Sekai no Owari no Encore:Volume 1 Record.3

Record.3: The Condition of the Previous Demon-Lord

1

Student’s town, Mstier.

What awaited them once they took a step outside the town was green plain that spread before their vision. The footpath made from pebbles continued straight ahead where it would eventually connect to a large town far away.

At the peaceful path as such,

“……It felt like an instant.”

Ren turned around to look at the path he walked from as the morning sunlight lit over him.

—Looks like I’m going to be away from Holy Fiora Journey Academy for a while.

—I should have at least written a letter to my family back at home. I haven’t even seen my little sister lately.

When he saw the student town as he turned around, it was already so small that it looked like a small dot. He was attached to it since he had been living there for three years. So there was a side of him where he was feeling lonely.

Except, more than that, he was so nervous that his heart started beating faster as he walked.

He felt as if he didn’t have time to feel sad about it due his nervousness.

After all—

“Hmm? What’s wrong?”

The silver hair girl looked up towards him as she licked the candy.

The Dragon-Princess Kyelse. She was the strongest monster in history that the Heaven and the Underworld couldn’t even touch, but not until the Sword Emperor Elline appeared three-hundred years ago. She also happened to be a Princess of the “Heavenly Silver Dragon” which was the oldest Dragon-specie.

Someone like her was holding onto his right hand, and also—

“I’m sure you have some regrets at leaving the Academy. Though that’s how a journey is supposed to be. There is also a new meeting after a parting.”

The one who was walking on the left-hand side of Ren was a tall, beautiful girl with bright blonde hair.

Archangel Phia.

She on the other hand was an Angel, the supreme rulers of Heaven, of the highest status.

Elline Sword Emperor Brigade from three-hundred years ago. Two of the girls that were known as the Three Great Princesses were walking beside Ren while leaning against him.

“Even so, there is nothing to worry about. Right, Ren?”

Phia who was holding tightly onto Ren’s left arm.

“I will teach you all the necessary knowledge. To the extent that I will teach you the lesson at night gently.”

“Well, Phia-senpai......the thing is.”

“Eh? What is it?”

The Archangel replied with a naughty smile.

As she held Ren’s arm, she naturally pressed it between her bosoms which was incredibly developed. It was on purpose. It definitely was.

“……Senpai, I guess this is how you behave in Earth, right?”

“It’s because I’m an Angel. Having a passionate body contact like this is the proof of our affection towards human—”

“You don’t have to listen to what this foolish erotic Angel has to say, Ren. It’s her bad habit where she lures human by seducing them in order to have fun by watching them panicking about it. Even the Goddess is fed up with her.”

The Dragon-Princess gets fed up with the Archangel and glared at her.

“More importantly Phia, let go of him. Ren is getting troubled by it.”

“The one who put her arm around Ren first was me.”

“……And I’m asking both of you to let go of me. I already have a hard time since this luggage is heavy.”

Ren became tired since he had both of his arms being pulled by them.

The enormous luggage Ren was carrying on his back. If you didn’t include the basic travelling gears that were taken from Ren’s room, what occupied most of the luggage was Phia’s clothing and Kyelse’s snacks.

“Putting her clothes aside, do we really need those snacks?”

“Of course. It becomes handy, just like this.”

The silver hair girl who chucked a fraction of chocolate in her mouth. She said it in her usual laid back manner, except, she had a satisfied smile on her face.

“It’s delicious.”

“……What are you, a kid?”

“Isn’t sixteen still considered as a child even for a human?”

“Even if you were sixteen, it’s about time you grew out of snacks……huh, you’re sixteen? That’s of course in Dragon’s age, right?”

If you were to use the average life span as the standard, then the three great species consisted of the Dragons, the Angels, and the Demons were said to have long lifespans in exchange of their low population. Ren thought the same would apply for Kyelse, and hence presumed she had lived long, but—

“I’m sixteen years old in human age. Also, I love snacks. It’s definitely the masterpiece among what the humans have created.”

“But the battle from three-hundred years ago was……”

“She was in a state where she was sealed for three-hundred years right after the battle.”

Phia answered as her blonder hair blew due to the gentle breeze.

“Ever since the last battle, Kyelse had been separated from this world due to the special seal she was in. The isolated space where there wasn’t time, light, and even sound. Though her time had been stopped, she still had her consciousness so she had been finding the chance to break the seal this whole time.”

“That happened about a month ago.”

Kyelse who had finished her chocolate nodded.

“Eh? Then what about your rumours when you fought Elline? How old were you then?”

“I was fourteen. But still, I was already more powerful than all kinds of Dragons ever since I was born. Though I never imagined that I would lose against a human.”

“……So you really are younger than me?”

“Yeah. So it wouldn’t be weird if I take a bite or two of snacks.”

The legendary Dragon-Princess fast walked and took out her second candy.

“Delicious.”

“You seem to be having fun……oh well.”

The silver hair girl put on a satisfied smile.

She simply looked like a lovely girl who was like a fairy when you saw her, but it was also true that Ren witnessed how she defeated a wyvern without even touching it.

“On the other hand, I’m nervous as heck. Hey, look ahead.”

Ren used his chin to point forward to alert Kyelse who was holding onto his left arm.

—The armed parties that were walking through the main road.

There were many groups of parties walking in front of them and also behind them.

