Hagure Yuusha no Aesthetica:Volume 4 Prologue

Prologue - The Signal of the End of Peace

Part 1

Soft sunlight filtered in.

The rays of the sun spread their comfortable warmth, announcing the coming of spring. Gentle wind blew into the room from an open window, making the white lace curtain flutter lightly.

A self-governed region established to manage the returnees from alternate worlds. On the sky of the giant manmade island built by refilling a portion of Tokyo Bay, the cloudless weather gave the feeling of spring.

However, in contrast with the comfortable weather, a heavy atmosphere enshrouded the Ousawa residence.

The reason was the silence that fell into the living room a little while before.

...... Good grief.

Ousawa Akatsuki sighed in his mind. Right now inside the room, there were four people including Akatsuki.

Akatsuki and Miu, who live in this house.

Also their friends Izumi Chikage and Doumoto Kuzuha.

“........................”

Akatsuki, leisurely laying back on the couch, looked at the girl sitting beside him.

The name of the girl prone to cast her eyes down was Ousawa Miu. The name belonged to Akatsuki’s little sister.

However—the girl that was now over there wasn’t Akatsuki’s little sister.

Akatsuki was summoned to the alternate world Alayzard, as a result of his hardships became a hero, and defeated the Demon King Garius — From Garius, right before his death, he was entrusted with his only daughter.

Myuu. That's her true name.

And after the Demon King Garius died, judging that she was in danger, Akatsuki brought her back to this world. Bestowing her with the name of his sister who was no longer around, they started living together. Meanwhile they attended school at the Babel organization, which had been established with the aim to manage and train the boys and girls who returned from alternate worlds.

Yet, that didn't mean all problems were solved. If those around them got hold of her being an inhabitant of an alternate world, it would be problematic, and from the start they had a relationship of being a hero and the daughter of the Demon King. To Miu, Akatsuki was her father's enemy. Properly speaking, he was the target of a hatred that absolutely could not be forgiven.

—Living together despite that, while learning about each other, in time trust sprouted between them. Then a pursuer was sent from Alayzard and attacked Miu.

Phil Burnet. He was a human of this world summoned to Alayzard, ironically to be the youth that was to become the next hero after Akatsuki. At JPN Babel, which Akatsuki and Miu attended—there, during the Ranking Tournament, a death match against Phil ensued. Despite Phil having formed a contract with the Evil Dragon Zahark, a lifeform from a higher plane, Akatsuki still defeated him. Furthermore, during the battle, even though Miu gave up her own life so as not to involve the people around her, Akatsuki's strong persuasive skills freed her from her despair. In the end, the trust between them became deeper.

—But in contrast, this most likely caused others to notice that Miu held some sort of secret.

Especially, the ones who were in their same team at the ranking tournament, Chikage and Kuzuha, as they in fact engaged in combat against Phil, they knew that Phil's goal was Miu. At least to these two, due to the facts stated above, it was impossible to keep the secret from them.

Because of that, at the end of the Ranking tournament, after coming back home from the seaside park.

Akatsuki made Miu make a decision. Whether or not to disclose her secret to Chikage and Kuzuha.

Thereupon, after a struggle Miu made a decision. To reveal her secret to those two.

For that reason, Akatsuki got in touch with Chikage and Kuzuha. In order to confirm their intentions.

—Don't tell anyone. It's a life or death matter. Miu's hidden secret is that big, so it's serious. Even so, it may be you want to hear about it.

You will hear Miu's secret from Miu herself.—

To Akatsuki's question "What will you do?", both Chikage and Kuzuha sent the same answer.

An immediate reply. Both of them said just the words "I'll come."

The next day, just a bit after noon, Chikage and Kuzuha turned up at the Ousawa home.

—And so, we arrive at the current situation.

Part 2

The heavy silence continued.

Scratching his cheek, Akatsuki looked at the clock hanging on the wall. The time was around half past one in the afternoon, Since Chikage and Kuzuha came, roughly about half an hour had passed.

To tell the truth, at this time right now they should've been attending school.

However, though it was a weekday, Akatsuki and the others were on a break. So as to wrap up the Ranking Tournament, from today onwards JPN Babel had entered spring break.

Ten days. That was the rest time given to the alternate world returnee youngsters who attented school at JPN Babel.

