Beast Tamer Who Got Kicked Out From the Hero’s Party Chapter 162 Part 2

CHAPTER 162 PART 2

The entire tent was buzzing when we spoke of that tremendously outrageous ability.

Although some Adventurers and Knights were skeptical to hear it, saying that something like this was downright impossible……

Ax and Cell are both A Rank Adventurers.

And I’m called the ‘Hero of Horizon’, for whatever that is actually worth.

So Stella silenced everyone at once, saying that there was no way that we were going to lie to everyone or misinterpret our opponent’s abilities like that.

The Adventurers and Knights who told us that we were lying were probably very upset upon hearing revelations like that.

But after Stella’s intervention, they instantly calmed down and became convinced of our story.

Right after that……

The next thing on our agenda was to discuss what the Strike Team was about to do in the near future.

「Well then, let’s talk about what we are going to be doing from now on…… But first, there is a certain decision from the higher-ups that needs to be passed down to you, guys. The Investigation Team is to suspend all of its activities, effective immediately. You are expected to join the Strike Team post-haste.」

「Hmm? Wait, what is that even supposed to mean?」

To Ax’s sudden question, Stella hurried with an explanation, as if she expected that someone was going to wander about that.

「The Devil’s power is way too dangerous for it to be left alone and unattended to. Even if you succeed in sealing it, there is a fear that it will be freed once again in the future, like it did this time around. So the higher-ups have come to the conclusion that we must defeat the Devil right here and right now, to avoid having the future generations having to deal with that problem.」

「Oh, I see…… Well, I mean, it’s not all that hard to see where a decision like that would come from in the first place.」

I knew it was going to become like this.

I knew that something like that was coming, but still, to hear that decision being made and enforced like that, that’s not good for us.

「I’m planning to have you guys join with the other squads here. And once our two teams merge, we are going to utilize our full combined strength in order to defeat the Devil once and for all.」

「Is that really such a good idea? I mean, if we end up concentrating all of our forces on the offensive like this, won’t that leave us with nothing in terms of defense?」

「Oh my, Ax actually managed to construct a sound opinion for once…… Are you sure that you are not some sort of impostor?」

「Why would you even suggest that!?」

Ax and Cell were once more right in the middle of performing their comedy routine.

After all, these two might be best of friends and companions, even though you wouldn’t be able to tell judging by those interactions alone.

Stella then replied with a wry smile on her face.

「I am well aware of that face.」

「So then, why would you even propose such a thing?」
「The more we spread out our forces, the less likely we are to be able to defeat the Devil in direct combat. Or rather, if we don’t challenge it with the maximum strength that we have, we are going to be destroyed, just like the previous Strike Team. Leaving only the minimum number of guards and searchers here, the main body will wait here. And once the searchers manage to find the Devil and convey its location to us, we will rush towards it as soon as possible and bring it to a decisive battle in one fell swoop……. That’s the gist of it.」

「But…… This is just……」

「It’s so haphazard, it’s not even worthy of being called a real strategy.」

「Yes, do realize that. But even if we divide our forces, and manage to do it poorly, the only thing that awaits each of those teams is going to be certain annihilation. And hearing your and Rein’s testimonies about the Devil’s power just now, I am even more inclined to believe that this is the only result that awaits us should that happen. I wish that there would be some other way, but unfortunately, we are pretty much out of options at this point in time.」

「Well, I mean, you are right on that front.」

「……If this strategy is something that the higher-ups came to accept, then I see no reason to doubt that myself.」

Ax and Cell seemed to have their own opinion on the subject at hand, but for the time being they seemed to have agreed with Stella’s words.」

Stella then looked at me.

“Is there a problem there?” Her eyes seemed to be asking me that question.

To which I said……

「…… I’m sorry.」

「What?」

「I’m sorry, but we can’t work together with you guys under those conditions.」

Stella seemed really surprised by my statement just now, which meant that I would have to make my intentions perfectly clear.

「…… What is that supposed to mean?」’

Stella was surprised at first, but she quickly came back to her senses and turned her strong gaze towards me.

It was a questioning, demanding gaze.

I didn’t expect that Stella would ever be looking at me like this, but I couldn’t back down here.

Even though it would pain me to do this……

But still, I needed to make my intentions here known.

No…… No, that’s not right.

Those were no longer “my” intentions alone. Those were “our” intentions right now.

「We are going to continue to look for a way to seal Iris away.」

「I thought I said that the option of sealing her away is off the table now?」

「Yes, I am well aware of that.」

「If we seal the Devil away, it might come back one day. It’s just a postponement of the inevitable problem at this point. Rein, surely you of all people realize that, right?」

「Yes, I do, but at the same time, I don’t.」

「Hmm?」

「I refuse to believe that no matter the situation, killing is our only viable option.」

It would be difficult to convince Stella, who didn’t know about Iris’s past, that she was a good person deep down inside of her heart.

No, that’s not it.

Even if she knew about Iris’s past, she might still not be convinced by it.

At worst, we might be ending up making an enemy of Stella here.

But still.

I have decided to do what I think is the right thing to do.

「Rein……」

Kanade, standing right next to me, gently squeezed my hand.

There’s nothing wrong with what you are trying to do.

You have my full support.

If we were to receive Stella’s blessing here, it would warm up my heart tremendously.

「…… Alright. I understand.」

After a moment of awkward silence, Stella gave us a small nod of affirmation.

Her face was smiling…… And it was that kind of smile as if she was trying to say here that she had no other choice but to agree and that it couldn’t possibly be helped.

「Alright then, Rein and company. For the time being you can act as you did before, being the members of the Investigation Team. Don’t worry about the formalities and bureaucracy, I will take it upon myself to deal with it.」

「Thank you very much. That would be a huge help for us, I’m not going to lie.」

「Don’t mention it. After all, you guys have helped me so much with all those messes back at Horizon. So now is my turn to help you guys out. But that being said, I don’t really think that doing something like this is going to be enough for me to be able to pay off that debt. But at the very least, it’s going to be a nice start.」

「Yes, of course. That’s more than good enough for us.」

Both Stella and I smiled widely at each other.