Star Spirit World Arc Empty State of Mind Yue-Style
Author’s note: There’ll be one more chapter today at nine o’clock.
This chapter is like the first part of the Star Spirit World Arc’s final episode.
Rated Democratic State.
The country that was the most affected by the disappearance of the spirit element was now in the middle of major bustle.
The people’s ideology of being the chosen people that they called themselves the demon race, and their thought that gods and nature were triviality were things of the past now.
Under the new policy of “a nation that was opened for the sake of the new era”, the current democratic state was wholly endorsing research, development, and commerce. People and commodities were coming and going from the country with great vigor everyday that it couldn’t even be compared when the country was still called the demon kingdom.
But, the bustle today was even greater than that.
It was a festival.
The streets were overflowing with people whether at the open or at the hidden. Stalls in the number that were several times than normal were being opened, each with their own feature. There were also small stages here and there.Oddly there was no sense of casualness even though it was a festival.
Rather everyone was looking somewhat nervous. Should it be said that their focus wasn’t directed toward the festival itself, or rather they were focusing toward the sky. There were even those here and there who kept busying themselves with tidying up their appearance.
The stall owners also didn’t slack off with their preparation. There also seemed to be many people rushing around restlessly behind the stages.
「……Fuh, the atmosphere doesn’t feel like a festival is ongoing at all.」
The one who muttered those words with a wry smile was the beast king Gruelle.
He was staring the capital’s uproarious atmosphere from inside a rectangle-shaped five-story building. He was standing on the exterior of the dome shaped structure that was like an astronomical observatory on top of that building.
「It can’t be helped. It hasn’t started for real after all……and most of all, this is the return of the saint and the visit of the savior along with her family. Even I cannot deny that a part of me is becoming agitated.」
The reply came from the outrageously handsome youth standing beside him──the head of state Arogan. He was still good looking like before as though the last five years hadn’t passed at all, but his long and glossy black hair had been cut very short. His atmosphere was also very gentle.
Gruelle smiled pleasantly and strongly agreed.
「It’s a splendid festival for something that has only been prepared from yesterday and today. As expected from the city that personified coexistence the most at the present.」
「Your praise honored me. ……It’s a bit unfortunate for the beast kingdom though.」
「Haha, they will at least stop by. That’s already enough.」
Gruelle patted Arogan’s shoulder without looking particularly disgruntled.
「Besides, we received this thoughtfulness of sending my people to this country through teleportation. There is nothing more luxurious than this. ……After all it will be unbearable if I act too selfishly and be riddled with bullet holes again.」
「Haha, certainly! Spare me from such thing happening again!」
Arogan snorted from Gruelle’s joking tone.
Closeness that was unthinkable if it was five years ago could be felt between the two. The hardships as leader of their people in this new era had cultivated friendship that surpassed positions between them.
「That said, for her to be the “Saint of the Confinement Land”……」
「The topics that we have to discuss after the welcoming is over has increased by a lot.」
The new troublesome (estimated) topic made both of them looked up toward the sky.
Actually, the itinerary of Hajime and co had been altered just a little from initially. Because there was the unscheduled stay at the confinement land.
There, the night Hajime stayed in the confinement land, he was contacting Arogan and the others before going to the Star Tree.
A certain attendant visited the two with communicators that were used to have a discussion between them. As the result, the visit to the democratic state ended up getting prioritized.
「「Even so…………what a beauty」」
Both of them recalled the “aforementioned attendants” dreamily.
Silver haired women with peerless beauty──they were Netemp-san and Etemp-san. Although there was difference in evolution (?) where one was a hybrid robot and one was a fairy, their faces were the same.
The attendants had beauty that contained the risk of toppling even a country if they stayed quiet. Such attendants suddenly manifested and gave explanation of the situation and various things. Not only Arogan who was a playboy from the outset, even Gruelle also got half-astonished and half-lecherous seeing them.
And, inevitably,
「「And…………how terribly unfortunate」」
Their giddy hearts quickly recovered.
Those women were that man’s attendants. Being put into a loop of riddled with bullet holes & resurrected if they laid their hands on the women would worsen their trauma again after all the efforts they invested to overcome it.
But, something that bothered them even more than that was,
「I wonder, why were they posing strangely the whole time while we were talking?」
「Are they from a race that can’t stay still or something? It was really irritating how they kept looking at us with that awfully provocative expression every single time.」
The two didn’t know but, the posing was what called the Joj* Pose.
Beauties who were talking while doing best 10 of Joj* Pose……
Furthermore, the two were giving Arogan and Gruelle truly irritating looks as though they were saying 「Can you do something like this?」. Even if they averted their gaze, the attendants would swiftly circled around to constantly stay within their field of vision.
It was incomprehensible. It wasn’t a joke, or surrealism, or anything shoddy like that, not at all. They felt like they had tasted a glimpse of something more horrifying.
Well, they were that man’s attendants, so perhaps it was only natural they were so difficult to comprehend. Arogan and Gruelle shared such odd understanding with each other.
Arogan pulled himself together and looked at the distance.
