Grimoire x Reverse ~Reincarnated Demon Romance Tale~ - LightNovelsOnl.com
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Chapter 13
Volume 2 Chapter 13 Epilogue – the Sweetness of the Road [Let’s go, Together] {Shuten POV} “Huh? Wanted?” (Shuten)
“The Imperial Academy headquarters was destroyed, one magic librarian was heavily injured while another is still unconscious, so yes, very much so.” (Yatano) “Well in any case I’m leaving the Empire now so it shouldn’t be a problem.” (Shuten) Overnight, we traveled all the way back to the silver highway. The response of the pearl piece was southwest, but we returned to this place for some reason. No, it was because we felt like Yatano might be here and Hiragi muttered that I had said something about returning to the store on the way back. It wasn’t me but Hiragi who wanted to meet up with Yatano. I do not quite understand the relations.h.i.+p between the two, but I had agreed to come back to this store after helping her at the capitol yesterday. Did she want to say thank you? I really do not understand that person. In any case, we had traveled back to the Silver Highway which went across the southeast. Last night we had stayed in another house at Reine’s abandoned village, so once we got off the mountain we just went back to the silver tiled road. Oh yeah, that’s right; the tiles turned a silvery white when now-destroyed research inst.i.tute failed to take out and contain some kind of energy. If I think about it, it was a pretty grand entrance at the research inst.i.tute as well. That researcher, (TL: Desiree) where did he go? I wondered if he was killed by Yatano– *Pu~nii* (sfx for exhalation of breath followed by a grin) “Fufufua?…Um, I’d be relieved if you stopped suddenly grinning. Since we’re eating dango it makes it weird.” (Hiragi) Meanwhile, I’m eating with others beside me. In this situation my elders sit on both sides. Three people are sitting on a bench and eating Dango, but even though Yatano is a higher-up of the Imperial Academy, it seems that the Wanted man in front of her doesn’t matter. “So, Yatano can have tea with wanted criminals?” (Shuten) “Well because it is not my job to chase wanted criminals. No, I could catch you, but…I’m almost at the end of my time limit.” (Yatano) “Huh?” (Shuten) “What do you mean?” (Hiragi) “The command of the Marshall will be considerably weakened after this, possibly even leading to a pet.i.tion of Exclusion, so that the organization can be reborn as a magic librarian-run operation. Huhu, Shuten, you are even more than I antic.i.p.ated.” (Yatano) Did you use me for the exclusion of the Marshall? It seems that Marshall, yeah you! You are less that useful! If I look again, Yatano is laughing at you. I feel like the world is far from collapse. (世界崩壊どころじゃない気がするもの。) “Ah… What do you mean about an Exclusion of Talos?” “Ah well, since the Emperor has arranged your Wanted status, you don’t really need to hear about such things right now…well, there’s a reason to pursue such things separately from a certain magic librarian.” (Yatano) “…He~e. It kind of feels like you’re talking about Monocle Baldy with your tremendous aura…!!” (Shuten) “You are not wrong. Fufu…” (Yatano) Hahaha, I will kill him. I will seriously kill him dead. As a strange aura overflowed from me, I did not mind being pulled back by Hiragi. But Yatano-chan’s was still black. No, wrong, it’s just a different kind of game. “Yatano…how did you become so strong?” (Hiragi) “Speaking that way, you make it seem like I wasn’t strong before.” (Yatano) “In the past you were more cute and innocent.” (Hiragi) “Oh…” (Yatano) I want to hear that story. I tuned in to listen and widened my eyes at Yatano beside me. (耳をそばだてる俺をおいて、目を丸くするヤタノちゃん) Apparently I had not thought through things properly. Even Hiragi was strangely cautious at the first meeting. Well…it would be kind of frightening if a human you had met long ago had not changed in appearance. “Do you remember?” (Yatano) “I’d like to say I didn’t, but I really do remember it, honestly, I was afraid you still dressed like that.” (Hiragi) “…um, yeah. I am aware.” (Yatano) At Yatano who smiled slightly as if in trouble, Hiragi sighed. Things will become troublesome if there is any part held back like this. However, it seems like something between them has been resolved. “So what will the two of you do