If there were small parties consisted of five members, there were also big parties that consisted of more than ten members. The organisation of the parties were very different from each other. There were common types such as the MASTERKnights and the ARIASpellcasters, but even SPIRITSpiriters that were equipped with special spirit armaments and also FULLTYPEFighters that weren’t equipped with even a single armaments.

“See? Everyone looks strong. They really are different from the students at the Academy.”

The atmosphere they carried were different.

Their trained body which was solid like steel, and their eyes that were sharp as a blade. Their appearance and their presence were fitting enough to be called brave warriors. If they weren’t, then they wouldn’t be able to investigate the ruins scattered through the world nor could they fight against the monsters. But—

“……Hmm, is that how it is?”

From the Dragon-Princess’s eyes, even the strong warriors from those parties didn’t catch her interest.

“Phia, are those also considered a party like ours? I think there’s too much members in each of those parties. I’m sure there were fewer members in the parties three-hundred years ago.”

“This is the choice this era chose.”

The Archangel who gave her beautiful smile to the parties that walked past them.

“Within these three-hundred years, the member types that constructs the parties itself went through some changes. MASTERKnight and ARIASpellcaster were the only types back then, but now it’s separated into eight types.”

“Eight types, huh. I know Ren is MASTERKnight, so what are the other seven?”

Kyelse stared at Ren.

Ren pointed towards the parties walking ahead of them to answer the girl’s question.

“MASTERKnight, ARIASpellcaster, SPIRITSpiriter, FULLTYPEFighter, ENCHANTERBarrierer, HEALERCurer, HUNTERPredator, and THIEFSearcher. I guess these are the current eight types. Even back at the academy, the lessons were separated into the type you were majoring in.”

MASTERKnight —They used weapon such as sword and axe. They had high risks since they would need to do perform close-combat at all times as well as making cool judgements and having excellent performance. They were considered as a “master”, the main force during battles.

ARIASpellcaster —They would perform complex rituals so even the humans could use the magic and offensive-spells of the Devils.

SPIRITSpiriter —They used spells which relied on spirit-armaments which possessed the power of spirits.

FULLTYPEFighter —The combatant which specialised in close-combat and would combine the defensive-spells and their active body’s to eliminate the enemies simply with their body and fighting techniques. In exchange of having the strength to not rely on weapons and armours, they would need great amount of talent and training hence why they were called the “full type”.

ENCHANTERBarrierer — They use spell specialised by the Angels such as concealing, sealing, interception, and divine protection.

HEALERCurer — Other than spells that would alter the body activity and regeneration, they were type that was sought to have knowledge about pharmaceutics and medicine.

HUNTERPredator — The combatant that would use their knowledge about harmful animals to hunt. They specialise in shooting from long-range in order to support the party from the rear during battles.

THIEFSearcher — The brain of the party and in terms of field, they were more of an archaeologist.

“And there are also ranks where it’s structured in a way where your ranks would increase.”

“Ranks?”

“The eight types and their titles respectively. If you were a MASTERKnight like myself for example, then you would start from the III-Grade MASTERKnight, then the II-Grade MASTERKnight, then the I-Grade MASTERKnight, then the Official MASTERKnight, then the Honourable MASTERKnight, then the Sword King, and then the highest rank……the Sword Saint, I think.”

By the way, Elline’s title of the “Sword Emperor” was the name he had before people started calling him the Brave Hero.

Sword Saint would be the highest rank of the MASTERKnight and it was a title which was rarely given. It was required for you to pass the tests in several cities around the world.

“Basically each and one of the classes were said to be necessary in a party. Since there are eight types, the majority of the parties are made up of eight members.”

“Hmm? Then what about those group of five walking over there?”

“I guess they are looking for members they lack in. There are also gifted people who can take the roles of two types alone.”

Phia would be the easiest example of such people around Ren. Even though she was majoring in HEALERCurer, she overwhelmed the male MASTERKnight students with her swordsmanship and also made the students jaws dropped with her spells.

“Though it feels like Phia-senpai can take the roles of three types by herself.”

“Yes. I sure can take most of those roles—”

She finally let go of Ren’s arm. She became silent for a moment while she looked up to the sky.

“If you ask me what I expertise in, then it would be FULLTYPEFighter. HEALERCurer would come next.”

“FULLTYPEFighter!? Phia-senpai is!?”

“I’m good in martial arts despite my appearance. I could have majored in FULLTYPEFighter degree back at the Academy, but a tragedy may have occurred if I couldn’t hold back my power properly against the students for the mock-battle. Well, I have the confidence to heal and regenerate them if they receive damages to a certain degree, but I guess I need to restrain myself.”

The Archangel spoke a scary thing with a smile.

“Phia-senpai, you are a FULLTYPEFighter? ……But I can’t imagine you hitting anyone.”

“Ren, don’t let her appearance fool you. This violent woman is the biggest battle maniac in the Heaven who can even make the Goddess Lesfrese become silent with a single punch if she became serious.”

Kyelse said it in a manner as if she told the truth.

“Isn’t that right?”

“Oh my, that isn’t true at all. There’s no way I can do that to the Goddess.”

The blonde Angel on the other hand shook her head while putting on a smile.

“By the way Ren, your rank right now is a III-Grade MASTERKnight, correct?”

