◆ Nation of Kashiram – Hunter’s Nest ◆
“Listen up, both of you. You two are married now, right? Then knowing each other is part of the trial. If you’re going to be together for a long time, you’re bound to have arguments… Problems will pile up. So how can you not even figure out something as basic as this?”
“Eh… So, Seigel, you obviously know, right?”
“Of course. In a girl’s room, generally… Oops. Secret.”
“In a girl’s room… meow?”
We were desperately flitting about. First, we asked our parents, but they just said something vague about happiness bringing good fortune. They told us to nurture our love, which we were already doing just fine. No one in the village seemed to know anything, claiming they were too busy to help.
So, we turned to Seigel, who seemed knowledgeable, only to get this reaction. Indeed, as Meria said, marriage is a lifelong commitment and the ultimate form of love. But if we don’t understand the crucial aspects, our entire lives could be ruined.
“I’d love to teach you, but that wouldn’t help you in the long run. Teaching is easy. But what you learn through your own efforts becomes part of you. You understand that, right?”
“Yeah… Experience in battle is built up over time…”
“Exactly. You might be good at fighting, but from now on, that’s not enough. Think outside of battle, keep moving your feet. That way, you can grow more as a person.”
“I see… You’re right, Seigel. We were too naive.”
“Glad you understand. Now, we’re heading to Dragon’s Valley. See you.”
It was a bit strange how quickly he left, but I felt a sense of understanding. Despite his appearance, Seigel was more mature than us and had a solid way of thinking. I felt fortunate to learn so much beyond just fighting.
“What should we do, Lua-chan? I have no idea…”
“Don’t give up. As Seigel said, let’s just keep moving.”
“Well, I’m the one who flies, after all…”
From here, the Royal Capital of Kashiram is close. Maybe Hans, Balbus, or Nice would know something. But asking people might not help. So what should we really do?
“Isn’t that Lua and Kurinka…? No way, did they come for dragon hunting?”
“Don’t joke around. If they show up, the dragons will become an endangered species.”
“Let’s go, Kurinka. Before they make them extinct.”
No matter where we go, we get pointed at and cause a commotion. I used to find it frustrating that my abilities weren’t recognized, but this is a hassle in its own right. New situations bring unexpected worries, and perhaps this is the trial Seigel was talking about.
◆ Royal Capital of Kashiram – Hans’s House ◆
But gathering information by asking others is fundamental. In that case, let’s try asking everyone we can. First up is Hans.
“Hey! This is a blacksmith’s shop! I don’t have time to answer stupid questions!”
“Then can I ask after you’re done working?”
“I’m busy both day and night!”
He was indeed pouring himself into his work with incredible intensity. He was sweating profusely, so I shouldn’t interrupt him. I heard that the rumor of him forging weapons for the Flash Strike Girl has made him even busier. He seems quite irritated, but according to Tatarka, he has mellowed out a lot lately. It seems blacksmiths are happy when their skills are recognized.
“Hahaha, Lua! Hans is very busy! If you’d like, I, Greyman, can answer your questions!”
“Why are you here?! Your weapons are due after noon!”
“No, it’s already past noon…”
“We haven’t even eaten yet! Don’t come here with your own standards! Sit properly!”
“What am I supposed to do now?!”
Has he really mellowed out? He chased after Greyman and disappeared somewhere, leaving a pile of work behind. Greyman’s antics are probably why this happened. But I really wanted him to teach me.
“Do you know about Tatarka? …I don’t know what to do.”
“Uh… well…”
“What’s wrong? Your face is red?”
“I’m sorry, I think I’m a bit tired. If I don’t finish this today, my dad will get mad…”
“Sorry for interrupting you.”
Tatarka’s hands were awkward as he started working again, as if he were forgetting something while hammering the weapon. He’s such a diligent kid.
◆ Kashiram Royal Palace – Courtyard ◆
Today, intense training was supposed to be taking place here. However, everyone was sitting cross-legged with their eyes closed, remaining silent. Balbus, Nice, and the beastkin were the same. Even the King was completely still.
“…Hah!”
“Hmm, still lacking concentration. And the image isn’t solidified either; this looks more like a wandering soul than a Fireball. It vanished too quickly.”
“Hmm… This is troublesome. It seems the fighting spirit is still lacking.”
“I told you to forget that and focus multiple times, didn’t I?”
It seems like Rash is teaching magic to the King. The others must be doing the same. They say Fireball is the foundation of magic, but judging by their expressions, it doesn’t seem like they’re getting good results. I can use some simple magic, but I don’t recall doing anything as difficult as what Rash is attempting.