now?” (Yatano) “Currently I am still searching, though this time I feel like going in a south-western direction, so I wonder if we will be entering the Professor country.” (Shuten) “…I too, have decided to come and go.” (Hiragi) What’s with those words of resignation.? It’s a nice trip. A meandering journey is lovely isn’t it? Although there is technically a purpose. “Oh my” (Yatano) “W-what…” (Hiragi) “It’s nothing. Fufu.” (Yatano) “Are you getting angry? T-that’s the impression I’m getting anyway.” (Hiragi) Hng, Hiragi bent over like she was in pain. Keep your power in moderation Yatano-chan, it’s hard to straighten out after bending over to your navel. “By the way Yatano, what’s up with Desiree?” (Shuten) “Desiree has currently been summoned by the Emperor. Certainly…about the research inst.i.tute. As for the object you are searching for together, I will help you out. It would be beneficial for both of us.” (Yatano) “If you are seriously saying that Yatano-chan, then don’t hesitate to depend on me.” (Shuten) (本気で言ってるんだとしたらヤタノちゃんを肩車したりおんぶしたり高い高いすることも辞さない) “Ah, please don’t say it like that.” (Yatano) Yatano smiled somewhat shyly, her cheeks curving gently. But anyway. Being officially recognized, I will hunt down that sc.u.mmy Emperor. I will return with my full strength. “Oh yeah, you should leave this country as soon as possible; the fourth and sixth seats are coming back, and the first and ninth seats who are out of the country on missions will return soon. At that time, you who destroyed the Imperial Academy facilities will be targeted.” (Yatano) “Uhhh, aren’t the magic librarians a matched set? Why are you in the middle of such enforcers?” (Hiragi) It’s not at such a level to be a joke. Let’s go. Quickly. …Even so, it was quite uncommon for the magic librarians who are supposed to be scattered among the populace are coming back to the Empire soon. “Hey Yatano. Are you going to protect us?” (Hiragi) “No? Telling you straight, it was Shuten who broke into the Imperial Academy HQ and also who destroyed the Inst.i.tute.” (Yatano) “Then, why are you meeting with us in such a place?” (Hiragi) “…That aside, this doesn’t mean the army will come for Shuten anytime soon. Rather, they have been busy with other things.” (Yatano) Yatano easily answered the question of Hiragi who was finis.h.i.+ng off her dangos. I’m grateful to have missed, but isn’t Yatano only at a disadvantage in saying so much? I’m doubtful, but there are some worrying points. (なんて疑問が沸くんだが、それ以上に気になる点が一個あった) “Is that why magic librarians rarely gather together?” “I am little concerned Shuten knows such details about the magic librarians, but its generally like that. Of the ten magic librarians, four were injured. This is something that shouldn’t happen.” (Yatano) “…Besides Grendel and the Eigth Seat, two others were seriously injured?” (Shuten) “The Fourth and Sixth seats have been brought in with heavily injured bodies…This morning they met up with a criminal…and, I missed it.” (Yatano) “Oioi, Yatano-chan missed something…Huh? Fourth and Sixth Seats?” (Shuten) I noticed something. The opponent whom the fourth and sixth seat had fought against together, was also missed by such a powerful person like Yatano-chan. It might be ridiculous, but I feel stuck on the idea the enemy was probably… [No, I’m a human being~. I am currently being chased by the 4th and 6th Seats, but I’m about to lose them anyway. Above all I wanted to meet you] (Veloce from Ch 9) Ah. That gothic Lolita with the twin drills…!! “Monthly salary of 2 million gold…that would feed about 20 Hiragi’s…” (Shuten) (TL: I mistranslated this in an earlier chapter as 200 million. That would feed a lot more Hiragi’s! xD ) “I just heard some unpleasant measurements.” (Hiragi) “What is the current strength of Desiree, Yatano?” (Shuten) “Isn’t it about 10 Hiragi per second?” (Yatano) “What’s ten per second!? What’s ten per second!?” (Hiragi) “The strength to kill Hiragi 10 times in a second. By the way, 1 ‘Hiragi’ is not the same as a Hiragi.” (Yatano) “That’s extremely rude!!” (Hiragi) “By the way, what did you mean by monthly salary?” (Yatano) “Don’t mind it Yatano, just something from the other party I met the day before yesterday.” (Shuten) “Are you ignoring me!? Hey, are you ignoring me!?” (Hiragi) Leaving aside the noisy Hiragi, Yatano and I went on with our conversation. If