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Rokujouma no Shinryakusha!? (Light Novel) - Volume 4, Chapter 4: Change of cast and shadow of the plot
Volume 4, Chapter 4: Change of cast and shadow of the plot
This chapter is updated by NovelFree.ml
Part 1
Tuesday, October 20th
With less than two weeks left before the culture festival the drama club began doing full-blown rehearsals in the makeshift stage in the gym.
The sets had already been put in place on the stage, and although Koutarou and the others had made them, they looked strangely realistic under the colorful light.
“Yes, this will do.”
“I'm glad we finished in time for the rehearsals.”
Theia and the club president smiled as they looked at the stage.
“We worked hard too, first-year brat.”
“That we did... It's not all done yet though...”
Behind Theia and the club president were the drama club members, Koutarou and various people from other clubs who had helped them.
Theia turned around and called out to Koutarou and the others.
“Allow me to praise you all. You have worked well.”
Theia had helped Koutarou and the others when she had spare time, so she knew of their hardships.
“Normally I would like to make a few complaints but I'll allow it this time.”
Tulip seems to be quite obsessed with the Blue Knight so she's willing to look the other way this time, huh...
Koutarou had heard from Ruth that Theia's love for the Blue Knight was due to her mother's influence.
He had also seen how much she had worked to make the play a reality, so he respected those feelings.
Ruth appeared as Koutarou and the others were taking a break.
“Thank you for your hard work, Satomi-sama, all of you.”
“Ruth-san.”
She came carrying plenty of wet towels on top of a tray.
It was her way of thanking Koutarou and the others who were working the set pieces.
“Everyone, please use these to wipe your sweat off.”
“Oh, Ruth-chan, how tactful of you!”
“Thanks! I'm covered in sweat.”
“This warm care really puts my mind at ease. My club's girls could learn a thing or two...”
The men working on the set pieces surrounded Ruth and grabbed wet towels.
“Ah, why are you taking two!?”
“What does it matter!? I'll be taking one home to treasure!”
“Ah, that's playing dirty! I want to do the same!”
However, since everyone began taking two or three towels, their numbers reduced drastically.
“Ah, you can't do that everybody, only one per person please!”
Ruth attempted to regain control, but the damage was already done.
“Ah, there's none left for me!”
By the time Koutarou who was last in line arrived, the tray was already empty.
“Ha~h, this brings me back to life...”
“Give it up, first-year brat. We've thoroughly enjoyed Ruth-chan's love.”
“Tsk, I was too slow!”
“Hey, Satomi. I'll give you my towel once I'm done with it.”
“Who would want something like that!?”
As Koutarou shouted at the set piece team, Ruth showed an apologetic expression while holding the empty tray.
“I'm really sorry, Satomi-sama... Ah, that's right!”
However as she was apologizing, her expression changed for the better.
And as she was rumbling through her pocket with her right hand, she waved Koutarou over with her left.
“Satomi-sama, please come here for a moment.”
“What is it, Ruth-san?”
As Koutarou closed in, Ruth beckoned him in even further.
“Bring your face a little closer.”
“Haa...”
Although he didn't understand what Ruth wanted, having no reason to refuse, Koutarou did as she asked.
“Just stand still for a moment, Satomi-sama.”
As Ruth said that to Koutarou, she pulled out a handkerchief from her pocket and began wiping off the sweat from his face.
Her handkerchief was soft and had a faint smell of flowers.
Because of that, for every time she pressed her handkerchief on Koutarou's face, it absorbed the sweat and left behind the smell of flowers.
“Ruth-san, there's no need to go this far. I only need to wash my face you know.”
“No, Satomi-sama. This is my thanks for all of your help.”
Ruth shook her head while smiling and continued to move her handkerchief.
And before Koutarou could say something else, she whispered in a small voice only Koutarou could hear.
“...And you seemed to have shown a lot of consideration as well, Satomi-sama.”
As Ruth said that, she glanced at Theia.
Even now, Theia was cheerfully looking at the stage.
It seems like I can't hide anything about Tulip from Ruth-san...
When Koutarou looked at Theia and smiled wryly, Ruth's expression grew even brighter and she showed him a big smile.
“Waaaaah, first-year brat!! Y-You, what kind of envious thing are you doing!?”
“Damn you! I'll give you my wet towel, so trade places with me!!”
However, the next moment the set piece team surrounded them and her wonderful smile only lasted a few seconds.
Part 2
The Blue Knight Reios Fatra Bertorion wore, as the name implied, a blue armor.
However, the armor hadn't been completed yet and Kenji was temporarily wearing a white surcoat[1] that had been used in another play.
The person in charge of the wardrobe seemed to be struggling with the armor, and had suggested that they dye the surcoat blue instead.
Kenji who had been blessed with both appearance and height looked like a professional actor once he took of his glasses and bound his hair behind his head.
Because of that, they didn't really mind changing the color of the surcoat.
“Curses, to think they would poison a river to capture a single woman! It's the act of a true coward! I definitely won't forgive them! Their blood will stain my sword!”
The problem was, as expected, the acting ability.
Kenji was still a high school student, and he had only been in the drama club for half a year, so his acting was still awkward.
“Hmm, well, it's so-so.”
However, the drama club president didn't consider the awkward acting to be that big of a problem.
“Ken-chan seems to be taking his practice seriously, and I can tell he's read the manuscript thoroughly... His looks are good too, if he keeps practicing like this, I'm sure he'll get the hang of it.”
To the club president, Kenji's acting abilities were good enough for the play, which pleased her.
“What do you think, Theiamillis-san?”
“Hmmm...”
However, Theia who was next to her had a bitter expression.
“Is there something bothering you?”
“...It is a good looking man, and his acting is good enough. If he keeps at it like this he'll probably do well. But I feel like something's missing.”
Theia's shoulders dropped. She didn't see any outstanding problems with Kenji, but she felt that something wasn't right.
“I don't really get it though...”
“Me neither. However, since we don't understand the reason behind it, it might be acceptable after all.”
Theia looked back towards the stage as she said so.
I wonder what this sense of incompatibility is... It's like seeing a tiger and being told it's a lion...
Theia tilted her head while in deep thought.
During the break between practices, Koutarou appeared from backstage, wearing working clothing.
“You're fabulous, White Knight-sama!”
“You're making me sick, Kou. Stop it.”
“Me too.”
“Then don't do it...”
“I'm regretting it too. More importantly, Mackenzie, don't stand in the wrong place. You were standing quite a bit away from the marked spot just now.”
“Seriously?”
“Yeah. I'll remark it in a color that stands out more.”
“Please do.”
As Koutarou and Kenji exchanged words, Koutarou exchanged the tape that marked the actors’ position during the scene.
Up until then they had been using black and white tape, but Koutarou was now exchanging it with a more colorful tape.
“Ah...”
The moment Theia saw Kenji and Koutarou together, she was reminded of Koutarou the other day.
“Please forgive my rudeness, your highness Theiamillis.”
A gentle smile.
Powerful words.
Koutarou's appearance made Theia forget about Kenji, instead, his image seemed to fit perfectly with the Blue Knight.
“What's wrong, Theiamillis-san?”
“...Ah, no, it's nothing...”
I'm just imagining it... The pleb is too terrible of an actor. He's not fit for the role of the Blue Knight...
