“Haha, sorry, Takatsuki-kun. I was a bit too above myself there.” (Sakurai)
“It has been a while, Sakurai-kun. I am back.” (Makoto)
“…Even though Althena-sama herself said it was difficult to return to the present… This really is…this really is a relief…” (Sakurai)
The eyes of Sakurai-kun were red as he said this refreshingly.
Teasing him for this would be tactless.
“Makoto-san…I am so happy…I could see you again…” (Leonard)
“Prince Leonard, it has been a while. I couldn’t tell it was you at first.” (Makoto)
Prince Leonard only looked like a beautiful girl before.
After 1 year, he has grown and now looks like a handsome young man teetering between male and female.
“No, I still have a long way to go. But I am now better at using my Holy Sword! Check it out later.” (Leonard)
“Yeah, I definitely would like to.” (Makoto)
“I have been practicing the sword with Leo-kun.” (Sakurai)
“I improved on the sword thanks to Ryosuke-san.” (Leonard)
Looks like the two are close.
When these two handsome guys line up, I end up wondering if this is an idol group.
“Takatsuki-kun, welcome back!”
My shoulder was smacked lightly.
When I look back, I see a slender female knight.
“Yokoyama-san, it has been a while.” (Makoto)
One of the many wives of Sakurai-kun, Yokoyama Saki-san.
She was called the number one class beauty.
“Hey, have you met Aya already?! Every time I met her, she would cry about you!” (Saki)
“Yeah, I already met her. She did cry.” (Makoto)
“Right?! Don’t go leaving her anymore, okay?!” (Saki)
“Yeah, I won’t.” (Makoto)
I am being overwhelmed by the intensity of Yokoyama-san.
“You seem to be doing well, Yokoyama-san.” (Makoto)
When I said this, she made a big smile.
“Fufufu, look at this. Pretty, right? Ryosuke bought it for me.” (Saki)
She then showed me her left hand’s ring finger, and there was a big engagement ring shining.
She looked slightly more mature than before.
So this is the charm of a wife, huh.
“It suits you.” (Makoto)
“Thanks. You buy one for Aya too, okay?!” (Saki)
“Y-Yeah, I will.” (Makoto)
The conversation from Yokoyama-san has no brakes.
“Saki, Takatsuki-kun has just returned and must be tired.” (Sakurai)
“Okay~, got it, Ryosuke.” (Saki)
Sakurai-kun gave me a helping hand here.
I was saved.
At any rate, where do they sell engagement rings?
Don’t think they sell those in armory stores or tool stores.
Can Fuji-yan order some for me if I ask him?
(You…at least search with your own feet for something like an engagement ring.) (Ira)
A baffled voice resonated in my head.
Is it no good, Ira-sama?
(Not good not good. Listen here, such things are a once in a lifetime moment, so it is a really important event for a girl and…) (Ira)
I got a scolding from Ira-sama.
Now that I think about it, the Destiny Goddess-sama is also the Goddess of Love, right?
While I was listening from one ear and out the other…
(Oi, don’t ignore me.) (Ira)
I am listening~.
“Oh? Isn’t the one there Hero Makoto-dono?”
“Muh…didn’t the Water Country’s Hero-dono get seriously injured in the battle against the Beast King Demon Lord?”
“No, from what I heard, he lost his arms and legs.”
“I heard he already died.”
“No matter how you look at him, he seems to be doing fine though?”
“Are we mistaking him for someone else?”
“But he is so close to the Light Hero Sakurai-sama…so isn’t that him for sure?”
People began to gather in droves.
Rather than saying they gathered because of me, it was more like they were gathering because they were curious as to who I am since I am talking so amicably with the Light Hero Sakurai-kun.
Leaving aside the serious injury, there were rumors spreading that I lost my limbs or died.
Looks like a lot of speculations surfaced after a Hero disappeared from the front stage.
After that, I was surrounded by a ton of people in the castle and was barraged by questions.
While I was worrying about how to answer them, Princess Sofia took over for me in the middle and dealt with them.
I am no good when surrounded by people, so she saved me there.
It took 2 hours to go around greeting the influential people in the Highland Castle.
Looks like that was the objective.
It is gonna take some more time before I can go back to being an active Hero though.
I am currently the Hero that got injured in the battle against a Demon Lord and has retired, a Honorary Hero.
Princess Sofia is currently talking with what seems to be the Prime Minister at a slightly separated location.
“Because Noel-sama is occupied with a different matter, we can’t allow an audience today”, is what I heard.
Looks like I won’t be able to meet Princess Noel.
She is someone with a standing, so it can’t be helped.
