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Rokujouma no Shinryakusha!? (Light Novel) - Volume 17, Chapter 2: Mother's and Daughter's Wish
Volume 17, Chapter 2: Mother's and Daughter's Wish
This chapter is updated by NovelFree.ml
Part 1
Saturday, August 14
Koutarou was kind to anyone, but he kept others at a distance. And the reason for that stemmed from a loss in his family. While he hadn't said so directly, Theia had noticed that problem with Koutarou's heart.
“...and that's why Ruth and I want to do something about Koutarou, but we can't find a way to resolve this right away. We're taking it one step at a time”
Having realized that, Theia couldn't leave it be. However, she couldn't find a fundamental solution to the problem. In the past Koutarou had promised to make sure that the girls lived a happy life, but that was it.
“...I see... the reason for Reios-sama's heart was formed by his mother's death...”
Having heard what Theia said, Elfaria looked down.
Having witnessed the death of his mother, Koutarou couldn't overlook any misfortune infront of him. However, having suddenly lost someone important to him, Koutarou simply gave up, realizing that no relationship lasted forever. As a result, while he might protect his promises and other people, he didn't expect the same from others.
“Mother, how can Ruth and I save Koutarou?”
Wanting to an answer to this question, Theia asked Elfaria on board the Blue Knight. Theia and Ruth were still teenage girls so they were still inexperienced. Theia was hoping that Elfaria would be able to make up for their lack of experience.
“Well...”
Elfaria stopped to think. She was still past 30 years old, but she had a very youthful appearance. That youthful impression was reinforced as she tilted her head while she was thinking.
“...”
“...”
Theia held her breath as she waited for Elfaria's answer. Ruth who was preparing some Rubustori tea was also pointing her ear in Elfaria's direction.
“First of all... I think rushing things is a bad idea. Reios-sama is essentially afraid of creating bonds with others. Theia, you need to be extra careful since you're so hasty”
”I know! That's why I came to ask mother before I do something reckless!”
“Your majesty, what should we do?”
”Fufufu...”
Seeing Theia and Ruth instinctively lean forward to hear her words, Elfaria smiled. Puzzled by her reaction, the two looked at each other in confusion.
“It pays to go on a journey. You, who had only been creating more enemies, are now frantic to save others. And the very serious Ruth is so passionately desiring an answer. This is something I couldn't imagine from the two of you a year ago. You have truly grown up well”
Having been separate from the two for a long period of time, their change was very obvious to Elfaria.
Theia had never had a father and her mother was often absent due to her work as the empress. That's why she was desperately trying to be of help to her mother. Her only ally was her childhood friend Ruth. Ruth was the only that would pour love into Theia and never betray her. Because Theia was like that, she rarely trusted others and ended up making more and more enemies. She didn't have the generosity to accept others. Yet now that Theia was surrounded by many friends. Trying to save one of them, Theia was breaking down her former self.
Ruth was very similar. She had a very serious personality, and combined with her title as Guardian Knight she often killed her own feelings. She never said anything selfish and always worked for Theia's sake. While there were times when Ruth would give her opinion to Theia, that was always for Theia's sake, and not because of any desire of her own. That's why, when Elfaria heard about the beetle incident, and Ruth annulling her arranged marriage, she realized that it wasn't just Theia that had changed, but Ruth as well. Before she knew it, Ruth had evolved from being something similar to a mere tool, to someone who could balance their official position and feelings. At the same time, she tried to walk alongside Theia. She had become the ideal childhood friend.
Elfaria found both of their changes desirable. The current Theia could confidently be called a successor to the throne. Also, the current Ruth who was supporting Theia could be called her chief vassal. Since these results were far more than what Elfaria had expected, she was truly glad the two traveled the universe for the trial.
“Ruth and I may have grown up, but that won't save our knight. Just what should we do?”
“Please tell us your majesty. Please guide us immature down the right path”
The two were desperate. This was a problem as important to them as being chased out of their own country. Looking at the two acting like that, Elfaria laughed.
“You two being the way you are right now is the answer. Ah, how funny. Fufufufu”
“The way we are...”
“...Right now?”
Theia and Ruth looked at each other once more upon hearing that. Then, after Elfaria had finished laughing she explained what she meant.
“Just make Reios-sama grow up the same way you two did. He has changed on the inside as well, hasn't he?”
”Yes. Though only a little...”
”I believe so too”
The two nodded at the same time. They had both experienced that.
“Then Reios-sama should be able to accept you closer to his heart. Just being the way you are right now, as long as you stay by Reios-sama's side, you will be able to mend his heart. Of course it will take time, so I believe it might be difficult for my hasty Theia...”
Elfaria smiled as she spoke and took a sip of the tea that Ruth had poured up for her. Ruth was very capable and the exact flavor she had expected spread throughout her mouth.
“So we haven't been useless to him...”
”I feel a little relieved”
”What you need to do right now is to be Reios-sama's family. I believe that is the most important thing”
”Then we should be fine mother. I have confidence in that”
Theia put her hand on her chest and gave Elfaria a large nod.
During the battle a while back, the Sun Rangers had asked what kind of relationship they had with Koutarou, and Theia had boldly answered that they were family. Theia had absolute confidence that the residents of room 106 needed each other to the point that they could be called family.
“And at the very end, I am sure that Reios-sama will have to come face to face with the hole in his heart. When that time comes, help him”
In Elfaria's mind, what someone needed to fully recover was time and healing. By having Theia and the others staying with Koutarou, that shouldn't be a problem, and once the hole in Koutarou's heart shrank to a certain size he would have to face that for the final showdown. However, facing that your own mother died a tragic death in your place wasn't something so easy to do. When that time came, Koutarou would surely need help.
“Listen up, Theia, Ruth. Brace yourself to spend as much time with Reios-sama as you did to form your current relationship, and then, at the very end, lend Reios-sama your strength. That is almost certainly the only way for you two to save him”
”I understand, mother! I will do just that!”