Theia shook her head and drove the idea out of her head, but she couldn't take her eyes off of Koutarou, who was on top of the stage.
“Alright. Next up is the Silver Princess's appearance, finally!... Satomi-kun, could you call Sakuraba-san in?”
“Okay, just wait a second.”
Ah...
As Koutarou jumped backstage, Theia noticed her own admiring stare at Koutarou and felt embarrassed.
Blood flowed up to her head, dying her face red.
She couldn't believe her own actions.
W-What is happening to me...?
Theia was completely confused.
She was supposed to be looking at the Blue Knight with admiration, not Koutarou who was working on the stage setting.
For Theia, this was her long desired debut of the Blue Knight on the stage, but for some reason, she was staring at Koutarou.
It was only obvious for her to be confused by her own feelings.
“Sakuraba-senpai is coming up!”
“P-Please treat me well.”
At that time, Koutarou returned to the stage.
Next to him was Harumi, who was wearing a pure white dress and a silver tiara on top of her head.
The pure white dress suited her thin body very well.
The tiara contrasted her beautiful black hair and made up for her normal lack of colorfulness.
And since she was a refined lady to begin with, her movements were graceful.
“Ooohh...”
As she stepped up on the stage, a lot of the actors and staff held their breaths.
Right now, she was the spitting image of the Silver Princess from the scenario.
At first there were those against Harumi playing the role, but right now, seeing her in her current appearance, everybody was certain that nobody other than Harumi would fit.
“S-Satomi-kun...”
However, with everybody staring at her, Harumi hid behind Koutarou's large body.
To calm her down, Koutarou called out to her like normal.
“It's alright, Sakuraba-senpai.”
“But... I really can't settle down with everyone looking...”
“Everyone is looking at you because you're beautiful, senpai. Please have a little more confidence in yourself.”
“Even if you say that...”
Harumi looked down on her own right hand.
Her hand, wrapped in pure-white gloves, was trembling.
Koutarou grabbed her hand and called out to Theia and the club president in front of the stage.
“President-san, Tulip, what scene should we start with?”
“Hmm, I want to see her abilities. So maybe the scene where she sees the Blue Knight off. What about you, Theiamillis-san?”
“...I'm fine with that.”
Theia's voice sounded distracted.
She couldn't take her eyes off of the hand Koutarou was grabbing.
“I understand. Sakuraba-senpai, this way.”
“Y-Yes.”
Koutarou pulled her hand, and guided her to her first position of the scene.
At this point, Harumi's hand had stopped trembling.
Satomi-kun's hand is so... warm...
Instead, she was grabbing his hand as well.
“This is your position. The scene is the kind you’re best at, the scene where you see the Blue Knight off before he heads into battle. Well, it'll be fine as long as you do it the way you always do.”
Koutarou let go of Harumi's hand after guiding her to her position.
And once he did, Harumi began feeling helpless again.
“Good luck, senpai!”
However, Koutarou who had been helping her practice had no worries whatsoever.
It was enough for her to act the way she had with Koutarou, even if she had some problems, there was still plenty of time left to practice.
So Koutarou had no reason to worry about Harumi.
After leaving Harumi behind, he called out to Kenji who was nearby.
“I'm counting on you, Mackenzie. On top of the stage, you're all that Sakuraba-senpai has to rely on.”
“I know. I'll make sure to escort her.”
“You're diligent when it comes to girls after all.”
“I'll send you flying, you bastard.”
“In that case, I'll flee before that happens.”
After talking to Kenji, Koutarou turned his back on both Kenji and Harumi.
“Eh, A-Are you leaving, Satomi-kun?”
“Well, yes, you can't start if I'm in the way.”
“T-That's true but...”
Despite Harumi calling out to Koutarou helplessly, he simply jumped off the stage.
Do your best, Sakuraba-senpai, blow everyone off their feet.
Koutarou had absolute confidence in Harumi's acting.
Which was why, even if she was somewhat uneasy, he wasn't worried at all.
“Now then, let's begin!”
Seeing Koutarou leave the stage, the club president signaled for the rehearsal to start.
Koutarou made his way to Theia and the club president and looked up at the stage together with them.
As he did, Kenji began by saying his line.
“...Your highness, Alaia, it seems this as far as I can come with you.”
His line flowed out, and compared to Koutarou, his voice was louder and easier to hear.
He finished his line without any hesitation or getting caught up on a word.
Standing in a straightened posture, he exuded the atmosphere of a knight.
As expected from Mackenzie. He's good at everything... And next up is Sakuraba-senpai. She takes a step forward and calls out the Blue Knight's name.
Koutarou had been practicing these scenes with Harumi countless times, so he knew what happened next without looking at the manuscript.
Harumi showed a surprised expression and took a step forward; she was about to stop the Blue Knight who was saying his farewell.
That's it, next up she says 'Reios-sama!?'
Koutarou recalled Harumi's voice. She had practiced the line countless times, there were no problems.
“Ah...”
However, Harumi sounded hesitant.
The line Koutarou was waiting to hear didn't leave Harumi's lips.
“Ah, I...”
Unable to say her line, Harumi stared blankly at Kenji.
Part 3
“I'm sorry, everybody...”
Harumi bowed deeply.
Her expression was dark, and she was clearly disappointed.
“I'm sorry for holding you back...”
In the end, Harumi was unable to act on top of the stage.
She was able to say her lines, while faltering, but that couldn't be considered acting.
“But that's strange... you used to act so well too...”
The drama club president tilted her head in a perplexed fashion.
She had watched Koutarou and Harumi practice and had a decent understanding of her acting ability.
However, Harumi couldn't act on top of the stage.
So the club president couldn't help but find it odd.
“Mackenzie, admit it, you did something to her.”
“Of course not! I finally got to talk to her!”
Koutarou was also confused.
He knew more than anyone else just how well Harumi could act.
Which was why he didn't think she was the reason.
“This is a problem... Having someone else play the Silver Princess now would be embarrassing...”
“I'm sorry, Theiamillis-san.”
Harumi felt even smaller, due to Theia's words.
She shrunk and felt like disappearing.
At that moment, Koutarou stepped between Theia and Harumi.
“That won't be necessary, Tulip! I know senpai can do it!”
“Satomi-kun...”
Harumi, who was on the verge of breaking down, was able to recover thanks to Koutarou.
“However, in reality she can't. It might be cruel but a backup plan is required.”
“It'll be fine! Senpai only needs to get used to standing on a stage! She always practiced in the courtyard or in the clubroom!”
“Then what do we do?”
“Of course, if she's not used, there is only practice! We'll keep at it until she can!”
As Koutarou said that, he approached Kenji for some reason.
“Strip, Mackenzie.”
And he touched Kenji's outfit.
“W-What?”
“Just take your outfit off! I'll practice with senpai on the stage, so you guys go practice somewhere else!”
Excited, Koutarou starts to forcibly take off Kenji's outfit.
“I got it, I got it, so get your hands off me! Don't try to strip me down here!”
“Theiamillis-san, what do you think?”
“...Well, just let them go at it. At the moment she's no use.”
As Theia said that, Koutarou sent a piercing glare at her.
“Don't look down on her, Tulip. You don't know how amazing Sakuraba-senpai is!”
Koutarou's sharp glance and fearless smile kept Theia from saying anything back for a moment.
