This chapter is translated by Durasama and is rehosted with due permission.

ZUDOOOOON! DOOGOOOON! GOOBAAA!

A roar shakes the ground in the sea of trees over and over, creatures which inhabit it were desperate to escape from the center of the explosion while panicking.

“Oraa! I’ll destroy this forest, get out of my way!”

Among the sounds that roared consistently, you could hear a scream.

It was Hajime’s voice.

Incidentally, it is Hajime who bombs the sea of trees in the present while scattering the roaring sound. A vein on his forehead is showing while he uses “Orkan” (TL: His rocket launcher) in both hands and randomly shooting rockets and missiles.

“A, Ano, Hajime-san, anymore is …..”

“That’s right, Hajime-kun, I’m sure that demon is already died, too and ….”

Without hiding his anger and frenzy, hundred of rockets and missiles were already shot by Hajime who keeps shooting cluster bombs with the “Cross Bits” from the sky in the forest, while Shia and Kaori fluster to restrain him.

However, ….

“Well, what?”

“Ie, it is nothing.”

“Un, I’m sorry to bother you.”

The two retracted their previous remarks immediately, because Hajime looked back with bloodshot eyes. (TL: He looked with blood lust.)

“Uu,…. scary. Shizushizu~ stop him.”

“Do not say the unreasonable, Suzu. I do not want to die yet. I think it’s also reasonable why he is angry…..”

Shizuku gives out a sigh while she’s calming Suzu who is clinging to her. She looks a little to the side. There was a crouching figure that was suppressing his own eyes with both hands while weeping.

“My eyes~, my eyes~, damn it, Nagumo! What are you doing so suddenly!”

A voice of agony is raised like a colonel from somewhere. It was the state of a person who got his eyes busted. Also, according to the words, Kouki’s eyes were pierced by Hajime who used his fingers like scissors.

So why is Hajime so mad that he burned the forest and crushed Kouki’s eyes?

After Hajime and the others fought a bee-shaped demon, they searched in the sea of trees for approximately 30 minutes. It was because of the encounter of a certain demon.

The demon was a monkey-type which attacked in crowds. The attacks flew from all angles freely by using the trees as a foothold and it was fairly troublesome. They were equipped with sword and clubs etc. Though it was unknown where they got these weapons.

Kouki, Shizuku and Suzu were fighting the monkey-demons and were played around with the tricky movements of them. Naturally, the monkey-demons were not Hajime’s enemy, as one would expect.

Hajime, who wanted to join with Yue as fast as possible, let Kouki’s group spar with the enemy to some degree.

Is it possible that the monkey-demon has some intelligence? The monkey-demons tried to take hostages. However, for Hajime, the thinking of that degree was too shallow. The monkey-demons that tried to take a hostage were all killed.

In those circumstances, the monkey-demons realized that they are no match and tried to withdraw, however…… it accidentally made the wrong choice. It was the worst decision they could have made.

The main cause is the peculiar magic of the monkey-demons – “Mimicry”. It is the same one as the one from the rust-colored Slime which made Hajime angry.

They also got the information of Yue’s group and it is possible for them to disguise themselves as the companions which Hajime’s group was separated from. However, unlike the rust-colored Slime, the monkey-demons were more intelligent.

In other words, it is possible for them to mimic actions which would disturb the others. They were able to think of that.

As a result, they used “Mimicry”. It was to be used against the most dangerous enemy with the person they value the most. It was the lowest method to shake them up.

The monkey-demons dragged their brethren that used mimicry from the back of the bush. Its appearance was that of Yue. The figure that was dragged along was badly bruised with an unladylike appearance. Because it is based on the information of the teleported team, the appearance is exactly the same as the real one. (TL: Yep. They dug their own graves now.)

Of course, Hajime was able to see through the mimicry of the rust-colored Slime before, so he obviously knew it was not Yue.

Still, even with Yue’s nudity and miserable appearance you can’t tell the difference between the fake a real thing. When closing in the distance with his “Instant Movement” (TL: Shukichi, Flicker, whatever was used before.), Kouki’s eyes, which almost looked at the “Mimicry”-Yue, were crushed.

At this point, though Hajime has already started losing his temper, it was still enough for his reason to work. However, the monkey-demons, despite their high intelligence, couldn’t read the mood. They hit the “Mimicry”-Yue in front of Hajime with a smile. In addition the “Mimicry”-demon was imitating Yue’s voice. “…..Hajime, help me”. It became a serious matter because of that.

At that moment, everyone heard it. “BUCHI” was heard and something snapped. (TL: sound effects, think of it as a snapping sound)

And now, you can see a part of the sea of trees surrounded by flames of hell.

The scorched field which was 500 meters in every direction was already complete. If you look here and there you can see carbonized humanoids. In the wreckage, bee- and ant-demons were also seen.

Because it was an instant air strike, there will probably be not a demon that escaped unless some demons can make a space metastasis.

After Hajime burned everything in the sea of trees, he advanced while ignoring everything else.

“Don’t give up you both, please! Who else can stop Hajime-san other than Shia and Kaori!”

“But….”

“No buts. Why do you give up here? It ends when you give up! Hora, do your best! Hang in there! Dekiru, Dekiru! (2xYou can do it!) A maiden in love is invincible!”

The words from Shizuku, reminiscent of some coach, inspired Shia and Kaori. To be frank, Shizuku was desperate to make the two to go to Hajime as he was hard to approach now.

Without knowing the real intentions of Shizuku, Shia and Kaori nod to each other and jumped at Hajime while he was reloading “Orkan”.

“Hajime-san! Leave it at this!”

“That’s right, Hajime-kun. You may drag Yue’s group into it!”

He desperately glares at Shia and Kaori clinging to him. Hajime seems to be dissatisfied and utters a twisted expressions and raised his voice with an “A?, a?”

The appearance was, no matter how you look at it, one of a person that wanted to free his head. However, as he sees the two going “Ne?, Ne?”, he regained his composure after a while.

“Fuuuuuu~~~~~ I understand. For now I’ll leave it at this. I feel refreshed after shooting.”

Hajome relaxed his shoulders and called back the “Cross Bits” and put them away along with “Orkan” into the “Treasure Box”. Shia and Kaori regained their composure and let out a relieved breath.

“My bad, I made you take care of me.”

“Ie, I also got mad at their methods. It was inevitable.”

“Un, really, it was the worst….. In a sense it was expected from the great labyrinth.”

When Hajime regained his composure he showed a wry smile, the two shaked his head while shaking their own heads in denial.

When Hajime was talking in the background of a part of the sea of tree that almost turned into wasteland, Shizuku stepped forward while having a cramp on her cheek.

“Naguno-kun, if you calmed down could you do something about Kouki ….”

With the words “Ah, Now that you mention it.” Hajime turns around to Kouki.

Kouki was shedding tears while sobbing. His appearance was indescribably pitiful. Kaori immediately used recovery magic when it was suggested by a glance.

“Uu, This feeling. Is it recovery magic? Oh, i can see light” (TL: Yes he sees light, maybe he should also see a tunnel and go into it?)

Kouki is liberated from the pain in his eyes and is looking joyfully. In addition, when Hajime who is the ringleader of the pain is spotted, he lifted his eyes and raises a voice of protest.

Shizuku explains the situation and the other party shows a dissatisfied face.

“You see, Amanogawa, though i am at fault, i couldn’t hold back. It was a critical moment of whether my lover’s improper appearance was seen by another man. A mans …. eyes should be crushed, don’t you agree?” (TL: Written Tennokawa, read as Amanogawa. This took me some time. Maybe i should write down their surnames or something….)

“What’s with that “common sense?”. Don’t demand for an agreement in that tone. I almost became blind. In the first place, how can you tell the fake apart? Setting aside the real thing, when i think about how i tasted the pain because of the impostor…… I’m really angry.”

“You are foolish. Comparing your eyesight with Yue’s half-nakedness….. is like putting a stone from the roadside with a high-class jewel on a scale.”

“My eyes aren’t roadside stones!”

Kouki objects to Hajime and shows resentment towards him, while Hajime wards of his remark, he goes back to his search.

While not taking notice of the other party, Kouki begins to get even more irritated. Shizuku and Suzu try to soothe the situation. In a certain meaning, they were indebted to a familiar girl. It was an unpleasant common point.

At that time Hajime caught a presence with his “Sign perception”. It will come at the speed of a small run.

Judging from the feeling of the sign, it seemed not to be a very powerful enemy. Therefore, Hajime looked back at the sea of trees with a doubtful look.

Shia also tilted her neck while gazing at the depths of the sea of trees.

Kouki also guessed that something approached them while looking at the manner of the two. It was a creature that resembled a goblin, while it made a rustling sounds (TL: “gasagasa” sounds). It had a dark skin with an ugly and distorted face, it wore a rag and was about 140 centimeters tall.

The goblin made a “Guga”-sound when it saw Hajimes appearance. Thought it cried with a somewhat excited voice, it movements stopped as it was startled by its own voice. It stopped and looked at Hajime. Because of its face, murderous intent was released.

In fact, it looked that way to Kouki.

Because he was not playing an active part in battle a feeling of irritation was felt by him and he made a rush to the goblin. He closed in the distance in the blink of an eye with his Holy Sword in hand.

However, the goblin which life was almost nearly cut, for a moment, it’s glance turned to Kouki, but it still did not show any behavior of taking a defensive action.

In an instant, even if Kouki had some doubts about it, he swung his Holy Sword down, because you couldn’t be careless against demons in the great labyrinth.

At that moment, when the Holy Sword cladded in light, almost cut the strange goblin in two,

“What are you doing, idiot!” (TL: “Boke~”, not “baka”)

“Nnabbubera?”

Hajime who caught up in a moment, kicked Kouki away with a “Rolling Savate”. A strange scream was raised and Kouki disappeared in the interior of the sea of trees, as if being run over by a dump truck.

Despite the demon before them, Shizuku was dumbfounded by the action of an ally getting blown away by a “Rolling Savate”. She couldn’t overlook the action, lifted her eyes in anger and rushed over to Hajime.

“Wait a moment, Nagumo-kun! What was that for!? No matter how you look at it, it was unreasonable. Kouki merely wanted to defeat the demon!”

“That’s right! Or rather, is Kouki-kun alright? We must go look for him immediately.”

Shizuku and Suzu turned a look of criticism to Hajime. Shia and Kaori also did not understand the reason for Hajime’s action.

However, Hajime did not hear their voices, he only gazed at the goblin in front of him.

In her eyes, Kouki was kicked away by Hajime’s “Rolling Savate” without reason and Shizuku put herself on guard against the existence of the goblin.

Kouki turned up from the back of the sea of trees while rubbing his arm. Apparently, he seemed to have been alright. However, it seemed he was going to jump at Hajime, while anger was omitting from his whole body.

“….. Nagumo. Why did you do that? Why did you get in my way? The situation is different from a while ago. Don’t make excuses. To protect a demon, are you sane?”

“It’s not a demon.”

“What did you say?”

Without reacting to Kouki’s anger and ignoring his muttering, he kneeled in front the still standing goblin. All members were astonished by the action and are doubting him more and more. Only Shia noticed something and muttered “No way….”.

Hajime, who is meeting it’s eyes on the same level, says some words that startle the others.

“….. You are Yue, right?”

“Gugya!”

“””….What the?”””

While Kouki and the rest were standing there with open mouths, Hajime did not hesitate and took the goblins hand and muttered “Yue…”. The goblin, with a joyful cry, answered “Gugya.”.

“Ehm, Hajime-san. I would never have imaged it would be Yue-san. Uhm, I can only see a demon….”

“I, I can only see a demon. Is it really Yue?”

Shia and Kaori raised a voice of doubt, while looking at the goblin in front of them. The goblin begins to cry out/complain to Hajime with “Gugya , Gugogo, Gyaagya”, while looking at both of them. It shoulders dropped, because it is not able to talk with them.

However, Hajime is there. There is nothing impossible for the man who loves Yue.

“Yes?, Yes~ The next thing you knew is that your appearance changed after the transfer?”

“! Gugya ! …… Gugogo”

“Fumu, So it only changed the body……”

“Gugya …… Gyagya , Gugi”

“The equipment was also lost?….Oh, you came after the markings i have left?” (TL: Either equipment or accessories and “makingu” is written in “english”)

“Gugutsu …… Gogagoga”

“That’s right, Hajime is where the explosions come from? Well, you aren’t wrong……”

“……Gyuuu, Gogo”

“Is that so, you aren’t able to use magic…… But, you don’t feel any other changes.”

“Gigigi , Gagi”

“Well, it should be alright. It’s probably one of the trials. It was an inevitable start of the game”

“…… Gyuuu”

“And Tio and Sakagami weren’t with you. Perhaps the same happened with them as with Yue. I still don’t know anything about the demons here….. Well, Don’t worry about it Yue. I’ll do something about it as always.”

A normal conversation has been established. (TL: “normal”)

“”””” ………….. “””””

Kouki and the rest were speechless. Hajime didn’t try to hide the fact that he was happy to be reunited with his lover and smiled.

“This kind of thing. Let’s try “Reproduction Magic” out.”

“”””” No, no, no, no, wait, wait, wait, wait “””””

“Oh, What’s wrong?”

Kouki and the rest tsukkomied in a beautiful harmony and looked at Hajime with puzzled expressions. Everyone wanted to tsukkomi Hajime even more. Or rather, they weren’t able to hold out any longer.

“Isn’t it strange? It is strange, right? How can you communicate? Like nothing is going on!”

“Nothing is going on…. I talk because it is Yue?”

“Suzu only hears “Gugya”! No other words! How do you understand it?”

“No, with feelings… it is possible to talk with eyes.”

“Which reminds me, you always stare at each other……….It really is useful at such a time….. How the two of you communicate breaks through the center of the universe.”

“No, It’s normal for a lover.”

“It’s not normal? Obviously it is not normal…..What should we do. The “special” seat feels very far away.”

“Rather, Nagumo-kun. How did you notice it? Did you notice it before kicking me?”

“How did i, you know….. It’s a simple story.”

Many tsukkomis were made and the others had tired expressions because Hajime answered with his common sense. At the end, Kouki uttered a question towards Hajime, who looked peacefully at the goblin shaped Yue,

“It’s just that…. Her appearance may have changed, but i will never lose sight of Yue.”

“””””……Is that so?”””””

“…… Gugya”

With an expression that seemed like it was made of sugar, Yue (goblin Ver.) answered happily to Kouki’s group.

“Putting that aside. Kaori, I leave the “Reproduction Magic” to you.”

“Ah, Un, I understand……. Well then, here we go Yue: “Absolute Imitation”!”

Kaori, whose eyes slightly regained sanity, was appealed by Hajime, turned towards Yue (goblin Ver.) and used “Reproduction Magic”. Needless to say, reproduction magic is an age of gods magic and the effects are enormous. Hajime’s group thought it would return her to her old appearance if they used it……..

“Gugya?”

“What? Why? One more time: “Absolute Imitation”!”

Yue’s appearance did not change back.

It’s like the “Reproduction Magic” isn’t activating. A silver light pours down over Yue, but Kaori’s magic is erased with a crunching sound. There is still no sigh of Yue’s appearance turning back.

“Why……”

“Gugya……”

Kaori is stunned and Yue (goblin Ver.) dejectedly drops her shoulders. Even the other members had worried expressions. In the middle of it, Hajime folded his arms and hit the temple while brooding over the phenomenon.

Hajime wore a difficult expression. Yue (goblin Vers.), while gripping the bottom of his clothes, looked up to him with an uneasy expression. She though that it would be also difficult for her to turn someone back with “Reproduction Magic”.

To such a Yue (goblin Ver.), Hajime returned from his deep thoughts and turned a vibrant smile towards her.

“Everything is alright, Yue. I’ve said it before, we fell into the trap, but a Game Over is impossible at the start. There must be a method to turn you back. I believe the “Reproduction Magic” doesn’t work because the quality of the age of gods magic is different. A special method needs to be used. It is a self-evident truth, that the challengers of the trial have “Reproduction Magic”. There would be no meaning to the trial otherwise. In any case, we will find the method to turn you back if we proceed further.”

“…… Gugya”

“Aa, don’t worry about it. And, i forgot about this. Can you hold this?”

“…… Gigi?”

Hajime passed Yue (goblin Ver.) a pair of jewel earrings. Because she transformed and can’t use magic, he guessed that she needs something and gave her an artifact ―― “Telephatic Jewels”. (TL: actually stones, but they are earrings, so i choose “Jewels” instead of stones.)

“……Hajime?, Hajime? Can you hear me?”

Then, a lovely voice affected the space, the same way as Tio’s transformation into a dragon does. Hajime’s expression loosed up and he looked very happy while hearing a dear and nostalgic voice, even if it was only for a moment.

“Yeah, I can hear you, Yue. Your appearance changed….. but i’m glad you are alight.”

“……. Nn. I knew Hajime would notice it.”

“That’s natural. I’m the one who understands you the most.” (TL: Missed this line, i’m sorry~ Did not notice till now)

“……… Nn. But i was happy. I love you.”

“……Stop it. It’s embarrassing.”

“….. Fufu”

The air around them became sweet and pink, even though she was a goblin. Even if the appearance changed, they still create their own world. The eyes of the other members became like ones from dead fish.

“Cough! Isn’t it about time? Yue, I’m glad you are alright.”

“N…… Kaori, too”

“Yue-san……. Zettai, zee~~tai! We will turn you back! For that reason, you can rely on me!” (TL: “Zettai” means “absolutely” ,left it in japanese, because reasons…..)

“….. Shia, Thank you. I can’t fight now, so i’ll count on you.”

Shia and Kaori somehow regained their spirit and were able to exchange words with Yue.

“Yue-san, well, i’m sorry about a while ago. I didn’t notice it was you…. I almost injured you.”

“….Don’t worry. It was inevitable. And i believed i wouldn’t get injured….”

“Eeh, is it about me?”

“…. Even from the hero (lol), Hajime would protect me.”

“…… Is that so.”

Yue’s casual remark performs a clean hit. While withdrawing dejectedly, Kouki raised a dry laughter. Shizuku and Suzu try to encourage him.

“Well then, to change Yue back and find Tio and Sakagami we should push forward and quickly conquer the labyrinth.”

With Hajime’s command the party proceeded to advance in the sea of trees once again.

～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～

“…..Hajime-san, even I see it. That is Tio.”

“I also understand it. No matter how you look at it, that is Tio.”

“….Rather, it would be a serious matter if it wasn’t Tio.”

“Unmistakable, That is Tio.”

Hajime and the others turn their eyes towards the filth they see.

After 30 minutes they joined up with Yue, they saw a group of goblins. The group assaulted one goblin with kicks and punches.

However, there was no intention of killing it and an atmosphere like bullying was there. The goblin seemed not to be injured while receiving an assault from the group.

If it was only that it was bullied because it was weak, it would be pretty natural……

“No matter how i see it….. It’s in ecstasy…..”

“Even though it has the face of a goblin….. We could never broadcast that.”
“Nagumo….. You, to that kind of person…. I don’t feel like i could win it’s heart.”
“Stop it, Amanogawa. I feel bad because i allowed that transformation…..I can only give up…..”

The goblin was floating in ecstasy, while the others where muttering. The appearance was reminiscent of a certain pervert. Or precisely, there could only be one such person.

“Tio… You are….. It’s too late already…. Let’s give up though it is regrettable.”

When Hajime shaked his head in a sad expression he quietly turned his back. Yue and the rest followed him without any hesitation. Normally, Kouki would say “Never desert a nakama!”, among other things, but now his gaze is wandering. (TL: As in ignoring it and it is “nakama”, which can mean friend, companion, comrade..etc.)

“Gu? Gyagya!”

And, at that moment, the goblin noticed Hajime’s group and raised its voice.

As a result, the assaulted goblin seemed to notice Hajime. It opened its eyes wide and rushed towards Hajime, despite receiving an assault earlier.

The goblin (Tio) was crawling in a high-speed on the ground, while the other goblins instinctively pulled away and backed away. In fact, while the goblins tormented and bullied it in high spirit, they felt “Huh? Somehow you are strange.” and now they were convinced about it.

“Gugyagyagya!!”

Meanwhile, the goblin (Tio) tried to jump with a rupa○dive into Hajime’s chest. Though they can’t understand goblin words, seen that, it was surely “Master~ This one longed to see you” or something along those lines. (TL: Forgot to mention. It’s probably “scuba dive”, i don’t understand the censor of the author here so i left it~)

Of course, Hajime responded and said,

“Don’t come near me, you pervert!”

Mekyo!

And he used an uppercut with his artificial arm.

The goblin (Tio) made an artistic backflip with four and a half turns, but did make a sound like it should have been. She crashed.

“…..Dead?”

Yue (goblin Ver.) peeked into the bush where the body of the goblin (Tio) fell. It’s tail was pierced by a tree branch.

Then, “Bikunbikun”! The body of the goblin (Tio) was twitching, while regaining consciousness. Though the body is that of a goblin, the endurance may be that of a dragon. Or, she became an even bigger pervert……

“GaGaGa! GoGo, Guge! Guga!”

The goblin (Tio) held her cheeks with both hands and screamed excited, while her body twisted around. And then, she began looking at Hajime with feverish eyes.

Instinctively, Hajime starts pulling out “Donner” and Shia desperately tries to calm him. Kaori handed over a “Telepathic Stone” over to the goblin (Tio).

“Uh-huh, a “Telepathic Stone”….. Do thou hear me, Master? This one met the beloved Master and the first words and actions were those of abuse.”

“Damn it. Even if the body changes, the toughness does not. It should just die already.”

“Tsu! Aah? Beloved Master. The lack of pardon, this one can’t hold out. Mistress is useless without Master. Now, Master’s beloved servant has returned. It’s good how the mistress, who is reduced to ugliness, is attacked without restraint!”

Apparently, even if she changed into a goblin, she still felt the pleasure. It was already too late as Hajime said.

The goblins, while ignoring Tio who is lying on the ground saying “Do as you like! Burn or boil me!” and still twitching, were insta-killed by Hajime. And the search was resumed in silence.

The other members also did not seem to care about it and follow Hajime without turning their eyes.

“Ho, is this neglect play? Master can’t be helped~ Ey, don’t leave this one behind!? This one wants you to wait~ This one is still shaking because of the blow a while ago~”

Tio’s voices echoes empty in the sea of trees. However, nobody stopped walking.

(TL: I used “it” rather than really translating it to english because i guess it makes more sense calling her an “object” rather than a “person”.)

～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～

The huge branch bends and attacks irregularly like a whip. Leaves dance like a blade and scatter around. Tree nuts are shot like cannonballs. A sudden spear-like root dashes out from the ground like the sharp point of a sword. Each of these attacks are fatal.

It is very similar to the Tree-Demon Hajime once fought in the “Orcus great Labyrinth”. The demon is a so-called “Trent”. But then, when Hajime compared this Trent with the one he fought, the size is extremely different. It was 30 meters high and 10 meters in diameter.

Kouki, Shizuku, Suzu and the ogre-like creature are confronting the huge Trent.

“Guraaa!”

Meanwhile, while raising a shout like a real Ogre, it is Ryutaro who attacks with his fist to intercept the branches that come in.

Along the way, an Ogre was discovered fighting other Ogres. However, while the fight went on martial arts were seen – To be frank, it made refined karatemovements. It was obvious that it was Ryutaro.

Ryutaro might have been dead if they found him later as his status has fallen as Yue’s and Tio’s did. To go that far without running away, a tsukkomi was made about his muscle-brain.

And, Ryutaro finally joined with them as the last member. They reached the place with the gigantic tree which was obviously on a different size compared with the surrounding ones…… The gigantic tree said “Defeat me if you want to go further!” and began to rage as it said it.

At the present time, Kouki’s group which did not show any results till now said “We will defeat this guy!” and rushed out. Hajime’s group didn’t care and started to spectate the fight. By the way, Kaori is participating as a healer.

“Gwuuuu. The attack is heavy.”

A branch with the thickness of a log approaches, while cutting through the wind, and is received by Kouki with his Holy Sword. However, a groan leaked from the space of gritted teeth, while reminding how excessive the weight of the attack was.

Shizuku is busy with shuriken like leaves, which fly like throwing knifes. Suzu puts up a powerful barrier to somehow intercept the attack and Kouki desperately decides to use the opening to attack.

“Kuu, No good. Because Kaori is here, we do not have to worry about not being able to continue……”

The black katana “Tsumehirameki” was fully taken advantage of. Shizuku gridded her teeth while cutting branches and leaves one by one. (TL: Not sure 爪閃, something like claw flash/lighting)

Hajime’s words before entering the great labyrinth, sank into the bodies of Shizuku’s group. Without Hajime they would have been annihilated already. The confidence they gained in the “Orcus great Labyrinth” was crushed into pieces.

After worrying a little, Shizuku shouted towards Kouki.

“Kouki! Use “Supreme Destruction”!” (TL: 神威 not too sure, used chapter 122 as a reference )

“No, it’s not good. The chant is too long!”

“It’s alright! We will defend you without fail! Believe in us!”

Kouki was troubled what he should do about Shizuku’s suggestion.

It was obvious that the Trent before them was stronger than the demons of the woman of the Majin-tribe (TL: Demon-tribe). The attacks only come one by one, however the fight is only somewhat manageable with Kaori’s backup. They could lose their lives if they lose concentration even once. It would take more than an average nerve to expose oneself defenseless in such a time.

However, it was certain that without an overwhelming attack they can’t reach the Trent. At this rate, they wouldn’t be able to defeat it.

In addition……

Kouki recalls the time when Hajime met Yue again. A mutual trust that did not change, even when the appearance changed. Hajime saw the true nature of his lover in an instant and Yue did not show any unrest while she was almost killed by Kouki. Honestly, it would be a lie so say that he did not envy such a relationship.

Therefore, Kouki was determined. We have a relationship of mutual trust. It was absolutely not to prove that they will not lose to Hajime.

“I understand. I leave my back to you!”

“Yes, leave it to us. Ryutaro, Suzu! Let’s gather up!”

“Roger!”

“Aye yo!”

Kouki did not move an inch while raising his Holy Sword over his head. Only his mouth moved while chanting. That state may be called defenseless, because his whole consciousness was poured into the chant of “Might of Heaven”.

The Trent was sure not to miss that chance. The tree branches from right and left, a leaf blade which approached like a tornado from above, a shell of nuts from the front and the root of a tree attacks from the ground.

“This is sacred ground, the enemy of god will not be allowed to pass! “Absolute Virtue!”” (TL: “聖絶” not sure about this skill, also “YOU SHALL NOT PASS!” would also work, but i did not want to use a sketchy line~)

Suzu foresaw an attack and put up a barrier. Up till now her barriers have saved the party. The barrier withstood somehow the first barrage of attacks with small cracks.

“Tsuuuuu!”

Because of the consecutive attacks of the Trent, the barrier couldn’t hold out and breaks. Suzu’s groan resounds loudly, while Shizuku and Ryutaro (Ogre Ver.) are attacking in despair.

“Tsuuuaaa!”

“Ooooooh!”

They were badly bruised in an instant because of the offensive waves of attacks. They intercept every attack with their skills, while screaming and roaring. Though two people get damaged and blood spilled out, they didn’t let any attack pass to the back.

““Kaiten!”” (TL: Changing the world or turning the tide. Japanese sounds a bit better.)

With only one world echoing on the battlefield, Suzu’s wounds are healed in an instant by Kaori’s magic.

Though “Kaiten” is a recovery magic for multiple targets, it’s effects are already above the advanced level. Most wounds are healed in no time. After getting Nointo’s body, Kaori was inspired to create new healing magic. It was possible to heal with “Regeneration Magic”, however the magic consumption from the age of gods magic is larger than normal magic.

Suzu puts up a barrier again and earns a few seconds, however it gets destroyed again. Shizuku and Ryutaro put their lives on the line again. Kaori immediately heals their damaged bodies and Suzu puts up another barrier. They repeat this three times.

Finally, from Kouki’s body, a huge amount of magic gushes out and covers his Holy Sword. The Holy Sword is cladded in light like the sun and Kouki takes a deep breath.

And,

“――――Everyone! Here i go! “Supreme Destruction” !!”

He unleashes his trump card, his strongest magic. A huge torrent of light strikes the ground and flies forward. A leaf blade is blown off, the tree branch gets eliminated, the bombardment of the nuts is swallowed and the Trent is hit directly.

The roaring sounds and light explode, while the surroundings are dyed white.

“I did it!”

Kouki gives a smile of satisfaction and shouts. Hajime watches in the back, while stuffing a small cake into his mouth, and mutters “Aah, he raised the flag…..”.

The flag was certainly raised.

The light and dust clears up……and the Trent is unhurt.

“It’s a lie, right……”

Kouki is stunned and makes a lifeless voice. It wasn’t only Kouki. Shizuku’s group also were shocked because Kouki’s last resort was useless.

The Trent lets out murderous intent towards Kouki’s group and starts attacking in waves again.

This chapter is translated by Durasama and is unedited.

In the dense fog that clung onto bodies, people’s shadow could be seen moving on without hesitation.

It was Hajime and them.

With Shia in the front, Hajime and them are currently heading towards the big tree. It’s the second day after they’ve arrived at Fair Bergen, the cycle for the path to the big tree to open has finally come.

Within that time, there were various disturbances which Hajime and them were caught up in as they stayed in Fair Bergen but, if you compare it with what usually happens, it’s likely not to such a high extent that it couldn’t be categorized as their daily lives.

Mainly, the thing with Kouki and the freed slaves (girls), a group of male Demi-human’s were doing this and that to hajime because of the thing with Arutena, and Ryutaro was doing this and that with the Demi-humans martial arts masters……those kind of stories.

Along the way, forest demons launched a surprise attack under the fog. However, Hajime and the rest, Yue, Shia, Teio, and the Hauria didn’t deal with it at all, they left everything up to Kouki and them. Since they didn’t know what kind of trials the great labyrinth [Harutsuina Sea of Trees] holds, as a warm up they were told to take out the demons.

To begin with, because the Sea of Trees drives the senses of other races besides the Demi-humans mad, it was completely different than fighting against the demons at [Orcus Great Labyrinth], Kouki and them were having a pretty hard fight. They kept teasing by using hit and run tactics repeatedly and Ryutaro was plainly irritated at the demons who made full use of the dense fog.

“……There! Like this….this!”

Within there, Kaori was mixed into Kouki and them’s repeated combat.

Kaori still wasn’t completely in full control of Nointo’s body yet so she was there voluntarily to train. It appears that, the dense fog didn’t effect Nointo’s body as much, it seems to be just the right adjustment for the battle experience and trace skills that Nointo had. 

Even now, while fluttering her wings which shined in silver, it shot out silver feathers to repel the demons. It appears that she’s gotten used to using the silver feathers, as if they were homing missiles, they launched out at the demons and instantly decomposed them to nothingness.

“Ya!”

In addition, while giving out a shout, the approaching demons who slipped past the silver feathers were wonderfully cut into 2 by the great sword that was clad in silver light that was pulled out in an instant.

It seems that she still couldn’t wield them freely like how Nointo did but, if its just one hit then she’s considerably skilled. At the very least, it was at the level where she couldn’t be embarrassed to call herself a “Swordsman”.

“I seem to be considerably getting used to this. It’s worthwhile that I get into a fight with Yue everyday”¹ “…….Your spec’s are abnormal. I can’t afford to be careless”

Hajime let out a breath and muttered, “Fuu~”, as he watched Kaori’s figure.

Although she’s still not on the original Nointo’s level yet which was able to give the Hajime at full power a hard fight, but if you think about her growth rate, it was wonderful since it was still only around 10 days since her soul was transferred. Kaori’s diligence is likely allowing her to rapidly master Nointo’s fighting power.

“That’s not true. I’m still not accustomed to using magic while fighting, if I don’t concentrate on Decomposition it wont activate as well…..I still can’t even get a hit off of Yue”

It appears that she heard the conversation between Hajime and Yue, Kaori was pouting as she moved forwards. She wants to quickly become stronger, she has the image but, she’s frustrated that it doesn’t go as she thought it would…..those kind of feelings are reflected on her expression.

“…….Kaori. What are you saying. Your physical abilities exceeds ours, you have the brutal ability of decomposition in your silver wings, and you’ve got aptitude in all attributes and can use magic without having to chant and without magic formations. Your swordsmanship is also progressing limitlessly like a joke as well, due to your proficiency in recovery magic, your defenses are like a fortress, even if they successfully inflict a wound onto you, it’ll heal up immediately….it’s already unsuitable to call you a cheat anymore, you’re more like a bugged character. Yet you’re still dissatisfied?”

Shizuku pointed out her specs as if she was amazed, Kaori had felt that she definitely felt like a monster so she just let her eyes wander around.
“But, I can’t defeat Yue or Shia…..if I’m a bugged character then, what are Hajime-kun and them?”
“…..Something hard to describe or something…like that…..”

