in the deepest part of the northern side of the forest. Then, just as Akatsuki was about to return to his world ---- a tragedy occurred. The army led by demon king Galious raided Erdia, the royal city of Sherfied. And in that fight, the hero Leon lost his life protecting Akatsuki from the demon king’s blade. Leon’s death caused despair in the world. This further deepened when Erdia fell. It was natural that the people held Akatsuki responsible. Listy was the only one who could protect Akatsuki, but she couldn’t accept the death of Leon, her lover. She also blamed Akatsuki. She cursed him--- If only you hadn"t existed! Zechs and Loutier didn"t cover for him either, and after a while Akatsuki disappeared. Everyone thought that he had fled and called him a coward. But he didn"t flee.Risking his life he went alone to the Divine World, where G.o.ds dwelt, and trained as hard as he could. In the end he managed to learn a body control technique called Renkan Keikikou, which allowed him to freely make chi in the body, and returned to the battlefield. Then in the war to liberate Erdia he saved Listy, Zechs and Loutier when they got into a tight spot. Akatsuki suddenly became a hero, but there were still quite a few who blamed Akatsuki for Leon’s death. It was especially infuriating for some of Leon"s supporters to see Akatsuki and Listy resolving their ill feelings and fighting together. They started to call him cynically a rogue hero.
But Akatsuki quietly accepted his notorious name. Not only that, but he behaved bohemian. As if he were saying he was neither a champion nor a hero. Leon is the hero of Alayzard. Akatsuki still felt that way. He was fine being a rogue hero. That is why on his way to defeat the demon king, if he found a n.o.ble oppressing his peers, he crushed him without question. If he caught a rumor about a beautiful girl or woman, he not only flirted with them but also molested them. Finally, after numerous adventures and hardships, Akatsuki defeated demon king Galious.
Part 2Unlike the eastern and western parts of castle Erdia’s forest where temples and cemeteries were built, the northern part was left untouched. That was because the deepest part of the northern forest was considered a sacred ground. Thus there were no man made roads, only natural paths between the trees. But even so, the flora was growing as it pleased. If one was not careful enough, it was easy to trip on the fallen trees, overgrown vines and ivies all around the forest.
---thirty minutes. Even though I"ve been running in a forest like this for thirty minutes already, the number of presences behind me is not decreasing at all. They are serious about this. They really want to catch me.
While Akatsuki was thinking about what to do, there was a voice above his head.
“Master Akatsuki, prepare yourself!”
Two maids fell from the sky. They held long spears. They"re trying to attack me from both sides. Nonetheless I can’t be caught. How can I defeat them without causing damage?
Suddenly Akatsuki had an idea. He tried it right away.
“— gotcha”
Akatsuki narrowed himself and dodged the spears. Then when the maids landed and tried to turn towards him
“-----eh”
For some reason both of them sat on the ground with red faces. They realized they had been stripped.
“Well, well, what happened? Are you alright?“ Said Akatsuki with a sarcastic tone. There was a white piece of cloth in his hand. It was the panties these maids wore. He borrowed it in the split second they pa.s.sed him.
“What? Did you sprain your legs? Let me see under your skirts for a little.”
“N- Noooooo!!”
The two maids ran in panic.
“What can I say? It works like a charm.”
A bitter smile appeared on Akatsuki’s face. In the Divine Realm, his master who taught him the Renkan Keikikou technique was the fist saint Granseiz. He was the user of the strongest martial art. He was also the strongest perverted old man. For that reason Akatsuki not only learned how to use the body control technique Renkan Keikikou, but he also learned how to use it in a slightly—no in a quite perverted way. The rumor that [the rogue hero likes women] was widespread throughout Alayzard. Of course the maids knew that as well. Akatsuki waved his hand towards the back of the fleeing maids, but a rope tied around his hand. There was also another rope on his other hand holding his bag.
“You can no longer escape, Master Akatsuki!’
