Arifureta Shokugyou de Sekai Saikyou

Chapter 518

Sky Dragon World Arc The Singing Her Majesty

The morning they departed to the sky dragon world.

When they were walking through the pure white corridor on the way to the room of the “World Door” located at the depth of the machine world.

「……Oi oi, are things really okay?」

Hajime narrowed his eyes toward Aiko who was walking beside him. He looked half-worried and half-exasperated.

The other members who were listening to their talk also looked the same.

「For the time being. She has also regained her senses with “Soul Repose”, and half a day has passed since the assault but there isn’t any sign of suspicious people around so……」

Aiko said with a nod. Myuu and Shizuku interrupted with expressions that looked like they really didn’t know what to say.

「Amai-oneesan, even though she also had it hard at the Christmas last year……」

Yes, the incident that attacked bus guide-san at Japan. Aiko’s consciousness had been connected to her clone for the whole time since last night, and this morning, she reported it once more to Hajime and co after they woke up.

「Why do you call her Amai-oneesan? Does she has sweet tooth?」 (TN: Amai means sweet in Japanese)

Ryuutarou tilted his head as he asked that. Suzu spoke with a wry smile.

「She introduced herself at the beginning of our school trip remember? Amai Anju-san. She’s the bus guide that time.」

「……Aa! So she has that name!」

「Eh? Aa, I see. So that’s why she’s called Amai-oneesan. I completely thought it’s a nickname or something, because she has a palate that’s like the embodiment of sugar.」

「Why are you only cottoning to that now Hajime-kun. Even though she also got invited to Nagumo family house at Christmas last year.」

Hajime averted his face away to run away from Kaori’s du~ull gaze.

「…….More importantly, Aiko. Is the enemy’s identity still unknown?」

「Looks like it. Though they might be worshippers of evil god or something. Apparently this is something usual for her.」

「W-what a life of hardship she hath. I hath heard her story at the last Christmas too but, she’s living a very hard life art not she.」

Tio smiled bitterly. Speaking of a hard life it was also the same with they themselves but, apparently Amai bus guide-san had been frequently getting dragged into turmoil that endangered her life even far longer before they got summoned to another world.

According to her story that she told them at last Christmas.

Inhuman monster certainly existed throughout the world. Genuine monster that was absolutely beyond human’s strength, but she had never ran into such monster. However, she had experience of inadvertently stepping into their territory, or getting intentionally targeted by people with screws loose in their head.

Human who ran into such thing would die in most cases. Even if they managed to survive they would become mentally screwed up in most cases and became unable to talk about what they had experienced.

And so the story inevitably didn’t spread, and even if it spread it would only be fragmentary. Those fragments would cobble together, or get changed in retelling, being altered mildly and became a kind of urban legend or folklore. In short the stories would become a type of occult material and get left behind secretly.

Normally such story would get consumed by the mass as a kind of entertainment and it would end there. People would move on to the next hot topic and immediately forget that kind of story.

But, there were also people who seriously believed such story in the world, furthermore there were also those who arrived at the truth.

Then, the people who knew the truth would diverge into two types.

People who got enchanted by the power of supernatural phenomenon that truly existed. And people who stopped those people who got enchanted and lost their rationality so they wouldn’t provoke the monsters.

In most cases, the former was called worshipper and the latter was called searcher.

The worshipper was called such because they worshipped monster as god, while searcher was called such because they searched for nefarious people trying to cause needless calamity.

Remia recalled Amai bus guide-san who talked about her story with a lot of grimness at the last Christmas and her expression became very sympathetic.

「What is sad here is that Amai-san is just a normal person, not someone from either type of people……」

Next she also recalled. About when she brewed a really sweet café au lait as accompaniment for the story.

Amai-san’s expression turned sorrowful the moment she sipped the drink. Is it not sweet enough? I have put four sugar cubes into it though……Remia asked while offering the sugar cube jar, and then the bus guide-san’s expression brightened up dazzlingly and put in the whole jar’s content.

Of course, the café au lait became sludgy. The sugar cubes got saturated but cannot melt completely though? This isn’t sugar cube filled café au lait anymore but café au lait filled sugar cubes though? Everyone thought with expression turning stiff like they were looking at an unknown monster.

She must be recalling that time. Remia-san’s expression that was full of sympathy stiffened. She pressed her hand on her mouth like she was trying to hold back from vomiting.

「Hey, Nagumo. This talk about evil god or cult that can use dangerous power, is it possible for that kind of thing to happen even before the King Tree got revived?」

「Hm? That’s──」

Hajime looked over his shoulder toward Yuuka. He paused for a bit. He stared *jii~* before nodding Fumu in understanding.

「That’s quite possible──」

「Wait a second. If you want to say something then how about just saying it!?」

「Your outfit is also lovely today.」

「!!? D-don’t suddenly throw a straightforward praise like──no, umm……thanks」

Yuuka reflexively almost argued back at Hajime’s honest praise but, surprisingly she corrected herself at the middle. While blushing and fidgeting.

My~♪ Such gazes were turned toward her from the female group.

But well, putting that aside.

Of course they were doing it too today. The fashion show each day had already become a custom.