「Now then, I believe it should be about time they come into view……」
The sun notified them that the time was just right between morning and noon with its blazing radiance.
Actually, Netemp and Etemp were asked to give message by these two before returning. The message asked Hajime and co to come from the direction of the capital’s main gate.
It was for a show. The visit of the savior and the saint──it was the best news in these five years. If they were going to visit anyway, Arogan and Gruelle thought that it would be nice to make use of it to reward the hard work of the people and to be a somewhat dramatic start for the true beginning of the festival.
「Mu? Thank god. It looks like they are on schedule.」
The dragon man’s excellent eyesight caught sight of several black dots through the sunlight. It was a cluster of flying dragons.
Arogan nodded when he heard that.
He leaned forward and signaled his subordinates who were standing by below the stairs. The dome was opening with a loud sound. A large bell appeared from inside.
Arogan and Gruelle wore earplug. At the same time the bell rang once, then twice with a clear sound.
The people throughout the capital looked up.
Arogan waved his hand, then he pointed straight toward the sky faraway.
In that moment, cheers so loud as though there was explosion spread out.
The people here and there were hopping up and down in excitement. They all wore joyful expressions and looked up toward the sky north.
At the plaza in front of the assembly hall, the band on standby at both sides started playing a welcoming tune with great enthusiasm as though to say 「Now, it’s showtime!」.
「Now, let’s go, president-dono.」
「Yeah, let’s go, beast king-dono.」
The entrance of the assembly hall had spacious stairs and entrance. There was an open space in front of the assembly hall, so it was the perfect place to welcome guests of honor in front of the public.
As expected, they didn’t have the body to safely land on the ground after jumping down from the height of the fifth floor anymore, so the two went down the stairs with a bit of hurry.
When they got down to the entrance, they found their respective upper echelons to be assembled fully for the welcoming.
The cheers were spreading even further. Fireworks were shooting up one after another from the outer edge of the capital.
And then,
「There! They came!」
「It’s the savior and her husband and the saint!」
「Stop! Shia-sama isn’t married or anything with a man-」
「Shut your mouth, that’s blasphemy! Anyone who deride the Crimson Tyrant must d*e-」
「Guardsss! Guardsss~~! The ShiaDahli extremists and the Tyrant Extremeist are at it again! Stop themmmmm!!」
「Look! The savior’s family and friends are also with her-」
「What a honor-. As I thought Dahlia-sama’s words are true! The savior is really coming to look at our current situation!」
「「「「Shia-samaaaa!! Dahlia-samaaaaa!!」」」」
「「「「Crimson Tyrant banzai!! Crimson Tyrant banzai!!」」」」
「Uoooooooh, Tyrant-donooo! Please step on meeeeee!!」
「Look down on me with your cold gazeeeee!!」
Some people seemed to be screaming strange words or getting into fights with fellow odd faction, but the majority of the people surrounding the public square were holding their breath with joyful looks.
Shadow covered them from above. There was like a ripple spreading further through the crowd when they saw the unexpected size of the black dragon.
The flying dragons that were carrying Hajime and co came down to the public square.
A second passed and cheers exploded from the crowd──before that happened.
Everyone reflexively shut their mouth. They all got a confused look on their faces.
It was something that couldn’t be helped. Because,
「……P-please……Arogan-dono, l-let us……rest……」
For some reason the people of Balted Kingdom were all looking like living corpses.
Some collapsed on the ground right after landing. Some kept clinging on their flying dragon and wouldn’t let go, while continuing to tremble……
Also, the magnificent black dragon that they nobody had ever seen before, just why was it breathing hard *Haa Haa* like that they wondered?
It would be disrespectful so absolutely nobody spoke, but many people were feeling the same.
Which was──
What a majestic dragon, and yet, it looks strangely slimy for some reason huh, they all thought.
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Shrilly voices, praising voices, cheers that were filled with love and respect, and even voices that were offering prayers.
Every kind of liveliness filled the hustle and bustle. Amidst that,
「I-I see……Eric-dono is……umu, I see.」
「Speed of sound……I can’t even imagine such speed but……I see. In that case, their condition cannot be helped. Haha……」
Hajime and others were walking through the main street that was surrounded by the soldiers of the democratic state and the beast kingdom. Meanwhile Arogan and Gruelle were making dry, no, twitching (?) smile at them.
After that entrance that made all of them very troubled of how to react, it was Shia who fixed the atmosphere.
She must have gotten used somewhat to perform as the “Hero Shia Hauria”. She explained that the corpse-like appearance of the Balted group was because of fatigue from the going through the long journey in a hurry until they reached their limit while waving her hands energetically with big smile to the crowd. Such greeting immediately wiped away the bewilderment.
After that Arogan’s subordinate carried Eric and others to the resting room, Hajime and others expressed their gratitude for the welcoming at the entrance of the assembly hall, attended the proclamation of the actual opening of the festival, exchanged information a little bit to each other, and now they were all in the middle of sightseeing the capital.
Shia who was being frequently hailed was waving her hands smilingly.
What was unexpected was the many voices that were also directed toward Hajime. It seemed he had a popularity that wasn’t at all inferior compared to the savior or the saint.