“Come back with us to the castle peacefully.”
Two different maids appeared from the brush next to him. But Akatsuki stood firmly on the ground and put a little power in his hands, pulling the rope.
“Ah---!”
With only that the two maids flew in the air. He used Renkan Keikikou. The girls, as if pulled by a mysterious power, flew right in front of him. Then while still with the bag on his back he skillfully caught the girls by their waist, one on each of his shoulders.
“Oh, that ear looks tasty.”
He bit the ear of the maid on his left shoulder softly. With that he changed the chi inside her body. Her body shook then fell to the ground. Renkan Keikikou has many uses. If you raise the chi in your body you can heighten your senses or make your body superhuman. And it can be used on others too. Akatsuki did that to the left maid. Her face was in ecstasy, her face was red; it was quite erotic to be frank. Clearly a pleasant feeling filled her whole body. The other maid watching this tried to distance herself from Akatsuki by pushing him away. But he didn"t even flinch, and the maid was the one pushed back instead. Then something was slipping through her uniform’s sleeve. It was her bra.
“Ah---!”
The maid crossed her arms over her chest like she was trying to hide her b.r.e.a.s.t.s from him. Akatsuki talked to her.
“Tell this to Valkyria. It means a lot to me that she tried to stop me.”
“---“ Then the maid bit her lips and disappeared in a brush. Akatsuki shrugged his shoulders, then turned to the other maid whose chi was changed and who was sitting powerlessly on the ground.
“I’m sorry… you will be able to move in thirty minutes. Please give this back to the other maid.”
He threw the bra towards her then started to run again.
It was only yesterday that Akatsuki defeated Galious the demon king. After that he immediately returned to the royal town Erdia, where a victory party was held for the leaders of the allied kingdoms who fought together with Sherfied against the demon army. Now it was the dawn of the next day. Akatsuki had silently left the castle of Sherfied at daybreak. To return to his own world. Since he thought he shouldn’t be in this world anymore. He mumbled while running.
“That was all good but…”
Apparently his plans were seen through by his friends who had fought together with him. Zechs and Loutier, while reluctant to let him leave, saw him off. The problem was Princess Listy. Akatsuki didn’t understand what she was thinking.
Listy the talented mage was Akatsuki’s important partner. After they got over the shared sadness of losing Leon and reconciled, they formed a party with Zechs and Loutier. The four of them traveled and fought together in the last few years to defeat the demon king.
The hero who defeated the demon king marries the princess and they live happily ever after. Indeed it wouldn’t be strange if it had ended like that. It is completely possible that after traveling all over the world risking their lives, something special forms between them. To be precise, there was a special feeling between Akatsuki and Listy. But they didn’t get together. The reason was that Listy had a lover she couldn’t forget. And Akatsuki also couldn’t forget that man. He was his first true friend after he was summoned to Alayzard. He was a hero among heroes. That is why Akatsuki fought as a rogue hero to the end. And that is why it didn’t take long for Listy to feel something special towards Akatsuki, since she understood his feelings like they were her own. Just like the two of them getting attracted to each other due to sharing the same pain. Still, they didn’t become lovers until the very end. And Listy wasn’t there to see him off. Zechs and Loutier followed him. There is no way that Listy of all people wouldn’t realize his plans. That is why he thought that they ended like that. Then when he started to walk towards the northern forest where the was, he was stopped by Sherfied’s beautiful maids and head maid Valkyria. Since they said they had a message from Listy he had to hear it. That is why.“The hero who defeated the demon king disappears the next day? Don’t kid with me! You should cool your head a little while being tied up!”
Even if they say that, I can’t understand it so quickly. The moment Akatsuki tilted his head to the side, there was a sharp metallic sound as forty-four armed maids attacked him in unison.
“Then it turned out like this.”
Said as he stopped. A group of maids stood before Akatsuki blocking his way. Looks like they decided that two or three of them wouldn"t stand a chance against him. So this time they have ten at once. It was quite a sight to see them forming a straight line. Akatsuki let out a sigh.