「Fufu, Kaori-chi told us how Nagumo-chi greatly love a certain bullet hell shooting game. So we tried incorporating the design from there.」

「Dragon and shrine maiden, it feels like there’s this synergy between the two isn’t it? It looks like it’s also a world where flying in the sky is normal, and most of all, the combo of modesty and armpit flashes is unbearable right?」

Taeko-sensei sported a wicked smile and a filthy voice 「Gu-he-he」 slipped out from her lips.

Atsushi and Noboru were whispering 「Hey, Noboru. It feels like Sugawara is gradually transforming into a lewd uncles isn’t it?」「Should we start calling her Uncle Tae from now?」 to each other, but ignoring them for now.

One of Yuuka’s twelve exclusive outfits.

The outfit for their first day at the sky dragon world was a no-sleeve shrine maiden dress with red and white colors. There was a ribbon at the back of her head, And there were sleeves that looked like a long glove attached on her arms starting from her upper arm to below. And so, her armpits and sides were splendidly exposed. The dress makers were thorough and even attached an exorcism stick on the waist.

「Rather than incorporating, isn’t this already completely a cosplay?」

A valid opinion came out from Liliana.

At the morning, when she appeared at the gathering place, Yuuka had a straight face as though to say 「Do you have any problem?」. As expected it seemed she had gotten completely used to it, so nobody said anything but, perhaps, everyone had the same thought.

Or rather, they also thought the same when she was wearing the skintight suits.

「Oo, look at her, Suzu. She’s holding her head high without even paying attention to the tsukkomi. Her face is bright red though.」

「She has grown~. Or perhaps it’s a case of impatience? This is already our third world after all, so expecting for a bit more development to happen between the two should be fine and yet……」

「This must be thatdesu. This is her impatience showing to the surface, surely. Look, Mindy-san didn’t seem to be dissatisfied being a local wife so……」

「You there! Be quiet!」

Yuuka went out of her way to thrust her exorcist rod toward Ryuutarou, Suzu, and Shia to shut them up. Certainly, her attitude or rather her words and actions indeed felt like they were similar with a certain shrine maiden.

A hand plopped on the shoulder of such Yuuka. It was Yue. She had a kind expression for some reason. Perhaps for her it was heartwarming to watch Yuuka’s effort……

「……Yuuka, too bad.」

「Eh?」

「……I already did that cosplay.」

「「「!!?」」」

Apparently her effort ended up being just a rehash. In respond to this not only Yuuka, but Nana & Taeko also made an expression that said 「What……did you say……?」.

「……Or rather, I’ve done the cosplay of almost all the characters from that work.」

「!?」

「……On the bed.」

「Tsuuuu!? N-Nagumo you pervert! Idiot-」

It seemed it wasn’t a heartwarming matter. Yue-sama simply came to assert her superiority. Yue was fundamentally soft on Yuuka during this trip but, perhaps she was thinking that she also had to show the first’s wife dignity sometimes.

Though of course, the way she was giving disclosure was outrageous.

Hoo~hee~fuu~~hn? Such gazes were raining down on Hajime from the female group. Atsushi and Noboru were giving him eyes that were saying 「This bastard-」 half in envy and half in exasperation, but Ryuutarou was giving his girlfriend a suggestive gaze.

「Hn-hn, cough-. To continue, since the ancient time Japan itself has been influenced by the “Dragon”, and there was the demons’ influence and various other things. The presence of the supernatural on earth is already a common knowledge right? At the same time, exorcist, Shadow Mon, and Onmyouji also existed, and there was also organization like Hydra.」

「Say, Yue-san. Umm……this is just for a reference but……」

「……You don’t need to finish that sentence. The cosplay that Hajime sometimes prefer──」

「Listen to me」

The topic couldn’t be changed. And so he retried. He pinched the cheek of Yuuka who ignored him and kept asking, and Yue who was exposing a part of their night activity *munii~~* and continued the talk.

「In the first place, worshipping existence that you don’t really understand but can’t be explained with common senses as “god” or “demon” or whatever, it’s an “all too familiar story” that you can find in any country, no, in any world right?」

「N-Nagumoo, fhiishhurtts~」

「……Hajimee, shorryy. Forghivemhee~」

「………Yuuka and Yue’s faces will get flabby like that. Listen to the talk. In the first place right now Ai-chan is explaining about Amai-san’s situation.」

「「Yhee~ss」」

The first wife and mistress got their hands pulled by Shizuku to the back……for now everyone ignored such scene. Because just like Shizuku said, the talk wouldn’t finish at this rate.

「Anyway, that kind of story itself isn’t strange. The existence’s sounded like something atrocious from the bus guide’s story, so after that I also tried checking with the compass but……well, perhaps because the memory of the person herself was vague, the image for searching was hard to form and in the end I didn’t find anything.」

Hajime said that as a preface for Ryuutarou and others who didn’t know much about the story at the last Christmas while looking toward Aiko once more.

「You said that the reason for the attack this time is also a “book”?」

「It looks like that’s what she heard. The attackers suspected that she’s in the possession of a book or something. Or maybe they suspected she know where it’s located.」

「What’s with that “or something”?」

「Amai-san, she apparently focused on “not seeing not listening not speaking” with all her strength when getting dragged into this kind of incident……」

Aiko smiled wryly. According to Amai-san, the more she knew the deeper she would get dragged into quagmire, so the most important thing for survival when getting dragged into something like this was apparently doing so above all else. Also, fast running speed and stamina, along with sweet drink for recovery. Those were a must.

