The Reunion With Twelve Fascinating Goddesses:Volume 1

Novel Illustrations

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  Front cover

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Prologue

——And thus, with the death of the source of evil the [Demon king], the unprecedented danger that attacked Reneous continent had reached its end.

Demon king Hadar.

One of the high ranking Spirits of the [Deities] of whom there existed only 21 in this world.

With unparalleled and great power, Hadar conducted atrocities in every part of the world. An organized giant army with innumerable evil Spirits under his command would trample every town it attacked with the objective to control everything in the world by force and fear.

Countries that had felt the threat of the [Demon King] formed an alliance; they used their own armies, Spirit knights to face the [Demon king Suppression] but even so………… the war one-sidedly kept getting worse for them.

Even the joint efforts of the human race were still not enough and it was only a matter of time before the defeat of human race— and it was at that time, that the devil king was killed.

By the hands of one man.

The man’s name was Tooi Cross.

That person controlled 12 beautiful deities and defeated the [Demon king].

As the hero that saved the world, the name Tooi Cross spread throughout the Reneous continent. Together with the name of the 12 beautiful deities — [Nebulosa 12 Goddesses] — he contracted, his success turned into a great legend and excited the people.

Tooi Cross was called [Tyrant Slayer] thanks to his deed but no matter how far that name was circulated around the world, his birth and past were still a mystery.

The grand country placed in the middle of Reneous continent — Arludea Empire. Other than the fact that he was hired by that country to fight; there was no other information at all.

But that’s only normal.

That’s because he was not a human from this world.

Tooi Cross’s real identity is a high school boy Kurosu Tooi who was summoned from a country called [Japan] from a planet called [Earth].

“—I hereby revoke our [Contract].”

That voice felt somewhat lonely but was filled with an unwavering determination.

This happened right after he destroyed the demon king and saved the world.

Having stepped outside the demon castle, of which only the debris was left, Tooi Cross said his farewells to his comrades, the [12 Goddesses(Nebulosa)] who fought with him.

Because of the violent fight with the demon king Hadar, everyone was covered in wounds but Tooi was running out of time.

“This is painful but this is where we part. Thank you all for everything. I wouldn’t have been able to do anything without you.”

His words sounded lonely but his eyes were not showing any signs of hesitation.

“I am going back to my world. All of you live in your world freely. Also, please tell Laila [Thanks for all the help] if you meet her.”

After that, Tooi said his farewells to each and every one of them.

He left his last farewells to his 12 contracted deities lined up there.

His feelings to each respective deity were hard to describe but Tooi chose his words sincerely and seriously before telling them his appreciation and farewell.

Their responses were diverse.

If there was someone crying, there was also someone emotionless. If there was someone shouting angrily, there was someone sleeping as well.

“……….Tooi. You’re really going, huh.”

Right when he finished saying his farewells to everyone, a goddess with green eyes and beautiful silver hair whispered with a voice that sounded like if she was close to crying.

Those words and emotions she held back became unbearable for her and she spilled them out.

“Do you really have to go……?”

“Yeah. With the ether gathered from the continent and monopolized by Hadar until now being in this castle, this is the only chance for a path to my world to open.”

“……….You don’t have to go back”

With a voice mixed with grief and sorrow, Tooi’s eyes shook.

“Ryuura……..”

“It’s alright to stay forever in this world. You are the hero that saved the world from this predicament, you know? If you go back to the empire, you will be promised huge rewards and absolute status. You could stay here without any problems at all………….”

“……………..”

“I……….served you, because it was you. I fought because it was you………! I want to walk more alongside you in this world…….so—“

“—Sorry.”

Tooi said that.

“There’s a personwoman waiting for me. I have to go.”

And with that the contracts with the goddesses were revoked.

12 of the deities scattered to their own lands as the hero they served disappeared from this world.

However.

After the passage of many years, Tooi Cross was called back to the other world once again.

That’s because——

Chapter 1: Return of the Hero

Part 1

*Chachink*.

A small fire created from a metallic silver body.

The waving red fire was directed towards the bundle of incense.

“Actually, I wanted to buy the brand Abuela grandma likes but shopkeepers has recently gotten more rigorous about age restriction. It looks like they won’t sell cigarettes to someone underage.”

(So please, put up with the incense stick).

After saying that, the young man, Kurosu Tooi, closed the Zippo’s lid and put out the fire. He then took the bundle of incense and arranged it in front of the gravestone which had his grandmother’s name carved on it.

It may be common overseas but this public cemetery had slates lined up in a row, which is a little rare in Japan.

Tooi was present at that corner.

His grandmother was sleeping under the grave in front of him.

To Tooi, who was discarded by both of his parents, she’s someone he owes a great debt for raising him for over 10 years and teaching him everything about this world.

Tooi slightly narrowed his eyes while looking at the smoke rising from the incense.

“...Grandma didn’t smoke cigarette in front of me until the end.”

From what he heard, his grandmother was quite the heavy smoker. She would immediately open boxes one after another without pause and would puff white smoke as if it was natural for her.

But ever since she took custody of Tooi, the number of times she smoked in front of someone dropped remarkably. She was going at it in secret but she had never smoked in front of Tooi.

She was probably looking out for the young Tooi.

But since she was quite headstrong, she would not admit it.

She would always say [It’s because of health reasons].

“Smoke as much as you want at that world. I think there’s no annoying brat for you to worry about in that world. Ah, but grandma is quite rebellious... I guess you won’t smoke if I tell you to, will you?”

Even though he was just joking around, there was, as a matter of course, no reply.

Tooi made a small bitter smile but his expression immediately turned serious soon after.

“I am being called. By that world. Apparently, they need my power.”

The young man silently spoke to his beloved grandmother’s grave.

“The funeral is over. I did my best finding the graveyard.....similar to ones in grandma’s hometown. As for the house and land, I did what you told me and gave it to people who needed it.”

“And so...” Tooi said.

“...I have nothing left to do in this world.”

Those words were backed up by a strong will.

“I am going there with the intention of burying my bones there this time. This might be the last time I visit you so... please, forgive me.”

The young man turned away from the grave and walked away. He was carrying a Boston bag on his back while pulling a carry case with one hand. His other hand was holding the zippo tightly.

With nearly everything being disposed of, this was the only memento of his grandma which he kept with himself——

“ Adios Good bye, my Querida Abuelabeloved grandma .“

Tooi then departed.

His goal was a light.

The entrance to another world and the door that allows the crossing of dimensions.

With this, Tooi experienced his second summoning to the other world.

He has already made up his mind.

He resolved himself to throw away the name Kurosu Tooi and live as Tooi Cross.

1 year ago——

Tooi, who was a 2nd year student attending a high-school, had been suddenly forcefully summoned to another world in a fashion of being dragged inside a natural disaster.

Other world.

A world different from his.

Tooi was summoned to a world with [Spirits] existing in it.

Spirits, beings that transcend human knowledge, are deep-rooted in human society and culture and the humans would make contracts with them to borrow their power; many miracles occur there which would sound unbelievable in modern Japan.

To put it simply, it’s a fantasy world.

To Tooi, who has lived in the advanced country known as Japan, this world definitely fits the description of [Fantasy with swords and magic].

The country positioned in the center of Reneous continent — Arludea Empire. Having been summoned in that country’s vicinity, Kurosu Tooi had no choice but to live in this other world.

However, he naturally could not accept this.

Tooi was 16 years old at that time.

He was at a sensitive age and would shout his objections about modern japanese society. However, it’s not like he did not feel attracted to the fantasy world which he was suddenly dropped into but he had a reason to go back.

He had something he had to do in his homeland no matter what.

Because of that.

In order to go back to his own world, Tooi desperately made full use of his intelligence and power.

And after many ordeals and fierce battles, he defeated the [Demon King] and used the high purity Ethers and countless treasures which were in monopolized by the [Demon king] to force open the gate of dimensions and returned back to his world.

All of that took about 1 year.

Forget summarising everything in one sentence, the various events that occurred in that one year were extremely hard and too spectacular to describe in a single book so let's leave it for later.

"Ooooh, it’s been a long time other world"

Having left the vortex of light and seen the scenery unfold in front of him, a sound of admiration escaped from the mouth of Kurosu Tooi— no, Tooi Cross.

He could see a lovely grassland and feel a refreshing breeze. Giant stones were erected around him and there was a big forest as well as mountains in the distance. The sky was clear blue.

Also— the air and earth were filled with Spirits.

Grass, trees, soil, wind, water... everything has Spirits dwelling within them.

It’s an inhuman and mysterious existence created by the Ether circulating around the world.

They have been in this world before humans appeared; they exist together with this world and are connected to it.

“...I can’t wait to meet them.”

He mumbled calmly to himself and walked out while pulling his carry case.

There were countless giant rocks arranged nicely and in a tight formation. When looked at from above, it can be seen that they are actually placed as such to form a circle.

It is called the stone circle and it is a type of ruin.

These ruins can be found on the east of Arludea Empire and are called [Fior ruins] because are situated in Fior region.

The other name for them is [The Ark ruins].

They are shady ruins with a legend of [Opening a door to another world]— 1 year ago, Tooi was summoned to this world because these ruins [Lost control].

In other words, he was a victim of a natural disaster.

However, it was different this time. He was summoned to this world by the interference of a human.

It was most likely done by the will of one girl.

“Oh.”

After walking out from the middle of the ruins, he saw one girl in the distance.

It looked like she noticed him too because she hurried over to him.

She was a cute girl with distinct facial features. Her supple body was covered with a strict empire military uniform.

“Laila!”

Tooi ran towards the girl.

“Long time no see, Laila. How are you doing?”

Laila Schut.

A female officer affiliated with the empire’s military. She was the same age as Tooi and should be 17 years old now.

She was the eldest daughter of the grand noble which keeps bringing out high officers every generation — the Schut duke family. While displaying amazing abilities of a Spirit knight, she excelled in military tactics and Spirit tech research and was a genius that even the empire’s military couldn't be ashamed of in any sort of way.

And she’s the first person Tooi met when he came to this world.

Laila was the one who taught Tooi how to live in this world when he was thrown here alone.

Language, history and geography. And also, Spirit tech.

Simply putting into words, she was someone that could be called his partner in this world.

Tooi was able to live in the country known as Arludea Empire because of Laila who held quite a high status in society.

“It’s been one year, Laila. I thought we would never meet again. I am really happy.”

“...........”

“The atmosphere around you changed during the time I didn't see you, huh. You cut your hair too... also, it feels like you got shorter— wait, I think it's just me that got taller, huh? Also, yeah! Glasses, your glasses! Where did you put your charming point and trademark, those glasses?”

“...”

“...Laila?”

Opposite to Tooi who was talking in an excited tone, the military clothed girl was stunned and had a dumbfounded expression on her face. It was like blank.

When he looked at her again, Tooi noticed something really important.

“...Eh? No way... La-Laila...?”

Feeling completely confused, Tooi looked doubtfully at a certain part of the girl.

Weird.

But, wait.

There’s no way— this is impossible.

“Laila, what... happened to your breasts? Th-They're gone…….? Errr, Wh-where did those... giant breasts that could overwhelm anyone that looked at them go?”

He knew that this was rude to a woman but he just had to ask.

If Laila were to be talked about, it would got to be her giant breasts.

Giant breasts equaled Laila Schut.

That was common sense for Tooi. One year ago, having many chances to ogle at Laila’s breast, he couldn't describe them anything but magnificent and they were forbidden fruits of the highest quality.

But even so, what the heck happened?

What was over there...could be compared to cutting board.

“—I-I have 2 things that I want to correct!”

The moment he talked about her breasts, the blank girl shouted with her face beet red.

“First off, I am not Laila! I am Laila Onee-san’s sister, Alua!”

“...Huh? Wh-what are you talking about, Laila? Stop with the boring jokes. You’re Laila right? Little sister... Alua-chan is still 5 years old or something around there, right?”

He knew her sister and he met her many times before. Alua Schut was a cute little girl that was 10 years younger than Laila.

That should be so but the girl in front of him continued talking with a firm attitude.

“One more thing. It’s not 1 year — it has been 10 years”

“...Eeh?”

“It has been 10 years. 10 years have passed since you left our world and returned to the country known as [Japan] which you lived in.”

“...”

“So, errr... I-it has been a long time..., Tooi Onii-chan.”

It was pretty obvious that Tooi’s thinking process came to a halt.

“...Ba-basically, when I spent a year at my world, 10 years had passed in this world, huh.”

Tooi needed approximately 5 minutes to accept this unbelievable situation.

“So... You aren’t Laila and it’s okay to say that you’re Alua-chan who turned 16 years old?”

“Yes. So you finally believe me, Onii-chan?”

“Rather than believing you... I have no other choice. I am still shocked here.”

“Even I am shocked... I thought that I will meet an adult Tooi-san.”

About the age difference, forget that, about the time slip — both sides were apparently shocked.

(...I have no clue why— wait, this should be actually like this, huh?)

One year ago, Tooi stayed in this world for approximately a year.

But once he got back to Japan only about a month passed there.

(I thought that it was some kind of a distortion of space and time or something like that but I guess it really is a regular thing)

1 year here is about 1 month or less there.

1 year there is 10 years here.

With a simple calculation, it can easily be concluded that the flow of time is different for around 10 times.

If that’s the case, the fact that 10 years passed when Tooi went back has credibility in this world.

(Also...)

“Alua-chan.”

“Yes?”

After calling her name, she replied back while tilting her head cutely. That gesture had traces of when she was 6 years old.

It is hard to describe the feeling after seeing the little girl that always followed behind her sister grow up until she is the same age as him.

(A little girl will turn into a teenage girl if 10 years pass, huh?)

Tooi thought that seriously.

“Alua-chan, you... grew up just like your sister.”

“Ahaha, I get that often.”

She looked a lot like Laila as he looked at her but once he reconfirmed it, he could tell quite well that it was someone else.

Her eyes are a little softer compared to her sister, her tone and her demeanor are much gentler unlike the arrogant Laila.

She was not wearing glasses and more importantly—

“Do-don’t compare! Please don’t compare me with my sister!”

Alua suddenly shouted and covered her chest with both her hands.

“I didn’t say anything yet.”

“I know it even if you don’t say it! Yes, I know, I just know! I always get compared to my sister every time after all...”

A gloomy and dark shadow lurked around her.

Apparently, she was having it rough with the clear breast size difference between her and her sister.

“An-anyway, Tooi Onii-chan. Thank you for responding to my call.”

“My call... which means the one that summoned me this time is Alua-chan?”

“Yes. Though I say that, I just did what my Onee-chan told me.”

With countless giant rocks standing aligned, these [Ark Ruins] were a place where Ether — an energy that rotates the stars just like how blood works on a human body — can gather easily.

Commonly known as a power spot.

By using the abundance of Ether gathered after long time, they are able to open a door to another dimension.

“Amazing, Alua-chan. It’s quite hard to activate these ruins or that’s what I heard, right? You’ve become amazing in these 10 years.”

“No. I am still a novice. I am still inferior to my Onee-san. And also— Tooi Onii-san too.”

Alua said that.

With a voice filled with nervousness and respect.

“[Tyrant Slayer] Tooi Cross. The strongest deity knight that controlled 12 deities which are famed to be so strong that even one of them is able to bring down a country’s castle alone. The efforts of Tooi Cross and the [12 goddesses] echoed throughout the continent and that legend is still being talked about even after 10 years.”

She looked at him with an envious gaze.

“10 years ago, being the same age as me now, Tooi Onii-chan, who stood on the battle field and obtained victory for the world, have been my target of admiration.”

“...That’s overestimating. The deities I contracted are the ones strong and it’s not that I am amazing.”

“What are you saying?! Having a contract with a deity by itself is amazing! What’s more, it’s 12 of them! King Zafra Khazaha who is known as the desert dragon king only had 3, rumor has it that even the [Sage of creation] that is thought to be the one who taught Spirit tech to this country, was only able to bring 5 deities to duty.”

In order to execute high level spirit tech, the person must make a contract with a specific Spirit.

To explain this in an alternate way, with the inclusion of the number of contracted Spirits and their quality, the techniques, abilities, knowledge as a Spirit technician, and other factors — all of that will become the [Caliber] of that person.

And if one is able to make a contract with a deity who holds incomparable power even within the Spirits, that person can be said to have performed an exploit that would leave a mark in history.

Even if it’s just one of them.

That’s why, having made contracts with 12 deities, Tooi might be deserving an exaggerated title called [Hero] but——

“In my case... I had a lot of circumstances I had to go through.”

“Please don’t be modest. Tooi Onii-chan will forever be my hero.”

The glow in Alua’s eyes turned even brighter. Tooi shrugged his shoulders judging that any further words are useless.

“Okay then, Alua-chan. Can you now tell this hero-like person the reason why you called me here?”

“That’s—“

The moment Alua opened her mouth,

*Zun!* the ground’s vibration attacked them.

(—!... This feeling...)

The things Tooi experienced many times a year ago resurfaced in his mind.

The groaning sound of the land’s vibrations transmitted to his legs.

The overlapping of several roars and yells echoing from far away.

The pressure shaking the atmosphere— this is definitely the feeling of war.

“O-oh no! They’re here already!”

After Alua shouted with a pale face, she turned around and ran.

“Tooi Onii-chan! I’ll leave the details after we reach the empire! Follow me!”

“Eh? Ah. W-wait up, I have luggage with me!”

“Please hurry! This place will soon become a war zone.”

Tooi carried both his case and Boston bag while chasing after Alua.

“This way!”

Alua went around to the back of the standing stones and Tooi followed behind her.

Behind the rock shadows was something unexpected.

“Wha-what is this...? Bike? Motorcycle?”

The object right in front of him was something called Auto Bike in modern Japan.

It’s a ride with two wheels and a metal frame connecting them. It looked kind of boorish but it was still fundamentally an Auto Bike.

“Ah, I see. Tooi Onii-chan, you don’t know about the motorbike”

“Was this motorized ride here in this world before? Weren’t horse carriages a normal form of transportation? Ah-re? My viewpoint of this world is breaking down?”

“It was 3 years ago that the empire succeeded in developing the motorbike. Ether is used as an energy source so only people who have knowledge of Spirit tech can use this.”

After 10 years passed, a technological revolution probably happened.

(There is no difference between an advancement of science and magic. I forgot who said that but—)

I see.

The advancement of magic will cause the same effect on science too.

After Alua tied up Tooi’s luggage to the carrier, she sat over the body of the ride.

Immediately, a blue white light covered her body.

It is a glow that can be seen when using basic Spirit Tech.

By borrowing the primitive Spirits with no intelligence that are in the air and land, she is able to use that energy. Instantly, the motorbike started to move.

“Hey, Alua-chan. What do you mean by war zone? Don’t tell me... the Lectar republic next door is invading or something like that?”

“...That’s not it...err, where should I start explaining from... First off, this Fior region doesn't belong to the Empire’s and our military have been dispatching their forces to this land for less than one year.”

“...I don’t see where this is going. Are we trying to regain land stolen from another country?”

“Something like that. But the enemy isn’t human.”

During their conversation—

Tooi saw a black group far away.

(The Empire's Military...)

Soldiers wearing familiar looking uniforms were marching in a single file.

Every one of them were equipped with sabers having the Empire’s emblem carved in. With it acting as a medium, by embodying their contracted Spirits into it, one can make a [Ray AlmaSpirit Equipment] transformation.

(From what I can see, the Empire's force has more than 100 soldiers and all of them are Spirit knights, huh?)

They were not equipped with armor or heavy weapons and their only weapons were the sabers with the Empire emblems carved on them.

For someone heading to war, they were in an unreliable light equipment — that fact proves that they are all Spirit knights.

Many can use Spirit techs but there are only few that mastered [Ray AlmaSpirit Equipment].

In this continent, Spirit technicians who mastered this high level ability and specialize in battle tech are known as Spirit knights.

“Oi oi... That’s a serious force there.”

The opponents that the Spirit knights formed a single line to defeat is, just as Alua said, not human.

Spirits.

Wolf, bears, wild dogs, wild cats, hawks and eagles. They are probably wild Spirits that lived in the plains, mountain, and woods. The animals with glowing aura formed a group in front of the Empire's military group.

Tooi thought this was impossible.

The Spirits living in this region are known to be docile. He only heard about few incidents in which they attacked people or the whole town but they could be counted on fingers.

But even so, why would those Spirits confront the Empire's Military?

“—Human race. Leave, if you hold your lives dearly.”

And.

He heard a voice.

It sounded dignified and clear but the female’s voice sounded somewhat mysterious.

To Tooi, that familiar voice sounded trustworthy and nostalgic.

“I don’t want your corpses and blood to taint this beautiful land of Fior.”

Following her gaze and gestures, the forest Spirits obeyed her. It was clear that she was commanding the group of beasts.

She had silver hair glowing in the sunlight, voluptuous breasts and tight hips. That beauty who wore clothes that merge with the wind itself was looking at the battlefield with a pair of sky blue eyes.

That indescribable beauty did not wither even after 10 years. With the same appearance as last time she was in this world.

“That’s...”

He did not forget.

There’s no way he would forget the girl who fought alongside him.

“...Eh. Wait!? Wh-where are you going, Tooi Onii-chan!?”

When he noticed, Tooi was already running.

As if he was being guided.

He did not stop to even look at what was happening around him and headed straight to his old companion.

“Ryura...”

His voice leaked out from his mouth while feeling nostalgic.

It had been 1 year since he said that name.

The Deity of [Violent Wind] — Ryura Vega.

She was one of the 21 deities of this world.

She was the first deity Tooi made a contract with and the deity he felt most regretful to part with when he was going back to his own world.

“Ryuraaa!”

Tooi stepped into the battlefield without hesitation.

It might have looked like a crazy action for a modern Japanese citizen who just got to another world but to him this is his second time in this world. He was forced to experience war the last time he was here one year ago and was familiar with it.

Because his voice reached her, Ryura Vega looked over to him.

And she slightly widened her open eyes.

“Ryura! It’s been 1 year! Ah... err, it’s 10 years for you, huh? ...Well, anyways, long time no see!”

If this was looked at from a soldier's point of view, Tooi’s tone and attitude would be described as quite nonchalant but he just couldn't help feeling excited when he saw his old companion again.

Even though only 1 year had passed, it was a reunion with someone he thought he would never meet again so it couldn't be helped.

It would only be weird of him if his tension wasn’t high.

However——

“Hey Ryura. You... why are you fighting the Empire military—“

He could not finish the question.

Right at the moment when he was closing the distance while shouting — it occurred at an instant.

Countless wind blades attacked Tooi.

“—!?”

He reflexively stopped his legs and crossed his arms in front of him.

The approaching screaming wind blades passed by Tooi by only a few centimeter difference. A few strands of his hair were cut off.

It is not like he dodged it.

The wind blades missed its mark on purpose.

It was probably a warning.

With the meaning of “Don’t come any closer“ — it was an attack meant for rejection.

He didn’t know if those intentions were of Ryura Vega but an attack from his trusted contract Spirit caused Tooi to feel a big impact.

“...Eh? Wha... why—!?”

After he lifted his face while feeling troubled, he exchanged gazes with Ryura.

Instantly, Tooi turned speechless.

That is because Ryura was looking at him with very cold eyes.

That gaze was dreadfully cold. Strong hostility was burning deep her eyes.

But at the same time a deep sadness could be felt oozing from her eyes. He felt as if he was being pointed at by an arrow drawn in a bow stretched to its limits.

It is impossible to explain it in a sentence but a complicated and mysterious feeling could be felt.

His heart was being squeezed just by looking at it.

(Wh-why... why are you making that face, Ryura?)

The moment Tooi was about to talk to her once more, the Empire’s troops started approaching.

A violent battle unfolded between the Spirits of the forest and the Spirit knights equipped with their [Ray AlmaSpirit Equipment]. The gushing lightnings and flames blurred his view and surrounded Ryura.

“...Damn! Wait! Wait up! Ryura!”

Tooi tried following her but the troops that were advanced with clear hostility blocked his path.

It is impossible to move forward.

Forget that, he might get swallowed into all of this if this keeps up.

“—Tooi Onii-chan! Please get on!”

Right before he was dragged into the battle, a desperate voice and the engine of the motorbike could be heard behind him.

Right at the end of the momentary confusion, Tooi sat behind Alua.

She then drove the motorbike and both of them dashed away from the plains at high speed.

“...Ryura”

Those words that spilled out of his mouth soon could no longer be heard as they got swallowed by the breeze.

Part 2

In the middle of the gruesome battle between the Empire and forest Spirits------Ryura Vega, the commander of the Spirits, was caught in an unneeded thought.

(…………..I knew it; that was---)

That was definitely Tooi.

There’s no way she would mistake him.

Tooi Cross.

The young man Ryura Vega accepted as her one and only absolute master.

There was not a single day she did not think about him for the past 10 years.

They formed a master and servant relationship through contract; laughed together, cried together, talked together, and spent a lot of time together.

She would sometimes become his sword, sometimes become his shield, and who knew how many times they went into war.

All those memories were precious to Ryura------

(……….You came back)

The same time the other world visitor-Tooi Cross destroyed the demon king Hadar, he revoked all his contracts with his subordinate Deities and returned to his own world.

No matter how much Ryura wished-----he did not change his views.

And in a weird twist of fate, he appeared right in front of her again.

Ryura’s heart felt shaken for an instant after the return of her unexpected master but------Ryura forcefully pushed down those emotions.

(Even if Tooi is here----------it doesn’t change the thing I have to do now)

She swung away her reminiscence and focused on the war. In order to suppress the military, she ordered fang beasts and flying beasts, and swung her own powers too.

Twisters formed whenever she lightly swung her hand, making the empire troops to fly up to the sky one after another, blowing them away.

Her overwhelming power allows her to be worthy to be crowned a Deity.

(This is okay. This------is something I have to do. Even though Tooi was summoned into this world again……….it doesn’t matter to me)

Ryura mumbled in her heart to tell herself something.

(In the end-----Tooi is someone from another world)

Part 3

Sharing a seat on the motorbike was surprisingly comfortable.

While taking several small breaks in between, they reached the capital in less than a day. This distance would make a horse carriage take 5 days so hats off to Spirit technique & technology revolution.

During the journey, he asked about Ryura, the Fior region and the reason for his summon which he missed hearing but,

“...Sorry. As expected... please ask Laila Onee-chan all those details. It’s actually quite complicated so I think Onee-chan is better at explaining.”

Was what she said.

And right now, they are heading to the Schut mansion located in the high street of the capital.

The Capital Arcul is the heart of Arludea Empire whether if it is politically or economically.

Resources, goods, information and people. With many factors gathered from all over the country, it is the biggest part of the Empire and it is formed to be the liveliest city there.

“I guess people gather at the capital in every world.”

“It’s because people gather here, that it makes it the capital, right?”

“It’s like ‘The cow first or milk first’ kind of conversation, huh?”

“... I think it’s definitely the cow first you know?”

Tooi and Alua, who stepped into the high streets of the capital, were having a meaningless chat while walking on the main street. Luxurious buildings were lined up at both sides and the pedestrians passing by were making energetic expressions.

Developed around the palace where the royal family lives, the splendor of the prospering Arcul city does not feel like it declined even after Tooi left for 10 years.

Incidentally, Tooi was pushing the motorbike. Since it’s a ride used for long distances, riding it in the city is considered crazy apparently.

He could see horse carriages around and just like Alua said before, the motorbike was still not a common sight in this world yet.

“Which means.”

Tooi said in a fed up manner.

“The reason why I feel that we are getting all this attention when we entered the city... is because this motorbike is rare?”

“I think that might be part of it but... I think most importantly, the attention is focused on you, Tooi Onii-chan”

“Ah, I see. I am famous, huh?”

Tyrant Slayer.

Apparently, no one in this continent does not know of the name Tooi Cross.

“Oh goodness, being a hero sure is rough.”

After Tooi said that ironically, Alua’s face suddenly turned red.

“Eh? Ah, no. It’s simply because Onii-chan’s clothing is rare...”

“...”

He made an embarrassing misunderstanding.

Tooi was currently wearing a jersey, jersey pants and sneakers.

He was in a flawless personal clothing of a japanese high school student. He probably would stand out if he was walking in another world like this.

“Onii-chan’s face and appearance have not spread throughout the world in the first place.”

Right after beating the demon king, Tooi immediately went back to Japan. Because of that, he had not experienced the so called [Triumphal Return Parade].

Which means— ever since he had been starting to be called Hero, he have not shown himself to the public.

“The famous one is only the name huh.”

The only people who know this truth are only a number of people deeply related to him.

“Within the public, only the name Tooi Cross is a product of a single lone legend. Many novels and pictures with the theme [Tooi Cross] were published, in these 10 years too.”

“Eh, Seriously!? I am being novelized?”

“Yes. But... each and every one of them are written by people you don’t know, that’s the feeling I get from it. They described Onii-chan as a handsome and tall young man or a manly and trustworthy good young man and even a wise and knowledgeable person; all of them don’t match Onii-chan at all!”

“...ahh, Un. Yeah. That’s, so, not, me...”

“Aaaah! So-sorry! I didn’t mean it that way!”

For Alua, that comment probably meant to show a sort of superiority because she knows the identity of the hero but it caused a complex feeling for Tooi.

After walking for about 30 minutes while going through this and that, they reached the Schut mansion.

Located at a corner of an area mainly where the wealthy lives, it was a luxurious 4 stories tall building with a garden.

1 year ago, this mansion was Tooi’s main base.

“Is Laila living in this huge house alone like usual?”

“I am living with her now.”

“Heeh. Alua-chan left the main house too, huh?”

“Yes. I started living with Onee-chan when I enrolled into the military after graduating a military academy. Also, there are about 3 maids living and working here too.”

This mansion belongs to the Schut family but it’s not the main house. He heard it was a present from Laila’s parents when she entered the military.

“Oh yeah, this mansion was also the place where I first met Alua-chan”

“That’s so nostalgic. I often come here to play.”

“On the night I first met you, Alua-chan, you wet your bed because of a nightmare—”

“Wh-when was that from!?”

“It’s a memory from 1 or 2 years ago.”

“It’s 10 years! You are talking about a 5 year old!”

While talking about the past, they passed the garden with Alua as the guide, and walked inside the mansion.

Soon, they reached Laila’s office, which was at the highest floor.

“...”

“What’s wrong Tooi Onii-chan? This is Onee-chan’s office you know.”

“No... I know that.”

“You don’t have to be reserved. You’ve made strategic meetings in this room many times 10 years ago.”

“That’s true but... hey, Alua-chan? Since you are 15 years old right now... of course, Laila gained 10 years of age too, right?”

“That’s obvious.”

Alua made a “What stupid thing are you asking” face but this is not something Tooi can honestly let slide.

(Laila, who was the same age as me... got older by 9 years, huh?)

It was like [That] when they were the same age so adding 9 years in—

Several traumas from 1 year ago were recalled back and that made Tooi freeze. However, he can’t just stand there still forever so he made up his mind and extended his hands to the door knob.

Incidentally— his hand missed the mark.

That’s because someone opened the door from inside.

“—How long are you planning to waste time in front of someone else’s room?”

The person that appeared from the room was a beautiful woman.

She had silky long hair reaching to her hips and was wearing a military uniform.

Her chest area looked so tight, the button seemed like it was about to bounce off any moment now.

“If you’re already here, just show yourself. I have been waiting impatiently for you.”

While fixing the position of her glasses, the woman said that.

Yes, woman.

She had the face that no longer allowed the term "young girl".

Even though there were some traces of her previous appearance when she was the same age as him, the woman in front of him now has grown to a proper adult woman. Her eyes and mouth had a charm belonging only to adult females and... her originally big chest looked as if it grew a bit more.

“Fufuun. How about it? Did you fall in love with my breasts?”

On a side note, she was not acting embarrassed and was puffing her breasts out proudly so Tooi had problems where to look.

“... I am shocked, you’ve grown into a proper lady”

Even though he was overpowered by the change of his previous partner, Tooi talked to her with a wry tone.

“It’s been one year, big tits glasses.”

“Yeah. It’s been 10 years, closet pervert.”

Laila Schut (26 years old) said that before making a fearless smile.

Even though 10 years have passed, her smile filled with confidence still had some of the appearance when she was in her young girl age.

If one word could describe Laila, the word [Empress] might be the best word.

Bold and fearless. Self-centered. Arrogant.

She fundamentally has an [Amazing me] or rather [Amazing me] constitution so she would not be picky about her methods as long as she achieves her goal and is a trouble maker that would drag others into the trouble without any choice. Despite all that, she still produces results so all the more reason why he can’t handle her.

“However, this is a weird feeling. Tooi.”

Tooi and the Schut sisters were sitting on the sofa at the middle of the office.

While putting sugar cubes into the tea their maid brought, Laila stared fixedly at Tooi who sat in front of her.

“10 years passed since I separated from you and you still haven't change at all.”

“I may look like this but I have grown 1 centimeter taller, you know?”

“That’s a small difference.”

