Arifureta Shokugyou de Sekai Saikyou

Sky Dragon World Arc   Which Way is the Tomorrow for the Queen (‘s Love)

「Uuuuuuu, this is just too much……」

The queen of the sky dragon world was breaking down crying.

The place was still in the “Spring of True Dragon’s Tear” located at the bottom layer of the dragon kingdom.

It was a wide square space around a hundred meter together with the height of the surrounding. Astonishingly, the structure was made from stones that looked like glossy marble with tree roots entwining intricately around them.

From a brief glance, the place looked like ruins that got encroached by tree roots.

There was an enchantingly clear spring at the center of it. It was surrounded by a round rim for sitting like a public square’s fountain.

The queen──Roze Phiris Avenst was leaning there with her face laid down.

Silver hair that spread out dreamily. Crown that was shining gold. Smooth looking dress that looked like silk hiding her skin closely until her neck like turtleneck……

She looked like a heroine from a tale of tragedy because of the place that looked like runs and her state that was filled to the brim with air of tragic heroism. Even though she was a queen who had taken back her country, she felt like she was still a queen of a ruined country based on her aura.

「I thought, in my reunion with Hajime-sama and Tio-sama, hics, it would be with extremely touching atmosphere, and yet……I’ll kill that hero」

Killing intent leaked out with a whisper after the grieving words.

「That Kouki. This is unusual for him, mistaking the date like this. I don’t think he’s the kinda guy who would make that kinda mistake.」

「Isn’t it because of that? You know, there was that time difference and when he told her the day based on the original schedule……」

「……No, perhaps this is intentional by him.」

Ryuutarou and Suzu were whispering to each other. Then Shizuku who was beside them put forward her different opinion with a wry smile.

Hearing that, the nearby Yuuka and Atsushi and co made a face that seemed to say 「What do you mean?」「Eh, no, there’s no way Amanogaway would do something mean like that……」.

Shizuku said 「I wonder about that~. I get the feeling that he has gotten badly influenced by a certain someone……」 and her wry smile deepened. Meanwhile Tio walked toward Roze with a conflicted expression of not knowing what to say.

「Calm down, Roze. Let’s calm down for a moment. We art finally able to reunite once more. Allow us to give thee our greeting.」

「Uu, so very kind just like before……. Tio-sama, this is a misunderstanding. I, am not planning to do something like stealing someone else’s romantic partner by any……」

「Weeell, based on the poem just now……aren’t you hoping that if circumstance’s permit…?」

「Please forget about the poehmm-」

Her majesty bit her tongue from embarrassment of what Shia pointed out. She covered her face with her arms and pressed down her face on the fountain’s rim once more.

Myuu and Shia gave her a scolding 「Shia-oneechan, bad-!」「What are you doing hitting her while she’s down!」, and Shia apologized 「M-my mouth slipped……I’m sorry desuu-」, but perhaps it only worsened the awkwardness instead. Roze’s crying voice became louder.

A certain princess was watching like she had found a comrade!

We’re getting nowhere like this, Hajime thought with a sigh and looked at Aiko.

「Please.」

「Ah, yes──”Soul Repose”」

「Myy?」

Even though her head was getting blank from embarrassment, her feeling suddenly settled down heavily and Roze lifted up her face in confusion.

She blinked. She looked around and saw a lot of people with Hajime at the forefront surrounding her with a wry smile. Next she looked down on her current state.

With that, her cooled off mind cursed herself 「You insolenttt~!」. This time her face went bright red for something else.

She stood up in panic and turned her back to Hajime and co while hurriedly fixing her appearance. Then she whirled around.

With her face still bright red,

「P-please pardon my extreme rudeness-. Hajime-sama, Tio-sama, I am delighted from the bottom of my heart to be able to meet both of you once more! Also, honorable family and friends of Hajime-sama and Tio-sama, once again, my name is Roze Phiris Avenst of Dragon Kingdom Avenst! Welcome to my country! I give my appreciation for everyone’s visit!」

She gave a beautiful curtsey while lowering her head deeply.

She talked a bit rapidly on top of her voice sounding shrilly, but they could feel enough welcoming and affection from her welcome. Not only that, they could also feel deep respect from her despite her station as the queen.

That must be why, she was surely feeling strongly that she had committed a blunder. She kept her head bowed without any sign of lifting it up. Or rather, even her hands that were pinching her skirt were slightly trembling.

It wasn’t like anyone was thinking that she was rude, rather Yue and Yuuka and co were thinking 「This queen, isn’t she too amusing right from the start?」. Liliana was even looking at her with eyes of expectation that seemed to say 「It has been on my mind ever since I heard the story but……as expected this person also has the pitiful trait! Comrade!」.

But, if nobody here gave word of forgiveness to her, the person herself didn’t look like she would be able to get back on her feet. And so, Hajime stepped forward.

「What, so you’re welcoming this thief, your majesty.」

「! Hajime-sama……」

Roze lifted up her face in respond to that teasing voice and atmosphere.

「Only around a year and a half has passed huh. This reunion happen faster that I expected but……I wonder why. It feels like much longer time has passed. It’s great to see you looking well.」

「……Yes, yes-. Truly, the days feels much shorter but also longer. I, and also everyone else has been looking forward to this reunion with the both of you. I’m truly happy to be able to see the both of you once more like this.」

Roze’s smiling face brightened up sunnily. She looked like a normal girl rather than a queen.

Hajime and Tio who had such feeling of overflowing affection directed toward them looked at each other. A warm smile unconsciously rose on their face.

Somehow the atmosphere of chaos at the beginning looked like it would turn into something suitable for the original reunion and sightseeing.

Everyone thought like that except Yue, Shizuku, and probably the wryly smiling Remia. But, however.

