Published at 17th of August 2019 11:48 am

Volume 22, Chapter 3: Father and Daughter

This chapter is updated by NovelFree.ml

Saturday, November 20

Fighters from nearby bases had scrambled and gathered around the area where O-hime had descended. Fortunately, the explosion had served as concealment as expected, and O-hime was able to escape into the nearby lake, and remain hidden. The army never would have imagined that a spaceship had fled into the water, and they assumed that it had exploded. Even if they realized that the explosion was an illusion, they wouldn't search the lake until quite a while later. By that time, O-hime would no longer be there. It would have escaped a long time ago.

"So Kiriha, what do we do now?"

Having used her powers to detect auras and serve as a radar for a while, Sanae lazily leaned into her seat. O-hime had safely escaped from any pursuers. Sanae could no longer sense their presence nearby. She could finally relax for a moment.

"I'd like to go look for Koutarou and the others, but we can't in this situation. We'll head to the Elfaria faction's base as planned"

Kiriha seemed to feel a little relief as well, as her expression eased up slightly. That was her first re-entry so it was only obvious.

"Is that really okay?"

"Yeah. Koutarou and the others won't be able to find us either. They're probably headed towards a base on their own"

"Then we can contact them"

"That's right"

In Kiriha's mind, the fastest way of finding Koutarou and the others was to head to the Elfaria faction's base as planned. As Koutarou and the others were far away, going to look for them directly or contacting them was dangerous. As the army was on high alert, they would respond immediately and surround them. As neither side could communicate with the other, they would need to follow the plan they decided on beforehand. As the bases were connected through a secret communications network, as long as both sides arrived, they could confirm each other's safety.

"In that case, it's my turn"

That was when Ruth who was sitting in the operator's seat joined the discussion. She was the most knowledgeable when it came to the Elfaria faction's bases. She was knowledgeable about this area, not only because it was Forthorthe, but for yet another reason.

"We're finally meeting with Ruthpapa"

"Yes. I just hope he's full of vigour"

They were headed for the largest base the Elfaria faction had on Alaia. The base is within the Pardomshiha family's territory. As this was the space age, they had received the enclave as a separate addition to the territory they already had on the planet of Forthorthe. Because of that, they were able to secretly construct a large-scale base. The commander of said base was none other than Ruth's father, Lord Pardomshiha. In other words, by heading towards the base, Ruth would reunite with her family.

"Hey, what kind of person is Ruthpapa?"

"Well... I think he's serious, just like me"

"So that's part of your genetics"

"Yes. But maybe because of his age, but he is also flexible. To the point where he can't be coaxed into something by Her Majesty"

Lord Pardomshiha continued the family's tradition of 2,000 years and was a typical Pardomshiha knight. Very loyal to the royal families, the strong and silent type, and capable in both literary and military arts. Excluding the Blue Knight, the Pardomshiha knights were the model images for knights. Even amongst them, he was an outstanding individual.

"... I hate him"

Elfaria who was listening in began pouting. It was a very childish expression that made one doubt that she was actually a mother.

The reason for the high praise that Lord Pardomshiha received was because he had excellent intellect and patience which allowed him to not be fooled by Elfaria. The only one capable of evading the verbal attacks of Elfaria, who was known as a vixen, while carefully looking for weak points to counterattack was Lord Pardomshiha. When troubled, turn to Pardomshiha had practically become a slogan.

"... In short, the empress trusts him so much that she has no problems with openly declaring that she hates him"

"That would be the case"

Kiriha let out a cheerful laugh. As did Clan who was next to her.

"This isn't a laughing matter! Geez..."

Elfaria was only able to declare that she hates Lord Pardomshiha because she trusted him. The feelings involved were probably similar to those towards an uncle. Agewise was the same. The relationship between the two was well known through the media, and was the cause for why they were so beloved.

