"Because of the sudden trouble and the subsequent investigation, I ended up leaving my daughter here until now… I surprised you a lot, didn't I?"
"Oh, no. It's okay. On the contrary, it would have been more troublesome if there was no one here to take care of her."
Yes, heroes are usually like that.
They aren't that reserved, but they are the main characters of the time and receive everyone's attention.
If you don't create a sense of disparity between your original appearance and your hero appearance, the people around you will surely gather and cause a commotion.
"But I'm still surprised. Who would have thought that Mr. James was Ronin Blade?"
"I just apologize for showing such a fierce appearance during a meal."
"No. Actually, it was nice. Everyone liked it… Thanks to that, things didn't get worse."
"…I'm grateful that you said that."
He gave a vague smile and placed his hand on the bridge of his nose.
She seemed to be trying to adjust her glasses out of habit, but she had already taken them off before leaving.
"Ah, Father."
The one who brought James his glasses was Nella Hart, who I kept by my side.
Nella soon left my side and approached James, carefully handing him the glasses she was holding in her arms.
"Thank you, daughter."
Was he proud of his daughter?
As he stroked her head with a gentle smile, Nella's previously tense body began to stop trembling.
Yes, no matter how cruel you are to a villain, your bloodline is precious.
"Nella was very worried while you were away."
"Yes, I think it's time for me to retire from the front line. Many people still get excited about it, but I'm old now, and more than anything, I have things to protect, unlike when I was younger..."
I could tell just by looking at the affectionate expression on his face as he hugged his daughter, but even that expression soon seemed to turn sour.
"It's a shame that can't happen now."
"...Dad?"
"I'm sorry, Nella."
The apology came suddenly.
Nella hesitated, then lowered her head with a sad expression.
It was as if she understood what her father was trying to say.
She was smart, and it seemed like he had already learned, as it happened often.
"Mr. Brad."
For a moment, I felt a sense of confusion as I watched him.
As if he had gathered his thoughts, James called me over and asked me a question carefully.
"Could you give me a little time tomorrow?"
"Tomorrow?"
"Actually, I should take a vacation until tomorrow, but I think I have work to do because of the previous escape."
Ah, I see.
It's definitely hard to escape alone, so he must have had a partner.
That's why he, who had just ended that situation, was in charge of the investigation and progress of this case.
"Among the things you mentioned before, your job isn't fixed... Ah, I didn't mean to belittle you. I only asked because I thought you could adjust your schedule freely."
"Yes, it's possible..."
Since it's manual labor anyway, if I took time off, there wouldn't be any problem.
However, if I asked that, there would only be one reason. This person must be trying to say that he has a request for me.
"I pay a fee, so if it's okay, could you take care of my daughter tomorrow?"
"...Yes?"
"Actually, I was planning to go to the amusement park with Nella tomorrow, but since things have come to this, I have no choice but to postpone the appointment I've been looking forward to.
" James patted his daughter on the head with a pitiful expression.
Even though it wouldn't be strange for her to complain, Nella just lowered her head and silently accepted her father's pat.
"Sure, I could leave you with someone else, but I thought it would be better to make memories with her new friend."
In short, he needed a nanny to take care of his daughter while he was away and a tutor to take her to the amusement park.
It was certainly understandable for a father who couldn't give up his official duties.
Even though it was someone I was meeting for the first time, there was also the reason why they were "friends"... ...
... Huh? Wait.
Friends, who are you talking about?
"Uh-huh." While I was in doubt, the boss, who had been watching silently, coughed.
She patted my hand, giving me a hint.
Her eyes seemed to shine brighter than usual.
***
After exchanging contact information, saying that I would think about it first and decide, we parted ways.
When I got back home, I had time to consult with the boss about what to do with the previous suggestion.
"Brad. Think it over."
"Huh? What..."
"Since the collapse of the organization, we have been hiding from human society, avoiding the eyes of the Hero Association. The identities we disguise ourselves as are those of a father and daughter... Am I getting it wrong?"
"...No."
It was a perfect summary, nothing to add.