“……Me? Do I have to say it? In a place like this?”

“Yeah, I sure am curious about it. We certainly need to know the current strength of this party.”

Kyelse looked up towards Ren with her emerald-green eyes filled with her keenness to hear his answer.

“Since you are a III-Grade MASTERKnight, does that make you roughly a Honourable MASTERKnight? Or is it a rank above the Sword King?”

“No way. I mentioned it before but it’s the lowest rank. The only thing above the Sword King is a Sword Saint, and there are only few people in this world with that rank.”

“I see. Well, I will be the one training you, Ren. How about your first aim is to become a Sword Saint?”

“……It’s too early to have that goal. Besides, I reckon we need more members for our party if we are going to find the Encore. Though it would be weird for me to say that. Take a look at them.”

The parties that walked passed them.

For example, if the parties walking ahead of them walked past each other, you would observe how they would stop and place their hand on their chest to salute each other.

“That’s the traditional custom done between the parties. It’s a form of greetings which has the meaning for the good battle and safety for each other.”

“Exactly. Though we hadn’t received such greetings even once yet.”

They only saw them as civilian.

After all, their party was made up of one boy and two girls. Ren had a sword, but both Kyelse and Phia weren’t equipped with even a single armament. Obviously the Dragon-Princess Kyelse and Archangel Phia didn’t need any armaments. But from the perspective of a third party who didn’t know their identity, there was no way that they would realise that they were a party since they weren’t armed. There was no mistake that they were seen as a three strange fellows that were travelling.

“It’s decided that a party requires at least four members, so first of all we need to find the fourth member before anything else—”

“Then please be rest assured. I do have a person in mind who would become our fourth comrade. The triumphal town Enge. It’s planned for us to meet her there. She’s an expert who can use all types of spells.”

Phia answered with a smile as if she was waiting for to be asked about it.

“The spell expert? Don’t tell me it’s a famous person again?”

“If you ask me whether she is famous or not, then she sure is. Ren, you would reach the answer if you think a bit. Isn’t there another person we are currently lacking in for this party?”

Ren looked up the sky for a while after hearing the answer the Archangel gave with a teasing voice.

“It can’t be!?”

He certainly had someone in mind. Other than Kyelse and Phia who was the part of the legendary Elline Sword Emperor Brigade, there was one more “Princess” remaining.

“It sure can be.”

Kyelse who had finished her candy nodded with a satisfied tone.

“The previous Demon-Lord Elise. The woman who was the master of the Underworld in the past.”

2

Gust of the night wind.

The whirlwind that stroke Ren’s neck was so cold that Ren couldn’t resist the urge to shiver his body. If he breathed out, the air breathed out turned white.

“It’s freezing! It sure is cold if you leave the window open. This place is open to the weather after all.”

The wooden cottage.

It was one of the many base camps built on the roads between city to city, and town to town. Obviously the travellers and the parties, but even the tourists who would head to the cities for sightseeing used this accommodation.

……I wonder how many years it has been since I stayed in a cottage.

……I guess the last time I did was three years ago when I went to Holy Fiora Journey Academy to take the test.

They would be heading to triumphal town Enge tomorrow.

It was the city which was the closest to the student town. And the Demon-Lord Elise would be waiting for them there.

“More importantly, I wonder how the previous Demon-Lord would look like. This is the Demon-Lord we are talking about, so maybe she has horns growing out from her head as well as having fangs and claws while her massive body would reach the height of ten metres—”

“It will cause a stir if a monster like that was roaming in the city of the humans.”

The sound of the lock of the door being destroyed echoed throughout the surrounding.

The one who showed her face from the open door with a poker face was Kyelse.

“…..I beg you to knock on the door normally. We would end up paying up for the broken lock if we get caught.”

“Hmm? It was locked?”

Apparently the Dragon-Princess didn’t even notice that she broke the lock.

“Putting that aside, it’s time for your training. We are going outside once you leave your luggage here.”

“……Eh?”

“I told you before, haven’t I? About teaching you Elline’s sword techniques. We need to build your fundamental basics first. Move your butt by grabbing your sword this instant and follow me.”

After Kyelse said that, she headed out to the passage without waiting for Ren’s reply.

The breezing cold wind.

It was so cold that it felt like you had chilling water splashed above your head which took away your warmth from simply coming outside.

“It’s a good wind. It makes　you become motivated.”

“It’s too cold, isn’t it!? It’s so cold that I’m about to lose consciousness rather than falling sick!”

“I have my scarf.”

“And I don’t!”

“—Let’s end the joke here and start the training. Ren, hand me your sword.”

As soon as Kyelse took the sword along with its sheath from him, she drew the sword out from its sheath as if she was used to it.

How it was drawn out beautifully.

Ren honestly became entranced at how skilfully Kyelse was handling the sword that was drawn from its sheath with ease by using just one hand.

“……You’re amazing. So you can use a human’s sword even though you are a Dragon?”

“It isn’t anything hard if you can control your body. —Like this, for example.”

The sword flashed.

That instant, her right hand moved while leaving her afterimage.

By the time Ren noticed it, the tip of the sword she was holding onto pierced through the centre point of the three leaves that were floating in the air due to the wind.

“W-What was that……!?”

“I pierced it when the three leaves overlapped each other in the air. I also would like to add that I pierced it while aiming to hit the veins of the leaves.”

