Arifureta Chapter 463

Myuu’s Spring Vacation   Third Part (Middle)

A lot of noises were resounding far above the sky.

How to describe it? If it had to be described plainly, it was a  sailing ship that was grabbed and abducted by a black dragon……or  something like that.

The machine dragon was modeled after Tio’s black dragon mode. It  spread out its collapsible wings majestically. Its four thick legs were  gripping the four corners of a galleon without mast to carry it on the  sky.

However, the size was even greater than the actual dragon. Even just  the ship part might have the total length of a hundred meter.

The ship was made from wood with a keel that drew a beautiful curve.  Height-wise it was most likely equal to a three layers structure. The  deck was made spaciously with width around twenty meters. The deck  became two layers structure from the bow to the stern, so in actuality  the height from both ends was equal to five layers.

Just like a battleship from Middle Age, there were many cannons  peeking out from both sides and both ends. Especially the bow’s cannon.  It was decorated to look like a dragon’s head with its jaw opened wide.  It drew an imposing figure.

「Uu~nn……」

The one who was letting out such conflicted groan was Kouki who was inside the head part of that black dragon.

The internal area that had the space of ten meters to the four  directions had nothing at all inside. In exchange the surrounding was  very visible.

Actually this head part had its whole surfaces made from a kind of  magic mirror so the outside was clearly visible. In short, it was the  observation deck. It was also possible to move the long neck to some  degree, so it could move to far above the torso part or conversely get  closer to the ship part at the bottom.

Right now it was also being slightly lowered, so the situation at the lower deck was clearly visible.

「Even though he completely ignored my request, the work itself  doesn’t cut any corner……it’s really well made. It’s so well made it’s  irritating!」

Kouki was standing while crossing his arms at the center of the room. There he was muttering to himself.

His gaze was directed at below his feet, through the transparent floor and toward the deck.

There were a lot of people on the deck. They were the feudal lords of  the territories where he would go sightseeing after this, along with  their family or perhaps aides.

It looked like they were unable to suppress their excitement from  riding a flying ship for the first time in their life. They were leaning  forward while holding on the handrail to look down on the ground below.  They were clapping their hands in high spirits seeing the sight of the  flowing clouds from above.

There were also Moana along with Spenser and several royal guards who  accompanied her as bodyguards there. They were similarly enjoying the  sky travel.

Also, Donal, Linden, and Anneal were staying behind. There was no way  that the leaders of the army and the blessing art users could also be  absent from the capital. Anneal too, the feudal lords of the territories  that Kouki’s group didn’t plan to visit were remaining behind in the  capital, so she needed to be there to deal with them as the head maid.  Even if she came along in this trip, it would be the territories they  visited that would be in charge of entertaining Kouki’s group, so there  would be nothing much for her to do.

In addition, Lilin was also staying behind. She insisted that she  would absolutely come along too, but she had left the royal guards  because of her own wish to be at the frontline. It would be just too  convenient for her to rejoin the royal guards at this point just because  of her personal feeling. Lilin was unable to say anything back when her  majesty the queen pointed that out.

If that’s the case, my only chance is tonight! Lilin said that with an animalistic gaze. As for what in the world she did to Kouki at the night……

It could be easily guessed from the way Kouki’s face turned bright  red just from a single sidelong glance from Lilin when she came to see  them off. By the way, this morning Moana and Lilin came out together  from Kouki’s room. (by Anneal-san’s info)

Getting back to the topic.

Regardless of what happened, when he was watching the cheerful atmosphere at the deck,

「Even though I thought that flying ship with Star War* design would absolutely be better」

This also wasn’t bad, he thought. No, rather he thought that this was better.

Yes, this flying ship with unconventional style was none other than  one of the means of transportation that Hajime gave to Kouki for the  “World tree branches’ revival plan”.

At first, Kouki made a request about designing the ship.

Kouki too was a boy, so he couldn’t stop himself from feeling buoyant that he would receive his own personal flying ship.

And, even though he wasn’t knowledgeable about manga or anime, he was  familiar with most world-wide popular movies. Especially Sta* Wars. He  loved it ever since he was little.

And so Kouki told Hajime with a cheerful grin, Give me Millenium Falco*.

He also said, if possible, can you also load it with X-Wi*g for just in case?

In addition, he also wanted the ship to be installed with this and  that from Star *ars that at the end he meddled with Hajime’s blueprint  as he pleased……

Kouki didn’t know. What would happen when a creator found their blueprint got revised outside of their knowledge.

Hajime was all-smiles. He said 「Leave it to me!」 with a smiling face and a thumb up.

Kouki went I’ll be able to ride that Falco*! With great joy. He was too joyful that he didn’t see it. The pulsing vein behind Hajime’s front bangs.

Kouki also didn’t notice just how abnormal it was that Hajime was accepting his demand without even a single complaint.

As the result, when he received the message that it was completed and  excitedly went to the “Miniature Garden” that was used as dock to take a  look……

A Middle Age style wooden ship was docked there. Furthermore, for some reason it also had dragon thingy attached on top of it.

It went without saying that Kouki’s eyes shrunk like a dot seeing that. My Millenium Falc*n, where……He muttered.

According to Hajime.

『I was just going to make a plain sailing ship but, I got motivated  for some reason. Might as well, so I styled it like Granblu*’s airship.  It’s wonderful right? You can thank me to death.』

He said. And he said it while puffing out his chest. His face was  wonderfully smug, with not even the slightest bit of guilt from  completely ignoring Kouki’s request could be seen from him.

It went without saying that Kouki grabbed Hajime’s collar after that. My Millenium Falc*n, WHEREEEEEE!! He yelled. Because, he didn’t know anything about Gra*blue.

By the way, unlike that airship, the dragon part was constructed with  four legs grabbing the ship because those four legs were used as stair  or elevator.

In other words, the dragon part could be entered. Kouki couldn’t  directly manipulate magic power, so he needed to use bangle shaped  remote control artifact to control the ship, or entered the steering  room to directly steer the ship from there.

The core of the ship was that steering room. The appearance of that  room was also made from wood, due to some kind of fixation from Hajime  that he didn’t know about. There were things like wooden steering wheel,  leather sofa, and other furniture there that looked aged even though  they were all brand new.

There were also storage space and communication device, workbench and  equipment to create map, etc. Things that were necessary for  investigation each world were packed in there. All of them were arranged  to have Middle Age style.

