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Arifureta Chapter 490
🕑 Added 2024-04-07 00:31:26 +0000 UTCOther World Travel Arc Prologue
Author’s Note: Thank you for waiting. The last long arc starts now.
Please, enjoy!
Even though it was still before nine o’clock in the morning, the sun’s self-assertion was fierce.
The weather was clear without a single cloud to be seen. The blazing sunlight was entering from the window without any reservation, increasing the indoor temperature as each second passed. The cicadas were also performing a loud chorus in support of it.
Recently the weather was continuously unstable but, but this weather was truly summer-like for today that was the day of departure for the trip.
But however, in contrast to the energetic great sun that was suitable for such summer vacation, a slightly gloomy atmosphere was drifting inside the living room of Nagumo residence.
「It’ll be the appointed time soon I think. Be careful on your trip okay, Hajime. ──Yes, while leaving your mom behind.」
「I’m looking forward to the souvenir. After all, you’re going without your dad.」
It was the Nagumo couple.
Around the time when the breakfast was about to be over, the two put on an expression that was blatantly dispirited while chewing pickled vegetable inside their mouth with slow movement in order to induce pity. There were even dark circles under their eyes.
And so Hajime,
「Soo annoying」
Commented bluntly. It couldn’t be helped because this interaction had been repeated many times since around a week ago.
Here too Sumire and Shuu put on a dramatized expression of shock. They even orally expressed 「Hic hic hic」 while breaking down crying.
「O-Ojii-chan! Obaa-chan! Let’s go together at the end of the year or the spring break next year, for sure nano! Myuu and everyone will investigate the other worlds thoo~~~roughly so there won’t be anything to worry about anymore!」
Myuu was kind too today.
She was wearing an airy white dress that was a match with Remia mama (she looked exactly like a young lady from good family about to go to a trip). Her dress fluttered as she leaned forward to cheer up the two with her utmost effort.
Naturally, Sumire-obaachan and Shuu-ojiichan’s atmosphere did an about face. They were completely fawning.
「My! Really Myuu-chan, how reliable!」
「Not like our unworthy son, you’re reaally kind. Ojii-chan is moved!」
The eyes of the unworthy son in question were rapidly growing colder. Yue chuckled seeing that scene while taking a sip of the after-meal tea.
「……I’ll study a lot of things so that I can become tour guide Yue again like during the Tortus travel. Please look forward to it.」
If Tortus travel was like a tour to a developed country with abundant sightseeing spot, the trip this time was like a private trip to a foreign country where they didn’t really know much.
They didn’t even know what would become of their trip depending on the situation of the site. There was a great chance that they wouldn’t be able to purely relax and smoothly enjoy the sightseeing.
Because of that, certainly the parents would be able to have more fun if Yue and others could act as a guide after doing the preliminary inspection. There was no doubt that they would be able to make the parents have fun then.
Naturally Sumire and Shuu also understood about that consideration from Yue and others.
And so Tio and Shia too pointed out something to those two in a way that showed their seriousness in a different sense. Currently Tio and Shia were wearing outfits that resembled their attire during their Tortus era, but ones that had been sufficiently modified to resemble the earth fashion more. Their outfits showed their enthusiasm for the coming travel.
「Rather, Hahaue-dono and Chichiue-dono too art busy with thy works right now. We art more worried about the both of thee instead. Please don’t do anything reckless while we art away from here.」
「That’s right desu! After all you two would naturally reduce your sleep and food intake when work get involved! Health come first desu!」
Liliana was nodding deeply in agreement and joined in.
「Correct. Work only for 24 hours per day. Eat as much as you can until your stomach almost burst when time allows in order to properly replenish nourish──」
「Please shut up Lily-san.」
「You’re horrible Shia-san……」
Liliana casted down her eyes sadly, but she was still continuing to nibble on the crunchy seaweed that seemed to be her favorite recently (this was already the twentieth just this morning), so she didn’t look sad at all.
Rather, even though she had gone through the effort to wear adorable outfit like during her date with Hajime, the seaweed’s scraps were falling on it, so nobody knew how to comment about it. Was it fine for a princess to be like that……they wondered.
Remia went my my while removing the seaweed scraps. Then she also told Shuu and Sumire to take care of themselves properly.
「We’re leaving behind a lot of nutritious foods, so please don’t forget to eat them properly okay?」
Remia stared fixedly at them. In respond Sumire and Shuu averted their eyes, even so they replied 「「Yee~ss」」. Their lips were slightly grinning.
They felt like running away from this situation where their daughters-in-law were admonishing them like their mother, but at the same time they were also feeling happy that the girls were so concerned for them. That must be how they were feeling right now. Though they wanted to use Liliana’s work style as good example of what not to do.
Hajime too chuckled slightly seeing his parents like that while,
「Well, if the setup of gate and communication device goes well in the trip this time, we’ll be able to come and go to various worlds more easily.」
He followed up like that.
Sumire and Shuu were doing what they were doing was more of venting out at their son due to the sadness as adults of simply not being able to go because of their work, which hindered them even more than the matter of the dangers of other worlds. Because of that they too shrugged and returned their behavior back to normal.