”Thank you very much, your majesty. I will carve your words into my heart”
Theia and Ruth held hands and nodded. They were prepared to walk down the path that Elfaria had shown them together.
Part 2
Having finished talking with Elfaria, the two headed back towards room 106. That was normally not their home, but what they had said, and what they had gotten back as an answer caused them to admit that they were residents of that room.
“I'm back”
”We are back”
”Welcome back, Theia, Ruth-san”
Koutarou welcomed the two back. Since the two of them had invaded Koutarou's room, he had no reason to welcome them, but his voice was bright and he was without a doubt truly welcoming them.
This is probably what it means to be a family...
Theia thought back to Elfaria's words. These normal interactions between them and Koutarou would eventually save him. As she thought like that, she was overcome by a refreshing feeling.
“Master, what are you doing?”
”I'm doing the summer vacation homework. I've been leaving it be for a while now, so I figured I should get to it while I can”
”I see. By the way, Master, how about some barley tea?”
“I'll gladly have some”
”Then I'll prepare it right away”
Leaving behind a small smile, Ruth vanishes into the kitchen, leaving behind only Koutarou and Theia in the inner room. Being left alone, Theia noticed something and tilted her head in confusion.
“By the way, Koutarou, I don't see anyone else”
There was normally a lot more people in the room. Recently it was normal for there to be ten of them. Yet, now there was just Koutarou, Theia and Ruth. Theia was curious about the remaining seven.
“They all left to go shopping. I was the only one with homework left so I stayed behind”
With his part-time job and hanging out with classmates, Koutarou was often out of his room. As a result, he had fallen behind the other residents of room 106 on homework. And so Koutarou stayed behind to do his homework while the others went out shopping.
“You could just have someone show you their homework”
“That would be bad for Sanae's and Yurika's education, so I can't”
“You could just have them show you in secret”
”You can't do what you can't do, that's final”
“You're stubborn as always. Fufu”
Theia looked dumbfounded by Koutarou's words but her expression was bright. His words right now were fit for a knight of justice.
“I'll borrow your back for a moment”
”Ok”
Theia sat down back to back with Koutarou. It was convenient as their backs served as substitutes for backrests. While in that position, Theia started playing a game while Koutarou continued on his homework. Something like this wasn't enough to disrupt his concentration. It had been over a year since Theia and the others came to this room. He was used to a noisy environment.
“Hey, Koutarou”
“Hm?”
”Once you're taking a break from homework, play with me”
“Once I take a break”
”Yeah”
Koutarou and Theia carried on like that for a while. They were each doing different things, but for some reason it didn't feel like it.
Koutarou had planned to do ten pages of homework. By the time Theia and Ruth returned he was on his ninth page and within an hour he had solved all problems. And now, as promised he was playing games with Theia and Ruth.
“Theia, shouldn't we go back for a moment?”
“We'll be fine a while longer. We'll overcome it with technique”
Koutarou and Theia was playing a two-player action RPG. The two were deep inside of a jungle and about to run out of healing items. Without any means to recover their health a single miss would lead to death.
“If we over do it we'll have to do it all over again”
“The dignity of the Mastir family will be hurt if I back down from something of this level”
“What dignity is there when dealing with an old program”
“But...”
“You should prioritize Theia-chan's convenience over princess Theiamillis' convenience here”
“...Are those Koutarou-chan's words?”
“Yeah”
”Then it can't be helped. Let's go back”
”That's more like it. You should obediently listen to people's warnings”
Theia wanted to continue exploring, but after Koutarou's persuasion she decided to return to the town for a moment. After reaching town and making preparations for the next adventure, Koutarou and Theia paused the game and took a short break.
“Good work Your Highness, Master”
Ruth put down glasses in front of the two. In the glasses were barley tea with ice floating at the top.
“Thank you, Ruth”
”You're a lifesaver”
Thirsty after concentrating on the game, the two gladly picked up the glasses. The cool barley tea felt great as it passed through their dry throats. Having rested up and drunk some barley tea, Theia looked up at Koutarou still holding her glass.
“Hey, Koutarou-chan”
”Hm?”
Koutarou stopped drinking his barley tea and looked down at Theia. The two of them were now facing each other and Ruth watched over them from the side.
“There's something I want to ask”
”I don't mind... but stop it with the Koutarou-chan”
Theia had used the chan suffix to separate between public and private matters, but it was an embarrassing name to be called.
“Does it embarrass you?”
Theia asked after blinking twice.
“Yeah”
Koutarou didn't avert his eyes but he was embarrassed and his voice was somewhat blunt. A smile appeared on Theia's lips as she happily continued.
“Fufu, then I'll continue with Koutarou-chan for a while”
“Hey”
“In return, I allow you to call me Theia-chan”
“In that case, please call me Ruth-chan as well”
”Hey now, you two...”
The two girls that teamed up to make fun of Koutarou made him drop his shoulders.
“More importantly, back to what I wanted to ask”
”What do you mean more importantly”
”Shush, Koutarou-chan”
Theia continued with her topic, sealing off Koutarou's ability for rebuttal. Theia smiled because it was fun to trouble Koutarou and because her topic was a bright one.
“Actually, I want to let mother and the citizens to breathe the air of the surface”
Onboard the spaceship, the Blue Knight, were Elfaria and citizens of Forthorthe who supported her. They had been on that spaceship all this time, and while there were no physical problems, mentally, they should be feeling cooped-up. So Theia wanted to take Elfaria and the citizens down to the surface, let them breathe some fresh air and enjoy the greenery.
“That's a good idea”
Koutarou nodded in agreement, but Ruth followed up on the topic.
“However, there are many citizens and they have almost no knowledge of Earth. Her Highness and I aren't enough. So we hoped that you could help, Mashter”
“...It's a heartwarming story and I'd love to help, but there's one big problem”
”What?”
”Seriously, stop it with the chan. Especially you Ruth-san”
Koutarou held his head in pain.
“It seems like he likes it”
”It was worth the effort to say it then”
However, the two seemed unconcerned. They had no intentions of changing how they called him for a while.
“You guys...”
