Published at 17th of August 2019 8:37 am

Volume 14, Chapter 3: A Weekend in Forthorthe

This chapter is updated by NovelFree.ml

Part 1

Trying to return from Forthorthe 2,000 years ago to present day Earth, Koutarou and Clan had a big problem, and that was that the spaceship, the Cradle, had broken down and couldn't fly through space.

The part of the ship that had broken down was a small part, and as long as Clan could get her hands on a replacement, she could finish repairs within five minutes. But that part wasn't something she could get her hands on in the past Forthorthe. That's why Koutarou and Clan had to wait until it started getting produced.

There were two things they needed in order to be able to wait for 2,000 years. That was the technology to stop time, and a place where they could wait for 2,000 years. The former was something the Cradle was equipped with, and Clan had an idea for the latter.

That place was called 'Bertorion's special territory'. Koutarou and Clan would hide the Cradle in an area that Alaia would later declare as an inviolable domain. They would then freeze time on board the ship and wait 2,000 years.

“It's over.”

“Are you sure? It doesn't feel like anything happened...”

“That's only natural. The time onboard was frozen after all.”

It didn't feel like time had stopped to Koutarou. Clan had been busily working on her operator's panel, and nothing similar to what he had thought would happen occurred.

“I thought it would glow or shake or something.”

“I think that happened, but since we were frozen in time, we couldn't perceive it.”

“So we're 20 years in the past now?”

“That's right. If you step out, you'll see.”

Using the Cradle's ability to distort space, Clan had altered the speed at which time progressed inside the ship and outside. With that, a single moment onboard was 2,000 years outside. Glowing and shaken had occurred at the very start, but it only lasted for a few seconds on the outside, and it wasn't long enough that Koutarou could perceive it inside.

“However, it isn't exactly 20 years.”

Clan continued to busily operate her panel while explaining to Koutarou. She had to confirm the Cradle's current condition and the likes, so there was a lot to do.

“What do you mean?”

“People celebrating the 2,000th anniversary of Alaia-san's ascension to the throne might come if we arrive at precisely the same day we came, right? I set it so that we'd arrive a little before the ceremony.”

“I see.”

While 'Bertorion's special territory' was an inviolable domain that Alaia had created and entry was forbidden, it didn't mean that people wouldn't enter. People from the Pardomshiha family, who were in charge of managing the territory, would patrol the area, and people from history programs would get permission to shoot inside, as long as they didn't disturb the environment.

And since 20 years ago was the 2,000th anniversary of Alaia's ascension to the throne, the amount of people would inevitably increase. That's why Clan adjusted the time so that they wouldn't come into contact with someone.

“Then I'll take a look outside. You keep doing that.”

“I'm counting on you.”

Koutarou left Clan behind and left the cockpit. Since Clan had some work to do after their time travel, Koutarou went outside to confirm that it was safe.

“But don't go too far.”

As Koutarou left the cockpit and entered the living quarters, Clan's hologram appeared. Her hologram moved along with him.

“I know. You get lonely easily after all.”

“That's not what I meant!!”

“Don't worry. There is no way I would leave my beloved princess Clariossa behind and vanish.”

“... You... I will kill you someday...”

Clan's hologram was there to assist Koutarou. As long as he didn't go too far away from the Cradle, he could talk to Clan and she could back him up with equipment from the ship.

However, Koutarou misunderstood Clan on purpose to tease her. That irritated Clan, even more than normal since she actually was feeling a little lonely. As a result, Clan's tone and eyes were more aggressive than normal.

“When we get back to the present time, prepare yourself for pain!”

“This is a good chance, how about you teach me a sport played in Forthorthe?”

“Geez, I hate that side of you!”

While listening to Clan's angry voice, Koutarou walked through the living quarters and headed towards the airlock leading outside. Doors and hatches opened automatically for him, one after another. This was thanks to Clan.

“Isn't it a little bit too late for us to fight?”

“Then stop with that provoking attitude!”

Alongside Clan's grudgeful voice, the last hatch opened before Koutarou. As it did, warm air blew in from the outside.

Ah, 2,000 years have passed, hasn't it...

Koutarou and Clan had parted with Alaia and the others in winter. The air back then had been cold. This change in temperature allowed Koutarou to actually feel like time had passed.

“Yeah, my bad.”

“Seriously now... That aside, I don't want to get into the same kind of trouble as 2,000 years ago. Let's be careful in this age.”

“That was the plan, but... there's something I want to apologize for.”

“What?”

“It's already too late.”

Past the airlock, outside the Cradle was a single girl who had fallen on her butt. With an astonished look on her face she blankly stared up at Koutarou.

Theia...?

Koutarou was just as surprised. He had been surprised by her sudden appearance, but what shocked him the most was her looks. She looked very similar to a girl he vividly remembered. However, she was one size taller, her face was more mature and her hair was much longer. Since this was a different age, it was clear that it was a different person, but he still couldn't restrain his surprise as she looked just like the girl in his memories.

She was in this place because she was an archaeologist.

Her archaeology team was working to shed light on the many mysteries of the life of Forthorthe's legendary hero, the Blue Knight.

The research on the Blue Knight was mostly centered around the notes that the famous Silver Princess, Alaia, had left behind. That said, not everything had been written down in Alaia's notes. Different research records were necessary to fill in the blanks left out of the notes.

But no matter how many records were gathered, there were two major unexplained points revolving the Blue Knight:

Where did the Blue Knight come from,

And where did he go?

The Blue Knight's appearance and life had been vivid, and even 2,000 years later, his deeds were deeply engraved in the hearts of the citizens. However, there were no traces of him before or after. There was a surprising lack of information of where he had come from and where he had gone.

Because of that, there were a lot of theories about it in the archaeology field. As for where he came from, there was a theory that he was from a distant country, or a love child of some noble. As for after the events, there were theories that he had left for a distant place, died from wounds suffered in the war or assassinated. There was a large variety of theories.

But there was a lack of proof for any of them. Not even the most credible theory had proof from multiple records.

If only those parts had been written down in Alaia's notes as well, but sadly they hadn't. The archaeologist girl even began suspecting that Alaia had hidden the facts on purpose.

And the truth was that Alaia did indeed hide it on purpose. The archaeologist girl suspected that the secret might lie in the 'Bertorion's special territory' and sent in an application to investigate it.

Normally, this application would be rejected. 'Bertorion's special territory' was territory that Alaia had given to Bertorion. Because of the authority that Alaia had given to the Blue Knight, not even royalty could do as they pleased.

But this girl had a chance of success.

Forthorthe would soon celebrate the 2,000th anniversary of Alaia's ascension. To commemorate this, there was a large amount of events regarding the Blue Knight and the Silver Princess planned. If a new discovery could be made, it might serve as the crowning feature of the anniversary.

On top of that, the citizens were terribly excited. Blue and white decorations filled the cities. Several movies were exhibited and a lot of the archaeology girl's results were included in them.

If that celebratory mood was taken advantage of properly, it could be possible to earn the citizens’ understanding. If they did, the parliament might take action as well. The political groundwork for that was being made under the surface.

All that would be needed now was an established fact. If she went on ahead and found something related to the Blue Knight and announced it to the public, she would earn the public's support. If that happened, the public opinion would start leaning towards performing a large-scale investigation.

That's why the archaeology girl had secretly entered 'Bertorion's special territory'. However, what she discovered wasn't anything on just the level of 'something related to the Blue Knight'.

Part 2

There was a large cave inside of 'Bertorion's special territory'. This cave was one of the bases that the Silver Princess and the Blue Knight had used when they were fighting the coup d'etat army. There were a lot of traces of this remaining, and it consisted primarily of plates and cups and other items resistant to corrosion.

And furthest into the cave was a stone monument that Alaia had put up after the war. The following words were engraved on that monument:

'May the knights who left for the other side of the sky have a peaceful sleep. Let none disturb their sleep.'

It was a stone monument, praying for the soldiers that had fallen in the war.

That's why, when the archaeologist girl saw what was on the other side of the monument, she thought she was seeing an illusion. The scientific measuring she had taken just before showed that the monument was over 2,000 years old, and the weathered condition of the monument and its engraved text also served to prove that.

“This is impossible...”

That's why the thing that had appeared on the other side of the stone monument had to be older than 2,000 years. It had to be, or it would be irrational.

“What is this...?”

On the other side of the monument was a small spaceship. More precisely, it was the airlock hatch on the side of the ship. That hatch was opening up in front of the girl who had fallen onto her butt.

“... I don't understand... but this must be the answer...”

An endless time and a countless distance.

Those words echoed inside of the girl. She couldn't understand a thing, but she was convinced that she was facing the hidden truth of Forthorthe.

Part 3

The fact that they met by the airlock and that the girl had confirmed that the age of the monument through scientific means meant that the girl figured out that Koutarou was the Blue Knight right away. Appearing from behind something over 2,000 years was proof itself that the person was from 2,000 years as well. It was impossible to make up an excuse for this.

“Time travel... then you really are Reios-sama?!”

“No, that's not it. I got in the way of the Blue Knight's and the Silver Princess's meeting, so I'm just a substitute.”

“But if you were there from beginning to end, then you are Reios-sama in this world, that is a historical fact... Wow, it's the real Blue Knight!!”

The girl was squirming and rejoicing as she continued to point a camera at Koutarou and snapped one picture after another. She looked less like an archaeologist and more like a fan meeting her favorite idol.

