"The above is how Kiss of Death assesses the trainee members. Pen? Interesting? Pavilion wWw. ｂiquge。 infoMiss Alex, what do you think? ”

Explaining the situation as she walked, Shalom asked Alex for advice as she reached a short distance from the blacksmith's workshop.

In her sight, Alex crossed her arms and nodded slightly.

"It's worthy of the kiss of death that gathers a large number of weirdos, and the internal assessment method is also very strange."

Hearing her answer, Salom bowed slightly in agreement.

"Miss Alex is right about that, I spend all day with those weirdos, and the pressure on my side is increasing day by day."

“...... Why was Miss Salom able to rightfully remove herself from the ranks of eccentrics? ”

Ignoring Alex's complaints, Salom shook her head and continued.

"It's true that there isn't a single normal person in the organization other than me and His Highness Ciel, and the whole organization is weird, as Miss Alex said, but that's not the crux of the matter." Salom said with a serious face, "Even if it's such a strange organization...... No, it should be said that it is precisely because of such a strange organization that there is unshakable persistence in strange places. This assessment method is one of them - if His Highness Hill really can't accomplish the goal in the designated route, even if he is the trump card that pins the future and hope of the organization, the president will probably remove him without hesitation. ”

…… Rather, that's what that bastard old man really purposed. Salom meditated in her mind. But there's no need to tell Alex about this kind of thing for the time being. Thinking so, Salom looked at the girl in front of her with inquiring eyes.

"Or is it better for you from Miss Alex's point of view?"

"Huh? Why do you think that? Alex tilted her head in confusion.

“…… If you cut off the relationship with the kiss of death, your Highness Hill and your companion will surely be more closely connected, won't you? ”

"No, no, no, until then, we need Kiss of Death's intelligence."

…… I don't think that the failure of His Highness Hill's assessment will affect this aspect, originally he was commissioned by Miss Alex before this, and although the specific person who took over the commission was His Highness Hill, the main body was the "Kiss of Death...... What's more, if the president's previous prediction was correct, this is not only a kiss of death, but even a big event that the whole world cannot stay out of. No one can escape from the flood that is about to come.

Thinking like this, Salom was just about to speak, when he saw the girl's natural expression slowly soften.

"......And even though it's my personal judgment, I don't think Ciel would want to leave the kiss of death."

After all, this is the whole of that guy's life so far, and in a sense, it can be said that it is his destination. Even if the three noes are suddenly cut off, they will probably be as painful as a kite with a broken string. There is a place to go back to to embark on a journey in the true sense, otherwise it is just a rootless drift. It was because Alex had had that experience that he could assert that it was better for Hill to keep the bond anyway.

Salom could see her thoughts in the girl's expression, and the touches in her heart were intricately intertwined, and she was forcefully suppressed.

"In that case, then we have agreed on the goal. Miss Alex, when are you going to leave? Without further ado, I'll send you off now......"

"No, no, no, you wait for me." Alex stretched out her hand and made a pause gesture: "I do understand the importance of the assessment in detail, but why do you need me to catch up and help?" ”

After tilting her head and thinking for a while, she continued: "That's the content of the assessment, right? Kill the thugs within the allotted distance...... I, who have neither attack power nor killing experience, can't even think of helping that agile and murderous Hill, right? ”

"What do you say to kill people like hemp...... Miss Alex, be careful with your words. His Highness Hill has only beheaded more than 400 heads so far. ”

"It's called murder, according to common sense."

"But there is one thing I must tell you, Miss Alex. The number of villains that His Highness has slain so far is exactly the same as the number of missions he has completed. ”

“.…..”

Miss Alex's eyes widened slightly.

"That is......"

"That's right, His Highness Hill has never killed anyone other than his target. In a sense, I don't have any experience with this as much as you do. ”

“.…..”

There is something ridiculous about Shalom's words. It is impossible for a rational person to make such a clear distinction between the current and other moments of the task. Memories and feelings are both things that flow, and it is logically impossible to completely tear them apart into two distinct parts depending on the situation...... But if it's that Hill, it's a different story.

At least according to Alex's current understanding of this companion, it is not impossible for the three noes to treat the "crusade" in the mission differently. Because the task demanded that he do that, it was a matter of course, and it was a completely unnecessary hesitation and trouble for that Hill. Killing people but not killing people, stained with blood but pure and unsullied, this is Hill.

…… It's like a dusty statue of the Son. Alex thought to herself.

In this way, it is clear that although more than 400 villains have been killed in the past, there is no personal will on Hill's part. The boy who had been acting mechanically only according to the instructions of the mission, and suddenly let him choose the target of his own will, Alex could almost imagine the chaotic scene. Not to mention......

-- I don't understand what is good and what is evil.

When they met for the first time, Ciel's words echoed in the girl's ears, and Alex slowly tasted the bitter feelings inside.

Why, will it be forgotten? Alex's self-reproach flowed in the bottom of her heart, and she was ashamed to say that she wanted to be a companion, but who was the person who let that guy go on his own now. Isn't this the most critical moment, I'm stupid!

- If that guy can't tell the difference between good and evil, wouldn't it be up to me to choose the villain who should be punished by heaven?

Thinking so, Alex looked up at Salom with a resolute expression.

"I see, I'll go."

