This is not the date I wanted.

The man was stunned at first, then held his forehead with a look of pain.

"Well... how should I put it? I'm sorry that my subordinates attacked you. I'll order them to stop later. But we are indeed looking for that girl. Can you hand her over to me? I have no ill will towards her and I won't hurt her."

"……I reject."

Although Shinji was a little surprised that the other party apologized frankly, he finally shook his head and protected Mio behind him.

"You just said it yourself. Your organization is not united. Even if you really won't hurt her, it doesn't mean Mio is not in danger."

The blond man didn't comment.

"Maybe so. But if we leave her alone, spacequakes will continue to occur, killing more innocent people. And we at DEM have a way to stop it—"

"Don't make Mio sound like a monster!" Shinji glared at the blond man with a hint of anger in his eyes, "Mio is just an ordinary human being, an ordinary girl who likes to read, can cry and laugh, and is very gentle."

"I have lived with Mio for more than a month, and there has never been a space earthquake. She knows how to care about others and doesn't want to hurt others. She is not a beast that cannot communicate. Why do you treat her like an earthquake or a typhoon?"

"Pfft...hahaha!"

Listening quietly to Shinshi's roar, the blond man was neither angry nor refuted. Instead, he laughed heartily as if his funny bone was touched.

“What are you laughing at!?”

"Ah - sorry, sorry! I'm not laughing at you. It's more that what you said is so right that I couldn't help laughing. Really, Ike's excuse is so fake that it makes me feel itchy all over."

After laughing his ass off, the blond wiped his tears and turned his gaze to Mio.

"…Mio, is that your name?"

"...Yes. It's the name Zhen gave me."

"Really... Well, that's a nice name."

With a hint of jealousy in his voice, the man sighed and changed the topic.

"So Mio, are you happy now?"

"...At least, I don't have a sexual fetish that makes me happy when being chased by hostile people."

"Pfft - that's not what I meant. I'm asking if you are happy with this boy?"

Staring at the blond man with a wary look on her face, Mio nodded even though she didn't understand the intention of the other party's question.

"Yeah--"

After receiving Mio's reply, the man dropped his shoulders somewhat exhaustedly, then seemed to have made some kind of decision, and stepped aside to make way.

"Let's go."

"……what?"

Obviously they didn't expect the other party to give way so easily, and they couldn't help but look surprised.

"W-what do you mean?"

"What else could it mean? It's just to let you run away. Otherwise--"

"Found it, here!"

As if to drown out the man's voice, three pursuers rushed out from the deep woods behind.

"Yeah, yeah, so I said it."

The man sighed helplessly, and his originally gentle eyes suddenly became sharp.

The next moment, the man's figure suddenly disappeared from Shinshi's sight. Only three dull thumping sounds were heard, and when Shinshi turned his head, the three attackers had been easily knocked down by the blond man.

(So, so strong!)

"Okay, stop being in a daze. Let's go." The blond man pointed ahead and said, "Then Mio is in your care, kid."

"……Uh-huh."

After hearing this, Shinshi suddenly woke up from his dream and pulled Mio forward.

After watching the two people leave, the blond man let out a long sigh of relief.

"Huh... Then what's next?"

He turned around while stretching his muscles, and was greeted by dozens of magicians equipped with manifestation devices who had come after hearing the noise.

"Lord Woodman! What do you mean?"

"Are you planning to betray Lord Westcott?"

"Well, I just can't stand Ike's way of doing things. So please, after I defeat you and you retreat, give him a message for me."

Taking out a golden nameplate, the blond man declared with a dashing smile,

"From today on, Elliot Baldwin Woodman and DEM have parted ways!"

26 Shinji and Mio's Past (End)

==============================

What's going on with that person? Why did he let me go? Was it a trap? Or was it just an internal conflict?

While running with Mio in the endless dark forest, Shinshi couldn't help but think about these questions.

However, Shinshi didn't want an answer, he just couldn't let it go. With the skills that person showed, if he really wanted to take Mio away, Shinshi would be killed in an instant even if he fought with his life.

There was no resistance at all, no value at all. He was just that weak.

Can he really protect Mio at the risk of his life? Is he really qualified to be loved by Mio?

(I can’t think any further!)

Shinji shook his head vigorously, putting all the distracting thoughts behind him. If he continued to dwell on this kind of thing, there would be no point in staying here.

"Ha...it's okay-Mio, we're almost at the exit, we can definitely escape."

"Ah."

Mio responded briskly.

The two men kept moving towards the exit, and seemed to have escaped the enemy's pursuit. The sound of enemy gunfire behind them gradually disappeared, and in the darkness with mixed leaves, they finally saw a ray of light.