“Like I said, I'm not the Blue Knight...”

“Why don't you give up and admit it already, Bertorion.”

“How irresponsible... Besides, it's because you called me Bertorion that she found out.”

“Ugh... t-that's...”

Koutarou and Clan had already resigned themselves. Since the girl was an archaeologist, there was no way they would be able to fool her. On top of that, she had evidence, so there was nothing they could do.

As Koutarou and Clan were dropping their shoulders, the girl who was satisfied with her pictures returned to them.

“Fufu, I'm sure everyone would be surprised when they find out that Reios-sama was actually an alien...”

The girl was laughing as she pressed her camera against her chest. She looked like a child who had just gotten her birthday present.

“About that, could you wait a while before making it public?”

They had given up on keeping the truth from her, but there was one thing they could never back down on. That was that they would be troubled if the truth was revealed.

“Why, Reios-sama?”

The girl had a confused look on her face. It was impossible to lie to this clever-looking girl. They would need to persuade her using the truth.

“That's, uhm... Clan?”

Koutarou wanted to explain it himself, but he abandoned that idea shortly after starting. He felt like Clan would be able explain it far better than him.

“Geez... you only rely on me at times like these.”

Clan seemed a bit annoyed as she adjusted her glasses, but she started explaining the situation.

“We told you that we were trying to protect history in the past, yes?”

“Yes... you travelled to the past, but Reios-sama wasn't there. That's why you served as his replacement so you could return to your own time.”

“The truth is, this is still the past to us.”

“Then you don't want to change history now either?”

“That's right. In the future where we came from, the Blue Knight's identity was still unknown.”

“Then if I announce the truth...”

“History would change, and we would never be able to return to our own world. In fact, who knows what would happen to us.”

If this girl announced the truth from 2,000 years ago to the public, the fact that Satomi Koutarou from Earth was the Blue Knight would be known through out all of Forthorthe. Which meant that there was next to no chance that Theia would come to invade, and Koutarou would no longer be able to become the Blue Knight. Of course, Clan would most likely not come to Earth either, and they would not have travelled to the past using the super-space-time repulsion shell.

Once that happened, nobody knew what would happen to this Koutarou and Clan. They might just simply not be able to return to their own world, or something far worse could happen. But regardless of what would happen, it wasn't something that would be welcomed.

“At the very least, could you keep it quiet until the time comes when the present day Bertorion and I travel to the past? Please?”

“But...”

Archaeology was this girl's reason for living. She was especially enthusiastic when it came to the Blue Knight. But revealing the truth about the Blue Knight would put his very existence in danger. It was a painful problem for the girl.

“You're telling me to run down the previously set rails of time?”

“Sadly... Bertorion and I can only ask you to do so. We'll leave the decision up to you however.”

Since Koutarou and Clan needed to return to their world, 20 years from now, they couldn't keep watch over the girl forever. That's why they didn't know what the girl would do, and all they could do was to plead with her.

Part 4

In order for Koutarou and Clan to explain the situation in more detail, they invited the girl onboard the Cradle. They were currently preparing tea using the tea leaves they obtained 2,000 years ago.

“Could this be the extinct Rubustori tea?!”

“Extinct?”

“Yes! This tea's leaves were taken from the Rubustori tree, but due to a disease from out of the country 800 years ago, it is now extinct. The only ones remaining now are a subspecies that had some resistance to the disease... I am moved to be able to drink this, Reios-sama!”

“... Hey Clan, sounds like our favorite tea has gone extinct.”

“That's no problem. I got some seeds for research.”

“You have seeds?!”

“I do. Would you like to take some with you?”

“Please, I would gladly take some!!”

The Cradle's living quarters contained a mountain of treasures for the archaeologist girl. Marvels of the future and relics of the past existed together and no matter where she looked, she was surprised. There was no time to relax. Her biggest favorites by far was as expected, Signaltin and Koutarou's armor, and the archaeologist girl wouldn't leave their side for a second. Even now she was relishing Signaltin which had been pulled out of its sheath, while drinking her extinct tea in delight.

“... Bertorion, come for a moment.”

Waiting for the girl to get distracted by the items inside the living quarters, Clan called Koutarou over. There was something she wanted to secretly talk about.

“... What?”

Having approached Clan, Koutarou whispered to her. He could tell she wanted to speak in secret from her behavior. The time the two had spent together was quite considerable.

“... It's about that girl's identity.”

“... That girl said she was an archaeologist called Elle but... isn't she?”

When Koutarou and Clan had taken her inside the Cradle, the girl had introduced herself as an archaeologist called Elle. Since he had no particular reason to suspect her, Koutarou honestly believed her.

“... That's right, but she actually has another title.”

“... What do you mean?”

“... Before that, excuse me for a moment.”

“Mhm?”

Before she proceeded, Clan covered Koutarou's mouth with her hands.

“... That girl is Theiamillis's mother.”

“Mmmhhhhhhhmm?!”

Just like Clan had expected, Koutarou let out a cry of surprise. That's why, since Clan had taken a preemptive measure, his voice didn't reach princess Elfaria. Clan waited until Koutarou had finished shouting before she let him go.

“... Are you sure?”

“... Yes. Her age fits, she is an archaeologist and her name is Elle. Most of all, she looks just like Theiamillis-san, right? There's no doubt.”

“... That's not good.”

Koutarou understood that this was serious.

If Elle was Theia's mother then it was a very worrying situation.

“... So please be careful about what you say.”

“... I got it, I'll watch out. You be careful too, Clan. If you make a miss like before, it might be fatal.”

“... Yes, I'll take it to heart.”

If Elfaria's life changed because of something Koutarou or Clan said, Theia might not ever be born. Or she might call her daughter by a different name. If that happened, they might not be able to return to their own world.

This meeting was directly connected to Theia's life. As a result, there was a large risk involved.

“Reios-sama! Clan-san! What are you talking about?!”

That was when Elfaria approached the two with a smile. She was more interested in Koutarou than Signaltin and the armor. As an archaeologist, and as a girl.

“That's...”

“We were talking about what to do next.”

Koutarou stumbled on the sudden question, but Clan followed up without missing a beat.

“What to do next... by the way, why did you awaken in this age Reios-sama?”

“Actually, our ship is malfunctioning. That's why we were waiting for the part needed to be invented so we could get one.”

“For a part...”

“The problem is how we are supposed to get our hands on that part.”

Clan crossed her arms and furrowed her brows. This was a problem that she had been racking her brain over for quite a while.

“Hm? Can't we just buy it?”

“It's not a part you could just buy.”

“What do you mean? Surely you're not using illegal parts?”

“This one is not! It's just that this part is special, so it's not in circulation. Who knows if we can get our hands on it in this age when we can't reveal our identities.”

“'This is not'?... You mean, you're using other illegal parts?”

“T-That's a past mistake! I don't do that anymore!”

Clan desperately excused herself. In the past, she never hesitated to use illegal products. But now was different. She had matured as a princess.

“I know. Don't get so angry. So what do we do?”

“Well... either we ask someone we can trust... or we'll have to get it illegally...”

Clan was blushing. Since she had just said that she would use illegal means, she was a little embarrassed, even though there might be no other choice.

“Don't worry, Clan. If I ask you, it won't count as illegal. Did you forget about empress Alaia's exception?”

“T-That's right!”

Clan had been more concerned about how Koutarou would think about her than the fact that it was illegal, so she felt relief and regained her smile.

“Reios-sama, you don't have to do something so questionable. There's a better way.”

That was when Elfaria, still smiling, joined the conversation.

“What do you mean?”

“I will help. Despite how I look, I'm quite a lady, so I think I can get my hands of a part for a spaceship.”

Elfaria's real name was Elfaria Kua Forthorthe. She still hadn't gotten the title of Dana which showed that its holder was empress, but she was still the lone daughter of the oldest of the royal families, Mastir. Like Elfaria said, there were few ladies on the same level as her in this galaxy.

Part 5

Koutarou and Clan agreed to Elfaria's suggestion. After discussing the details, Elfaria temporarily returned to town alone. She needed to find stores that had the part in question, and if she didn't return to the hotel she was lodging at, chaos would break out. People would be sent out to search this area.

“Well then, Reios-sama, Clan-sama, see you tomorrow!”

“Yeah.”

“Farewell, Elfaria-san.”

Elfaria would turn around several times and wave her hand as she headed towards the exit to the cave. Koutarou and Clan were seeing her off just outside of the airlock of the Cradle.

“Hey Clan, being a lady sure looks like it has its own share of problems.”

“I can't let that one slide. I'm just as much of a lady as her.”

“Oh yeah, I forgot.”

Those words irritated Clan, but that anger faded away as she looked at Koutarou's face. She understood that he wasn't teasing her; that's why she ate the words she was about to say and replaced them with some others.

“... By the way, Bertorion, should you have made a promise like that?”

“Like what?”

“The compensation for her help. In return for Elfaria-san's help, we'll give her your data. Isn't that too dangerous?”

In exchange for her assistance, Elfaria wanted data on Koutarou. Starting with the records from the past, she also wanted the specs of his armor and its operation data, a 3D model of Signaltin and so on. The data Elfaria wanted covered a lot of ground. Though the promise didn't include information that might change the future, Clan still felt that it was dangerous.

“Even though she might not look all that reliable, Elle is Theia's mother. I want to believe in her.”