Once it ended, it would be the start of a new school term.

The long-awaited first day of spring break. Even the weather was the best one. Even though Akatsuki was thinking about wrapping the talk up in a flash and brightly go out with everyone. What's the deal with this, ruminated Akatsuki. If Miu keeps silent like this, the mood will become heavier and heavier, and she will miss the chance to start the conversation.

However, although this matter was also related to Akatsuki, in the end, it was Miu's own problem. Therefore he though it was best for Miu to say it with her own words when she herself decided.

......Well, I can at least create a chance.

Making a faint wry smile, Akatsuki made the necessary preparations without Miu knowing.

"——Hyah!?"

Suddenly, Miu screamed in surprise.

What was the best way to talk about her to Chikage and Kuzuha? While fretting about that, suddenly her body shivered. She wondered why, but Miu soon found out the reason.

"Huh——?"

She unconsciously stopped thinking.

Her boob was being rubbed. It was because, before anyone noticed, Akatsuki's left hand had gone around from behind her.

Her left breast changing in shape, Miu looked beside her with eyes of disbelief,

"Hmm? How soft......"

While Akatsuki in question kept calmly rubbing Miu's chest, she tilted her head in wonder,

"With a mood this stiff, I thought your boobs, reading a bit the mood, would also get a little stiff......"

"You dolt—read the mood a bit!"

As Miu screamed, at the same time she hit Akatsuki's face with a backhand blow of her right hand.

Standing up, she crossed her arms hiding her chest to protect it,

"The mood at the time doesn't matter, a girl's boobs are soft!"

Thereupon, Akatsuki, who supposedly received a direct backhand blow, smiling composedly,

"—What. You've come out quickly, haven't you, voice?"

"Huh......?"

Miu involuntarily became dumbfounded. What the heck is Akatsuki saying?

Then, Akatsuki's expression became gentle,

"Since you couldn't start to talk at ease, I've just unknotted your feelings. If you keep worrying forever, you'll make no progress. Izumi and Class Rep decided to come hear your story, and came specifically for that. And yet, if you stay silent, you'll be being rude to them."

"Ah ......"

Miu, coming to a realization, looked at Chikage and Kuzuha sitting on the opposite sofa.

They didn't know how to react to Akatsuki's sudden action. After meeting her eyes, Chikage and Kuzuha revealed troubled smiles. However, they kept saying nothing, since they were waiting for Miu to speak. If they said something, their words would become an urging to Miu.

So that wouldn't happen, they kept waiting for Miu.

That's why,

"Sorry...... Girls."

To Miu, who involuntarily hung her head down, Chikage directed a gentle smile.

"No need to apologize...... Besides, there's no need to hurry."

The reason why was,

"Since both me and the class rep came here to listen Miu tell us with her own words."

"True...... So, don't think we are forced to hear it."

Said Kuzuha. And, confronting Akatsuki with a chiding tone,

"Ousawa-kun. Although we are grateful, stop behaving like rushing things. Since we'll wait until she readies her heart."

"Yes. It's her fault......"

Akatsuki shrugged his shoulders, but still showed a satisfied smile.

He put his hands behind the back of his head, and his body once again sunk deep into the couch.

It seemed he didn't intend to say anything more. Akatsuki kept quiet and closed his eyes.

However, Ousawa Miu realized it. Akatsuki's withdrawal just now was not because of Miu's words.

It was because of the words of Chikage and Kuzuha, who believed in Miu. So that Miu wouldn't hesitate like up until now, he checked those two so that their thoughts could be heard.

That was, gentle interference.

....From behind my back, you've given me a push.

Miu remembered. When he asked her if she would open her heart to Chikage and Kuzuha or not, those were Akatsuki's words. Assuming I had to choose, I'll just protect you with all my might—that was what Akatsuki said to her. For this reason, Miu made the decision to report to Chikage and Kuzuha.

I don't want to involve those two, she felt like that. Since my fate is filled with great dangers. Even though both witnessed Phil during the Ranking War and fought, she could always dodge the issue. If she decided to deceive them, in order to make Chikage and Kuzuha not pry anymore into her business, she could make up something.

However, if she did that, both of them would surely notice in the end. That she had deceived them.

