Yari no Yuusha no Yarinaoshi (LN) - Volume 2 - Chapter 13

Chapter Thirteen: False Proof 

I returned to the castle via portal and set up the filolial egg incubator. I registered the monster seal. 
“And for Kou too . . .” I registered Yuki’s and Kou’s eggs and took a long look at Sakura’s egg. 
Hmmm. 
Sakura had been really attached to Father. She had protected him too. Something about their intimate relationship had been etched into my mind. 
That’s it! 
Because all three filolials had helped Father level up, he ended up being considerate and humble. But if we grew the filolials here, and if I had Sakura protect Father from the beginning, perhaps we’d see their true feelings take the stage a little more clearly. Yes, that’s it! She would end up a little behind Yuki and Kou, but I would make Sakura Father’s exclusive filolial! 
And so I registered Sakura’s egg to Father. 
I heard some vile oinking behind me. I turned around to see a pig pointing and coming my way. 
All my happiness vanished in an instant. Don’t approach, you filthy animal! 
As I begged the creature to come no closer, I realized that the sun was going down. It was time to settle down for the night. 
Completely ignoring the pig and concealing the eggs under my clothes, I set out for the room that I had slept in during the first night with all the other filolials. 
After that, I went to my usual favorite pub. Soon enough, the crimson swine came rushing in, crying. I figured she was making her vile accusation of Father. 
“Oink-oink! Oiiiiiiink!” 
The loathsome grinding of her voice nearly caused me to spit chunks on the spot, I say. Should I kill her here and now? 
If I did, who knows what sort of strange effects it could have on the future? 
I felt pity for Father, not knowing where his companion, the crimson swine, had gone, only to find out she and Trash were plotting his downfall. 
I swore to fulfill my promise to Father no matter what. I managed to swallow my pride and not kill the crimson swine on the spot. 
“Oink! Oink!” 
The crimson swine kept trying to speak. 
“Leave me alone already,” I declared. “No matter how much you snort and squeal, I won’t be deceived, you filthy swine!” 
That pig ought to know that the only reason it was still alive is the boundless mercy of Father, I say! 
At my merciful disparagement, the crimson swine started whining and squealing even more and started to run away. She would go on to Itsuki next, I supposed. 
My God. Was there no way to just eliminate her without messing up the course of future events? I was starting to get impatient. 
But I had to fulfill my promises to Father. Killing the crimson swine would cause all sorts of problems. 
As we went further and further along, surely we would eventually reach a point where it didn’t matter if I killed her, right? 
When I thought back to our battle in the first go-around, it was still a bitter memory. 
We launched an attack on the Spirit Tortoise thinking that we could win, but the crimson swine fled and we lost. I lost consciousness for some time, and after I was cured to full health, I spent the rest of my time still chasing after her. 
There’s no point in pursuing a pig that thinks of nothing but herself, I say. 
After my heart had been worn out by the chase, it was Filo-tan who finally saved my soul. 
That’s when my eyes were finally opened to true love! 
I supposed to that end, the crimson swine had actually been useful. I decided to be merciful and send her to a painless death. 
I had to figure out how to kill the crimson swine as soon as possible without messing up the future. In case the time loop got reset another time, at least I knew where Father, Ren, and Itsuki were during the first few days. 
I could clearly see how Trash and the crimson swine were trying to drive the heroes apart with the false accusation against Father. When the time loop reset the first time and I tried to get close to Father, they tried to eliminate us immediately. But now that I was keeping it cool and letting the situation play out, things were moving forward without incident. 
Trash had even prepared separate rooms for us. There was no doubt they were trying to prevent us heroes from linking up. And one way to do that was to ensure we all hated Father—the one hero actually capable of bringing us together. 
I was slowly but surely accumulating knowledge in order to create a future where the four of us got along, I say. 
Of course, I wasn’t just going to give up on this go-around so easily. 
And I especially haven’t given up on my dream of becoming my beloved Filo-tan’s husband. 
There were plenty of ways for me to acquire more income without causing a fuss. It was just a bit longer before I would be able to take action, I say! 
At the very least, I, Motoyasu Kitamura, had once more acquired my precious Yuki, Sakura, and Kou! I could tell it was them by the smell and texture of the eggs! 
Well, in the last go-around, I hadn’t been able to get Crim and the others, so to a certain extent it depended on the timing, I supposed. Which meant that I simply had to acquire as many filolial eggs as I could from all over. The fact that I hadn’t hatched Kuro in the last go-around either was further proof that the timing was essential. 
“All right, time to sleep, I say!” 