Koutarou relaxed his shoulders as he spoke and smiled at Clan. Seeing that smile, Clan recalled Koutarou's family situation. From their long relationship, she had gotten a grasp of his home environment. That's why she could somehow accept his reason for wanting to trust Elfaria, and so she didn't voice any further complaints.

“I'll believe in her too.”

“That's good... That's right, Clan, let's eat.”

Koutarou smiled at Clan and turned around and headed back towards the Cradle. Just as he put his hand on the airlock, he caught a glimpse of the stone monument that had been pushed to the side nearby.

“... Is... that…?”

The stone monument had a familiar crest engraved in it. As Koutarou approached the monument, he removed the sword and sheath hanging off his waist, and placed it next to the crest.

“It is. This is empress Alaia's crest...”

Signaltin had been engraved with Alaia's crest ever since its awakening, and it was the same crest as on the monument.

“What's the matter, Bertorion?”

Noticing Koutarou's behavior, Clan moved up to him.

“Take a look Clan. It looks like her majesty helped us.”

Koutarou made room for Clan so she could look down at the monument alongside him. She then read the ancient language written on it.

“'May the knights who left for the other side of the sky have a peaceful sleep. Let none disturb their sleep', huh...”

“It looks like empress Alaia knew we were here.”

“I'm sure of it. That's why she made this area an inviolable domain...”

“Your majesty...”

Koutarou's chest suddenly heated up and tears formed in his eyes. The bonds they had supposedly left behind 2,000 years ago protected them even now. Koutarou couldn’t remain calm, not after seeing that.

“... Thank you very much, empress Alaia...”

Koutarou squatted down by the stone monument and traced the engraved letters with his finger. As he did, he felt like he could feel Alaia's presence. He was sure she had traced the letters just like he did.

“Hey, Clan...”

“What?”

Clan's voice was surprisingly gentle.

“We have a place we have to return to, and we couldn't change history. That's why... I know we had to do this, but I...”

Koutarou's tears fell on the monument, just above Alaia's crest.

The tears then flowed into the crest and vanished.

“... But... even... even then, it's so lonely...”

“That's... true... Bertorion... I think so too...”

Tears shone behind Clan's glasses. She was confused by her own tears. In the past, she was never one to care about others. That in itself proved that she had formed a tight bond. That's why Clan didn't go against her feelings and simply cried together with Koutarou.

Part 6

Elfaria had witnessed that scene because of her own mistake. She had forgotten the seeds of the tea tree on the table onboard the Cradle. She turned around right away, but her playfulness got the better of her, so she decided to sneak up on the two so she could surprise them.

“... Reios-sama... can you...”

However, just before she was about to jump out, she overheard Koutarou and Clan's conversation. As a result, she understood that now wasn't the time for something like that.

“... only live the fate given to you as well...?”

Elfaria was the crown princess. At this rate, she would eventually bear the fate of becoming the empress. However, she wasn't satisfied with that fate. She wanted to live freely rather than travel down the path laid down for her. That was one of the reasons for why she had devoted herself to her research. When Koutarou had appeared before her, she had hoped that he would be the one to free her from her path.

“... Reios-sama...”

Yet, that Koutarou was yet another one troubled by the path laid down before him. You could say that Elfaria's hopes had been off. She felt disappointed. However at the same time, there was an emotion budding within her. That was sympathy for the suffering Koutarou, and a sense of yearning born from that sympathy.

Part 7

They were using Elfaria's private plane to travel from 'Bertorion's special territory' to the capital of Fornorn. The time it took was less than an hour. Koutarou felt like the distance had been far longer considering the time it had taken on foot.

“To think that long and painful journey could be over in just one hour...”

He couldn't help but feel disappointed. His journey had begun from just before the Mastir checkpoint, crossing the mountains and the checkpoint, cutting across the Mastir territory. They had then forcibly broken through the border from the Pardomshiha territory, pushing forward to what would later be known as 'Bertorion's special territory'. That journey had taken several months, and Koutarou remembered very clearly just how hard it had been.

“It took the same amount of time when we travelled from here to the cave in the Cradle, remember?”

“Back then we were running around all over the place looking for somewhere to hide the Cradle.”

“Reios-sama, look, we can see Fornorn now.”

As they reached Fornorn's airspace, Elfaria ordered her private plane to lower its altitude. The plane dropped below the clouds, allowing them to see Fornorn. It was a massive metropolis filled with skyscrapers. If there was any difference between Fornorn and a major city on Earth, it would be that there was a lot of green. The green that had skillfully been added into the city planning softened the sharpness of the city's atmosphere.

“This is amazing... So, from where to where is Fornorn?”

“Oh silly Reios-sama... everything you can see is Fornorn.”

Elfaria smiled at Koutarou's doubts. She wanted to boast about the large capital, and she also found Koutarou's reaction amusing.

“... Bertorion, that large dome you see over there was built on the ruins of the colosseum. And the largest tower you can see over there is just around the north gate.”

“I got it. Thank you.”

Clan was the one to alleviate Koutarou's doubts. What he wanted to know was how big Fornorn had been 2,000 years ago, and for that, Elfaria's explanation was insufficient.

“To think that Fornorn has turned into this...”

In Koutarou's memories, Fornorn only had buildings made out of brick, stone and wood. At most, the buildings were three stories tall. There were very few actual high-rises.

But in the current Fornorn, high-rises were a natural thing. The tallest, of which there were quite a few, reached over 1,000 meters. What's more is that the construction material had a strange luster to it that he had never seen before. It wasn't made out of concrete which he was familiar with. It looked like a city from the future that he could only see in the movies.

“I guess it was inevitable... It's been 2,000 years since then after all...”

From the sky, Fornorn had no resemblance of its past self. To Koutarou, this was just an unfamiliar futuristic city, and it didn't feel like he had returned to the capital at all. That made Koutarou feel lonely.

“Even though it might not look the same, this is the country that you and Alaia-san protected. This isn't like you, Bertorion. It's like a knight getting flustered because the decorations on his sword changed.”

“... What's important is what's inside, huh? You're right. Thank you, Clan.”

Clan's words changed Koutarou's perspective, and as a result, he was able to return to normal.

Reios-sama and Clan-sama sure has a strong bond...

Elfaria was looking at the two and dropped her shoulders.

Elfaria hadn't understood the meaning of Koutarou's question, and she hadn't been able to say anything when she saw him looking so lonely. But Clan had easily found the answer to both. That was only obvious since they had only just met, but she couldn't help but feel depressed considering they were both princesses.

If there are no bonds, then I'll just make some! I won't lose to this fate!

However, Elfaria wasn't one to get discouraged by that. She could take a hit if need be, and while she might not wish for the throne, she had the qualities of an empress.

Part 8

Seeing Fornorn from the surface didn't have the same level of impact as when looking at it from the sky. They couldn't see past the buildings, so the city gave the same impression as a similar city on Earth. Buildings lined up along a wide road with vehicles going up and down it. Of course there was difference in the details, but the overall impression was the same.

“I've somehow managed to calm down.”

“Please don't look around so much. You look like a country bumpkin and it's embarrassing.”

That might not have been the case when it was just the two of them, but Elfaria was with them now. Clan got a little embarrassed and blushed. She blushed despite Koutarou technically being a stranger.

“Alright, I've ranked up.”

“Eh?”

“You used to call me a neanderthal remember? So a country bumpkin is a big step forward.”

“Is that true, Clan-san?! How could you say that to Reios-sama?!”

“T-That's not it! That was before I knew who he was!”

The three were currently on the move, having changed their mode of transportation to a car.

While it may have been a car, it was far different from the cars on Earth. It didn't need a driver, and the car was floating above the road. It only needed its tires when it stopped or broke down. It ran on electricity, and as a result, the inside of the car was very quiet, with nothing hindering the discussion between the three inside.

“Haah...”

That's why Clan's sigh reached Koutarou as well.

“What's wrong?”

“... Look over there. You can see Schweiger's residence.”

The Schweiger family's residence was inside of Fornorn. It looked like an annexation of large research facilities and could be easily seen, even from afar. The Schweiger residence slowly moved as the car did, and for some reason, Clan seemed to be suffering a little.

“Hey!”

A thud rang out.

“Ow?! What are you doing?!”

“You didn't look like a girl who was finally able to return home after going through a tough journey... now that you've got your energy back, tell me why, Clan.”

“You really are... If you wanted to comfort me, there are softer ways of doing it.”

Clan sent a grudgeful glance at Koutarou. But thanks to him, her painful expression from just a moment ago was gone.

“... This is the world 20 years from the past, right?”

“Supposedly. It only looks like the future to me though.”

“Then grandmother will pass away soon.”

Clan's expression turned a little darker once more. Clan recalled one of her relative's death, and was wondering what to do.

“Do you want to save her?”

In the world of the past, they had tried saving everyone in danger, regardless of history. So comparing that to now, Clan should be allowed to save her grandmother.

“I would like to, but the situation is complicated.”

“What do you mean?”

“Grandmother will die five years from now. Since I know what the disease is called, if I intervene now, it probably won't kill her but... it was a disease caused by age...”

“Natural causes as they call it, huh.”

“Yes. Besides, can we really change history... and grandmother was apparently not very Schweiger like, and after her death, her money was invested into a lot of different funds as according to her will. The number of children that her money saved should be quite considerable.”

“That does make it a difficult decision...”

Clan was worrying because she had a very complicated problem on her hands.