When that time came, it would undoubtedly further the distance between them, and that probably would be the end.

Naturally, those two would drift away from Miu.

Since the result of lying—would most likely be that.

...... But.

Miu thought. She certainly didn't want that.

They were the first friends she could ever make. Existences she could call her best friends, she didn't want to lose them.

Perhaps by conveying the truth, Chikage and Kuzuha would possibly drift apart. However, even in that case, she didn't want them to scatter by saying nothing.

So,

"............ Is it right? Chikage-san, Class Rep."

She could ready her heart. Sitting straight in the couch, she stared at those two up front.

I'll tell. Let's pray,

"Though it may become a little long...... Will you hear me? My story"

Part 3

After that, Miu told Chikage and Kuzuha about her background.

From herself being a resident of a world called Alayzard, to her position as the Demon King's daughter, as well as the details of how, having a relationship of enmity with Akatsuki, both of them came around to this world. And from how, since she came to this world, she posed as Akatsuki's sister, to Phil Barnett's true identity and his hidden objective.

Once the whole story was over—before they knew, the sunlight that came from the window was going down.

Looking at the clock, Miu realized. Since she started her story, a full three hours had passed.

So, in order to take a break from the conversation, on Akatsuki's suggestion they had a temporary recess.

On the table before them, everyone's teacups had already become empty,

"I ...... I'll brew some more tea."

Saying that, Miu placed the cups on a tray, and flew into the kitchen.

She placed the four sets of tea cups and saucers in the sink and placed a kettle filled with water over the fire of the stove. Finally, Miu let out a big sigh.

The water that flew from the faucet was making circular ripples in the stainless steel sink.

Like that, Miu listened for a while to the sound of running water.

And then,

"—Hey, thanks for your work."

Suddenly, someone called out to her. Looking back, there was Akatsuki, leaning on the wall at the entrance of the kitchen, with a gentle look on his face.

"Yeah......"

Miu quietly nodded and turned back to the sink. After that, she started washing the teacups, gently sliding the sponge soaked in detergent.

Then, Akatsuki, without saying a word, stepped up to Miu. And,

"Ah......"

While quietly washing the cups, Miu's vision suddenly darkened. She had been embraced. It seems her head was embraced from the side. Miu had stopped her hands, and with a little troubled tone,

"That's dangerous...... What if I break a cup?"

"Relax. There's no way I'll let a girl I'm hugging get injured."

That joking tone gave her comfort.

"You did your best......"

"...... Yeah."

Before Akatsuki's voice tinged with warmth compared, she couldn't help but let out a quivering nod.

Miu softly closed her eyes on Akatsuki's chest. She leaned on him as if entrusting him with her body.

By receiving Akatsuki's gentleness, Miu knew to what extent he was at a loss wondering about whether to convey the truth to Chikage and Kuzuha or not. Because of that, Miu meekly fawned on that gentleness.

There's no turning back. Since I've told everything to those two.

From now on, all depends on Chikage and Kuzuha's judgement.

Whether they would keep fostering friendship like until now, or else they end up as enemies.

"I wonder if I have sufficiently explained myself......"

"Yup, there's no doubt about that."

He patted her back, as if saying she didn't need to worry.

Then, Akatsuki put both hands on Miu's shoulders, and gently pushed away her body.

"—Well, since I'll brew the tea, you should go back first."

"Eh, but......"

Miu's face clouded. Akatsuki, why don't we listen together to Chikage and Kuzuha's answer?

To Miu, who looked up with uneasiness, Akatsuki showed a gentle face,

"When I called them, I was asked something by Izumi and Class Rep. But after listening to your story, they still don't know what answer give to you. That is, since they'll give you a thoroughly thought out answer... That answer, they want you to hear it first."

What to do?

"However, if you say you want me to hear it with you—Do you mind if I'm present?"

The decision Miu made after pondering for a while, Akatsuki respected it without complaint.

As a result—Akatsuki was currently left alone in the kitchen.

Having the water in the kettle already boiled, he was now cooling it down to a suitable temperature.

Warming the cups and the tip of the teapot with hot water, Akatsuki was counting.

The gradually decreasing figures were a countdown until the moment of his arrival.

And, it happened when he got to just under 10. A single voice raised from the living room.

