Chapter 503
Star Spirit World Arc Guts! Guts! GUTSSSSSS!!
Author’s note: There are two chapters uploaded today.
This chapter is the last part of Star Spirit World Arc’s last chapter. The first part has been uploaded before this, so please read that first before this one.
Screams rose from various places in the capital.
Those were screams that reached the present from the past, but also screams from the people watching that.
Although it was just an illusion, if the ground below them was destroyed, cracks opened like spider web, and terrifyingly loud sound beat their eardrums, it was no wonder they couldn’t stop themselves from screaming.
What was the most terrifying was the celestial people’s army of two thousand covering the sky, and, the gigantic giant that was four hundred meter high over the barrier.
It was truly, a despairing sight.
「Aiko, as expected it’s your turn.」
「Y-yes」
Hajime sensed the sign of panic and poured magic power into Aiko while saying that. Aiko too tensed her face that was open mouthed from Oros’s majesty and the celestial army’s severity.
Aiko’s magic power instantly covered the whole capital, but it gave off only faint radiance that n.o.body noticed it.
「Apologies. We have stationed soldiers across the capital in antic.i.p.ation of the panic, but they too are recalling the fear of that time so……」
Arogan expressed his grat.i.tude with a gentle expression. Not far from him, the sight of the past Arogan flying was projected.
From there it was a series of deathly battle where the fate of the country was at stake.
Due to the earthquake and splitting ground, the tuning fork shaped tower that was their secret weapon almost collapsed. Then golems flooded out from the chasms on the ground. The barrier kept making creaking sound as though it was screaming, but even that sound was drowned by the thunderous sounds from Oros’s blows that rang out over and over.
Arogan’s spirit art that opposed against all those was befitting a demon king. It pulverized the four hundred meter golem several times.
「Not bad Arogan-san! The scene of Shia-chi blowing him away was too funny that I just treated him as a joke character but he’s actually super strong!」
「So he wasn’t just an overly confident handsome huh.」
「Y-yeah, well……」
Arogan-san’s expression radiated a bit of sorrow due to Nana and Taeko’s unrestrained comment. I see……so they watched that. So they thought I’m a joke character……he thought.
His eyes had met them coincidentally during the welcoming ceremony so he gave them a smile, but Nana and Taeko averted their gazes. He thought it was because they were embarra.s.sed, but it was actually them holding back from snorting.
His mind considered such possibility after this late. He wanted to slap the face of his past self who fretfully thought 「c.r.a.p. Did I turn another girl into my prisoner of love?」……
「Really sorry, Arogan-san. The girls in our group are so rude.」
「I won’t say any name but, it’s the fault of some men who set the standard to be so stupidly high.」
「A-aa, I see. The two of you too…………it must feel conflicting. In a lot of things.」
「「Ain’t that right」」
A small bud of male friendship grew. It wasn’t just between Atsushi & n.o.boru and Arogan. Eric and the others were also making similar expression with them.
「They fought well. However this art……」
「Yes. As expected G.o.d is G.o.d for a reason. What unreasonable strength.」
Tio and Shizuku looked up to the majestic appearance of divine spirit of earth Oros that immediately returned to normal no matter how many times he was destroyed. And he didn’t stop there, because he also kept enlarging in size. Oros’s height was already going over six hundred meter.
The huge body was like several of the highest tower in j.a.pan got bundled together. It was like watching a skysc.r.a.per getting swung around.
「That’s a wonderful barrier. It’s at the level of the capital’s great barrier.」
Liliana let out an impressed voice at the barrier that endured even after receiving many crushing blows of the gigantic G.o.d. But, her expression was severe. Because even though she didn’t have any ability like future sight, the result at the end of this was plain as day.
「Hey, Suzu. What if it’s your barrier? How many blows it’d be able to block?」
「Hm~, I wonder. If I apply all damage reduction buffs to my barrier like “Reflection” or “Softening” or “Dispersion”, I think I’ll be able to hold on as long as I have magic power.」
As expected from a world cla.s.s barrier master. Arogan and the others went 「Seriously?」 with astonished expressions. But, Suzu’s expression was wry on the contrary.
Because just as she herself said, the problem was with her magic power. The embodiment of earth. There was no way she could get into a battle of endurance against such opponent by relying on her own strength.
Though of course, the two had also received the unlimited magic power supply artifact (the shape was matching key holders) from Hajime, so they could receive unlimited supply of magic power immediately if they sent an emergency call.
「Mumu-, Shia-oneechan is rapidly approaching!」
「My my, you can feel that, Myuu?」
Remia-san goggled at the surrounding. She couldn’t Shia anywhere.
Arogan finally fell on his knee inside the past replay. The next blow would land a direct hit. His expression was giving such graphic account.
「It feels like, *Kyupiiiiiiinn* around Myuu’s forehead, like that? It wasn’t long ago, Myuu became able to feel it when papa and Yue-oneechan and others approach nano!」
「Myuu, you, since when you became a Newt*pe……」
His daughter had developed a new, and also strange special technique before anyone realized. Was it a feat that was enabled by her family love?
「……No, but, Myuu? This is a past projection so sign like that is──」
『SHAORAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!』
No, she really came! Hajime and others made such tsukkomi inside their hearts. Well, from the flow of events Arogan should be splattered if Shia didn’t come at this timing, so in a sense the arrival could be predicted based on meta knowledge……
In any case, the past Shia made it in time. A mere strike from her bounced back the swinging down fist that was the size of a skysc.r.a.per.
Even Hajime and co who knew Shia well let out 「Ooo~~h」 unintentionally seeing such sight. That was just how absurd the scene was.