it was Veloche whom I met the other day, she could certainly crush two magic librarians and escape from Yatano. “…I wondered why the ‘Mentor’ (導師) of the Demon King’s Army was here, but if it’s because of the monster Shuten I can understand it a little bit.” (Yatano) “Oh well, whatever. I wonder if I will be picked up and treated as one of the four Heavenly Demon Lords.” (Shuten) “…What is it like, being a Heavenly Demon Lord? What do you do?” (Hiragi) “Isn’t it an intermediate manager?” (Shuten) “That’s…too bad.” (Hiragi) I guess they were fighting until this morning. Why are her remarks so carefree then? Yatano-chan seemed to have a painful look on her face. It was definitely an expression of a intermediate manager whose work had increased. “Alright then.” (Yatano) (よいしょっと sfx for a grunt of effort, but…) After Hiragi became slightly bewildered, Yatano-chan stood up while I was still finis.h.i.+ng up eating my dangos. “I will have to leave soon for the gathering. I hope we can meet up again someday.” (Yatano) “I feel embara.s.sed.” (Hiragi) “…So, you are leaving already?” (Shuten) “Fufu, it seems that at this time in my life, goodbyes are likely.” (Yatano) (ふふ、今生の別れには、ならなさそうですけれど) Slowly opening the umbrella, she clicked her sandals. Her way of turning was as usual, and I smiled in spite of myself. “Well, until the time we can meet again, I look forward to your next level of strength.” (Yatano) “The goal is 100 Hiragi per second.” (Shuten) “What is that number!?!” (Hiragi) Hiragi narrowed her eyes as though she felt threatened. Yatano-chan bowed slightly as she stepped away. I thought the sound of her geta echoing in the distance faded away like a dream. After watching a few birds pa.s.s over in the sky during a momentary silence, I murmured; “…Haah. Yatano-chan. I wonder how long it will be until I get in a fight with her?” (Shuten) “I don’t know about that. So you want to fight?” (Hiragi) “No, I don’t…I just wish I was at a level I could fight Yatano and those like her. Since this search will take quite awhile, it is not good to only level when necessary.” (Shuten) I put the last dango in my mouth. There are still so many powerful people in this world. Unlike me whose level would be low if not for the pearl pieces, there are a lot of guys who have tremendous raw strength. Moreover, Desiree appeared to have been enthralled with absorption. How else can I say it, I don’t know what will happen from here on. What exactly is the Professor country spending so much time waiting for? Large events have been occurring up here in the Empire. (帝国でここまででかいことがあったんだ) In this world where the pearl pieces are scattered, I don’t really know what I will see from here on. …Oh, I’m looking forward to it. I feel like an incredible journey is waiting for me. “Hey Shuten?” (Hiragi) “Hmmm?” (Shuten) Looking next to me, I saw Hiragi looking upwards, her gaze following the trajectory of a flying bird, her legs and tails shaking. “You know, here, what I wanted to say, but didn’t, because” (Hiragi) “What is it, so suddenly. A death poem?” (Shuten) “Who’s going to die, this idiot demon!” (Hiragi) Hff, and she snorted roughly. I thought that this was pretty normal banter, but her cheeks were uncomfortably red. What are you trying to say? Only Hiragi would say “Lovely! Embrace!” for no reason. Though if she said such a thing I would doubt it was the original before accepting. Actually, the contents might be the Four Heavenly Kings of Water. (実は中身は水の四天王かもしれん) No, that’s a different game. “…really this idiot.” (Hiragi) “Yes, yes, my bad. And, what is it?” (Shuten) “Eh~. And, what I was saying…that. That is” (Hiragi) “Just say it and don’t hesitate.” (Shuten) “Fine I will!” (Hiragi) Don’t keep averting your eyes then. After focusing, she still had a youthful blush on her cheeks…No, she’s older. I always forget. ‘Um, and, but, and, because, and.’ It was that Hiragi (about 200 years old), who was trying to arrange her words in a meaningful way. What do you want to say. Hey. Tell me already. “Um…Shuten!!” (Hiragi) “What is it?” (Shuten) As I wondered with my mouth shut, her cheeks continued to be flushed, while even her fox ears were redder than usual. Her eyes were also slightly moist, making me feel kind of embarra.s.sed. What kind of revelation was this going to be. “…um, th..anks” (Hiragi) “Ah?” (Shuten) “That’s why! Thank you for your help!! Three times you’ve saved my life!!” (Hiragi) “……” (Shuten) “What are you doing tilting your head like that, hold out your fingers and count!! Unless you had taken me out from that rock I would have been dead! Unless you had helped me from being hit again in the forest I would have been dead! I don’t know what would have become of me if you had not come to the academy at that time! Yes, three!!” (Hiragi) “…Ah” (Shuten) “What is ‘Ah’!! That strange tone of voice!!” (Hiragi) “No, that rock is news to me.” (Shuten) “Is that all you have to say!?” (Hiragi) I was scolded. Filled with anger, Hiragi rose from the bench. “Thanks Ms Matilda, we’ll come again!!” (Shuten) “See ya” (Matilda) As soon as I thanked Ms. Matilda she returned to the back of the building, while Hiragi and I headed out to the silver highway. I don’t know what damaged the mood, but that certainly wasn’t my intention. Later. “Hiragi, that’s the wrong direction.” (Shuten) “Tsu~~~!!” (Hiragi) She made a gradual U-turn. “Just kidding.” (Shuten) “Thi-this playful man should just die!? Hey!!” (Hiragi) “No, well, what?” (Shuten) With a hostile att.i.tude, hiragi dared threaten the person right in front of her. I think I saw her half-crying face. It’s so fun to tease this person, I’m glad I brought her on my journey. Also, I’m glad I could help her. Thinking about it carefully, it seems I cared enough to jump into an unknown situation like that. More than I was aware, there is no doubt something has crawled into my heart. Thinking that way, isn’t it necessary to lean on another? But I cannot put it into words. “From now on I’ll be relying on you, Hiragi.” (Shuten) “Wha…hey what are you saying!? I will say this now!? You are…really…really…that’s it!! A playful guy! An aggravating guy!” (Hiragi) “Ah, hey” (Shuten) Like a boiled octopus, down to her neck turned red, and this time she vigorously turned and walked away. Fuu~ I don’t really get it, but I never get bored with her. In the direction the clouds flow there is our next destination, though there is a port to go to first. It’s a fun trip on a s.h.i.+p from there. There are ten pearl pieces remaining. Our journey has just begun. “Hiragi, this way, really.” (Shuten) “Aaaaaaaaaaaahhhh!!” (Hiragi)
Volume 2 Chapter 13 Epilogue – the Sweetness of the Road [Let’s go, Together] {Shuten POV} “Huh? Wanted?” (Shuten)
“The Imperial Academy headquarters was destroyed, one magic librarian was heavily injured while another is still unconscious, so yes, very much so.” (Yatano) “Well in any case I’m leaving the Empire now so it shouldn’t be a problem.” (Shuten) Overnight, we traveled all the way back to the silver highway. The response of the pearl piece was southwest, but we returned to this place for some reason. No, it was because we felt like Yatano might be here and Hiragi muttered that I had said something about returning to the store on the way back. It wasn’t me but Hiragi who wanted to meet up with Yatano. I do not quite understand the relations.h.i.+p between the two, but I had agreed to come back to this store after helping her at the capitol yesterday. Did she want to say thank you? I really do not understand that person. In any case, we had traveled back to the Silver Highway which went across the southeast. Last night we had stayed in another house at Reine’s abandoned village, so once we got off the mountain we just went back to the silver tiled road. Oh yeah, that’s right; the tiles turned a silvery white when now-destroyed research inst.i.tute failed to take out and contain some kind of energy. If I think about it, it was a pretty grand entrance at the research inst.i.tute as well. That researcher, (TL: Desiree) where did he go? I wondered if he was killed by Yatano– *Pu~nii* (sfx for exhalation of breath followed by a grin) “Fufufua?