Even though the inside of the galleon part below was made from metal  everywhere, here Hajime went out of his way lay out wooden boards,  furthermore he also  deliberately stained them too, creating the feeling  of “a ship that had been used for a long time during the Middle Age”.  It was truly pointlessly refined pointless technique and pointless  fixation.

Of course, even though it had such interior it was also properly  installed with convenient electrical appliances. There was also no lack  of bathroom and toilet. There was even golem provided for maintaining  and cleaning the inside of the ship.

Because of that even though Kouki was extremely sulky, the ship’s  craftsmanship itself had nothing that could be complained about, he was  convincing himself that it would be ungrateful of him to find fault with  a ship this amazing but……

「Certainly it’s good to be able to easily look outside like this for  an exploration ship. Besides, it’s easier for Koone and others to  understand about flying in the sky through riding a ship that they’re  familiar with rather than a spaceship. This type of ship is easier to  approach……」

If Kouki took out Millenium *alcon in this world, it would create a  situation that was truly “an encounter with the unknown”. There was no  doubt that the residents of this world would become bewildered by the  ship’s science fiction internal structure rather than enjoying the  outside scenery.

Or perhaps, they would go How can a round lump of metal like this fly in the sky!?, and they would be trembling with fear of the ship crashing down throughout the journey.

If that happened then surely a lot of people wouldn’t be able to  immerse themselves in feeling moved of flying through the sky, no doubt  about it.

In other words, this appearance was spot on for usage in this desert world.

「Shit, it’s frustrating for some reason……」

He didn’t know whether Hajime had anticipated until that far ahead  but, either way he couldn’t wipe away this feeling of defeat. He  completely imagined the figure of Hajime pointing his finger at him  while bending backward so far his back arched like a bridge like a  certain pirate empress.

It was then, some noisy giggling and boisterous sound were approaching.

There were three presences going out of their way to run up the  stairs inside the neck part even though the stairs were functioning like  escalator. There was no door in this observation deck so the sounds  echoed very clearly.

「Dum duu—mm, arriving here! Is the ultra chipper Kooneeee!!」

「And Myuuu!!」

「A-and Hinataaa……」

Koone and Myuu made their entrance with wide smile and both hands  raised in banzai pose. Hinata was the only one looking shy, but she was  copying the two with her cheeks flushed red looking like she was having a  great time.

「You three, it looks like you are having fun.」

Kouki’s gaze softened while he chuckled smilingly.

「Naturally. Rather, is there a reason why anyone can’t have fun here!? Koone said as Koone pressed a question back instead!」

Koone once had the experience of flying in the sky on Grim Gryphon  but, as expected it was different then riding on a flying ship. Kouki  could see that she was enjoying this sky travel with her whole being.

In fact, she had been dragged by Myuu and Hinata this whole time until now exploring the inside of the ship.

「Especially this transparent floor! The ship below also has the same  structure! It’s like we’re sliding on the sky while floating still in  the air, kuuu~~~~~h, it’s unbearable! Koone never thought that a scary  experience with your safety guaranteed can be this fun! It’s a new  frontier for Koone!!」

It was just as Koone said, the ship at the bottom also had magic  mirror as floor. Of course, it was using alloy that was made using age  of god magic and boasted a solidity that couldn’t be compared with  reinforced glass, so it wouldn’t break easily even in battle.

It was a convenient function for during investigation, being able to  see the whole area below from the ship’s bottom. As long as one had  magic power, it would be possible to also operate the floor itself like  touch panel to activate zoom function or projection function.

「Certainly it was thrilling. It made my heart skipped a beat.」

「Fuh, it looks like Ku-chan and Hina-chan have been awakened to the pleasure of attraction like jet coaster, nano.」

It was totally unexpected. Actually Hinata-chan had no experience with shriek inducing attraction it seemed.

She had experience going to an amusement park itself that had been  fully reserved, but at that time her height was simply insufficient for  riding such attraction.

And then, after she grew tall enough that she would be able to,  seeing a theme park that had no one except staffs even though it was a  theme park was lightly traumatizing (it was the doing of the idiot  parent Taisei papa), that after that her vacation was mostly done at  resort spot abroad in the end……that was how.

By the way, Myuu too wasn’t tall enough but she had experienced such  attraction. Yue-oneechan’s metamorphosis magic was excellent. Doing  something like shrinking or growing someone for ten centimeters wasn’t  hard.

「W-well, it’s great that you three are having fun. Ah, right right. We’re going to arrive at Arquette in around twenty minutes.」

「Already!? A distance that would took one whole day even after  forcefully spurring arous in just two hours! How revolutionary! Koone’s  worldly desire is boiling up to an unprecedented degree!」

Koone was greedily staring at the ship frame through the transparent  surface. Certainly as a queen this was something that she would  desperately want, no doubt about it.

「Fufu, it’ll be troubling if you’re surprised by just this much yeah, nano!」

「Mi-chan! What do you mean by that!?」

「The speed of papa’s ship shouldn’t be just this much nano! This  ship’s speed is still limited by Kouki-oniisan even like this! So that  everyone can enjoy the trip!」

Right!? Myuu asked with a crisp gaze toward Kouki.

Kouki nodded even while smiling wryly.

「Yeah, it’s like Myuu-chan said. I’m keeping the speed down a lot I  guess? ……I was told that it can rival fighter jet if I seriously pour in  the magic power after all.」

In other words, it was a supersonic flying ship. The driving force  was using gravity control, also with barrier to deal with the wind  resistance, so it stood to reason. If he wanted, this ship could even  dive underwater using that barrier function.

It used Oscar’s magic submarine that Hajime saw during their travel  to Tortus, specifically at their visit to the underwater ruin as  reference.

「It’s amazing isn’t it! This──」

「It’s amazing. This──」

「Black Dragon ship!」

「Endeavour.」

Koone and Kouki looked at each other while grinning. A second passed  and they both went 「Hm?」 and tilted their head to each other.

「Err……this ship’s name is Black Dragon isn’t it?」

「Eh? No, it’s Endeavour though……」

Koone was bewildered. She slowly looked toward Myuu.

Kouki too was drawn by that and looked at Myuu.

Myuu looked astonished.

