Chapter 233 – To Meet an S-Rank

“…How about we try to make contact once?” (Bouchi)
“What? Contact… Don’t tell me you mean with the Tree of Gluttony?!” (Izu)
“Yeah. Is that not okay?” (Bouchi)
“It’s dangerous! This is an existence that only thinks of humans as nutrition! If something happens to Master, what would we even do from now on?!” (Izu)
“Don’t worry. If I think it’s dangerous, I’ll run away immediately.” (Bouchi)
“T-Then at least use a [Copy Doll]! That way, even if you get attacked, you’ll still be safe!” (Izu)
“No, they’ll probably see right through it. This is an S-Rank we’re up against, so it’d probably be better not to do anything like that.” (Bouchi)
I wanted to avoid incurring its wrath by making it think that I was trying to deceive it. I didn’t want to do anything that could be considered hostile, at least not yet.

“B-But…” (Izu)
“I understand your concern, Izu. But a guy like the Tree of Gluttony should at least be capable of communication. Well, I don’t know if it’ll listen to me or not.” (Bouchi)
“I still can’t recommend it! The others would most likely advise against it too!” (Izu)

I knew that they were worried about my safety. It really made me happy.

But at this point, where we couldn’t even come up with a measure against this, I felt that it was a good starting point to speak with the Tree of Gluttony.

If it was an existence that was even slightly capable of considering and accepting my proposal, it might be possible for me to protect the island. Well, even then, I might have to give up the city where I used to live.

“Please reconsider, Master. Shiki-dono, Kaza-dono, please stop Master!” (Izu)
“Hmm… But his mind is made up. No matter what we say now, it will be pointless.” (Shiki)
“It is better to be reckless in youth. With Shiki-dono and I by his side, we can at least allow our lord to escape.” (Kaza)
“You two…?! ……..Sigh.” (Izu)
“So Izu, it’ll be fine. Even if I die, I still have the [Respawn Tag].” (Bouchi)
Of course, I was afraid of dying, but I was even more scared of getting Shiki and the others caught up in it and dying. But I still thought that this method was worth a try.

“That may be so, but… Do you still insist on making contact?” (Izu)
I firmly told her that I was indeed insisting.

“I understand. Then I will support you with all the knowledge I possess.” (Izu)
“Yeah, thank you. That’s what I love about you, Izu.” (Bouchi)
“L-L-Love?!! Aaaah, Master, what is this all of a sudden?! This sudden confession…! Ah, no, of course, I’m happy, and I couldn’t be happier! It’s as if we’re already engaged! Yes, yes, let’s have a wedding ceremony when you return safely!” (Izu)
Somehow, Izu seemed to have misunderstood and was now running completely off the tracks. What do I even do about this…?

“W-Well, anyway. I’m going to make contact as soon as possible.” (Bouchi)
After cutting off the telepathic link with Izu, I let out a long sigh.

“Milord, would you be heading there now?” (Shiki)
“Let’s see… I’ll try to make contact tonight.” (Bouchi)
If it was nighttime, it wouldn’t be able to see much from the surroundings. Until then, I just had to make sure I was prepared for anything that might happen.

I was a bit scared, but I couldn’t just run away.

It wasn’t something I could just leave alone. I needed to come up with some measure against it, and this appeared to be a critical moment.

As I thought to myself that an S-Rank monster was a real nuisance, I started to go about making preparations.

—

It was late at night, around 1 o’ clock.

Under the darkness of night, I was flying towards the jungle on the [Jet Book].

Shiki and Kaza were also present as my bodyguards. Sol had also wanted to go, but if we were to engage in battle, she might be killed instantly, so I ordered her to stay on standby.

Likewise, Yofel also talked big, saying that she would be able to protect me, but her strength was lacking too. In the end, it was decided that she would stay behind with the weeping Sol.

At the moment, I was in my original form as Bouchi Hiro. I decided that it would be better to be my true self when meeting with an S-Rank, since attempting to deceive it might only end up provoking it instead.

“Shiki, Kaza. If a fight breaks out, the two of you should withdraw immediately.” (Bouchi)
“Milord, if that happens, then what are we even here for?” (Shiki)

“Well, we are here to protect the lord, no?” (Kaza)
“Didn’t I tell you that this [Respawn Tag] only works on humans? I can come back to life even if I die, but you guys can’t. That’s why.” (Bouchi)
If the two of them immediately made the choice to run for their lives, they might barely be able to survive.

“Mmm… But…” (Shiki)
“I cannot agree with abandoning our lord, who should be protected. As a samurai, this is simply unspeakable.” (Kaza)
“That kind of behavior is also against this one’s shinobi way.” (Shiki)
The two of them were stubborn, especially when it came to my life.

“No. This is an order. Your existences are necessary to me now and in the future. I can’t afford to lose you two here. You must survive at all costs. Understood?” (Bouchi)
““….As you command.””
They looked reluctant, but since it was an order, they had no choice but to nod their heads and agree.

“…Now then, here we go. It’s time.” (Bouchi)
At that moment, a giant tree came into view.