Editing Ultimate Antihero:Volume 2 Chapter 2 (section)

===Part 8===

The eyes of all the people present in that place opened wide in surprise from the voice that shrilly resounded in the board chairman’s room.

And then,

“Sumika, san…?”

With Elfiena whose face was still shocked as the first, the gazes of all people were directed at the source of the voice.

Correct. That screaming voice was Hoshikawa Sumika’s.

“…Something like that, is absolutely, no good…!”

While receiving the stares of everyone, Sumika’s shoulders shook and she stared at Homura with an expression of rage.

Sumika knew.

That the man in front of her eyes, Kamishiro Homura was this kind of human.

This was the same with the dispute that happened with the <Special Missionary> Alfaro at the afternoon of today.

He peacefully settled the trouble while undertaking all the loss.

As the result, just how much he would be hated, how much he would be shunned―

Because he possessed the strength and power to shoulder all that loss.

…Sumika hated that way of life of Homura.

However at the same time this wise girl also understood that she didn’t have the qualifications to say anything in regards to his way of life.

Because she was powerless.

Because she didn’t have the ability to solve the problem in a way more skillful than him.

Correct, certainly this way he proposed could really be called as the best.

Both for [fairy] and also for the [government], there was nothing better than this plan of Homura.

In the current situation, nobody could refute that there was no better way than this plan to resolve the problem.

Then, rejecting that plan was nothing more than selfishness. It was no different than a kid’s whining.

In truth it was only silliness, a stupid act that only spouted out emotion that couldn’t produce anything.

That was why at that time with Alfaro, Sumika only grimaced her face but didn’t stop Homura.

However, even so―

Even so… the matter this time, it exceeded the tolerance where she could overlook it and stay quiet.

If asked why,

“Do you understand the meaning of what you are going to do? You the <Evil God User> that is rumored to conspire with demons, if the news about how you invited the fairies that are demons to live on earth spread all over the world… Homura-san cannot, anymore… you will really become unable to return to the world of people anymore! You will really become the enemy of the human race, really become a traitor for real you know-!?”

Correct. This was not just a mere loss.

This plan of Homura would decisively corner Homura himself.

Into a position where he would be unable to go back anymore.

The people that hated demons would never forgive Homura.

He would be misunderstood forever.

―But, what constricted her heart most of all was the fact, that even being loathed like that forever, Homura would surely still continue to protect all humans that regarded him as the enemy.

Being forever misunderstood and unrewarded, even so he wouldn’t let out a single complaint.

Dragging along his wound-riddled body, until the very last moment… he would live as the slave of the world.

Surely he would go through all that in satisfaction without expressing a single regret.

She could easily imagine such a picture of Homura.

Something like that… Sumika simply couldn’t tolerate it.

“This compromise is not all that appropriate-!”

And then that complaint of Sumika―

“Sumika-san. What do you mean by that?”

Made Elfiena harbor a doubt towards Homura’s relationship with mankind.

“Is <Evil God User>-sama not the hero that repelled the demon kings that attacked the human world twice already so far?”

Elfiena asked with a taken aback expression.

In regard to this, the one who gave the answer was Shiori who was leaning against the wall.

“Humans are a hopelessly weak living being you know.

Weak, cowardly, and greedy. Truly a hopeless living being.

That’s why they extremely feared those with [power] greater than themselves.

They will shun such being, fearing that their own life and privileges will be violated.

Yes, even if that [power] had already saved their life.

…For some reason it seems that you are thinking of Homura-kun as the hero of mankind, however, that’s mistaken. He is not extolled as a hero or anything. Rather it’s far from that… while he saved mankind, he is feared as no different than all of you demons and is ostracized.”

“――-!”

Elfiena’s expression froze from that fact she was told for the first time.

She too finally guessed it.

The meaning of a human in that kind of position… inviting demons onto earth.

Such thing would invite a really fatal solitude.

(All this time, I was only thinking that <Evil God User>-sama is holding a great authority among the humans.)

That it was because of that he could do this kind of arbitrary decision, she thought.

That he was ostracized by the other two was also because of such authority, she thought.

But that was wrong.

He was going to pay a great sacrifice, in order to save them, the fairies.

For the sake of they the [Fairy race] with whom he had no relation with whatsoever.

―Certainly something like this, was not a compromise at all.

If she didn’t reject this.

It was fine if she became a sacrifice. But, to sacrifice other people, such salvation was mistaken.

(But, however-)

“I’m sorry… But even so, I…-“

Elfiena was… the <Fairy Queen>.

She had the position where she was shouldering the life of all the [Fairy race].

This plan of Homura would save the life of the two million [Fairy race], it was something that she mustn’t let go no matter what.

That was why Elfiena, even while making a distorted face from the violent guilt that she felt,

“<Evil God User>-sama. …Please, save, us…!”