O-hime had travelled several dozen kilometers after entering the lake by the point of descent. From there, they ascended to the surface and proceeded another several dozen kilometers while being extra careful not to get detected by the imperial army. The Elfaria faction base was located in an area surrounded by high mountains and deep valleys. The base had been built underground and the entrance was concealed by making use of the complex valleys. It would be very difficult to find the base without very accurate information.

The inside of the base was similar to the Blue Knight and made use of a unique design of smooth curves. However, There were also parts where steel was left exposed. That was because the base had been built in a hurry, and the parts where strength wouldn't be an issue were left as they were. In that sense, the atmosphere was different from the usual facilities the imperial army used.

"Your Majesty! I am so very glad you are safe!"

Confirming that Elfaria had gotten off O-hime, Lord Pardomshiha ran up to her at full speed. It was like a child running up to his mother, or perhaps a father running up to his daughter who had run away from home.

"I've caused you a lot of trouble, Pardomshiha. Did you get any more gray hairs?"

"Hahaha, a lot of things have happened here as well. I'm glad to see you haven't changed, actually, you seem more energetic than before?"

"A lot happened here too. I'll tell you the details at a later time"

Elfaria was so energetic because she had brought the Blue Knight with her to Forthorthe, life on Earth was more fun than she had expected, and for various other reasons as well. However, she couldn't reveal that here in public, and right now there were other things to be concerned with.

"Yes. From what I heard, Her Majesty Theiamillis is missing?"

"Let's start from there. Oops, before that"

Elfaria suddenly pulled the hand of the girl near her and forcibly pushed her in front of Lord Pardomshiha.

"Kyaaa!? Y-Your Majesty!?"

Elfaria had pulled out Ruth. Lord Pardomshiha and Ruth, father and daughter who had been separated for a long time were now facing one another.

"Let's start with doing what you have to. Both of you are too distracted right now to do anything else, are you not?"

Elfaria wanted the two to talk things out before they started on any complicated discussion. She had noticed that Ruth wanted to speak with her father but found herself unable to do so, and that Lord Pardomshiha couldn't speak with Ruth due to his position.

"Your methods are forcible as always... but I am grateful"

Both Lord Pardomshiha and Ruth bowed to Elfaria before facing one another again.

"Father, I am back"

"Long time no see, Ruth. Did you grow a bit taller?"

"Just a little bit"

Ruth and Lord Pardomshiha had an excellent relationship. That's why neither of them minded the time they had been apart and exchanged smiles like normal. In fact, it seemed like the time apart had made them even closer.

"Maybe it's because of that, because you've gotten a more mature expression. You're slowly but surely turning into an adult lady... I don't know whether I should feel lonely or happy"

Lord Pardomshiha watched his daughter with a dazzled glance. The atmosphere around her now was slightly different from what it had been since he last saw her some months ago. Ruth was maturing into a splendid woman, day by day. That's why he felt like his daughter had left him behind and was maturing on her own, while he was happy to see her growth, he wanted her to remain as his sweet young daughter.

"I'm still far away from being an adult lady"

While part of it was a doting parent, Ruth didn't feel bad about having her growth praised. She was embarrassed but she was still at an age she wanted to rely on her father. Ruth shook her head while blushing.

"Girls really do change when they fall in love"

Lord Pardomshiha crossed his arms and nodded repeatedly, seemingly full of understanding. Seeing her father like that sent Ruth into a fluster.

"F-Father!?"

Her face dyed beet red and she let out a panicked scream. At the same time she began worrying about the surrounding glances.

"Based on that reaction, you really do have a boy you like"

Seeing his daughter's reaction, Lord Pardomshiha grinned. He had suspected that she might have someone she likes ever since the whole engagement incident.

"O-Oh no!?"

"I see, I see, even you, who were so devoted to being serious..."