「It feels like there’s this, awe and veneration? Can you feel it too?」
「Well, I can imagine why. Really that Hajime, he had seriously snapped when he came to pick Shia here. It was outrageous what he did then.」
Kaori and Shizuku exchanged words in small voices. As expected from the people who understood him. They were right on the money.
Unlike the voices that were filled with love in full drive toward Shia and Dahlia, the voices toward Hajime were filled with a lot of nervousness. The cause must be that. Apparently his overwhelming unreasonableness that was like a tyrant got stuck with a lot of people. It was to a degree where some of them turned into ladies and gentlemen (deep meaning).
Also, Hajime didn’t react to the crowd at all after hearing the name calls of “Crimson Tyrant” that tickled his chuuni heart, and witnessing the figures of muscular group calling Hajime’s name while blushing.
On the other hand,
「Mama! This way this way!」
「My my, don’t rush mama like that Myuu. Look, there are a lot of people there.」
It was like the surrounding atmosphere was just a mere breeze. Myuu with her sparkling eyes was pulling Remia mama’s hand to every which way. Each time she did that, the soldiers of the beast kingdom would hurriedly escort them.
The social manners of the people here were wonderful. Even though soldiers were surrounding Hajime and co to create space, there wasn’t anyone who tried to push their way through.
The street was overflowing with people, but the path through for Hajime and others weren’t hindered. And even with Myuu moving erratically, the crowd would naturally move to the side or entered the alley to create path.
There were also people leaning forward from the rooftops and windows of the buildings at both sides of the street while waving their hands. They were scattering flower petals to celebrate the return of the saint and the visit of the savior group.
Even Yue and others were waving back joyfully to respond to the wholehearted warm welcome. Those like Nana and Taeko were unreservedly responding to the call of the stall owners and looked around.
Hajime narrowed his eyes to watch his family and friends enjoying themselves like that while nodding.
「Yeah, unfortunately Eric lost a life. That guy was truly a human cannonball when he got thrown off in the middle of speed of sound.」
「……Hajime, as expected I think it’s too pitiful for him to just call it bad luck.」
「Yeah. Hajime-kun, have some remorse okay?」
「Tio and Shia too. I wonder if you two understood what you did wrong?」
「It was all because both of you got too heated up racing each other! You two even intentionally blocked my “Soul Repose”! Good grief!」
「It felt like we were all going to die, really. Especially for Lily and me.」
「It’s just like Yuuka said you know? When I saw his majesty Eric got thrown off, I started resolving myself to be the next one to die……」
The criticism that flew one after another from everyone’s mouth made Hajime, Shia, and Tio averted their gazes. They did so while whispering 「My bad」「I’m sorry desuu」「Forgiveth meee」 with fading voices.
What happened? Well, it was simple.
Tio flew in delight. Then the flying dragons got excited and chased after her for their pride as dragon.
It would be fine if it ended there. But then Shia who chased behind with Schutaif-tan showed a glimpse of her speed maniac side.
……Shia, why doth thou keep trying to be in front of me each time?
Although she didn’t say anything, her pride as the supreme ruler of the sky got instigated and Tio would get a bit in front of Shia.
……Tio-san? Why did you get in front of me slightly? What’s with those eyes desu? Are you saying that you’re faster than me?
After that was a continuous repeat of “getting a bit in front of the other”.
Their speed was gradually rising. Their fires had gotten lit up when Kaori and others urged them to slow down. Then, more fuel got thrown into that fire.
──Interesting. Which one is faster, it’s gonna be a real Fast & Furi*us!
Hajime said while getting carried away. He even whipped Tio to activate her “Pain Conversion”.
As the result, the Balted group that was already in the verge of giving up because of the super speed got assaulted by an even worse nightmare.
Welcome to the world of the speed of sound.
「At the very least, leave us out of it. That would be better for everyone involved.」
「H-however, Suzu. To be left behind in the dust…….it wouldst be unbearable correct?」
Apparently that was why Tio went out of her way to use gravity magic to pull everyone else along.
Ryuutarou coughed. Then he yelled with his whole heart.
「Tio-san, sorry but let me say this. That was a needless consideration!!」
「E-even Ryuutarou……」
Atsushi and Noboru who were walking at the back looked over their shoulder with sympathetic gaze to behind them──toward the assembly hall. They imagined that surely right now Eric and others were nodding while groaning yeah yeah in the resting room.
「The Balted people are absolutely traumatized yeah? You can see it from their state.」
「Right. After all they’re still groggy even with Shirasaki’s healing and sensei’s “Soul Repose” applied to them.」
Even though it was possible to heal physical fatigue and mental stability, that didn’t mean their memory was disappeared. Especially Eric-san.
The memory of terror of the world of speed of sound as experienced by normal human (flesh and blood) that couldn’t be forgotten no matter how much they wanted to, it put them into a state like a freshly born fawn trying to stand up.
「A-all of your are exaggerating. Look, Dahlia-san is alright as you all can──」
「I won’t let my hold of Shia-sama go even if I die.」
The truth was, around eighty percent of the shrilly voices since some time ago were caused from the crowd seeing how Shia and Dahlia were acting.