Part 4
“...Your highness, Alaia, it seems this as far as I can come with you.”
“Reios-sama!?”
“Your highness, please run away with your little sister. I'll take on as many enemies as I can. During that time, please get as far away as possible.”
“No, I can't leave you behind, Reios-sama! You're the only reason we were able to come this far!”
When Koutarou and Harumi began practicing, everyone who happened to be there couldn't take their eyes off of the two.
What they focused on was mostly Harumi's acting.
In fact, Koutarou who was speaking his lines in monotone was, holding her back.
Despite that, they couldn't take their eyes off the two of them.
Harumi's flexible use of her voice effectively expressed the Silver Princess's desperate emotions. On the other hand, Koutarou's faltering lines only served to remove any sincerity felt from the Blue Knight.
“It was all thanks to the citizens of this country that you got this far. If it wasn't for them we would never have gotten here.”
“That's not true, Reios-sama!”
“They all did it because they love you, your highness. So please, for the sake of all the citizens, and for your own sake, please run away, princess Alaia.”
“Please wait, Reios-sama!”
Only a few people were looking at the two of them calmly.
Two of them were the club president and Sanae, who had seen them practice before, and Kiriha, who understood the subtleties of a person's feelings.
“That's right, this is Sakuraba-san's acting.”
The club president cheerfully nodded repeatedly.
The sight she had been expecting was taking place right in front of her eyes.
She confirmed that she had made the right choice again.
“Looking at it like this, Koutarou seems completely awful.”
“Don't say that. Koutarou is the only one who can get Sakuraba Harumi to act like this.”
Amongst the excited crowd, only Sanae and Kiriha were able to keep their cool.
Sanae had always been watching Koutarou and Harumi practice, and Kiriha understood Harumi's feelings.
To the two of them, the scene in front of them wasn't all that surprising.
“Well, well, this is quite a sight...”
Kenji, who had changed into a jersey after getting his outfit stolen by Koutarou, nodded his head.
He was starting to understand the reason behind why Harumi had been chosen and why Koutarou had been so stubborn regarding her.
“When I look at it like this, it certainly...”
Kou aside, Sakuraba-san's acting abilities certainly aren't at the level of a high school student, this is...
After getting over the surprise, Kenji was partly amazed.
“Sakuraba-senpai and Satomi-san are amazing... I'm happy my role is a horse's rear.... I can't act like that...”
Yurika was wearing brown tights and a horse's hind legs as she looked up at the stage and let out a sigh of relief.
Having been after the role of the Silver Princess for a moment, she couldn't help but feel relieved after looking at Harumi on the stage.
Even if she were to do the Silver Princess's role, she couldn't act this well.
“Your highness... this is...”
“Impossible... this is almost like the genuine...”
The most surprised of all were the two from Forthorthe: Theia and Ruth.
Theia in particular was deeply surprised. She looked up at the two with a dumbfounded expression.
The color of her hair aside, Harumi's Silver Princess's was exactly the way Theia had imagined.
A pure-white princess who may have been delicate and fleeting, but at the same time held a strong will.
It was almost as if Theia's imagination had come to life and was standing on top of the stage.
And what surprised her even more was Koutarou.
He was a terrible actor and spoke most of his lines in a monotone voice.
He was no match for Kenji who had stood on the stage before him.
However, when Koutarou spoke his lines, something deep inside of Theia began screaming... that the Blue Knight was standing in front of her.
Since Harumi had gotten back in form, the club president called for the rehearsal to restart.
However, soon after, they stopped again.
“Stop! Stop! What's wrong, Sakuraba-san?”
“I-I'm sorry, acting really is impossible for me...”
“This is a problem, you were able to act so well just a moment ago...”
Harumi was once again the reason that the rehearsals stopped.
She had shown some splendid acting with Koutarou as the Blue Knight, but once they changed out Koutarou for someone else, her acting became awkward.
It was the same for Kenji or anyone else.
“President-san, someone else really should do the role of the Silver Princess. There is still time if we change now.”
Feeling responsible for her failures, Harumi suggested stepping down from her role.
However, the club president shook her head.
“Sakuraba-san, I can't even think of changing you for someone else after seeing that acting. And it's not just me, everyone feels the same.”
“But, if we continue like this I'll just hold everyone else back...”
”Therein lies the problem. When you practice with Koutarou you're always able to act so well...”
Neither the club president nor any of the drama club members had any intention of giving the role of the Silver Princess to someone else.
Because of that, they had to solve the problem regarding Harumi's acting.
And everyone had been scratching their heads for a while now.
“...Everyone, I have a suggestion.”
At that moment, Kiriha who was helping out, raised her hand.
“Kurano-san, if you have an idea, please tell us. Frankly, I can't come up with anything.”
“Very well.”
Kiriha nodded and began talking.
“Sakuraba-senpai can act properly with Koutarou-kun, so why not go all out and give Koutarou-kun the role of the Blue Knight?”
“Change the Blue Knight's actor to Koutarou?”
The club president's eyes opened wide after hearing Kiriha's suggestion, and Kiriha nodded at her once again.
“Yes. What do you think will go faster, getting Sakuraba-senpai used to Kenji-kun or teaching Koutarou-kun how to act? I think it would be faster for Koutarou-kun to learn how to act.”
“I see... you have a point... Ken-chan, Theiamillis-san, what do you think?”
“I think that's fine too. I don't want to give up my role, but when faced with picking me or Sakuraba-senpai, I would pick Sakuraba-senpai without hesitation.”
Kenji had no objections.
Looking at Harumi, who was having troubles, he couldn't help but feel that he was bullying her.
So rather than continue that, it was a lot easier for him to let Koutarou do the hard work.
“And Theiamillis-san?”
“I...”
Theia began thinking, but only for a moment.
“I guess there's no choice. Although I'm unwilling, in this situation, there's no other solution but to let Koutarou play the Blue Knight.”
No choice.
Unwilling.
Theia had used those two words, but that was just her being stubborn.
She had been thinking of letting Koutarou play the Blue Knight for a while now.
She had no real reason to disagree.
“Alright. Then it's decided. We'll let Satomi-kun play the role of the Blue Knight!”
“W-Wait a minute! I-I'll be doing the Blue Knight!?”
Hearing that surprised Koutarou. He was certain that Kenji or Theia would be opposed to it, but, surprisingly enough they had both agreed.
The unexpected development completely confounded him.
“That's right. Sakuraba-san doesn't want to do it with anyone but you, so we'll just have to use you.”
“A-Are you serious!? You know I'm terrible at acting!”
“Oh, so you were aware of your terrible acting, Koutarou. In that case, this'll be quick”
“T-Tulip?”
“There's no reason to worry.”
Theia's eyes began sparkling.
“I know the Blue Knight better than anyone else. I'll turn you into a splendid Blue Knight before the culture festival!”
At that moment, somebody secretly glanced at Theia.
“Oh... To think they're doing a play of the Blue Knight in a place like this... Theiamillis-san must be having a lot of fun...”
That cold glance watched over Theia.
The owner of that glance was amazed that Theia would hold a play on what could be called Forthorthe's soul in a backwater planet like this, and, more importantly, with these kinds of neanderthals.
“That said, this situation is convenient for me. Maybe I should be saying thanks instead of being amazed, Theiamillis-san...”
The owner of the glance began laughing.
