Inside the corridor of a magnificent palace before the dawn, hurried footsteps echoed.
The servants who were already starting to work turned their gaze in wonder about
the loudly stamping footsteps, there their expression turned startled because they
recognized the figure of the high official with a grim expression. That was because the
high official of the divine country wasn't a commendable character with the habit of
waking up before the dawn.
The male high official turned through several passages, and before long he arrived in
front of a room that was guarded by soldiers armed with firearm. Even though the
guards recognized the high official's face, but they instinctively put themselves on
guard seeing his unusual state.
"You guys, announce my arrival to his majesty quickly! This is an emergency business"
"Silas-sama. However, his majesty is still in the middle of his rest..."
The male high official who raised an angry voice――Silas was answered by one of the
guards, but Silas cut him off with angrier voice.
"I don't care-, wake him up! Quickly! I told you this is an emergency-"
"Ro, roger!"
One of the guards called out to inside the room. After a while, who came out was a
woman wearing thin clothes with a displeased expression. When the guard explained
the situation, the woman's expression was becoming even more displeased even while
she drew back into the room.
Silas was tapping his foot in irritation while waiting. The guards were stirring
awkwardly seeing that.
After a while, the displeased woman just now showed out her face with her clothes in
t r a i t o r A I Z E N 275 | 582
order this time. And then she prompted Silas to enter.
Silas entered the room by pushing aside the woman and he ignored the small curse of
the woman that came from behind while heading toward the door inside the room.
The room he was currently in was the room before the bedroom. It was a place for
reception.
He knocked on the door a bit roughly, then he obeyed the voice "Enter" coming from
inside that was said with a voice that sounded deliberately bad-tempered and he
opened the door.
"Silas. Do you really have a reason to rouse me out from bed?"
It was a man who was past his middle age. He was gulping amber colored alcohol that
was poured into a glass while asking that. Although his appearance was only wearing
a gown, his eyes' sharp glint and grim expression had the pressure that naturally
overpowered anyone who saw.
This man was the king of Sky Divine Country Qwailent――the usurper Gregor Cluzet
Qwailent.
This king who had lived until now by stealing from other people since the time he had
awareness of his surrounding would easily turn his back on other even if it was his
trusted confidant. Silas knew that. This man's overwhelming violence, and his
craftiness that fully made use of that violence, and then his atrocity that was deeply
dyed by his pillaging nature, his aura that came from all those wasn't just papier
mache.
Such atmosphere would usually make Silas shrank into himself, however this time
Silas only gulped his saliva and opened his mouth.
"The mother ship Ostinato, fell. ――It was shot down."
"...What did you say?"
A mother ship getting shot down had never happened since the founding of the
country. Gregor's eyes slightly opened wide from hearing that report.His pressure was
increasing further than before while he urged Silas "What happened?" to continue.
"Last night, a sky battlecraft that belonged to Ostinato returned back alone. The pilot
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was a man named Higgs from Glowser squad. His sanity was mostly lost, so it was
difficult to question him about the circumstance, but according to him, they were
attacked by two monsters in the middle of a battle against Avenst, and then Ostinato
got shot down."
"Monster? Is it about Bovid's squad? Indeed, their skill is like a monster but――"
"No, that's...he said that they were done in by a man who fired a bombardment in
the level of a mother ship's main cannon by his lone self, and a black dragon that flew
in the speed of sound while manipulating flame and wind at will."
"...Redo the questioning. No matter how you think, he must be crazy. Don't tell me,
you aren't waking me up because you swallowed that kind of nonsense right?"
Gregor whose displeasure was increasing drastically had his finger gliding toward the
gun placed on the desk. He must be thinking that if Silas was that kind of incompetent,
than he didn't need him anymore.
Silas continued his report even while he was trickling cold sweats.
"Of course, I'm reporting this after confirming that it's not nonsense. After the
questioning, we sent a call at Ostinato using wide area communication. But, there was
no result. And then when we sent an investigation unit at the place where Ostinato
fell..."
"It was true?"
"Yes."
The investigation unit here referred to a unit that mainly investigated the land. They
were mostly unarmed, in exchange their airship was fast and thickly armored, the unit
members were also wearing special protective clothes that could defend against the
black rain's encroachment for a little while.