Dahlia was tightly hugging Shia’s arm while burying her face on Shia’s shoulder. They were walking while completely glued on each other like that.
Something like that, seen from the side it was just,
「As I thought the two of them are lovers in mutual love!」
It was just like what a bakery girl said while she was screaming Kyaa kyaa.
「……Shia. She isn’t accompanying us because she’s fine, but because she’s seized with the compulsive idea that she’ll die if she let go of you.」
「……」
As expected even Yue was looking at Dahlia with a pitying gaze.
I don’t want to end up like Eric. I don’t want to end up like Eric. I don’t want to end up like Eric……
When Shia sharpened her bunny ears, indeed, certainly she could hear Dahlia muttering such thing.
「W-well, she has recovered compared to when she regressed into an infant, right!」
「I don’t know what do you mean “right!”, but I’ll prescribe her medicine for her heart one more time.」
Aiko-sensei looked serious. She was urging Shia to reflect on herself with her “sensei’s face”.
Shia realized that and nodded 「Yees」 with a meek expression. Aiko-sensei then said 「Both of you too okay?」 with a straightforward gaze toward Hajime and Tio. Her stare pierced them. The two of them both nodded 「Yes……」 with meek expressions.
「Also, Yue-san.」
「……Eh!? Me?」
「You should be able to stop them if you tried shouldn’t you? But you didn’t just because Hajime-kun and them looked like they were having fun, geez. Remember that you’re the first wife-sama among us, okay?」
「……yes」
「I understand how you feel though」 Aiko gave her a sympathetic smile, but apparently it hit Yue-sama’s heart hard instead. She nodded obediently.
Aiko’s magic flashed on Dahlia. It sped up the misunderstanding with 「What divine radiance……」「The saint looks glowing……」「I see. So that is the aura of happiness」.
Shia’s rabbit ears were twitching. She looked at Dahlia who was clinging on her arm.
……She showed no sign of letting go. Rather, it felt like she was gluing herself even more.
For her sanity to still not be there after an additional Soul Repose, perhaps that was just how much damaged Dahlia’s heart received from the nitro acceleration.
Certainly, Dahlia had screamed 「Please stop this alreadyyy! Let me off here at the very leasttttt-」 many times. Perhaps it was bad of her to ignore it like 「Slowing down after speeding up until this much is outrageous! Dahlia-san, let’s become the wind together!」 because of her high tension.
「Umm, Dahlia-san. Perhaps you should let go──」
「Dahlia won’t let go of Shia-sama even in death-」
Kyaaaaah, you heard that!? Geez Dahlia-sama, so intense!!
「It’s fine already, that’s why, let go?」
「No-, Shia-sama. If my hand let go, Shia-sama will surely leave Dahlia behind, no doubt about it!」
Kyaaaaah, you heard that!? I won’t let go of you ever again! She saiddd! How passionate!
「Tsu, Dahlia-san! I was in the wrong desu! I won’t do that anymore, that’s why, let go?」
「Someone like me won’t even be in your mind anymore once you start running-」
As I thought Dahlia-sama’s disappearance was because she was searching for Shia-sama! She went to a journey of searching her beloved!
Shia-sama, please don’t make Dahlia-sama uneasy like that! Be happy together foreverr!
The misunderstanding went through a super acceleration with nitro-jet.
Shia finally noticed then. How Dahlia was shaking. Her face couldn’t be seen because she was pressing her head on Shia’s shoulder, so Shia completely thought that she was terrified, but this was……
「……Dahlia-san, are you laughing?」
「N-no? I’m not thinking of anything like how adorable and amusing Shia-sama looks so flustered from the surrounding voices, not at all-」
「I keep telling you, you always let the cat out of the bag when you talk!」
「As expected from a speed maniac, your misunderstanding and fretfulness also goes fast……fufu」
「As I thought you’re laughing! Or rather, this isn’t something amusing at all!」
*Peh* Shia tore off Dahlia from her arm. Dahlia quietly straightened her posture and stood up with her usual dignified posture. Not even a shred of fear could be seen from her. Rather, she had a really nice smile.
Shia stared very reproachfully at her.
「……Dahlia-san, did you play a prank on me?」
「Yes-, Dahlia just played a prank-」
She clenched both her fists energetically. What an adorable and powerful declaration of prank. Apparently that was her payback to Shia who wouldn’t decelerate for her.
Geeez, Shia groaned as she grabbed Dahlia’s hands and swung them up and down. Dahlia-san accepted it joyfully.
「What’s this, what’s going on? You two are showing off with your flirting」
「Are you two having a date instead of sightseeing like everyone else? That’s the mood around you two.」
Arogan and Gruelle looked slightly surprised by how well Shia and Dahlia got along. Hajime and others were watching the two like they were looking at something heartwarming (of course the shrill voices were getting louder as time passed). Nana and Taeko returned at that timing.
They were carrying so much food from the stalls that they almost couldn’t hold them all.
These two, they’re seriously having a lot of fun, the expressions of Hajime and co said.