Shizuku was showing a difficult expression as she thought of the best way to describe Hajime and them, it seems that nothing came to mind in the end. Kouki called out to Shizuku.

“It’s fine, Shizuku. As long as we can clear the great labyrinth then even we can become as strong as Nagumo. No, if you think about Nagumo’s non-fighting class, surely we’d be able to be stronger than him”
“Looks like it. I’m looking forwards to find out what kind of magic we’ll obtain”
“Un, lets do our best!”

Although Hajime’s strength doesn’t come solely from Age of Gods magic, Kouki who was through with it was strongly clenching his fist. Ryutaro and Suzu also seemed to have been pumped up.

“Every~one, We’ve reached it~”

When Kouki and them were firing themselves up, Shia tells them of their arrival at the big tree as she looked back over her shoulder. When Hajime and them chased after Shia who advanced ahead and disappeared into the other side of the fog, they arrived at a space that had no fog. Towering in front was a withered huge tree just exactly like they saw before.

“This is…..the big tree…..”
“It’s large…..”
“It’s extremely……huge”

While looking above their heads, they weren’t even able to see the top of the big tree, Kouki and them had their mouths opened absentmindedly as its width was so long it was as if they were standing in front of a wall. Surely it was the same expression anyone else would have had when seeing it for the first time, Hajime and Yue had a small smile while looking at eachother.

Hajime approached the lithograph while pulling out all the proofs that he’s obtained from the other great labyrinths out of his “Treasure Warehouse”. The lithograph hasn’t changed since last time, crests of the 7 great labyrinths are drawn on the front and it’s back was hollow in order to allow the proofs to be place in.

While crouching down, Hajime was playing with the 5 proofs in his palm, Kouki and them were finally freed from the large tree’s dignified appearance and focused on Hajime. From now on it’ll be a place where anything can truly happen at anytime. While bracing themselves, Hajime looked sharply at Kouki and them.

“Cam, Since we don’t know what’ll happen from now on, back off with the Hauria tribe”
“Roger, boss. May fortune be with you”

By Fair Bergen’s negotiations, the south land with the big tree became Cam and their territory but, from Hajime’s words his expression became a bit disappointed, However he still decided to salute and then everyone spread out together.

When he confirmed that, Hajime slowly placed the “Orcus Great Labyrinth” ring of proof into the hollow section of the lithograph. Once it was placed, the lithograph began to shine faintly and characters appeared.

“4 proofs”
“Power of Reproduction”
“Guidepost of weaved bonds”
“A path for a new trial shall be open for those who have everything”

“This is the same as before as well. The used proof….is anything other than “Kamiyama” fine”

Hajime went ahead and set the proofs into the lithograph that while muttering. “Raisen’s Ring” “Guryuen’s Pendant” “Merujine’s Coin”……

Each time one was set into the lithograph, it’s light strengthened up. And immediately after placing the final coin, the light was set free and it scattered onto the front of the big tree, this time the big tree was the one that shined brightly.

“Mu? A crest has appeared on the big tree”
“…..Next is, the power of Reproduction?”

As Teio muttered with great interest, a pattern of the 7 angel systems stood out on the trunk of the large tree. Yue walked towards the shining pattern and while quietly touching it she used Reproduction magic.

Immediately afterwards,

Pa~aaaaa!!

The big tree was wrapped up in a light uncomparable to before, a wave of light was continuously rippling towards the top from the place that Yue had touched.

The big tree that was shining brightly, gradually revived as the light spread out to every corner as if it was absorbing water from its roots.

“Ah, leaves…..”

Shia pointed at the leaves which appeared as the tree regained it’s vitality with each passing moment. It was almost like looking at the birth of life, Hajime and them were staring at what was in front of their eyes with a mysterious feeling, the big tree was quickly growing and it regained its bright green looks.

As a slightly strong wind blew by, the sound of the large tree’s leaves rustling around could be heard. Then, at the next moment, all of the sudden, the front of the tree trunk was split from the right and left and a cave appeared. It was a big cave which could fit several tens of people.

Hajime and them looked at each others faces and nodded to each other and stepped into the cave without hesitation.

Hajime was slightly concerned——would the other members who have not captured 4 great labyrinths actually be able to challenge the great labyrinth of the Sea of Trees, but it appears that it was pointless worries. Everyone was able to enter the cave without a problem.

It was probably like the other great labyrinths in the stance of, “If you want to enter, it’s fine as long as you have what’s necessary. However, your life is not guaranteed”.

Hajime looked around the surroundings. But, there didn’t seem to be anything particular in the cave. It was simply a huge space which extended out like a dome.

“Is it a dead-end?”

Kouki muttered out doubtfully.

Immediately afterwards, the entrance to the cave began to shut as if it had been reverse-reproductioned.

The light from the outside gradually thinned out. Hajime scolded Kouki who instinctively panicked. When the entrance was completely shut, the inside of the cave was wrapped in darkness, immediately Yue secured a light source and held it up in her hand. However there was no need for it.

That’s because a huge magic formation appeared underneath their legs and it emitted strong light.

“Uwa, what’s this!”
“What’s up! What is this!”
“Quit making so much noise! Its a transfer magic formation! Don’t be careless when you’re transferred!”

After Hajime warned the shaken Ryutaro and Suzu, their view blacked out.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“~…….This is……”

What reflected in Hajime and their view when the light returned was a lush forest. A sea of trees inside of a tree…..created an indescribably odd situation. 

“Is everyone alright?”

Kouki lightly shook his head and confirmed his surroundings for the safety of his comrades. There Shizuku and them, “We’re fine”, replied. Yue, Shia, Teio, and Kaori didn’t seem to have any particular problems either, they watched their surroundings with caution.

“Nagumo, this is really the great labyrinth right? ……Which way should we progress in?”

The place where Hajime and them were transferred to was, a vacant circled lot where they were completely surrounded by trees in 360 degrees, there wasn’t a guidepost indicating which way they should go either.

Since it’s covered in a dense fog, it doesn’t seem like flying overhead to look for a path would be useful. That’s why Kouki asked Hajime who had lots of experience with great labyrinths.

“……For the time being, we’ve got no choice but to look around”

Hajime muttered out with a slightly displeased expression, he placed his hand onto the trunk of a tree and activated “Tracing”. A magic mark was created, a bright red arrow was placed onto the tree and pointing in the direction where they were going.

When Kouki and them saw that they nodded. It seems they understood that they had no choice but to search while placing signs. And they took the lead since they heard that even if you cleared the labyrinth, if they weren’t recognized by the great labyrinth then they wouldn’t be able to obtain Age of Gods magic.

The other members followed behind successively.  However, only Hajime didn’t move from his place as his eyes retained coldness within it. As they began to walk, Shia noticed and a “?” appeared over her head as she turned back towards Hajime.

“……Hajime-san? Whats wro—-”

Shia called out to Hajime……in that moment,

Shuba!

When they heard that wind-like noise ring out, in a instant Yue and Teio, as well as Ryutaro were coiled by a wire, with both spheres on both ends fixed into the air they were restrained. Hajime had taken out the bola from his “Treasure Warehouse” and quickly thrown them to bind them.

Yue, Teio, and Ryutaro wiggled around as they struggled. When Kouki and them saw that they were dumbfounded. However, once they regained their sanity and as if it was able to produce a ~Ki~ sound they immediately glared strongly at Hajime.

“Nagumo! What exactly are you doing!”

Kouki instinctively raised his voice angrily. Shizuku and them had tensed expressions as their eyes conveyed that they wanted an explanation from Hajime.

“……Be quiet for a bit”

However, Hajime only said that and didn’t answer Kouki and their doubts and silently looked towards Yue, he briskly walked up towards her who was expressionless.

And, as Yue looked up at Hajime perplexedly, Hajime pressed Donner against her forehead. His eyes had a coldness of absolute zero within them, it was obvious that Hajime was completely furious in anger.

“Hajime….What i-”

Yue had a, I can’t believe it, expression as Hajime pointed his muzzle at her. And when she tried to voice out her doubt as she called Hajime’s name.

However, immediately after that,

Dopan!

Hajime pulled Donner’s trigger without hesitation. A dry explosive noise echoed throughout the sea of trees. For now, although the muzzle was removed from Yue’s forehead and pointed towards her shoulder, even still it didn’t change the fact that Hajime had shot his beloved lover.

Towards that fact, it was obvious that Kouki and them as well as Shia and them were intensely shaken. And they looked at Hajime with eyes that doubted his sanity.

“Wha, what are you doing! Nagumo-kun!”
“Hajime-kun! Stop!”

Shizuku and Kaori raised their voices to attempt to stop Hajime who was filled with rage but, Shia finally noticed the sense of incongruity and held onto Kaori and them by the hand instead.

Although there was an air like Kouki would spring at any moment to try and restrain Hajime but, that disappeared after Hajime’s next words.

“Don’t speak without permission, Imitations. You’re only an imitation and you dare imitate Yue’s voice. If you dare to call my name with that voice again. I’ll scrape off your hands and feet”

The moment Hajime uttered his voice, as if the ground was arctic cold, the air was filled with coldness. However the temperature hasn’t actually fallen. Murderous intent was overflowing from his body and in turn dropped the heat that life was giving out. Somehow, even the surroundings became dark. Towards the dense murderous intent, Kouki and them naturally became shallow breathed and cold sweat ran down like a waterfall.

“What are you? Where is the real Yue?”
“………”

Yue’s appearance was as if stating, “What is it”, with her expression and was silently unmoved in her stance². Rather than “Who are you” it was “What are you”, this was because blood was not flowing from where she was shot in the shoulder. It was obvious that it wasn’t a “person”.

Dopan!

This time Hajime shot through the opposite shoulder. However the fake Yue still didn’t change her expression. It appears that they didn’t have a sense of pain. Just like Nointo, they carried an image as if they were puppets, or they may not actually have any will of their own.

“Are you not going to answer. ……No, do you not have a function to answer. Then its fine already. Die”

Dopan!

This time Hajime pointed Donner’s muzzle onto Yue’s forehead and used a rail gun to blast her head off. Behind Yue (Fake), something was splattering and scattering.

Although Shizuku and them instinctively turned away from it, if you took the time to look at it, it wasn’t a brain but a rust colored slime that had scattered. Yue’s (Fake) body which lost it’s head was beginning to melt after one beat, it similarly turned into a rust colored slime and stained into the ground.

Hajime continued to shoot through Teio and Ryutaro’s heads consecutively while they were still restrained by the bola. As the two people splattered Kouki and them instinctively had goosebumps but, as expected they turned into a rust colored slime and were inhaled into the ground just like the Yue (Fake) slime.

“Chi. As expected of a great labyrinth. Starting right off the bat….”

Hajime cursed out as he holstered Donner.

“Hajime-san…..Yue-san and Teio-san are…..”
“They must have been transferred to a different location from earlier. There was a slight sense of the feeling when our memories were being searched by Age of Gods magic. The rust colored slimes who obtained the memories used their mimic abilities to disguise themselves, it felt like they had openings from behind?”³

Hajime’s expression distorts into a bad mood as his lover turned into soup. Shizuku and Suzu nodded as if they felt admiration as they heard Hajime’s guess.

“I see. …..Even still you’ve done good to notice”
“Un un, Suzu wasn’t able to tell the difference at all. How did you notice?”

Suzu asked for Hajime’s identification tips as it would be troubling if they couldn’t distinct their own comrades apart. Kouki looked at Hajime with interest as well while worrying about the safety of his best friend.

Hajime’s answer towards that question was….

“Even if you asked me. …..I can only say that the instant I saw them, I noticed. What was before my eyes was “Not my Yue””
” ” ” ” “……..” ” ” ” ”

In a sense, all members lost their strength when the answer was him speaking fondly of his sweetheart.

“Then, how about Ryutaro-kun and Teio-san?”
“Once you know that there are imposters then, with the “Magic Eye Stone” if you look carefully you can see a sense of incongruity. That’s why you don’t have to worry as long as you’re with me from now on”

Is that so~, Kouki and them looked at Hajime amazedly. Within that, as if Shia thought of something she went, ~ha~, while fidgeting she asked Hajime while expecting something.

“Ano, Hajime-san…..if it was me, would you also notice it in an instant?”
” ! ”

Kaori who was next to Shia reacted, in her glance she asked, “How about me?”. Somehow or another eyes were attracted to Hajime. Inside of the delicate bittersweet atmosphere, Hajime answered plainly without much vigor.

“Sa~a? Isn’t it impossible for just a moments glance?”
” “……..” ”

Usually while one was reading the air, “Of course, Isn’t it obvious that I’d realize it?”, and answer like that but, this was part of Hajime’s quality. While thinking that he mercilessly answered.

Unintentionally Shia and Kaori continued to stare at him but, Hajime continued to advance into the depths of the sea of trees while being indifferent about the two people’s glances.

“It’s questionable how he can have such strong nerves….”
“Au, Kaolin, Shiashia, cheer up!”
“Kaori is really, what about that guy is…..”

While following after Hajime, Shizuku and them glanced at Shia and Kaori who puffed their cheeks in a bad mood from their appeal. While having various problems at the the start of the line, they stepped into the sea of trees.

By the way, in his mind, “If it was Shia I’d know”, is what Hajime had thought but…..he had just decided to take on an honest attitude but he carelessly said that bluntly so he may very well be a tsundere.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Vuu~uu”uu”uu”uu”!!

Exactly like an electric fan moving at maximum speeds, that kind of sound was echoing in the sea of trees. It wasn’t one or two either. It was the buzzing of countless numbers. Translucent wings that were flapping at super-high speeds were already like a kind of attack as the noise reverates.

“Uu~, gross~, [Beyond Heaven-ugh]!”
“Don’t whine! Suzu, it went that way!”
“Ku, it’s quick! [Heavenly Flying Sword]!”[/efn_note]What I’m calling it, 天翔剣[/efn_note]

Suzu looking like she wanted to cry as she was holding in the physiological disgust she felt from looking at the demon.

That may be something that can’t be helped. After all, the reason for the buzzing was a toddler sized “Bee”. If you compared it in form then it would be a hornet. The super-huge bee-typed demon were attacking in swarms with their tough jaws and lethal stingers.

With a malicious yellow and black hue, their jaws creaked as it opened and closed, their stingers had green liquid dripping from it, their feet that waved around eerily, and their dark red compound eyes……it certainly was a creature that you’d want to avoid.

Moreover, this bee-typed demon were hard to deal with because they were quick and they cooperated in groups. Furthermore, they could continuously shoot out their needles since a new one would immediately grow in its place, from mid-range it was exactly like a machine-gun so there was the threat of being swept by a rain of stingers.

Somehow Suzu’s barriers were keeping out the stingers, as opposed to Kouki’s method of hammering them with a single blow, Shizuku was breaking apart their cooperation and speed, however the swarm of bee’s were not decreasing in numbers at all.

“Damn, these guys, they’re exactly like the Majinzoku’s demons!”
“No, it’s reversed isn’t it? They’re monsters are similar to the great labyrinth’s monsters”

Kouki wielded his sacred sword with a desperate look, he remembered the scene of bloodshed that they experienced previously and unintentionally cursed out. They had absolutely no space to relax because the great labyrinth’s monsters were so strong.

At the moment a mantis-shaped demon that was around 2 meters in length was about to do a surprise attack on Kouki from behind but, Hajime killed it in an instant and tsukkomied at the same time.

A slight distance away from Hajime, Shia was killing 3 meter ant-typed demons in a single hit with Doryukken and blasting through the ground building a mountain of corpses. Kaori wasn’t losing either, she continuously shot out silver feathers and close to 30 bee’s were already shot down and decomposed.

When Kouki saw the spectacle that came into view, he grit his teeth as he feels the difference between Hajime and their powers once again.

““Beyond Heaven-ugh” “Beyond Heaven-ugh”! It’s useless. We’ll be overwhelmed!”

Suzu who was close to tears, created several shining shields, she kept repeatedly building new ones as soon as the previous ones were destroyed, Suzu’s magical power was mercilessly shaved down.

“Beyond Heaven” is not that strong but its strength is that it can be produced in great numbers, Suzu was a “Barrier Master” so her barriers also carried enough strength to take on several attacks from normal demons before they were destroyed. 

However, in front of the bee-typed demon’s stingers that they shot out, those barriers were instantly broken as if they were paper waste, currently Suzu was being forced to deploy barriers at unprecedented speeds.

Little by little, little by little, the deployment of barriers were being delayed and the scene of flying stingers gradually fills the distance, it was as if she was being strangled by a line of silk and it damaged Suzu’s mind.

“Run rampant, “Thunder Flower”! mince them, [Flash Claw]!”⁴

Along with Shizuku’s chants, a sinister flower of thunder bloomed in the sky, and a claw of wind minced through. She demonstrated her black katana’s abilities on the approaching bee-typed demons.

With her sharp swordsmanship, she was certainly feeling the feedback of the demons being torn apart. With Shizuku being a Speed Fighter, being paired up against the bees was a good match. While disturbing their cooperation with her free movement skill “No Rhythm”, one by one she was sure to slaughter them.

However, the bee-typed demon’s strength was their numbers. Even if she could defeat them, Shizuku was lacking in overwhelming annihilation powers. Hence, the war situation was that they were gradually being pushed, Shizuku who noticed that had a bitter expression.

“Will of the blade, harboring light which will tear apart the enemy! “Light Blade”!”

Thanks to Shizuku, Kouki was able to chant as he liked and his sacred sword was coated by a sword of light.

The light blade extended his sacred sword by about another 2 meters in length. Kouki swung the huge blade of light while rotating his body in one motion which cut through all gathered surrounding bee-typed demons. 

However because the motion of the attack held too many openings, the demons charged in towards him. In response his body was hurled backwards.

“Ku, why you!”
“Kouki!”

The bee-typed demon was about to thrust its stinger into him but, fortunately, Kouki’s sacred armor prevented the stinger from coming near, Kouki somehow managed to use that chance to get up and cut off it’s head.

He had no room to answer Shizuku’s worried voice. In the next moment, he was attacked by huge quantities of demons so Kouki needed to finish recovering his balance.

“Uo~ooooo!”

Although Kouki waved his sacred sword while shouting, the demons in the great labyrinth weren’t sweet enough to spare you any time when you’ve exposed a chance. At last, a bee-typed demon managed to slip past the sacred sword and get behind him, it then clung onto him from behind like spikes on shoes, it was trying to use its jaws to tear through Kouki’s neck.

“~!?”

Kouki raised a voiceless scream.

in that juncture,

Dopan!

A gunshot.

The moment when the bee’s jaws were about to pierce through Kouki’s neck, a flash of light surged out from the side as it cut through the sky and easily blew off the bee-typed demon’s head off.

Kouki who was unsteady due to the aftereffect, ignored the heat that he felt on his neck and separated himself from the remains of the bee-typed demon that was clinging onto him. Although it was a narrow escape from death, Kouki’s cheeks cramped as more demons swarmed him.

——I’ll be overwhelmed!

He was convinced. A voice that had no sense of panic was heard in Kouki’s ears.

“Don’t move, Amanogawa”

Immediately afterwards, countless meteors fell down upon the bee-typed demons and mercilessly trampled them.
Doo~opan! Doo~opan! Doo~opan! Doo~opan! Doo~opan!

You could only hear one gunshot but, the truth was that there were 6 flashes produced.⁵

The shining red spear of light pierced through all demons in the line of fire and killed them instantly. In addition, the bullets were shot out with well-thought out trajectories, they went through the air and collided with the other bullets and with that slight change in angle they efficiently pierced through more Demons. 

According to their viewpoint, it almost seemed as if the enemies voluntarily jumped into the bullets. Such special technique could be called an admirable performance, the demons which were giving Kouki a hard time were overwhelmed by Hajime, the bullets were continuously spinning and reloading one another, in addition Donner and Schlag shot out when they fell into confusion.

……It didn’t even take 1 minute before everything was taken care of. It was instant killings.

Hajime who annihilated the bee-typed demons in no time at all holstered Donner and Schlag as if nothing happened, he approached the defeated monsters as Kouki and them were stunned.

“Chi, it doesn’t seem like there’s any meaning even if I ate them…..”
“E, eat? Eh, Nagumo-kun, you intended to eat this? Seriously?”

Instinctively, Shizuku asked after being influenced by the previous act of devastation.

“Did I not say it before? …..If I eat a demon which is equal or higher than me, I can take in the opponents inherent magic for myself. In the abyss, the only thing there was to eat were demons. Ahh, you guys shouldn’t copy me. Without a doubt you’d die”
“Even if you didn’t say it, we wouldn’t. Hearing it once again is truly sublime…..”

Shizuku was looking at Hajime with a complex expression. He’s really reliable since he’s helped them countless times by now but, she was reminded once again of where that power came from was through a sublime experience, she was lost on whether she should honestly feel admiration or not.

“Bu, but, why aren’t you eating this thing then? No, as for Suzu, suzu doesn’t want to see such a predation scene so you don’t have to eat it but……”
“I just said it just now? There’s no meaning unless they’re equal or higher than me. The guys around here are all small frys”
“……I See~. For Nagumo-kun, this monster is a small fry~. I see~, ahaha”
“Suzu, I understand your feelings so don’t break. Please come back”

Suzu who was giving a dry laugh as if slightly broken and Shizuku was sighingly asking her to regain her sanity.

“……..”

Within that, only Kouki was staring at the remains of the demons that Hajime had created while tightly grasping the sword in his grip. For himself, the enemy was powerful to the extent where he had almost lost his life, but Hajime evaluated them as if they were just stones on the side of the road without any value, he felt unpleasant from their difference in ability. Although he was trying to pretend to not notice, dark emotions were beginning to swell up again within his heart.

Hajime glanced over at Kouki who was standing still silently.

“…….Amanogawa”
“~. Wh, what is it?”
“For now just think about finding your childhood friend. Being worried about this and that, it’ll be fine as long as you do what you have to do”
“Ah, ahh. You’re right, we have to quickly find Ryutaro and them….”

Although he stuttered somewhat, Kouki nodded firmly towards Hajime’s words. He braced himself again to search for his missing childhood friend.

After Hajime was glancing at Kouki like that, he seemed to have lost interest and averted his glance.

As a matter of fact, Hajime had clearly understood what Kouki was feeling. Inferiority complex and frustration, jealousy of strength……..they were emotions which Hajime had felt once before.

He never thought that Kouki who had everything would be feeling that way towards himself, it was a rather ironic subject. As Hajime was thinking about such things, because he had no feelings to consider for Kouki, he was simply through with it. The words from awhile ago that Hajime said out was already a big treat.

“Hajime-san, the other side was cleaned up~”
“Fu~u, this side is done too”

In the meantime, Kaori and Shia who finished dealing with the demons came back.

“Alright. Well then, shall we depart. I think that if its Yue and Teio then it’s alright but, we should still regroup with them as quickly as possible. Sakagami is……ma~a, whatever happens, happens”
“Wha-, aren’t you treating Ryutaro too crudely? Say, I know that your lover is important and all but….”
From what Hajime said, Shizuku had a troubled expression as she tsukkomied. The party advanced through the interior of the sea of trees to look for their companions who were separated from them.

This chapter is translated by Durasama and is unedited.

An intense light poured down over Fair Bergen just like a barrier.

Demi-humans were running away in different directions when the plaza was lit up by the pillar of light, they were all watching from afar with nervous expressions of what’s to come.

Similarly, soldiers surrounded the plaza while having an expression cramped with fear.

Bekibeki~, Baki~, Beki~!!⁶

Immediately afterwards, a scream-like sound was emitted by the tree’s overhead as they broke. “Goodness gracious, has a new monster appeared!”, as Fair Bergen’s residents took a forward stance, it appeared.

What they saw first was a huge mass of metal. Gradually lowering it’s altitude and finally the residents of Fair Bergen noticed that it was a gondola. Afterwards, the appearance of a devilfish-like airship “Feruniru” was seen. The ground was illuminated by the two powerful searchlights which were attached to the bottom of its front and back in order to look for a safe place to land.

The surrounding people could do nothing but simply open their eyes and mouths widely in astonishment, Feruniru slowly lowered the gondola to the ground and purges it, then it landed beside the gondola.

The plaza was completely filled up with the gondola and Feruniru and the surrounding people took distance from it in a panic. At the same time, they had a, what’s going to happen now, face filled with unease as they looked.

Then, at that time, the front and back of the rectangular shaped gondola suddenly opened up. The Demi-humans were startled. The soldier’s hands which held their weapons were drenched in sweat and, ~Gokuri~, the sound of their throats could be heard. Their expressions stiffened up when they thought about what might jump out of the gondola which was wrapped in darkness.

Among the residence’s gazes, what appeared from the atmosphere timidly was……an Usagininzoku girl. With that, the residents expressions turned into bewilderment. In that situation where the residents couldn’t process and understand yet, Demi-humans appeared one after another from the darkness.

Those who came out from the gondola in succession, all equally looked around their surroundings with a slightly unbelieveable expression. In the serene silence of the cool air, vigorously, along with the security they felt while surrounded by trees, the nostalgic lights of Fair Bergen, and the sight of their brethren who they believed they’d never see again.

Although they were still in a stunned state like vegetation absorbing water, they were gradually realising. “We’ve finally returned to our hometown” is what they said.

Fair Bergen’s residents were also the same as well.

A woman hesitatingly advanced ahead slowly. It was a middle-aged woman who had dropped down inumimis. She had tears accumulating in the corners of her eyes and gently called out the name which she thought was lost.

“…..Zack, are you Zack?”

The one who reacted to that voice was a boy who similarly had dropped down inumimis. It was that boy which Kouki had worried about at the Empire. Once the boy caught the appearance of the woman, his face crumpled up into tears and started running out.

“Ka-san!⁷”
“Zack!”

As the woman knelt down and expanded out her arms, the boy leaped into her chest. The woman who was called, mother, was tightly embracing her son within her arms to confirm that it wasn’t a fantasy. And the parent and child had tears flowing out of delight from their miraculous reunion.

During the period of the parent and child’s reunion, the Demi-humans and residents realized that they’ve returned and shouted out in joy which shook the ground as they ran towards each other, family and friends were releasing a powerfully bright voice every time they met up with acquaintances and lovers who were safe.

Fair Bergen was wrapped up in great joy, the usual quiet tranquility suddenly disappeared and a festival-like racket began.

Inside of the clamor of Demi-humans which was filled with overflowing smiles, Alfrerick as well as the other elders came running up to Hajime and them who got off Feruniru.

“Boy…..you had a completely unexpected appearance”
“N? Ahh, Alfrerick huh. Ma~a, there were various bothersome things so overlook it for me”

When Alfrerick looked overhead at the trees which folded and broke, he showed a wry smile as he talked, Hajime was scratching his cheek and had a slightly embarrassed expression.

From the skies of the Sea of Trees, the idea to descend down onto and crushing the trees without question just to enter from the outside of the Sea of Trees because using a gate to transfer everyone was too troublesome was due to careless judgement from his magical power being reduced to almost nothing.

However, because Hajime had been impressed by Fair Bergen’s beautiful scenery, as expected there’s was a slight feeling of having done something bad.

“Sorry, Yue. Can I rely on you?”
“N…..leave it to me”

When Hajime called out to Yue by his side, Yue’s lips loosened into a wry smile and she extended out her right arm overhead.

““Absolute Imitation””⁸

Reproduction magic “Absolute Imitation”. It’s a magic which restores all destruction regardless of whether it was organic or inorganic matter.

The moment Yue activated the magic, the tree’s overhead immediately regained their former appearances. The elders exposed absentminded expressions towards the irrational magic which they witnessed. Only Alfrerick was able to guess that it was due to obtaining new Age of Gods magic and he massaged his forehead wrinkles like he was tired.

“Oji-sama, although I sympathize with your feelings, it’s about time we should…….”
“Mu, that’s right. Boy…..no, Nagumo-dono. I’ve roughly heard of the circumstances from Cam. Though it was unbelievably sudden, it appears that my brethren have really been released. we’ve likely just experienced a historical moment right now. First of all, as Fair Bergen’s representative, I thank you”
“That’s what you say but, the ones who did everything was the Hauria tribe. Please don’t make mistakes here?”

Hajime gave a warning towards Alfrerick’s words as he was indifferently putting the gondola and Feruniru back away into the “Treasure Warehouse”. Suddenly the enormous objects from the plaza disappeared and the people who were expressing their joys began blinking their eyes. Then they paid attention towards Hajime and them who were facing the Elders.

“Ahh, of course. To begin with if the Haruia tribe wasn’t here, Fair Bergen may have been completely obliterated from the previous attack. Considering that as well, there’s nothing else to believe. Fufu~, never in my long life…..did I ever expect that it would be the weakest and banished Haruia tribe that would have defeated the Empire”

The Hauria tribe challenged the Empire to a fight and came out victorious and they even rescued all the brethren—-that fact having been stated from Alfrerick’s mouth made the residents realise who the people that allowed them to reunite with their important people were.

They turned their attention to Cam who was standing next to Alfrerick with a straightened back. What dwelled in their eyes was not contempt at the weakest race but, great awe and respect of looking at a hero.

When Cam notices those glances, as if he had thought of something a mischievous smile appeared on his lips and he slowly raised his right hand. And as if saying, “Come over here!”, he bent his fingertips. It was a hand signal which they used when they invaded the castle.

In that instant, it seemed like someone would instinctively tsukkomi, “⁹ Iya, Iya, where were you guys hiding!”, the other Hauria tribesmen suddenly appeared around Cam! And they all took an “At ease” stance while lined up without moving at all as they awaited their command.

Cam had a satisfied smile as he looked at his tribesmen who stood in a line, his eyes were sharp like a blade and filled with drive which was enough to make people back away unconsciously, all of the residents——to be exact it was the Usagininzoku who he raised his voice towards.

“My brethren. People of the Sea of Trees who have suffered humiliation and resignation over the long time. Listen. Though we’ve managed to overcome the Empire this time, eternal peace is impossible. All of your futures will definitely be threatened once again, not too long from now”

The hundreds of Usagininzoku that were at the plaza trembled in fear towards those words. Will the painful days of the Empire come once again? they’re eyes clinged onto Cam who was making a speech.

“Once that happens, you guys will once again experience days like yesterday. No, not only that. This time, even comrades who have escaped being slaves will also suffer the same fate”

Although they were safe now, the dark future was pointed out, not only the Usagininzoku but also the other Demi-humans were looking down.

“Are you guys fine with that?”

There’s no way it’s fine. We never want to return to those days where our dignity was trampled on. Let alone, allowing our precious people to experience those pains as well.

But, even if you say that, what should we do……

Cam was glancing sternly at his brethren who were looking down, and as if the answer was right before their eyes, he further increased his voice.

“There’s no way that’s fine right? Then, what should we do. It’s simple. If you want to protect those who are important to you right now…..fight. If you don’t wish to live while being exploited in resignation then…..stand up for yourselves. If you wish to change the Usagininzoku’s circumstances then……fill your heart with hatred! Just like how we of the Hauria Tribe did! The Usagininzoku was never the weakest to begin with! As long as you have determination, then you can become stronger than any other race! We’ve already proven that!”

Some leaked an, “Ah…..”. They realised that those who broke through the huge enemy and rescued them were not a special existence but the same Usagininzoku that they were. One of the Usagininzoku that was looking down rose their face up once again.

“Remember the humiliation that you received at the Empire. Do not contempt yourselves that it was due to unfortunate circumstances. Continue protecting your important people with your own hands. If you have the time to indulge yourself in resignation then take up your weapons! We’ll teach you how to fight. If you seek power, if you’ve decided to fight then, you should come and join us. The Hauria tribe will always welcome you guys at any time!!”

After Cam finished ending his speech, he gave out a hand signal once again. Then, the Hauria tribesmen as if they were ninjas spread out and disappeared in an instant!

Once they saw that, Cam confirmed that the fires were lit up within the Usagininzoku’s eyes and he chuckled to himself. “It looks like our military power’s increased once again! I’ll make sure to not miss the chance to remodel their minds immediately once they first participate in the training!” he thought.

“Boss, I’m sorry to have side tracked. It was just too good a time to secure talented people”
“Ahh, I don’t particularly mind. ……So even you’ve become able to speak like that~. With that, how about uniting all the Usagininzoku with the Hauria?”
“Hahaha, if it comes to that then we’ll become quite fearsome!”
“……Recently, father’s demeanor has become more and more like Hajime-san’s. I feel that the “Gentle Usagininzoku” will become exterminated not too long from now”

Shia was looking far into the distance with a dry smile. It appears that it’s only a matter of time before all Usagininzoku’s become brainwashed.

By the way, Gaharudo was also there. Right before his eyes, the Hauria tribe which defeated him were gathering forces but he didn’t say anything in particular. Or rather, he was in a situation where he couldn’t say anything. In order to not needlessly give more information than necessary on Fair Bergen away, Hajime made him wear magic sealing shackles which were attached to his feet and arms and a mask which completely shut out light and sound (Yellow soil colored).