While Ruth was a woman, she had matured to become someone suitable to succeed the Pardomshiha family. She was deeply loyal to the royal families and a knight that had sworn to abide to justice. However, that might have been a misfortune as a woman. Being too serious, Ruth didn't try to chase after her own happiness and simply served as the shield of the royal families and the future successor of the Pardomshiha family. It somewhat pained Lord Pardomshiha to see his daughter like that. While it had ended in a disaster, the arranged marriage between Ruth and Elexis had been his attempt to show consideration for his daughter.

Yet it seemed Ruth had already fallen in love with someone, and Lord Pardomshiha was in a great mood as it seemed his worries would solve themselves. Normally he wore his unbendable loyalty and manliness on his sleeves, but right now he was nothing but a doting parent.

"What kind of man is it? No, don't get me wrong, since it's the man you've fallen for I have no intentions of stopping you! I was simply curious. So what kind of man is it!? Is he as strong as me!?"

"U-Uhm, t-that's not, uhm, you see... that's right, please don't bring up a topic like that in a place like this!!"

Ruth on the other hand had been completely knocked off of her rhythm. Ruth was someone that was upfront about everything, but she still had an appearance to uphold. Talking about the man she loves in a place full of people like that was out of the question.

"I see... so you're not denying it?"

"Please be more serious!!"

"Ah, I'm sorry. Princess Theiamillis is still missing after all"

Having cooled his head a little after Ruth's severe reaction, Lord Pardomshiha admonished himself and returned to normal. He too was very concerned of the missing princess. Seeing her father like that, Ruth was also able to return to normal.

"... We know she is safe as she is with a knight who is guarding her"

"Is that for certain?"

"Yes. It is a person who does not make mistakes"

Ruth vouched with confidence. While she didn't know what kind of situation they were in, she had absolute confidence that Koutarou would protect Theia.

"... I see... a guarding knight, huh..."

For some reason, Lord Pardomshiha nodded his repeatedly in understanding.

"Excuse me?"

"It's the man you fell in love with. It just hit me as you were speaking of him so proudly"

Lord Pardomshiha sensed that Ruth fully trusted the guarding knight she had mentioned. It was far from normal for the serious and stubborn Ruth to leave Theia to someone else, and feel relieved about it.

"Thinking about it, it's the man that you, the shield of the royal families, has accepted. You wouldn't be able to entrust Her Highness to him unless he was as trustworthy as you, or even more so. Moreover, you wouldn't fall for him either. I see, I see, so that's what it was"

"J-Just stop it already!!"

"You found a good man, Ruth. Yes, very good, I'm happy for you"

"I really will get angry, Father!!"

Ever since her reunion with her father, Ruth had been continuously knocked off her rhythm. Thanks to that, the distance between the father and daughter that had been so far apart shrunk in an instant, yet she didn't seem to notice that at all. That's why she would spend a little while longer feeling uncomfortable.

As the girls that had gotten off of O-hime were warmly watching over Ruth's misfortune, only one wasn't looking at her. That was Maki, who had once been an evil magical girl.

"... So this is Forthorthe... our true home..."

When Maki had gotten off of O-hime and her feet touched the ground, she held different feelings from the other girls. The magical kingdom of Folsaria, where Maki had been born, had it as a goal to someday return to the their true home, Forthorthe. Those feelings were no longer as powerful as they once had been, due to the passing of time, but it was still engraved into the very souls of all Folsarians. And for Maki, that goal had finally been accomplished. While looking at it from a planetary level, she was still far away from Forthorthe, but this planet was without a doubt part of the Holy Forthorthe Galactic Empire as well.

"We've made it here without dying, Nav― no, Maki-san"

"Nana... -san..."

However, there was one who could understand how Maki felt. That person was Nana, another Folsarian.

"It feels kind of strange"

"I think I understand you. Fufu..."

In the magical kingdom of Folsaria there was a unique saying that was sometimes used during a fierce battle. That was 'die and return to your true home'. In the past, Maki had said those words to Koutarou. It's meaning was something to the point of 'I'll definitely kill you', but the desire for their true home was mixed in. It also had a meaning of, even if you can't return in reality, you can at least return in death.