Shining blonde hair and blue gem-like eyes.
The moment I remembered that face of hers…
—“Makoto-san, please stay with me for a bit longer.”
The face of Anna-san who I spoke with 1,000 years ago suddenly surfaced in my mind.
It feels like it was just yesterday, but she was present 1,000 years ago.
A far past.
I managed to reunite with Momo.
But Anna-san is already…
I end up sentimental no matter what.
No good, gotta calm my mind.
Clear Mind, Clear Mind.
Princess Sofia came back from her conversation.
Looks like she has made an appointment with Princess Noel.
“Sorry for the wait. Let’s go back to the Fujiwara Company.” (Sofia)
“Thanks for the hard work, Sofia.” (Makoto)
“I haven’t done much.” (Sofia)
She smiles with a slightly tired countenance.
Me feeling bad for making her do all this must have shown in my face.
“If you are going to be considerate with me, pamper me a whole lot.” (Sofia)
She whispered in my ear so no one else heard it.
I pampered her a whole lot even on our way back in the carriage.
After we got back to the Fujiwara Company, Princess Sofia said she had some business to attend to and left.
She really is a hard worker.
She said she will be back by the celebration party.
“Hey hey, Makoto, let’s go meet Furi!” (Lucy)
“Yeah, Fu-chan really wants to meet you!” (Aya)
Lucy and Sa-san told me this the moment I got back.
“Alright, let’s go.” (Makoto)
The celebration party that Fuji-yan set to celebrate my return is at night, so there’s still time.
And most of all, I want to talk with Furiae-san.
I did worry her by leaving to the past after all.
“Then, hold my hand.” (Lucy)
Lucy offered me her right hand.
“Hm?” (Makoto)
I hold her hand without knowing what’s going on.
Sa-san holds the other hand of Lucy as if used to this.
“Hoi, [Teleport].” (Lucy)
“Eh?” (Makoto)
The scenery warped in front of me and everything went pure white.
The next instant, a beautiful cityscape spread before my eyes.
“L-Lucy…” (Makoto)
“Ehehe, I’ve gotten better at Teleport, right?” (Lucy)
I honestly think it is impressive.
While I was moved by this, I checked my surroundings.
A whole lot of unfamiliar buildings I haven’t seen in the capital of Highland.
The people walking around are all wearing robes.
Is it a city with a lot of mages?
“Where’s this?” (Makoto)
“The 9th District.” (Lucy)
Lucy answered my question.
“9th Dis—eh? This is that slum?” (Makoto)
It is completely different from before.
The district where criminals, the mafia, and devilkin lived.
The tattered buildings.
The vagabonds that were lying around on the road are nowhere to be seen.
“Impressive, right? It changed this much in just one year.” (Lucy)
“Fu-chan did her best in order to make it easier for the devilkin in the 9th District to live in.” (Aya)
“Hoh~.” (Makoto)
I look around restlessly at the new 9th District.
This was done by Furiae-san…
As expected of the Moon Oracle…no, she is a Holy Maiden now.
But there’s one thing that bothers me.
“Hey, Lucy, why is Princess not at Laphroaig but at Highland?” (Makoto)
I thought for sure she was restoring her homeland.
“Uhm, about that…” (Lucy)
Just when Lucy was about to say something…
“Ah! Lucy-san!”
“It is Aya-chan!”
“The Crimson Fangs! So cool~!”
“Who is the one with them?”
“Must be their luggage carrier.”
“He is so thin it doesn’t look like he can carry anything though~.”
The children were gathering around Lucy and Sa-san.
And I was getting dissed at so naturally.
“Hey, can you not call my boyfriend a luggage carrier?” (Lucy)
“Takatsuki-kun is our husband after all.” (Aya)
The two covered for me.
Those words made the children go ‘eh?’.
“Lucy-san and Aya-chan’s man is an incredible guy, right?”
“I heard he is a super strong Hero though?”
“This guy doesn’t have any mana.”
“Is he really strong~?”
I was casted eyes of doubt.
“Muh, Makoto, show them a bit of your serious power.” (Lucy)
“Takatsuki-kun, use your usual water magic. A super flashy one!” (Aya)
Lucy and Sa-san fan me on.
But…
“If I were to use Spirit Magic in the city, it would get hectic.” (Makoto)
Now, what should I do?
While I was pondering about this…
“Our King, are you troubled?”
*Thum!*
Dense mana fills up the air.
It was suffocating as if I had been thrown into the water despite being right in the city.
The devilkin children closed their mouths shut, and the people passing by were startled as they looked this way.
Even Lucy and Sa-san were making serious looks.
One of the children opened their mouth as if finally managing to speak.