“I suppose you won"t back out. Well… I guessed so. It is not easy to let go. Memories that is.”
Still, that could be said about him too. Thus Akatsuki started to walk. And this was his last warning.
“If you still try to get in my way I"ll be a little forceful ---don"t think badly of me, okay!”
Part 3“Unit Alpha was broken through! The other units can’t surround him in time!”
“Unit Omega can you hear me? Unit Omega! – It’s no use! There is no response!”
The head maid Valkyria closed her eyes and listened to her subordinates screaming similar reports without moving an inch. Valkyria and her unit were further in the forest than Akatsuki’s current position. Her objective was to capture him. If that is the case then intercepting has a higher chance of success than pursuit. Thus she used the first attackers to tie him down while she got a head start. She placed small units in perfect positions to surround and capture Akatsuki--- that was her plan. But he couldn"t be stopped. He was not even trying to evade the maids surrounding him. Instead he was fighting them head on and cutting his way forward. And he still had time to grope the b.r.e.a.s.t.s, stroke the b.u.t.ts and touch the thighs of the maids in the commotion while using Renkan Keikikou to enrapture them.
“Valkyria, if this goes on…”
We"ll all fall—after hearing her subordinate stop her sentence Valkyria silently opened her eyes at last.
“It can’t be helped. You should go too… I"ll stay here.”
“But…”
“Valkyria…”
Valkyria’s orders were transmitted to the units via communication magic used by three of her most trusted subordinates out of the forty-three standing under Valkyria’s direct command. They could use attack magic too but the northern forest was a sacred ground after all. They couldn"t destroy the forest. Therefore a lonely smile appeared on her face when Valkyria saw that they still couldn"t give up.
“We already knew that there was nothing we could do to stop that man. Parting is only a matter of time now. Nonetheless Lady Listy gave us a last chance. That is why you must go. If you can"t stop him then at least get a last memory from Master Akatsuki.”
“Understood Valkyria!”
“I hope Valkyria can say farewell without regret.”
“Ee… thank you.”
Valkyria silently watched as her subordinates started to run after saluting. She then closed her eyes again. For a second, silence filled the northern forest. Then she heard her subordinates screaming. The screams started to close in little by little. Valkyria had a flashback from five years ago when she first met Akatsuki. Then a faint feeling started to well up from deep inside her heart.
…I mustn’t. Valkyria’s cheek loosened a little as she was thinking. Then.
“Oh, you finally showed yourself, Valkyria!”
A tall young man appeared from the bushes in front of her. It was Akatsuki. Uncombed hair reaching to his shoulders. Black clothes covering his robust body. They were all black as night. His shining eyes were black as well.
There are two types of faces a woman likes. It is either nice looking or sharp looking. Akatsuki’s face was clearly the latter. His eyes were piercing and his face captured many women’s hearts. Audacious expression. Confidence and pride that was almost like conviction which gave birth to an appearance of allowance. He was strong. So strong that it was obvious to anyone. Akatsuki had a unique presence that could stop someone’s breath. Valkyria thought. He is a completely different person from five years ago when they first met. This must be what it means to turn from an ordinary boy into a hero. Valkyria expressionlessly watched Akatsuki.
“Master Akatsuki, please forgive me—you pervert! Do you want to make a legend of an evil spirit who attacks women in the northern forest?”
“If you say that then shouldn"t it first be the legend of maids who attack travelers?”
“You say that but you look unhurt to me--- was there anything inadequate in my subordinates?"
“That is not possible. They are your subordinates. They all did their jobs until the very end.”
She bowed to him thankfully. Valkyria had a nostalgic light in her eyes as she asked Akatsuki.
Please tell me!
“My subordinates… were those girls able to make Master Akatsuki remember them?”
“Don’t make me say it. It is embarra.s.sing.”
Akatsuki laughed then replied.