Or rather,
「Wait, Nana! Taeko! You two, what are you doing making the soldiers carrying your things like that!」
The soldiers escorting them were also carrying a lot of things. Yuuka hurriedly raised her voice 「You all don’t need to do anything like that!」, but the soldiers looked at each other with troubled expression.
「Ee~, this can’t be helped ain’t it? Everyone gives us a lot even when we didn’t order.」
「Yep yep. Please take them no matter what, they said. If we’re told something like that with that kind of smile, there’s no choice. Ah, mister soldiers, if any of you are hungry then it’s fine to eat some of those foods you know? We absolutely won’t be able to eat them by ourselves after all.」
Don’t be absurd! How can we lay our hand on the offering for such nobility! Their faces became startled as though to say that while they shook their heads left and right.
「Rather than that heree, try to eat some to Yuuka-chi. They’re tastyy~」
「Compared to the kingdom the taste has some untamed nature feeling? If the foods at the kingdom is the type of cooking you find in restaurant, the foods here are the fast food type? No, is that because we got this from stalls? Anyway here」
「Mungyuu!?」
The food’s appearance was like hot dog, but it wasn’t bread, but extra large sausage with vegetables and sauce put in between. Taeko stuffed it into Yuuka’s mouth without caring about what she said.
Struggling carelessly would risk the food falling which would sully her name as a daughter of a restaurant owner, so Yuuka glared at Taeko while obediently eating the food.
But it was big so she became a bit tearful. The sauce dripped to her chest……
「Whoops, that’s baaad」
「Sugawara-sensei! You’re really something else, don’t tell me, that’s your aim!?」
Atsushi and Noboru shuddered. Yuuka in that voluptuous female teacher outfit combined with that, was equal to overly strong stimulation wasn’t it? They asked.
Because look, the soldiers all averted their gazes with all they had. And some of the surrounding people, especially the men were staring hard.
Taeko-sensei who seemed to be practicing her hidden sadist side in miniscule amount was stuffing the sausage sandwich insistently into the tearful Yuuka while sending a glance at Hajime. And then, she laughed fuh.
Yuuka was the only one who didn’t notice her current appearance that was a bit risqué.
Shizuku and Aiko reddened even while some veins pulsed on their foreheads. They were about to scold Taeko──
「What’re you doing in front of these many people, stupid idiot」
「OUCH-」
「Muguu~?」
*Tunk* Hajime chopped Taeko’s head while catching the dropped sausage sandwich with one hand.
Taeko stuck her tongue and winked. Hajime smiled wryly at Yuuka who had “?” mark floating above her head while immediately taking a large bit on the sausage sandwich.
「!!?」
「Oh, this is delicious. Should I say it’s really meaty, this sauce also feels like it’s slightly based on shoyu so it’s familiar on the tongue.」
Yuuka was in a fluster while her cheeks were stuffed like squirrel.
「……Nn, Yuuka. Don’t move. It’ll stain.」
「Mogyu!?」
Yue wiped the sauce that was going to slid down the valley of her breasts with her finger. Then she immediately licked that finger. Yuuka’s face turned into tomato.
「……Nn, true it’s tasty.」
「I’m suddenly feeling hungry. Perhaps because something entered my stomach.」
The thick sausage that Yuuka had difficulty just to enter into her mouth had gotten mostly consumed with just two bites by Hajime. The remaining small one bite was fed to Yue who went 「Aa~n」.
Yuuka’s expression became really conflicted.
She looked like she wanted to say something, but her mouth was still full so she could only do her best to chew *mokyu mokyu* to empty it.
*Pon* Kaori placed her hand on the shoulder of such Yuuka. Her eyes spoke. It’s fine, I understand your feeling. It’s a strange feeling seeing you’re the only one so shaken isn’t it?
Yuuka’s shoulders dropped in dejection while a cry 「Nmuu~」 slipped out from her mouth.
Arogan observed such exchange with deep interest even while he spoke an apology.
「Sorry. We made you go along with the explanation of the situation. Originally their appearances are just what we wish for. There are a lot of things that we should talk about but, let’s do that later.」
「Umu, have a good time with the festival for now. After all we were unable to even express our gratitude satisfactorily at that time. Please ask us for anything without reservation if there’s something you want.」
「Yeah. I’ll accept the hospitality thankfully then.」
「Still……both Arogan-san and Gruelle-san too have changed a little huh?」
The two looked puzzled by what Shia said. Is that so? The two asked while looking at each other.
「There’s how the two of you are getting along now but……just like Eric-san, you two look like you have a bit more backbone now.」
Shia grinned. Arogan and Gruelle’s eyes widened in amazement.
After that, they looked at each other one more time and smiled fuh together.
「It’s wonderful to hear that evaluation from you.」
「Yeah. It feels like our hardships through these five years are rewarded, hero-dono.」
The two smiled happily from the bottom of their hearts.
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After that.
Hajime and others enjoyed the festival that was hiding dangers in various sense with a feeling like they were washed away in the flow of a large river.
