness severing their heads... We must instill such fear and a sense of danger in their hearts. We must demonstrate our strength, letting them know that the Bunnymen are capable of attacking without anyone noticing. We must make them realize that we are not weaklings, nor are we inferior, and that if they become our enemies, they must be prepared to die."
"Do you think the royal family has no countermeasures against assassins?"
"Of course there are. But our target isn't the Emperor's family, but those around them. No matter how strict our defenses are, we can't possibly protect everyone, right? They'll see those who were intimate with us yesterday and today, their subordinates, disappear one by one... Although this is all I can do right now, I believe it's effective enough. As long as we can finally get the Empire to stop interfering with us, it will be perfect."
What a sinister and vicious plan, but it was far more practical than assassinating the Emperor's family. However, this method would inevitably take time to make the Empire feel threatened, and they would likely initiate large-scale retaliation.
This was a huge gamble, and an extremely unfavorable one. It depended on whether the Empire would first formally hunt or annihilate the Bunnymen, or if it would, based on its principle of strength, recognize the Hauriyas' strength and negotiate with them.
Even so, they had to take the gamble. The future of the Bunnymen was bleak. The Hauriyas all wore expressions of realization.
“…Father…everyone…”
Shia's shoulders slumped in frustration.
She also understood that the Bunnymen were able to fight against the imperial soldiers and escape from the heavily guarded dungeons of the imperial city. For both public and private reasons, the emperor would not let them go.
Kam and the others have only three options left: one is to ignore other tribesmen and let only the Haolia tribe survive; the second is for everyone to become toys of the empire; the third is to fight with their lives at stake.
"Shia, don't make that face. If we had stayed in fear and fled, facing scorn like before, we would have been brutally ravaged in the end, and it would have been shameful to just accept it. Now that we can fight, we have the will to fight, and we are filled with joy."
"But!"
"Shia, this is a battle for the right to survive. We're not fighting to survive, but to live with the dignity of the Hauriya people. Even if we are powerful, if we retreat now, we will ultimately be losers, just like before. I will never tolerate this."
"Father……"
"Shia, you need to look forward and stop looking back at us. You must have already made up your mind to venture out into the world with the boss and move forward bravely. Just keep moving forward with your resolve."
Kamu wasn't speaking as a clan leader or a leader of a fighting group. He was speaking as a father, encouraging his daughter not to stop for her clan members and to move forward with the person she wanted to be with.
Shia lowered her head, her eyes nearly tearing up. Kam looked at her with loving eyes, then turned back to look at Shiji and saluted, as if handing his daughter over to him.
Instead of the expressionless and silent Hajime, Kouki stood up, as if about to say, "I'll figure it out!", but was struck in the back of the head by Shizuku's black sword and fell to the ground. Shizuku seemed to have accumulated too much mental stress, and her dissuasion method was rougher than usual.
When Hajime still didn't respond, Shia turned back to look at Hajime.
But before she could speak, Cam seemed to see what she wanted to say and called out in a strong tone.
"Shia!"
Xia's body suddenly shook.
Kam and the others had no intention of asking Hajime for help. Their negligence had led them into the enemy's trap, and the Emperor's attention had been their own fault. If they relied on Hajime's power to resolve the situation now, the situation would remain the same as before, with no change at all.
Just as Cam said, the Bunnymen finally managed to regain their dignity, and this war was a battle to enforce that dignity.
Shia also understood this thought. In the past, she had been forced to flee, but now she had the dignity of being a companion to Hajime and Yue.
However, Xia felt a pang of pain as her family was about to embark on an unfavorable gamble.
As a result, Xia closed her lips tightly and could not utter a word.
Hajime sighed, scratched his head, and after a moment of thought, glanced at Yue.
Just as Hajime imagined, Yue looked at him, smiled and nodded as if he understood everything.
Hajime smiled in response, and said to Shia who lowered her head:
"Shia."
“Hajime-san…”
There was a hint of anticipation in Xia's eyes.
"I won't fight in this matter."
“…I think so.”
However, after hearing what Hajime said next, Shia lowered her head again with a tearful smile on her face.
