The Kingdom was unusually noisy as crowds of people were talking and chattering.
Usually you’d express it as “everyone is lively” but, if you looked at the facial expressions of the people in the Kingdom, you’d notice that the majority of those people had sorrowful and dark expressions. The invasion of the Kingdom was truly an unexpected event.
It’s been 5 days since that day, the sense of loss and sorrow still lingering in the people’s chests were bringing pain to their hearts. However, that still doesn’t stop them from working on the reconstruction, that was surely “The strength of people”.
On the main street of the Kingdom which was filled with sorrow and strength, a man with white hair and an eyepatch was buying something hotdog-like (because something that wasn’t a sausage was inserted instead) and chewing on it as he walked towards the guild headquarters, it was Hajime. Only Yue and Shizuku was by his side. After going to the guild headquarters they were going to repair the great barriers, Shizuku volunteered to guide them to the artifact’s location.
Shia and them were house sitting at the Royal Palace. It was judged that it would be better to not needlessly stimulate the people with the appearances of another race walking through the Kingdom, so they volunteered to stay behind. Even if the Kingdom citizens know that the ones that attacked them were Majinzoku’s, right now they’ll likely indiscriminately target them because they “aren’t humans”.
The Kingdom were high believers of the church, to begin with, besides the Demi-human slaves, there were hardly any other race but humans. That’s the judgement was proper. Right now if you’re just judging by appearances then Kaori counted as human so she was currently helping Aiko and them who were busy helping Ririana, and Teio was sleeping in order to refill the magical power she’s used up continuously for the past several days.
[The guild headquarters is…...in the end, what do you plan on doing there?]
Shizuku asked Hajime as she was also similarly chewing on a cheese flavored hotdog.
[N? Ahh, I thought I’d just send a message reporting that the request was completed. Although it’s something that should be done directly with words, it’ll be far too troublesome to travel from Fuyuren towards the Sea of Trees. If I send a report through headquarters they’ll properly deal with it]
[......By report…..are you talking about that child called Myu? Come to think of it, I don’t see her appearance……]
After Shizuku was slightly disappointed and lowered her eyebrows, they explained that Myu was safely reunited with her mother. Was she done in by Myu’s cuteness after only meeting momentarily? [I wanted to hug her…….] Shizuku muttered. However, after hearing Yue’s words, her eyes opened up widely.
[......It’s fine. You’ll meet again. Since Hajime will be taking her with us to Japan]
[............Hai? What does this mean Nagumo-kun?]
[What do you mean what does this mean, it’s exactly as said. I’ve made a promise with Myu. I said I’d take her with me to my hometown]
[Eh...no...but…..Myu-chan is a Umininzoku*Sea person* right?]
Hajime shrugged his shoulders like there was nothing wrong while Shizuku was baffled.
[I understand what you’re saying, but its not that much of a problem? There are lots of ways around it, and if there’s none then just make one. Isn’t it often said? something like, Whether or not it’s possible, or whether you can do it or not]
[That’s, ma~a, that’s certainly true but….]
[To begin with, isn’t it too late now? Shia’s got usamimi’s…..and Yue’s not even albino but she has sharp canines and bright red eyes. If you look in the long-term, her appearance won't change either…..You probably didn’t even think about it when I said that I was going to bring both of them back to Japan]
As Hajime made his points, Shizuku certainly had a wry smile now. Yue who was besides him had a faint smile on her face. She was quietly holding onto the hem of Hajime’s clothes with her hand. Faintly, a sweet atmosphere began to drift. When Shizuku was hit by the atmosphere, her temperature went up a bit, [Thanks for the meal], she said while fanning herself.
And while glancing over to the side at the two harmonious people, Shizuku was convinced that whatever happens Hajime will somehow find a way through it all even though she had no evidence, when she thought about the steep path which her best friend was traveling on, Shizuku began to become troubled and her eyebrows became an 八.
[.......Are you properly looking after Kaori?]
[N~? That’s something you should ask the actual person herself. No matter what I say, I don’t actually know how she feels? Ma~a, for me, just as promised, I don’t intend to be cruel]
Shizuku suddenly became more worried after hearing those words. If you looked at Kaori’s appearance then, somehow or another she understood what the answer was without hearing it, [You overprotective guy], she said as she looked towards Hajime.
Shizuku was feeling somewhat shameful and as Hajime showed signs of being amazed at the remarks, Yue suddenly dropped a bombshell.