After this and after explaining the oath as proof of the Empire’s defeat to the elders, they planned to immediately return him through the gate. That was the only reason they brought along the Emperor—-there wasn’t anything like dignity.

“Fumu, we can’t let them stay out here any longer. Guide them inside. Arutena, I’m relying on you”
“Yes, oji-sama. Sa~a, it’s this way. Nagumo-sama”

Because of Cam’s speech, they attracted too much attention for a simple greeting, so Alfrerick urged Arutena to guide them into the hall that was prepared.

Arutena who received the task, nodded once, and then for some reason she tried to take hold of Hajime’s hand while smiling radiantly to guided them. That action wasn’t missed in Yue and their eyes. By chance, his right hand had already been held onto by Yue so she aimed towards the left side where Shia was, however Shia similarly smiled radiantly as she casually took back Hajime’s left hand.

Shia and Arutena’s line of sight intersected. For some reason you could hear an auditory hallucination of electricity being discharged ~Bachi Bachi~.

“We’re counting on you ( . . . . ) to guide us. Arutena-san?”
“Yes, of course, Shia-san. But, since there are lots of people, for the sake of not losing you guys, I’d like to hold onto his hand?”

So she says, Arutena tries to get back Hajime’s left hand which Shia took. It appears that she was properly listening to Cams provocation. It was an unbecoming attitude for the princess of the forest people¹⁰. Rather than facing Hajime so on and so forth¹¹, Shia’s sense of rivalry seemed to have been pretty strong.

“Just according to plan!”, is what Cam seems to say as he was grinning from ear to ear, having guessed the circumstances of the surroundings Hajime smiled while releasing blood lust. In an instant, Cam broke out in cold sweat like a waterfall.

Hajime who was slightly stressed let out a sigh towards Cam and tightly gripped onto Shia’s hand.

“Ah…..”

Shia unintentionally let out a voice. Then at the next moment she smiled brightly and she tightly embraced Hajime’s arm. Although it was his artificial arm, due to its artificial nerves he was able to feel the wonderful feeling of having his left arm buried into her breasts.

While looking at such a happy Shia, Arutena unintentionally looked towards Hajime, Hajime’s eyes were coldly stating, “Quickly guide us in”, then her shoulders quickly dropped and she began to downheartedly guide them. From the start, it was imbalanced due to Shia who traveled with him and had lots of contact rather than with Arutena, the results were obvious.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Once they were guided into the hall, the elders sat towards the end, and the Hauria tribesmen including Cam was also at the meeting, and on the right was Gaharudo who sat across from Hajime.

He’s already publicly declared the defeat of the Hoelscher Empire and Gaharudo has said the contents of the oath, to which the elders and others can testify to. With this, all elders seemed to admit that the Hauria tribe was telling the truth.

“Fu~n. However, how dare you nonchalantly come here alone. You’re our sworn enemy. Surely you don’t think you can return safely?”

One of the elders—–Zell of the Toraninzoku¹², stared at Gaharudo with hate who entered into enemy territory alone haughtily. The atmosphere was like anything could go flying at any moment.

However, even if such a gare was turned to Gaharudo, he was indifferent.

“Ha~a? Isn’t it obvious that that’s what I thought. I honestly doubt you’d actually try to kill me. If that were to happen then it would only mean that Fair Bergen’s leaders are full of idiots”
“What was that you b̲a̲s̲t̲a̲r̲d̲!”

Alfrerick was holding back Zell who was furious.

“Zell, stop it. I understand your feelings. The reason Gaharudo came here was for the sake of pledging to the oath which the Hauria tribe placed on him. Nothing more, nothing less. If he was killed now, then all meaning would be lost in the Hauria’s actions which they risked their lives for”
“Ku~…..”

Zell made a mortifying face and threw his fist against the floor.

Gaharudo was laughing through his nose when he saw Zell. The atmosphere in that place was the worst. It was clear that Gaharudo had no sense of guilt for having enslaved the Demi-humans and also had no intent of apologising. However, Gaharudo enslaved the Demi-humans because they were weak, the story of the Hauria tribe being able to free the Demi-humans was simply because they were strong. The elders gazed at Gaharudo with murderous intent and the situation further increased as Gaharudo simply laughed provocatively.

The one who easily broke apart that situation without questions asked was Hajime. Quit being so irritating already.

“Oi, Gaharudo. That’s enough from you. Hurry up and leave”
“Ah?”

As Hajime got up and ignored Gaharudo’s voice of confusion, he activated the gate while firmly holding onto the root of Gaharudo’s neck.

“O, oi! You can’t be seriously sending me back at this moment! Wait a little, I’ve finally come to Fair Bergen, there’s a lot of things I want to find out about. Also you guys too, tch let go! Kora, you! I’m the Emperor! Don’t go dragging me!”

Although Gaharudo was struggling violently, he wasn’t able to overcome the inhumane strength holding him and he was mercilessly thrown into the other side of the gate.

Certainly, the reason why they brought along the Emperor was only because he had to admit to the oath that the Hauria created and everything else he says afterwards was unnecessary but…..”I’ll remember this! Nagumo Hajime~e!!” as the Emperor shouted out it created a doppler effect as he disappeared onto the other side of the gate, that scene certainly provoked some sympathy.

Ririana who was by the side had an strangely glad face though, “Even though you’re an Emperor~, even though you’re an Emperor~, the way you’re treated~” she muttered out rhythmically. It appears that she was happy to have made a new comrade in having been treated in the same crude way that she was treated with.

Recently, Ririana had started becoming a regrettable princess, Shizuku who was by her side looked at her regrettably.

On the hand, the elders, especially Zell, were glaring at Hajime. “Why, did you dismiss the Emperor!” is what their eyes were expressing. The truth was quite ridiculous, to be honest, Hajime had no reason to be here either so if Gaharudo was returned then he could quickly leave.

“Please wait, Nagumo-dono. We still haven’t decided on an appropriate repayment. Would you please stay around for a bit longer”
“No, I don’t need anything, so. Those glances are irritating so we’re leaving”
“Don’t say that. If nothing is done with this much debt of gratitude, it’ll be extremely shameful for us Demi-humans. At the very least, allow us to give you a place to sleep and eat for tonight. That’s why, please stay around a while longer”
“….Haa~, I get it”

Although Hajime thought it was troublesome, he nodded to Alfrerick and sat down where he was before. after confirming that, Alfrerick turned around towards Cam.

“Well then, with this, the distinguishing achievements that the Hauria tribe has done has certainly been confirmed. Even though you were banished, you’ve helped us repel the invasions, moreover, going even as far as getting back all of our brethren from the Empire through an oath. We must repay you at all costs. For the time being, there is no one in opposition towards revoking your banishment. This was already decided after the last elder meeting after the invasion. From now on, you may visit Fair Bergen whenever you wish”

Revoking their banishment. That decision was already overturned at the last elder conference, having admitted to it just showed how big the achievements that the Hauria tribe contributed to were.

However, Cam only muttered, “Is that so”, while not particularly glad at all. His attitude was that anything was fine.

“And also. For your distinguished achievements on this occasion, Cam, as chief of the Hauria tribe, I’d like to propose that as a reward, he may become a new elder. How do you other elders feel about it?”

All of the aides had wide opened eyes in surprise towards Alfrerick’s words. Over the last several hundred years, there has never been an event where a different race was presented the seat of elder. It had always been the 6 kinds of Demi-humans, the Forest people, Tiger people, Bear people, Winged people, Fox people, and the natural natives. If you add in the Usagininzoku into that formula, then from the Demi-human’s perspective, it could only be referred to as a historical feat of honor for their race.

The other elders looked at one another and nodded after hearing Alfrerick’s words, it was a unanimous agreement.

“Fumu, that’s how it is. Cam. Will you accept the seat as an elder?”
“Of course, I refuse”
” ” ” ” “…….Eh?” ” ” ” ”

Somehow or another, an atmosphere like, “Lets welcome our new companion!” appeared but, Cam easily cut apart that atmosphere. All of the elder’s eyes became dots. It seems that they never thought they’d be rejected.

“…….Can I hear why?”

Somehow Alfrerick managed to recover, he was bearing a headache, wondering what was bad about something that Demi-humans thought to have been the greatest reward.

“There’s no particular reason, to begin with you guys are fundamentally mistaken about something”
“A misunderstanding?”
“That’s right. The reason why all Demi-humans were rescued was only due to the occasion. What made us decide to take action was because we thought about the future which would be the end of the Usagininzoku. The other Demi-humans, if I were to say it, “doesn’t matter””
“……What was that”

The elders looked at Cam unbelievably who was talking indifferently.

“Therefore, don’t get the wrong idea. We the Hauria tribe were never your ally. If, you guys who have tasted victory on this occasion decide to go off and wage war on the humans and start stocking up on weapons which cause trouble for us and boss then……you’d best believe that the Hauria tribe’s blade will be pointed at you”
“Are, are we not your brethren! Do you plan on pointing your blades towards your own fellow Demi-humans! Isn’t that insane!”
“Fu~n, it won’t change that you guys look down on the Usagininzoku. There’s no point in trying to get all intimate. Ma~a, that kind of thing doesn’t really matter. Anyways, all of our blades are held simply for the Usagininzoku’s future. As long as you guys carve that onto your chests, then its fine”

Cam’s expression after he finished speaking was refreshed. The Hauria who were also behind him were also smiling. Becoming a new elder, if you think we’d use our power for you guys then you’re sadly mistaken!- their eyes stated.

truthfully, it would be a lie to say that they haven’t calculated that far yet, Alfrerick and their expressions were bitter.

On one side, the people who were waiting around Hajime just watched everything unfold, then they all equally turned their eyes towards Hajime. “I don’t care about anyone other than those important to me! I’m not interested! Pe~!” is what Cam’s behavior was like, it was exactly like a certain somebody.

“It’s as if you’re saying that the Usagininzoku are independent from all the other Demi-humans”
“Alfrerick, you’re always precise. It’s exactly that. From now onwards, the Usagininzoku will be living by the rules of the Usagininzoku. Being incorporated into Fair Bergen’s rules like a goody goody is something I want nothing to do with”

Aides and elders, the short-tempered Zell in particular, were extremely angry at Cam who was haughty. Although Cam had a cool face, the Hauria subordinates behind him were, “Ahh? got a problem with that!¹³” just like thugs who wanted to mince things up.

Within that, Alfrerick was thinking about something with a difficult expression, almost like ever since Hajime has showed up he’s only been releasing tired expressions, then he talked to Cam.

“Then, Cam. How about if we recognise you guys as, “A race equal to Fair Bergen”. Of course, that also gives you a special guest pass into the elders meetings. If we do this then you’d have no obligations to go along with what the elder meetings decide nor the laws of Fair Bergen, with that in mind, you’d have enough influence as us”
“Hoho~u. Ma~a, that’s not a bad proposal”

Towards Alfrerick’s new proposal, Cam smiled from ear to ear as if stating, “I wanted to hear those words!”.

Cam had thought that in preparation for the day when the Empire eventually invades, he wanted some kind of connection with Fair Bergen. However, if he had allowed themsleves to be incorporated into Fair Bergen then he wouldn’t be able to ignore the elder meetings and he’d be restricted from moving around freely. That’s why it was best if they were an alliance only in name or as an external organization.

But, it was obvious that voices of opposition would appear when the Hauria tribe were getting too much preferential treatment. Against that, Alfrerick answered out while sighing.

“They are people who accomplished things as just a single race? Even if Fair Bergen collaborated with all its power, we’d likely not be able to do it. If you think like that, then its more than enough reason to consider them as equals? Besides, there’s also the possibility that this’ll cause the Hauria tribe to cut off all ties with us, do you guys not understand the gravity of loss that’ll be for us? If we form an alliance, they who have been banished will once again create a connection. If so then, things of this degree when compared to the size of their accomplishments isn’t excessive at all”

Although the elders were twisting their heads while grunting out, gunununu, eventually no good proposals came out so the prestige of a single race was somehow pushed through the elders meeting and they decided to go along with what Alfrerick proposed.

“That’s how it is, Cam. As a decision of the elder’s meeting, the status of, “The Alliance Race”, will be given to he Hauria tribe, would that be fine with you?”
“Ma~a, whether we’re recognized or not, what we have to do doesn’t change, but those kinds of things would be alright. Ahh, incidentally, we’re using the big tree towards the south so you guys shouldn’t wander in without permission? We can’t guarantee your lives after all”

They never expected that Cam would place an additional order.

Or rather, he selfishly declared it was his land without permission. As expected, even Alfrerick’s cheeks twitched a bit. Shia who was besides Hajime had covered her face with both her hands. It seems she was embarrassed at her fathers impudence. Her blood father was letting out a Hyaha~ though.

Afterwards, the strangely tired looking elders left and Hajime and them went towards the big tree and were guided into their rooms at Fair Bergen.

The town was still stirring up a big uproar over the Demi-humans returning. Kouki and them were wondering if there was anything they could help with and took off but, Hajime and them decided to relax in the room indifferently.

By the way, Ririana had returned to the Kingdom a short while ago. It was still necessary to negotiate with the Empire and report of the current incident as well, they needed to decide the Kingdom’s next moves.

Why, didn’t she return at once, it was a simple story……from just a few minutes ago. Until Ririana said that she wanted to return to the Kingdom, Hajime had completely forgotten about her existence. When she passed through the gate, it’s needless to say but something was shining within Ririana’s eyes.¹⁴

Midnight

Even now, clamor can be heard throughout the whole town. They may have been holding some kind of celebration and feast somewhere.

Within that, Hajime and them who were relaxing as they desired inside of their room. But, there was one person who was strangely restless.

It was Shia. Since a while ago, she’s been frequently glancing at Hajime and thinking about something.

To begin with, the person in question was receiving a lap pillow from Yue and was partly dozing off into the world of dreams, so he wasn’t aware of Shia’s state. As expected, his bones gave out after having to carry thousands of people. Yue was gently stroking Hajime who became dull as he relaxed his body, “Fumu”, she looked at Shia sideways as she tilt her head.

Right afterwards, she looked at Teio and Kaori who were besides Hajime and were looking at her enviously. And once again, “Fumu”, she nodded, she slowly called out to Kaori and Teio.

“…..Kaori, Teio. You want to perform the lap pillow?”
“Eh? You’ll switch with us?”
“Mu? Of course I want to”

Teio and Kaori gave her eyes filled with expectations and Yue incidentally laughed. 

“…..I’m just asking”
” “……..” ”

Yue had a smile on her lips as if something foolish happened. When they saw that, a blue vein appeared on Kaori and Teio’s forehead. Furthermore, Yue also said, “How is it, you’re jealous right?”, as she tightly held onto Hajime’s head.

“……Yue, are you asking for a fight? Are you?”
“Fufufu, mistress, that annoyed me quite a bit”
“…..Are we doing this?”

Towards Yue’s provocative smile, the two people, “If it’s the continuation from the daytime then I’ll take you up on it!”, they said while getting up. By the way, the winners of the matching during the daytime was the Yue and Shia pair.

“……..If you catch me who’s running, I’ll allow you to be next to Hajime for this night”
” ” ! ” ”

As expected, they couldn’t hold a mock battle within the town so Yue proposed a game of tag. And the reward for victory was unprecedented. Kaori and Teio’s tension became high even though it was midnight.

When Yue confirmed the reaction of the two people, she gently placed Hajime’s head onto a pillow and stroke him once lovingly. And as if not affected by gravity, she gently jumped towards the window and just like she was dancing, she opened the window as she turned around.

On that occasion, “What?” she glanced towards shia and blinked her eye for a moment. Shia seemed to realise Yue’s intention and with a small smile she nodded in gratitude.

“……Game Start¹⁵”

As Yue let out those words she slipped out from of the window and in the next moment, she merged with the darkness and disappeared.

“Ku, I’ll definitely catch her! For the sake of sharing a bed!”
“Fufu, I won’t lose”

With a yell full of spirit. Kaori with her silver wings and Teio who grew dragon wings, jumped out from the window.

Shia who was the onlooker didn’t follow them though because she understood that Yue had purposely provoked Kaori and Teio, so she intended to take advantage of the chance that she was thankful for obtaining. Excitedly, she went by Hajime’s side and gently woke him up.

“Hajime-san, Hajime-san……please wake up”
“N? What’s wrong, Shia. Or rather, just a while ago Yue and them left but…..you didn’t go with them?”

Even while he was still half asleep, Hajime had felt from the flow of magical power that Yue and them had left through the window, why are you still here? he tilted his neck.

“Eh~tto, it seems that I missed it somehow or another, that kind of feeling”
“…..Somehow or another, huh”
“Uu~. Rather than that! Everyone else has left, should we also go out for a stroll? I don’t know anything about Fair Bergen’s interior”

Because of Shia’s hair color, she wasn’t allowed out in public, so the first time she’s been to Fair Bergen was with Hajime and them. At that time as well, since they suddenly left immediately she didn’t have time to explore the whole town.

“…..Ma~a, I guess that’s fine”
“Yes! It’s a midnight date! …….It sounds a little obscene”
“I don’t know about that¹⁶”

Somehow or another, he felt that Shia wanted to talk, truthfully he wanted to continue sleeping but, Hajime decided that he had no other choice but to follow along. Shia joyfully clung onto Hajime’s arm tightly. Then the two with their arms entwined walked out into the midnight of Fair Bergen.

After about 10 minutes, as the two people who were on a stroll were having an innocent talk, they came to notice that they’ve walked far enough to not hear the town’s clamor anymore. And they also noticed that something at the top of the trees were shining out in pale blue light.
“Ah~, those are Montofaruta, Hajime-san”
“Montofaruta?”
“Yes, its a butterfly which emits a pale blue light just like the moonlight. They crowd onto tall trees because of the wind, in the night they look just like cheerful stars in the sky. Except, it’s not known when they’ll actually emit their light so this is quite a rare sight. You either see it only once a year or see nothing at all”
“He~e, they’re certainly beautiful things”

The two who were looking upwards, decided that since it was such a rare sight they should get a closer look so they quickly climbed up higher on a tree, they found a thick branch and sat down beside each other. For a while, they enjoyed the light that the Montofaruta emitted just like a planetarium.

How many of them were there? slowly Shia began to open her mouth.

“Ano, Hajime-san”
“N?”
“Thank you very much. For a lot of things that I can’t put in words….really, thank you very much”
“……Ahh. If you want to fully show your gratitude. Then I’m expecting things from you when we take on the great labyrinth”
“Fufu. Isn’t this when you usually say “Don’t mind it”?”

Shia laughed giggly towards the Hajime-like answer. However it quickly changed into a difficult expression and she turned her gaze onto Hajime.

“What should I do to repay Hajime-san?”
“If it’s repaying then didn’t I just receive it?”
“That was just words wasn’t it. I want to repay your kindness in some kind of form. Can you think of what I can do which’ll make you happy? ……If Hajime-san desires it then, I’ll do anything. Really, anything”

Shia’s Usamimi’s moved around ~Piko Piko~ and she edged her but into contact with Hajime. Her eyes that were looking at Hajime were already moistening and contained heat, and her sighs contained enough heat that it seems like it’ll burn on contact. The implied meaning, Hajime had certainly understood what Shia was saying but, he was daringly pretending to have not noticed.

“…..It’ll be fine as long as you’re still the same happy-go-lucky woman and laughing. You’re our mood-maker after all?”
“Mo~u, what’s with that, happy-go-lucky you say! Even though you hugged me in front of the Emperor and said I was important! This is the scene where say, “Then I’ll have you repay with your body then, guhhehhehhe!”, and attack me isn’t it. Please read the atmosphere”
“It seems that we need to have a thorough talk about the image that you see me in”
“You’re a single-minded good for nothing”
“Being single-minded there is usually a good thing though”

Shia puffed out her cheeks to show that she was dissatisfied. However, she quickly hung her head down disappointedly. Her Usamimi’s also hung down as if they suddenly lost their power.

“……I’m serious, I want to do something to thank you. Ever since I’ve met Hajime-san and everyone else, I’ve l always gave it my all¹⁷. Although Hajime-san and Yue-san says that its fine if I just laugh but, just being with you 2 will naturally make me feel happy, it’s definitely nothing like showing gratitude”
“But still, you’re our companion right? I don’t think you have to continuously think about such things”
“It’s courtesy in intimate relationships. I want to properly thank Hajime-san and Yue-san as well. …..I’ve thought about it variously but, I just can’t seem to think of anything. Hajime-san says that he doesn’t need my body after all…..even though he tightly embraced me and said I was important, to tell me that I’m not needed…..”
“Don’t sulk now…..”

Hajime was showing a troubled expression now that Shia was being timid. Even though he was being told that she wanted to express her gratitude, helping someone related to you was the natural course of action, really, just one word, “Thanks” would have been enough.

But, for Shia, those feelings didn’t seem to sit well with her.

“If Hajime-san has fallen for me then I wouldn’t be going through all these hardships. I’d fully service (thank) you…..ha~a, there’s no helping it then. I’ll try harder to be much more useful than before as we travel in order to relay my thanks”
“I see”

When Shia shrugged her shoulders, once again, she looked up towards the Montofaruta up above.

While looking at her stature, Hajime was suddenly beginning to remember when he embraced Yue and Shia in front of Gaharudo.

Being truthful, that was pretty much done unconsciously. Once he came to, he had already embraced both of them.

As of now, the huge feelings of declaring someone as “Special” could only be said to Yue. That’s something that can be firmly declared. However, even if it was unconsciously, the reason why he held Shia within his arms was…….

Thinking up to that point, Hajime had a smile filled with self-mockery.

How could this be, ma~a, it was because he was selfish. While saying that no one was able to be on par with Yue, to have the desires to possess Shia, it was truly selfish. Once he realised it, Shia’s existence somehow became much larger than before. At the very least, as much as Yue where he unconsciously embraced her so that he wouldn’t lose her.

Although he’ll likely still hold more feelings for Yue than any other person, even still, he doesn’t seem to be able to deceive himself about his desire for Shia anymore. Once he became aware of it, he wasn’t able to pretend that it wasn’t there. If so then, do your best so work hard, how about taking on the attitude of the girl who came with them? Hajime suddenly thought.

“Eh, Ehtto, what is it? It’s extremely embarrassing to be quietly stared at….”

Once he came to, Shia’s cheeks were dyed red blushing shyly and squirming nervously. Her Usamimi as well as if saying, “U~u, why are you looking~”, it suddenly dropped down, occasionally, she’d squirm around and look towards Hajime.

Hajime’s eyes soften up when he sees Shia like this and he reached out with his hand. And her shy Usamimis were gently stroked.

“Ha, Hajime-san?”
“……Na~a, Shia. I’ve got a favor I want to ask…..”
“A favor? Of course, it’s fine! Feel free to ask for anything”

For a moment, she was surprised by Hajime’s words, since she could show her gratitude even a little bit, Shia consented willingly while smiling.

“No, lets see, I kinda want to lie down for a bit. If you’re up for it, can I ask for a lap pillow?”
“Fu~e, even if you didn’t ask, please use it anytime. Sa~a, please step right up”
“Thanks”

Although Shia showed a slightly disappointed expression from Hajime’s request, she was happy that she was giving him a lap pillow and she patted her thighs with a bright smile. Hajime expressed his thanks with a smile and laid down without hesitation.

Because Shia wore a miniskirt, he was able to fully feel the feelings of her thighs. A soft and warm puffy feeling supported Hajime’s head. It faintly resembled Yue’s, as a sweet scent tickled his nose.

“Fufu, it’s unfortunate for Kaori-san and Teio-san. Around this time, they’re fighting against Yue-san in order to give Hajime-san a lap pillow, but I’ve already taken it ahead of them”
“Ma~a, Yue’ll win anyways so there’s no reason to worry about it?”
“You shouldn’t say such things. Since they’re want to make Hajime-san fall for them they’re working hard. Really, I wonder when will Hajime-san finally fall for me~”
“…..Will you give up?”
“No way~”
“I see~”

Shia was gently stroking Hajime’s hair. Hajime narrowed his eyes as he became comfortable. And as payback, he played with Shia’s hair that hung down before him. The pale blue white hair was really mysterious when it was combined with the light being emitted by the Montofaruta that were above them.

If someone had seen Shia and Hajime right now, they would have surely had an face which vomited due to the sugar. That was how sweet those two’s atmosphere was. Right, it was exactly like the separate world that Hajime and Yue created.

However, unfortunately, although it was the atmosphere which was created with Yue that Shia longed for, she didn’t notice at all. On that part, perhaps Shia could truly be called a regrettable rabbit.

Even with the actual person not realising, the sweet time continued to flow gently. Within the moonlight where the Montofaruta illuminated, Hajime and Shia were enjoying their time alone with each other.

This chapter is translated by Durasama and is unedited.

The wind was roaring and howling, and the ground underneath was quickly flowing backwards.

The Demi-humans that the Empire had released were wondering whether what they’re currently experience was really reality or not, to confirm it, they’ve pinched their cheeks many times to the point of becoming teary eyed. And, they were unsettled as if declaring, I’m not waking up from my dream~, once again, they looked at the unrealistic scene. Although it’s sometimes referred as, escaping from reality.

They were currently boarded on a “basket” that Hajime had installed onto the bottom of the “Flying Airship”, “Feruniru”, and are currently experiencing their first time traveling by air.

Feruniru was as expected, not on the scale of being able to allow thousands of Demi-humans to board, so a large basket was quickly installed. Image-wise, it looked just like an airship gondola.

Actually, the gate hall was set up for Fair Bergen and the Hauria’s hidden town, although it was possible to get to the Sea of Tree’s instantly after opening a gate, they daringly chose to travel by air for the sake of setting up the stage. That way, there’ll be much more impact of the Demi-human’s being set free by the Empire.

As it was, there was need for someone to assure the words at the open space from last time, “Releasing the Demi-humans were God’s will”. The spectacle of a huge flying object turning towards the skies to return home was required to completely fool the Empire citizens.

but, as the price, Hajime who started up Feruniru was faced with a harsh burden from having so much people loaded on. While gushing out red magical power on the bench seat in the bridge, laying on his back with his legs stretched out languidly was not the embodiment of arrogance.

As expected, to pilot the ship with thousands of people boarded on, their accumulated weight which forced his magic consumption to drain out was definitely not half-assed.

However, while his magical powers were gradually drained away, with the current situation he decided to train his magical ability to efficiently operate magical power through his consciousness with much effort, however the cause of his languidity was likely not just due to the magic consumption though.

To others it would just look like someone was being lazy but, it was actually a person’s effort to train whenever possible. It was really hard to tell the difference……

Yue, Shia, and Kaori were attending and beside Hajime. Though Hajime’s appearance was that of a father becoming lazy while sitting on a bench as his child plays at the park on a holiday, at his right arm was Yue, on his left was Shia using it as a pillow, and Kaori who was fiddling with his hair from the back of the seat.

He was really training seriously but……there would be no rebuttals that the scene looked just like a guy with his Harem.

“Oi oi, that’s quite the attitude while in front of the Emperor, eh?”
“……Nagumo-kun, although I’m only saying it…..I think you should respect yourself a bit more?”
“How enviou……I mean. Right. it’s indecent”

Though he was concentrating on training to operate his magical powers efficiently, unconsciously Yue and Shia were patting his head as the voices multiplied towards Hajime.

In order to swear the oath in front of Fair Bergen’s elders, Gaharudo, the Emperor of the Hoelscher Empire accompanied them, Ririana accompanied them as a member of the royal family of the same human beings to witness the oath as a princess of the Hairhi Kingdom, and the usual Shizuku. Of course, Kouki, Ryutaro, and Suzu was also there.

And another person as well, Teio who was asked by Gaharudo to show him around on the airship was also there but, when she returned and saw Yue and them, “Mistress as well~”, she declared to Hajime and began carrying out the ruOndaibu¹⁸, sensing what was about to happen Hajime used his legs to strangle her and without a problem she dropped to the ground. Although her eye whites were showing and she was slightly convulsing, there were no problems.

“Ah~, did you finish exploring the warship?”
“Yeah, it’s quite ridiculous. I have absolutely no idea how this mass of metal is able to fly. But, its extremely interesting! Oi, Hajime Nagumo. Prepare an aircraft for us. I’ll pay whatever you ask for”

Gaharudo sat on the bench and faced towards him, his eyes were shining star-like in curiosity at Hajime. Shizuku and them also sat on the seats.

By the way, Shizuku and Ririana were sitting right next to hajime. Though Gaharudo was a bit unpleased, but his eyes were shining like a little boy and he didn’t care much about it. He seems to have greatly liked this airship.

“I have no need for stuff like money. Give it up. This is going to be the only time you’re getting on board. Do your best to enjoy the time you have right now”
“Don’t say that. Na? Just one, even a small plane is fine”
“There’s no merit in it for me though”
“Nugu~u, if money is no good then how about women! One of my daughters was finally becoming just the right age. Though she has quite a lot of pride, her beauty is top-tier. I’ll add her into your harem so, na? It’ll be nice right?”

It appears that Gaharudo thought Hajime was an unparalleled playboy. It was sad that situationally it was something that couldn’t be denied.

However, it would be troublesome to suddenly be handed a woman so Hajime was about to reject while laughing but, the females reacted quicker than him.

” ” ” ” “No(desu¹⁹)(ja²⁰)!!” ” ” ” ”
“……And there you have it”
“Chi, you’re just showing off…..n? Princess Ririana, just now, didn’t you also react?”

Gaharudo sulked and clicked his tongue and turned his line of sight towards Ririana and noticed. Allured by that, the others also turn towards Ririana.

“Eh? N, no way. Are you sure you weren’t mistaken?”
“……Kukuku. Come to think of it, at the party, you were having much more fun dancing with Hajime Nagumo than with Bias. Oi oi, Hajime Nagumo. Aren’t you moving along too quickly? Even I’m amazed at your speed”
“²¹Whawhawhawhat are you talking about! Me and Nagumo-san absolutely don’t have that kind of relationship! R, right? Ne? Nagumo-san!”
“Ah? Ah~, it’s as impossible as the heavens overturning itself”
“……You didn’t have to take it that far……”

Towards Hajime clear objection, the riled up and increasing tension that Ririana had was immediately cut down. She looked away at something sulkingly. From that attitude, Ririana understood that she had no chance……

Or rather, in her heart she was looking back towards the dance from the party. Hajime should have been thinking about it too but, to completely put down the person in question on the spot, glances of sympathy was looked at Ririana, then towards Hajime.

“……Why do I have to be looked at with those kinds of eyes. In the first place, the princess is something like a married woman. Although her fiance was beheaded, that doesn’t mean that her marriage with the royal family was lost. That’s why, eventually she’ll be paired up with another royalty right?”
“Ah~, about that…..”

On behalf of Ririana who had the expression of having chewed hundreds of bitter insects and worms, Gaharudo answered.
“Being completely honest, my clan is currently not in the position for that kind of thing. After all, we have to wear these necklaces throughout our entire lives or else we’ll die, we’ve got to deal with the many ridiculous situations that arose”

Just like Garuda had said, a necklace with a red gem was definitely on his neck.

“From the contents of that oath, even if someone else other than the royalty disobeys the contract, the royal family will “judge accordingly by the law” to the best we can, our lives are connected now, as it is, it doesn’t change the fact that the lives of the public have also been grasped. A radical reform of punishment needs to be created in order to enforce the laws, and all the other towns besides the Empire needs to know of the law as well……everyone here and there are desperate right now”

As Gaharudo leaned back deeply into the backrest of the seat, he scratched his head as if saying, “I’m lost!”.

“Now that I don’t know when we’ll be dying, I can’t afford to have the princess of another kingdom marry in, there’s absolutely no other choice. moreover, we’ve lost manpower because of the emancipation of the Demi-humans. There’s people fussing about everywhere. We also need manpower in correspondence towards suppressing the public, honestly, it’s a situation where the Empire actually wants to ask (. . . . .) for the Kingdom’s support instead”
“I see. In other words you’re taking back the marriage proposed to the princess?”
“Ma~a, that’s about it. We need to calm down the situation and confirm the safety of the royal family first, then once that happens, this time, it would be a better idea for his highness Randell……or rather Majesty now…. to marry with a princess instead”

Towards Gaharudo’s explanation, everyone present gave off a, “Heh~” expression.

By the way, actually, one of the royalty screamed out, “As if there’s any truth to that foolish talk! I’ll be removing this necklace!”, and they really removed their necklace, afterwards, they suddenly turned mad and rampaged around, and as if their threads were cut, they died on the spot, this was the reason why the royalty began to work desperately.

“Isn’t that great then! Riri!”
“It really is. Freedom to love…..might actually still be impossible but, for the time being, you’ve gained time”
“Un un. I’m glad for you, Riri”

With Kouki first, the members glanced at Ririana with a gentle gaze. Ririana showed a bitter smile towards her friends who were glancing at her, pleased without reserve that the “marriage had been cleared up”. Oddly enough, Gaharudo also showed a wry smile.