“I also have that weird feeling too. Even though it was just 1 year ago when I walked around the whole continent together with you... a young girl that was the same age as me suddenly turned 9 years older than me”

It’s a light Urashimatarou feeling, I kept that line inside my heart. That’s because that line probably won’t work in this world.

Laila then shrugged her shoulders exaggeratedly as if to say [Oh goodness].

“To be able to talk about a woman’s age so naturally; you’re still a man with no delicacy, huh? In the first place, I don’t plan on keeping company with the nonsense of a brat who’s 10 years away from me. I am a proper adult Onee-san after all”

“... Since 10 years have passed and Alua-chan is 15 years old already, that would make Laila 26 years old, right? You’ll be 30 if you round up the numbers. Rather than calling yourself an Onee-san, aren’t you one step away from calling yourself a grandma?”

After firing back at her, Laila’s face froze. She lifted the edge of her glasses and her eyebrows were twitching.

“... errr, where’s the treasured sword our Schut family has passed down in generations already?”

“Wa-wait just a moment, Onee-chan.”

The younger sister quickly stopped the elder sister who was going around finding a weapon with a mad expression. In an “Oh yeah” fashion, Alua threw her a question.

“... Hey, Onee-chan, did you know? That the world Tooi Onii-chan lived and our world have different time flows.”

“I don’t know the number of years though. From the investigation results of the [Ark ruin], we found that possibility to be high. The theory that both worlds move in the same time flow sounds weirder in the first place, right?”

“Then... why didn’t you tell me?”

“I thought that was more interesting.”

Laila said that nonchalantly.

“By my predictions – at first, Tooi, who has not noticed the time difference, will mistake Alua for me since she looks quite like me. But immediately after, he would get shocked after seeing her sad body which is unlike mine— and such a happy and fun conversation will happen – I think so, did I get it right?”

“”...””

Tooi and Alua did not reply and shut their mouths. Laila laughed happily.

“You’re still the same old closet pervert, huh, Tooi. Even though 10 years have passed, you’re still fully interested in my breasts.”

“... can you stop with that closet pervert thing. I am normal. As a normal and healthy male, I have acceptable sexual urges.”

“You’re really the same.”

Laila ignored Tooi’s rebuttal and continued.

“But— I changed.”

The glint peeping out from her glasses changed into a sharp one.

“I turned great in these 10 years. I’ve gained status and authority which can’t even compare to the past me.”

She then scooped up her chin to make an order for Alua beside her but Alua suddenly twisted her head.

“Eh? Wh-what, Onee-chan?”

“Read the atmosphere Alua! Explain to this man how great I’ve become!”

“Eeh!? Y-you can just tell him yourself...”

“You fool! Telling him this by mysel... is just plain embarrassing.”

Tooi thought “You basically just said it yourself”.

Having received an absurd order from her sister, she started talking reluctantly.

“Errr... currently, my sister – Laila Schut is one of the generals of the Empire military. Rank is major general. She took the role of a division commander to command a troop a while ago but is currently mainly working in the central strategic headquarters. Since she’s the Empire’s first female general in her 20’s, a big commotion occurred right after she was appointed an exceptional promotion.”

Tooi could not hide his surprise.

Speaking of general, that’s a status that possesses top class authority even within the military. Even though she’s from the noble Schut family, that’s not a rank a female in her 20’s can easily get promoted to.

“So that means Major General Schut, huh? You were second lieutenant or somewhere like that before, am I right? That’s amazing you got that in 10 years.”

“Fuun. My desires are still not completely fulfilled. Nonetheless, I was able to reach my status comparatively smoothly— all thanks to you, Tooi”

1 year ago when Tooi was summoned to another world, he was publicly acting as Laila’s subordinate.

He was probably treated as a [Free-loader] or [Soldier]. In exchange for the supply money and living accommodations, he would listen to Laila’s orders and fight.

Because he wanted to go back to his world as fast as possible, Tooi and Laila, who wanted military exploits, agreed to make their goal-[Demon King Suppression].

“That’s because you went back to your own world after you destroyed the demon king. Sorry but all information of your deeds and achievements were manipulated to my benefit.”

“I don’t mind. That’s the promise we made after all— more importantly, hurry up and tell me, Laila.”

Tooi said that.

“Why did you call me to this world?”

The reason why Kurosu Tooi was called to another world after 1 year.

The reason why Tooi Cross is needed in the world in which 10 years have passed.

“I met Ryura just now... she was fighting the Empire Military. Just what is going in? Is it related to why I was called?”

“True... it's quite complicated so I’ll talk in order.”

But before that, Laila said this.

“I have something I want to ask. Tooi, why did you answer our call this time?”

“...That’s pretty harsh for someone who was the one doing the calling.”

“The last time was practically an accident but— it’s different this time. You had the choice. I thought it’s going to be a 50/50 chance for you to refuse, you know?”

Laila slightly narrowed her eyes and asked with a soft voice.

“Did you finish what you had to do in that world?”

“Yeah. All done.”

After Tooi nodded, Laila nodded quietly with a [I see].

“...I had some lingering attachments in this world too. I went off without greeting many people and— more importantly, I feel that I had a [Place] in this world too.”

Place— another meaning for reason of existence.

That’s something he couldn’t find living only in a small city. That’s something he couldn’t come up from the days of commuting to school from home and looking up at the sky from the corner of his classroom.

The burning feeling of satisfaction and excitement that he has never felt in that world was definitely in this world.

“Also—“

Tooi paused his words a little before making a somewhat fleeting smile.

“In this 1 year... I had a lot of thinking done at the other side. The thought of wanting to fight with the [them12 Goddesses] again was what came up.”

“Houu”

“I don’t know why Laila called me here but— honestly, I don’t think I can lose to anyone. I can’t do anything alone but... but there’s nothing to be afraid of if I am with them.”

Tooi’s expression after declaring that looked like it had absolute trust towards the powers of his comrades.

[Nebulosa12 Goddesses]

All of them are hard to handle and can’t be stopped with ordinary means but— their powers are so powerful it doesn’t embarrass the name [Deity].

One stroke of the sword and the sea will split, one swing and the cloud will split, one thrust and the mountain will crumble; basically, life will end—. What can he be afraid of when 12 of his servants each deserve to be called 1 against 1000.

“This is excellent.”

After Laila nodded composedly because everything was as she predicted, she lifted the edge of her mouth and smiled.

That was a very cynical smile.

“There’s no problem if you trust them that much. Cry in joy, Tooi Cross. You can fight with the [Nebulosa12 Goddesses] all you want from now on – but not as their allies but as their enemy.”

“...Huh?”

“I said, the enemy this time – will be your beloved [Nebulosa12 Goddesses]”

Tooi opened his eyes wide in shock.

“10 years ago, right after you defeated the Demon king, you revoked your contracts with the [Nebulosa12 Goddesses] and let all those deities off to the wild. As a result, do you know what happened after they scattered?”

“No... I thought they returned to each of their own [Shrine]... and were living in peace...”

“What a happy fellow. Optimism and trust are two separate things, you know?”

Laila swung her head tiredly.

“In these 10 years – all the deities you let loose were freely running rampant and causing chaos in every part of the Reneous Continent. The damages caused by the [Nebulosa12 Goddesses] are honestly at a level which can’t be taken as a joke at all.”

“...”

“You get it now? The reason why I called you.”

Laila told him.

The mission— or maybe the responsibility assigned to Tooi Cross that has to be accomplished.

“It’s [Cleaning your own mess], Tooi. I’ll have you wipe your own ass. The [Nebulosa12 Goddesses] you made a contract with, the girls that served you as a master with respect – make them yield to you once more.”

Cleaning his own mess.

It’s basic courtesy to clean your own mess— the young man who couldn’t perform that left evil in this world.

His strongest [comrades] did a 180˚ turn and turned into his worst [Enemy].

The hero who was once again called to the world which he once saved before has to confront the absolute power he once swung and oppose them.

It’s— an endless ordeal.

Chapter 2: The 2nd Time in Another World

Part 1

Alua Schut woke up early in the morning.

She would get up at the same time with the maids living there and it was her daily routine to train her sword skills in her mansion's courtyard.

“Fuu, Haa!”

In the middle of the courtyard where sunlight poured down, Alua swung her sword and yelled while doing this activity.

Her dominant arm was holding a slender rapier with a refined design. Her other hand was holding a parrying dagger which was a short sword exclusively for defense.

She repeatedly practiced parrying the opponent's attacks with her dagger and used her rapier to thrust at the main body.

It was one of the styles known in Arludea Empire as a woman fencing skill, and since Alua was born in a famous military house, she had been studying this diligently since she was of young age.

After finishing basic patterns, Alua was done with her training.

She closed her eyes and started to focus.

She sharpened her senses, felt the Ether flowing within the air and earth and directed her attention towards the Spirits living there.

Soon, a hallucination as if she was being melted down into the world emerged.

This [Be one with the world] feeling was the basics of basics of using Spirit techs.

In order to use the Spirits which are tied to the world on a whole other level compared to humans, they must feel the [Great flow] which created the world.

“Come here – Tritnix”

The moment she whispered, one beast manifested beside her. A four legged animal that looked similar to a lion. It had golden fur and its whole body was sparking.

It was Alua’s contract Spirit – Tritnix.

Spirits which were already contracted can be summoned by the masters’ voice no matter the distance separating them.

“Suuuu, haaa”

After a deep breath, Alua made a stance with the rapier.

“Let’s do this, Tritnix.”

After the master made her order, the Lighting beast roared and jumped up. Once it layered on the slender sword Alua prepared, gold Ether scattered about— and it dwelled into the slender sword at the same time.

[Ray AlmaSpirit Equipment].

With the weapon acting as the medium, the person and Spirit will become one; this is the ultimate Battle Spirit tech and its culmination.

Turning the contracted Spirit into a weapon and wearing it as an armor as well.

“...Uh, haaaaaa!”

With Tritnix being a high ranking lightning Spirit, the Ether it possessed was first class both in amount and quality. Alua desperately suppressed the rampaging energy.

Following her image, she constructed the armor and outer equipment.

Lightning splashed out from the Rapier and with the right hand holding it as the center point for the concentrated Ether, it turned into an armor and covered her body.

[Ray AlmaSpirit Equipment] – Success.

(...I’ve done it. But as expected, this is tough...)

The interior of the armor felt like it was going to break if she relaxed even for an instant.

The Contracted Spirit optimized for battle covering the body as the [Ray AlmaSpirit Equipment] will require more experience and better comprehension the stronger the power of the Spirit.

(I knew it... Using Tritnix at my level now is... No.)

Alua swung her head to get rid of the negative thoughts floating up.

(I can’t complain. That’s because, Onee-chan at my age could—)

“Uooo. Amazing. It’s sparkling.”

A nonchalant but still slightly shocked voice could suddenly be heard. When she turned around, Tooi came out from the mansion entrance while suppressing his yawn.

“Good morning, Alua-chan. You’re quite energetic in the morning, huh.”

“Tooi Onii-chan. Good morning. How was it, were you able to sleep nicely?”

“Yeah. I slept like a log surprisingly. Well, it’s because my room is the same as it was before.”

“The room Tooi Onii-chan used has been kept just the way it was for 10 years under Laila Onee-chan’s supervision.”

It was cleaned from time to time but no one else stayed in that room.

Alua didn't know what Laila’s thoughts were for doing that.

Maybe she was looking forward to Tooi's return one day?

Or maybe, regardless of the fact that the person living there was not present, she didn’t want anyone to pollute that place?

Maybe it was because she feared that the remaining traces of the room’s owner might disappear?

“Heee. That Laila, huh...”

Tooi narrowed his eyes and made a meaningful wry smile.

After seeing the side of his face, Alua felt her heartbeat rising.

(...It really is Tooi Onii-chan.)

She ended up staring intently at that serious yet lenient face.

(I am really going to be living with Tooi Onii-chan from now on...)

To Alua Schut, the young man Tooi Cross was someone she admired.

He was her target of envy and an aspiration; to make it more simple: he was someone above her reach.

10 years ago, when Alua was 6 years old, she adored Tooi, who lived in this mansion with her sister, as her brother. She would always follow him around and started calling him [Onii-chan] as if it was natural before she even noticed it.

However, other than his calm and gentle brotherly face he had the face of a hero too.

Each time she heard of his achievements Alua’s heart would throb. She would get excited and moved but, more importantly, she admired him and deeply loved him.

Even though Tooi disappeared, her feelings did not change. Forget that, it felt as if it was getting stronger as the days passed by.

That admired person has appeared in front of her once again after 10 years.

Not being nervous might be impossible for her. What’s more, in a miraculous way, he has aged only by a year and, as a result, the difference between their ages is not much.

(I-I have no idea how to approach him...)

Alua blushed.

(I am 16 too so I can’t be acting over-familiarly with him like before... Rather, how should I call him...? Is it okay to call him Onii-chan? It’s hard to change it now... And, as expected, I want to call him Onii-chan if possible... but he might treat me like a child if I act like that even though our ages aren't that different...)

Nervousness, chaos, expectations, anxiety; various emotions suddenly pressured her but—

“Wa-wait Alua-chan! Your armor is breaking!”

She came back to her senses after that one sentence.

“Hawaa! O-oh no!”

Unneeded thoughts were accidentally brought out while she was manifesting the [Ray AlmaSpirit Equipment] which requires high concentration. Alua focused mentally once more and worked hard on stabilizing the armor.

“T-that was close...”

Having somehow managed to maintain her armor, Alua *Hoo* sighed. Tooi sighed in relief before staring at Alua carefully.

“That [Ray AlmaSpirit Equipment]... It’s quite similar to Laila’s. Perhaps you learned from her?”

“Yes. Onee-chan rarely stands on the front lines now because of her rank so I inherited her Contracted Spirit and rapier.”

“Then that’s Tritnix like I thought.”

While staring at the manifested armor, Tooi narrowed his eyes which were filled with nostalgia.

“I am still far from Onee-chan's level. That’s why I train alone like this.”

“Laila won’t accompany you? What a cruel sister.”

“No. Onee-chan often asks me if I want her to help me but I refuse each time.”

Alua poured strength into the hand holding the rapier.

“...Onee-chan taught me everything, if I keep having Onee-chan teach me from the beginning till the end, I might one day— make Onee-chan feel disappointed with me.”

“...”

“Oh yeah! Tooi Onii-chan. If possible, can you have a spar with me now?”

Alua feelt quite apologetic doing this but she was unable to hold down her curiosity and said that. Her chest throbbed when she thought she could spar with the person she admired but—

“Eh? No thanks. I won’t be able to handle it.”

Since he rejected her that easily, she dropped her shoulders in disappointment.

“...Th-that’s true, sorry... Someone like me won’t be able to fill in the role as Tooi Onii-chan’s opponent. It’s a waste of time, right... Sorry... For saying something so presumptuous.”

“Ah. You’re wrong, that’s not what I meant!”

Tooi quickly said more.

“It’s the opposite! The opposite! I meant I won’t be able to handle you. It won’t even be training if you take on a small fry like me.”

“Eh...? W-what do you mean? That’s just being overly modest...”

“I am not being modest, it’s the truth.”

In response to the bewildered Alua, Tooi started explaining with a tired tone.

“I think I talked about this a little last night but... I currently revoked all my contracts with the Nebulosa12 Goddesses. I can’t use any of the power I used one year ago.”

Alua knew that. The reason why they called Tooi here in the first place was to make him do something about the Nebulosa12 Goddesses after all.

“But... even if Tooi Onii-chan is a Deity knight, it’s not like your contracts were only those with the deities, right? Don’t you have any normal Spirit with your contract intact?”

“Nope, I only made contracts with deities.”

Alua opened her eyes wide in surprise.

“...N-no way, yo-you’re joking, right?”

“I can’t lie about something like this.”

“Your contracts are only those with the deities...? Which means... Tooi Onii-chan’s first contract was already with a Deity?”

"Yup.", Tooi nodded easily.

(That’s unbelievable.), Alua thought.

Deities are super high ranking Spirits and only 21 of them exist in this world.

Which means – they are the ultimate Spirits.

And naturally, the Deity knight must be the ultimate Spirit knight.

Looking back at the history, only a small number of people were called deity knights – people who made a contract with deities which possesses tremendous power – and each one of them had many Spirits other than the Deity serving them.

That’s because they are holding a power well deserving of a Spirit knight and are experts in using Spirits that the deities acknowledge.

Normally, you first make contract with Spirit of low ranking then slowly increase the number with those of a higher rank than before. Unless they take those steps, high ranking Spirits won’t acknowledge them.

(Also... making a contract with a deity for his very first time...)

It is probably unheard off.

There is a limit on how big the first step can be. There is a limit on not being held down by the boundaries.

“In fighting game terms, I am kind of like a set character that can only use ultimate skills...”

Alua could not understand his example which leaked out from him.

However— either way, it’s very clear that Tooi Cross is an existence far off of the realm of common sense.

Also, that weird condition has turned into a bad situation that they have gotten themselves in right now.

“Which means, Tooi Onii-chan, forget about being unable to use the powers from the time when you were called [Tyrant Slayer], you currently don’t even have [Normal] battle skills...?”

“Yup.”

Tooi nodded easily as expected. Alua felt like fainting.

“Wh-what are you going to do? Are you able to bring down Ryura Vega in that state? Onee-chan told us yesterday to do something about it...”

Alua was stunned at the fact that the person she admired has weakened beyond her imagination but...

“Seriously, what to do.”

The person in question was leisurely agreeing as if he was not feeling any danger.

Part 2

Going back to last evening in Laila’s office room.

“-----And that’s the current situation in Fior region. Any questions------wait, Oi Tooi. Did you hear what I said? How long do you plan on dozing off?”

Tooi was being scolded by Laila who was siting opposite him but, Tooi’s attitude was still lifeless. He was making a blank expression with no signs of motivation or ambition.

“…….Ah, yeah. How should I say this…………….of course my brain will slow down. The shock is just too much for me.”

Each and every members of the Nebulosa12 Goddesses are powerful deities with power matching 1000 knights. To Tooi, they are the most trustworthy comrades and most importantly, his strongest weapons.

If all of them are his enemy, it’s only natural that he would go blank.

“Fuun. That face shows the [Contrary to expectations] look.”

Laila made a mischievous smile and said this.

“You probably thought [Even If I come to this world, I have the strongest comrades with me so easy win, Guhehe] am I right?”

“……………….”

Tooi was in loss of words. If he said “I didn’t imagine that” it would be a lie.

The Nebulosa12 Goddesses’s power is just that powerful-----and charming.

“Bullseye huh. Your conceitedness is extreme, Tooi Cross. To think that the WomanDeities you left alone for 10 years would still be in love with you………..just how good of a man did you think you are?”

“………….It’s 1 year for me though”

Tooi managed to reply something but, as expected it’s might just be an excuse.

No matter if it’s 10 or 1 years------it doesn’t change the fact that Tooi revoked the contract with them.

It was mostly a one sided parting with his comrades which are also his benefactor.

“No matter what, it doesn’t change the fact that this is the seed you planted. I’ll have you take responsibility for this, Mr Hero?”

Laila said that provocatively and lifted her glasses with the pulp of her finger.

“Okay, now that we are relaxed, I’ll explain once more. If you miss this again, I am going to squeeze you between my breasts and suffocate you to death.”

Tooi thought “That’s a prize” but, since he was worried about Alua’s sights while she was sitting beside him, he did not retort back and continued the conversation calmly.

“…………The explanation was okay. I might have been blank because of the shock but, the conversation got into my head. The problem linking to the Nebulosa12 Goddesses that the Empire wants to settle as its highest priority, is related to the Deity of [Violent Wind]- Ryura Vega right?”

In summary------it’s like that.

Fior region is located at the national border of the neighboring Lectar republic and one of the remote regions belonging to the Empire. Forget a town, that land doesn’t even have farms or any cultivated land and is an undeveloped region so, the area is mostly occupied by plains, forest and mountains.

If anything, it’s a little famous because the [Ark Ruin] which summoned Tooi, is a tourist spot and a cultural heritage.

And 3 years ago-----the Lecta Republic demanded the Fior region to be given to them.

In the past, Arludea Empire formed an alliance with various countries to defeat the Demon Hadar, and the Lectar Republic is one of the countries. Even after the demon king was destroyed, they are still having diplomatic relations.

Even though they demanded that, it was of course not for free.

Lectar proposed a condition to lower the prices of exported goods such as ore supplies and food ingredients. In recent years the Lectar government gained power through its agriculture expansion, and is planning to newly develop Fior region to use it as an agricultural land.

To the empire, losing one region is regrettable but, the merit of the trade was too good.

They are able to suppress the finance of pressuring imports just by handing an undeveloped land which has no eye catching resources and unpopulated. It’s not a bad deal.

The deal was settled between both countries; and after the end of many price negotiations, the Fior region transfer concluded smoothly.

But.

Right when the Lectar agricultural developments began, an unexpected trouble began.

The Deity of [Violent Wind]-----Ryura Vega.

The controller of rampaging wind suddenly appeared in the land of Fior and kept obstructing the agricultural development.

“-----As a result, Lectar Republic [While having full knowledge that a Deity would appear in Fior region, they hid the truth and answered the negotiation], raised this problem. And in order to deal with Ryura, the empire rounded out their military………..”

Tooi folded his arms and starting thinking.

“If that’s the case, let’s have the whole transfer voided and change the prices of the imported goods back to normal with the return of Fior region……….that, won’t do right?”

“Obviously.”

Laila straightforwardly discarded it.

“We have returned prices of trades that were already revised many times in the past. If we turn everything back to it was, [Distortions] will appear in various points such as ……….. Distribution, trades, finance, etc. More importantly, the face of the Empire will be crushed if we reverse the pact that was already executed once. Our diplomatic status will worsen not only with Lectar but with the other surrounding countries too.”

It’s not like “Run, Melos! but”---------Tooi does not know anything about politics.

In the first place, in order to enroll to a Japan school, he was prepared with the minimum amount of knowledge but------honestly, his weak subjects are politics, economics and modern society.

That’s why he had no clue how national politics and diplomatic relations goes-------but even Tooi knows that, [Let’s cancel that] won’t work with an agreement made by countries.

“In the end, we have to do something about Ryura huh………”

“That’s correct. Even we did not expect Ryura Vega to appear at that land. It’s a different story if her Shrine is located there though…………”

Shrines are castles that deities live in and are marked in several parts of the continent.

They have various types of exterior looks such as normal castles, towers and caves but, all of their interiors are complex and mysterious labyrinths.

They are other worldly dungeons set to separate from the outer world.

The same time of being an impenetrable fortress for outer enemies------the labyrinths are trials to test the invaders.

In order to make a contract with the Deity, they must first challenge the shrine, conquer it and have the deity acknowledge their power.

In the past, there were many Spirit knights in search of power and challenged the shrines but-------most of them didn’t make it back.

Because of that, the shrine and the area surrounding the shrine are avoided by many people; as a divine land that must be safely distanced from, it turned into an inaccessible area and humans rarely come close to it.

“Ryura’s shrine…….is located a little south west from Fior.”

Tooi said that while being engrossed in thought.

Ryura Vega’s Shrine--------is a small beautiful castle on top of a slightly elevated hill.

If he closed his eyes, he could recall it back clearly even now. There’s no way he would forget. That’s the first shrine Tooi challenged.

“It’s true that it’s weird that Ryura would be fixated of Fior region. The place is nearby and it looks like she was communicating with the Spirits of Fior………….but, Ryura fundamentally hates hurting humans.”

Even though the Nebulosa12 Goddesses can be said in one word, their ability, nature and view in value are different.

If there’s a battle loving one, then there’s one that would try their best to avoid using her power.

If there’s one that loves humans, then there’s one that despises humans. There’s also one that looks down on humans as the same level as an insect.

(But………….to think that Ryura would confront the Empire)

Even within the [Nebulosa12 Goddesses Ryura Vega is the owner of a gentle attitude. Just like how she loves flowers and forest, she has accepted humans and human society with a gentle heart.

“Laila. Did you try talking to Ryura.”

“It was a complete shut off. I tried interacting and convincing her many times but, it’s been a consistent [Leave]. The Empire had no choice but to form the [Ryura Vega suppression], and forcefully attempt to suppress Ryura Vega or make her leave but…………”

“Judging by that face, the situation looks dire.”

Tooi made a bitter smile.

The number of the Empire Military he saw in Fior when he was half-way coming to the Empire, easily cross over 100 people. No matter how many Spirit knights or elite forces are gathered, if a Deity is the opponent, then a minimum of x10 of that number is needed.

“There might be a chance of victory if the Empire uses all their power fight but-----------there’s no way they would split their forces for just one border land------that’s why that’s your role, Tooi Cross.”

Part 3

(------Though she said that, what I am supposed to do now.)

While sitting on the stone stairs of the mansion entrance, Tooi was in thought.

Ryura Vega.

Of course, she’s not someone Tooi can handle right now----and naturally, even if he’s able to handle it, he had no intentions to suppress her at all.

(But, I have to do this no matter what. No matter how terrible the outcome gets.)

This is the responsibility for making a contract with her-----[Cleaning his own mess].

Immediately, yesterday’s memories resurfaced.

The blades passing right by him and Ryura’s glare.

(……..It’s the first time I saw Ryura making that face after all.)

Her eyes had an ice cold anger dwelling in it -----but at the same time, she looks as if she was about to cry any moment then.

Just what happened to make her make that expression?

“A-are you really okay, Tooi Onii-chan……”

Alua who was sitting next to him on the stone stairs, talked to him worriedly. Her [Ray AlmaSpirit Equipment] was already disarmed and she’s back to her usual appearance.

“If I am being asked are you okay then………..I guess I am not okay right now. Even if I work with Alua-chan, we’re just scrap paper in front of Ryura”

“Uu…………”

Tooi told the shuddering depressed Alua with a serious look.

“Alua-chan. This is a problem I have to fix no matter what so, you don’t have to force yourself to follow me. I don’t have the power to protect Alua-chan now………….”

“………….N-no! I am okay! Just like how Laila Onee-chan did it 10 years ago, it’s my turn to support Tooi Onii-chan now! I will perfectly play the role of [Tyrant Slayer]’s partner.”

Laila is already a high ranker in the military so she can’t run wild like last time. That’s why, she ordered her sister Alua to become Tooi’s assistant.

“Thanks”

After thanking her honestly, Tooi continued his words with a wry smile.

“But even so, [Tyrant Slayer] huh………….judging by what I heard yesterday, apparently I’m more than expected not that welcomed here.”

[Tyrant Slayer] Tooi Cross.

That name meant exactly what it meant right after the battle 10 years ago. Everyone worshiped him as the savior that saved humanity.

But currently.

Because the Nebulosa12 Goddesses caused chaos in every part of the continent, that viewpoint turned 180.

As the [Criminal who let the Deity into the wild], there seems to be an increase of people hating him for that.

Currently in the Empire, the name Tooi Cross has 2 meanings of a hero and Criminal.

(That’s probably the reason why Alua-chan called me [Onii-chan] instead of [Tooi Onii-chan] when we were in the city.)

He did not care about it at first but, now that he thought about it, it’s to avoid unneeded chaos.

“Well, it can’t be helped if I am hated. Because of my female relationship, I caused unneeded sparks to scatter in this world.”

“That’s not true!”

Alua shouted wildly in response to Tooi’s self-mockery.

“It’s true that, there are many people talking bad about Tooi Onii-chan. But! There are also people who recognize Tooi Onii-chan as the hero who defeated the Demon king and save the world!”

For someone who was originally not from this world, Tooi didn’t really care whether or not he was hated or liked by the public but, he was honestly happy when Alua desperately tried to cheer him up.

However, her cheering started to heat up to a weird direction.

“Even the novel with [Tooi Cross] as the main character is continuously being published! Last year the heroic story of [Tooi Cross] efforts was turned into 7 new series!”

“I’m a popular genre!”

“Within them, the book attracting the most attention is a new novel with a [The main Character Tooi Cross as a female] setting.”

“There’s even a female version of me!?”

What am I, Oda Nobunaga! Tooi retorted in his mind.

“[Tooi~ the sweet female knight], has an original setting of [Tooi Cross] as a female, after accepting the cuteness of the female main character Tooi, it has gained overwhelming support by the males.”

“Well, I guess the guys like the female version but………..”

Ugaah, Tooi carried his head. He’s happy that his heroic tale is being published but, he never would have imagined that he was being turned into a female.

(What’s more…………it’s being overwhelmingly supported by the males)

*Zo**zo**zo**zo*.

An indescribable disgust and dread filled Tooi’s whole body.

(……………..I-if Oda Nobunaga or other Sengoku generals revive back into the modern world and see themselves turned into females in Anime and books then, they will probably get this crazy feeling…..)

Forget that, in the first place, it’s a shocker that there are female versions or gender-bending ideas in this world.

If this goes on, it won’t be long after novelized castles and battleships will sweep the world.

“Incidentally, for books with high popularity with females; all the Nebulosa12 Goddesses are turned into males and Tooi is locked in a grapple with 12 males………”

“Stop, I don’t want to hear anymore!”

As expected, BL is a heck no.

(Haa…………..Elites and heroes sure have it rough.)

In the other world, his character was imagined and novelized without his permission, and at the end of everything he was made into a female and BL. They’re doing whatever they want when the person in topic is not around.

“………….errm now that I think about it, Tooi Onii-chan. Can I ask something?”

When Tooi was troubled in the space of his own dignity and free culture, Alua asked him with a completely different low tone.

“What?”

After a moment later, Alua asked him.

“10 years ago, why did Tooi Onii-chan go back to your own world……..?”

It’s such a straightforward and basic question.

“Why you ask……….isn’t it normal to want to go back to my own world.”

“T-that’s true……….but, Tooi Onii-chan would be promised status and rewards as the hero who defeated the demon king. Also………..you could have lived happily with me and Onee-chan…………”

Throwing away the honor and status he was supposed to receive, throwing away his dear comrades------just what is he so fixed in his own world until he would do that?

“Didn’t you hear anything from Laila?”

“Nothing………only [It’s not something I should be telling]”

“That woman, she really is faithful when it comes to these topics.”

While making a wry smile, Tooi said [Let’s see] before looking up at the sky and looked for his words.

“It’s not like I hate it here. Rather, I would even say that I prefer this world better. That world is the world I was born in but, I think this is [The real me] when I am over in this world.”

“Then why”

Tooi answered Alua’s returned question.

With a voice oozing with faint sadness.

“It’s to see off the last moments of my Abuelagrandma”

“……Abu-ealla?”

“[Abuela] means [Grandmother]. My grandmother is a person from Spain----Aah, err, she’s a foreigner to me. I kind of call [Grandma] with that county’s language.”

“Tooi Onii-chan’s grandmother………..”

“I don’t have parents. When I was small, I have been living together with my grandma. Since my grandma was the one who raised me, she’s my only family in the world.”

“But……..when you mean last moments………”

“Yeah, she passed away a few days ago. By my time line, it’s about 3 months ago”

“Is it…….a sickness?”

“Uuuun. Well, you can call it a sickness but…………she lived a long life of 121 years after all. I guess you can call it life span.”

“1-121 years old………that’s amazing………..”

“She’s all in for wanting to live longer though.”

Tooi smiled happily.

He then continued on while trying his best not to break his smile.

“About 1 year ago, I was told by the doctor that [She doesn’t have much time]-------and immediately after that, I was summoned to another world.”

“! N-no way…………”

Alua placed her hands over her mouth and was in loss of words.

Seeing off the last moments of his grandmother. Spending time with her with the last remaining time left. In order to repay back everything she has done to raise him. In order to not her be alone the moment her life runs out.

1 year ago that was----Tooi’s everything.

In order to go back to his own world as fast as possible, Tooi fought desperately and trained himself.

“That’s why, in a nutshell…………..I didn’t care about the world or country at all. The reason why I defeated the demon king was to open the door to my own world; to do that, I needed the high quality Ether and treasure inside the Demon king’s castle.”

When sending him back to his world which has no Spirit from this world, he needed more energy compared to when he was called over.

It was told that the [Ruin ark] that became empty after summoning Tooi, many years in order to save up the energy enough to send him back to his world.

Right when his grandmother was around the end of her life, he could not waste time.

That’s why----Tooi chose another method.

Maybe, he did not choose it.

He did not choose his methods to achieve his goal.

Because of that, the grand role of [Suppressing the Demon king] turned simply into one of his [methods].

It became a method in order to achieve his highest goal, which is to head back to his own world.

“This is the truth of [Tyrant Slayer], Alua-chan. I……….am not a hero. I did not fight for the country or for the people, it was all for myself.”

While making an ironic smile, Tooi said that.

“Disappointed?”

“N-no”

Alua quickly swung her head.

“Err, well……..it’s pretty sudden so, I still haven’t swallow most of it down……….. But, no matter what goal Tooi Onii-chan had, you defeated the demon king as a result and saved the world so, you must be a hero……..that’s what I think. Also……………”

“Also?”

“I kind of thought……..fighting for your grandmother is so like you, Tooi Onii-chan.”