「I welcome everyone’s arrival too. It is an honor to be able to meet everyone! This is a world that is still in the middle of recovery but, I ask everyone for a chance to provide the best hospitality we are able, so please have a good time to your heart’s content here.」

Hajime gave a nod to Roze who was delighted from being able to meet Hajime and Tio’s family and friends. Then he urged Yue and others to introduce themselves.

Yue narrowed her eyes as though to confirm something while stepping forward.

That perfect beauty and style attracted Roze’s gaze once more. Meanwhile Yue pinched the bottom of her flared skirt and gave a curtsey back.

This too was a perfect movement as befitting a former royalty. Her atmosphere was also filled with elegance and dignity. Her beautiful face that was sporting a smile that was radiating out affection was so charming it sucked in any attention.

The gesture was to show respect toward this queen of another world. At the same time it was also for displaying the dignity of the first wife. Because, this was only a guess but Roze-san, she still hadn’t known.

「……Nice to meet you, queen of this world of blue sky and dragon. I am Yue. Hajime’s wife.」

Roze who was watching captivated tilted her head 「Eh?」 by the last sentence. Her gaze wandered as though she was thinking something.

「……wife?」

「……Nn. First wife.」

「Firstwife……first wave?」

「……It means the first spouse.」

Ryuutarou and others also seemed to notice there. 「Aa~」 They looked at each other’s face.

Roze’s wandering gaze turned toward Tio. Tio spoke with a smug face.

「Umu! Yue art none other than the firs wife among us the wive~s! To Goshujin-sama, Yue art the most special among specials!」

「I don’t understand what are you saying」

While Roze-chan’s mind fell into confusion, or perhaps escaping from reality? like that, Nagumo family who had a grasp of the situation started dealing additional blow.

Shia, Kaori, Shizuku, Aiko, Liliana, and Remia introduced themselves one after another that they were also wife. In addition, Myuu called herself a daughter.

「Hae? Lotsa whifes? Ee? What’s more, even a daughteer?」

Roze-chan’s speech became garbled from excessive shock. For some reason the ground underneath her feet also felt shaky and swaying.

「What’s the meaning of this? Amanogawa’s group should have been staying here for around two months, and yet she still doesn’t know about us?」

「As I thought. I’ve somewhat guessed it from seeing her misunderstanding about our arrival date and her reaction when seeing us but……that Kouki」

Hajime looked dubious while Shizuku looked like she was holding back a headache.

Nana and Taeko moved before the flustered Roze could pull herself together. They lightly elbowed Yuuka from the sides. Are you going to introduce yourself as friend after this? Don’t step back, don’t falter! A maiden can only charge! Their eyes insisted.

T-that’s right! I decided to do my best in this trip! Yuuka held her head high with resolve even after her eyes wandered for a bit.

「M-my name is Sonobe Yuuka! Nagumo’s mistress──or some people might have not not called me or perhaps not, maybe-!!」

「Just what are you saying?」

「That’s the truth right!!」

That was the truth. Putting aside whether the people in question recognized it or not, the intelligence agency and private organization of not only their own country, but also other countries were mostly seeing their relationship like that.

It was a very vague wording but, perhaps it was at least a progress seeing that she didn’t call herself a mere friend.

In fact, Roze-chan who looked like she had gotten hit not only by just light jabs but by full powered right straight in succession and backed away with her cheeks spasming while her breathing was somewhat hyperventilating, she looked like really affected by this latest blow.

As though that latest blow was the fatal strike that made her fall doubly sure,

「Mi, mis, mis, mis~~~?」

She couldn’t comprehend. She didn’t want to. Because, she hadn’t heard about anything like that. Tio-sama wasn’t the one and only spouse? Not only that, she wasn’t even the first wife, and other than her there were seven more and even a daughter and a mistress?

「W-wait……what is everyone saying……I don’t understaa──」

Before she could finish her sentence, Roze lifted a hand to her forehead while her eyes rolled back. Then she fell backward unconscious.

It was a very magnificent rendering of a scene like in manga, where a lady received a shock and fainted with eyes rolled back.

「Whoops! That’s dangerous!」

The spring was right behind her. Roze’s feet got caught on the rim and she almost back dived just like that, but Tio hurriedly caught her body.

It was right at that timing.

『Haha-ueeeeeeee!!』

The door that led to this spring area──it actually looked like a shining spatial gap that was unfolding along a three meter door──was crossed by a small dragon with silver scales flying in.

The dragon must be in great hurry. The speed closely resembled a fast straight ball thrown by a pro baseball athlete’s best effort. Furthermore, the dragon was two size bigger than in memory.

Those eyes were saying it, 「Not fair! I also want to be hugged by Haha-ue!!」 when seeing Tio’s arms around Roze’s body.

Coupled with his demeanor that was bursting with joy, it was like a large dog jumping toward his family.

Therefore, this happened.

「No-, wai──」

「Kyuih!!」

Tio’s body whose center of gravity was leaning toward the spring to support Roze’s body floated in the air. There was also how it was difficult to brace herself due to the tree roots protruding on the ground. Anyway there was only one direction she could go.

*SPLASH*

Without even any time for Hajime and others to do anything, Tio dived into the spring while her arms were holding Roze and the silver small dragon──Kuwaibel.

「Wawawah, Tio-san! Are you alright!?」

Shia hurriedly extended her hand from the spring’s rim.

*Buhah* Tio’s face came out from the spring. The spring was unexpectedly shallow. Even falling on her butt, Tio’s face could barely reach the surface with her height.

「U-umu, I’m fine. Rather, that was quite an embarrassing thing to show everyone for not being able to brace mine self just from something like that.」

「No, I think it can’t be helped against that momentum. That would be an accident for the average people. An accident of collision against a truck running in full speed.」

「Your posture was also bad there.」

Suzu also backed up that opinion over the shining barrier. The barrier was for that. For cover. Tio was wearing blouse and wide-leg pants, so it was bad that she got soaked wet.

