Father looked over at me. “Motoyasu and Yuki, I have something I want to talk to you about really quick.”
Father took us aside to give us a serious lecture. In short, he gave us a passionate speech about how he was not in fact the type to get dominated in bed but took the lead in romantic situations. Of course, only toward someone who he had feelings for and with appropriate consent.
And in the end, we enjoyed a pleasant rest of the day.
The next day, we were waiting for the wave of destruction.
“We’ve stockpiled a good amount of medicine and made sound preparations,” Father muttered, fiddling with a bag of tools. “I know we have. But still, I can’t help but feel nervous.”
“Big Bro, you’re such a worrywart!” Keel said, patting Father with her paws. “In the last wave all I could do was run, but with how strong we are now, it’ll be no problem!”
“I won’t fail you, Naofumi,” Sakura said. She was practicing being able to draw her sword as fast as she could.
And as for me? I had been through the first Melromarc wave before, I say. I didn’t feel nervous at all. Even the first time I had launched straight into the challenge, charging toward the fissure to start my first real fight. I had been excited to go straight to the boss, I say.
If I remembered correctly, Father helped evacuate civilians. He was focused on making sure that innocent people didn’t get in the way of the fight.
It would be helpful to have a bigger force this time, but right now we simply didn’t have many allies who would actually cooperate with us. And I couldn’t predict how things would change in the future if we did.
“Father, what would you have me do?” I inquired. “If so desired, I could immediately destroy the entire horde.”
“Hmm.” Father scratched his head. “But wouldn’t that reveal how powerful you are and potentially ruin our future plans?”
“You’re not wrong. In that case, I’ll restrain myself. Ren and Itsuki will also be at the wave this time, so it should be easy. Even if I do nothing, we’ll handily win.”
“Yes, that’s true. But it would still be terrible to let people die just so we could avoid getting caught up in some scheme or another.”
Upon witnessing Father’s benevolence, I, Motoyasu Kitamura, burst into raging tears.
“Huh? Motoyasu—what’s wrong? Did I say something weird? Why are you bowing to me?”
“Oink oink,” muttered Lazy Pig.
“Because he loves me?” Father shook his head. “On the flip side, why don’t you show just an ounce of energy, Elena?”
“Oink oink.”
“Too much of a pain, I guess. Well, enthusiasm is the key to victory, so I need you to give me some!”
“Oink.”
Lazy Pig shrugged and gave a small nod.
I wasn’t sure if she was saying that she could or couldn’t give any enthusiasm. Either way, I never expected much from her in the first place.
“Motoyasu, what would you have me and Kou do?” Yuki asked me.
“Simply whatever Father tells you to, I say.”
“Understood!”
Following Father’s orders would ensure everything went as smooth as possible. The first go-around was ample evidence of that. With his peerless skill and wisdom, a better future was practically guaranteed.
“In that case, by what Motoyasu says, it should appear near Riyute village. So let’s prioritize evacuating the villagers. Motoyasu, you can help too. At the very least, we can minimize the casualties.”
“The same strategy you used in the first go-around,” I said.
“I guess,” Father said. “But since we have your strength, Motoyasu, once we finish evacuating everyone, head straight to the boss. Just make sure to hide your true power as much as you can.”
“That I shall, Father!”
Before, I had rushed headlong into the fight, but this time I would prioritize saving lives, I say! I could feel strength bubbling up inside of me.
“I can’t wait!” Kou said. “Are the wave monsters tasty?”
“Who knows?” Father said. “I do want to make sure we get the materials from the boss. They seem like they’ll be high quality.”
“In the process of defeating the boss, some of the materials got scattered and left behind,” I said. “However, I think you should be able to find them all with your shield.”
“I think we’ll have that area to ourselves away from Ren and Itsuki, so let’s get everything we can,” Father said. “But if the materials are too big, we might not have a place to store them . . .” He trailed off.
“We should just bring them to the old guy,” I suggested.
“Oh, good idea,” Father said. “Although we’re almost out of money, he should be able to use the bones and stuff for new weapons.”
“The day after the wave, Trash gave us what he called ‘support funds,’” I said. “Not to you, of course.”
Father shrugged with a frown. It had been a move to drive Father away from us, after all.
But what an idiotic king he was, to drive away Father of all people, who was far more powerful and useful than Ren or Itsuki.
I couldn’t wait to put an end to that king of fools, I say!
“Still, after the next wave of destruction, the Queen of Melromarc should come back and give you your money as well. So just be patient, Father!”
“I know. I get it. So long as I can get the money in the end, it’ll be fine. Plus, we can always get money from Siltvelt.”
“You’re already wanted for questioning. Do whatever you want. We only have to hold on for a little more,” I said.
I thought back and remembered fighting a really odd enemy at this wave.
“I know, I know,” Father said. “When I think about the king and that princess as just being pathetic, it makes it easy to take it.”
“That will have to do. I do believe it’s almost time for the wave, I say.”
Then I remembered something else from the first go-around. When I had been so foolish as to blame Father . . .
I wondered what exactly Father had felt the first time he faced a wave. It only made sense that he would come to resent the world. I had felt the same way when the Crimson Swine eventually betrayed me as well.
And Filo-tan . . . wherever could you be?
If I could just find you once again, I could come to love this world again!
Back early in the first go-around, Father didn’t have a single person he could trust. So perhaps it was Big Sis who became the first person to actually reach out and help him.
Big Sis, am I doing a good job helping Father now?
Now that I had started thinking about it, I couldn’t help but wonder where Father had met Big Sis in the first place. It seemed like we were at risk of not finding her at all. I felt like I remembered something about her ending up as a slave, but I just couldn’t remember the details. I didn’t remember seeing her anywhere when we went to buy Keel.
Well, whatever. I was sure she was safe and happy somewhere or other. A healthy, strong, and chivalrous individual such as herself would have no problem getting by.
I also recalled that once things had calmed down in Melromarc in the first go-around, Father had attempted to restore the village. I figured we ought to shoot for a similar outcome. I felt confident I could support Father enough for the both of us—Big Sis and myself!
“All right, it’s time,” Father said.
00:01
“Remember, try to make sure there are no casualties,” Father said. “Our actions here will help us succeed down the line.”
“You can count on me, Big Bro!” Keel said. “I’m going to make up for all the times you protected me before!”
Sakura, Yuki, and Kou all chimed in enthusiastically. Even Lazy Pig seemed to oink miserably about trying her best.
“All right, Motoyasu, cheer us on,” Father said.
“Absolutely,” I declared. “You’ve all become so much stronger in preparation for this day. Let’s all fight our hardest to create a better future!”
Everyone shouted in agreement just as the clock hit zero, and the first wave of destruction in this round officially began.