「E-Endeavour?」

「Eh, yeah that’s right……have you never heard about Captain Cook? I got the name from that person’s exploration ship.」

「……But……this ship, has dragon nano……」

「Yeah, true. Eh? But, didn’t you hear? Nagumo told me that it’s fine if I name this ship, so……」

「B-but……papa  also told Myuu that it’s a lovely name……」

「Eh? Ee?」

There Hinata raised her hand with a really conflicted face that didn’t know what to say.

「Um, Amanogawa-sama」

「What is it, Hinata-chan?」

「At the lower part of the bow, there is a magnificent engraving of “Black Dragon” written in English……」

「You’re lying right?」

Kouki controlled the neck. He stretched it until the limit that it  caused the people on the deck to wonder what he was doing. Meanwhile  Kouki peered at the ship’s frame, at the slightly lower part of the bow.

Certainly, there were the words Black Dragon written in English with cursive style.

Even though when he accepted the ship, he definitely remembered that spot had the word Endeavour written in English too there.

「Ah, come to think of it that guy gave me a treasure warehouse right  before departure saying things about additional supply or what-not……」

「Amanogawa-sama. This is just my speculation but……」

「No, you don’t need to finish! I already realized it-」

The nerve of that idiot parent demon king. After giving permission to  Kouki to name the ship, he rewrote it right before the departure.

This was just his guess but, he must have shown Myuu a picture or  something of the flying ship that she would ride on her trip. Seeing  that Myuu must have innocently called it 「Black Dragon」 and Hajime heard  it. Then, the ship is Black Dragon, he said.

Myuu seemed to have realized it too.

「If Kouki-oniisan, prefer Endeavour then……err, we can rewrite it somehow even right now nano!」

Myuu’s gaze ran over the Black Dragon’s hull with reluctance, then  she resigned herself even though she was feeling a bit dejected because  Kouki had named the ship first.

Even though he hadn’t done anything bad, the feeling of guilt was crushing. Kouki’s expression was twitching.

An additional blow hit him at that timing.

「Uwaa, Kouki-sama, this is really putting off. To think that you want  to prioritize your own incomprehensible naming even if it make a small  child like this sad……Koone is getting disillusioned!」

「I’m not saying anything like that right!? It’s fine, Myuu-chan! This  ship’s name is Black Dragon! It sounds strong and cool! And it’s easy  to understand too!」

「Kouki-oniisana, you don’t need to force yourself nano. That naming’s  exactly as how it looks like ain’t it. It just a name that a kid  thought of after all. Lamee……that’s written all over your face nano.」

「There’s no way that’s written on my face! I’m not thinking anything  like that! No, really! It’s a great name isn’t it-, Black Dragon! I can  feel the powerfulness! I can’t think anything better than that! Thank  you, Myuu-chan!」

「……」

Myuu’s suspecting gaze stabbed Kouki. No, Koone and Hinata were also  giving him a stare that was saying 「Are you really thinking so?」.

Kouki ordered his face muscles with all his strength. Smile! Don’t  make the little girls’ smiles clouded, hero! Hide your true feeling with  a bright smile! He commanded. He wasn’t thinking anything like what a simplistic naming, he wasn’t!

It seemed that battle of the hero ended with victory somehow.

「Myu……if Kouki-oniisan is fine with that then」

「I’m fine, fine. Rather I prefer that name.」

「……Fuh, if Kouki-san is saying that much then it can’t be helped nano. This ship’s name is Black Dragon nano!」

「「Oo~~」」

Hinata and Koone were clapping. Myuu was also puffing out her chest happily.

The smiles of the little girls were protected. This was the hero’s victory.

「Well, Koone doesn’t understand the meaning but, Koone think that  hero-sama’s naming sense also isn’t bad. It’ll surely get used next  time. Koone guarantee it.」

「Thanks for the kind words.」

Koone gently patted his shoulder *pon pon*. Seeing her consoling gaze  toward him, he was feeling a sense of defeat as expected. He wondered  why that was.

Kouki sighed. He suddenly felt really tired. One person called out to Kouki who was like that with a worried tone.

『Kouki-sama, are you alright? You looked tired……should I take your place in operating the ship?』

「No, I’m fine Aula.」

「Aula-oneesan?」

「「Aularodde-sama?」」

Come to think of it, Myuu and the others realized that they didn’t  catch sight of her at all during their exploration of the ship. Their  eyes were goggling around. They couldn’t see her anywhere.

「Aa, Aula is in heaven sword mode right now.」

It seemed that she was attached on Kouki’s back waist. Kouki took out the wooden holy sword that was the size of a knife.

「Eh, Aula-oneesan, why do you turn into sword nano?」

『After all of you went playing and left me alone, the nobles of this  country surrounded me all the time and my heart reached the limit. I who  was sitting alone on the VIP seat couldn’t even run away and had to  deal with them. After all I can’t possibly cause shame for Kouki-sama  too.』

The former goddess-sama deliberately emphasized the part of them  leaving her alone to play. Certainly, during the ceremony Koone left  into the city with only Myuu and Hinata in tow.

It seemed that she was holding a grudge for being left alone in a place where there were only unfamiliar people.

Myuu and others looked at each other with an expression that didn’t  know what to say. Or perhaps, it was the expression of children who saw a  hopeless adult.

『Uu, Kouki-sama was also surrounded by the lords, while Moana and  momma too──I mean, Anneal also looked busy, so no one gave me a helping  hand. Why can’t anyone understand, the fear of smiling unknown people  talking to you ceerfully? What if I was at  a loss for words? What if I  gave a strange reply and the mood froze? What if they thought of me as a  boring person? Uoee, haa haa, it’s painful from simply imagining it……I  want to become a shellfish……』

Kouki looked up to the ceiling in respond to the former goddess’s unsociable tendency.

The three girls were also looking like they couldn’t find anything to say.

「Err, cheer up, Aula-oneesan! No one care about such thing nano!」

『In short, you’re telling me to not mind it because from the start  even an insect has more worth than me. You’re too self-conscious,  pugyaaa, that’s what you mean isn’t it? Hics-』

「Aaa, word is hard nano! Myuu made her even more depressed!」

Myuu held her head in her hands. For Myuu whose communication ability  was rumored to be at max level to be troubled like this, this goddess,  she was formidable. Perhaps her communication ability disorder was at  max level. Or perhaps it was her negative personality power that was at  max level.