“With that, Hajime Nagumo. Right now princess Ririana is currently free²²? If you want, the Empire will cooperate with you with all it’s might”
“Na~!? Your Majesty! What are you saying! I, I’m not……”

Gaharudo was grinning from ear to ear as he said it. Once again Ririana was riled up.

However, Hajime was taking the contents of the talk lightly and turned an amazed expression towards Gaharudo. He had enough of Ririana’s current attitude.

“Then, I’ll have to give you an airship in return? No matter how you look at it there are no merits…..rather, isn’t it a demerit?”
“Just what are you implying!? Nagumo-san!”
“Oi oi, she’s the princess of a country? Normally, it’s a place that men can’t even reach”
“Wait a second, did you two hear what I just said? Are you guys listening to me!”
“Don’t group me with you. I have no hobbies to collect women. Princess is only a title, rather it’ll only cause troubles”
“Hai-hai-hai, you guys definitely didn’t listen. No one here listened to me. …..~Gusu~……what exactly is a princess I wonder…..”
“Riri……it’s alright…..U~u, you’re a princess so don’t worry”
“Ri, Riri! I heard you properly, so! Show some spirit!”

Ririana was completely through with Hajime and Gaharudo’s discussion, Ririana finally began writing characters on her seat in a negligent manner. At the edge of her eye, something was gathering and sparkling. Then Shizuku and Kouki were desperately trying to cheer her up.

Disregarding Ririana and them, Hajime was currently groaning, “Unununu”, and Gaharudo who was trying to negotiate with him let out a sigh.

“I have nothing I want right now, just give it up. Eventually, just maybe, you’ll find something worth negotiating over……so just wait patiently until that time”
“Nu~uuu, you really have nothing that you want? Anything you want done? Just honestly say it out. Humans always have wants. It’s always been decided that someone who says that they don’t want anything are either no longer human or just scheming something behind the scenes. …..Ah~, that’s right, you were a monster”
“You trying to pick a fight? …….Ma~a, I can understand what you mean. But…..”

As Hajime was saying that, he jerked and embraced both Yue and Shia.

“What I really want is already in my arms. “Having them with me at all times” is already enough to fill my entire head, I can’t think of anything “more” than that. Probably for life”

That’s why-, Hajime expressed that negotiations were useless. Yue was so happy she brought her body closer, Shia’s eyes were opened wide to have also been forcefully held like Yue, in the next moment her Usamimi and bunny tail began wagging back and forth and she threw her arms around Hajime.

On Hajime’s chest, Yue’s and Shia’s eyes met, both of them both laughed, “Kufufu”, and smiled at one another.

“Ah~, ah~, I get it, I get it. Chi, it’s way too sweet for my mouth to handle. I guess I’ll go and enjoy the scenery on the deck…..”

Gaharudo got up with an annoyed look and quickly left the bridge. Hajime was smiling wryly. After seeing the face-to-face discussion, Kouki and Ryutaro didn’t know what to do and let their eyes wander around. Suzu let out an odd voice, “Howa~”.

And a voice came out from behind Hajime and his legs.

“Uu~, it’s unfair that it’s only Yue and Shia! Ne, ne~e, Hajime-kun. “In my arms” is a metaphorical expression right? It’s not only limited to Yue and Shia right? Ne?”
“Ma, master. Although I got to experience your wonderful foot technique, will you not hold mistress closely either? “In my arms” would be nice……”

Kaori clung onto Hajime from behind, she was desperately trying to appeal for her existence. Teio sat up and pleaded to Hajime with her chin on his knee.

The person who reacted to the two was Yue.

While getting up a little, she glanced towards Kaori and Teio.

“……How unfortunate”
“Wha, what do you mean!?”
“Mu~u, I can’t ignore that just now, Yue!”

Kaori and Teio had an atmosphere as if they were chewing onto a handkerchief while letting out “Ki~iii!”, as they looked at Yue who was expressionless. Yue inclined her neck as if she was thinking about something, then she slowly pointed at herself and Shia.

Then,

“……Winner”

Following that, she pointed at Kaori and Teio.

“……Loser”

And as expected, it was said with her expressionless face. Then as it was she snuggled her cheek against Hajime’s chest. Then at that moment, a sound of something being cut “~Buchi~” could be heard within the bridge.

“Fu, fufufu….Yue’s pretty weird right? suddenly saying things that don’t make sense….she’s surely broken somewhere?”
“That’s right. That must be true. Then mistresses must fix it”
“Speaking of fixing, there’s a simple way of doing it”
“Umu umu, broken things will…..”
” “Be fixed if hit! (No-ja!²³)” ”

They suddenly both stood up and overlooked down on Yue while smiling.

Extremely tensed²⁴? Fighting spirit²⁵?-like began to overflow. From that pressure, Kouki, Ryutaro, and Suzu huddled together to brace themselves. Kouki began to whisper in a mutter, “Is, is that Kaori?”.

Yue who was hit by both of their pressures, once again, smiled slightly which ruined her expressionless face and looked up.

“…..Stop it. If we seriously went at it, both of you have no chances of beating me”

Are you CodiOta²⁶ they wanted to tsukkomi her lines. And that was quite the intense provocation.

” “Just what we wanted! (Ja!)” ”

Sure enough it caused Kaori and Teio to heat up even more. Yue also slowly got up.

“Wa, the three of you wait a second! To suddenly start fighting…..or rather, Nagumo-kun²⁷! Stop them!”

Shizuku was sweatingly and flustered around trying to do her best to arbitrate the situation. And quickly came to the conclusion that she wouldn’t be able to stop them herself! So she gave up and turned to ask for help from Hajime who was the cause of this dispute.

Hajime just casually said…..

“It’s impossible. I’m sluggish…..”

His magical power was already drastically decreased and he became sluggish. He didn’t seem to have any intentions of moving.

To begin with, a small quarrel was an everyday occurrence, rather it was more like a kind of communication for the girls, so Hajime didn’t pay much heed to it.

“P, people like you are~”

However, Shizuku was still oblivious towards her surroundings then, a cheek began to twitch.

Then, a hanya-voice called out to Shizuku.

“Shizuku-chan! Please take that back!”
“Ar~e? Since when did I get pulled into this!?”

Quite naturally, Shizuku’s participation in the war was decided.

“Sa~a, princess, let’s both step up together! You’re an barrier expert right? I’ll leave defences to you and Suzu over there!”
“Eh? Me as well!? Why!?”
“Suzu was also casually included!?”

Teio with her draconic strength held Suzu and Ririana’s necks like a kitten and dragged them. “Princess…..I’m a princess…….”, Ririana muttered out with empty feelings.

“……Shia, I’m entrusting you as the Vanguard”
“A, alright! I won’t let anyone get near Yue-san!”

Full of spirit. It seemed that Shia served as Yue’s vanguard. She got up from Hajime and started twirling her arm around.

“……Hajime, wait for a bit. I’m going to beat them and come back”
“O~h, do it in moderation~”
“……After we’re done fighting we’ll embrace again”
“Anytime is fine~”
“……N~”

With that, the female members (except for some) left towards the deck with the atmosphere filled with fighting spirit. Although the deck was a moderate size it couldn’t be said to have actually been enough. Surely It’ll likely be good battle training. It’s necessary for Kaori to get used to Nointo’s body so moving around is a good idea. Since there’s no telling what kind of ordeals they’ll be facing at the great labyrinth, “Harutsuina Sea of Trees”, it’s good to train even if only a bit.

However it was unknown whether Yue and them had that in mind though.

After a while, roars and explosions were beginning to be heard. Kouki and them were startled. They had anxious expressions, wondering if it was really alright to just leave them as is.

“They’re having fun huh~”

However, Hajime’s impression was just that.

“……Or rather what’s with you, Nagumo…..”
“As expected, you’re quite outrageous….”

The bridge that was only filled with men now, after looking at the bored Hajime, Kouki and Ryutaro were half amazed and half concerned. He wasn’t phased at all with that riot that the women started, it seemed to have been completely natural so they were impressed as men.

After that, Yue and their fight ended after terribly scaring the Demi-humans, and finally the Sea of Trees were beginning to appear up ahead. Although it sounded as if the first to scream out was the emperor…….it must have surely just been their imaginations.

While quietly worrying for the emperor’s safety, they began to prepare and land at the Sea of Trees.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

With the sun hiding its face, the curtain of night fell down.

The interior of the Sea of Trees was illuminated by Fair Bergen as people produced orange lights. Normally, no matter how busy they are with reconstruction, the time for pleasures of family meals and family time would be long past, and the serene silence would be flowing in the air.

However, the current Fair Bergen was as if the night and day cycle were reversed, it was wrapped up in clamor. People were busily running to the right and left. People started gathering in the village outside of Fair Bergen, it appears that people were arranging the soldiers and instructing them.

Towards that clamor, while looking out the window that was left open to let in the evening wind, one of Fair Bergen’s elders, Alfrerick Hapisuto of the forest people had a slightly indescribable expression while holding a document in one hand.

In the contents, was a report about accepting in several thousands of their brethren back, it was that kind of document. The other elders were also helping out to split the work.

“Fu~u….Cam. Is our brethren truly coming back?”
“…..You’re still saying that kind of thing. I’m not going to keep reassuring you every time you ask, just hurry up and finish preparing to accept them”

When Alfrerick began talking, as if the room was alive a person’s presence appeared. Beside Alfrerick was the Haruia, Cam, who had concealed his presence.

Cam and the Hauria tribe came back through the gate ahead of Hajime and them to tell of the Demi-humans being liberated. And used the telepathy stones to increase efficiency of the preparations to accept in their people, that was their roles as volunteers.

“I know that. It’s just that, it’s still just to hard to believe. That Empire is really liberating our brethren……”
“That’ll be proven in a few hours from now. Ma~a, I can understand your feelings. …..For us, if it wasn’t for boss, never in our dreams did we think something of this scale could be done”
“Boss…..the qualified person—Nagumo Hajime, huh. If that story is true then, he is not just my granddaughter’s but all of our brethren’s savior. We’ll have to think of a way to repay him…..”
“Boss probably doesn’t expect any of those kinds of things. Rather than that, quickly move that hand of yours. The reports are stacking up again”

Cam who heard a report from the telepathy stone, glanced towards Alfrerick for an instant. Although something was said to Cam through the telepathy stone, he only looked out into space, his appearance had no openings at all either. On the contrary, intense drive appeared from his lack of presence.

They once had an expression of resignation towards their expectation of their clan being executed……you’d never think they were the same person. Their original gentle atmosphere was also nonexistent now, instead they had a sharpness that seemed that it would cut anyone who just touches them.

In fact, that sharpness had already been shown.

That was because as soon as Cam came to the elders and told them to prepare to accept in the slaves which will be liberated, no one, not even Alfrerick could believe his words but, on that occasion, one of the elders felt that Cam’s behavior was irreverently and unpleasant, so they started throwing out words in contempt at Cam and even tried to get him to kneel down forcefully.

Even if they’ve avenged the Kumaninzoku before and helped out when Fair Bergen was attacked by the demons and empire, the values that the Usagininzoku were seen in where likely not able to change so quickly.

However, towards that action due to fixed values, he returned it with severe murderous intent. The moment that one of the elder’s subordinates tried to touch Cam, just where were they hidden, simultaneously the Hauria tribe appeared and placed their blades on all of the elder’s necks.

Naturally, the man who was about to confront cam also had a blade pointed at him, it turned into a situation where no one moved a muscle. Filled with murderous intent, if you spoke poorly, there’s no doubt that they’ll bear their fangs, Alfrerick was somehow able to resettle peace in that situation.

In an instant, they occupied Fair Bergen’s elder meeting who carried the highest power, and, made them all breakout into cold sweat with their fierce murderous intent, for the time being they decided to trust them and see what happens. Or rather, they couldn’t do anything but that. The Hauria’s blades which were on the scruff of their necks were dangerous.

“Oji-sama²⁸, preparation for the meals are complete. This is the quantity left after consumption”

A lovely voice just like a bell ranged out and pulled Alfrerick out of his recollection which made him break out in cold sweat.

“Mu, Arutena huh. Thanks for the hard work. But, you keep going back and forth²⁹, don’t stress yourself out”
“I’m just fine. My brethren are coming back, I can’t just sit and do nothing”

Arutena took on a resolute attitude as Alfrerick was worrying. However, after passing on the report to Alfrerick, strangely she began to fidget restlessly. Though Alfrerick was dubious, he noticed that his granddaughter was frequently glancing towards Cam, and somehow guessed what she had in mind.

“If you’re anxious about him, how about hearing about it from Cam?”
“! N, no, I wasn’t particularly thinking about Nagumo-san……”
“However, I never said anything about a man did I?”
“Oji-sama! No way, please don’t find faults in others words like a meanie!”

Alfrerick was visibly pleased while watching his granddaughter who was restless, he may have been serious about it?-she thought.

Due to Arutena’s personality and figure, there have been many marriage proposals since her birth but, up until now she’s rejected them all, the person in question wanted to follow in her grandfather’s footsteps and work for the country rather than thinking about marriage. That’s why he had never had this kind of discussion until now…..

From within Alfrerick, his foolishness and teasing as a grandfather started to rise up.

“Fumu, that man is definitely your benefactor but, he doesn’t think of you as special? Or rather, to be specific he was helping out the Hauria tribe? Although you shouldn’t think too much into it…..it’ll be difficult to get him to become your partner”
“I’ve already said it~, it’s not like that! Mou~! I heard that Nagumo-sama was bringing back our brethren, so I was only a bit interested about it. Yes, that’s the only reason!”

With a puffed out face, Arutena started to leave the room and Alfrerick secretly let out a sigh.

Then, at that time, Cam who was quiet until then, unexpectedly called out to Arutena.

“Miss Arutena”
“Eh, ehtto, yes? Cam-san. What is it?”

Cam had a smile as if he was amused at something which made Arutena reply back wryly. Cam reported smiling as he saw Arutena who was cautious.

“Although it seems as if boss allows many women to serve him, the fact is, he’s fairly single-minded. And, the “special” positions have already been covered, as so, it’s immovable. It’s possible to get closer towards those seats but, you’d likely need a substantial amount of trust for that”
“Wa, ha~a…..Ehtto”

Cam was fearlessly grinning at the puzzled Arutena.

“By the way, according to boss’s actions, the closest person towards that seat is……my daughter Shia. After all, the reason why he helped us bear our fangs at the Empire was because, “For the sake of Shia’s smile to not become clouded” he said”
“! Is, is that so?”
“That’s right. If it was for Shia’s sake, Boss would take on a country’s army. Right, all for Shia’s sake. Fufufu”
” ! ”

Arutena sensitively guess that he was basically implying, “You can’t win against my daughter!”.

Actually, Arutena was the same age of Shia who was 16 years old. Therefore, having been compared with another girl of her age and told that she wouldn’t even be a proper match…… there was no helping that she was angry. 

“When you say Shia-san…..you’re talking about the one with the pale bluish hair right. Allow me to say that I don’t think I’m inferior to her. Though there is definitely a difference in the amount of time spent together……even I would, with the same amount of time given to me……”
“³⁰Iya, iya, our Shia is an extremely special existence, as expected, miss Arutena should stop from doing such useless things for your own sake, allow me to give you some advice. If you miss the marriageable age it’ll become a very bleak thing”
“That’s uncalled for!”
“Ha~a. Cam, would you leave the teasing of my granddaughter at that……”

The huffing mad Arutena and the grinning Cam. Alfrerick let out a grand sigh as he looked at the two.

The reason why Cam was provoking Arutena was because he was a bit meddlesome.

Of course, he was not going against Arutena, he was going against Shia. The relationship of Shia and Hajime when they left the Sea of Trees could be said that Shia was rushing it. That is, as long as you’re looking at appearances only, Cam had felt that their relationship had become quite intimate. After one push, make sure to rush straight beyond the goal!

That one push, in other words it was a detonator for Arutena to start scheming, If Shia had heard it, “That’s extremely uncalled for!” she’d say in anger.

Cam chuckled to himself as he had lit up Arutena’s feelings of rivalry. The appearance of a girl whos decided to love without hesitation and resort to anything was…..incredibly devilish.

Then, at that time, all of the sudden the outside became noisy. It wasn’t the same noise from running around like before, it was the noisiness of tension from an unexpected situation. They even began to hear roars.

“What’s going on!”

Alfrerick suddenly stood up from his seat and walked up to the window. Then he saw the cause of the commotion.

“Pillars….of….light?”

Exactly according to those words, light as strong as the sunlight during daytime was shining down onto the trees, no, the light was incomparably strong, that, rather than just the trees it lit up past them and lit up the plaza of Fair Bergen.

The situation was currently unknown, Alfrerick had his eyes wide opened and a calm voice resounded.

“Don’t worry, Alfrerick. Boss has arrived”

Right, the identity of the light which illuminated Fair Bergens plaza, was the searchlight of the airship “Feruniru” which has arrived in the skies of Fair Bergen.

This chapter is translated by Durasama and is unedited.

Apologies, no story this chapter. By popular request.
Incomplete, may be missing characters. Status may be off.

(TN: also added some extra info from previous chapters, uncertain translations marked with [?])

================================================================================================

Status Plates

————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————
Nagumo Hajime (南雲ハジメ) Strength 10950 > 12150
17 yo M Vitality 13190 > 14250
Transmuter (錬成師) Resist 10670 > 11870
Lv ??? > ??? Agility 13450 > 14550
ch 25 > 122 Magic 14780 > 15980
Adventurer Rank: Gold Magic Resist 14780 > 15980
————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————
Hero of the series. Originally a gentle, quiet otaku boy, but
was labelled incompetant -> bullied -> fell into the abyss ->
left arm was eaten -> became OP -> mindset changed: now talks
with guns-first. Harem happened (though he treats Yue alone as
special). Seeks to conquer the Great Dungeons so he can return
home to Japan. (Author Note: stats are temporary, don’t worry
too much about it)
————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————
錬成 Transmutation
[+鉱物系鑑定] + Mineral Appraisal
[+精密錬成] + Precision Transmutation
[+鉱物系探査] + Mineral Enquiry
[+鉱物分離] + Mineral Separation
[+鉱物融合] + Mineral Fusion
[+複製錬成] + Replication Transmutation
[+圧縮錬成] + Compression Transmutation
[+高速錬成] + High-speed Transmutation
[+自動錬成] + Automatic Transmutation
[+イメージ補強力上昇] + Image Reinforcement Power Increase
[+消費魔力減少] + Magic Consumption Reduction
[+鉱物分解] + Mineral Decomposition
魔力操作 Magic Manipulation
[+魔力放射] + Magic Emission
[+魔力圧縮] + Magic Compression
[+遠隔操作] + Remote Control
胃酸強化 Stomach Acid Strengthening (Iron Stomach)
纏雷 Lightning Armor (Lightning Clad)
[+雷耐性] + Lightning Resistance
[+出力増大] + Output Increase
天歩 Sky Walk (Divine Step)
[+空力] + Void Grip (Air Walk/Aerodynamic)
[+縮地] + Shukuchi (Instant Movement/Flicker/Ground Shrink)
[+豪脚] + Grand Legs
[+瞬光] + Lightspeed
風爪 Wind Claw (Air Claw)
[+三爪] + Triple Claws
[+飛爪] + Flying Claws
夜目 Night Vision
遠見 Far Vision
気配感知 Perception
[+特定感知] + Specific Perception
魔力感知 Magic Perception
[+特定感知] + Specific Perception
熱源感知 Heat Perception
[+特定感知] + Specific Perception
気配遮断 Hide Presence (Sign Interception)
[+幻踏] + Phantom Dance (Phantom Step)
毒耐性 Poison Resistance
麻痺耐性 Paralysis Resistance
石化耐性 Petrification Resistance
恐慌耐性 Panic Resistance
全属性耐性 All Elements Resistance
先読 Foresight
金剛 Vajra (Indestructible)
[+部分強化] + Specific Reinforcement
[+集中強化] + Concentrated Reinforcement
[+付与強化] + Grant Reinforcement
豪腕 Grand Arm
威圧 Coercion (Pressure/Intimidation)
念話 Telepathy
追跡 Tracking
高速魔力回復 High-speed Magic Recovery
[+魔素集束] + Mana Focusing
魔力変換 Magic Conversion
[+体力変換] + Vitality Conversion
[+治癒力変換] + Healing Conversion
[+衝撃変換] + Impact Conversion
限界突破 Limit Break (x3 all stats buff)
生成魔法 Creation Magic
重力魔法 Gravity Magic
空間魔法 Space Magic
再生魔法 Regeneration Magic
魂魄魔法 Spirit Magic
言語理解 Language Comprehension
————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————
* Weapon names (German/German pronounciation):
ドンナー・シュラーク Donner & Schlag (“Thunder & Shock”), (rail)revolvers
シュラーゲン Schlagen (“Knockout”), anti-materiel (rail)rifle
メツェライ Metzelei (“Slaughter”), gatling (rail)gun
オルカン Orkan (“Hurricane”), rocket & missile launcher
ヒュベリオン Hyperion (“Sun God”), laser satellite
フェルニル Ferner (“Further”), airship

• Automatic Transmutation:
  Automatically transmutes materials in a magic formation until
  the magic in the formation is exhausted.

• Mineral Decomposition:
  By carefully permeating magic, mineral bonds can be unbound.
  It’s possible to decompose up to the smallest unit, but is
  time consuming. Unusable in combat. Skill used to process
  sand-like minerals.

• Triple Claws:
  Whereas the old bear claw would fire one, this fires three
  identical wind blades.

• Flying Claws:
  Wind blades now fly.
  ————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————

————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————
Yue Strength 120 > 220
323 yo F Vitality 300 > 450
Sorceress (神子) Resist 60 > 100
Lv 75 > 82 Agility 120 > 220
ch 67 > 122 Magic 6980 > 9180
Adventurer Rank: Gold Magic Resist 7120 > 9320
————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————
Main heroine of the series. Imprisoned in the abyss, was saved
by Hajime. Most skilled magic user in this world. Also Hajime’s
most skilled ero-opponent. For the time being, classed as a
Kuudere. Kuudere + bewitching + vampire princess + loli
attributes.
————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————
自動再生 Auto Regeneration
[+痛覚操作] + Pain Control
[+再生操作] + Regeneration Control
全属性適性 All Elements Aptitude
複合魔法 Compound Magic
魔力操作 Magic Manipulation
[+魔力放射] + Magic Emission
[+魔力圧縮] + Magic Compression
[+遠隔操作] + Remote Control
[+効率上昇] + Increased Efficiency
[+魔素吸収] + Mana Absorption
[+身体強化] + Body Strengthening
想像構成 Imagination Composition
[+イメージ補強力上昇] + Image Reinforcement Power Up
[+複数同時構成] + Multiple Simultaneous Composition
[+遅延発動] + Delayed Invocation
血力変換 Blood Conversion
[+身体強化] + Body Strengthening
[+魔力変換] + Magic Conversion
[+体力変換] + Vitality Conversion
[+血盟契 約] + Blood Oath Contract
高速魔力回復 High-speed Magic Recovery
生成魔法 Creation Magic
重力魔法 Gravity Magic
空間魔法 Space Magic
再生魔法 Regeneration Magic
魂魄魔法 Spirit Magic
————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————
* Blood Oath Contract: (ch.67)
Drastic efficiency increase when blood is drained from a
contracted person (ie: Hajime).

• Imagination Composition: (ch.67)
  Magic formations can be completed with only a mental image
  (ie: chantless/formationless magic).

• Regeneration Control:
  Can freely control regeneration ability.
  ————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————

————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————
Shia Houria Strength 60 > 100
16 yo F Vitality 80 > 120
Diviner (占術師) Resist 60 > 100
Lv 40 > 48 Agility 85 > 130
ch 67 > 122 Magic 3020 > 3800
Adventurer Rank: Gold Magic Resist 3180 > 4000
————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————
Heroine. Bunny Girl. Perky, energetic, frivolous. But has
recently turned into a splendid person. Demi-humans are unable
to use magic, but Shia is able to directly manipulate magic
despite that. Has no magical aptitude, but can use body
strengthening to a degree that makes her a bugged character.
Disappointing beauty + rabbit + desu + naive attributes.
————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————
未来視 Future Sight
[+自動発動] + Automatic Invocation
[+仮定未来] + Future Prediction
[+天啓視] + Divine Revelation Sight
魔力操作 Magic Manipulation
[+身体強化] + Body Strengthening
[+部分強化] + Specific Strengthening
[+変換効率上昇Ⅲ] + Conversion Efficiency Up III
[+集中強化] + Concentration Strengthening
重力魔法 Gravity Magic
空間魔法 Space Magic
再生魔法 Regeneration Magic
魂魄魔法 Spirit Magic
————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————
* Weapon names (German/German pronounciation):
ドリュッケン Drücken (“Press”), sledgehammer + shotgun

• Divine Revelation Sight:
  Can glimpse a few seconds ahead into the future. Unlike
  Future Prediction it doesn’t consume magic so it can be
  continuously active.

• Conversion Efficiency Up III:
  Converts magic to physical stats (Str/Vit/Res/Agi) at a
  1:3 ratio (ie: 3800 = +11400).
  ————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————

————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————
Tio Kurarusu Strength 770 > 880 [+Dragon Form 4620 > 8800] 563 yo F Vitality 1100 > 1250 [+Dragon Form 6600 > 12500] Guardian (守護者) Resist 1100 > 1250 [+Dragon Form 6600 > 12500] Lv 89 > 93 Agility 580 > 700 [+Dragon Form 3480 > 7000] ch 67 > 122 Magic 4590 > 4990
Adventurer Rank: Gold Magic Resist 4220 > 4620
————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————
Pervert. Hajime opened a new door for her when he used his
Pile Bunker on her weak spot. A prudent, intellectual, mature
spirit… or should have been. Heroine. no ja + kimono +
watermelons + shapeshifter attributes.
————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————
竜化 Dragon Form
[+竜鱗硬化] + Dragonscale Hardening
[+魔力効率上昇] + Magic Efficiency Up
[+身体能力上昇Ⅱ] + Body Ability Up II
[+咆哮] + Roar
[+風纏] + Wind Armor (Wind Clad)
[+痛覚変換Ⅱ] + Pain Control II
魔力操作 Magic Manipulation
[+魔力放射] + Magic Emission
[+魔力圧縮] + Magic Compression
[+遠隔操作] + Remote Control
火属性適性 Fire Element Aptitude
[+魔力消費減少] + Mana Consumption Reduction
[+効果上昇] + Effect Up
[+持続時間上昇] + Duration Up
風属性適性 Wind Element Aptitude
[+魔力消費減少] + Mana Consumption Reduction
[+効果上昇] + Effect Up
[+持続時間上昇] + Duration Up
[+雷属性] + Lightning Element
複合魔法 Compound Magic
再生魔法 Regeneration Magic
魂魄魔法 Spirit Magic
————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————
* Dragonscale Hardening: (ch.67)
Hardness can be increased by expending magic. Can also increase
Dragon Form’s base stats and resistances.

• Pain Control II:
  High level ability to freely convert pain into energy,
  increasing all stats. In addition it is possible to store the
  converted energy. However the energy can only be stored when
  still feeling lingering pain.

• Lightning Element:
  Lightning magic is classified as higher ranked wind magic, this
  allows lightning magic to be used at the same level as wind
  magic.
  ————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————

————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————
Shirasaki Kaori (白崎香織) Strength 280 > 1200
17 yo F Vitality 460 > 1200
Healer (治癒師) Resist 360 > 1200
Lv 72 > 10 Agility 380 > 1200
ch 71 > 122 Magic 1380 > 1200
Magic Resist 1380 > 1200
————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————
Heroine. An unfortunate, regular schoolgirl that had her love
interest, Hajime, stolen from her… or so it seems. Feelings
of love for Hajime sprouted during her second year of middle
school. Became consciously aware of her feelings after Hajime
fell into the abyss. When they reunited, forcibly joined the
party when she became aware of Yue stealing Hajime away.
Currently possessing the body of the Apostle of God, Nointo.
Classmate + airhead + Stand (JoJo reference to her Hannya mask)
+ pitiable attributes.
————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————
回復魔法 Recovery Magic
[+回復効果上昇] + Effect Up
[+回復速度上昇] + Recovery Speed Up
[+イメージ補強力上昇] + Image Reinforcement Power Up
[+浸透看破] + Osmosis Penetration [?] [+範囲回復効果上昇] + Effect Range Up
[+遠隔回復効果上昇] + Remote Recovery Effect Up
[+状態異常 回復効果上昇] + Abnormal Status Recovery Effect Up
[+消費魔力減少] + Magic Consuption Down
[+魔力効率上昇] + Magic Efficiency Up
[+連続発動] + Consecutive Invocation
[+複数同時発動] + Multiple Invocation
[+遅延発動] + Delayed Invocation
[+付加発動] + Addition Invocation
光属性適性 Light Element Aptitude
[+発動速度上昇] + Movement Speed Up
[+効果上昇] + Effect Up
[+持続時間上昇] + Duration Up
[+連続発動] + Consecutive Invocation
[+複数同時発動] + Multiple Invocation
[+遅延発動] + Delayed Invocation
高速魔力回復 High-speed Magic Recovery
[+瞑想] + Meditation
再生魔法 Regeneration Magic
魂魄魔法 Spirit Magic
言語理解 Language Comprehension
双大剣術 Greatsword Dual-wielding Proficiency
分解能力 Disintegration Ability (Decomposition Ability)
全属性適性 All Elements Aptitude
複合魔法 Compound Magic
————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————
* The broken greatswords and wargear were replaced by Hajime.

• Nointo’s enchantment, infinite magic supply and pseudo-Limit
  Break are disabled.

• Original Apostle’s stats are all 12000. Kaori doesn’t have
  full control of the body yet.
  ————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————

————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————
Amanokawa Kouki * Strength 880 > 1020
17 yo M Vitality 880 > 1020
Hero (勇者) Resist 880 > 1020
Lv 72 > 83 Agility 880 > 1020
ch 71 > 122 Magic 880 > 1020
Magic Resist 880 > 1020
————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————
(*天之河光輝) Hero (lol). A bundle of good and justice. However
since he never thinks he’s wrong, he has a bad habit of
interpreting adverse situations to his own convenience. Kaori,
Shizuku and Ryutaro are childhood friends.
————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————
全属性適正 All Elements Aptitude
[+光属性効果上昇] + Light Element Effect Up
[+発動速度上昇] + Movement Speed Up
全属性耐性 All Elements Resistance
[+光属性効果上昇] + Light Element Effect Up
物理耐性 Physical Resistance
[+治癒力上昇] + Recovery Power Up
[+衝撃緩和] + Impact Allevation
複合魔法 Compound Magic
剣術 Sword Proficiency
[+無念無想] + Clear Mind
剛力 Herculean Strength
縮地 Shukuchi (Instant Movement/Flicker/Ground Shrink)
[+爆縮地] + Explosive Shukuchi
先読 Foresight
高速魔力回復 High-speed Magic Recovery
気配感知 Perception
魔力感知 Magic Perception
限界突破 Limit Break (x3 all stats buff)
[+覇潰] + Supreme Destruction (x5 all stats buff)
言語理解 Language Comprehension
————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————

————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————
Yaegashi Shizuku * Strength 450 > 650
17 yo F Vitality 560 > 760
Swordswoman (剣士) Resist 320 > 520
Lv 72 > 83 Agility 1110 > 1480
ch 71 > 122 Magic 380 > 580
Magic Resist 380 > 580
————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————
(*八重樫雫) I wonder if she’s a heroine… Best friend of Kaori.
Kouki and Ryutaro’s childhood friend. Her home is a kendo dojo.
Primary feature of this dignified girl is her ponytail. Has an
excellent grasp of human subtleties and relationships, her
innate personality won’t let her ignore trouble around her
giving her a lot of hardships [?]. Recently though she’s been
depending too much on someone else…
————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————
剣術 Sword Skill
[+斬撃速度上昇] + Slashing Speed Up
[+抜刀速度上昇] + Drawing Sword Velocity Up
[+無拍子] + Mubyoushi
縮地 Shukuchi (Instant Movement/Flicker/Ground Shrink)
[+爆縮地] + Explosive Shukuchi
[+重縮地] + Heavy Shukuchi [?] [+震脚] + Seismic Leg
[+無拍子] + Mubyoushi
先読 Foresight
[+投影] + Projection
気配感知 Perception
隠業 Hidden Action
[+幻撃] + Phantom Strike
言語理解 Language Comprehension
————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————

————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————
Sakagami Ryuutarou * Strength 820 > 980
17 yo M Vitality 820 > 980
Brawler (拳士) Resist 680 > 790
Lv 72 > 83 Agility 550 > 650
ch 71 > 122 Magic 280 > 350
Magic Resist 280 > 350
————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————
(*坂上龍太郎) Muscle brain.
————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————
格闘術 Martial Arts
[+身体強化] + Body Strengthening
[+部分強化] + Specific Strengthening
[+集中強化] + Concentrated Strengthening
[+浸透破壊] + Penetration Destruction
縮地 Shukuchi (Instant Movement/Flicker/Ground Shrink)
[+爆縮地] + Explosive Shukuchi
物理耐性 Physical Resistance
[+金剛] + Vajra (Indestructible)
全属性耐性 All Elements Resistance
言語理解 Language Comprehension
————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————

————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————
Taniguchi Suzu (谷口鈴) Strength 350
17 yo F Vitality 450
Barrier Mage (結界師) Resist 450
Lv 83 Agility 380
ch 122 Magic 820
Magic Resist 580
————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————
Chimikko. Mood maker of the class. Unsung hero of the Hero
party. A dirty old man at heart.
————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————
結界術適性 Barrier Magic Aptitude
[+魔力効率上昇] + Mana Efficiency Up
[+発動速度上昇] + High-speed Invocation Up
[+遠隔操作] + Remote Control
[+連続発動] + Continuous Activation
光属性適性 Light Element Aptitude
[+障壁適性連動] + Barrier Aptitude Link
言語理解 Language Comprehension
————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————

================================================================================================

Supporting Characters

Myu 4 yo F
Little girl of the Sea-race. Was saved by Hajime from an underground Führen slave auction.
Her father died before she was born, so she comes to love the strong and kind Hajime as her
new father. She’s so important to him that Hajime made a new oath. She likes ending her
sentences in “nano”. With the exception of Yue, she is the only person Hajime is completely
weak against.