”Give it up. Ruth and I love you, Koutarou-chan”
“But if you say that you hate us, we will stop right away, Mashter”
“...Seriously... you two have been playing dirty lately...”
When they first met, they had clashed a lot. However, now that they got along, their methods were more fit for invaders. That said, because they were too straight with their feelings, all Koutarou could do was to silently bear it.
Part 3
After consulting the other girls of room 106 regarding letting the Forthorthe citizens descend down to Earth, they all agreed to help. Theia and Kiriha would be in charge. Theia being a leader aside, Kiriha was serving as a leader because her cooperation was needed.
One of the underground people's base would temporarily be needed to receive all of the people on the Blue Knight. It was next to impossible to receive the citizens that numbered in the hundreds in room 106. After some deliberation they decided that they could just use the radical faction's military base. Because of that, Kiriha ended up serving as one of the leaders.
The incident with the radical faction had just ended and the radical faction's military had been disbanded, leaving the bases empty. That said, since they had been used until just the other day, all of the equipment was still in order. Since there was no other use for them, they would be used to receive the Forthorthe citizens.
The radical faction had plenty of bases on the surface, but the one Theia and the others decided to use was a base on the outskirts of Kitsushouharukaze city. The base had a vast site located in the mountains away from people's eyes. It was convenient to use for the Forthorthe citizens to use.
Several large sightseeing buses were departing. The buses were full of the citizens of Forthorthe that had arrived on Earth yesterday. They had moved down to Earth yesterday morning and received a lecture on things to keep an eye out while here. On the afternoon they got a taste of the surrounding hills and fields. Since the Forthorthe citizens looked like foreigners they looked suspicious when gathered in one place. Thus they were divided into multiple teams and scattered on several buses. The People of the Earth who had lived on the surface for longer would serve as the guides. These were Kiriha's subordinates.
“Ruth which one was that?”
“The 17th, Your Highness”
“So the next bus is the last”
In total there were 18 sightseeing buses prepared. There were around 40 on each bus and roughly 700 had left to go sightseeing. There were actual a couple of dozen more citizens apart from those that left on the buses but they would be staying behind at the base. They were people who preferred this place, surrounded by nature over sightseeing, those with health concerns and backup in case of an unexpected development.
“Still, Kiriha, I am impressed you managed to gather so many buses in a short amount of time. You have my thanks”
”We People of the Earth have already spread out over a wide area. It's not that hard to gather a few buses from each area. Besides, I am in your debt after your help during that incident. I should be the one thanking you, so don't worry about it”
Theia and Kiriha saw the 17th bus off, standing shoulder to shoulder. The children on the bus peered outside of the bus, smiling and waving at Theia. Theia waved back and smiled at them.
“Then I should be grateful for my friendship with you”
”That's a good idea. I'll do the same”
Theia and Kiriha smiled at each other. Their bond had deepened after the incident with the radical faction. And that wasn't just limited to them, but to all of the girls of room 106.
“Your Highness, Kiriha-sama. Master has returned”
”I'm back everyone”
”Good work out there”
“Welcome back, Koutarou”
”The 17th bus has left too”
Koutarou's job was to guide the Forthorthe citizens from here to the bus. Once every bus departed, he returned here to report on the results.
“Kiriha-san, it's only one more, right?”
“That's right, the next bus is the last”
“Alright”
Koutarou nodded and looked at the building at the base. As he did, Forthorthe citizens existed the building. They were the last people to depart and were being guided by Sanae and Shizuka. By the way, Sanae's and Shizuka's job was to lead the people from the building to this place.
“Huh? It seems like Her Majesty Elfaria is coming too”
That was when Ruth spotted Elfaria at the end of the line. She was coming here along with the other Forthorthe citizens. Besides here were Harumi and Clan as well. Harumi and Clan were serving as Elfaria's guards.
“Theia, is El...faria getting on the last bus too?”
”No, that's not on the schedule...”
If Elfaria was going to get on the bus, there would need to be extra guards on the bus, so Theia should have heard about it. Yet she hadn't. Theia shook her head at Koutarou's question.
“I suppose she's just going to see them off”
“Then she would have done so at the start to be equal”
”I'm sure she has some other reason. Once the last bus leaves, we'll be free too”
Koutarou and the others had their jobs as explained, but Yurika and Maki who weren't here had their own jobs as well. They were working as traffic control and should currently be guiding the last bus inside the base from the gate.
Including Yurika and Maki, Koutarou and the others would be free once the last bus left. So it was likely that Elfaria had appeared in relation to that.
“Consider it's Her Majesty, she might want to do something on Earth”
Everyone that had gathered nodded at Ruth's words. Koutarou especially so, as he knew how Elfaria behaved, he couldn't imagine she had come here without reason.
Part 4
What came as a surprise to the citizens of Forthorthe was the relationship between empress Elfaria, princess Theiamillis, princess Clariossa and the boy that was regarded as the legendary hero, the Blue Knight.
“He hit her! That Sir Knight hit Her Majesty!”
“What's more is that neither Her Majesty nor the two princesses are criticizing him!”
”As expected of the Blue Knight!”
”So he really is the real one!”
The relationship between the Blue Knight and the three royalties was very close. It was like they were siblings or relatives, they were in a relationship where more violent expressions of love was allowed.
“Her Majesty leaned her head forward herself”
”She probably said something to make Blue Knight get angry on purpose”
“Her Majesty has a childish side after all”
”Amazing... despite disrespecting three royalties, his actions are not brought into question at all... is that Sir Knight really the Blue Knight...?”
“That's why I said it really is Blue Knight! Adults are so suspicious. It's not my fault if Blue Knight gets angry”
Of course, violence against royalty was a major sin, regardless of reason. However, none of the three showed any signs of pointing that out. If anything, it looked like they actively sought out that kind of relationship as the girls' smiles and laughter continued.
“Regardless of if that Sir Knight is the legendary Blue Knight or not, it is clear that he's not normal”
”Since he's an alien, they can't be related after all”
”Either way, he is special to them, huh...”