The component of black rain that had been raining down for many years on the land
was also included by a lot into the moisture in the air, so even if someone didn't get
touched directly, their body would get eroded just by breathing the air. To investigate
the land, what was needed wasn't respiratory device that purified the air, but a fully
sealed protective clothes with oxygen tank.
t r a i t o r A I Z E N 277 | 582
Therefore, even if they were called as investigation unit, but their activity on the land
was limited timewise...
"It was an investigation unit that was sent urgently, so they didn't look around for
much detail but――"
Silas was at loss for words. His lips distorted as though he was hesitating and choosing
his words carefully. Gregor urged him "Doesn't matter, just report it as it is" in
irritation.
"It seems that the exterior of Ostinato, its 3-gun turrets as well as the ship's rear
bottom are gouged out wholly. The sky battlecrafts onboard are mostly gone, most of
the important spots were blown off as though they were exploded from inside. And
then...about the crews..."
"Hmph. They are annihilated anyway right?"
"Yes. But, it seems that the cause wasn't just the black rain."
Saying that, Silas took out a data storage of recording video inside the mother ship
that was brought back by the investigation team. Silas's expression was pale for some
reason. Gregor received the data storage while looking suspicious and inserted it into
his personal console.
What was projected in the display was...
[That guy-, that guy is coming-. Run away quickly-]
[Stop-, it's me! Don't shoot-]
[Noooo-, no moreeee-. The voice won't go away-. Someone-, hel――]
[Aa, aAAAAAAAAAA-]
[Die-, DIEEEEEEE-]
It was a scene of chaos and madness that would make one covered their eyes. The
recording was only showing the crews of Ostinato. However, everyone was fighting,
bawling, or desperately running away as though they were being chased by something
unseen.
t r a i t o r A I Z E N 278 | 582
And then, the people who lost their sanity early attacked the people nearby, and then
the stray bullet from the attempt to counter attack that would attack other
people...after that it was just like a stone that rolled down a slope. It was a crucible
of madness that created unseen terror and excessive paranoia against the comrade
before them.
"What, is this..."
"..."
Silas couldn't answer at the mutter that unconsciously came out from Gregor's mouth.
Before long, when the madness reached its peak, everywhere inside the ship exploded
unnaturally, and Ostinato ultimately crashed to the ground. The lightning strike inside
the sea of clouds further destroyed the inside of the ship, but someone must be
displaying their last obstinacy, because the ship recovered its floating power for a
moment just before it crashed on the ground and it somehow avoided complete
destruction. Even so the ship still exposed a figure thatlooked atrocious even just from
looking.
"Silas, what happened with Ostinato?"
"I don't know. We cannot confirm the existence of intruder from the ship's recording.
Just what is "it" the crews were frightened at...or perhaps, it might be the "monster"
that Higgs was talking about."
Inside the room became deathly silent. It was an eerie silent that would make one
wanted to express it by saying it was like even the insect was holding breath.
"...What about the battle record against Avenst? You will know what was "it" Ostinato
was fighting from there right?"
"That's, because of the explosions from unknown cause, all the record inside the ship
except this one was destroyed and couldn't be recovered."
Perhaps, that too was the work of the "monster"...even without putting it into words,
the two of them thought of the same thing.
Silence ruled the place for a while. Gregor was looking across the window at the sky
that was nearing dawn while he suddenly gulped down his alcohol. He drank directly
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straight from the bottle. Its alcohol content was high and quite some amount was
remaining in it, but he drained it dry without feeling bothered by that.
And then, he threw the bottle to the floor that it broke into pieces. He wiped his mouth
roughly and looked at Silas with a fiercely blazing gaze.
Silas's body jumped while he fell into hallucination as though he was being glared by
a wild beast. Gregor made a grin that displayed his brutal nature and gave his order.
"Summon the ship captains. Everyone of them except the defense fleet."
"Wha-, that's.... Your majesty, you will finally take care of those guys?"
"Yeah. The struggle of those Avenst bunches was a suitable amusement. I don't know
what they are starting to raise, but this time they overdid it. I'll have them disappears
now."
