After disarming them, I checked the mark of the retainers. Their marks are, undoubtedly, that of Demon Arshariya.
“…”
As expected, this is strange… there are too many retainers… if it’s the same as in the game, the Arshariya faction, which has a shortage of members, shouldn’t move until “that” occurred on the third day….
Hence, I pondered about that. It would be best for me to be on guard all the time, but… I don’t want to crush the event that encourages the growth of Tsukiori… and this recreation camp must be continued just like this.
“H-Hiiro?”
Lapis timidly called my name.
“This… about the memo that you put on the table.”
Lapis then took out the memo that was roughly written with my left hand saying 『Enemy. Come.』.
“Did Hiiro notice these girls? And, is your right arm actually okay?”
“It’s just intuition. The moment I heard that Lapis and Rei were attacked at the same time, I already thought that the number of the retainers were too many. That is why, just in case, I made some preparations in advance.”
“Do you mean at that time?”
I nod to the words of Tsukiori.
“When I went to the medical office with Ojou, I asked that Sensei to do something. 『The next time I come here, please say that my right arm and ribs are broken.』… She is a kind-hearted woman, so when I said 『Being a man is hard. I will be bullied just by being there. So, please help me get out of the recreation camp.』, she easily agreed.”
“Then, Onii-sama’s right arm…”
Hearing that, I lightly moved my right arm.
“It’s a bluff. And yes, it’s not broken. There is no way I can sleep peacefully knowing there might still be retainers on board, so I just pretended to lure them out.”
At that moment, Lapis’s face reddened.
She probably remembered that she excitedly did something like 『A~n』, and now, knowing that she didn’t actually need to do that, she seemed to be about to faint in shyness.
“Then, the fact that you protected me is also a lie?”
“I just intentionally got attacked for this sake.”
“M-me too?”
“I’ve said this many times, but the one who saved you was Tsukiori.”
“I wish you could have told me first.”
Tsukiori sighed and stared at me with a disappointed expression.
“Sorry… To deceive the enemy, you must deceive your allies first, right?”
“Even so, it is too dangerous to call me and Rei while chasing these girls. What would you do if we didn’t make it in time?”
“I can use my right arm, so I think I can manage them alone.”
Leaving the sulking Tsukiori, I pointed the tip of my blade to the retainers.
“Why do you know about me…?”
“W-what do you mean?”
Trigger.
With that, the blade gradually stretched closer to the girl’s eyeball.
Being threatened by the blade, the girl fluttered her legs while yelling, “Hii…!”
“The three retainers who fought me in the daytime didn’t know about me. They only knew about Rei and Lapis, whom they attacked, and Tsukiori, whom I heard from their mouth… The three retainers that I had let go didn’t go into the cruise, so it’s hard to imagine that they talked to you. So, someone must have ordered you to kill me. Say it.”
“I-I can’t say it! I really can’t!! As long as the mark of Arshariya-sama is still engraved in my body, I can’t say anything against that person!!”
“I see, so there really was someone who gave you the instructions. Thank you for telling me that.”
At that instant, her face turned pale.
“How many of your comrades are on the ship?”
“I-I can’t say!! I really can’t!!”
“The fact that you didn’t deny it means you still have another companion on the ship, huh. Thanks.”
Her face then turned ashen, which is easy to understand. I then tilted my head and stared at her.
“You see… every day, I am always expecting Yuri… and you know what… you guys don’t smell like Yuri… because you devoted everything to the demons, such a feeling is controlled… In other words, your existence value is equal to zero for me…”
As I extended my blade little by little, she screamed.
“Are you guys… the enemy of Yuri…? Or comrades who want to make beautiful Yuri…? Nn…? (soft sigh)”
When I expressionlessly looked around at the six girls, they cried. The six retainers hugged each other and trembled, frightened by me, and they don’t seem able to fight properly anymore.
Looking at them who are back to acting like girls at their age, I sighed after disciplining them.
“Tsukiori.”
“What?”
“You should sleep with Rei and Lapis today. In case of emergency, protect them. I will stand on the lookout.”
“Should we talk to the teachers?”
“Don’t. There might be some teachers who are connected to the devil religion. Or rather, it may lead to unexpected events, so it’s better to go with the flow. If anything happens, I will protect you all even if it costs my life, so don’t worry.”
Rather, if it’s the same as in the game, there is a retainer mixed up among the teachers… I mean, that’s why these girls could pose as students… but well, no one would believe even if I said this right now, so I don’t feel like doing anything for now.
“Hiiro, what about these girls?”
“Throw them into the sea. I’ll let you use a small boat, so go remove that mark. There are a lot of pretty girls in the city, so just enjoy yourself there. Don’t waste your life in becoming a retainer.”
“…”
“Tsukiori, Rei, and Lapis too, don’t use your current room. There are many empty rooms anyway, so just give any reason and ask A-san to arrange a room for you three. Besides, Ojou should be easy to fool.”
“Then, I’ll explain to the other member of our group–”
“Don’t.”
“Eh?”
To the surprised Rei, I whispered.
“Neither Rei nor Lapis should say to the other members of your group. Just move to the room secured by Tsukiori after confirming that the girl is asleep and return to your room early in the morning.”