「Really, it is so unreal to see even though this is my second time seeing that. Hahah」
「Y-yeah, indeed. It’s not a technique or anything. It is simply beating back strength with strength……you can only laugh seeing that.」
「That’s not an output that human should be able to produce after all」
Arogan let out a dry smile. Gruelle’s expression was twitching. Eric and others were looking at Shia with gazes like they had seen a mysterious creature before, or like they eyes of the enlightened.
The people on the ground too. They were all in a stupor seeing Shia that was like a pebble, or even just a grain of sand compared to Oros continuously bouncing back the crushing blow of a G.o.d with just a single hammer.
Even those who had witnessed what happened that day with their own eyes were also in the same state. Their reaction wasn’t any different than those who were watching the scene for the first time today.
No matter how many time they had seen it, as expected Shia’s “simple strength” was just like a bad joke.
But, even their hanging down jaws only stayed wide open for a brief moment. Cheers were gradually gradually becoming louder. Cheers so loud that they shook the capital immediately started to spread.
Thunderous sounds roared without pause. The dust from the pulverized fist faintly visualized the shockwave. No matter how many times the fist of divine punishment was swung down, all of them were continuously blasted back by a single war hammer. There was no way anybody watching that could not feel excited.
Shia didn’t take even a step back with the capital and the people behind her. It was truly the figure of a hero.
「In a sense, this is a display of Shia’s characteristic quality. It’s really an impactful show.」
「Yuuka-san……you really look like a teacher when you’re folding your arms under your chest with a serious face like that. A school infirmary teacher who looks like she’s giving bad influence to the education of the youth at that.」
「Do you really need to say that right now!?」
Or rather, as expected I look like that huh. I also thought 「Eh?」 on the way here! Even though I pretended to not notice! Yuuka said with bright red face and glared angrily at Shia.
Putting that aside,
「Now, here it comes! The problematic part!」
Shia said that with heavy breathing.
「Nagumo-dono! I had already been sanctioned with endless loop of life and death! Isn’t that right!?」
「It is something that in the end happened in the past! We won’t repeat the same mistake ever again! I believe that you know that already but just in case!」
Arogan & Gruelle-san, desperate.
What’s wrong? Ryuutarou and others tilted their head in confusion. Meanwhile the past replay entered the problematic scene that Shia mentioned.
『──She is the one and only savior of mankind, the hope of us “human”, the hero Shia! ――My queen!』
「「「「「Uwaa」」」」」
「「Oh c.r.a.p oh craaap」」
The girls’ gazes that seemed to say 「This person, he has really done it now」 stabbed Arogan. They even took a bit of distance from him, just in case. Atsushi and n.o.boru turned white as though it was themselves who committed such blunder. They were covering their mouths while shaking in fear.
Liliana smiled wryly. As a royalty, she could understand Arogan’s calculation.
「Aa~, you were trying to take advantage of the situation to drawn in “Hero Shia” weren’t you? Into your own camp.」
「He must be thinking something like, I’ll be able to make it the truth anyway I like if I just get serious seducing her later~ isn’t he? What a turn off~」
Taeko’s words stabbed the current Arogan! His hand pressed his chest, I want to bury myself into a hole……he was making that kind of face.
Gruelle and Eric placed their hand in sympathy on Arogan’s shoulders with resigned expressions. You aren’t alone. You have comrades you know? They looked like they wanted to say that.
In fact, they were right.
The development after that……
It was a parade of speeches that wouldn’t just rub the demon G.o.d-sama’s nerve the wrong way, but pouring salt and then scarping the nerve with grating sound.
Gruelle and Eric, and then even Udar started proclaiming that they were worthier. They wouldn’t stop declaring that Shia was their queen.
「Shia-oneechan is so p.o.o.pular~ nano!」
「Shia-san, Shia-san. I think the word “devilish” is more suitable for Shia-san」
「Unwanted insistence!? Remia-san, you’re looking slightly mean-」
「No-, Shia-sama! I believe that what Remia-sama said is to the point-」
「Dahlia-san be quiet!」
Naturally the argument that happened accelerated the misunderstanding of not only the people of the demon kingdom, but also the celestial people, and even the other divine spirits and Lutria that Shia was completely the ally of mankind.
Naturally Shia kept denying their claims. But, her voice was drowned by even more declarations and cheers, so much so that it even felt like there was the corrective force of the world at work. In the first place, no~~one would listen to her.
That was why,
「Ah, she snapped.」
It was unknown who whispered that. Perhaps it was a subordinate of Arogan, or a royal guard of Balted.
Shia who was doing her best pleading so everyone would listen to her became stone faced.
Marriage proposals that came from every direction all at once. Pa.s.sionate courtship of the males.
The answer given to all those was,
『Level X』
A giant shadow covered them from above.
「「「「IT’S THE 100 TON HAMMERRRRRRR!!!」」」」
Shia-san heaved up a super duper ultra large war hammer at the sky higher than Oros. Her doing it expressionlessly felt extremely scary at this moment!
She somersaulted, used a foothold of “Air Force” as a base, and fell like meteor. The attack power that already came from a super heavyweight real 100 ton hammer was sublimated to the level of nightmare!
And then,
『Become a stain on the ground-, desuu-!!』
The attack instantly erased all sounds from the world, as though to release all her pent-up anger until now.
A second later, shockwave that felt like a super huge bomb had been dropped trampled the whole surrounding area thoroughly.
The figure of the divine spirit of earth couldn’t be found there anymore.