If Ryuutarou and co saw her figure wearing see-through clothes sticking damply on her skin, the husband would Neural*zer New! them. In that sense it was a fine play that she did. Atsushi and Noboru also gave her thumb up of appreciation for the good job she did.

「Thou art too high spirited, Kuwaibel. Well, it’s not like I doth not understand how thou feel.」

「Kyu~」

As expected he must feel guilty. Kuwaibel flew out from the spring with a splash and hovered in the air while looking blatantly despondent. Perhaps it should be said like master like servant seeing how both were unable to have normal reunion.

But, that too only lasted for a moment. He noticed Yuuka’s anxious voice. And not just him, but everyone.

「H-hey! More importantly Roze-san, is she alright!?」

Gazes were turned toward Tio’s side.

Her majesty was sinking.

『R-Roze is deaddddd!!?』

Kuwaibel’s shriek reverberated. The voice wasn’t transmitting through air, but resounding directly inside the head. It seemed to be a kind of telepathy.

That must be why. It seemed there were people standing by at the other side of the door of light. His voice reached them.

Tio got on her knee while hurriedly grabbing Roze’s collar and pulled her up. At the same time they stepped inside the area.

「Roze-sama!? Kuwaibel-sama!? What happened!」

「Please answer!」

「Your majesty! Our deepest apologies! Pardon this rudeness!!」

As a rule, anyone other than Roze and Kuwaibel must be forbidden from entering. But, it was an emergency. After all, the king dragon’s voice just screamed that her majesty the queen was dead.

The people who broke the taboo and entered inside were familiar to Hajime and Tio. The old butler with disappointing name Sabastian Orto, then the royal guard captain Olga and vice captain Jean, the Crow siblings.

And then, they witnessed it. From a glance,

「T-Tio-sama……what in the world are-」

「Mu? It’s fine, she hath not swallowed wa──」

「Why are you trying to drown Roze-sama into the spring!? Please stop that!!」

Sabas yelled in the place of the dumbfounded Crow siblings. Tio’s pupils shrank into dots. Hajime and others also went 「Heh?」 and looked at each other in confusion.

And then, they once more looked toward Tio and Roze who had just gotten pulled up.

Her eyes were rolling back while her collar was grabbed by Tio. Right now her head was lolling back powerlessly with her body looking somewhat arching backward.

……Indeed.

Certainly, the sight hinted that Tio was trying to drown Roze into the spring by force.

The situation was truly, a sighting of ongoing murder crime!

「W-wait a second! This art not how it looks like! A misunderstanding! In the first place, I hath no reason to do something like──」

Roze-chan resumed breathing in a very superb timing as though to interrupt the explanation. Her eyes snapped wide open and the first thing that she yelled out with a stiff and tense expression was,

「HAREMMM!!」

That. And then, her head lolled back again as she blacked out.

*Shinn* The place was filled with silence. A beat later, Sabas’s eyes were filled with dangerous light.

「……I see. So that’s what happened.」

「!? Do you know what’s going on!? Master!」

Captain Olga never even dreamed that the couple they were greatly indebted to would do something like harming their queen just as they were finally able to have a reunion. She entered a combat stance as a royal guard while asking the question in confusion. Her little brother Jean also pricked up his ears and listened attentively while keeping his eyes fixed on Tio and praying that what was going on was just some kind of misunderstanding.

「Roze-sama, I suspect that she made this suggestion. How about forming a harem in exchange of her giving up her dream of stealing another woman’s husband! However, due to her position as the queen, it’s self-evident that she is in need of a husband. Therefore, the one fitting to be the first wife is none other than her. No doubt that she made such assertion!!」

Sabas’s monocle was surely cloudy all over, no doubt about it. Was her other eye that wasn’t wearing any glass farsighted from age?

「I see-. And she incurred Tio-sama’s wrath with that!!」

「Roze-sama, your feeling toward Hajime-sama is to such degree-. I can’t believe it!!」

Really it was unbelievable. Apparently the eyes of the royal guard siblings were also completely cloudy.

「「「Tio-sama! Please if you have to punish someone for this disrespect then punish us! Please turn a blind eye to Roze-sama!」」」

「That’s why I’m saying that this art just a misunderstanding!! Listen to what I’m sayinggggg!!」

Tio’s roar echoed through the wide space.

Frankly speaking it was chaos. Shia and others looked at each other wondering what to do, meanwhile seeing Tio and the dragon kingdom people getting noisy,

「……Delightful people. It looks like the trip in sky dragon world will be enjoyable too.」

Yue smiled sweetly.

Her figure stepping forward with a halo from the light at the background was the very picture of the overwhelming first wife.

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The location changed to the audience hall.

Hajime and co were sitting at a magnificent long table and sofas with beautiful dark red color.

At the long table was Hajime with Yue and Tio sitting beside him. At the opposite side was Roze and Kuwaibel sitting (it had become hard to hold Kuwaibel in her arms like in the past, so he was sitting properly on a chair). Shia and Yuuka and others were on the sofas.

Standing behind Roze was the Crow siblings, along with Bovid who was serving as the supreme commander of the airplane force. He was adopting a serious posture.

However, Crow siblings were wearing extremely meek expression, while Bovid alone was glancing sideways at them looking like she was desperately stifling down his laughter.

Sabas who was wearing a similarly meek expression was serving tea with splendid workmanship. The nice aroma that was accompanying the rising steam slightly softened the strange awkwardness.

