Chapter 50: Precisely Because He’s an Unreliable Boss
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The day after Christmas, a single email arrived on Kazuma’s phone.
The sender of the email was Ema-san.
Reading the contents, it was a request to participate in an upcoming international conference.
Although it was extremely troublesome, Kazuma was currently affiliated with the government and had received various kinds of help, so he agreed without a second thought.
Since the details would be discussed in person, Kazuma got ready and headed towards Alicia and the others.
They were helping Honoka-san and were found quickly.
Kazuma, having found Alicia and the others, told them he was going out to Ema-san’s place.
“Alicia, Shar. I’m heading out for a bit today, what are you two going to do?”
“Heading out where?”
“To the Prime Minister’s place. Apparently, there’s an international conference, and I was asked to participate.”
“Ah, I see. Each country brings their strongest Gifted to international conferences. I think America will bring the King, but Japan has the Crimson Knight, huh…”
“Does that sound like a problem?”
“They’re all unique and strong-willed individuals, so a battle could break out. You especially need to watch out for the Chinese Overlord. He’s even more of a battle junkie than The Great Sage Equaling Heaven, so he might openly provoke you.”
“A little sparring wouldn’t be a problem. It’d be bad if it escalated to a fight to the death, though.”
“That probably won’t happen. That old guy is a battle junkie too, but he knows where to draw the line.”
“That’s a relief, then.”
“Why would it escalate into a battle in the first place? I’ve participated before, but I was basically on standby in a separate room, so I don’t understand that part.”
Charlotte is a famous Gifted representing France, but in terms of actual strength, she falls into the weakest category.
No matter how excellent her healing and Regeneration Gifts are, she can’t even beat other humans, let alone Ibinom, on her own.
Therefore, during international conferences, she has been on standby in a separate room as part of the medical team for emergencies.
However, she is now one of the most powerful individuals in the world, so it wouldn’t be strange for her to be chosen as France’s representative, but the French government doesn’t know that yet.
“Don’t the Prime Ministers or Presidents stop them?”
“Essentially, it’s a dominance contest. They want to show off their country’s power.”
“I see~. The quality and number of Gifted are indeed like a measure of national power, aren’t they.”
Currently, the power balance is a two-way top between America and China.
However, a new star has appeared there.
It is Kazuma, the Crimson Knight.
With Kazuma’s appearance, Japan is currently experiencing a sharp rise.
If things continue like this, Japan will likely stand at the top in terms of economy and military power within a few years.
“Hmm… Even with a common enemy, people still try to trip each other up. It’s the same everywhere, huh~”
This is something that can’t be helped.
Whether in another world or this one, humans are base and greedy creatures.
“Everyone has their own circumstances.”
“I want to say I don’t want to become a dirty adult, but I guess I will someday~”
“The only truly pure and innocent humans are babies.”
“How sad~”
Kazuma lamented as Sakura Hakanai-san preached the truth to him.
In the end, everyone lives for their own self-interest.
Kazuma is no exception.
He wouldn’t hesitate to wield the power he cultivated as a Hero for those close to him, but he has no intention of going out of his way for complete strangers.
However, recently, Ema-san has skillfully manipulated him, and Kazuma has been working for the good of the world, for the good of people, and by extension, for Japan, though he himself is unaware of it.
“More importantly, don’t you need to go to the Prime Minister’s place?”
“I can use Teleportation, so there’s still time.”
As Kazuma said, there was plenty of time until the meeting.
And no wonder.
Because he could go to Ema-san’s place instantly with Teleportation Magic, there was no travel time.
If he wanted to, he could go to Ema-san’s place right now.
“So, what will Alicia and Shar do?”
“We’re not involved, so we’ll pass.”
“That’s right. I agree with Alicia. There’s probably no point in us being there.”
“I see. Understood. Then, Sakura Hakanai-san… I guess I’ll have you two watch her.”
“Is that okay? Leaving her behind?”
Sakura Hakanai-san has become an obedient servant through Kazuma’s Contract Magic and Subjugation Magic.
However, she has a certain degree of freedom, so Alicia was worried.
That she might cause trouble when Kazuma wasn’t around.
“Hmm. I understand why Alicia is worried, but there’s no point in bringing her along.”
“That may be true, but you don’t know what she’ll do when you’re not watching, right?”
“She causes trouble even when I am watching…”
At the Christmas party held the other day, she had the high school boys wrapped around her finger.
Of course, right in front of Kazuma.
If you asked if it was strange behavior, probably not.
An adult woman teasing children isn’t a crime.