I went back to my room and fell asleep while cuddling my filolial eggs tight. 

The next morning came. 
As I suspected, because I had insulted the crimson swine the previous night, they didn’t come to summon me. So I went over to the castle a little before the time I had been summoned in the first go-around. 
As I reached the castle, a few soldiers hurried over to greet me. 
“What could you need at such an early hour, if I may ask?” one of them asked me. 
“Am I not allowed to go to the castle?” I said. 
“Ah . . . at the moment the castle is quite crowded. Would you mind coming back after sunrise?” 
At that moment, a carriage with Ren and his companions arrived. 
“Hey, Motoyasu. Did they also summon you?” Ren asked. 
“They did, I say,” I proclaimed. 
Ren’s group had arrived at the perfect time. 
But when I stepped forward to move past the soldiers, they ignored me and signaled for only Ren’s carriage to enter. 
“What’s going on?” Ren asked. 
“Please enter, Sword Hero,” the soldier said. 
“What about Motoyasu? He was also summoned, wasn’t he?” 
“That’s right,” I said. “Will you not let me in?” 
The soldiers glanced around at each other in confusion. Would Ren be suspicious of their behavior? 
“What’s the problem?” Ren asked. “And if you only summoned me and not Motoyasu, why?” 
“No, that’s not it . . .” The soldier faltered. “Please go ahead, Spear Hero.” 
“Thank you very much.” 
Hah! That was a big win, I say. I was able to bulldoze my way through with Ren’s group. 
“Motoyasu, where are your companions?” 
“Still asleep,” I said. “I didn’t want to wake them up, so I came alone.” 
“Gotcha.” 
“Where did you stay, Ren?” 
“Me? We were resting two villages out from the castle when they called me back here.” 
“Interesting. If I may ask, which village?” 
I pulled up the map of Melromarc in my head. There were two or three villages we could get to in a day’s travel. 
“It’s called—” 
For some reason, Ren had gone south from the castle town. 
Now that I thought about it, we weren’t supposed to overlap in our hunting grounds. I decided to keep that information in mind. 
We advanced through the castle and found Itsuki, Trash, and the crimson swine waiting in the throne room. 
“Calling us so suddenly back to the castle the very day after we left . . . what’s the matter?” Ren asked. 
Trash and Itsuki looked displeased at seeing me standing next to Ren. The crimson swine let out a hideous stream of filthy noises from her mouth. 
What a painful memory. Every time I think about that first go-around, it still hurts. 
The crimson swine had come to my room in tears, saying that Father had been about to rape her. Then she went to the castle to inform Trash. They put on quite the show in front of Itsuki and Ren. She cried about how terrified she was and begged us to help her. It was good acting, and Ren and Itsuki agreed with me that Father’s actions were unforgivable. 
This time around, the crimson swine, excessively close to Itsuki and Ren, if I might say, was squealing on and on. 
And then she pointed at me and squealed some more. 
“Motoyasu, is it true that you called her a pig?” Ren asked. 
“She is a pig,” I informed him. “She’s laid careful traps to hide her evil deeds. If that’s not a pig, show me what is!” 
“Hide evil deeds?” 
“Oink oink!” 
Ren raised his eyebrows and frowned. The crimson swine rushed between Ren and me and tried to shove me away. 
I didn’t even blink. She didn’t comprehend my true strength, I say. And how about you finally use human words, you disgusting swine? 
I was sure that she was spewing some lie or another. If I could understand her, my ears would probably shrivel and rot. 
She kept carrying on and on next to Ren. Meanwhile, Itsuki had been glaring at me this entire time. 
“Itsuki, is there something that you want to say?” I asked him. 
“I wanted to tell you yesterday, but it’s seriously messed up to keep calling women pigs!” he shouted. “They’re human, Motoyasu!” 
I burst into hysterical laughter. 
“What’s so funny?” he shouted. 
Oh, Itsuki, you silly little boy, I thought, wiping tears from my eyes. He was even wearing a suit of armor stolen from Father. He looked so official and serious in his shining suit of armor that it was totally absurd. 
“If that’s what you think, you ought to look into where you got that suit of armor from,” I told him. 
“Myne gave it to me!” 
“That’s what I’m trying to tell you! It’s stolen goods, I say!” 
“Oh yeah? Show me proof!” 
“In this land, they inscribe the maker and manufacturer’s name and number into armaments, I say!” 
That was an indisputable fact. Of course, the fact that artisans would inscribe their name into a weapon or suit of armor that they make is obvious. But in Melromarc there was also a rule to inscribe the information of the manufacturer as well. It was a rule that came in handy when valuable items were stolen. 