Remia 24 yo F
Myu’s mother. A gentle beauty. An undine widow whose soothes people with her “ara ara, ufufu”.
Hajime often cannot tell whether she is serious or joking. Restrains Hajime’s party with her
mature woman charm.

————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————
Classmates

Hatayama Aiko (畑山愛子) 25 yo F, Farmer (作農師)
Social Studies teacher. Has a reverse harem of Temple Knights (though her head is full of
concern for her students so she doesn’t notice).

Nakamura Eri (中村恵里) 17 yo F, Necromancer (降霊術師)
Betrayed her classmates to the demons. Used her original darkness magic “Soul Bind” to
manipulate countless numbers of dead puppet soldiers. Valuable Bokummusume [?].

Nagayama Jugo (永山重) 17 yo M, Heavy Brawler (重格闘家)
Frontline party leader. Old man face.

Nomura Kentaro (野村健太郎) 17 yo M, Earth Mage (土術師)
Nagayama party member. Best friends with Nagayama and Endo. Likes Ayako Tsuji.

Endo Kosuke (遠藤浩介) 17 yo M, Assassin (暗殺者)
Nagayama party member. Has an extremely weak presence. Isn’t noticed by labyrinth monsters
or automatic doors.

Tsuji Ayako (辻綾子) 17 yo F, Healer (治癒師)
Nagayama party member. Same class as Kaori, her healing skills are a bit more complex though.

Yoshino Mao (吉野真央) 17 yo F, Enchanter (付与術士)
Nagayama party member. Unsung hero of the party.

Hiyama Daisuke (檜山大介) 17 yo M, Light Warrior (軽戦士)
Leader of the bullies harassing Hajime. Perpetrator who dropped him into the abyss. Blackmailed
by Eri in the beginning, but later killed many of the country’s knights and soldiers of his own
volition in order to obtain Kaori. He met a gruesome end when Hajime fed him alive to some
monsters after finally going to town on him.

Nakano Shinji (中野信治) 17 yo M, Water Mage (水術師)
Hiyama gang member.

Saito Yoshiki (斎藤良樹) 17 yo M, Wind Mage (風術師)
Hiyama gang member.

Kondo Reiichi (近藤礼一) 17 yo M, Spear Warrior (槍術師)
Hiyama gang member. Became prey to Eri’s Soul Bind.

Aikawa Noboru (相川昇) 17 yo M, –
Ai-chan bodyguard member.

Kawahara Akira (河原明) 17 yo M, –
Ai-chan bodyguard member.

Tamai Atsushi (玉井淳) 17 yo M, –
Ai-chan bodyguard member.

Sugawara Taeko (菅原妙子) 17 yo F, –
Ai-chan bodyguard member.

Miyazaki Nana (宮崎奈々) 17 yo F, –
Ai-chan bodyguard member.

Sonobe Yuka (園部優香) 17 yo F, –
Ai-chan bodyguard member.

Shimizu Yukitoshi (清水幸利) 17 yo M, Dark Mage (闇術師)
Raised an army of monsters to distinguish himself in this new world. As a result he was
left on the verge of death after a demon’s suprise attack, after which Hajime terminated him.

————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————
Heilig Kingdom

Elhild = S = B = Heilig
King. Killed by Eri during the Imperial City invasion.

Luluaria = S = B = Heilig
Queen. Rarely appears, but assists in the background. Has an equally weak presence like a
certain someone [?].

Randell = S = B = Heilig
Prince. 10 yo. Handsome youth with blonde hair and blue eyes. Was infatuated with Kaori, but
gave up after meeting Hajime. Currently heartbroken from losing his first love.

Liliana = S = B = Heilig
Princess. 14 yo. Talented and enormously popular within the kingdom. Has been harbouring
feelings of love ever since she was saved by Hajime, however his treatment of her hasn’t
changed so recently she’s a rather pitiable character.

Meld = Loggins
Knight team captain. Died by Eri’s hands. Most unfortunate death.

Jose = Rancaid
Knight vice-captain of the same team. Likewise killed by Eri.

Alan = Smith
Knight background character, regularly appears [?]. Also dead.

Kuzeri = Rail
New knight team captain. A woman knight originally serving as an Imperial Guard under Liliana.

Niito = Komorudo
New knight team vice-captain. Previously the commander of the third corps.

————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————
Adventurer Guild

Ilwa = Chang
Führen branch chief. Awarded Hajime a gold rank and provides him with support. A person who
gave Hajime a lot of work (trouble).

Dot = Clowe
Ilwa’s head secretary. Like Shizuku, suffers a lot of hardships.

Catherine
Former head secretary of the guild master. An old lady that personifies the cruelty of time.

Loa = Bawabisu
Horuado branch chief. Tsundere.

Barusu = Raputa
Guild master. May have spells of destruction [?].

————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————
Ankaji Dukedom

Ranzi = Forward = Zengen
Ankaji dukedom’s lord. Had a falling out with the church, (漢気溢れる) nice middle [?].

Bizu = Forward = Zengen
Ranzi’s son. Attracted to Kaori. Facial expressions at the gunshot level when stared at [?].

Airi = Forward = Zengen
Bizu’s sister. At 14 yo, overcame demi-human discrimination when she encountered Myu’s
cuteness.

————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————
Haltina Sea of Trees, Faea Belgaen

Alferick = Hypist
Faea Belgaen elder. Chief of the Forest-race (Elves). Longest lived and easiest to talk with.

Zeru of the Tiger-race, Mao of the Winged-race, Rua of the Fox-race, Guze of the Earth-race
(Dwarves), Jin of the Bear-race
Background character elders. Jin never fully recovered from the blow Hajime delivered to his
abdomen.

Altena = Hypist
Granddaughter of Alfrick.

Regin = Banton
Middle-aged man from the Bear-race. Once lead a raid on the Haulia to take revenge for Jin but
had the tables turned. Afterwards developed a trauma of the Haulia, pulse rate and breathing
would elevate just thinking about it.

————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————
Haulia Tribe

Cam = Haulia
Shea’s father, Chief of the Haulia tribe of the Rabbit-race. Hyahhaa chief. Chuuni chief.
Currently calling himself “Shadow demon hunter of the writhing abyss, Caamubantisu Erufanraito
Rooderia Haulia.”

Baru
“Barudoferudo of Certain Destruction”, 11 yo. Proud of his ranged weaponry skill. Infected
with chuunibyou.

Rana
“Ranainferina the Fleeting Shadow.” Probably has a job requiring speed.

Mina
“Minasuteria the Sky Splitter.” Probably has an air assassination attack.

Yao
“Yaozeriasu the Phantom Warrior.” Probably uses illusions to manipulate his foes.

Yoru
“Yorugandaru the Creeping Death.” Probably… y’know.

Riki
“Rikiddobureiku the Light Rain.” Something or other.

Io
“Iorunikusu the Lightning Blade.” Something or other.

————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————
Hoelscher Empire

Gahald = D = Hoelscher
Emperor.

Bias = D = Hoelscher
Crown Prince. Ririana’s fiance. Beheaded after he raised a ruckus.

Nediru
Formerly a jailer in the imperial army. Had his nether regions crushed beyond recognition.

Master
Imperial capital (Adventurer Guild) branch bartender. Tenpure guardian [?].

————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————
Demon-race

Furiido = Baguaa (Freed)
Red haired, dark skinned, slightly pointed ear male of the demon-race. Mass-produces powerful
demons, possesses space magic from the Age of Gods. His white dragon minions are particularly
powerful, they plunged Hajime into a crisis with their Aurora Breath ability during an ambush.

————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————
God Faction

Nointo, Apostle of God
Soldier of God that boasts phenomenal stats. Able to fight more than evenly against Hajime in
her Limit Break state. Appears at turning points in history to enact the will of God, either to
manipulate the masses or eliminating those who are obstacles to God’s plan. Hajime wonders if
there are more apostles. Probably.

Ishtar Rangobarudo
Pope of the Sacred Church. Old man. Lost cause.

David = Mark
Aiko’s escort team, temple knight captain. After many troubles, became head of Aiko’s reverse
harem (although it seems fruitless as Aiko doesn’t pay any attention to them).

Chase = Routine
Aiko’s escort team, temple knight. Likewise reverse harem member.

Ehito, Human-race god

Aruvu, Demon-race god

————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————
Other

Motto = Yunker
A true merchant.

Sohna
Brook town, Masaka inn poster girl. Goes to great lengths to peep at Hajime’s love affairs.
Her techniques are already far beyond the level of a town girl.

Christabel
Clothing store monster (drag queen). Former gold-rank adventurer. Possesses strength beyond
common sense.

Mariabelle
Clothing store monster II. Embarked on a new path after Yue’s groin smash.

Fosu Seruo
Owner of the Water Fairy inn at the Lakeshore town, Ur. Serves Japanese-style cuisine.

Will Kudeta
Third son of the Count Kudeta house. Oedipus complex.

Riiman
Human-faced fish monster. Can communicate via magic. (漢気溢れる) old man [?]. At first
glance seems to be a world-travelling free spirit, but is actually a deadbeat father that
neglected his wife and children whilst playing around.

Uorupen = Stark
Heilig kingdom chief supervising transmuter. True craftsman. Will to go beyond his limits in
order to learn new techniques.

————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————
Liberators

Oscar = Orcus
Master of the Orcus Great Labyrinth (Abyss). In charge of creation magic. This unfortunate
man’s corpse was planted in a corner of a crop field.

Miredi = Raisen
Master of the Raisen Great Labyrinth (Great Canyon). In charge of gravity magic. Most annoying
person in the universe. A unique personality amongst the Liberators.

Naizu = Guryuuen
Master of the Guryuuen Great Labyrinth (Great Volcano). In charge of space magic.

Meiru = Merujiine
Master of the Merujiine Great Labyrinth (Undersea Ruins). In charge of regeneration magic.
Sea-race. Contrary to appearances, is rather crude.

Rausu = Baan
Master of the Baan Great Labyrinth (God Mountain). In charge of spirit magic. Bald.

Shunee = ? (Shune ?)
Master of the Shunee Great Labyrinth (Snowfield Ice Cave). In charge of ? magic. Dungeon
located in demon-race territory in the south.

Luluo = Haltina
Master of the Haltina Great Labyrinth (Sea of Trees). In charge of ? magic. Dungeon located in
demi-human territory in the east.

• [Vol 6] Character Introduction (Part 1)
• [Vol 6] Chapter 1 - Transporting the Demi-humans
• [Vol 6] Chapter 2 - Night of Faea Belgaen
• [Vol 6] Chapter 3 - Imitation
• [Vol 6] Chapter 4 - Even if the Appearance Changes
• [Vol 6] Chapter 5 - The Pseudo-Trent
• [Vol 6] Chapter 6 - Ideal World
• [Vol 6] Chapter 7 - Immediate Awakening
• [Vol 6] Chapter 8 - Trial of Pleasure
• [Vol 6] Chapter 9 - Black Devil
• [Vol 6] Chapter 10 - Turned Around and Everything Changed?
• [Vol 6] Chapter 11 - One Hope
• [Vol 6] Chapter 12 - Shizuku's Confusion
• [Vol 6] Chapter 13 - Awakening
• [Vol 6] Chapter 14 - Uncertain Future

This chapter is translated by Durasama and is rehosted with due permission.

Just like a joke, the head of the next inline Emperor, Bias, was easily flung into the air.

“………..”
“That was the next Emperor. Your successor…..can you bear seeing that, can you bear hearing that, that was quite awful”
“…….I should have already said it. Even if we were all massacred, I won’t be pledging to anything. Be crushed by the fury of the Empire”
“To have that kind of attitude even after your son’s been killed. Ma~a, to begin with, he’s probably never been loved by you. After all, the position of Emperor is decided through ability, that’s why it’s not unusual for relatives to try and murder one another”

It was exactly as Cam said, relatives could gain the position of Emperor by winning a duel. Even if the partner is killed during the duel it wouldn’t be considered a crime.

Gaharudo had many concubines who gave birth besides the queen, Bias himself was a child of a concubine which managed to become Crowned Prince through showing his abilities in duels. It was befitting of their principles, the weak will follow the strong! and there you have it.

Probably because of that, Gaharudo’s expression didn’t change at all. Since the beginning, the standards were either weak or strong, there have been rumors that there were no love for his sons and daughters……there didn’t seem to be any hidden emotions either, so it may very well be true. Rather, the aide from a while ago was the only time he really exposed his anger.

Gaharudo that was snorting towards Cam’s words.

“If you know that it’s useless now then just stop”
“There’s no rush. You won’t pledge no matter what? You’ll continue tormenting the Demi-humans after this? You’ll continue tracking down our Haruia Tribe?”
“How repetitious”
“Is that so…..”Delta 1, this is Alpha 1, do it””

———Alpha 1, this is Delta 1. Roger

All of the sudden, Cam started saying things which Gaharudo couldn’t comprehend. Though Gaharudo had a questioning expression, in the next moment, he felt and heard the roar of a huge explosion through his belly and the complexion of his face changed.

“-. What was that just now!”
“What, it’s not that much of a big deal. We only blew up the barracks that were watching the slaves”
“Blew up? It can’t be……”
“Fumu, how many people were inside again……anyways several hundreds of soldiers just died. It’s all your fault, Gaharudo”
“You b̲a̲s̲t̲a̲r̲d̲s̲ did it!”
“Nope, it was you, Gaharudo. Your decision claimed the lives of those soldiers. And……”Delta 1, this is Alpha 1, do it””

Once again, Cam muttered things which Gaharudo couldn’t comprehend, Gaharudo immediately called out to him. It was far too bad of a joke that they could remotely detonate explosives from this location.

“Oi! Hauria~!”

However, Gaharudo’s words were in vain, a second roar erupted. Not within the Imperial Castle. A large explosion occurred somewhere in the capital.

Holding back his emotions, Gaharudo asked.

“……Where was that explosion?”
“The hospital”
“Wha, damn you!”
“Be relieved. What blew up was the military’s hospital. The only ones that died were soldiers and their doctors……to begin with, the public hospital, Inns, brothels, residential areas, though lots of people lost their homes and are living in temporary shelters after the Majinzoku’s attack, do you have any request?”
“Don’t go laying your hands on the general public! How far are you going to fall Hauria!”
“…….You guys always persecuted us Demi-humans. You’ve got no right to complain when the positions are turned around……”Delta, do it””
“Wait~!”

The entire Empire persecuted the Demi-humans, at this point how is the general public not involved? Cam showed a slightly amazed voice. Then, mercilessly gave out the order.

The third explosion was heard, this time Gaharudo was grinding his teeth together as he was convinced that the publics buildings were bombed. But actually it was the drawbridge which allows entry into the Imperial castle. Since there will likely be reports coming from the capital about the explosions, the only route to enter the castle was destroyed.

In addition, Cam’s words were partly a bluff, they never set any bombs in areas that weren’t related to the army. The explosions weren’t caused through remote methods either, a unit of Hauria’s that sneaked into the castle had to manually set them off, due to this they couldn’t set up bombs in many places.

“If you won’t be pledging then we have no other choice. I’ll have to set off every bomb we’ve set up in the capital, you Imperial aristocrats and leaders here will be lending a hand in it. Thousands of people will be accompanying each other to the otherside. It’s not a bad way to end huh?”

What he was saying was definitely terrorist-like. Who the heck taught him……though some glances were focused on the boy in the corner of the hall, the actual person was indifferent.

Towards the merciless demand, Gaharudo couldn’t decide quickly and became silent. Though he was looking through his head for a method of breaking out of the current situation, no bright idea’s came to mind. His expression was sour and breaking out in cold sweat, it showed that he was being cornered.

And despite that Cam didn’t allow him any breathing room at all. Since the reply was slow he gave out orders.

““Delta, this is Alpha 1…….do-””
“Wait~!”

Gaharudo called out in a panicking voice. And he slammed his head into the ground several times to calm himself down, looked up with a face as if giving up

“Shi—-, damn it all! I get it! It’s my defeat! I’ll accept your demands! That’s why, stop taking lives indiscriminately through explosions!”
“That’s excellent. Then pledge to the oath”

Even though the demands were accepted, Cam replied indifferently. Gaharudo could only show a bitter smile. And while relaxing his shoulders, he talked to the remaining survivors within the hall.

“Ha~a, damn, I’m sorry you guys. I was done in this time. …..In the Empire strength is everything. These Usagininzoku, the Haura, showed it through “bringing down the Imperial castle”. Holding the lives of people. Hence, “As the representative of Hoelscher! All Demi-human slaves shall be freed! We shall never interfere with the Sea of Trees! Now at this time, the persecution and enslavement of Demi-humans is now prohibited! Those who break these vows shall be severely punished by the Empire! They shall also be enacted as new laws in the Empire!” If you guys have complaints, come to my place! If you can beat me, you can do whatever you want afterwards!”

If you wanted to treat Demi-humans as slaves like always, exterminate all who hold Hoescher’s blood! I’ll take you on! he declared. He really was a man who adhered to the principles that abilities reigned supreme. Of course this judgement does no harm to the Empire besides their loss of relations with the Demi-humans, as expected, losing in a direct battle had quite a huge impact.

“Fumu, you’ve finally answered correctly”

Along with those words, spotlights showed down onto everyone in the Emperor’s clan. The still young and oldest grandchildren who should not have been at the hall had a necklace with a bright red stone on their necks.

“If you don’t want the Hoelscher blood to be exterminated, don’t forget the oath”
“I know”
“The content of the oath will be made public tomorrow, at the very least liberate all the slaves in the capital by the end of tomorrow”
“By tomorrow? Just how many slaves do you think there are in the Empire……”
“Do it”
“You dirty b̲a̲s̲t̲a̲r̲d̲! I just have to do it right, I’ll do it!”
“Free the slaves and send them directly to the Sea of Trees. Gaharudo. You must accompany them to Fair Bergen. And then repeat the oath in front of the elders”
“Alone? Wouldn’t I normally be killed?”
“We’ll return you back safely. If you died, various problems would arise?”
“Haa~, I got it. I’ve had a bad feeling ever since you guys broke out of prison. To think that we’d be pushed this far. ……Na~a, do you have a grudge against me or the Empire, Hajime Nagumo?”

Gaharudo glared at Hajime through the darkness.

However there was no answer from Hajime. While holding Ririana by the neck like a kitten, he was leaning against the wall and yawning. Right now was the Haruia tribe’s time to take the leading role. That’s why, he seemed to take on the stance “I’m only a spectator in this affair”.

There weren’t any lights, even though Gaharudo couldn’t see his appearance, he at least figured that Hajime had no intentions of answering. Gaharudo grandly clicked his tongue.

“Gaharudo, as a warning. We definitely obtained some help from our benefactor who changed us. However, that power had already became ours exclusively. If we wanted to, we could easily search for information and invade the castle at any time. It’s easy to scratch your neck when sleeping. If you don’t make the laws, even without the power of our benefactor our blades could easily cut your neck”
“Exclusive use. I’m quite jealous. To be able to use artifacts even though Demi-humans have no magical powers……”

Gaharudo’s crushed and sour expressions weren’t hard to believe. Because it was impossible for the Demi-humans to stand up against another race without magic, however with the use of artifacts that fact was easily destroyed.

However, it isn’t enough to just say stop it, at best they could only curse out at them. “Jeez, what else could I do!”, Gaharudo shouted his feelings towards Hajime.

His army was burning down because of the person who created an artifact which allowed him to fly in the air and travel the distance which should have taken 2 months into just a day and a half, if anyone were to be armed with artifacts of that stature then the Hauria’s claim of being able to invade anywhere and carry out assassinations held lots of credibility.

By the way, what was used this time around was the “Spider-typed Golem Scout”, “Improved Telepathy Stone”, and the “Gate Key”.

The “Spider-type Golem Scout” was the spider that saved Ririana. It was approximately 5 centimeters in length, can go anywhere through remote control with “Transmuting” and “Thread”, the images are sent to the “Crystal Display” through the “Distance Transmitting Stone”, and it can sense magic traps just like the magic eye. It also has paralysis and sleeping poison in its feet, even poison which makes it so that the little sonny doesn’t get up.

After Hajime entered the castle, he scattered and installed countless spider-typed golems everywhere. The reason why Hajime was seemingly distracted while in the castle was because the majority of his concentration was used to operate the golems. It was only a coincidence that he saw and helped Ririana while moving towards an installation point.

And the images that the countless spider-typed surveillance cameras that were set up were being transmitted back to the crystal displays installed at Headquarters, each Hauria force had an operator who communicated through the “Improved Telepathy Stone”, which enabled efficient and precise suppression.

The “Improved Telepathy Stone” was the single and most useful artifact to use against Gaharudo.

The principle was this. Ore’s with the property of “High-Speed Magic Recovery” was created through Creation Magic and added into the magical power tanks which caused them to auto regen, it always added fuel back into it as “Magic Radiation” was being emitted.

And the magic formation needed to activate it was a kind of sliding switch which was placed on it to allow it to smoothly activate on and off. Furthermore, there was a function which responded to the blood and status plate, meaning only the blood of the user would be accepted.

As a result, the Hauria forces were able to cooperate elaborately with Headquarters which was stationed outside of the capital.

Since they can’t actually operate the golems, without Hajime they’d have to manually place the spider-typed surveillance cameras. For that purpose, they infiltrated into the castle and installed the new hidden camera’s for the Haruia. Because the golems were unnecessarily complex, they were made to be hard to spot.

Moreover, the key-typed artifact “Gate Key” held a similar principle, because Hajime set up and concealed the keyhole-typed artifact “Gate Hall” in places, the Hauria are able to invade the castle anytime through opening the gate.

Really, from the Empire’s view, “What else could I do!”, was definitely the right state.

To begin with, the magic traps are difficult to disarm without being able to directly manipulate magical power, so the fact is, another invasion would probably never be as smooth as this one.

Hajime and them purposely used Kouki to enter the castle, besides installing the spider-typed golem scouts, they were also to disarm traps that the golems discovered. Hajime and Shia in particular, Yue and Shia had to use the “Presence Severing Stone” to easily hide their presence, Kaori also acted, the magic traps were disarmed without notice before the party began.

For now, though there were artifacts devised to disarm magic traps, Fairglass (a goggle-typed artifact which could detect magic traps) was distributed to the Hauria, however this time they had no time for that. That’s why although they wouldn’t be able to disarm the traps, they could evade them instead.

“Don’t worry about it, Gaharudo. The artifacts only belong to the Haruia and no other Demi-humans. Now that you’ve swore to the oath, it wouldn’t do for us to get full of ourselves and attack the Empire. If that happens, we Hauria will wield our blades against the foolish people of Fair Bergen”

Towards those words, Gaharudo guessed that the Hauria were independent from Fair Bergen, however they single-mindedly interfered in order to save their fellow Demi-humans (although it was actually only for the Usagininzoku).

“Is that so. I get the idea now. That’s why, release us already. An unreasonable request was made to be done by tomorrow. If I don’t act now I probably wouldn’t be able to make it on time”
“……That’s good. We Hauria will always be watching you guys. Don’t even think about forgetting it in your dreams either”

Towards those last words, the spotlights disappeared and silence surrounded the hall. At the same time that his presence perception informed him that the Hauria were withdrawing, Hajime received a transmission.

—-Boss. This is Alpha 1. All troops have withdrawn. For all the help, we cannot thank you enough
—-It was for Shia’s sake. Don’t mind it. Besides, everythings not over yet. Stay cautious. Or rather, what’s up ahead is the true battle. There’s no guarantee that there wouldn’t be an idiot who’ll think “Eliminate the Emperor’s clan”.
—-I’ll take it to heart, boss. Since the beginning, we’ve been resoluted and prepared to fight. This path, is the path that the new Hauria tribe has decided to walk down.

Towards Cam’s words filled with resolution and drive, Hajime’s lips raised up. And he gave them a pure praise.

—-Is that so. If you’re resolute then there’s nothing else for it. To all Hauria tribesmen. You were superb!

Towards the boss who they loved, respected and led them, all Hauria’s Usamimis extended straight up! and after a beat passed by.

In the next moment through the telepathy stone, a grand shout erupted.

—-Oo~OOOOOOOOOOO!!!!

That was the cry of victory. For hundreds of years, they were the losers of losers who continued suffering bitter experiences, it was the cry of delight after finally bringing down a huge enemy for the first time.

Being completely honest, what lays ahead is a sight where it’s prohibited to enslave and persecute Demi-humans, prohibited to interfere with the Sea of Trees, and Demi-humans are protected. Exactly as Hajime said, people who desired Demi-humans as slaves would come and try to eradicate the Emperor’s clan, there’s even a possibility that there’s a hole in the oath which the Empire may use to oppress the Demi-humans again.

That’s exactly why, it was appropriate to say that the Hauria’s battle starts now.

At the very least, the oath was imposed, by now, if the Empire invades the Sea of Trees, the Hauria wouldn’t be able to do anything. With this earned time, the Hauria can save and gather power and numbers, and if necessary acquire high level techniques (Assassination) and guerrilla tactics. That way, even if the Empire is prepared to overcome the Oath, they won’t get what they want so easily.

Right, the point of the strategy right now was to make the people at the top of the Empire wear collars and buy time to allow the Hauria to gather strength to be able to withstand the Empire. As such, certainly, the victor of this fight was unmistakably the Hauria Usagininzoku from the weakest Demi-human species.

“Damn, those guys, I shouldn’t have left them unattended. …..Someone, the lights….a~a, that’s right is anyone there…..tte, kora~a! Hajime Nagumo! You b̲a̲s̲t̲a̲r̲d̲, how long do you plan on pretending! At any rate, you’re uninjured! Do something about this situation!”

Hajime narrowed his eyes as the Hauria’s shout of joy was being communicated, at the same time Shia was embracing and rubbing up on Hajime because of the strategies success, from the other side (even in the darkness Hajime could see Gaharudo’s appearance rolling around) of the darkness, and began to hear Gaharudo’s angry voice.

By the way, the moment that he was embraced by Shia, Ririana who he was holding onto was cast aside without hesitation. Towards the sudden attack which caused the death of her fiance, Ririana could only be stunned, after being treated so by Hajime, with tears in her eyes, “Even though, I’m a Princess~!”, while muttering about her constant grief, she crumbled onto the ground like a woman who was deserted by her lover.

“alright, I hear you……”

While embracing Shia with one hand, he took out an ore from the “Treasure Warehouse” which flew up towards the ceiling and emitted light. The light stone that floated towards the ceiling in the darkness caused the hall to brighten up just like daytime when they were brought to the hall.

The party hall became completely visible, “horrifying” was the perfect word for it. There were huge quantities of blood splattered everywhere and countless heads on the ground. Besides the heads on the ground which didn’t have time to say goodbyes, everyone else seemed to be alright, though they were all groaning and crawling on the floor with their tendons in their hands and feet cut.

There were lots of mademoiselles who had toilet accidents due to the fear and pain. The moment when the hall was lit up and the disastrous scene was seen, many lost their consciousness, in a certain sense it was good fortune.

Though some of the courageous mademoiselles were just barely conscious, the moment they saw Shia’s Usamimis, they gave out screams and fainted as the whites in their eyes showed. Even the men who didn’t fear much was frightened when they saw Shia.

It appears that the fear of the Hauria tribe was deeply carved into them. 

Within that, Hajime’s group and the Hero’s group was clearly completely unhurt. The people who were fighting until they end were giving them stares full of hatred. It appears that they completely believed that it was a conspiracy.

“Oi, kora, Hajime Nagumo. Quit flirting already and help out. What kind of nerves do you have to be able to admire a woman in this situation, and on top of that an Usagininzoku woman at that”
“Nah, look, Shia’s a weak rabbit after all, the raid from earlier frightened her. She’s so pitiful. Those guys were truly fearsome people. All I could do was protect myself”

While saying those foolish things, Hajime was shivering unnaturally.

Veins appeared on Gaharudo’s forehead. Even the people whose tongues were cut to seal off there chants, while on the ground glared at them cruelly as if stating, “We’ll kill you with glares!”. Kouki and them who had strong nerves even trembled from the gazes.

“How impudent…..in any case, it doesn’t change the fact that you’re unhurt. If you hold no malice against the Empire then, nurse us, being needed by people is good isn’t it²³?”
“However about that, your subordinates are giving out blood thirst as if saying that the instant they’re healed they’ll attack us……In that case, is it alright if I just finish them off?”
“There’s no way that’s alright! Oi, you guys! Don’t ever lay your hands on that monster over there! Even if he’s just a damn cheeky brat whos always being surrounded by great women and surely started a conspiracy with the Haruia tribe, don’t you dare go waste your lives!”

The surviving subordinate’s eyes distort due to their masters command for them to stay alive with regret. Hajime saw their eyes distorting.

“Look, even if I want to kill you guys, there’s no one here stupid enough to willingly jump into a monster’s jaws. I won’t have it. If we don’t get started soon some people are going to bleed out. I’m begging you, Hajime Nagumo”
“Ma~a, I don’t particularly mind if you guys won’t be coming at me. I’m relying on you, Kaori”
“Un~, leave it to me…..”Sacred Text”!”

Without chanting. Without magic formations. the wave of first-class recovery magic shined immediately after calling out the magic name and rippled throughout the entire party hall. With that the wounded people were healed up instantly.

“Even recovery skills are monster class. ……I can’t take this²⁴”

Gaharudo complained with a tired expression after he noticed that Kaori’s recovery magic wasn’t normal. Gaharudo’s subordinates were dumbfounded as well to be completely healed in an instant. To be able to immediately cast first-class magic was impossible for the general people so it was natural.
Disregarding the mademoiselles who fainted and didn’t get back up, those who could fight immediately gathered around Gaharudo and they looked towards Hajime with stern and cautioned expressions.

“I’ve already said it, give it up already. If you release blood lust like awhile ago and cause a counterattack we’d all get completely annihilated”
“But your Majesty! These guys clearly guided them in!”
“That’s right! Even the Crowned Prince……we can’t just leave them alone!”
“At this rate the Empire’s pride will fall to the ground!”

Gaharudo’s troublesome subordinates all speak out in sequence.

Even though they felt that Kaori’s recovery magic wasn’t normal, they had not witnessed Hajime’s powers with their own eyes. Moreover, some of them previously saw Kouki and the Emperor’s fight at the Kingdom, because of this they “alternatively” used it as reference.

Above that, the damage that the Hauria caused was massive. After all, they placed a “Curse” on the present Emperor and his clan, although that was largely the reason, it was also because the next-in-term Emperor was beheaded. They couldn’t back down easily.

Towards the subordinates rage, Gaharudo sighed out while gaining drive. For them who groaned and staggered, Gaharudo’s voice filled with dignity turned towards the people within the hall.

“Quit making so much noise! I believe I’ve already said, don’t go dying pointlessly. Got it, that white haired eyepatch wearing fellow is a true flesh and blood monster. Even if we brought out an entire army, he alone would annihilate it, that’s who we’re facing. ……They’re strong, don’t even step on their shadows. I’m not saying we have to follow what that guy says but, as people who adhere to the principle that abilities reign supreme, at least have the ability to judge the opponents strength!”

With an angry and shaking voice, the subordinates and even the aristocrats stiffen up.

“It goes the same for the Hauria tribe. Those guys who should have had the weakest power came and challenged the entire Empire. The reason why we were done in was because we were stupid and weak? I don’t intend to leave things off like this, those guys also probably think the same……but first admit it. We lost. The losers follow the victor. That is the Empire’s rule! Even still, if you have a complaint then let me hear it! Convince me through power, make me follow you! Just like those guys did!”

