Four days after Hajime and the others had conquered the Sunken Ruins of Melusine
and returned to Erisen, the party was still resting in Remia and Myu's house.
Remia's house was pretty big by Erisen's standards, but it was still just a house. True,
there were enough rooms for everyone, but the bathroom, laundry room, and other
locations weren't huge or anything. The bathroom only had a single shower, which
was enchanted to take in seawater from the ocean and convert it to freshwater. There
was only enough space for two people to bathe at once.
Today, Tio and Shea were taking a shower together. Yue and Kaori had already finished
theirs. Though they were always at each other's throats, they always tended to group
up for things like that. Tio found their relationship rather interesting.
"Hm? What's this?" Shea stopped undressing and turned to where Tio was looking,
her rabbit ears tilting forward inquisitively.
Tio stooped down between the clothes basket and picked up what seemed to be a
notebook.
"What's that?"
"I'm not sure. I found it in the corner there… Perhaps it belongs to Remia?" Tio looked
the notebook over. It was bound in high-quality leather. Such bindings were
commonplace in human cities, but Tio didn't think dagons would have something like
it around.
"Was it a gift from someone? Remia-san's really pretty, so maybe an admirer gave it to
her."
"Hmm… That does seem plausible. I suppose we should return— Ah!?" Tio nodded
and idly opened the notebook. When she saw what was written in its pages though,
she froze.
"Tio-san? What's the matt— Aaaaaaaaaaaah!?" Shea came over and took a peek at the
contents over Tio's shoulder. She was also shocked.
This was what was written in the notebook they'd thought belonged to Remia:
Yue's Diary.
They stared at those two words in silence. Yue had never mentioned to anyone that
she was keeping a diary, and no one had ever seen her writing.
After all, Yue didn't speak much. That wasn't to say she didn't join in conversations, or
play pranks, but she definitely spoke less than the others. If they read her diary, they
would finally have a window into her enigmatic mind.
Tio and Shea gulped nervously. Then, they exchanged glances.
"I know a person's diary is not something others should rifle through simply to satisfy
their own curiosity…"
"Yeah, you're right. It's the most tactless thing you could do."
The two of them nodded. They both agreed it was rude to read Yue's diary.
"But let's read it anyway!" "However, this time my curiosity is too great!" Still, they also
had no tact.
Shea, who was buck naked, and Tio, who was half-undressed, squatted over the diary
and flipped through the pages.
"Hmm… It seems Yue found this notebook at the end of the Great Orcus Labyrinth."
"Yeah. It looks like she wanted to start her own diary after reading Oscar-san's record
of his adventures. This way she'd have a written record of all her travels with Hajimesan."
"However, it appears she's too embarrassed to tell Master. If even he is unaware of this,
it stands to reason that we wouldn't know."
The two discussed Yue's reason for starting a diary. The next few pages were filled
with accounts of the special training she'd done with Hajime, her night life with
Hajime, her conversations with Hajime, the food she ate with Hajime, watching Hajime
transmute things, surprising Hajime with sex, making Hajime's clothes, Hajime's
sleeping habits, spending time with Hajime in the bath, Hajime's fetishes, Hajime's
weak points, Hajime's…
"She's way too clingy!" Over 90% of it was about Hajime. It basically detailed their
month-long honeymoon. In just a few pages, Shea and Tio were throwing up. Naturally,
they threw up sugar and rainbows, not vomit.
"Ugh, I feel like this is just rubbing their relationship in my face. Is all the stuff after
they leave like this too? Just accounts of how much she flirted with Hajime-san?"
"W-Well, it might be… Wait, Shea, look, they're finally about to leave Orcus' house. Start
from the part that says 'Our adventure starts here.'"
"Oooh, that means Reisen Gorge is next! That's where they met me! Ehehe, I wonder
what Yue-san wrote about me?" Shea urged Tio to turn the page, a mixture of
trepidation and excitement on her face.
"No need to be so impatient," Tio said with a smile, and turned the page.
—O Month. X Day.
We found a worthless rabbit in the wild. I can't imagine anything more worthless than
her.
"Stop treating me like I'm some kind of animal! And quit calling me worthless!" Shea
slapped the diary's pages. Tio calmed her down and continued reading.
—O Month. X Day.
I'm in charge of training the worthless rabbit now. She's totally in love with Hajime. I
can understand why, since he looked really cool when he talked down the elders at
Verbergen. Still, I don't like the tricks she uses to get close to him. I'm gonna trap her
in ice again today…
—O Month. X Day.
I haven't been able to spend much time with Hajime these past few days. It's all this
worthless rabbit's fault. I think I'll trap her in ice. I am Yue, a woman who never goes
easy on crafty rabbits, even if it is just training. Actually, this fog is pretty thick. Maybe
I can kidnap Hajime without anyone noticing?
"Ugh, I definitely remember being frozen in ice every day… And can you stop calling
me worthless and crafty all the time?"