「In other words, Aularodde-sama is staying in sword form so that you  can keep staying near Amanogawa-sama and not needing to interact with  other people?」

「There is no way our country’s lords will take any careless action  against the savior’s relative, so it must be very draining for her to be  surrounded by unknown people for her to become like this……」

「Yeah, that seems to be the case. It doesn’t look like she’ll change from this heaven sword mode for a while.」

Apparently she did the model change while screaming HIGYAAAAAAAAAAAAAH into the heaven sword mode. Furthermore perhaps because of her  pointless sense of rivalry with the holy sword Ua Alto that was in  necklace form, she did her best to become as small as possible that she  shrieked PIGYAAAAUOOOEEEEE-.It was  shriek that might even whittle off the sanity value of other people.

Myuu took the knife mode heaven sword from Kouki and hugged it tightly while spinning fully supportive words.

*Flash, flaa~sh* The heaven sword-chan was flickering while looking like it was getting healed somehow.

Looked from outside perspective, it was like a little girl was lovingly hugging a knife while talking to it.

「D-did something happen?」

Even more guests had appeared inside the observation desk when they noticed.

It was Moana, Arquette’s lord Rothko, and his son Rondo.

「Wait, is that Aula? You mustn’t Myuu-chan. Don’t hug that kind of thing! Toss it away, toss!」

『So cruel……it’s like I’m a trash……uu, uu……』

「Aa, don’t say that Moana-oneesan! Aula-oneesan is a knife right now!  We need to console her a lot and tell her good girl, good girl nano!」

「Uu, if Myuu-chan say that……it can’t be helped. Come on, Aula, return  to your original form. I’ll give you the reserve that is for you who’re  always constantly in the slump.」

Moana said that and took out a drink to make the drinker energetic  from somewhere. The bottle had the demon king’s stamp on it. *Flash?  Flasshhh!* The heaven sword shined. However when Myuu moved to put it on  the ground, it seemed to dislike it and stopped shining, becoming  quiet.

Troublesome……

That kind of thought was written on Moana-oneesan’s face.

Her hand reached out to pull it away from Myuu, but an ivy grew out  from the heaven sword and wrapped around Myuu. It seemed that it didn’t  want to be pulled away. Was it feeling motherhood even from a little  girl?

From outside perspective it looked like a girl was being attacked by  tentacle, so Koone and Hinata also joined in with the consoling.

The Arquette father and son were watching that commotion with a dumbfounded look. Kouki approached them with a wry smile.

「Once again, long time no see, Rothko-san. And Rondo-kun too.」

「O-oo, Kouki-dono. Yes, long time no see.」

「It’s an honor to be able to meet you again, hero-sama!」

Rothko offered his hand cheerfully even while feeling a bit  bewildered. Kouki also shook his hand back happily. Rondo-kun was  slightly nervous, but he also looked happy as expected.

「We weren’t able to talk much during the ceremony after all. It looks  like we will arrive at our territory soon, so I come here not only to  give a greeting, but also to confirm the sightseeing plan.」

「Ahaha, sorry. I also couldn’t disregard the other feudal lords……」

「Please don’t let it weigh your mind. I hear that your group won’t be  able to go around to all the territories in the trip this time. You had  to prioritize the feudal lords who are excluded from the sightseeing  trip, if not they might express their resentful complain later on!」

Rothko laughed cheerfully. He was a personage with pleasant  personality just like before. His dark blue hair that was in swept back  style and his trademark monocle were suiting him too.

「In any case, I’m feeling wholeheartedly happy that we can meet again  like this. My wife too must be impatiently waiting for Kouki-dono’s  visit right now. She should be preparing the reception so that there  won’t be any problem even if Kouki-dono arrive anytime, so I hope you  can look forward to it.」

「Thank you very much. I’ll look forward to it too. Is the grain-producing area doing well?」

「Yes. Originally it’s still not the time yet for the harvest, but all  of us wish for Kouki-dono and everyone to be able to see the scenery of  golden fields that the blessing art users are completely mobilizing to  adjust the growth.」

「T-that is truly……won’t there be any problem to the farming cycle or something if you do that?」

「Haha, no need to worry. The art users are in high spirits. They all  insist that there won’t be any problem for them to work day and night  for around a month just to adjust the land.」

「Isn’t that nothing but trouble!?」

That was just how strong their feeling of wanting to show Arquette’s  goodness to Kouki’s group even if they had to work to an excessive  degree.

After all this time it wouldn’t just the savior and the former queen who came,

「……That little lady, is the demon king’s honorable daughter isn’t it? Dear me, what a lovely lady.」

Because the daughter of the other savior of Arquette──the demon king would also come.

The way Rothko looked at Myuu……how to say it, it was like he was  witnessing a reality that was hard to believe, but he was doing his best  to accept the reality before his eyes. That was how he looked.

「Are you implying──that you cannot believe she is that demon’s daughter?」

「I’m not implying that.」

It was an instant reply. Rothko-san’s smile was showing in full  force, but it was a bit stiff. Was it just his imagination that his  fingertips were shaking a little? It also looked like he was suddenly  sweating though……

The region that Nagumo was in charge of reinforcing was Arquette.  What in the world Rothko saw at that time? No, well, Kouki could somehow  imagine it. He smiled wryly.

Rothko coughed to pull himself together.

「If possible I wish to ask you to stay in our mansion tonight so we  can entertain you with dinner but……according to what I heard, Kouki-dono  will look around at several territories in just one day. Is that true?」

「Yes, we’ll have to hurry up a bit because of Myuu-chan and Hinata-chan’s schedule.」

So far the schedule was one day in the capital, then the second day  until the fourth day would be touring the territories, the fifth day  would be spending time in the capital once more, and the sixth and  seventh day would become a trip to find Foltina.

They would return to the capital at the fifth day because after  reaching the Blessing Tree, there was a high possibility that Myuu and  Hinata wouldn’t return again to the capital and go home directly.

It would be sad if a farewell party was held the next day after the  welcoming party, that was why Bruitt and Anneal and the others were  staying behind to look forward for their return at the fifth day.

「Well, this country is still in the middle of fighting, so if asked  if Synclea has abundant tourist attraction and entertainment or not, I  can only answer 『Unfortunately not』. It’ll make me feel bad to detain  them for long here……」

「Even so isn’t this too rushed? It should be fine even if they stay a bit longer……」

Rondo’s shoulders fell in dejection while looking like he was  disappointed from the bottom of his heart. His eyes kept glancing to the  side was definitely because a lot of tentacles──or rather the heaven  sword’s ivies had at last entwining around Myuu one after another like a  monster. He was concerned seeing Koone continuously slapping down the  ivies in order to stop that.

