Chapter 19: Make Momoko-chan My Manager
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The day of the negotiations finally arrived.
Kazuma received a call from the contact number he’d been given and told Ivy to send someone to pick them up.
He also informed them that there would be three people on their side.
“Mom and Sis are both in suits, but doesn’t it look a bit off that I’m the only one dressed differently?”
This time, Kazuma was the main one negotiating with the government, but he didn’t possess the skills to negotiate properly with politicians.
Therefore, Honoka and Nanami had come along under the pretext of supporting Kazuma.
The two of them were dressed in recruitment suits, looking like highly capable career women.
In contrast, Kazuma was dressed casually as usual, in a winter coat and jeans.
He was also stylishly wearing a scarf, but because of the two women beside him, he looked completely out of place.
“Mom, you really have a great figure.”
“Fufu, it’s the result of my daily efforts.”
“Kuu~, you’re what they call a ‘bimajo,’ aren’t you~! I’m so jealous! As for me, I’ve been putting on some weight lately.”
“Eh, Sis, you’re beautiful too. In fact, from a guy’s perspective, I prefer someone a bit more voluptuous.”
“Guys usually say that, but our way of thinking is different. Still, thanks for the compliment.”
“That’s right. Men and women think differently.”
“Hmm… It’s a difficult thing.”
“It’s better not to try to understand. Just thinking about it is pointless, pointless.”
Saying this, Nanami, being a woman herself and understanding just how troublesome and unreasonable women could be, waved her hand in exasperation.
“By the way, changing the subject, Kazuma, isn’t there anyone you like?”
“I like any girl who likes me and doesn’t try to kill me.”
“You, just what kind of life have you led…?”
Nanami was completely put off by her younger brother’s outrageous statement.
“I heard about your time in the other world, but does it really warp your values that much?”
“Well, the value of life was much lower there than here, and views on romance were different too. That world was on the verge of being dominated by the Demon Lord, after all.”
“Uhii~, sounds intense.”
“In that case, weren’t you popular with girls over there, Kazuma? You’re a Hero, right? Weren’t you in high demand?”
“The Demon Lord’s army sent spies to the human side to try and kill me. I was instigated, caught in a Honey Trap, and poisoned to death.”
“Eh! You mean, you were actually killed!?”
“That’s right, Sis. I died many times over there. Well, each time, a Holy Maiden revived me, though.”
“The other world is amazing, isn’t it.”
They were surprised that Kazuma had been killed, but even more so, the two of them were impressed by the other world’s magic that could bring a dead person back to life.
“But Kazuma, you saved the world, right? So, wasn’t there any talk of marrying a princess or something?”
“That’s right. That sort of thing is a classic trope.”
“There wasn’t. Or rather, it seemed like they wanted me to leave, so they told me I could return to my original world.”
“Hmm, so you chose to return.”
“Well, yeah. The other world wasn’t bad, but this one is more convenient, and my family is here. Besides, since I defeated the Demon Lord, a Hero isn’t needed anymore, right?”
“That’s certainly true, but did you have no lingering attachments to that world?”
Honoka, who knew Kazuma well, sensed that he must have had irreplaceable friends in the other world too.
“…To be honest, there’s a part of me that didn’t want to leave. They were precious friends, mentors, and dear comrades with whom I entrusted my back and raced through deadly battlefields.”
Kazuma showed a slightly lonely expression.
Seeing the melancholic Kazuma, Nanami was at a loss for what to say.
She hadn’t had the same kind of experiences as Kazuma.
Therefore, she didn’t know what to say to him.
However, Honoka was different.
She was formerly of the National Defense Force and had lost a loved one in battle.
Honoka, who understood Kazuma’s feelings a little, approached him and gently placed her hand on his head.
“There’s no such thing as a choice you won’t regret. But I’ll help lessen your burden. I’m happy that you came back.”
“…Yeah. Thanks, Mom.”
Feeling just a little lighter, Kazuma closed his eyes, looked back on his past, and chuckled, thinking that he really didn’t have many decent memories.
Not long after that, Tsukimi appeared before Kazuma and the others.
It seemed she was the one who had come to pick them up.
Kazuma greeted Tsukimi, whom he had met before, and got into the limousine she had arrived in.
“This is my first time in a limousine! This is amazing, Kazuma!”
“Hmph, Sis. I’m a VIP, you know~”
“Oooh! Should I bow down and go ‘Yes, my lord’?”
“Lick my shoes!”
“Would a kiss on the cheek not suffice?”
“If you give me lots, then it’s fine!”
Despite Tsukimi being there, the two of them were acting with their usual playful banter.
She watched them quietly, but inwardly, she was confused.
“(Eh, eh, eh? If I recall correctly, she’s Kuga Nanami. Satsuki Kazuma’s stepsister, right? Are they always that close? Is that normal?)”
To Kazuma and Nanami, it was normal, but to an ordinary person, it was a bit strange.
Although they grew up in the same facility, the two were unrelated strangers by blood.