“Lord Balbus, I never thought magic could be this complex.”
“For a beastkin who has carved their path with just their body, this is truly unknown territory… Elmera is starting to seem like a monster to me.”
“Well, it is difficult. Even I struggled with it. Even if it’s basic, it still takes time to master.”
“Rutna, don’t get too cocky; join in as well.”
“I did it, uho!”
The gorilla beastkin, Gorita, launched a rather impressive Fireball that struck a wooden board. He danced around joyfully, while Balbus and the others blinked in disbelief.
“Uho! Lord Balbus! Did you see that?!”
“Y-Yes, well done. Keep it up.”
“Gorilla…”
It’s amusing to see Rash, the one teaching, looking the most surprised. Gorita was smarter than I remembered. Wait, I feel like I shouldn’t be recalling that.
“Lua-chan, you haven’t been studying properly since then, have you?”
“I’m sorry, it’s really impossible…”
“It’s fine. I got a bit carried away back then too. I really don’t want to see Lua-chan being dumber than a gorilla…”
“I’m sorry for being dumb…”
“It’s okay, being dumb is part of who you are, Lua-chan.”
“Kurinka…!”
“Hey, if you’re going to flirt, could you do it outside…?”
Rash caught us. It’s a reasonable point, and I should reflect on it. So please, don’t look at me like that.
“Welcome, both of you. There’s no need for such formalities; just come in boldly.”
“Uh, that’s a bit much…”
“Exactly. I was so focused on learning proper etiquette at first, but this King doesn’t care about that.”
“Whether you cover yourself in manners or not, my evaluation won’t change. What matters more is your fighting spirit.”
“Lua… Did you need something…?”
Truppo, who had been kindly teaching the soldiers, interjected, noticing the atmosphere shift. With so many people around, surely someone would be willing to teach us something.
“…Well, you see. Both of you…”
Did I imagine it, or did the atmosphere change? Balbus, Nice, and the soldiers looked at us as if they were witnessing something unbelievable. Truppo was even looking down, his ears turning red. Tatarka seemed the same; perhaps he was tired from teaching for so long.
“Hey, by the way, I’ve been curious about this too.”
“Fighting spirit!”
“Huh…?!”
“Love! Love deeply and passionately! If you can’t do that, you’re still lacking! If you’re stumbling over something like this, you both have a long way to go!”
“A-Are we lacking?! Kurinka, it seems we’re not doing well at all…”
“No way… We slept together just fine yesterday…”
Some soldiers had tense expressions, and Nice seemed to have realized something, closing her eyes. Balbus was looking up at the sky, gazing off into the distance. What is going on?
“Now that I think about it, I never considered this. Rutna, you don’t know either?”
“Ah, well, my parents said that if you two don’t love each other, it won’t work.”
“Ugh, that’s a hassle.”
“What do you mean, a hassle?!”
“W-Why are you getting angry?!”
“Gorita knows! That’s Ugoho…!”
Nice’s elbow landed perfectly in Gorita’s stomach. That massive body crumpled to the ground. What just happened?
“Unfortunately, no one here can provide a clear answer. How about you both take a moment to cool your heads and go out somewhere?”
“Well, we are already out and about…”
“Ah, right. Then perhaps you could share some memories together…?”
“Hmm, Nice might be right. Maybe I should cool my head a bit.”
“Yes, that would be good.”
After gathering a bit more information, I thought I might consider it. However, something felt off about everyone’s demeanor. It seemed like they were conspiring to deliberately keep us in the dark. Kurinka was suspicious too, peering up at Nice from below, her fingers brushing against her beard. I wished she would stop that.
◆ Noibranz Royal Capital ◆
“You lot sure have some nerve showing up in front of me like this, huh?”
I didn’t want to see Formas’s face either, but I couldn’t afford to be picky. When it came to getting what I wanted, I had to throw shame aside. I hadn’t planned on meeting someone like him, but since I was here, I might as well. I wondered where Aboro was.
“Sorry, but I’m busy over here. You popped in to taunt me, but you’ve missed the mark. If this business I’m running hits big, this place will be mine.”
“That’s impressive. By the way, do you know where Aboro is?”
“Here.”
“What’s with that hand?”
“Are you really trying to get information without bringing anything? Are you even an Adventurer? What’s with that SSS rank? You might as well give it up.”
“Fine then. Goodbye.”
“Huh? Well, I could let you win if you want?”
He was desperately chasing after me, but I had no time for that. His clothes were tattered, so he was probably poor. The last time I saw him, he was in a state of undress, and I was a bit curious about how he ended up like this.
