Editing Hagure Yuusha no Aesthetica:Volume 1 Prologue (section)

===Part 3===

“Unit Alpha was broken through! The other units can’t surround him in time!”

“Unit Omega can you hear me? Unit Omega! – It’s no use! There is no response!”

The head maid Valkyria closed her eyes and listened to her subordinates screaming similar reports without moving an inch. Valkyria and her unit were further in the forest than Akatsuki’s current position. Her objective was to capture him. If that is the case then intercepting has a higher chance of success than pursuit. Thus she used the first attackers to tie him down while she got a head start. She placed small units in perfect positions to surround and capture Akatsuki--- that was her plan. But he couldn't be stopped. He was not even trying to evade the maids surrounding him. Instead he was fighting them head on and cutting his way forward. And he still had time to grope the breasts, stroke the butts and touch the thighs of the maids in the commotion while using Renkan Keikikou to enrapture them.

“Valkyria, if this goes on…”

We'll all fall—after hearing her subordinate stop her sentence Valkyria silently opened her eyes at last.

“It can’t be helped. You should go too… I'll stay here.”

“But…”

“Valkyria…”

Valkyria’s orders were transmitted to the units via communication magic used by three of her most trusted subordinates out of the forty-three standing under Valkyria’s direct command. They could use attack magic too but the northern forest was a sacred ground after all. They couldn't destroy the forest. Therefore a lonely smile appeared on her face when Valkyria saw that they still couldn't give up.

“We already knew that there was nothing we could do to stop that man. Parting is only a matter of time now. Nonetheless Lady Listy gave us a last chance. That is why you must go. If you can't stop him then at least get a last memory from Master Akatsuki.”

“Understood Valkyria!”

“I hope Valkyria can say farewell without regret.”

“Ee… thank you.”

Valkyria silently watched as her subordinates started to run after saluting. She then closed her eyes again. For a second, silence filled the northern forest. Then she heard her subordinates screaming. The screams started to close in little by little. Valkyria had a flashback from five years ago when she first met Akatsuki. Then a faint feeling started to well up from deep inside her heart.

…I mustn’t. Valkyria’s cheek loosened a little as she was thinking. Then.

“Oh, you finally showed yourself, Valkyria!”

A tall young man appeared from the bushes in front of her. It was Akatsuki. Uncombed hair reaching to his shoulders. Black clothes covering his robust body. They were all black as night. His shining eyes were black as well. 

There are two types of faces a woman likes. It is either nice looking or sharp looking. Akatsuki’s face was clearly the latter. His eyes were piercing and his face captured many women’s hearts. Audacious expression. Confidence and pride that was almost like conviction which gave birth to an appearance of allowance. He was strong. So strong that it was obvious to anyone. Akatsuki had a unique presence that could stop someone’s breath. Valkyria thought. He is a completely different person from five years ago when they first met. This must be what it means to turn from an ordinary boy into a hero. Valkyria expressionlessly watched Akatsuki.

“Master Akatsuki, please forgive me—you pervert! Do you want to make a legend of an evil spirit who attacks women in the northern forest?”

“If you say that then shouldn't it first be the legend of maids who attack travelers?”

“You say that but you look unhurt to me--- was there anything inadequate in my subordinates?"

“That is not possible. They are your subordinates. They all did their jobs until the very end.”

She bowed to him thankfully. Valkyria had a nostalgic light in her eyes as she asked Akatsuki. 

Please tell me! 

“My subordinates… were those girls able to make Master Akatsuki remember them?” 

“Don’t make me say it. It is embarrassing.”

Akatsuki laughed then replied.

“I won’t forget. Not a single thing in this world.”

“Thank you. I’m sure the girls are happy to hear that.”

She called out his name and raised her spear then took a stance.

“Lastly---- would you please carve me into your heart?”