Alua made a small smile. That smile looks a lot like the smile the 5 year old Alua showed him, 1 year ago.

After feeling a sense of nostalgia in his chest, Alua made up her mind again and opened he mouth.

“E-err. There’s one more………can I ask a weird question?”

“Weird? Well, I don’t mind.”

Alua then took a deep breath before asking him with a serious look.

“Is Tooi Onii-chan a closet pervert?”

*Zucooo*

Tooi almost collapsed down to the ground.

“………….A-Alua-chan? Let’s stop starting it with “Can I ask a weird question?” and then really asking a weird question okay?”

“S-sorry. But, I was curious…………”

“…………..Because Laila said that to me yesterday?”

“That’s one of it but…………Laila Onee-chan often call Tooi Onii-chan that in a normal basis………”

“That big tits glasses………..”

Tooi placed his hand on his forehead while mumbling in anger.

“…….I am not in the closet and not a pervert either. I am normal, extremely normal. Rather, I am disciplined. Rather, I am a gentleman. Laila made up my character just for her own fun. She just want to say pervy pervy every chance she can get.”

“O-oh, that’s why huh……Y-you’re right! There’s no way the kind and cool Tooi Onii-can would be a pervert!”

“Of course. Laila is all at fault. Alua-chan, you must never go on with her image tactics and negative campaign.”

“----Houu. You’re saying what you want when I am not around huh.”

And.

The same time the door opening could be heard from behind, the figure of a beautiful woman with overwhelming big breasts and her knowledgeable glasses appeared.

“………Laila. I presume you heard all that.”

“Tooi. Did you forget what you did to me, 10 years ago?”

Instantly, Alua looked at him with a shocked look so, Tooi quickly objected.

“D-don’t make me look bad. Just what did I do to you?”

“I’ll tell you since you forget. I remember everything clearly.”

Laila made a reeaaly nasty smile.

“First off, you peeked on me when I was changing 13 times.”

“Wha-”

“You intruded my bathroom time 3 times.”

“Wait, that’s…………”

“You touched my breasts 9 times. Within them, you fondled them 4 times.”

“Th-that’s, u-unavoidable…….”

“You slept with me in the same bed 5 times.”

“You, that’s wrong, well………..”

“If we count by my exposure degrees then, I was seen in my underwear 8 times, I was seen topless but with my panties on 3 times, for full nudity it’s-----”

“That’s too detailed! Why are your memories so accurate!?”

“Fufu. You ask why? It’s because I planned to bully you to death when the time comes.”

Laila made a sadistic smile. Alua who was sitting beside him *Saaa* took her distance away from Tooi before he even noticed.

She then looked at him with scorn and disbelief.

“………Tooi Onii-chan.”

“Do-don’t get it wrong, Alua-chan. Everything Laila said is kind of like an accident………..well, a lot will happen since we traveled the continent together………….”

Yes, a lot happened.

Really, a lot happened.

Tooi searched for an explanation what would wipe off the image forming inside Alua’s head but, Laila was satisfied teasing with them and,

“Okay, it’s time for breakfast. Finish your preparations and head to the dining room.”

After saying that, they parted ways there.

3 of them returned inside the mansion and headed to the dining room. Half-way, Laila opened her mouth as if to recall something.

“That’s right, Tooi. It’s about your travel bag attached to that weird cart you placed in your room”

“Cart…………….aah, the carry case”

“Cecil complained that it’s disturbing her cleaning since it’s left in the middle of the room. Clean it up or throw it away”

“Like hell I am going to let it get thrown away.”

The carry case he bought to come to this world, was the latest model. It’s locked tightly with the dial lock.

The carry case from modern Japan, probably looks like a mysterious bag to Head maidCecil who has never seen it before. It’s only normal to hesitate to touch it.

“Now that I think about it, Tooi Onii-chan. It looks like the bag you carried with your shoulders contained your clothes but, what’s inside the other big bag?”

When Alua asked brimming with interest, Tooi *Fuuu* made a proud smile.

“In that one, it contains indispensable items essential for me to live out in this world from now on.”

“Indispensable Item………?”

“Kind of like secret weapons. Oh yeah, I’ll be cleaning it up so, I’ll show you a little.”

They changed their route from the dining room, and headed to Tooi’s room which is on the 2nd floor.

The inside of his carry case.

And that’s-------Several [Usable items] he brought over from modern Japan which was picked carefully.

This was Tooi Cross’s second experience to be summoned to another world.

The first time was by force but, the 2nd one----meaning this one, was the one he chose to come over to this world by his own will.

There’s one big difference from this time and the previous time------the presence of a preparation period.

For the other world summon and in order to live in this world from now on, Tooi took his time carefully making his preparations.

For example, Stun gun, pepper spray, Remodeled air-soft gun………..such weapons. All of it might be items that can be obtained by a high-school kid but, it can probably serve as a surprise attack since no one in this world have background knowledge about them.

And most importantly----the Smartphone.

The birth child of modern intelligence and the monster of knowledge that fits in one hand.

From battle beneficial looking books like strategic books, tactics instruction manual, medical books to encyclopedias like political economics, physics, science and geography; to end it all off, there’s agriculture and cooking books.

And also, the whole series of Kochikame.

He downloaded every useful looking e-books and application he could find. As expected, he can’t connect to the internet but, the smart phone which is the treasure box of knowledge is more than enough useful even though it’s out of range. For the charger, he made arrangements and prepared 2 solar types.

Other than that, from items for comfort purposes such as foam pillow or heat techs to spices that would help his enjoy his meals such as [Weipa] or [Ebara Yakiniku sauce].

This time, Tooi had made full preparations to live in this world.

(………..This is a chance to clear my name. Leaving Laila aside, I don’t want Alua-chan to treat me like a pervert.)

After reaching his room, Tooi squatted down in front of his carry case.

“Wait a second. This is quite annoying actually.”

He turned the numbers on the dial lock. The two standing behind him looked at Tooi’s hands with interest.

“That looks quite secure. Is that really a travel bag?”

“Hnn, well, it’s kind of dangerous there. This is actually standard equipment”

“Fumuu. So Tooi. Why did you bring those things from the other world until you would go as far as to put it into that thick case?”

“I said it before right? These are indispensable things I need to live out in this world.”

After getting the number, the dial lock opened with a click. Next off, he opened the side manual locks at both side.

Instantly----the carry case puffed up.

(Hmm?)

The bag was filled over its original capacity so it probably spilled out because the restraints was released-----but.

(This is weird. I don’t remember it being this packed………)

Ignoring Tooi’s wondering thoughts, the carry case flicked open and the contents scattered about all together.

The item Tooi brought from modern Japan spread out in front of Laila and Alua to see.

And-----it was countless ero magazines.

“……Huh?”

Tooi looked shocked.

Great amounts of ero magazines spilled out from the carry case like popcorn. The scene where countless females fly in the sky looked a bit like Eden.

Pictures of female provocative appearances shown on the front and back page filled the room. Ero magazines weren’t the only one, Adult video, adult BD and big boxes of Ero games were also present.

“Eh………Wha, Haaa!?”

Tooi was in ultimate chaos. The AV and ero magazines that jumped out from the case, was definitely created in modern Japan.

Big breast nurse. Big breast wife. Big breast female high school student. Big breast harem-------the reason why the contents was specializing [Big breast], was simply because of the owner’s preference.

The owner’s----yup. It’s Tooi’s preference.

In present continuous tense, every bit of the of 18+luxury goods scattered about all belongs to Tooi’s prized collection.

(N-no way……..)

Cold sweat flows down while he noticed the worst conclusion.

(I got the wrong case……….!)

Anyone living in modern Japan------no, every male living in modern Japan, has faced this problem before.

And--- the problem is, what happens to their prized collection if they died.

Under the bed or deep inside the desk. Or maybe, the SD card of the smartphone or computer data disk. The number of collected goods that is hidden in such confined places so that it would not be found by others.

All of them represent none other than their owner’s fetishes and signifies a hell worse than death if it’s found by others.

They understand in their head that [It’s fine on what other thinks after death] but, they can’t accept it instinctively. The primitive and fundamental sense of embarrassment rising out from the depths of their soul would reject having their interest of the opposite sex to be exposed.

Kurosu Tooi also possesses that instinct as a modern man.

In this other world summon, he planned to bury his bones here so------it pretty much means that he committed suicide. He lost his only family but, someday, someone will probably notice that [Kurosu Tooi] has disappeared.

If that happens, someone might approach into Tooi’s house.

The police might break into the apartment room which he lived with his grandmother and was later sold off.

When that situation arises-------he wanted to have his prized collection to be unfound.

It must never be found.

Because of that, Tooi disposed of his collection.

When Tooi was thinking of buying a carry case for the other world, he found a sale “Buy 2 with one in half price” so it was a no brainer to buy 2.

One was for his [Use], the other one was for [Disposal].

The one for his use was filled with items strictly picked for surviving in the other world-------and the one for disposal, was filled with the precious collection which he picked seriously through many years………..and his heart broken feelings.

He brought the disposal case to a spot for garbage incinerating plant, and disposed it with no one around; case solved------that was supposed to happen.

(Where!? Where did I make the mistake!?)

Apparently, he made a huge mistake.

In the same level of a child’s mix-up, he made a mistake in the switching.

“Heee, houu, Fuuun”

After he quickly replied back, Laila took several books which were scattered about the floor and looked at it with an extremely happy expression.

“Are these…….pictures? These look quite beautiful. You told me before that there’s a technology difference between our worlds but……………… I see, even printing techniques like this shows the difference in reality. Ooo, this is amazing, even parts like this looks so clear………”

“………To-Tooi, Oni-Oniii……………..”

With still no immunity to cultures like this, Alua’s face turned red like a boiled octopus.

“I see. Tooi. This is the indispensable things you need to live out in this world. You went as far as to bring it to this world. You probably have quite an attachment to it huh.”

When Tooi was moving his head desperately in search for an excuse, Alua standing beside him started trembling from her shoulders and,

“…………..U-Uwaaaaa! Tooi Onii-chan, you closet pervert!”

While crying out loudly, she dashed out from her room with tremendous speed.

He did not have the energy to chase after her. Tooi wanted to cry out too after all.

The image of Tooi = Closet pervert, had completely become an establish fact.

It’s definitely what he deserves though.

“Ah. I see. So it means that these are indispensable items to live [OUT] in this world. Ahahaha. Tooi. You’ve gotten good with words within the time we did not see each other.”

He could not laugh at the joke Laila spilled out.

Chapter 3: Nostalgic Days

Part 1

This happened in the past.

It’s a page------of an ended story.

“So you’re here, Tooi.”

In a small castle standing on a slightly elevated hill-----the Shrine of [Violent Wind].

A male and female were standing on the highest balcony that allows the full view of the surroundings.

One of them was a young man with a calm face----Tooi Cross.

The other person was the beautiful deity who went there because she was worried about him----Ryura Vega. While pressing down her silver hair which was fluttering about by the soft wind, she talked to Tooi.

“I was looking for you, sheesh. We finally got back to my [House] but, you’re wandering around on your own…………”

Tooi [Sorry] lightly apologized towards Ryura who was puffing her cheeks out.

“What are you doing?”

“A little something, I was looking at the scenery.”

“Scenery, you say?”

“Un. I enjoy looking at the scenery from here.”

Urged by Tooi, Ryura moved her sights too.

What unfolded in front of her eyes-------was a wide and grand land. Showered with sunlight from the sky, the vegetation, river, lake, plainly everything was glowing.

“That’s true, it’s beautiful.”

“Ryura’s more beautiful though.”

“…….Eh?”

“………………..”

“………..E-err.”

“…………….Give me a sec, sorry, forget that!”

When Ryura was having problems responding, Tooi carried his head and crouched down.

“No no, you’re mistaken Ryura! In my world, that line is basically an iron rule for this kind of situation……….but, I understood it once I said it myself……….It’s kind of tough, or just lame so……..UAaAAaaa”

In response to Tooi’s groaning, Ryura was shocked at first but she started bursting in laughter soon after.

“Ufufu. Ahaha. Thank you very much, Tooi. I am very happy you praised me.”

When Ryura was expressing her happiness, Tooi scratched his cheeks embarrassingly.

At that time-------a breeze passed by. The gentle breeze tickling his cheeks was filled with the scent of the flowers and forest.

“As expected from the Shrine of [Violent Wind], that sure was a nice breeze.”

“The wind blowing here, and the view you see here, all belongs to you Tooi.”

Ryura said that.

“Only people who conquered my Shrine----basically, the people I recognized, are able to come to this place. Which means, you’re the first visitor to come to this place aside from me.”

“I see. Ryura has not made any contract with others except for me.”

“Yes. Tooi, is my fist male. Tooi’s the first person who took my first.”

“…………That sentence is going to bring so many misunderstandings.”

“Well, I am the one who took Tooi’s first anyway.”

“Like I said, that’s going to bring in misunderstandings.”

“But even so………..oh Tooi, don’t you think you’ve been ignoring me recently?”

Ryura joined her hands behind her and showed an obvious sulky attitude.

“No, no way, even if you call me someone that would pick up girls every time we reach our destination……….”

“So the Tooi Harem is still expanding huh.”

“Don’t call it a harem……….”

“Because of that, I feel that Tooi’s been acting cold towards me. I feel that you have been focusing on the new characters. Is that it? Do you have some kind of rule to not feed the fishes you caught?”

“I-it’s not like I am trying to…………”

Tooi got flustered from being stared at. After getting satisfied by that flustered scene, Ryura spilled a giggle.

“Fufu, it’s just a joke. I know full well that we still need more power to defeat the [Demon King], and Tooi is working hard to complete our newly joined comrade’s [Deus AlmaDeity Equipment]”

“Ryura………..”

“You praised me with a [Beautiful] just now. That’s enough. I can eat 3 times more now.”

Ryura said that happily. Tooi scratched his head because it was embarrassing but, he soon looked at Ryura with a serious gaze.

“Thanks.”

He thanked her straightforwardly.

“You brought me here for a change of pace because I have been thinking hard recently right?”

*Gulp* Ryura’s expression tensed up.

“………….I-I wonder what you are talking about. I just wanted to come back to my castle since it’s been a long time. Y-yes, it's homesickness.”

Since it’s embarrassing that her plan was seen through, she averted her sights away by reflex. However, Tooi looked over to her with a straightforward gaze.

“I’m glad you made a contract with me.”

There were no decorations in his words, it was just plain straightforward appreciation, respect and affection.

A hot emotion swelled up in Ryura’s chest. Having spent time lonely deep inside her Shrine for eternity and not exchanging any contracts with any humans before, this emotion was a first for her.

Being recognized by her master.

Being wanted by her master.

Being pinpointed out by her master.

Falling for her master.

She never would have imagined that she would feel this happy, comfortable and sweet.

The wind came by again.

The wind carrying the scent of flowers passed by them and shook the scenery seen from the balcony. The scene of the vegetation swaying and the forest rustling looked like the earth was laughing and dancing.

“It’s beautiful.”

“Which one?”

After Ryura asked with a teasing smile, Tooi scratched his head because of the slight embarrassment while, answering her with a wry smile.

“Both”

This was in the past.

This was an event that occurred 10 years ago to Ryura Vega.

It’s a single glowing gold page that can never be returned again.

Part 2

*Crisp crisp*. Countless ero magazines and Adult Videos were thrown into the incinerator.

It got annoying half-way so; Tooi turned the carry case around and flipped the inside. His precious collection that took him many years to collect was surging into the ash.

(I never would have thought that I would part with you guys again………Kuh……….)

Getting rid of his lingering affections, Tooi continued disposing his collection.

After finishing a fully awkward breakfast with Laila and Alua, Tooi immediately headed to the incinerator behind the mansion. In order to completely dispose the goods he brought over by mistake.

“Aaaah………now I’ve done it.”

Endless regrets attacked Tooi.

Getting destroyed by Laila’s teasing and being looked at by Alua with a gaze of scorn was tough but------the most important mistake was losing all the modern age items he prepared.

The number of goods that he planned to fully use in this world probably turned into dust a long time ago at the garbage incinerator plant at the other world.

He made a deep sigh and drooped his shoulders-----but, after 10 seconds.

“Well, I guess what’s done is done.”

Tooi looked up after getting rid of his regrets.

“Nebulosa12 Goddesses said this [Hobbies are shallow but wide, and regrets are deep but short]. I can’t do anything if I keep feeling down. Yeah, it’s important to switch gear as if nothing happened.”

“…………….”

“Forget that, rather, this might be the best choice.”

“…………..…”

“A Smartphone even after coming to another world……..as expected, it’s kind of lame now that I think about it. Recently, everyone’s been stuck with their own smartphones. Smartphone in the train, smartphone while walking, smartphone when eating. It’s kind of turned into a lonely world huh, was what I gradually thought. I don’t want to be a slave of the smartphone even after coming to another world. Yup, this is good this is good. This is the best choice.”

“…………….who are you making excuses for?”

A cold retort entered.

Accompanying him with the intentions to give him a lecture on how to use the incinerator, Alua mumbled coldly behind him.

Tooi was extremely glad that she finally opened her mouth since she was ignoring him the whole time during breakfast but, those eyes of scorn were still rooted into her eyes.

“Is it, really okay to dump your Ero magazines? Tooi Onii-chan? It should be quite important since you brought it all the way here right?”

She said that with an oddly grudge filled tone. Where has that respectful tone and gaze gone? Apparently she’s completely disappointed.

“Alua-chan…………..like I said, I explained this many times already but, I brought the wrong bag…………”

“If that is the truth after we take 100 steps back……..I-it’s still a fact that those Ero magazines all belong to Tooi Onii-chan!”

“……………..”

No reply could be made after she told him that.

Complete checkmate.

In a sense, it’s kind of a crime.

“T-to possess such perverted books…………I can’t believe this! How dirty!”

“………..Don’t call me dirty. It hurts. Even I’m a healthy male in my teens. it’s natural to have interests of the opposite sex.”

“I understand that……….but, the problem is the quantity, the quantity! What’s with this laughable quantity!? Even the incinerator is about to fill up!”

“No, how should I say this……………in my world, there’s a huge expansion in circulation and trading routes so, it’s really easy to get a hold of them. I keep on finding ones that fit my preference so, I just can’t help collecting it………..”

“Then in Tooi Onii-chan’s world……..a-all the males there, possess this many perverted books with them…….!?”

“Y-yeah!”

The man who sold his hometown world to save himself, that’s Tooi Cross.

Alua made a shocked expression.

“………Wha-wha-wha-what a terrifying world……….”

“W-well………..whatever the reason Alua-chan. There are 1 or 2 things that everyone doesn’t want to show……no, 10 or 20 right? Even you have things like that right?”

“Wha-wha-wha-what are you saying! I-I don’t have, anything of that sort! Yes, none what so ever!”

Yup you have them, Tooi thought.

“O-okay Tooi Onii-chan! Nothing will be accomplished after talking so, let’s continues our work!”

Alua switched the conversation since it got tough for her. Since Tooi wanted to switch the conversation too, both of them returned to their work.

Lastly, he took out the Zippo from his pocket and lit it; once that metal lid closes, the incinerating work will be done.

“Oil lighter……….?”

Alua looked at his hands and asked.

“Tooi Onii-chan, do you smoke?”

“No, I don’t smoke. I’m still underage……..wait, that law does not apply in this country.”

In Arludea Empire, 16-year olds are treated as adults. On top of that, in relation to alcohol and smoking, it’s not like there is a law set as strict as the law in modern Japan.

That’s why; the 17 year old Tooi smoking in this country isn’t going to cause any problem at all------

“Well, I don’t plan on using it from now on.”

Tooi said that.

“This is a memento of my grandma.”

He played with the Zippo with one hand.

It’s commonly known as a Zippo technique. Rotating the Zippo between the tip of the fingers and by spinning the Zippo several times by using the hinge of the opened lid as the reference point, the flint will be scratched causing the flame to be produced.

“Uwa, amazing.”

“Maybe it’s a withdrawal symptom caused by no smoking, my grandma was hooked with hand tricks. I’ve been looking at it this whole time so, I kind of remembered it. I can do this too, take a look.”

“Eh? Eeh? Wh-what’s up with that? D-do it one more time but slower.”

“Slower……….now that’s going to be tough in its own way.”

While making things lively with his Zippo techniques, both of them left the incinerator. While in the middle of heading to the front gate from the back garden of the mansion,

“Now that I think back, hey Alua-chan.”

While closing the Zippo, he started talking.

“Several people from the military came over just now so, what’s up?”

“It’s Captain Duffman and his subordinates. Currently, he is taking command of [Ryura Vega]’s suppression team and is most likely here to report yesterday’s results.”

“Aah, the captain of the troops I saw yesterday.”

Reporting about the war, though she said that, it’s most likely going to be a sad one. Judging by the forces he saw yesterday, there’s no way that was enough to do anything to Ryura.

“But, Duffman, duffman………where did I hear that from…….”

“Captain Duffman is previously Laila Onee-chan’s superior.”

“Aah! I remember now! It’s that old man with the beard!”

He had not met him directly but, had seen him from afar when Laila was talking to him. He is a well built man in his prime with a beard that does not match him.

He was somewhat strict on Laila because he did not find it interesting that Laila was standing out a lot when she was that young.

“Wait a sec? But, If Laila is a major general and Duffman is a captain then………..oh man, his ranks has been crossed over by a lot. 10 years sure is scary. Rather, Laila, damn you’re scary.”

“Shhhh! Shhhh! Do-don’t do that, Tooi Onii-chan! Captain Duffman is really sensitive with that!”

Alua made a commotion in panic.

Being successful in the Empire Military, can be achieved through [Birthplace] and [Deeds].

Having the [Birthplace] of the Schut house which has been producing high officials every generation. And, the [Deed] of taking a part in the Demon King Suppression with the [Tyrant Slayer] under her command.

In a sense, it’s only natural for Laila to burst through the elite highway since she had both, but for someone close to see that, it’s something not to be endured.

“…………Incidentally, Tooi Onii-chan said [Bearded old man] but, currently, Captain Duffman shaved off every part of his old beard……..”

“Heeeh. He finally noticed that it doesn’t suit him?”

“No……..the moment Onee-chan went one rank higher than Captain Duffman, she ordered him to [This is a superior's order, shave off that irritating beard] as if to clear up her pent up anger.”

“…………..She’s making enemies on all sides huh, that woman.”

While having that conversation, both of them reached the front and----

“Damn! That damn fox woman…….! Who does she think is the one fighting that monster……..! Forgetting all the favors I provided her before……….!”

The same time the door slammed open, curse words started popping out. The ones who appeared from the mansion were a really buffed military personnel and 2 military personnels trying to calm him down.

Tooi remembered the man clearly in rage.

(Uooo, he got old, that uncle Duffman. And, he seriously lost his beard)

The man previously at the age of his prime, has turned into a middle-aged man after 10 years. After getting shocked leisurely, it seems that they were noticed too.

“Hn. If I’m correct, you’re?”

“Captain Duffman, it has been a long time!”

When the angry man----Duffman looked over, Alua fixed her posture and lowered her head.

“Aah, the sister of Major General Schut. We have not met since the graduation party at the military academy.”

Anger disappeared from Duffman’s expression, and he made a social smile.

“Seriously, hats off to all the excellent daughters of the Schut house. Both sisters are top students of the national military academy and have been producing brilliant achievements, which are rare in recent years.”

“Yes. Thank you very much.”

“However, Major General Schut has shown many achievements right after her graduation. Gaining exploits after standing on the battlefield on her own initiatives and, gaining results in the research field. Even in the [Demon King Suppression] from 10 years ago, the deeds she established are huge. But well, although she’s gifted with a special talent, you are still quite amazing. Don’t worry about it.”

“Y-yes…………”

“It’s tough for you right? Being compared to such an excellent sister.”

That social smile was slowly colored with scorn.

“Well, err…….how should I say this. In regards to femininity, I feel sorry for comparing you with that sister but, don’t worry about it. Major General Schut is gifted in that part too.”

Right after, laughter occurred between Duffman’s subordinate.

Having felt indecent gazes, Alua quickly covered her chest with both her hands. Both her cheeks were blushing and her shoulders were trembling from embarrassment and anger.

However, since he’s her superior, she had nothing to say back. She looked down, clenched her teeth and desperately withstood the insults.

This kind of teasing is a daily thing within the military. Things won’t go smoothly if she can’t easily let one joke pass.

However.

There was one man at this spot that didn’t care about such military rule and culture.

“-----Hey Old man. Mind shutting up?”

His cold voice was mostly likely filled with astonishment.

The moment that halt echoed, those filthy laughs stopped. All three of the military personnel focused their sights on Tooi, but he continued his words indifferently.

“There’s a limit on how little to no delicacy you can have for talking about a female’s chest.”

“…………….”

He felt that Alua standing beside him looked at him with a [You don’t have the right to say that!] but Tooi decided to ignore it.

“I don’t care if you’re a captain or whatever but in my country, you’re sure going to be getting a salary cut after that sexual harassment. If you slip up, it’s going to be a disciplinary discharge you know? Do those old man jokes at a snack bar at the outskirts.”

“……What’s with you?”

Duffman’s expression changed into a stern one and glared at him with a gaze filled with anger. He’s trying in his own way to overwhelm him.

But----it wasn’t enough.

Guts, spirit, glare; every one of those aspect of it was overwhelmingly insufficient to make Tooi back down.

From his viewpoint after competing against warriors, Deities and the [Demon King] 1 year ago, Captain Duffman’s pressure brings nothing but sleepiness to him.

“A traveler from another country, I guess. I’m a freeloader of this mansion.”

“So it’s just a mere freeloader trying to oppose me huh. Do you know who I am?”

“Yup. I know you. You’re still holding a grudge against your subordinate that got promoted over you within little time, and since you can’t do anything to the actual person, you’re refreshing your own superiority by sexually harassing the sister instead; I am fully aware that you’re a pathetic old man.”

“………! Yo-you bastard!”

The enraged Duffman extended his hand to the saber under his arm.

He attempted to pull out his sword from the anger-----but a moment faster than him, the hilt of was pressed down.

“--------Give up on that”

Shock and amazement filled the area.

Tooi, who was supposed to be beside Alua, had approached Duffman before anyone noticed and was pressing the end of the sword hilt with his palm.

It was an instantaneous move.

There was no one at that place that saw Tooi’s movements.

Everyone eyes were popping out blankly.

Within them Tooi told him with a tone that can be taken as cool-headed.

“As a captain, you won’t reach major general even if you have a 2 rank promotion by dying in duty you know?”

Receiving a [Warning] at close distance Duffman’s expression looked as if he was poured with cold water. He jumped back and took distance from Tooi.

“Guh. W-why you………..making fun of me…………”

He was giving a demonic glare but he’s getting cold feet. He was bewildered by Tooi’s words and actions so it’s clear that he’s being cautious.

Then, the 2 subordinates standing behind him,

“C-captain Duffman, if you cause trouble at the mansion’s front door any more than this, there’s a chance that Major General Schut might come out…….”

“That’s right. Let’s ignore this nonsensical brat.”

And, Duffman raised his voice.

“………..Fuun. That’s true. I don’t gain anything from taking on this runt.”

After leaving that sentence, Duffman and his group left the Schut house.

Right when they could no longer be seen,

“…….Puhah”

Tooi let out a big sigh. A sigh of relief.

“Ahh, I was so nervous, aah, that was close…………”

After he wiped off the sweat from his forehead, Alua asked him in wonder.

“Was it close……why?”

“Unn, it was actually pretty bad. I was sure to lose if he got serious.”

That exchange just now-----was all Tooi’s ploy.

It might have been okay if it was 1 year ago, but Tooi currently has no contracted deities and no weapon. If he was made to fight, he will probably be taken out before the fight even started.

That’s why to trick him; he produced the aura of an overwhelming strong man by talking smack, and the only thing left was his body movements.

“But…….what’s with that move just now? It’s like you instantaneously teleported…….”

“Aah, that, that’s footwork Zesca taught me. By borrowing the primitive Spirits dwelling in the earth, you then create a flow of Ether under the foot and------“

“Zesca………..when you said Zesca, you mean THE Zesca!?”

Alua excitedly shouted.

A member of the Nebulosa12 Goddesses.

The deity [War empress]------Zesca Aldebaran.

“Zesca is a weapon and martial arts maniac. She said [I can’t stand having a novice swinging the weapons I created], before slamming sword skills, body movements, and basically every martial arts into me thoroughly. Inside Shii’s Shrine by the way.”

“Shii……..You mean the shrine of [Time & Space] right?”

“Yup. Over there, the flow of time and space is fundamentally distorted; it’s a place where 1 day passes in 1 second or, in an opposite way 1 month passes by in 1 day. By using that, I had enough time to train.”

For that part of modern Japanese to understand here’s an easy example, it’s a place similar to [Time and mental room] and Tooi’s training accumulated there.

Thanks to that, Tooi can manage off as a 17 year old currently but, if it’s about body age then even he is not very sure about that.

“Even when I went back to my own world, I kept practicing so I wouldn’t lose touch. Most likely, my body’s reflexes aren’t that different from before.”

1 year ago, even when he went back to Japan, Tooi continued practicing the training routine he learned from Zesca. While taking care of his grandmother, he had not missed a single day of training. There’s a limit on what he can do in a world without Spirits but even so, that limit was enough to hurt his body.

Even though the demon king was already destroyed and there’s no enemy he needs to defeat in his own world.

Even he’s not sure why.

Most likely----it was lingering attachment.

There was an irreparable lingering attachment in this world which he had said farewell to.

“B-but……….that was going too far, Tooi Onii-chan.”

Alua made an extremely tired expression.

“You were so rude to Captain Duffman……..I, I thought my heart was going to stop.”

“Sorry sorry. But, I just couldn’t forgive him.”

“Tooi Onii-chan………….”

“I’m the only person in this world that is allowed to play with the happiness and sadness of the Schut sister’s breast difference.”

“Who made that rule!”

A few hours later, it was lunch time.

A long table was placed in the middle of the dining room and the owner of the mansion, Laila was sitting at the end. Tooi and Alua were surrounding the table by sitting on both sides. While using the corners of the dining table which could easily fit 10 people, the 3 of them had their lunch.

“No one? Really?”

After Tooi asked, Laila nodded without stopping both her knife and fork.

“Yeah, 0. The number of deaths and wounded in the suppression team led by Captain Duffman during yesterday’s fight in the Fior Region is 0.”

Just like what Tooi predicted, it’s the suppression team that lost.

They could not suppress or repel Ryura Vega and retreated instead. Currently, other than Captain Duffman and his vice captains who came back to report about the war, they are all stationed at a nearby city.

“….That’s weird. It’s weird that there are no fatalities when fighting with that Ryura. If Ryura is serious, she is able to destroy that small troop in an instant.”

“Basically, it means she wasn’t [Serious].”

Laila said that.

“Ryura Vega was moving completely defensively. She would not move to harm our soldiers and once we withdrew, she would not pursue after.”

“But………..with that number fighting, and 0 deaths; that’s normally impossible.”

Death fills the battlefield. The more people, the higher the danger of death proportionally increases. In the battlefield with over a 100 soldiers running about, the battle ended without any deaths at all------normally that’s something impossible.

“So that means.”

“Yeah. That’s what it means.”

“Eh? Eh? What’s what? Don’t go agreeing between yourselves”

After Tooi and Laila nodded at each other, a grief filled voice came from the side.

“Basically, Ryura was protecting them, Alua-chan.”

“Protecting?”

“She can freely control the wind after all. It’s like, she can make a wind barrier and block all the attacks”

With the power of the [Violent Wind], controlling the death count on the battlefield is easy. For her, who’s able to put the whole atmosphere under her control, it’s possible to destroy the danger of death sleeping in the battlefield.

(I knew it, it looks like she has no intention on hurting humans)

They may be enemies but, she does not like killing in vain. The Ryura Tooi knows is that kind of Deity.

But----that’s the reason why he’s curious about it.

(It’s clear that she has no intentions to fight the Empire. But why, why is she fixated on that place…….?)

Those sad eyes resurfaced in his mind again.

When Tooi was wondering, Alua let out her voice of admiration.

“Deities are amazing as expected. They can not only overwhelm their opponents, but also the power to freely control the opponent’s injuries too…….I knew it, they are on a whole other level compared to us humans and other Spirits……..”

“But, there’s an idiot that does not know of the level of difference.”

Laila made a fed up expression and spat those words.

“Captain Duffman pleasantly misunderstood that it’s thanks to his instructions that there are no casualties. The report just now is mostly bragging. Even though he’s useless, he was desperately trying to make his appeal; it was troubling.”

Those words were merciless in response to her previous superior.

“What’s more of a headache, by using [0 deaths] as a shield; he requested an increase of soldiers. He said that the next time will be a success if the number of soldiers increased.”

“Did you give a yes?”

“Heck no. The situation won’t change even after a little increase of soldiers. Captain Duffman most likely knows that too. By increasing the number of soldiers standing on the front lines, he has an ulterior motive to make them to secure his safety.”