“N-Nii-chan…who is this woman…?”
“A Great Water Spirit, an Undine.” (Makoto)
“““?!”””
The children made shocked faces as if they had water splashed on their faces.
Cute.
“Fufufu, I listen to anything Our King says. I can even sink this whole city into water in a matter of minutes. Do you understand the greatness of Our King now?” (Dia)
Dia’s tone was kind, but the children were spaced out as if they had even forgotten how to breathe from the outrageous mana of the Undine.
Also, don’t say something so dangerous.
The children have gone pale.
“Dia, suppress your mana.” (Makoto)
“Yes, Our King.” (Dia)
The Great Water Spirit thins her mana on my order.
The children were finally released from the tension and their expressions softened.
“Woah, Nii-chan.”
“The comrades of Lucy-san and Aya-chan really are on a whole different level.”
“Why is your skin blue, Onee-san?”
“How did you make a Great Water Spirit your comrade?!”
As a result, I was showered with questions.
Looks like I managed to protect the honor of Lucy and Sa-san.
“…Hey, Makoto?” (Lucy)
“Ta.ka.tsu.ki.-kun~?” (Aya)
Hm?
I felt chills down my back.
When I look back wondering what’s the matter…
““Who is that woman?””
Lucy and Sa-san asked at the same time.
Eh? The two are…not acquainted with Dia, right.
“She is an Undine that became my comrade 1,000 years ago…” (Makoto)
“Makoto has gotten another woman!” (Lucy)
“Takatsuki-kun, you idiooooooot!!” (Aya)
“Wait, that’s not—!” (Makoto)
“Our King, waiting is no pain for me, but now that you have called me out, I would like you to spend time with me.” (Dia)
I don’t know if this is Dia not reading the room or she is just doing this purposely, but she hugged me.
No, you came out on your own.
It took me quite a bit of time to explain to Lucy and Sa-san.
◇◇
We advanced through the 9th District and arrived at a big mansion.
It is apparently the ambassador building of Laphroaig.
It seems Furiae-san is staying here.
“Ooh! Lucy-sama, Aya-sama! I am delighted to see you visiting us.”
The gatekeeper devilkin shows a delighted expression the moment they see Lucy and Sa-san.
Looks like they are acquaintances.
“Hello.” (Lucy)
“We came to see Fu-chan.” (Aya)
“Go ahead, go right ahead…oh? Who is that man there?”
Lucy and Sa-san can pass just like that, but it looks like it won’t be the same with me who is a stranger.
“The Country Designated Hero of Rozes, Makoto.” (Makoto)
“?! You are!!”
The moment he heard my name, the color of the gatekeeper’s face changed.
“Wait a moment here please! I will call a higher-up!”
They disappeared inside the building in the blink of an eye.
There were two gatekeepers, and the remaining one was looking at me with great interest.
“Is something the matter?” (Makoto)
I felt like they wanted to say something, so I spoke first.
“My apologies! …I didn’t expect to meet the real Takatsuki Makoto-sama.”
The ‘real’, they say.
They are holding quite the excessive impression of me.
“Who did you hear about me from?” (Makoto)
I thought for sure it was Lucy or Sa-san who had told exaggerated stories about me.
“From Her Majesty, of course!”
Hm?
My thoughts stop for a moment there.
The Queen of the Moon Country.
The face of the Calamity Witch surfaced in my mind.
But there’s no way that’s the case.
There’s no royalty in the Moon Country.
In the first place, it didn’t exist as a country.
In other words, the one leading them is…
“Aah, he found out.” (Lucy)
“We were thinking about surprising him when they met.” (Aya)
Lucy and Sa-san pouted, so I could come to one conclusion.
“Could it be that Princess Furiae-san is the Queen of the Moon Country?” (Makoto)
“That’s right. Surprised?” (Lucy)
“Fu-chan is the ruler of the Moon Country!” (Aya)
“Ooh…” (Makoto)
That’s surprising.
I see.
Furiae-san is the Queen, huh…
It fits her.
“But can we meet the Queen without an appointment? Also, stuff like greetings…” (Makoto)
“What are you saying? We are party comrades, right?” (Lucy)
“Fu-chan doesn’t mind that small stuff.” (Aya)
Lucy and Sa-san laugh off my worries.
Yeah, figures.
First, I will report about how I have returned safely, and I will have Furiae-san tell me about the recent state of things from her own mouth.
—A few minutes later.
A man with expensive-looking clothes came here with hurried steps along with two bodygurads at both sides.
I don’t see Furiae-san.
“Excuse the wait. I heard the Honorary Hero of Rozes, Takatsuki Makoto-dono, has come to visit.”