-- Then not long after, the forest became silent again. It was Akatsuki who appeared from the bush. Probably there wouldn’t be any more maids coming after him. After he looked back one more time to carve Valkyria’s memory into his heart, Akatsuki started to walk again. His goal was the sacred ground in the deepest part of the forest. There is the <gate to another world> leading to the world where he used to live. There are a few gates in Alayzard that connect to different worlds. There are two in the religious Empire of Arekrasta and in the militarist Empire of Disdia. There are other gates too, seven altogether. But the gate he came through was the one here in Sherfied. Thus to return to his own world Akatsuki would have to use this gate.

“I didn't think I would still remember.”

The path made by nature was labyrinthine. If someone unfamiliar with this place entered by accident they would get lost for sure. But Akatsuki didn't have any doubt. He relied on his memories from five years ago. Akatsuki had been here before. After a while Akatsuki noticed a great tree before him. That means his goal is close. The sacred ground lies beyond that tree. The <gate to another world> is about a kilometer from here. Then, while walking, his gaze went to the bottom of the giant tree.

“----“

A girl stood there. She was beautiful like a spirit of the forest. Those who said that she was the treasure of Sherfied were not lying at all. The one standing there was Listy El Da Sherfied.

The last time Akatsuki saw her was at the victory party hall yesterday. She wore an elaborately decorated shining dress worthy of a princess. But she couldn’t go into the forest in an outfit like that. Right now she was wearing white casual clothes. She had tied her waist long golden hair in a ponytail. It was the same she used when they traveled to defeat the demon king. Her unchanging beauty was the same.

“---“
Listy noticed him. When their eyes met they recognized each other. Akatsuki continued to move forward while Listy stayed still. The distance between them decreased. They became closer and closer--- then Akatsuki passed her.

“--- He- Hey wait a minute!”

Probably she didn't expect this. She called out in a hurried voice from behind him. But he ignored her. Akatsuki continued to walk in silence.
“Stupid. Wait! Stop joking and wait a little, hey…”

Finally he stopped and made a sigh when she grabbed onto his arm. Without turning to her

“What are you doing? For a princess to sneak out of the castle… On top of that you even sent your maids after me.”

“Th- they said that they wanted to say farewell to you so I gave my permission. I… only came here to check up on them.”

After she said that she leaned her back against his wide back. As Akatsuki felt her weight Listy gave out a faint voice.

“Are you really leaving?”

“Aa, I should’t be in this world anymore. You should know that too.”

“……..”

Listy couldn't say anything as she understood what he was thinking. Even though he defeated the demon king Galious, he was still a rogue hero. Of course there were people who praised Akatsuki as a real hero and wanted him to marry Listy. But if she married Akatsuki, who had opposing forces, that would certainly lead to serious troubles later on, and could very well cause Sherfied to split. Even if they did not marry, his influence as the hero who defeated the demon king remains. Certainly there are peoples both domestic and foreign who don’t think well of him. It wouldn't be strange if that would cause another dispute. And this time it would be a war between humans. That is why Akatsuki decided. He would defeat the demon king alone. Then he would bear all the praise, honor, regret and envy, and disappear from this world. Only then would Alayzard be at peace.

“Not to mention I have something to do in that world.”

There was no demon king in the world he grew up in, Earth. But there was someone who had to be stopped. And that was probably his job. Before coming to Alayzard, he thought it was impossible. But it might be possible for him after he gained power. And there was another reason for him to return to his world. That is why Akatsuki was here right now. Then…

“… forgive me!”

Suddenly he heard a wistful, faintly shaking voice coming from his back. He sighed unintentionally.

And I thought it would be the best to leave without saying a word.

Akatsuki scratched his head. Then he turned to Listy. He knew it was cheating. But when he looked closer, tears flowed from Listy’s eyes. Thus he suddenly kissed her.

“----?”

After seeing Listy widen her eyes in surprise, Akatsuki closed his. Then tasted her soft lips to the fullest.

“---ha…wha- what are you doing?”

After she hastily moved her lips away from him, Listy pulled Akatsuki’s face with full force.

“Because you cried in front of me… sorry.”

