Published at 8th of April 2021 7:02 am

Chapter 268: At the time when Takatsuki Makoto woke up…

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I slowly opened my eyes.

I could see a dim ceiling.

My body is heavy.

My memory is hazy.

I was fighting something, and we fell into a dire situation…

“You have woken up, Takatsuki Makoto-san.”

Someone called my name.

When I look over there, I see a small gray haired girl standing there.

She is the Destiny Oracle. In other words…

“…Ira-sama?” (Makoto)

“No, I am not. I am currently Esther.”

“…Esther-san?” (Makoto)

I look intently at the girl that called herself that.

I have never spoken directly to the Destiny Oracle Esther-san because Ira-sama was always descended in her.

“Now that I think about it, this is our first time talking, right, Takatsuki Makoto-san? Thanks for your hard work in the battle against the Demon Lord.” (Esther)

Hearing those words, I went ‘Ah!’ and hurriedly got up.

But my body was awfully heavy.

“Guh!” (Makoto)

“Don’t. You must not push yourself. Your heart was pierced, and your arm was cut after all.” (Esther)

I am slowly beginning to remember.

We faced Demon Lord Bifrons.

We were supposed to have fought in the daytime where we would be at an advantage, but because of their magic, we ended up falling into a dangerous situation, and then…

(…If I remember correctly, my heart and arm should have been cut by the scythe of the Demon Lord.) (Makoto)

I confirm my own body, but my heart is moving and both of my arms are attached.

I was relieved by this, but several points that bothered me were popping one after the other in my head.

“…Esther-san, what happened after I lost consciousness? Where are we? Also, where’s Ira-sama?” (Makoto)

Esther-san smiled at my barrage of questions.

Her expressions are gentle.

It is pretty different from Ira-sama.

“I will answer them one by one, okay? First, thanks to you bringing back the sunlight, the Demon Lord Bifrons was safely defeated by the Light Hero. Just as it was originally in history.” (Esther)

For a second I couldn’t understand the meaning of those words, and I slowly digested them.

The Demon Lord…was defeated?

“…I see.” (Makoto)

I exhale and feel strength leave my body.

Looks like I safely managed to fulfill my mission.

That’s a relief…

(But I would have wanted to witness that important moment.) (Makoto)

I have heard the story of the legendary Savior-sama defeating the Demon Lord countless times in the Water Temple.

Even though I was present at that moment… What a shame.

It would have been a nice story to bring back to Lucy and Sa-san.

“Aren’t you thinking about quite the carefree thing there? You were in a critical state and didn’t wake up for 3 days, you know?” (Esther)

Esther-san retorted amazed at me.

“3 days?!” (Makoto)

It has been that long?

No wonder my body feels dull.

“I will answer your next question, okay? We are in the city in Laberintos. The Ancient Dragons led by the White Dragon-sama carried everyone here. The residents are in a festive mood from defeating a Demon Lord.” (Esther)

“I see…” (Makoto)

Now that she mentions it, I could hear things are noisy out there.

What’s with that? Everyone was partying while I was sleeping?

I felt a bit sad by that, but it would be weird to not celebrate after defeating a Demon Lord.

I should show myself there too.

“About the third question, the Destiny Goddess Ira-sama is currently…” (Esther)

*Gashan*

I heard the sound of something breaking.

“M-Master…?” (Momo)

“Makoto-san…?” (Anna)

Momo and Anna-san had their mouths wide open.

Looks like they were bringing water here.

The cups that had the water are broken now though.

Seems like they two of them were looking after me.

“Anna-san, Momo, sorry for worr—” (Makoto)

“Waaaaaah!” (Momo)

“Makoto-san! What a relief! You have woken up!” (Anna)

The two jumped at me before I could finish speaking, and I was pushed down onto the bed just like that.

Having the weight of two people on my weakened body was rough, but I couldn’t complain.

Seeing the expressions of these two, I could tell that the two were worried about me the whole time I was out.

Anyways, having Momo, who is no doubt a pretty girl, and Anna-san, who is a beauty just like Princess Noel, hugging me for such a long time is making me nervous.

Their faces are awfully close…

I waited for the two to calm while still being hugged.

“Haaaah…I am sorry. I lost myself there. I will go call the White Dragon-sama and Johnny-san. They were all worried after all.” (Anna)

Anna-san left the room.

Momo was still hugging me.

“Uuh…I am so glad… Master is still alive…” (Momo)

I pat the head of Momo.

“Let’s continue our talk at a later time.” (Esther)

Esther-san said this as she looked at our state.

“No, I want to know what happened after I lost consciou—” (Makoto)

I want to know in detail.

But I couldn’t finish my words.

“Makoto-kun!”

“Spirit User-kun!”

“Makoto-dono!”

The residents of Laberintos came one after the other.

Johnny-san and the White Dragon-san are here too.

“Everyone was worried, you know? Please talk with them.” (Esther)

Esther-san smiles.