「I wonder, why art those people thinking that Amai-dono know something?」

「Isn’t it because she carried a book before this too?」

「Amai-san also said. She doesn’t know what kind of book it was and even how she got her hand on it, and she absolutely doesn’t want to know desu.」

Generally, something like book and tool that was desired by people with screws loose would definitely a dangerous object that would drive people crazy. That was the rule of thumb. Apparently.

Ignorance must be the greatest method Amai-san had to protect herself in her neighborhood that tended to drag her into danger.

「By the way, Amai-san, it seems she’s quite famous in her neighborhood. It looks like she’s being called a supernatural being who survives ten times out of ten situations that will kill normal people ten times out of ten.」

Apparently she was saying that with an extremely displeased face that might also be one of the reasons of her getting attacked, while pouring a bundle of stick sugar into a certain hellishly sweet coffee milk.

At that time, Aiko was suffering the sensation of heartburn while thinking.

I wonder, will mankind be able to conquer diabetes if Amai-san’s body get researched.She thought.

「I see……and? You said that she’s being sheltered in Kouhai’s part-time workplace right now? If I remember right, that’s the place of that strange person who like saying pyon at the end of her sentence.」

「It’s Usami-san. Usami Towa-san. Even though she had introduced herself last Christmas……」

Aiko sent him a reproachful gaze. She was scolding him for forgetting the name too much.

But, Hajime too had an excuse. The three Santa who got invited to Nagumo household at Christmas Day all had excessively strong character.

The “rabbit-eared maid (27 years old) who thoroughly put Pyon at the end of her sentence with a firm will”. Furthermore, listening to her story it seemed she stole back the aforementioned object from the supernatural ability user with American football technique.

It made Hajime wanted to ask You’re lying right?, and even after she introduced her name to him, the impression of “rabbit-eared maid senpai” had gotten firmly planted inside his mind.

「And Hino-san too, since when you handed that kind of artifact to her……the person herself didn’t even suspect it of being anything else than a wooden sword but, that thing, is metal at the inside isn’t it?」

「W-well, that girl too has the trait of easily getting dragged into something……」

「Somehow it looks like she also used some kind of amazing skill. The type that a normal high school girl absolutely must never use even if she is doing kendo.」

「No, that’s unrelated with me, Aiko. It’s simply the result of her fierce training using her love to Onee-sama and hatred to me as fuel.」

Aiko leaned forward with an unusual aura of an older wife. When Hajime averted his gaze from her, he found the reproachful stare from the aforementioned Onee-sama instead.

「……Is it really hatred I wondeer? That girl and also Hajime too, for some reason I can’t wipe away this impression that you two are having fun by yourself unrelated to me though?」

Hajime shrugged with an expression that screamed 「How can that be!」. It looked really forced.

In actually, he was looking forward what kind of skill Kouhai-chan would learn next, and he also gave her recommendation 「Next, how about trying this?」 casually.

「Forget about that! Will it be better if we go help them? We can also contact Endou or others……」

「Hm~m. For now, according to Hino-san, when Amai-san went crazy, she looked like she really doesn’t know anything and the other side too seemed to accept it……」

The opponents must have made her going into rampage exactly for that. It would be great if the opponent decided to leave her alone after that, but then they tried to silence her just because, so Kouhai-chan too had no choice but hit them with her newest anti-demon god combat skill.

Also, the reason Kouhai-chan was with bus guide-san was because they were together the day before the attack. They met up not because of any particular reason, but simply because it was summer vacation so they were having an outing together.

Ever since the miracle Christmas where all the people who got dragged into the incident was Santa Claus, bus guide-san, Kouhai-chan, and rabbit-eared maid senpai had completely hit it off with each other and now they hanged out together quite often……

In any case, they got attacked by the attackers this time just when they were about to part with each other.

At first they were able to deal with it by themselves, or rather the opponent was also just one person so they were able to manage somehow. Then, Amai-san contacted the bus’s driver who was knowledgeable about underworld for some reason, consulted her acquaintance, meanwhile Kouhai-chan thought I can’t leave this alone! and she too returned to pick the black wooden sword in her house……

Then, the opponent also resorted to other means and this time a minivan stopped at the side for a kidnapping attempt so, for the time being they gave crotch smasher to the lots getting down from the car, also using left-handed straight thrust “Gatot*u imitation” to stab dea──render the driver unconscious through the glass window when he tried to escape……they also flattened the tires while they were at it……

Anyway, they ran around while doing their best to grasp the situation until the next morning.

The two of them were the type to have daily adventure, so they fundamentally wouldn’t rely on other people right away when something happened. Because of that Amai-san finally got her head punked before they sought Aiko’s help.

「The demons that Hajime-kun left behind as guard also called their friends to split up and pursue the enemies. It looks like they’ll also investigate their identity when they find them so…」

「Those guys……looks like they’re really eager huh.」

「Ahaha, very much so. They even yelled, It’s a partyy! HYAHHAA. Ah, Nakano-kun and Saito-kun also immediately came after getting contacted so……」

「Nakano and Saito did?」

The two who were still being freeter like usual seemed to be called as reinforcement.

Perhaps it was that. They were the guys with the most free time, so it was thought that they would answer the call with most certainty and also came running the quickest.