“I won’t forget. Not a single thing in this world.”
“Thank you. I’m sure the girls are happy to hear that.”
She called out his name and raised her spear then took a stance.
“Lastly---- would you please carve me into your heart?”
-- Then not long after, the forest became silent again. It was Akatsuki who appeared from the bush. Probably there wouldn’t be any more maids coming after him. After he looked back one more time to carve Valkyria’s memory into his heart, Akatsuki started to walk again. His goal was the sacred ground in the deepest part of the forest. There is the leading to the world where he used to live. There are a few gates in Alayzard that connect to different worlds. There are two in the religious Empire of Arekrasta and in the militarist Empire of Disdia. There are other gates too, seven altogether. But the gate he came through was the one here in Sherfied. Thus to return to his own world Akatsuki would have to use this gate.“I didn"t think I would still remember.”
The path made by nature was labyrinthine. If someone unfamiliar with this place entered by accident they would get lost for sure. But Akatsuki didn"t have any doubt. He relied on his memories from five years ago. Akatsuki had been here before. After a while Akatsuki noticed a great tree before him. That means his goal is close. The sacred ground lies beyond that tree. The is about a kilometer from here. Then, while walking, his gaze went to the bottom of the giant tree.“----“
A girl stood there. She was beautiful like a spirit of the forest. Those who said that she was the treasure of Sherfied were not lying at all. The one standing there was Listy El Da Sherfied.
The last time Akatsuki saw her was at the victory party hall yesterday. She wore an elaborately decorated shining dress worthy of a princess. But she couldn’t go into the forest in an outfit like that. Right now she was wearing white casual clothes. She had tied her waist long golden hair in a ponytail. It was the same she used when they traveled to defeat the demon king. Her unchanging beauty was the same.
“---“ Listy noticed him. When their eyes met they recognized each other. Akatsuki continued to move forward while Listy stayed still. The distance between them decreased. They became closer and closer--- then Akatsuki pa.s.sed her.
“--- He- Hey wait a minute!”
Probably she didn"t expect this. She called out in a hurried voice from behind him. But he ignored her. Akatsuki continued to walk in silence. “Stupid. Wait! Stop joking and wait a little, hey…”
Finally he stopped and made a sigh when she grabbed onto his arm. Without turning to her
“What are you doing? For a princess to sneak out of the castle… On top of that you even sent your maids after me.”
“Th- they said that they wanted to say farewell to you so I gave my permission. I… only came here to check up on them.”
After she said that she leaned her back against his wide back. As Akatsuki felt her weight Listy gave out a faint voice.
“Are you really leaving?”
“Aa, I should’t be in this world anymore. You should know that too.”
“……..”
Listy couldn"t say anything as she understood what he was thinking. Even though he defeated the demon king Galious, he was still a rogue hero. Of course there were people who praised Akatsuki as a real hero and wanted him to marry Listy. But if she married Akatsuki, who had opposing forces, that would certainly lead to serious troubles later on, and could very well cause Sherfied to split. Even if they did not marry, his influence as the hero who defeated the demon king remains. Certainly there are peoples both domestic and foreign who don’t think well of him. It wouldn"t be strange if that would cause another dispute. And this time it would be a war between humans. That is why Akatsuki decided. He would defeat the demon king alone. Then he would bear all the praise, honor, regret and envy, and disappear from this world. Only then would Alayzard be at peace.
“Not to mention I have something to do in that world.”
There was no demon king in the world he grew up in, Earth. But there was someone who had to be stopped. And that was probably his job. Before coming to Alayzard, he thought it was impossible. But it might be possible for him after he gained power. And there was another reason for him to return to his world. That is why Akatsuki was here right now. Then…
“… forgive me!”
Suddenly he heard a wistful, faintly shaking voice coming from his back. He sighed unintentionally.
And I thought it would be the best to leave without saying a word.
