---I was still unhappy.

Of course, my feelings hardly matter to the mission. Overall, the outcome of retreat from that decorated fiend was enough to ensure continued progress towards out goal.

But it meant that twisted thing, with a presence that made my stomach turn, had yet to be destroyed. I'd hoped we would kill it before it escaped, but...

It fled before we could do anything.

---But that's not it.

I knew I'd sensed a similar presence from Sagramore-san. Or, I suppose, his true name... Shilage. It explains some things I had yet to question, though I admittedly had not been immediately concerned for them. While I have a dislike for the men of Edren, if he contributed to our overall goal it was not my place to voice further opposition. And, so far, he had.

But this---

This is something I didn't expect. I knew I'd detected an unpleasantness to him that went beyond my initial enmity with the people of his homeland. But I had no ability to place it, and as his performance in service of our duty was worthwhile, I had not chosen to pursue my misgivings further.

But now...

How is it that Izayoi-dono has remained unbothered? I can't understand it. Knowing the true source of this presence that has licked at the corner of my senses has only made it worse.

---But he has still performed well and done his best to serve our shared goal.

He---

I open my mouth, and slowly shut it.

He is wrong. I know that. To do such things simply for one's own selfish reasons, to invite a demon into your body, is not something I could ever considerable to be the correct path.

But his contributions also cannot be ignored. Accomplishing the goal of the mission at all costs is an ideal that has been ingrained into me for nearly my entire life, and using his past mistake in order to forge ahead is certainly the definition of 'all costs'.

"..."

My own discomfort, too, should not interfere with the mission.

But---

...

I avert my eyes from Shilage-san for a few moments, cast downwards, my teeth clenched.

Slowly, I relax my jaw, my gaze raising once more.

This has been the situation from the very beginning, since I was assigned this task. This truth, no matter how discomforting I may find it, does not change the objective.

"... I do not like it."

I am almost surprised by my own words. Expressing such things when they could disrupt our objective---

What am I thinking? I nearly clamp my jaw shut, and force myself not to speak.

"However, you have used this mistake to reach towards our goal. That, at least---"

I avert my gaze once more.

"---Is something worthwhile."