02. Suspicion and Trust

Synopsis of previous chapter:

~If Kato-san hadn’t been there in volume 2 chapter 1~

　 (Omitted part)

If she’s the only person that did not have a flower’s name, the person named would hate it.

She doesn’t want to be left out by her comrades.

Even after meeting like that… No. Because they met like that, she now thought of her comrades preciously.

It’s a good sign. While thinking that I like her att.i.tude I opened my mouth.

“That’s right, Tulip. It’s about the talk before, has the preparation finished?”

“...”

“What’s wrong, you look odd. Do you feel unwell, Tulip?”

“U-… uwaaaaaaaaann!”

“Wh-Where are you going? Oi. Tulip―!?”

*Reference to the previous chapter. The fairly joking result.

Chapter 2.

Dawn, a few days later.

“I am sorry to have hastened you.”

“No worries...”

I received new equipment from Rose.

The usual chestplate, lower body protector, and a big s.h.i.+eld.

Just, the shades are a bit darker, different than the ones before.

It’s not at the level of the pseudo-damascus steel sword that Rose had produced but this seems to be stronger than the previous one as well, if everyone can be equipped with this our battle power can be increased by several times.

Rose had done a good job as usual.

I quickly finished the preparations to get ready.

“Alright. Preparations are finished. It’s about time to go.”

After I talked to Rose and Kato-san, I stroked the surface of the transparent jelly-like monster using my fingertip.

“Also, Lily. I’m heading out for a bit.”

There was no answer.

“...”

Lily shut down her consciousness in order to recover. It's akin to state of sleeping for humans; while doing that, she can't maintain her mimicry ability during then. She 'woke up' a few times, She woke up a few times like she did yesterday morning, but looking at her weakened state was a bit painful.

Being a Slime with vitality, there was no danger to her life, she only needs a few days to recover, but during that time, it's better to leave her as she is.

"Then, I'll leave things to you."

"Yes, Master."

"...Okay."

After I exchanged greetings, I moved to exit from the Arachne's nest.

"Master."

Just before leaving the nest, Rose, whom I had just exchanged farewells with, called out to me.

I looked back towards Rose.

Maybe there was something that I had forgotten.

"Master, are you really going?"

"That topic again?"

Since yesterday, Rose had been opposed to me going out surveying the forest.

It had only been three days since the mortal combat against the White Arachne.

Because of that event, her worry was still reasonable.

It’s just, it seems her concern was a bit excessive.

"We have talked about this many times, didn’t we? I have completely recovered. Don't worry about me. I won't suddenly fall over."

"I am aware of that, but..."

Rose could be seen stuttering on her words.

"What about other matters? Yes, for example, there is an issue regarding safety, is there not?”

"You mean, like, if this Arachne's nest is safe?"

Safety issues… I see, there was also such a reason to oppose this, huh.

However, I have also thought about it.

"It's alright. If it comes to that, it's fine to wake Lily up. The way you two are now, whatever monster that comes, it wouldn’t take long for you guys to handle them.

Originally, only Lily and Rose had combat capabilities.

When we were living in the cave before, Lily went out in order to secure food and Rose was the only one as my escort. Compared to that, right now both Lily and Rose are fully equipped to guard the nest.

Lily isn’t in good condition currently, but it isn’t at a level where she cannot handle one or two fights.

“Besides, in the first place, wasn’t it said that monsters generally don’t approach this Arachne’s nest?”

It's rare for monsters to approach the nest of the White Arachne, who is a ‘High Monster’. Actually, those monsters that did have been completely eliminated throughout the long years.

In other words, it was the mechanism of selection in evolution.

“I do not mind whatever that may befall us.”

Rose insisted strongly.

"What I am worried about is Master."

“...It's not something to be worried about. My escort is that White Arachne, a ‘High Monster’. There aren’t many monsters who can stand against her.”

While conversing, I suddenly became suspicious.

Despite all that, the thought that Rose was worrying too much came to me.

In the first place, Rose opposing my policy was unusual. If I were to say it, she’s the type to suppress her own feelings and silently follow the orders given.

And yet, why was she...

...No, rather…

Was it possible that Rose’s true intention was about ‘this’?

“Why are you so against me going to the forest? Rose, are you perhaps hiding something?”

“...That is.”

“This is you we’re talking about. You’re probably thinking along the lines of ‘It’s because I didn’t comply with your will’, right? Stop thinking about weird things. If you are not satisfied with something, just say so. Since you’re part of my ‘Family of Monsters’, you’re a precious comrade.”

Even after I prompted her, she was still at a loss.