After all those two, although they managed to get into TV station just like they proclaimed during the graduation party, they would get fired in less than a month no matter at what station because their gaze and the way they interacted with female cast was gross……

「Yes……when I told them that the bus guide-san from our school trip that time is in trouble, they instantly answered that they’ll come……」

They’re really free huh……Atsushi and others thought with half-closed eyes. Nana and others naturally got worried for Amai-san’s safety. Not about the attack. But the anxiety whether those beasts who were hungry for lover would be able to do their job as her guard in the end……

It was then,

「Eh? Ah, wait you two──」

Aiko was about to say something, but at the next moment *Pururu-* there was the sound of ringtone. It was from Hajime’s smartphone. The screen showed the number of Aiko (clone). It was from the interworld communicator that he gave her just in case.

He wondered what was with the call even though she was right in front of him, even so it didn’t look like the call was anything urgent based on Aiko’s wry smile, so Hajime picked up the call for the time being.

『Ou ouou, harem demon god-santhereee! What is the meaning of this eeehh~~』

For some reason a voice that sounded like it came from a very vulgar thug came out. Perhaps it was Shinji.

『Kaaah, disgusting! Dis damn lecher-』

Next it might be Yoshiki. He didn’t know why he was talking with dialect, but it was clear that Yoshiki was currently terribly indignant.

『『We’ll never forgive you for getting along with bus guide-san behind our ba──』』

*Pshew* The call was cut off. Hajime asked Aiko like nothing had happened.

「For now, can I take it that it’s alright for us not going there right away to deal with it?」

「Eh? Ah, err……with the guard strengthened, the other side will only get demerit even if they attack, and the demons might bring back some kind of information……yep, I think it’s fine. For the time being──ah, wait-」

The ringtone *Pururu~* rang once more. Aiko looked apologetically toward Hajime. Please do what you can for them, her eyes said.

It couldn’t be helped, so Hajime picked up the call thinking that he was going to shut up Shinji and Yoshiki by promising them rewards.

『Nagumo-senpai-! I never heard about this! To think that you have a call setup this convenient! With this it should be possible for me to flirt with Onee-sama every night during the other world trip until we fall asleep! Even lullaby ASMR with whispering voice is also possible! That’s why please give me one t──』

*Pshew* Hajime cut off the call. And then he changed the setting to block more call immediately. He then nodded in satisfaction and put the smartphone back into his pocket like nothing had happened.

「Aa~ uu~, err~, clone body, I leave the rest to you!! Do your best!」

As expected it seemed even Aiko found it troublesome to be cornered by the grumbling and discontent duo who were running full tilt to become hopeless human and the kouhai who was too honest with her desire.

She panicked before throwing everything to her clone. The clone that got called as “the awakened Ai-chan” by the students. Surely she would take care of everything skillfully. Including with giving excuse to the vice principal who must have snapped until his hair root for her sudden departure from the school without permission.

「Hajime, don’t give a phone that can connect to other world to that girl okay?」

Shizuku-oneesama made an earnest request.

「……Nn, better like that. After all even disregarding Shizuku, that girl will also call Hajime extremely frequently.」

「Ahaha, regardless of what she said, Rin-chan is really pining for Hajime-kun isn’t shee」

「Or rather, she’s already sending a lot of emails and chat normally even without other world phone isn’t she? Hajime-san ignored ninety nine percent of them though.」

「And yet, she keep contacting without getting discouraged, this is already──」

Love isn’t it? Yuuka-chan swallowed those words. The girl in question would definitely refuse with determination while getting goosebumps, and even “love” could be categorized into types but……for some reason she didn’t want to say it. After all giving words to it could give it power.

「Now then, there was a bit of trouble but」

Apparently Hajime planned to stubbornly ignore it. Ryuutarou and others smiled wryly at Hajime who was giving extremely crude treatment to the hopeless human duo and Kouhai-chan.

But, timing-wise it was also somewhat right. The door to the room of “World Door” was before them.

Apparently they had arrived while talking. Then the door also opened automatically with good timing.

「Captain, I have been waiting. The “World Door”, the Sacred Tree, the connection with my system, and then the defense system, all clear. You can go anytime.」

There was a sloping pedestal at the center of the room. There was also a pure white and grand two-leaf door along with a pillar stretching from the ceiling on top of it.

G10 was waiting for them beside it. She was giving the final check to the teleportation device and preparing it for activation.

「Thanks, G10. I’m in your debt……though I guess it’s still too early to say that.」

「Yes, captain. Because the unveiling is still remaining to be done.」

The two exchanged gaze meaningfully, then Hajime suddenly smiled, while G10 lightened up her mono eye *Pikon* happily.,

「Then we’re going. This time it won’t be for long. I promise.」

「Yes, captain! Everyone too, please take care. Have a good trip.」

Yue and others all thanked G10 back for her words. At the same time light ran through the pillar stretching from the ceiling and the pedestal like electric circuit.

At the same time the “World Door” was tinged with light and it opened.

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「「「「「O, oooo~~~~!!」」」」」

Yuuka and Ryuutarou and co let out their admiration at the same time. Because an unexpected scenery spread out before them.

「Uwaa, this sea dome……somehow it makes me recall the undersea ruins.」

「Yeah, it’s not a ship graveyard though.」

Kaori who came behind them narrowed her eyes in nostalgia.