…Um, I’d be relieved if you stopped suddenly grinning. Since we’re eating dango it makes it weird.” (Hiragi) Meanwhile, I’m eating with others beside me. In this situation my elders sit on both sides. Three people are sitting on a bench and eating Dango, but even though Yatano is a higher-up of the Imperial Academy, it seems that the Wanted man in front of her doesn’t matter. “So, Yatano can have tea with wanted criminals?” (Shuten) “Well because it is not my job to chase wanted criminals. No, I could catch you, but…I’m almost at the end of my time limit.” (Yatano) “Huh?” (Shuten) “What do you mean?” (Hiragi) “The command of the Marshall will be considerably weakened after this, possibly even leading to a pet.i.tion of Exclusion, so that the organization can be reborn as a magic librarian-run operation. Huhu, Shuten, you are even more than I antic.i.p.ated.” (Yatano) Did you use me for the exclusion of the Marshall? It seems that Marshall, yeah you! You are less that useful! If I look again, Yatano is laughing at you. I feel like the world is far from collapse. (世界崩壊どころじゃない気がするもの。) “Ah… What do you mean about an Exclusion of Talos?” “Ah well, since the Emperor has arranged your Wanted status, you don’t really need to hear about such things right now…well, there’s a reason to pursue such things separately from a certain magic librarian.” (Yatano) “…He~e. It kind of feels like you’re talking about Monocle Baldy with your tremendous aura…!!” (Shuten) “You are not wrong. Fufu…” (Yatano) Hahaha, I will kill him. I will seriously kill him dead. As a strange aura overflowed from me, I did not mind being pulled back by Hiragi. But Yatano-chan’s was still black. No, wrong, it’s just a different kind of game. “Yatano…how did you become so strong?” (Hiragi) “Speaking that way, you make it seem like I wasn’t strong before.” (Yatano) “In the past you were more cute and innocent.” (Hiragi) “Oh…” (Yatano) I want to hear that story. I tuned in to listen and widened my eyes at Yatano beside me. (耳をそばだてる俺をおいて、目を丸くするヤタノちゃん) Apparently I had not thought through things properly. Even Hiragi was strangely cautious at the first meeting. Well…it would be kind of frightening if a human you had met long ago had not changed in appearance. “Do you remember?” (Yatano) “I’d like to say I didn’t, but I really do remember it, honestly, I was afraid you still dressed like that.” (Hiragi) “…um, yeah. I am aware.” (Yatano) At Yatano who smiled slightly as if in trouble, Hiragi sighed. Things will become troublesome if there is any part held back like this. However, it seems like something between them has been resolved. “So what will the two of you do now?” (Yatano) “Currently I am still searching, though this time I feel like going in a south-western direction, so I wonder if we will be entering the Professor country.” (Shuten) “…I too, have decided to come and go.” (Hiragi) What’s with those words of resignation.? It’s a nice trip. A meandering journey is lovely isn’t it? Although there is technically a purpose. “Oh my” (Yatano) “W-what…” (Hiragi) “It’s nothing. Fufu.” (Yatano) “Are you getting angry? T-that’s the impression I’m getting anyway.” (Hiragi) Hng, Hiragi bent over like she was in pain. Keep your power in moderation Yatano-chan, it’s hard to straighten out after bending over to your navel. “By the way Yatano, what’s up with Desiree?” (Shuten) “Desiree has currently been summoned by the Emperor. Certainly…about the research inst.i.tute. As for the object you are searching for together, I will help you out. It would be beneficial for both of us.” (Yatano) “If you are seriously saying that Yatano-chan, then don’t hesitate to depend on me.” (Shuten) (本気で言ってるんだとしたらヤタノちゃんを肩車したりおんぶしたり高い高いすることも辞さない) “Ah, please don’t say it like that.” (Yatano) Yatano smiled somewhat shyly, her cheeks curving gently. But anyway. Being officially recognized, I will hunt down that sc.u.mmy Emperor. I will return with my full strength. “Oh yeah, you should leave this country as soon as possible; the fourth and sixth seats are coming back, and the first and ninth seats who are out of the country on missions will return soon. At that time, you who destroyed the Imperial Academy facilities will be targeted.” (Yatano) “Uhhh, aren’t the magic librarians a matched set? Why are you in the middle of such enforcers?” (Hiragi) It’s not at such a level to be a joke. Let’s go. Quickly. …Even so, it was quite uncommon for the magic librarians who are supposed to be scattered among the populace are coming back to the Empire soon. “Hey Yatano. Are you going to protect us?” (Hiragi) “No? Telling you straight, it was Shuten who broke into the Imperial Academy HQ and also who destroyed the Inst.i.tute.” (Yatano) “Then, why are you meeting with us in such a place?” (Hiragi) “…That aside, this doesn’t mean the army will come for Shuten anytime soon. Rather, they have been busy with other things.” (Yatano) Yatano easily answered the question of Hiragi who was finis.h.i.