Hikaru, who was behind him, seemed to want to shout something, but the black knife pressed against his side emitted an electric current, causing him to faint on the spot. Seeing Shia jumping to conclusions too quickly and looking dejected with her head down, Hajime gave a wry smile and pinched Shia's cheek.
"Hey, don't jump to conclusions. I won't fight, but I didn't say I won't help."
"what?"
After hearing what Hajime said, Shia, whose cheek was being pinched, made a strange sound.
Cam and the others looked at each other, confused as to what Hajime meant.
"This time, the Hauriya tribe must demonstrate their strength and show the other side that they are not to be trifled with. Since discrimination against demihumans is common sense in this world, if I rely on them to fight and protect them, the same thing will happen even after I'm gone. More importantly, this battle is the will of Kamu and the others, so I have no intention of intervening."
At this time, Hajime turned his gaze to Cam.
"However, if you think I will just shut up and ignore your lively representative when he's crying, you're totally wrong."
"But, but Boss...how on earth are you..."
Kam and the others were even more confused, and Hajime declared with a proud smile:
"Kamu, and the Hauliya tribe, your petty-minded war will only make this guy cry. I completely reject it. Put a knife to the emperor's neck and drag all his relatives, friends, and subordinates before him. Then, overwhelm the Imperial City and make sure the emperor knows no one will come to save him. The empire will be destroyed overnight! Make the emperor deeply understand the power of the Hauliya tribe! Make him understand that there is no safe place in this world! You must prove in history that anyone who becomes an enemy of the Hauliya tribe will be beheaded!"
The surroundings were shrouded in silence. Everyone was intimidated by Shi's aura, unable to move, and the sound of swallowing saliva was particularly loud.
Shi looked around disdainfully, took a deep breath, and let out a thunderous roar.
"Answer me! You bunch of 'beep~'!"
""""""""!? Sir, Yes, sir!!"""""""
"I can't hear you at all! And you still dare to talk about going to war with the Empire! Are you just a bunch of 'beep~' after all!?"
""""""""!? Sir, no, sir!!"""""""
"Prove it to me! Ignore the small fry and go after the leader!!"
“““““““““““Always loyal!! Always loyal!!”””””””””””
"Use the sharp blade that condenses killing intent and fighting spirit to kill all who stand in your way!"
““““““““““Behead!! Behead!!”””””””””””
"You're the protagonists! Since I'm helping you prepare the stage, it has to be perfect! Got it?!"
""""""""Aye, aye, sir!!"""""""
"Excellent! Cheer up! The newborn Hauriya tribe relies on one hundred and twenty-two people..."
““““““““““…”””””””””””””
"Capture the Imperial City!"
"""""""YAHAAAAAAAAAA!!!"""""""
Hajime said he was going to prepare the stage. What was he planning to do? It shouldn't be possible to capture the Imperial Castle, right?
The fanatical minds of the Haolia people did not consider these issues at all.
The man respected as the boss opened the door for them.
If the obstacles ahead cannot be removed, the name of the new Haolia tribe will be disgraced, and they will be ashamed to face the boss who trained them again.
Therefore, the Haolia people united as one, burning with fighting spirit, and prepared to "capture the imperial city."
In the rocky area not far from the imperial capital, war cries filled with fighting spirit and murderous intent were heard.
"Wow~ Shizuku-chan, those people are so scary~"
"It's okay, Suzu. I find it scary too... Actually, Nagumo-san's thoughts and aura are terrifying enough."
"That Nagumo guy... hehe, I didn't expect him to learn from Master Ha-man. He's quite good at it."
"Ryuutarou!? Why do you feel so close to Nagumo!? No matter how you look at it, those people are abnormal, right?!"
Shizuku and the others stared at the spirited Hauriya tribe with stunned expressions. However, one of them seemed to have great respect for the person Hajime was referring to, and a smile of approval appeared on his face.
"Hmm~ You're truly amazing! You've transformed the Bunnymen to such an extent, truly worthy of your name, even aiming to crush the Empire. I can't stand it~ I really want to be scolded by your Master with that kind of force."
"...Shut up, perverted dragon."
"!? Huhu."
"Well, Miss Tio, please have some self-respect. Yue, look at Shia, she's so moved she's almost crying. She's so adorable, even though I'm of the same sex, I'm blushing and my heart is beating fast."