Just as she said, the “World Door” of the sky dragon world seemed to be located in the sea.

There was ground. It was about three to four hundred meters. The ground was covered with colorful flowers that continued until far ahead, where a wall of seawater separated it from the scraggy rock surface of the seafloor outside.

Even when they looked up they were unable to see the actual water surface. At the very least this location was so deep that sunlight didn’t reach.

As though in replacement of it, there were things like coral that radiated light, fish that looked like football fish, creature that looked like shark with excessively shiny eyes, and many other such creatures. It made even the bottom of the sea where sunlight didn’t reach to be visible until far ahead.

The group walked away a little from “World Door” to see the whole view of the dome creating this underwater space. Then when they looked back, they found there an enormous tree──the Dragon Tree.

At the bottom of the Dragon Tree, the “World Door” was set up as though to form a door for entering and exiting the inside of the tree.

Liliana was looking up the trunk from bottom to above while her mouth was hanging open. The seawater dome was centered around the Dragon Tree’s trunk like a wall. The height was around three hundred meters. The tree itself was extending to further above as though piercing the sea.

The Dragon Tree was shining faintly so they could see through the water until quite far above, but there were also huge branches spreading out from the middle, so as expected they couldn’t see the water surface.

「The great tree doesn’t have any problem even inside the sea huh……」

「Yeah. I was also surprised when searching the Dragon Tree’s location with the compass. I don’t know whether it had been like this from the start, or something happened and it sank down like the great tree Ua Alto……」

「But, if the regeneration art not limited to the Dragon Tre, at the very least the surrounding continent itself wouldst also get regenerated correct? That means the root were in the sea from the start?」

「Hm~m, well, that might be the case.」

For some reason Hajime’s enunciation was a bit hesitating, but Tio’s conjecture was proper. There’s also great tree branch located in this kind of place huh, everyone thought with admiration while enjoying the surrounding scenery.

「Papa! Papa! Is it okay to swim?」

「Weeell, we’re about 800 meters deep here so let’s not do that without any equipment.」

Remia mama was keeping a tight hold on the shoulder of her daughter who looked like she would rush away even now. AS expected even the seaman race wouldn’t be able to endure the water pressure. The seawater wall was also a barrier that couldn’t be passed through easily, so there wasn’t any worry of anyone inadvertently passing through though.

「Hey hey, Nagumo-chi. How does the above part look like with this?」

「It’s like a small island up there. Made by the branches. Like the hideout of Lyutillis……wait, even if I say that only Yue and others will get it huh……」

「? What do you mean?」

Taeko tilted her head, but it would be faster to show her so Hajime brushed her off with 「I’ll show you later」.

If they felt like it, it would be possible to teleport directly to Dragon Kingdom Avenst, and yet they passed through the “World Door” like this to visit the Dragon Tree first. There was a reason for that.

Hajime put his hand on the already closed “World Door”, checked the orb embedded into the back of the trunk, and so on. Yue asked him.

「……How is it, Hajime?」

「Hm~m, doesn’t look like there’s any problem here. Aiko, how’s over there?」

「Eh? Ah, yes! It’s fine! There isn’t any time difference with earth!」

The clone had returned to the school for the time being partly because Amai-san felt reservation and firmly refused having Aiko accompanying her constantly, where she found the vice principal who was far from losing his temper, and instead became like the embodiment of kindness and consideration. Through the clone who was currently busy making excuses, Aiko checked the time difference between worlds.

While hesitating, What should I do, would it be better if I send my consciousness there for a bit?

There was also how her clone was in the awakened Ai-chan mode, that vice principal finally started resolving himself to bring her to the hospital personally.

Apparently he was suspecting the Aiko clone. That it was just as he thought, the change in personality wasn’t because of image change but because of split personality.

……Yep, let’s just leave it to the clone here!

Aiko cut off the mental connection. It could also be said as running from reality. A contact from the clone 「Mayday! Mayday! The vice principal is insistent! It doesn’t look like it’s possible to talk him down! Emergency, asking for order! Main body!? Main bodyyyy!?」came to a corner of her mind, but even the main body didn’t feel like she would be able to talk down the vice principal.

If it’s the ideal me that is created using Yue-san and others as reference, just something like this won’t be any problem at all! You can do it! Fiiiighttt! She only sent a cheering yell to the clone.

Also, split personality happened in order to protect the heart from unpleasant reality, the second personality was created in order to push through. Such pattern was well known……

Perhaps, the vice principal’s judgment actually wasn’t that far from reality.

Getting back on topic.

「How does it look like in your eyes Yue? Is there any defect with the magic in this area or anything that looks out of place?」

「……I’ve been careful examining ever since coming here but, there isn’t anything particular. I don’t feel any distortion or unnatural pressure. The magic power is flowing neatly.」

「I see. Then next……」

Most likely, the large scale time difference started appearing other than at star spirit world from several days before this trip. It had been dealt with immediately, but in the end it was just emergency measure.

And so, just in case Hajime came here first to set up artifact for curbing the time difference and checking whether the “World Door” was working normally.

Hajime showed a slightly relieved expression after receiving Yue’s seal of approval while looking up at the seawater dome.