However, they were bound by a bond deeper and stronger than blood.
This was thanks to being raised robustly by Honoka, who was their educator, guardian, and foster mother.
They were two who had walked together, cooperating under the banner of “Overthrow Honoka,” sometimes betraying each other, and always moving forward together.
“You two, stop fooling around. You’re troubling Ayashiro-san, aren’t you?”
“That’s right, Sis! You’re an adult now, so act with some common sense!”
“Just like my little brother. You’re just like me in how quickly you change your tune.”
“No doubt about it…”
“(Have they forgotten I’m here…?)”
While they were doing that, it seemed they had arrived at their destination, and the limousine stopped.
Kazuma and the others got out of the limousine and looked up at the traditional Japanese restaurant before them.
It was a luxurious ryotei that commoners would rarely see, but the three of them, who had sensibilities slightly different from ordinary people, entered without any particular agitation, following Tsukimi’s guidance.
The three of them were led to a room in the back, and they were startled to see Ema waiting for them, prostrating himself in a spacious Japanese-style room.
“Welcome, we are honored by your presence, Crimson Knight-dono. Or would it be more appropriate to call you Satsuki Kazuma-sama?”
As Ema raised his face, Kazuma couldn’t help but flinch.
He hadn’t expected to receive such a grand welcome.
Kazuma had expected an arrogant old man waiting to sneer at them, so he was surprised by Ema’s demeanor.
“Ah, uh, um, for now, could you please stop with the dogeza?”
“Understood.”
Correcting his posture, Ema looked at Kazuma while still sitting in seiza.
Kazuma, being stared at with such a sincere gaze, felt his back somehow itch and plopped down cross-legged in front of Ema.
“No need for self-introductions, right?”
“Yes. As I am already aware of who you are.”
“Ah… Can’t you do something about that stiff way of talking?”
“However, to be rude to Satsuki Kazuma-sama, the Crimson Knight who saved Japan…”
“Nah, it’s a bit late for that after all the surveillance and wiretapping. Let’s go for a more casual way of talking. Also, I’m hungry.”
“U-Underst— Ahem! Understood. If you say so, I’ll speak as I normally do. Tsukimi-kun, please tell them to bring in the food.”
“Certainly.”
After a brief exchange of words, it was time for lunch.
Faced with the lavish dishes that were brought in, Kazuma’s eyes sparkled as he glanced at Ema.
Ema understood the meaning of his gaze and gestured for Kazuma to go ahead.
“Alright, Mom, Sis. We’ve got permission, so let’s eat!”
“””Itadakimasu.”””
Honoka and Nanami ate with elegant movements, observing proper manners, but Kazuma ate heartily.
Manners be damned.
As if to show that eating as one pleased was best, Kazuma wolfed down the food before him with relish.
Kazuma, who finished eating first, rubbed his full stomach and smiled contentedly.
A little later, Honoka, Nanami, Ema, and Tsukimi finished eating.
The dishes were cleared away, and only tea remained.
Kazuma drank the tea prepared on the table and moved on to the main topic.
“Well, now that our stomachs are full, shall we get down to business?”
At last, the negotiations with Kazuma, the Crimson Knight, were about to begin.
Ema gulped nervously and braced himself.
“First, from my side…”
Kazuma glanced towards Nanami, who had at some point moved to stand diagonally behind him, and she took out some documents from the bag she had brought.
Kazuma received the documents from Nanami and handed them directly to Ema.
Ema looked at Kazuma, wondering if it was alright not to check the contents, but Kazuma was drinking his tea, acting as if it had nothing to do with him.
“(…Just as Shinonome-kun’s report stated. He himself said he lacked political acumen. So, he likely entrusted it to someone else. A wise choice.)”
Ema averted his gaze from Kazuma and began to look through the documents he’d been handed.
As he flipped through them, page by page, Ema found himself at a loss for words once he’d read them all.
“(Huh? Is this content really acceptable? Support for children nationwide, aid to orphanages… or rather, most of this is just the kind of platitudes politicians trot out during elections. Don’t tell me, all we have to do is make these a reality?)”
What Nanami had compiled in the documents were the pretty promises politicians often made during their campaigns.
She had merely appealed to the politicians as a citizen of Japan.
She had no intention of using this as an opportunity to overthrow or dominate Japan.
It was purely the result of her wish for Japan to become a better place for the children of the future.
“…Are the contents of these documents your demands, without a doubt?”
“No doubt! Oh, what does it say about me?”
“Enlistment into the National Defense Force as the Crimson Knight. However, you are to be assigned to special duties only during emergencies.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“In other words, while you’ll be part of the National Defense Force, your daily life will be no different from that of a student; you can carry on as usual. However, in the event of large-scale terrorism or disasters, like the recent one, you will be dispatched.”
“What about after I graduate?”
“Personally, I would like you to enlist in the National Defense Force full-time, but the documents state that your personal choice will be respected.”
“So, I’m basically free to live as I have been?”
“That’s correct.”