Gaharudo’s angry voice echoed throughout the party hall. Those who couldn’t stand looked towards him, after the subordinates around Gaharudo hesitated slightly, they hung their heads down before him. Deep within themselves they knew, the one who fought until the final moment was Gaharudo. Gaharudo’s words, more than anything was heavy.
“Un, with this it’s case closed”

Towards Hajime’s satisfied words, everyone turned to look at Hajime with hatred. Those gazes spoke more than words. That is, “You’re one to talk! You God of Plague!”.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Even while hiding their hostility against Hajime and them, the surviving Empire soldiers had to face the reality that they were unable to meaninglessly throw away their lives, Little by little they regain their composure because of Gaharudo.

Although the drawbridge was destroyed empire soldiers began to arrive at the castle and the silent party hall began to become noisy once again, control was quickly brought back from the confusing situation.

Leaders of the survivors were gathered, despite being in the middle of night they were holding an emergency meeting to adhere the oaths. Mid-way in, one of the leaders who wasn’t at the party hall laughed at the foolish contents of the oath……

That moment, the lights in the conference room instantaneously died out, when the lights came back on the horror of a subordinate’s head laying on the table appeared, it was the subordinate of the man who was opposing them. The man could do nothing but nod away while turning pale. The other leaders were reminded of the party and began to tremble. The later talks seemed to have been settled quickly.

While compiling damage reports from every place, the laws for the Demi-humans were rapidly made (the draft prepared by the Hauria). At this point, Gaharudo found out that the Hauria had not laid their hands on the general public.

However, from the fact that none of the general facilities were reported to have been destroyed through explosions, he received a message that it was possible to blow them up at anytime and began to worry substantially because of all the possible bombs planted in their facilities. 

And within the middle of the night, soldiers were woken up because of the explosions, their individually owned slaves were guided to the countless temporarily raised tents on the open plot of land from the previous demon turmoil. They immediately began to retrieve the slaves in the next building where slaves were being held.

Naturally, fierce resistance was bound to happen. Just when they were woken up in the middle of night, the owned slaves were being forcefully seized. In particular, the slave association was showing symptoms of becoming bankrupted. Financial compensation was promised to be given at a later time, even though it was a royal command by the Emperor, they weren’t able to easily consent to it.

Nevertheless, it was a direct order from the country, they had no choice but to compromise…..stretching time in between then and now, there were many who folded and whined, roughly all of those people were found beheaded in the morning.

And when the afternoon of the next day came to pass, an abnormal situation with Demi-humans gathered in one place in the capital caused citizens to gather and the announcement from the Empire was announced. About the consent of the oath and the additional laws that were established.

Towards the bluntly reported announcement, the citizens became dumbfounded. That was to be expected. Their familiar and convenient tools were suddenly taken away from them. Moreover, it was forbidden to capture them in the future. The situation was honestly one where they couldn’t comprehend.

Eventually, the obvious and natural complaints began to flow out and it quickly became a large and strong opposition. It was about to become a riot, the Empire soldiers began defending the Demi-human slaves from the people in cold sweat, but it became quiet after the announcement made with exquisite timing. 

In other words,

“All actions towards Demi-humans was because an “Oracle” from “Ehto-sama”!”

Furthermore, with the appearance of Kaori who fluttered her silver wings and was shining as she descended down from the sky, Kouki showed the light and appearance of his sacred sword. As a result, the announcement held credibility.

Towards the divine appearance (being produced by Hajime’s artifacts) the citizens all got down on one knee and prayed.

Actually, Kaori was trying hard not to run away as she was blushing in shame, if Kaori felt like it, the silver feathers that were being worshiped by the citizens, “Thank you~”, could easily be turned into weapons that decomposed everything, Gaharudo who was at wits end on how to explain the laws and emancipation of slaves was simply proposed, “wouldn’t it be alright if we just use Ehto?”, Hajime who was in high spirits was chuckling to himself about how amusing it was that the citizens were so serious……Everyone could surely faint peacefully together.

Obtaining and holding onto “God’s Apostle’s feathers”, reluctantly the slave owners backed down as there was also compensation from the country and the majority of citizens were cheerful. In front of their eyes, several thousands of slave’s shackles were being removed by the soldiers one after the other.

The Demi-humans seemed to have been stunned but accepted it with silence. Being completely honest they weren’t sure about what was happening at the moment. Even if they understood they likely wouldn’t be able to believe it.

Before long, with some time the slave’s shackles were all removed and Kouki who showed natural charisma led the Demi-humans outside of the capital. Along with him was also obviously Gaharudo as well as Hajime and them.

The Demi-humans were stunned as they left the capital, amplifying her voice with physical reinforcement Shia shouted out, “You guys are free~! Return to your homes~!”, they finally seemed to realize that they were “liberated” and they all shouted out in joy all at once which caused the ground to shake.

Under the cheerful blue sky, while at the Empire’s outer walls, several thousands of Demi-humans headed towards home. Towards the impossible illusion, tears were falling down and Demi-humans were joyfully patting eachothers shoulders.

Within those, there were many who received cruel physical and mental wounds as well, but they were healed through Reproduction Magic and Spirit Magic. Because even Yue couldn’t accurately erase their memories enmass, she compromised that it was necessary for them to be surrounded by family and friends in the long-term.

There were also many Demi-humans that were transported to many different towns, Hajime and them couldn’t be responsible to heal them. They as well, after returning to the Sea of Trees, have no choice but to allow their minds to be supported by the people around them.

Even still, they’ll be able to once again live in their hometown, they can meet their important people that they were separated from once again…..it was surely suitable to call this event a “Miracle”.

Hajime who was looking at the Demi-humans shouting in joy, began thinking about his family in Japan, “Someday I too will……”, he muttered inside himself and quietly clenched Yue’s hand who snuggled up closely. The cute lover was as if saying, “It’s alright”, gently returned strength into Hajime’s hand.

This chapter is translated by Durasama and is unedited.

“What!? What happened!?”
“Iya~a!? What’s with this!?”

The aristocrats of the Empire who were suddenly deprived of one of their senses shouted out angrily in a shaky voice which contained confusion and unrest.

“Don’t panic! Use magic to create ligh-ga~a!?”
“What’s wron-gya~!?”
“What happen-gu~!?”

A relatively calm person tried to create a sphere of light while giving out instructions to others to secure their vision. However, the sound of a scream and something falling down happened right afterwards. At the same time, the confused aristocrats all begin screaming one after another.

The place soon sanked into confusion once again. Especially, the mademoiselles who completely fell into panic and began running around blindly, the sounds of collisions and people falling resounded out rapidly from various places.

“Calm down! Can you b̲a̲s̲t̲a̲r̲d̲s̲ still call yourselves soldier’s of the Empire!”

Gaharudo’s voice filled with ambition resounded throughout the hall in the darkness. With the loud scolding voice, the aristocrats who started falling into panic and screaming due to the darkness stopped.

However……

Hyu! Hyu! Hyu!

“~!? Chi! Sneaking around so annoyingly!”

Countless arrows came flying towards Gaharudo from the darkness.

With short notice, a surprise attack of arrows which held amazing speed and power attacked Gaharudo from all directions. Moreover, it was pulled off with exquisite timing, being bombarded with arrows which were incredibly accurate was definitely a bad position to be in, with so much flying towards him Gaharudo had no choice but be pushed into a one-sided defensive battle. He couldn’t afford to give out instructions to recover the situation anymore.

Still in the pitch black darkness, while fending the blows with the ceremonial sword, he could only grasp where the arrows were coming from due to the noise of them cutting through the air. The noise surrounding Gaharudo began raising out roars. Gin! Gin! Gin! The sound of metal colliding resounded out.

The sounds of peoples screams resounded one after the other while collapsing, due to Gaharudo’s scolding, people who regained their calm created fireballs to act as a light.

They called out to the guards loudly while looking around their surroundings with a fierce expression.

Something like a black shadow zinged by in the edge of their sights! It traveled quickly as if slicing through the wind.

“~!? Who are y-ggebu!?”

Immediately the aristocrat man tried to shoot a fireball towards the shadow.

However, the shadow that dashed out from the darkness dressed in black (+Usamimis) immediately pulled out a small black sword which completely blended in with the darkness, as if it was a joke, a head was mown down instantly.

~Pon~ the head flew through the air and rolled around on the ground with the vivid sounds. The head had a blank face, it seems he didn’t notice that he was no longer connected with his body.

Before anyone noticed, all fireballs which were illuminating the surroundings had disappeared and the only color left was the darkness.

The aristocrats and mademoiselles gathered towards the people who created fireballs like moths being provoked by the light, they managed to catch a glimpse of the shadow’s Usamimis immediately before the fireball was extinguished, then the spectacle of the persons head flying through the air was witnessed immediately afterwards. Then once again, their waists gave out  against the assailant who disappeared under the cover of the darkness.

“Hi~, m, monster~!”
“I, I don’t want to die~, someone, anyone!”

Most of the people unable to stand up were the mademoiselle and civil officers, quite a few of the military officers as well too. Their minds couldn’t endure the darkness which was equivalent to the death god’s sickle and the assailant’s existence which appeared right in front of their eyes.

As such, without exception, without being able to do anything, and while doing nothing, the tendons in their hands and feet were cut by the person dressed in black soundlessly, they fell laying on the ground writhing in pain.

Although there were those pathetically miserable people, as a military nation which adheres to the principles that abilities reigned supreme, some couldn’t permit themselves to continue wailing away in confusion forever. Veterans who survived countless battles, although they didn’t have a sword like Gaharudo, relied on their daggers which they kept in their breast pocket for self defense, they united with their companions and began creating a battle formation.

while back to back with one another, the magicians were placed in the center. It was splendid cooperation.

The people who were relatively nearby to Gaharudo immediately created a battle formation to defend his back. The range that Gaharudo had to consider was immediately decreased by half, now the attacks were no longer a problem. Gaharudo began chanting while knocking down dozens of arrows to the side.

A bit less than 10 fireballs were produced in an instant and shot out at surprising speeds. They spread out throughout the hall and began to brighten up the darkness.

Begin the counter attack! Though it was Gaharudo yelling out threateningly, immediately afterwards, a lump of metal rolled around in front of him.

“What? Is this……”

The man who serves as Gaharudo’s aid moved in closer to check out the objects purpose with suspicion. It wasn’t only him though, others who secured their lightsource at different areas were the same.

Gaharudo had an severely unpleasant premonition, he immediately yelled out in a controlling voice

“Stop! Don’t get clos-!?”
“~!?”

Although the aid who heard Gaharudo’s words reflectively tried to leap back but, that action was meaningless judging by the effects of the lump of metal. That was proven in the next instant.

Ka!
Kyiiiiiin!!

All of the sudden, just when you thought the lump of metal popped, intense light surged out and an immense sound indiscriminately violated the surroundings.

“Gua~a!?”
“Guu~u!”
“What is!?”

The moment the light bursted out, Gaharudo shut his eyes and covered his face with his arms, he wasn’t able to completely block out the surprise attack, although his eyes were shut tight he still couldn’t see temporarily, he also lost his hearing due to the severe ringing in his ears as well.

And, the Hauria assailants couldn’t overlook this golden opportunity.

The Hauria’s dressed in black rushed forwards with exquisite timing and immediately came within the targets bosom while they killed off their presence. Then with one spark from the small jet black sword, a second spark emitted again.

With 2 of their senses taken away from them, the tendons in the officers hands and feet were easily cut without any kind of resistance.

The aides screamed in pain as they fell and laid on the ground.

Immediately, their tongues were torn through by a knife. The purpose was to restrict them from chanting. Several people prostrated themselves in the same manner in various places, bleeding on the ground with the tendons in their hands and feet cut and from their mouths. People who tried to fire off big magics were mercilessly beheaded.

Meanwhile, ~Gin Gin Gin~! the sound of metal clashing resounded out. Surprising it was Gaharudo who had lost his sight and hearing, he was able to slash back at the two Haruia tribe members who killed off their presence to the utmost limit.

The two Haura members which were attacking opened their eyes wide in surprise from this demonstration.

Did he feel their unrest in that instant, taking advantage and with fighting spirit, Gaharudo generated a shock wave by using Quake Legs.

“~!?”
“Ku~!?”

The 2 haruia whose stance was broken instinctively let out a groan. And Gaharudo accurately sliced sideways towards the side of the 2 people as if his eyes and ears weren’t damaged at all.

“Scatter and disperse! “Wind Wall”!”

The two haruia members were pushed aside by the sword’s destructive power as they were just barely able to receive the attack with their small swords, a terrific barrage of arrows were shot at Gaharudo and with the wall of wind which only took 2 words to cast, all of the arrows trajectory was easily averted.

“Shoot out! “Flame Bullet”!”

The magic was once again duplicated. 10 “Flame Bullets” were produced which were stronger than the “Fire Balls” from before. It shot back towards the trajectory at which the arrows had originated from when in contact with the “Wind Wall”.

They shuddered from the abnormal presence of Gaharudo who shout out countless magic with power and speed. The Hauria who had hidden their presence unintentionally leaked out their presences slightly.

Gaharudo’s closed eyelids opened up slightly, although he shouldn’t be able to see yet, his eyes carried the light of a dangerous wild beast. And with a grin! he turned his neck and glanced accurately at the direction where the Hauria were in the darkness. He had felt the presence that leaked out a while ago.

“Oooo~o! Burst out, “Flame Bullet”!”

While turning his back against the Flame Bullets he shot out, Gaharudo rushed straight towards the Hauria in the darkness and chanted once again. Immediately, the flame bullet in the back flew towards the ceiling of the party hall and exploded loudly with a roar.

The Hauria who were on the ceiling providing support with their crossbows, quickly withdrew to evade the flame bullet, but because the flame bullet exploded, it wasn’t possible to completely dodge it due to the heat wave generated that scattered widely. At the very least, the places which were used as scaffolding were collapsing down, in the little time before they manage to reach the next sniping point, support cover has completely ceased.

“Dancing wind! Carry out my will, “Sound of Wind”!”

Gaharudo casted his next magic in that timeframe. Supplementary magic “Sound of Wind” from the wind system. It interferes with the surrounding air and amplifies sound, it’s a magic that allows small sounds in the distance to be heard. His hearing was amplified to megavolume, with the assist of this magic he’ll likely regain his hearing.

Certainly, it could be said that this was the magic version of the skill presence perception when applied. Though I say that, the accuracy decreases because they’re being perceived through hearing only, concentration was required to make sense of what’s heard due to that it’s an unsuitable magic to be used during the proximity of battle. This was a basic magic that scouts and secret agents used for information gathering.

“Raa~aa!!”
“Tsu——!!”
“Kuu~u!”

Along with the yell of fighting spirit, his slashes bent and transformed as if he were using a whip.

While raising out a voice of anguish, Gaharudo deceive his senses by overriding them to feel the presences, the Haruia managed to get through it by cooperating with each other. However, because of “Sound of Wind” their presences were seen though. With each step the Hauria took, they generated a subtle sound in the wind.

With his sight deprived, although the method being used was far from proper “Presence Perception”, with a torrent of blood thirst, courage and ferociousness, Gaharudo moved forwards without hesitation and entrusted his body to the information gathering magic.

This is the Emperor. This is the head of a military nation. The king of warriors who boast that power is everything!

This was what the Hauria’s managed to feel first hand…..

However, everyone had a ghastly smile on their lips that was far from shrinking away. The eyes that pierced through the masks shone ferociously in glare, a heavy thirst for blood surged out from each and everyone of them. If they couldn’t hide their presence, then they’ll just cooperate and bring him down! As if announcing that, the Haruia began to move as if they were all one creature.

“Kukuku, You’re giving off quite the good thirst for blood there! Na~a, Hauria’s!”

The cooperation attack was on the level that wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that it exceeded the techniques based on hit and run from all directions pouring in. While fighting back against the peculiar swordsmanship, Gaharudo shouted out happily. It appears that he found out that they were the Hauria tribe long ago.

Even though they heard Gaharudo’s shout, the Haruia were silent. They only singlemindedly released their murderous intent.

“A~a? You guys won’t let out shocked voices!?”

Judging from his words, as expected, only his sense of hearing has recovered a little thanks to the magic. Towards Gaharudo’s shout, the Haruias released especially strong thirst for blood——while Cam was brandishing his two short swords, he replied back while overflowing with murderous intent.

“Those are tasteless words on the battlefield. Survive if you can”
“~! Ha, just what I wanted!”

Sparks danced in the darkness and the sword swings became much more intense like a storm. 

However, the blades didn’t reach either bodies. Tens of seconds, several minutes…..the people whose mouths, arms, and legs were cut in a certain places began to have anguished expressions, they prayed for their kings victory while being irritated that no one was rushing in from the outside.

At the same time, they guessed that the assailants from the shadows were Usagininzoku due to seeing as the sparks were produced by the swords, towards that impossible scene and towards the unknown, they were desperately holding in the fear they felt.

Then, at that time, their expectation was betrayed by the situation.

“~!, What the? my body…..”

Gaharudo suddenly began to stagger, his movements rapidly dulled. As if saying, “We were waiting for this!”, the Hauria sprang from all directions.

Although Gaharudo somehow managed to resist back, it appears that Gaharudo’s oddness was assumed to happen from the beginning, an arrow shot out with exquisite timing and dug deeply into Gaharudo’s calf.

“Gua!”

Cam wielded his small sword towards Gaharudo who was folding from his knees. While blocking Gaharudo’s sword with one short sword, the other was used to cut through the tendon in his arm, his sword finally dropped to the ground.

Although Gaharudo tried to move instantly with magic, 2 of the Haruia’s blocked his way at that exact moment and wielded their small swords in confirmation of the battle still going on, they destroyed and blew away the magic formation and the artifact that was being concealed. At the same time, the remaining arm and legs tendons were cut.

“Tsu——-”

Severe pain was gushing out, however, Gaharudo didn’t scream out, his body began to incline slowly against his will, and ~Dosha~ it was the sound of his body falling prone on the ground.

The party hall fell silent and no words were emitted. Though a few were physically unable to say anything due to their mouths being forced shut, surely, even if they could open their mouths, none of them would have been able to actually say anything.

The Emperor of the Hoelscher Empire was defeated.

Even if their view was shut by darkness, they could tell. Towards that fact, the shock was so huge it erased everything else from their minds.

One of the Haruia tribe members approached Gaharudo who was still laying on the ground. And for now, gave him medicine to recover his sight and hearing. This was done in order to negotiate about the future.

“Fu~n, a monsters paralysis poisoning was scattered here so that you’d stay in place”
“Damn it, were you aiming for that from the beginning……”

Gaharudo was removed of all magic formations and artifacts that were inscribed onto his clothing. When Cam told him of the reason why his body was acting abnormally after restoring his sight and hearing, he cursed out at him.

Light suddenly poured down over Gaharudo’s head. It was due to one of the Hauria’s equipment which acted as a flashlight. It shined down on Gaharudo as if it was a spotlight.

“Wwwwwwww, what does this mean!? Ttttttt, this!? Nyanyanya, Nyagumo-san!? jjj, just what!!”
“It’s fine, calm down a little princess. Right now is the climax after all”

With the tendons in the hands and feet cut, clothes torn up here and there because of the destruction of the magic formations, the appearance of Gaharudo being illuminated by the light appeared on the ground, with lots of agitation Ririana’s mouth closed and opened while shakingly asking Hajime questions who she assumed was the reason for such an event.

During the attack, although Ririana was besides the crowned prince Bias, Hajime instantaneously retrieved her and returned to his original position. During the Hauria’s strategy execution, Hajime and them all gathered in the corner of the hall so that they don’t become obstructive.

Kouki was frowning grandly as he noticed that many aristocrats were dead. Suzu, Shizuku, and Ryutaro fell silent with a difficult expression. This was the biggest chance of improving the Demi-humans standings, because they understood this they kept silent as the battle was literally deciding the Haruia’s fates, though they still couldn’t fully accept the tragedy that unfolded in front of their presence so easily.

In the first place, there was no other choice but to just watch things happen. If they let out their emotions, “Anymore than this is overdoing it!”, they’d be obstructing Cam, at that instant, they would be attacked in the back by a railgun.

Although Ririana was speaking loudly and shakingly in unrest, Hajime had Kouki well within view and consideration. Shizuku was thinking about what to do in the case that that does happen, in another sense, cold sweat appeared more from Hajime’s glances at Kouki than of the Haruia’s massacre.

“Now then, Gaharudo D. Hoelscher. Do you understand why you’re still alive right now?”
“Fu~n, you have demands right? Just say them, I’ll listen”
“……Points deducted. Gaharudo. Know where you stand”

The appearance wasn’t seen but the voice of a man echoed throughout the hall. It’s true identity was Cam.

Although Cam called out to Gaharudo who was on the ground, from Gaharudo’s insolent attitude, after several intervals, he gave out advice in a mechanical voice.

And, the advice didn’t stop at just words.

Suddenly, the spotlight distanced itself from Gaharudo. There, with the tendons in their hands and legs cut just like Gaharudo, it was the appearance of a man whose tongue was torn to seal off chants. An arm extended from outside of the spotlight and was gripping onto the man’s hair and forced him to stand on his knees, in the next instant, the man’s head as if jokingly was easily cut off.

“You b̲a̲s̲t̲a̲r̲d̲!”
“Points deducted”

Gaharudo instinctively raised out an angry voice. The other survivors should have seen it perfectly from where they were at. Breathtaking screams could be heard. However, in a serene voice just like a machine was returned towards Gaharudo’s attitude.

Then, the spotlight once again moved to a different place, and that man was similarly beheaded.

“Vesta! You, getting so carri—-”
“Points deducted”

Was it an aide, the name of the man who was beheaded was called out, Although Gaharudo was cursing out, in return, the indifferent voice sounded out and another man was beheaded.

“…….”

While grinding his teeth tightly he fell silent, Gaharudo’s stared into the darkness with eyes that seemed to be able to kill a person with just a glare. Towards such a Gaharudo, Cam indifferently talked anyways.

“That’s right, understand that your position has reached rock bottom. Judge quickly and choose your words wisely. Right now, the lives of all the people in this hall, depends on your speech and behavior”

Simultaneously with those words, a hand extended from outside of the spotlight and placed a necklace on Gaharudo’s neck before he was aware. It was a thin chain with a bright red jewel attached on the tip.

“This is the “Collar of Oath”. Gaharudo, the oath which you’ll pledge to from your mouth, this artifact will be holding your life as lateral. If it triggers even once, not just you, but anyone else who’s connected with your soul throughout your life will die. If the oath is broken, naturally, you’ll die”

The implied meaning, all humans in the room have been secured, Cam informed him that all others have been forced to wear the same artifact. Gaharudo seemed to have understood and his expression twisted as if he was forced to chew 10,000 bitter worms and insects.

The necklace artifact called “Collar of Oath” that Cam placed onto Gaharudo’s neck, the jewel and ore it was made out of was created through Generation Magic which infused Spirit Magic into it, according to Cam’s words, it has the effect of making sure that the oath that comes out of his mouth stays carried out on a spiritual level.

Specifically, the oath that is said will be directly engraved onto their spirit, if the oath is broken or the “Collar of Oath” is removed, their spirit itself will disappear. Moreover, it even affects the next in line souls, in other words, it affects Gaharudo’s entire clan, similarly they would all die if they don’t wear the “Collar of Oath”. In short, towards every one of the Emperor’s clan, the oath from the artifact will have to be followed throughout all generations to come. (A separate artifact is needed for people who become relatives through marriage)

“An oath….you say?”
“There are 4 contents to the oath. First, the emancipation of all the existing slaves, second, a definite promise of nonaggression and nonintervention with the Sea of Trees, third, prohibiting the enthrallment and persecution of Demi-humans, fourth, make all conditions legal laws. Have you understood? If you understand, say, “I swear it here on behalf of Hoelscher”. After that it’ll activate”
“And if I don’t?”
“The Imperial house ends today, the necks of officers will continue flying until the empire straightens out the situation, afterwards, assassinations would be carried out repeatedly for a long time to come. Until we, the Haruia tribe is annihilated, the Empire’s safety in the night is long lost. Officers of the Empire when coming home will only find the heads of their wife and children”
“Don’t underestimate the Empire. Even if we die, it won’t collapse so easily. An army will definitely be led to invade and attack the Sea of Trees and this time, Fair Bergen will definitely be destroyed. You should already understand. It’s not difficult to navigate through the fog of the Sea of Trees if a slave is used. Although combat is harder, it can easily be done through numbers, there are no problems through smashing the Sea of Trees from the edge inwards. Up until now, the reason why we haven’t crushed Fair Bergen…..”
“Because it would be impossible to harvest if you crushed the field……right?”
“So you do understand. Right now, you’ll still be in time. For example, even if you borrowed that guys power, the skills to bring down the Imperial castle in such short time, and that last battle…..as expected, losing you guys would be regrettable. If you guys don’t want to be slaves then I will give you preferential treatment to be under my direct command as my personal troops?”
“Out of the question. You do not deserve our trust based on your behavior of Demi-humans thus far. That’s why I’ll have you pledge to the “oath””
“Then, it’s war huh. I will definitely not pledge to the oath”

How about it? Gaharudo was about to say until his lips distorted, Cam was as mechanical as always.

“Is that so? …..Point’s deducted, Gaharudo”

Once again, those words resounded out, what was picked out by the spotlight which poured down was…….

“Let go! Who do you think I am! This impudent bunny beast dares! I’ll massacre you all! I’ll kill every last one of you! One by one, I’ll torture you in front of your families until you die! Even the women, until they break I-egu~e———”

It was crowned prince Bias.

The sounds of the crowned prince’s shout could be heard throughout the place.

Immediately following that, without any hesitation, a silver line fluttered and the head of the crowned prince of the Hoelscher empire was easily flung into the air.

This chapter is translated by Durasama and is unedited.

The sun has completely fallen, the corners of the Imperial castle become encased in darkness. 2 Empire soldiers were on patrol around the perimeter of the building leading to the dungeon. Some kind of torch-like fire magic was burning brightly in their hands, they’re paying a lot of attention towards the darkness in case of intruders.

“Ha~a, the upper brasses party should be around this time……I bet they’re eating delicious food….”
“Oi, don’t talk about meaningless things. If it’s found out, we’ll both be held responsible”

The soldiers sigh was mixed in with his grumbling as he looked towards the light of the other soldier further up ahead. Though both of them were frowning, their expression’s were due to different reasons. If anything, the atmosphere was like the feeling of “becoming even hotter because you’ve complained about the heat being hot.” In the back of their heads, they both released a complain.

“Though however, you’ve also woken up early, you’d also want to attend those kinds of things?”
“……Well yeah. though If we were allowed to go, there would be the problem of not having money nor a woman…..”
“Thats right~. After eating and getting drunk at the party, they’ll be playing with the ladies until morning? It’s like heaven. Ah~, rather than some meaningless patrolling, I want to embrace women~. The Usagininzoku women would be good~”
“You like Usagininzoku women right. Although all the other Demi-human women have nice bodies, the only thing you think about at the brothels are the Usagininzoku”
“That’s because those guys are the best out of the bunch when threatening them. They cry out in a good voice”
“That’s a rather distasteful hobby…..”
“What are you talking about. Don’t you think that the Usagininzoku’s just give out a, please tease me, aura? I’m only granting that wish. Even you like to crush countless people down”
“There’s no helping it though? They cry out in a good voice”

The 2 patrolling soldiers looked at one another in interest and began laughing out vulgarly.

In the Empire, the fact that Demi-humans were considered tools won’t change. In order to release their stress and sexual desires, there were many variety of tools that they could use. Therefore, these 2 are special, not through their sadistic characters though, it could be said that it was commonsense that every Empire soldier had the tendency of liking to shame their partner.

Then, at that time, one of the soldiers gave out a voice and expression as if they saw something unknown in the shadows of the buildings.

“N? …..Oi, just now, something…..”
“Ah? What is it?”

While thrusting out the torch before himself, the soldier was moving towards the buildings shadow. The other soldier also followed along while voicing out his doubt.

The first soldier proceeded to say, “Is anyone there?”, but there was a gap in the buildings that was just barely big enough to fit one person! he turned the torch of fire towards it.

However, there wasn’t the figure of the shadow he had seen awhile ago, “Did I see wrong……”, he muttered as he sighed in relief. Then, he turned around to look at his comrade while smiling wryly……

“My bad, I saw wr-………? Oi, Maul? Where are you? Maul?”

His comrade was not there, only the torch that he held was on the ground where he was once standing. Where did he go, the soldier looked around restlessly throughout the vicinity, however there wasn’t any shadow’s of a person. Then he felt a cold sensation running through his spine.

He began to feel fear welling up, the soldier went to pick up the torch that was suddenly fallen on the ground and called out to his comrade in high tension……

“Oi, Maul. Quit joking arou—-gu!?”

At that moment, two arms expanded without a sound from the gap in the buildings that no one was at earlier.

A black frosted knife that absorbed even light was being gripped in one of the hands which seemed to have grown out directly from the darkness, simultaneously, one hand covered up the soldiers mouth, and with the other, stabbed him through his medulla oblongata³⁰.

In an instant, the soldier’s body that was convulsing started relaxing as strength left his body and disappeared into the darkness as it was dragged by the two arms.

And before anyone noticed, the torch that he was trying to pick up had disappeared and nothing was left, only a lukewarm evening wind blowing softly.

A small whisper can be heard from the wind in the darkness.

“HQ, this is Alpha. Suppression of Point C is complete”
“Alpha, this is HQ. Roger that. Move towards Point E. There are 4 sentinels. Sneak around from the East”
“HQ, this is Alpha. Roger that”

After whispering that, two or more people wrapped in black clothes from head to toe, starts moving one after the other.

Though they tightly concealed their faces with a black cloth, only their eyes were clear so that they could see, a sharp gaze was peeping out from there, in addition, they had two small swords bundled on their backs. If they were seen by a Japanese person they would probably say, “Ah~, a Ninja!”.

But, even if you can’t identify the specific individual, unfortunately their true identities could easily be seen though. That’s because overhead of the covers you could see 2 grown Usamimi’s standing tall. No matter how you looked at it they were clearly Usagininzoku, the Hauria tribe.

They were concealing themselves under the darkness and shadows of buildings. they quietly peeped their face through there and saw the reported 4 sentinels which were broken into 2 pairs. A hand signal is sent towards the 3 people who were behind the Haura tribe member that called HQ a while ago.

The 3 people nodded in unison and slipped back, they disappeared into the dark as if they melted completely.

After waiting for a few seconds. From the place that was pointed to, ~Chika~ one of the sentinel’s glances deviated! and lights twinkled. Similarly, they didn’t actually enter the sentinel’s view, one of the Hauria opened a lid of a lighter-sized container for in an instant. This had a Green Light Stone inside which imitated a flashlight.

The Hauria which saw the signal began to move while issuing orders with hand signals towards the 2 behind him.

The moment the 2 sentinels were out of eachothers eyesights, they lowered their presence to the limit and quickly approached, one person covers the soldiers mouth and nose while the other stabbed him through his medulla oblongata, another also thrusts through the other soldier’s kidney while restraining him with one hand similarly and knocking him down to the ground.

The last person was taking the torches that the sentinels dropped and put out its fire and confirmed that there are no traces left. Then they dragged the bodies into the shadows of the buildings quickly.

However, as expected due to the long silence from the other pair, the 2 sentinels, “N?”, turned their glance.

The appearance of their comrades which they glanced at earlier were no longer there. There’s not even light from the torch, only darkness. “Where did those guys go?”, the sentinels looked hard with doubtful expressions, they managed to see a shadow that moved faintly in the darkness. It was the figure of something big being dragged.

“Anyway, this is bad!”, the sentinel stretched out his hand to reach the alarm whistle which hung on his neck……

In the next instant, a knife was stabbed into the sentinel’s neck, there was no time to scream nor time to feel pain, his consciousness drifted into eternal darkness.

Next to the sentinel which held his whistle, similarly was his comrade who was also stabbed by a knife and dead. At the same time, the torches were put out and they dragged the bodies into the shadows of the building.

Presently, similar slaughters were being carried out everywhere at the Imperial castle.

A lot of stationed soldiers which were in pairs of two or more have already experienced an eternal separation from their bodies, soldiers who were sleeping in the barracks were drugged with sleeping pills made in the Sea of Trees which put them into a deep slumber. Even if the alarm was sounded, they’ll still be sleeping until morning and there fatigue would be fully relieved.

A crescent moon is now floating in the evening sky.

It’s other name was “The 2nd Moon”, where it was so thin that you can kinda see it but kinda not as well.³¹

It was exactly like the smile of demon.

The people who praised the principle that strength reigned supreme and cursed the weak, seemed to be completely laughed at under the moon.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

——HQ, this is Alpha. Suppression of Point H4 is complete.
——HQ, this is Bravo. Suppression of all of Point J is complete.
——HQ, this is Charlie. Scattering of sleeping medicine in the barracks is complete.
——HQ, this is Echo. The prince, eldest grandson of the Emperor and 2 princesses have been captured.