Even so, I patiently waited for her. She suddenly knelt down and lowered her head.

“I am very sorry, Master.”

“So, what’s wrong?”

“I already know of Master’s feelings towards us, your ‘Family of Monsters’. I am thankful for that, and have no intentions of ignoring it.”

With her head lowered, she started voicing out what was inside her heart.

At the same time, the apologetic feelings within her heart… As well as something like a sense of shame from her, flowed to me through the path.

But… against what?

The question that I held was answered as Rose continued.

“However, for me… I absolutely cannot trust that Gerbera like Anesama did.”

“...What did you say?”

For me, this was an unexpected confession.

While I said nothing, Rose continued to speak.

“Could you at least wait until either Ane-sama or me can freely move?”

To summarize, the thing that she wanted to say was, ‘Because Gerbera can not be trusted, it should be herself or Lily who becomes the escort.’

I felt somewhat dizzy.

It was because I understand just how serious Rose was.

"So, that's the true reason why you are against me going into the forest?"

"I am truly sorry."

Rose bowed more deeply as I inquired of her.

"You are not going to forgive her?"

"...No."

"I see."

Ah, d.a.m.n it.

This happened because of my mistake.

Rather, I should have predicted this thing.

I had completely forgotten that possibility after Lily had readily accepted it.

Rose was different from Lily.

The role that she took was to guarantee the safety of my well being, acting as my guardian.

She wouldn't tolerate it, if I, as her Master, were to be hurt.

That was her principle.

―I exist in order to protect Master. For that purpose, I don’t mind if this body has to turn into chips of wood.

Those were the words which Rose had told me.

Her very reason to exist is to protect me.

It must have been natural for her to not forgive Gerbera, who had hurt me. Rather, in regards to that matter, I must be the one to conform to it instead.

“I am truly sorry.”

“You don’t have to apologize again and again. There’s nothing we can do about that feeling of not wanting to forgive her…”

Even if I’m told to forgive the students who bullied me back in the ‘Colony’, it’s impossible.

If I think about it again… They must have fallen into a panic. It was a state of emergency. Those guys were usually good people. They were innocent. It was because of the bad situation… I’ve thought about that possibility.

It’s merely thinking about it.

But I really don’t believe in those thoughts at all.

Even if all of them died, I would not even feel a shred of pity towards them; to me, they would have been nothing more than pile of dead bodies.

There is a part that can never be comprehended with reason that exists within the thing that is called the ‘human heart’.

Lily on the other hand, had already forgiven Gerbera. Even so, it’s not that Rose was a small-minded person compared to her.

Lily prioritized my feelings, while Rose, who was practical, focused on the safety of my well-being.

These were the girls’ characters, it couldn’t be denied that this was the result of their personality. At least, I wouldn’t completely deny it.

In addition to that… Frankly said, this incident was all Gerbera’s fault.

It’s the truth that the White Arachne, the embodiment of violence itself, had injured us.

After being reformed, her spiderly nature still had not changed.

You can’t cover up what you’ve done in the first place.

No matter how much you regretted it, the past can’t be changed.

Of course, I do believe in Gerbera.

I want the Family to believe in her.

However, it’s wrong for me to order Rose to get friendly to Gerbera, right? That’s not a true friends.h.i.+p built on trust. If it’s like that, the relations.h.i.+p between the two would be totally different from what I wished.

From now on, Gerbera must win back the trust that she had lost from her first meeting.

However, this is not supposed to be something that needs to be worried about as much as it is.

Let’s build trust steadily.

Compared to the normal way of building a relations.h.i.+p between humans, what we have between us here is unconventional instead.

Disregarding myself… The incident where Lily had readily agreed and accepted the once-hostile White Arachne, for example, was far from the norm.

―Winning Rose's trust.

The quickest way to do that is by 'showing Rose my usefulness', or something like that.

Using that means would produce result; as such, asking Gerbera to go out to the forest as my escort was the right thing to do.

What Gerbera needs right now, are results to prove her trustability.

If there are results, Rose will eventually recognize her efforts. Fortunately, Rose thinks rationally. If she believes that Gerbera has already reflected on her behaviour, it shouldn't be that hard.

Besides, the current situation was very harsh to Rose.

Even Rose didn’t want to doubt Gerbera if possible, as she was also a part of the Family.

If it wasn’t not like that, then I wouldn't have received feelings of ‘shame’ from Rose’s confession.

Because both of them want to meet the other halfway, they’ll be alright.

As long as we live, there's no such thing as not having problems at all. We have to settle even the small problems one by one.

Isn't it obvious that it's my job, as the girls’ Master, to help them?