It was a high pitched shrill laughter of a woman.
The owner of the glance was a girl from the same generation as Theia.
“With this, my victory is all but certain... Until then, just enjoy your little play to the fullest.”
The girl laughed once more before taking her eyes off of Theia and turning around.
“However, Theiamillis-san, your little play won't have a happy ending...”
The only thing that remained was laughter and a laughing voice that was horribly cruel and desolate.
Part 5
Once it had been decided that Koutarou would be playing the Blue Knight, the first thing Theia did was lead him to the bridge of her battleship, the Blue Knight.
“Tulip, what are you planning on doing by taking me to your battleship?”
”Everything starts with the appearance. We have the outfit that you'll be wearing.”
“Outfit?”
“This way, Satomi-sama.”
Following after Ruth who was guiding him, Koutarou walked shoulder to shoulder with Theia.
Even when cutting across the large bridge, it was quite the distance.
“I know you said outfit, but this is the flight deck of a battleship, right? Are there even any outfits here?”
“You might think it's unexpected, but there really is. I'll tell you the details once you've seen it, it's hard to explain before you do.”
“I see...”
Koutarou and Theia continued following after Ruth.
Ruth guided Koutarou towards the back of the bridge, the corner where the commander's seat and steering equipment were.
The only equipment truly needed to control the Blue Knight was focused in this corner.
The rest were only necessary for the Blue Knight to serve as a flagship.
“Go ahead, Ruth.”
“I understand, your highness.”
As Ruth approached the operator's seat, she touched something on the panel.
“What's about to happen?”
“Well, just wait and see.”
At the same time Theia said that, a large hole opened up in the floor next to Koutarou and the others.
“...What?”
And from the hole, a two meter large person appeared.
“A person?”
“It's not a person. This is an armor.”
“Armor...?”
What Koutarou thought had been a man was a blue, metallic armor.
The armor was supported by several arms; it was like the suit hung on a hanger.
“I want you to put this on.”
“This? Well, it does have that kind of an atmosphere...”
Compared to the design of the Blue Knight's interior, the armor was old-fashioned.
It was similar to the design of a knight's armor during the middle ages.
“Actually, this was made as an imitation of the original Blue Knight's armor. My mother designed it based on some ancient documents, so it should be pretty close to the real deal.”
“So this is the Blue Knight's armor...”
Koutarou inspected the armor.
The blue armor was beautiful. When he brought his face closer, he could see his reflection on the armor.
It was made up of lots of curves, and its design had some resemblance to the weapons that Theia used.
Although it had been designed with the purpose of defending the body, its beauty was like that of a work of art.
Koutarou felt that the armor held the same kind of beauty as a katana.
“But why is this thing here? It feels horribly out of place.”
The medieval-looking armor did not fit in with the futuristic bridge of the space battleship, the Blue Knight.
It was like putting an antique in a modern building.
“It's my hobby.”
“Hobby!? So what, you're just keeping it here?”
“Fufufu, that's not what I mean. Explain it to him, Ruth.”
“Very well.”
Ruth moved up to the side of the armor before looking at Koutarou and beginning her explanation.
“Actually, this armor is one the devices used for operating this ship.”
“Do you mean it's something like a steering wheel?”
“That's right. The Blue Knight is in the shape of a person, and it's able to move its limbs freely. Because of that, this armor is used for that reason.”
“I see... so how exactly do you use it?”
Interested, Koutarou began studying the armor from various angles. Seeing that, Ruth revealed a small smile.
“All you need to do is put it on and move. The armor will sense those movements, and the Blue Knight will replicate them.”
“Oh, that's convenient.”
This is generally called a master/slave controller, where a device has unidirectional control over another.
Every moment directly influenced the Blue Knight.
Because of that, anyone could move the hull of the Blue Knight.
“Back when you were onboard for that part-time job, we were planning on having you wear this and fight. Although in the end, it wasn't necessary.”
“I see, so that's what that was.”
Koutarou had been brought onboard the Blue Knight for a part-time job a while back when Theia and Ruth had detected a space battleship near earth.
Already short-handed, instead of Ruth or Theia wearing the armor and fighting, using Koutarou who was good when it came to fist-fights was more efficient.
“But this time, we're only going to be using this as an outfit.”
Ruth touched the base of the arm holding the armor up and it dropped down in front of him.
It looked like two people facing one another.
“However, Tulip, I don't think I'll be able to wear this heavy looking armor.”
Koutarou knocked on the chest plate. It felt like a solid, heavy metal.
As he knocked on the armor, the sound resonated inside and a loud noise escaped it.
Koutarou suspected it must have weighed at least several 10 kilos.
“It's okay. The armor's power core allows you to move it freely.”
“I see, then it'll probably be fine.”
Since the armor was a part of a battleship, it had functions that allowed it to work as a spacesuit.
So if it was too heavy to move, it wouldn't be of any use.
Because of that, the armor had a power core that allowed the user to move freely.
“Satomi-sama, this way. We'll adjust the armor to fit you.”
“That sounds bothersome.”
As Koutarou followed after Ruth, he called out to Theia.
“It hasn’t been custom-made for a specific person after all.”
Theia smiled wryly and shrugged.
Since the armor was used as an operating device, it could be adjusted so anybody could wear it.
“Satomi-sama, just stand up straight like that please. The measuring device will measure your physique, and adjust the armor after it.”
“I got it.”
Koutarou straightened his posture as Ruth had asked. As he did, Ruth pulled out a small camera-like device and pointed it towards Koutarou.
It was the measuring device that she had mentioned.
The device let out a bleep in Ruth's hands. The measurements had finished in an instant.
“Oh?”
When Ruth peeked into the small monitor, she showed a surprised expression.
And she lightly tapped the device.
“What's wrong, Ruth?”
“That's... The armor won't start its adjustments. It's stuck on the default setting, and won't move.”
Ruth was troubled.
Despite the measurements, the armor didn't automatically adjust its size.
“Were there any errors?”
“No, there are none reported.”
Ruth suspected that the device was broken and lightly tapped it and rebooted it, but she couldn't find any errors.
“... Your highness, I'll try it one more time. Satomi-sama, let me try again, please.”
“I don't mind.”
Ruth pointed the measuring device at Koutarou, and he once again stood up straight.
“Here I go.”
The measuring device let out a bleep once more, however the results were the same.
“That's strange... It's functioning normally but... wait, could this be...?”
“What is it, Ruth?”
“It seems it hasn't broken down.”
Ruth approached the armor again.
She then moved the crest of a dragon and a knight, and pushed a button that was hidden under it.
The armor began venting compressed air and opened up.
In order to put this armor on, it would open up, and inside, various machines could be seen.
“Satomi-sama, please enter it.”
The inside of the armor had just enough space for a person to fit.
Inside of the armor was also padding, so that the operator wouldn't get uncomfortable.
“I only need to wear it, right?”
“Yes. Once you've entered, it will automatically close.”
“I got it.”
Koutarou obeyed Ruth and slid into the open space prepared by the armor.
When he did, he found that he fit just perfectly.
It wasn't too large or too small, the size was just right.
Shortly after, the motor started up and the armor closed, returning to its original form.
And in a matter of seconds, Koutarou was now wearing the blue armor.
“I see... so that really was it...”