◆ Holy Nation of Uzei, Baran’s Dojo ◆
“I’m sorry, but I can’t answer that as I’m currently in training. Especially when it comes to matters of love, it’s forbidden.”
“Oh, I see…”
Baran was no help either.
◆ Avangarde Royal Capital, Central Street, Café “Girls Love” ◆
“Sorry, Ritta. You’re busy, right?”
“No, I’m on break, so it’s fine.”
“Well, you are the squad leader, after all. You seem busy.”
Ritta, whom I met at a café with a strange name, looked quite mature. She had been recognized for her achievements and was now busy as a squad leader at her age. It seemed that Irene and Shuri were still under Ritta’s command, which was a relief. But our results were disappointing.
“…I see. Even Ritta doesn’t know.”
“I-I’m sorry. I’m not really knowledgeable about romance or anything like that… I think I’d understand if I had someone I liked…”
“Ah! I’m so tired! Hey, old man, the usual!”
Ord burst in loudly and plopped down at a table. Unlike him, Kou and Bun were more reserved and quiet. Good for them.
“Oh! Ritta-chan, what a coincidence! Old man! Add another one to the usual!”
“…You don’t come here that often, do you?”
“Huh? Is that so?”
“Hey, when was the last time you came to this place?”
“Uh… when was it?”
“I’m afraid I won’t be involved in romance for a while.”
Ord’s presence had created a strange atmosphere. It seemed like his influence made me even less interested in romance. Meanwhile, Ord was scratching his chest. I could see how that would make anyone lose interest.
◆ West of Queemil, Avangarde Cave ◆
【The Cave Rabbit has fled!】
Just as we were about to show ourselves, the rabbit turned its rear and scampered away. The bat monsters flapped their wings in a panic, desperately disappearing somewhere.
“This is the first cave we conquered, huh? I just felt like coming here…”
“Ahaha… When we first came, that rabbit protected Lua-chan.”
“Now it’s running away from over there.”
“It’s because Lua-chan is here.”
“No, Kurinka… never mind. It’s not about who’s scarier. We’re the scary ones.”
Yes, at first, I thought I would definitely protect Kurinka (Roel). It wasn’t that long ago, but I felt we had changed a lot since then. At some point, Kurinka became not just something to protect, but a companion walking alongside me.
“I had been protected so much until now… I was nervous about being a burden. I wondered if you’d hate me.”
“Looking back, it’s strange. Meeting Kurinka and forming a party so smoothly… I wonder if it was because deep down, I knew she was Kurinka and not Roel.”
“I’m also shy and can’t step forward when someone is in trouble… But when I saw Lua-chan struggling to write, I don’t know why. My body just moved on its own…”
The Cave Rabbit was watching us from the shadows, not making a move. If we didn’t do anything, it wouldn’t attack us, even if it was a monster. I crouched down to meet the rabbit’s gaze, inhaling the cave’s air, recalling a bit of the past.
“Thanks to Kurinka, I learned to write and read. Without her, I might have ended up like Juo.”
“Like Juo…? That person seemed to like me, but… no way.”
“Ah, no. Not in that weird way…”
“Pfft… I get it. But Lua-chan fought in the Abyss Cave even when she was all alone. You won’t end up like Juo.”
“Is that so?”
There was a time I thought Juo was another version of me. I didn’t know the circumstances he lived through, but if he hadn’t found anyone to acknowledge him, he might have turned out like that. If I hadn’t met Kurinka, if I hadn’t met so many people… If he had been as strong as I was now, he would have wreaked havoc without summoning the King of the Underworld as a Necromancer. Just a slight difference in circumstances or power, and he could have walked the path I might have taken. After all, my village was destroyed, and I was filled with hatred and sorrow, feeling utterly helpless. What if I hadn’t become strong enough by now?
“…Let’s stop with the hypotheticals. Right now, Lua-chan has become who she is meant to be.”
“Y-Yeah. It’s because we worked hard that I can fight alongside Kurinka now. It doesn’t matter if ‘Destruction’ is a cheat or not…”
“Regardless of how anyone interprets it, if it can save something and be of use, that’s all that matters.”
“I wonder if there’s a hint in ‘Regeneration’… something that can heal anything.”
“Yeah…”
The Cave Rabbit seemed to relax, and before I knew it, it was leading a few little ones along with it. I didn’t know if monsters like the Cave Rabbit could even get married, but we wanted that.
“Children… I wonder how they’re made.”