The surprise and specialness of the young Blue Knight spread and ripple through the hearts of four Forthorthe citizens.
The citizens didn't know the reason as to why the knight's violence was being forgiven. If he was indeed the Blue Knight like they assumed, it would be a massive problem. And if he wasn't, that would be a massive problem as well.
“That Sir Knight destroyed DKI's latest weapons, and use a single ship to repel the enemy fleet”
“Then there's the red dragon and silver haired girl with him”
”It might not even be worth questioning whether he's the real Blue Knight or not...”
Part 5
Elfaria had gotten Koutarou angry by asking if she could go sightseeing.
A loud thud rang out.
“Ow!?”
”Of course you can't! Elle, have you forgotten who you are!?”
“After being chased out of my country by a coup d'état I'm now an unemployed hikikomori, Reios-sama”
“You bastard, have you forgotten about your own mission!?”
”I haven't forgotten. I am continuing my information gathering to be able to retake my country. However, it is without a doubt the truth that I am unemployed”
”Those hundreds of people would be completely lost if anything were to happen to you”
Koutarou vehemently objected to Elfaria's sightseeing. The threat of Elexis still hadn't passed, so it was possible that she might get attacked if she walked around the city. Theia was a princess so the risk for her was lost, but Koutarou didn't have the courage to let the empress, who held the most authority, out into the city.
“That's why I'm asking you to be my guard, Reios-sama”
“Koutarou, I'm asking you too. Mother is tired after living in space for so long. Even if the enemy doesn't attack her, it would be the same if she gave up mentally, right?”
“Ugh...”
However, upon hearing Theia's intercession, Koutarou began thinking that might be for the better. Like she said, it was necessary to lessen the strain on Elfaria's mind.
“That's right Reios-sama, if I collapse everything will be for nothing!”
However, seeing Elfaria's eyes sparkling he began having second thoughts. The danger in those hadn't changed after 20 years.
“Let's go sightseeing on Earth so I don't collapse!”
”Hey Elle, stop using yourself as a hostage to threaten me”
”I would never threaten you. Mental health is an important problem”
“...You're still the same way you were back then”
”I'm still a teenager in mind and body”
”Geez...”
Koutarou held his head. Having latched onto Theia's words, Elfaria's claims were correct. However it was still dangerous. Koutarou was reluctant to let her walk around crowded areas. After thinking for a moment, Clan gave Koutarou a helping hand.
“Phew... Bertorion, why don't you change your way of thinking for a moment?”
”What do you mean?”
”Rather than you alone, all ten of us will protect Elfaria-san. If we do that, then the chances of Elfaria-san being attacked will lower”
Sanae's spiritual powers, Yurika's and Maki's magic, Kiriha's spiritual energy technology and brain, Theia's, Ruth's and Clan's advanced technology, Shizuka's dragon powers and Harumi's Signaltin. If all of these powers gathered to protect Elfaria the chances were that they would be able to allow Elfaria escape before they get attacked. It was also hard to imagine Elexis and Maya to attack someone so heavily defended. Just focusing this defense would let them protect Elfaria.
“...I guess that's the only way...”
After thinking over it carefully, Koutarou reluctantly agreed to Elfaria stepping out.
Sanae, Clan and Ruth could detect any approaching enemies, Yurika could then bring Elfaria to a safe place using magic prepared beforehand while the rest of the members dealt with the attackers. If they left the command to Kiriha they would be able to guard Elfaria with even more certainty. That kind of plan appeared in Koutarou's mind.
“Then let's go, Reios-sama! To explore an unknown planet!”
”...Elle, you won't die in a pretty way”
“You'll kill me yourself, Reios-sama!?”
Elfaria's smile was so very bright.
“...You bastard... you're saying that knowing I can't, aren't you...”
As Koutarou held his head in pain, Clan began laughing for some reason.
“Ohohohohoho!”
”W-What now, all of a sudden?”
”Serves you right! That's how you always make me feel. Ohohohoho!”
Elfaria was now making Koutarou feel the same thing he made Clan feel and Clan couldn't stop herself from laughing.
Part 6
Koutarou and the others were all together to guard Elfaria, but they looked less like guards and more like a group going out to play together. Elfaria was no longer wearing her empress clothing, but had changed into Earth-style clothes. So at a first glance, it looked like some foreign tourists being guided around by a group of Japanese.
“Mother, this is called takoyaki”
”Takoyaki? How round and peculiar. If I were to guess it looks like a food”
”Ruth, I'll leave the detailed explanation to you”
“Yes, Your Highness. Your Majesty, takoyaki is one of the snacks that civilians on Earth like to eat, it is very popular”
”So it's similar to our country's Lakron?”
”Image wise it's close, but it's more normal”
”Why not have her try some before you explain. That way is more fun too”
“Shizuka is right. Mother, have some”
”Fufufu, okay... hot hot”
Elfaria timidly put the takoyaki in her mouth. And she rolled her eyes in bewilderment from the taste being different from what she had thought and the contents being hotter than expected. Seeing Elfaria react like they had hoped, the girls around her smiled.
“Takoyaki, huh...”
”Maki-chan, do you like takoyaki?”
“I haven't tried it that much, so I don't know”
”Then give it a taste. Satomi-san!”
Yurika escaped from the circle of girls and ran up to Koutarou who was looking at the surroundings from a short distance away. She then presented both of her hands with a wide grin on her face.
“I want to treat Maki-chan to some takoyaki, so please give me money!”
Yurika was poor but haphazard, so she had no spare money. So she decided to request Koutarou's support. She believed that he would do something.
“You've finally started to straight up ask for money, huh?”
”Is that a no?”
Yurika tilted her head with a sad expression.
“...Just wait a minute”
Koutarou reluctantly opened his wallet and pulled out a 1000 yen note. He would have rejected her request if it was just for herself, but if it was for Maki, who rarely asked for anything for herself, he couldn't refuse. While she was haphazard, Yurika was still acting for Maki's sake.
“Here”
“Thank you very much! Maki-chan, let's go buy takoyaki!”