“………He had no intentions of winning from the start huh. Well, it’s only normal since the opponent is a deity.”

“We might be able to put up a fight if I invite a general class Spirit knight to make one division, but as expected I just can’t split our forces that much. However……..actually, our situation is slowly turning into one that won’t allow me to say that any longer.”

Laila’s expression was oozing with bitterness.

“Recently, messengers from the Lectar Republic have been coming to check on the battle situation. If they found out that there’s no results at all……………..they will most probably request for an increase of soldiers.”

Getting a request from her subordinates is one thing but, she can’t reject the request from Lectar since they are business partners. And what’s more, the Empire had created a debt because of the problem in the Fior region.

However, adding about 100 personnel won’t mean anything; although with that said, if 1000 people attended then other places would be lacking power this time.

“But Laila. Is lacking in power that big of a deal? The [Demon King] was destroyed already right?”

“Fuun. It’s because the [Demon King] is destroyed that the opponent this time is humans. Various countries formed an alliance to become a giant rock when there was a giant enemy, but now that the [Demon King] is dead; the situation became critical on the East, South, West, and North.”

“Fuuun. This is a problem.”

“Don’t make it sound like it’s someone else's problem. Don’t forget that the problems related to the Nebulosa12 Goddesses also play a part in increasing work for the Empire.”

Having been told strictly, Tooi made a small shrug with his head.

“No matter; I don’t need to think about this if you and Alua quickly finish solving the Ryura Vega problem. Did you think of any plans?”

“…………….I’ve been thinking a lot but, it’s a day after yesterday after all. I still have nothing.”

“I see”

Tooi was dumbfounded when Laila nodded easily.

(…………..This is weird. If I said [Haven’t thought of anything] to the Laila I knew, she would start launching sarcasms like an avalanche)

Is this the real Laila? Did she eat something weird? Tooi was suspicious but-----he immediately found out that this is the one and only Laila.

“Well then, once you’re done eating, get prepared for going out. Tooi, Alua. I want you all to meet someone.”

“Meet someone?”

“Us…….? Who is it Onee-chan?”

After they asked, Laila smiled like a child who came up with something mischievous.

“A member of the Nebulosa12 Goddesses, the Deity of [Time & Space]-----La Shii Fomalhaut.”

Chapter 4: The Deity Sleeping Underground

Part 1

The 1st Imperial capital prison.

The prison closed in by tall outer walls, it’s an imprisonment facility directly controlled by the Empire Military. Of the prisons within the country, it’s the strictest in terms of security; it’s a place secured with first class criminals like mass murderers, terrorist leaders that planned to overturn the country, and so on.

Every part of the outer wall is buried by a metal that Spirits hate called [Ginite Alloy], making Spirits avoid the prison and Spirit techs are heavily restricted inside.

“Crimes caused by Spirit practitioners have been on the rise. If possible I want all the prisons in the country to put Ginite alloy into practice but…………..the cost is just too burdening. Because of that all the crazy criminals are settled here.”

Inside the prison.

Guided by Laila, Tooi and Alua were walking down the dull corridor.

This prison is completely shut off from the public, and even the families of the criminals are not allowed for an audience unless they undergo a mountain of documents, but they were easily permitted to accompany because of general Laila’s words. This is probably what “A voice of authority is always correct” meant.

“So Ginite alloy is still a high class resource. I thought it would be distributed more since 10 years passed.”

“Refining skills are being developed now but the prices of the ore ingredients are increasing everywhere. Etherium is especially bad. Just one that can fit in between my fingers has a value similar to buying a whole castle.”

*Whistle~~* Tooi whistled.

Etherium is a special alloy created from the compression of high quality Ether.

Looking past the price tag, it’s something so valuable that it can be called a legendary item.

[God’s Alloy] [Philosopher Stone] [Spirit’s Tear] [Deity’s Holy artifact], many names exist to describe it.

It’s a metal with high concentrated holy attribute and has an extremely high compatibility rate with Spirits.

In simple terms, it’s a metal closest to Spirits in this world.

“Incidentally, are Etherium refining techniques established?”

“Not at all.”

Alua answered the question.

“Not only is the production rate extremely small, if a human touches it even a little bit, all the holy attribute of the alloy will disappear. Researchers and Spirit practitioners are researching it but……..there’s no noteworthy progress for almost a 100 years.”

It’s ideal to use a weapon made from Etherium as a medium for [Ray Alma]; that’s the best but----the current problem is that it’s an impossible pipe dream.

Rejecting the hands of humans, the Etherium does not allow being processed. And yet, since it is mostly mined up at the size of iron sand, it’s best to give up.

Because of that, when [Etherium Weapons] are mentioned in the country, it’s either referred as a fantasy weapon or maybe an impractical theory on the table.

“An Etherium sword is currently legendary-----no, it’s plain fantasy, Tooi………….Oops, it’s right here.”

The 3 of them went further into the prison.

Soon----they reached the lowest floor. They passed through the door with [No access] written on it with the key received from the personals there and went down the stairs which were inside.

What they saw was a long path. Since there were no windows at all, it felt somewhat oppressing. The Ether lights buried into the ceiling were pouring cold light as they pass each one.

“………..Is Shii inside here?”

After Tooi asked, Laila pulled her chin.

“There’s a special VIP imprisonment treatment at the lowest floor. La Shii Fomalhaut being here by itself is treated as special confidential information. Only the Military higher ups and a part of the personals here know. Even Alua was left in the dark until today.

“Un…………honestly, I still don’t believe it. There’s a deity here……..”

Alua was making a half-doubtful expression.

“This 1st prison is certainly the biggest prison in the Empire………..but, I think it’s impossible to imprison a deity no matter how much I think…….In the first place, how did you catch her? It’s weird for me to not know if 1000 soldiers moved……….”

“You’ll get it once you see it. Tooi probably has an idea why right?”

“………..Ahh, well.”

Tooi nodded with a face as if he was suppressing a sour face.

First off, it’s probably impossible to connect prison and a deity that is named within the Nebulosa12 Goddesses. The thought that a human made a cage able to restrain a deity, is wrong by itself.

(But, things changes when it comes to Shii…………)

Imprisonment, and escaping. Most likely, it’s beyond that level.

The 3 of them were walking down the path.

After walking down the straight path, they finally reached the deepest part of the prison.

“Wha!?”

First, Alua shouted in shock. Tooi was shocked too but, since he had knowledge of the Deity’s personality, his shock was lesser than Alua’s.

The underground prison in front of them------was not a place that deserves to be called prison.

Although there’s a thick looking cell there, the interior deserves the word [Complex].

There were many dolls shaped like dogs and bears and it came in big and small. Chess board, sugoroku, Spinning top, playing cards, darts and other toys of that such. Countless books and pictures.

Anyways, there were many things and, on top of that, everything was not kept tidy or in order. All the dolls were shoved to one corner. Since the books were stacked so it’s still okay but, most of it was on the floor while half-opened. The pieces for the Chess and Sugoroku ended up outside the cell.

“Is the entire prison cell in the country like this?”

“I said it’s a special VIP treatment.”

Laila tiredly replied to Tooi’s chat.

At that moment------there was a movement inside the prison cell.

It was not a hard shabby bed that’s imagined when asked about prison, rather there were luxurious bed tools that do not lose to the bed that Tooi is currently sleeping in the Schut house.

On top of the comfortable bed, the rolled up expensive looking blanket-------started to wiggle about.

And after a whole, the blanket lump continued squirming around, but there were no other actions other than that. Having broken free from his numbness, Tooi let out his voice.

“Shii! It’s me. Tooi.”

The blanket stopped the moment he did that. The person inside then slowly showed her face as if a tulip was blooming.

“………..Hnaaa~~”

A young and cute voice appeared, it was impossible to distinguish whether it was a yawn or not .

The person that appeared from inside the blanket----was a young girl wearing one shirt.

She has the height of a 10 year old. She also has glowing blonde hair, but spiky bed hair could be seen all over her head. The face is extremely cute, but she was blinking repeatedly and yawning. She looked really sleepy.

The word [Time & Space] was written largely with Sinology-----Sinology used in modern Japan on the loose shirt that is totally not her size.

“Hn~~, Ahh~~………….ah~~”

After looking over to him while scratching her eyes, the young girl showed a slight shock and happiness on the expression which was looking sleepy the whole time.

“Too-kun. Long time no see~~”

*niheraa* her mouth relaxed and made a smile.

“Long time no see, Shii.”

“Un~~, Err~~, It’s been 3 days?”

“Apparently it’s been 10 years. By your viewpoint though.”

“Heh~~ Is that so~~”

She replied back with a useless answer and an extremely laid-back tone.

“……..You don’t change huh.”

“I am me after all~~. Hnaaa~~”

She then leaked a unique yawn again.

The strongest deity of the Nebulosa12 Goddesses looks sleepy today too.

10 years ago.

This happened right after the [Demon King] was destroyed.

On pro-forma terms, the Nebulosa12 Goddesses that are affiliated with the Empire as Tooi Cross’s contract Deities, cut off their ties with the Empire the same time they lost their master, and scattered about the continent.

However, within them-----the Deity of [Time & Space], La Shii Fomalhaut was the only one who------got in contact with the Empire Military and brought up a certain deal.

“If you take good care of me then I’ll quietly let myself get caught~~”

Rather than a deal, it might be more of a threat.

If they don’t listen, they don’t know what would happen to them.

Having that said-------once they obeyed her then they have no idea what she would request.

The Imperial family and higher ups were having splits of opinions on La Shii’s treatment but,

“You can refuse if you want you know~~. When that happens, I will ask other countries.”

Once La Shii released such a carefree answer, the arguments reached its conclusion.

If they had to hand over a grand power known as a Deity then it’s better to have her here in their country no matter what price they have to pay. Having thought that, the Empire gave her a condition of being confined deep underground, in return they would accept all of La Shii Fomalhaut’s requests.

No matter how crazy the request may be, everyone was in complete fear but-------once the lid was opened up, the requests La Shii brought up were all anticlimactic simple tasks.

Things like buying the toys, books and baked sweets in the city. The bed and blanket she first requested were the only high quality items but, everything else were goods that can be bought with a child’s pocket change.

She would sleep all day long and once in a while when she wakes up as if she recalled something, she would ask for toys and baked sweets on whim before going back to slacking.

About 10 years in time, La Shii Fomalhaut lived her life in the underground prison without doing anything.

The moment he heard the whole story from Laila,

(That’s so like Shii)

Tooi thought.

In terms of pure power, La Shii Fomalhaut is at the top even in the Nebulosa12 Goddesses. With time and space under her control, she is the owner of a power that can separate herself from the others.

However, there was one problem.

And that is-----she’s a bum.

La Shii Fomalhaut has a lazy personality that is so serious that it’s scary.

Everything is troublesome to her, every event is annoying to her. Her sleep time is overwhelmingly longer than her time when she’s awake-----and more importantly, she doesn’t move.

While having tremendous power that no one else has, she would not use it by saying that it’s [Troublesome].

It’s so serious that she formed a [Deus AlmaDeity Equipment] with Tooi only once.

“………Hnaa~~”

Shii opened her mouth as wide as it could open and let out a big yawn.

She stood up on the bed and tried stretching her arms but……….since she’s currently naked with only one shirt on, it was quite a dangerous pose in a lot of ways.

“Shii. It’s showing.”

“………….Oo~~. Dangerous, dangero~~us”

While saying that in a carefree tone, Shii pressed down the hem of her shirt.

The appearance and clothes of Deities or high ranking Spirits are determined by the wearer's will. Fundamentally, they would wear clothes or armor according to their personality or attributes; many of them have mystical yet noble appearances but----in Shii’s case, she would manifest only a shirt because of the reason that it’s [Troublesome].

It’s dangerous in 2 ways.

In terms of defense and in exposure rate.

“Hnn~~, Ah~~, we are kind of like always naked based on how you think about it~~. It’s just clothes made based on our mood anyways. So I guess there’s nothing to be embarrassed of~~”

“Have some shame. That would increase your charm as a female.”

“Hnn.if Too-kun says that then I’ll do it~~””

“…………The word [Time & Space] is on your shirt as usual huh.”

“Un~~. It’s my word that Too-kun taught me~~. Cool right~~?”

'It’s not cool at all……….rather honestly, it's lame' was what he thought but since she looked satisfied, Tooi did not say anything. It’s probably like how foreigners put on word tattoos without knowing what it means.

“Well~~, for now, welcome home~~, Too-kun. You came back huh. Did you enjoy your world?”

“So so. I see that you're fully enjoying your underground life.”

“Un~~, It’s because Laila-chin has been taking good care of me. Oo~~ Long time no see Laila-chin……Un? A-re-re~~?”

La Shii tilted her head.

Her half-opened eyes were looking towards Laila----no, towards Alua.

“……….Laila-chin, you stopped wearing glasses~~? Your hair is shorter………and, your breast turned super small?”

“That’s my sister Alua.”

“Shii. I already did that joke.”

“…………Uwaaan~”

Laila pointed that out, Tooi retorted her, and Alua was in grief.

“Ah~~, I see. Laila-chin is the one with the bouncy breasts. So, the flat chest here is Laila-chin’s sister huh. First time meeting you~~. Let’s get along, Alua-chi~~”

“……..Y-yes, hi………”

Alua lowered her head while her cheeks were twitching. Judging by the side of her face, she was showing anger along the lines of [That’s something I don’t want to be told by you!] but she is well aware that she’s dealing with a deity.

“So~~, Too-kun, Laila-chin, and Alua-chi. What business do you have with me? Hnaa~~”

La Shii sat down on the bed and said that while mixing in a yawn.

“Though I say that, I pretty much have an idea~. It’s probably related to the Nebulosa12 Goddesses problem right?”

Tooi was slightly shocked because she hit the bulls-eye.

“How did you know? You have been sleeping in here for 10 years right?”

“My ears are made differently from humans. Hnaa~~. I can grasp the commotion from above if my sleep is light~~”

“Then this makes things fast, La Shii Fomalhaut.”

Laila cut to the chase.

“Your previous master Tooi-----“

“Don’t wanna~~. It’s so troublesome.”

“………………….”

“Hnaa~~.Sleepy…..”

Rejected. La Shii rejected it without even listening properly before laying on top the bed. It was a really rampant behavior.

However, Laila did not bother much about it and lightly raised her hand to make a pose. It’s a reaction showing that she predicted this to happen to a certain extent.

“Sorry but I don’t want to come out from here~~. Rather, I don’t want to do anything~~. I want to be lazy every day and sleep sleep and sleep when I want to~~”

“What do you mean by sleep sleep and sleep? Isn’t that supposed to be sticky sticky.”

At least make it sleep eat and sleep, Tooi said that.

La Shii [Ahaha~ true~] laughed as if she didn’t care and while rolling around the bed, she wrapped herself in her blanket.

“Even Too-kun hates troublesome matters right~~? Just ignore it. Give up on me and the other deities.”

“It’s true that I hate troublesome problems……but I can’t just ignore this. I have my responsibility for having you all serve under me.”

“Responsibility huh~~………….There might be a few things to think about the current situation of the Nebulosa12 Goddesses~~. But I think Too-kun doesn’t have the right to say anything. You revoked our contracts in such a one-sided manner and went back to your world after all…………”

Also, La Shii continued.

“You’re in a sense not really our master right?”

Instantly------

The sleepy eyes which were half-opened-----suddenly opened up with a glare.

Those wide opened eyes were giving off a devouring gaze.

“…………….”

Tooi did not say anything.

He kept his eyes closed and made a quiet expression.

“We were serving under you? Ahaha~~that’s really funny~~. You made a mistake; it should be using us right? The Shrines you conquered is about 5. How dare you act like our master, Too-kun?”

“………………….”

When Tooi was keeping silent, Alua raised her uneasy voice.

“Wh-what does she mean……?”

“Simple.”

Laila answered the question.

“Alua. Why do you think people gather at the city?”

“………….Yesterday, I had the same conversation with Tooi Onii-chan when we came to the imperial capital. It’s not that people gather to the city, it’s because people gather here that it’s a city……………”

“Yes. That is correct. It might sound like Tautology but the reason why people gather to the city is because people are gathered in the city---------same as that, this is the reason why this man was able to make contracts with 12 deities.”

Laila spoke fluently.

The events that occurred 10 years ago in this world-------since she was traveling in this world with Tooi Cross as his partner, she was able to say this.

“Within the 12, only 3 or 4 of them were deities that Tooi made a contract with through the formal steps------they were the deities that accepted Tooi Cross as their masters from the bottom of their heart. Most of them took advantage of this by making contracts with him because Tooi was already a Deity knight”

“Took advantage……….”

“You can call it a blind following if you want. There was value on using him-----once they step onto the chance of victory; they decided to lend their power to Tooi.”

Chance of victory.

On [What] kind of victory it was, Alua immediately knew.

“The reason why the [Nebulosa12 Goddesses] gathered under Tooi Onii-chan……is all to defeat the Demon King Hadar, is it………?”

“Yes. Causing a grand war which dragged the whole continent into the war, Hadar naturally caused anger to most of the deities and Spirits which are the same species. Just like how the humans from various countries formed an alliance, the deities also decided to form a faction. The human known as Tooi Cross was a plausible and convenient 3rd wheel-----a mediator.”

“No way……! Then, Tooi Onii-chan was…….”

“He jumped over the necessary steps and immediately became a deity knight. In other words, he was dragged into a war between deities and a sad victim only there to be used.”

“----I’m not a victim.”

Tooi let his words slide while not looking away from La Shii”

“I won’t act like a victim after all this time. I decided to use the deity and be used by the deity with my own will.”

Everything was just as Laila said.

For an organization to stay an organization, they must have the existence of a clear [Enemy]. By having an enemy that has to be defeated, order and control is born in the organization.

Because there is an [Enemy] called the Demon King Hadar, the Nebulosa12 Goddesses turned into a strong organization with one goal----into a force that shared the same fate. Everyone wasn’t that obedient to Tooi but even so, there was control there.

In order to fight Hadar who possessed tremendous power as if it did not belong to the world’s structure, they needed to join forces.

That’s why-------he won’t think that his decision was wrong.

(But………)

Now that he thinks back------it was a sad relationship.

A relationship with no trust and is only connected by benefits.

One with using each other by greed.

“Of course, it’s not like everyone did not accept Too-kun~~”

La Shii said that lazily.

“From the looks of it Ryu-tan, Zo-tan, Pan-tan were totally in love with Too-kun~~. Ze-tan, Gu-tan, A-tan might be strict with their words but, I think they accepted Too-kun. But~~ most of us only thought of Too-kun as some kind of useless rock.”

“……….What about you, Shii.”

“Me? Let’s see~~. Hnaa~~. I like Too-kun………..but, I have no intentions to obey you~~”

Her tone was soft but her words were sharp.

“I didn’t want to make a contract in the first place after all~~. Last time, I had no choice but to work to defeat Hadar. I hate going through troublesome matters------Hadar is going to resurrect sooner or later so, things might change for me if it’s going to do something to the world again~~”

The sentence that easily came out from La Shii------caused fear in the area.

(Hadar’s resurrection…….you say?)

That demon king.

That disaster.

That threat.

Is it about to resurface again?

The violent battles from 1 year ago reappeared in Tooi’s mind. Disgusting sweat flowed out from his back. The feeling of stabbing into the demon king’s chest vividly reappeared in his hands.

Alua’s face was looking pale. Laila somehow managed to suppress her bewilderment but even so the uneasiness and shock which she could not hide were oozing out form her expression.

“Hadar’s resurrection…………? Is that true La Shii Fomalhaut.”

“Yes. Of course, Laila-chi. Though I said that------it will become another existence from the previous Hadar”

After saying that much, La Shii slightly opened her eyes wider again.

“There has to be 21 deities----that is absolute. That is how this world was created.”

When no one could make any replies, La Shii continued talking at her own pace.

“Well~~, I might have said [sooner or later] but it’s a [sooner or later] based on my standards~~. It might be around 100 years later or so, so it’s something you humans should not be worrying about I guess? By the way Too-kun.”

The eyes of the deity of [Time & Space] were looking at Tooi.

“Within the 21 Deities of the world, you made contracts with 12 of them. Although it’s just merely for form’s sake, that number crosses over half. Do you understand what that means, Too-kun?”

“…………………..”

There’s something called [Stock Company] which is one of the several company structures in modern Japan. It’s a business that uses stocks to gain capitals; the company then uses the funds and conducts the service provided.

It might look like a wonderful and useful system at first glance but-------as a price for that, the company itself does not belong to the company employee and president; and is the possession of the stockholder who bought the stock.

Because of that.

If someone possesses more than 51 percentage of the stock, the company becomes that person’s possession in reality. There are many corporations and unions in various parts of the modern world using this system.

Controlling more than half------has the same meaning as controlling everything.

Then, since Tooi had more than half of the deities under his command-----

“------You understand this, Too-kun?”

La Shii said that.

With a devouring gaze.

“Too-kun…………..should have known this already. On what kind of existence we are-----and, on how crazy of an act you performed”

“……………….”

Since he continued not replying back at all, La Shii [Hnaaa~~] let out a carefree yawn. The special pressure disappeared and her face turned back to a sleepy young girl.

“Ahaha~~. Don’t look so troubled, Too-kun. Sorry~~. I didn’t plan to bully you. To apologize, I’ll listen to your wishes for a while.”

La Shii got off the bed while trying to take back her last remarks. She crawled on the floor and got closer to the cell bars.

“Making a contract is troublesome so sorry~~. Since Ryu-tan’s problem is causing you guys the biggest headache right now, I don’t mind giving my help okay~~”

“………Are you serious, Shii”

“Un~~. Having Ryu-tan as the opponent is just too burdening to the currently powerless Too-kun so………how should I say this, it’s not fair at all~~. Also~~, Laila-chi has been taking care of me for 10 years after all~~”

The words that came out from the personification of laziness- La Shii, had a whimsical proposal which he did not wish for.

(This was all Laila’s plan huh………..)

Requesting help from the deity of [Time & Space]------La Shii Fomalhaut.

This was most likely the goal for bringing Tooi here.

Having the contract done and getting her back to his control would be ideal but-------even if that’s impossible, having her help was possible.

If it’s the request from none other than Tooi Cross.

If they are able to borrow La Shii’s power-----it is even equal to a million troops.

To Tooi, Laila and the Empire Military, the deity of [Time & Space] is an outstanding talent and force that they want to the point of desperation.

“I’ll pass.”

However----Tooi easily said that.

La Shii slightly pouted her lips since he did not grab her extended hand and showed a sulking gesture.

“……….F~~uun. What’s this Too-kun? Didn’t you want me?”

“I do. I want everything about you. But-----I hate to get it like this.”

Tooi crouched down. He then finally was at the same eye height as the short La Shii.

While both of their gazes tangled with each other at equal height, Tooi told her this.

“I’m glad I met you today, Shii. I have been getting shocked at every fact, ever since I got to this world so I've forgotten this……….but now, I remember it clearly. The reason why I came to this world.”

There wasn’t only one reason.

There are many reasons why he chose this world and reasons why he did not choose his world.

But the biggest reason would be------

“I wanted you all to serve under me again.”

Tooi said that.

“For me, beating the demon king 1 year ago was just a [Method] for me. That’s why, the Nebulosa12 Goddesses that was formed to defeat the demon king…………putting into words, is just a [Method] for another [Method].”

“Well~~, that goes both ways too~~. We used Too-kun too after all~~”

“Yeah. That goes both ways. But, I don’t want things to end with that sentence.”

Was it guilt, obligation or-----maybe lingering attachments.

Even he has no idea what is the identity of the emotions oozing out from the depth of his heart.

Tooi was desperately craving for the Nebulosa12 Goddesses.

“I want to regain the bonds I lost----no, regaining it isn’t enough. I want to tie it a lot stronger than before. In a real sense, I want to become a real master for you all.”

That’s why; Tooi said that before standing up.

“I’m thankful for Shii’s suggestion but, I won’t be swallowing that. I don’t have the rights to be your master if I wiggle my tail happily when I receive something.”

He stopped looking straight into her eyes and silently looked down at his former servant.

“The time when I will use your power-----will be the time you accept me.”

“…………….”

“Okay then, I guess I’ll end things here and head back. I’ll come back again.”

Tooi then turned around and walk away from La Shii. Laila and Alua also followed a moment later.

“Sorry, Laila.”

“I don’t mind. I’m used to you not doing things that don’t go my way.”

Laila said that sarcastically.

The 3 of them then went back to the path but-----

The space in front of them suddenly distorted.

“Uh!?”

The impossible phenomenon gave the 3 of them a fright, but they entered alert mode in an instant. The distortion in space slowly became bigger and slowly turned into a hole.

*Pyokon* a young girl jumped out----from a light sucking black hole.

“Escape, success~~”

La Shii, who was supposed to be captured by the cage behind them, teleported in front of them in an instant.

“Shii…………”

“Too-kun, Long time no see~~”

“………..That’s an overly fast long time no see.”

Uneasiness oozed out when he heard her sudden voice.

Space teleportation, one of the powers La Shii has. With time and space under her control, making a hole in space is just a piece of cake. She can even easily twist off her targets along with the space and even lock down a broken space for eternity.

Even destroying the 3 of them along with space here------

“Ahaha~~. Don’t be so scared~~. It’s not like I got out of the cell because I got angry~~”

Opposite to the frozen 3, La Shii made a relaxed smile.

“Rather, it’s the opposite~~. I feel real good right now~~. Too-kun is a good man-----even though it’s for one time, the man that used me is a good man and that made me really happy.”

That’s why a present~~.

After saying that with a soft smile, she clapped her hands in front of her chest.

“If you cling on me and start crying with [Save mee~~] , and it turns out that you’re a pathetic man that would jump onto my suggestions without thinking, then I thought of hiding this forever~~. But, since Too-kun rejected it properly. So it’s present time~~”

“……..You tested me?”

“Yup~~. I tested you. I am going to be testing you more from now on. In order to see what you can do~~”

After letting go of her joined hands, darkness swirled there.

The darkness soon tore apart and light leaked out from the gaps.

The object that came out from the light----was a single black sword.

By the size and shape, it would probably be categorized as a dagger.

However that sword was too random to be called a sword------it was just too simple.

There’s only the glowing blade, and no guard or scabbard of the sword. There’s just a sad amount of cloth wrapped around the grip of the sword.

It’s like a single ore made into the shape of a sword-------

“That’s……!”

Tooi opened his eyes wide and stared intently at the sword.

“It’s my sword.”

“Tooi Onii-chan’s sword!?”

Alua shouted suddenly.

“W-wh-whi-which means that, that’s [Zodiac]!? The legendary sword used by the [Tyrant Slayer] Tooi Cross which is only made by Etherium!”

She instantly got tension up and started talking with an energetic pace.

“The ultimate sword forged by the Deity of [Weapon Empress]---Zesca Aldebaran using refined Etherium which was mined up by the deity of [Earth]---Gushana Rigel. Even the Etherium which rejects the hands of humans can be forged into the strongest weapon as long it’s the deity performing it. The created sword that was then completed by mixing the blood of Tooi Cross and the souls of every member of the Nebulosa12 Goddesses, is this black short sword. There is no other sword better than this to act as a medium for the [Deus Alma]…………10 years ago, it is said that this is the sword that put the final blow in the demon king Hadar……….but, wasn’t Zodiac lost together with the death of the demon king……!?”

“……yup. Thanks for the explanation, Alua-chan.”

Tooi quietly stopped the excited Alua.

(Is this girl perhaps a maniac when it comes to me?)

She’s full of knowledge regarding the Nebulosa12 Goddesses and [Tyrant Slayer], what’s more she’s quite well informed with the books with Tooi as the theme.

Apparently, she holds an unbeatable admiration towards Tooi Cross.

Of course, rather than calling it feelings towards a single human, it's more like the feeling of admiration towards a historical great person or fictitious person.

If this keeps up, it feels as if she’s going to turn into an explanation character but----well, let’s leave that aside.

“Shii. Why is Zodiac over here? Just like what Alua-chan said, it broke when I defeated Hadar……….”

“We fixed it~~”

While saying that La Shii pulled out the short sword from the space that appeared in front of her chest.

The black Etherium blade darker than darkness was giving off a mystical glow after it received the light of Ether pouring down from the ceiling.

“It happened right after Too-kun went back~~. Everyone went looking for the fragments in the demon king castle~~, and reforged it back once more!!”

“Why………..”

The farewell from 1 year ago----was equal to saying farewell to this life. No one should have expected him to come back like this.

“Who knows~~ I wonder why~~. No one brought it up and everyone from the Nebulosa12 Goddesses naturally just went with it~~. Someone suggested making a tomb and stabbing it there but, it’s not like Too-kun died. That’s why I ended up being the representative to keeping it since I am the strongest~~”

“……………….”

“After everything thing that has happened to us…….Too-kun is someone special. In both good and bad ways~~”

While saying it in a joking manner, La Shii presented him the sword.

Tooi extended his hands out but------he stopped half-way.

“Hn? What’s wrong~~? Ah~~, it’s hard to accept a present from me after I did all that bragging huh? Then I’ll give it like this.”

La Shii then bent down on the spot. She made a posture of serving Tooi who was standing in front of her, while lifting the sword above her head with both her hands.

That appearance----looked like a loyal retainer serving her master.

“This is not pity or charity, Too-kun. This sword does not belong to me, it’s yours after all~~. I am just returning it to its original owner.”

“Shii………..”

After a few seconds of silence, Tooi made up his mind to take the sword. He grabbed the presented sword with his right hand.

Deity sword Zodiac.

A weapon made from Etherium, and only one exists in the world.

The sword that he had not grabbed for 1 year was so comfortable in his hands to the point of horror. It felt as if the sword and his hand were one. It’s true that this sword was made just for Tooi.

“……….hey, Laila. Incidentally, how much is it if I sell this?”

“Let’s see. Just the very fact that this is a short sword forged by Etherium which is an ultra-rare and impossible to handle alloy, brings in a tons of cash but; if you add in the naming value such as [Weapon forged by a Deity] or [Weapon that defeated the Demon king]…………..fumu. I guess you’ll get an astronomical price tag that can get you a small country with ease.”

“…………….”

“T-Tooi Onii-chan!? Yo-you can’t! What’s with that hesitant face! Are you planning to trample on the feelings of everyone in the Nebulosa12 Goddesses!?”

“I know. It’s just a joke.”

Tooi then looked back at La Shii.

“Thanks. Shii.”

“Un~~. I don’t mind~~”

While saying that as if she didn’t care, La Shii tried standing up from her bend but, she let out a pathetic [Ah~~] scream half-way before falling down to the floor.

“No good~~, I don’t have the energy to stand anymore~~”

“No, doesn’t mean that you can sleep on the floor. Do it on the bed over there if you want to sleep------“

“Nee~~, Too-kun.”

While ignoring his words, La Shii said it while lying on the floor.

“Come back once you become strong enough to beat me. Then let’s have a fight~~”

There was an innocent light in her half opened sleepy eyes. There were no bad intentions or schemes, the innocent glow similar to a newly born baby, was inside her eyes.

“Enough to defeat you huh…….that’s going to be tough even after I gather more than half of the Nebulosa12 Goddesses”

“I’ll do anything, even reestablish our contract if I lose~~. I’ll listen to every order you make. I’ll even lick Too-kun’s asshole~~”

“………..By the way, what if I lose?”

“U~`nn. I guess I’ll make you lick my asshole when that happens~~”

Aren’t both sides a prize? There’s only gain whether I win or lose------he thought that but he didn’t say it out as expected.

“Ahaha~~, how about it, Too-kun. It’s insulting to lick the asshole of a little girl like me right~~? You don’t want to right~~?”

“…………….”

Tooi kept silent. Was this Shii’s aim? Did she say this because she’s an airhead? It was a hard decision to make.

He then let out a big sigh.

“I understand Shii.”

He said that. There was fighting spirit and determination in his eyes.

“I will definitely beat you. And-----I’ll make you lick my asshole.”

“”……………..””

The Schut sisters standing beside him were glaring at him with dead eyes. The gazes were giving off [What is this guy saying with such a cool face?] vibe. They started whispering [What is he making such a small girl……..] [I thought he loves big breasts but, he can go loli too huh].

However, La Shii nodded with a quite satisfied face.

“Okay~~, wash your ass and wait~~”

After that, he carried La Shii back to the prison when she tried to crawl back to the prison like a caterpillar before the 3 of them returned to the surface.

The meeting with the strongest existence of the Nebulosa12 Goddesses ended here.

Re-establishing the contract was not possible----but the gain was high.

His beloved deity sword Zodiac.

And-----a promise with a little girl to have their assholes licked.

Chapter 5: Swirling Politics

Part 1

Laila Schut wakes up late in the morning.

She has low blood pressure in the morning, and is mainly a night person. She often sleeps through the afternoon. Even the maids living and working there would not wake her up unless they were asked to do so beforehand.

When she was a private, she had to move according to the strict schedule as expected, but now that she has the status of major general, she was boldly managing her own attendance at work. Her work station which is the central HQ is nearby; also, since her mansion’s facilities were fully used too, there’s many times where business is done at her own home.

