Editing Shinmai Maou no Keiyakusha:Volume 7 Chapter 2 (section)

===Part 2===

After Leohart and Belphegor left.

While Basara and the others followed the lead of Balthier, they continued to advance through the corridor that seemed much longer than it looked. A path to the side opened up, and it lead outside to a large courtyard with a fountain and fruit trees.

“—This way please.”

Balthier then exited the corridor, and stepped into the courtyard. It seemed to be a patio. Everyone marvelled at the size of Lundvall Castle which was next to the courtyard as they followed Balthier ahead. After a short while, they stopped at a building that appeared to be built of stone; there was someone leaning against a stone pillar, quietly waiting for them. It was the youth who had appeared in Wildart city a few days ago to notify them that Leohart had an invitation for them — Takigawa Yahiro. A smile was painted on his face as he lightly waved his hand and said

“Hey, Basacchi, you came rather early…don’t you feel like it’s a bit too hasty?”

“Takigawa…”

Basara’s face tensed up upon seeing him. —Basara and Takigawa had forged a secret cooperative relationship, and that had even killed someone together in the past. But now, Basara wasn’t sure if that was still in effect. Before — Takigawa had invaded Wildart city, gotten past the prison guards, and rescued the high-class demon Gardo that the Moderates Faction had captured; Basara and the others were unable to fight back, and could only watch him succeed. Takigawa was a spy who was sent into the Current Demon Lord Faction by the Moderates Faction. Based on his position, it was possible to imagine that there were often times when he would have to obey the orders of both sides. At the time, Takigawa was also playing the role of a messenger, and had told them about the battle format that would occur in this showdown against Leohart. Decisive battle, it meant that this could very well be the last battle between the Moderates Faction and the Current Demon Lord Faction. If Takigawa stood on the side of the Moderates Faction, he wouldn’t have brought Gardo back to the Current Demon Lord Faction since it caused so much trouble; it would have been better if he returned to the Moderates Faction after he completed his undercover mission. However, Takigawa did not do that. After rescuing Gardo, Ramsas and the other high-ranking members of the Moderates Faction had not yet told Takigawa to end his undercover mission, but he no longer sent them any periodic reports, and he was even uncontactable.

''…Does he plan on being undercover on his own until the very end?''

So, what was his intention right now by being in contact with Leohart’s aide Balthier? Unable to guess what Takigawa’s true intentions were, Basara remained silent for a moment, while he maintained an air of caution; finally, it was Balthier who spoke for him, using an accusatory tone

“Lars…didn’t I tell you not to be in contact with the guests from the Moderates Faction as much as possible?”

He then sighed.

“Even if you are a comrade in the Great War, your position is still very delicate…if you continue to play this double-spy game, it will make things very difficult.”

“!——”

As soon as they heard Balthier say that, their expressions changed from being tense to serious. If he was saying that, then it meant that he was fully aware that Takigawa was a spy sent to them by the Moderates Faction. However, Balthier’s words did not end there.

“Don’t forget…you’ve been hiding it from us and the Moderates Faction, the person that you secretly teamed up with to finish off Zolgear.”

What he went on to say was what Basara and Takigawa had done, the greatest secret that they accomplished together.

“Moreover…didn’t you let him see you take Zolgear’s last breath?”

[——!]

“………”

Upon finding out about the truth, Mio and the others stared in amazement, but Basara was currently unable to answer to them right now. Until now, Basara had not given them an explanation; but right now, Balthier knew about Basara and Takigawa’s cooperation, that was the bigger problem. Since he knew, it probably meant that Leohart also knew. Even though they knew this…no, it may have been because of this that they truly accepted Takigawa, and allowed him to stay in the stronghold of the Current Demon Lord Faction—

“In this battle, I will also need you to represent our side, so please recognise your own position as soon as possible.”

While Basara was considering such possibilities, Balthier finally said the words that determined the current situation. In response, Takigawa shrugged and reluctantly said

“I know that…but I was originally staying here, and it was you who brought them over, so how could you say that I contacted them?”

“Didn’t I tell you beforehand that their accommodation arrangements would be here? It’s not that you didn’t know, and coming around here makes it quite easy to arouse suspicion, you know?”

Balthier said, as if it were troublesome. Seeing the two of them speaking like old friends, the serious expressions of Mio and the others did not change.

“…………”

Only one person allowed their eyes to cool until their eyes became ice cold, and that was Basara.

''—Takigawa may not necessarily have joined the Current Demon Lord Faction.''

If that was the case, then there wasn’t a need for him to meet Basara and the others like this. Moreover, doing such things in front of Balthier would only increase his risk of being suspected, so it didn’t make sense. However, there was no way to guarantee whether or not he had betrayed them yet. The one who killed Zolgear for revenge was Takigawa Yahiro — the biggest goal for the one named Lars. The problem was that…if Wilbert didn’t send people whom Lars regarded as brothers and sisters to act as Mio’s foster parents, he also wouldn’t have had to seek such revenge.

It could be interpreted that the Moderates Faction caused the people that were important to Takigawa to die.

''…Noelle asked me to take care of that guy, so what now?''

Noelle and Takigawa had grown up in the same orphanage ever since they were young, and she still trusted Takigawa to this day. ‘Lars definitely has his own reasons!’ ‘So please, I beg you to bring him back alive!’ she had pleaded sorrowfully to Basara. Basara could understand her feelings, and he wanted to continue his cooperative relationship with Takigawa himself. Regardless of whether it was an emotional…or strategic consideration. However, unstable factors could not be used as an indicator; otherwise one would end up in a dead end with regret, in an unavoidable situation.

''…Perhaps.''

When Mio’s parents were killed, Takigawa’s loyalty and sense of belonging to the Moderates Faction also disappeared…until he completed his revenge against Zolgear, he saw hope in the future that his former comrade Leohart pursued, so he chose to leave the Moderates Faction that indirectly caused the people that he loved to be killed. While Basara was trying to imagine what Takigawa was thinging—

“I’m sorry, I knew the location was here, but the arrival time kept fluctuating…so considering security issues, the shorter these Moderates Faction people stay in this city, the better. Although they’re already here, I thought that they would arrive tomorrow at the soonest, so I’m sorry.”

After Takigawa apologised to Balthier as if surrendering, he finally directed his eyes towards Basara and the others.

“So, that’s how it is…please be lenient in the battle the day after tomorrow everyone.”

After saying that, Takigawa turned around to leave, while Basara and the others could only silently watch him leave. Since Takigawa was on the enemy’s side, it was going to become more difficult.

''If asked whether I could relax against such powerful enemies, then I’m afraid the answer would be a definite no.''