At the brightly glittering party hall, Hajime had a unusual smile on his face which was usually impossible and was talking with the aristocrat of the Empire, then he heard the reports of the Hauria which was entering his head one after another. 

The hall was large, many places were gorgeous and decorated well. It was in the form of an all you can eat buffet, there were hundreds of dishes and sweets being displayed on the snow-white tablecloths spread on the tabletop, and waiters skilled in etiquette were distributing glass gallantly as they walked.

All of the people participating were VIP’s of the Empire. It was only people wearing glittering showy clothes with an atmosphere of mutual understanding of civil officers and military officers, military officers had conceited personalities because of the principles they believed in, the civil officers stood in relief and realized that the military officers were of a higher standing.

Hajime’s voice was heard positively speaking with those military officers.

After all, he was “God’s Apostle” and in the “Hero’s Group”. To general people he was a strong man who participated in the capturing of “Orcus Great Labyrinth”, an indispensable force for the world, “Strength” was likely the standard existence which interested them all. Of course there were also secret desires to create good personal connections with him as well.

To begin with, presently, the people talking to Haime that had no ulterior motives and interests seemed to show more interests in the pretty women which stood by his side and never left it since the party started. it was obvious since their glances were always briefly turned towards Yue and them who waited behind Hajime as they talked with him.

But, it wasn’t completely unreasonable. The party was to welcome princess Ririana as well as her engagement party, Yue and their existences were rather than an uproar of decorated flowers being on display, it was more of the sense of being the leading role of the hall.

Shia wore a moonlight colored miniskirt dress which exposed her slender and beautiful legs.

However, it wasn’t vulgar, from the skirt extending softly, it created a unique atmosphere which empowered all of Shia’s loveliness. It also matched her beautiful straight hair which hung straight down, those factors were probably what gave her so much cuteness and elegance.

Next to her, Teio who was elegantly tilting her wine, wore a black long dress which was similar to her usual black kimono. However, because the dress was the type to show her bodylines, she had an intense bodyline without any irregularities, furthermore, because the back and her chest opened up greatly, it revealed her beautiful hills which could not be called anything but stunning as it was likely to spill out at anytime. The eyesights of the men at the hall would always glance towards it every now and then! They were attracted towards the lethal weapons, one after another their women partners gave them all glances of disgust.

Kaori was dressed in a slender line dress which completely exposed her shoulders. Although her bodyline wasn’t as intense as Teio’s, it’s ballance was definitely molded by God. Her beautiful legs momentarily peeped out through the skirt which had a deep slit like the Chinese dresses called the Qipao, along with the brightness of her silver hair, it caused her sex appeal to show and eyes unintentionally turned towards her.

And, Hajime’s favorite, his beloved blood sucking princess——wore a pure-white wedding dress(modoki³²). 

The cloth was lustrous, her shoulders were exposed, and her skirt’s hem was ruffled with frills which expanded out greatly. Her hair was in a ponytail with an elegant white flower ornament to hold it in place. Her exposure was—–few in number, it was her glossy white neck, her lips of red rouge which attracted much attention, and her eyes which were slightly moistened had conceived heat which provoked men’s desires helplessly. As usual, Yue’s charms came from the gap of her childish appearance and her bewitching atmosphere which was enhanced several times over.

Inside of the room, Hajime and the other men were waiting for Yue and them to finish changing but, the moment when they entered, it was unavoidable that they were taken in by the overflowing charm and became completely stiff.

Especially, Hajime whose eyes were completely nailed down to Yue, anyone who saw it would notice that his heart was completely taken away. Yue as well probably understood it. She stared straight back at Hajime with a joyful smile.

Although the other females became angry at Hajime for not glancing at them and was about to start complaining to him, Hajime moved faster and forcefully embraced Yue closely and gave her a deep kiss, now the males without female relationships stiffened up for a different reason, afterwards, they began to tear apart Hajime and Yue who were remaining together forever by force which was also later known as the “Hajime’s reasoning was blown away incident”……

Anyways, “Do you understand who’s engagement party this is? Ne~e? Do you know?”, they began tsukkomi’ing Yue and them who took away the show.

By the way, Shizuku and Suzu was also dressed up, although they were gorgeous enough to not lose to the daughters of the Empire nobles……as expected, they weren’t at the level of taking away Hajime’s heart like Yue and them, rather they had no strong motive to do so in the first place, to begin with they gave out less of an impression when compared with Yue and them’s mature impressions.

“Even still, Nagumo-dono’s companions are all beautiful ones”
“That’s damn right. I’d like to take one of them to keep me company for the dance after this”

——HQ, this is Delta. Blast preparation points are all prepared.
——HQ, this is India. Suppression of Point M is complete.

To the half-serious words of the Empire nobles, Hajime exchanges a smile with them as he hears the report from telepathy which reached his ears, the entrance to the hall became increasingly noisy. It appears that it was time for the appearance of princess Ririana and his Highness Bias to take the leading role. A civil officer-like man conveyed the appearance of the two people in a loud voice.

Zawa~……

Ririana’s figure in a dress emerged from the door which was exaggeratedly opened, people in the hall raised out voices mixed with surprise and perplexity.

It was because Ririana wore a jet black dress which seemed to breath in all the lights. Normally, if you consider Ririana’s figure and the outline of the engagement party, a brighter dress would be much more suitable. Towards that fact, “I’m here out of obligation”, kind of feeling along with a cleansed face, the jet black dress looked like a wall that Ririana had put on.

Her partner, his Highness Bias as well, with a slightly sour expression as if having crushed a bug, no matter how you looked at it, this was not the scene of a happily married couple, for the time being the hall started being filled with applause, it was a very delicate atmosphere.

As is, those 2 went up to the platform.

the Chairman person allowed the party to progress even though it was puzzling. Looking at Ririana and Bias’s states, even now Gaharudo was about to explode out laughing while greeting them, music began to flow into the hall. It was time for the greetings circle to dance with Ririana and the others. Elegant music resounded in the hall which wiped out the delicate atmosphere.

At the center of the hall, Men who took out their flowers began to dance freely. Although it was completely mechanical, Bias and Ririana also danced. Mainly, Ririana’s expression was due to the atmosphere.

Even if Bias draws closer forcefully, a slight distance was noticed in regards to the melody. As it was, one piece of music finally finished, Ririana quickly advanced onto the next person in the greetings circle.

Bias had an irritated expression, however, he needed to continue on with the greetings circle. In a state that seemed to subtly care about his groin. Actually, after just having woken up a few minutes ago, he did not have time to confronted Ririana what had happened before the start of the party and no one else knew. For some unknown reason his son was blocked out from reviving (the appearance of the person that revives), feeling impatient and irritated of the situation he could do nothing but follow Ririana, as no one else knew.

——HQ, this is Romeo. Suppression of Point P is complete.
——HQ, this is Tango. Suppression of Point R is complete.

“How do I say this, that not like Riri at all. Usually she’d hide her real intentions…..”

Kaori muttered as she saw Ririana exchanging greetings indifferently without a smile. 

“…….Ma~a, Those kinds of things are impossible huh. The princess must also have a lot of things to think about”
“…..Many things?”

Yue and them became puzzled at Hajime’s words.

“Nagumo-kun, did something happen to Riri?”
“Oi, Yaegashi. What do you mean by that, come on”

Shizuku was in a wine-red long dress and looked at Hajime suspiciously.

“Because, Riri’s showing that kind of attitude in a public place…..if something insane happened then, it’s roughly Nagumo-kun’s fault right? That’s been the rule for all the times up till now. In fact, you seem like you know something”
“Chi, that’s hard to refute…..but, this time I’ve really done nothing. Just that, as I was passing by I helped out the Princess who was about to be r̲a̲p̲e̲d̲ by the crowned prince”
“Right, Riri was being ra-…….what was that?”
“Wait a second, Hajime-kun!? Just now what did you!?”

Led by Shizuku and Kaori, everyone turns a surprised look towards Hajime.

Since the dance started a lot of troublesome men have come to ask Yue and them for a dance, although Yue and them had no intentions of dancing with any other man other than Hajime, presently, they’ve all been driven away by Hajime’s “Pressure”, so only Yue and them as well as Shizuku was around.

Kouki was forcibly taken out by the ladies and was dancing desperately as he wasn’t accustomed to it, while Ryutaro was single-mindedly eating. Suzu was dancing with a dandy³³ old man in a, “Ho~ee” kind of feeling.

Therefore, the only people who heard about Ririana almost being r̲a̲p̲e̲d̲ by Bias was Yue and them. Unexpectedly, Kaori and Shizuku demanded with lots of momentum for an explanation from Hajime, attention started to gather around.

“Ah~, yes, that’s why……Yue, do you want to dance once?”
“N~…..I’d be pleased”
“Ah, wait a second, Nagumo-kun! Don’t run away just because it’s become troublesome! Explain it properly to us!”
“Th, that’s right! It’s an important matter! Properly explain it!”

According to Shizuku’s words, Hajime who thought that an explanation would be too troublesome, took Yue’s hand and planned to escape onto the dance hall. In another sense, the attention was focused on the girl with a pretty face which resembled a work of art much more remarkable than Ririana who was the leading role and on the boy who was her partner (Tuxedo Ver.) with white hair and an eye patch.

Normally, in order to match Yue who was accustomed to royal dances and was leading, Hajime decided to use “Light Speed” while dancing. Since the dance was being observed, he wanted to look good. Joyfully, Yue’s expression was that of someone who was filled with happiness, and Hajime’s eyes were softening towards that, combined with their clothes and looking from the sides, it was completely an engagement party for those two. 

Although the musicians somewhere desperately tried to heat up the place as it became awkward, they used Hajime and Yue’s atmosphere to begin playing joyfully. By now, the leading role in the hall is Hajime and Yue, everyone paid attention to the two that were dancing round and round happily.

Towards such people, Ririana watched them with a smile. In there laid some color of envy as well.

On one hand, there was a group of women yearning for Hajime, and more may appear in the future, Ririana temporarily pushed the events that just happened into the corner of her head, “Who’s next!?”, it became a battle for the second person.

The performance would be ending soon, Grand applause was presented towards the two people who were kissing with each other lightly as the aristocrats of the Empire were watching with smiles. In their eyes, pure feelings of admiration and praise were seen. The daughters of the noblemen as well, “Ho~u”, absentmindedly leaked out hot sighs.

Hajime and Yue gracefully bowed in return towards the applause and returned to their friends while holding hands. Apparently Teio won the competition and gets the next dance, she looked towards Hajime with eyes of expectation.

However, Teio’s expectation was easily betrayed.

“Nagumo Hajime-sama, would you please accompany me for one dance?”

Right, it was because another person had already called out to him.

The other person was Ririana.

“Princess….for the leading role to be separating from their partner, what happened suddenly?”
“Ara, that leading role was just deprived of her seat, so aren’t those words rather cruel?”
“Isn’t it because you’ve got that work face on? Actually, is it alright to leave the crowned prince alone?”
“If it’s about the greetings circle it’s practically finished already, now is the time to enjoy the party. In the first place we’re supposed to dance with several people. Look, the crowned prince is also dancing with one of his mistresses”
“A mistress…..you don’t look concerned at all huh”
“Fufu. Rather than that, I’d like you to take my hand soon….can you not dance?”

Hajime noticed that Ririana didn’t only want to dance but also say something, he could roughly guess what it was she wanted to talk about, with a, what should I do, he scratched his cheek. To be honest, he wanted to keep bathing in the afterglow of dancing with Yue……

Then, towards the hesitating Hajime, Yue who was next to him said, “Meh!”. It seemed she said that to convey to not disgrace Ririana at a public place. Yue understood that Hajime couldn’t decide on what to do so the, “Meh!”, that was said to decide things for him.

“Ah~, I get it. …..I would be happy to be your partner, Princess”
“…..Yes”

Had they attracted attention, there was an unusual action of Hajime respectfully taking Ririana’s hand and led her towards the center of the dance hall. Previously, the dance with Yue was still probably within their minds. Ririana has a slightly ashamed attitude and the degree of attention towards that is high. 

By the way, during the interactions with Ririana, nobody cared about Teio who hardened up as her hand was held out for a long time. “Th, this timing, so it’s come! Whatever you do, I understand master! Haa~ Haa~…..N~”, with reddened and blushed cheeks, nobody bothered to tsukkomi.

The melody of music began to flow out calmly. Ririana and Hajime were sticking close to one another as their bodies shook waveringly gracefully. Ririana whispered quietly while her face drawn close to his shoulder.

“……Thank you very much for a little while ago”
“As I thought, it was that…….so you know”
“Such an insane situation, it couldn’t be anyone but you right? Besides, your “Deep Red” is very beautiful……I wouldn’t mistake that”
“Is that so? Ma~a, the first prince of the Empire is also stuck with that, it’s only a temporary measure though³⁴. Sooner or later”
“You’re just saying it blatantly huh. …..But, even if it was just an example I was glad. I heard from Kaori about when you saved them, I longed for that a little bit”

She said as she separated from Hajime’s shoulder with a little smile on her face. That smile was Ririana’s original charm which couldn’t be compared to with the one seen with Bias a while ago, the surrounding aristocrats which were paying attention became slightly noisy when they noticed. 

“And, are various things settled about your attitude in that dress?”
“Does it not match me?”
“It suits you. But, as expected that pink dress would have suited you more. Did you plan on insinuating³⁵ them to reveal the truth?”
“Yes, because this degree is enough for a husband who assaults his wife……more so…..as expected you saw everything through that spider huh. …..My improper appearance….a~a, I’m not fit to be a bride anymore”

Yoyoyo~! then, towards Ririana who buried her face onto Hajime’s shoulder again while pretending to break down, “What are you talking about….”, Hajime looked at her with a ridiculous expression.

“Despite saying it in a low voice, don’t say such seldom remarks in such a place. Or rather, haven’t you been making too much contact since a while ago? The crowned prince has quite the incredible expression?”
“It’s fine isn’t it. Once this night ends I’ll be the crown princess. Just for now, allow me to be just a girl. Also, I’ll be assaulted one day, can’t you succumb to the selfishness of a pitiful bullied princess for a little while?”
“Being assaulted, it’s not set that you’ll be bullied……”
“It’s already a fact”

There Ririana, while hiding her expression by clinging onto Hajime tightly, suddenly muttered something as if on accident.

“……If…….if, I said “Help” what would you do?”

Ririana herself didn’t plan on hearing about these things. It was necessary to put a conclusion to the matrimonial relationship between the prince of the Empire for the future. Both countries took damage from the surprise attacks from the demons that the Majinzoku brought, it was necessary to show strength of unity as humans to stabilize things now that the head church temple had disappeared. As someone from the royal family, she should take on that role. For example, even if a painful marriage life filled with the lost of her dignity awaits her.

But still asking Hajime of such things, her voice trembled with fear from the bottom of her heart in the case of the help that she was expecting for doesn’t come, having seen Yue look so happy while being embraced by Hajime, she thought that surely Hajime would say, “I refuse”. And she steeled herself for that possibility. It was because she thought that it would be fine for her to be selfish for this one time.

But, Hajime’s answer was completely off from what she expected.

“Ma~a, before I accompany you, you’ll be saved regardless? In this case, the Empire(. . .) may be ending tonight……at the very least, the crowned prince would be hopeless”
“…..Yes?³⁶”

——HQ, this is Victor. Suppression of Point S is complete.
——HQ, this is X-Ray³⁷. Suppression of Point Y is complete.

Towards Ririana who instinctively looks up, Hajime’s mouth lifts up into a grin.

His expression was seen and a bad feeling surged into Ririana’s mind. There wasn’t a touching atmosphere like a while ago, Ririana felt her cheeks cramping up. Hajime quietly drew his mouth close to Ririana’s ear.

“And also, I’ll make it so that you can understand easier. I’m insensitive, so I might end up doing something carelessly”
“~……..”

Ririana’s body shook with a shock. Though there was the breath and voice coming down onto her ear, it’s because she understood what Hajime was implying.

In other words, “I’ll Help you”. Ririana’s heart was shaken intensely. The princess within Ririana began to shout. This marriage is an obligation that should be fulfilled. That’s why, I wanted you to cast away that girl who held onto those dreams in one strike.Then.

“Why?”, in another sense acting upon cruel treatment, or perhaps it was due to her joy that her eyes moistened up towards Hajime, Hajime acted as if it was nothing, in another sense, he replied without reading the atmosphere and gave the worst response possible.

“The Princess is unfortunate, to be feeling bad for those guys”

Hajime said so and glanced over towards Kaori and them. In brief, their purpose was not exactly for Ririana’s sake, although Hajime said, Ririana was unfortunate, he seemed to also imply don’t hurt my “Important” people³⁸. Ririana guessed so and stared at Hajime.

“Isn’t that, too much of a lie even if it’s coming from you? We’ll, surely fall?”
“What are you going do if it happens? Ma~a, for the time being, it’s just necessary to think that the worst outcome that you’ve thought of won’t be happening. As long as you’re important friends of these fellows, that is”
“……Nagumo-san’s resolution doesn’t shake huh……..truly, I’m envious of Yue-san”

Ririana watches Hajime with a hateful expression. Hajime was indifferent towards it and glanced right back. Then finally the end of the music was coming up. Hajime looked unfazed, Ririana who eventually gave up, “Fuu~”, breathed outwards and leaned her body onto Hajime, she decided to at least momentarily enjoy the dance for now.

And while leaving a lingering sound, the music stopped, Ririana reluctantly parted her body away, and for a while kept their hands held together while quietly staring at Hajime……”Thank you” she muttered. With a lovely smile just like a flower that was fully bloomed.

It was simply the smile of a 14-year-old girl. A smile that was so pure that it didn’t have any impurities, it pierced through all the hearts of the people who saw it. A sigh filled with heat could be heard somewhere. And, after a while, a grand applause which didn’t lose against Yue’s dance from a while ago resounded. It appears that Ririana only danced with the other people simply because it was required, Hajime separated from her and returned alone, and the eyes of ladies greeted him.

“Hajime-kun’s a woman killer…..”
“…….Hajime-san, when on earth did you……I can’t let down my guard at all”
“No~o, Master. I got a little wet from the neglecting play, is it alright for me to change my underwear?”
“This has to do with those assault remarks from a while ago right. …..You said something about helping out Riri during a dangerous time, did you plan on dealing the finishing blows during the dance? Ne~e, what exactly did you whisper to her? To begin with, isn’t Riri a married woman now? Do you understand? Ne~e, do you understand? Nagumo-kun?”
“Hawawa, Nagumo-kun, finally you’ve obtained the NETORI³⁹ attribute…….you’re too much of an adult. You’ve well exceeded Suzu’s capacity”

A number of perverted remarks were mixed in, equally, towards the female group that was bad mouthing him and Ririana, “What are you talking about”, he said with an amazed expression.

Hajime began talking, he helped out while he was passing by, then danced only because it was requested of him. Afterwards, because Kaori and them would be concerned, he only informed them the minimum amount about how he helped.

There was no intentions of persuading them in any way. And if by chance, to the hundredth millionth decimal, that Ririana fell in love with Hajime, Hajime himself gave off a “Like I care?” feeling.

For now, just to be sure, he turned his gaze towards Yue to not misunderstand it, Yue understood and gripped onto Hajime’s hand in assent while nodding her head, as expected Yue was different from them, his love for Yue knew no bounds and rose way beyond the universe. It must have been his imagination that her grip was stronger than usual.

——HQ, this is Zulu. Suppression of Point Z is complete
——Notify the entire force, this is HQ, all arrangements have been completed. Start the countdown.

Shia’s expression stiffened up a little as she heard the communication. Kaori had a slightly tensed expression as well. Shizuku and them who were not given the Telepathy stone (Improved Ver.), only looked at the 2 with suspicious expressions. Moreover, Gaharudo often went up onto the platform on a daily bases and kept glancing towards Hajime and them. This time it appears that he was going to give out a speech and a toast in celebration.

“Now then, first of all, let me express our gratitude for having joined us on this party which serves as a celebration for Princess Ririana visiting our country as well as being engaged with my son. There were many various surprises and it indeed became an interesting event”

Then Gaharudo turned a meaningful glance towards Hajime. Hajime was pretending to not know. Gaharudo’s expression seems to convey that it’s become even more interesting.

At the same time, a resolute voice was heard from Hajime’s telepathy stone.

——To all troops. This is Alpha One. From this point on we will put an end to this persecution we’ve suffered through for hundreds of years, we will carve our names into the history of this world. Our name will be used as the pronunciation of fear. This place is the intersection of fate. Will we fall into hell or advance towards the future, everything depends on this one battle. There’s no need to hold back. Sa~a, we’ll show them just how weak our claws and fangs are
——10, 9, 8…….
——Boss. For leading us into this battle, we deeply appreciate it.

Hajime and them heard the Usagininzoku’s countdown which concerned their fates.

The aristocrats of the Empire doesn’t suspect a thing.

the speeches of the 2 different races overlapped with one another.

“The party has only just begun. Tonight, eat a lot, drink a lot, and dance as much as your heart pleases. It will become the best blessings for my son and daughter-in-law. Sa~a, raise your cups!”

As Gaharudo confirmed that everyone in the hall held up their cups, he poured himself wine to the very brim of his cup. And, with his breath taking initiative with a ~Suu~ breathing in with ambition.

The other side of the telepathy also, once again similarly.

——Get fired up! Let’s go!!!
——” ” ” ” ” ” ” ” ” “Ou~!!!” ” ” ” ” ” ” ” ” ”
——4, 3, 2, 1…….

And, the countdown has finally—-

“The unity of humanity will become stronger with this marriage! There is nothing to fear! We are the glorious Human race!”
” ” ” ” ” ” ” ” ” “For Glory!!” ” ” ” ” ” ” ” ” ”

——0. I wish you great fortune in war.

At that moment.

All lights vanished and the hall was swallowed by darkness.

This chapter is translated by Durasama and is unedited.

When we entered into the room, it was a fairly plain room with little decoration and there was a table large enough to hold about 30 people. On the upper seat of the table sat a man, the Emperor of the Hoelscher Empire, Gaharudo D. Hoelscher, who had a fearless smile while resting his chin on his hand. There are 2 people behind him, they had a keen air about them in the sense of “We’re capable” as they stood waiting.

And, although we couldn’t see their figures in the room, there was also 2 more people on the other side of the wall, 4 people in the ceiling, and Hajime also felt 2 people soundlessly outside the closed door they came though. It wasn’t only the 2 behind Gaharudo, the other hidden men seemed to have been considerably skilled as well.

“So, are you Hajime Nagumo?”

When Hajime’s group entered, Ririana also introduced them, while completely skipping the greetings to Kouki who was the hero, Gaharudo released pressure while looking at Hajime with a piercing gaze.

It was pressure from the overpowering man who ruled over several hundred thousands of people who were wild and strong and believed in the nature of power. It was no joke. Ririana who was also in a royal family voiced a small groan from the stifling pressure, Kouki’s group backed away instinctively.

However, from such overpowering pressure, these 5 people, Hajime, Yue, Shia, Teio, and Kaori, were calm. In the first place, even Kaori who had little experience survived from the attack of an immortal monster thats been alive since the ancient times at the [Merujine Undersea Ruins].

So although the Emperor had an overpowering pressure, when compared to the monsters in the great labyrinths, it was nothing more than a soft breeze.

Gaharudo’s mouth lifts up more and more in interest when he sees that Hajime’s group is unphased, then Hajime answered.

“Yes, I’m Hajime Nagumo. Its an honor to have been known by you, your Majesty the Emperor”

“””””!?”””””

While placing his hand on his chest and lightly bowing, Kouki’s group looked at Hajime with astonishment at his words.

Their eyes opened wide and clearly conveyed, “Who are you!” Especially Ririana who was shaking in unease. While receiving Gaharudo’s overpowering pressure and raising a small groan, though her expression hardly changed, it wasn’t able to conceal that she was staring at Hajime with an aghast expression.

Hajime also knows of the TPO⁴⁰. However, he was always just ignoring it.

But, because he had business in the Imperial castle this time, he didn’t want to be thrown out because he disrespected the Emperor. Since he shouldn’t believe in God anymore, the title of “God’s Apostle” is probably not effective anymore. The only way to pass is with the title of Hero. Thats why, he judged that he needed to at least use the bare minimum amount of etiquette. Although the changed person was definitely still Hajime.

“Kukuku…..I never even considered this. What happened to your usual arrogant attitude? N? It’s quite different from the cries of a certain princess somewhere?”

However, Gaharudo only makes fun of him while laughing.

Hajime glanced over at Ririana. “Princess~, You, just how much did you unnecessarily talk about, A~a?” Ririana who was receiving Hajime’s glance, ~Pui~! looked in another direction. When Gaharudo asked what kind of person Hajime was, she unintentionally yelled and complained a great deal about her treatment.

“…….Ha~a, that’s right. hm then, as usual”

“Kuku, then it’s fine”

Though they were surprised of Hajime’s sudden change, they sat down in order.

Finally after Gaharudo removed his gaze off Hajime, he noticed Yue and them who took up their positions by Hajime and observed them interestingly, his eyes seemed to significantly glance at Shia in particular. Following that, he turned his gaze towards Kouki’s group…..he looked at Shizuku who was next to Kouki and a grin appeared on both his lips and eyes.

“Shizuku, it’s been a while. Have you finally decided to become my wife?”

“O, oi! Shizuku already declined before!”

Kouki reacted to Gaharudo before Shizuku did. Gaharudo’s glances over at Kouki for an instant, then back at Shizuku and started laughing hysterically. Kouki had the “I don’t care” attitude but veins were appearing on his forehead.

While sighing at the 2 people, Shizuku had a clarified face and answered.

“I have no intentions to take back my previous words. I’ll have to decline your Majesties offer”

“Quite heartless. But, it wouldn’t be interesting otherwise. More than the world, allow me to tell you it’s good. I await the day when that clarified face is dyed in red from longing for me”

“That day will never come throughout all of eternity. …..Or rather, don’t you already have an Empress?”

“What about it? Are you dissatisfied as a concubine? Fumu, there are a variety of problems when you become the legal wife……”

“I didn’t mean it that way! You’d place your hands on other woman other than the Empress…..”

“What are you saying? I’m the Emperor? 10 or 20 concubines are normal”

“Gu~……that’s right. A, anyways, I will not become his Majesties. Please give up”

“Ma~a, since you won’t be returned by God anymore, you’ll probably be stuck in this world for a while, I suppose I should take my time to convince you. Kuku, prepare yourself, Shizuku”

It appears that Gaharudo really likes Shizuku. As expected of a greedy Emperor, he won’t give up even when he’s been refused. His sharp eyes were completely locked onto Shizuku. Though Shizuku looks away with an expression that seemed to hate him from the bottom of her heart, she also seemed to not care at all.

Then, at that time, the direction that Shizuku looked in, by chance, aligned with Hajime’s sight. From Hajime’s glance at that time, “As expected of the worldly-wise man (laughs)” a color of amusement and interest was clearly included.

The angered Shizuku just used her finger to play with the sugar cubes that were prepared for her tea. Although it wasn’t as strong as Hajime’s, the sugar cube flew with excellent power, it’s aim was accurately flying towards Hajime’s hateful face……

However, it wasn’t a direct hit, it flew into Hajime’s mouth and was caught. ~Mogo Mogo~ Hajime’s mouth moved around with an air of flamboyant pride, after the sweetness of the sugar cube was firmly satisfied, he swallowed it. Shizuku’s face was mortifying, however Hajime’s was clarified.

When Gaharudo saw her in such a state, he turned his sharp glance back at Hajime. It seemed to convey a variety of things.

“Fu~n, this is quite the interesting situation. ……Hajime Nagumo. Though I have a mountain of questions that I want to ask you, first of all, answer this”

“Ah? what is it…….”

“You, have you already embraced⁴¹ my Shizuku?”

“”””Bufu~u–!?””””

To Gaharudo who abruptly asked such an unexpected question with an eager expression, several people including Shizuku blew out air.

Even the guards that were waiting behind Gaharudo, “Your Majesty……the first thing you wanted to ask, was that……” with a pained expression. They also seemed to be worldly-wise men.

“Wai-, your Majesty! Just what are you suddenly saying….”

“Shizuku, you remain silent for now. I’ll hear it from Hajime Nagumo right now”

Naturally, although Shizuku tried to burst Gaharudo’s bubble with a tsukkomi, Gaharudo turned his eyes to Hajime, ignoring it. On the other hand, Hajime had an amazed expression.

“What did you think about to reach that conclusion”

“It appears that Shizuku has the heart to forgive you……Judging from that manner, it’s not impossible, so just in case”

“Ha~a, there’s no way that would happen”

“……Fumu, that’s not a lie right. Then, what do you think of Shizuku?”

To that question, all the glances in the room turned to Hajime. Eyes conveying various meanings from Yue’s group and Kouki’s group pierced him.

Hajime let out a sigh about why the first question asked by the Emperor after meeting him was about his relationship with Shizuku, anyways he turned his gaze over to Shizuku. Shizuku’s expression was supposed to be extremely amusing. Hajime looked at Shizuku who was inclining her neck.

It appears that Shizuku’s ears began to slightly redden…..

For the time being, the answer (real intentions) was given.

“……She’s like a mother”

“OK, that fight you’re looking for, you’ve won it. Get off the table, Nagumo-kun”

a young 17-year old girl was being held down, of all the things to say, why was it “She’s like a mother”, is what Shizuku who was still sitting on her seat and was getting up was conveying with hatred in her glare at Hajime. The delicate atmosphere from a while ago had already disappeared. Suzu and Kouki who were next to Shizuku were panicking and desperately tried to hold her down.

“……I didn’t think it would be such a boring answer……ma~a, fine. Shizuku, don’t go accidently falling in love now? Because you’re mine”

“I’ve already said this but, I have no intentions of being his Majesties and I’ve also not fallen for Nagumo-kun! Just stop with the nonsense and get back to the main subject”

“I get it, I get it. Don’t get so angry. An excessive denial will only be taken as a positive one?”

“Nuguu~u……”

Shizuku instinctively tried to raise a groan in objection to Gaharudo but decided to sit down loudly. Suzu calmed her with a wry smile, however for some reason Kouki was glaring at Hajime.

“Hajime Nagumo. You as well, don’t go placing your hands on Shizuku?”

“Be relieved, I don’t have the faintest interest in doing that. Rather, if you’re only going to idly chat, I’d like to leave now?”

“Our chit chat was unneeded huh. It’s a talk about a new concubine……or Empress that may appear you know? It even involves the Empire’s future…..ma~a, what I wanted to talk about certainly wasn’t about Shizuku. You should already know right? It’s about your abnormality”

Gaharudo bought time by starting with Shizuku to observe Hajime, he judged it was the proper time and slowly the entire atmosphere changed. It was different from the playful atmosphere, it was now one filled with ambition, it gave off a radiance of a sharp blade.

Gaharudo cut to the chase and asked the biggest reason for meeting with Hajime’s group.

“I’ve heard about it to some degree from princess Ririana. You’re someone who’s made it to the end of the great labyrinths and obtained the ability to create artifacts……completely repelled the Majinzoku’s army, and was able to travel the distance which would normally take 2 months in less than 2 days, such an artifact. Is it true?”

“Ahh”

“And you have no intentions of sharing those artifacts with neither the Kingdom nor Empire?”

“Ahh”

“Fu~n, one person monopolizing that power…….do you think we’d allow such a thing?”

“Whose permission is required? If I’m not allowed, what exactly are you going to do about it?”

Gaharudo steeled his eyes to Hajime’s response.

The Emperor’s ambitions increased even more, Ririana began gritting her teeth and was worrying nonstop. The bodyguards behind Gaharudo began to release bloodlust before Gaharudo did. In contrast, the presence of the people who were hiding in the room began to diminish even further. It was exactly like a touch-and-go state.

Towards the tensed air Kouki’s group had stiff faces and steeled themselves for battle.

However, Hajime’s group completely warded off the breeze-like bloodlust with their own heavy bloodlust which could be felt sticking onto their skins, then calmly reached out for the tea cups. At that instant, he glanced at the locations of where the hiding people’s hidden presences were. “Have we been noticed?” they said.

did they notice properly, their presence that could be felt shook slightly.

“Hahaha, stop, stop it. We were completely seen though. This guys a genuine flesh and blood monster. If we fought now, we’d be completely annihilated!”

Gaharudo was laughing hysterically and hid his ambitions. The surrounding people who had dangerous airs also matched it accordingly.

“Why do you look like you’re enjoying this so much?”

“Oi, oi, I’m the head of the “Empire” you know? When you meet a strong guy, it’ll be a lie to say that your heart doesn’t dance around right?”