After I finished my conversation with Rose, I went out of the Arachne's nest.

Gerbera had been waiting there.

She was sitting with her spider legs bent while looking up at the sky absent-mindedly.

The talk with Rose had taken some time. I had seemingly made her wait in vain. I have done a bad thing.

“Sorry to have kept you waiting.”

“Nay, I have not waited.”

Gerbera lowered her line of sight that was directed to the sky and showed a stiff expression.

I leaned my head to the side.

“Did something happened?”

“U-umu. What wert thee saying?”

Gerbera immediately got up and turned her back to face me.

“Look. If we do not make haste, the day shall soon end. I wish to be home ere the sun sets,”

Her spoken words made her more suspicious.

I set out from the Arachne's nest while feeling a bit of suspicion.

　　　＊＊＊

We encountered an insect-type monster called Stub Beetle in the forest where we were living.

Stub Beetles could be as big as seventy centimeters. At a glance, they appear to be giant rhinoceros beetles.

Their bodies are covered with a bulky outer sh.e.l.l, the robustness of which is probably one of the top in this forest.

The cone-shaped horn which looks like a lance doesn’t seem easily broken by small impacts.

Its specialty is launching a charging attack from mid-air.  

This is a simple yet powerful attack. Previously, in the Colony, there was one victim who fell due of it.

The Stub Beetle that we encountered, seems to be more vigilant than the previous one. The moment we heard something flying, it had already danced around in the high sky.

By this point of time, there's no possibility that it is a part of my ‘Family of Monsters’.

Besides the Stub Beetle clearly showing its hostility towards us, above all, the absence of feeling any path connecting us is proof.

The Stub Beetle aimed at me.

From the height of a few meters, its speed changed and its st.u.r.dy outer sh.e.l.l turned into a bullet-like weapon.

Even if I were to avoid this living bullet, the Stub Beetle, which is in our line of sight, it would just turn its aim from above. At this rate, it would shoot through me and it was possible that my upper body may be separated from my lower body.

“Entrust it to me.”

The Stub Beetle was flying with a speed that can't be followed by the eyes but Gerbera, who was beside me, threw out her thread to change its course.

Not minding the thread that hit and stuck to it, the giant rhinoceros beetle whom had originally aimed at me, tried to rush at me.

But Gerbera didn't stop at that.

“Hrgh.”

Planting her eight legs on the ground firmly, she pulled the thread that looked thin at the first glance and the supposedly power-type monster, the Stub Beetle, instantly lost its balance.

Its course deviated, losing control and crashed mid-flight.

The round body of the Stub Beetle was thrusted at Gerbera as it bounced randomly along the way after being forcefully pulled at.

“This shall be thine end.”

Gerbera struck out one of her spider’s legs and crushed it instantly.

Like an expert spear fighter, the robust sh.e.l.l of the Stub Beetle was pierced through and sewed to the ground.

The Stub Beetle’s legs trembled and then became silent.

“It ended… huh.”

“Indeed.”

After carefully confirming it, I let out the breath that I had been holding.

I know Gerbera’s true power but, I’m still nervous when I’m in a real battle.

I still can’t get accustomed in life-and-death struggles.

”Would not this be a most wondrous time for a short rest, Milord?”

My mental fatigue might have been shown on my face. Gerbera offered it with a thoughtful expression.

“I think so.”

I gratefully accepted Gerbera’s offer.

I sat down on the spot.

I drank some water from the wooden container that we brought, and let out a small sigh. Not just mentally, but I was also physically fatigued.

Without even noticing it myself, I had probably overstressed my mind. I should take short breaks from now on.

Then, while I was checking my condition, Gerbera called out to me.

“Milord.”

“Yes?”

“I hath finished ‘packaging’."

“That was fast.”

On Gerbera’s hand, who was talking to me, was the Stub Beetle’s carca.s.s wrapped in spider’s thread.

The ‘packaging’ that she mentioned seems to mean exactly that. Convenient to be carried around and ensuring that the contents will not be ‘spilled out’ in any way, the remains of the monster was rolled up in the spider’s thread.

Now then. the reason why she is purposely bringing back the remains of a monster, is that it is a souvenir for Lily who is now resting in the nest.

She has a mimicry ability which allows her to change into the prey she consumes.

In other words, if she can devour monsters that we have never met, it can be turned into her combat potential.

This isn’t today’s purpose, but it’s still a bonus achievement.

Not bad. Now then, If we are able to bring back a new member for the ‘Family’, it’ll be a great thing.

“Alright, let’s head out then.”

“Milord, please hold.”