By no mean Avenst had succeeded in applying guerilla tactics against the divine
country. In the first place there was overwhelming difference in resource and
technology between the two sides. If Gregor felt like it, it was a trivial matter to
annihilate them.
They were surviving solely because battle that happened unpredictably became
Gregor's amusement. That was all.
But, as expected the prided mother ship of the divine country getting shot down was
a situation that he couldn't turn a blind eye on. Because they introduced themselves
as country of god that ruled the sky, they couldn't have themselves got even a single
scratch from the like of pirate. This concerned the dignity of the nation.
Therefore, he would overwhelm them with all his forces excepting the fleet that was
left behind for the country's defense. He would exterminate them from this world, not
leaving a single dust behind.
Silas lowered his head wordlessly and turned on his heel in order to accomplish his
task.
"Come to think of it, that princess too should be in a suitable age about this
time...kukuh, maybe it's also not bad to take in the royal blood. Or perhaps, I should
even show how the last royalty fall in front of the survivors."
t r a i t o r A I Z E N 280 | 582
A delighted laugh echoed.
Gregor Cluzet Kwailent――he was without a doubt a usurper.
t r a i t o r A I Z E N 281 | 582
The gigantic mother ship Avenst was moored in the valley of a cloud mountain..
The mother ship of divine country Ostinato that Hajime sank was also gigantic, but
Avenst was two sizes larger than it.
Although, if it was asked whether its majesty surpassed Ostinato because it was
superior in size, then the answer could be no other than "No".
After all,
"...The gun turret, has a lot of laundry aired there."
"...The deck, hath plantation spreading through the whole thing there."
Hajime and Tio who were observing the gradually nearing Avenst using binoculars
muttered so spontaneously.
Yes, the mother ship Avenst was horribly peaceful from the outside. The gun barrels
and turrets on the exterior were linked with each other by wire and laundries were
hanged in a row there. A panty of some madam was hanging on the tip of the main
cannon. Honestly the two of them couldn't help but felt their strength drained from
them seeing that.
In addition, there was a splendid plantation on the deck. There were a lot of people
taking care of it diligently even now. And then, on top of such deck children were
running around energetically. There was even a daredevil that slid down something
that looked like a slide that stretched to the outside from the deck until the bottom of
the ship in one go.
"I, it's more or less treated as the "royal capital", so it's attaching importance to the
livelihood or something...in the first place, Helmut had collected the dragon core of
the monarch dragon that became its driving force, so even though it has weapons but
they won't work satisfactorily. And so, if that's the case then it's better to use it for
valid practical use..."
Roze made that kind of justification with her cheeks reddening slightly in shame.
t r a i t o r A I Z E N 282 | 582
Actually this mother ship Avenst was the battleship that the prince once created using
the dragon core of his partner. Although, its dragon core was taken out by Helmut, so
right now it was moving using only sky core, and the most it could do was only flying
just barely.
Knowing that, Hajime threw a questioning gaze of what they would do if they were
discovered by enemy, to which Roze puffed up her chest and pointed with her finger.
"It's fine. Its weapons are mostly not functioning, but the thickness of its armor is top
class even among the existing airships in the present time. Even if it got hit by the main
cannon of a mother ship, it is able to endure several shots with room to spare. What's
more, airships protecting Avenst are always at its side."
Looking closer, there was an airship moored beside the mother ship Avenst.
Airship Averia――it was the sister ship of Roze's battleship Rozeria. If it had to be said
then Rozeria put importance on speed and maneuverability, in contrast Averia was a
battleship that put importance on firepower.
These two ships had protected the descendants of dragon kingdom Avenst until now,
said Roze proudly.
Hajime was glancing at such girl while cocking his head in puzzlement inside his heart.
(Just two ships, what's more their mother ship is not even in destroyer level...they
are really pulling through continuously until now while burdened with protecting
baggage? Is there just how much the difference in skill between the two sides? No,
even so...)
Hajime turned his gaze to Tio. Coincidentally Tio also turned her gaze to Hajime at
that time, so their gaze met and their expression was at loss for words. Roze herself
said that they had protected all these continuously until now, but perhaps, that
was...like that the two of them reached the same conclusion.
While they were doing that, the mother ship Avenst was gradually getting closer and
closer.