If she laid a hand on them, it would be a crime, but she didn’t; she merely captivated the boys with her gestures and skillful conversation.
“Now that you mention it, that’s true…”
“How should I put it… this one. She’s good at exploiting legal loopholes…”
“As expected of the Vixen! This is definitely a job for a ninja who punishes evil!”
Charlotte, who worships Japanese ninjas, insisted that the Vixen should be condemned.
She was very excited, her sparkling, innocent eyes fixed on Kazuma.
It seemed she desperately wanted to see Kazuma’s ninja style.
“Whoa, whoa, calm down, Shar. She may be evil, but she has her uses.”
“I see. To accept both the good and the bad, is that it!”
“Something like that.”
For now, Sakura Hakanai-san is useful.
Aside from her beauty, she has been using the conversational skills she cultivated as a hostess to manage the men while Kazuma is running wild.
She, who is skilled at handling men, will likely be very useful in the future.
“This is a bit late to ask, but what about Momoko-chan?”
If Kazuma is summoned by the Prime Minister, it means his subordinate, Momoko-chan, must also go to work.
And yet, for some reason, she was nowhere to be seen, nor had she been mentioned, so Sakura Hakanai-san, as his subordinate, asked Kazuma.
“Oh. She said she wanted to relax during the New Year holidays, so she’s on vacation now. Well, the Powered Suit is complete, and there isn’t much work anyway~”
“Isn’t this matter an important job? I thought managing your schedule was also Momoko-chan’s job.”
“That’s true, but it’s not that big of a deal, right?”
“If you keep spoiling her like that, she’ll get carried away, you know? What will you do if she learns she can get away with being a little selfish with you?”
“I’ll scold her properly then!”
“Can you, who always dotes on her calling her Momoko-chan, Momoko-chan, really do that?”
“Sorry. Maybe not. Momoko-chan is pitiful and cute, so I can’t scold her.”
“Then, I’ll contact her.”
And so, Sakura Hakanai-san urgently contacted Momoko-chan, who was spending her New Year holidays relaxing at home.
Momoko-chan, despite a bad feeling, knew she had to answer Sakura Hakanai-san’s call and learned that Kazuma had been summoned by the Prime Minister.
Normally, the contact should have gone to Momoko-chan, the Crimson Knight’s attendant, but Kazuma, trying to be considerate, had Ema-san contact him instead of Momoko-chan, which led to this tragedy.
Upon hearing that Kazuma was participating in the international conference, Momoko-chan almost screamed but managed to hold it back at the last second. She quickly changed into her work clothes and contacted Kazuma.
“Why didn’t you tell me about such an important matter!”
“Sorry. I thought Momoko-chan must be tired, so I felt bad bringing up work.”
“If it were some trivial matter, I’d complain too, but this is a top-priority issue! If you made me your manager, then don’t try to be overly considerate! Besides, there’s no way the Prime Minister can talk back to you!”
“What are you saying to your boss’s boss?”
“In the end, even those in power will yield before overwhelming violence!”
“You’re not wrong, but…”
“More importantly, when are you going to the Prime Minister’s place?”
“Eh, ah~, I guess whenever Momoko-chan is ready.”
“Then, please come pick me up immediately. I’m already ready.”
“Okay~”
After hanging up, Kazuma immediately went to pick up Momoko-chan, then quickly contacted Ema-san before teleporting back to Ivy.
Kazuma, back at Ivy, said goodbye to Alicia and Charlotte, and then the three of them—Kazuma, Sakura Hakanai-san, and Momoko-chan—teleported to Ema-san’s place.
Since he had been contacted beforehand, Ema-san welcomed Kazuma and the others without surprise and began to talk about the international conference.
“As I mentioned in the email, I’d like you to participate in the international conference with me. Your main job will be as a bodyguard, but, well, I imagine you’ve heard from Alicia Miller-san and Charlotte Soleil-san that it also includes keeping other countries in check.”
“I’ve heard about that. Well, it can’t be helped. We have a common enemy in the Ibinom, but while we unite, we’re also all seeking our own interests, aren’t we.”
“Unfortunately, that’s just how humans are. If the Ibinom were to disappear, what would likely follow is war among humans.”
“That’s an unpleasant thought~”
“It can’t be helped. More importantly, let’s discuss the details of this international conference.”
After that, Kazuma and the others had Ema inform them of everything from the venue to the date and time of the international conference, and they went over the day’s schedule.
Kazuma had stopped listening partway through, but since Momoko and Sakura Hakanai were listening in his stead, there was no problem.
Because he was such an unreliable superior, his two subordinates were all the more fired up with the resolve that they themselves had to be on the ball.