+ng off her dangos. I’m grateful to have missed, but isn’t Yatano only at a disadvantage in saying so much? I’m doubtful, but there are some worrying points. (なんて疑問が沸くんだが、それ以上に気になる点が一個あった) “Is that why magic librarians rarely gather together?” “I am little concerned Shuten knows such details about the magic librarians, but its generally like that. Of the ten magic librarians, four were injured. This is something that shouldn’t happen.” (Yatano) “…Besides Grendel and the Eigth Seat, two others were seriously injured?” (Shuten) “The Fourth and Sixth seats have been brought in with heavily injured bodies…This morning they met up with a criminal…and, I missed it.” (Yatano) “Oioi, Yatano-chan missed something…Huh? Fourth and Sixth Seats?” (Shuten) I noticed something. The opponent whom the fourth and sixth seat had fought against together, was also missed by such a powerful person like Yatano-chan. It might be ridiculous, but I feel stuck on the idea the enemy was probably… [No, I’m a human being~. I am currently being chased by the 4th and 6th Seats, but I’m about to lose them anyway. Above all I wanted to meet you] (Veloce from Ch 9) Ah. That gothic Lolita with the twin drills…!! “Monthly salary of 2 million gold…that would feed about 20 Hiragi’s…” (Shuten) (TL: I mistranslated this in an earlier chapter as 200 million. That would feed a lot more Hiragi’s! xD ) “I just heard some unpleasant measurements.” (Hiragi) “What is the current strength of Desiree, Yatano?” (Shuten) “Isn’t it about 10 Hiragi per second?” (Yatano) “What’s ten per second!? What’s ten per second!?” (Hiragi) “The strength to kill Hiragi 10 times in a second. By the way, 1 ‘Hiragi’ is not the same as a Hiragi.” (Yatano) “That’s extremely rude!!” (Hiragi) “By the way, what did you mean by monthly salary?” (Yatano) “Don’t mind it Yatano, just something from the other party I met the day before yesterday.” (Shuten) “Are you ignoring me!? Hey, are you ignoring me!?” (Hiragi) Leaving aside the noisy Hiragi, Yatano and I went on with our conversation. If it was Veloche whom I met the other day, she could certainly crush two magic librarians and escape from Yatano. “…I wondered why the ‘Mentor’ (導師) of the Demon King’s Army was here, but if it’s because of the monster Shuten I can understand it a little bit.” (Yatano) “Oh well, whatever. I wonder if I will be picked up and treated as one of the four Heavenly Demon Lords.” (Shuten) “…What is it like, being a Heavenly Demon Lord? What do you do?” (Hiragi) “Isn’t it an intermediate manager?” (Shuten) “That’s…too bad.” (Hiragi) I guess they were fighting until this morning. Why are her remarks so carefree then? Yatano-chan seemed to have a painful look on her face. It was definitely an expression of a intermediate manager whose work had increased. “Alright then.” (Yatano) (よいしょっと sfx for a grunt of effort, but…) After Hiragi became slightly bewildered, Yatano-chan stood up while I was still finis.h.i.+ng up eating my dangos. “I will have to leave soon for the gathering. I hope we can meet up again someday.” (Yatano) “I feel embara.s.sed.” (Hiragi) “…So, you are leaving already?” (Shuten) “Fufu, it seems that at this time in my life, goodbyes are likely.” (Yatano) (ふふ、今生の別れには、ならなさそうですけれど) Slowly opening the umbrella, she clicked her sandals. Her way of turning was as usual, and I smiled in spite of myself. “Well, until the time we can meet again, I look forward to your next level of strength.” (Yatano) “The goal is 100 Hiragi per second.” (Shuten) “What is that number!?!” (Hiragi) Hiragi narrowed her eyes as though she felt threatened. Yatano-chan bowed slightly as she stepped away. I thought the sound of her geta echoing in the distance faded away like a dream. After watching a few birds pa.s.s over in the sky during a momentary silence, I murmured; “…Haah. Yatano-chan. I wonder how long it will be until I get in a fight with her?” (Shuten) “I don’t know about that. So you want to fight?” (Hiragi) “No, I don’t…I just wish I was at a level I could fight Yatano and those like her. Since this search will take quite awhile, it is not good to only level when necessary.” (Shuten) I put the last dango in my mouth. There are still so many powerful people in this world. Unlike me whose level would be low if not for the pearl