Chapter 46: Hill, Go to Hell

"Hahaha—! Everyone, you all heard it back then, right? Kobayashi actually said something like, 'I was born into this world to set it right'—don't you think that guy is being ridiculously chuunibyou? Was he acting? It sounded just like a line from a stage play! Could he possibly think he's the savior of the world or something? Hahahahaha..."

Leone clutched her stomach, laughing uncontrollably and looking thoroughly amused.

After completing their mission, the members of Night Raid were debriefing Najenda. They covered Kobayashi's reaction at the warehouse, his battle with Lyca, and finally, the declaration he made at the end.

"I think he was completely serious. I have high hopes for him."

Bulat closed his eyes, his cheeks slightly flushed, as if he were still savoring Kobayashi's stance under the moonlight.

He had to admit, it was very attractive.

"So cool! Seriously so cool!"

Tatsumi had already turned into Kobayashi's devoted fanboy.

"Yeah, for some reason, I just feel like he'll actually achieve his goal." Akame also held a favorable opinion of Kobayashi.

"Wait! Let me write that down!"

Lubbock whipped out a notepad and pen, scribbling furiously before cheering excitedly, "Brilliant! That line is brilliant! It's so heroic! I'm going to use it as a catchphrase for the protagonist in my manga! If you use that to show off, you're bound to attract a ton of girls! I can totally see it!"

"No way, you guys all have that much faith in him?"

Leone froze, asking back with a hint of surprise, "Isn't that just some childish fantasy, the kind of stuff you only say when you're trying desperately to look cool? Right, Mine?"

"Eh? Um, well... Humph! No matter how you look at it, he was just showing off."

Suddenly called out, Mine snapped back to her senses, stuttering an agreement. Then, with flushed cheeks, she turned her head away and pouted, putting on a tsundere act to show she agreed with Leone.

Yet everyone in Night Raid who knew her could easily guess what she was actually thinking.

"Could Mine actually think he can pull it off too?"

"I do *not* think he's cool!"

"I didn't say he was cool, though."

Showing off versus being cool—even though it was just a subtle distinction, the meanings were worlds apart.

At least for now, they had only just completed a minor mission together, yet they were already captivated by Kobayashi. Wasn't that a bit too strange?!

"Is that so? Does he possess charismatic leadership as well?"

Excitement flickered in Najenda's eyes.

She hadn't expected Kobayashi to have talent in that area as well; it was truly a pleasant surprise.

Charisma:
A charismatic leader must be a skilled communicator. Not only are they eloquent, but they are also able to connect deeply and emotionally with their followers, clearly expressing an attractive vision while striking a powerful chord of resonance.

And yet, after just a single mission, the members of Night Raid already held Kobayashi in such high regard and echoed his sentiments with such resonance.

As it turned out, exposing him to the darkness of the Imperial Capital had been the right choice.

Lubbock had described Kobayashi as neutral good, and such individuals are dedicated to helping others, doing the absolute best that a good person can do.

The method was simple, then. She didn't need to do anything at all; she just had to give him a little push from behind.

The remaining parasites of the Empire would gladly assist.

A bunch of useless subordinates who, in the end, still required her, the Boss, to step in.

Najenda felt a brief moment of self-admiration.

"Eh? Where's Sheele? How come she's not here for the debriefing?" Najenda scanned her subordinates triumphantly, only to realize someone was missing.

"Sheele probably went off to comfort Kobayashi."

Mine shook her twin tails in annoyance, humming, "That guy has been totally silent ever since they got back. Needing someone to comfort him is just pathetic."

"Don't put it that way. He reacted like that because someone he knew was murdered, and besides, he's just a kid." Bulat played the peacemaker as usual.

Tatsumi also felt a pang of sorrow, having suffered through a similar tragedy himself.

"But shouldn't the task of comforting him be left to his humanoid Teigu?"

"You just said it yourself, it's a Teigu. Even if Lucy is humanoid, does she really understand human hearts?"

"…Tch."

Rebutted, Mine clicked her tongue in annoyance while shooting a fierce glare at Tatsumi.

The country boy, who had once been comforted by Sheele himself, was left utterly bewildered, having no idea how he had offended her.

The back mountain.

Kobayashi stood before a gravestone.

He didn't actually know this little girl, having only crossed paths with her once.

Despite being complete strangers, he still felt a lingering sense of unease.

Footsteps approached from behind.

"Is that Sheele?"

"Mhm."

Sheele answered softly, then wrapped her arms around Kobayashi from behind.

—Soft.

Just as deeply embracing as Leone, but while Leone was springy, Sheele was soft.

His head slowly sank into her embrace, enveloped by a sensation of warmth and comfort. Sheele felt like a gentle older sister, quietly supporting him from behind.

Sheele was always like this.

Though naturally airheaded and clumsy, she was remarkably sensitive to her companions' unusual states of mind, frequently picking up on emotional fluctuations that others missed.

Sheele said softly, "Don't be sad."

"I'm not sad, or rather, not too sad." Kobayashi shook his head, though his mood remained heavy. "I want to cry my eyes out or vent the anger in my heart, but unfortunately, I find that I can't do it."

He knew the reason why.

Glancing at the necklace around his neck, he knew this emotional blockage was caused by it.

Aqua's blue crystal necklace possessed an overwhelmingly powerful effect—so powerful that it felt as though the Goddess of Water herself was right there with him, erasing any extreme spiritual fluctuations.

Much like the Sorcerer King, whenever emotions like excitement or anger crossed a certain threshold, he would be instantly and forcibly calmed down.

Talk about a mood killer.

You gain some, you lose some. Was this truly Aqua's consistent style?

"It's alright, you don't have to grieve."

Sheele hugged Kobayashi tighter, whispering gently in his ear, "Even if you can't vent, you can talk to me. If it makes you feel even just a little bit better."

"…Thank you, Sheele."

She really is gentle.

She cherished her companions, brought healing to those around her, and possessed an exceptionally kind heart.

"Hey, Sheele, you once said, didn't you? That it's precisely because your head has a screw loose that you have such a talent for killing, allowing you to sweep away the garbage of the Imperial Capital and giving you a tiny way to prove your own worth."

"That's right."

Sheele nodded, then asked in confusion, "Did I... talk about my past with Kobayashi? I'm sorry, I forgot."

"That doesn't matter."

Kobayashi looked up at the night sky.

The bright, pure moonlight failed to dispel the darkness of the Imperial Capital; it felt more like a living hell, growing increasingly disappointing.

"I want to save everyone... but I know that's impossible. So, I want to save the majority, and at the very least, protect the people I hold dear."

"Me too. I want to protect everyone in Night Raid as well."

"Is that so? Sheele feels the same way?"

Naturally.

After all, Sheele was the gentlest person in Night Raid. Knowing she wasn't good at much else, she desperately wanted to do something for her comrades.

Yet Kobayashi cruelly uttered the truth: "But Sheele, if things keep going like this, everyone is going to die."

"I know. For some reason, I've had a bad feeling about this too." Sheele shared the exact same thought.

"In that case, Sheele, are you willing to help me save them? Not just our companions in Night Raid, but the rotting Empire and the tormented masses as well."

"If I can be of any help."

"Then... Sheele, go die."

"…Eh?"

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Author's note: The foreshadowing has begun, even though you can probably all guess what it is.