Hearing Alex's answer, and seeing the girl's expression, a smile gradually appeared on Salom's face.

"Worthy of His Highness Hill's companion. Then without further ado......"

"Until then, I'm going to go to the front and get my gear back."

“…… With that level of defense and that level of attack, I don't see any difference between Miss Alex wearing gear and wearing weapons. ”

"This, this is that! Something like the dignity of a warrior or a credential! It's conventional! A clerical like you won't understand. Hearing her words, Alex retorted with a flushed face.

"Yes."

Salom ended the conversation lightly.

Looking at the blacksmith's furnace in front of her, which was getting closer and closer, Alex suddenly thought of something-

"Then again, is this assessment unsupervised?"

Hearing her question, Salom turned her head slightly.

"That's right. And it doesn't matter if someone supervises, Alex's assist counts as an act within the rules. ”

Even if it wasn't, I'd make it a yes. Salom thought silently.

"No, I didn't mean that." Alex waved her hand slightly: "If there is no supervision, won't there be a lot of problems?" You see, you deviate from the direction in the middle of the way, kill half of the good people who are not the villains, or lie that you have completed it even though you didn't finish it......"

"It's not going to happen."

Salom replied without thinking.

"Because the kiss of death has no value like that at all."

"......' doesn't have that value'?"

Salom tilted her head sideways to fix Alex's face.

"It's the value of being sure to join even if you deceive others and deceive yourself."

"Ah......" Alex seemed to realize.

Ignoring her reaction, Salom continued.

"At the end of the day, the people gathered in Kiss of Death are strange people with the same childish beliefs. Even if you become a full member, it won't do anyone good if you don't have that belief. And the way of assessment is not so much an external test, but rather a questionnaire on the inner heart of the trainees - what is justice and what is death, walking on the road that cannot be turned back and cannot be turned, they are essentially questioning themselves. People who don't get an answer, who don't find a path worth sticking to in the future, won't come back here. ”

“…… Is it. Alex looked down and whispered, then jerked her head up again, "Huh? In that case, is it really good for me to help Hill cheat? That's a bit of a rude to those people, right? ”

Alex, who looked up, saw Salom's expression of seriousness that she had never seen before.

"Even then, even if it were to ruin the efforts of those people, I would not let His Highness Hill leave the kiss of death." As she spoke, she stared at Alex with her eyes, "What about Miss Alex?" Do you have such an awareness? ”

After thinking for a moment, Alex gently raised her head to meet her eyes.

"...... suddenly terminated the contract with the ace staff who had worked hard for him for many years, which is obviously an improper dismissal...... Did I say that? I hate misconduct. ”

Hearing the answer, Salom sighed softly: "It's really annoying to ...... tsundere character." ”

"Hey! Who do you say is tsundere! Alex blushed and protested loudly.

By this time, they had already walked to the blacksmith's furnace. Seeing them, Torotaro, who was still fanning, and Melly, who was sitting on it, waved to them together.

"Ahh It's Sister Salom and Sister Luna! ”

"Who's that!?" Alex complained loudly.

Finally, I can't match a word? What the hell is this annoying feature?

Despite thinking so, Alex tried to smile.

"That...... Merry-chan, the equipment I put here before will be maintained next time. Can you give it to me now? ”

"Ahh That has already been fixed? ”

"Huh?" Alex blinked, "It's only been a few hours here?" ”

"Hmmm! That one...... I'll give it to you now! Mr. Torotaro, please let me go. ”

As Torotaro lifted Melly from her shoulders to the ground, Alex turned her head to look at Shalom.

"It's really efficient here."

"Probably because of half dwarven blood...... Although it has been said that 'dwarves are good at making equipment' is a prejudice, it doesn't seem to be unfounded. ”

"Huh? Dwarf? Alex turned her head and looked at the working blacksmith's body: "...... It's just an ordinary human being, right? ”

"I'm not talking about Mr. Tamu." Salom glanced at her lightly, "I'm talking about Miss Melly. ”

"Huh? Huh!? ”

Alex was dumbfounded, her mouth open and closed, and she could only react in such a monotonous manner.

"Wait, wait, do you mean Melly-chan who helped me maintain my gear?"

"Who else could it be? By the way, she is the maker of the gear you use. Ah, His Highness Hill's weapons were also specially made by Miss Melly. ”

“.…..” Alex, who was silent, followed the side with her eyes and jumped up, showing her innocence Lori, with an unacceptable expression on her face: "You mean that kid who doesn't look like he's eight years old?" ”

"Miss Melly is twenty-three years old this year."

“.…..”

"But Miss Alex is right in terms of the lifespan of the dwarves, after all, the dwarves are one of the longest-lived races in the world."

"...... really?"

Salom turned his head and glanced at her, "What's the matter, Miss Alex, she suddenly realized it was a slug-like expression when she was eating a snail feast on her face. ”

“…… What a look on that face? ”

At this moment, little Melly jumped up and ran over with Alex's previous light armor and weapons.

"Here, Sister Luna."

"I still don't know who you're calling, but you don't have to call me sister anymore in the future......"

"Huh? Why? Melly stared up at Alex, her round black eyes blinking under her delicate shredded hair.

“…… No, nothing. ”

Unable to say anything to that innocent and innocent look, Alex finally had to look away.