Clan's grandmother would die because it was her time, but Clan felt resistant to simply letting a blood relative pass away.

But there were a lot of lives saved because her grandmother died. Up until the point that she died, Clan's grandmother continued to increase her assets and then donated it all. That's why by saving her now, it would mean that the donation never happened, meaning the lives saved might be lost.

That said, by surviving, Clan's grandmother would be able to increase her assets even further, increasing the donation when she finally did pass away. Overall that would save even more people.

Clan didn't know what to do.

“Alright Clan. Let's just think about it for a while. This might be a distasteful way of putting it, but there's still five years left.”

Koutarou was planning on thinking about the problem for a while. It was a complicated problem, so even Koutarou's ideas might help.

“... You will think about it too?”

Clan was surprised by Koutarou's reaction.

“Yeah. This is what we've done all this time, right?”

“That's... true, but...”

Clan had figured that this was her own problem, but Koutarou didn't feel that way, which made Clan happy.

I see... so this is what it means to not be alone...

She had someone she could share her feelings and her future with.

That sensation made Clan's emotions more powerful, and brightness returned to her expression.

Part 9

After getting off the car, Elfaria was leading Koutarou and Clan down an unpopular alley. Past the alley was their destination. It was a shop that Elfaria had used to obtain some research material and the shop might bend a little for their requests. They were planning on having them order in the part they needed for the Cradle.

“Even though science advances, these kinds of alleys have the same feel to them.”

Compared to the futuristic and colorful main roads, this place had a feeling of life to it.

“Geez... again...”

Clan felt embarrassed as she saw Koutarou looking around once more. That was when Elfaria pulled on her sleeve.

“... Uhm, Clan-san.”

“...What?”

Since Elfaria was whispering, Clan whispered right back.

“... Are you and Reios-sama going out?”

However after hearing what Elfaria said next, Clan instinctively raised her voice.

“O-O-Of course not!! We are not!!”

“Hm? What's wrong, Clan?”

Reacting to Clan's shout, Koutarou looked in her direction.

“It's nothing! It's just girl talk!”

“You guys have a lot of those...”

Because of his life with the invader girls, Koutarou knew that it was best not to touch on those kinds of topics. That's why he quickly lost interest in Clan and looked around the area again. Right now, this future city was more important to him.

“... Phew... that surprised me...”

“... You are not going out?”

“...Bertorion and I are just stuck together. Could you not just blurt out something so surprising all of a sudden?”

“... I see, I'm sorry.”

“... But, why are you asking about that?”

Clan considered herself and Koutarou as being stuck in the same boat. But she was still interested in this topic.

“... Actually, I wish to go out with Reios-sama.”

Elfaria blushed a little as she looked at Koutarou. She was embarrassed, but she didn't try to hide her feelings from Clan. Elfaria was honest with her feelings.

“... Eh?”

In that moment, Clan felt like her heart was being squeezed by someone. She was far more surprised than before, but because it was a different kind of surprise she couldn't let out a shout.

“... I didn't think it would be possible if Reios-sama was going out with Clan-san, but if that's not the case, I have a chance too.”

“... Please wait. That man is the Blue Knight, but what's told in the legends is not everything to him.”

Clan assumed that Elfaria's words were because of her admiration for the legendary hero. But Clan knew that wasn't all there was to Koutarou. He would worry, suffer and shed tears at times. While he was a legendary hero, he was also a normal person. Any relationship born from admiration would end up with both parties becoming unhappy.

There were also more problems. If Elfaria and Koutarou were to connect, history would greatly change. Also, though Clan herself might not want to admit it, she needed Koutarou. For the problem regarding her grandmother, and for the journey to come. Those complex feelings were what made her try to stop Elfaria's feelings.

“... I know. That's why.”

“... Eh?”

“... That person knows the pain of living in accordance to his fate...”

As Elfaria spoke she had a very serious expression. She had feelings she couldn't abandon.

“... Elfaria-san, you...”

Elfaria knew that Koutarou was suffering, knowing that he wasn't the real Blue Knight, yet taking all the achievements for himself. Knowing that, Clan could no longer oppose Elfaria.

Part 10

After introducing Clan to the shopkeeper, Elfaria returned to the storefront so she could talk to Koutarou who was curiously staring at the items on display.

“As expected from Forthorthe... they're just selling robots like its normal...”

“Welcome customer. I am Weyland, a domestic robot made by DKI. A new model released this spring!”

What interested him the most was a humanoid robot. In the store, there were all kinds of heavy equipment and heavy machinery, with various robots being exhibited. Amongst them, Koutarou was talking to a domestic robot.

“Oh, Reios-sama, do you like robots?”

“Yeah. In our world, fiction regarding robots is very popular with the kids. And when I was small, I loved watching shows where they had people control giant robots to fight monsters.”

“I see... giant robots...”

Elfaria cheerfully smiled. Her chest leaped for joy every time she learned of a part of Koutarou that wasn't part of the Blue Knight, a part that existed outside of the path set for him.

“How regrettable. It seems that I cannot live up to the customer's expectations.”

Meanwhile, the robot called Weyland dropped its shoulders, its reaction was quite the opposite of Elfaria's.

“What kind of robot are you?”

“I was made to perform chores for people too busy to do them themselves. Our company has always been distant from the war industries, so when it comes to domestic use we are the best.”

“Sorry, but we're doing okay on our chores.”

Koutarou remembered the faces of the people in room 106. In that room, they didn't need a robot to help with the chores. While the two haniwas were technically robots, their main job was playing with Koutarou and the others.

“That's a shame.”

“That's right. I will do the chores, Reios-sama doesn't need a robot.”

“You will? Why?”

“Silly Reios-sama, what are you saying? That's a wife's job isn't it? Fufufufu.”

Elfaria laughed with an innocent expression. It was the smile of a high class young wife.

“Elle, when did you become my wife?”

Koutarou felt a headache coming on. But on the other hand, it reminded him of talking with Sanae, Yurika or Kiriha, and his feelings turned more positive. He felt a little lonely having remembered the girls of room 106, but he felt didn't feel too bad. If he excluded the part about the wife.

“Just a while ago. I made that decision.”

“Without even asking me?”

“I believe fate is something you take into your own hands.”

Elfaria asserted herself, showing a princess-like expression for a moment. Elfaria was going to use any means necessary to become Koutarou's wife.

“Don't take my fate into your hands as well.”

“Do you hate me?”

“That's not it.”

“Then there's no problem. I'm confident I'll make a great wife.”

Elfaria placed her hands on her chest and nodded. Just like she said, her expression was overflowing with confidence.

“There are major problems!”

“Reios-sama, if you marry me, you'll obtain half the galaxy! I think that's a great deal!”

“You idiot!”

A thud could be heard.

“Stop spouting things a villain in a movie would say! Treasure yourself more!”

Koutarou had a place he had to return to and a reason for it. He was also bothered by Elfaria's behavior. Suddenly being approached with marriage from someone he had just met was something hard for Koutarou to accept. So his fist instinctively struck out.

“Ehehehe~”

Yet for some reason, Elfaria was smiling as she stroked her recently struck forehead.

“W-What?”

Sensing something ominous from her smile, Koutarou took a few steps backwards, retreating. Elfaria responded by stepping forward three steps and looking up at Koutarou up close.

“Reios-sama, you finally hit me.”

“What about it?”

“I already know that Reios-sama only hits someone he really hates or someone he thinks of more than a friend. Fufufu, now I'm one step closer.”

Koutarou would say harsh things to Clan and sometimes even make use of light violence. But that hadn't been the case with Elfaria who he had just met. In that case, Elfaria had realized in a short amount of time that she needed to become someone worth hitting in order to get along better with Koutarou.

“Come on now...”

“Despite how I look, I'm good at laying down groundwork and creating established facts.”

Seeing Koutarou instinctively drop his shoulders, Elfaria showed a proud-looking smile. She was seriously trying to become Koutarou's wife.

Elfaria and Koutarou were both troubled by having to travel down the path laid down for them. Elfaria wanted to join hands with Koutarou and jump off that path together.

Part 11

After finishing their arrangements regarding the part they needed, Koutarou and the others went out to purchase food and water. After this, they would return to 'Bertorion's special territory'. They were going to wait on the Cradle until the part they needed could be obtained. This was the past for Koutarou and Clan, so they didn't want to carelessly walk around and accidentally change history.

“Is this the last of it?”

“There's one more box, but I'll carry it, so the box you're carrying is the last.”

“Give that to me too. I'll put it above the one I'm carrying.”

“It's okay, this is nothing.”

“Clan, you can return to being a princess when you're on familiar grounds.”

“That's right, Clan-san. Leave this to the married couple.”

“Ah, hey, Elfaria-san?!”

Koutarou and the others were in the parking lot, loading the goods they purchased into their car. They were being quite noisy, having already gotten used to one another, and since a while back, Clan and Elfaria had been having a girl talk.

I'm sure neither of them have someone they can discuss their true feelings with...

Koutarou believed that their meeting had been a positive one. In the hierarchical society of Forthorthe, princesses were normally rivals. But because the two were from different ages, they didn't have any sort of rivalry between them. Because of that, they both understood each other's worries and were able to sympathize with one another. They would eventually get separated by time, so there was little they couldn't discuss with one another. Clan only had to worry about not passing on too much information about the future. In other words, it was the perfect situation to befriend one another. That's why Koutarou left them be, even if they collided a little.