Even within the strict Empire military, those acts of freedom were originally something not forgiven but--since she’s been doing her job perfectly and has been giving above-average results; no one could file a complaint against her.

“………….Hn. Hn~~”

On the day and even the day after they visited La Shii Fomalhaut, Laila woke up late.

Even when the sun was high up in the sky, she could not leave the bed and was continuously rolling around her bed while letting out groans.

She usually gives orders to her subordinates with a dignified and resolute behavior, but she looks just like a little girl when she’s hugging her favorite blanket on her bed.

Today, the person who went over to wake her up was-----

“…….nee……..chan, Onee-chan, Onee-chan, Onee-chan!”

It was her sister Alua’s shouting.

The door of her bedroom bust opened and a pale Alua entered.

“Onee-chan wake up! It’s bad! Real real bad!”

“…..Hn~~. Whaaat, Alua…..”

Laila let out a pathetic groan which is impossible to imagine from her usual awe-inspiring behavior. She’s always this low tensioned whenever she just wakes up.

“Come on! Stop covering yourself with your blanket………wait, wh-why are you in your underwear!”

Having pulled the blanket away by force, Alua shouted after she saw Laila stripped off her pajamas and was in her underwear.

“It was hot yesterday.”

“Don’t strip because it was hot!”

“It’s okay. Only I, you and the maids live in this mansion.”

“Tooi Onii-chan lives here too now!”

“………Ahhh, oh yeah. He’s here…………”

Laila mumbled that in a blank sleepy manner.

“Well, I guess being seen in my underwear by him isn’t a big deal anymore.”

“Eeeh!? Wh-wha-what kind of relationship do you two have!?”

“He saw much more amazing places anyway………..”

“Amazing places!?”

“So…..what’s the problem Alua?”

After Laila asked her, Alua was blasted in her world of imagination with a blushing face but, she immediately came back to this world.

“Th-that’s right! This is bad, Onee-chan! This morning, when I was training with Tooi Onii-chan………Corporal Frau came over”

Corporal Frau is one of Laila’s subordinates.

“It’s about the diplomat from the Lectar Republic……”

“Unnn? There’s still 2 weeks left until the diplomat comes right?”

“That’s…………..by their own convenience, they made the planned visit earlier and has already arrived to the Imperial Capital”

At that moment, Laila’s sleepy mind awoke in one go.

The Empire central HQ is related to the palace where the royalties live in.

Arludea Empire is a powerful grand country that has invaded, and seized other countries around its area. Because of that, their military organization is huge. By appearance, the Royal family controls the [Empire] but, seeing the authority that the military possesses, this country is one closer to being a military nation.

The military has always been involved even in domestic affairs and diplomacy with other countries, and if one becomes the marshal which is the top of the military then that person’s voice and influence is known to be equal to the power of the royal family.

Of course, since there are many people from the royal family, people related to the royal family through marriage and nobles in the military army, it’s hard to rule out which is [Better] between the military organization or imperial family.

“Empire military major general, Laila Schut. Now reporting for duty!”

Having reached the HQ’s reception room, Laila was giving off a dignified expression which is so perfect that it was hard to imagine she woke up 30 minutes ago; and while saluting, she looked at the people inside.

The long table in the middle had a table cloth decorated with the Arludea crest laid on top of it and many leaders such as diplomats and officers were surrounding it.

The diplomat from the Lectar republic was already sitting on the seat of honor.

It’s a middle-aged man with a military uniform attire. His shoulders were wide, chest was thick but, his waist and neck were thick, rather than calling his body athletic it’s more towards stern. There’s a thick beard growing around his mouth and his eyes had a strong light that could overwhelm others.

Several vice officers were standing by behind him.

“Sorry for the wait Mister Gaien. I apologize for being late.”

“Yaa. You’re not late, major general Schut”

Opposite to Laila who was lowering her head in respect, Gaien did not even try to stand up. His body was deeply rooted into the wooden chair while he continued talking with that cocky posture.

“Oh, please don’t mind it. It’s our fault making the date earlier by our own whim. Raise your head.”

Rather than calling it tolerant, it’s more towards arrogance.

Gaien has visited the Empire military several times when the Ryura Vega problem occurred at the Fior region but, his rude behavior can be described as, showing the current power relationship between the Empire and Lectar republic.

“You weren’t in HQ so where were you at?”

“While taking the role of patrolling, I headed out to observe the city. It has been dangerous recently in the imperial capital after all.”

“Observation? You, a major general of all people?”

“Yes. Us, the commanders, have been staying at home for far too long. There are many things we won’t understand from the reports heard from our subordinates. By walking with our own feet, by looking with our own eyes and by listening with our own ears. By doing those acts and getting acquainted with the appearance and voices of the streets, it will become irreplaceable fortune for our military.”

“Houu. As expected from Miss Schut. That’s an excellent thought. There’s a good reason why you gained the position of major general at such a young age, I see.”

Laila made such a fluent random speech but, it seems that Gaien did not notice that it was a lie and nodded as if he was admiring it. Having known the reason for her late appearance, everyone was showing an expression with no complaints.

After Laila reached her seat, Gaien refreshed the whole thing and brought up the topic.

“Anyway, I am glad that Major General Schut came. It’s a waste of time with the other people here.”

“And by that you mean?”

“Isn’t it obvious? It’s related to the Fior region.”

Pressure increased in Gaien’s gazes.

“I have already heard the news but, there isn’t any results brought up regarding the Ryura Vega suppression case.”

“That’s………….”

“This is a problem. If you don’t hurry up and deal with that monster, our countries agrarian reform will lag behind and won’t advance.”

When Laila was finding rejections to reply,

“P-please don’t worry, Mister Gaien”

A member of the diplomat sitting beside him raised his voice in a flattering manner.

“Thanks to the repeated advances of our army, the deity is definitely getting weaker. In response, our army has not suffered any deaths when facing the deity and the battle is advancing on our favor. Next time for sure, next time we will definitely bring down the deity!”

(……….This idiot)

Laila scolded the person in her mind.

This transparent lie won’t work on Gaien. They probably is well aware of the situation with Ryura Vega since the Lectar republic has been sending scouts too.

And more importantly-----

“No deaths? This is a shock. Apparently, the Empire military, has been fighting quite lightheartedly huh.”

The face of the diplomat immediately stiffened up but, it was too late.

“Since it’s an opponent you just can’t win, I just can’t help to think that you lots are just trying to reduce the damages as much as possible. Even if it’s mistakes, I wished you all would show the fighting spirit of wanting to shower the opponent with sword slashes. Are all the soldiers all cowards that have no determination to throw their lives in the battle?”

While making an apologetic expression, Laila clicked her tongue in her mind. Because of one idiot’s unneeded comment, the bad situation turned even worse.

In the battlefield, there’s nothing better than little damages to the army.

However, for this situation----it’s a little different.

In order to free Fior Region to hand over to the Lectar republic, the Empire military is currently sending out their army. This is so that they would fulfill their role in the diplomacy.

Which means, they are just [Compensating] for the unseen circumstances; in an extreme argument, they are moving their soldiers because they are worried about their appearance towards the Lectar republic and other countries.

If they lied that they have a 1000 deaths then, Lectar won’t have anything to say, giving the Empire to maintain their reputation to the minimum standards but, if the opposite happens then, they can’t reply anything back if the other side blamed them for [Cutting corners].

“Is your side perhaps already thinking that this is someone else’s problem now that Fior was handed to another country? If that’s the case, then this is truly unsatisfactory news. We the Lectar republic will have to think of our future relations now.”

“N-nothing of the sort. We are doing our very best too but……….Since our enemy is a deity, we can’t deal with it with ordinary methods……….”

Gaien pressed for an answer as if to intimidate, after hearing such an unreliable response from the diplomat.

“How about increasing your soldier counts if you’re doing your very best? I took a look at previous records but, it looks like only about a 100 to 300 Spirit knights were deployed. If you use the Arludea Empire military strength, 1 or 2 deities is just an easy matter.”

“H-however………we can’t focus our forces towards Foir region. There are many problems within the country such as the west border and the northern bandits………..”

“That is your country’s problem. It is not related to us. In the first place, this is a problem caused because you all hid the fact that a deity would appear at Fior region.”

“It’s insulting to say that we hid her. We have said this many times before in the past but, the appearance of the deity is an unforeseen circumstance even for us------“

Even after that, the same quarrel continued causing this unproductive discussion to continue but, the Empire side was being suppressed by Gaien from start to end.

When the topic was going around in circles, Gaien’s manner of speaking got stricter and,

“We aren’t getting anywhere. Even though there’s no plan to break this deadlock, all of you kept turning down all of our proposals. It’s the same as acting like a child.”

After saying that, he sighed tiredly.

The people from the Empire side hung their heads and could not reply back. Just when the atmosphere in the room turned heavier, Gaien suddenly changed and made a bright smile.

It’s a really bright and scornful smile.

“Well, we sympathize with you all. Ryura Vega is one of the famous [Nebulosa12 Goddesses]. Which means, if we go look back at the start of all this, this problem occurred because Tooi Cross let those monsters out into this world. There are people calling him a hero in this world but, I think he’s just a thoughtless idiot if I say so myself. He’s just pulling a prank on the world. What a useless sinner, that man called Tooi Cross----“

It was at that moment.

*Bam*! A dull sound echoed in the reception room. Laila remained silent the whole time but, she slammed the table with both her hands and stood up vigorously.

“----Understood.”

While she’s being focused with sights of shock and oddness from her surroundings, Laila talked quietly.

“For this matter, it’s clear that it was our fault for overlooking Ryura Vega’s existence. In order to wipe off that embarrassment, we will use our entire military force and present to you the repulsion of Ryura Vega.”

Uproar occurred in the room after she said that sentence with such a resolute attitude. Everyone was opening their eyes wide in surprise while looking at Laila.

Within them, Gaien was the only one lifting the side of his mouth, oozing in joy.

“Houu. Which means, you’re going to increase the number of soldiers?”

“Of course.”

“How many?”

“3000. Of course, it’s a team made focused on Spirit knights.”

The whole room turned noisy.

Within the soldiers affiliated with Arludea Empire military, there are only about 10000 of them can use the [Ray Alma] and is called a Spirit knight.

Those Spirit knights are a scare force only deployed during emergencies.

It’s only natural that her surroundings would feel shaken when 1/3 of it is being thrown in.

“If we keep wasting our time on this fight, we won’t only exhaust our forces, but also the trust from other countries. If that’s the case, it’s a good idea to end this with a short term battle by focusing our forces. I promise you that we will summon our Spirit knights from every parts of the Empire and create knight brigade.”

“…….Fuu. Wahahahaha. How wonderful!”

After showing an excited smile, Gaien clapped his hands and praised her. He stood up from his chairs and walked over to Laila.

“As expected from Major General Schut. Your decisiveness and judgment is amazing. The Empire’s future is bright with you here.”

“Thank you for those kind words.”

Laila bowed deeply. Gaien *Pon* placed his hands on her shoulders before passing by her.

With his vice officers following behind him, the moment he placed his hands on the door on the conference room------

“Aah, I recalled something, mister Gaien.”

Laila raised her voice as if she recalled something.

“I forgot to ask you one question.”

“And what is it?”

“Right after Ryura Vega is dealt with, I presume that your country has plans in developing Fior region into a grand scale agricultural land so, can you please tell me the specifics on what those plans are, if possible?”

Gaien slightly raised his eyebrows for an instant.

“…….Why would you want to know?”

“For future reference. The agricultural techniques of the Lectar republic are famous within the neighboring countries. I personally am interested.”

“I see, how studious of you. The cultivation plan huh…………I am not from that field so I am not very clear but……errr, what was it again………”

Gaien has been putting up a pressuring attitude from the start but, he is now looking away and is searching his words in hesitation.

Laila did not look allow this chance to go.

“By the information I heard from, I think it was something like making water irrigation from the Mythril River flowing from the northern Fior region.”

“Aah. That’s exactly right. I remembered. It’s the irrigation first, the irrigation. We can’t do anything unless we secure the water for the agriculture. Well, I can’t say any more than this over her. Since the cultivation of Fior region is an important agriculture policy to our country, at a moment notice------“

Gaien tried averting the topic but, the atmosphere in the room changed instantly right after.

The people from the Empire brought their eyebrows closer in suspicion and started mumbling to each other, for example [……..That’s weird], [If I am correct, the Myhril river].

Right when Gaien started feeling troubled after looking at the situation-----

“Ah. Oh no. I am very sorry Mister Gaien.”

Laila purposely apologized.

“Oh stupid me, I made such a big mistake. The policy of making a water irrigation from the Mythril River, has already been done by the Empire 30 years ago and is a failed policy.”

“………………..”

“There’s many flat lands at that region and low on the amount of rainfall. Because of that, the dilution and flow of salt inside the soil takes place there; it has been proven that there is a high risk of salt accumulation if an irrigation channel is carelessly built there.”

Gaien’s sights turned grim but, Laila immediately made a mysterious expression and started talking to herself.

“However……this is weird. Your side should be well aware of the risk of salt-air damage occurring in the Fior region. To think that the Lectar republic would repeat a mistake that the Arludea empire caused 30 years ago even though they possess agricultural techniques far more advanced that other countries……..”

“……..Fu-fufu. Sorry. It looks like I was the one who made the mistake. I have been tired recently so, it’s making my memories chaotic. I think I’ll rest for today. I will prepare the documents regarding the cultivation next time.”

While making a stiff smile, Gaien left the room with his vice officers. Strong anger was in the glare he directed to Laila when he left.

The moment the door closed, Laila’s social smile disappeared from her face, before she made an expressionless face mixed with slight tiredness and anger.

She extended her hands to her shoulder and *Pan**Pan* dusted off the place where he touched over-familiarly just now.

Because of Laila Schut’s bold and fearless independent decisions, the high officials fell into chaos in the reception room but, she left the place right before she got dragged into the chaos.

(Well then, what now………..)

While walking down the HQ corridor, Laila was in thought.

She pondered over the behavior Gaien displayed, the condition of Lectar republic of the past few years and the agreements when they handed Fior region to them, for a full on analysis.

(Now that I think back, this matter from the first place is----)

She formed several hypotheses in her mind and while repeating reinforcement of her theories and discarding implausible ones until she was left with the best explainable one.

Like that, after she analyzed future and past events,

“Ah. Major General Schut.”

Her sister Alua came from in front and talked to her.

“How was the meeting with the messenger from Lectar?”

Unlike her usual tone, her current tone was polite and adhered to formalities.

When Alua is working and when other military personals are around, she would correct her speech patterns. No matter if they are sisters, they would set bad examples for others if a superior and subordinate have an overly familiar relationship.

“Alua……….umu. Actually, the situation changed a lot. If possible I want to have a discussion with him but, is he in the mansion now?”

When she meant him, it was obviously referring to Tooi. It’s best to not mention the name Tooi Cross in the public because of its fame in many aspects.

Regarding that point, the will of the sisters are in sync even without an arranged meeting.

“He’s out for a while.”

“He’s out? Did he go to a brothel?”

“There’s no way he would go there! Don’t say such weird things, Onee-chan!”

Alua’s face turned red and she retorted back with her real tone.

“Iyaaa, but you know. He was quite interested in brothels since 10 years ago you know? I saw him many times hesitating on whether should enter the entertainment district or not, and the color of his eyes changed when I told him that it’s possible to enter the shops at the age of 16 in this country.”

“R-really……….?”

“Yeah. He even said [I’m not really interested] with a cool face. He should just honestly admit it. That closet pervert.”

“………………”

Alua looked down while her face was red. The story was a little too stimulating for her.

While exposing Tooi’s embarrassing and making it a little too overly exaggerated, Laila enjoyed looking at the embarrassed Alua before, returning the conversation back to its original track.

“Alua. Stop talking about brothels openly in the daylight and answer my question.”

“You started it Onee-chan! Mouu!”

Alua raised both her hands up and was steaming up.

“So, where did he go? If possible, I want you to immediately call him.”

“Err……..i think it will be quite hard to call him immediately…….”

“Why? Is he outside the Capital-----“

Right when she reaches that far in her sentence, Laila suddenly remembered something.

It was the sentence Alua said when she came to wake her up this morning.

“……….You, if I remember correctly, you said that Corporal Frau came to the mansion when you were training with him this morning right? Did you say what training?”

“Err well, this morning, Onii-chan asked me to---“

After sprinting like slicing through the opposing wind, a motorbike stopped right when it reach a slightly elevated hill. The grasses were pressed down when it passed by and a straight line was formed on the grass plains.

The sun was slightly setting and it’s about time the curtain of night to fall.

“……Fuu. I am tired.”

After getting off the motorbike, Tooi let out a light sigh.

In order to loosen his stiff body caused by long hours of driving, he performed stretches and twisted his hips.

“Unn. Well, it has the same outlines of a scooter once I got the hang of it.”

While mumbling to himself, Tooi parked the motorbike behind a nearby big tree. Apparently there’s no lock but, there’s probably no worries that anyone would steal it in a place like this.

Since it’s a place treated as an off-limits holy land and is steered clear from normal humans.

Once he lifted his face, a soaring castle entered his view.

It has a beautiful white silhouette with the night sky as its background. The castle is not exactly considered big and, it just can’t seem to get rid of the snugly impression but, the exterior is covered with elegance. The sense of solemnity is being brought out by the delicate ornaments placed everywhere and the castle does rival or even surpass the palaces in grand countries.

A pure while castle so beautiful that it made him admire it by reflex.

That’s the shrine that Ryura Vega lives in.

Chapter 6: Unchanged feelings

Part 1

His grandmother’s condition was getting worse day by day.

The person in concern does not show any weaknesses and was always acting firm but, it’s clear that she’s getting weaker. She could not even walk and would spend most of the day on the bed.

Since her condition has already passed the stage of how much the hospital can do, she was currently in her own house recuperating. This is so that she could spend her time with her family with her remaining time.

Having returned from the other world, Kurosu Tooi was doing his best to nurse his grandmother.

He was earnestly and sincerely doing his best to repay her for taking care of him. This isn’t much to repay her but even so, he earnestly tried to fulfill his responsibility as a grandson.

It was painful looking at his grandmother slowly weakening nearby but, Tooi felt a little bit of happiness.

(Aah, I am so glad. I am really glad I made it in time)

He was scared when he got thrown to another world but, he somehow managed to return back when his grandmother was still alive. The fact that 1 year over at that side is equivalent to a month of time here was definitely a blessing in a disaster. Thanks to that, he ended up avoiding being the worst undutiful child.

“Oh, it’s a nice weather today.”

After Tooi opened the room’s window, a calm autumn wind flowed in. The sky was blue, and the weather was continuously displaying the term [Autumn with the sky clear and blue and horses growing stouts].

With her body up on the bed, his grandmother looked outside before smiling broadly.

“What a wonderful spring day huh. ”

“Un? What are you saying, Abuelagrandma. Its autumn you know?”

“You idiot. The word I said doesn’t actually refer to spring; it’s a word referring to the warm climate of late autumn like the one we have today.”

His grandma let out a small sigh after saying that in a tired tone.

She has westerner blue eyes and a proper bridged nose. Her face had wrinkles that give off her age of 121 years old. Her cheeks are sunken and her limbs were emaciated but, her eyes had the life force that would put shame to many youngsters and her gazes had power within them.

“Oh goodness. Looks like I have still many things to teach Tooi.”

After making fun of him, she made a bright smile on her wrinkly face.

She was holding onto her favorite Zippo with the hand outside the futon and was making it dance between her fingers.

“……Should I buy you cigarettes?”

Tooi said that.

Thinking about the sick condition of his grandmother, smoking is naturally prohibited but, smoking one or two sticks now won’t make any difference. He even received a warm yet cold sentence like [Please let her do whatever she wants] from the doctor.

“I don’t need 'em.”

However, his grandmother said that bluntly.

“I’m already 17. I don’t think it would affect my health even if you smoke near me.”

“Hah. Don’t misunderstand this, Tooi. It’s not like I stopped smoking because of you. It’s for health reasons, so that I could live longer. I plan on living till 300.”

“Looks who’s talking, after all that smoking behind my back”

“……….What a wonderful spring day.”

Seeing his grandmother openly changing the topic, Tooi could only make a wry smile.

“Okay, I am going out to shop so, what should I do with the window?”

“Just leave it open. I’ll close it myself when it rains.”

“But”

“Don’t treat me like a hag. This goes for you too, don’t take any detours and come straight back.”

“Don’t treat me like a child”

“You’ve got past records after all. Just who was the one who casually disappeared for 1 month?”

Having poked at the spot where it hurts the most, Tooi could not say anything back.

“Tooi. Where did you go?”

Tooi did not tell his grandmother that he was in another world for 1 year.

He thought that there’s no need to say it and there’s no way she would believe him even if he told her.

So,

“I became a hero and saved the world.”

Without any deep meaning to it, Tooi tried saying that.

His little joke was actually very close to the truth.

His grandmother laughed. At first, he thought she was laughing at his absurd story, thinking that it’s really stupid.

But, that was a mistake.

“Don’t make me laugh, niñoKid.”

His grandmother looked at him with a terribly serious gaze.

Tooi gulped down by reflex when he saw the glare which seemed impossible for an old woman who is at an age of 121 years old.

“How can a small hero save the world.”

“…………………”

“Heroes save countries. The Messiah saves humans. But, no matter how amazing the titles those people possesses, they won’t be able to save the world. The one that can save the world is-----“

Those words told by that hoarse voice was carved deep into Tooi’s chest.

It was the next day that his grandmother passed away.

Part 2

“………She’s not in?”

Standing in front of the extravagant door, Tooi mumbled that before giving up on knocking.

“She might be pretending to be out………….no wait, it’s weirder for the front entrance to be here. I came here thinking it was the front though.”

Tooi groaned while folding his arms.

On the outside perspective, the shrine of the [Violent wind] resembles the castles made up from humans but, its structure and interior are fundamentally different from the castles human uses.

This was an event that happened when Tooi and Laila challenged this shrine together in the past; the castle suddenly glowed right when they reached a few meters inside and right after they got be swallowed in by the light, they got trapped inside the complex and bizarre Shrine which resembled a labyrinth.

The responses differ for each shrine but, some kind of reaction occurs whenever they are inside the shrine. If there is no response then it must mean that the owner is not inside.

“……Oh man. I even went as far as to learn to drive from Alua-chan.”

Tooi decided to take a stroll around the area for now.

He made a lap around the castle’s surroundings and entered the forest behind.

It’s a full moon tonight. He was able to take a stroll without a light source unless he entered deep into the dense forest.

There were no animal presence and this naturally goes for humans too. *Rustle*, only the sound of the wind moved by the night wind was filling the quiet night.

After a while of walking, he saw a bluish white light coming deeper from inside. After advancing forward while depending on the pale light, he found an open space with no trees.

There’s a small spring fountain there. The water was fresh and serene; forget that, it even looks as if it’s giving off a pale light. It’s clear that this spring is not filled with normal rain water.

(Uwah, it gives off the feel that I can recover my HP and MP)

Tooi held a frank Impression of a person from Japan.

(……….I wonder if I can drink it)

His throat felt dry when he was in front of the water which was giving off a divine glow. Since he was driving without drinking and eating for several hours, his body was also thirsty.

While walking like a traveler who found an oasis in the desert----

*Bloop*.

The sound of a gentle splash reached his ears. And at the same time, Tooi was at lost in words because of the scenery that reached his eyes.

A girl was bathing at the shallow part of the spring.

She was fully naked.

Her silver hair was sticking onto her pure white skin as if to draw the outline of her body. Water dripped down her big bouncy breasts, as her tight waist and rightly stuck out hip constructed a beautiful body line.

Tooi froze when he was confronted with this unrealistic scene.

Her body illuminated by the moonlight was so beautiful that she looked like a goddess has descended. Her beautiful body transcends worldly senses such as lasciviousness or eroticism, and is closer to a work of art.

“Ryura……..”

While obsessively staring at her naked body, Tooi called out her name unintentionally.

At that instant, the bathing goddess- Ryura looked over to him.

“Wha!? To-Tooi……”

She opened her eyes wide in shock. With her face red, she let out a soft shout and quickly covered her body parts with both her hands.

“P-please don’t look.”

“So-sorry.”

With his mind cleared out, Tooi turned his back to her with vigorously. He could hear her breathing behind him and the scene just now that was scorched into his eyes won’t leave his mind.

He knew that his heart was pounding really hard.

However-----

(……no, wait. This isn’t right)

With his mind cleared out, Tooi cleared his mind once more. Opposite to his boiling hot cheeks, his mind was calm and he recalled back his original goal.

(Now isn’t the time to be doing this. What did I come here for?)

It’s to meet Ryura.

He came here to talk, discuss and understand each other.

The girl he was pursuing after could be reached if he extended his hands. This can be described as “A once of a lifetime chance”. So why the heck am I looking away? I don’t know where she would disappear to when I am looking away like this.

Tormented by a violent sense of loss and danger, Tooi chose to-----

“Ryura!”

Like lovers that have been separated, he shouted her name before turning around with all his heart.

“I am going to look at you!”

“WHY!?”

The naked Ryura was completely taken back.

From her perspective, she’s not feeling anything else other than shock and annoyance but, Tooi still didn’t stop.

“I made up my mind. I will properly face you all.”

“You don’t have to face me now!”

“………..I could not face you all 1 year ago. I was continuously thinking about going back to my world after defeating the Demon king----“

“Please don’t have a serious talk in this situation! Please don’t talk with such a passionate tone! And, please stop looking at me with such a passionate gaze!”

“Ryura, I wanted to meet you.”

“I-I wanted to meet you too…..bu-but, it’s problematic telling me that in this situation……..I kind of wanted to hear that in a different kind of situation if possible.”

Ryura quickly dropped her body into the spring fountain in panic. However, she could not hide her body because the water was clear and transparent.

Uuu~~, while her face was red from being so troubled, Tooi took a step closer.

“No! Wai-wait there, don’t come over here! Please don’t come closer! Please I beg you, look behind!”

“I won’t get fooled by you. You plan on running away when I look away right?”

“I won’t run away! Please believe me!”

“……Believe? Hey, Ryura. Just what is believe? Laila told me this yesterday. [Optimism and trust are two separate things]. I think that is exactly it. [Believing]. It’s such a beautiful word. It’s such a convenient word. I wonder which is more difficult, [Believing] or [Not believing] someone. This is my thoughts----“

“……..Aah, Mouuu!”

In response to Tooi who was staring at Ryura’s body while making a good story, Ryura finally reached her limits.

She raised her hands up with one hand while pressing her breast with her other. On her hand, she created a small tornado which was like the collection of her anger and embarrassment.

“Just stop it and go already! Tooi you idiotttt!”

Having tasted the anger of a maiden, Tooi let out a pathetic scream while getting blasted into the forest.

“If we think about this clearly, you can fix your attire problems in an instant right, Ryura. That means I don’t need to look behind nor do you have to hide your body with your hands.”

“Sh-shut up! I was so panicked that I couldn’t do it!”

After shouting that, Ryura puffed her cheeks as if she was sulking.

Currently, they were sitting beside the spring side by side.

Ryura was obviously not naked. It’s a magical and extravagant outfit that makes her look like a fairy or goddess. It’s Ryura Vega’s usual appearance.

“But even so…………..I didn’t think such a beautiful spring is behind the shrine of [Violent Wind]. This is kind of like Ryura’s bathroom?”

“It’s not exactly my bathroom…..but well, I often take a bath here. Since the holy attribute is strong and it’s self-purifying, the water gathered here is always pure.”

“Fuun. Drinking wise?”

“It might be dangerous to people with no compatibility with Spirits and Ether but, I think it won’t be a problem for Tooi.”

After hearing those words, Tooi extended his hands to the spring thinking to quench his thirsty throat.

However, his hands were grabbed vigorously from the side.

“Eh? What, Ryura?”

“.......Th-this is a request. Wait a while before drinking please………..”

Ryura’s face was blushing and her shoulders were trembling from the embarrassment. She looks more embarrassed than when her naked body was seen.

“Ah, perhaps, you don’t like it if I drink the water here since you just took a bath in it?”

“……..uh”

“It’s alright, I don’t mind at all.”

“I mind!”

“Well, if it’s the water used by some random old man and old woman to bathe then I will be against it even if you tell me it’s self-purifying but, If it’s Ryura then I don’t really………..”

“Uh! I-I’m not happy even if you tell me that!”

Even though she said that, her cheeks loosen down as if she was a little happy.

Since Ryura was seriously against it, Tooi sulkily pulled his hands away, and gave up on drinking the spring water.

After seeing that, Ryura *Haaa* let out an exhausted sigh.

“Seriously………Tooi doesn’t change at all. You’re always on your own pace, and I can’t read what you think………….You are fundamentally perverted though.”

“What’s with that “fundamentally perverted” part? Doesn’t that sound like my foundations are made from perversion?”

“Haaa……even though it’s our reunion after 10 years, why is it in such so unromantic and damn way……….”

Ryura grumbled but, her expression stiffened a little immediately right after. Tooi also shut his mouth too.

Because of a little happening, they started conversing with the same feel and tension like before but, this very moment, was Tooi’s after 1 year and Ryura’s after 10 year reunion.

She saw him a day before yesterday but, that isn’t called a reunion.

With their voice and hands at a reachable distance, this is called a reunion.

“………….You’re back to this world huh.”

“Yup”

“Doesn’t look like you aged much”

“Ahh, well you know. Apparently the flow of time is different from the world I lived in and this world. Following by my senses, only one year passed since I parted with you all.”

“One year……you say.”

“Hey, Ryura”

Tooi said that.

He made up his mind and looked straight at her eyes.

“Why are you fighting the empire’s military?”

Ryura then made a painful expression before looking downwards.

“Because you obstructed the cultivation of Fior Region, diplomacy in Arludea Empire is having issues.”

“……………”

“Aah, I am not blaming you. What happens to the Empire is not your problem and honestly, I don’t care about the Empire. I just am curious on why……..”

“---It’s none of your business.”

*Pishari*. Ryura said that with clear intentions of rejection. Her opened eyes had a cold light dwelling inside.

“How long do you plan on acting like my master. I am no longer you contracted Deity so I don’t need to listen to your orders.”

“………….”

“The one that revoke the contract was none other than you right, Tooi?”

He felt pain in his chest. Because of such a clear rejection, it caused a dull pain inside Tooi’s heart.

What Ryura said was the truth and nothing else. 1 year ago, Tooi discarded the [Nebulosa12 Goddesses] for convenience sake. He understands that everything was his own fault and he deserved it.

But even so-----

“It’s my business. I have my own responsibility.”

“Responsibility…………..true. I have heard rumors about the other [Nebulosa12 Goddesses]. It’s only natural in human society that you have to take responsibility of our evil deeds-----“

“You’re wrong.”

Tooi swung his head.

Laila most likely used the word [Responsibility] with the same meaning as to what Ryura said just now. In the word [Cleaning his own mess] she said, he could feel the context of “clear the sparks attacking the Empire by settling the problems caused by the [Nebulosa12 Goddesses]”

But, the responsibility Tooi felt was a different kind.

“I have a responsibility to protect you all. Having used everyone’s power as your master; I have the responsibility in protecting you all.”

No, it’s probably a little different from responsibility.

He was just honestly obeying the emotions boiling up from deep inside him.

Anyways, Tooi wanted to devote his heart to them who was his benefactors and war companion.

“Pro-tect?”

Tooi sincerely continued his words for his previous contract deity who was opening her eyes wide.

“Ryura. I won’t say anything if you are taking on the Empire because you want to do it. I might try to stop you depending on the circumstances but, I will respect your will as much as possible however, it’s different now right? You really………didn’t want to fight right?”

What resurfaced in his mind was the battlefield in Fior region a few days ago.

During that time, Ryura Vega fought the empire with a very grim face. She even fired a warning shot towards Tooi who was telling her about how happy he was to see her again.

However he felt some kind of loneliness and pain oozing out behind that serious warrior expression. At the very least, Tooi could feel that.

“You controlled the battlefield and made sure no one died right? It’s clear that you don’t want to fight.”

“Tha-that’s……….”

Ryura was stuck in her words and looked away in hesitation.

While looking straight at her, Tooi let out the feelings inside him.

“Hey Ryura. Please tell me. Why are you fighting? What is it that you want to defeat? What do you want to protect? Unless I know all that……I, don’t know if I should stop or save you……..”

After receiving Tooi’s words while he was feeling disappointed on how powerless he was; hesitation floated up on the side of Ryura’s face.

With an ice cold light dwelling inside, her eyes helplessly wavered. It’s clear that agony and conflict was controlling her heart.

However as if to get rid of it all, Ryura.

“It’s none of your business.”

Like just now, she repeated her rejection. Her painful voice sounded as if she was coldly discarding him away while also discarding herself away too.

“In the end, you are someone from another world.”

Ryura stood up and walked forwards. After she reached closer to the spring, wind swirled around her and caused a tornado, her body then started floating up.