Also, Moana was yelling 「Enough already! You look like a monster  trying to swallow a child you know! This damn loner-」 while tearing up  the ivies and throwing it away, rinse and repeat. But Myuu herself was  still saying 「It’s fine nano~, Aula-oneesan is a good girl nano~」 like a  mother soothing down a baby. She didn’t look particularly bothered.

Hinata was smiling wryly while observing from a step back but……she  must be agreeing with just how bad this scene looked from the outside.  She was secretly holding an amulet behind her back.

Kouki had also asked her to show it to him once but, wasn’t that the  amulet of Fire World Mantra to obtain the assistance of Fudo Myouou and  manifested flame?

……Kouki pretended to not see it.

「Sorry for this, Rondo-kun. Myuu-chan and Hinata-chan have something important to do after returning home.」

「Something important, to do?」

「Yeah. That day, Myuu-chan has to go to her school entrance ceremony,  while Hinata-chan has advanced a grade and she will start in her new  class.」

「I see. That’s important」

「So that’s why. In that case we really can’t detain them here-!!」

The Arquette father and son were trembling in fear. Especially  Rothko. The pounding of his heart and breathing would intensify each  time the topic of demon king came up. By any chance, were these people  holding a serious trauma?

「Myu? Kouki-oniisan, are you talking about Myuu nano?」

「I’m talking how it’ll be hard to extend your trip here because of  your elementary school’s entrance ceremony. ……I’ll get killed if you  miss it.」

「A-aa……umm, sorry about Myuu’s papa nano.」

Myuu thought, If it’s my papa then he might really do it. Even  Myuu saw it, when Hajime pressed Donner on Kouki while emphasizing to  him the importance of making Myuu arrived home right in time.

And most of all.

She recalled her graduation ceremony from her kindergarten.

That graduation ceremony was held around ten days after Hajime and  co’s graduation ceremony. Other than Hajime and Remia, Sumire and Shuu  were also in attendance.

Naturally, Yue and others also wanted to participate, but it was  clear to all that they would be a bother to the other families if too  many of them came.

In addition, although some of them were familiar faces from when they  came to pick up Myuu, their family composition was a bit different than  normal, so it was possible that all of them coming would cause a  problem with the mama friendship circle that Remia had built.

And so, it was decided that only those four ended up participating.  However, the others didn’t say that they wouldn’t participate.

Myuu saw it. The figure of Yue-oneechan standing right behind the  kindergarten principal, taking photos like crazy in a state where only  Myuu could see her using perception interference that was in soul magic  level.

The figure of Shia-oneechan clinging on a nearby power pole while  taking secret shots of Myuu the whole time using a long distance camera  with acrobatic movement as though she was doing a pole dance.

The face of Kaori-oneechan’s face peeking out secretly from the  ground after using disintegration magic to dig a passage underground on  her own accord.

And then, the figure of Shizuku-oneechan severing that  Kaori-oneechan’s string of consciousness before retreating and leaving  bulging ground on her wake as though she was using earth ninjutsu or  something.

And last, was Tio-oneechan who disguised herself as playground  equipment at the edge of the kindergarten in her dragon form, one that  looked winsome like Dragonit* from Pocke* Monster (her size too was only  as big as a panda ride that also had perception blocking added). Even  Hajime and others were astonished 「So dragon transformation can also be  used like that……」.

「It was awful nano. Papa was so moved that he cried rivers while  taking photo. Myuu’s youkai friends came out on their own from the  watering place and started celebrating……of course, everyone couldn’t see  Myuu’s youkai friends though……」

Myuu was staring at far away. Even now there were ivies entwining on  her body, so to the outsiders it looked like there was a little girl  getting her vitality sucked by monster.

Who in the world would ever imagine that the situation inside Myuu’s  school was actually in Hyakki Yakou (parade of hundred monsters) state.  Her papa and onee-chans who originally would deal with that were too  moved with Myuu’s graduation and too absorbed with taking photo.

And the most awful thing was,

「The celebration in the Miniature Garden was truly staggering wasn’t  it……I had never seen that many deities, spirits, apparitions, and the  like all gathering in one place.」

Yes, even though they were holding celebration for themselves only  between friends in Wisteria, Hajime papa and Yue-oneechan were overdoing  it and using “Miniature Garden” for Myuu’s kindergarten graduation  celebration. Inhuman beings from fairy world and hell were all invited  and told to congratulate Myuu. They had good intentions for doing that.

Could you imagine it?

Demons of hell singing a hair-rising hymn, like they were a group of  devil worshippers trying to summon devil to their plane of existence. Of  course, it was Myuu who they were extoling.

The deities and monsters were celebrating with cataclysm. Other apparitions were forming a line while holding present for her.

Of course, most of their presents were cursed item. Things like their  body part, like claw or horn. The presents formed a mountain of special  class cursed items that made Hinata’s eyes widened like saucer.

「Papa and the others definitely did something nano. Everyone’s eyes looked dead nano.」

「It’s also something absurd though that they can force deities, demons, and monsters to do that kind of thing.」

We humbly present this offering, high princess, so please we beseech you to soothe down those tyrannical husband and wife. The  apparitions were all distinctly wrapped in such atmosphere. The  tyrannical husband and wife also gave her a thumb up together. Myuu  pressed her hands on her face seeing that.

This is overdoing it nano……she said.

「The entrance ceremony……Myuu’s scared nano.」

「I-it’ll be fine, Myuu-chan. Myuu-chan has firmly admonished them so they won’t…….maybe.」

Myuu had told that couple, that she was happy with their feeling, but  please don’t act too unreasonably. After that it went without saying  that at the very least all the deities, demons, and monsters were  looking at Myuu like she was the savior.

「U-umm, Myuu-chan? You’re talking normally but, are you really alright being like that?」

「Aula, you’re really not doing anything strange to Myuu-chan aren’t you?」

Myuu was finally completely covered by countless writhing ivies. If a  description had to be made, Myuu right now look like Tange*a from  Poke*on. Or perhaps, Tatari Gami from Princes Monon*ke……

『How should I say it, it’s calming hugging her like this. She’s like the highest grade hugging pillow……』

「Don’t tell me, Myuu-chan’s peculiarity is working even on a former goddess?」

Hinata-chan was observing closely with the face of an onmyouji.  Observing her overly peculiar friend who jad formed Hyakki Yakou not by  binding with contract, or subduing using exorcism, but using friendship.