Kouki’s group, although they couldn’t understand what was going on, they let out relieved breaths because the atmosphere was less tense, Hajime also tsukkomied the unusually happy Gaharudo. Gaharudo’s answer was definitely one of those who believe in the abilities reign supreme policy.

“Even so, those women you’ve got there are quite outrageous. Oi, where did you find them? For there to be women of this caliber, I want to ask you a request directly…..allow me to have one of them, Hajime Nagumo”

“Don’t say such foolish things. You’re in over your head…..no, it might be fine if it’s Teio”

“~!? Wh, what did you……say, master casually wants to sell mistress to another man! Haa~ Haa~, being treated so…..I can’t get enough of it. Haa~ Haa~”

“There’s a slight problem, though she’s a great woman appearance-wise”

“Sorry, even the Emperor has his limits. As expected, a girl dripping with pervertedness is too much”

“Th, this guy, to say it right in front of the person being talked about! Kuu~uu, N~, N~, surely, after this I’ll be forcefully taken by his Majesty, messing up mistress right before master’s eyes….Haa~ Haa~…..N~~……..I need to change my underwear”

Even Gaharudo and them could only stare dumbfounded at Teio’s strangely refreshing expression. Then they turned their gaze to Hajime who traveled with such a perverted woman. Gaharudo changed the mood by clearing his throat.

“As for me, I’m quite more interested in that Usagininzoku there? I’ve never seen an Usagininzoku with that kind of hair before and she completely disregarded my bloodlust as well. That mental attitude reminds me of the toy’s that I caught a while ago, how about that one?”

Towards Gaharudo’s word [Toy’s], Shia’s eye twitched for an instant in reaction. Yue who was next to her, clasped her hand quietly underneath the table.

“Even if you tell me about your toys…..”

“You can’t think of anything, you mean? Do you want to go check them out later? Actually, I still have more(. .)animals, although they’re a woman and a child, they’re quite——”

“I’m not interested”

Gaharudo’s words were a bluff. Through Cam, it’s been confirmed that all the people caught were already rescued. He’s probably trying to ask baiting questions. Compared to that, Hajime’s answer was only a line.

However, Gaharudo’s attack wasn’t over yet.

“Ho~o, those fellows had special short swords and equipment on the 5-star level, even then you’re not interested, Synergist(. . .)?”

“None”

“…..I see. By the way, yesterday, there were some people who managed to break out of the prison in the dungeon, the Imperial castle was easily invaded and they escaped, that kind of thing could only be done with a special artifact’s(. .)magic, do you know anything about it?”

“I don’t know”

“……Ha~a……then it’s fine. This is the last question I want to know of…….what do you think of God?”

“I’m not interested”

“Ah~, I get it already. Jeez, you’re such an unsocial brat”

Gaharudo was cursing as he scratched his head ~Gari Gari~. However, he still had a somewhat happy expression. He seems to favor the other party who he argued with. From what he soaked in from the exchange, Gaharudo probably guessed Hajime’s was connected with the Hauria tribe, he noticed that the prisonbreak was through Hajime’s guidance.

And he seemed to understand Hajime’s stance on this world’s problems from his short answers. At least, it seems like they won’t be facing off against Hajime. After all, not being chased out of the Imperial castle is already great evidence.

Then the time came, one of the men waiting in the back quietly whispered into Gaharudo’s ear, Gaharudo slowly left his seat.

“Ma~a, I heard the minimum amount that I wanted to hear……rather, I already understood, so all is well. Ah, that’s right. Tonight, we’ll be holding princess Ririana’s welcome party. By all means, please attend. It’ll also serve as my son and the princess’s engagement party. Even though the truth is different, if you didn’t know of it, the blessings as a [Hero] or [God’s Apostle] would be good. I’m begging you here? Hero’s only of form?”

Gaharudo ignored Kouki and their dumbfounded looks when they heard the explosive remarks suddenly dropped into their ears, and provocatively stared at Hajime with a fearless smile, he then gallantly left the room.

The door sounded out in a slam, As a result, Kouki and them regained their composure and quickly questioned Ririana.

“Ririi, what’s this about an engagement! Just what exactly happened!”

“That’s….for example, besides the mad Gods, if the Majinzoku attacks us then there’s no choice but to retaliate. The king of our country has died, the successor is still only 10 years old, it’s not enough to steer the country, then, it’s necessary to strengthen our relationships with an ally”

“That’s why Ririi is getting engaged with the prince?”

“Yes. My partner is the crowned prince. There have always been many discussions about engaging us beforehand. He was practically already my fiance, It’s just that it’ll be finalized at this party. Exactly because we’re shaken up by the devils invasion, is what I mean”

“What about the Kingdom? You don’t have to consult this with them?”

“There’s already been a majority that consented to it before, so there shouldn’t be any objections. To begin with, it was that kind of story. Besides, right now the most substantial person in the Kingdom is me. Randell is only in form, because mother isn’t a person to step up into the front. Therefore, there are no problems. Right now, quick decisions are necessary”

Ririana said with a resolute expression. Kouki’s group had their jaws opened, then they closed it with a sour look on their faces.

“……Does Ririi like that person?”

“It’s not about liking or disliking. This is to build a connection between countries. It’s just that, the crown prince already has many mistresses, the amount of people would cause you to become offended and hurt your stomach⁴². My position aside, we cannot balance out if I’m married to the other princes, there’s no helping it……”

“Wh, why, how can you be fine with it! Even though you don’t like him, to be marrying that kind of man is strange!”

“If you look at it, that may be what it looks like, because I’m a princess from the royal family. Since birth, this was natural”

“Natural you say……even Ririi is a girl. Don’t you want to marry someone that you actually like?”

Kouki couldn’t understand and yelled, Ririana could only reply back with a troubled smile.

Ririana was certainly a girl. She became especially close friends with the women that came from another world, If it’s about Koari and Shizuku’s girls talk then, naturally she yearns for a romantic love.

To Ririana who was wryly smiling, Shizuku stopped Kouki who’s arguing became increasingly wild. Inside where the delicate atmosphere flowed, Hajime slowly left his seat. And tried to leave the room as if nothing happened. To that, Kouki let out his feelings that had nowhere else to go.

“Oi! Nagumo! Do you think nothing of this!”

“Ha~a? What do you think I can do about the princess’s engagement? More so, this is a form of politics taking shape as a marriage? Rather, this isn’t something an amateur can even intervene in”

“Gu~, bu, but….”

“More importantly, there are things that we have to do. If you do something rash and end up obstructing us, I’ll knock you down flat alright?”

After Hajime said that, Yue and them also quickly left. While calming down the riled up Kouki, depending on the results of what’ll happen in the near future, the engagement talk may be scrapped, Shizuku looked up towards the ceiling with some tiredness.

Hajime and them who exited, after Shizuku’s group talked with each other for 2 or 3 stories, they returned to their rooms arranged for them by the attendant maids because Ririana had to prepare for the party at night. For such an occasion, it’s mainly dresses.

“Ma~a, it’s wonderful, Ririana-sama!”

“Really……you look exactly like a flower fairy”

“Surely, his royal highness would be pleased a well!”

One of the dress candidates was chosen in the end after trying on dozens of others, to Ririana who turned around in front of the full-length mirror, the entranced blushing maids surrounding her let out compliments. Although shew as only 14-years-old she had an exquisite charm as a woman, combined with the light pink dress only amplified it’s effects to the maximum. Just like one of the maids had said, she had the loveliness of a flower spirit.

“That’s, right. Shall we go with this. Next is the accessories…..”

Ririana herself seemed to consent with a nod.

No matter how much this was a political marriage, the crown prince was an extreme ladies man who resembled his father, Bias D. Hoelscher, when they met several times in the past, he looked at Ririana with indecent eyes when she still hadn’t even reached the age of 10, that scums actual ability wasn’t half-baked, he called a lower class knight for “practice” while at the Kingdom to show off his strength as he teased the knight, however the fact that he will become her husband won’t change.

As so, Ririana couldn’t bring shame to her partner, since it’s their engagement party, Ririana intended to dress up to her maximum potential. Shaking away the word “liked person” that Kouki said from her head.

Ririana was also a woman. She was also popular with many other talented women of the Hairihi Kingdom, so she had yearnings to be a normal girl as well. When she’s in a pinch, the prince who she dreamed of would appear, then they’d be attracted to each other from their chanced meeting, she’s even dreamt up stories of overcoming multiple obstacles in their reach for love together.
But, it’s an impossible future. Because Ririana was intelligent, she accepted that she would be called for on a mission since she was young. That’s why, even if she feels repulsed by the other partner from the bottom of her heart, her feelings of wanting to be an excellent wife is true, she was determined to magnificently serve the crowned prince after the party.

Then, at that time, suddenly, the outside of her room became noisy. Ririana’s door was flung open without knocking, and a large man without hesitation, rudely entered the room. Though he stopped as the knights of the Imperial guards⁴³ ran up to Ririana’s side, the man didn’t particularly care.

“Ho~o, is that the dress for tonight……it’s about average I guess”

“…..Bias-sama. Suddenly breaking into a lady’s room isn’t an admirable act”

“A~a? I’m going to be your husband? why are you talking back at me?”

“…….”

The person warning Ririana with a gloomy expression is, Bias D. Hoelscher, whom she is to be engaged to. The same as several years ago, he carried a rude tyrannical atmosphere, he continued to look at Ririana from top to bottom indecently. A chill ran through Ririana’s spine.

“Oi, everyone leave at once”

Bias with a grin on his lips, suddenly ordered all the maids and knights of the Imperial guard to leave. He ordered again threatenly for those that were puzzled, the maids left the room panickingly. However, the Imperial guards, naturally hesitated. Ririana notices that Bias’s eyes were becoming dangerous, unsure of what to do she ordered the guards to stand down.

“Fu~n, when disciplining your dogs, make sure to do it firmly”
“……They are not dogs. They’re my important vassals”
“……Rebellious as ever I see? Kuku, still the same brat that hasn’t even reached 10 years old, it was worthwhile being glared at with that hateful gaze of yours. At that time, I already decided that you were going to be mine someday”

When he said that, Bias had a disgusting smile on his face while watching Ririana who had stiffened up from the bottom of her heart, suddenly her breasts were grabbed at.

“~!? No~! Ouch!”

“Even still, you’ve grown up. It’s still not enough though, however that in itself is appetizing”

“St, stop”

Towards the violent action, Ririana’s expression distorted into pain. When Bias saw the expression, his laughter became much more excited, he then pushed down Ririana onto the ground. Although Ririana was screaming, the Imperial guards outside didn’t seem to notice.

“You can cry as much as you want? Because this room has a special mechanism in place, sound cannot reach the outside. Ma~a, even if those dogs entered, they can’t do anything against me because I’m the crowned prince. After all, do you want those fellows to see your virginity being taken away? Ku, Hahahaha~”

“Why……this kind of…….”

Ririana became pale when she thought of the things that will be done in the future, she courageously glared at Bias.

“It’s those eyes. Those rebellious eyes, painfully, despairing, I want to turn those into eyes of pleasure. Above all else, I love teasing defiant people into submission. People who are struggling desperately, there’s no higher pleasure than to have them kneel down and lower their heads. If you taste this pleasure even once, you can’t live without it. Ririana. When I first met you who was courageously judging me with your eyes, I thought that I’d want to mess you up at some point”

“People like you……”

“Na~a, Ririana. Rather than after marriage, if you lose your virginity before the engagement party, what kind of face will you have at the party? While enduring the pain from your groin, what kind of expression will you have in front of the people? A~a, I just can’t wait to see it”

For example, even if she feels disgust towards the other party, if she properly supports him as a supportive wife, surely, eventually he will become a splendid emperor, No, the heart that Ririana steeled up had already started cracking.

Ririana realised. In front of her was a grinning man who wanted to see the enduring Ririana’s tears fall out desperately, in another sense, he was definitely the “Crowned Prince of the Empire”.

The dress that she chose in order to not shame Bias, was torn by his hands. The skin of a stainless gem was exposed, Ririana’s face blushed in shame. Both of her hands were suppressed above her head, she wasn’t able to conceal herself with her legs.

Bias while smirking, possibly attempting to kiss her, his face was slowly coming closer to Ririana. Almost like, Ririana’s eyes remained opened wide full of fear. Ririana couldn’t turn her face away because her chin was held in place, unknown to herself, tears began to flow from her eyes due to the fear and shame, then she thought.

I prepared myself for the marriage, but as expected it was impossible, this is too much. In reality, she wanted to dedicate her body and heart to the person she liked and wanted to become happy with them. That was her sincere feelings as a woman that leaked out from the concealed armor called a princess.

And, the stories of Kaori and Shizuku were recalled. Appearing at the time of a pinch, attacking and bringing down the unjust, it was said to be rescued from a swamp of danger, exactly like a fairytale story.

If she prayed for it, would she be saved. Ririana laughed at herself for thinking such foolish thoughts, still, her heart wished for it despite so.

In other words,

—–Save me

Then.

At that moment, Ririana who was pinned down by Bias saw something approaching from behind him, something like a small spider fell from the ceiling! and she witnessed it land. “Eh?” Ririana’s eyes opened wide in surprise at what was before her eyes, when the spider took 1 step with its foot, it sanked into Bias’s neck! the leg pieced though.

“Ow! What? Just now, my neck…..”

He felt pain running through his neck, Bias who was about to lock lips with Ririana’s stopped and felt his neck. At that time, the spider had already retreated back up it’s string and onto the ceiling.

Ririana watched the scene in amazement, Bias suddenly became sluggish and his eyes were starting to shut, immediately after that, he lost consciousness as is, and fell down onto Ririana.

“Eh? Eh?”

In front of the confused Ririana, again, the spider climbed down it’s string onto Bias. Bias is currently still covered on top of Ririana, the spider climbed down to his shoulder which was before Ririana’s eyes. While staring at it upclose, Ririana noticed a strangeness from the spider for the first time.

“……Metal…..spider?”

Right, the spider that was on Bias’s shoulder was made of metal. In front of the popeyed Ririana, the metal spider, [Stop~!], said to it, again, ~Pusu~! a different foot from a while ago was thrust into Bias’s neck. Despite already losing his consciousness he shook! Bias started trembling. He was still breathing, so it wasn’t meant to be a decisive blow.

Ririana didn’t think it’s purpose was to actually deliver the final blow though. And, the girl stared quietly at the spider before her eyes. If Ririana looked closer she noticed that the metal spider had a luster like crystal, it crawled up its string and smoothly returned to the ceiling.

“Ah, wait, please wait! By any chance, are you…..”

Although Ririana called out to it confusedly, the metal spider continued on ignoring her, while clinging to the ceiling with its 8 feet, ~Kisa Kisa~ it moved towards the outside wall. Then a slight red light was emitted, it walked out of the room while closing the hole it made through the wall and escaped.

While sitting down, Ririana used the torn dress to cover herself and at last the situation was understood, she muttered to herself while smiling.

“Thank you…..Nagumo-san”

Bias was Ririana’s fiance, just now in the place that she was helped, she understood when it patched up the hole. But, still, at this time, having answered her plea for help, she was helplessly glad. She gripped both her hands tightly as she held down the torn dress on her chest, Alternatively, it looked like she was grasping onto something else⁴⁴.

Hajime and them who left the reception room was guided into another room by the maid attendants. After sending away the maid, Hajime who always had his eyes shut and was concentrating on something, abruptly opened them. Yue who noticed called out to Hajime in fewer words that usual.

“…..How was it? Hajime”

“……N~, excelent. ……there was something troublesome in the middle of it though……60% of the plan was completed”

The voice that answered Yue was slow and was concentrating on something else.

“that’s fast. As expected, are there many traps?”

“…..that’s right. but, there’s no reason to disarm them all”

“Fumu, it’s great that there’s a party today. If people gather, it’s easier to move around in various ways”

“It seems that people have finally begun to gather at the party hall huh. ……Will it go well?”

Shia said with a slightly uneasy expression.

After all, a once-in-a-lifetime great event that’ll decide her families futures is on the line. It would be weird if she wasn’t tensed. Towards such a Shia, Hajime felt her Usamimi’s, Yue caressed her cheeks, Teio was brushing her hair, and Kaori tightly clasped her hand.

To the smiling companions, Shia’s feelings began swelling up in her throat.

However, tears did not come down. For instance, even if it were tears of joy, it’ll be far to early to be crying when nothings even started yet. In its place, just like always, she smiled her bright smile. I’m not alone. My family is here too. I’m blessed to have them, her smile revealed such thoughts. It was the charm that Hajime and them liked about Shia.

Hajime who confirmed that Shia had smiled, is happy to have such a powerful companion and a smile that resembles a childs mischief grin appeared on his face.

“Now then, shall we prepare the stage for the main characters?”

To those words, Shia, Yue, Teio, and Kaori also had a similar smile and nodded powerfully.

This chapter is translated by Durasama and is unedited.

The Imperial castle which symbolizes the Hoelscher empire, surrounded by a deep waterway that is about 20-meters in depth, also surrounded by strong castle walls where magic-like defenses were active. Guards are always stationed on the castle walls, even an aquatic demon would be shot in the waterways, as an entrance, there is only one front gate with a huge drawbridge.

The people who are able to come to the Imperial castle is also limited, only people who have permits imbued with magic are allowed to enter. In front of the drawbridge, there’s a huge post that resembles the triumphal arches in France, If you don’t clear the examination to enter the castle here, you wouldn’t be allowed to cross the drawbridge at all. If you try the impolite way and invade the castle, you’d be thrown into the waterways where demons thrive.

The inspection at the post is also quite merciless. For example, even if you were a trader of supplies going in and out with an entrance permit through regular procedures, every product would be inspected one by one. Therefore, it’s also impossible to try to invade by hiding in the luggage.

In other words, what I want to say is that, trying to trespass into the Imperial castle is extremely, extremely, difficult.

Towards that kind of fact, Kouki thought about it while waiting in line at the castle inspection ahead of the triumphal arch, he looked back and glanced over his shoulder. There, his usual party members and his childhood friends Shizuku, Ryutaro, Suzu, and also Hajime’s group were there.

Kouki’s group came back to the Imperial capital in order to enter the Imperial castle in a dignified manner.

Kouki’s thoughts. They were a diversion to allow Cam and them to escape the prison without additional commotions, and. Obviously, because Hajime had magic that allowed transfer through space he went with them on the rescue, although escaping wouldn’t be that difficult, if the security is already this severe just to enter, the guards inside of the Imperial capital is better left unsaid.

Lets say that you knew of the dungeons location through questioning beforehand, if the exact location is not understood, space magic transfer to a pinpoint location couldn’t be used. Thats why, after invading, its necessary to search on foot. Still, there’s no helping it that you would tip your hat to the person who accomplished such things without being caught. Kouki instinctively felt the “difference” between them again, “Ha~a”, and leaked out a sigh.

By the way, an outside military unit was in charge of the distraction that kouki’s group caused, because it’s impossible for the military units in the Imperial castle to come out explicitly, it was hardly useful at all. Somewhat like, [What happened?], it was only on a slightly higher level than unrest.

“Next~…..you’re an unfamiliar face. ……Let me see your permit”

The guard soldiers looked at Kouki’s group with a suspicious expression.

The amount of people who can enter the Imperial castle is limited, so the guards know most of the faces. And, normally on their first visits people wear their best clothes, however they were extremely well equipped for a group that’s been invited to the Imperial castle for the first time. Thats why, like Kouki’s group, people dressed up like adventurers are rare. They were suspicious so they began to become more cautious.

“No, we don’t have any permits, in its place, we have this…..”

“Ha? A status plate? Just what……”

Naturally, Hajime and them did not have a permit to enter the Imperial castle. But, Kouki’s position is useful here. After all, he is the “Hero”. The trump card of the human race whom God sent into the game with the Majinzoku race and was viewed publicly as “God’s Apostle”. For example, even if that wasn’t the actual reality of the situation.

Although the guard gave them dangerous looks when they said they didn’t have permits, his eyes twinkled when he read the characters “Hero” displayed on the status plate, he alternately looks back and forth between the status plate and kouki’s face. From the guards reaction, the surrounding colleagues were beginning to pay attention.

“Ehtto……Hero……sama, right? God’s apostle that was summoned in the Kingdom?”

“Ah, yes, that’s right. I’m the hero. Though I came with princess Ririana who is here……due to a few circumstances”

“Ha, Ha~a…..”

From the guard’s mutter, his colleagues learned of Kouki’s identity and began to become increasingly noisy. Their expressions were natural, “Why, did you come separately from princess Ririana?” “Why, didn’t you communicate this beforehand?”, their questions were full of doubt.

However, the other party is God’s apostle whom they believe in, surely they were in charge of a secret mission that was given to them, for the time being, they passed the word to the higher-ups.

As expected, even for the hero, because they didn’t have the courage to let a person who wasn’t scheduled to enter the castle with their own discretion, several guards disappeared while dashing into the Imperial castle as they were frightened to rudely keep them waiting.
Hajime and them are placed in the waiting room of the post.

After waiting 15 minutes.

Disregarding “Yue who was on Hajime’s Knee” which became a scene so natural that nobody bothers to tsukkomi anymore, Shia was sitting on the other Knee, Kaori and Teio formed a partnership at the last second and held on to his hands respectively, then they began to hear the ~Dota Dota~ footsteps coming from the drawbridge.

“I heard that the Hero’s group had come here….Is it you guys?”

“Ah, yes, that’s right. That’s us”

While saying so and showing his appearance, it was an especially large empire soldier, it’s possible to tell that he’s of a higher rank from the attitudes of the surrounding soldiers. He, while impudently staring at Kouki, and checking Kouki’s status plate, he began to glance at the other members in investigation.

In the process, when Shia who was in the blind spot was seen, his eyes opened widely in surprise. And he began grinning an unpleasant smile of interest. Towards the unpleasant glance, Shia’s body shakes slightly.

“I’ve confirmed it. I am the commander of the third regiment, Grid Half. Word of the hero’s group has already entered princess Ririana’s ears as well, she’s waiting in her room. I’ll have my subordinate guide you. ……By the way, hero, the Usagininzoku? She doesn’t have a slave collar on her right?”

“Eh? No, she’s…..”

The man who introduced himself as Grid Half asked about Shia as he returned the status plate.

However, Kouki was troubled on how to answer. She wasn’t a slave, the choker that Shia wore looked nothing like a slave’s collar, he hesitated if he should declare that she was Hajime’s lover or not. “Even if you ask me such things……” he honestly replied.

Did Kouki’s answer allow him to judge to not expect anything which cause him to become quiet, Grid glanced over towards Shia. And, they managed to guess the reason why he is so intensely paying attention to Shia.

“Yo~o, Usagi lass. I’ve got a few questions for you. ……What happened to my subordinates?”

“Subordinates? …..Um….what do you…..”

From Grid’s sudden question.

For an instant, although Shia had no idea what he was talking about, she seemed to have guessed and her eyes were opened wide in astonishment.

The empire soldiers who had a direct relation to Shia were limited. It was naturally, the group of people that cornered the Hauria tribe when leaving the Sea of Trees. Many family members were killed, abducted, placed into slavery, and it was the enemies that drove Shia to go to the [Raisen Great Canyon].

“It’s odd huh? Even though she’s returned, none of my subordinates came back, why are you still alive and in such a place? A~a?”

“Ua~…..”

Grid gradually approached to corner Shia.

Right, he was the commander of the forces that attacked Shia’s group that came out of the Sea of Tree’s before. Because Grid who was the regiment commander didn’t personally come to capture Shia, she had no memories of ever seeing Grid before, however Grid firmly recalled that there was a rare Usagininzoku with blue-white hair.

In Shia’s mind, the expressions of the empire soldiers had when attacking to tease them and the sense of hopelessness of losing a family member at that time, flashed back. While unconsciously raising out a groan and her expression stiffening up, one step, trying to back away…..she felt a warm touch on her cheeks and became startled.

If you look, just as usual, Hajime picked up shia’s cheeks. And, immediately after that, she felt warmth in her hand. That was Yue.

Her eyes looking up showed no worries, if anything it was amazement, a slight color of scolding appeared though. It seemed to imply, “Don’t be overwhelmed by small fries of this level, Greenhorn”.

Shia who was looking at Yue and Hajime, with a wry smile said, “I’m alright now”. No matter how you looked at it, the events which took placed was a trauma, the present Shia was unmistakably a strong person who had enough power and spirit to crush the monsters in the great labyrinths to pieces. There’s no reason for her to be overwhelmed by the pressure that one officer was releasing.

Shia with an attractive smile after decisively straightening her spine towards the approaching Grid. And declared to Grid who instinctively stopped advancing.

“I don’t know a thing about your subordinates. They were likely people who were slow in the head, maybe they were eaten by some kind of demon that appeared somewhere? Also, there’s no reason for me to answer your questions at all”

“…..You sure are getting full of yourself. A~a? Did you think you were safe because you’re with the Hero’s group? If you’re not a slave, then you probably solded away that body of yours? A prostitute’s life, I won’t be taking such tongue from you”

Although Grid said those dangerous words while dangerously steeling up his eyes, Shia had already removed eye contact with Grid, her eyes told that she didn’t care. Rather, having called Shia a prostitute, the other women looked at Grid with anger.

While looking at Shia’s attitude, his veins appeared and his expression twisted with anger, when he noticed the looks, to deceive them he smiled and declared to Kouki.

“I’m terribly sorry, Hero-dono. This Usagininzoku seems to know something something about my subordinates that have been missing since 2 months ago, Will you listen to my request? If you need an Usagininzoku woman, I can prepare another for you, this time around…..”

“Oi, underling”

However, a voice interrupted before Grid finished talking. At the same time that Grid glanced towards the voice, his expression cramped up because of anger, there the annoyed looking Hajime was seen.

“What……”

“Don’t open your mouth, underling. Your role is already over. Making us stay forever over foolish things. Quit wasting time and guide us quickly”

“Why you little……”

“Can you not understand the meaning of being silent? To us, we don’t even have a miniscule amount of time to spend on you. Know your place”

To Hajime’s words, Grid’s face is dyed completely red because of the hooligan who picked a fight since they didn’t want anything to do with him. His eyes became bloodshot in anger. Even then, self-control was something a regiment commander was required to have, with just one wrong line to “God’s Apostles” he would definitely be cut from his position, he became silent and the subordinate in the back began to guide them.

Disregarding Grid who was staring at Hajime with bloodshot eyes, Hajime’s group left the room as if nothing happened.

Although Kouki’s group had slightly cramped cheeks because of Hajime’s objection, the females looked refreshed. As for Hajime, there was no intent on being sarcastic……If he knew of that, blood might have gushed out from Grid’s blood vessels.

However, it seemed that a “crotch smash” was about to happen if he still didn’t understand because he had called Shia a prostitute……Grid should be happy for himself to have such self discipline.

Hajime’s group didn’t worry about the piercing gaze that came from behind them, the huge suspension bridge was extended and they followed the pale expressioned guide.

“And?”

That was the first word that Ririana said to Hajime’s group as they were guided into the room in the Imperial castle. Although she wore a smile on her face, her eyes were cold and didn’t smile at all. It seemed to express, “Explain the circumstances right away damn it!”.

Most likely she was busy to death from the Empires conferences. Inside of her, no matter how she looked at it Hajime’s group appearing was troublesome, unexpectedly, there was no helping that she said such things. In a sense, it was a sign of familiarity……though it might not be as well.

“Besides the farce at the Imperial capital, why on earth is everybody here? I demand a clear explanation. Yes, I strongly, strongly, demand for one. I won’t forgive you if you trick me! Especially, Nagumo-san! It was definitely you who pulled the strings from behind the scenes! Don’t treat others as if they were someone elses problems and stop feeling Shia-san’s fluffy usamimi’s! Yue-san’s also caressing and touching Shia-san’s cheeks as well!”

Ririana’s lost it! She glares at Hajime with enough power that it seems to create sounds.

It’s exactly as she said, Ririana thought it was Hajime’s idea in the Imperial capital, and it was also his idea to come to the Imperial castle. Putting it simply, Hajime has been recognized as the leader of the group, the schemes which would normally be considered insane could only be formed from Hajime’s mind.

And, Hajime who was being blamed, was unusually gently feeling Shia’s usamimi’s while she sat on his knee. On the other knee, Yue had both hands from the front and was caressing and touching Shia’s cheeks.

“Your voice is too loud, princess. What’s the problem? Today, Shia’s kinda unstable”

“Unstable…..you say? is she not feeling well somewhere?”

At once Ririana became worried immediately, shes a good person as well.

Shia that receives the glance, though biting her lip to endure something, her expression began to loosen from her ears being felt and her cheeks being caressed, when she raised her face she showed a smile and said, “I’m fine”.

The reason which caused Shia’s emotions to become unstable was obviously because of Grid.

However, it was not unstability from fear in particular. It was the opposite. She was restraining her overflowing murderous intent. No matter how you say it, Grid’s group was the hateful party that took away a lot of Shia’s family. As long as she gets over her trauma, only strong murderous intent flows afterwards.

However, after thinking about their purpose for coming here, she wasn’t able to immediately kill him. That’s why, she desperately endured it. And, Hajime and Yue who understood this, tried to sooth Shia by indulging her.

For people who don’t know of the circumstances, when summed up, the relation of Grid and Shia were spoken, everyones expression became sorrowful, afterwards, Kouki’s group naturally resented them for that, and Ririana looked down with a dark expression. For Ririana, the enslavement of Demi-humans were commonsense in the world and allowed, she didn’t think it was far too unreasonable although she did feel resentment.

She who judged herself decided that she wasn’t qualified to say anything, towards the members that were making angry faces, “It’s fine~, really”, Shia said with a dazzling smile, they urged the continuation of the story from Hajime.

“And, why did you guys come here? What about your business at the forest? And also, what was up with the masked disturbance last night? It should almost be time for his Majesty, Gaharudo, to call us for a meeting. I want to get our stories straight ahead of time before we meet, so I’d like you to tell me the bare minimum if you would”

“Ma~a, don’t be so restless, princess. When night comes, you’ll understand everything. We…..want to hurry and wrap things up after all, we stopped for a slight detour…..that should be all that you need to know for now”

“S, such unreasonableness…..I’ll know when its night you say, it can’t be, do you plan to create another disturbance with masks again? I understand now! Nagumo-san was the one that made Shizuku and them dress in those embarrassing getups!”

“Don’t get so excited. You’ll grow bald, princess”

“I won’t grow bald! Just what are you saying to a lady!”

“……Stress baldness”

“Yue-san!?”

She seemed to realise that Hajime didn’t plan on speaking any further, moreover, Ririana who received such impolite treatment, “Even though I’m a princess…..”, while being depressed. Right next to her, Shizuku was, “embarrassing getups…..”, muttering quietly while being reminded of her dark history.

Afterwards, in the place where Ririana became depressed she explained the situation, apparently his Majesty, Gaharudo, was told of the story about the end of the church and gods who went mad.

However, as expected of their abilities reign supreme principles, the top of the country is in utilitarianism⁴⁵. Though there seems to have been moderate impact, while fearlessly laughing he declared that the way they did things wouldn’t particularly change anyways. In other words, if it’s an enemy, they’ll be cut down, if you want something, then forcefully take it, the weak must obey the strong! is what he said.

Further more Gaharudo wondered how Ririana traveled to the Empire, he was anxious.

In other words, though he understood the story of the Kingdom being attacked, the amount of time that it took Ririana to reach the empire was far too quick. Though he was saved because the Empire also felt that an immediate conference of cooperation with the Kingdom should be held, it was impossible to arrive at the Empire after only 1 week of the attack.

At the same time, how did the Kingdom manage to drive away the Majinzoku’s army, he was considerably interested in their methods.

About the “Pillar of Light” that gave the demonic army forces a fatal blow, rather than talks about the God’s, excuses of “Heaven’s Judgement” wouldn’t cut it for Gaharudo. When it comes to that, naturally, he came to the assumption that someone had a weapon capable of destroying an entire army in one blow. To that truth, as the Emperor of the Hoelscher Empire, and as a person, he wasn’t able to overlook it.

If he investigates it, he’ll know immediately, Ririana who got permision from Hajime beforehand, especially talked about how troublesome Hajime was.

However, because she thought Hajime was wasn’t at the Empire but traveling around in a faraway place, he had actually entered the heart of the Empire and was meddling in Gaharudo’s greedy ambitions, then, on the other hand, what kind of movements will Hajime be taking from now on, Ririana was extremely anxious.

……Mainly, in the sense that the Empire gets mysteriously wiped out from the maps.

Therefore, in the place where she would previously wait to meet with Gaharudo, although she couldn’t meet with him because of previous events…..Hajime is being evasive and unserious, Ririana was already, “If you’re going to do it~ do it seriously~”, while her state of mind was slightly neglectful. Surely, being uneasy about her own misgivings, she would never have guessed in her wildest dreams.

From Ririana, to some extent, heard the rooms door being knocked on and the contents of the conference with the empire was heard. It seems that time’s run out. While following the guide, Hajime and them are heading for the reception room where Gaharudo is waiting.