"————————"

It was a cry. What the trembling voice conveyed was a wailing of overflowing in-endurable feelings.

Akatsuki knew who was the owner of the voice. And also why she was crying.

So, Akatsuki didn't move from that place.

Ousawa Akatsuki knew how to react to a girl's tears.

In this case, if he reacted, then those were tears of sadness.

Had that kind of tears been shed, Akatsuki would have immediately rushed to the living room.

However—These tears were different.

The ones who had to react to these tears were the two people at her side.

So,

"...... That's good."

Akatsuki showed a satisfied smile. Then, as if he had remembered something,

"—Tch, how bad. Since it arrived sooner than expected, I lost count."

Distracted by the situation there, maybe the water had cooled a bit too much.

Scratching his cheek in annoyance, Ousawa Akatsuki showed a disappointing wry smile.

"Well, isn't it fine? Rather than warm, it may be better to a body that has cooled down by crying."

Part 4

War should have ended.

On the world called Alayzard, the war between humans and demons had continued for a long time.

Then, a single young man summoned from an alternate world put an end to it by felling the Demon King.

The name of the young man was — Ousawa Akatsuki.

However, when he first was summoned, Akatsuki didn't have any kind of power. Like that, Akatsuki obtained strength, grew to be called a hero, and managed to defeat Garius, who was feared as the most powerful Demon King in history, due to having a single chance.

When Akatsuki was summoned, there was already a hero in Alayzard.

The knight of the sorcery kingdom of Sherfied, Leon Aceperio.

That Leon, who should be called the symbol of hope, died an early noble death.

What's more—he protected Akatsuki from the killer dagger of the Demon King Garius. To Akatsuki, it was the death of the first true best friend he had made in the alternate world.

Hope was lost. Furthermore, having lost even the kingdom capital Erdia, the people of Alayzard, fallen into despair, naturally directed the blame towards Akatsuki. Subjected to relentless slander, Akatsuki concealed his whereabouts soon after that. And as result, Akatsuki drew even more criticism upon himself.

Everyone, with things like 'That guy has run away' and 'He's a dastard', one after another branded Akatsuki as a coward.

—However, Akatsuki had not run away.

He went alone to <God’s Dimension>, the world gods live in, and risking his life he mastered the "Renkan Keikikou", which let him manipulate at will the ki inside his body. Then Akatsuki rushed a strategy to recover the capital, rescuing princess Risty, who had fallen into a predicament. Repelling the Demon king's army, he led the liberation army to victory.

Suddenly, Akatsuki had become Sherfied's true hero. And—thence a miracle happened.

By overcoming numerous ordeals, a multitude of hardships and a large number of adversities, before he knew Akatsuki came to be called a hero. And yet, Akatsuki was still hated by the devoted people who mourned the dead Leon. As a result, they branded Akatsuki with the stigma of "Rogue Hero".

Nevertheless, Akatsuki, content with shouldering that stigma, after a long journey succeeded in killing the Demon King Garius. And the peace the people of Alayzard had been waiting for a long time arrived at last.

It was as expected.

"Akatsuki......"

The young queen of Sherfied, Alayzard's sorcery kingdom, whispered that name.

Risty El Da Sherfied. She, who traveled with Akatsuki through various places of Alayzard, was one of the heroes that kept fighting in order to defeat the Demon King Garius.

Risty remembered what Akatsuki often said during the final stage of the trip to defeat Demon King Garius.

—To bring about true peace to Alayzard, it's essential to overthrow the Demon king.

For this reason, Akatsuki single-handedly defeated the Demon King Garius.

From the praising and envies of being the hero who defeated the Demon king, to the schemes and plots to make use of such a hero, till the hatred of the faction that resented the "Rogue hero" who caused the death of the hero Leon.

Shouldering alone anything and everything, Akatsuki returned to his own world. That was what Ousawa Akatsuki thought the best choice.

Of course, Risty and her comrades, Zecks and Ruthie, stopped Akatsuki. Why should only Akatsuki act as if he got the short end of the stick?

However, they ended up being told by Akatsuki. Think about what's the best choice to Alayzard. And also, there are some people in my own world I have to stop— telling them that, Akatsuki's decision was firm and unwavering. Because of that, Risty's group was unable to say anything more.

