“If, hypothetically, I let you go, what will you do?” I asked.
“Well, we’ll sustain our physical bodies through physical nutrition, delaying our disappearance a bit while living quietly,”
replied the big leader plainly.
“What if someone comes along and likes you? Will your power come back?”
“It’s not about one or two individuals’ emotions. At best, it would only help us maintain our existence,”
There was no deception in her words. Certainly, my emotions had reached them, but it was at that level.
And if they were to revive with just that, it would be easy to make other feel fear by terrorizing someone, even a passerby.
“One more thing. Confirming the new monsters that have appeared. Are you not involved with their organization?”
“We don’t know. Besides, do you think we can control those monsters with barely any power?”
The elements were in place, it seemed.
“Sigh…”
I sighed and questioned myself.
(Am I sane? This is quite a questionable act.)
I opened my eyes slightly, recalling the actions of Ashella and Taratat over the past month and a half.
And once again, I sighed.
“Alright, the fourth option it is.”
“What?”
The two woman next door, the leader and the top henchmen of the evil organization, look up at each other, question marks on their faces.
“I’m going to prolong your lives by watching over you with my emotions. Whether that will be trust or hostility is up to you from now on.
“What?!”
“Understand this. If you pull any dangerous stunts, I’ll eliminate you immediately. Got it?”
“You…Green. Are you serious?” asked Ashella, astonished.
As I listen to Asherah’s appalled voice, I’m pretty sure I am quite (screwed) right now.
It’s a complete betrayal of Banshokuger. But still.
I hope we can interact as neighbors.
(…I’m just a commoner, a selfish person.)
I couldn’t bring myself to cut off the former enemies who had acknowledged me as Green, as they’re also the neighbors who had shown kindness to Midori Kusama.
I couldn’t let them go.
“Hehe.”
Taratatt laughed seductively, and that laughter snapped me out of my thoughts.
“What’s up?”
“You’re a bad guy too, huh? In other words, is this some kind of naughty scheme ?” she said, tracing her body with alluring gestures. “Like this, with both of us, you want to be served lasciviously, right?”
“What!?”
With a sly smile, she leaned in, her finely textured face coming closer.
“Well? I also acknowledge you as a hero. So, I’m not stingy about that. If you want, I can join you instead of Ashella?”
Now it was my turn to be astonished. Furthermore,
“What…?! Heyyyyyy!?”
The one who raised a voice of shock was Ashella. Where did the dejected attitude from earlier go? She stood up and intervened between me and Taratat for the third time.
“No, I won’t allow it! This is unacceptable, Taratat-sama! Don’t do such things with this guy!”
“Oh, come on. It’s not a big deal.”
“No, I won’t do it, you stupid!”
I retorted with obvious exasperation.
“Taratat-sama, how can you make such an offer to Green?! It’s unforgivable!”
“Is that where you get angry?!”
Facing the almost biting presence of Ashella, I try to calm things down somehow.
“I’m not a lolicon! Besides, if I did anything to the current appearance of the big leader, police will come after me!”
Taratat’s appearance is that of a girl around ten, with golden hair and red eyes, incredibly beautiful in a delicate way. Not good in many ways, especially given my profession.
“Oh, it’s about the public morals of human society, huh? Just hide it, and everything should be fine. I’m much older than you, anyway.”
“Taratat sama, please reconsider…!”
Amidst the commotion, as I was about to say it wasn’t that kind of issue, I noticed once again that Taratat was grinning broadly.
“Or maybe it’s that. Maybe you prefer Ashella’s appearance after all. You know, the big, bouncy kind.”
Her slender fingers depict the voluptuous figure and curves of Ashella’s delicate body.
“Uh, well…”
Too direct. Ashella must be uncomfortable with this crudeness. This is why transcendent beings are such a pain.
(Well, it’s true though)
The widow next door, who cleans up in front of my room, greets me in the morning and evening, looks for work to support her daughter, and worries about me during Monster incidents. A beautiful kind woman.
“Hmph,” I exhale loudly. I intentionally speak in a brusque manner.
“I like her. Kuri Ashella, you’re the one…”
“…Huh!?”
Ashella’s face flushes with a “boohoo” sound from certain someone.
Taratat laughs openly.
“What’s this? So, in the end, we’re back to square one.”