She swallowed the word of refusal, grasped the fringe of Homura’s clothes, and hanged on to him with a weeping voice.

While understanding what result her act would bring about for him.

(…I’m, the worst…)

She couldn’t lift her face.

She couldn’t see Homura’s face.

There was no instance where she hated her powerlessness more than this.

But, towards this mortifying decision of Elfiena,

 

“That’s a good reply.”

 

Homura returned back a smile as if it was nothing and patted the head of the looking down girl.
[[File:Ultimate Antihero V2 109.png|thumb]]
It was a gentle and affectionate hand.

“<Evil God User>-sama…”

“You really hanged in there well. It’s fine already. If you rely on me, then no matter if it’s demons or humans, I’ll protect you all from anything that will try to hurt you. That’s why―you can stop enduring now.”

“……!”

She could stop enduring.

Homura told those words while combing Elfiena’s emerald blonde hair.

The instant she heard those words, Elfiena’s eyes opened wide in shock.

But that shock quickly permeated her and shook her eyes damply,

“A, u, -<nowiki>~~~~~~~~~</nowiki>aaaaaaaaaaa—!!!!”

She burst.

Elfiena suddenly clung at Homura’s chest and started weeping like a child.

“Elfiena, san…?”

Elfiena’s wail that came out of nowhere made all people present in that place dumbfounded.

That was because it was an act that was far removed from this girl’s image from before when she took hostage the life of mankind and pressed them with a negotiation that was like extortion.

But― in the end, was that really the true Elfiena?

Absolutely wrong.

Only Homura understood that from all the people in this place.

“Sumika. Just now you said that you behaved impertinently right? But, there ain’t any such thing. There ain’t any such guy that gonna be okay if they knew they are going to meet a terrible experience. Coming to the human world with the intention to die or whatever, that’s obviously a bluff. Thing like the resolve to die, only some guy that is not right in their head can do that.”

Yes, this girl should have feel scared all this time.

She should be frightened.

Because if she understood how deep the hatred humans held for the demons, it was a trivial thing to imagine just what kind of hell was awaiting her after being captured by the humans.

“But, even so Elfiena came to the human world. Shouldering the life and future of her comrades by herself, she went alone to a battlefield where she was isolated and helpless.”

And then she fought [mankind].

Something like a resolve was not just a convenient emotion that was like desperation.

It was mustering out all the courage that you had, while desperately stifling the seething anxiety and shivers of your body.

“It ain’t something that just anybody can do. ―She is an amazing girl.”

Homura noticed that. Only Homura, noticed that. For that reason―

“…Certainly, just like what Sumika is being uneasy for, if the news that I shelter demons spreads out, then surely there’ll be a great uproar. There will be a lot of guys cursing at me saying [You see that?] about me. But you see… I ain’t minding something like that. For me, rather than the words of bunches like that― the voice of Elfiena seeking help, is several thousand times heavier.”

“Homura, san…”

Homura’s words made Sumika unable to form any more words.

The true heart of Elfiena that she wrote off as resolve and comprehended it just like that.

Elfiena’s true feeling that even the fairies in her village extolled as just bravery.

Homura understood that correctly.

What the cowardly Elfiena possessed, something far more precious than even bravery, a true courage.

It was the only thing that made her marched into the human world by her lonesome.

And then, he anticipated the breakdown of the negotiation and from the start was waiting for the time where he could immediately propose his compromise.

Everything was… for the sake of saving Elfiena in the true meaning.

(What… an amazing person…)

Even though he was that strong.

Even though he was an overwhelming existence that no enemy or ally could catch up with.

Yet he was always sympathizing with the heart of weak people.

That was truly a noble way of living.

But that cornered him into a loneliness that was really hopeless.

Against that reality, Sumika hung her head down and just bit her lips. But―

“Besides, you know. ―Because it seems there is someone who understands about me at my side. Just that is enough. Being something like a hero liked by fellows all over the world, something gross like that just ain’t for me.”

“…!”

Sumika gasped in surprise and rasied her face from those next words of Homura.

Those were the words that Sumika herself said to Homura after that matter with Alfaro this afternoon.

(……What an unfair person.)

She couldn’t say any complaint anymore with her words brought up like that.

That was why Sumika,

“That’s right! I properly understood so, please don’t get conceited that you are being hated by everyone or anything-!”

She hollered at Homura while tears of frustration were gathering at the corners of her eyes.

And then she faced aside sulkily with a huff.

That was also Sumika’s way to express her intention in her own style that she wouldn’t complain anymore no matter whatever was Homura’s decision.

Then, the moment when the talk ended like that―

“It seems that the talk has been concluded before my arrival.”

Along with a withered voice, the door of the board chairman’s room was opened with a creaking sound.

The one who stood there was an aged body like a dead tree with a long white beard growing out on his face.

―One of the <Five Great Leaders>, Innocentius XVII.