Akatsuki scratched his head. Then he turned to Listy. He knew it was cheating. But when he looked closer, tears flowed from Listy’s eyes. Thus he suddenly kissed her.
“----?”
After seeing Listy widen her eyes in surprise, Akatsuki closed his. Then tasted her soft lips to the fullest.
“---ha…wha- what are you doing?”
After she hastily moved her lips away from him, Listy pulled Akatsuki’s face with full force.
“Because you cried in front of me… sorry.”
Akatsuki looked in her face while rubbing his own. Maybe from embarra.s.sment or from anger, but her face turned red. But she wasn"t crying anymore. Thus Akatsuki thought this was for the best.
Ousawa Akatsuki had an esthetic.
That is, if there is a woman crying he can do as he wishes. This is what he thought. There must always be a reason when a woman cries in front of a man. The man must never look away from those tears. Thus Ousawa Akatsuki felt he should be honest with his feelings at least in front of the women crying before him. When a woman cries, if he wants to stop those tears, Akatsuki would stop them immediately.
When a woman cries, if he holds those tears dear, Akatsuki would hug her.
When a woman cries, if he thinks those tears were just, Akatsuki would leave her alone.
When a woman cries, if he feels those tears were lying, he would ask for the reason.
And he would do anything to accomplish that. It might be too forceful to call it an esthetic. But sometimes in the world there are sad tears that must be stopped even if ignoring the woman’s feelings. Thus Akatsuki followed his beliefs. Hate me not your tears.
“—well this kiss was like a farewell present. Thank you.”
“Forcibly kissing a princess of a kingdom…you better remember this!”
“Unless you forget me I won"t forget you either.”
Listy unpleasantly raised her chin as Akatsuki said that to her with a calm face.
“Don’t get the wrong idea! I"ll forget someone like you in no time!”
“Ah, really?”
Said Akatsuki as he lifted his bag from the ground.
“—well it is time to say goodbye. I go this way and… you go that way.”
He pointed at the dimensional gate and Castle Erdia. They were in the opposite directions. Nevertheless, those were the paths Akatsuki and Listy had to take.
“You don’t have to tell me that…”
Listy gave a snort.
“I feel relieved. Farewell, Akatsuki. I--- hated you.”
She said that much then turned her back to him and started to walk away. Akatsuki saw her off, then as her figure got smaller and smaller he suddenly called out to her. Those was his last words to her.
“ Don"t forget what I said to you that day! If ever something happens call me! If you believe me I’ll definitely come for you.”
“--------“
Listy stopped silently. That was why Akatsuki talked to her. No matter what happens in the future, even if they never met again. Even if they never meet again--- he had to tell her this unchanging truth.
“No matter how far we are—“
I swear to you.
“I’ll always be your ally. Never forget that, got it?!”
After Akatsuki parted with Listy he kept moving without further stops.
The further he went the more he could feel the forest become unusually silent. Sound disappeared from the world. And even though it was deep in the forest, the scent of the trees, gra.s.s and flowers could not be sensed anymore. When the scent of the flora disappeared, his vision and sense of touch started to sharpen. He had clear vision and could feel the invisible air on his skin as if his senses were stretched out. He had entered the sacred ground.
When he realized, Akatsuki had walked into a natural tunnel of trees. The tree branches covering the top of the tunnel were high so it didn"t feel cramped. Numerous leaves covered the sunlight completely. Yet it was as bright as under the blue sky. Soft light flowed through the tunnel to the exit. It meant the end of the tunnel was near. And not much further lay the goal of Akatsuki’s journey.
Well, at last. It was a deeply moving sight. Right now there was a gate in front of Akatsuki. On the stone pedestal there were quartz pillars decorated with geometric motives. These made up the giant gate. On the other side of the gate the forest still continued. But this was the without a doubt. Because the s.p.a.ce surrounded by the gate faintly fluctuated. It was a plane of discontinuity created by the dimensional instability. That proved that it connected to another world.“I hope it will go alright.”