While that was all going on, Kouki’s bangle started flickering. *Pii, pii-* there was also alarm sound ringing.

Airship Endeavour or rather Black Dragon had the auto pilot function  where the owner could simply set up the direction, distance, and speed.  The airship had arrived to the destination, so it was informing him of  that.

In other words,

「It looks like we’ve arrived at Arquette.」

The first sightseeing spot, the place where the legends of the hero and the demon king were engraved could be seen below.

.

.

.

.

.

After that.

Kouki and co who arrived at Arquette slowly approached in low  altitude. Then it hovered near the highway in a slight distance away  from the territory capital. It was to prevent the people of the city  from panicking.

But, apparently the majestic appearance of the black dragon and also  the unknown existence that was a flying ship only served as the sign of  the hero’s arrival for the people of Arquette.

Rothko suggested sending out his aide as a messenger and disembarked  from the ship only after the welcoming preparation was finished, but in  reality they didn’t need to wait that long. The wife of Lord Arquette,  Syla showed a splendid and swift response.

She personally led the upper echelons of Arquette along with some  members of vigilante corps until the Black Dragon──BD’s side to welcome  them.

Naturally she was surprised finding that not only her husband and so  were on board of BD too, but there were also the other feudal lords and  their relatives coming along too. But she wasn’t overly shaken and  performed a beautiful curtesy before speaking out words of welcome to  everyone without hesitation.

Apparently she had been preparing welcoming for dozens of guests from  the start, thinking that something like this might possibly happen.

「She is a capable wife.」

「I’m honored.」

Kouki secretly whispered his praise into Rothko’s ear. Rothko replied  back with a composed expression. But the bottom of his nose was  twitching. He wasn’t hiding his pride.

Madam Syla was riding at the front on her own arous. She was keeping  Myuu and Hinata who were also riding the same arous company while  heading toward the city. She was smiling radiantly however her behavior  was truly respectful.

Running right beside them was the arous of the vigilance corps’  leader that was also carrying Koone. Young Rondo who was riding on the  same arous was doing his best to talk with her. As the one who would be  the next lord, it was arranged for him to keep the queen company.

To that, Oh? Myuu and Hinata noticed. Their gazes met with Rondo.

By the way, Rondo still hadn’t managed to have a proper greeting with  Myuu and Hinata. Because Koone was too absorbed with Myuu and Hinata,  there was still no opening for that.

Rondo noticed their gazes and hurriedly straightened his posture.

「My deepest apologies for my late greeting! I am Rothko Arquette’s  eldest son, Rondo Arquette! Please don’t hesitate to ask me for anything  during your stay here! It is truly my honor!」

He had the same deep blue hair that was swept back like his father.  His sharp eyes that he inherited from his mother were gallant. He was  truly an intelligent looking handsome boy (he just turned eleven  recently).

If he acted with every courtesy like that while looking extremely  earnest, even though there was slight nervousness in his expression,  most girls his age would go kyah kyah in his presence but……

「Nice to meet you nano! Rondo-kun!」

「It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance, Rondo-sama.」

Myuu’s innocent and radiant smile that was blasting cheerfulness in  full force, and Hinata’s elegant smile almost made him to be the one who  went kyah kyah instead. His cheeks reddened.

「Oooh? Rondo, are you captivated by the two of them? Fufufuh, you  must not you knowww? No matter how cute Mi-chan and Hi-chan are, if you  lay your hand on them」

「Wha-, w-wha-, what are you saying, Koone-sama! For me, umm, to lose my heart to woman that thoughtlessly is just……」

Rondo-kun denied it in panic. He was desperate. Really desperate. He  was gesturing with his hands energetically to tell Koone that it was  just a misunderstanding.

「Ee? Reallyyy? It looks like you’re ogling though? That’s how it look  like to Koone. Yes」 Koone replied like that. There was a hint of  teasing in Koone’s eyes.

Arquette was the closest territory to the capital, and these two were  also close in age. It could be guessed that there was a relationship of  friendship between them to some degree, but there was something more  here.

「Hina-chan」

「Yes, Myuu-chan」

The two little girls looked at each other for a second. They had  guessed everything. They grinned widely. Because, they were girls. They  loved talking about love interests. Especially if it was about feeling  of love that was directed toward a nearby friend.

「The two of you are really close isn’t it nano?」

「What’s going on hereee~~?」(TN: Here Hinata is talking like Happy from Fairy Tail when teasing about vague love relationship)

Myuu and Hinata teased with grinning smile. Rondo boy’s face  instantly boiled red. He was shaken and flapping his arms up and down  pointlessly.

「W-what are you two saying! This one and Koone-sama are──」

「We are just friends! Koone declare it that the two of us are just friends and nothing more!」

Rondo boy froze. He looked like someone who had just gotten slashed through by a master of katana.

He was trembling while agreeing 「Yes……it’s an honor, to be thought as  friend by……her majesty……」 with extremely feeble voice. The way his  smile didn’t crumble, it was just as expected from someone who would  become a feudal lord in the future.

Myuu and Hinata looked at each other once more. They thought of the same thing, Aa, this decisiveness. Ku-chan, she understand. At the same time they also thought like this, we’ve really done it now……

「B-but but, at least──」

「Myuu-chan, this kind of matter is delicate, so perhaps it will be better to change the topic──」

Myuu desperately tried to give a follow up, but Hinata suggested Retreating here is for the best! But, everything was already too late.

Somehow, Arquette husband and wife, and the vigilante corps members  too, and also the feudal lords of other territories as well as Spenser  and the royal guards he was leading too, they were all lowering their  voice and pricked up their ears. Meanwhile Koone’s cheeks reddened  slightly.

「In the first place, Koone has this gentleman who Koone is pining for……」

She sent a brief sidelong glance. The target of that glance was  obvious. Everyone’s gaze was drawn by that and moved toward Kouki.

Kouki said 「Ah, butterflies」 and looking toward the far distance. There weren’t any butterflies nearby by the way.