I had thought about children after marriage, but it seemed quite difficult. Watching the cute figures of the Cave Rabbits as they left, we let out deep sighs.
◆ Avangarde Kingdom, Eastern Sea, Satanakia ◆
“Yes, so you came to consult the one with the most knowledge, which is me.”
If even Genia didn’t know, we were out of luck. I mean, there was no way she wouldn’t know. Looking back, both my mother and father, as well as Seigel, seemed to know something. I didn’t understand why they kept it hidden.
“Sigh… You see, I’m quite disappointed right now.”
“What’s wrong?”
“I believe you understand the current state of the Kingdom of Metallica. Kamaharka still lacks the resources to cover the entire world, and we’re short on funds and materials. On top of that, Kamaharka, though incomplete, has caught wind of a nation plotting to wage war here.”
“W-War?! Which nation? It’s not Noibranz, is it?”
“It’s a country across the distant sea. The ‘Gem Nation’ known as the Rakira Duchy, the ‘Cannon Nation’ of Benur, and the place said to be the birthplace of assassination techniques… the unified nation of Yoyami, which only assassinated key figures of surrounding nations. It would be tough for the current Metallica to face them.”
“Ugh… that sounds serious.”
“While I’m racking my brain over how to deal with this dire situation, you come here expecting me to help! Normally, I’d tell you to turn around and leave! Ugh!”
“I-I’m sorry…”
She was speaking unusually fast, and it was clear that things were quite dire. Even with her ‘Divine Nature,’ it seemed there was little she could do. Moreover, it felt like she was glancing at me repeatedly while ranting.
“Ah! Is there no savior anywhere? Even in times of world crisis, I helped the heroes… To face such a strong nation, we need a girl who defeated a Divine Being and led the world to peace… Ah, is there no one like that?”
“I-I don’t think there is?”
“You’re so heartless, it makes me sad!”
“Come on! Just ask nicely! If we can help, we’ll let you know, right?”
“Huh?”
“Huh, not ‘huh’!”
“…Yes.”
“Well, Kurinka, it can’t be helped. We have to do this.”
We were in the wrong for not considering Genia’s circumstances. The Kingdom of Metallica, including Genia, was made up of the few survivors from before. Recently, it seemed like more people were coming from Avangarde as well.
“Your help is truly appreciated. Normally, we would send special operatives to incite internal strife before a war breaks out, but… we simply lack the personnel.”
“That’s terrifying…”
“I have a high chance of being countered if I go to Yoi Yami, so that plan won’t work either. Hah…”
“In exchange, I’ll take Platiu with me. And… Marty too.”
“Yes, I’ll leave everything to you. But why Madias… no, Marty?”
“It’s better to have destruction, rebirth, and miracles all in one place. Who knows, we might resolve this without fighting.”
“I see…”
“Alright, I’ll prepare today and start moving tomorrow. When it comes to assassination techniques, Shinbu comes to mind… I wonder if he knows anything?”
It took a roundabout way to get here, but it can’t be helped. I believe this is the trial Seigel spoke of. Getting married and having children is truly a daunting task. It’s not enough to just nurture love.
“Kurinka, once this is over, it’s finally… time, right?”
“Yeah! We’ll have children! I wonder how many we’ll have?”
We’re just a step away from realizing our dream of a married life. Besides, we have to do this for the sake of the world. With Madias the Arbitrator God gone, the calamities sleeping in the world will only grow worse. If the world falls into crisis because of us, we have to do something about it. But I have no regrets; rather, we feel a sense of purpose in what we’re doing.
“The path we’ve chosen… let’s enjoy it to the fullest!”
“Yeah!”
Even if the damage is counter-stopped, we will absolutely not stop. Counter-stop!
◆ Kingdom of Avangarde, Eastern Sea, Satanakia ◆
“You’ve found some good companions, Rua.”
“Indeed…”
“Who could bear to tell us the cruel truth that children cannot be born between women…?”
“Here, we must accept it, as Genia will teach us. Since we made a promise, it’s only natural.”
“Well, let’s go with that method…”
“That method?”
Is it truly more cruel to know the truth? Or is it happier to remain ignorant? Even Shin doesn’t know.
◆ Shin Report ◆
Even I understand that children cannot be born between women. It’s so frustrating that it brings tears to my eyes. Here, I must prove that I am an adult and, at the right moment, I will tell them.
Children come when a man and a woman love each other, and happiness will be brought by the bird of joy.
Hehe, to think they don’t even know this. With this, for a while, I can nibble on whatever I want without anyone saying a word. Kukuku.