Looks like I will have to talk with everyone who I have worried first.

I staggered a bit, but the wounds in my body have fully recovered, so I left the room with a bit of rehabilitation in mind too.

When I went out into the dungeon city, cheers rang.

“The Hero-sama has woken up!”

“The Savior-sama!”

“The personage that defeated the Demon Lord!”

(No, I didn’t defeat him though…) (Makoto)

When I look back, Anna-san was all smiles.

I’m not even a Hero though.

I feel like I stole the credit. Is that okay?

“The biggest contributor to this time’s battle was you, Takatsuki Makoto-san. That’s the opinion of everyone in this city.” (Esther)

Esther-san whispered in my ear.

Did she read what I was thinking?

“I simply did what I could do.” (Makoto)

“But the lives of the people here were saved by your actions.” (Esther)

Looks like everyone is more grateful to me than I thought.

More and more people began to gather around me.

When I told them I was hungry from having woken up after 3 days, they brought me a mountain of food.

It is scarce and important food, you know…

They even brought out the alcohol one after the other.

I ended up being the center of the party in an instant.

I was asked about the Destiny Magic that I used to face the Demon Lord.

If I say I synchronized with the Destiny Goddess Ira-sama, they will think I am crazy, so I just went ‘I don’t remember’ and washed it away.

I would be flooded with questions if I stayed in one spot, so I went around greeting my comrades.

I went to the place of the chief of this city, Johnny-san, first.

He was being surrounded by beastkin warriors and beauties.

“Makoto-dono! All the young women of this city are head over heels for you. You can make whichever girl you want into your wife.” (Johnny)

“Hahaha…” (Makoto)

It is rare to see Johnny-san speaking so much.

I can’t tell whether what he is saying is serious or not, so I just laughed vaguely.

The next place I headed to was the seat of the White Dragon-san.

“Spirit User-kun, you are one outrageous man! In my 10,000 years of life, this was the most excitement I’ve had!” (Mel)

“I am honored to hear that.” (Makoto)

The White Dragon-san was having a meal with the other Ancient Dragons.

She is also in really high spirits.

“Hey, you bunch should also become like the Spirit User-kun!” (Mel)

“Please don’t ask for the unreasonable, Mother-sama…”

“That was God Rank Magic…”

The Ancient Dragons were washing off the unreasonable things that the White Dragon-san was saying.

Mel-san is probably drunk.

The third place I head to is the place where the Heroes are gathered.

It seems Momo is also with them.

“Thanks to you, I have managed to keep my promise. Thanks, Makoto-dono.” (Volkh)

“I would have liked to celebrate together with Olga-san…” (Julietta)

When I went to greet Volkh-san and Julietta-san, they were unexpectedly solemn.

“That’s not good, you two. We are celebrating here.” (Anna)

Anna-san was cheerful.

She is completely different from the time I met her.

“Haah…I still can’t believe it.” (Momo)

Momo was sitting spaced-out.

She was nursing me the whole time, and it seems like she has now relaxed completely after I woke up.

I felt bad, so I silently sat by her side.

“Makoto-san…uhm…when you have some time later, there’s something I want to talk with you about…” (Anna)

Anna-san whispered to my ear.

“Okay.” (Makoto)

What is it?

I think it is most likely her thanking me for defeating the Demon Lord.

She is looking at me with a meaningful gaze, but I couldn’t tell what it is.

After finishing my greetings, I was a bit tired, so I got up from my seat.

The celebration was still going strong.

I leave the place by using Stealth.

At the time when I was walking slowly towards the underground lake that didn’t have many people…

*Splash*

The sound of water splashing and a ‘Kyaa!’ resonated.

(Eh? Did someone fall?) (Makoto)

Someone might have slipped cause they were drunk.

I looked back to call for someone at once, but the others were all at the party.

Most of all, if someone falls into the underground lake -into water- I should have no problems saving them.

I hurriedly head to the underground lake.

It is dark and hard to see.

“Dia.” (Makoto)

I call the Great Water Spirit.

“Yes, Our King. I have been waiting for you to wake up.” (Dia)

The Great Water Spirit showed up with a smile on her face.

“Someone has fallen into the underground lake! Search for them at once please!” (Makoto)

“Yes! …Oh? From what I can see, there’s no one though?” (Dia)

It seems like she can tell the state of the underground lake in an instant as a Great Water Spirit.

But I did hear someone falling though…

“Hnn…I drank too much~.”

The Lucy-looking elf.

If I remember correctly, she is the daughter of Johnny-san.

Even though she can’t hold her liquor, she still ends up drinking too much. That reminds me of Lucy.

I was worried, so I was going to get close to speak to her, but…

“Kya!”

She slipped.

“Water Magic: [Surface Walk]!” (Makoto)

I immediately cast magic on her, and stop her from falling inside the water.