「The reaction of the Dragon Tree that accompanied the teleportation should be noticed, so I think they’ll come soon but……」

「Ou? What’s coming?」

Ryuutarou who was talking with Suzu 「Hey, Ryuu-kun. That football fish and shark, don’t you think they fell somewhat out of place?」「Haah? ……Ah, certainly」「Those, are absolutely Grim aren’t they?」「Yeah. This place is important after all, so they’re guardians with fish appearance huh……」 tilted his head.

Right after that. As though to answer the question, a terribly huge something crossed outside the seawater dome. It was an existence that looked like a super huge sea snake with very long torso.

「That’s Meeres-sannanoo!」

Yes, the one chose as the avatar of this Dragon Tree was the divine spirit who governed over sea current──the sea dragon Meeres.

「Umm, is it just my imagination? Doesn’t he look bigger than the main body we met at the star spirit world?」

Yuuka’s estimation wasn’t wrong.

Meeres slowly entered his head through the seawater wall above their heads. Ripple spread out and the head approached down with the impressiveness like watching a skyscraper falling down. Hajime watched that while nodding.

「It must be from becoming the Dragon Tree’s avatar. His default size doubled along with the jump in his specs. Well, he’s a divine spirit so he can freely change his size anyway.」

A size that surpassed Tio’s black dragon god mode. It was stunning. It was even more so because with his size, he could coil around the seawater dome that had the diameter of approximately 600 meters and height of 300 meters and completely hide the dome if he felt like it.

It felt like the sublimity and grand aura that he already had from the start had also leveled up. It was truly an imposing appearance befitting a dragon god.

That avatar of the Dragon Tree spoke with commanding voice that shook the soul.

『Switch』

He said such thing. Yue and others reflexively narrowed their eyes. And then veins pulsed on the foreheads of Hajime and others.

But, before a furious punishment could be sent toward Meeres,

『Demon god-dono. I ask you to switch the demons who are dispatched here as hero-dono’s substitute.』

「「「「Aa, so it’s like that……」」」」

Meeres obtained everyone’s understanding. Safe!

「Did they cause any problem?」

『Irritating』

Probably so.

Originally, Kouki should be here to observe this world while only around a month had passed since the Dragon Tree was revived. At the very least, he should be staying here for 2~3 more months.

But, Hajime asked him to go to the hell world earlier to also deal with the time difference problem, so demons were dispatched here as substitute.

Their role also doubled as aide for Meeres who hadn’t become an avatar for long and still doing trial and error to manage and adjust the world.

『I ask you to bring the spirit beasts from my world or at the very least the fairies from the fairy world. In case this wish is not granted, I might slip and turn those demons into seaweed scraps.』

「No, just what has those guys done to you……」

Divine spirit of sea current-san, was seriously furious…….

『They are acting overly familiar with me. They keep making complains or demands for every single thing. When I denied their request they would blatantly treat me as a “useless chap” and then speak endlessly while comparing me with just how wonderful the hell world’s demon king is. And at the end of it, they secretly built a base for their own use, started fighting among themselves, came to me to spew complains about that to me, throwing a tantrum like an infant, starting a party just when I was focusing on adjusting this world’s balance and adjusting the time difference, and they didn’t stop there and gave me report that I couldn’t ignore as though they were aiming for that──』

「I get it I get it-, sorry! It’s my bad! I got shaken up by the time difference problem and blundered with the personnel selection! I’ll switch them with the spirit beasts in the Miniature Garden! That’s why calm down! No, don’t get ill!」

『I see. My gratitude, demon god-dono. Just, please allow me to give a single advice. Demons are shit! It’ll be better if you cut ties with them!』

「Aa, yeah. I get it okay, so calm down?」

Only several days had passed since the demons were dispatched. For the divine spirit to accumulate stress to this degree just from that……

Certainly, unlike the demons who were dispatched to earth, the demons here were called randomly because it was only for temporary. It seemed that it was a really bad draw.

「……As expected demon is demon in the end. We need to make the selection carefully and rein them in tightly.」

「Yeah.」

Yue spoke up with a wry tone, and Hajime obediently agreed with it.

『……My apologies. I poured cold water on the mood despite everyone coming all the way here to visit.』

「Just as expected from the divine spirit of sea current? Pukuku-」

Atsushi’s joke earned him chilling gazes like cold water in the middle of winter from everyone. The gaze that stabbed him the deepest was from Myuu. There wasn’t anything as painful as a little girl’s cold eyes.

Atsushi muttered 「I won’t speak anymore so……forgive me……」 and went to the Dragon Tree’s base to sit down and hug his knees. Everyone left him alone.

『Thank you so much for visiting here, demon god-ono and family. And also, his comrades.』

「Meeres-san! Good afternoon! Nano! Since becoming the avatar? It feels like you have gotten even cooler than before nano!」

『Mu……i-is that so?』

*Gou Gou* The outside of the seawater wall roared. The sea current was whirling very powerfully in great humor. The shark-like Grims outside were getting tossed about while looking like they were screaming 「Aa~~~!?」「Stooop~!?」.

By the way, actually, all the creatures with light source at the surrounding were all Grim Reaper. However, the inside wasn’t demon, but water spirits from star spirit world who accompanied Meeres here. Hajime had adjusted the Grim Reapers so they could be possessed and controlled by the spirits just like demon.