Akatsuki looked in her face while rubbing his own. Maybe from embarrassment or from anger, but her face turned red. But she wasn't crying anymore. Thus Akatsuki thought this was for the best.

Ousawa Akatsuki had an esthetic. 

That is, if there is a woman crying he can do as he wishes. This is what he thought. There must always be a reason when a woman cries in front of a man. The man must never look away from those tears. Thus Ousawa Akatsuki felt he should be honest with his feelings at least in front of the women crying before him.
When a woman cries, if he wants to stop those tears, Akatsuki would stop them immediately. 

When a woman cries, if he holds those tears dear, Akatsuki would hug her.

When a woman cries, if he thinks those tears were just, Akatsuki would leave her alone.

When a woman cries, if he feels those tears were lying, he would ask for the reason.

And he would do anything to accomplish that. It might be too forceful to call it an esthetic. But sometimes in the world there are sad tears that must be stopped even if ignoring the woman’s feelings. Thus Akatsuki followed his beliefs. Hate me not your tears.

“—well this kiss was like a farewell present. Thank you.”

“Forcibly kissing a princess of a kingdom…you better remember this!”

“Unless you forget me I won't forget you either.”

Listy unpleasantly raised her chin as Akatsuki said that to her with a calm face.

“Don’t get the wrong idea! I'll forget someone like you in no time!”

“Ah, really?”

Said Akatsuki as he lifted his bag from the ground.

“—well it is time to say goodbye. I go this way and… you go that way.”

He pointed at the dimensional gate and Castle Erdia. They were in the opposite directions. Nevertheless, those were the paths Akatsuki and Listy had to take.

“You don’t have to tell me that…”

Listy gave a snort.

“I feel relieved. Farewell, Akatsuki. I--- hated you.”

She said that much then turned her back to him and started to walk away. Akatsuki saw her off, then as her figure got smaller and smaller he suddenly called out to her. Those was his last words to her.

“ Don't forget what I said to you that day! If ever something happens call me! If you believe me I’ll definitely come for you.”

“--------“

Listy stopped silently. That was why Akatsuki talked to her. No matter what happens in the future, even if they never met again. Even if they never meet again--- he had to tell her this unchanging truth.

“No matter how far we are—“

I swear to you.

“I’ll always be your ally. Never forget that, got it?!”

After Akatsuki parted with Listy he kept moving without further stops.

The further he went the more he could feel the forest become unusually silent. Sound disappeared from the world. And even though it was deep in the forest, the scent of the trees, grass and flowers could not be sensed anymore. When the scent of the flora disappeared, his vision and sense of touch started to sharpen. He had clear vision and could feel the invisible air on his skin as if his senses were stretched out. He had entered the sacred ground.

When he realized, Akatsuki had walked into a natural tunnel of trees. The tree branches covering the top of the tunnel were high so it didn't feel cramped. Numerous leaves covered the sunlight completely. Yet it was as bright as under the blue sky. Soft light flowed through the tunnel to the exit. It meant the end of the tunnel was near. And not much further lay the goal of Akatsuki’s journey. 

Well, at last. It was a deeply moving sight. Right now there was a gate in front of Akatsuki. On the stone pedestal there were quartz pillars decorated with geometric motives. These made up the giant gate. On the other side of the gate the forest still continued. But this was the <gate to another world> without a doubt. Because the space surrounded by the gate faintly fluctuated. It was a plane of discontinuity created by the dimensional instability. That proved that it connected to another world.

“I hope it will go alright.”

Akatsuki started to concentrate as he put the sack back on. This should work in theory. I’m going through.

Akatsuki slowly stepped into the gate. It was a firm step which moved him forward. Just before he stepped through the fluctuating space, Akatsuki turned back for the last time. That was his farewell. His last words to the world he had spent so much time in. He said it.

“Farewell, Alayzard!”

Then Ousawa Akatsuki disappeared into the <gate to another world>. There was no sound. The sacred ground in the forest was silent, as if the departure of the hero had been a lie. The only thing still remaining was the silent space fluctuation that occurs when someone travels through the <gate to another world>.