When I stood up energetically, Gerbera let out a reproach towards me.

“Thee wert only just seated. Wherefore do thee not rest some more, for Milord doest not have much endurance.”

"...Well, if you compare me with you guys, monsters, then I guess I am really weak."

As a man, I felt kind of hurt being talked like I have a weak const.i.tution, but the one who said it was the White Arachne. From her point of view, it isn’t weird even if she sees me as being weaker than a baby.

"I understand. I will rest some more."

"Umu.”

I sat down again on the spot with crossed legs.

Nodding as if she is satisfied seeing that, Gerbera folded her eight legs and sat down.

About three meters from me.

"..."

"...Aren’t you too far away?"

There isn’t supposed to be a feeling of distance when there’s only two of us, right?

Not to mention that it was hard to talk like this.

It suspiciously feels like the distance one takes when they hated the other person.

“F-forsooth?”

Gerbera awkwardly moved her gaze away.

She’s frankly being suspicious.

I can’t help but think that something has happened.

"Gerbera?"

When I called out her name, her shoulder flinched in response.

"Wh-what is it?"

"..."

"Uuu..."

I continued staring at her until her upper body drooped, just like a white lily wilting.

Looks like she got the idea. Being honest is a good thing.

"What's wrong?"

After I asked, she opened her mouth timidly.

"...Art thee fine with this, Milord?"

"What's this about?"

As I expressed my non-understanding, she continued with an awkward tone.

“I… Just the other night, I hadst attacked thee, Milord. Art not thee slightly careless by being alone with me?”

If I could sum it up in one word, she had a demeanor that seemed as though she was going to disappear from this very place.

"Gerbera, you…"

Then, a thought came to me.

"You overheard my conversation with Rose?"

"Wh-what art thee speaking of!?"

The pitch of her voice increased and the gaze of her scarlet eyes kept swimming around.

No matter what, isn’t she too panicked?

Acting like this isn’t any different from her admitting it herself.

“You heard us, didn’t you?”

I let out a sigh and walked towards her, who was averting her gaze.

She flinched her shoulder but did not try to run away.

She only looked down as if giving up.

"That's why you are acting strange."

“...Umu.”

Rose was against me going exploring with Gerbera to the forest.

Gerbera overheard that and knows that Rose is suspicious of her, and so she decided to keep her distance with me.

The moment we went out into the forest with only the two of us, there was no longer any meaning in keeping some sort of distance between us… No. There’s nothing else to say. I knew that she was clumsy. If I had known that, I would not have committed a failure like the one that night.

The problem is that Gerbera took it very heavily.

The reason why she was so down was probably because she had already been blaming herself inside.

After that one time when she was our enemy, it seems that she, who we call Gerbera now, felt like she owed a large debt to us.

After doing a bit of thinking, I asked.

"Insecure, huh? What? Are you going to hurt us again, Gerbera?"

“Fie! Fie upon that! I am truly grateful to ye, Milord!”

After she denied my words desperately, Gerbera realized something, dropped her legs and her shoulder on the spot.

“However, I, myself hath thought the same thoughts as what Lady Rose hadst spoken of, for she hast a point.”

Even though she was a gorgeous beauty, that figure that shrunk into itself in depression, only looks like a large flower that has wilted and closed.

"I am dangerous, Milord. I may harm thee and the others again. ‘Tis a fact…"

This seems to be quite a serious wound.

I confirmed it and furrowed my eyebrows internally.

We are a team of few people.

And so, we can’t afford not to combine our power together in order to survive in this world.

If one feels too indebted to the others, it will probably create a discord.

It is my job as their Master to take care of the Family.

In addition to that, as I was the one who took her in as an ally, I have to take care of her properly.

Well half of it is my official stance. But my true intention is to not let her be left alone while feeling down.

But, how do I cheer her up?

Gerbera, with her head down, opened her mouth while I was thinking in front of her.

“Milord and the others have accepted me. I desire to present mine usefulness to Milord and the others. This be my true intention.”

She clasped her hands together and looked up towards me with her scarlet eyes that were slightly averted.

“H-however, the fact that I have just been born cannot be changed. Even now, I still desire to monopolize thee and capture thee. ...Nay. Moreso than when we met yesterday, I feel that this sensation in my heart hath been ever growing.”

Saying that, transparent smoldering affection can be seen in her scarlet eyes that were constantly sneaking glances at me.

“Thou hast forgiven me, but I may wound ye again eventually. It terrifies me that it may happen again.”

Gerbera, the White Arachne, is a spider.

It was her natural instincts to catch her prey and tie them up.