「Sabas-san! The tea is super tasty nano! Thank you so much! Nano!」

「! Fufu, your welcome. It pleases me that the tea suit your taste, Ojou-sama.」

「Ojou-sama! Mama, Myuu is Ojou-sama nano!」

「My my, it’s good that we have dressed you up isn’t it? Ufufuh」

The air softened even further by the exchange between Myuu and Sabas. Myuu was wearing an elegant dress like the uniform of a young lady school from somewhere seeing that they would meet with a queen. Remia was also matching her by wearing an outfit like a mom participating in the school entrance ceremony.

Sabas squinted fondly at the fair and courteous mother and daughter. Rather than a butler, he looked more like a good natured grandpa watching over his grandson. Surely he was remembering Roze during her childhood.

Sabas finished setting the table and quietly returned to stand behind Roze. With that as the signal,

「「「「We are extremely sorry!」」」」

Roze, Crow siblings, and then Sabas deeply bowed their head together.

The apology was for harboring groundless suspicion toward Tio and throwing the long-awaited reunion into chaos. After all, Hajime and Tio were the heroes of the country──no, that wasn’t enough at all to describe them. They were righteously the saviors.

In other words, they were VIP of VIP.

They had been told through Kouki that there was no need for exaggerated reception, even so they should still show the greatest welcome for these guests. It was even more so because they were accompanied by family and friends.

And so, Roze and others really felt 「We screwed up!」 from this.

『Haha-ue, I’m sorry. Because I misunderstood……please don’t get angry at Roze and everyone!』

「It’s fine, it’s fine, I’m not bothered. It’s great that the misunderstanding hath been solved.」

After Tio said that with a sunny smile, Roze and others lifted up their face and it seemed they were able to see from her expression that she wasn’t lying, so their expression became a bit relieved.

Next they observed Hajime’s expression, but Hajime too waved his hand lightly.

「Just like Tio said, don’t mind it. After all it looks like the cause of this also come from somewhere else in the first place……」

Vein was slightly pulsing on his forehead despite telling them to not mind it. Although, this was directed toward someone else because the cause wasn’t Roze and others just like he said.

「Even so for every single one of them……puh, kufuh, even Sabas-san──hihih」

Bovid finally couldn’t hold it back anymore and burst out laughing. He had already heard about the situation because the atmosphere was awkward when he came running after hearing about the arrival of Hajime and co.

「It was a disaster right from the start of the visit huh.」

Bovid still felt like a relaxed uncle, but his attitude was something that Hajime and Tio felt thankful instead. Yeah, it’s this kind of reunion. This is what we’re hoping for, they thought.

「Oi, Bovid. Her majesty is talking. You be quiet──」

「Well, give me a break. These siblings are different case but……her majesty is also at that age, you know, it’s puberty.」

「Bovidd! Orga told you to shut up!」

Bovid sniggered again while saying 「Pardon me!」 with a faked salute. The Crow siblings looked like they wanted to complain more at his attitude, but Roze glared at them from the side before sending Bovid a reproachful gaze.

「It looks like the relationship between all of thee hath not changed even after regaining the country. How excellent.」

「Tio-sama……」

Roze looked embarrassed, but she also smiled bashfully with a bit of happiness knowing that Tio was concerned for them.

「……I see. And so you performed a poem musical by your──」

「Aa──aa──aaaaaa!!」

It couldn’t be helped if it was because of puberty,Yue muttered in understanding. Roze’s face turned from bashfulness to maximum embarrassment in an instant and she let out strange voice in order to drown out Yue’s whisper.

The group jerked in surprise by the sudden yell. Especially Atsushi, it seemed that he was sipping the piping hot tea at that moment, so he spouted it out to the seat opposite of him. Noboru was sitting there. 「Hot!? Dirty-!? My eyees!? My eyeess!!」 He pressed his hands on his face and writhed around.

Putting that aside.

「Roze-sama? Just now……」

「I’m periodically offering prayer in the Spring of True Dragon’s Tear! As the queen, it is indispensable for me to pray not only to the ancestors as only natural, but also to our friends the dragon with gratitude and affection!!」

Roze-chan raised her voice to blow away Sabas’s suspicion with her mood and energy.

They got it. This queen was apparently using that kind of cover. In other words, she was using that place that ought to be called as the holy precinct for the dragon kingdom as her own hobby room, no doubt about it.

Certainly that must be a convenient place. After all the door could only be opened by the royal family, and as a rule it was forbidden to enter except for royalty and king dragon.

Yue smiled kindly at Roze whose eyes were darting around furiously.

「……La~lala~ ♪」

「!!?」

Roze’s cheeks reddened and she glared at Yue. Yue apologized with her eyes even while chuckling Fufuh from watching something adorable. Roze-chan, she blushed for some reason and averted her gaze.

Sabas remarked hesitantly.

「First wife-sama, is it fine for me to use that as the way to address?」

「……Nn, it is no problem.」

Being nervous before Yue when they met her for the first time was like the natural providence. After all her beauty that seemed to be inhuman and gracious aura were enough to make anyone to harbor a feeling like reverence.

Not to mention that this was the true first wife of their savior, so it was even more so.

Yue intentionally responded with joking words, perhaps because she had guessed his feeling. She even winked when saying it.

Sabas didn’t even get captivated by it and showed his gratitude with a beautiful bow. As expected from him, it seemed that with his age also came wisdom.

And then,

「I earnestly ask you to not bully her majesty too much.」

He also replied with a joking smile.

「Most likely, you have witnessed her majesty doing her hobby of reciting poem and acting theatrically by herself but……」

「!!!?!?!?!?」

It was a shocking statement for Roze. As expected from Sabas-san. He plainly heard, no, judging from his demeanor there was a big chance that he knew from the start.

The Crow siblings went 「Eh?」 in bewilderment. Bovid’s face was warping amusingly. Don’t laugh, me! He muttered while pinching the back of his hand by himself.

Of course, Roze was in a stupor. Hajime felt sympathy. I get you. I too surely made the same face when the dark history notebook I was hiding got put back in the bookshelves, he thought.