”Y-Yes... thank you, Satomi-kun!”
Maki thanked Koutarou as she was being pulled away by Yurika. Seeing that, Koutarou felt like his decision had been correct
“Koutarou, haven't you been spoiling Yurika too much lately?”
That was when Sanae appeared and gave Koutarou a light tackle. Her cheeks were puffed up and she seemed to be sulking.
“What could I do. She said it was for Maki”
”That's not what I'm talking about”
”Then what are you talking about?”
“Here, pat it with all of your love and spoil me too”
Sanae thrust her head towards Koutarou. She was actually sulking because she wanted to be spoiled too.
“Okay, okay”
”When you pat me you should describe your love with words too”
”Thank you for everything you do, lady Sanae”
“Very good!”
Satisfied by Koutarou's head patting, Sanae returned to the group of girls. There, she received some takoyaki from Maki. Sanae didn't really feel any ill will towards Yurika or Maki, she simply wanted Koutarou to spoil her as well.
“I think this kind of accessory would look great on you Clan-san”
”If I wear something like that, Bertorion would laugh at me!”
”Really? While he might say all kinds of things, I'm sure he would compliment you in his mind”
”Mother, how was the taste?”
“The cute look and proper seasoning I might get addicted”
“Master loves the takoyaki's from this place”
”Yurika, why don't you just receive a takoyaki from Maki you too”
”I can't. I bought those for Maki-chan”
A growling sound could be heard.
“...Just have some. I can't let you have that sloppy look on your face”
“Are you sure, Maki-chan!? I knew you were a good person from the first day we met!!”
“That's definitely a lie. You get so carried away, Yurika-chan... fufufu”
Elfaria and the girls cheerfully chatted away. The bright atmosphere them was even a match for the midsummer sun.
Considering the battle last time, I can forgive something like this...
Koutarou was worried about everyone letting their guard down, but he felt it was great that Elfaria and the girls were having fun. That's why he paid extra attention to his surroundings in place of them. What Koutarou had to protect now wasn't just Elfaria.
Part 7
After Elfaria had soaked in the city atmosphere around the train station, they all headed towards Kitsushouharukaze high school. Elfaria wanted to see the school where Theia and Koutarou studied. While she couldn't enter it because they were in the middle of summer vacation, Elfaria looked at the schoolhouse and around the schoolyard with great interest. Seeing Elfaria like that, Koutarou felt like she really was a mother.
Once that was over with, the group climbed up the hill, reaching the ruins where Koutarou worked at his part-time job. This was because Elfaria was an archeologist herself. Of course she was also interested in the place where the legendary Blue Knight worked.
“Elle, everything inside this building are things excavated from these ruins. According to the group leader, this is only about 10% of it”
Koutarou first guided her to an exhibition hall that was built up next to the excavation site. It was a temporary prefabricated building, but as the excavation had dragged on, there was a surprising amount of artifacts on display.
“So these are the remnants of an ancient civilization on Earth... Reios-sama, how old are these?”
”Supposedly 10,000 years. They did dating on carbon or something on the earthenware. I don't really get it”
”So they determined the age using the radiocarbon dating method. Then the date should be roughly correct”
Elfaria looked at each of the artifacts on exhibit. To Koutarou they were just fragments of jars and arrowheads, but Elfaria had sparkles in her eyes. Having been a passionate archeologist before becoming empress, this place was like heaven to Elfaria. Even more so as this was the ancient civilization of a foreign planet.
“But... this is strange. If this level of civilization existed 10,000 years ago then Earth's civilization should be even more advanced by now. The numbers don't add up”
Elfaria tilted her head. Comparing the artifacts to Forthorthe's civilization, Earth's civilization should be a few thousand years further ahead. This was strange to Elfaria.
“Was it a large-scale disaster? Or where they wiped out in a war...?”
“I'm surprised you can tell, Elle. The higher ups are currently arguing about that. Why wasn't this advanced civilization inherited”
“I thoughts so... so did they reach a conclusion?”
“No. There are supposedly no signs of natural disasters or wars. So it must have been a closed off society or they were wiped out by an epidemic. At least that's what they're discussing now”
“What interesting ruins. I kind of want to excavate them myself”
”Hey now”
”Fufufu... by the way, Reios-sama, what is this?”
“Ah, this is―”
Elfaria and Koutarou actively discussed as they looked through the exhibit. Since this was regarding her beloved archeology she seemed very happy. There was noone around her that could follow her when she talked about archeology, on that point, Koutarou, who worked on an excavation site had some knowledge about this, so he was the perfect person for Elfaria to talk with. Because his knowledge was imperfect, Elfaria became more talkative.
Part 8
The other girls watched over Koutarou and Elfaria from afar. It was hard to join in on the topic they were discussing and there was a strange atmosphere between them that they didn't want to break.
“Theia-chan, Satomi-kun and Her Majesty met while he was returning from the past, right?”
“Yes. Supposedly they came across my mother when they left to buy some parts they needed”
”But I feel like that doesn't explain this atmosphere around them”
Many shared Shizuka's doubts.
Koutarou and Elfaria had met once before 20 years ago, and they had reunited just recently. But the atmosphere they created for something like that was too distinct. It was also different from the atmosphere with Kiriha who had a similar experience.
“Clan-sama knows more of the details around that, but...”
Ruth said and the girls all looked at Clan. In response she simply shook her head and spoke.
“...No comments”
“Why? Don't be such a cheapskate and tell us”
”Her Majesty is living a life less free than ours. I can't tell you what she's feeling, but it is certain that she can't live as she please. So at least leave her be for the time being”
Clan knew that Elfaria had fallen for Koutarou 20 years ago. But she didn't know if that was still the case now. However, even if it was, those feelings were unacceptable seeing as she was the empress and Theia's mother. That's why Clan's way of expressing her friendship was to ask the others to leave it be for now.