There were some items that didn’t have this information inscribed. But that suit of armor did. 
“Who bought that suit of armor?” Ren asked. “And where—” 
“Oiiiiink! Oiiiiink!” 
Just as I brought some evidence to the table, the pig started whining in a horrible grating shrill in attempt to stall the matter. 

“Cut the nonsense, crimson swine!” I shouted. 
I pushed her out of the way and told Itsuki the truth. 
“Do you understand now?” 
“Is this true?” Itsuki asked, looking up at Trash and the crimson swine. 
Trash stroked his chin. 
“Mr. Kawasumi, would you mind showing me that suit of armor? I’d like to make a comparison.” 
A soldier brought a lantern up to Itsuki to illuminate the armor. Itsuki reluctantly took off the armor and held it in front of the lantern. The soldier talked with Trash quietly and then began the analysis. 
“According to our documents, this suit of armor is from this very castle!” Trash declared. 
That scheming Trash! He even had documents forged! The fact that he had the foresight to think of that meant trouble. 
“That doesn’t change the fact that it was stolen from the castle!” I shouted. 
“Oiiiiink! Oink!” 
The crimson swine leapt up proudly and, putting on a show of grace, strutted around the room, squealing the whole time. 
“I see,” Itsuki said. “So if Myne is the princess, that means that anything in this castle technically belongs to her.” 
I was beginning to lose my cool. First forged documents, now the assertion that her thievery was justified. 
But . . . at the very least, I noticed that Ren was starting to look dubious about the whole exchange. 
“I don’t care about any of that,” Ren said. 
But he still wouldn’t take Father’s side, I supposed. 
“So, Motoyasu, listen to me! She’s not a pig and she’s not evil. Didn’t she just give you so many of her own resources from this very castle? Your behavior is offensive!” 
“A lying pig is still a pig,” I told him. “We couldn’t trust them from the moment that the pig’s father checked his ‘documents,’ I say.” 
“What are you even trying to say!?” Itsuki yelled. 
“Claiming that everything belongs to her because she’s the princess is just further evidence of what she’s trying to pull here! As a princess, forging evidence is a simple matter for her!” 
Was this not a statement of fact? The children of the rich make false proof all the time, relying on the authority of their parents to get what they want. This was no different. Verbal evidence is hardly enough to prove anything in modern society! But I supposed that may not apply to this world. 
“There is some truth to what Motoyasu is saying,” Ren said. 
“Ren! Whose side are you on here?” Itsuki began. 
“I’m not on anyone’s side,” he said. “But there’s logic to what Motoyasu is saying. If she was just a regular adventurer, then I think we could trust the king here, but she’s his daughter. So if they really were trying to take out Naofumi, then they obviously would forge evidence that proves otherwise.” 
Trash quickly spoke up. “Hm, Mr. Spear Hero, the official audience has ended. Would you kindly take your leave?” 
“I will not do so,” I announced. 
It seemed like Trash was getting nervous, I say, trying to get rid of me immediately after Ren took my side. I had no intention of leaving that room! 
Especially because I knew what would happen next. 
“Please leave at once!” the king shouted. 
All at once, soldiers surrounded me. 
“Don’t touch me, scum,” I warned them. 
I scattered them everywhere with a gentle shake of my spear. 
“Motoyasu! If you don’t calm down—” 
Meanwhile, out of the corner of my eye, I saw Father in custody, being led into the room by soldiers. I realized that this was all the result of me not speaking up sooner. 
I had to save Father! 
“Myne!” Father cried. 
Trash and Itsuki glared at him. 
Ren broke the long silence. 
“Hey, somebody tell me what’s going on here.” 
I could finally rescue Father! I just had to make sure I didn’t screw up the timing. 
“Well, we haven’t finished with Motoyasu, but we may as well get started with you,” Itsuki said. “So you’re telling us you really don’t remember anything that happened?” 
“Don’t remember?” Father asked. “I rem—hey!” 
Father pointed at Itsuki’s suit of armor. Of course, Father would display his genius-level intellect! 
Every time I saw this scene, I was afraid that my heart might burst. 

 

But if I tried to do something, the soldiers would almost certainly interfere. Should I kill them, just like that cursed Smoked Human? 
“I’ve been robbed!” Father shouted. 
“What are you talking about?” exclaimed Itsuki. “Naofumi—I never imagined you would do something so sinful, but—” 
“Sinful? What are you talking about?” 