“The veins!? You aimed for such tiny parts!?”

Kyelse handed the sword back to Ren, so he took of the leaves that were on the tip of the sword.

The leaf veins could be considered as the blood vessels of the humans. The plant types could be separated into parallel-veined and reticulated-vein. But the main concern was that they were thin as a human’s hair.

—She completely caught the trail of the leaves floating under this stormy weather.

—She pierced all three leaves at once at the moment they overlapped each other.

—And she wasn’t aiming for the leaves itself but their veins.

The Dragon-Princess pulled this stunt off while she was talking to Ren.

She wasn’t exactly concentrated in doing it nor did she wield her sword with everything she had. Yet she demonstrated such absolute technique. It was questionable whether an experienced swordsman who had been training for dozen of years could pull this off.

“Alright, do you know what to do now?”

“I wouldn’t have a hard time if I knew how to do that with what you just showed me! Can you at least tell me a trick or something I should pay attention to!?”

“There’s nothing like a trick. Weren’t you doing the same thing as me?”

“What do you mean?”

“That night when it was raining. It was during that time when you were wielding the sword by yourself. You weren’t just randomly wielding your sword. You were aiming for the falling raindrops.”

“……You even saw that?”

“It’s because you reminded me of Elline. Putting your strength aside, that is.”

The silver hair girl made a fearless smile.

“There’s nothing wrong with your training and your hard work. You weren’t blessed with an ideal physical structure and you are not the kind of person who would take down the enemies with a huge sword. You are more of a technician who would find your opponent's weaknesses and hit them with a single strike using their weakness.”

“Seize the drop of water and a fraction of fire, and strike it down with a single slash instantly.”

“It feels like you are asking me to pull off an ultimate technique from the start……”

“This is the basic among basics. Elline’s swordsmanship lies even further past that league.”

“—Fine.”

Ren nodded his head with a bitter smile to Kyelse’s words as if she said something obvious to him.

“I’ll start doing it then. I’ll work hard till I can do the same thing as you just did.”

“Two will be fine.”

Kyelse crossed her arm and lifted up two of her fingers.

“Come back to me while bringing that sword where it had pierced two leaves. I won’t tell you to aim for the leaf veins either.”

“......Two leaves? That’s it?”

He couldn’t resist to ask her. He thought he would be told to pierce three leaves just like Kyelse did. He was also prepared to be told to continue till he could pierce four leaves.

“For today, that is. I’ll return to my room, so come back once you accomplish it.”

“Okay.”

He nodded to the girl who turned around. Ren then moved his gaze to the leaves floating in the air.

==========

Inside the cottage.

“Seriously, Kyelse, you are sneaky.”

When Kyelse returned to her room, a blonde girl who was wearing negligee and was half-naked was in there. She was sitting on the bed as if it was her room.

“Sneaky?”

“The training with Ren. You taught him so attentively. I also wanted to blend it.”

The Archangel bent her body seductively.

Her negligee which had her chest part open even showed her cleavage which was faintly red. Along with Phia’s natural bewitching smile, her charming figure would knock out cold boys of certain ages immediately.

“I don’t recall teaching attentively.”

“I mean that it looked like you were enjoying yourself.”

Phia smiled as she placed her hand on her lips.

“You were so focused in teaching him that you didn’t realise I was standing at the entrance of the cottage.”

“……You were watching?”

“I feel a bit relieved. It seems like you are cheerful again. It was the same three-hundred years ago, but having a journey in a large group sure is fun. Ren is an honest boy so it’s worth training him and its fun having him around, right?”

“I was cheerful from the start.”

She removed the scarf around her neck and hanged it on the coat hanger located beside the door.

—A small quantity of her sweat on her hand.

—Without realising it, there was some heat on Kyelse’s hand.

Her body that had become hot. But Kyelse felt embarrassed to admit Phia’s words so she looked away.

“Geez, you really aren’t honest with yourself……even though the temperature of your body increased.”

“S-Shut up! Don’t touch me! Don’t press that uselessly huge breasts against me!”

She brushed away the Archangel who hugged her from behind.

This was Phia’s preference rather than an Angel’s. She couldn’t help but use her body to interact with those she had a liking to which was her habit. What was a nuisance was that she had a power to read what was going through the minds of those she was touching.

“Hmm, I understand. So that’s how you feel right now.”

“……What did you understand, foolish erotic Angel.”

“Hey, Kyelse, do you think Ren would also become stronger for our sake as well?”

“What do you mean?”

“Both you and I don’t have a power which is even near of that from three-hundred years ago, correct? My old wounds hadn’t healed and the Dragon Factor which is the source of your power hadn’t awakened ever since you woke up from your seal. Certainly we can deal with majority of the opponents, but the situation right now is that we only have half the power we had back then.”

They were in a level where there wasn’t pretty much any enemy in this world that would be a threat to them even in their current condition. But it didn’t mean there was zero enemy who would be a threat. What could be listed among them were the highest-level monsters and also—

“Did you hear about the “Five Great Disasters”?”

“Just the rumours I heard at the Dragon’s valley. I heard till the part where they rebelled against the current Demon-Lord.”

“Yes. For the worst scenario, we should anticipate a decisive battle against them. I thought that the reason why you were working hard in training Ren had to do with it.”