“Hmm. Aren't you cool, glasses”
Sensing sincerity from Clan's words, Sanae smiled. She didn't understand the circumstances, but she could vaguely understand that Clan was correct. When she had been a ghost there was a time when Sanae had worried that she would not be able to be together with Koutarou. So if Elfaria truly did love Koutarou, Sanae could imagine how she felt. Because of that, she decided to leave Elfaria be.
“Mother's feelings, huh...”
That was something Theia hadn't thought of. It wasn't hard to imagine that her mother had strong interest for the Blue Knight, having been an archeologist.Depending on the circumstances she might actually have fallen for Koutarou. But Theia was still too young to be able to understand how Elfaria must have felt when she sent her daughter to his side and when she was able to speak to him again.
“Regardless of the truth, I don't think it's a mistake to give them some time since they've reunited for the first time in 20 years”
Harumi wrapped up the conversation. She might feel the way she did because of Alaia's feelings inside of her.
“I think so too. Besides, you don't poke around in another woman's feelings”
Maki agreed with Harumi. Maki was the only one to say so, but many of the girls felt the same way. Elfaria couldn't spend every day with Koutarou like they could. So they could at least let her do as she wished on days like these.
Part 9
Koutarou and Elfaria were looking at the various exhibits, but she suddenly stopped in front of one of them.
This is...?
There was something among the artifacts that had caught her eye. It was a slab some dozen centimeters long on all sides with some kind of pattern carved into the surface. Elfaria felt like she had seen that pattern somewhere before.
It looks similar to one of Forthorthe's family crests... but what family was it now again? Uhm...
This slab had caught her interest because the pattern carved on it resembled a Forthorthe family crest. However, it wasn't completely in Forthorthe-style as it looked like the design had a more collapsed feeling overall. As a result, she couldn't clearly recall what family crest it reminded her of.
“What is it?”
“No... it's nothing. I think it was just my imagination”
In the end, Elfaria decided that it was probably just her imagination. It just happened to be that a slab excavated from ruins 10,000 years ago had a similar pattern to a Forthorthe family crest. Thinking about it normally, it was just a coincidence.
“Fufu”
Koutarou giggled a little at Elfaria. Confused, she looked up at him and tilted her head. She had now completely forgotten about the slab.
“What's wrong?”
“It's just that when you're thinking, you have the face of an empress, Elle”
While Koutarou's answer surprised Elfaria for a moment, she soon smiled.
“It's not a face I'd like to show you though, Reios-sama”
“Maybe so. Being empress just barely doesn't suit you and Theia”
“If you are aware of that, then I think I you could be a fine emperor”
Koutarou thought to himself as he looked at Elfaria smile.
Realistically speaking, being an empress didn't suit Elfaria and Theia. Kindness and hesitation existed in their hearts. As empress they sometimes had to push those feelings aside and make a decision.
“Don't push that kind of responsibility onto me”
”Oh? I became empress when I was around your age. Fufufu”
But he also felt like it was the opposite. The qualities an empress needed were not suited for an empress. When making that a decision would hurt a person's dignity, the love within Elfaria and Theia would surely minimize that wound.
Part 10
Koutarou had continuously kept watch over the surroundings, but the girls quickly noticed that and had him take a break while they took his place. They had plenty of people as guards and he had heard that the efficiency would drop without taking breaks, so there was nothing Koutarou could say.
“Alright, next is that!”
”Shooting huh. You're ten years too early to challenge me to that!”
“Fufufu, I know how to shoot! There is no way I could lose!”
“I don't know about that. Fufufu”
“Ahahaha”
Koutarou and Theia headed towards the shooting stall. Koutarou and the others were currently in a festival at Kitsushou shrine. Elfaria wanted to come into contact with more of Earth's culture and requested to visit this place, and Koutarou's and Theia's break just happened to be at the same time. So the two wandered around the festival looking at stalls.
“If you'd like I can give you a handicap”
”I don't need any! I'll show you the power of your master!”
The two pressed their shoulders against each other as they aimed their guns and fired.
The guns used at the shooting stall used springs and air pressure to fire corks. The make was half-assed and the barrel was distorted. As a result, the fired corks didn't fly where they aimed.
“The one to understand the quirk of their gun will win... in that case, victory is assured!”
After firing one shot, Theia was convinced of her victory.
While there was no major difference between her and Koutarou's overall combat capabilities, Theia had an overwhelming advantage when it came to shooting. In truth, after a single shot, she was starting to get a grasp of the gun.
“You're too naïve, Theia! Shooting isn't determined by skill alone!”
”What!?”
Koutarou leaned his body forward over the stall's counter. Since there was only a few meters between the targets and the counter, just leaning forward was enough to greatly close in the distance. Doing that shortened the distance, making the shooting much more accurate. Koutarou used his physique to make up for his lack of skill.
“Alright, that's some chocolate!”
”Curse you, Koutarou and your big body!”
Theia on the other hand had a small body, and even if she leaned forward she wouldn't get as close as Koutarou. She would have to make up for their physical difference using her skill.
“Alright!”
“You're pretty good, Theia!”
”A Forthorthe princess can't lose!”
Koutarou and Theia fired shot after shot as they argued. Right now the only thing that mattered to them was beating the other. Everything else had escaped from their mind.
Part 11
Koutarou and Theia were still making noise. Meanwhile, Theia's vassal, Ruth, and her mother, Elfaria watched over the two.
“Koutarou. You're my vassal so you should show me some more love!”
”That and this is different! I'm someone who doesn't hold back in games!”
Koutarou and Theia were still clashing in front of them. While they shared a strong bond between them, they still clashed quite often. Especially so when it came to games and play, and sometimes their arguments would turn into fist fights.
“Theia really loves Reios-sama, doesn't she?”
But despite the two clashing, Elfaria kept smiling. She knew that their intense clashing was a sign of affection.
“Yes. Master is special, and Her Highness is not afraid to shower him with love”
”I am sure meeting someone like that is a wonderful thing”
”I believe it's just as you say”
Ruth and Elfaria shared the same opinion. They also knew it was the truth from their own experience. Koutarou was someone they loved, and wanted to be loved by.