It was a nightmarish attack, however, it still hadn’t ended. It instantly changed into a mowing down attack. The sight really was like a giant bad joke.
A part of the demon king castle at that time was erased like paper sc.r.a.p. The tower of spirit element weapon also got blown away without being able to do anything.
The people could only kneel and wait for the violence that was like a natural calamity to pa.s.s by. They all laid face down on the ground without exception.
And that didn’t apply only to the people of the past. All the people watching the past replay were also freezing with exactly the same feeling.
「……S-Shia is seriously scawy, w-when she totally snap……」
「A-angering Shia, is the only thing we mustn’t do」
Yue and Kaori were hugging each other while shivering tearfully. Their gazes were nailed toward the past Shia who was standing alone in the sky.
Veins were pulsing angrily on her forehead. Her face looked heinous like those people with self-employed profession that started with the letters “ya”.
Divine spirit was the embodiment of nature? Then the current Shia was truly the embodiment of strength!
Just look, that aura, expression! She’s just like Fudou Myouou!
Atsushi and others thought, but they didn’t say anything because it was scary. Taeko had fallen on her b.u.t.t. Nana froze while her hand was still holding her cup. Her eyes were a bit teary.
……Actually, she p.i.s.sed herself a little when the illusion of 100 ton hammer pa.s.sed above her head. It was a secret.
Amidst that, it was finally declared. The long-awaited (?) words were let loose to the world.
『I – A – M!! A MARRIED WOMAN DESUUUUUUUUU-!!!!』
「Fii~~~~~~nally I could say that! Really, the timing was just all kind of bad, there were always interruption every time before.」
The confession of the past Shia caused chaos a second later.
But, shia herself said 「Look, Hajime-san. I proclaimed that I’m Hajime-san’s wife pro~~operly see!」 with a bright smile.
「I see……so even the corrective force of galgame world kneeled in front of Shia-san’s violence. That is the situation!」
「I don’t think that’s the case.」
Liliana wore a cool expression as though she was a famous detective, but Aiko cut her down decisively.
『I have a husband who I love desuu!』
The shout of Shia’s heart flooded out like a broken dam.
「Oh man, as expected that’s embarra.s.sing」
「Eheheh」
*Suriri~* Shia sidled up closer and Hajime put his hand around her waist. He looked slightly embarra.s.sed, but he caressed her rabbit ears with a lot of affection.
The firm sermon that the past Shia directed toward the people of the old demon kingdom echoed.
「Mama, everyone’s face become serious nano.」
「Yes, looks like it. Shia-san’s words are reaching their hearts, surely.」
「Yes, Myuu-sama, Remia-sama. That time, Shia-sama’s words definitely reached the hearts of the people here. Even now, although they haven’t forgotten those words, they’re carving them again into their hearts.」
Take responsibility for your own deeds, clinging on other to only enjoy the benefit without any of the drawback is absurd.
Those words must be painful to hear, but now that five years had pa.s.sed, it seemed that they were making the people of the capital to regain their initial motivation in their heart once more. It was just like Myuu said, the expression of the people were tensing with seriousness.
『──I don’t have rabbit ear to listen to the words of people who won’t struggle for the sake of the future!』
Shia said that before proclaiming brazenly. If they all still wished for war, 『I’ll run away!』 she said.
She declared that she wouldn’t help the words of humanity to reach the G.o.ds anymore.
「Surely the people won’t misunderstand anymore even without this reunion with Shia-sama. I have no doubt that once again they are carving into their hearts the facts, that the savior is not our ally unconditionally, that she is an existence who can abandon us to our fate and leave anytime.」
Dahlia spun her words quietly. The way she narrowed her eyes toward the people below certainly gave her the aura of a saint who was filled with love and affection.
「You’re right. I hope it’ll be like that.」
「It’ll be fine, Eric. You can see it from the people’s expressions. Isn’t that right?」
「As I thought, I’m glad we asked for the past to be reenacted like this. We’ll have to give our best effort to reach an understanding with the people living in the confinement land too.」
「Fufu, as the village chief, it is very pleasing to hear such words your majesty Gruelle. I will tell those words to everyone too.」
The whole capital’s festive atmosphere was changing to a somewhat solemn atmosphere.
And so.
Surely it would be great if the past replay ended there. If that happened, surely the event would be able to finish in a good note.
Perhaps everyone would be able to spend the festival’s night with the atmosphere of quietly holding each other’s hand, hope toward the new era filling their hearts that had been tightened with resolve once again. And yet……
「Excuse me, Nagumo-dono. I believe we should end the past replay he──」
Naturally, Arogan suggested doing just that. Going further than this would be h.e.l.lish in various senses.
「After this! It’s after this desu! Dasore──I mean Soare and Lutria-san attacked and I got into a bit in a pinch! Everyone must see what happened after that!」
「……I-I got it, Shia. Calm down! Don’t flap your ears like thattt」
Was it a payback for the past? No, looking at Shia’s sparkling eyes, she must be simply wanting to watch the following scene, but Arogan-san’s expression turned conflicted because his suggestion wasn’t heard.
Even while such talk was happening, Soare attacked just like Shia said. The scorching hut solar ray that poured down from the sky was melting the 100 ton hammer that Shia immediately used as shield.
「Even though she’s still overflowing with “capable woman” aura at this time」
Kaori whispered with feeling of disappointment that came from the bottom of her heart. Aiko and Shizuku also nodded with a sad expression.