That was the kind of emotion they held towards it, but now they had actually reached their true home. They were truly standing on the land that they could only see in their dreams. That strange feeling was something that was hard to describe.

"I wonder if Maya and the others are feeling the same thing"

Nana took a few steps out on the deck where O-hime had landed, and looked up at the sky outside the window. There she saw the planet of Forthorthe being lit up by the sun.

"I think so. I'm sure Maya-sama and the others have already gone to the planet of Forthorthe"

Maki lined up next to Nana and looked up at Forthorthe alongside her. She thought of Maya, who was most likely on that planet. Since she had been her apprentice for so long, she could faintly imagine what Maya was thinking.

"And they'll be even more motivated than before, huh"

"Yes. They'll build a base and expand their power here, before repressing Folsaria and boldly returning to Forthorthe. I'm sure that's the plot of the story they're working on"

Maya was awfully prideful. That's why she ultimately wasn't planning on returning to Forthorthe while being protected by him. She simply treated him as an equal. In preparations for their grand return, she had now touched the ground of Forthorthe, and her desire would surely be stronger than ever before.

"We can't underestimate them"

"Yes. I think they'll be fundamentally different enemies from before. Maya-sama and the others now have a clearly defined goal"

Up until now, Nana had specifically avoided using the term enemy. But Maki spoke that word herself. Since that was something very important, Nana decided to confirm it once more.

"... Enemies is fine, isn't it?"

Maki clearly nodded her head to Nana's investigative words.

"Yes"

Maki had hardened her resolve a long time ago.

"I'm sure if we make the effort, we can come to an understanding with Maya-sama and the others. We might even be able to walk along the same path for a while. But―"

"― at the very end, we'll choose different paths?"

"Yes. The thing we value the most and the thing Maya-sama and the others value the most are different. That's why the very final choice will be different"

Maki wanted connections between people. Darkness Rainbow on the other hand fundamentally wanted freedom. Ultimately, Maki and Darkness Rainbow would never be able to see eye to eye, as she wanted connections between people, while they wanted to be free from even the bonds to others. Sadly, harmony and freedom was something that was difficult to have coexist in their purest forms. Just like how Maki had been unable to tie down Crimson, who only wanted to fight, with friendship

"It'll be a hard fight"

"I'm prepared for it. Besides... I'm not alone anymore. I have Yurika and everyone with me"

"I see, so that's why"

Nana seemed satisfied and smiled.

"What is?"

"It's just that when I was watching you fight back then, I saw that you were far stronger than when you fought against me, and I wondered why that was"

In the past, Maki had always carried something like resignation with her. However, the current Maki didn't have that. She had gotten an iron will of never giving up. Since magic was affected by the strength of one's will, Maki was now far stronger than before. And Nana had finally understood the reason why thanks to what Maki had just said.

"... It seems like you've found something to protect"

"Yes, I'll protect it at all costs"

Maki nodded. She was fully aware of what she wanted to protect, and what to do to protect it. She was ready to fight, even if she would go up against Maya or Crimson. Nana sensed Maki's resolve and smiled bitterly in her mind as she realized that there was no reason to worry.

"By the way, Maki-san"

"Yes?"

"When this is all over, do you have any intentions of becoming a Rainbow?"

"Me!?"

"Yes"

In the past, Maki had been a one-colored indigo rainbow. But now that she had matured, she began carrying all kinds of colors, and had become a real rainbow. That's why Nana believed that Maki would defend that beautiful rainbow.

"You're joking"

"No. The current you could definitely become one. You've got a splendid rainbow color that wouldn't even lose to Yurika-chan"

"... I, hope so..."

In front of the two was the planet of Forthorthe. And as if wrapping around it, was a beautiful rainbow.

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