A strong tone and a sharp gaze.
It wasn’t an amicable attitude.
“It has been a while, Havel. Is Furi doing well?” (Lucy)
“Havel-kun, is Fu-chan away?” (Aya)
Lucy and Sa-san must be acquainted with him, they speak frankly towards him.
Havel…
I feel I have heard that name before.
I think it was a friend of Furiae-san in the Moon Country’s ruins.
However, his attire here is completely different from that time, and the impression he gives is like day and night.
“Lucy-sama, Aya-sama, it has been a while. It is a great pleasure to see you have taken your time to come on this day.” (Havel)
His tone is soft towards the two.
It seems like this wasn’t an act, he truly respects Lucy and Sa-san from the bottom of his heart.
Because of that, his attitude towards me looked crude in contrast.
The eyes he uses to look at me are…beyond cold.
“Are you the Honorary Hero-dono of the Water Country?” (Havel)
We have met once, but his tone was as if he doesn’t remember me at all.
Lucy and Sa-san were making dubious faces.
Looks like they are finding it strange that his attitude was different only with me.
I also find it strange.
“Yes, I am Takatsuki Makoto.” (Makoto)
“And so, what brings you here today?” (Havel)
“I have come to meet Princess—I mean, Furiae-san.” (Makoto)
When I tell him my objective, the man furrowed his brows
“Please refrain from calling Her Majesty in such a manner. So, what’s your objective for meeting her?” (Havel)
As business-like as it can be.
My objective for meeting her, huh.
It is hard to explain.
Only a number of people know that I went to the past.
There’s a chance he hasn’t been told about this by Furiae-san.
“Actually, I went on a dangerous journey by an oracle, and I managed to safely come back, so I came here to notify her of this.” (Makoto)
That’s not wrong.
“Understood. In that case, I will notify Her Majesty Furiae of your safe return. If it is only that, please take your leave.” (Havel)
The visit was refused.
Looks like he doesn’t want me to meet Furiae-san.
“…I want to meet her and tell her personally though?” (Makoto)
“Furiae-sama is busy. She doesn’t have time to spare for this.” (Havel)
The conversation was going nowhere.
After that, Lucy and Sa-san joined the conversation and explained the situation.
We tried to fight on for a while, but in the end, we weren’t allowed in the embassy building, and ended up having to withdraw.
◇◇
“What’s the meaning of this?! That man…!” (Lucy)
“Havel-kun today was weird, right, Lu-chan?!” (Aya)
“Even though he is always bowing profusely at us!” (Lucy)
“Even though we helped him out when a dragon attacked the Moon Country!” (Aya)
“I helped a comrade of his that was about to be eaten by a chimera and was thanked by him!” (Lucy)
“What an ungrateful bum, isn’t he, Lu-chan?!” (Aya)
“Aya! From here on, we aren’t taking a single request from him anymore!” (Lucy)
“Yeah, totally agree! I won’t be accepting even if he asks!” (Aya)
Lucy and Sa-san were burning with anger.
Thanks to that, I missed my chance to get angry.
By the way, Havel is in a high position in the new Moon Country.
But it seems like the high ranked adventurers, Lucy and Sa-san, have helped them out greatly and he can’t raise his head towards them.
That’s why his attitude today was weird.
“Hmph, fine. Makoto, the next plan!” (Lucy)
“Right. Honestly speaking, we can meet Fu-chan anytime we want after all.” (Aya)
It seems Lucy and Sa-san have said everything they wanted to say, their anger decreased.
“What do you mean by that?” (Makoto)
When I ask, Lucy and Sa-san’s faces switched to impish ones.
“If push comes to shove, just Teleport to the room of Furi!” (Lucy)
“Shove! Lu-chan, so cool!” (Aya)
Lucy makes a smug face and Sa-san fans it.
“…”
Is it really okay?
The thought pattern of Lucy is becoming almost the same as her mother, Rosalie-san.
And it looks like Sa-san is not the stopper of Lucy.
They are both rilers.
(But well, that’s fine I guess.) (Makoto)
It is true that it would work if it is just meeting Furiae-san.
■Comments Response:
>Noah-sama! Furiae! Noel-sama!
>Still stretching it, huh.
→ Sorry, they still haven’t shown up yet… Just wait!
>Makoto has returned to the present 1 year after, but how much time did he spend in the past?
>They defeated the Great Demon Lord, repaired the Holy Sword, and subjugated the remaining Demon Lords…
Thinking about it normally, it should be about 3-5 years…
→About this, there will be an explanation in the . You are all so sharp!
Comments