"Shea, shouldn't you be more worried about the last thing she wrote? She was
planning on kidnapping our master."
Tio shuddered as she read the account of Shea's ten days of hellish training. She turned
the page, and continued reading.
—O Month. X Day.
This worthless rabbit's surprisingly tough. She always starts crying at the littlest thing,
but she still hasn't given up. The fire in her pale blue eyes still burns bright. I can't help
but admire her a little. That kind of pisses me off. Well, I guess I'll just trap her in ice
again. Also, I'm running out of Hajimenium. I'm starting to suffer from withdrawal
symptoms. I'm going to ride him all night once this rabbit's training is done. I am Yue,
a woman who never lets her prey escape.
"Yue-san… I never knew that was what you thought about me… Ehehe!"
"Shea, you're looking at the wrong thing again. Our poor master is about to be hunted
down. What even is this Hajimenium!?"
Shea was blushing, but Tio grew even more worried as she read on. And so, she flipped
another page.
—O Month. X Day. Hajime was delicious.
"She hunted him down! She really did it! When did she have time for that!? Poor
Master… You were assaulted in the thick fog…"
Tio began to pity Hajime, and fear Yue. She turned the page again.
—O Month. X Day.
I lost to Shea. I actually lost. I lost to a worthless rabbit. How? What on earth is she?
This doesn't make any sense. She's crazy. She threw entire trees at me, and she actually
knocked down my magic with her hammer, and every time she jumped the earth
shook and… This can't be happening…
"Yue's totally lost it! I've never seen her write like this, or talk like this! Is this really
the same Yue!?"
"W-Was it really that much of a shock to lose to me, Yue-san?"
Tio looked shaken. Shea, too, was frozen in shock. She couldn't believe that one
glancing blow she'd basically landed by sheer luck had depressed Yue that badly. She
wondered how much more of a shock it must have been when Shea had confessed.
Frankly, she was scared to keep reading. Still, Tio flipped the page.
—O Month. X Day.
We left the sea of trees and headed for the Reisen Gorge. In just half a month, we've
already obtained a new comrade. It's the bunny girl sleeping next to me right now.
She's sleeping so peacefully. Honestly, it's like she doesn't have a care in the world. She
must have suffered a lot to make it this far. How is it she can still make such a happy
face? Come to think of it, even when she'd begged us for help, she still looked just fine.
She's always like that. Even in the most desperate situations, she's always full of
energy, serious, and earnest. This girl is strong. Her spirit is unbreakable, even more
than mine, really. I think that's why I let her confess to Hajime, and let her come with
us. She's still inexperienced, but depending on how this labyrinth goes…
"..." Tio silently turned the page. There were tears in Shea's eyes.
—O Month X Day.
I hate Miledi.
"What happened to the serious tone from earlier!?"
"I mean, she was really annoying!"
—O Month. X Day.
Shea worked really hard. She's definitely one of us now. I'm too embarrassed to say
this to her face, so I'll write it down here. She's like the little sister I wish I always had.
And my best friend, too. I'll protect Shea's future from here on out. I won't let anyone
take anything important from her.
"Yue… san…"
"What a discovery. Yue is as fond of you as she is of Master." A waterfall of tears ran
down both sides of Shea's face. They dripped to the floor in a steady rivulet. She'd
never realized Yue cared that much about her. Obviously she'd known Yue treasured
her, but not to such an extent. She wanted to run out and give Yue a giant hug. Though
she was still naked, so she couldn't do that.
Tio gently patted Shea's head. After Shea had calmed down, Tio turned the page once
more.
—O Month. X Day.
We found a wild deadbeat dragon. I never knew dragons were this pathetic. She's a
hopeless pervert. I can't believe I looked up to your species once.
"Bwah!?"
"Tio-san!? Get a hold of yourself! It's not as bad as it sounds!"
Normally Tio enjoyed being insulted, but bringing down the prestige of her entire race
just hurt, especially since this came right after Yue wrote all those nice things about
Shea. Tio wanted to run out and prostrate herself before Yue to apologize for ruining
her image of dragonmen.
—O Month. X Day.
The world knows about Hajime's strength now. The people from the Holy Church
didn't look happy at all. Our journey's going to get a lot rougher from here on. It's
possible the Holy Church will declare him a heretic. Oh, and we can't forget that Hajime
kissed his teacher. Teacher-student relationships sound… fascinating. I will become
Yue-sensei, the teacher who hunts students after school.
"No, don't!" "You can't!" The entries had grown comedic again.
—O Month. X Day.
This dragon's even more perverted than I thought. She's beyond saving. Of that, I'm
certain. But still, I can tell she's trying to get to know us. I like that part of her. And the
more I talk to her, the more I realize that she's actually really smart. Though it's kind
of creepy how she sometimes looks at us all like she's our mom. I don't think that's
part of her weird fetish. It seems like she's remembering something really important
to her when she looks at us. Like me, she lost her country and her comrades… I'll need
to ask her for that story sometime. What did she feel when she watched her country
burn? How is she planning on living from here on out? I'm sure she'd tell me if I ask,
but I'll wait a little bit. I haven't opened up to her enough to ask that kind of question.