「Naturally due to her majesty’s station, the time for her to be alone so that she can recover from the fatigue of shouldering the restoration of our world and homeland is almost nonexistent, so the free time she spend in the sanctuary is necessary for her.」

「……Nn, I get that. After all I too an formerly a queen of a country.」

「Ooh! I have surmised from your bearing and elegance that cannot be hidden that you must be a personage from an august family, but that is only natural if that is the case.」

Sabas bowed deeply to show his respect once more. Faced by that, Roze who was finally almost manage to pull herself together from the shock of her hobby being known received another slight shock.

Perhaps her status as queen was her only weapon. It went without saying what that weapon was for.

「Yes! Before this I didn’t mention it because the greeting was only as a daughter-in-law of Nagumo family to the end, but I am a princess in my original world! The king who is my little brother is still a child, so in reality I am the king’s proxy. In other words, a queen.」

「Lily, why’re you making this like a competition?」

「It’s not her trying to assert superiority, rather……isn’t it because she want to create a sense of camaraderie I wonder? You know, they’re similar with how both have a little of this pitiful trait……」

「Before this too she stared at her with sparkling eyes as though saying, Comrade get! didn’t she?」

Liliana spoke insistently with a loud huff. Kaori, Shizuku, and Aiko were looking at each other looking like they didn’t know what to say in respond.

Meanwhile, Nana and Taeko also lowered their voice while nodding to each other.

「I seee. Meeres-san too said that the world’s balance is still not in order.」

「The people of dragon kingdom living together with the people who stole the country also doesn’t sound as something easy to manage.」

Roze was a young queen. She must be having it hard. It couldn’t be helped then that she turned toward musical poem that sounded painful──err, sounded like a heroine of tragedy for stress relief.

Roze caught a glimpse of such understanding from everyone and covered her face with a cry.

Hajime thought, Stop it already……This is just a public execution……. He recalled the hell when the dark history notebook that should be hidden even more elaborately was in the hand of his mother for some reason, furthermore his father who wasn’t even laughing was also with her and they started discussing the content seriously.

「W-well, in the report from Amanogawa, we know that you’ve worked really hard.」

Hajime-san gave her back up. Roze’s eyes moistened. 「Hajime-sama……」 She looked emotionally moved. Sabas-san’s eyes narrowed in inverse proportion. Additional blow was sent without mercy.

「There’s also the problem of heir in addition of the enormous fatigue.」

「「「Heir problem!」」」

「Wait Sabas! That’s!」

Nana, Taeko, and Suzu’s eyes shined. Marriage talk of a young queen. However, where her heart was leaning toward was self-evident. What kind of situation it is! They thought with deep interest even while glancing at Hajime.

Of course, Roze too was glancing at Hajime while panicking but……

「Her majesty is the only survivor of the dragon kingdom’s royal family. Her age also become sixteen this year. Considering the procedure needed for marriage, the ceremony, and then the birth of the heir, this is the time period when this matter ought to be considered with seriousness.」

「Certainly, the legitimate lineage of the royal family being just a single person art a grave problem.」

「The royal family will get extinguished if something happen to Roze-san.」

Sabas nodded deeply to Tio and Shia’s words. Roze too must knew this already. She averted her gaze slightly even while sending glances at Hajime as expected. Her expression became conflicted.

「Naturally the people are also looking forward to the birth of the heir. Inevitably──Roze-sama is currently in her popular phase from the opposite sex.」

The vulgar description came out of nowhere. But, it was the truth.

Roze’s cheeks reddened slightly. 「Could it be, gramps is giving me support? Something like, she’s going to be taken by other man if you don’t hurry y’know~?」 She also looked like she was starting to harbor a faint expectation.

「Not only her lineage, her majesty is also the hero who brought salvation to this country, so marriage proposals from nobles of dragon kingdom who have their status restored are never ceasing. In addition, her gallant figure in the day of that decisive battle has stolen the heart of numerous youths who stood witness. Nowadays there is a mountain of love letters mainly from them every day.」

「Among them, there are also those who came charging just to confess their feeling even though they know they’ll only get complete rejection, or those laying in ambush……」

「We can’t let our guard down at all as the royal guards……」

The Crow siblings showed a somewhat tired expression. The number of man seeking Roze’s hand must be just that many.

Roze’s small nose was twitching. She was looking proud 「O-oh my, there are that many?」 to the degree that she got inflated nose.

「For the time being, her majesty is rejecting all those offers. Her stock phrase for it is “There’s a gentleman who promised to meet me again!” I believe.」

「O-ou」

Sabas’s eyes glinted sharply and caught Hajime. His eyes met the glancing Roze. Roze-chan averted her eyes once more. Her cheeks were clearly reddening.

For some reason, 「Oo~」 voices that were unclear whether they sounded admiring or teasing came from Myuu and co.

「From the beginning her majesty harbor faint romantic feeling for Hajime-sama but──」

「!? Waaiitt, Sabass!? What are you frankly──」

「Of course, Roze-sama herself knows that romantic feeling ought to be casted away before it can bloom if she genuinely feel respect and affection for Tio-sama. However, it was then. Among the enslaved people of dragon kingdom, there is a maid who was in the service of the late queen mother──Abelia-sama. She presented the poem collection of her majesty’s mother that she was hiding before it could get disposed. Through that, her majesty learned. That her mother too was having a similar kind of trouble, but then she hardened her resolve and won the final victory in the battle over her majesty’s father. That is what the poem depicted.」

Everyone thought, Just what is he saying……where is this talk leading to……?

But, Sabastian-san showed no sign of caring and continued with the air of a storyteller.