「She’s already beyond saving right now……」
「Why did she become like that……no, well, “it’s mostly Hajime’s fault” though. But Shia too, because she carelessly treated her kindly……」
「EH!? It’s my fault desu!?」
It’s Hajime and Shia’s fault, the surrounding’s expressions said. Their mercilessness and a trickle of kindness gave birth to a “something wicked(stalker G.o.d)”……
But it was something trivial so everyone casually tossed the matter to the side.
「Oo, the voice, I can hear the voice-」
「The voice of the all mother! The holy words of the G.o.d!」
Lutria’s voice that suddenly came down from high above made the people all over the city to stiffen, or else they fell on their knees and started offering prayer.
Right after that, the sky became completely covered with the past projection──of hundreds of thousands of spirit beasts.
The people who weren’t in the capital at that time screamed and lost the strength in their waist. They trembled from the intent of annihilation of the supreme deity.
Shia’s persuasion also ended in vain. A gravity field for expulsing Shia to another world somewhere captured her. Shia couldn’t produce her full power because of Level X’s after-effect and she was unable to escape.
Like that,
『Whose──』
「IT’S HEREEEEEEEEEEE desuu~~~~~!!!」
From even further inside the gravity field, a metal arm that was clad in crimson light broke through. The past Hajime-san seemed to say something, but Shia’s tension was turned to maximum so it was drowned out completely.
「Papa’s so cool!」
「……Nn, very good!」
「Waa, really Shia, you look totally spellbound. Well, I understand how you feel I thiink」
「It truly feels like something long-awaited hath finally arrived. However, fufu, I wonder why. Even though both appeared in the nick of time, Shia art the very picture of a hero, while Goshujin-sama is──」
「It’s like the advent of the demon G.o.d isn’t it.」
Tio was slightly at a loss of what to say. In her place, Yuuka dealt a straight blow with her words.
Not a single one could deny her words. Why is Hajime-san aalways so ominous? That kind of gazes showered him.
「W-well, I was seriously snapped thinking that Shia got kidnapped so……」
The not particularly meaningful excuse got drowned by an overwhelmingly unreasonable roaring sound that was different from Shia’s.
The violence of number was a.s.saulted by the violence of number in the form of Cross Velts and Grim Reapers.
The personification of sun was whited out by the sunlight cannon. The divine spirit of earth was showered with blows by sh.e.l.ls of steel.
They weren’t given any leeway to counterattack or anything. I’m not gonna stop attacking until you guys are terminated! Intensity that seemed to say that was attacking the divine spirits and spirit beasts!
「You were also meteoring the other side at the same time with this weren’t you?」
The past Hajime-san declared 『──Slaughter them all』. While radiating aura that was red like blood. The killing intent and rage were conveyed even through the projection of the past.
The people on the ground started panicking! There were even some whose SAN parameter got shaved down and looked like they were going to go mad!
And so, Aiko was repeatedly prescribing medicine for the heart even while asking question.
But the effect seemed weak……
As though dealing the finishing blow, the second wave of the spirit beasts got blown away by Meteor Impact.
Kyaaaaaaaaah, it’s the end of the woooorld~~~, such screams echoed from the past and the present. Perhaps they forgot that this was just projection, or perhaps their trauma got stimulated, the capital abruptly got wrapped in the atmosphere of Armageddon.
Aiko-sensei, full strength! The meaning of the sensei here felt like changing! As though she was changing job from teacher to doctor for the mind. (TN: In j.a.pan, both teacher and doctor got called sensei.)
Meanwhile, it seemed the past Udar had also noticed the danger Lutria was in. He yelled the seriousness of the matter. That if something happened to Lutria, the life of this planet would cease to be.
In respond to that Hajime’s answer was simple.
『Rather than the lives of everything in this planet, the life of Shia alone is heavier. That’s obvious isn’t it?』
「Afuu~」
「「「「「Uwaa~」」」」」
The present time Shia-san was writhing from Hajime-san’s line.
The present time citizens and Ryuutarou and co were opening their eyes wide like saucer from Hajime-san’s line.
His tone just didn’t have any hesitation at all. Everyone realized that he was genuinely thinking so. They were completely sure that he meant every word.
「Geeez, Hajime-san’s love is heavy desu~~. Uhe-he-he」
「Shia-sama, you are drooling.」
Dahlia-san smiled wryly. She used her handkerchief to lightly wipe her mouth. That was how slovenly Shia’s face right now. Both in the past and present.
Although, the star spirit world might get annihilated for real if she allowed her mind to be keep immersing in her own world like that.
The Shia inside the past projection was persuading Hajime. She fluffed fluffed him with her rabbit ears──the result went without saying.
『『『『『He, Hero Shia-sama! Banzai! Banzai! Banzai! 』』』』』
「「「「「Savior Shia-sama! Banzai! Banzai! Banzai!」」」」」
The voices were heaping praises on the past and present Shia over and over!
Those voices oozed the feeling of 「Thank you」 from their hearts.
「Everyone know that they almost got destroyed by Nagumo first rather than the G.o.ddess huh.」
「What stop the demon king is always the hero.」
Atsushi and n.o.boru muttered earnestly.
The true threat to the world was the hero’s relative……that fact, and seeing the people’s grat.i.tude for the hero made Suzu mumbled to herself.
「Isn’t this, totally a fixed match?」
「W-well, they didn’t do that intentionally, so it’s all right?」
The faces of Eric and others became very conflicted from Suzu and Ryuutarou’s words.
And, when it came to Shia and Hajime themselves,
「Kyah, it’s embarra.s.sing desuu」
「Oi oi, Yue. As expected it’s embarra.s.sing to show that. Censor that part.」
They beautifully ignored Suzu’s tsukkomi and acted embarra.s.sed for some reason.