“You think too far ahead.”

Kyelse shook her head reluctantly.

“I simply taught Ren what I remember about Elline’s training. That’s simply it.”

“I see. Then Ren might be facing a bit of difficulties then.”

Phia looked out the window. You couldn’t see Ren from this part of the room, but for an Archangel like herself, she was able to “see” him.

The appearance of a boy who was breathing heavily while he was shedding sweats due to the weariness.

“The task you assigned him to. That’s actually harder than it seems—”

==========

“……This is ridiculously hard.”

Ren’s shoulder moved violently.

Ren wiped his sweats that were falling like a waterfall from the tip of his chin with the back side of his hand.

“What the heck……”

The leaves were floating in the air due to the sudden gusts that were blowing at him. Ren stopped his eyes from closing and he even stopped breathing so he could concentrate on the movements of the leaves. He caught the sight of the trails of the leaves that were floating in the air in random directions, and then—

“Ha!”

Along with his loud voice filled with his spirit, Ren thrust his sword forward.

A single flash. The tip of his sword grazed the leaf by its edge.

……That was it.

He barely grazed the leaf by its edge. There was a saying which goes “To dance like a butterfly”, and this was indeed such thing. He couldn’t pierce the leaf by its core and the most he could do was to graze it by its side.

The leaves flickered and danced in the air due to the wind.

The same applied when the sword was thrust forward, the leaves also shook when it received the small amount of air current created by the sword. Just how hard it was to aim for the leaves.

……No, that isn’t it. The real problem isn’t that.

Once every two tries, the tip of the sword touched the leaves. If you repeated this procedure, there would be a chance that it would hit its core even if it was by luck. But the real issue here was—

“This again!?”

The leaves that received a direct hit from the sword get cut in half then dropped on the ground.

Yes. Even if the sword hits the core, the leaves get sliced in half without the sword being able to pierce through it.

—I wouldn’t be able to touch the leaves up in the air if I don’t thrust it with all my strength.

—But if I thrust it without holding back, the leaves get sliced into pieces if it hits.

“Oh……I get it now!”

The Dragon-Princess did it with ease, but Ren finally realised just how skilled she was and the whole aspect of it.

“Seize the drop of water and a fraction of fire, and strike it down with a single slash instantly.”

Ren slashed with his sword. He thrust with it. He swung it. The air current created by each of his forms were different, and the strength of the air current would change depending on the force applied to it. You wouldn’t be able to grasp the core of the leaves unless you fully understood that.

Right after that.

Exactly at the time when his sword was about to touch the leaf, he weakened his strength.

To master the sword without using your full strength, but with your minimum strength.

“……And she’s asking me to get two of them at once. Isn’t she asking a bit too much from me?”

Ren wiped the sweat that was on his sword’s handle. Ren then smiled.

“Do you want to come with me?”

—I was simply happy.

Kyelse’s words when she said she would train me. I didn’t know what she meant at first. I simply thought she was giving me an advice where she was telling me to simply work hard and do my best.

But she’s training me with so much passion. She even demonstrated for me.

……More importantly.

……She even invited me to the party when she knew I was different to the Brave Hero.

I want to live up to her expectations.

I can journey to the world and she acknowledges me as her fellow comrade. Being able to achieve the dream I had since I was a child is making my heart beat faster and is giving me such passion.

“It would be a waste if I just give up here!”

Ren put strength into his hand which was icy cold due to being exposed to the cold wind in order to make a stance with his sword.

“I have to do it, even if I can only get one of them!”

The tip of the sword which was giving sparks succeeds in piercing through two leaves.

The core of the leaves. To be precise, it didn’t get sliced in half nor did it get shredded into pieces. Both of the leaves had been beautifully pierced through by the tip of the sword.

“........................Huh?”

The one who couldn’t believe his eyes was Ren himself.

“I……did it? It felt like I did it by chance.”

He stood there while holding onto the sword. And then.

“Yeah! Awesome, even I can do it if I try!”

He sprinted towards the cottage and headed towards her room directly.

“Kyelse! Hey, check this out! I did it, I really did it!”

“!? W-Wait, Ren! You can’t enter right now—”

The door was opened violently. And the one inside was.

“……You’ve got some nerve. Peeping on my body, are you?”

A beautiful girl who wore nothing.

She had stripped off her lovely travelling clothes. Kyelse was holding onto her negligee which had cute looking frills on them. She looked towards Ren with a red face that was due to the mix of her fury and her embarrassment.

“Ah, no, it’s not what you think……I didn’t do it……on purpose……”

Even though he said that, he found himself fascinated with her body.

She simply looked purely lovely.

Her body that had curves fitting for girls her age and her white skin which was as white as porcelain. Kyelse had an appearance which was charming enough as a human and made Ren forget she was a Dragon. Especially her body since you wouldn’t have realised she had a mature body which you couldn’t tell from over her travelling clothes—

“Let me ask you just in case. Is there anything you want to say?”

“……Well……umm, I think you’re cute.”

“Fly.”

Kyelse said with her power of language with a red face. By the time Ren who had himself blown away to the wall of the pathway regained his consciousness, Kyelse had already changed into her negligee.

“Anyway, let me applaud you for accomplishing the task. To be honest, I thought it would take you at least a week.”

Inside Ren’s room.

