Combatants Will Be Dispatched - Volume 4 - Chapter 4.8

8 

The next morning. 

Alice greets us as we return to the hideout after spending the previous evening in the ruins. 

“You delinquents are finally home, huh? The ruins were only a short trip away. Why the hell did the survey take so long that you’re just getting home?” 

Alice lets loose with the venom as soon as she opens her mouth, but after a closer look at us, she tilts her head quizzically. 

The focus of her gaze is an oddly satisfied-looking Rose as well as Lilith, who’s sporting the opposite expression. 

“Yo, Six, Rose looks like the few brain cells she had left trickled out of her head overnight, while Lady Lilith looks even gloomier than usual. What exactly happened out there?” 

I recount the whole story from the beginning… 

“Well, that sure sounds like a pain in the ass. So Rose got some of her memories back, and she marked five spots on the map. One of them is the ruin where they found her. Another is the one you explored yesterday, and yet another is the one we recently dealt with in Toris. As for the rest…this one’s where the Demon Lord’s got his headquarters, right smack where his castle is.” 

Alice pores over the map we brought back. 

“…Huh, seriously? So the Demon Lord took over one of her summer homes or bases? Considering her daily pronouncements that humanity is the enemy, could she be…?” 

“Ohhh! Wait, Boss, you’ve got the wrong idea there! I’m not a demon! I mean, yes, Mr. Russell, who’s also a Chimera, decided to side with the Demon Lord, but for us, there actually isn’t a fine distinction between demons and humans…” 

As Rose anxiously provides an explanation, Alice gives her a look of pity. 

“Don’t worry about it. No one’s going to suspect someone as simple as you of being a spy. If anything, the fact that your summer home was ransacked means it’s probably more accurate to say that our competitor, the Demon Lord, is occupying one of your properties.” 

Rose lets out a sigh of relief at Alice’s calm summary of the situation. 

“Putting that aside for a moment, are you done being Patrasche?” 

Hearing Alice’s question, a smile lights Rose’s satisfied expression. 

“Well, it’s like, now that I know so much about myself, the whole life of gluttony and sloth under a new grandpa feels wrong to me… Also, I want to pay back Boss and the others for helping me find out about my past… I figured I could do that by working for Kisaragi…” 

Rose chuckles shyly, scratching at the back of her head, but I’m pretty sure the whole “gluttony and sloth” part was wrong even before the remembering-the-past bit. 

…As Rose laughs uncomfortably, Alice approaches her. 

“Looks like you’ve gotten over a lot that was troubling you. Welcome to the Kisaragi Corporation. We’re an evil organization, so we don’t think twice about ruthless acts of villainy, nor do we forgive betrayal. We crush our enemies and don’t give a damn about justice. However…” 

Lately, this android, who’s supposed to be the product of cold pragmatism, is starting to show a lot more emotion. 

“…at Kisaragi, we value our comrades. If the Demon Lord has taken up residence in your home, we’ll get it back for you, no matter how long it takes.” 

She’s made a flat-out declaration, even as our available forces are about to dwindle, what with Lilith and myself eventually returning to Earth. 

“…Whoa, whoa, Miss Alice. You need to remember I’m heading back to Earth. The forces at your disposal are gonna take a serious hit. C’mon, say it. Go ahead and say it. It’ll be so much easier if you have Mr. Six at your side.” 

“That’s true. If we had Six, we could take over the Demon Lord’s Castle in three years. Without you, it’ll take us three years.” 

Huh, she’s being awfully honest… 

“…Hold on, you just gave the same amount of time. If you have me, you could probably do it in about a year, don’t you think?” 

“Eh, your presence only moves up the timeline by about three days. So you can relax, leave Rose to me, and head home. Earth is where you’re needed right now.” 

Rose smiles in amusement at the exchange between Alice and me. 

Lilith, who’s been sitting quietly, finally speaks up. 

“…I must admire your tenacity, Miss Chimera. In comparison, I don’t have a single positive to speak of.” 

Lilith looks as though she’s put her past failures behind her. 

“I’ve read all about you in the reports. You’ve been waiting this whole time, patiently helping out the kingdom with information about your past as a lure, right? And now that you’ve finally got a hint, are you planning to wait another three years?” 

Lilith’s words seem to have caught Rose off guard. 