“Get out of the way,” I informed the soldiers, easily mowing them down and hurrying over toward Ren and Itsuki. I saw how pale Father was. 
“So what are the charges?” Ren asked. 
The soldiers had realized that I was going to take Father’s side, and even more appeared as I hurried back toward the throne room. Didn’t they see that I was trying to hold back from killing every last one of them? 
“Charges? What are you talking about?” Father asked. 
“Oink oink!” 
“Huh?” 
The crimson swine let out a series of unintelligible squeals. 
This time I’d stop those villains from anything and everything they intended to do to hurt Father, I say. 
I knew the truth. 
I knew how Father was so wise . . . so kind. 
I knew how even after he had gone through horrific, traumatic experiences, he never lost his kindness. 
I knew the truth, I say! 
Even before I discovered the truth, when Father fell into this evil trap the first time, he lovingly accepted even me—the very person who demanded that he be locked up in the first place! 
I knew everything. That he would use every last bit of my strength to protect the people he loved. That he would lend his strength to anyone in need. I would do anything I could—not to save the world—but to save Father, for his sake alone. I was going to return his kindness. Even if the time loop reset again and again, I vowed to never forsake my duty. 
“Oiiiiiiiiiiiiink!” 
“What?” Ren looked confused. 
“What are you talking about? After we ate dinner, I just went to sleep!” Father said. 
“You’re lying!” Itsuki exclaimed. “Why was Myne crying, then?” 
Wasn’t it obvious? 
That pig was showacting, you fool! 
“She’s a pig,” I explained to Itsuki. “Fake tears.” 
“Won’t you shut up?” he shouted. 
Yikes. Now he was all pissed off. My words weren’t even making it to his ears, I say. 
But Itsuki’s righteous outrage was insignificant compared to Father, who actually had the right to be angry here. 
“Why are you trying to defend Myne?” Father asked Itsuki. “How did you get that suit of armor?” 
“Well, when everyone was out drinking yesterday, Myne showed up at the pub. We drank for a while and then she gave me this suit of armor as a present. The king checked the records—it came from the castle,” Itsuki explained. 
“What the . . .” Father trailed off. He looked like he didn’t know what to say. I realized that certainly it would be confusing if you were told that the exact same set of armor had also come from the castle. 
“Of course!” Father continued. “King! I—someone robbed me while I was asleep! They took my wallet and all of my equipment, everything besides my shield! Can’t we please do something to catch the perpetrator?” 
“Silence, sinner!” Trash roared. “Attempted rape is an unforgivable crime in this country! If you weren’t a hero, it would be a death sentence!” 
Ren glanced around the room and closed his eyes as if he understood what was going on. 
“That’s why I’m telling you it’s a misunderstanding! I didn’t do it!” 
Father’s eyes flashed with anger and he turned to Itsuki. 
“You! You’re accusing me just to get my equipment and my money, aren’t you!?” 
“Wait, what? You’re a sex criminal. What are you trying—” 
“Cut the bullshit!” cried Father. “You were after my money from the start, weren’t you? You were conspiring from the very beginning!” 
It was almost time for me to step in, wasn’t it? 
It was painful to delay this whole time, to wait and wait for Father’s downfall. But I was ready to step in and save the day. 
I put my hands on my spear and started to charge it. 
“This is obviously a charade,” Ren muttered as I knocked some soldiers out of the way. 
“Move it! Brionac!” 
It would leave a bad impression to turn them into half-burnt charcoal, but in this case, I didn’t have much choice. I tried to adjust the power of the attack. 
The soldiers let out hideous wails as their bodies disintegrated. I sent the soldiers who were trying to hold back Father flying, I say! 
“Huh?” Father gasped. 
“I believe you, Father,” I said. “I know that you didn’t do it. It’s a conspiracy, I say.” 
I gave my spear a twirl and turned to face Trash and Itsuki. 
“You wanted to keep me out of this so you could do as you pleased, but there won’t be much of that anymore, I say!” 
“How dare you!” Trash scowled at me, furious that I had upended his scheme. 
“So they were trying to take out Naofumi, huh?” 
I turned and saw that the suspicious words were uttered by none other than Ren. 
Hmm. I wanted to remain on guard, but this time around, for some reason it appeared that Ren had actually taken my side. So perhaps he would believe Father after all! 
But right now, my top priority is to protect Father. I turned to Father. 
“This is the second time I’ve come to protect you,” I declared. “So I’ll tell you now what I told you then.” 
Father tilted his head in confusion as I leaned close to him to proclaim the glorious truth: 
“I’ve come from the future to repay your kindness, Father!”