「Roze-sama learned how her mother was such a fierce seeker of love, and then, the surviving servants who know how her mother was at that time gave her their support as though to egg her on, and in addition Hajime-sama is the savior so, he is the greatest possible partner to be tied together with our queen, no, if this grow into a legendary love story that will get passed down to the later generations then there will also nobody who stand in opposition to it. Roze-sama too start to get high with her own imagination, of the possibility of becoming the legendary couple……」

Everyone thought, Don’t spit out everything right in front of the person herself who must want to hide it……There look, Roze-chan is bright red, her mouth is gaping open and close like a fish seeking oxygen at a loss for words.

「Then there was the final blow.」

「Final blow?」

「Hajime-sama. I’m referring to Kouki-sama who you dispatched here.」

「Tell me everything.」

So it’s as expected……Hajime thought with vein pulsing once more. Shizuku looked like she was holding back headache again while Sabas spoke.

Roze was trying to hover around Kouki around the clock with barrage of questions about Hajime and Tio. Kouki was troubled at first knowing about Roze’s blatant feeling, but apparently one day he suddenly sported a truly invigorating smile and explained to her.

It’s fine it’s fine! Nagumo is a large hearted man so there won’t be any problem even if he get one or two more wives! He’ll definitely accept you! That guy is that kind of man after all!

Tio-san too, she absolutely won’t get angry just because there’s more wife!

But, he isn’t a man who is loose when it comes to woman just because of that. Nagumo treasure his family. That’s why, it’s important that you don’t try destroying his current family!

As long as you’re aware of that, what’s left is just to keep attacking! Push, push, and push over and over! Forget about intelligence and come at him with all your feeling!

And then, show that straightforward passion of yours to none other than Nagumo’s family!

You’re asking if there’s a chance if you manage to have Tio-sama accept it? ……Yep yep sure! If you can make the first wife accept it, surely Nagumo too will accept it!

As expected I think it’ll be hard to have Nagumo marry into your family but……

But it’s fine! Because if it’s Nagumo then he’ll be able to come meet you anytime! Aim to be the local wife! If a “gate” is installed in your private room then it’s no different than living together!

That’s why, enough with the question barrage already. I think you better practice so you can put your feeling into words properly!

「T-that Kouki, he used Nagumo’s patented not a lie but also not the actual story……?」

「That guy……he’s completely changed.」

「So this is how a hero falling into the dark side looks like.」

Ryuutarou, Atsushim and Noboru got a faraway look. The others too were at a loss for words after hearing about the hero’s deed that was more befitting of the demon god.

Of course,

「Yue, hold the fort here for a bit. I’ll go give that hero the last rite.」

「……Calm down, Hajime.」

The veins on Hajime-san’s forehead looked like they were going to burst from how hard they pulsed. The satisfied smile of Kouki saying 「Don’t think that I’ll be the one who keep getting done in forever!」 floated up in his mind.

「Judging from this, the queen getting the wrong date also seem intentional as expected.」

「Now then that Kouki, where did he learn the queen’s hobby from? If we accidentally ran into her when doing that, we’d know her feeling and she too wouldn’t be able to cover it up……was that his plan?」

「Amanogawa-kun……his scheming went that far-. Where did that justice man we knew and loved had gone to……」

「We’ve lost the disappointing hero……」

Suzu and Ryuutarou were making conjecture, while Taeko and Nana were showing look of grief (half-smiling). The hero who was losing reservation and mercy the more he got involved with the demon god……holy sword-chan, she wasn’t crying wasn’t she?

「Well, a part of it also must be because he wanted to escape Roze-san’s question barrage. Kouki isn’t good with evading question after all.」

「He at least still had the consideration to not leak Nagumo family’s information I guess.」

If Kouki wanted to, he could give her the actual picture of Nagumo family right away beforehand. It wasn’t like Hajime was telling him to keep it a secret.

But, Kouki himself didn’t know much about Roze and everyone here. There was no doubt that he hesitated about how much he should talk about Nagumo family. And so, it also took time to check with the busy Hajime for every single thing, so just in case he tried to only give answer to harmless topic.

That danger management in that area, or not blindly believing in other’s innate goodness, could that be called as growth in his part……

Although, most likely 80% of it was as harassment to the demon god that he hated, and also his feeling of wanting to foist off the slightly troublesome queen to other. The demon god too always made fun of the hero or foisting off unreasonable problem to him if there was a chance, so both were just as bad here.

「And that’s how, Roze-sama who discovered hope grew her wild idea toward great romance more and more, and finally it ended up in that state that everyone witnessed.」

The wording was quite awful, but in any case, they understood Roze’s present situation now.

She was a girl who had been living as the leader of a guerilla movement ever since she was born. Sabas was also shelving away all kinds of love letter from her. Therefore she had no relation with romance at all despite having interest to it.

She had achieved her dearest wish, she was mentally fatigued but she had stopped feeling danger that drove her into desperation like before, and there, this popular period of hers, the old tale of her mother’s love war, the servants, no, the people’s support, and then the push from Kouki who had deep relationship with Hajime……

Certainly, with all those factors present, of course her feeling would swell up without stopping. It also couldn’t be helped that the feeling of love was blooming inside her until it drove her to do a solo musical……maybe.

「I-I see?」

Hajime finished listening to Sabas’s explanation and glanced toward Roze. Roze-chan’s eyes looked dead. Was she escaping from reality?

It was only natural. Even though she hadn’t confessed herself, why should she have her feeling exposed to the person such feeling was directed to by her butler along with an objective explanation to go with it?

As expected even Shia and others couldn’t help from feeling put off and sympathy 「Uwaa」to this. The like of Yuuka and Myuu were muttering 「W-what does this person think a maiden’s heart is……」「Exposing someone’s feeling of love so easily like that……you fiend nano-」 while looking at Sabas-san with eyes shuddering from fear.