Akatsuki started to concentrate as he put the sack back on. This should work in theory. I’m going through.
Akatsuki slowly stepped into the gate. It was a firm step which moved him forward. Just before he stepped through the fluctuating s.p.a.ce, Akatsuki turned back for the last time. That was his farewell. His last words to the world he had spent so much time in. He said it.
“Farewell, Alayzard!”
Then Ousawa Akatsuki disappeared into the . There was no sound. The sacred ground in the forest was silent, as if the departure of the hero had been a lie. The only thing still remaining was the silent s.p.a.ce fluctuation that occurs when someone travels through the .Part 4
The wind strokes my cheek. Feeling comfortable Akatsuki slowly opened his eyes. His consciousness activated.
“Ah…”
He gets up, slowly shakes his head trying to gather his sleepy thoughts. When Akatsuki woke up there was a blue light piercing the darkness. His eyelids were closed all the time causing his eyes to get used to the darkness so he woke up feeling the gentle light was too bright. Then the wind blew again. As if something was guiding him Akatsuki turned his eyes in that direction. There was a white lace curtain dancing in the wind blowing through the window. Outside the window he saw the night sky. The moon in the sky faintly lightens up the world filled with the silent night. Akatsuki watched the world lit up by the moonlight. He had been seeing this scenery since he was a kid. The asphalt and concrete filled town feels somewhat lifeless. Then he looked inside the room. It was dark but he knew this room. It was familiar scenery.
It looks like he came home. On top of his bed, Akatsuki was thinking about his returning from another world absentmindedly. There is a precise electric clock embedded inside the marble object from Miyano. It showed the same date and same time. It made Akatsuki’s think he had a long dream. But it wasn’t a dream. There is something lying down next to him. It was the large sack he carried on his back when he returned from Alayzard. Usually only those coming from another world can pa.s.s the . But the Renkan Keikikou he learned allowed him to control the flow of chi. He covered his clothes and the sack with his chi. This made the gate falsely recognize that his clothes and his bag were part of his body. Thus he succeeded in pa.s.sing through the with them. But the problem is the inside. Akatsuki slowly opened the fastener on the side of the bag. Then something appeared from it like it was flowing out. They were b.r.e.a.s.t.s.“…ah”
The b.r.e.a.s.t.s talked. No it was something else. There was something other than b.r.e.a.s.t.s. A tasty looking a.s.s and soft tights rolled out of the bag sleeping silently. A gorgeous sleeping beauty was inside the bag. A breathtakingly beautiful girl. Fine looking nose, soft moist lips, shapely ears and shining long twin tails. Each one of them looked like it was carefully made by the G.o.ddess of beauty herself. Besides her beautiful face her bodyline was also attractive. Ample bosom that could stop all thoughts. Abundant round b.u.t.tocks. Nipped in the waist that made men want to touch it. Anyone would dream of a spectacular body like hers. Her beautiful white skin was slightly pink despite the temperature. The peacefully sleeping girl changed her pose comfortably. That made her eyelids open slightly. She looked this way with her amber like eyes.
“Where am I?”
“In my world. You are safe here.”
After hearing his answer she closed her eyes again. Then started to sleep peacefully. Thus Ousawa Akatsuki made a sigh.
It seems everything went well. He made a bitter smile. Even though he has something he must do. He accepted a troublesome thing.
“I want to entrust my daughter to you, eh? I won’t hold responsibility no matter what happens.”
This is the start of a new tale.
Ousawa Akatsuki. Sixteen years old. High school first year. Job: ex-rogue hero
He was summoned to another world called Alayzard and after many hardships he defeated the demon king Galious. After the dying Galious entrusted Akatsuki with his daughter, he had no choice but to return to his world with her in secret. Thus after the ending the tale enters its second stage.
Returned to the real world, it is the start of a New Game.
You ask me with your heart and I answer with deeds.
The thing the hero protects – what is that.