There were a lot of things that made them felt like they lost if they thought about it deeply……
For example, like the quarrel between ShiaDahli extreme faction and tyrant extreme faction, or like the statue of the savior and the tyrant, or like the tale of struggle for the savior between the saint and the tyrant, or like the drama of the savior and the saint competing for the tyrant, or like the goods regarding those, etc.
Speaking of crazy thing of different vector, there was also the shooting gallery. It was a staple for festival, but the problem was that the shooting gallery didn’t use toy. It also doubled as exhibition for the newest weapon.
Bowgun that used gunpowder was displayed there. Arogan who had his body literally riddled with bullets many times had apparently firmly memorized the principle of the weapon that did that. What a strong will.
Of course, the result couldn’t even be compared with the present age firearm, much less Donner. Not even that, apparently the bullets that were fired from the gun couldn’t even fly straight most of the time.
There, he published the basic principle of the weapon far and wide then made other researchers compete with each other to improve the weapon. As the result of such wholesale delegation, they used steel arrow in the place of bullet to make a gunpowder powered shooting weapon. Right now it was such weapon that was mainly researched in this world. The fireworks during the welcoming show was also a derivation from this gunpowder research.
There were also other exhibition of new weapon research. Isn’t it romance to stab the enemy and make the weapon explode to deal large damage? With that idea, there were also weapons like large spear or axe with gunpowder stuffed into them.
「If the goddess learn this……won’t it be bad?」(Kaori)
「This is completely a leak of other world technology isn’t it?」(Shizuku)
「……I-it’s not like I spread it around,.」
Time passed in the blink of eye. Now the sky had been beautifully dyed orange.
Hajime and others could be found in a corner of the city’s rampart. They were in the middle of a break. Apparently the spot had been used as a café terrace even from before. There were also a lot of table sets there.
「W-well, look, it’s that desu. There’s also the problem of the confinement land, and the effect from there is already spreading, yep!」
「That is true. It’s not like all the beasts that are below the evolved level are under our observation, and that kind of beast does not live only inside the confinement land by all means. As I thought, this seems to be a good timing for exchanging information.」
Arogan was advancing weapon development in this new era that put emphasis on coexistence wasn’t because he was preparing for war.
Actually, around the time after Dahlia left, the damage from animals was increasing bit by bit.
The number of such case and also the strength of the animals were apparently increasing little by little. Recently they heard there was also many new types of animals.
Now that they didn’t have spirit art, developing the tools to deal with those was necessary. That was apparently the agreement that was shared by the three countries.
It wasn’t difficult to imagine that this situation was influenced by the situation that was being observed in the confinement land. No, not only that, alteration of food chain across the continent was advancing. The animals that were living at remote regions until now must be starting to move in the search for new land.
「My blood is boiling. The answer is hunter guild yeah? Hunter guild! The new job of this new era is hunter! Now I want to move to live here yeah.」
「Ahaha, Ryuu-kun’s favorite is the lance user isn’t it? You really hit it off with him didn’t you?」
「Suzu, don’t be mistaken. That person is gun lance user.」
「Ah, yeah.」
Ryuutarou corrected Suzu with a serious face. As expected from a Monh*n hardcore player.
「Please don’t say that, Ryuutarou-san. You are my country’s knight commander after all!」
「Who the hell is. Why are you saying it like it’s not only a sure deal, but I’m already one huh?」
Liliana gave such reminder with a serious face. As expected from a hardcore patriot.
「Fumu, art not Arogan-dono a type of natural genius? In that case I believe it was just a matter of time either way.」
Tio said that while drinking a pure white beverage as though she was licking it. *Brrr* Her body shivered perhaps because the drink was too sweet.
Hajime also tried a sip but he reflexively trembled. Perhaps the drink’s atrociousness could be understood if it was described as something that could make a certain bus guide rejoice with how it tasted like an extremely sweet café au lait turned into recovery medicine. Perhaps, this sweetness would become an elixir for that woman.
The drink seller was watching with friendly smile as though to say 「I’m so happy that they drink my prided blend!」. Apparently that was the reason Tio was doing her best to drink it.
……Just what in the world was blended to produce this kind of murderous sweetness? For the time being Hajime bought several of the drink as souvenir. Because he wanted to see the difference in reaction when Kouhai-chan and a certain bus guide drank it.
Putting that aside, when they looked below what was there was,
「Papa~~! This is ssloow~~! Nano!」
「「「「!!?」」」」
Myuu was straddling something like a bike while waving her hand in great mood.
Remia was accompanying her at her side. She was running──no, walking through a course that was as big as a tennis court. Nana and others were similarly riding large tricycle or something like kick scooter at a slight distance away.
Any of the vehicle was spouting out smoke from the chimney attached on their rear. People who really looked like researcher were looking shocked when they heard Myuu’s words.
「Looks like it. Although the special materials of this star spirit world are used for them, that’s a steam engine invention based on this world’s own effort huh.」
Hajime waved back at Myuu even while speaking with definite admiration in his tone.
「The inventor in question said that he did it when the domestic affairs calmed down slightly and the time he could split for research increased but……to us who know of the invention’s history in our world, it must be really hard.」
Aiko’s gaze looked at faraway.