Inside the past replay, the two were having really deep kiss with each other. Tens of thousands of people were watching it so if it was asked whether their reaction was natural then it was natural but……
「……Nn. Roger. I want to watch Shia’s lewd face a bit more but, I kind of don’t like someone else seeing it.」
「Ah, wait! That’s not good Yue!」
「Ah……with mosaic covering it like that……it makes it feel needlessly obscene! Very much so for some reason!」
Liliana pointed out with a bright red face.
In fact, it was just as Liliana said. 「Eh? Then, what about this?」 Yue amended by materializing Self-limitation-kun holding the plank with the words “This part can’t be shown!”, but Shizuku and Tio pointed out 「That’s bad in its own way-」
The trial and error(fight) of Creator Yue to make something didn’t look lewd had only started.
「……They’re always like that. Nagumo and the others will quickly make a world of their own. Just what they’re thinking of the people around them.」
「I get youu, Yuuka-chi. Shia-chi and others also usually in the pink barrier too~」
「Look at that, the faces of Eric-san and the others. Their eyes look like dead rotten fish aren’t they?」
Inside the past projection, the men who were seriously in love with Shia were on the verge of death altogether. To a degree where it was unbearable to watch.
At that time, everyone was focused on Hajime and Shia, so there wasn’t really many people who noticed the situation the Balted group was at, but the kiss scene was undergoing an editing even now, so there were also a lot of people who were averting their eyes. As the result, a lot of people were witnessing the situation of the past Eric and others.
「Just what in the world, this shame is?」
「Your majesty, please keep your composure.」
「Hey, Dahlia is the only one sparkling here, why?」
「You don’t understand Phil? Shia-sama’s happiness is my happiness. She looked that happy when the charming prince she had been waiting for the whole time finally arrived you know? Not to mention, the family head-sama’s strength, and the depth of his love for Shia-sama……what a match made in heaven the two are. It is just like a fairy tale! To keep thinking of each other even when they are in different worlds, the strongest husband and wife who can’t be separated even by G.o.d, aah, it’s just too lovely! Is it really alright for such ideal state of thing to exist in this world!? I who am allowed to watch that from nearby like this is the happiest person in the world! If it is allowed then I wish──」
「Got it! I got it already so stoooooop!!」
Hardcore fan of the precious HajiShia pairing, Dahlia-san.
Surely, she was also talking pa.s.sionately with this kind of tension when she was doing her saint gig, no doubt about it. She clearly was too pa.s.sionate that the rumors got twisted to the degree where they evolved into ShiaDahli precious pairing.
By the way, behind the pa.s.sionately talking Dahlia-san, the past Arogan-san had incurred Shia’s fury and was being beaten up mercilessly.
「……I’m not thinking like that anymore so……spare me……」
The present Arogan-san was covering his face with his hands while trembling all over.
Because the light had vanished from the eyes of Yue and co when they saw the past Arogan-san who thought that he was superior as a man. The sight of the women’s head all turned toward him robotically was completely a horror.
「Yuuka-chi is angryy~」
「You’re getting infected in a good meaning aren’t youu, by Nagumo family’s habit.」
「! Y-you’re wrong! Just now……yes! I just turned off my eyes’ battery!」
No, are you a robot huh……Atsushi and n.o.boru’s tsukkomi burst out. Yuuka looked aside *puih* sullenly. Even she herself must thought that her words were nonsensical.
『Where are you going?』
「Yue-dono! Isn’t this enough already don’t you think?」
「Wha-, that’s sly Gruelle-dono! Let all of our disgraceful behaviors come to light! We are best friends aren’t we!?」
After the past Arogan-san was blown away like a pinball, smashed through a wall and disappeared inside the castle, Gruelle who was trying to sneakily retreat was stopped by Shia’s eyes and words toward him……
As expected it was completely a horror. Generally the women of Nagumo family would become horror when they were angered.
Everyone thought so.
In the end, 「……No? We’ll keep watching though?」 Yue beautifully ignored Gruelle’s request. And so his majesty Gruelle also covered his face with both hands now.
After that, his majesty Eric also got faulted for his over familiar way of calling Shia. Soare who snapped at them along with others were atrociously put through into “108 Hara.s.sment Demon King-Style Want to see if you can die not just once, but how many times you can?”. The sight was shaving down the SAN parameter of everyone. In the middle of that,
「Even so Nagumo-chi, as expected you’re completely soft with your family huh~」
「You’re even soft with us most of the time right now.」
Recalling how Hajime accepted Shia’s wish, Nana looked toward Hajime teasingly, while Atsushi was laughing toward him with friendliness in his gaze and his hands behind his head. Suzu and Ryuutarou also acted similarly with them.
Hajime scratched his cheek with the look of not knowing what to say. He had no such intention but, even when looking at Yue and others, there was apparently no objection to Atsushi’s words.
n.o.boru got carried away and said 「Yo, our general! Give us pocket money please!」 while holding out both his hands. Hajime replied casually 「You want me to put you through Sgt. Hartma*’s strict training?」 to hide his embarra.s.sment. But,
「Ehehe, but it’s true that Hajime-kun is completely spoiling us~」
「It’s to a degree that we’ll turn into no good if we ourselves aren’t careful.」
「……Nn. Shia also made a nice expression. Melting expression」
Yue and others were sending him warm gazes.
The past Shia said that she understood the feeling of the people here, of feeling regret, then tried to do something about it but still couldn’t do anything, even so they couldn’t give up and became desperate.
Because of that she couldn’t be resolute and apologized for that. In respond Hajime told her to just speak what was in her heart. He said that with an extremely gentle expression.