“Clan-san is a princess. I am Reios-sama's wife. My husband's luggage is my luggage. What's wrong with that?”

“Nothing's right with it! I can't have another princess carry my luggage! I especially don't want to become indebted to the Mastir family!”

“It's okay, I'm soon to become part of the Bertorion family or the Satomi family.”

“That's not the problem! My pride won't allow it!”

“Wait up you two. Let's just leave it at that.”

However, Koutarou suddenly broke the two up.

“Okay, Reios-sama.”

“No, I won't wait― what's wrong, Bertorion?”

Unlike Elfaria who obediently stopped, Clan was too excited. However, when she saw Koutarou's serious expression, she understood that something was up and got serious as well. His expression at the time was the kind of expression he would show when an enemy had come.

“People are coming. There’s probably three of them.”

“Are they enemies?”

“I can't tell. There's no murderous intent, but I feel hostility.”

Koutarou could use the spiritual powers Sanae had given him, but since he had been separated from Sanae for so long, those powers were growing weak. He couldn't see auras as clearly as he could in the past. That's why he didn't notice the mysterious people approaching until they were quite close.

“It's them.”

“That's the imperial military uniform. And it seems like all three of them are quite high ranked... What is the meaning of this?”

Three men wearing military uniforms were approaching them, and they were clearly hostile. The part that Clan bought using Elfaria's name was not illegal, so it wasn't something that should attract the military's attention. The only other possibility in Koutarou's mind was that the Cradle had been found. But Elfaria quickly denied that possibility.

“I'm sorry, Reios-sama and Clan-san. Those people are here for me.”

Elfaria was watching the men with a sharp look. Her back was straight and her expression was serious. It was as if the carefreeness from before was just a dream. It was the first time Koutarou and Clan saw Elfaria acting like a princess.

Part 12

Knowing that the approaching men were from the military, Elfaria left Koutarou and Clan behind her and stepped forward alone. This was both to conceal who Koutarou and Clan were, and because she knew that it wouldn't be dangerous despite their hostility.

“What business do you have with me? I don't have any recollection of calling for the military.”

Elfaria's voice echoed off the walls of the parking lot. With few other people and cars around, her voice reached far.

“We have come because we have business with you.”

The person in the middle of the three men answered. He was the highest ranking of the three and acted as their leader.

“I can't ignore that. If the military is coming into contact with a princess during her private time for an arbitrary reason, they would have to take responsibility.”

“Worry not. We won't have to take any responsibility from just your testimony. We are currently doing desk work right now after all.”

“Nonsense...”

Elfaria's stare grew sharper.

Is the military running wild...?

Looking at how Elfaria and the men were acting, Koutarou was getting a rough understanding of the situation. The military was moving away from the empress' and the congress' control and acting on their own. Even the most well-constructed organization would start distorting after 2,000 years. The current military was far different from the military that Koutarou and Alaia had led in the past.

“You have drowned in your power and haven't noticed that you are out of control.”

“I can assure you that we are not out of control. We are acting under proper management.”

“Someone never using the break can't tell if it's broken.”

“Let's stop with this meaningless chatter, princess. This topic will never lead us anywhere. There's something else more important now, is there not?”

The man grinned and one-sidedly ended their current topic, switching to another. There was no respect towards the princess in his appearance. In fact, it was as if he was looking down on her.

“Now that would be meaningless. I have no intention of withdrawing my statement for the military to disarm.”

“Surely you can do something, princess Elfaria. Wouldn't it be easy? Your highness won't get in our way, and we won't get in yours.”

“You are already in the way, yet you say you won't? You jest.”

Elfaria laughed, but her eyes were the opposite. She only laughed as a tactic, and as she did, the man's expression changed.

“We don't want to do anything violent! You are the next in line for the throne after all!”

He couldn't stand the sight of a girl younger than him laughing at him. His brutal nature appeared on the surface, and he spoke to Elfaria in a low and deep voice. The men's goal was to threaten Elfaria.

“How unsightly. The military top brass has sent you several times because they fear me. Threatening me now is surely meaningless.”

But Elfaria didn't falter. She maintained her smile and stared at the men with cold eyes.

“You brat, don't get so full of yourself!”

“Look, you're already out of control. What happened to your proper management?”

“Kuh.”

The man mortifyingly grinded his teeth. He had lost the moment he lost his temper.

“Go back to where you came from. And tell the top that Forthorthe's royalty won't yield to anyone.”

The winner was Elfaria Kua Forthorthe.

Though young, she was a prideful royalty of Forthorthe.

Part 13

After the men had left, Elfaria maintained a serious expression for a while. The expression she had with Koutarou and Clan had vanished somewhere. That expression remained on her face even after they returned to 'Bertorion's special territory', and for the rest of the day.

“... I'm starting to understand how it's all fitting together...”

Clan looked at Elfaria's back as she was leaving and sadly muttered. Clan had understood how Elfaria felt.

“...That person knows the pain of living in accordance to his fate...”

That's why Elfaria had said about Koutarou back in Fornorn. But looking at it from the other end, it meant that she did as well.

Elfaria-san has been after a life that's different from the life of an empress all this time, but fate won't allow it. If she didn't become empress, a princess not in favor of the military disarmament would become empress and the military would continue to run wild. She is trapped between two different lives. So with Bertorion appearing, it is only obvious that she would fall for him...

If Elfaria didn't become empress, the military might cause something irreparable. But at the same time, that meant giving up the life she wanted. What Elfaria needed to do and what she wanted to do were complete opposites.

“Elle is in a tough spot... Just like empress Alaia...”

Koutarou also understood that Elfaria held contradicting emotions. Alaia had been the same. Alaia wanted to avenge her parents, but at the same time she was trying to give up on that for the sake of her people. It was because Koutarou had seen Alaia like that up close that he was able to understand how Elfaria felt.

“What's the matter?”

“Let's have Elle do what she wants. She probably...”

“... You're right...”

Elfaria was moving further and further away from Koutarou and Clan. After waving at them one last time, she left the cave.

“... Hey, Bertorion.”

“Hm?”

“After seeing her, I've made up my mind as well.”

Clan turned to Koutarou and clasped her hands in front of her chest. A strong determination shone in her eyes. Clan had reached a decision as a princess.

“I will leave grandmother be.”

Clan said with firm determination.

“Are you fine with that?”

“Yes. I think saving people who have reached the end of their life is going too far. She is certainly someone I want to meet, but...”

Clan's voice gradually grew quieter as she looked down on the ground. As a relative of hers, it wasn't something easy for her. But she soon looked back up, the will behind her eyes still present.

“I really don't think time travel should be intentionally taken advantage of.”

“You mean don't travel through time without a purpose?”

“Yes. I believe the policy we had in the past is correct. Time travel should only be used to return to your own world. But if you come across someone in trouble in the process, you help them.”

Koutarou and Clan didn't want to change history, but they couldn't overlook tragedies occurring right in front of them. That's how they had acted in Forthorthe 2,000 years ago. And that same line of thinking was needed now as well.

“If not, we'll never be able to return home. Who knows how much time it would take to resolve everything happening around us.”

Koutarou and Clan knew of a lot that would happen in these next 20 years. If they wanted, they could probably prevent a lot of those incidents. But as a result, history would become a mess, and the two would be unable to return home.

“Time travelling sure is difficult...”

“Normally, this is the goddess of dawn's domain.”

“That's right, you and I aren't gods. We should respect the people earnestly living in their respective age.”

There was another problem apart from changing history.

Koutarou and Clan knew a lot about what would happen, but the people alive right now didn't, and they were working towards an outcome they desired. Having people that know about the results intervening would stomp on the intentions of all those people. Your dream won't come true. It's a waste of time so go do something else. Koutarou's and Clan's actions would be the same thing as saying that.

On top of that, there was a limit to how much time Koutarou and Clan had, they couldn't resolve everything that would happen. They would have to choose what to intervene with. It would probably be a decision that affected a lot of lives. Which meant that Koutarou and Clan would have to choose which lives to save. Could they decide the value of each life. Everyone only had one shot at life, and they were equally important. Yet Koutarou's and Clan's interventions would break that obvious rule.

“Clan, you're not wrong. You're just human.”

“Thank you, Bertorion. I feel like some of the weight has fallen off my shoulders because you said that.”

It was a difficult problem to anyone. This was the first time in history humanity had been faced with the worries of a god. It couldn't be helped that they couldn't reach a perfect answer to that worry. Koutarou and Clan weren't almighty gods after all.

Part 14

The several days it had taken for the ordered part to arrive had passed peacefully. In the morning, Elle would visit the Cradle, and after staying with them until the evening, she would go home. There was also a time where she had stayed. Like that, the three spent the time in a fashion suitable for their age.

“Reios-sama, let's go take a look at our wedding hall.”

“Oh yeah, where does Forthorthe hold their weddings?”

“Normally it's at a temple, in front of the goddess.”

“The goddess of dawn?”

“That's right. However, as life became more modern, it's become more common to use hotel rooms decorated similar to a temple, or similar venues. With the increase in population, there aren't enough temples to cover all of the weddings.”

“Well that makes sense, Fornorn is amazing.”

“Our ceremony will of course take place in the temple dedicated to Signaltin.”

“Nobody is allowed to enter that place.”

“We only need Clan-san to attend. Now, let's go and have our wedding!”