Naturally the existence of the airship Rozeria was also noticed by the other side, so
the people who were tending to the plantation, and also the children were gathering
toward a spot on the deck bustlingly. That spot must be the spot where Rozeria would
t r a i t o r A I Z E N 283 | 582
come alongside.
Roze waved her hands energetically. A loud cheer was raised just from that. It seemed
that her popularity was becoming of a queen.
The Crow siblings and Bovid and others of sky battlecraft squad also came out to the
deck and started the preparation to transfer to Avenst.
When the airship came alongside the mother ship Avenst, the deck of Avenst was
jammed with people. Although Hajime had fixed it to a certain degree, but Rozeria was
really in a terrible state. It seemed that it was enough to make the expression of the
people welcoming the queen to turn pale.
"Everyone, there is no need to worry. We were attacked by Qwailent, but it's as you
see! I and also Kuwaibel are safe!"
"Piih!!"
When Roze lifted up Kuwaibel high with both her hands, joyful cheers occurred once
more. Roze hugged Kuwaibel back on her chest and lifted one hand to calm down the
cheers, and this time she raised her voice with a meek expression.
"But, a lot of pilots offered their precious life in order to let us survive. Please direct
your feeling toward the brave warriors who are unable to go back home. And then,
please give them praise. We are protected by them."
The sky battlecraft pilots were lining up on the deck. Sobbing voice resounded from
here and there from the people who didn't see the figure of their important people
that they should have seen off at the departure. Bovid and others put their fist on their
chest and looked up to the sky. That was the salute in dragon kingdom. They offered a
silent prayer at their comrades who had gone ahead of them.
The people on the deck naturally also offered a silent prayer.
Silent prayer was spreading in the sky where gentle breeze was blowing.
After the silent prayer continued for a while, an aging man stepped forward in front of
the crowd.
"Roze-sama, welcome home."
t r a i t o r A I Z E N 284 | 582
The white haired man with splendid moustache bowed his head deeply with his back
kept stretching straight.
"Gramps. I'm back. Was there any problem?"
"None, there wasn't any such thing. This Sabastian Orto is entrusted with looking after
this place during Roze-sama's absence. No problem would occur that easily as long as
I'm here."
This man who answered calmly yet with a definite confidence seemed to be Roze's
trusted retainer. His appearance, his way of speaking, and his atmosphere were
absolutely that of a butler despite the normal work clothes he was wearing. Hajime
and Tio had a thinking in regard to this man.
That thought was,
[ [Almost] ]
Hajime and Tio spontaneously retorted. 'If only his name wasn't "Sa" but "Se", they
would be able to proof the existence of the implicit rule shared through parallel
universe that speaking of butler meant "Sebastian", and yet!' was what they thought.
When the alternate world duo who didn't read the place's atmosphere made a
complicated expression, Roze mistaken that expression thinking that the two of them
were getting bored, and so she started to get down the ramp in panic. She did that
while calling Hajime and Tio's name by attaching '-sama'.
Naturally, there was no way the people didn't get suspicious when they heard their
queen calling others using '-sama', and as their representative Sabastian raised a
question.
"Roze-sama, can I ask who are these two people?"
"They are guests. This gentleman is Nagumo Hajime-sama, and this lady is Tio Claussama. They will be staying in Avenst for a while. ...They are important, really really
important people, so please take care of them absolutely politely."
"...Roze-sama's, important, person?"
Gramps's gaze seized Hajime. Knowing the meaning of that gaze, Hajime averted his
t r a i t o r A I Z E N 285 | 582
gaze. 'This is because you said important "people"', Hajime retorted inside his heart.
"I'm sorry to be rude, but Roze-sama, more specifically what kind of acquaintance they
are for you? By any chance, are they from Qwailent?"
"No, Gramps. They aren't related with Qwailent. That, about their background, saying
it here is a bit.... Anyway, I request this to Gramps no matter what! Please give them
our greatest hospitality! ...No matter what, we have to please Hajime-sama."
The last sentence was said in small volume that couldn't be heard by the people at the
surrounding, but Sabas who possessed the ears of an excellent butler caught it
perfectly. Sabas who had taken care of Roze since she was born loved Roze like she
was his own daughter.