[......Because he’s like that he was assaulted. Hajime, hang in there]
[O, oh]
[Eh? Please wait a moment. Was assaulted? Who did to who?]
[.....Kaori did to Hajime. It seems that during the confusion she stole a kiss…..darn that Kaori]
[Ka, Kaori did…..no way….right, Kaori’s already gone up the stairs towards adulthood….]
Before she knew it, her best friend had powered up in various meanings, Shizuku had distant eyes and her cheeks cramped up. As if she was left behind she began to feel lonely.
[.....Aiko is also dangerous. Be careful Hajime]
[.....There’s no way that’s true]
Hajime quickly averted his eyes away from Yue’s sharp glance, he was one beat too slow in denying that possibility. Shizuku who regained herself as the 2 people talked, that’s right! with a sharp glance just like Yue, she thoroughly questioned Hajime.
[Somehow, you’re talking as if you’ve realised it? And? Nagumo-kun, what have you done to Ai-chan?]
[Oi, kora. Why are you already assuming that I’ve done something]
[Ever since the day that Ai-chan came back to the Kingdom she’s been acting funny. …...Whenever she spoke of you she blushed. …….I highly doubt that it was because you repelled that large army. Something definitely happened while still at the town of Ulu? Sa~a, truthfully spill it out! It’s an important matter of whether or not Kaori’s rivals will be increasing!]
[No, like I said, I…..]
Shizuku who had heated-up, [do~u, do~u], and trying to suppress it, she began to try and get idea’s out of Hajime. Then there, Yue while expressionless, exposed it all.
[......They kissed. Dense guy]
[! Nagumo-kun! People like you! The other party is a Sensei!]
[Wait, calm down. I’ll explain it so, don’t grab my neck, don’t shake me!]
With a, This high-grade flag architect!, expression, Shizuku began to shake Hajime, and then Hajime’s story of the lifesaving act that was performed at Ulu was told. Due to the poison, Aiko couldn’t drink the medicine on her own, because the situation called for urgency, he forcefully made her drink it.
Since then it further increased when Shimizu was shot and she was rescued from the isolation tower at the head temple, with Yue adding onto it, Shizuku became convinced. Ahh, don’t….fall Ai-chan.
[Ma~a, I understand that it wasn’t completely intended to happen but…..Nagumo-kun, you look as if you’ve somehow figured out Ai-chan’s feelings. Since when have you found out?]
[......Since the time when I was taking care of Sensei after she blew up the head temple and killed Ishtar and his group. …….Because she was looking at me with strangely feverish eyes, It couldn’t be though~ is what I had thought but…..As expected, it was like that?]
[.....It’s like that]
[It’s like that right]
Towards Shizuku and Yue’s confirmation without hesitation, the emergency which was pushed into the corner of his mind came up again as Hajime looked up towards the sky. What are you going to do? is what the glances from both sides said to him, Hajime started thinking of ideas as he groaned out, [U~n]......
[Un, let’s neglect it]
is what he concluded with.
[.....Ma~a, I don’t think Aiko-chan will be taking on the offensive. Rather than dealing with it poorly, just leaving it as is might be better…..]
[Ah? …...Ahh, it’s just like you said. That person’s a teacher so she has her commitments to keep. Since I’m a student, pretending that I haven’t noticed it is the best course of action]
Actually, it was simply too troublesome to deal with, so as Hajime said out the plausible reasons he was averting his eyes somewhat and that fact was seen through by Shizuku who was staring at Hajime.
Shizuku’s glance showed that she was through with the topic and ate all that was left of the hotdog, then Hajime and them finally reached the adventurers guild headquarters in the Kingdom. The building had a feeling like it wasn’t inferior in history or scale when compared with Fuyuren’s branch. When the entrance opened up, there were a lot of adventurers going in and out busily. The amount of requests in the Kingdom likely shot up after the invasion after all.
Hajime and them entered the guild and walked towards the ten rows of large counters. Though it was jammed packed with adventurers, as expected, the receptionists of the headquarters showed splendid skills in their procedures and the lines continued progressing at a fierce rate. In addition, the receptionists were all beautiful women. Right, they were incredible beauties. There was also a cute child as well. An incredibly cute child. *I assume by child they’re talking about a woman and not a kid, however in text it was child so i’ll leave it as such*