"We're almost out of the forest."

Shinji couldn't help but show his joy when he heard Mio's voice.

however--

"Welcome, it's amazing that you can escape to this place, Miss Elf."

It was like being poured with a bucket of cold water. On the wide road, the two were greeted by dozens of machine gun muzzles and a gray-haired man's malicious smile.

"You are……"

Protecting Mio behind him, Shinshi looked at her with an uncertain expression.

"Hello, Shinji Takamiya. I am Isaac Ray Pelham Westcott, the executive director of DEM. This is my secretary, Alan."

The gray-haired man bowed slightly to Zhenshi and introduced himself with a friendly smile.

"..."

The blonde woman did not reply, but just quietly followed the man in bowing.

Although the other party's tone was very friendly, Zhenshi did not have the slightest impression. It was just their first meeting, but the other party already knew his name.

"...Really...those two people...be careful..."

Mio whispered behind him. In her eyes, compared to the dozens of strong men with weapons around them, the unarmed man and woman in front of her were far more dangerous.

"I really appreciate you protecting our elves. As a thank you, we have prepared corresponding gifts in return."

Our spirit——As if he was referring to Mio as a lost pet of their family, the gray-haired man said as a matter of course. This attitude made Shinji feel angry.

"What are you kidding——"

"This gift is your sister, Takamiya Mana. We found your sister in the forest and protected her."

The gray-haired man said with a smile.

For a moment, Shinji and Mio held their breath in surprise. Although the gray-haired man said protection, they both knew that this was a blatant threat.

"Asshole! You try to do that to Mana? I will never let you go..."

"Oh? Why don't you tell me what you are going to do? I'm very interested."

Hearing the threat from the Shinji, the gray man was not afraid, but asked with interest.

"you--"

Feeling humiliated by the other party, Shinshi clenched his fists in anger.

"Oh? Are you angry? Sorry, I've been in the lab for a long time, and my communication skills seem to have declined."

After giving two apologetic smiles, the gray-haired man raised the corners of his mouth, stared at the real master with his dull eyes, and continued.

"So? Can you return the 'spirit' to us? Then your sister will return to you. Let's each get back on the right track."

"you……"

Shinji clenched his teeth tightly.

Unlike the blond man I met before, the gray-haired man in front of me, although his tone was friendly, did not leave any room for negotiation.

Shinji was confused. He didn't really see Mana. But he didn't dare to deny the possibility that his sister was caught. Was Mana really caught? Or was it just a lie to deceive them?

If what the other party said was true and he chose to run away, Mana's life would be in danger. But even if he didn't run away, should he just hand Mio over to the other party?

What should we do? What is the right thing to do?

Everything in front of him was blurry, and he felt an unreal sense of emptiness under his feet. He felt like a baby who had just learned to walk, but was forced to push open a door that was a thousand times heavier than himself.

It goes without saying that for the real person who was living an ordinary life not long ago, the choice before him was too heavy and too unreasonable.

However, at this moment, Mio spoke first.

"…Promise me. If I go with you, you'll let Shin and Shin go, right?"

"Well, that's natural."

The gray-haired man nodded with a smile.

"Mio?"

Mio's voice woke Shinji up from his dream.

"Wait Mio? What are you talking about?!"

“…It doesn’t matter. I shouldn’t be here in the first place. You can’t let Mana be exposed to danger because of me.”

Looking at the panicked Shinji, Mio replied calmly.

It was as if his confusion and weakness were seen through. In Mio's clear eyes, his expression looked so fragile and ridiculous.

"Ah...uh..."

"--Although it was short, being with you... I am truly happy."

Facing the speechless Shinji, Mio smiled and shook her head, then walked towards the gray-haired man.

The tightly held little hand just left Zhenshi's palm.

Instantly, Shinji instinctively understood that if he let go of her now, Mio would never be able to come back to her.

and so--

“… Stop it, you’re kidding…!”

Shinshi pinched his thigh hard, using the pain to temporarily dispel his fear, then he grabbed Mio's hand and pulled her towards the depths of the forest.

"stop!"

"Don't run! Fire!"

For a moment, the sound of continuous gunfire rang in his ears. However, what was incredible was that none of the dense rain of bullets hit Shinshi's body, but was separated by a layer of light curtain released by Mio that was similar to a shield.

For a moment, Shinji felt so ridiculous that he wanted to cry. He had said so many times that he would protect Mio, but in the end, he was protected by Mio instead.

"Really, what are you doing?"

Mio shouted in surprise.