「……And, what do you want to say? Are you telling Hajime to accept Roze?」

「Well, the benefit for the nation art regarded as the most important thing when it come to a royalty’s marriage after all. If there art no problem with the opinion of the mass and the feeling of the person herself too, then it’s true that there art no better person for it other than Goshujin-sama.」

Yue who was concerned by the state of Roze’s heart looked a bit angry. Tio was commenting Sabas’s action with a dubious air.

Sabas closed his eyes against that question and a second passed. Then he opened his mouth with a troubled look.

「I, no, gramps is hoping for Roze-sama’s happiness.」

Certainly, it was just as Tio said. He should support the queen as a person of the dragon kingdom.

But, to Sabastian who had been watching over Roze and raised her ever since she was a baby and the throne of the dragon kingdom was usurped, through the days when they were living on the run, and until this present day, his parental love surpassed his feeling as a former royal guard and present butler.

「Therefore, I can’t help but feel worried despite knowing that it is unfounded. I’m aware that Hajime-sama harbor no feeling of love toward Roze-sama but──」

This statement too was uttered smoothly as though it was a self-evident truth. Roze trembled with a jerk hearing that, but she was ignored for now.

「I’m worried that Roze-sama’s feeling would be taken advantage of……no, the way I said that make it sounds worse. Yes, I’m worried whether Roze-sama will get treated like a “convenient woman”.」

「Doesn’t that sound even worse? You, actually hate me aren’t you? Isn’t that right?」

As expected even Hajime’s gaze became a glare. Just what kind of person do you think I am, his eyes said.

Myuu also raised her voice 「Papa won’t do something horrible like that nano!」 in protest. Even Roze temporarily recovered from her shocked state and gave a scolding 「There’s a limit even in being rude!」.

Certainly, it was an extremely insolent distrust against a VIP.

But, gramps didn’t stop because he was gramps. Even if it was disrespectful or it would get him cut down in this place he had to make it clear! So he continued with an expression of determination.

「I swear that I’m not speaking based on my personal value of likes and dislikes. You are the savior and our benefactor. Rather I hold nothing but the greatest respect and gratitude for you. I also find your disposition as likeable.」

He wasn’t lying. Anyone could know that from looking at his eyes.

Even Hajime got a bit embarrassed 「O-oo」 by the unexpected high evaluation. Yue and others conversely became even more dubious 「Then why?」, while Sabas raised his voice even louder.

「But however! But however I say! We really cannot let our guard down against you!」

「Haa? Just what in the world are you──」

「Have you forgotten how you used skillful words to lead her majesty to make a commitment that you used to steal our second homeland──Avenst from us?」

Hajime-san suddenly averted his gaze. Voices of 「Ah」 slipped out from here and there inside the room.

Sabas-san gave no leeway for interruption as though to finish his statement in one stroke.

「Even that evil dragon got his weakness grasped and beaten up by meteor shower. You made use of even this world’s imbalance to obtain energy that surpassed even king dragon’s core within the palm of your hand.」

「T-that happened didn’t it」

Hajime averted his gaze even further. Right toward the eyes of Yue beside him that looked like she was looking at a difficult person. His eyes somehow ran away toward the ceiling.

「In the first place, you’re someone with a principle of accepting affection without reservation.」

「No, it’s not affection in romantic sense but goodwill……」

「In fact, there are this many people whose affection you have accepted.」

Sabas’s eyes wandee~red toward Yue and others.

Of course, Hajime didn’t accept their affection with lighthearted feeling. Rather Shia and others knew better than anyone else just how difficult the path to reach that point was.

But, objectively speaking what Sabas pointed out was the truth, so Hajime-san was a bit speechless.

「With that as the premise, I ask you to try thinking of the current situation objectively.」

Objective thinking of the present situation.

Yes, a personnel who received a mission from Hajime visited. This person then spoke to Roze as though recommending her to accept polygamy.

And yet, this person concealed the detail surrounding Hajime’s marriage relationship.

In reality, it came to light during the reunion with Hajime that he had a harem.

Furthermore, according to the explanation that Kouki gave when he was here, they should consider about interaction with other world in the future with the revival of the Dragon Tree.

「Although you are the savior there is no denying that you are an outsider to our country’s politic. It is a self-evident fact that you will be able to hold far greater influence in the position as the prince consort.」

「「「「「「Yep, it can’t be helped that you feel suspicious (isn’t it)!!」」」」」」

Ryuutarou, Atsushi, Noboru, Nana, Taeko, and Suzu’s voices harmonized beautifully. Shia and others were also smiling wryly to this.

Certainly examining objectively, and also based on his feeling as parent, of course Sabas would feel worried even if nobody else did. That would make him wanted to ask questions just in case of the worst-case scenario.

Yue and Tio’s hand plopped on Hajime’s shoulders. They did that while looking at him with strangely lukewarm gaze.

「……Hajime, this is perhaps, a bit unavoidable?」

「Forgive me, Goshujin-sama. As expected it’s hard to complain after being faced with such facts.」

「P-Papa, wait for a bit nano. Myuu will find the right words to follow up nano!」

Myuu’s words stabbed right to the core of papa’s heart.

Sabas-san’s troubled smile deepened even further.

「Even if by some chance my apprehension is right on the mark, if it’s Hajime-sama then surely you will bring a future where nobody is unhappy. I have faith that you are that kind of person after all.」

That was exactly why his argument could also be said as nasty but……anyway.

Sabas was Roze’s gramps. He thought of Roze like his own daughter. Even if he was accused as making excessive demand, he still wished for Roze’s partner to be someone who would prioritize Roze above all else.

Hearing what Sabas actually felt, Roze muttered 「Gramps……」 with a happy look. Kuwaibel, the Crow siblings, and also Bovid were staring at Sabas with a look of understanding.