“Uh! Wa-wait! Please wait, Ryura!”

Tooi quickly tried to chase after Ryura who was about to fly away.

He stepped into the spring without hesitating and desperately tried to chase after her while making loud splashes but, there’s no way he could reach her when she was flying in the sky.

“Ryura! Ryuraaa!”

He tried calling out to her many times but, she would not turn back. Her figure disappeared as if it was swallowed into the twilight.

His desperately extended hands could not grab anything was just reaching out to emptiness.

Because of that, Tooi lost his balance and fell into the spring. Since he could reach the depth with his feet easily, he did not drown but……he did not feel the energy to stand up for a while.

“……..Damn it.”

While kneeling inside the water, Tooi swung his fist at the water surface.

It was already the next day when he reached back Alcul capital.

He was pushing the motorbike in a lonely street. Once he reached the Schut mansion, Alua, who seems to be still awake, came outside to greet him”

“Welcome back, Tooi Onii-chan.”

“I-I-I’m back…………”

“Wh-what happened? Your face is pale……wait, aren’t your clothes are all wet!? Just what happened to you!?”

“Ahh, yeah……..I kind of took a dive inside a spring. Achooo.”

Tooi said that while his teethes were clattering.

The clothes soaking wet because he entered the spring was dried as much as possible by squeezing it or letting the wind blow but…………it was quite tough driving with damp clothes.

Driving an auto-bike or scooter with wet clothes is equal to suicide because of the wind he would experience. For the motorbike, the wind experienced by the driver should be reduced quite a bit because there is a wind barrier made from Spirit techs but, it doesn’t change the fact that he drove in high speed.

“………..I thought it would be the best idea to change after I come back but, that was a mistake. I should have made a bonfire.”

“A-anyways, hurry up and take a bath! I just entered it so it should still be warm there! I will clean up the motorbike!”

“Thank you. But, Alua-chan.”

“Yes?”

“You said you just entered the bathroom just now but, as a teenage girl, do you have any concerns if I am going to use it now?”

“Err…….I-it’s not like I hate it but……I will resist a bit if it’s a complete stranger so……if it’s Tooi Onii-chan then……….”

“Fumu. I see. Then, what If I drank the water from the tub?”

“Hell no! That’s just plain stupid!”

Alua shouted in no time.

After this, Tooi left the motorbike with her and entered the mansion with his trembling body before jogging towards the bathroom in the first floor.

He took off his damp clothes in the dressing room and threw it into an empty basket. Tooi slammed open the bathroom door because he wanted to warm up his cold body as fast as possible.

When he stepped inside fully naked without hiding his front-----

Laila Schut was taking a bath in front of him.

“Uh!?”

Tooi could not get his eyes away from the naked body that suddenly entered his view. He was sucked in by that violently glamorous body and could not look away.

(Huge)

Far before his shock, those impressions appeared. It was just plain huge and wasn’t sagging at all. It’s magnificently resilient and looked quite elastic.

Laila was out from the hot tub, and was washing her upper body with soapy hands.

How should this be expressed……it’s like, she was lifting her breasts with one hand and was washing the underside.

It’s a place that can’t be washed unless the owners possess exceptional big breasts.

“Wha!? To-Tooi!?”

Having noticed his, Laila shrunk her body and immediately closed the curtain as if to make a border for the bath tub.

Laila’s trembling voice could be heard from the other side of the curtain.

“W-when did you get back…….?”

“E-err……..just now.”

“I see. So. What are you doing wiggling that grotesque object around?”

“……..Err, sorry. I thought no one was in because there were no clothes in the dressing room.”

After saying that, Tooi recalled something.

It’s not a normal household here and it’s a noble’s mansion with several maids living here. The maids will prepare clothes for the master while she was taking a bath.

Apparently, Tooi entered right at that perfect timing.

“I-I’m really sorry. I’ll apologize properly later.”

After saying that, Tooi took a step back. He tried to leave as fast as possible because of the embarrassment of having his naked body seen and the guilt of seeing her naked.

But------

“W-wait. Don’t go.”

In a shocking event, Laila stopped him.

“Heh? Eh………? W-what do you mean with don’t go………”

“Err, well. S-since you are here…….how about having a nice chat.”

“…………..”

“Stay there until I finish taking my bath. Get it?”

Tooi had no clue what was going on.

“----I see. You went to meet Ryura Vega but failed to convince and persuade her huh.”

After being told the events that occurred at the shrine of [Violent Wind], Laila mumbled as if she understood and was not blaming him.

Currently, Tooi was sitting on a towel which he spread out on a stone made tile.

His goal was previously to warm his body up so, it was currently quite tough for him to stand-by naked without entering the bath tub or take a shower but, since the whole bathroom is filled with steam, the humidity was quite high making it kind of like a sauna. Because of that, his body won’t tremble from the cold.

(Scratch that, it’s hot here)

Because his emotions were greatly troubled, his body increased quite high.

Laila’s naked body he saw just now just won’t leave his head.

The naked body of Ryura Vega he saw just a few hours ago was so beautiful that it’s described as an exquisite work of art.

Her magical body is placed on a pedestal that is freed from the chains of this earth.

He felt that it would be impolite and disgusting to hold emotions such as [Perverted] and [Seductive].

However, Laila Schut’s body is the total opposite.

She has a body made of the word [Perverted].

She has the body line that looks as if the word [Seductive] was concentrated to its maximum limit.

Her breasts, thighs, butt, hips, lips eyes, basically every part of her was explosively [Erotic].

He saw Laila’s naked body 10 years ago when she was 17 but……well, a little something happened then but anyways; she grown magnificently after 10 years and is now mature.

Could a woman’s 26 year old body bring about this much Eros.

What’s more, it’s not impossible that he would feel dizzy if such a body is over at the other side of a single curtain and was being washed even now.

“What’s wrong? You’re acting quiet.”

Laila said that from over the thin film.

“…………It’s obvious I would be quiet. What’s with this heavenly situation? Instead, it’s much more impossible to talk normally in this situation.”

“Fu-fuun. Well, my adult body might be a little too stimulating to a teen at the middle of his puberty like you.”

Laila made an appeal on her age difference with a fun tone while acting adult like. She was quite bewildered when they encountered each other but, she was completely calm now.

“Are you okay? You aren’t nose bleeding from the excitement right? Or, did something else come out?”

“………………”

It was annoying being constantly fired so he tried thinking of some kind of insult to reply back but…………once he saw the silhouette of her naked body behind the thin film, his head could not run properly.

Since he could not say any smart lines, he quickly asked for the topic.

“So, what do you want to talk about Laila? What’s the conversation you want to have to the point of stopping me here while we are both naked?”

“Ahh………..yeah. Well, it’s nothing that important. It’s just……….there’s no chance for us to talk together alone since Alua is always around.”

True. 3 days passed since he came to this world but, this is the first time he was together with Laila alone.

“Err………what, errr, Tooi……..”

Laila told him that in a flustered manner which is very rare compared to her usual dignified attitude.

“This is serious……what do you think of older women?”

“……….Huh?”

“L-like I said, I am asking you what you think about older women!”

Tooi tilted his head after hearing her impatient voice.

“Basically……………...You’re asking if older women is in my strike zone huh; whether or not I see them as a love interest, something like that?”

“C-correct.”

“……….Laila. Are you, perhaps, really concerned about the age gap between us?”

“Uh! I-I just can’t help it………….That’s because, we were the same age before but now I am 9 years older……..once I saw you the same even though 10 years passed……….I suddenly felt as if I got old……..”

After hearing the reason done in a fast tone, Tooi felt really pleasant. That’s because the unconfident Laila was quite refreshing and cute.

As a female, it’s apparently normal to worry about her own age.

Since she made an appeal of the age difference while acting mature, he thought she wasn’t bothered by it at all but, it looks like she was acting tough and hiding her embarrassment.

“Don’t worry about it, Laila. 26 is still very young. That’s why, don’t worry about anything.”

Your breasts aren’t sagging either; he did not say that since it would be sexual harassment.

“I-I see………Yeah, that’s right. My breasts aren’t sagging too after all!”

……..She said it herself.

“Fu……..fufu. Fufufufu. I see I see. It’s still okay. The grandmas in the world will probably be mad if a beauty like me worries about age when I am just 26. Yeah. I am young I am young. I, am. Super, young.”

Laila suddenly became really happy.

Tooi sighed once before-----

“………….Hey, Laila. I am changing the topic now.”

He started a new conversation.

Tooi felt the same way when she said she had questions for when they are alone together.

“In reality, what’s going on? Your, current status?”

“About what?”

“Don’t act stupid. It’s your status in the military.”

Laila Schut climbed up to Major general in a young age.

The achievement consisting of taking part in the [Demon King Suppression], basically, the fact that she commanded the [Tyrant Slayer] Tooi Cross was probably a big help for her promotion.

But.

The name Tooi Cross holds the meaning of hero and criminal in every part of the continent.

It that’s the case, then as the person that commanded Tooi-----

“Let’s see…………”

Laila waited a bit before letting out her voice.

“It would be a lie if I told you everything was smooth sailing. There are a lot of people jealous of my abilities. From their perspective, the problems caused by the [Nebulosa12 Goddesses] is the perfect material to get overthrown.”

“…….I see.”

“But, it’s not like I am completely surrounded by enemies. There are people that would treat me as an ally. Also……….just like what I said before, all the information related to Tooi Cross has been dramatized for my convenience. In a another way to say it, everything was made to make you the only bad guy.”

“…………….”

“So---don’t apologize, Tooi.”

Laila said that.

In a strong and clear tone.

“It’s true that the problems with the [Nebulosa12 Goddesses] are strangling my neck. But, I wouldn’t have been promoted to this far if I didn’t use you or their powers.”

“………..”

“Tooi. We are war companions and comrades. Also, an accomplice in crime. We are no longer in a relationship where we would apologize or pity each other right.”

“……..Yeah.”

Tooi smiled.

“I understand. Even I know that Laila Schut isn’t some cheap woman that would be satisfied by an apology.”

“Yes, that is correct. If you feel bad then show it by results.”

After Laila said that proudly, she later continued on with a soft tone.

“No matter what it is……….I will not trip over at a place like this.”

Her voice was filled with tremendous ambition and determination.

“This is for reaching the top of the military……….!”

Tooi smiled.

Of course, he wasn’t scorning her. It was a smile made with happiness and relief.

“It hasn’t changed at all, your ambition.”

Laila Schut said the same goal with the same tone 10 years ago. He could easily imagine her making an ambitious smile over at the other side of the curtain.

The top of the military. Basically- a [Marshal].

It is the highest position in the empire’s military and the supreme commander of the whole army.

Reaching that seat is Laila Schut’s ambition.

“It won’t change.”

Laila said that.

“My ambition has and will forever stay the same, ever since the day my step-mother was pregnant with Alua.”

“………..Does Alua-chan already know about the house?”

“Yes. She was told everything when she reached 16. She was told that she was going to inherit the family head.”

I see, Tooi nodded.

A grand noble of the Arludea Empire- the house of duke Schut.

Laila is the eldest of that famous house but, she will not inherit the family.

That’s because, Laila Schut is the child of a mistress.

That was the only reason.

That was the only reason but it meant everything.

It’s not like Laila’s relationship with the Shut family is bad. instead, it’s really good. It’s obvious since they gave her a whole mansion to her as a present.

But, for her to inherit the house is unacceptable.

Her parents, relatives, public, country, world, will never accept her.

Laila was made to face such a fate the moment the legal wife conceived the legitimate child-Alua.

(…….What does Alua-chan think about this)

---When I become older, I want to be useful to Laila Onee-chan.

---I want a job that would help Laila Onee-chan.

For Tooi this was an event one year ago; a young Alua told Laila those sentences with eye-blinding glowing eyes.

The reality that such a person would leave her esteemed and respected sister behind to inherit the house.

Just how did the 16 year old girl take on such a reality?

Laila and Alua looked like close sisters in the front but, on the other side, they were dragged into a situation that could not be fixed by normal means.

“What about you, Tooi?”

“About?”

“You’re a man like every other right? Don’t you have any ambitions like, I want to rise up, I want to step on top of others, I want to control a country, and I want to be a king, anything?”

“Ahhhh………not interested.”

Tooi said that without any speck of ambition.

“Even in my old world, I had no interest in politics or the nation. I don’t think I would suddenly feel like doing it because I came to another and I think I won’t be able to manage.”

Well, he did cramp in e-books related to it in his smartphone, thinking that he might try it out but, even if he did not made the mistake in bringing his ero magazines and properly brought his smart phone over here, he would probably get bored reading half-way through anyway.

He just isn’t interested at politics at all.

Things like the country, territory, border, and people.

It’s impossible for him to do his best for such vague and obscure things.

“I can’t fight for people who I have never seen before.”

After Tooi easily said that, Laila sighed tiredly.

“Yeah. That’s the kind of man you are.”

An amusing laugh leaked out. She’s not scorning or rejecting their different viewpoints and was purely enjoying it.

“Well forget it. This is not the first time our views don’t match-----Okay.”

Without a moment of delay.

The curtain was pulled open.

That body of concentrated [Perverted] appeared in front of Tooi again.

She was not naked this time because there’s a prepared towel wrapping around her body. But, her hair looked silkier because it was washed, her skin was slightly blushing, her breasts looked as if it’s about to spill out the towel any moment, and her thighs peeking out from the hem, was too unbearably sensational.

“-----!?”

“Tooi. Come to my office once you are done bathing. With Alua joined in too, we will be discussing our future plans.”

“No no, don’t talk about soothing so serious in this situation!”

“It’s fine. A towel is wrapped around anyway.”

“I’m fully nude!”

“You’re a noisy one for a guy. But relax. Look. Right now, I am not wearing my glasses…………actually, I can’t see much at all.”

After saying that, Laila narrowed her eyes and stared over to him.

Specifically…….Tooi’s lower half.

“Yup. I can’t see at all. I just can’t see your little boy’s condition or its size too.”

“You don’t have to know!”

He quickly covered his crotch. It’s still embarrassing even though he knows she can’t see it. Tooi’s body is currently………..errr, in a situation where he has to use both hands or else it would be hard to hide it but, he’s trying his best to hide it now.

Laila left the bathroom gallantly, in the backward glance of the naked man who is hastily hiding his body.

Having left behind, Tooi let out a loud sigh.

His initial plan to enter the bathroom was to warm up but, since he can’t help his burning body right now, he washed his body with water colder than usual.

Once Tooi reached the office after taking his bath, both of them were already waiting for him. Laila was sitting on the office table while Alua was standing beside her.

After seeing some wetness left on Laila’s hair, his excitement he felt just now was about to reappear again but, he sat down on the sofa while desperately pretending as if everything was normal.

“----3-3000!? 3000 Spirit knights to fight in Fior Region!?”

After Laila told them the contents of today’s meeting, Alua let out a dimwitted voice.

“C-can you do such a thing, Onee-chan.”

“Impossible.”

Laila easily said that.

“The Empire’s Military don’t have the leisure to send that many soldiers. Not only do they not know how much money is needed to gather skilled Spirit knights which are all high-income earners, holes would be formed everywhere in the countries frontlines and security.”

Adding on, Laila continued.

“Even if we throw that many soldiers in, there is no guarantee that we will win.”

While leaning against the sofa, Tooi placed his hands on his chin and was in thought.

(……………3000 Spirit knights from the military huh)

If they had that force then it might be possible to fight Ryura on equal terms.

Of course, since it’s on equal terms, he doesn’t know which side the scales of victory would tilt towards to.

“I-impossible you say………then, why did Onee-chan promised something that impossible?”

“There was no other way to calm the situation. That’s why I made something up. It would take at least a month to gather 1000 soldiers. Which means, the elites in Lectar would keep quiet for about 1 month.”

This means, they have 1 month to make another plan to take back Fior region. That was probably Laila’s idea.

“But, Onee-chan. If we can’t do anything in this 1 month then………”

“Of course, my head will probably fall off as the idiot who made a promise to get through the situation. If Lectar told this problem to the other alliance countries then the diplomacy with the Empire will plummet. I guess I can make full use of my authority to move the soldiers but………a [Distortion] will definitely occur everywhere if I do that. In the end, I will lose my head as the idiot who made such a reckless command.”

“……………”

Alua was in lost in words and dumbfounded. Apparently, she can no longer keep up the crazy and reckless development.

“Laila. For you to go that far means…………you have some kind of plan?”

“I won’t call it a “Plan” but, I guess it’s a [Seed].”

After saying that, Laila took out several documents from the drawer. After he took it to take a look, they were documents related to the Arludea Empire’s agricultural policy.

“This is something before I was born…………actually, the Empire has failed in cultivation Fior region in the past.”

“Failing in cultivation?”

“Right when they advanced the water irrigation from the Mythril River, they found out that there’s high risk that salt-air damage would occur in that areas soil.”

“…….Irrigation….Air-salt damage?”

What’s that, Tooi searched in his mind. He felt as if he learned this from social studies or home economic during his middle school. It was something about the Mesopotamian civilization declining because of the air-salt damage caused by the developing water irrigation. It’s not like he can’t recall back but, it’s just a vague memory.

“Basically, it’s something like the area is not suitable to make a field.”

“Well, something like that.”

Laila agreed with Tooi’s extremely dumbed down summary.

“………….Wait? Isn’t it weird that it’s not suitable for cultivation? Because, the Lectar republic wants Fior region for cultivation purposes right?”

“It’s just that the risk is high so it’s not like air-salt damage will occur in a 100% rate; if they can get rid of the salt inside the water irrigation then, there won’t be any problems.”

After looking through the documents, apparently the irrigation method done was careless and the Empire was just lacking in that area. Seeing the results of the scale between the air-salt damage risk and the countries irrigation technique, the imperial family quickly abandoned cultivating Fior region.

“Lectar possess better cultivation techniques than the Empire. That’s why I thought they would somehow proceed with the cultivation but……the situation just stinks.”

Laila frowned her eyebrows.

“Even the diplomat from Lectar had no idea about the Fior cultivation plans. Don’t you think it’s weird? Judging he fact that Gaien is a diplomat and military commissioned officer at the same time……well, it might be plausible that he doesn’t know but, not knowing anything at all is just too weird……….”

“W-what does that mean, Onee-chan………?”

After Alua asked, Laila told her a single hypothesis.

“It’s highly possible that the Fior Region agricultural cultivation plan by the Lectar Republic is in a complete blank slate.”

“……..Wa-wait just wait. Does that mean that Lectar wanted Fior region without any plans made at all………?”

“Or----“

Tooi quietly interrupted Alua’s panicked words.

“They had no intentions to cultivate there from the start, right?”

*Nod* Laila nodded. Alua opened her eyes wide in shock.

“There were many benefits for the Empire regarding the trade of Fior region. That’s why the trade contract concluded surprisingly smooth but-----“

Immediately right after that, Ryura Vega appeared in Fior region.

With a terrible suspicion of “The Empire was hiding the existence of a deity”, their status got bad.

“-------All the prerequisite condition might have been opposite in the first place.”

“The opposite?”

“It’s possible that the Lectar were the ones, hiding the deity’s existence.”

It’s a just a theory, Laila made that introduction before continuing.

“Lectar coincidentally knew that Ryura Vega frequently appears in Fior region. Right before the Empire could. Thinking they can use that, Lectar claimed position of the territory through diplomatic means while hiding that fact. After that, they started making a commotion in public about the existence of the Deity. Basically, Lectar’s goal is this situation where they would be standing on a more superior position than the Empire.”

(………..I guess it’s like buying something while fully aware that it’s defective from the start and complaining about it after it reaches home huh)

Tooi simplified it by changing explaining it through Japan logic.

“How about it, Tooi, Alua? It makes sense right?”

“It makes sense but…………I think there are still many problems with that theory”

“Even I…………don’t think Ryura Vega would move so conveniently for Lectar.”

“………True.”

It seems Laila knows that it was a forceful theory and did not push him for his opinion. She leaned against her chair and raised both her hands.

“Haaa. In the end, the problem lies in what is Ryura Vega thinking about. Even if I could read humans who move according to their safety and selfishness, I can’t read the minds of a Deity which are outside the human realm.”

(Ryura’s thoughts huh………)

In the end he could not figure out her real intentions from today’s (It’s should be yesterday) encounter.

But, there’s one thing he’s sure.

And that’s - Ryura is Ryura.

Appearance, voice, tone, personality, basically everything matches the Ryura Vega Tooi knew. She’s a kind and loving Deity that loves peace, hates war, and holds emotions of kindness and respect towards humans, animals and plants.

(That’s why…….there must be a reason. a reason why Ryura has to fight)

Tooi buried himself in thoughts.

“Fuaaa……….”

And, a cute yawn could be heard.

“Ah. Sorry. I, err, just…………”

Laila stood up after Alua lowered her head embarrassed.

“It’s pretty late. It’s about time we wrap this up. Anymore will affect tomorrow.”

Taking a look at the clock, it has already passed 3 in the night.

“Well while we are at it, how about we sleep together for old times’ sake?”

After Laila said that with a prankster smile, Alua’s face *Bo* turned red.

“W-what are you saying, Onee-chan! There’s no way we could do that!”

“Why not. Aah, how nostalgic. With Alua in the middle, I slept with Tooi as if we are a married couple”

“No means no! Have some self-control, you’re not young anymore, Onee-chan!”

“Stop with the innocent face, look who’s talking, Alua. You often slip inside Tooi’s bed and sleep together..”

“!? That’s something from 10 years ago!”

“Tooi’s room is the same as before. I think our pillow should be somewhere in that room”

The younger sister was swept away by the elder sister who is in high spirits.

Tooi immediately recalled something.

“Ohh yeah, Laila. I haven’t thanked you yet.”

“What?”

“Thanks for keeping my room the way it is. It’s thanks to you that it was comfortable.”

“It’s that huh……..don’t worry about it. It wasn’t a handful. Rather, the ones cleaning are the maids so all I did was order them.”

After saying that, Laila slightly closed her eyes and made a bitter smile.

“I just…..kind of hated it. The fact of someone else other than you using that room.”

Tooi’s back felt a little itchy since she said it in a gentle tone.

Is it sentimentality or attachment?

Regardless, he feels happy about Laila’s consideration------

“-----!?”

Instantly.

Electricity shocked Tooi’s mind.

(No way………)

No, but, there’s no other explanation.

If that’s correct then the consistency matches.

(This has to be joke……then, Ryura, has been doing this for-----)

Because of the shock, Tooi felt astonishment before he covered his mouth in reflex.

“………..What’s wrong, Tooi Onii-chan?”

When Alua was concerned about him with a worried expression,

“I got it.”

He leaked those words.

“I understand everything.”

“U-understand…..wait, eh? eeeeeeeh?”

“So you know the Lectar Republic’s goal?”

Both of them were greatly bewildered and were looking at him with gazes of expectations.

But Tooi, Hmm? Tilted his head.

“Eh? Lectar Republic’s goal? I don’t know about that. I don’t really care about that anyway.”

He said that. Both the Schut sisters *Gaku* lost their balance but, Tooi was calm and answered them confidently.

“I was thinking only about Ryura.”

Part 3

A chaotic commotion was occurring inside the Empire’s Military central HQ on the next day.

There was no need to say the cause of the commotion; it was the meeting contents with Gaien yesterday.

Inside an office, Laila Schut was crowded by people who heard the problem from yesterday.

“Just what is this, Major General Schut.”

Within the people gathered there, Captain Duffman who is currently the commander of Ryura Vega suppression team was present. He pressed Laila, who was sitting at the office desk for an answer, and was glaring at her.

However, Laila was not bothered of Duffman’s pressure and told him as if nothing happened.

“It was you who asked for an increase of soldiers, Captain Duffman.”

“There should be a limit on how many! It’s just plain stupid to move 3000 Spirit knights for this small problem! Even though we have forces to spare, we have no benefits in this war! We should move moderate number of soldiers and just maintain our reputation to other countries!”

Everyone shouted in agreement to Duffman’s voice.

Within the storm of thunderous criticism----

*Pan*!

The same time a dull sound echoed on the desk, the voices of dissatisfactions and criticisms filling the room stopped at perfect timing. Laila stood up from her chair and glared at everyone in the room.

“That just means I have my own thoughts. I’ll lend my ears if any of you have some kind of alternate plan. If you don’t then, stop spilling your dissatisfaction.”

Everyone kept quiet after hearing that commanding line.

“…………..So, this means Major General Schut would take all the responsibility right?”

“Of course.”

“Fuun. Looks like Major General Schut still has a liking in monster exterminations huh. As expected from someone who has provided her services in the [Demon King Suppression].”

Duffman snorted in displeasure.

“Well, forget it. If possible, I wanted to be the one get rid of that monster by my commands but, since you are willing to go that far, I’ll let you handle that monster.”

It might sound like a good speech but, he basically said, he has no intentions in sticking his fingers into this matter.

“Go ahead Major General Schut, please command the Spirit knight brigade with your orders. Although, if you are able to gather those soldiers in the first place.”

It is currently hard to summon 3000 Spirit knights in this situation. Even if she managed to gather them, she would be pressured by the national treasury used to move that many soldiers and this would cause a decline in national power. That foist will definitely pose as a big problem someday.

“I pity you, Major General Schut. You rose up thanks to the powers of those monsters but, it’s you are being strangled by the neck by those monsters this time. Well, I guess this is something you deserve for what you’ve done.”

After he said that disagreeability, Duffman took cigarettes out from his pocket and put one into his mouth. When he searched for a lighter in his military uniform’s pocket-----

“Here you go.”

Fire from a Zippo was presented from the side. Duffman thanked him and received the fire but, he immediately opened his eyes wide.

He apparently noticed that the person, who presented the fire to him, was the same person who caused trouble a few days ago - Tooi.

“Wha!? You bastard…….you’re that brat from that time!”

Duffman shouted with a shocked expression. Even the other military officials in the room were looking at the out-of-place visitor who attracts nothing but odd gazes.

*Shuu* Tooi closed the Zippo lid,

“My grandma said this-----“

As if to blow away the noisy atmosphere of the room, he was maintaining his usual pace.

“[Humans aren’t afraid of the darkness. It’s human fear that creates the darkness]”

He continued his words in a sad tone.

“When you called her a monster….. I honestly got sick. Those deities are not monsters. Humans are the one making them look like monsters.”

“………..Why is a brat like you here?”

Duffman ignored Tooi’s words and glared over to him while bringing his eyebrows closer in suspicion. The other military officials were showing the same response too.

If a “Why” pops up then; it’s because this was their plan.

Once the people, who were going to press for an answer on yesterday’s event, all gather into Laila’s office, Alua would bring Tooi over.

And-----

“Err………..un. I kind of heard the whole story.”

Tooi said it like a hero that is often shown in movies.

“Looks like you all are having trouble with Ryura Vega’s rampage. Mind letting me handle that case? I will try convincing her”

The military officials made blank expressions at first but, snickers started happening everywhere before they finally started laughing out loud with scorn.

However, the atmosphere changed the moment Tooi took out his sword from this pocket.

The scornful gazes from his surroundings were pulled over the black sword.

“T-that sword, impossible!”

The one who showed quite an over but still monotonous reaction was Alua, who sneaked into the room together with Tooi just now.

“It’s the Deity Sword Zodiac, told to be used by the [Tyrant Slayer] Tooi Cross! That shape and the bewitching glow which is a unique trait of Etherium……there’s no mistake!”

Alua lifted both her hands to express her whole body was shocked. Maybe she was embarrassed with her acting, her cheeks were quite red.

“Why is the legendary sword that was destroyed with the [Demon King] with our freeloader---!?”

“What…….did you say…….? That sword is Zodiac………….?”

Maybe she could not handle seeing such a bad act, Laila sent help.

“You, who are you……? What kind of relation…….do you have with him, with Tooi Cross? Answer me…..!”

(……That’s some realistic act there)

Unlike Alua, Laila was quite the actress. Gaze, tone, posture and the cold sweat oozing from her forehead, was perfectly acted out to show her cautiousness and fear.

After Laila stood up from her seat, she spread her hands out exaggeratedly and looked up.

“Aah, how could this happen…………you, the traveler from outside that I found collapsed in front of my mansion a few weeks ago due to hunger, who I fed until satisfaction and allowed to stay inside my house. You, who hid your own past, told me only [I am looking for someone], a man of few words and smell somewhat fishy……….is actually someone deeply related to that legendary hero……..!?”

………….that kind of sounds like a setting from a non-serialized story from JUMP, Tooi thought that but, he did not say it out of course.

Anyways, that was the setting the 3 of them came up with after thinking it through last night until it became late (Rather, it’s until this morning to be more precise).

It’s a setting, his appearance and status.

From now on, Tooi will live in this world as such an existence.

“Who am I huh…….for now, I’ll just say this.”

Tooi then told them.

His own character setting made to regain all the [Nebulosa12 Goddesses], which is the path towards walking on an endless ordeal.

“I am Tooi Cross’s successor.”

After that------

Everyone in the room was bewildered and while everyone was in loss of words, Tooi explained the plan to regain Fior region.

The plan that he thought together with Alua and Laila.

That plan was set to carry out approximately a month later.

Chapter 7: The Deity of [Violent Wind]

Part 1

The wind was crying.

The wind was not flowing properly, it was clashing everywhere, making creaking, causing twisters and, the wind blew around in rage while making buzzing around like creating a warped spiral.

The whirlwind was screaming.

The Deity of [Violent Wind]---Ryura Vega.

Her mental image turned into raging winds and controlled the world.

“…………………”

Ryura silently descended to the Fior plains.

There were no emotions in her expression. She was covered with a sharp air that would slice apart anything that touches her and her eyes were as cold as ice.

(……….looks like we have to fight again)

She suppressed the hesitation and discord rising inside her.

She had to accomplish her role like a soldier while being emotionless like a doll.

The information of a troop consisting of 3000 spirit knights from the Empire, has already reached her ears.

No matter if it’s Ryura, having to take on that force would be tough for her.

She has no leisure to control the battlefield anymore. It’s possible that she would trip over if she’s considerate about the opponent and hold her strength back so that there won’t be any deaths.

If she doesn’t fight seriously then, there’s enough risk of losing.

(But, I have no choice but to fight. In order to protect this land---)

Ryura closed her eyes, concentrated her consciousness and gathered the surrounding Ether. The wind then covered her body and turned into glowing armors.

After changing to her battle-mode, Ryura swung the rapier held with one hand, causing a great tremor in the air and it played a sound similar to a howl of a wind beast.

As if they were lured by the voices of the wind, the Spirits living in the land appeared.

In order to attack an army of 3000, Ryura made flawless preparations with her as the center.

Soon----the time for war will come.

The wind blowing in the plains, told her about the enemy she had to defeat.

“-----Eh?”

After lifting her face because of the weird feeling she got from the wind’s tale-------she was able to confirm her enemy’s appearance.

There were only 2 humans there.

One of them was a girl in a military uniform. Her age is about 15. She has a rapier on one hand while a dagger on the other. There was slight presence of thunder covering her equipment’s. She’s probably a Spirit knight that uses thunder attribute Spirits to fight.

The other one was-----

“Tooi…………..”

Ryura opened her eyes wide and let out those words.

It was her previous master that was walking together with the military clothed girl.

Tooi and the other girl walked for a while longer before stopping. Only 2 people were confronting the army that Ryura was controlling.

“Why are you here………….”

“You thought 3000 Spirit knights were coming weren’t you?”

“Uh”

“…………seeing that reaction, I guessed correct”

Tooi narrowed her eyes in loneliness.

“I knew it; you have been communicating with the Lectar Republic”

“…………”

“Lectar was also told that the Spirit Knight brigade will be moving out today. Having heard that, you planned on attacking the Empire’s military here right? But well, rest assured. The 3000 Spirit knights’ brigade----was a lie. The Empire gave Lectar false information”

Tooi easily said that.

“Of course, there was no credibility if it’s just false information so there was a lot of work needed to be done. In order to trick the eyes of Lectar, we really had about 3000 military personals gather at a nearby city but, all of them were privates or apprentices, about that level. Apparently they gathered there as military exercise”

Those matters are outside of my control so I don’t know much of it, Tooi said that. After that, his expression turned sorrowful and he slightly lowered his head.

“……….I am sorry for tricking you. I feel that you will never meet me again unless I do something like this”

That’s------exactly correct.

Ryura planned to never meet Tooi ever again. With the chance meeting at the spring fountain as the last, she planned to never talk to him ever again.

If she didn’t do that then-----her determination will dull down.

As if he was speaking to himself, Tooi continued talking towards Ryura who was not saying anything.

“The idea that you were communicating with Lectar………….we were having a tough time reaching that. You have no reason to obey after all. I thought they had some kind of weakness against you but, I could not imagine what that weakness was-----but, I finally understood”

Tooi said it.

He did it while looking at Ryura with a passionate gaze.

“It was all for me”

“…………..”

“I remember now………Ryura’s Shrine of [Violent Wind]. The scenery we saw together at the balcony there. Everything in the scenery we saw was glowing-------and this Fior region was included inside too. This region’s plain, river, forest-------everything here, a part of the scenery I loved was burdening you”

The door of memories inside Ryura’s heart opened.