"So let me ask you one more question. Brad, do you feel apprehensive about that hero named James Hart... the Ronin Blade?"
I rested my chin on my hand for a moment and pondered the chief's words.
Do you feel wary when you see a man carrying a villain by the neck and parading him on the street?
I didn't feel anything like that.
That's understandable, because he didn't suspect our identities in the slightest.
In fact, he had a preconceived idea that a father spending the weekend with his daughter was harmless.
That's why he showed enough trust to entrust his daughter to a complete stranger.
"Of course, acting like this in itself isn't without its uncertainties, so we should consider ways to solidify the trust we have now. The safest way to do that would be to build relationships with people from the opposing forces, right?"
Of course, the trust of an enemy makes you defend yourself against even the slightest suspicion.
So if you want to continue in this life, you can see this situation as an opportunity... ...There was no disagreement with that opinion per se.
"But wouldn't there be a risk of your identity being revealed if you were in a relationship?"
The problem is that it's high risk and high reward.
Since one mistake could lead to immediate death, it wasn't a method I would recommend. Of that much I'm sure...
"If you look at it that way, wouldn't it be more dangerous to raise a child without a regular income?"
Ugh.
You're poking me in the wrong place.
When I winced at the particularly harsh words, the boss burst out laughing and began to cross his arms.
"Yes, if we look at the current situation objectively, it's an opportunity to gain trust and resources in a situation where we're lacking. Of course, the final decision is yours, so I can't force you..."
The boss stopped talking as if she was checking my reaction after saying that.
It was definitely a suggestion worth accepting, since it would be worth taking a small risk to gain a lot, but even so, the boss's opinion seemed a little confused.
Up until now, the boss had tended to actively respect my opinions,
but this time, didn't it seem like he was "trying to persuade me"?
"Boss."
I asked her, just in case.
"You wouldn't happen to be the one who wants to go to an amusement park... would you?"
"Hehe."
The boss was just laughing.
Not even realizing that my insides were burning.
***
Ouroboros.
It was an organization of villains, including myself, who were dissatisfied with society.
Whether it was resentment against the leadership, hatred against the world, or simply enjoyment of destruction, or dreams of revolution...
Each of them had different goals, but in the end, the organization I belonged to, Ouroboros, was a place where those who wanted the "collapse of the current era" gathered.
"Why is the boss trying to destroy humanity?"
And she wanted to realize the ideals that everyone in the organization aspired to.
Although she failed in the end, no one who followed her doubted her sincerity. Their loyalty to her would have continued until the moment of the decisive battle.
But is it really true that the so-called cosmic god simply wants to destroy society and start a revolution?
'I don't know.'
She firmly answered the question.
'What?'
'I said I don't know. I just tirelessly repeated the revelation someone gave me before I landed on this Earth. The order to destroy everything that exists on the land I arrived on, called humanity.'
Even she, a transcendent being, could not be called absolute after leaving this planet.
She was merely a being superior to humans, not omnipotent.
That is why she said that the mission she had been given was absolute, but since the concept was abstract, no specific plan of action had been defined.
'And when I was in the organization, I simply lived up to the expectations of those I followed, but that was ultimately just the result of going with the flow.
'So, Boss… you still don't know exactly what to do?'
'No, then I guess I'll have to figure it out little by little.'
Even the great evil called Ouroboros,
which all the heroes of Pangea fought with all their might to stop,
a transcendent being like her, had no right answer.
This fact was a huge burden for me.
'Brad, I hope you can learn your lifelong goal from me.'
Could I find the answer that I couldn't find even when I was in the organization?
I couldn't say that it was impossible.
I also needed her strength to achieve what I wanted, and that's why I
planned to do everything I could.
So no matter what decision she makes, I will never change my mind.
Even though she is too pure to be called evil.
Even though she is cornered and weakened, and even though she is still in the "learning about humanity" phase.
I firmly believe that the moment she discovers the answer to her mission will lead to the calling I desire.
"Welcome! I welcome you to the Land of Heroes, overflowing with dreams and hope!!"
....Okay.
Coming to this abominable place is necessary for this.