“…Yeah, that’s true. Since Hajime’s decision was to not let Shia cry…it’s only natural that she’d be happy.”
"That's right~ That's great. I really want to hear Hajime-san say that to me."
Except for one pervert, Yue and the others discussed Shia who was staring at Hajime.
Perhaps she knew from the beginning that it would turn out like this. Seeing the gloom on Xia's face disappear, Yue narrowed her eyes happily; although Kaori looked relieved, she also looked at Xia with envy.
Afterwards, after a detailed discussion on how to capture the Imperial City, Hajime and the others took a break to prepare for the battle.
For a long time, Shiya was reluctant to leave. She wasn't as energetic and lively as usual, but she wasn't depressed either. Instead, her cheeks flushed red, and she clutched Shi's clothes and snuggled up to him.
The rabbit ears touched each other vaguely.
It was as if he was expressing that he only wanted to be by Hajime's side and feel Hajime's presence.
As the night wore on and the eastern sky began to brighten, two figures sat on the rocks.
It was Hajime and Yue who woke up earlier.
Incidentally, the only person sitting on the rock was Hajime, with Yue being held horizontally by Hajime, sitting on his lap.
Except for the personnel on night watch, everyone was still asleep, and the place they were in was a blind spot. Shi and Yue enjoyed the quiet time alone that they had not had for a long time.
The two of them waited for the dawn to break in comfortable silence.
Yue slowly raised her head from Hajime's shoulder and kissed his neck without warning. "Chiu!" A lovely sound echoed faintly in the morning silence.
"...Why did you kiss me all of a sudden?"
"...Yeah, I can't help but think about what happened last night."
What Yue mentioned last night probably refers to the capture of the Imperial City.
But Hajime didn't understand how that had anything to do with kissing, so he tilted his head and looked at Yue who was looking at him tenderly.
“…Hajime prioritized Shia’s ‘important people’ over the labyrinth. I’m happy that Hajime cherished Shia, and that the number of Hajime’s ‘important people’ has increased. I’m so happy…”
Yue said as he kissed Hajime again.
“…Has Shia also become ‘special’?”
"Well, she's one of the most important people in this world... but Yue is the only one who's 'special'."
"...If it's Shia, I don't mind. But hearing you say that, I'm happy, but also embarrassed."
Yue's expression was very subtle, one that seemed both happy and embarrassed.
For Yue, Shia is the first friend he made after leaving the Abyss, a companion and a sister-like existence. She and Hajime are both special in different senses.
Even so special that Yue was willing to share this "special" throne with Shia, which was absolutely forbidden to be occupied by other women. Although Hajime's words made Yue extremely happy, his stubbornness also made Yue feel troubled.
Seeing Yue's expression, Hajime felt a little unhappy. Yue looked embarrassed because he didn't see other women as special. To make Yue think only of him, Hajime kissed her lips without saying anything.
“Hmm…Hmm…Ah…Hmm…Hmm.”
The eastern sky finally began to brighten, and shadows appeared behind the two people. The two overlapping shadows sometimes separated, but quickly overlapped again, and every time they overlapped, the sound of a kiss could be heard.
Yue's eyes were moist, her cheeks were flushed, and her red lips were tempting.
The two of them were about to continue their actions naturally...
Suddenly, someone else's voice was heard from the other side of the rock where Hajime and Yue were.
"Hey~ Nagumo, are you there?"
It was Kouki, apparently looking for the missing Hajime. The sun had risen, so the others must have gotten up too.
"Gu! That guy actually interrupted us when the atmosphere was just perfect. I was planning on having him learn at least one Age of Gods magic just in case a large number of Noin appeared... but now I'm starting to feel like it's causing trouble."
Hajime cursed, still helplessly holding Yue and trying to get up, but he couldn't.
“…Hajime, don’t even think about running away, huh.”
"Wait, um."
Because he was pushed down by Yue. Hajime was halfway up and sat down again, being pushed backwards, with Yue riding on him, actively attacking.
"Koki, is Nagumo-san there?"
“Yeah, I feel like it’s coming from here, so it should be—!?”
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