And that master of his that should even be called as his beloved daughter was now
desperately trying to please a man that he didn't know...
'Okay. I don't really get it. In other words, he is enemy isn't he?' He concluded.
Of course, Roze whispered that in the meaning that she wished for Hajime to be
pleased with Avenst. She understood that if Hajime felt like it, then it didn't matter
what Tio wanted, and so Roze made that utterance because of that, but the eyes of
gramps Sabas who didn't know one bit about that instantly turned into the eye of a
killer. While smiling friendlily and gently.
"So that's how it is. Well then, I will immediately prepare the room and meal. Nagumosama, Claus-sama, if any of you need something, then please order anything from this
Sabas without any reservation."
As expected from the steward that directly served the royalty. He showed a truly
elegant manners. While smiling friendlily, and gently. With the eyes of a killer.
Thinking that for now he should clear up the misunderstanding before this gramps
gave them trouble, Hajime opened his mouth.
"Aa, Sabas-san? I'll say this because it seems you are having a misunderstanding, what
queen-san there is saying doesn't mean like that okay? Or rather, I'm a married man.
See, this woman here is my wife."
Saying that, Hajime grasped Tio's arm and jerked her to the front. For some reason,
t r a i t o r A I Z E N 286 | 582
Tio bowed her head gracefully while saying "Nice to meet you, thank you for always
taking care of my husband" , she was making a greeting as though she was meeting
the superior of the company where her husband was working for some reason.
It seemed that it was something she wanted to try saying at least once after seeing an
afternoon drama. Tio was giving glances at Hajime saying "How's that? How is that?
Didst I look like a wife just now?" .
Hajime smiled wryly thinking that this wasn't that kind of situation, even so he
brushed Tio's hair unreservedly. Tio's cheeks were dyed red from a sweet pleasure
that was different from when she got slapped.
Even seen from the side, it was obvious in a glance that the relationship of the two
wasn't something shallow.
When Hajime tried to look at Sabas thinking that the misunderstanding must be
solved with this...indeed, it seemed that the misunderstanding that he was a
scoundrel aiming at their important master was solved, but in exchange a new
misunderstanding seemed to be created.
The eyes of Sabas whose body was trembling all over were moistening with sadness
and,
"Roze-sama...gramps feels really sad-"
"Eh? Eeh? Wha, what's wrong gramps!? Why are you suddenly looking like wanting to
cry!?"
Roze-chan got flustered. Gramps's hands gently grasped Roze's shoulders and he
opened his mouth in admonishment.
"Roze-sama――you must not commit adultery."
"Gramps, is your head okay?"
Roze tilted her head wondering, 'has he finally starting going senile?'. Behind her the
Crow siblings were making an amazed expression, while Bovid was desperately
enduring his laughter.
"Indeed, gramps was looking after Roze-sama strictly. I am keeping a watchful eye at
t r a i t o r A I Z E N 287 | 582
Roze-sama even in regard of the matter of love. Even though currently there is hardly
anyone with lineage that is a good match for Roze-sama, there is no way I can just
leave Roze-sama to any man. Therefore, the love letter for Roze-sama from those
people who doesn't know their standing, I tore up and discarded all of them after I
inspected them but..."
"Eh!? Please wait a second. That's the first time I heard that though? There is someone
who gives me love letter? In this Avenst? Or rather, what do you mean by inspecting
them and then tearing them up!?"
Roze's popularity in Avenst was high. And then, she was living with the people in the
same ship, and she was always talking with them normally, on top of that she was
treating everyone amiably. She was boasting a tremendous popularity among the
young men.
Of course, Roze was idolized as a queen, and those men didn't believe that they would
be able to build a really good relationship with Roze, the most that they did was only
writing up their heart's feeling and sentthem to her. And it was done by a considerable
number of people.
However, Roze had never received something like a love letter even once. She had also
never getting confessed at. She was at that age, so it wasn't like she didn't have interest
for that, but she thought that no one was thinking of her like that because her social
position was in the way.
But, she never thought, that it was like that because...
Roze-chan morosely pressed her question to the gramps, but it didn't reach the ear of
the brooding gramps.