In that sense too, it would be great if spirits were called here from the start……Hajime thought while scratching his head.

「My my, really Myuu, you’re doing it again……」

「Myu?」

Remia patted the head of her unaware seductive daughter while staring at Meeres with a troubled smile and muttering Oh my.

Somehow, the atmosphere could be felt somewhat like a mother watching over a child making merry with a warm smile.

Even though the other party was a divine spirit. Rather, he was the new god of this world.

Meeres’s gaze wandered around for a bit and calmed down. He looked somewhat embarrassed, or perhaps looking bashful.

「……The active Myuu, and the calm Remia. Mother and daughter together leading a god by his nose」

「I wonder if it’s because of good affinity due to them being seaman?」

「Noo, Shizuku-chan. I don’t think it’s particularly related you know? It feels like they’re just like that to every direction……」

「But, look, it feels like Myuu-chan is especially liked by water attribute apparitions.」

「Aa~, now that you mentioned it I can see it.」

Meeres looked like he couldn’t endure staying here any longer, so Hajime moved the talk forward.

「We’re planning to go to the dragon kingdom right after this. Before that I came here to check whether there’s any abnormality. Also, how’s it? Does it look like the time difference can be eliminated even without artifact?」

『There is no abnormality. Regarding the time difference, I wish to borrow you strength for now. I mentioned it just now too, the balance of this world is still in disarray. I have to split my attention to the adjustment of that as well as searching and dealing with mud beast.』

「I see. Well, it has only been around a month since you became the avatar after all. You can take your time to get used to it.」

『I’m greatly obliged by your consideration. My thanks once more for granting me this prestigious important task.』

It seemed Meeres too in his own way had keenly felt the heaviness of the role that his mother Lutria was shouldering. Now he was desperately trying to get used to it.

Unlike the avatars of the great trees of earth where Hajime was managing the energy and the Miniature Garden where Hajime was the creator, becoming a god of a whole world wasn’t something easy as expected, even for a being that had been a divine spirit since birth.

Tio reacted to the keyword that seemed to be a part of the reason why things weren’t easy.

「Balance……certainly Goshujin-sama hath absorbed quite much of the negative energy when creating Grasp Gloria, the number of the dragons that are the balancer itself art decreasing sharply. As expected, the nature couldst not recover completely in just a year and a half……」

「Well, seems like it.」

The impression he got from reading the report from Kouki also told him that there wasn’t that much change with the environment. Of course, it looked like the environment was getting purified bit by bit though..

There, Aiko suddenly muttered 「Eh?」and tilted her head as though she had noticed something.

「Hm~m? Please wait a second. If I remember it right, this world is circulating the dragon core inside the dragons and the sky core in the form of crystal as positive and negative energy isn’t it?」

「Yeah, what about it?」

「But, originally shouldn’t that the role of the great tree’s branches? In that case, the role of this world’s Dragon Tree is……」

Aiko spoke her question while her gaze wandered at empty air. The others also made a face that said 「Ah」. Now that she mentioned it, that was true.

「So you noticed that huh. Well, there is a proper reason for that. Although, it’s a story related to this world’s legend, so I still cannot say anything for certain……」

「Can I also ask something? Just now, I heard something about, mudbeast? What’s that? Sounds like some kind of beast but, is there anything like monster in this world too?」

Hajime had shared Amanogawa report’s information to Yue and others too. But, that wasn’t the case with Ryuutarou and Yuuka and others, so Tio who paid particular attention to this world answered him in Hajime’s place.

「They art the survivor on the surface…………or at least the shadow of it. After Goshujin-sama and I left, the black rain cleared up and people apparently ran into some while exploring the land.」

「Ee, there are survivors!? If I remember right the black rain has the effect of causing necrosis isn’t it!?」

Liliana who was family but didn’t have the report’s content shared with her raised her voice while looking shocked from the bottom of her heart. The expression of Yue and others became like 「Ah, sorry Lily……」, but putting that aside for now.

It was just like Liliana said. The environment shouldn’t be something where living creature could live at all.

『To be more accurate they aren’t survivors. Those things don’t have any soul, they are already merely a phenomenon. A calamity.』

Meeres corrected her. Certainly, Tio said with a wry smile while agreeing.

Ryuutarou and Yuuka and others looked like they couldn’t make any heads or tails of what they were saying. Hajime shrugged.

「Well, considering the dragon kingdom’s present situation and some other things, it’ll be better for us to meet up with miss queen and the others rather than explaining the report’s content here.」

「Things will be fine because Nagumo was the one who chose sight-seeing location, right?」

Yuuka asked that with a smile that oozed out trust, and Hajime too nodded with a smile as reassurance.

Yue and Kaori, and this time even Shia and Liliana also joined in saying 「You two really know each other welll~」 while making smirking faces that looked truly annoying along with pointing at the two with both hands.

It was annoying, so I’ll smash all those fingers until none remain, the shrine maiden yelled with bright red face and attacked. Kyaa~h, Yue and co scattered everywhere like baby spiders.

「Yep yep, she feels completely like a member of Nagumo family now.」

「As expected a trip is nice~. But, I think it should be fine if there’s even more development than this isn’t it」

Hajime ignored the meaningful gaze from Nana & Taeko and exchanged gaze with Meeres. Meeres nodded, then right after that an oval ring formed from tree roots and wire gradually rose from the ground.