That was why, even while thinking that she couldn’t act too spoiled, she drew out her wish from her heart. The reply to that was a word.
『Roger. I’ll lend a hand.』
The reply came too easily. But, those short words were filled with the resolve to accept everything, whether it was her feeling, the numerous circ.u.mstances, and also the uncountable problems.
「…….Really, it’s unfair. That way he act」
「……Nn? Yuuka? Did you say something?」
「Yuuka-chan? Just now, you said something didn’t you? Didn’t you?」
「I-it’s nothing at all! Don’t smirk at me!」
Those were nasty faces that had definitely heard what she said. Yuuka and Kaori had such faces as they ha.s.sled Yuuka.
Myuu felt like she couldn’t hold it back anymore and jumped on her papa’s chest. Shia and others were surrounding Shia and teasing her, or discussing their impression about the past replay.
Family and friends of the other world group grouped up together with happy atmosphere.
In a sense, this was also an exclusive world that was brought about by bonds. Somehow it felt difficult to step into such atmosphere.
「Umm, family head-sama! Shia-sama! Can I interrupt for a bit-」
Dahlia suppressed her feeling of wanting to watch forever and raised her voice.
「? What? It’s strangely silent around huh?」
「Of course it is, family head-sama.」
Dahlia-san retorted with a wry smile.
Looking at the surrounding, Arogan and others looked like they had partic.i.p.ated in all-night vigil over a body. It seemed that their trauma that had been abating in these five years were making a comeback because of the thorough showing of their past disgraceful behavior.
The people too, they were put off by Hajime’s overwhelmingly lack of mercy, or else they were holding their breath and kept themselves from making any sound as though to say 「Demon G.o.d-sama has spoken, be quiet-」「You won’t even be allowed to die if you displease him you know, haa haa-」 even though it was the past replay that made the statement.
「Drats. Looks like it’s a mess.」
「This isn’t the atmosphere of festival anymore~」
Nana and Taeko smiled wryly while looking at Yue.
It wasn’t like they were blaming her but, the festive mood until just a short while ago, and even the people’s zeal that was filled with resolve and hope, they were all dispersing like mist.
Yue looked around at the sight of the whole capital falling quiet, then her eyes darted around to avoid everyone’s eyes.
「……I-I’m not at fault! I’m not at fault! It’s the fault of Hajime and Shia who showed such lovely scene like in a fairy tale!」
「I am fiercely in agreement! Not being able to see with their own eyes how family head-sama accepted Shia-sama’s wish while oppressing everything around them would be a nothing but anti-climax! Stopping the projection in the middle would be a completely outrageous choice! As expected from the main wife! You really understand what is what-」
「……Eh? T-that so? Fufu, well yeah. Fufufu」
Yue-sama got into a good mood from the support. Her nose was lifted up triumphantly. Her positivity level toward Dahlia-san seemed to be climbing even higher.
「However, putting that aside, can I receive some words from family head-sama or Shia-sama?」
「Yes? Words, from us?」
「Aa~, you mean with finishing this past replay huh. It’ll be great of the festive mood can return back and the night can pa.s.s on cheerily.」
「It is exactly as you said. His majesty Arogan……is in that state as you can see.」
Dahlia turned her gaze with a troubled face. Hajime and others also followed where she looked at.
Hi-hi-fuuuh, hi-hi-fuuh, Arogan and others were there doing their best to breath.
Before they knew it, 「Yees, everything is fine~. There is noothing scary at all you knoow~」 Aiko-sensei was also there talking and applying magic to them. She really looked like a sensei.
Originally, Arogan should give some speech to conclude the show of the past, but certainly it looked like it would be impossible for him to do that for the time being.
「Well, certainly it’s necessary to say something to the people below.」
「And, as expected I think Shia-san will be the one suitable to do that.」
It looked like the demon G.o.d-sama had become a symbol of fear once more. It looked like, there were some ladies and gentlemen who were going haa haa saying things like 「Aa, as I thought demon G.o.d-sama is magnificent」「I also want to be “taught a lesson”」「If I can taste that sense of absolution even just once……I won’t have any more regret in my life-」, but they were ignored.
In a good timing, a voice rose up from the ground right nearby the rampart.
「Our great savior! The mighty hero! Please I beg you give us your words!」
It was unknown who was the first person yelling that. But, that became the start. It was like a dam that burst and water flooded out. Everyone was raising their voice with eyes shining in expectation.
「Shia-sama! Have we changed from before!?」
「We’ve worked hard without giving up until now! How does our current life look like in the eyes of our savior-」
「Will you come again here with your family!?」
「Have we managed to become something that you can feel a little proud of!?」
「Savior-sama! Are we successful in making you feel glad for saving us!?」
Shia-sama! Shia-sama! Savior-sama! Hero-sama! Such voices were spreading like ripple on water surface. Even the people who were in location where Shia couldn’t be seen were screaming their throat raw.
There was almost no voice among those seeking answer from the demon king(Hajime) or the Saint(Dahlia).
Everyone understood. They understood what the demon G.o.d had done, and also the strenous effort that the saint had made, even so, they knew that it was Shia Hauria who was in the foundation that saved this world.
That her kindness moved the fate of the world.
That was why, they wanted to hear Shia’s voice above anyone else.
What was she thinking about the fruit of these five years, of them who lived through the new era and was living in the present.
Surely, this whole time, everyone wanted to hear the words of Shia, the words of their savior who came back here just like the saint said.