“As of today, you’re officially a member of our family. As Alice noted earlier, the Kisaragi Corporation is an outstanding company that cares for its employees.” 

The bit about being a company that cares for its employees is news to me, but it seems our ordinarily useless boss has evolved (for the moment) into one of Kisaragi’s rightful Supreme Leaders. 

“Very well, Combat Agent Recruit Rose. Welcome to the Kisaragi Corporation! Allow me to welcome you on behalf of the Supreme Leaders. And…” 

Like Alice, Lilith appears to be in a better mood than usual, smiling happily at Rose. 

“You’ve got somewhere you want to go, right? You have something you want to learn, right? No need to be modest. Nothing is impossible for the Kisaragi Corporation!” 

Having seemingly put the past in the past, after peppering Rose with a series of questions, Lilith approaches her with arms outstretched. 

Having spent a long time being treated like an unwanted outsider in this kingdom, Rose probably isn’t used to this sort of treatment. 

With no family other than her grandpa, she probably didn’t have anyone she could turn to. 

She’s likely never had anyone celebrate her birthday before. 

If that weren’t the case, she wouldn’t so overwhelmed. 

Tearing up, Rose comes to a decision, her cheeks faintly flushed. 

“L-Lady Lilith… U-um, that is, my wish is to go visit the Demon Lord. I want to ask him why he’s living in one of the ruins. And I want to ask what he knows about me!” 

Hearing that, Lilith’s face lights up in a wide grin. 

“Very well. A talk with the Demon Lord, mm? Talking is one of my specialties!” 

My socially awkward boss, who usually spends her days as a shut-in, makes a bold claim. 

“What are you talking about, Lady Lilith? You get so flustered when a convenience store clerk asks if you want your bento box heated up that you reheat it at home instead.” 

“Sh-shut up, Six! What I’m going to do is conduct a Kisaragi Corporation–style discussion!” 

Dismissing my observation, Lilith pushes back. 

Seeing her behavior, Alice smiles teasingly. 

“You sure about that, Lady Lilith? Even though you were so scared until now? The Demon Lord’s Army is the real deal.” 

But not to be deterred… 

“Quiet, Alice. Who do you think I am? I’m your creator and a Supreme Leader of the Kisaragi Corporation, Lilith the Black! What’s one backwater Demon Lord compared to taking on the entire world?” 

Despite being a chicken at heart, my boss fires back indignantly. 

“…Um, Lady Lilith, we’re just going there to talk, right?” 

“That’s right, Combat Agent Recruit Rose. We’ll have a nice chat.” 

Contrary to Rose’s concerned expression, Lilith is sporting a cocky grin. 

“Come with me. We’ll show this planet’s natives and our competitors the true power of the Kisaragi Corporation!” 

Even though she’s ordinarily a coward, Lilith will do whatever it takes to help those she considers her friends when they’re in trouble. 

She’s rude, conniving, and has few redeeming features as a boss, but everyone knows they can count on her for help. 

“You sure about this, Lady Lilith? We’re talking about a Demon Lord here. He’s probably way tougher than an angel. This is one of those enemies you just can’t beat if you’re not the legendary Chosen One.” 

“And based on yesterday’s survey, this planet’s technology might actually be superior to ours. Are you prepared to move ahead with this anyway, Creator? I’m in if you are.” 

“…Why are you two so eager to undermine me when I’ve finally worked up some nerve? You know I’m shy. You realize that’s why I always ended up losing steam during our stranger encounters, right, Six?” 

“Of course, I’m aware of that. I’ve known you long enough. I also know the reason no one respects you is because, while you’ve got all the ability in the world when you’re motivated, you give up so easily. That’s why no one ever votes for you, Lady Lilith.” 

Despite her hostility toward the locals and her intention to drag me away from here, at heart, my boss is like me: someone who can’t quite commit to being a true villain and, in her own twisted way, has a soft spot for people. 

My boss, who falls silent at my remarks, is someone I can’t quite hate because she’s often so openly vulnerable. 

“Yeah, you’re right. I’m the most cowardly of the three Supreme Leaders. I’ll even admit I make a lot of mistakes! …But you know what? I may make the most mistakes, but I’ve also got the most successes!” 

That day, the boss I admire—one of the Supreme Leaders, Lilith the Black—commits to showing what she’s really capable of.