“I am sure only Theia can pull of such a harsh way of loving someone”
“In my case, getting a light flick on the forehead is my limit”
Ruth wanted a relationship like Theia's. However, because of Ruth's personality, Koutarou didn't treat her like he did Theia. Though they were treated differently, it wasn't like she wasn't being treasured. Koutarou surely valued both equally, the only difference was how he showed it.
“And I'm sure Theia wants to be treasured like you, Ruth”
”She is always saying that”
”Fufufu, I thought so...”
Elfaria happily smiled as she looked at Theia and Koutarou. Deep love for Theia resided in her eyes. Feeling that, Ruth once again recognized that Elfaria was Theia's mother. There was also a strong trust on Koutarou within those eyes.
“Your Majesty, you really trust Master, don't you?”
“Of course. Reios-sama is Forthorthe's savior and a legendary figure”
”No, that's not what I meant. Both Her Highness and I are willing to entrust our lives to Master even if he wasn't the Blue Knight”
“Ruth...”
Elfaria's eyes opened wide for an instant before she nodded at Ruth with a smile.
“You're right. I too would probably have entrusted Theia to Reios-sama even if he wasn't the Blue Knight. To that strong and kind, yet timid and cowardly Sir Knight...”
Elfaria remembered the appearance of Koutarou suffering to escape from the fate provided for him, and how he desperately tried to protect people despite of it. That was why Elfaria trusted him. She knew his strong and proud heart had been formed from that suffering. Whether Koutarou was the legendary Blue Knight or not wasn't that important of a problem.
Is Her Majesty's trust for Master because he is a knight, or is it because of who he is himself...
Because of Elfaria's strong trust, a certain question popped up in Ruth's mind. Perhaps Elfaria fell for Koutarou 20 years ago. Ruth moved to confirm her suspicion.
“Your Majesty. I am aware that this is impolite bu―”
“Mother, Ruth, come over here!”
However, before Ruth could ask, Theia suddenly appeared and took them with her.
“That Koutarou, he won't hold back even against me! So you two help me too!”
”Oh my”
“I understand. I shall help”
Theia brought the two to a stall where she and Koutarou were having a match. Since Ruth wanted to compete against Koutarou like Theia, she temporarily forgot about her question and answered Theia's request.
“Oh, so you've brought backup”
“Say whatever you like. Thinking about it, I have a huge handicap both in physique and experience”
”I will be of your aid, Your Highness”
“Now that I'm here I won't let Reios-sama do as he pleases. Understood, Theia, Ruth?”
”Yes, Mother!”
“As you wish, Your Majesty!”
And so, Koutarou and the others began playing together. They looked like they were having a lot of fun and they looked less like royalties and knights and more like a daughter together with her mother and two friends. As a result, the festival participants that passed them felt like they were cute but noisy foreigners and nothing more.
Part 12
The match between Koutarou and Theia started off with Koutarou having the advantage. At the shooting stall, he made use of their difference in reach to win, and during their goldfish scooping he showed off his trained skills against the clumsy Theia. However, that didn't continue in the second half. Theia brought in Elfaria and Ruth as reinforcements in an attempt to make a comeback. In the katanuki the careful Ruth had a complete victory. With Elfaria's excellent bargaining abilities she got two extras at the yo-yo fishing. With momentum on her side, Theia won the ring toss, ending their match as an overall win for Theia's side.
“Oohohoho, Koutarou, I wish for some lemonade. Buy three so Ruth and Mother can have some as well!”
”Tsk, getting so full yourself”
“Koutarou, I will let you have half of mine so don't sulk”
”Guess I have too... I'm off”
”Yes, very good”
While reluctant at first, hearing that Theia would give him half of hers, Koutarou decided to listen to her request and go buy lemonade. He realized that the situation would have been the same regardless of who won. Besides, all of the money he used today was money he had gotten from her as salary. That's why their match was in reality nothing more than the two playing with each other.
“Master, the fireworks will start soon, so don't return here but to the observation deck”
“Got it”
”See you soon, Reios-sama”
”Don't take any detours”
“Why would I!”
”Come on now. If you don't hurry the fireworks will begin”
”Whoops”
”See you soon”
Theia waved her hand to see Koutarou off, leaving Theia, Ruth and Elfaria alone. More accurately speaking the other seven girls were also around, but they kept some distance to not get in the way of Theia and Elfaria. Once Koutarou was out of sight, they began climbing up the road that led to the observation deck.
Part 13
After climbing up the road from the shrine, Theia and the others reached the observation deck. The view from there was open and they had a commanding view of Kitsushouharukaze city. It was a good spot to watch the upcoming fireworks but because of a lack of public transport and because it wasn't being lit up, the locals didn't use it. But to the girls of room 106 neither of those problems mattered, because of that they were the only ones at the observation deck.
“Mother, this country's technology is behind that of our own, but not so for the fireworks. This country's fireworks are without a doubt superior to that of Forthorthe's, so please enjoy yourself”
Theia made large gestures with her hands as she pointed towards the night sky. She loved the Japanese fireworks that drew large flowers in the sky and absolutely wanted Elfaria to see it for herself.
“Fufufu, Theia, you really have grown up”
”Mother?”
However, Elfaria's interest was in Theia. Seeing her mother like that, Theia had a perplexed look on her face.
“The you in the past would have called this planet's technology inferior, you would never admit that the fireworks are superior”
”That might be true”
Theia was aware of what Elfaria was pointing out. Thinking back to how she had been when she first met Koutarou she felt embarrassed. If possible, she'd like to lecture her past self.
“Thanks to Koutarou and everyone I was able to become a little more adult”
However, by piling up those embarrassing things, the current Theia was born. That's why, though she wanted to give herself a lecture, she wouldn't deny how she had been. Theia's frame of mind was complex.
“It's not easy to admit your own imperfections and become tolerant of others. You've made some great friends, Theia”
“Yes! Everyone here is my precious friends!”