"Roze-sama, please give up your idea! To aim at a man who is married...even before
thinking about the moral as a royalty, it's already mistaken as a human! Please, think
again and stop from something like a looting love!"
"Really, what are you saying gramps!? I'm going to stuff you into Rozeria's main cannon
and blast you off you know!?"
The people of Avenst stirred. "Her majesty is, looting love...holy cow" ,or "She
abducted a man she is pleased with, altogether with his wife...as expected from our
queen" , or "My, love letter..." , or "Or rather, just who is that man who shot through
t r a i t o r A I Z E N 288 | 582
Roze-sama's heart?" , or "That breast. That beautiful black haired woman is his
wife...how envious, I'm jealous", or "You, you like that kind of woman more than me?
Then, look forward to an encounter at the next world okay" , or "Wai-, that's a joke. I
only have feeling for you-. Ah, wait, don't push! I'll fall, I'm going to fall-, sto-, aa~~~~-
" , those voices could be heard.
Roze desperately raised her voice in denial. However, putting aside the male camp, the
female camp's misunderstanding was also unexpectedly not really clearing up. It
seemed that the female camp of Avenst knew quiet welt that their queen who was at
that age was a hidden pervert.
Roze who got lukewarm gazes directed at her no matter what she said yelled "This is
misunderstanding~~~~~-!!" resoundingly through the blue skies.
Two whole days passed since Hajime and Tio arrived in mother ship Avenst.
During that time, Hajime and Tio received the greatest hospitality possible from Roze
and others.
At the first day, Roze gathered the top brasses and shared the information regarding
the circumstance and background of Hajime and Tio, so the top brasses with Sabas
whose misunderstanding was solved at the forefront were giving their hospitality by
their own initiative, to the degree that was desperate. Hajime and Tio tasted a
treatment a bit like VIP.
They had their fill of various cooking that was using the mysterious ingredients of this
world. The foods fundamentally were grain, fruit, and vegetable, but those products
had extremely good flavor from the grace of the sky core's effect, coupled with the skill
of the cook, it was enough to satisfy both of them.
They were also guided to a floating island that possessed a large lake. The water that
was flowing out from the floating island dispersed midair and turned into white mist
which was covering the whole island, that sight truly should even be called as a secret
region that was covered by a mystical veil, to the degree that just by being able to look
at that made the two thought that it was worth it to come to this world.
Also, the sky cores that were dotting the lake's surrounding seemed to possess the
property to take in the humidity in the air and turned it into spring water. The fact that
t r a i t o r A I Z E N 289 | 582
its nature was subtly changed due to that area and the environment caused Hajime's
blood as a transmutation master to boil up.
Hajime also exchanged a piece of god crystal with the craftsmen of Avenst who were
handling the sky core and they had discussion. They got along greatly with each other.
The expression of Hajime who comprehended the various natures of the sky core
looked pleased with himself.
There was also the matter of the misunderstanding about Roze's illicit love with the
married couple spreading, but the people of Avenst also came into contact with
Hajime and Tio with immense curiosity. Someone would surely call out to them kindly
when they walked inside the ship.
And the best thing in the two's opinion was that they were able to see this coexisting
livelihood of dragon and human.
Human and dragon flew around to patrol and repair the ship's exterior, to harvest on
the floating island and deliver luggage, and sometimes just to dry the laundry. The
human and dragon that became partner numbered very few if seen from the whole,
even so the good old way of living of this world could be found there. It was something
that Tio admired very much.
In general, the country aboard the ship called Avenst really matched Hajime and Tio's
preference whether in the people's trait, their senses of value, and also their way of
coexistence. It was a comfortable country. At the very least, it was far better than the
trait ofthe country thattried to killthem without question and spewed out outrageous
remark to Tio the very first time they met.
And then, when Tio and Hajime welcomed the morning of the third days they were
enjoying enough this country called Avenst and this world.
The two were waiting for the appearance of the sun for who knew how many times at
the front deck of the mother ship Avenst.
There, a voice that was filled with faint nervousness and resolve called out at them.
"...Hajime-sama, Tio-sama. What do you two think about our country?"