Ruth looked on with amazement as Koutarou put on the armor without any problems at all. She nodded as if satisfied.
“Is this by some random chance I wonder...”
“What's wrong, Ruth? What do you mean?”
Theia found the scene odd and called out the Ruth.
Only then did Ruth, who had been staring at Koutarou, return to her senses.
“Well, your highness, I thought it was an error, but it seems that Satomi-sama has the same physique as the legendary Blue Knight.”
“What!?”
This time, Theia was the one who was amazed.
“Because of that, the measuring device didn't automatically adjust the size.”
The armor had been made to replicate the Blue Knight's.
Because of that, the default size was modeled after the Blue Knight himself.
And by chance, Koutarou just happened to have the exact same physique, causing the armor not to adjust itself.
“I see, so the pleb is... that's quite the coincidence...”
Theia looked up at Koutarou and was at a loss for words.
Koutarou had gotten the role of the Blue Knight, and he also had the same physique, despite being from a different planet.
It was an almost unbelievable coincidence.
“Your highness, it just might be...”
“Yeah... N-No, what are you saying!? There's no way that's possible! This Neanderthal on this backwater planet couldn't possibly be the second coming of the Blue Knight! It's just a mere coincidence!”
Ever since their childhood, Theia and Ruth had admired the Blue Knight.
Just having the same physique was enough for them to get excited.
“Woah! It's true! I feel light!? But it feels strange, knowing that I'm wearing an armor but not feeling any weight.”
However, Koutarou himself was too busy being amazed by the armor to listen to Theia's and Ruth's fantasies.
And the only thing waiting for Koutarou after putting on the armor were days of Spartan discipline.
“You fool! That's wrong! The Blue Knight is nothing like that! Don't slouch! Stand straight! Raise your head! Lower your chin! Why can't you even walk in a simple straight line!?”
“E-Even if you say that...”
Koutarou awkwardly walked across a large room while being hounded by Theia.
This room was one of the rooms Theia and Ruth used on a day to day basis.
The interior of the room had been designed in an antique style, and the gorgeous room didn't look like it was in a spaceship.
The room itself was so large, several room 106’s could fit in it.
It was a room that showed that Theia really was a princess.
“We're less than two weeks away from the culture festival! We have no more time to spare! I'll have you act like a worthy knight of Forthorthe by the end of the day!”
“That's unreasonable!”
“I am already aware it's unreasonable! But I'll need you, my knight, to act in a way that won't bring me any shame!”
However, Koutarou didn't have the luxury to admire the room.
He was far too busy training to act in a way befitting of nobility as Theia shouted at him..
“Why do we need to go this far!? Shouldn't we just practice what we need on the stage!?”
“You fool! Acting comes from the heart! If you don't know how an aristocrat acts, how could you ever understand one!? I'll have both your body and mind act as an aristocrat! You'll become my Blue Knight!”
“You have a blank stare, Tulip!!”
“It's not Tulip!! Call me princess Theiamillis! Don't get distracted by the conversation! And don't shake the book balancing on top of your head! Walk straight forward without shaking it!”
“Somebody, save me!!”
“No help is coming! You only have two choices! Become the Blue Knight, or die here!”
“Ahhh! The Blue Knight craze is closing in on me!!”
Theia had her reasons for what she was doing.
It was all because this was Koutarou.
In reality, she didn't demand this much from Kenji.
If someone else would have played the Blue Knight, she would have been fine with them being on a high school level.
But if Koutarou was going to play the Blue Knight instead, the circumstances were different.
Since she was planning on making Koutarou her vassal, she wanted him to behave in a manner worthy of the Blue Knight.
“Craze, huh. You could call it that. The maidens of Forthorthe have obsessed over the Blue Knight for over 2,000 years! You need to satisfy their desire!!”
“Waaaah! That's unreasonable!!”
Koutarou desperately continued his training as Theia continued to scold him.
For good or bad, their raw emotions clashed.
Especially Theia, who had lived while keeping her emotions in check.
It was very rare for her to show her feelings to someone else.
“...Fufufu, Her highness and Satomi-sama seem to be having so much fun...”
Understanding that, Ruth watched over the two.
Ruth was unbearably happy that Theia was able to show so much of her emotions.
And she was also grateful to Koutarou who made it happen.
Her highness said that Satomi-sama wasn't the second coming of the Blue Knight but... If I think of it in another way. Satomi-sama may not be the second coming of the Blue Knight, but he is without a doubt her highness's Blue Knight...
To Ruth, the important part was that Theia was smiling.
So even if the real Blue Knight were to appear, Ruth wouldn't have hesitated to choose Koutarou.
For Theia and Ruth, Koutarou's existence was gradually becoming more and more important than the Blue Knight.
Part 6
While Theia was training Koutarou to become a knight onboard the Blue Knight, a peaceful atmosphere could be felt in room 106.
“Yurika, Sanae, what do you want to eat for dinner?”
“Ah, if Kiriha-san is cooking, I want to eat pork miso soup and fried tofu!”
“Yurika, isn't that something an old man would pick?”
The only ones left in the room were Yurika, Sanae, Kiriha and her two haniwas.
Without Koutarou, Theia and Ruth, the room was very quiet.
“Old man... but, Kiriha-san's Japanese food is delicious.”
“I'll agree on that. I'm fine with having the same Yurika is eating.”
“Understood.”
With today’s menu decided, Kiriha returned to the kitchen.
Looking at her back, Yurika remembered something and clapped her hands.
“That's right, I need to feed Hercules-chan.”
“If we don't hurry, Koutarou and the others will return.”
Yurika and Sanae walked towards the wardrobe.
Both Yurika and Sanae were taking care of the beetle that Yurika was keeping.
Normally, Koutarou would have joined in as well, but nowadays he didn't have the time.
“It's time for dinner, Hercules-chan♪”
As Yurika opened the wardrobe, a plastic breeding case appeared in front of the two.
The sudden light startled the Hercules beetle, and it moved slowly to hide in the shadow.
“What are you going to do about today's food, Yurika?”
“I gave it vegetables yesterday, so today we'll give it its normal food.”
“Roger.”
Yurika picked up the breeding case while Sanae got the canister holding the beetle’s food and they returned to the tea table.
“I'm sorry for always keeping you in that dark place Hercules-chan, but it's for your own protection. Just hang on for a while longer.”
“Yurika, here you go.”
Sanae opened the canister's lid and presented it to Yurika.
The canister was full of fodder and let out a distinct smell.
At first, Yurika had frowned whenever she opened the lid, but by now she had gotten used to it.
“Thank you. Here you go, it's food, Hercules-chan.”
As Yurika poured the fodder into the case, Hercules, who had been hiding in the shadows, came out.
It was well aware that Yurika had put food into the case.
“It's surprising to think he is related to the Kanabun[2]”
“Eh, really!?”
“Yeah, Koutarou said so.”
“I see... to think the king of bugs had such a plain relative...”
“It's like realizing that a popular idol's father is just a plain old man.”
Yurika and Sanae stared into the case.
As the two of them look on, Hercules picked up a large piece of fodder and began eating.
Since it had such a large appetite, it chewed away at the fodder.
“It's eating, it's eating.”
“With an appetite like that, you'll grow even bigger.”
Yurika and Sanae smiled as they looked at Hercules eating, but all of a sudden a shadow was cast upon the breeding case.