“Wait, weren't you just going to see it?!”

Part 15

“What does this food taste like?”

“Well, you'll just have to find out.”

“Alright, let's give it a try.”

“Bertorion, if you eat that many at the―”

“*cough* *cough* *cough*, what the, it's spicy?!”

“Ahahah, here, Reios-sama, some water.”

“T-Thanks... *cough*... that's just foul play, something that looked like this on Earth would definitely be sweet.”

“It because you ate so many.”

“If you knew about it, you should have stopped me.”

“You shoved them all in your mouth before I could.”

“...A-Anyways, Elle.”

“Yes.”

A thud rang out.

“Ow?! Why did you hit me?!”

“You did it on purpose didn't you. This water is all the proof I need.”

“Ahahaha, c-o-r-r-e-c-t.”

Another thud could be heard.

Part 16

“Could I stay over today?”

“Are you sure? Won't everyone worry?”

“I've already let them know that I'm not returning for the day because of fieldwork.”

“Seriously, you sure came prepared... Well, I don't have any complaints.”

“Alright! Reios-sama, let me hear all of your wonderful stories tonight.”

“I don't mind, but... why are you putting your luggage in my room?”

“Eh? If we're not in the same bed, how am I supposed to listen to your stories?”

“Sleep in the room next door!”

“You're telling your wife to sleep in another room?! Is the marriage going down hill already?!”

“Stop playing around and go!”

“Oka~y.”

“Seriously, what a girl.”

“Clan, you should stop talking and chase after her.”

“Why?”

“Elle is carrying her luggage into your room.”

“Alright!! This room is a goldmine!!”

“Heee~y!!”

Part 17

“Clan, aim to kill okay?”

“That's the plan. Ah, but aren't your spiritual powers weakening.”

“Probably.”

“Reios-sama, can I shoot instead of Clan?”

“No you can't.”

“Eeeh?! Why not?!”

“Why?... You only think about playing tricks right?”

“Spiritual powers tells you that too?!”

“I can tell even without!”

“Then we're understanding each other!”

“...You sure are gutsy, Elfaria-san...”

“Could this be the bond between a husband and wife?!”

“You idiot!”

Part 18

As the three began feeling like it wouldn't be too bad if days like these continued, Elfaria got a call saying that the part she had ordered had arrived at her hotel.

“What's the matter, Elfaria-san? Bad news?”

“No, I got a call that the part we ordered has arrived...”

Elfaria realized that they would part ways soon enough, and with that her happy feelings turned into loneliness. The magic vanished in an instant.

“I see...”

The same was true for Clan. Because it had been so fun, it was hard to part ways. Considering Elfaria's emotions, Clan had a hard time getting motivated. Koutarou and Clan might be able to meet Elfaria again soon enough, but to Elfaria it would be more than 20 years. The problem with time traveling presented itself yet again.

“Reios-sama, I got a call saying that the part has arrived. I will go pick it up now.”

“I see...”

Koutarou was in the middle of cooking as Elfaria stepped in and told him that they would soon part ways. Koutarou stopped what he was doing as he was filled with loneliness. He had parted ways with Alaia and Charl before, so his feelings were complex. That's why words unlike what he normally used left his mouth.

“...Elle, you can leave the part for later. When it's time for you to leave for the day, let's go together, all three of us.”

“Reios-sama... are you sure?”

“Yeah. We need to hurry in order to not change history, but a few hours isn't going to change that. It'll just change when we leave.”

“I am in favor too. We should at least have enough time to eat, drink tea, talk and say goodbye to the people we've met.”

“Those are quite illogical words for a member of the logical Schweiger family.”

“I'm sure I've taken after grandmother.”

“Fufu, did your grandmother try to kill Reios-sama as well?”

“Of course not, geez...”

Even though the part had arrived, the three didn't leave immediately to go get it. They were going to pick it up together with Elfaria as she left them for the day. Now was time for dinner, they still had several hours left. They weren't trying to use that remaining time for something special. The several day long holiday the three had would just continue like normal. Koutarou and Clan figured that misusing time travel for something like this should be forgivable.

Part 19

However, there were some that did not forgive Koutarou and the other's peaceful time together. After the clock passed 4PM and the sun was starting to set. They came.

“Damnit!”

Koutarou was the first to notice their approach, and he slammed his fists into the table with anger.

“Reios-sama? Did you not like the snacks?”

“What's the matter, Bertorion?”

Elfaria and Clan were taken aback by Koutarou's sudden action and started at him with surprise.

“It's the enemy! I'm not sure on their exact numbers but I think there's 5 or 6 of them. They're headed this way from the entrance of the cave.”

Koutarou sensed several murderous intents closing in. This was actual murderous intent unlike the hostility he had felt from the military men the other day. As a result, even though Koutarou's powers were growing weaker he promptly noticed their existence.

“Please wait... I've confirmed it with the Cradle's sensors as well! There are six of them! They are headed this way fully equipped!”

Using the Cradle's sensors, Clan confirmed that there were six men. Their movements were precise and organized, most likely trained soldiers. Their equipment consisted of a rifle and black body armor. They were quite clearly a combat squad.

While it might be small, they were a bit too few to attack the Cradle. But that was only obvious, they hadn't expected to find a spaceship here. They had only assumed it was a dig site. In other words―

“They're here to kill me. They're most likely illegal mercenaries sent by the military.”

Their target was Elfaria. Six men was more than enough to attack her. The military took this as a golden opportunity and sent in illegal soldiers. In order for Elfaria to get her excavation approved she entered 'Bertorion's special territory' alone in order to create an established fact. Thanks to that, there was no one but Elfaria around, and nobody was aware of her exact location. Killing her now wouldn't leave any evidence behind. Following the spaceship part, they identified Elfaria's hotel and they had then tracked her down to this cave.

“It's been 2,000 years since then...”

“Reios-sama?”

“It's been 2,000 years, and you still won't stop fighting...”

Koutarou slowly got up from his seat. He was fuming. He could never find it in him to forgive those that would do with Forthorthe as they pleased after he and Alaia had desperately protected it.

“...Clan, could you prepare my sword and armor.”

“I understand. Bertorion, show them the power of the legendary Blue Knight.”

Koutarou believed that after 2,000 years had passed, the legendary hero could be dismissed.

However, that was a mistake.

The legend of the Blue Knight was about to continue after 2,000 years.

Part 20

Elfaria's first impression of the Blue Knight in the flesh was that he was beautiful. The armor had a vivid blue color, on his waist hung two swords, silver and gold colored. On his chest was an insignia made from wood and wool. However, the armor had been through many fierce fights and showed signs of severe damage, with several large dents. The mantle on his back was also dirty, and so were the swords. The silver and gold shine had lost much of its luster.

“...So that's Reios-sama... the real Blue Knight...”

However, Elfaria was shaken just from looking at Koutarou walking. He was a real knight, something very rare these days. Seeing that, Elfaria felt his existence itself was beautiful.

“He's completely different from his normal self, right?”

“Yes...”

It wasn't his appearance that was beautiful. Koutarou was a normal boy, and the armor he was wearing was dirty. But his dignified behavior and his overwhelming willpower were so knight-like it transcended the beauty of his appearance and moved those who were watching him. He was the image of the ideal knight.

“But will he be fine? He's going up against six people.”

“There's no need to worry. When he's making that face, Bertorion won't lose to anyone.”

As Elfaria and Clan watched over him, Koutarou pulled out one of the swords from his waist. He was holding a silvery white sword, it was the proof of him being the guardian of Forthorthe. It was the sword of sovereignty, Signaltin.

“Just watch how the legendary knight who protected Forthorthe alongside the Silver Princess fights...”

As if he was waiting for Clan to finish speaking, Koutarou charged towards the soldiers. Koutarou's only weapon was his sword. Looking at it normally, he wouldn't stand a chance against six fully armed men. However, neither Clan nor Koutarou had any doubt of their victory.

Part 21

The Blue Knight held a special meaning to the people of Forthorthe. But in the end, the Blue Knight was someone who lived 2,000 years ago. It was unthinkable to believe that he would just suddenly appear in front of someone. That's why when the six soldiers saw Koutarou, they assumed he was just a deranged Blue Knight maniac.

“Hey now, that armor has seen better days.”

“He must have played around in that armor for quite a long time.”

“But it's well made. Even I might want to play around in that armor.”

“Stop spouting nonsense and kill him. Even though he's crazy, a witness is a witness.”

“Hey everyone, aim for his head. I want to take that armor back home with me.”

“Sheesh, guess it can't be helped...”

This carelessness was their first and biggest mistake. They should have attacked Koutarou the moment they saw him. But they had underrated him. On top of that, they had never imagined that he would be completely aware of their positions and behavior. As a result, Koutarou was the one to make the first move.

“Uwaaaaaaaaaaa!!”

All of a sudden the man in the front was blown away. He lost his consciousness after being bathed in an intense shockwave and collapsed to the ground like a puppet with its strings cut.

“Huh?! What just happened?!”

Yet the men didn't know what had happened. They only understood the situation after Koutarou attacked the second one.

“It's him?! The Blue Knight maniac― uaaaaaahhh!!”

The second man repeatedly fired his rifle. The soldiers were using beam rifles, firing beams at an incredible speed. On top of that they were in close quarters. Normally it would be completely unavoidable.

“Phew.”