When the two looked back across their shoulder, over there was Roze who was holding
Kuwaibel in her arms like usual. No, it wasn't just her, the Crow siblings and Bovid,
t r a i t o r A I Z E N 290 | 582
Sabastian, and then the top brasses of Avenst starting with the captain of airship
Azeria were arrayed there. Everyone was making a complicated expression like a
traveler that was made to stand in the fork road.
"I think it's a good country. I can even think of it as normally comfortable even without
the hospitality."
"Is, that so. I'm, glad to hear that."
Roze's expression who heard that showed a wry smile. She must have guessed it. That
the thinking if they could moved the emotion of the two, then perhaps Hajime would
change his mind and gave them their help, such thinking didn't work.
"As expected, something like a status of being our hero, it's not enough as
compensation isn't it?"
"You already knew that right from the start right? A man who will change his mind
easily after receiving that much hospitality, do you think that kind of man can be
expected to become anything like a hero that saved a country? Something like that just
isn't in my nature, and it don't even suit me."
"Fufu. Indeed, when I think back about your deed when cornering the mother ship of
Avenst, the title of hero really don't suit you Hajime-sama at all."
"Now you have said it queen-sama. ...Conversely, it feels like it's you who become a
bit unbound from something instead."
While the expression of the top brasses looked frustrated and pained, it was only Roze
whose eyes were containing resignation along with a vague resolve.
Roze took a deep breath at Hajime's pointing out so.
"Perhaps. During these two days, I have been looking at the two of you all the time.
Even when you two were having fun, I saw that your heart is unwavering. Why? Even
though all these nice people might die, how can you still abandon them? What a
terrible person. I also had that kind of thinking."
"Hmph? You think differently now?"
"I will lie if I say that I'm thinking completely differently. Because no matter what, I am
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an absolute ally of Avenst. But, somehow, the two of you, aren't inhuman people who
doesn't show interest to us...let's see, if I have to say, I come to think of the two of
you like a "large tree"."
Hajime titled his head not understanding what Roze meant. In respond to that, Roze
talked while choosing her words. The top brasses who were making complicated
expression were also lending their ears to Roze's speech.
"An unshakeable existence, that is just existing there. Sometimes it protected us from
cold rain, or softening the illuminating sunlight. But, it would never hold out its
branches because it is asked, that kind of existence."
"...That's a strangely fitting phrase."
Roze chuckled while saying "I'm honored with your praise" seeing she was able to
make Hajime blink.
The eastern sky was starting to grow light bit by bit. The dawn was near. Roze turned
her gaze at the eastern sky that was starting to brighten while adding on her words.
The top brasses were also lending her their ears silently.
"At that time, when the sun came out, the two of you said to me that "this world is
beautiful". I had forgotten that all this time, but certainly, even when it has ended up
in this state, this world is beautiful. Even though it's this beautiful, even though it has
been broken like this, but mankind is still not repenting. ...I thought, just for a little.
Taking back our country, defeating Helmut, and then taking back the world before
this――is there any meaning in those?"
The top brasses were suddenly starting to get noisy. That was only natural. After all,
their king was blurting out something that sounded like she was denying mankind's
continuation.
"A destructive thinking huh? But I think that you were persuading us really
desperately considering all that though?"
"Of course. Because it was something that I only thought for a bit, I'm not throwing
away our dearest wish or anything."
Relieved sighs were leaked out. The top brasses were stroking down their chest.
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Amidst them, Roze talked to Hajime who was tilting his head wondering just what was
it she wanted to say.
"Surely, there is no meaning in it."
"In your dearest wish?"
"No. In being saved."
Kuwaibel cried out sounding vaguely troubled. It was Kuwaibel who sought help the
first time at Hajime and Tio. However, he didn't seek help to break the deadlock in the
dangerous situation of that time. He was seeking for the salvation of the dragon
kingdom itself from Tio's overwhelming presence that his senses as a monarch dragon
detected.
Guessing what Roze wished to say, the expression of the top brasses looked taken
aback and turned into a vaguely troubled look.
"We surely have to save ourselves by our own effort. If not, in the world after itis saved,
we will surely walk on the path that destroy the world once more...that's what I
think."
"I think it will be fine if it's the people of dragon kingdom though?"