—And, giving their farewells to Akatsuki when he returned to his own world, Risty's group was entrusted with the mission of turning the peace that came by overthrowing the Demon King into true peace. What especially concerned Akatsuki was how to face the Demons after the demise of Demon King Garius. Joining hands in friendship was impossible, but he wanted at least that from now on they would stop quarreling. Otherwise, who knows till when war will continue, that was what Akatsuki frequently said when he was travelling.

Risty agreed with that idea. Of course, the sentiment of unforgiveness against the Demons remained firmly rooted inside the people. To tell the truth, Risty was the same. Leon wasn't the only one who died in the raid of the Demon King's army to the capital five years ago. Starting from her parents the King and the Queen, all members of the royalty but Risty died. She couldn't forgive them for that.

—However, now Risty had become the Queen of Sherfied. If Risty kept hating the Demons and warring against them, not just Sherfied's soldiers, even the masses would become exposed to danger. Wars are, above all, fights between nations. The responsibility is entirely shouldered by their Kings. The beings known as Kings, come the time, must die in exchange for the lives of all the people in the kingdom. And seeing that that Demon King Garius had passed away, the war between humans and Demons had ended.

...... Despite that.

Grumbling a bit inside her heart, Risty slowly raised her head to look in front of her.

Right now, before Risty, there were the backs of many soldiers.

It was the army of the kingdom of Sherfied.

And at her right were deployed the troops of the mechanical militarist nation, the empire of Disdia.

On the other side, at her left, were deployed the troops of the religious country, the Holy Empire of Arekrasta.

The troops of the three countries, right now, as allied armies, were grouped in a single formation.

Anyone who stood on that place would focus on the same thing Risty did.

That is, a deep forest that stretched along a certain national border.

Beyond that point lay the Demon country of Galevain.

Even though Demon king Garius had died, a lot of Demons lived in Galevain.

They had stopped warring against humans, rejected war, and chose to quietly live a peaceful life in the depths of the forest.

—That was what they had thought.

However, just recently the situation abruptly changed.

The surveillance troops of Sherfied and Disdia deployed along Galevain's border to observe the movements of the Demons were annihilated overnight.

While they were camping, they were attacked taking advantage of the darkness of the night. From the testimony of a soldier that barely survived, all of the current situation was determined. He said—that they were attacked by demons.

"—You don't look well."

Casually, Risty looked at the young man standing beside her, who threw those words to her.

The one who told her that while focusing not here, but only in the forest at the front, was the proud kingdom of Sherfied's general, Zecks Doltrake.

"If the Queen shows such a bewildered countenance, the soldiers will feel uneasy. It's not too late. How about I fetch you an escort and you return to Erdia?"

Even while he was addressing to the Queen, his tone held a bit of severity.

After all, to Risty, Zecks was someone who surpassed the relationship between a Queen and a General.

There were two people aside from Risty who traveled with Akatsuki in order to overthrow the Demon king.

One of them was the high elf Ruthie Trum. After the journey, she became Sherfied's chief of Spiritual Affairs who sustained Risty's statecraft.

And the other one was this Zecks.

They, who rode past numerous hardships, to Risty, though surely they were her retainers, in fact they were undoubtedly true friends. Risty understood Zecks's words were said out of concern for her wellbeing. For that reason,

"...... Sorry. I did not notice that I had made such a face. I'll improve my countenance as much as you like. So, please—let me stay here."

Muttering an apology, she looked up front with a resolute expression.

Risty El Da Sherfied knew it.

What would start from now on at this place, she knew it.

For that reason, overcoming Zecks, Rushie and the grand chamberlain Walkyuria's opposition, Risty stood at this place.

War.

That's right...... Risty felt it once again.

From now on, the war between humans and Demons would start once more.

They couldn't grant the wish Akatsuki entrusted to them.

Apart from the option of war, they couldn't make another choice.

That being the case—at least she had to properly observe the start and the end.

And, at noon, when the sun approached its highest point.

The three kingdoms allied army started the charge in silence.

Their target, the place where many Demons reside—the Wandering Forest.

Still, there was something they must not forget.

In this war there's no Demon king.

In this war there's no hero.

In that case, this war's ending has been decided—

Since then, I have always been thinking.

We—where did we go wrong?

Translator's Notes and References

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