The pursuit force picked up their speed. Running among them, Berta felt thoroughly bitter. The visitors around her all had stiff expressions. Their apparent discomfort was born of Berta’s master, Kudou Riku, having made contact with Jinguuji Tomoya’s group.
Until this point, the two groups had been aiming for the Dimensional Cornerstones separately. However, if they were now working together, it was questionable whether they had the upper hand in battle even with the power of the pursuit force on their side. With such apprehensions in mind, tension ran through the air.
That said, there were some who had reacted a little differently. Berta turned one of her heads back to check on Majima Takahiro. His features were no less troubled. She could tell right away what he was thinking. Majima Takahiro had been intent on persuading Kudou Riku. Having somehow formed a cooperative relationship, and considering the way those two boys saw each other, it definitely hadn’t been a poor bet to make. However, if Kudou Riku was joining hands with Jinguuji Tomoya, persuading him would be far more difficult. Majima Takahiro was brooding over that.
“Got a second, Berta?” he asked, suddenly returning her gaze and throwing off her stride a little.
“What?”
“I want to hear your opinion,” he said, his tone sincere to the end. “What do you think Kudou is planning?”
“That’s...” The reason she hesitated to speak was because she hadn’t expected to be asked this. “Are you sure? My opinion isn’t worth much.”
“You mean, since you’re the Demon King’s servant, you might feed us bad information on purpose to help him?”
Berta nodded, and Majima Takahiro’s stiff expression loosened somewhat. He smiled at her warmly.
“You’re not the type to say such irresponsible things,” he said. “For Kudou’s sake, and for ours, you just aren’t. I understand that much... What’s wrong?”
Realizing she was being a little slow to respond, Berta simply said, “Nothing.”
In truth, it was nothing serious. She was simply marveling at how naturally he treated her as a companion. As she was now, she was capable of accepting that fact. Maybe that was why a thought naturally came to mind.
“That’s a relief. I didn’t think you fit in as the Demon King’s servant.”
When Berta was under the impression that she was a complete failure, that was what Iino Yuna had told her.
“I mean, Kudou Riku isn’t suitable to be your master.
“Majima’s a hateful guy, but he treats his companions dearly. I think this is a suitable place for you. I’m sure you’ll be able to find happiness with them.”
Who was unsuitable for whom? It was all a matter of perspective. That was what she’d come to realize at the time. It wasn’t an absolute fact. Thus, she wanted her king to choose his own path—even if just a little. Just maybe, that could lead to his salvation. Something had happened to give her hope in that regard too.
“Fight at full strength, Berta.
“From here on out, shed that false form and bring out everything you have.”
This was what he’d told her during the fight against Edgar. Back then, Kudou Riku had approved of the form he’d forbidden her from using. It made her think that something had changed.
But had it, really? She was losing confidence. In truth, he was still keeping her at a distance. The signs she’d sensed at the time felt so far away now. Maybe her king really didn’t understand her feelings. Her hopes had been so fleeting.
Could the warmth she felt here truly exist with her liege? After all, he was the Demon King, sworn to destroy the world. That said, whether he had any shared interests with Jinguuji Tomoya’s group, who were also trying to destroy the world, was an entirely different matter.
“You asked what my king’s intentions are,” Berta said, sighing as she answered Majima Takahiro’s question. “In my opinion, he...”