Koutarou exhaled a small breath and twisted his body. As he did, all the beams passed by him. It was like he knew where the beams would travel beforehand.

“They won't hit. They won't hit! The beams won't―”

After passing through the beams, Koutarou casually swung his left fist at the man. When it collided with him, the electricity built up within his gauntlet zapped the man, knocking him out immediately.

“F-Fire! Fire!!”

“Damnit! That damn joke of a kid!”

Having lost two of their men, the remaining soldiers finally realized that they weren't going up against a normal opponent, and they hurriedly turned their guns on Koutarou.

“...If you were going to fire, you should have done so sooner.”

The next moment the men were deprived of their sight. That was because a small globe that had rolled up to their feet was spewing out smoke at a fierce rate. It was one of Clan's custom made smoke grenades, and the heat of the smoke nullified the soldiers thermal vision. It was a very simple make, but it proved quite effective in a modern battle.

“Damnit, a smokescreen!”

The four men hurriedly threw away their thermal vision goggles and attempted to get out of the smoke. ”But they can't see through the smoke either! Don't panic and just get out of the smoke!”

“Uwaaaaaa?!”

However, to Koutarou who could see the enemy's aura, it was as if there was no smoke to begin with. As the men tried to escape the smoke, they lost another ally. But their misfortune did not end there.

“Captain! The enemy!”

“What? There are three of him?!”

Standing in front of the three men as they escaped the smoke were three Koutarou. And all three Koutarou attacked the men at the same time.

“It doesn't matter how many there are! Kill them!”

“U-Understood!”

The men repeatedly fired their rifles, each attacking the Koutarou in front of them. The three Koutarou's struck by the beams vanished like smoke. They were all illusions created by magic.

“They're gone?!”

“Holograms?!”

While the three men were distracted by the illusions, the fourth Koutarou that had been hiding snuck up on them.

“You should have wondered why I was relying on a heated smokescreen.”

The fourth Koutarou swung his sword with both hands, sending two of the remaining three men flying, and just like the first man, they rolled onto the ground and lost consciousness.

The first three Koutarou were illusions created by Signaltin. However, they weren't advanced enough to produce a heat reaction, so there was a risk that the men might see through them with their thermal vision. So firstly the heated smokescreen was needed. Once they removed their goggles, everything had gone according to Koutarou's plan. And while the men were distracted by the illusions, the real Koutarou attacked. Attacking a defenseless opponent was child's play to him.

“W-Who are you?!”

All that remained was one man, the leader of the group. He was a skilled shooter, but on his own he couldn't hurt Koutarou. The armor's barrier was going strong and Koutarou could see through his aim with his spiritual powers. He no longer stood a chance against Koutarou and repeatedly fired as he slowly retreated.

“Who? I'm just a Blue Knight maniac like you said. But I might have gone a little too far.”

“Why are you siding with that girl?! What benefits could you possible get?!”

“Why is only obvious. Aren't I dressed as the Blue Knight? Of course I'll protect the princess. I'm stupid after all.”

Koutarou walked up to the man and casually punched him in the gut, knocking the last man to the ground. A long time had passed since he parted with the girls of room 106, and the powers he had borrowed were growing weaker, but even then he had come out victorious unharmed. The fight ended precisely how Koutarou and Clan had expected.

Part 22

The replacing of the part only took a few minutes. It was operating fine, and it had been confirmed that there should be no problems returning to Earth. That solved the problem with the Cradle. Only one other problem remained.

“Reios-sama, Clan-san. Thank you for everything up until today. Thanks to you I've made up my mind.”

Elfaria was saying her farewells before Koutarou and Clan would depart. In the end, she had chosen to not go with them.

“I think I should become the empress of Forthorthe.”

“I see... I thought you might.”

“So you knew.”

“I've seen the appearances of princesses making important decisions before after all.”

“Reios-sama is the Blue Knight after all. Fufufu...”

Elfaria cheerfully narrowed her eyes. She no longer had any hesitation. She had decided to live on Forthorthe as the empress.

“But Elfaria-san, why did you decide to become the empress? I thought you didn't want to walk down the path laid down for you.”

“You're right, I wanted to break free from my fate and struggled to do so. But I also wondered if this was a path that I needed to stick on. That's why I studied the Blue Knight and the Silver Princess.”

“To find out how they acted when faced with a similar choice?”

“Yes.”

Should she live her own life, or should she live for the sake of her people as the empress.

Elfaria didn't know what to choose, that's why she sought for the answer in the chronicles of the Blue Knight and the Silver Princess.

“And when I wasn't getting anywhere with my research I met the real Reios-sama.”

“So that's why... weren't you disappointed?”

“A little. But that's why I fell in love with Reios-sama. Because I knew he struggled against his own fate like me.”

Koutarou hadn't been able to give Elfaria the answer she sought for. Because he had only walked down the path chosen for the Blue Knight, he hadn't made any heroic decisions of his own. But the hardships he suffered allowed Elfaria to sympathize with him. She hadn't found her answer, but she began feeling like they could look for it together.

“That's why I was serious when I said I wanted to go out with you and marry you, Reios-sama. I seriously wanted to escape the path laid down for me together with you.”

“Then why did you give up on that?”

“Rather than giving up, it's because I couldn't give up I think.”

Elfaria smiled, she had the expression of someone that had given up.

“You couldn't give up?”

“Yes. I love you, Reios-sama. That's why I want to protect Forthorthe like you despite your worrying.”

If they were going to hold hands, they needed to protect the same things.

In other words, after learning that Koutarou worried about the same things she did and falling for him, Elfaria's path was sealed.

“Even if I must walk down the path in front of me, I get to decide how I walk. I was able to find a way of walking that I could accept.”

“I see... then your research is finished, isn't it, Elfaria-san.”

Hearing the conclusion that Elfaria had reached, Clan smiled.

“Eh?”

Clan then brought her mouth to Elfaria's ear and whispered so only she could hear.

“...The Silver Princess thought the same way you did and continued to protect Forthorthe...”

“...Then the Silver Princess really did...?”

“...Love Bertorion, yes, despite knowing that he was a fake... no, it might be because she knew he was a fake, just like you...”

Clan smiled once more as she said that. Tears began forming in Elfaria's eyes. All kinds of feelings were being stirred up inside of her. It wasn't just feelings directed towards Koutarou, but also feelings for the Silver Princess, and for Clan.

“Thank you, Clan-san.”

“Y-You don't need to thank me.”

Clan started blushing. Having lived her life by keeping people at a distance, she wasn't used to gratitude.

“I think I could be allowed to say thanks to friends who worry for me.”

“Friends... then. Thank you, Elfaria-san.”

Finally the two shook hands. Clan was looking away with a blush, but her feelings were properly conveyed to Elfaria.

“Reios-sama.”

After having said her farewells to Clan, Elfaria turned to Koutarou. It was their turn now.

“I'm repeating myself, but thank you very much for everything up until today. I will never forget these days we've spent together.”

“Become a great empress. That's what both I and empress Alaia wish for.”

“Yes.... fufufu.”

While listening to Koutarou's words of encouragement, Elfaria nodded and laughed. Since this wasn't something you laughed at, Koutarou looked at her perplexed.

“What is it?”

“I was just thinking that if you had said that at the very start, it might have only taken five minutes.”

“This kind of thing is something you have to decide for yourself.”

Koutarou firmly believed that everyone decided their own path in life.

“Fufufu, that might be true for men... but unexpectedly, to us women it's not so true.”

Elfaria believed that she would walk down the path shown to her by the person she loved.

“It's true for women too.”

Koutarou was adamant. This stubbornness would later go on to make Ruth cry, but Elfaria only laughed.

“Oh my, fufufu...”

“Can you understand my hardship, Elfaria-san?”

“...Fufufu, I'm starting to.”

After laughing together with Clan for a while, Elfaria turned back towards Koutarou. There was something she wanted to ask him.

“Reios-sama, can I just ask you one last thing?”

“Yeah, what?”

“If I asked you to take me with you, what would you have done?”

If Elfaria hadn't chosen the life as the empress.

And instead chose to walk alongside Koutarou.

Elfaria wanted to know what Koutarou would have done then.

“That wouldn't happen.”

However, Koutarou shook his head.

“Elle, you were a proper princess of Forthorthe since we first met. That's why no matter how much you joke around, in the end you would have chosen this.”

“Reios-sama...”

Tears formed in Elfaria's eyes. Her smile collapsed and tears streamed down her cheeks.

“...Thank you very much, Reios-sama. I will forever take pride in those words...”

So the time for Koutarou and Clan to part ways with Elfaria came.

Koutarou and Clan headed for Earth while Elfaria became the empress.

They wouldn't reunite until another 20 years.

But despite all that time, the bond between them never weakened.

Part 23

A mellow smell of tea filled room 106. It was a rare smell considering the tea they normally drank. And the person preparing that tea was someone rarely seen in room 106.

“Please just wait a little longer, Reios-sama.”

“It's okay, let's take it slow, it's the weekend after all.”

Elfaria was sitting on the opposite end of the tea table to Koutarou. She was the one preparing the tea.

It was Sunday today and all of the girls had left to go buy swimsuits, leaving only Koutarou behind. As he was pondering what to do, Elfaria appeared. Seeing that he seemed to be free, Elfaria prepared him some tea.

“Oh yeah, there was something I wanted to ask you.”

