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Beast Tamer Who Got Kicked Out From the Hero’s Party Chapter 110 Part 2

CHAPTER 110 PART 2

「Hmm…… If I’m to be completely honest, I think that she IS a good mother? I mean, she seems good, but a little bit TOO forceful for my taste. But it is precisely that kind of forcefulness that is also an act of caring for your daughter, wouldn’t you agree? So it’s like, she has her bad sides, but it’s also something that really cannot be helped? Something like that.」

「I see.」

And finally, there would be a question for Nina.

It is true that Nina is still a little child, but……

Because of that fact, she tends to view the world around here in a pure, unfiltered perspective.

So let’s try to rely on that trait.

「What do you think of this test, Nina?」

「Umm……?」

「Can you tell me what you think of it? Same thing as with Luna, first thing that comes to your mind.」

「Umm, this is…… I think it’s just what it is…… I don’t really think…… that there is any hidden meaning behind it…… It’s just that…… Yes, that’s what I…… I think……」

「So, just like Suzu-san said, it is a test that is meant to test the true strength of our bonds, right?」

「Y-Yes. I think so.」

「All right, I see. Thank you, Nina.

And that was it for the questions I could ask my party members.

Just as we finished doing that, I gently stroked Nina’s hair and patted her head.

「Alright! That is it for the questioning time! So come on now, Rein-san! If you would be so kind as to give us your answer, please!」

「Wait.」

「Oh my, could it be that you need a little bit more time to ponder your answer over? I don’t mind that at all, but just please don’t take too long with that, okay?」

「Wait, I haven’t finished asking my questions yet.」

「Oh my? What?」

「I still need to ask YOU a question, Suzu-san.」

「…… Oh my, I see.」

First with a grin on her face, Suzu-san then smiled.

It was a fun smile. It was a somewhat happy smile…… And yet there was also a trace of fearlessness to it.

「Yes, it’s fine. I suppose it would be unfair if you did not get the chance to ask me a question as well. You can ask me anything you want. Just one thing, though, okay? Don’t be greedy now.」

「Do you really think that bringing Kanade back with you to the Cat Spirit Tribe’s village the best thing for her?」

I didn’t hesitate to ask her that question for a single moment.

It was something that seemed completely unrelated to this test.

But for some reason, Suzu-san looked at me quizzically and paused for a long moment before giving me her answer.

「What do you mean by that?　Is this related to the test at all?」

「Maybe it’s relevant, maybe it’s not. Who can say? More importantly, can you answer me?」

「Well, yes, of course. I think that it is the best thing possible for Kanade-chan.」

「And why is that?」

「As I said before, Kanade-chan is still a child. She’s not ready to go outside of the village on her own and see the world for what it’s really like. That’s my reason for thinking that.」

「I see.」

「Are you satisfied now?」

「Yes. I think I know everything that I wanted to know now.」

The last question was actually just a bonus.

I simply wanted to know Suzu-san’s real thoughts regarding that matter.

In Suzu-san’s mind, Kanade was still but a small child……

Unless we can get her to change her mind throughout this test, Suzu-san will not be convinced.

We need to focus more on that aspect in the future.

But for now, about that first test?

This one is actually all done.

「Now then, please answer the question: who is the traitor who is collaborating with me during this test?

「The answer is……」

I then cast a quick glance at everyone present.

Tanya, Sora, Luna and Nina.

Which one of those people is collaborating with Suzu-san at the current moment?

「…… No one. No one is collaborating with you. That’s my answer.」

「…… I see.」

After saying it in a crisp voice, Suzu-san opened her eyes wide for a moment and ……

Then she looked at me with a somewhat amused look on her face.

「Wait, what do you mean by that? Could it be that you actually failed to understand the question that I imposed on you?

「No, that’s not it. That’s not it at all. The answer is that none of my dear companions is cooperating with you during this test, Suzu-san.」

「Oh my, I see, I see……」

「In my line of reasoning, you just said those words to make me feel suspicious about my friends and you wanted to chase me on a wild goose hunt, while the goose in question was never there…… That was your goal from the start, right, Suzu-san? TO sow doubt in my mind?」

「……………」

「Now, for example…… Let’s say that I would nominate Tanya as your collaborator. If I were to do that, it would cast a shadow on our relationship, and based on your information I would have doubted Tanya all the time, which would make me unable to bring myself to trust her entirely. Would that be called a bond of genuine trust? I don’t think so, no.」

「……………」

「So, the correct answer to this test is that no one here is collaborating with you, so there is no need for me to doubt any of my companions. So instead of being misled by some random words of a complete outsider, I am going to trust my companions with all of my heart. That’s the kind of answer that you were looking for, right, Suzu-san?」

There was a short moment of silence.

…… During which, Suzu-san smiled softly with the corners of her lips.

And then crackled and clapped her hands.

「Yes, that’s right. Brilliant. All in all, you are absolutely right, Rein-san.」

「Nyaah, Mom…… What the hell!? That was one heck of a nasty problem for Rein to tackle!」

「This is just another way to test the kind of bonds that you have with one another.」

Suzu-san replied to her daughter’s zit-eyes in a matter-of-fact tone of voice.

As expected, what else can I actually say here?

Suzu-san’s brazenness of nerve was far superior to any one of us, for sure.

「And yet, you were well aware of that fact, weren’t you? When did you realize the answer?」

「I wasn’t absolutely sure, but it was right at the very beginning, when you started to explain the test to us.」

「’What?　From the very beginning?」

It seems that this answer was completely unexpected, and Suzu-san made a surprised face.

But to me, it was a natural answer.

There’s no way any of my precious friends and comrades would be willing to help bring Kanade back home against her will.

Everyone believes in Kanade, relies on her, and wants her to stay with us.

That’s the only thing I believe and would never doubt that.

So I realized that everything that Suzu-san was saying was a bluff…… a mere lie.

When I told her that, Suzu-san rolled her eyes again……….and then she smiled gently.

「You can be proud of a companion like that.」