Chapter 1: I’m Back!
Kazuma had returned after showing off his smug face to the Queen, but since he had his Powered Suit deployed in Crimson Knight mode, he realized his all-out smug face had been pointless, and his shoulders slumped heavily.
“Damn it! I’m such an idiot! What was the point of that smug face!”
“You just got back, what on earth are you doing?”
“Momoko-chan! Where’s my welcome-back kiss?”
“How about a welcome-back fist to your face instead?”
“I’ll pass.”
As soon as he returned to the base in Hawaii, Kazuma started pestering Momoko.
Naturally, he was given the cold shoulder, and Kazuma moved away from Momoko before a fist could fly into his face.
“Kazuma-kun. I’m glad you made it back safely.”
It was Ema who gave him a warm welcome.
He spread his arms as if to praise Kazuma, the savior who had rescued Earth, and rejoiced at his safe return.
“Ah, Ema-san. Got a sec?”
“Hmm? What is it?”
Kazuma put up a soundproof Protective Barrier so that others nearby couldn’t hear their conversation, and then told Ema what he had discussed with the aliens.
“Ema-san. About the aliens, how should we handle them? I’ve spoken with their leader, just so you know.”
“What did they say?”
“They said it’s a full surrender, and they’ll accept all our conditions.”
“That’s… quite extraordinary.”
Though, considering Kazuma had stormed their place, it was probably a natural reaction.
Hearing that they would accept all demands, Ema thought for a moment.
This wasn’t just Japan’s problem. It was a problem for the world, and by extension, the entire planet.
No matter what, Japan couldn’t monopolize it all.
However, he hesitated to tell the leaders of other countries.
After all, he didn’t know how Kazuma would react.
In this war, Ema and the others learned about the aliens’ technology.
Having won the war, they could seize the aliens’ assets, technology, and territory as reparations.
It was a very attractive prospect, but human greed knows no bounds.
What would the leaders of various countries think if they knew?
In the worst-case scenario, their enemies wouldn’t be aliens next time, but fellow Earthlings.
“(Normally, we should hold a conference with the leaders of each country and discuss what kind of responsibility the aliens should take, but that would be troublesome. Thanks to Kazuma-kun, they’ve completely surrendered and said they’ll accept all our demands. Naturally, everyone would want to take everything. If it were for technological development or investment in the future, there’d be no problem, but it probably won’t turn out that way…)”
Considering the future dangers, Ema decided to take this matter to his grave.
“Kazuma-kun. Sorry, but could you give me a little time? I want to prepare some documents and discuss things with the aliens.”
“Okay!”
Kazuma dispelled the soundproof Protective Barrier, spoke briefly with the leaders of various countries and the Gifted, received their words of thanks, and then they dispersed.
It was only for a very short period, just one day, that the leaders of various countries joined hands, and the miraculous dream team disbanded.
Perhaps they would never see it again, but a day might come when they would join hands once more.
“Well then, shall we head back too?”
Saying that, Kazuma tried to Teleport to Japan, taking Ema and the others with him.
Before returning to Japan, Alicia and Charlotte had whined about wanting to come along, but understandably worried about their own countries, the presidents of America and France dragged them back.
“Well, you can just come visit again.”
“I’ll definitely come! Absolutely!”
“Kazuma-san! Please wait for me! I’ll definitely visit you soon!”
“Yeah. I’ll always be waiting.”
After saying that, Kazuma returned to Japan.
Kazuma, who had Teleported to the Prime Minister’s official residence, parted ways with Ema and went home with Momoko and Sakura Hakanai.
With the threat from space having passed for the time being, Momoko began preparing to move out of Kazuma’s room.
“Nooo! Momoko-chan, don’t leave~!”
“Let go of me. I have a home to return to.”
“This place is fine too, isn’t it? Let’s live together. Okay?”
“The stress is unbearable, so I’m going home. Well then.”
“Momoko-cha~n!”
As Momoko left through the front door with her carry-on bag, Kazuma collapsed, reaching out a hand, wailing with a look of longing.
The front door slammed shut with a thud, and Kazuma, dejected like a husband whose wife had left him, cried in the hallway for a while.
“There’s no need to be so lonely. You’ll see her again tomorrow anyway.”
“Shut up. I want to see Momoko-chan every morning!”
“You like her that much~?”
“Quite a bit. Because we can talk honestly with each other.”
“She can certainly read minds, but you can hide your thoughts, can’t you?”
“Ah, right. You didn’t know. Lately, when I talk to Momoko-chan, I don’t use any filters, so I’m speaking my true feelings.”
“Eh!? So, you really like her?”
“She’s interesting, cute, stays by my side, and is reliable. Isn’t that good?”
“Isn’t the latter half because it’s her job?”
“Stop saying things that shatter my dreams!”
He knew that the reason Momoko put up with him was because it was her job.
But, that aside, Kazuma didn’t want others to point it out, so he averted his eyes from that fact.
However, amusingly, because Kazuma himself was prejudiced by the idea that it was “just her job,” he hadn’t noticed that Momoko harbored a faint affection for him.
“Well, whatever. I’m going back to Ivy too~.”
“Mmm. Say hi to Mom for me.”
“Yes, yes. Well then, see you later~.”
Sakura Hakanai also returned to Ivy, and Kazuma, now alone, went back to bed, deciding to think after he slept.
Wondering what he would do when he woke up, Kazuma journeyed into the world of dreams.
◇◇◇◇
Around the time Kazuma was falling asleep, on a distant planet, Kakka was in the middle of making a proposal to the Queen.
“Your Majesty. The Earthlings must be basking in the afterglow of victory and letting their guard down right now. If we fire the planet-destroying cannon once more, we will surely win!”
“…We cannot. Considering the travel time to Earth, it will likely be obliterated just like last time. And this time, we will surely be annihilated.”
“But, at this rate… everything will be taken from us!”
“We have no choice but to believe in him. In the Crimson Knight.”
“Certainly, the Crimson Knight may be trustworthy. However, the others may not be! Blinded by greed, they might—”
“Haven’t we done the same things…?”
“Th-That may be so… but that doesn’t mean we can just stand by and watch silently!”
“I understand how you feel. However, defying him is impossible. The Crimson Knight’s power is beyond our imagination.”
“Kgh…! Then, let’s request cooperation from other planets!”
“That’s enough. Any more would just be unsightly.”
“…All because I was incompetent!”
“No. You did more than enough. Now, let’s believe in the Earthlings’ compassion.”
Kakka gritted his molars in frustration, but because he had actually fought the Crimson Knight, he understood the Queen’s words all too painfully.
The Crimson Knight was an entity beyond comprehension.
Only a similarly incomprehensible entity could oppose him.
“The Geppelerians… If only they had been our allies…”
As Kakka left the Queen’s chamber, he muttered ominous words.
He thought of a nefarious plan, but he could not betray the Queen.
The deeply loyal Kakka obeyed the Queen’s command and would wait at his residence until the time came.
“If the Crimson Knight could successfully persuade the Earthlings, our future too…”
In the Queen’s chamber, she worried about the future of her planet.
If the Crimson Knight and all Earthlings thought similarly, they would be saved.
However, the Crimson Knight had said it was his personal opinion. That he would consult with others and then come again.
If it were at all possible, the Queen wished for them to be people with gentle hearts.