「It looks like, all of them are feeling the same like me.」
「Hajime-san?」
Her sharp rabbit ears picked the voices of numerous people. Shia was fl.u.s.tered from so many people strongly wanting to hear from her. Hajime gave a soft push to the back of such Shia.
「As I thought, the main character of this tale, is Shia Hauria.」
Hajime laughed proudly of her. Shia’s rabbit ears straightened hearing that. When she looked around, she found Yue and others were also nodding with similar smiles.
「Please can we ask this from you, Shia-dono. Everyone, they all have been waiting. For your words.」
The revived Arogan also requested her with a soft smile. Gruelle and Eric and the others also nodded strongly at her.
「……Geez. Everyone is exaggerating.」
She said such words, but Shia’s expression was terribly gentle. Surely those excellent h.e.l.l rabbit ears were also hearing the feeling of the people across the capital at the same time.
Yue snapped her fingers. A giant screen was projected at the air above. Furthermore there were multiple of them at multiple of locations in the capital at the same time.
Hajime’s “Treasure Warehouse” also shined. Small terminals like a bug flew to everywhere inside the capital. Those were super small golems to act as speaker.
Shia stood on the edge of the rampart. She coughed once.
The people instantly fell silent, in part because of their surprise seeing the giant screens above them.
There, Shia’s voice reverberated.
「Everyone! Thank you very much for the lovely festival today!! It was reaa~~~llly fun desu! I got surprised a lot, and I’m also a lot impressed! ……Ah, of course I’m not planning to finish with this and still want to have fun. I can have fun right? Can I have fuuuunn!?」
It was like she was doing Call & Response like a live show. What’s your answer! Shia called. In respond 「OOOOOOOOOOOOO!!」 Spirited roar rose from throughout the capital.
Shia’s wide smile was delivered to the whole city through the midair screens. Was it a display to show that she was listening? Her rabbit ears were twitching *piko piko* very adorably.
The hearts of the people felt like they were being healed when looking at that smile, together with their SAN parameter that had gotten whittled down by the demon G.o.d-sama.
「Yep, it’s really amazing. ……To think there is this much change in just five years」
The grinning Shia suddenly looked tranquil. She squinted her eyes and her atmosphere became somewhat solemn.
「Just how much all of you have worked hard? Five years are a long time isn’t it? But, that time is just too short, whether for the irrecoverable sadness or the anger smoldering deep inside your heart.」
It must have reminded her of something. Even just the people within her sight stiffened seeing her expression. There were also people who were biting their lips.
Shia slowly ran her gaze over those people. There must also be some of them who felt like her eyes met theirs. Even through the screen.
There were also people who got their breath taken away, and also people whose body jerked. Amidst that, Shia sent out her words with her heartfelt feeling in them.
「──You’ve worked really hard!!」
In the past, the weakling and crybaby and disappointing rabbit Shia who was only regarded with exasperation, was given those words by her beloved people when accomplishing great dungeon conquest for the first time.
She had a lot of memories that would never fade but, that memory was an especially important treasure even among those memories.
Shia glanced at the wide-eyed Yue. She grinned and raised her voice once more.
Yue was fidgeting at the corner of her eyes. She felt slightly warm seeing Hajime teasing Yue who was like that while sending out her voice once more.
「Everyone! During these five years, you all have reaaaalllyy!! Worked very hard!!」
Ah, someone’s voice slipped out. The people who had been in a daze from her words at the beginning were gradually contorting their face.
Of course, it wasn’t because they felt displeased. But because joy, sense of achievement, and others deeply moving emotions that even the people themselves couldn’t differentiate were overflowing from deep inside their chests.
「A new era of atonement and trial. Everyone still has to keep walking forward even from now on. You all still have to work hard no matter what. But, I shall praise all of you at least for today! Shia Hauria guarantee it! Everyone can be proud with your way of life!」
There was something trickling down Arogan’s cheek. Eric was covering his eyes with one hand. Gruelle strongly grabbed the shoulders of those two.
「That’s why, today you, your family, your friend, your comrade, your neighbor, and then even the kings, let’s praise praise and praise all of them a looooooottt!」
Shia raised her voice even louder as she shouted that. Right after that, the capital shook. The cheers that came were so loud that it felt like that.
People embraced each other with the other people right beside them. They clapped each other’s shoulder, and some was jumping up and down while crying in happiness.
It was like the capital was awash with zeal and emotions that were even more high strung than during the festival.
「Can you believe it? That girl, she is my wife you know?」
「……Can you believe it? That girl, she is my best friend you know?」
Some demon G.o.d and vampire princess somewhere were making absurdly smug faces at that moment. Kaori and others, and also Yuuka and Ryuutarou and others, and even Eric and others were looking slightly exasperated at them. Even so they also grinned.
「No matter what difficulty is waiting ahead of here, it will surely be alright with the current everyone here desu!」
The excitement level of the capital hit the peak. Shia’s feeling was also at the peak seeing the reaction that surpa.s.sed her expectation.
That was why, she impulsively added more words following her swelling mood. She had given them some words for the “past until the present”, so she thought to present some “words for the future” too.
「Even so, when time is really hard and painful that you think you can’t keep moving forward anymore, please remember these words! These words that I believe in from my heart!」
It was Shia’s creed. The magic words that would shrug off any kind of difficulty.
「Guuuuttsssss!!!」
The word was filled with too much guts. To the degree that shockwave surged out a little just from the volume.
Hajime and others spontaneously covered their ears. That word that reverberated through the capital explosively also caused the people to reflexively stop cheering. Even their emotional tears stopped as they looked up to the screen.
Hajime and others were convinced. Seeing Shia punching her fist to the sky, her rabbit ears and tail bristling savagely, 「Ah she has gotten high-」.