The one who was sitting on the bed as if it belonged to her was Kyelse. Ren on the other hand was sitting on the carpet even though he was totally exhausted.

“At this rate you would be able to pierce three leaves tomorrow and four leaves the day after tomorrow. And next—”

“Next, what?”

“Try to do it while shutting your eyes close.”

“That’s a really hard hurdle!”

“Elline’s sword-techniques lay beyond that. Anyway, I acknowledge your hard work. You should rest for today.”

She said it while sitting on the bed.

……Even though she’s telling me to rest.

Kyelse who had said that was still occupying the bed. Ren wouldn’t be able to sleep even if he wanted to since she was still here. But it was also hard for him to tell her to move.

“Aren’t you going to sleep, Kyelse?”

“I’m sleeping together with you.”

He couldn’t comprehend her words.

Ren looked up for a while and then opened his jaws wide.

“……Pardon me?”

“I said I’m going to sleep on the same bed as you.”

Kyelse laid on the bed and put the blanket over her head without making a shy face.

“You should also come inside right away.”

“Umm……sorry. I don’t understand what’s happening right now.”

I’m a human. Kyelse is a Dragon on the other hand.

Apparently it’s a morphing which was a mix of high-level spells and space distortion to change her physical appearance into that of a human girl. So I can’t help but think there would be a problem sleeping with her.

“Can you tell me your reasons just in case? Wasn’t there also a bed in your room as well?”

“It’s part of my trait. It makes me feel calm this way.”

Kyelse wiped her sleepy eyes while wrapping herself with the blanket.

“Many of my kin were present at the Valley of my hometown. I often slept in a herd as well. I would be able to sleep easier if I sleep in a group with those I trust.”

“……The Dragon’s trait.”

Even though he was half astonished by this, he wanted to keep it as a secret that he was happy when she naturally said someone she can “trust.”

“By the way, what did you do three-hundred years ago?”

“Elline declined. He had been practising his sword even at night.”

“……The Sword Emperor did?”

“Unexpected? There isn’t a human which is strong from the start was that man’s words. Leaving aside his crazy guts and stubbornness, his strength as a swordsman wasn’t something he was born with. The reason why he was called the Sword Emperor was merely a title he obtained by working harder than anyone.”

Maybe Kyelse found Ren’s shocked reaction amusing, so Kyelse softened her expression.

“I’m sure that was the first time I heard that……”

The legend of the Sword Emperor that Ren knows of was that he was born as a genius. Unlike himself who had poor talent, Ren assumed he was born to this world with the talent he was given.

“I want to hear more about that story.”

“I will, but I’ll end it here for today. Hey, let’s go to sleep quickly. We are waking up early tomorrow.”

“H-Hey!?”

He had himself hugged by Kyelse who got up from the bed and then had himself thrown onto the bed. Kyelse was already inside the blanket by the time he found out she put the blanket above his head.

“H-Hey, can’t Phia-senpai be the one who sleeps with you!?”

“She’s no good. She’s annoying since she tries to hug you whenever she finds the chance.”

The Dragon-Princess came close to him where they could feel each other’s warmth inside the small bed.

“Yeah, I sure do feel calm.”

“……No, I’m—”

“What is it?”

“……It’s nothing.”

The silver hair girl looked towards him.

Her peaceful smile was so gentle that he couldn’t say more.

The tyrant who had been feared as the strongest monster on Earth and who had been refused by the Heaven, the Underworld, and also her fellow Dragons till Elline showed up. But the girl who was sleeping with her eyes closed right beside him was simply a lonely girl who was completely different from the rumours he had heard. In fact she was—

Maybe the one who was in front of him was the true Kyelse. That was what Ren thought.

“But my main problem is……”

He rarely saw the faces of the opposite sex of his age while they were sleeping. And she was sleeping with him where she was so close to him that he could feel her breath. There was no way he couldn’t be bothered by it.

“……There’s no way I can sleep like this.”

Even though Ren knew he was turning red, Ren simply kept repeating those words for the whole night.

Then the next morning.

“? Ren, didn’t you have enough sleep? Your eyes are red.”

“Whose fault do you think it is?”

Ren replied tirelessly to Kyelse who had woken up from her deep sleep.

3

The triumphal town Enge.

It was a town located closest to the student town Mstier and it was surrounded by a giant walls to prevent the invasion of the monsters.

“I believe it was the town Elline returned to after he finished his journey to both the Heaven and the Underworld.”

The Heaven and the Underworld.

The town Elline e returned to after he supressed the two forces that were at each other’s throat and also stopped the battles between the two forces.

For that reason, this town still had strong connections to Elline even till this day.

“Hey, Kyelse, let’s get going! You too, Phia-senpai!”

“Calm down. There’s no point getting hyped over it.”

“……Geez, Ren. You are acting like a child.”

Kyelse who was partially astonished at him and Phia who was putting on a bitter smile.

“It won’t leave my head at all. Even I want to have a look at the real thing once!”

Ren walked through the road that were crowded with people walking by as he left the two of them behind.

Compared to Mistier, this town was the largest within the nearby towns so the number of people as well as the number of buildings were significant.

The public roads that were connected to the main road had booths on both sides. The people that walked by also includes those who were walking with their families to even merchants, tourists, and even armed travellers that appeared to be a party.