“Are you okay?” (Makoto)

“Eh? W-What…? Makoto-sama? Oh no, I have shown you an unsightly side of me…”

“That was dangerous. Be careful.” (Makoto)

Saying this, I was about to move around the underground lake.

“…Makoto-sama.”

But the elf girl grabbed my arm and pushed her body (mostly her boobs) onto it.

“Uhm…can you escort me to my room…?”

“Eeh…” (Makoto)

I shook.

Her damp eyes were truly just like those of Lucy.

(Am I feeling homesick…?) (Makoto)

There was a part of me that had my heart shaken more than before.

If Noah-sama were here, she would say ‘Not taking the meal in front of you would be shameful as a man!’.

“Am I…not good enough?”

I am weak to those eyes.

I reflexively said ‘that’s not the case’ and she blushed happily.

“Then, please come over here…”

She wrapped her arms around me, and I was about to get dragged off…

“Makoto-sa~n.”

“Master~?”

Anna-san and Momo were standing right by my side by the time I noticed.

Teleport?

“O-Oh my. Hero-sama and Momo-sama… T-This is…”

“I was on my way to escort her back to her room because she was about to fall into the underground lake in her drunken state.” (Makoto)

I explained the situation.

“Then, I will escort her.” (Anna)

“Aah, I want Makoto-sama to…”

“No! Makoto-san is tired!” (Anna)

The elf girl and Anna-san left.

“Master, are you the type that easily goes with the flow?” (Momo)

Momo looks at me with a straight glare.

Looks like the contents of the conversation were completely heard.

“More importantly, someone might have fallen into the underground lake.” (Makoto)

“Eh?! That’s terrible.” (Momo)

I try to change the topic by talking about the sound from before to Momo.

Dia appeared there.

“Our King, I searched every nook and cranny of the underground lake, but there wasn’t anyone. No doubt about it.” (Dia)

“…I see. Thanks, Dia.” (Makoto)

I thank Dia.

There was no person who fell into the underground lake.

Then what did I hear?

There’s only one possibility coming to mind.

—The one who was supposed to fall into the underground lake was the elf girl.

(Destiny magic… Clairvoyance…) (Makoto)

I have heard about it from Furiae-san before.

Visions of the future can show up regardless of your will.

But the Destiny Magic I can use is from the Elementary Rank, so I shouldn’t have that ability.

Did something happen to my body?

“Uhm…Master?” (Momo)

“Momo, I am tired for today, so I will rest in my room.” (Makoto)

“I will come along!” (Momo)

Momo and I spent a night in our room at Laberintos which we haven’t been to in a good while.

I was going to sleep on the floor like before, but Momo was against it.

She told me to use the bed since I just recovered.

But I can’t have her sleep on the floor while I am sleeping on the bed.

It was a pain, so we both slept on the same small bed.

It was cramped, but I soon fell asleep.

◇◇

I woke up.

(No…I haven’t woken up yet. I am…still dreaming.) (Makoto)

But it isn’t just a regular dream.

And it is not the space of Noah-sama.

It is a place I have no recollection of.

A gigantic space that extends as far as the eye can see with a high quality-looking carpet.

It is a strange space that has doors and bookshelves flooding this very spacious area.

There’s a whole lot of books scattered at my feet.

Can’t even say it is clean even by courtesy.

But what drew my eyes the most wasn’t that.

It is the various cute stuffed toys here and there that are moving.

Fancy plushies like bears, rabbits, cats, and dogs.

They were moving around busily as if they were alive.

I was absentmindedly looking at those for a while.

At that moment, one white rabbit plushie came over to me.

It bowed and began to guide me with a gesture as if saying ‘over here please’.

After thinking about it for a bit, I followed after the rabbit plushie.

I pass by the many plushies that are restlessly working.

I eventually see the place we are headed to.

At the place I arrived at, there’s an elegant desk and chairs.

Looks like the lord of this space is in this place.

There’s a small girl lying there.

I could hear steady breathing.

There’s also a whole lot of small bottles scattered about at her feet.

I pick up one of them and check it.

The label on the bottle says ‘Yu**kel’.

In other words, Earth origin.

Or more like, you are drinking too much.

Are you a salaryman working in a *black company*?

The rabbit that finished guiding me left.

It can’t be helped, so I spoke to the girl that was sleeping.

“Uhm…Ira-sama?” (Makoto)

“Hah! That’s not it! I am not sleeping! So don’t tell Althena-oneesama! …Wait, Takatsuki Makoto?” (Ira)

Ira-sama got up with quite the speed, and after looking around restlessly, she saw my face and heaved a deep sigh.

But she immediately made a serious face.

“N-Nice to see you have come. Great work on the subjugation of the Demon Lord. I have called you here because I had something to tell you.” (Ira)

Ira-sama elegantly crossed her legs, and floated in the air to look down at me.

I am in the presence of a Goddess, so I kneeled and lowered my head.

And then, I pondered for a bit.

Should I point out the drool around her mouth?

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