“That's a pretty big horn.”
“Eh!?”
“Wah?”
The shadow belonged to Ruth.
Before they knew it, she had appeared in the room and stared into the breeding case from the other side.
“R-Ruth-san!?”
“Ruth, when did you!?”
Yurika's and Sanae's expressions froze with the appearance of Ruth.
T-This is it!
It's all over...
Ruth held a strong sense of hostility against beetles.
Having found Hercules, Yurika and Sanae prepared themselves for the worst.
The thought of Ruth tearing Hercules to pieces appeared in their heads.
The two believed a terrible fate awaited Hercules.
“So, what do you call this bug?”
However, contrary to their belief, Hercules wasn't torn apart.
Ruth was only looking into the breeding case with a perplexed expression.
“Eeeeh!?”
”R-Ruth, you don't know what this is!?”
“Yes... It's my first time seeing one...”
To their surprise, it seemed like Ruth didn't know what beetles looked like.
Despite knowing the name, she had no idea what the creature actually looked like.
“Is there something wrong?”
“N-No! Nothing at all.”
“It's nothing!”
The two of them shook their heads as Ruth posed her question.
Luckyyyy!
Thank you, God!!
As the two of them shook their heads, they were secretly cheering on the inside.
“And, what kind of insect is this?”
“Yeah, that's a―”
Yurika, who let out a sigh of relief, was about to blurt out the truth, causing Sanae to smack her at the back of her head.
“A... what?”
“A... uhm, a Kanabun! It's a rare species known as the king of bugs, and its name is Hercules-chan!”
Sanae technically wasn't lying, but she left out the most important part.
“Kanabun... Hercules... It certainly has a bold appearance, fitting of a king.”
However, Ruth didn't notice that, and instead looked inside of the breeding case with admiration in her eyes.
Once Ruth's focused shifted off of Sanae, she whispered to Yurika.
“...Hey Yurika, give me a break will you? Hercules-chan's life is at stake here!”
“...I'm sorry, it wasn't on purpose.”
Yurika repeatedly apologized to Sanae in a low voice.
“Wow, it's eating! I guess when it get this big, even its food gets bigger!”
Fortunately, Ruth wasn't paying attention to them and instead looked at Hercules with great interest.
“...Hurry up and go somewhere else, Ruth...”
“...Auuuuu.”
Even though Ruth didn't know that she was looking at a beetle, Sanae and Yurika couldn't help but hold their breaths.
Part 7
There was now less than one week left until the culture festival.
At this point, they couldn't simply wait for Koutarou's acting to improve and were now doing full blown rehearsals.
“J-Just one more week... Just one more week and I'll be free from this life...”
“Are you okay, Satomi-kun?”
Having been following Theia's guidance all this time, Koutarou looked completely worn out.
However, he quickly pulled himself together again.
Not good, I can't make Sakuraba-senpai worry about me!
Koutarou pumped himself up and smiled at Harumi.
“I'm fine, Sakuraba-senpai.”
“Well, in that case...”
Once Harumi saw Koutarou’s smile, she felt a little relieved, and she kept gazing at him.
But it wasn't from worry, but from admiration.
Satomi-kun must have practiced really hard...
Koutarou was tired, but the way he moved his body was completely different from a week ago.
His posture was straight and his walking was graceful. His every motion was refined and beautiful.
His appearance when wearing his blue armor exuded the atmosphere of the Blue Knight, without any acting involved.
I feel strange somehow...
Wearing the Silver Princess's clothes and standing in front of Koutarou who looked like the Blue Knight, a mysterious emotion gripped Harumi.
For some reason, she felt nostalgic.
And she felt like the two of them facing each other like this, in their current appearance, was the way it was meant to be.
I guess even I have some rather romantic desires I didn't know off...
Harumi interpreted her feelings as such while gazing at Koutarou.
Just doing that made her feel happy.
However, at this time, there was one more gazing at Koutarou.
“Damnit pleb, you got it wrong again!”
The gaze belonged to Theia, who had been teaching Koutarou how a knight acted.
Unlike Harumi, she was dissatisfied with the way Koutarou was behaving.
Koutarou had been making mistakes for a while now, and it had begun to irritate Theia.
“Once we get back, we'll get straight to training! How many times do I have to tell you for you to understand!?”
Theia tightened her grip on the manuscript she was holding.
By the way, Theia's role was the Silver Princess's little sister, the Golden Princess.
“I see, so that's how you taught Koutarou manners in such a short amount of time.”
Kiriha laughed out cheerfully next to Theia.
She was currently wearing a clergy's outfit.
Normally, she was just in charge of the wardrobe, but since she had a talent that let her complete any task well, she had just been given a role today.
The role she had been given was the priestess who served as the Silver Princess's advisor.
Because of her outfit, her laugh gave off a feeling of warmth, more so than normal.
“Her highness is very obstinate when it comes to the Blue Knight after all.”
Ruth let out a laughter similar to Kiriha's.
She was wearing armor similar to Koutarou's.
It was a ceremonial armor that had been passed down the Pardomshiha family for generations.
Ruth was playing the role of the female knight in charge of protecting the Silver Princess.
“She's more like a stalker. She sticks to Koutarou even when he goes to the toilet or in the bath.”
Sanae smiled wryly as she dropped her shoulders.
Today, she was wearing a fairy outfit.
She had made that outfit herself, several years ago for a school arts festival.
Since it had been used during a school arts festival, the quality was so-so, but as she flew around she looked like a real fairy.
Sanae hung around Koutarou and helped him out when he forgot his lines.
“Watch your tongue. I don't know how men behave on the toilet!”
“So you know how they behave in the bath then?”
Shizuka cheerfully smiled as her maid outfit shook.
Her maid outfit’s design had been based on Forthorthe's style, and it fit Shizuka's calm, settled attitude well.
Shizuka was playing the role of the Silver Princess's maid.
“Of course! That pleb doesn't even know how to get into the bath!”
“...So that's why Satomi-san looked so happy when he was heading towards the toilet...”
Yurika looked at Koutarou with pity in her look.
However, Yurika who was wearing brown tights and a horse's rear outfit was the most pitiful of them all.
She also had several other parts to play, other than a horse's rear.
“Alright everyone, get in position! We'll start the rehearsal from the first scene!”
At that moment, the club president called out from the top of the stage; the set preparations had been completed.
“It's our turn.”
“Ah, wait up, please!”
Sanae quickly followed after Koutarou, and Yurika followed shortly after.
The first scene was about the Silver Princess being chased by the villain, and being saved by the Blue Knight who happened to pass by.
The only ones of the residents in room 106 who had any part in this scene were the Blue Knight, Koutarou, and the horse's rear, Yurika.
“Well, I start from over there, Satomi-kun. I'll see you later.”
Harumi's and Koutarou's starting points were different, so she said goodbye to Koutarou and headed towards the left of the stage.
“Okay senpai, good luck!”
“Yes!”
And as Harumi left with a smile on her face, a small fairy and a horse's rear appeared.
“Koutarou.”
“Yeah, I'm counting on you two today.”
“Yeah.”
“Neigh!”
After joining up with Koutarou, the two of them looked motivated.
Yurika, who had the role of Bandit A later on looked especially pumped up.
“So what do I do first, Koutarou?”