“Eh… Hiiro, why…?”
“80%… No, 90% chance this is just me being overthinking… But, there’s nothing wrong with being careful when crossing a bridge… And this is just in case, so just act normal.”
“U-understood.”
“Lapis.”
I smiled at her.
“You don’t have to worry that much. It’s fine. At least, nothing will happen tomorrow, so please enjoy the trip. You were looking forward to this recreation camp, right? No matter what happens, I will never let anyone touch even a finger of you, so you can just spend the night together, talking about love or such.”
“U-un…”
After parting with the three, I put the retainers on a small boat that was tied to the mini console from the beginning1.
“Goodbye, hope you live well. I set the boat to take you to the mainland by automatic driving, but if anything happens, look at the manual. In the worst case, since there is a signal, don’t forget to call 118.”
As I was about to return– a retainer suddenly pulled me.
“… What’s wrong?”
With a desperate look, the girl tried to pull me into the boat… Then, stopped by the remaining five, she took off her hands from my clothes with an apologetic look.
At that moment, the series of events that happened until now crossed my mind– and I intuitively understood.
“Sorry.”
I smiled at her.
“I am the one who protects Yuri.”
Absent-minded, the girl stopped moving, and with her hand outstretched to me– left to the horizon, leaving the sound of the engine.
“Sanjou-sama?”
Apparently, the start of the small boat was detected by the mini console, and A-san appeared behind me without any sound.
“With all due respect, without the permission of the teachers, cruising on a small boat is not allowed.”
“No, I just accidentally took it off… It went somewhere, so just charge it to the Sanjou Family.”
“… Understood.”
With a hand in front, she bowed her head, as if she’s used to this kind of selfishness.
I dashingly passed her and arrived at an unpopular corridor–
“This is how you do ittttttttttttttttttttttttt!! I managed to decrease everyone’s favorability back to the original placeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!! This is the power of 180 Yuri IQ!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!”
With tears of joy, I shouted into the sea.
“My right arm is actually broken, idiottttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttt!!”
I then groaned because of the pain caused by my broken arm and ribs.
However, such severe pain couldn’t win against the taste of victory.
As planned (grin).
Grinning, I refitted the gips on my right arm.
Now, how much are lies and how much is the truth.
First of all, it is true that I was being on guard because the number of retainers on the ship was too much. That’s why, when I saw the retainers talking about the arrangement at the dinner, I thought about the possibility of a trap.
If there are more retainers lurking on the ship, being outnumbered, I called Tsukiori and Rei out of precaution. Other than that, everything is a lie that I came up with on the spot.
The moment I saw the retainers, my Yuri-colored brain cells rotated at high speed. My 180 Yuri IQ showed an amazing brain circulation by come up with a lie saying 『All my injuries are bluffs to lure these guys.』.
However, if Ojou hadn’t tripped, this lie wouldn’t have been possible. This lie was possible because Tsukiori saw me taking Ojou to the medical office.
Thanks to that, the lie that I requested the cooperation of that female doctor was believed, and the illusion that I protected Lapis and Rei was subsequently erased.
To express my gratitude to the retainers, I gave them a small boat, which is easy to do. Or rather, I think it’s not enough to express my heartfelt gratitude. Since the cost will be covered by those hags of the Sanjou Family, I can even give them anything they like.
With that in mind, I stood at the front of the ship, spreading my hands horizontally and bathed in the sea breeze with my eyes closed.
I win…
While feeling the taste of victory, I endured the pain in my broken arm and ribs.
I… No, Yuri won… who said that my 180 Yuri IQ was a lie… apologize… apologize to me who acted like the famous titanic scene alone… apologize… gently hug me from behind and whisper 『Sorry…』 to me like Di Caprio….
“My right arm is…”
As a declaration of victory, I opened my eyes and shouted.
Satisfied, I turned my heels around and– met Tsukiori, Lapis, and Rei who were staring at me.
“…”
“””…”””
“…”
“””…”””
“…”
This cruise… Can it sink right now…
“As expected, your right arm is really broken. We confirmed with the Sensei, and she said 『No matter how many times anyone asked, I will never make a misdiagnosis.』.”
“…”
“Hiiro was in pain when we’re eating too. And it doesn’t seem like an act.”
“…”
“Onii-sama is kind, after all. He must have lied to reassure us.”
“…”
“Hiiro, so you really protected me.”
“So you really thought about me by making the timing so that I can get along with Lapis and Rei.”
“To think not only protected me by risking your life… but you also didn’t show off and on the contrary lie to hide it…”
“You always endured it by yourself. Idiot.”
“But I guess that’s just how Hiiro-kun is.”
“Onii-sama, it would be inconvenient for you with that arm, right? Besides, it seems your consciousness will be hazy tonight, so I’m really worried if you sleep alone. In addition, being a lookout would be impossible in that condition.”
Surrounded, I quietly removed the gips on my right arm.
“It’s not broke~n.”
Having my chest pushed from three directions, I silently groaned.
Then, they catch me from both sides and slowly start dragging me.
“This world is crazy…!! This is a mistake…!! E-even though I have 180 Yuri IQ…! Why…! Why…!!”
Just like that, I was quietly taken into the darkness.