"No. As long as we don't even massacre all the people at the fight against Qwailent, the
one living in this world won't just be the people of dragon kingdom. Even if we tell
them let's live in repentance after having everything ended by a supernatural
existence, just what kind of persuasiveness that can be found from that kind of
words?"
After having their country destroyed by an incomprehensible existence that suddenly
appeared, there was no way the people would then lend their ears toward the
preaching of the people of a dead country who didn't even really fight.
The overwhelming power that Hajime and Tio displayed was a lethal poison in a sense.
If such power could be wielded, then the wielder would undoubtedly be able to force
their will to happen. Seen from the view point of people who were lamenting
powerlessly, the people who were reaching out their hand toward their dearest wish,
it wasn't an exaggeration even if such power was called as a magic with unequalled
charm.
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Therefore, Roze who was charmed and became captive of that power where she then
asked for help, after she saw the figure of Hajime and Tio living a really normal daily
life, showing admiration and wonder at everything in the trifling ordinary day, it
seemed that her boiling mind recovered its calmness.
"Originally, we should also say "Don't get involved, this is our problem" about Helmut's
subjugation too, but..."
"You are awfully different from two days ago huh. Well, those are admirable words
but...my wife said, 'I want to beat up Helmut-kun viciously until you cannot even
recognize how he looks like!', so just give up on that."
"N, no, Goshujin-sama? I, didst not really speak that far..."
Actually, Hajime-san also thought that he wanted to go and took a look at an "evil"
dragon. This wasn't just a mere dragon they were talking about. It was an "evil"
dragon. 'Isn't thattickling the soul!' Though currently it was a serious scene, so he read
the mood and kept such thinking only in his heart.
"I see. Then, we will fight in the world that stop raining. We will pray for your success
in Helmut's subjugation. And then, if possible, it will make us happy if you will
remember us, the dragon country Avenst, oh horrible dragon knight-sama from
another world."
"I told you already right, I'll pray, so that the dearest wish of you all queen-san and
others can come true. Or rather, what's with that horrible dragon knight-sama huh. As
I thought, you are holding a bit of grudge aren't you?"
"Who knows, what are you talking about?"
Roze said that while chuckling.
It seemed that she really wasn't planning to request the two of them to become their
proxy in war anymore.
There were two kinds of victory. A meaningful victory, and a meaningless victory.
Surely the path Roze and others was walking on was filled with hardships, but if they
were looking for the former, then they had to fight by their own. Her smile was a bright
one must be because she had clearly realized that and resolved herself.
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The top brasses were making a troubled expression at their queen's decision, but
when Roze looked back and asked "Is there any objection?" with her gaze, they bowed
their head unanimously. And then, when they lifted their head back, the same resolve
and determination like Roze were dwelling in those eyes.
"Hajime-sama, Tio-sama. I'm glad I can meet the two of you. Please, stay healthy."
"Ou, you guys too. I won't forget about the people of the sky who are living together
with the dragons."
"Roze-dono. I'm praying for a limitless happiness for thee, and for thy important
people."
The morning sun showed its face. Warm light filled the world from beyond the sea of
clouds.
Hajime and Tio shook hand with Roze, and like that, they were about to part――
"-, Cross Bit!!"
Suddenly Hajime yelled. Right after that, the huge flash that was launched from the
sun assaulted the flank of mother ship Avenst.
Hajime defended against that attack using barrier that was formed by the Cross Bits
he secretly deployed two days ago when they arrived at this ship.
Thunderous sound and impact shook the world. Roze screamed and she was about to
tumble down, but Tio helped her to stand still.
Because the barrier didn't cover the whole ship, the extremely violent flash was
making mother ship Avenstto tilt with its after wave. The top brasses on the deck were
falling to their knees altogether.
Was it ten second, or one minute?
The flash fired from the sun was vanishing as though it was melting into the empty air.
"Hiding in the sunrise, they are acting witty."
When Tio and Roze turned their gaze toward the sunlight at Hajime's mutter――
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There were countless black dots there.
It wasn't just one or two. A great number of black dots could be seen inside the
sunlight that was illuminating the world with blazing light.
No, those were, what appeared with the sun on their back using that light to hide their
figure were――
"Qwailent's fleet...no way, why are they here!?"
Roze's words that sounded like a scream resounded.