A page of an ended story.

The Shrine of [Violent Wind].

The balcony at the highest floor.

The beautiful scenery she was looking at together with the master she acknowledged.

A scenery that no one else is able to witness other than Tooi and Ryura.

A scenery that only belongs to them.

A time that only belongs to them.

The scenery they saw at that time where the whole world was glowing, was the symbol of the golden days representing the battlefields Tooi Cross and Ryura Vega went through together-----

“………..That is correct”

Ryura nodded powerlessly.

“I, wanted to protect…….the scenery that you said was [Beautiful]”

Part 2

1 month ago. In Laila’s office.

“……It’s quite a romantic story”

After Tooi told them about Ryura Vega’s goal (Prediction), Alua made a somewhat entranced expression.

“……..Tooi. it’s going to be embarrassing if you make a mistake on this”

“I-it’s alright, I think”

It’s true that if he get this wrong, then he would be considered as a crazy self-conscious bastard but-----his speculations should be correct.

The Ryura Vega knew, would move for this kind of goals.

She is born gentle, and has a kind of mature personality but, on the contrary, she’s a Deity with a maiden-like romanticist side to her as well.

“Well, if the reason why Ryura Vega is that fixed on Fior region is according to what Tooi said…………..aah, I see. I can see the logic behind this now”

Laila finished thinking after a few seconds and started explaining her reasoning after some fixes.

“Most probably, a deal of [If you continue attacking the Empire military then, we will not agricultural cultivate this land] was done between the Lectar military and Ryura Vega. For the scenery from the shrine, Ryura had no choice but to listen to orders because she wants to preserve the nature in Fior”

“Eh? But, Onee-chan. You said Lectar had no plans to cultivate Fior just now………….”

“Yes. This is basically a threat. Ryura Vega is a Deity that has been living alone without human interactions until she met Tooi. She is ignorant on human agricultural techniques. She probably has no knowledge on whether or not that region is suitable for agriculture. In the first place, she probably has no clue where the Lectar and Empire are located on the border. Using her lack of knowledge, the Lectar military made up a fake story about agricultural cultivation and wanted to use Ryura Vega”

“……..bu-but, why did Ryura Vega listen to the threat? If she wants to protect Fior then she should ignore the demands from Lectar and just fight them. Even if they really went through the agricultural cultivation, that Deity can easily stop them right?”

“That’s because Ryura, hates doing that, Alua-chan”

Tooi interrupted.

“She’s……..a kind one after all. She might not be knowledgeable about agricultural techniques but, she understands that agriculture work and agricultural land is important to humans. That’s why, since she is going to be disturbing Lectar’s agricultural cultivation because of her selfishness, she should have thought about paying something back in return……..ahh, but, I see------“

Tooi mumbled.

His voice was quiet but it was certainly oozing with anger.

“Lectar……….was using Ryura’s kindness huh”

Instantly------Alua, who was standing beside Tooi, twitched her body. Apparently, her body froze up after she was stolen away by his deep dark eyes.

Laila placed her hands on her head.

“Anyways, I now have a speculation on why the Lectar was so fixed on making us increase our personals. Their aim is probably the decline of the Empire’s national power”

“The decline of national power………………..”

“If we mobilize our soldiers several times to take on Ryura Vega, we would naturally, lose man power and we will have financial problems. But, we won’t be able to take down that Deity if we are stingy with our forces because of that reason. Which means, the Empire will sooner or later have no choice but to move a big-scale army to Lectar to maintain our reputation”

“And, that’s what Laila did”

“We would probably fall into this situation sooner or later even if I don’t say it. That’s because the diplomat Gaien, would not lend his ears to any revisions to the pact or allow replacement of other regions, and would constantly request for the increase of soldiers”

“I see. Which means, it’s their aim to make several thousands of soldiers to fight Ryura huh”

Money is needed to move soldiers and damages will occur if the soldier fights.

The national treasury would be pressured just by moving an army consisting thousands of Spirit knights; this is a double-edge sword.

What’s worse, the Empire would not gain any land or money in this fight after defeating Ryura. That’s because the Fior Region already belongs to the Lectar region.

Which means, the enemies plan had succeeded the moment we mobilized our Spirit knights---Tooi thought that.

“No”

Laila swung her head heavily.

“It won’t end there. If I was in their position then-----I will crush them down to bits”

She then lifted the edge of her mouth, making a smile of a crafty tactician.

“Mobilize the Spirit knight brigade and make them fight Ryura Vega. They don’t know who will win but, it’s clear that both sides will suffer great damages. Right when the Spirit knight brigade and Ryura Vega reach their limit of exhaustion, they would move a large army to destroy both sides”

“Wha”

Tooi shouted in reflex.

“Is that even allowed?”

“T-that’s right Onee-chan! That’s completely an act of unethical military actions!”

“Fior Region currently belongs to Lectar region by paper. It won’t be any problem if they move their own shoulders within their own land. If they use the [We judge the Empire to be insufficient to handle this so we will use our own army to take down the Deity] card then, it’s enough reason for them to do this. No matter how many of our soldiers gets killed, all they have to do is say that they were all killed by Ryura Vega”

“……We seriously got profited off while we fought huh”

Tooi got passed his anger and had no choice but to admire it.

He had to admire the Lectar’s military who gave careful thought to this.

And, also to Laila’s cleverness for noticing this.

“As a result, the Empire will lose many skilled Spirit knights, and the national strength will decline with precious assets and military forces gone. Once that happens…………we will become good prey for Lectar and the surrounding great forces”

10 years ago, the countries in the continent formed an alliance and joined forces to defeat the great evil known as the [Demon King].

Even though that’s how things started, it’s not impossible that the relationship formed by the alliance will become a mere shell after time passed. Every country are constantly interested in the land and resources of other countries, and were probably scheming to chip off their opponents fangs once they get their chance to do it.

“Fuun. Although they are the enemy, Bravos to them. They sure made a cunning and effective plan……but, victory is with us. It’s possible to overturn their plans and steal a march on them. We have a special secret weapon with us”

Laila then looked over to Tooi with a provoking gaze.

“They don’t know that Tooi Cross has returned to this world”

Part 3

“I, wanted to protect…….the scenery that you said was [Beautiful]”

Tooi felt great pain after he saw Ryura sad expression.

The anger towards Lectar Republic for using her and the guilt that far surpasses that anger was filling his chest.

“10 years ago……Tooi went back to your own world after defeating Hadar. You did not listen to me…….even after I stopped you”

“…………..”

“I will not blame you for that. I know that you’ve been fighting hard to go back to your own world from the start. I knew it…………that should be it but, I lost myself on the spot”

Ryura said that before making a fleeting self-mocking smile.

“……..This is probably fate. Everything went back to its original state. Tooi returned to your own word, I live in my own Shrine again as the Deity of [Violent Wind]”

It couldn’t be helped.

Ryura said that as if she was saying this to herself.

“I could not get to live with you. That’s because, we live in different worlds”

They lived in different worlds.

A resident from a different world.

A summon, from another world.

“That’s why…..i…..wanted to protect……the scenery that you said you loved……the world that we saw together. I don’t want anyone defiling it. I only wanted to remember you…….while looking at that scenery covered by dusk and dawn from my shrine“

Ryura said this.

With eyes filled with overflowing affections, she said it with a trembling voice which sounded as if she was about to cry.

“I, have no other choice but to be with the you from my memories……..”

“Ryura………”

Several unbearable feelings started filling up and it feels as if his heart was about to be torn apart.

He thought he was hated.

He thought that it can’t be helped if he’s hated.

He thought that he was in a position where he could not complain anything at all even if he was showered with abusive insults because of his one-sided abandonment of the [Nebulosa12 Goddesses].

(But even after all that, Ryura was still----)

He was about to be crushed by the guilt and regret.

But---

“Thank you”

The first phrase that came out was his appreciation.

“…………you don’t need to thank me. This is just my selfishness”

In a somewhat slovenly manner, Ryura said that powerlessly.

“Did you listen to the Lectar’s military because of your personal selfishness?”

“…….Yes. They stopped the development of their civilization and canceled their agricultural cultivation which is able to help starving people, just because of my greed. It’s only normal………to repay this much”

“That’s wrong. Ryura”

Tooi clenched his fist, and squeezed those words out.

“Lectar had no intentions to use this place as an agricultural land at all”

“………Eh?”

“The land in Fior is not suited for agriculture. With the Empire’s and Lectar’s cultivation technique, the cultivation and maintenance cost more than the benefits gained by the agricultural land”

“…………….”

“You understand now, Ryura? You……got tricked. You’ve been used for their cause. Lectar’s military aim is to reduce the Empire’s military strength by using you”

Having presented a harsh reality, Ryura was opening her eyes wide while in loss of words.

But----

“…….aah, is that so”

After a few seconds, she made an expression as if she got over something.

“”Is that so”, wait…….don’t tell me, you knew?”

“No. But…….i knew that humans would never tell me the truth from the start. At times we are feared as monsters, at times we are worshiped as gods; we are unreasonable beings far from the realms of humans after all. It’s a usual occurrence that we are used for the convenience of humans, Tooi. Just like how it went with you”

“uh!”

Tooi gasped when he saw that frozen gaze.

“While saying that you love this world with your mouth………you picked your own world in the end”

“No. I----“

“No matter what it is………the action I have to take now will not change. I will protect this land, the scenery seen from my shrine. In order to protect the Tooi of my memories, I will treat you as my enemy”

The light of calm hostility was inside the Deity’s eyes.

As if to respond to that, the Spirits under her command instantly growled and directed their body weight towards their front legs.

Dog, lion, wolf, tiger……many of the Spirits living in the forest took those forms and attacked them all at once under Ryura’s orders.

“---Damn it”

The both of them immediately retreated and ran away from the Spirits who are pointing their fangs at them.

“Alua-chan”

“Yes!”

After making a strong nod, she raised her Rapier and dagger she held forward.

“Come here, Tritnix”

Responding to her call, a thunder coated lion manifested beside her.

The lion instantly exchanged gazes with its master and immediately hopped onto Alua’s Rapier.

[Ray AlmaSpirit Equipment]

With the weapon as its medium, the Spirit covered its master as armors and exteriors. The amor on her shoulders and arms that were covered with raging sparks were glowing brightly.

Formation speed and stability.

They had a drastic change compared to 1 month ago.

“Just like what we planned, I’ll leave the Spirits to you. Can you do it?”

“It’s okay! I trained hard for 1 month for this day!”

After Alua swung down her Rapier, the lighting gushed forward violently.

It fell onto the group of rampaging Spirits as if it was guided. However, the animals instantly dodged it after noticing its presence maybe because of their pure instinct.

The lightning did not hit its target and scattered everywhere after hitting the ground.

However-----

(Okay, just according to plan. Nice work, Alua-chan)

Tooi did not look panicked and Alua took the next steep calmly.

The lightning that pierced into the ground scattered in all directions mercilessly but, its glow did not dim down but instead it kept getting stronger and stronger.

While repeatedly firing lightning, she kept increasing the range.

It was not just a simple scatter, it’s a spark explosion.

“---Haaaaaa!”

Responding to Alua’s voice, the lighting expanded explosively while, *KAAA*causing a bright flash. With a brightness that does not allow the eye even open, the strong light temporarily filled the space.

Yes.

Their goal was a [Flashbang].

Of course for the animals, even Ryura braced herself and covered her eyes with her hands from the sudden blast.

It’s too short to call this a chance, it’s basically a slight error in calculations.

Taking that chance, Tooi ran.

She is completely blinded because she covered her eyes beforehand. He used the Spirit techs he gained 1 year ago and sprinted in the plains by borrowing the powers of the primitive Spirits dwelling in the land.

Even though he was back in his own world, he did not neglect the training which was available for him.

And in this 1 month, together with Alua, Tooi continued his Spirit tech training to regain his senses in the battlefield.

In terms of physical abilities, he has trained it to the point where he is extremely close to his condition when he was called the [Tyrant Slayer].

(………..Ryura)

Of course, no matter how much he personally trains, there’s no way Tooi would reach Ryura Vega in his current state. He has the [Zodiac] which he received from La Shii on his hips but, the legendary sword is just a decoration since he is missing his contract deities.

Currently, Tooi has no means to defeat Ryura. No, forget defeating her, he does not even have the means to defend her attack. In terms of inherent strengths, it’s the deference of an ant and an elephant.

However, Tooi was not feeling any sense of danger towards that.

(There’s no problem. It’s not like I am here to defeat Ryura)

Tooi ran towards her without any hesitation.

Ryura was in view when he first came over to this world.

Her voice was in reachable distance when he met her again at the spring near the Shrine.

That’s why.

It’s time for a distance where his hands could reach her—

“….. Tooi”

Ryura regained her composure from the flash bit the moment she looked over to him to confirm, they were already 200 meter in distance.

He was able to get close in one go thanks to Alua’s flashbang but, on the bad side, he was completely inside his opponent’s firing range.

(It’s okay. There’s nothing to worry)

Tooi believed.

Not towards himself. It was towards his opponent.

He believed Ryura without hesitation that she would not attack him.

(The thing the current powerless me can do now…….is to believe)

He can’t believe his own strength but, he can believe his comrades.

If it’s the [Nebulosa12 Goddesses] which are feared by everyone and is told to be the strongest Deity army.

“How can I believe someone……if I can’t believe my comrades…….!”

He strongly kicked the ground.

“Ryuraaaa----!”

Tooi accelerated and closed the distance.

He wasn’t attacking or defending, he extended his arms to her as he was seeking her.

He was completely oblivious to his opponent’s attacks and counters. There were no thoughts to counter back inside his head at all.

It’s not called aimless, its trust.

It’s not reckless, it’s bravery.

With his absolute trust towards his comrade and a firm bravery held in his heart, Tooi took a step towards Ryura Vega.

When he stepped in, he saw Ryura’s sword which was covered with a strong tornado there.

“Haaaaaa!”

“Guwaaaaaaaaaaaa!”

He kind of took a strong blow.

It was a really really strong blow.

The moment Ryura swung down her sword with a loud shout, the tornado covering the sword attacked Tooi’s body.

He was blown away like a scrap paper since he was not cautious at all. He pulled out the short sword on his hips by reflex and tilted forward but, it was completely meaningless.

“Gofuu”

Even though he fell to the ground, his momentum did not drop and he continued rolling down like a tumble weed from classical western cow-boy movies. By the time he was able to raise his body, Ryura looked over to him with a cold gaze.

“……….Tooi. Err……..what was that?”

“No well……yeah. How should I put this, I was kind of drunk with the “I must believe my comrades” stuff”

While mumbling those words, Tooi stood up.

“But well, I am glad I believed. I was not wrong”

He took a direct hit but, the damage was little. Tooi would be minced up by now if Ryura was serous.

With the fact that she was holding back and having it exposed to her opponent, Ryura made a sour face but, she soon glared at Tooi with a sharp gaze.

“I will be serious next”

“I was serious from the start”

Tooi undauntedly look at his opponent with a strong gaze.

“I will keep on extending my hands until you accept my hands”

Tooi took on a start dash posture again but, this happened at this moment,

“Ryura-san!”

Maybe this was to stop Tooi’s reckless charge, Alua, who was taking on the Spirits, shouted at the Deity.

“Please listen! It’s true that……..Tooi Onii-chan, chose his own world instead of this world 10 years ago. But, Tooi Onii-chan had something he had to do! It was not because he wanted to get rid of you all!”

Alua continued shouting as if to release everything.

“Also, didn’t Tooi Onii-chan come back to this world, and is here! He wants to start all over again with you all! So----“

Her life risking appeal was interrupted by the roaring wind.

Although it wasn’t as strong as what Tooi took, Alua ended up being pushed back after receiving a direct hit from the wind. She somehow managed to block it with the [Ray AlmaSpirit Equipment] she materialized but, her face was covered with fear.

Apparently, she understood the absolute difference of their strength by that attack.

Alua knew it too.

That, the attack she barely blocked with the [Ray AlmaSpirit Equipment] she polished to its maximum potential, was just a bug swiping [Breeze] to Ryura.

“Alua-chan!”

Tooi tried running over to her but----

A sword was swung down in front of him next.

“------uh!?”

He dodged the slash with perfect timing.

Ryura was standing in front of him with her sword prepared. She took only an instant to cover the distance which Tooi desperately tried to close in.

This unreasonable state is because ways of a Deity.

The difference was pure nonsense.

“That girl made some fair points”

While plainly saying that, Ryura swung her sword with a beautiful form.

There’s no way he could take it.

That’s because he would not be able to block the sword of wind coated on her sword even if he blocked her sword.

It’s because Tooi used that power freely before that he was able to perform evasive measures based on his experience but, it would turn out really difficult if he keeps on dodging.

“It’s true that Tooi came back to this world. It’s probably true that……he came back thinking about us. But, we don’t know whether if he would go back to his old world”

Ryura looked at Tooi with a criticizing gaze.

“Would you go back if there’s something you have to do happen again?”

“That’s……”

He stumbled on his worlds.

In this other world summon, Tooi came over to this world with the intentions to bury his bones here.

He felt that this world was more attractive compared to there and felt a reason for existing here.

But----

He might want to go back if [Something] happens over there.

Even though he lost his only family, there were other people that took care of him too. There were many he hated but, there were a small bunch that he liked.

If [Something] happened to the people who fulfilled his world then, Tooi would probably wish to go back and want to save them.

Of course, there’s no way he would now of the circumstances there if he’s in this world.

Because of that, this is a problem of the heart.

Ryura verbally attacked his indecisive weak heart because he could not completely throw away his old world.

The speed of her sword strikes increased and attacked him unrestrainedly like a hurricane.

“That’s the answer, Tooi”

“I said this just now before; I won’t blame you. It’s something that can’t be helped. It’s something natural. That’s why, please don’t deceive me……..anymore”

The eyes shown when she performed a storm of slashes had deep loneliness and despair dwelling within.

The moment he saw those eyes.

Something cleared up inside Tooi.

“In the end……. you are someone from a another world”

Instantly.

The attacks similar to a rampaging wind storm, stopped.

The reason was very simple.

Tooi raised the Zodiac and blocked her sword.

But, the only thing stopped was her sword.

Even though the sword is known to be the pinnacle of strength and quality, it’s just a study sword now since there’s no Deity or Spirits dwelling inside so, naturally, he could not block the wind coating her sword.

In the end, Tooi’s body was covered with injuries as if he was dragged inside the twister of the Kamaitachi.

“Wha”

Ryura shrieked.

A human would instantly be turned into chunks of meat if they took on Ryura’s wind which could slice apart iron.

The reason why Tooi was safe was because she dispersed the wind by her own will.

His clothes and skin were sliced because she did not make it in time but, she managed to do it before he received critical wounds.

“What are you doing, Tooi…… if I didn’t erase the wind…..you would have died there……”

Ryura’s shout did not enter Tooi’s ears.

That’s because his head was filled up with regret and frustration.

Even though he was distorting his expression from the pain, Tooi told her.

“Someone, from, another world………?”

He repeated that sentence which has been smacked at him many times before as if he was crunching it.

“Don’t say something that lonely, Ryura. I am………..this close to you right now. I am so close to you that we could exchange blades and swords you know?”

He looked at his opponent’s eye through the gaps between the crossed swords.

“It’s true that…….i am not a human from this world. I came here with the intentions of never going back but………..just like what Ryura said, If something happened there, and I managed to get hold of it then……I might choose to go back again, to protect my real world”

“……..i knew it----”

Ryura said that while she narrowed her eyes in sadness but, Tooi covered her sentence with a [But].

“Facing you off like this, is also an action to protect my real world”

“………Eh?”

Ryura pulled her blade away together with a questioning voice. Tooi also pulled away his short sword and started talking fluently.

“This might sound like a stupid story but….. When I was young i thought the world did not exist other than the city I was born in”

The sky and mountains only exists in background settings and papier-mache, the news heard from the television and seen from the newspaper are all random, every adult are liars, and I can only find empty darkness once I took a step out from the city. There was a period of time when he was delusional with thoughts like that.

“I immediately found out that it was just my illusion…….but, I felt that the world I lived in was so small. I was satisfied inside the city and lived in a small and boring world”

His days were filled with trips between his school and house.

Even though I felt bored and closed in, I didn’t felt like going out for some reason.

Just like a fish stuck inside a water tank since birth, he does not know of the world other than there. He didn’t get the idea of [Wanting to come out from there], since he didn’t know.

It was boring but it wasn’t cramped.

Treating it like its normal, treating it as if it was destined, he lived inside a small world without questioning anything.

“While I was going through that, I was suddenly summoned here on one day”

A young man, who lived inside a small city, was not even knowledgeable about the countries in Japan forget overseas, has experienced another world.

“…….it sure is funny right. I came to this world, travelled the whole world by visiting many countries, crossed continents, oceans, and mountains; even though I had no interest in overseas and my country when I was in my own world”

In order to see off his grandmother, in order to return to his world, he defeated the demon king. Because of that important issue, his desire of having fun in another world was little and was completely focused in accomplishing his goal but, he somewhat felt some kind of happiness in his heart.

Inside a fantasy world which he has only seen inside games and mangas; he made contracts with Deities told to be the strongest to drastically increase his powers.

He felt an indescribable thrill off his actions.

However---

“……..But, I noticed something that time. Aah, it’s the same after all”

“The same……?”

“My old world and this world, is the same”

Tooi said that clearly.

“No matter how locked up I am inside a small city, no matter how many countries I traveled around the world, I don’t know of what I don’t know”

He has seen scenes he has seen before but, he don’t know of scenes that he has not seen before.

He has not heard of any news, other than the news he heard before.

He knows knowledge he knows but not knowledge he doesn’t know of.

“The reason why I felt there was no world outside my city when I was young was because, it’s probably fate in a sense. That’s because that’s the only place I knew. When I came over here, I travelled to many places, and experienced many thing so, my knowledge and views increased but…………..even though the world I am seeing increased in scale, it doesn’t mean that the world changed or anything”

And.

Tooi told her.

“I did not come to another world”

The young man that experienced his 2nd summoning to another world was completely denying his own scenery.

“……….what part of [Another] is this world. That does not exist. The world is always and absolutely one. I have been living in my world without changing at all”

--- I can’t fight for people who I have never seen before.

Tooi told Laila that a few days ago.

That was his true feelings.

Because.

People he has not seen before, people he has not talk before, does not exist in Tooi’s world.

Inside the technological revolutionized Japan, anyone can acquire the world’s situation and news with one Smartphone.

Calamities and sorrows spread out in the world, even the tragedies and disasters are all inside their hands.

But, no matter how far it goes, it’s just [News] to the end.

His heart won’t move no matter how many people die in the dark-side of the world.

The children starving painfully, the people crying from the losses from war, the citizens oppressed by a dictator, and the lands visited by natural disasters; all of them are fires at the opposite side of the shore. He feels pity, and it’s not like he doesn’t feel like wanting to lend a helping hand but, it’s not enough to make him want to move.

In the dark-side of the world----no, rather than the number of grand tragedies occurring outside his world, the death of his only family was heavier, sadder and caused a deep pain inside his heart.

“The other world and this world are included in my world. The range my eyes can reach, the range my voice can reach, and the range that my hands can reach, are my precious world…….”

Tooi then let go of the Zodiac which he has been holding on to the whole time. The black short sword fell to the Fior plains.

He then closed in the gaps between him and Ryura before he grabbed her hands.

He grabbed it tightly.

As if to display his existence to her.

“I am here, Ryura! So……..stop saying things like I am someone from another world”

As if to appeal to her, as if to wish for her, Tooi said that with his earnest feelings within the words.

“Tooi…………..”

Ryura’s eyes wavered and tear up. The cold iron mask expression she made distorted greatly as if it was melting down.

“I………am not a hero or the savior. I don’t have any reasons to place my life for strangers I have never even met before. But, I will do anything for you”

Abuelagrandma said this.

Heroes save countries.

The savoir saves people

And.

The one that can save the world is none other than yourself.

“It’s my job to save the world and protect the world. And you exist in that world, Ryura!”

While feeling the warmth from the hands he grabbed, Tooi shouted.

“Come with me, Ryura Vega. I want you in my world”

Those burning passionate eyes, pierced through Ryura’s heart.

(Aah----)

Ryura’s body twitched.

He has a sharp gaze brimming with brave Spirit which is unimaginable from his usual calm face. A man that is supposed to be powerless was overwhelming a Deity.

However, the reason why her body twitched was not from fear or anger but instead, it was from happiness.

(………...this is it. This is Tooi Cross)

He has not changed from before. She was treated as a [Monster] because she possesses tremendous and was either feared by many people or a beneficial target but, Tooi was the only one who saw her as a single woman.

He wanted Ryura not her powers of a Deity.

His sincerity is endless and so is his greed.

The only man she acknowledged as her master in this world, desired her once more. His cruel dominance and pulling force won’t let go of her heart.

The farewell from 10 years ago caused a deep scar inside Ryura’s heart. She has been tormented with loneliness the whole time until today. While telling herself that [It can’t be helped since we live in different worlds], she would spend her days consoling herself by running into her memories.

However, he just broke through everything.

She could feel his burning warmth from the hands grabbing her.

She could properly feel the presence of her master.

(……It’s just as what Tooi said)

Tooi Cross is right here at arm’s reach.

For this man, the difference of a world and another world holds no meaning apparently. He crossed 10 years of time, unreasonably stepped over every fences and obstructions, just to regain Ryura.

The part where she rejected her master because she was scared of being hurt again and the part where should could not honestly accept her master’s triumphal return, started to feel really stupid to her.

Ryura let out a soft smile and closed her eyes.

Her armor and sword turned into particles and disappeared. Having turned back to a goddess from a Valkyrie, she released all her weapons and slowly opened her eyes.

The expression she made was the smile of a loyal servant happy for her master’s return.

“Welcome home. Tooi”

Ryura said it.

The words that signifies the happiness of their reunion which she could not say this whole time.

“I’m home. Ryura”

Words were no longer need for them.

Both of them brought their face closer and looked at each other for an instant before, placing their lips together regardless of how initiated it. As if to desire each other, as if to indulge in the moment, they confirmed each other’s existence.

Soon, their surroundings started to glow. Light gathered and formed lines, the lines then joined and formed circles, the circles then joined together to make a formation.

It is need for a Spirit contract; a Contract circle.

The colorful circle of light expanded as if to cover them. While drawing complicated and mysterious patterns, it expanded, rotated and colored the space as if this was a dazzling light show.

The scene was as if the world was celebrating the reestablishment of their contract.

“……Okay. Emergency first-aid done”

“Un. Thanks, Alua-chan”

“No prob”

“……Hey Alua-chan? You like kind of steamy from just now so, are you perhaps mad?”

“Nope, not really”

“Perhaps, you were thinking about the last air blast? No it’s true that you did not have a good role in the ending. But, it’s thanks to Alua-chan attracting the Spirits that I could-----“

“That’s not it! What I was thinking about…..was, well…..the ki-ki kiss you did with Ryura-san………!”

“That’s for the contract”

“Th-there are other ways to do it!”

“No, well, that’s true but…….that’s actually the fastest way”

“………perhaps, the contracts Tooi Onii-chan did 10 years ago were……..”

“Ah………well, yeah”

“Everyone in……the [Nebulosa12 Goddesses]!?”

“Not all but, most of them”

“………O-obscene! How lewd! You’re a pervert!”

“Even if you tell me that…….but honestly, my first kiss is with your sister you know?”

“………eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeehhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!?”

Alua showed a magnificent reaction after hearing the crazy news he let out to light.

They returned to the place where they stopped the motorbike.

As for Ryura, she was having a conversation with the forest’s Spirits she commanded. There are probably things she has to explain and apologize for.

“……..Un. The bandage is good to go. I can move easily with this”

Tooi turned his shoulders, twisted his hips to confirm the bandage’s condition.

“Tooi Onii-chan. What are we going to do now?”

While cleaning up the first-aid kit, Alua asked Tooi about future plans, with a carefree attitude he—

“Aah. Alua-chan you can go back first”

He Said that.

“I have a small business I need to take care off”

Part 4

In the Lectar Republic region – Dean’s plain.

There was an army formation made by the Lectar’s military at the flat land beside the Fior region.

It’s a Spirit knight brigade formed to destroy Ryura Vega and the Empire’s military which appeared to bring her down.

There are about 2000 soldiers with spears carved with the emblem of the Lectar Republic.

The number is quite unreliable for defeating a Deity and 3000 Spirit knights but, they think that this amount is sufficient once both sides are exhausted after fighting with everything they got.

Adding on, the Lectar military which specializes in spears has a higher advantage than the Empire’s military which specializes in swords because the fight is on a flat land with less hills.

It’s the main style of the Spirit knights affiliated to the Lectar Military to activate their [Ray AlmaSpirit Equipment] using the Military spear as their medium to manifest a full armor set and a charging spear. With giant spears readied at hands of the soldiers, the strategy where the soldiers charging towards their enemy at a single line, will display an unequalled force on the plains.

“…….Kuku”

As the republic’s military captain commanding the Spirit knight brigade --- Gaien accidentally let out a smile at the rear guard which was surrounded by elite members.

When he thought about the results that he was about to gain, his mouth just can’t help but to loosen down.

The reason why he was able to use Ryura Vega was because of several accumulated lucky events. Ryura Vega reached out to the people who were surveying Fior region for the agricultural cultivation and asked [Please don’t mess up this land].

Having heard that, Gaien came up with a plan to use her.

(I don’t know why that Deity is so fixed on Fior but…….i didn’t think it would go this well)

The Empire’s military power will drastically drop if 3000 of their Spirit knights are killed. The power struggle with their rival Lectar will definitely tilt towards Lectar’s side.

Also, Gaien’s name will definitely rise if they take down a Deity that has an attachment to the evil title [Nebulosa12 Goddesses]. Gaien was about to laugh loudly when he thinks about his bright future but, he was desperately suppressing it down.

He has not noticed this.

The fact that his plan was already foiled by his enemy.

And also the fact that a terrible disaster is about to visit him---

“Captain Gaien!”

The messenger that came from the front lines said it with a panicked voice.

“This is bad! We spotted suspicious shadows coming from the Fior region!”

“What? Is it soldiers from the Empire’s military that ran off?”

“No it’s……”

Turmoil occurred within the soldiers the same time Gaien frowned his eyebrows after hearing the messenger’s report.

The suspicious shadow had already reached to a point where the Lectar’s military was able to see them.

It was a young man. He was wearing the clothes from an unfamiliar country and was holding a black sword.

And the other person was the Deity of [Violent Wind], Ryura Vega.

The beautiful Deity who’s supposed to be currently in cooperation with the Lectar’s Military, was quietly walking behind the young man by one step.

As if she’s trying to show the world that this young man is her true master.

Tooi stopped right when he saw the Lectar army that filled up the plain. Following him, Ryura stopped too and the both of them stood side by side inside the southerly wind.

Even though they were facing an army over 2000, their expression shows no signs of danger.

Rather, they were making a small smile instead.

“It’s been one year”

“Correction, it’s been 10 year”

Both of them said it as if to crush that blank time.

“Let’s do this, Ryura”

“Yes My LordI follow you to the ends of the world”

Tooi raised the Zodiac.

At the same time, Ryura melted into the air and possesed the short sword.

Instantly, a hot feeling could be felt on his right hand holding the sword. The rarest metal and the closest material to the Spirits in this world- the Etherium, connected a human and Deity so unbelievably and shockingly well.

The senses when he fought at the [Tyrant Slayer] 1 year ago, resurfaced.

He dived deeply into his consciousness. It gave off a unique feeling as if everything was mixing together, like himself and the world, like himself and a Deity.

There was no need to dive deep into his memories.

His head, body and heart.

Every factors that used to construct his body, remembers this feeling vividly.

Within the unstable and uncertain feeling, he listened to the clear image floating in his mind to create his own personal weapon.

“[Nebulosa NemesisThe Divine Punishment of the 12], [PrimeraThe First Chapter]”

Tremendous amounts of Ether gushed out from the Etherium sword. The silver light gradually turned stronger and soon covered Tooi’s body.

With 12 deities under his command, this is the Deity knight that defeated the [Demon King], Tooi Cross.

One of the power he once possesed has manifested in this world once again.

“[Tempesta SancionThe Sanction of the Violent Wind]!”

Instantly, the wind blew loudly and the atmosphere creaked.

It’s as if the world was screaming from the foreign object that suddenly swooped down or it might be the opposite, it’s as if the world was sobbing from the happiness that a great power has resurrected.

What appeared there was a knight covered with a tornado and adorning armors.

His right arm and both his shoulders were covered with silver armor. An exterior was formed around the short sword to form a long sword with splendid decorations.

Having activated his [Deus AlmaDeity Equipment] after 1 year, Tooi raised his right hand and pointed the long sword towards the Lectar army.

“Message to the Lectar’s military”

Tooi said that while looking towards the 2000 man army.

