Returning to Lilia-san’s mansion, I felt drained, as though the conversation with the Goddess of Time had lasted days, even though it should have only taken a few hours.
Ein-san seemed eager to talk more with the Goddess of Time… Or perhaps they were actually “talking” with their fists, since we parted ways with her at the temple… Hmmm. Kuro might be right after all—those two are good friends.
When we arrived at the carriage, Lunamaria-san was there to greet us, her expression filled with concern.
[Welcome home, My Lady, Miyama-sama.]
[Thank you for receiving us, Luna.]
[My Lady? You look very tired… I thought you’d be able to handle the conversation with the Goddess of Time…]
[No, it would have been fine if it was just the Goddess of Time… But I never expected to meet the God of Creation there…]
When Lunamaria-san called out to her, Lilia-san muttered, her shoulders slumping in a way that clearly showed just how tired she was.
At hearing those words, Lunamaria-san looked momentarily stunned before tilting her head, as if she’d heard something strange.
[What are you saying, My Lady? Why would the God of Creation visit the Human Realm, except during the Festival of Heroes?]
[Yes, that’s… exactly what I thought.]
[Eh? Errr, My Lady?]
Lilia-san, her gaze fixed downward, muttered those words before suddenly turning to me and grabbing my collar with both hands.
Her face, half-crying, wore an expression of desperation, as if she was already at her wit’s end with something.
[Seriously… What the heck does this mean, Kaito-san!? You said you had no connections with any outrageous people before!]
[N-No, um, I didn’t know about this either…!]
As she grabbed my collar, she shook me back and forth while raising her complaints, but Lilia-san, isn’t the force you’re using a bit much!? I can’t breathe!
It seemed that now that Lilia-san was finally free from her intense nervousness, her temper had fully switched on. The strength with which she was shaking me only increased, and she seemed completely unaware of it herself.
[You’re connected to the most outrageous person, though!!! Why, of all people, are you connected to the God of Creation!? And what do you mean you got her blessing!? What the heck do you want from me, Kaito-san!?]
[W-Wait… Lilia-san… my neck… can’t breathe…]
[Umm, My Lady…]
Lunamaria-san seems just as flustered, trying to calm Lilia-san down, but it’s clear she’s not hearing a word of it.
[I don’t even feel like I’m alive anymore!!! I mean, this is the first time I’ve ever heard the voice of the God of Creation, you know!? There can’t be any more outrageous people out there, right!? That’s really the last one, right!? Please, just tell me if you know someone like the World King or anyone like her! My heart can’t take this anymore!!!]
[……No…… Before that, your hand… I-I’m going to…]
[My Lady, My Lady!]
Ah, this is bad. I couldn’t hold on to my consciousness any longer. My body feels like it’s physically floating, but Lilia-san is so ridiculously strong, I can’t break free from her grip.
Now that I think about it, Kuro once mentioned how people can reinforce their bodies with their magic power… I guess once I learn how to do that, I’ll be able to endure something like this.
[My Lady!!!]
[What is it, Luna? We’re discussing something very important here…]
[I understand how you feel. I know you’ve been through a lot… But if you don’t let go of him soon, Miyama-sama’s soul will start departing for another world before I can even finish explaining.]
[…Eh? Ahhh!? Ka-Kaito-san!? I-I’m sorry! Are you alright!?]
As Lunamaria-san’s voice finally reached her, Lilia-san’s face drained of color. In a panic, she quickly released her grip on my collar.
Once I was freed from her hold, I could no longer feel my body and found myself tumbling to the ground… My body truly felt like it was floating there.
[……Somehow… it feels like I saw my deceased mother and father waving at me…]
[Kaito-san!? Please, pull yourself together!]
As Lilia-san’s voice seemed to fade further and further away, I felt my consciousness slipping away.
When I regained consciousness, the first thing I saw was Lilia-san apologizing to me in a dogeza. Honestly, receiving such a heartfelt apology from her made me feel more apologetic than anything.
Well, I was the one who caused this problem in the first place, and considering the anxiety Lilia-san had to endure today, I really couldn’t bring myself to complain.
“I’ll do anything as an apology,” she said, making a dangerously generous offer. But feeling guilty myself, I reassured her not to worry about it and simply went back to my room.
Though I wasn’t as exhausted as Lilia-san, I was still quite tired, so I returned to my room and sank deeply into the chair. As I sipped the coffee that was handed to me like it was nothing, I reflected on everything that had happened today.
[Ahaha, you could say it’s very much like Shiro… but good work out there.]
[……I’m really tired.]
I’m not going to comment on Kuro being here as if it’s the most natural thing in the world since I’ve returned. Instead, I just told her about today’s events while sipping coffee and nibbling on some baby castella.
[By the way, do Ein-san and the Goddess of Time actually get along? They looked like they were about to tear each other apart earlier…]
[Hmm. They do argue a lot, but Ein is the one who recognizes Chronois-chan’s abilities, and Chronois-chan also acknowledges Ein’s skills. They probably had one of those battles that ends in a draw, and now they’re drinking together, of all things.]
Fumu, when she puts it like that, you could definitely say they’re good friends.
The Goddess of Time and Ein-san, always quarreling with each other, yet the fact that they can talk so openly about their true feelings shows just how close they are… Well, if that’s the case, I would’ve appreciated it if she had mentioned that beforehand…
[It seems like Kaito-kun went through a lot of trouble, huh~~]
[It feels like most of it was Kuro’s fault, though…]
[Ahaha, that might be so.]
Seeing Kuro smile wryly, I can’t help but smile as well.
As expected, I really do feel at ease when talking with Kuro. It’s probably because she’s the person I’ve spoken to the most since coming to this world, so it’s much more comfortable—I don’t have to worry too much when I talk with her.
Well, she was originally the Underworld King, a high-ranking demon of incredible status, but… she doesn’t usually carry the majesty that kings are known for…
[Arehh? Why do I feel like I’m being made fun of here?]
[……It must be just your imagination.]
As Kuro’s expression shifted while she fumbled around, I could feel myself calming down. Our casual conversation helped ease the fatigue I had from the day.
After talking for a while, Kuro suddenly clapped her hands, as if she had an idea.
[Ah, that’s right. Kaito-kun, are you free tomorrow?]
[Unnn? Rather than just tomorrow… I’m usually free until we head back home, I guess?]
Did she come up with something ridiculous again? It’d be great if it wasn’t too tiring, though…
[Look, I told you we’d go out just the two of us before, right?]
[Ah, yeah. You did say that.]
That’s what Kuro whispered to me just during her visit to Lilia-san’s mansion and was leaving.
Remembering that, I nodded at her words, and Kuro continued speaking with a wide smile.
[So, tomorrow. Let’s go on a “date” tomorrow!]
[……Eh?]
Dear Mom, Dad—I’ve gotten used to Kuro’s usual absurdities, but today she said something even more outrageous. Uhhh, what I’m trying to say is… how should I put this… This is the first time in my life, but—I’ve been invited on a date.
Next time in YuuShou, a certain main heroine who hadn’t been in a few episodes had become angry.
T/N: As thanks for lowdark, here are 3 bonus chapters.
-LazyCat