“Hmm... Start off by checking what mistakes I make, acting and lines wise. You only need to help me out with my lines once we get closer to the culture festival.”
“I got it, so I only need to remember the parts you got wrong, right?”
Although he had gotten better, he still had Sanae assist him if he was about to get it wrong.
She was perfect for it, since she had great memory and normal people couldn’t see her.
On top of that, she also had various special jobs, such as making Koutarou's mantle flap in scenes with strong wind.
“Yurika, you can't see in front of you, so just keep an eye out on your legs.”
“I'm okay. I've practiced plenty!”
Koutarou climbed up on the stage after talking to the two.
He was going on stand-by until it was his turn.
“...Huh?”
And as Koutarou climbed up the stage, a girl climbing down the stairs passed by him.
Was there are girl like that here?
Koutarou turned around to look at her.
She had light blue hair and a black and white dress.
And on her face were antique-looking glasses.
Koutarou had never seen that girl before.
“What's wrong, Satomi-san?”
“Yeah, I just passed by this girl I've never seen before.”
“Is that so?”
Yurika had been unable to see the girl due to her outfit getting in the way.
“She was wearing a very elegant outfit. Maybe she's playing a noble or something.”
“Yeah, maybe.”
A large amount of extras had been called in for this play.
Plenty of other clubs were helping out, so it's not like Koutarou knew all of them.
Koutarou nodded at Sanae's words and looked back at the girl in question, however he could no longer see her.
She had gone off somewhere while Koutarou was talking to Yurika and Sanae.
She's gone... oh well...
Something about the girl bothered Koutarou, but he simply assumed she was an extra and put her aside.
Koutarou had something to do.
“Alright, let's do this!”
The most important job Koutarou had right now was to properly act out the Blue Knight.
“W-Who are you!?”
“Please rest easy, princess Alaia. I may be a wandering knight far from my homeland, but I haven't lost my loyalty towards the royal family.”
Harumi's and Koutarou's acting continued on the stage.
Their acting was splendid; Harumi's acting in particular was dazzling.
You really are amazing, Sakuraba-senpai... It's like she's on a completely different level, she looks like the real thing...
Koutarou was the one who understood Harumi's amazingness the most.
They had been practicing together since they went over their lines, so he was well aware of how serious and invested Harumi was in this.
And as the two of them faced each other, that became apparent.
All Koutarou had to do was follow her lead, doing that allowed him to naturally feel like he was the Blue Knight.
Although he was still holding her back when it came to his lines, he was able to act without any hesitation.
“However, becoming an ally of us when we've lost our position would make you an enemy of all of Forthorthe!”
“It might be just as you say, princess Alaia.”
“Then―”
“However, I won't have to make my own pride and loyalty and most importantly, the citizens of Forthorthe into an enemy. And what's important isn't who your enemy is. What's important is who won't betray you.”
And Harumi found Koutarou to be so very reliable.
If I'm with Satomi-kun, I can do this... And my heart is throbbing... With this feeling, I'm sure I'll be able to do it well!
Since Harumi was normally shy, standing on top of a stage, she couldn't help but feel anxious.
However, with Koutarou at her side, she was able to forget about her anxiousness and act properly.
And Satomi-kun will definitely protect me...
That sense of security gave Harumi power and let her act out to the best of her ability.
And it stayed that way, even in scenes that Koutarou wasn't in.
Her belief that Koutarou would come to her rescue gave her strength.
“Your highness... Satomi-sama and Sakuraba-sama are wonderful...”
“...”
Theia and Ruth had watched a higher level of acting countless times on Forthorthe.
“The training you've given Satomi-sama have taken their effect, your highness.”
“...N-No... this is... not at that kind of...”
In terms of acting, they were far away from pros.
The delivery of their lines was bad and the way they moved was also poor.
But to Theia, they looked like the real Blue Knight and Silver Princess.
Their acting evoked something that made her feel that way.
“Then, please tell me one thing.”
“Anything you ask.”
“That royal crest engraved on your chest plate. Your appearance, the way you move your body and your pride. You are without a doubt a true knight of Forthorthe. But... I have no recollection of that crest carved into your sword. Just where have you come from?”
“...From an endless time and a countless distance.”
“But...”
Theia had only one complaint.
Why am I here? Why am I only looking? Why―
“...Am I not the princess the Blue Knight is protecting...”
A small complaint leaked out of Theia's lips.
She had admired the Blue Knight since she was a child.
She wanted to become a princess worthy of the Blue Knight.
She wanted to meet a wonderful knight, like the Blue Knight.
And the two of them would work together to protect her mother, Elfaria.
Those were the feelings that were overwhelming Theia at the moment.
And what supported those feelings was her powerful admiration from the Blue Knight.
But, those feelings of admiration came from looking at Koutarou's acting.
And her feelings began overflowing once she admitted that the person standing on top of the stage was the Blue Knight.
There was one more person just as shaken up as Theia was.
“I-Impossible... Those words, they're the same as that person’s...?”
And that was Kiriha.
Her normally calm, confident and gentle smile had been replaced with a surprised expression.
What surprised her was the line Koutarou had just said on top of the stage.
She had heard those words before.
“Why is the Blue Knight saying those words...?”
Kiriha quickly flipped through the manuscript she had gotten today.
She hadn't misheard the line; that was definitely one of the Blue Knight's lines.
“That's... why on earth...”
With a stupefied expression, she thrust her right hand into her pocket and pulled out a card.
It was a memory from her first love she had gotten ten years ago.
As she looked at the card, she recalled her past.
“Onii-chan, where did you come from?”
“Hmm, that would be hard to explain but... let's say, from an endless time and a countless distance.”
“Ahahaha, you're trying too hard to be cool, Onii-chan.”
“Actually, I just thought the same.”
At the time, Kiriha was young, and a long time had passed since then, so she could only vaguely remember how her first love looked.
She must have heard his name, but she could only remember calling him Onii-chan.
But she definitely remembered it, Kiriha had asked where he was from, and he had answered her 'From an endless time and a countless distance'.
It had left such an impression on her that even now she could clearly remember it.
Is there some reason? No, that can't... There's no reason for that line to be spoken on both Forthorthe and on Earth... Which means it's a coincidence... but...
Kiriha was well aware that this was most likely a coincidence.
But since it related to an important memory, she didn't want to simply call it just that.
I should make sure to ask Theia-dono more specifically about it later...
Once Kiriha made up her mind she began looking around for Theia, and she quickly found her.
Her long beautiful golden hair and pure-white dress stood out.
She was standing next to a large light and looking up at the stage, ardently.
It seems Theia-dono has some strong feelings regarding this play, just like me...
It happened when Kiriha revealed a small smile.
The large light next to her began leaning.
“Oh no!”
Seeing the light starting to lean, Kiriha yelled out.
“Theia-dono! Hurry up and run away from there! The light will-!”
Part 8
The light fell straight towards Theia.
“Theia-dono! Hurry up and run away from there! The light will-!”
“W-What!?”
Kiriha's voiced reached Theia, but since she was too focused on the stage, she had been taken by surprise and simply stood still.
“Your highness, the light is falling!”
At the same time Ruth began shouting, Theia turned towards the light.
“Wha-!?”
The light picked up speed and fell straight towards Theia.
Since it was a large light intended for illuminating the stage, she would certainly suffer a big injury if it hit her.
I won't make it!