She's been open with us this whole time, so I have to do the same before I go any
further. Also, is it just me, or does she actually like being punished by Hajime? I-I am
Yue! I may not be able to change pain into pleasure, but nothing anyone does to me
can kill me! I can take it, Hajime!
"Please don't! If he actually beat you until you nearly died, then he'd be a psycho!"
"...…" Tio just stared at the pages silently. She scratched her cheek awkwardly, not
sure of what to say. She was happy Yue thought so highly of her, but didn't know how
to express her thoughts in words.
"Tio-san, let's keep reading." Tio looked up to see Shea staring right at her. She'd read
the pages too. But she didn't say anything else, instead choosing to just gaze gently at
Tio.
Now that I think about it, Shea is no different. She'd lost her homeland and most of her
family as well, but Tio understood now that Yue had her own reasons for not asking
more of either of them.
She was going to wait until she could share with them before delving deeper.
"You're right, let's keep going." Tio had also begun to cry as well.
—O Month. X Day.
I want a kid.
"Seriously!?"
"She even underlined it!"
She probably didn't like that Myu never called her Mommy. They could see the marks
the pen had left on the page. She'd pushed down on it really hard. Her frustration was
evident from her handwriting.
—O Month. X Day.
Myu's so cute. I want a kid. I want a kid. Specifically, Hajime's kid. I really want one.
Like, really want one. I love Hajime, and I want his kid. I want a kid, I want a kid, I
want…
"Sh-She spent a whole five pages writing that…"
"Sh-She's actually insane. Only a madman would write something like this! Yue-san, I
never knew you were a yandere!"
Tio's hands trembled. Cold sweat poured down Shea's back, and her rabbit ears were
pressed firmly against her head.
—O Month. X Day.
A wild Kaori appeared. I thought she was spineless, but she's surprisingly determined.
I like her spirit, so I guess I'll crush her head on. Also, I still want Hajime's kid. I am
Yue. I won't hold back against any love rival, no matter how weak.
"Are we all just wild animals to Yue-san?"
"I'm more worried about her obsession with having Master's child. How badly does
she want one? We're in the middle of conquering all the labyrinths… Now's not the
time for her to be getting pregnant! I hope Yue understands that as well… but the more
I read of this diary the more scared I get that I'll read an entry that says 'I got
pregnant.'"
"I-I get what you mean. Yue-san does do it an awful lot with Hajime-san."
"Resisting her is futile."
Even the monster of the abyss had no chance of beating her. Yue the vampire princess
was at her most dangerous when she was seducing someone. Nothing could stand
against her when she was on the prowl.
Trembling in fear, Shea and Tio continued reading through the diary.
"Shea. Tio."
"Ah!?"
Suddenly, they heard a voice behind them, which made them stiffen in terror. They
turned around, their heads creaking like a badly-oiled door.
"Y-Y-Y-Y-Yue-san!? How long have you been there!?"
"Th-This isn't what it looks like, Yue! We didn't mean for this to happen!"
Yue's merciless gaze bore into the two of them.
"Did you read it?" They couldn't answer her. All they could do was sit there, trembling
in fear.
Yue silently held out her hand. It seemed she wanted her diary back. Tio held it out to
her reverently, as if it were some holy artifact. Yue took it and put it in her pocket.
Then, both Shea and Tio prostrated themselves at Yue's feet.
"We're so sorry!" They simultaneously exclaimed.
She made them raise their heads and shrugged.
"It's partly my fault for leaving it here. Don't worry about it." They hadn't expected her
to forgive them, so they felt even more guilty. They tried to apologize again, but Yue
interrupted them.
"Anyway, did you two finish taking your shower?"
"Huh? O-Oh, not yet."
"W-We… were about to go in when we spotted this…"
For some reason, Yue's question scared them. They had an ominous premonition
about what was to come. "I see…" Yue replied, and her golden hair began to flutter.
"I am Yue. I won't hold back, even against my best friend or the woman I look up to."
The two of them bolted. Shea tackled the bathroom wall, grabbing a bath towel to wrap
around herself along the way. Tio hurriedly deployed a barrier behind her, then
restored Remia's wall with her newly acquired magic. The two were in perfect sync.
They knew they'd need to run until Yue's wrath finally subsided. Unfortunately, before
they could even go a few paces, dark clouds rolled in, and thunder dragons filled the
sky.
Shea and Tio's screams were loud enough that all Erisen could hear them.
Yue opened her notebook and pulled out a miniature pen from her pocket. —O Month.
X Day.
Today's weather, sunny with a chance of thunderstorms. All in all, a good day.
She snapped her notebook shut, nodded in satisfaction, and went out to retrieve the
companions she'd burnt to a crisp.