Kazemori Masaki was glad to see that Kana was largely unharmed. Ultimately, this incident had happened because he had not anticipated that the enemy would plant spies among the officials of the Land of Demons. He had also brought Kana here despite her having no combat training. He could not be blamed entirely—after all, he had never expected the situation in the Land of Demons to be like this—but he still felt guilty.
"I'm sorry, Miss Kana. I almost didn't make it in time, and I put you in danger." Kazemori Masaki leaned beside the paper door as he spoke.
"Why are you apologizing? This wasn't your fault, Mr. Kazemori." Kana did not blame him for the danger she had faced. "You protected our information very well. The enemy probably learned about me because the Land of Demons accidentally leaked it. If anyone deserves blame, it's their side."
"That may be true." Kazemori Masaki shook his head slightly. "But once I discovered who the enemy really was, I should have had someone escort you home. This mission wasn't as safe as I'd imagined."
"Mr. Kazemori, I've already said it wasn't your fault. The Land of Demons failed to fully investigate the situation," Kana said. "You can't foresee the future. Without accurate intelligence, you naturally can't make the right judgment. It's entirely understandable."
Kana's understanding left Kazemori Masaki at a loss for words. From a personal standpoint, it would have been perfectly natural for her to resent him after his mistake had put her in danger. Yet instead, she showed consideration for the difficulties he faced, which only made him feel guiltier.
"Miss Kana, aren't you afraid? If the enemy sneaks in again, I might not be able to protect you. This time, Miroku's prophecy warned me. Even without her warning,