These were not unfavorable conditions for either party.
Kazuma could lead the peaceful daily life he desired, and the government could request the Crimson Knight’s deployment in times of crisis.
“Is there anything else?”
“There’s also a clause about non-interference with you. I take it this means no surveillance or eavesdropping.”
“Hoho…”
“Then, there are mentions of your family, friends, and acquaintances. The content is largely similar, but essentially, it means no unnecessary involvement.”
“I see. Well, that’s just as it says. By the way, there’s something I’d like to ask~”
Kazuma suddenly began rubbing his hands together ingratiatingly, a sleazy smile spreading across his face.
Ema tensed up upon seeing this, but he quickly realized it was pointless.
“What about things like… a salary?”
“…R-right. That matter isn’t detailed in the documents, so if you have any requests, let’s hear them. We’ll try to grant your wishes as much as possible.”
Caught off guard, Ema managed a dry smile and conveyed that he would accept Kazuma’s demands.
Kazuma didn’t exactly jump for joy at the favorable response, but he was as delighted as a child who had received a new toy.
“Eh, seriously?! So, like, a hundred million yen a month would be okay?”
“Rather, is that all you require?”
“Eh!?”
“Let me be frank. We are prepared to allocate a portion of the national budget to you.”
“Fah!?”
Hearing the words “national budget,” Kazuma, unable to make a quick calculation, felt his head spin.
Having considered even a hundred million a month to be an extraordinary sum, the term “national budget” was too overwhelming for him.
“Th-then, umm… how about a billion or so?”
“Are you truly content with that?”
“Eh, eh, eh?”
“I’ve heard about you from Shinonome-kun. You can read an opponent’s thought processes, can’t you?”
“Ah, well, to a certain extent.”
“In that case, there’s no point in hiding anything, so I’ll tell you everything. Do you know how much damage the world suffered from the recent Ibinom assault?”
“I only caught a glimpse of it on the news. Something about over fifty million casualties, including dead and injured…”
“Of those, Japan had fewer than ten thousand. Globally speaking, this is an abnormal figure.”
“I-is that so.”
Kazuma said it as if it concerned someone else, but Ema shook his head and forcefully explained the magnitude of Kazuma’s achievement.
“Listen, alright? This is all thanks to you. Ordinarily, Japan, like other nations, would have suffered numerous casualties. However, you annihilated the Ibinom and, furthermore, healed all the injured. Do you grasp how incredible that is?”
“W-well, I did think I might be above the King or the Sun King, but…”
“It’s not even a question of comparing you to them. Across all of history, past and present, no hero greater than you has ever existed. Perhaps not even in the future…”
The King, the Overlord, and the Sun King are powerhouses who rival even the great figures of the past.
Indeed, even in this recent Ibinom assault, these three demonstrated remarkable prowess.
However, Kazuma, the Crimson Knight, operates on an entirely different scale.
The aforementioned three were peerless against the Ibinom, but in terms of saving lives, they achieved nothing.
Or rather, it was the result of prioritizing the annihilation of the Ibinom over rescue efforts, but even if they had dedicated themselves to rescue activities, it likely would have been futile.
After all, none of them possess healing abilities like Kazuma.
That is how extraordinary, how omnipotent, Kazuma is.
To hire Kazuma, who wields power akin to a god, for a mere billion a month would be a bargain.
It would amount to twelve billion a year, but compared to the total damages incurred by other nations in this incident, that’s a paltry sum.
Japan also suffered destruction of buildings, roads, and transportation networks, but thanks to Kazuma, the damage was far less than anticipated.
How much they had been saved because of him was immeasurable.
Considering all that, Ema concluded that a monthly income of a billion yen was indeed cheap.
“So, to confirm one last time, are you fine with one billion?”
“Um, yes…”
Ema glanced at Honoka, who stood waiting diagonally behind Kazuma.
He knew from Momoko’s report that she was the key figure holding Kazuma’s reins.
Her lack of any action likely signified her respect for Kazuma’s decision.
Thus, Kazuma’s remuneration was settled at one billion per month.
Moreover, the terms had turned out to be even more favorable than anticipated.
Negotiations had been expected to be arduous, but Kazuma’s only demand was monetary.
Ema was inwardly beaming, pleased that the matter could be resolved with money.
“Ah, right. I almost forgot, but please make Momoko-chan my secretary or manager. Her mind-reading Gift is a threat, you see. I want to keep her on our side.”
“…”
Ema froze at the sudden request but immediately began to weigh the implications.
Momoko was a Gifted specializing in internal affairs, demonstrating unparalleled strength in negotiations.
He couldn’t afford to lose her, but there was no particular issue with her acting as a liaison with Kazuma.
Besides, Ema surmised that Kazuma had taken a liking to Momoko, and so he gave his reply.
“If it’s just that, then gladly.”
“Oh! Thanks!”
Momoko, who had been reading minds from the back of the room just in case, understood that her boss had effectively sold her out, and her shoulders slumped in dejection.