「Oo~, fantastical! Nagumo-kun, is this the gate to go to dragon kingdom?」

Suzu’s eyes sparkled as she ran toward the ring.

「That’s right. In Amanogawa’s report, apparently the gate is set up in the “Spring of True Dragon’s Tear” underground. It’s a sacred place and as a rule only the queen and her king dragon partner can open the door. If anyone enter without permission, the king dragon will notice so the location is just right.」

「I see. So we finally can meet with the local wife at the sky world huh.」

「Should I make you into an existence that can only hug his knees at the base of the Dragon Tree too?」

Noboru placed his hand on Hajime’s shoulder while poking fun at him, but then he saw Atsushi who was still hugging his knees and quietly took his hand away.

「Now then. Just in case, I’ll contact the other side to check. If there’s no problem I’ll call you guys so follow me. Meeres too, thanks a lot. I think I’ll bring Roze and others here later, so please take care of us at that time.」

『Understood.』

Meeres got out of the barrier with a splash, then his huge body twisted and he left. Hajime saw him off while activating the “gate” that was directly connected to Dragon Kingdom.

Like that, he slipped through the ring in order to check the condition of the other side of the “gate”……

.

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.

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「Aa, my destiny. It intersect once again in this day, above the faraway sky. The world glitters, from the light of blessing raining down incessantly~」

For some reason there was a poem. From someone kneeling before the spring in a praying pose.

The magnificent arch with dragon design right behind that person shined. Hajime came out from there with his mouth hanging open, but the person didn’t notice.

「This memory cannon be forgotten no matter how many thousand of years passed. The dark clouds of my world, that you dispelled away. Since that day My Heaa~rt is like the clear blue sky without a single cloud in it. However, a maiden’s heart is patterned after the sky. Sometimes it bring down the rain of loneliness……」

He had no memory of making anyone wait for a thousand year but, anyway, there was no doubt the person meant that they had been waiting impatiently where each moment seemed like an eternity.

Hajime’s eyes wandered away. Because he heard the person’s feeling──of course not. Should he describe it like the awkwardness when looking at other person’s diary, or like the embarrassment when a hidden black history note got seen by someone else, or like being nearby the abyss lord when he was in swimming form.

Anyway, secondhand embarrassment was boiling up inside him.

The poet aka the queen of dragon kingdom Roze Phiris Avenst hadn’t noticed such person behind her and spread out her hands widely with a lot of emotion like a stage actress.

「La~lalala~~♪ A~aa~~~aaa♪」

Apparently she was more of a musical actress rather than a stage actress. She started singing for some reason. Like adding her own stage music to her own line.

Stop it already, this is like watching the lord……Hajime thought.

But, her majesty kept making things worse and stood up while singing. She stretched her hands to the sky while starting to sing the climax of her love poem (?).

And then,

「I know already~, that you have the beautiful dragon princess at your side~ ♪ However my~」

Her semi-long beautiful silver hair that grew until around her waist, and the bottom of her beautiful dress fluttered while she started twirling round and round with a heartrending expression cranked to the limit.

And then, her eyes met Hajime during her third twirling.

Her eyes widened during the fourth twirling, her face turned bright red during the fifth twirling, and her eyes became teary and she stopped during the sixth twirling.

It was clear to see that the tear didn’t come from a moving reunion.

Her majesty’s mouth flapped open and close without any word coming out like a goldfish wanting air.

And so, Hajime took a deep breath Fuu~h as he took in the situation, then he smiled cheerfully.

「Sorry. Wrong address.」

「!?」

Of course, he immediately turned back.

It must be audible through the “gate”. The Queen’s Poem.

Nobody could say anything. No, Tio made a self-satisfied face while saying「See that? She might become a local wife right?」, while several people including Kaori and Shizuku were giving him lukewarm gazes, and Yuuka was looking at Hajime with scornfully, but anyway, what reached the ears of Yue and others who were enveloped in the awkward atmosphere was,

「Waiitt~~~, it’s a misunderstanding! This isn’t how it looks likeee~~!!」

Such excuse that sounded like a scream echoed.

AN: Thank you very much for reading this every time.

Thank you very much too for the thoughts, opinions, and reports about misspelling and omitted words.

※Material introduction

– Red and white shrine maiden outfit

From the outfit of Hakurei Reimu from [Touhou Project].

– What……did you say……?

From [Bleach]. It’s from Ichigo, after a fashion.

※ Revision report

A part of [Machine World Arc We are Aliens!] is revised. It’s the time difference of sky dragon world and the time difference of the fairy world. There are also some other points weighing my mind and points that other pointed out to me, so I plan to revise them. I noticed that it will cause a bit inconsistency with the development ahead (sweat). I’m sorry but, best regards!

※Notification

– Arifureta volume 14 is planned for release at 25 December!

The content is After Story and I rewrote the chronological order right after the return. I also give the writing a lot of touch up. Also, Yue and others wearing modern clothing are the best (my overwhelming gratitude for TakayaKi-sensei!), so even though it’s not quite a Christmas present, I hope everyone can enjoy it!

– Anime 3^rd Season’s Blu-ray volume 1 will also be released at the same day! Best regards for this one too!

Light novel information /books

Blu-ray information /bluray/4318