“Square one?”
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Yeah, she nods and points to the subordinates with swimming eyes.
“You said you’d monitor us, Green. So, from tomorrow, continue living as our neighbors, just like you have been. Let’s stick with that for monitoring.”
I’m pushed back. It is true, but…
“Ashella, you too.”
“Y-Yes!?”
Ashella stands at attention.
“Human-Kusama Midori didn’t hate you, did he? Just as you’ve set it up yourself, keep living as his neighbor-Kuri Ashella. Is it good?”
Under the orders of the big boss, the high-ranking officials struggle with various expressions.
“Uh, well, ah… Ugh…”
“I’ll do it as Kuri Taratat. ──Alright?”
With emphasis, Ashella bows reluctantly.
“Understood… Well, then!”
Suddenly, she probably lifts her gaze strongly towards me.
And, she declares.
“Got it, Green… No, Midori Kusama! Make sure to be a proper neighbor to us!”
What the hell is this?
Leaving my question behind, that night continued.
From the next day, the strange life with the neighbors began.
Morning and evening, I eat meals with the Kuri, as part of surveillance. Before going to work, I tidy up and head over.
“Good morning…”
“Oh, good morning.”
“Don’t show a sloppy appearance to Taratat, Midori Kusama.”
With a stern reprimand. Ashella, wearing a snug T-shirt and jeans, with an apron on top, arranges toast, yogurt, salad, and coffee.
I’m a bit moved by the menu in front of me. When was the last time I had such a proper breakfast? Last night, I ended up with nutritional block food and went to sleep, so it’s even more so.
“Hmm. It’s bitter. Ashella, pass the milk.”
“Here you go, Taratat sama.”
As I bite into my golden toast, I ask them.
“…But, I think there might be some issues with the hair and skin color for a mother and daughter, don’t you?”
I had imagined it was from the father’s side, but people tend to speculate.
“Heh, what a filthy imagination, Midori Kusama.”
“That’s because I’m using my ability to lightly manipulate other perceptions.”
Her words make my expression sharp.
“The power of the big boss… mind control, huh. It’s still working?”
Once conquered by Cleared, countries and regions were governed by the big boss’s power, keeping them under control. Regardless of the previous ideologies or social systems of a country, they were ruled without causing chaos.
“Don’t panic. Right now, I can’t use my strong powers at all. It’s more about amplifying and convincing the thoughts of the person I face, like [oh that’s how it is].”
“…Well, you can’t use it on me right now.”
And the reason I can say that is,
“Want to give it a try? Come on, can you feel it?”
She points her slender fingers towards me. My senses detect the power that affects my own perception.
(Not guiding thoughts… but amplifying?
Strange, Taratatt’s figure looks oddly enticing. The slender neck, the line of her collarbone. Elegant and supple, a beauty opposite to Ashella’s.)
(…That slim body is quite attractive if you look closely…)
With a bitter expression, I look back at Taratat and say,
“Stop it, seriously.”
Chewing on the fresh salad, I casually deactivate my abilities.
This is due to my own power. The Green power that amplifies others’ abilities can also quickly detect and nullify interference from others, even though it’s limited to my own perception.
“Too bad.”
Taratatt laughs with a mischievous expression. Just to be sure, I warn her.
“Don’t use that kind of thing on people. It’s a matter of disrupting societal norms and could lead to lot’s of trouble.”
“I know, I know. It’s a waste of colored energy, and it causes trouble. It’s just a hassle.”
“Taratatt-sama, what kind of thought enhancement did you put on this guy now?”
With a somewhat annoyed expression, Ashella looks at Taratatt. Ignoring her question (because it’s troublesome), Taratatt answers my earlier question.
“Thought enhancement?”
Taratat nodded.
“My ability isn’t brainwashing. It’s just a misunderstanding on your part, Banshokuger.”
“What?”
In response to my question, she waved her delicate fingers.
“[Enhanced Empathy]. That’s my power.”
Remembering the sensation I’d felt earlier, I made a guess.
“Wait a minute… so, you amplify thoughts like [I sort of feel that way] [That makes sense], and when your powers were stronger, could you use it like brainwashing?”
As I spoke, I continued to realize. [Enhanced]… that means it’s a power similar to mine, albeit in a different field.
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