Sara exhaled softly and complied.
She wouldn't get the answers she sought if she refused anyway.
'It's tiring, being with him.'
How many times had she thought this?
She wasn't even sure anymore.
But she was certain she didn't want to live with him for the rest of her life.
If circumstances were different--if they weren't sharing the same body--there was a 100 percent guarantee she wouldn't entertain or tolerate such a person.
'What have I done to be cursed like this?' Sara thought.
"How was it? Delicious, isn't it?"
Kujou Sara didn't need to look at him to know what expression was on his face when he asked that.
She'd just ruin her appetite if she looked.
Still, it was indeed tasty. She faced his direction, closed her eyes so she wouldn't see his face, and gave him the most cheerful, heart-throbbing, delightful smile she could muster.
"Yes, verily, you're the best!"
Then she returned to eating, her expression reverting to its original state as if nothing had happened.
"This is..." Dantalion's voice trailed off. "I knew it... You're learning from the best of the best—from me, after all..." Tears welled up in his eyes, his mouth and eyebrows beginning to quiver.
"Sara... You've learned my technique! I'm so proud!" He covered his face with his left hand, looking upward as if to hold back the already copious--comical--amount of tears running down his face.
Atsuko, who had been watching in silence, slowly turned away.
---
Fortunately, Dantalion stopped his shenanigans after five seconds.
He changed the subject altogether. Perhaps out of embarrassment?
Could be.
After putting on his newly created earbuds--ones that only worked near his car--he decided to continue explaining what he wanted to do with Atsuko to Kujou Sara.
He had to tell her about this. It would be weird not to when Kujou Sara had direct contact with Atsuko.
Unlike his system users--something Kujou Sara was completely oblivious to--Atsuko was different.
Dantalion didn't see the need to tell Kujou Sara about things he did outside her perception.
Still, if Kujou Sara somehow noticed them, he'd just tell her directly.
Just because he'd given up on trying to be known didn't mean all his actions had to be hidden.
Still, if he were honest about why, he'd simply think: 'What are they going to do about it anyway?'
None of these people could do anything about it unless, of course, said people were on the same level as Ei or equivalent.
There is also the option of finding someone of Ei's caliber to help them.
Perhaps they'd be able to do something. It depended on whether it went against their interests, though.
So yeah, none of these people would do anything.
As he continuously performed the art of dual-tasking by eating and talking here and there, he finished explaining his arrangements for Atsuko's parents.
Dantalion hadn't discussed the technical matters, just that he wanted a house that possessed certain qualities.
He didn't even bother asking what Atsuko wanted, even though it was actually for her family.
It wasn't that he didn't care what she thought, but he knew this woman didn't really have an idea what she wanted on the topic. Knowing Atsuko was fine with whatever as long as it was comfortable, he decided he'd just do as she wanted--a "whatever"-- thus he presented her with whatever he wanted.
"Hm, I see." As Kujou Sara listened to whatever Dantalion was saying, she couldn't help but comment, glancing at Atsuko before looking back at Dantalion.
"And what could be the reason you decided to give these benefits to Atsuko?"
Sara failed to see anything beyond Atsuko's courage to commit blasphemy against Her Majesty, the Almighty Narukami Ogosho, God of Thunder.
She couldn't deny that Atsuko had impressive will and courage. Beyond that, nothing.
If Atsuko couldn't even attract the gaze of the gods in her favor enough to be granted a Vision, it just meant that Atsuko's will, though impressive--even topping many others--wasn't exceptional enough.
Still, she had to know. For someone like Dantalion, a self-centered, self-serving animal, it was unusual.
Kujou Sara wouldn't cloud her judgment with biased views. After all, while a Vision was a good indicator of an excellent specimen, it wasn't the only factor.
How could a person's entire talent and capabilities be disregarded just because of a shiny, magic rock?
A lawyer who obtained a Vision didn't stop being a lawyer. One simply became a lawyer who happened to also have a Vision.
The experience, talents, and capabilities of an individual didn't become obsolete and nonexistent just because they didn't have anything that physically indicated it.
It just happened that no one could see it.
And that was something Kujou Sara wanted to see right now.
"She said she wants to travel."
"That's it?"
"Yeah. I asked her to tell me about her experiences and discoveries during said travels."
Kujou Sara didn't reply. She fixed her eyes on Atsuko and observed the eating woman, even probing and scanning Atsuko's body with her energy to see anything noteworthy.
Besides the now-healed forearm, nothing seemed remarkable.
'What could he have seen in her?'
'Should I send someone to investigate her?'
'I'll keep an eye on her.'
'I can't see it--'
"Don't bother looking. I don't think there's anything special about her myself."
Dantalion cut her thoughts short, giving her the answer straight out.
"Though it's interesting how she's just short of obtaining a Vision in terms of criteria, I doubt she'd get one even if she fit it."