Theia tried to dodge out of the way, but since it was already right in front of her, she had no way of making it.
“Kyaaaa!”
The only thing she could do was cry out, shut her eyes and brace herself.
A loud sound and a heavy impact.
Theia was thrown at the gym floor, and she lost consciousness for a second.
Theia had no idea of what had just happened.
“Your highness! Satomi-sama!”
She regained consciousness moments later when she heard Ruth's cry.
Did she say Satomi-sama...?
While Theia was puzzled as to why Ruth had called out Koutarou's name, she could feel a drop of water hitting her face.
What is...?
Theia found it strange so she finally opened her eyes, all she could was something blue.
“What...?”
Before she could remember what that was, another drop of water fell on her face.
When she reactively looked up towards the direction the water drop had fallen, she saw the face of an unthinkable person.
“...Are you hurt anywhere, princess?”
What had hit her face wasn't water, but that person’s blood.
Once she felt the warmth of the blood, she remembered what had happened to her.
“...B-Blue Knight-sama...?”
H-He protected me...? Blue Knight-sama came to save me...?
And because of that, she simply stared at the person in front of her.
“Oh good, it seems you are unhurt, princess Theiamillis.”
That person, Koutarou, had blocked the falling light and protected her.
When Kiriha had shouted out, Koutarou just happened to be looking in Theia's direction.
That was because of the directions that had been given, but thanks to that, he could see the light falling towards Theia.
Tulip!!
At that instant, Koutarou dashed towards her by reflex.
He had no plan or chance of success; his only thought was that he had to save her.
Koutarou kicked off the stage and jumped towards Theia.
Koutarou held on to Theia, and the light crashing into his body happened at the same time.
The light crashed into Koutarou's body and a loud metallic noise rang out.
However, since Koutarou was wearing the Blue Knight's armor, he was able to withstand the hit.
The only injury he suffered was a small cut on his forehead.
“...Are you hurt anywhere, princess?”
Because of that, Koutarou had enough room to make a joke.
Koutarou had been able to protect Theia because of two lucky things.
The first was that Koutarou was looking in Theia's direction, and the second was that he was wearing the Blue Knight's armor.
He wouldn't have been able to save her if he hadn't noticed her crisis or if he hadn't been wearing the armor.
He had made it because the armor had amplified his jumping powers and avoided injuries because of the armor's protection.
“...B-Blue Knight-sama...?”
“Oh good, it seems you are unhurt, princess Theiamillis.”
Well, she's safe...
Once Koutarou had confirmed that Theia, who he was holding onto with both arms, was alright, he let out a sigh of relief.
He then moved his right hand and pushed the light on his back.
“Haa.”
Koutarou easily pushed the light off him.
As the light hit the ground, Koutarou had been able to completely save Theia from her crisis.
“Phew...”
Koutarou let out another sigh of relief and stood up while still embracing Theia.
She seemed to be shocked, and just silently watched Koutarou after he stood up.
“Tulip, can you stand?”
“Ah...”
Tulip.
As soon as Koutarou said that word, Theia twitched and returned to her senses.
She blinked a couple of times before looking around, she then understood her situation.
“I-I'm fine, I can stand.”
Theia face turned red as she shook her, once she noticed Koutarou was embracing her, she had gotten embarrassed.
“Then I'm letting go.”
“Yeah...”
Once Koutarou set Theia free, she noticed a line of blood along Koutarou's cheek.
The cut on his forehead ran down his cheek, onto his chin and dripped down on the floor.
Blue Knight-sama is injured...
Noticing Koutarou's injury, Theia hurriedly searched through her pocket and pulled out a handkerchief.
She then stretched herself and held it against Koutarou's forehead.
“Hm? W-What is it, Tulip?”
Koutarou wasn't aware of his own injury, so he didn't understand what Theia was doing.
Koutarou stepped away from Theia and asked what she was doing.
“W-Wait, Blue Knight-sama, you have an injury on your forehead!”
“An injury...?”
Koutarou only noticed the pain in his forehead after Theia told him.
He put his hand on his forehead and felt a warm, slippery feeling on the tip of his fingers.
As he did, Theia pushed his hand away and put her handkerchief on his cut again.
“Calm down, Tulip. It's not that big of a deal.”
“The fact that Blue Knight-sama got injured for my sake is a big deal!”
Theia was confusing Koutarou for the Blue Knight.
“Just calm down. I'm not the real Blue Knight.”
Thinking it was from shock, Koutarou tried to calm Theia down.
“Ah...”
I'm not the real Blue Knight.
Once Theia heard those words, she stopped moving for an instant.
She began moving again shortly thereafter, but her face turned red.
“...S-Sorry. It seems I panicked a little.”
“I know. But you have a cute side to you too.”
In her confusion she had mistaken Koutarou for the Blue Knight.
Because of that Koutarou was able to see a surprising side to Theia.
“...N-Normally I would hit you, but I'll forgive you today.”
“Thank you, princess.”
In this situation, Theia was more modest than usual.
Koutarou couldn't find it in him to tease her any more than this and honestly said his thanks.
“No... that's my line.”
Theia shook her head.
“Well done, Koutarou.”
Even though they were words of gratitude, they were Theia's normal words from the top.
“Y-Yeah...”
But this time, Koutarou didn't have any complaints about it.
“Satomi-sama, let's go to the nurse’s office.”
“I'm fine, this is nothing.”
“You have a head injury. Just give it up and go.”
“But...”
“If you don't go, neither will I.”
“Fine, I got it, geez...”
Accompanied by Ruth, Koutarou and Theia head towards the gym's exit.
Although Koutarou, who hated hospitals and nurse's offices, complained, he eventually gave up and left the gym together with the two of them.
“Thank god, Satomi-kun is okay...”
Seeing the three of them off, Harumi let out a sigh of relief.
After learning that Koutarou had been hurt, like Theia, she had a small panic attack.
However, after hearing that Koutarou was fine, she was able to regain her calm.
She wasn't the only one who calmed down though, everyone in the gym was the same.
The once frozen atmosphere recovered and smiles returned to the people in the gym.
“Yeah, thank god.”
Kiriha nodded next to Harumi.
However, unlike the surrounding people, Kiriha's expression was severe.
But Harumi, who was too focused on Koutarou and the others, didn't notice.
“...What's wrong Kiriha, you're making a scary face...”
Sanae who happened to be floating nearby had noticed Kiriha's expression.
After looking at Sanae once, Kiriha pointed at one of the legs on the fallen light.
“...Look here, Sanae.”
“What? Is there something wrong with this broken leg?”
Kiriha had pointed at one of the three legs of the light.
The light had fallen over because the leg had broken.
“Take a good look at the surface. It's far too clean of a break.”
“You're right. This is almost like― you mean!?”
Sanae showed a surprised expression after noticing what Kiriha had pointed out.
Kiriha nodded at Sanae.
“That's right. It looks like we're facing a serious problem.”
Theia once said that a mysterious spaceship had appeared but...
A mysterious spaceship.
A light falling over towards Theia.
The leg of the light that had far too clean of a break.
The conclusion that Kiriha derived pointed at the appearance of a new enemy.
Translator's Notes and References
1. ↑ A piece of clothing knights often wore above their armor
2. ↑ Also known as the drone beetle, it's scientific name is Rhomborrhina japonica