Theia looked at the girls keeping their distance. As she did, the girls smiled and blushed a little. It was an honor to be complemented by the leader of a foreign country and they felt a ticklish feeling when their friend's mother complimented them.
“But your number one is Reios-sama, isn't it?”
“Ah, uhm... yes...”
Theia's face turned redder and redder and her voice grew quiet. It was embarrassing to Theia to have her mother know what boy she loved. Because of that, the girls some distance away couldn't hear her. She then put her hands together and twiddled her fingers as she revealed her feelings to Elfaria.
“...Thanks to him, I have... learned how to love...”
”I understand how you feel. What a wonderful love you've found”
”Mother...”
Elfaria gently smiled as she listened, causing Theia to let out a sigh of relief. However, as she was feeling relieved, she noticed something about what Elfaria had said.
Mother said 'I understand how you feel'... which means...
Theia returned to her serious expression and stared straight at Elfaria. Though since Elfaria was far taller, she ended up looking up at her.
“Mother, could it be that you fell in love with Koutarou 20 years ago when you first met him?”
Elfaria shrank back for a second as she was faced with Theia's straight eyes and words. Her rich golden hair fluttered ever so slightly. However, Elfaria soon smiled again shook her head.
“...Of course, he is the legendary Blue Knight after all”
“That's not what I meant... I mean as a man”
However, Theia didn't back down. She was already half-convinced. Those words, 'I understand how you feel', had truth in them. She was sure of it.
“There's no way of that. He is 20 years younger than me... even if he is a legendary individual he is not someone I would be in love with”
“I don't believe you! You are forced to say that because of your position!”
“Theia...”
”Please tell me the truth!! Mother, you are still in love with Koutarou aren't you!?”
“That's...”
Elfaria stumbled for words and was unable to answer right away. She didn't speak for several seconds later.
“...Theia, you have nothing to worry about. Reios-sama and my meeting is a thing of the past. There is nothing between us now”
“...Mother...”
In the end, Elfaria avoided the question. However, Theia couldn't help but feel that Elfaria's long silence before was a sign of the complex feelings she concealed within.
“Theia... you really are a kind girl...”
Elfaria gently embraced Theia who stood still, deep in thought. She was happy that Theia was being so considerate towards her, to the point that tears swelled up in her eyes.
“It's only obvious for a daughter to wish for her mother's happiness”
“You're right... and I'm digesting that obvious thing right now”
“...Mother...”
Theia embraced Elfaria right back. Hugging your mother like this was an obvious thing, but oh so happy. The matured Theia thought so especially much. That's why Theia decided to forget that Elfaria had evaded her question for a little while longer.
Part 14
Having bought lemonade and run up the road, Koutarou stopped as he entered the observation deck. He saw Theia and Elfaria hugging each other.
“A mother, huh...”
He had seen Elfaria and Theia together countless times but this was the first time he had ever seen Elfaria do something directly motherly.
“Master, you're here”
Noticing Koutarou standing still, Ruth walked up to him. She also felt like she shouldn't get in the way of Theia and Elfaria, and upon noticing Koutarou she purposefully walked towards him to distance herself from the mother and daughter.
“...”
However, despite Ruth being right next to him, Koutarou stood still doing nothing.
“Master?”
Confused, Ruth called out to him again, and this time he finally noticed her.
“Ah, Ruth-san”
”Is something the matter?”
“Well nothing is really the matter... I was just surprised over something so obvious, that Elle has become a mother”
Koutarou had a bitter smile on his face as he gave Ruth one of the bottles of lemonade. Ruth observed Koutarou's expression as she received the bottle. As she did, she couldn't imagine that he was just surprised.
“Master, you are longing for your lost mother, aren't you?”
“That's hard to answer as a man... but it'd be a lie if I said those feelings didn't exist”
Koutarou honestly acknowledged Ruth's suspicion. They didn't have a relationship shallow enough where he had to lie about his mother.
“Honestly, I'm a bit jealous of Theia”
“That's an obvious emotion for people. There are times when I long for my parents on Forthorthe”
“But it's not cool, so could you not tell the others?”
“Yes”
Just as Ruth responded with a small smile and a nod.
Along with a loud bang, a large flower bloomed in the night sky. The flower burned for a couple of seconds before vanishing. While it might not have been the biggest, it was a comparably large firework. The fireworks show was beginning.
“Mother, it's started!”
“My... the fireworks in this country really do look like flowers”
As fireworks began being launched, Theia and Elfaria separated. Leaning over on the observation deck's handrail, the two looked up at the sky together.
“Hey, Theia, Elle! I've bought lemonade!”
“Ah, you've kept me waiting, Koutarou”
“Sorry for the troubles, Reios-sama”
Koutarou ran up to Theia and Elfaria. He had held back before as they were hugging, but there was no need to hold back any longer.
“You should be grateful, you two”
“Yes, of course. I should be the only one in history to have the Blue Knight run errands for me”
“What's with that weird expression of gratitude”
“I am always thankful for you, Reios-sama”
“There's definitely something behind that gratitude of yours”
“Oh my”
Like that, Koutarou, Theia and Ruth began chatting. If everything went as Ruth wished, Koutarou and Theia would eventually marry, and this kind sight would become a daily occurrence. If that happened, Elfaria would become Koutarou's―
“Ah...”
That was when Ruth noticed something.
“...Could Her Majesty be...”
That something was Elfaria's true goal.
Maybe Elfaria was trying to do something that none of the other girls around Koutarou could do. And for that sake, she might be trying to get Theia and Koutarou together. That was what Ruth began suspecting.
If Theia and Koutarou were to marry, a secondary relationship would appear. Something that none of the other nine girls could do, only Elfaria.
And that is becoming Koutarou's mother.
If the two were to marry, Elfaria would become Koutarou's mother in both name and reality. That might be the best possible way to heal Koutarou's heart. Only Elfaria had the ability to become someone special to Koutarou without the two becoming lovers or marrying.
“...But... to think...”
There was no definitive proof.
However, Ruth was convinced that this was something Elfaria might try.
Elfaria also had a strong motive to try it as well.