He said this without lowering his voice or making any effort to say it only to Kujou Sara. Dantalion uttered it normally, as one would talk about the weather.
Did Atsuko also hear what he said?
Of course she did.
However, Atsuko felt it was natural. Not even a slight tremor disturbed her emotions. It was, after all, the truth.
While her failed escape may have been influenced by strong emotional turmoil, it didn't mean she'd become blind and left logical thinking to sink in the ocean.
Besides, it wasn't like she wanted a Vision anyway.
She just desired the means to do what she wanted.
Also, Atsuko doubted that even with a Vision, she probably wouldn't get to do exactly what she wanted. Just something she instinctively felt.
Also evident with how Vision holders in Inazuma were getting dragged around and having theirs confiscated--yeah, not so absolute as to do what she wanted.
However, there was something that made her stop eating and stare wide-eyed at Dantalion.
"W-wait, I'm just short of obtaining a Vision?!"
"In criteria, yes."
'When was it?!' Atsuko couldn't help but think.
Okay, Atsuko might not entirely not want a Vision.
Wasn't it better to have a gun on standby, even if you'd probably never use it, than not to have one at all in time of need?
It was like that for Atsuko at this moment. Even though she initially didn't want one, she couldn't help but be curious, knowing she could have gained one.
Being acknowledged by the gods was an honor many would never experience, even after their death.
So, when was it, and what could she have done differently at that moment to obtain one?
But she didn't know how to ask properly, not now when she was this excited. She still had the rationality to be polite, especially in front of the General and this man, despite her almost uncontrollable joy right now.
Atsuko would have a story to tell her parents later.
Dantalion placed his plate atop the table, having already finished his dinner faster than the two.
Sitting back in his chair, he glanced at Atsuko, then brought his gaze back to stare at nothing.
His fingers were interlocked, his hands placed atop his stomach as he reclined the chair slightly, his elbows on the armrests.
"You're not going to ask when and how?"
He'd told her these things on purpose.
To have something to talk about until he dropped a surprise on Kujou Sara later.
"You should say directly what you want. I can't know what you want to know until you let me know about it."
It also ignited curiosity in Kujou Sara about Atsuko and what he knew about her.
This was good.
She was interested.
"Uh... I have an unrelated question first!" Atsuko raised her hand subconsciously, her thumb at the same height as her eye.
"Ask away." A smile was on his face, but he didn't turn to look at Atsuko, continuing to stare at nothing in front of him.
"Couldn't you just read my mind as you did before?"
"And what, so you wouldn't have to do anything?"
"I... Yeah--I apologize, it was a stupid question..."
As Atsuko was ready to drop it, Kujou Sara answered instead.
"He can't read your thoughts. It's just his way of predicting what you'll do next based on your history, personality, and mood."
Sara didn't hide it. There was no need to. She hadn't received any command about keeping it a secret, nor did she see anything that would negatively affect Atsuko despite knowing this information.
Besides, she could do it too, albeit not as efficiently as he.
"Still, he possesses an ability that could achieve something akin to 'mind reading.'"
"So if you ever experience something like every single thing that happened in your life flashing in very quick, almost instantaneous flashes, he's likely probing your mind for something."
Dantalion had explained this in the car on the way here before he brought Atsuko over. She wasn't sure--she was on the verge of sleep when he was talking about it—but she got the general idea behind how it worked.
Out of concern for Atsuko, Kujou Sara asked, "Have you experienced such things upon meeting him?"
"...No, I fortunately haven't yet, General."
"Mm, it's rare for him to use it." Sara agreed. So far, he'd only used it on hilichurls and, when they encountered one, on a yokai, but rarely humans.
After saying that, she returned her focus to finishing her food, intending to just listen again.
Since Atsuko had received the answer to her question, Dantalion decided to start with "when" Atsuko was near to meeting all the criteria for a Vision.
"It happened during and before your escape."
Atsuko listened. Now she knew when it happened.
However, she couldn't pinpoint what action exactly made her almost obtain a Vision.
She didn't really have to think about it, as it would probably be answered later anyway. Therefore, Atsuko just gave up thinking about it and continued listening.
"During those two periods, your will to leave Inazuma was so strong you didn't even think of the consequences in case you failed, right?"
Atsuko nodded.
"But why did you do that?"
He asked, though in his mind, Atsuko's answer was already formed.
She gave a simple answer, even though the General was just a few steps away from her.
"...I don't like oppression."
"Right. Atsuko, during those two periods, you decided that once you successfully left Inazuma, you'd never come back until the 'oppression' stops."
At that, Kujou Sara understood.
And Dantalion vocalized it.
"You chose to escape."
---
Chapter End
-Can we get this fic to at least have 10 reviews? I will release 5 Chapters at once if/when we hit that number. Webnovel doesn't show the ratings unless there are at least 10 reviews.