Of course, she couldn’t be stopped anymore in various senses. That was why, those words, they became legendary words that would keep getting pa.s.sed down forever in the future from now on.
「Guts, guts, guts, gutssss!! You can do anything as long as you have guts! Whether it’s surpa.s.sing physical law, or bending the princ.i.p.al of the world! And teaching the G.o.ddess a lesson too, you can do anything!!」
No, it’s exaggerating to say it can do anything isn’t it!? Such tsukkomi formed in accord inside the hearts of everyone in the capital at this time. The people were in an unprecedented state of the same mind.
Shia usually left this kind of speech in front of a lot of people to Hajime or Liliana and others. Because of that too, there was no way she could do something like reading the mood when she became this rabbit in the middle of her high in a sense!
「Let’s gooooooo!!」
To where!? The crowd thought with greatly shaken up mind. Eric and others were also fl.u.s.tered.
Meanwhile, Myuu, Nana, Taeko, Atsushi, and n.o.boru seemed to enjoy the happening and got carried away. This Big Wave, the option of not riding it just doesn’t exist! They had big smile on their faces as though to say that.
「Oooooone!! Twoooooo!! Threeeee!! DAAAAAAAAA!!」
「「「「「DAAAAAAAAA!!!」」」」」
「「「「「D-daaaaaaa!!」」」」」
The powerful DAAAAA was from Myuu and others. The bewildered one was from the people. It was very wonderful of them to yell even while feeling bewildered.
But, Shia-chan was dissatisfied.
「The guts is insufficient!! Now, one more time!!」
「O-oi, Shia? Listen──」
「Hajime-san’s guts is also not enough!!」
「Ah, yes. Sorry」
「Yue-san! I know you’re just lip-synching!」
「……Nn!? S-sorry」
「Now, let’s go! Everyone, listen well! From the bottom of your stomach~~~~~」
After reaching this point, there was already a type of ma.s.s psychology at work over everyone. Everyone got on board. On this magic word that they didn’t really get, but certainly for some reason it felt like it would allow them to overcome any difficulty. With the fervor as though to make their word reached until the G.o.ddess!
「Three, go! Guts! Guts! Guts! ──」
「「「「「Guts! Guts! Guts! ──」」」」」
The heat didn’t cool down. On the contrary the voltage kept rising up without end. In a sense, perhaps it could be said to be suitable for a festival night.
In any case, the sense of unity of the whole capital reached to an unprecedented level at this day. Later on, this day would be engraved into the history of the star spirit world as “the second legend of the savior”.
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After that.
Hajime and co enjoyed the festival at the democratic state that showed a bizarre level of excitement. Then the next day, they dropped by at the beast kingdom.
Shia was writhing in shame for around half a day from recalling her high tensioned self.
Yuuka was made to wear a native dress with a lot of skin exposure that looked like the original rabbit clan outfit (it wasn’t one of the prepared twelve outfits) and blew her fuse.
From there she dived face first to Hajime’s crotch.
At the country’s famous colosseum, tough beastman warriors who heard about the rumor of Shia Harem challenged Hajime in order to be recognized by Shia.
Hajime unusually responded to their challenge with bare hand. In the end he wrestled victory in a fight of one versus one hundred and became legend.
Ryuutarou’s soul seemed to feel itchiness from witnessing such fight and fought the beastman warriors too. He even displayed his werewolf mode and ogre mode and overwhelmed them. Perhaps that was why, he received a lot of heated gazes from the beastwomen.
Suzu joined a woman battle due to the sudden arrival of her boyfriend’s popular phase. She shut down all the female challengers (no killing).
Also, there was the statue of Tio in her dragon G.o.d mode at the central square of the capital. It seemed Gruelle ordered for its creation based on his memory.
With that Tio got requested, and as the result displayed her dragon G.o.d mode. She ended up worshipped.
Hajime and co spent such turbulent half a day. At the end they enjoyed the farewell party that was held by the three kings and Dahlia before saying farewell and giving promise of meeting again in the future. With that the group departed.
To the next world──the machine factory world.
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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.
Thank you very much for accompanying this long star spirit world arc! I had too much fun that I wrote twice of the original plan (sweat)
About the next chapter’s update, I’m sorry but allow me to take a lot of break next month.
There’re a lot of things I’ll have to do during July, like travelling, doing the process of moving, work, etc. It doesn’t look like I’ll be able to spend time to update. (Elden is also influencing this, around 10% of it, so please forgive me)
It’ll be the machine factory world from next chapter. Perhaps an interlude from the earth side will come in between but, it’ll make me happy if everyone will accompany this story again when the update resume. Best regards!!
※Material introduction
– always like that! ~do you think of the people around you I wonder
From [I’m the Only One Not Attacked in a World Overflowing With Zombie]. It’s a work from Nocturne, so anyone below age limit or bad with the genre, please be careful.
– It’s not my fault! It’s not my fault!
From the main character of [Tales of Abyss] Luke.
– Guts! Guts! Guts! You can do anything if you have guts!
From the combination of Animal Hamaguchi-san’s 「Guts!」 and Antonio Inoki-san’s 「Are you energetiiic! If you’re energetic you can do anything! 1, 2, 3, DAAA!」. I think both are really magic words. Shia has exhaustively covered almost all of earth’s one-one-one fighting sports, so there is no way she doesn’t like these words.
– You gotta ride on this Big Wave!
From movie actor Bucchi-san’s 「You got to ride it. This Big Wave」. Apparently those words were said during the release of iPhone 3G.