「K-Koone-tan, as I thought, you’re really serious……」

Ignoring the onee-chan who was making a complicated expression, when  it came to Rondo boy who was as though he got rejected in this place  where there were only big shots gathering,

「What is important…………is a heart that never give up!! Isn’t that right-, hero-sama!!」

「Eh, ah, yeah……you’re right.」

The figure of a boy standing against the hero with the heart that he  learned from the hero, could be seen there. For some reason 「Oo……」  voices of admiration rose from the feudal lords.

Rothko and Syla, and everyone of Arquette’s vigilante corps were  looking apologetic, or perhaps conflicted. They were sending their gaze  toward Kouki looking like they didn’t know what to say.

Kouki smiled vaguely. He didn’t know what kind of face to make for this kind of time.

It was the same when it came to Myuu and Koone, just why was the love  rival of the boys their age was this daunting. It was truly a thick  wall to surpass.

By the way, actually in the elementary school that Hinata went to,  there was also a boy who was harboring feeling toward Hinata. There was  another young lady who harbored feeling toward that boy and regarded  Hinata as rival or something, every time she would pick a fight with  Hinata but……that would be another story.

Anyway, the demon king, the hero, the abyss lord. For the boys who  had to surpass such outrageous obstacle in order to realize their love,  was it “a heart that never give up”, or perhaps “a heart that graciously  accepted defeat” that they truly needed?

What would happen with the future of these boys. Only god would know the answer to that.

Now then, like that a serious blow was dealt into the heart of the  next lord as soon as the group arrived. Even so the Arquette sightseeing  began.

Myuu and others received extremely passionate welcome from the citizens.

It was to a degree that they thought whether this was a reenactment  of the parade at the first day. Of course the scale was the tiny version  but, the enthusiasm level wasn’t that different.

The voices of gratitude toward Kouki were unceasing. Their mouths  were yelling the tale of his heroism. They even said that they would  turn it into book too with tale that got glorified even more like there  was no tomorrow. Kouki looked like he was going to faint hearing that.

At that time, Moana and Koone didn’t see the whole picture of what  kind of fight Kouki had actually gone through, so they restrained Kouki  who was uncomfortable with his past getting watched using Aula’s Tangel*  form. While Kouki was restrained, Moana used artifact to replay the  past and a sudden movie screening was held.

The figure of Kouki who was wounded all over and unable to even  maintain his consciousness, but continuing to swing his sword using only  his instinct to protect even then moved not only the populace, but also  Moana, Koone, Spenser and others, and also the feudal lords from other  territories. There were loud crying breaking out everywhere while Kouki  was blushing red inside the writhing tentacles.

Also,

「No way……impossible, nano! Kouki-oniisan is looking like a real hero!!」

「Gufuh. That really stabbed deeply, Myuu-chan.」

Kouki was suddenly stabbed.

「Myuu see now. Myuu understand why papa’s attitude changed nano. Kouki-oniisan」

「W-what?」

「You have become man, nano.」

「That’s a line that I don’t want to hear from a grade school girl there.」

Myuu patted his shoulder while looking at him with a warm gaze. Kouki’s eyes looked dead from receiving that treatment.

Amidst the swaying golden heads of the grain, Myuu was humming 「Ran,  ra~rara, ranranran♪」 to play at “Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind”.  Rothko was extremely moved by that famous melody and adopted it as his  territory’s song.

Then it became noon, so they ate not only local specialty but also home cooking to their heart’s content.

Although Kouki was getting a small mental damage by himself, Myuu and  others were enjoying the sightseeing in Arquette very much.

Like that the last place they visited was very far north from Arquette.

「So this is where papa fought, Rothko-san!」

A grand grassland was spreading far and wide. Short grasses were  swaying with rustling sound from the wind. It had a different kind of  beauty from the golden swaying grain heads.

It was the place where Hajime once fought against ten thousand “Dark  Beings” that they visited because of Myuu’s request. The trace of  battlefield was completely gone from view. This place too wasn’t that  far away from the capital, so it had been fixed with the assistance of  Kaori and others. Perhaps the remains of the “Dark Beings” got  disintegrated or something.

In any case, Myuu who turned around smilingly was replied by Rothko with a smile too──

「*Inhale-inhale-exhale-*. Indeed that is tru──Haa Haa, true. I’m  still seeing the sight of that day even now in my dream. Your father was  truly──ueppuh, worthy for the title demon king Gufuh-」

「Rothko-san!?」

Sweats that dripped like river, unfocused eyes, pale white face, shaking body.

Also, other than Kouki’s group, Spenser and his men, and the group of  feudal lords from other territories, there was only Rothko here. Rothko  himself gave the strict command to Syla, Rondo, and of course the  members of vigilante corps who wanted to come with him to stay behind.

Don’t come no matter what! There’s only hell ahead from here! He said.

Although, Rothko could only command the people of Arquette. The other  feudal lords had the same rank like him so there was no need for them  to obey.

And so, they obeyed their curiosity and ignored Rothko’s warning.  While slightly misunderstanding him 「It’s not admirable of you to  monopolize demon king-dono’s gallant figure for yourself, Arquette!! I  can understand your feeling though!」.

「Aa~, Myuu-chan. I’m just guessing but, you know, Nagumo’s battle is always nasty after all.」

「Ah, aa~」

It seemed that Myuu realized. Myuu looked deeply apologetic toward Rothko-san who was definitely traumatized.

「Umm, Rothko-san. If it’s painful then Myuu don’t need to see papa──」

「Don’t say that! These life of ours were saved by your great father……saved……Hih」

「Rothko-san!」

「Myuu-chan, press this talisman on his forehead!」

「Hina-chan, thanks! Teei-」

*Slap-*, Myuu jumped and stuck the talisman on Rothko’s forehead.  Rothko-san’s hyperventilation calmed down. His eyes were also focusing.

「Oo, this is amazing. I’m feeling very calm. Thank you very much.」

Kouki thought, Rothko-san, with that talisman stuck on your forehead, you look like a Jiangshi……

Even though Rothko-san looked like it was somewhat difficult for him  to look at the front, he coughed and pulled himself together.

「Cough. As the one saved, I can’t possibly deny Myuu-sama’s feeling  of wanting to watch your dear father’s great achievement. It was  unexpected that you are able to see a glimpse of the past but, if this  is your wish, then please don’t be reserved.」

「But……」

「Mi-chan, it’s fine. He can just avert his eyes if he can’t bear it  anymore, and most of all Koone want to watch it! Koone want to ascertain  the moment when demon king-sama and Yue-oneesama and others saved each  territory with Koone’s own eyes!」

Koone had at least read the report. Who went to which territory and with what way they saved it.