The sight that was reflected in her eyes was a part of the large river that was flowing inside the capital. The scenery of many water wheels in a line was quite a magnificent spectacle. In addition, on top of the rampart where they were relaxing right now also was installed with windmills at each interval of distance.
「True. To think he has even invented electric light too. How stunning. From the start that guy’s research theme is reproducing the power of the gods, so he had been gathering past literatures about that ever since before. But even with that kind of groundwork……」
「……Fufu. Hajime, you have a nice expression.」
No matter what kind of field, Hajime-san would make an expression of delight from the bottom of his heart, or an expression of burning hot due not wanting to lose when he discovered an excellent inventor.
Such expression of Hajime was a favorite of Yue-san. She stared lovingly at Hajime while poking playfully at his grinning cheek.
「As expected it’s embarrassing to be given such high praise. Perhaps it’ll rain bullet today?」
Arogan returned back to his seat. There was an elevator that used weight to carry people until the top of the rampart. Eric and others were also riding that. Of course, Gruelle too.
Arogan and Gruelle went to pick them up after hearing the words that they had recovered from their grogginess.
It must be their consideration too so Hajime and others could have some family time to themselves without any outsider.
「I’m not giving any exaggerated praise. You’ve created a capital where the technologies are alive. That’s what I felt from walking around in it this whole day.」
「Tsu, another straight compliment from you. ……Thank you. I shall accept your praise honestly.」
It seemed he had never even dreamed of getting praised by Hajime to such degree. Arogan averted his gaze slightly. The tips of his ears were slightly red. It seemed he was feeling shy.
Arogan’s embarrassed look toward a man was of course something that had never been witnessed not only by Gruelle and Eric, but even by his subordinates. They were all looking astonished.
That was just how much tears and blood that he had poured into his research everyday, and how significant it him to be praised for creating this capital that made use of that research.
「Fuh, so even you can make that kind of face. I have seen something great.」
「It’s just as Eric said. It’s worth it to take the time to come here today just to see that.」
「Are you two making fun of me? You two better watch your back after this.」
Eric and Gruelle were smirking while patting Arogan’s shoulders. Vein pulsed on Arogan’s forehead.
「……Truly, the three of you have an even better relationship now compared to that time.」
Dahlia narrowed her eyes as she stared at the three kings. Happiness was oozing from her. She was the saint who had run around in order to promote coexistence. Seeing the top leaders of each country standing side by side like this must be doing something to her heart.
Even Hajime and others who knew of the past or had seen the past replay were also looking at each other with warm feeling for some reason.
Eric and the other two cleared their throats together when they realized that the surrounding was watching them with warm gazes for some reason.
「My apologies for taking such long absent.」
「No no, Eric-dono. It is us who shouldst apologize here. We got slightly too carried away.」
「Our bad. Are you alright now?」
「Yeah, we’re fine. How very pathetic of us even though Dahlia was alright even after that.」
Eric scratched his head in embarrassment. Louis and others who were standing behind him were also smiling wryly, but their complexions didn’t look bad.
Also, Dahlia’s recovery was faster than Eric and others was definitely because hanging on for dear life on a rampaging evolved or doing rodeo had been everyday occurrence for her.
「Now then, we had talked between the three of us but……it’s about time for the festival too. I think that perhaps right now should be a good time for past projection technique already, what do you think?」
「Is that really alright?」
Hajime confirmed for the second time.
Actually when Netemp was sent to be a point of contact, they discussed about replaying the past at the democratic state. It was to be considerate.
The democratic state at that time received a destructive blow from Oros’s attack. Naturally the number of death and wounded was incomparable to Balted Kingdom.
Even so Arogan and others consented with doing the past replay. No, rather they asked for it.
It was the same with Eric. Humans were creature that forgot. That was why, this time of reunion shouldn’t be filled with just joy, but they also should recall their pain once again. Everyone was in agreement of that.
「We mustn’t be fixated only with the convenient aspects. It is so that we won’t repeat the same mistake.」
「Of course, if Nagumo-dono and everyone don’t wish to watch it, it’s fine to disregard this request of ours.」
Arogan and Gruelle stared straight at Hajime. Their gazes looked surprisingly powerful. Those were the eyes of statesman who truly thought for the people even if it was harsh.
「I see. ……And that’s what they want, what do you think?」
「I was really cornered at that time. The sight inside of the capital was quiet horrible you know?」
Even Shia added a warning that was like saying 「The following image will have depiction of violence and scene of bloodshed」.
Ryuutarou and Suzu, also Nana and others who came back at that timing looked at each other. Then they all spoke together.
「「「「「Eh? You’re saying that now?」」」」」
「That’s true isn’t it desu~」
「Remia, I’m counting on you when it’s needed.」
「Fuh, so you’re going to come at Myuu, mama. Very well. If it’s resolve then Myuu has it!」
「My my, really Myuu you’ve gotten completely used to it. Ufufu」
Myuu stood at the edge of the ramparts with her arms folded imposingly. As though to say, Come, you can block my ears with those large tits and cover my eyes with those mama hands anytime!