Thinking of wanting to do it is natural for her, above she being herself, this is something that isn’t something that can be changed.

…Although.

Even if you think so, whether do you really put it in action, the real ones may not be the same.

I think that way, and I believe so.

"Calm down, Gerbera."

In the end, I told her my opinion honestly.

"You won't hurt me… No, you won't hurt us ever again."

Besides, we are connected through the path between us. There is a high possibility of seeing through any deception or lies. That’s why, it’s best to convey feelings directly.

That’s what I have determined.

“Milord, why dost thee think so?”

The things that I had said seems unexpected to her. Gerbera’s lower body that is of a spider made a clicking sounds as she lifted her body.

“What Lady Rose hath said is correct. Even I, myself, cannot believeth in mine own self. But wherefore doth Milord believest so?”

"Why, huh... That is, it's because I saw your figure that night."

That night, Gerbera should have visualized how she would spent her life alone after that.

Just in the short time that we’ve met, the number of times that she was shaken by loneliness was several times that of what she has ever felt since she was alive.

I understand, because I had the same experience as well.

That's why I believe so.

If that has been the most painful feeling she had ever felt, she would be fine, is what I thought.

“You said, ‘You’re scared that you will hurt us’, right? If you feel that way, then you’ll be alright. You’ll not betray our trust. Well, isn’t that so? Just by having the fear of hurting us in the future, it already means that you earnestly care about us.”

That’s why there’s nothing to be worried about at all.

There isn’t any chance of Gerbera losing herself to her desires and hurting us.

There’s something more important than that for her.

"I believe in you."

I held Gerbera’s hand of the girl that drooped in front of the spider’s body. It'll be good to show her my trust here. It'll be great if it becomes can strengthen her.

"That's why, you should believe in yourself more."

"Milord..."

Gerbera looked at me motionlessly.

Or so I thought, but she suddenly lowered her face.

My hand was shaken off, and I stiffened in surprise.

"Ge-Gerbera?"

"Ah, Milord..."

A voice that sounded like a moan.

Gerbera hit her face with both her hands and lowered her head, as if trying to use her long hair to hide it

But, there's pretty much no point in hiding her face. Her ears that are peeking out from the mess of hair, are bright red, and her bare nape that was revealed as she looked downwards was dyed vermillion.

"Gerbera? You, what hap-..."

“Ah, Milord. I understand. I now know truly well that thee hast faith in me, as a member of the ‘Family’, from the bottom of thine heart.”

Gerbera raised one of her hands, and stopped the words of I, who was worrying about her.

"That's why, let us leave it at that.”

Gerbera confessed with a low voice to the confused me.

“...I may not be able to contain myself any longer.”

“I see.”

She was convinced.

From just now, I’ve been thinking that the spider legs have been noisily, making clinking sounds.

She had managed to endure it somehow.

Keeping one’s promise is good. At this rate, her self-control would not be in vain.

I waited patiently until she had calmed down.

“...I apologize to hath made thee wait, Milord.”

Finally, Gerbera lifted her reddened face up.

It wasn't a gloomy face, which then made me feel relieved.

“At any rate. I know now that Milord hast faith in me.”

"It's not only me, Lily, too is the same."

“Indeed. But Lady Rose hast not.”

"Well, it seems like that but..."

"Oh, Milord. Whatever shall I do?"

It isn't just a simple griefing.

The words that came out of Gerbera's mouth displayed her resolve on how to handle the situation now.

"Gerbera, do you want earn Rose's trust?"

"Of course."

"I see."

I unconsciously patted Gerbera’s silver head, happy with that unhesitating reply.

"Then, you’ll have to put effort into it for that."

“Aye…“

Showing a very happy face, Gerbera's white cheeks were dyed vermillion.

"If you really want to earn someone’s trust, you must build it up from the bottom."

“Yes. That seemeth so.”

Gerbera nodded with a slightly reddened face.

“We have to firstly complete this exploration successfully. Aye, I understand. I shall use all that is in my power to aid Milord.”

"Right. I'm counting on you."

The expression on Gerbera’s face is no longer faint.

It seems that her worries have been swept clean from her heart. A smile naturally floated across my lips knowing that.

"Well then, this time, let's go."

“Aye. Leave thy safeness during the journey to me.”

With our steps lightened, we resumed the exploration.

AUTHOR’S NOTES

◆It's been awhile since the last update.

Well, this is not about the story itself, it is about the previous chapter’s synopsis.

It's been the second time, huh.

Well, truthfully, last time I was studying about how to cook.

◆It’s Gerbera’s turn.

*Clinking sounds*