Ren ran past the front of the chapel which was so large that he had to look up——

“There it is!”

Ren couldn’t help but gasp at what he saw within his site.

The Sword-Emperor’s sword.

The memorial area which was built as a plaza.

As the water fountain was set behind it, there was a single sword impaled into a stone where it was heavily guarded.

——The Spirit-Sword Vierge.

Even though the handle of sword lost its colour and looked old, only the blade of the sword still had a transparent shine like that of a clear water surface to it.

The most valuable treasure of the triumphal town of Enge. No, it wouldn’t be far-fetched to be called the most valuable treasure for all of the swordsman within the world. It is one of Elline’s sword which is one of his legacy scattered throughout the world.

“H-Hey. Is it really true that Elline was using that? I think it was called the Spirit-Sword Vierge.”

“It’s indeed the truth.”

The highest part of the step-cased plaza.

Kyelse nodded as she looked down the memorial area filled with hundreds of tourists.

“That sword itself as a Spirit-armament which is possessed with strong power of a Spirit. That’s the sword which was used to take down the Archangel who was acting tough at Heaven and the Demon-Lord who was acting like a boss at the Underworld.”

“……The sword Elline used when he fought the Archangel and the Demon-Lord huh.”

Ren gulped as he stared at its blade which was giving out a beautiful glow.

“Even so, that was the sword Elline used when he was still a novice.”

“When he was a novice!?”

Ren couldn’t help but ask Kyelse again with a loud voice at the unexpected answer he heard from her.

“Just now you said that he used that sword to defeat the Archangel and the Demon-Lord.”

“It was during the time when he was an unrecognised swordsman and the only appropriate equipment he had back then was that sword. I think it was during the time when he entered the second year of his journey, was it? Apparently it was a sword he found in a ruin by luck.”

“Well, putting the sword aside, the main concern is how he picked a fight against a Demon-Lord and an Archangel when he was a novice swordsman. And how on earth did he manage to win against them?”

“Hmm? Well, that is—”

The Dragon-Princess put on a meaningful smirk.

“Ask the great Archangel over there. Three-hundred years ago, she was trying to teach a lesson to a cocky swordsman only to get her butt kicked and she happens to be standing right there.”

“Eh? Don’t tell me that was Phia-senpai—”

Ren who was about to ask restrained from saying any further than that. Which remind me, she had been awfully quiet since we arrived here.

“Ah……now that you mention it, it certainly did happen…………fu, fufu…………”

The blonde Angel who smiled.

However, her expression was forced and even Ren could clearly tell that her crunched fist was shaking.

“The urge in my fist won’t stop when I remember about it.”

“……Ah, I s-see. So you are saying that you still hold a grudge about your defeat itself?”

“No. Let me be clear that I don’t hold a grudge.”

The Archangel

“Except, I just remembered about how my fame as being the strongest in Heaven was tainted.”

“……I-It was?”

“That accursed sword, I shall make sure I break it this time.”

“You have a dreadful grudge against it after all!? H-Hold on Phia-senpai!”

Ren tried to desperately stop the blonde girl who had walked ahead with a crunched fist.

“T-The thing is. You remember about the former Demon-Lord……”

“Oh yes. We were meeting up with Elise.”

Phia returned to herself.

“Then let’s get going, Ren. This place is dreadful.”

“Rather than being dreadful, isn’t it simply you who hates that sword——ah, h-hold on!”

He had his hand pulled by Phia without any warning.

They walked past the main road which was filled with lively people. They turned right at the crossroad and entered the back-alley. Unlike the main road which was filled with lively people, this back-alley was mysteriously quiet.

“Phia-senpai, is this really the place?”

“There’s a store which is known very well to small portion of people. It had been a place where the parties would gather to have a private conversation since ancient time and it could be considered as a store used by parties. Wouldn’t that be convenient for us as well?”

Ren simply followed the Archangel who was walked ahead as she led them.

After they turned into the back-alley which had split into complicated paths—

“!? W-Was there a fight? ……Hey, are you okay!?”

The words that came out of his throat was loud.

After they turned into one of the path, there were sturdy men that belonged to a party all battered to the floor.

There were five of them in total. Each one of them were large men that were a head taller than Ren and they all had trained body. Even the armaments they wore were first-class products that were engraved with powerful resistance against spells.

……Are these burn marks? And is this a frostbites?

……None of them came from swords nor sharp weapons.

Spell that was so powerful that it could break the resistance of these battle clothes which would nullify average spells.

“Hey, are you okay!? Looks like they are. Phia-senpai, can you heal these guys—”

“It would be fine even if you leave them alone, Onii-chan.”

It wasn’t neither Phia nor Kyelse who was at the back who said that.

The one who said that was—

“These guys made fun of me because I’m just a kid. It seemed like they didn’t know who they were picking a fight with, so I guess you can call this as a punishment? Oh well, you don’t need to worry about them since they would treat their wounds or even head to the hospital once they wake up.”

A tan girl.

She had twin-tails which could appear as black or even brown depending on the sunlight. Her eyes that was filled with curiosity.

She seemed like she had reached the age of ten or not.

“Ren was your name, right? I certainly did hear about you, but you really do resemble Elline, don’t you?”

“……Eh?”