「Umm, are the people of the capital going to be alright? Have they, prepared?」
「I guess. I’m counting on you just in case.」
Aiko ran her gaze over the city from the rampart in worry. Hajime nodded.
Just in case, the people had been told about the past replay too at the same time when the edict about the festival was announced. Hajime had heard about it from Arogan, but there was nothing better than keeping their minds stabilized.
Hajime turned his gaze to Arogan. Arogan nodded and raised one hand toward his subordinates behind him.
The subordinates nodded and then gave more signal to somewhere else. Around ten seconds passed and the bell of the assembly hall rang out. For a short while the bell rang in short interval like it was a warning bell to notify the whole city.
The people above the rampart and also the people enjoying the festival to their hearts’ content on the streets below looked up to the sky with a gasp.
「Yue, please.」
「……Nn! Leave the “kapuchuu” to me.」
「No, that’s not what I──AH」
For some reason Yue-san bent and stretched to warm up, then she assau──hugged Hajime while everyone was watching. *Chuu chuu slurp slupr lick lick*, just a slightly obscene sound played out.
「I’m sorry, this is just the usual thing.」
「I-is that so」
Kaori’s apologetic explanation was responded by Arogan and others who were troubled of where to look with a nod.
「They’re replenishing magic power and not doing it for anything indecent by all──oh? Wait? In the first place did it use that much magic?」
Shizuku smiled wryly while she was about to give additional explanation, but she suddenly noticed the truth.
Everyone’s eyes moved at all once toward the licky terrorist Yue.
「……Fuu, thanks for the meal.」
「Umm, Yue-san? Was your, magic power insufficient?」
Yuuka hesitantly asked. Yue looked puzzled. What’re you saying? She looked like she wanted to ask that. Yuuka’s cheeks spasmed.
「They why did you suck him!?」
A natural tsukkomi came from Liliana.
「……Eh? Because I wanted to?」
「「So free!」」
Tsukkomi that was filled with inner thought of 「I’m jealous goddammit!」 also exploded from Atsushi & Noboru.
「……What’s the big deal? Everyone has wet their whistle during this break right? When standing up, if your cup is still not empty yet you’ll finish drinking it first before leaving right? This is the same right?」
Apparently Yue did what she did with the line of thought, Now, time for work. Oops, before that let’s take one last sip~~ *gulp!*
Kapuchuu that happened just as naturally as water flowing from high place to low place. It happened too naturally that nobody could react even when they perceived it. It seemed the act was in the level of such domain. Perhaps it should be called “empty state of mind kapuchuu” already.
「Nagumo-chi, comment please!」
「How about refill?」
「……Then I’ll take up the offer──」
「Don’t be spoiled! Come on, replay the past already! Or should I do it!?」
「……The accurate time axis has to be searched through the different time axis of that time, so it’s too hard for Kaori. Impossible. You’ll fail anyway. That’s why don’t force yourself. Because I’ll do it.」
「Those are one and even two words too many! If you’re picking a fight then I’ll take it up you know!?」
Should it be called “empty state of mind provocation (limited to Kaori)” already?
Kaori was about to jump Yue but Shizuku held her back from behind with an exasperated face. Meanwhile Yue purposefully made a sound 「Muuu~n」. She was really making a show that she was focusing to knead her magic power and searching for the time axis.
Of course, Yue had replayed the correct time axis twice before this. She had already grasped the feeling, so actually she could do it in an instant.
「Yue humming mun mun is also so cute」
「……Fufu, muu~~n♪ Mun♪」
「………………Shia-dono, are the two of them always like that?」
「Yes, Arogan-san. They’re always like that. Or rather, the two of them have been like that since I first encountered them up until now desu.」
「……I-is that so」
The other wives including Shia aren’t bothered by that……? Such question naturally came up in the mind of outsiders watching them. Shia replied to that question with a nod as though it was only natural.
To Arogan and others, they felt like Hajime was the hero and Shia was the heroine, especially in the scene that would be replayed after this, so they didn’t know what to say at all.
Putting that aside, Kaori looked like she would go and do the past replay by herself if Yue didn’t start soon, so Yue stopped going 「Mun♪」 and casted the past replay.
*Gouu* Golden magic power burst up. The beautiful light that appeared on top of the rampart caused the people to watch with widening eyes, at the same time the spectacle of urgency of the past overwrote the reality.
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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.
One more chapter will be uploaded at nine o’clock today. It’ll be the second part of star spirit world’s last chapter. And so it’s just one chapter in essence. Best regards.
※Material introudction
– Tasting a glimpse of something horrifying
It went without saying, the material is from Polnareff of [Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure].
– Lost a life
In [Monster Hunter], it means ran out of strength once. Also Eric was dead for real.
– Fast & Furious/Nitro acceleration
From the movie series [Fast & Furious]. Also, nitro is like the common slang for acceleration device so apparently it’s unrelated with nitroglycerin. Shirakome became 「Is……that so…」 when learning the truth. In any case acceleration device is romance.
Also, this is something completely unrelated but, I recalled in the past, I saw an MMD video that reproduced a scene of Fast & Furious with Nissan and went, I see, so this is what 「Do it Nissan」 mean and felt impressed.
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