“What I am going to do now isn’t war. There is no justice and principles; this will just be a meaningless and valueless fight. This is not an invasion nor is this for defense; this is not a purge nor is this for revenge. What I am going to now is plainly to an act to vent out my anger”

He said those words clearly and so coldly.

“You don’t need to surrender or apologize. We will be on a rampage until we are satisfied and trample all over you l. I repeat. This is not a war. This is just an act to vent out my anger”

His eyes had a sharp glint similar to a blade.

“It’s not even worth treating you fuckers as my enemy, because of what you did to Ryura”

The words Tooi proudly said…..actually, the Lectar’s Military did not hear a single thing from him.

His surroundings were loud from the raging wind because he manifested his [Deus AlmaDeity Equipment]. The screaming hurricane erased every trace of his voice.

It’s quite embarrassing that his opponents did not hear the declaration he made with a serious face but, he has not noticed this fact at all.

The line he said with anger sadly disappeared into the wind without even reaching his opponents.

However.

In reality, words weren’t really needed.

The Lectar’s Military did not hear a single word Tooi said but, their hearts were controlled by shock, fear, and astonishment.

His appearance when he’s wearing the [Dues Alma] spoke more fluently of his dreadfulness than words.

An absolute presence that would overwhelm anyone that lays eyes on him.

So adorning, so beautiful and more importantly so divinely.

From the front to the rear, the whole army was equally terrified.

[……O-oi, what the heck is that] [Did he……have a contract with Ryura Vega?] [It’s a lie, how can a brat like that……..] [Because, isn’t Tooi Cross the only person that made a contract with that Deity……] [Wait just a second, then, doesn’t that means he’s----]

Everyone there started letting out words of bewilderment and the moment the army was about to fall into chaos,

“Don’t falter!”

Gaien shouted at the army.

“Tooi Cross defeated the [Demon King] 10 years ago! There’s no way that brat is Tooi Cross! Don’t be tricked by his appearance!”

With no knowledge about the [Tyrant Slayer]’s truth, the army agreed with the commander’s speculation.

“The Ryura Vega we saw is probably just another fake. He probably used a shapeshifting Spirit to make a flashy armor. No matter what, we don’t have the free time to play with that brat!”

With the profits in front of him blinding him, Gaien gave priority to knowledge and common sense instead of the absolute presence released by the young man in front, and made a convenient speculation for himself.

“Front line’s 3rd squad! Mow down the brat that made fun of our military!”

Following orders from their commander, the team on the front lines started taking action.

Their contract sprits possesed their military spears and created their [Ray AlmaSpirit Equipment]’s charging spear and full armor set.

After lining up with swift movements, they started charging at their target the same time their leader gave the signal.

The group of giant spears ran on the battlefield with tremendous speed.

But, a few seconds later.

“----[TorbellinoWhirlwind]

The front line 3rd squad that dashed like an arrow piercing into the air, ended up flying up in the sky like scrap paper next.

Alua Schut was at loss of words when she saw the scenes from the gap of the trees.

She was told that she can go back but, it’s kind of irritating that she has to go back after coming so far and it’s kind of lonely that she’s left outside the comrade circle at the very end. What’s more, she wants to see a [Deus AlmaDeity Equipment] with her eyes so Tooi allowed her to watch the fight but she has to witness from the forest while hiding herself.

[Tyrant Slayer]’s fight.

No.

The event happening in front of her might not be a fight. It was too beautiful and elegant to be called a fight and, it was too one-sided.

The young man covered with silver armor was freely dashing around the battlefield.

As if he’s the gust of wind.

He completely beat down the approaching shouting troops.

“[BrisaBreeze]”

Countless swords of wind step forth and were dropped to the battlefield like the early-summer rain.

“[VentarronStrong Wind]”

The strong wind wrapped around the long sword to form a small storm. The giant sword of wind that has compressed the wind until its limits, easily sliced through the enemies’ equipment.

“[TornadoTornado]”

A tornado occurred around Tooi to disperse long ranged attacks such as arrows and bullets fixed with fire and lightning element Ethers; it then blew away the surrounding soldiers all together at once.

“[RaafagaSquall]”

Wind gathered everywhere in the sky, turned into countless arrows with power piercing effect before it was accurately launched towards the enemies weapons which are located far away from him.

And.

He then jumped into the crowded area with movements like the champion of the wind.

In response to the sudden appearance of a mysterious young man inside the camp, the Lectar military after a slight pause, all went in to attack him like a snowstorm but, the giant sword instantly sliced the air and drew a half moon.

“----[TormentaViolent storm]”

The violent wind, raged.

With one sweep.

As if to response to the blade that drew a circle, a torrent of wind danced around Tooi and completely eliminated the crowd.

[Tempesta SancionThe Sanction of the Violent Wind]

Just like the invisible wind, he nullified every single attack, just like a disaster, he destroyed everything there.

(It’s like a dance……)

Alua let out her admiration unintentionally.

His sword skills were heroic as a war god, and his body movements were beautiful as a fairy. She fell in love instead of fearing their fight which possesed both of those factors.

No matter what powerful moves the Lectar’s Military Spirit knights performed, no matter how perfect they make their formation, everything was useless.

Amusingly enough, the number of soldiers decreased.

One after another fell, as if this was a play with the victor and losers were decided from the start.

(Ah)

Noticed suddenly noticed something.

A weird phenomenon occurred in the battlefield.

The scenery she’s seeing right now was too beautiful to call a battlefield.

Even though it’s exhilarating, it’s not gruesome.

Even though it’s heroic, it’s not sad at all.

There was no hint of brutality and sadness; this was just entertainment of a single young man satisfyingly mowing down an army as if to personify the word 1 against 1000.

Even though he’s trampling over enemy soldiers with a tarrying power describe as the incarnation of violent wind, all of his attacks were all fixated on destroying the weapons. He accurately destroys the weapons which is used as the medium for the [Ray AlmaSpirit Equipment], and would pacify his enemies without causing any bodily harm.

(Tooi Onii-chan, is doing the same thing Ryura Vega has been----)

And.

“Do-don’t moveeeee!”

There was another person that noticed this at the same timing Alua did so too.

“Do-don’t move……don’t move. Do you know what would happen to this person if you don’t………!?”

Gaien pushed the short sword towards the female’s neck while saying that with a voice flowing with anxiousness. The woman that he held by the neck had a frightened expression and let out a shriek.

“………..uh!”

The raging wind stopped at that instant.

Tooi Cross, the incarnation of violent wind that no one could stop, halted his movements.

“………. Now you’ve done it”

Tooi mumbled with a click in his tongue and his expression was oozing with bitterness.

“……….Fu-fu-fuhahaha! I knew it! Fuhah. Hahahaha!”

Gaien laughed loudly while pointing his blade towards the hostage in his arms.

He’s using a hostage as his shield.

It’s not a plausible tactic but, it’s not rare. This is one of the conventional methods used in the battlefield and is too disgusting to even call it cowardly.

However, theirs was something weird in this situation.

And that’s, the choice of his hostage.

The person Gaien was pushing his blade towards to, was his female vice-officer.

To Tooi, she’s just another enemy that he is not acquainted with.

“…..Hii, Cap-captain Gaien…….wha-what are you…….”

Even though the female hostage tried to appeal to him, her superior did not even bat an eye. He was showering laughter of ridicule towards Tooi who’s in front of him.

“Fuhahaha! This is laughable! How can such a weird story like this exist! To think that this hostage would established!”

Of all things, Gaien threatened Tooi with a soldier from his country as a hostage. He pinioned the vice-officer who stood there as if to protect him, from behind and was pressing the blade on her neck.

“Apparently, the stories about Ryura Vega not killing her enemies were true. And, even you, who is able to use that monster’s power, don’t have the bravery to kill the enemy too……fuhahahaha! A brat that don’t have the determination to kill should not enter the battlefield”

He was using a soldier from his military as a hostage.

This is probably a bad plan to bet his ray of hope to, even for Gaien. This is his unavoidable last method since he has no other means to use in front of the incarnation of violent wind.

However, this tactic was displaying tremendous results.

To Tooi, who was controlling the battlefield to not allow any enemy deaths, this was the best tactic there is.

“……….you piece of shit”

Even though he disgustingly said that, Tooi could not do anything and was frozen in place.

“Woaah there, don’t more! I won’t allow you to control the wind! Try and make some weird moves! This woman will die!”

His threat echoed. Gaien pressed the short sword harder. It’s blade slightly cut her skin and caused blood to flow down the girl’s neck.

The no blood shed rule Tooi obstinately tried to prevent was broken in such a manner.

The girl shouted in an uninterpretable tone. Despair was shown in her eyes. However, Gaien did not stop. Blood flowed down and covered the blade as if it was squeezed out.

Or maybe, he might be thinking that it’s okay to kill her off.

There are many replacements even if he kills one.

Everyone in the army he commands can act as his hostage towards Tooi.

“Fuhahahahahahaha!”

Convinced on his victory, Gaien let out an offensive loud laugh.

In response, Tooi,

“………Fuuu”

He let out a small sigh.

It was a really bored sigh.

His eyes were terrifyingly cold.

He had thirsty eyes as if he was bored and completely lost all interest in him.

Those dark eyes were unimpressed and unemotional.

Gaien gasped after he saw Tooi, who looked at him as if he was looking at a really boring animal.

“Wha-what!? D-do you understand, what will happen to this hostage if----“

“I don’t really give a damn”

“Wha……..”

“I don’t care about what will happen to that stranger lady over there. For starters, she was trying to kill me like its normal just now you know. I have no reasons to save her”

Tooi said that plainly.

“Determination to kill……….i don’t have something that amazing in mind but, I don’t feel like protecting someone that tried to kill me”

“……………..”

Gaien became speechless. His expression which was distorted in joy just now was now in despair because the plan that he used to fix this hopeless situation ended in a failure.

“But----“

Tooi said.

Immediately, the [Deus AlmaDeity Equipment] he manifested turned into dusts of light and disappeared.

“This was to vent out my anger, not for war. Can’t help if I feel disgusted when I am venting out my anger”

There’s someone in the audience seat too after all.

Tooi said that after looking back at the forest behind for an instant,

Ryura appeared the same time his silver armor disappeared.

“Sorry, Ryura. About the after taste of this nasty ending”

“I don’t mind. I will only listen to Tooi”

After Tooi placed the Zodiac on his hips, he turned around and Ryura followed him.

As if everything ended, the both of them walked gallantly between the Lectar’s soldiers.

But.

Should this even be considered normal because, there’s no way things would end here.

“…………..D-don’t screw with meee! Oi, you bastards, do something!? Don’t let that brat get away!”

The enraged Gaien threw his rage to the surrounding Lectar soldiers.

A moment of hesitation appeared within the army. In response to how their superior used a vice officer as a hostage, they probably started to feel several doubts.

However in the end, they listened to their commander’s order due to their pride as military personals. They got into formation and formed a formation to capture Tooi from behind.

“You damn brat…… stay quiet and get captured. Try making any funny moves. You know what will happen right?”

Having reconfirmed the usefulness of having a hostage, Gaien send his words elatedly towards Tooi’s back. The blade he held was still pushed onto the hostage’s neck.

He was glaring at the short sword placed on the hip. He’s probably planning to kill the hostage the moment Tooi’s pull out the sword and activate the [Deus AlmaDeity Equipment].

At that moment, Tooi’s right hand moved.

He moved pass the sword on his hips which Gaien was staring at, and directed it to the pocket in his pants.

What he took out was a metallic silver oil lighter.

He opened the lip and lighted the cigarette he held with his mouth.

“Hmm? Did you smoke cigarette before?”

Maybe oblivious to the killing intents coming from behind, Ryura asked him casually. With the cigarette held between his left hand’s fingers, he lightly swung his head.

“Nope, I don’t smoke. Only lighting it. A cigarette won’t light up unless you suck it”

The impatient Lectar soldiers all attacked them while they were having a carefree conversation.

Right after.

Tooi flicked the cigarette he held with his left hand.

The cigarette was flicked off.

This action will probably give him a fine if this was Japan.

The lighted cigarette rode the wind and danced in the sky. While making traces of red, it reached to the space above the approaching Lectar soldiers.

Apparently, the soldiers noticed that too but, no one dodged it in fear of getting burned. Even swinging it away was a waste of time for them and they continued charging on the battlefield towards their target.

While not realizing what Tooi was plotting.

“---[Ignition]”

The Deity of [Violent Wind], Ryura Vega.

The controller of the air and wind flowing in the wind.

Intensity, speed, sharpness…….and density.

Basically, while possessing the power to control the wind in a grand scale to the level of a natural disaster, it is also possible for [Tempesta SancionThe Sanction of the Violent Wind] to precisely control the wind to atomic level.

He connected to the air as if to melt into it, perceive each and every microscopic sized atoms and controlled them.

He divided the gas from the atom’s property and disassembled the water to hydrogen and oxygen. He gathered and clumped all the combustible gas and further adjusted the oxygen concentration level.

Right before he released the [Deus AlmaDeity Equipment], Tooi set a [bomb] in the air.

All it needs left is a trigger to cause, the whole air to burn down.

BoomExplosion!

And.

The same time a bright light gushed out, an ear deafening explosion sounded.

The small flame he flicked off, was eaten by the prepared air before it combusted and caused a grand-scale explosion.

A giant explosion painted over the sky.

Since Tooi adjusted the firepower, the explosion did not directly burn the Lectar soldiers below but, they were blown away by the flaming shockwave and that made their formation to crumble miserably.

Of course, Gaien wasn’t an exception.

He lost the leisure to grab hold onto the hostage because of the unpredictable attack, and ended up rolling about the grass plain after being blown away by the sound of the explosion and the heatwave.

“…….uu-guuu! D-damn it……!”

By the time Gain managed to fix his posture and look up, a black sword was pushed onto his neck.

This was probably karma.

Just like how he used the female hostage just now.

“Hii”

Gaien’s expression stiffened up.

His body froze up after he saw the glowing blade and the young man looking down at him.

“…….You, bastard…….”

“You’re the commander right? Err……..hey, bearded old man whose name I don’t know”

“…..Wh-at……….?”

“Uuun…………what was it. I remember hearing your name but, I guess I forgot it. Aah, you don’t have to name yourself. I don’t feel like remembering it. I said this at the beginning but, I guess I’ll say it again since everything is settled”

Tooi told him.

“You guys weren’t even close to being my enemy”

His right arm flickered. He swung the short sword with fluid movements and lightly smacked the back of the man’s head with the handle. Gaien lost consciousness and fell onto the plain.

With a refreshed but still sad filled eyes, Tooi silently looked at the fainted commander.

With their commander gone, the soldiers started running away for their lives.

The army of 2000 Spirit knights, was forced to experience a miserable rout.

By a young man who was venting out his anger.

“……..err, Tooi, this is really hard to say”

After he put back the short sword to his hips and was about to walk off, Ryura got close to him out from nowhere.

“That bearded commander, had his hearing numbed because of the explosion you know”

“…….Eh? Wa-wait…..? Th-then, my voice……..”

“He probably did not hear what Tooi said. The finishing phrase you said with a serious face”

“……………”

“In the first place, the speech you expressed at the beginning of the battle did not reach the Lectar’s military because of the raging wind”

“Seriously!? Wai-wait just a second, Ryura….Then, is this it? The lines I said throughout this fight………..did not reach them at all?”

“Yes”

“………you’re joking”

“Ufufu. It’s okay, Tooi. Completely messing up your finishing phrase like this, is your cute part”

“………no, that’s not helping at all. That’s just pouring salt on my wounds.

Ryura was happily looking at Tooi’s depressed state. It was a gentle and lively atmosphere which seems impossible to imagine after a battle with an army of 2000.

They entered their own world without bothering about enemy and the losers.

Their surroundings were noisy because of the soldiers were busy running away but---to the two of them who remade their contract after a long time, this was none of their concerns.

Epilogue

The quarrel occurring in both countries regarding Fior region has somehow met a conclusion.

The Arludea Empire might have made a fake report of sending 3000 Spirit knights but, since they defeated of the Deity as a result, the Lectar republic could not press any charges to them.

They can raise the problem about a man who is thought to be someone formerly affiliated with the Empire- Tooi Cross pointed his blade at them but…….the damages weren’t enough to blame someone since not a single person died.

In the end, the Empire was standing in a superior status since it has a diplomatic advantage which was the truth that they used Ryura Vega.

Nonetheless, the Lectar side did not kept silent.

It’s predicted that both countries will be clashing in the future because of this dispute but, that’s a world that Tooi isn’t interested in.

“It’s beautiful”

This was at the balcony of the highest floor in the shrine of [Violent Wind].

Tooi leaked his admiration while looking at the scenery in front of him.

Just like how he did it 1 year ago.

Ryura standing beside him was also making a mischievous smile like she did 10 years ago.

“Referring to me?”

“…….No, Ryura, can we stop with that joke?”

“Ufufu. Sorry”

No one was around them, and only the whispers of the wind could be heard.

Tooi’s gazes were directed to the evening landscape.

It’s a beautiful scene that only he and Ryura is able to see in this world, this is the world that Ryura desperately wanted to protect----

“The Empire and Lectar are still quarreling about Fior region. On whose region that belongs to, or how it will be treated now, it’s apparently a complicated situation now. The land is said to be not suitable for agricultural friendly but, they said that they will be developing agriculture techniques from now on, and will make it into a place where people might be able to migrate to, after the cultivation process is done someday”

“……….Is that so”

Ryura’s expression slightly turned gloomier.

Tooi showed her a gentle smile.

“It’s not bad having an unchangeable scenery but, let’s enjoy the scenery slowly change from now on”

After saying that, Ryura started smiling happily.

“Fufu. Tooi is fundamentally a snob after all. You always make hypocritical lines”

“…….don’t call me a snob”

“I am actually praising you”

Tooi looked down depressed after he was laughed at.

After that, Ryura looked over to the short sword on his hips.

“I see you met La Shii already”

“Yeah. I couldn’t make a contract with her but, she handed me this. Shii said she would make a contract with me if I beat her”

“Beat her……now that’s a crazy problem pushed onto you”

Ryura’s expression stiffened from the nervousness.

She is also well aware of La Shii’s unordinary strength, as a fellow member of the [Nebulosa].

“She told me that I could challenge her anytime since she’s under the Empire. Using an RPG as an example, she’s like a secret boss that I can see from the start but can’t challenge until I reach the final stage”

“I don’t understand that example”

“I have to do my best. In order to make her lick my ass”

“What the heck does that mean!!?”

“Anyways”

Tooi said that while ignoring Ryura who retorted him with an extremely angry expression.

“I will make the [Nebulosa] obey me once more, definitely”

There was an unwavering sings of determination inside his eyes when he told her about the path he is taking.

“It might be a tough road but, please lend me your power from now on, Ryura”

“It’s too late for that”

Ryura said this proudly.

“I will follow you wherever you go. That’s because, I am Tooi’s first woman after all”

For this time, and for the previous time too.

There was a smile of supreme bliss when she added that line in.

“Hey, Onee-chan. Can I ask a question?”

Having finished a part of her work, Alua talked to her sister who was sitting at the office desk.

Currently, they are writing a report regarding their advance in the battle. In the first place, since there are many things they can’t report, there are many exaggerated lies included in the contents.

“What?”

“I have been questioning this for the whole time”

Alua made that introduction before asking.

“You told me that the reason why Tooi Onii-chan was able to command the [Nebulosa] was because he was already a Deity knight right? Then………how did he go getting his first one? For the first Deity………when he made a contract with Ryura Vega, Tooi Onii-chan wasn’t a Deity knight or any sorts’ right?”

Forget that, she heard from him that he has not even made a contract with 1 Spirit.

“How did Tooi Onii-chan…..make Ryura Vega accept him?”

“Fumu”

Laila put down her pen and placed her hand on her chin.

“Well, there are many situations to describe in one sentence so……….if you still ask for a short and simple summary then; it’s because Ryura Vega is obsessed with virgins”

Alua opened her mouth blankly.

“…………Eh? Wha, eh? Vi-virgin………eh?”

“More like the male virgins instead of the female ones. Anyways, Ryura Vega is really conscious…….if the person has experience on contracts or not”

“………….”

“Apparently, that’s the reason why she has only made a contract with Tooi in her whole life. She often says [Those who have already made contracts with other Spirits are so filthy and is not suitable to be my master] or [A contract is impossible unless it’s the person’s first too]”

Only the strong challenges the Shrines that the Deities reside in.

As an obvious result, they are all Spirit knights that have already mastered the [Ray Alma] which is the ultimate skill of Spirit tech and has already made contracts with several Spirits.

“E-err………so, to the d-de-Deities, a contract…..has that kind of meaning?”

“What kind of meaning?”

“W-well……err…….s-sexual, inte-intercourse………”

“You mean sex?”

“Don’t be so blunt about it, Onee-chan you idiot!”

“Their viewpoint about that varies between the Deities. Each of them has completely different thoughts. Any ways, this just means that Ryura Vega is a Deity that lives under that sense of virtue as her viewpoint basis”

If that’s true then, the reason why Tooi Cross was able to make a contract with Ryura Vega is greatly related to him being from another world.

If it’s a human in this world then, no one would challenge the Shrine without at least one Spirit contract done.

There’s also no one that would think to have a Deity as their first Spirit contract.

“Of course, regardless of having experience on contracts or not, it’s still just a trigger to everything else”

Laila added that remark. Her slightly narrowed eyes looked as if she was feeling nostalgia from the past.

(A trigger……I see, she’s right)

Many events and drama probably occurred 10 years ago with Tooi and Ryura, and also the other [Nebulosa] too.

Needless to say; Laila too.

Alua was not able to pick them up since she was young at that time.

“No matter what, I am glad he somehow managed to regain one of the [Nebulosa]. There’s 11 more left huh………….”

Laila sunk into her seat.

“As for La Shii Fomalhaut…………let’s leave her aside for now; we have to think about the future. I think the existence of [Tooi Cross’s successor] will gradually become famous but, who knows how far it will remain effective………”

Within the [Nebulosa], if there are Deities who has their location spotted like La Shii and Ryura, there are also Deities whose whereabouts are missing.

It’s her goal to attract those Deities g by having him name himself as [Tooi Cross’s successor]. This is to find out their whereabouts since a successor of their previous master has appeared. This is a plan to expect some kind of reaction from the [Nebulosa].

“I don’t know how it would go but, our future looks like it’s going to be filled with hardships……..”

Laila then made a serious expression,

“Alua”

She then, called her out with a serious tone. Alua puckered her lips.

(…..I knew it)

She knows what Laila was going to say.

She’s probably going to tell her to drop out as Tooi’s partner.

(I wasn’t useful at all……..)

She might act as his bodyguard when he had no contract Deities but, Tooi has Ryura Vega now. He might not be as strong as before but, he has regained his power which was far more superior to Alua’s strength.

And because of this incident, Tooi’s face is known to the military already. There’s no need for Alua to stick with him.

Feeling regret about her lack of power, Alua clenched her fist but, the words Laila said were unexpected to her.

“I’ll be counting on you from now on”

“Eh?”

“Your existence is needed in Tooi’s journey. You act as his support”

“……..W-wait, Onee-chan!”

Alua’s voice panicked because the words she heard was not what she predicted.

“Why…….? Tooi Onii-chan has Ryura Vega now you know? I am fully aware that this is the 2nd time that this is our world’s problem. I was useless in the last incident…….so, why…….”

“…….True”

Laila looked down with a painful expression before opening her mouth softly.

“I guess it’s time to tell you, Alua. Do you understand why I entrust you as Tooi’s partner? Do you know what I ask from you?”

“That’s……….isn’t it to become Tooi Onii-chan support? Act as his bodyguard, or help with his daily necessities, those kind of care”

“No”

She flatly denied it.

“What I ask from you, is to become his [Chains]”

“Chains?”

“………..It was a bet, for me. To call Tooi Cross over to this world once more”

Alua gasped with an uneasy voice.

That’s because Laila was making her usual fearless face and has not lost her composure but, was making an expression as if she’s cornered.

This is the first time in her life that she seen her sister this terrified.

“He said this to me 10 years ago. In a more specific way, this was his grandmother’s words but----“

After making that introduction, she imitated Tooi’s line with [My Abuelagrandma said this].

“[I don’t believe people who move by their sense of justice. I can believe people who are honest with their desires]”

“………….”

“The reason why he teamed up with me 10 years ago was probably because I was firmed with my own desires. This time, it was my turn to believe and expect things from his desires. And it’s Tooi Cross’s obsession with the [Nebulosa12 Goddesses]”

“O-obsession….?”

“Just like what I always say, he’s a closet pervert. While making a cool and disinterested face……….there’s his true nature that won’t come out to the light. There’s a nature he is hiding. There’s a monster of pure desire sleeping deep inside his stomach”

The woman who went to the battlefield with Tooi Cross as his partner 10 years ago said this.

“He is faithful to his desires, because of that, he will devote his whole heart to the people he loves. Just like how he desperately fought for his own grandmother, he would do anything to protect his world and would take on anything that is his enemy”

Tooi risked his life to fight the [Demon King] to see off his grandmother.

It was not for world peace or the unification of the world, it was all for his one and only family.

Alua felt that it was a wonderful thing to do.

She felt that it was a glowing moving tale.

But, Laila was feeling fear from the danger lurking in there.

“Understand now Alua? Tooi Cross will turn the world into his enemy for women. If it’s for his loved ones, if it’s to protect his own world, he would look down at the great accomplishment of [Demon King Suppression] as a simple [Method]………..”

Turning the world into his enemy for women.

She thought it was quite a cool thing.

The main character, Tooi, who appears in the [Tooi Cross] themed stories which Alua is engrossed in reading, was often such a character.

He’s a brave warrior that would challenge powerful enemies no matter how strong they are, for the sake of their comrades.

When his comrades and the world are placed on a scale, he would not hesitate to choose his comrades and would bravely pick a fight with the world from the front; that’s the kind of super cool hero he is.

“If this was a hero’s tale or some kind of legend then, that might be an honorable action. But, doing that in reality……..is just plain madness”

“…………..”

“Tooi Cross will not hesitate to treat the world as his enemy if it’s for his loved ones. He will make his decision regardless if he can do it or not. And he'd do it easily”

Tooi defeated the [Demon King] Hadar which was a threat that attacked the whole continent.

For his [Goal] of seeing off his grandmother’s last moments, he took down the enemy that tried to destroy the world.

(That means, it’s just a coincidence? It’s because he needed to defeat the demon king to return to his world………...Tooi Onii-chan’s [Goal] and the [World’s enemy] coincidentally overlapped each other……..)

I am not a hero or the savior.

The words Tooi said many times were not modesty or self-insulting. So that means it was the plain truth.

If it’s something else that he had to destroy to return to his world then, just what kind of decision will Tooi Cross make-----

“This time, he made his ultimate [Goal] to reestablish his contracts with the [Nebulosa12 Goddesses]. He will probably do anything for that. As a result of that, even I can’t imagine what he would bring to this world”

That’s why Laila told her.

“I need you to be his [Chains], Alua”

“…………….”

“He tries to act as a good brother in front of you for some reason. If you stay by his side………the rampant danger will probably drop a bit”

After saying that, Laila stood up from her chair. She turned around away from her office desk and walked over to Alua.

“Of course, I don’t know how far a [Chain] like you will be effective. Tooi might be gaining power and is getting charmed by power but…………..i can’t predict what is going to happen.

Half-way through, Laila took the sword.

It’s the treasured sword of the Schut family.

It’s the prided sword Alua inherited from Laila around the time when she was told to become Tooi’s partner.

“He might clash with Arludea Empire’s as a result of him successfully walking his life’s path. He might become a disaster worse than the [Demon King] Hadar, and drop Reneous Continent into chaos. If that happens-----“

She presented the treasured sword to Alua.

Laila was looking at her with a terrifyingly serious gaze.

“If that time happens, you kill him”

“Uh!?”

“Use that sword to stab his back when he walks out the realm of humans. That is the role of someone who becomes the partner of the man called Tooi Cross”

The person, who should be the closest to Tooi and the most knowledgeable about Tooi 10 years ago, said that with a resolute attitude.

“-----uh”

Her teeth clattered.

A chill ran down her spine her whole body shivered from the core. The uneasy and uncertain feeling that she can’t differentiate whether it is fear or shock was definitely controlling Alua’s heart.

She extended her trembling hands and received the treasured sword. It’s heavy. Having swung it many times in the past, the sword which she thought she was familiar with, gave off a creepy feeling as if this was a cursed magic sword.

Alua Schut was about to be crushed by the weight of her role which she was burdened on both her shoulders.

The moon was glowing and the stars were glittering in the night sky.

“Uuuun. Tooiii……….”

“She fell asleep”

On the Shrine’s balcony, both of them were chatting randomly as if to fill in their lost 10 years but, Ryura fell asleep before he noticed.

Tooi was in a posture where he’s giving a lap pillow.

“………If I were to choose, I wished you’d be the one giving me the lap pillow. With my face facing downwards”

While mumbling something crazy with a sigh, he looked at Ryura who had her head on his lap. When he saw her relieved and relaxed face, his heart felt peaceful.

After he patted her silky silver hair, he immediately recalled the events from 1 year ago.

The time when he revoked his contracts with the [Nebulosa12 Goddesses], after he defeated the Demon king.

During that time, Tooi did not talk about his grandmother.

If he properly explained the reason for wanting to return, this incident might not have occurred but, he still has no intentions on telling the [Nebulosa12 Goddesses] about his grandmother.

That’s because, even if there wasn’t the problem with his grandmother, Tooi had full intentions to part from the [Nebulosa12 Goddesses].

“……I was scared”

Tooi mumbled to himself after looking at the empty sky.

“I was scared………..of becoming stronger and stronger”

With several Deities whose possesses a power of a 1000 soldiers respectively under his command, he’s afraid of the power he gained which surpasses the vessel of a human being. And-----

“More importantly, I'm scared of the thrill I felt when I got stronger. I felt that I mustn’t continue maintaining the contracts with the [Nebulosa12 Goddesses]”

He feared himself after he was charmed by power, possessed by power, and drowned in power

The power he gained greatly surpasses the power a single human should hold.

That’s why, Tooi chose to part ways with the [Nebulosa12 Goddesses].

“……………but, that was a mistake. I was just running away. I was just running away without facing you all and facing myself”

That’s why he will face them properly this time.

For that reason, he threw away his old world and came over here.

“Sorry, Ryura”

Tooi lowered his sights to his thighs and started at Ryura with a painful gaze. He then carried her up and performed a princess carry.

He entered into the bedroom next to the balcony and placed Ryura on the canopy bed.

After leaving the bedroom, he returned back to the balcony.

“……If I did things properly, Ryura wouldn’t be taken advantage by the Lectar’s military……..Ryura….wouldn’t have been used”

While mumbling that, Tooi placed his hands on the guard rail.

“I did not even think about it……..it’s possible enough that someone would use the [Nebulosa]. It might be possible that they established a new contract with someone that isn’t me-----“

*Mishiiri*

The guard rail he grabbed with both his hands creaked.

“Aaah, no……..i cannot forgive that. I feel like puking just thinking that someone else other than me using the [Nebulosa12 Goddesses]…….”

Even though he can withstand parting them, getting [NTRedstolen] is the only thing he can’t handle.

And,

After saying that, Tooi looked up. Those eyes looking up at the sky, had a black dark glow so dark that it might swallow the pale moonlight.

“[Nebulosa12 Goddesses]-------

PrimeraThe First Chapter Deity of [Violent Wind] – Ryura Vega

SegundaThe Second Chapter Deity of [Azure Ice] - Belfriede Canopis

TerceraThe Third Chapter Deity of [Illusionary Melody] - Di Anna Altair

CuartaThe Fourth Chapter Deity of [Foul Death] – Zoema Spica

QuintaThe Fifth Chapter Deity of [Weapon Empress] – Zesca Aldebaran

SextaThe Sixth Chapter Deity of [Earth] – Gushana Rigel

SeptimaThe Seventh Chapter Deity of [All-knowing] - Minami Arcrux

OctavaThe Eighth Chapter Deity of [World Tree] – Jimalta Mimoza

NovenaThe Ninth Chapter Deity of [Faceless] – Al Ai Yuk Capela

DecimaThe Tenth Chapter Deity of [Thunder] - Pandura Regulus

ZeroZero Chapter Deity of [Time & Space] - La Shii Fomalhaut

UltimaFinal Chapter Deity of [Absolute Void] – Mephiros Betelgaus

---I won’t hand any of you to anyone else”

Clearly.

Swiftly fluently.

Indifferently.

Solemnly.

Boldly.

Tooi Cross said the names of the existences needed in order to construct his world.

“[All of youThe Nebulosa] are mine”

Clouds covered the full moon and the whole place was covered in darkness temporarily.

No one in this world knew what the expression the young man, who isn’t a hero or savior, made at that time.

Translation Notes and References

Prologue:

Chapter 1:

Chapter 2:

Chapter 5:

Chapter 6:

Chapter 7:

Epilogue:

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