pieces, there are a lot of guys who have tremendous raw strength. Moreover, Desiree appeared to have been enthralled with absorption. How else can I say it, I don’t know what will happen from here on. What exactly is the Professor country spending so much time waiting for? Large events have been occurring up here in the Empire. (帝国でここまででかいことがあったんだ) In this world where the pearl pieces are scattered, I don’t really know what I will see from here on. …Oh, I’m looking forward to it. I feel like an incredible journey is waiting for me. “Hey Shuten?” (Hiragi) “Hmmm?” (Shuten) Looking next to me, I saw Hiragi looking upwards, her gaze following the trajectory of a flying bird, her legs and tails shaking. “You know, here, what I wanted to say, but didn’t, because” (Hiragi) “What is it, so suddenly. A death poem?” (Shuten) “Who’s going to die, this idiot demon!” (Hiragi) Hff, and she snorted roughly. I thought that this was pretty normal banter, but her cheeks were uncomfortably red. What are you trying to say? Only Hiragi would say “Lovely! Embrace!” for no reason. Though if she said such a thing I would doubt it was the original before accepting. Actually, the contents might be the Four Heavenly Kings of Water. (実は中身は水の四天王かもしれん) No, that’s a different game. “…really this idiot.” (Hiragi) “Yes, yes, my bad. And, what is it?” (Shuten) “Eh~. And, what I was saying…that. That is” (Hiragi) “Just say it and don’t hesitate.” (Shuten) “Fine I will!” (Hiragi) Don’t keep averting your eyes then. After focusing, she still had a youthful blush on her cheeks…No, she’s older. I always forget. ‘Um, and, but, and, because, and.’ It was that Hiragi (about 200 years old), who was trying to arrange her words in a meaningful way. What do you want to say. Hey. Tell me already. “Um…Shuten!!” (Hiragi) “What is it?” (Shuten) As I wondered with my mouth shut, her cheeks continued to be flushed, while even her fox ears were redder than usual. Her eyes were also slightly moist, making me feel kind of embarra.s.sed. What kind of revelation was this going to be. “…um, th..anks” (Hiragi) “Ah?” (Shuten) “That’s why! Thank you for your help!! Three times you’ve saved my life!!” (Hiragi) “……” (Shuten) “What are you doing tilting your head like that, hold out your fingers and count!! Unless you had taken me out from that rock I would have been dead! Unless you had helped me from being hit again in the forest I would have been dead! I don’t know what would have become of me if you had not come to the academy at that time! Yes, three!!” (Hiragi) “…Ah” (Shuten) “What is ‘Ah’!! That strange tone of voice!!” (Hiragi) “No, that rock is news to me.” (Shuten) “Is that all you have to say!?” (Hiragi) I was scolded. Filled with anger, Hiragi rose from the bench. “Thanks Ms Matilda, we’ll come again!!” (Shuten) “See ya” (Matilda) As soon as I thanked Ms. Matilda she returned to the back of the building, while Hiragi and I headed out to the silver highway. I don’t know what damaged the mood, but that certainly wasn’t my intention. Later. “Hiragi, that’s the wrong direction.” (Shuten) “Tsu~~~!!” (Hiragi) She made a gradual U-turn. “Just kidding.” (Shuten) “Thi-this playful man should just die!? Hey!!” (Hiragi) “No, well, what?” (Shuten) With a hostile att.i.tude, hiragi dared threaten the person right in front of her. I think I saw her half-crying face. It’s so fun to tease this person, I’m glad I brought her on my journey. Also, I’m glad I could help her. Thinking about it carefully, it seems I cared enough to jump into an unknown situation like that. More than I was aware, there is no doubt something has crawled into my heart. Thinking that way, isn’t it necessary to lean on another? But I cannot put it into words. “From now on I’ll be relying on you, Hiragi.” (Shuten) “Wha…hey what are you saying!? I will say this now!? You are…really…really…that’s it!! A playful guy! An aggravating guy!” (Hiragi) “Ah, hey” (Shuten) Like a boiled octopus, down to her neck turned red, and this time she vigorously turned and walked away. Fuu~ I don’t really get it, but I never get bored with her. In the direction the clouds flow there is our next destination, though there is a port to go to first. It’s a fun trip on a s.h.i.+p from there. There are ten pearl pieces remaining. Our journey has just begun. “Hiragi, this way, really.” (Shuten) “Aaaaaaaaaaaahhhh!!” (Hiragi)