Sabas stared back lovingly at such Roze while opening his mouth. He clearly conveyed where this talk was leading, in the clearest term possible.

「That’s why, Hajime-sama」

「Yeah」

Roze’s eyes moistened. She completely thought that gramps was wishing for her to not merely be not unhappy, but for her to be the happiest that she could──

「Gramps wish for Roze-sama to be the happiest that she could possibly be. I wish for her to receive genuine love, not merely something calculating or coming from mere consideration.」

「Gramps!」

「That’s why please, I’m begging you! If you don’t have any intention to answer her feeling!」

「Gramps……?」

「I beg you to please give the final word clearly and decisively to this rosy-eyed and adolescent Roze-sama!」

「Gramps!?!?!?」

「Got it. I declare it here. I don’t have any plan to answer Roze’s feeling at all. I also don’t plan to take advantage of her so please be at ease.」

Hajime-san declared with a serious expression. Sabas bowed deeply. All of the rest of the people were looking completely put off.

And then, Roze-chan whose eyes were rolled back. She was whispering 「I’m rejected, even though I haven’t even confessed?」 with a hoarse voice.

But just as it looked like she was going to faint, the way she looked at gramps was becoming cooolder.

「……Certainly? I understand that it’s desirable for the problem of successor to be solved as quickly as possible. Yes, that is my duty as the queen isn’t it?」

A small handgun was taken out from her pocket with a naturally smooth movement. Apparently she had run out of patience.

「Looking at everyone here, even I can see the depth of the bonds between them, and I can also understand the sound reasoning of cutting thing off early if there’s no hope so I can choose a more realistic partner.」

While everyone was watching with a startled look, her majesty put her hand over the slide and loaded the first bullet into the chamber smoothly.

「But, but you know?」

Inside the room that was enveloped in a bizarre atmosphere, Fufufu- a strange laughing voice echoed.

The next moment.

「It should be fine for me to dream at least during this tripppppppp!!」

*Clack* A chair fell while the queen raised her voice angrily. The royal guard siblings rushed with wonderful reaction speed. Kuwaibel also bit on the gun barrel to hold it down.

「Let go! I can’t kill gramps!」

「You must not-, Roze-sama! Please restrain yourself!」

「That’s right, your majesty! You won’t be able to kill him with just gunshot anyway! Look, he’s holding a silver tray for shield behind his back! I don’t know when and from where he took it out though!」

『Roze! I understand how you feel but let the gun go──kuh, the grip strength is increasing again!?』

「Roze-sama! My deepest apologies for overstepping myself! But, but gramps……couldn’t allow something like showing the people of this country the figure of Roze-sama trying to appeal at Hajime-sama during this trip only to get completely ignored-」

「Sabas-san, I understand your feeling but I think you better be quiet for a bit yeah. Look, her majesty’s completely is turning dark red from fury.」

The people of dragon kingdom was making big commotion with the queen herself at the forefront.

Certainly, Hajime too would be troubled if he a girl kept making appeal at him during the trip, so he thought giving the answer early would be better but……

「Is this also my fault?」

「……Nn~, I think you don’t need to worry about it. If her feeling can break with this, then it’s true that it’ll be better for her to choose someone else.」

「Indeed. Or rather, Sabas-dono……he saw Roze’s barrage of question and got worried that she might be an annoyance during our trip too, so he pointed all the hate toward himself with this action……art that simply me overthinking it?」

They talked like that while drinking tea and waited for a while until the queen calmed down.

Roze then finally calmed down, however, she was lying prostrated on the table perhaps because of broken heart, or perhaps because of embarrassment. She acted like she wanted to enter a hole if there was one.

Yue and others were looking at her like they were looking at a difficult person.

From behind Hajime was feeling gazes on him that seemed to say 「Say something to her」 with Yuuka and Myuu at the forefront. He scratched his cheek while looking like he really didn’t know what to say.

And then, to change the place’s atmosphere, or perhaps as a method to give recovery to Roze’s mental state, he spoke of the promise of the past.

「I brought the remodeled Avenst with me but……」

「!?」

The effect was striking. Roze’s face snapped up just like planned. Her eyes met Hajime and her gaze wandered around due to awkwardness and embarrassment but,

「Want to go look at it now?」

「I’ll gooo!!」

It seemed that it served as impetus for her to pull herself together.

Hajime felt a bit relieved even while, if nothing else,

「Anyway, I’ll secretly send Emily’s special energy drink (for night battle use (deep meaning)) to Moana and Aula later.」

He resolved to commit a plain harassment.

Of course, it earned him conflicted gaze from Yue and others.

.

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

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

I had no time and wrote this quickly so I might revise it later.

Putting that aside, I’m really sorry even though the sky dragon world arc has just started but, my schedule is packed for the year-end and New Year holidays so it looks like it’ll be difficult to update. I’ll update if I can write in my spare moment but, just in case, the next chapter will be at 11 or 18.

And so, this might be the last update for this year so I’ll give my greeting here.

Thank you so much for accompanying this story that is based fully on my preference this year too! It will continue for a bit more next year too but, it will make me happy if we can have fun together until the end!

The anime third season will also continue for a bit more, so best regards! Well then everyone! Have a good year!!

※Please let me notify once more. The original story volume 14 is planned to be released at 25 December!

The content is after story and the chronology is rewritten. I’ve touched it up considerably. It’ll be great if everyone can enjoy the relaxed and mellow and super sweet everyday arc!

Special perk information https://blog.over-lap.co.jp/tokuten_arifureta14/

※Also, Blu-ray vol 1 of Anime third season will be released too! Please look at this one too!

I also wrote special perk story for it. This time it’s only about 40 page but it’s not a special perk for buying all the volumes but attached to each volume. Also, there are other special perks too so please check it out. Best regards!

Special perk information https://arifureta.com/bluray/4318