Although, in the end it was just hearsay. Even though only fact  should be put inside the report, the reports from all the territories  were influenced by excitement and emotion. They were slightly lacking in  accuracy.

Originally it would be impossible for that kind of report to be written, but the reinforcement was just that miraculous.

In that case, as expected she didn’t want to let go of the chance of  being able to watch the past directly, both as an individual and as a  queen.

「Fumu, it’s selfish but we of the royal guards also wish to be  allowed to bear witness of the battles of Kouki-dono’s sworn friend.」

「True. I too am aware that demon king-sama isn’t a common person but, I’ve never directly seen him fighting so I’m interested.」

Spenser and the royal guards and even Moana were looking excited.

「It will be a shame for the lifetime if Myuu-sama obtain the  impression that we are avoiding your father. We are truly, truly  thankful to him.」

「Rothko-san……」

Rothko took a deep breath. He must be sorting his feeling. He fell on his knee and matched the height of Myuu’s gaze in respect.

「If it’s possible, I wished to express my feeling of gratitude  directly. That time, I was pathetically shaken to the extreme that I  behaved extremely rudely after all……I’ve been regretting it all this  time.」

After all, in front of the extremely great pressure and overwhelming might, the first thing he did was begging for his life.

It was truly deplorable that he was begging for his life toward  someone who came to help his territory as reinforcement. Hajime who felt  like things were in vain actually went back without saying anything  after finishing what he came to do.

「That’s why, Myuu-sama, please convey these words to your father, the  people of Arquette will be grateful to you for generations to come.  Also I apologize for my impoliteness from the bottomof my heart. Please  allow me to offer the greatest hospitality in the event you come  visiting.」

「Myu! Myuu will absolutely tell papa!」

It seemed that hearing Rothko’s heartfelt gratitude and apology became the last push.

Myuu ws convinced and turned her gaze to Kouki.

Kouki nodded and took out a memo sized silver case from his “treasure  warehouse”. He opened the lid and a silver ball the size of a marble  flew out soundlessly from inside.

With speed like bullet, it instantly spread out to a wide range.  Together with Kouki’s 「Playback」 chant, the inside of the space that was  surrounded by the sphere started projecting the past replay.

Yes, it was projected.

The sight that was completely far away in a different direction from the battle that Moana and others imagined, the unreal hell.

The air was red, as though bloody wind was whirling about. The ground  was turned up, there were countless craters, the word collapse was more  fitting than the word roughed up to describe the state of the place.  Right now, the beautiful green grassland that was visible in reality was  painted out with scorched ground and corpses. The gently sloping hills  had been blown away to smithereens.

It wasn’t even a fight. The “Dark Beings” were running away every  which way while screaming in pandemonium. Explosive sound that pierced  the eardrum and flame blast were decorating the area unceasingly.

Fantastic beasts were flying around in the midst of that. Gryphons,  large ravens, huge animals like chimera that were crowned with the name  of death god were letting out terrifying roars!!

『KA-KA-KA-KA-KA-KA-KA-』

『IaA゛A゛A゛A゛A゛A゛A゛』

『WAR! LOVE IT! CONFLICT-, BANZAI!!』

『FOR, THE DEMON KING!! PRESENT YOUR HEAD!!!』

『GE-GE-GE-GE-GE-GE-!!』

『KILL! KILLL!!』

『RAIN OF BLOOD!! MOREEEE-, RAIN OF BLOODDD!!』

At the middle of it, was the demon king’s figure, scattering crimson  sparks everywhere while shouldering the rocket & missile launcher  “Agni Orkan” while his other hand was making a sweeping motion with the  super large galting railgun “Metzelei Disaster”, with countless cross  shaped “Cross Velt” orbiting around him like satellites.

He was standing on the top of a mountain that was formed from piled up corpses of “Dark Being”……

His expression couldn’t be seen. He wasn’t screaming or anything.  But, the fearless smile on his lips! His mouth that looked like it was  splitting into crescent mouth shape!!

Suddenly, as though he noticed the presence of Kouki and others from  across time, his face was slowly moving toward their direction……

Kouki quietly turned off the past viewing.

Fuuuh He let out his breath and looked up to the sky. Is this the feeling that make adult want to smoke I wonder? He thought.

「Rothko-san! Rothko-san! Hang in there!!」

When he looked to the right, he saw Mr. Rothko fainting on his feet while Hinata-chan was desperately nursing him.

When he looked to the left,

「Koone-tan! It’s fine, Onee-chan is here! It’s fine, it’s fine-」

「Uu」

The figure of Koone tightly clinging on her big sister’s chest was there. The complexion of that big sister also looked bad.

Even Spenser and his men who were all tough and veteran warriors were  frozen. Cold sweat were trickling down like waterfall over their body.  They looked like a frog that got glared at by a snake.

Of course, the other feudal lords also weren’t safe. Those who could  go 「What the hell is that, what the hell is that!?」 or 「Ooo,  Foltina-sama, I beg you to save us mankind!」 or 「The woman who saved my  territory……is that being’s wife!? How!?」 in panic were still those who  were in a better state. The majority could only trembling wordlessly  while holding their head. They were legit spooked out.

As expected, the demon king in his serious battle mode apparently was  too great of a stimulation for ordinary people. Rothko telling his  wife, son, and other people to stay behind was an excellent decision.

Amidst those, when Kouki suddenly looked forward,

「Papa, so cool……」

There was one little girl looking entranced.

She glanced back. Her eyes were telling him 「Why did you stop it?  Come on continue」more eloquently than any word could. But, when she  realized the disastrous state behind her, Myuu’s expression became a bit  troubled but also a bit dissatisfied.

「Well, it’s fine if it’s just Myuu and the Onee-chans who understand papa’s charm nano.」

She muttered such thing that sounded a bit yandere-ish to herself.

AN: Thank you very much for reading this every time.

Thank you very much too for the thoughts, opinions, and reports about misspelling and omitted words.

It’s fine, the spring vacation part is going to end at the next chapter.

……If the subtitle changed to another form, please just laugh it off as 「As expected huh, Shirakome」.

※I forgot Tio among the Onee-chans in the graduation ceremony so I added it. Thank you to the reader who pointed that out!

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