Koutarou and Elfaria were rarely alone together. Since Theia or Ruth were always with her, there were several things he wanted to ask but couldn't. Fortunately, neither of them were here, giving them a chance to talk.

“I don't mind, as long as it's not about my age.”

Elfaria casually nodded whilst looking at the tea leaves stirring up inside of the glass pot. Elfaria had nothing to hide from Koutarou either, apart from her age.

“What is Theia's dad doing right now?”

Koutarou had heard about Theia's mother, Elfaria, before, but he had never heard about her father. That's why he had always been interested, but he didn't know if it was something he could ask Theia. So Elfaria was the better one to ask.

“Theia doesn't have a father.”

Elfaria shook her head.

“What do you mean?”

“I had a fiance determined for me, but he died of an accident before we married....So his sperm that had been cryopreserved just in case was used for artificial insemination.”

“So that's why... no wonder she never mentioned her father.”

“Yes... that's why I believe I've made her feel lonely all this time.”

Elfaria had raised Theia on her own. Since she was the empress as well, raising a child was incredibly difficult. That's why she had collided with Koutarou and the others. If it wasn't for Ruth, who knows what would have happened. Elfaria regretted that.

“But that's not the case anymore. You're here, and she's made friends.”

“Yes. While this might be imprudent to say in this situation, having been chased out of my country... I am incredibly happy to be able to see Theia smile like that.”

Elfaria smiled, her eyes turned gentle. She was looking at Koutarou, but he felt like Elfaria was only thinking of Theia at the moment.

“Can I ask you something else?”

“Yes.”

Elfaria rubbed her eyes and nodded. She hadn't cried because she was unhappy so her expression was bright.

“Was it your doing that caused Theia to come to this room?”

This was another thing that he was curious about.

It was unthinkable to believe that the daughter of his friend from the past had come to this room for her trial by just by pure chance, especially since the trial was decided at random by a computer.

“Yes. I sent Theia here, because I knew you would be here.”

Elfaria easily confirmed Koutarou's suspicions.

“Why did you do that?”

“There were two reasons.”

Elfaria raised two fingers and showed Koutarou.

“The first was the protect Theia. By having her by your side, I was hoping that you would protect her.”

“That sounds like you.”

Koutarou could understand the reason clearly. If it was Elfaria's daughter, Koutarou would protect her unconditionally. That said, Koutarou had already formed a bond with Theia before he met Elfaria.

“And the other reason was... revenge on Reios-sama, perhaps.”

“Revenge?”

Koutarou's voice unexpectedly faltered as he had been too surprised by what Elfaria said. She then puffed up her cheeks, played with her hair and glared at Koutarou with a grudge.

“Reios-sama was my first love. But I happened to overhear you and Clan-san speaking, and you called me 'Theia's mother'. With that my first love came to an end. Isn't that a cruel story?”

Koutarou had referred to Elfaria as 'Theia's mother'. Since Koutarou had no intention of changing history he couldn't be with Elfaria. And before long, her first love ended.

“So as revenge for that, you sent Theia?”

“Don't you think being both mother's and daughter's first love is wonderful?”

Trying to make Koutarou pay for what he did, Elfaria wanted him to chose Theia. If they became lovers then the total score would end at a +/-0, from there she would use her position as mother-in-law to trouble Koutarou.

“...I feel sorry for Theia.”

“There's no need to worry. She became a Blue Knight maniac even without my intervention. I guess it was destiny. All I did was make sure so that her trial became the invasion of this room.”

Elfaria had sent Theia to room 106 in order to protect her, and to get revenge at Koutarou. As a result, she was protected from the out of control military, and she had taken place inside of Koutarou's heart. Elfaria's plan was proceeding smoothly.

“Thanks to Reios-sama I could focus on trying to disarm the military without worries. My daughter was my weakness after all.”

“I'm not even so sure on that disarmament statement.”

“On what grounds can you say that?”

Elfaria pouted again, she felt like her senses from 20 years ago were coming back a little.

“Who would believe that someone that made ridiculous spaceship was for disarmament?”

To Koutarou, the Blue Knight didn't look like it was made by someone who wished for disarmament. It only looked like a brutal weapon specialized in mobility and attack power.

“That ship has several safeties on it.”

“Did you disable those?”

“That's not what I mean. That ship is a power that can never be misused.”

Elfaria showed a boasting smile.

“It can't be misused?”

Not following, Koutarou urged Elfaria to explain.

“Yes. Reios-sama's aspirations is the first safety. Then Theia and Ruth who are on the same wavelength as you are needed for offense and defense. On top of that, only you can maintain your power. If any of that is missing, that ship will perform below average. Everyone has to be united under one cause. There's no weapon that can be misused less than this.”

“...Now that you mention it, your enemies were those who misused power.”

“Yes.”

Elfaria's enemies were those that who lost control of themselves in their desire to increase their power without even noticing. Compared to that, the Blue Knight's power could be controlled. As long as Koutarou and the others bond remained firm, the Blue Knight would hold tremendous power.

“...Elle.”

“What could it be?”

“What is your personal goal?”

“What could you be talking about?”

Elfaria showed an awfully cute face. It was quite clearly the expression of someone playing dumb.

“Don't act like you don't know what I'm talking about. This is you we're talking about, you didn't make that weapon just because it could be controlled.”

“As expected of Reios-sama. You know me so well!”

Elfaria seemed glad, and as she slightly waved her finger around, she began her explanation.

“My goal is to make Reios-sama essential for the control of that ship so you can't run away from us. I won't repeat the Silver Princess' mistake.”

“...You're the same as always...”

Elfaria's groundwork and ability to create established facts instinctively caused Koutarou to drop his shoulders.

However, since Koutarou had already decided to walk down the same path as the girls of room 106, he didn't think much of it. If anything, he was happy that the friend he had been able to reunite with was the same as always.

“You won't tell me I've gotten beautiful?”

“That will depend on the tea.”

“My, you bully.”

Elfaria poured up tea as Koutarou was looking. The tea was sparkling as beautifully as rubies.

“Here, Reios-sama.”

“Hm.”

Koutarou grabbed the tea cup and took a sip. As he did a familiar, rich flavor spread throughout his mouth.

I had my suspicions from the smell, but this really is Rubustori tea...

The tea that Elfaria had prepared was made from Koutarou's and Clan's favorite, the Rubustori tea leaf. But since the Rubustori had been extinct for over 800 years it was impossible to acquire in modern Forthorthe. Which meant that this must have been made from the seeds that they had given Elfaria 20 years ago.

So Elle always took care of those seeds...

It was a difficult to grow an extinct tree with no data pertaining to it. On top of that the prime condition to bloom the tea leaves had to be found. That was something that required some serious dedication.

“Hey, Elle.”

“Yes? Did it not taste well?”

“That's not it... do you still―”

Koutarou was about to ask something, but he changed his mind as he spoke.

“―Do you know, that you're still beautiful?”

In the end he said something else. What he was about to say first was something that required a great deal of courage to say to someone far older than him, even if she looked young.

“My...”

Elfaria smiled happily. As she did, she really did look like a young girl, she looked just like she had 20 years in the past.

“That's right, Reios-sama, there are snacks as well.”

“I know your game. I bet it's spicy.”

“Would you like to eat them together?”

“Only one at a time.”

“Fufufu, okay.”

It was a clear midafternoon Sunday. The sunlight was shining in through the window and lighting up Koutarou and Elfaria. Inside the normally noisy room 106, only Koutarou's and Elfaria's calm voices could be heard. The only other sounds that could be heard was the ticking clock, the cars traveling in the distance and the birds singing. It was a gentle and calm Sunday.

“These are pretty good when you only eat one at a time.”

“That's how they are. I still― love them.”

Like that Koutarou and Elfaria spent their first weekend together in 20 years like nothing had happened.

Part 24

The formerly dim office now had all kinds of lights in it. The cracked wall had been plastered and the ancient desk had been replaced with a brand new one. It was completely different from a few months ago.

“Kenichi-niichan, are you okay?”

“I'm not okay, but if I admit that my heart might break, so I'm okay. By the way, where is Hayato?”

“In the infirmary. He couldn't move his fingers so he went there to have them fix it.”

“Megu-chan, you should eat something.”

“I don't have the appetite to eat. You go ahead and eat, Daisaku-kun. You're our only hope right now.”

But compared to the renewed office, the people inside were worn down. It was as if the worn down aspect of the room had been transferred to them.

The leader in the red jacket was covered with injuries and was leaning over his desk, resting his body. Next to him was a boy in a green jacket with bags under his eyes. The girl in the pink jacket looked a lot thinner than when compared to before. The man in the yellow jacket next to her was worried for her, but even he had bandages wrapped around his head. There was one more member but he was currently in the infirmary.

They were all covered all over with wounds.

“Kotarou, how many times have we mobilized this month?”

“18. No, was it 19?”

“If we're going to be mobilized so often, we're all going be done in eventually.”

“Things suddenly got a lot busier since last month...”

A waste of the national budget. Tax thieves. That is what they used to be called. But nobody would dare call them that now. They had done nothing but work for a while now, they were taking on dangerous jobs on their own and fought.

“Sun Rangers, I bring bad news.”

“What's the matter, professor?”

“It seems like there will be a major battle shortly.”

“What?!”

The Sun Squad, Sun Rangers.

They were the nations ace in the hole regarding unknown threats. The only squad capable of dealing with the invaders.

And if they were busy, it meant that the invaders were busy at work.

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