“Why do I know you? Obviously because I was waiting for you, Ren. Oh, yeah, and also those two behind you as well. I spoke to Phia sometime ago but it had been a long time since I met with Kyelse. Is it exactly three-hundred years? How were you doing?”

The young girl waved her hand easygoingly towards the Archangel and the Dragon-Princess.

“More rather, haven’t you fully been sealed yet, Kyelse? Hasn’t your power decreased rapidly?”

“Likewise to you. I never expected that you would have to start from that appearance by reincarnating yourself.”

Kyelse answered grumpily as she crossed her arm.

Ren touches Kyelse by her elbow and asked with a low voice.

“Hey? This is my guess but is this small girl perhaps her……?”

“She indeed is. She was finally able to succeed in reincarnating ten years ago. Her physical body as well as her spells were even before that of her prime. I guess you’re exactly in the state when you were ten?”

“Pretty much. Though being in this appearance is also fun. Humans that doesn’t even know who I am acts kinds at me when I fawn on them. Even though they ran away soon as they saw me during my time as a Demon-Lord.”

The tan small girl started to chuckle.

While there was “something” that lured behind her innocent eyes that even made you shiver—

“Then you must be……”

“Yup. The previous Demon-Lord Elise. Let’s get along, Ren.”

The previous Demon-Lord pointed at cafeteria right behind her.

“Anyway, let’s get inside the caféterras and talk. I’ve become thirsty.”

Caféterras “Albireo”.

Behind the door with such sign was filled with lively people which wouldn’t even hinder against those at the main road.

“Wow. I’ll be darned……so all of these guys are members of parties’ right?”

The interior of the caféterras was so large that you couldn’t tell from the outside.

The counters had twelve seats and there were roughly the same number of tables meant for four people. So in total there was a seat for exactly hundred people. And that much amount of spaces were taken by the parties. There were those they were having a discussion while standing up. So you couldn’t tell exactly how many people were here.

“There! Over here, Ren. That’s the last table so be quick!”

Elise waved her hand at them after she secured the table next to the wall.

She was clearly the only young girl here where it was a gathering of experienced parties. But the girl herself didn’t care about how she was standing out.

“Looks like there was one empty table. Excellent. This place is usually filled.”

“It seems like they have variety of alcohols, but do they have any juices here?”

Kyelse sat right next to Ren.

Elise and Phia sat opposite them.

“…………”

“What’s wrong? Ren, the menu-list is over here.”

“Ah……yeah. I know, but—”

Ren replied vaguely.

The strongest Dragon-Princess on Earth was sitting next to him while the Archangel from the Heaven and the previous Demon-Lord who was the former master of the Underworld sat opposite him in a friendly manner. They were all present on the single table.

“……I feel left out.”

“You don’t need to be so concerned. Anyway, let’s decided on the drinks.”

Elise said that as she held the menu-list in her hand.

“Ah, waitress, over here! I’ll have hot milk. What will you three drink?”

“I’ll have an apple juice.”

“Then I’ll have club soda. This one which isn’t sweet. What will you have, Phia-senpai?”

“Then I’ll have a champagne.”

“Hey, Senpai!? A minor shouldn’t drink alcohol. Senpai, you’re still eighteen—”

“Rather than being a minor, Angels lives so long that you can’t compare them to humans.”

Kyelse’s calm judgement.

“……Oh, yeah.”

Because he had been with her so long at the academy, Ren couldn’t help but make judgment while thinking that Phia was his senior at the academy. The age of her being eighteen years old was simply the age she used when she was acting as a human.

“Hmm, so I’m seventeen years old and Kyelse is sixteen years old. Elise is—”

“I’ve just reincarnated so I’m exactly ten years old. That’s why I ordered hot milk. See? It’s suitable for my age, isn’t it? Kyelse also ordered a juice as well.”

Elise took the hot milk with both her hand that had been brought to them.

If she puts it that way, then they certainly ordered drinks suitable for their age which was agreeable since Ren ordered a club soda and Kyelse ordered an apple juice as they were minors.

“I see. Then Phia-senpai is the only one who in human years is—”

“I’m eighteen years old.”

The blonde Archangel answered with a smile.

“Just your appearance. Haven’t you been living the longest right after the Goddess of Heaven? Then that means, let me calculate—. Oh, then you are exactly…………ouch!? It hurts, Phia! That was my fault so stop pinching my buttocks from below the table!”

“It’s a taboo to talk about ages to a girl. Isn’t it right, Ren?”

“Y-Yeah……”

The blonde Angel takes the champagne glass elegantly.

Ren couldn’t help but shake his head hard due to the pressure he received from her dangerous smile.

“Then cheers! Ren, let’s get along as well, okay?”

Elise rank the hot milk deliciously while she carried the cup using both her hand. She looked too young to be a previous Demon-Lord and it was a something adorable to see.

“Ms Waitress, I’ll have this white wine next. Please bring me a bottle.”

“Hey, you drink so fast Phia-senpai! …….Are you a heavy drinker?”

“The species known as Angels loved alcohols from the beginning. Though I endured it when I was at the academy.”

The Archangel didn’t change her expression even if she drank a glass of alcohol with one go.

“Now then, Elise, it’s the matter I have discussed with you for some time now.”

“The talk about finding the Encore together, right? I was obviously interested in it since I reincarnated myself ten years ago. It’s basically the last message that Elline left behind.”

(incomplete)

5

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