Also, the dark circles under their eyes weren’t formed from their shock of not being able to go to the trip, but simply the result of them completely immersing themselves into their work. They were just reaping what they sow.
Currently, the two of them were in a quite dire situation because of various events, like finishing one-shot for summer break’s special, or releasing new game for sale during summer break.
「Yes yes, we get it~」
「It’s difficult to match our holiday with Tomoichi-kun and the others after all. If possible we want to go together with them again but, as expected I guess it’ll have to be next year so that can happen.」
The Tortus travel must be really fun for them. The two of them were regularly mentioning how nice it would be to go together with Shirasaki family, Yaegashi family, and also Hatayama family again if they were going to a trip.
As expected, there must be things and way to have fun that could only be sympathized between the fellow parents.
There, the living room’s door started shining.
It was a newly created gate. It was now connected directly to Shirasaki residence, Yaegashi residence, and Aiko’s residence. It had the mechanism of connecting their home to Nagumo residence by reciting the keyword.
「Good morniiing!」
The one who gave an energetic greeting with such lively tone was Kaori.
She was wearing a white camisole and a thin black cardigan. And for the bottom she was unusually wearing a jeans. She was wearing her hair in an upswept hairstyle which was pinned down with a cute barrette with butterfly model. It was a fashion that normally Shizuku would wear.
All her baggage must be stored inside “Treasure Warehouse”. She casually walked in empty-handed. There was just a single door separating her from Nagumo residence, so it wasn’t any different from actually living together. Her words of greeting weren’t 「Excuse me」 anymore also showed how she was completely a member of Nagumo family.
Hajime and co each replied back 「Morning」, but Yue alone was staring at Kaori from up to bottom and narrowed her eyes. Perhaps it was because their fashion overlapped. A lot of the details differed but, seen from afar it was enough to make them looked like they had matching outfit. It looked even more so because their hairstyle was the same.
Perhaps that was why. Yue’s usual bad habit activated.
「……Kaori? What’s wrong?」
「Eh? What’s wrong……what?」
Befor Hajime and others finished saying good morning, Yue made a puzzled expression and said that.
Kaori looked confused. Then Yue’s expression changed to exasperation as though she had guessed something. It was a magnificently skillful change of expression. It didn’t look like an act. She was an actress (limited only when pranking Kaori).
「……The trip is tomorrow though?」
「Eh……eh!? Huh!? Really!?」
Kaori-san took out her smartphone in panic and checked the date. No matter how much time passed, she was still pure in this kind of aspect.
A wicked smile formed on Yue’s lips and she chuckled ku-ku-ku.
「What are you doing right at the morning」
Such exasperated words came from Shizuku who passed through the gate behind Kaori at that timing.
Her ponytail was like usual. She was wearing a frilly blouse and a miniskirt which was rare for her. Her beautiful legs were generously exposed. It was an appearance that normally would be Kaori’s preference.
There was no need to guess, they must have arranged this beforehand. It was a rare chance of going to a trip, so they tried to wear outfit that was the opposite to their usual preference.
Shizuku must be feeling the gaze from Hajime. Her legs fidgeted in a bit of embarrassment, even so she politely greeted Sumire and others. A second later, she sent a wry smile at Kaori.
「It’s because you always fell for it right away like that, so Yue too keep getting carried away.」
「……Thank you for dancing to my tune right from the morning, Shirasaki Pierrot Kaori.」
「Can you stop attaching the worst second name on me like that!?」
The noisiness of the living room increased drastically.
Remia entered the kitchen when Kaori arrived. There she was chuckling while putting three cups of barley tea on a tray and returned.
It would be the appointed time soon, so she was convinced that woman who was always on time would soon arrive.
Sure enough, the living room’s gate shined.
「Excuse──hrm hrm. Good morning-」
The one who entered was Aiko. Unlike Kaori and Shizuku, it seemed that she was still unable to wipe away the feeling of “visiting her husband’s home”, so she slipped up a little with her wording.
She was wearing an oversized hoodie with thin fabric. The hoodie was too big, so they couldn’t see what she was wearing at the bottom. Perhaps she was wearing shorts there.
Not bad! That kind of gaze came from the other girls. A certain someone had showered her with praise of how that look really suited her, so perhaps that was why she finally started wearing hoodie fashion even outside now. Or perhaps, her mind relaxed instead because this time it was a private trip that was also going to other world……
Putting that aside.
「Aa, good morning, Aiko.」
「……Nn, morning Aiko. …………Nn? What’s wrong? It feels like your face is tense?」
After Hajime and co greeted back, Yue who was obediently allowing Kaori to forcefully gave her a twintail hair change punishment tilted her head.
Aiko who accepted the barley tea from Remia and gulped it down in one go right after telling her thanks smiled wryly from how sharp Yue was.
「My clone is a bit……」
「Is there some trouble with it? It looked fine though……」
「No, there’s no problem with it but……or rather, should I say that it’s lacking problem too much」
「?」
Hajime tilted his head. At the side Myuu was pleading Kaori to give her twintail too, perhaps because she became jealous with Yue’s twintail. Meanwhile Aiko let out a sigh.
「I wonder why. Even though it should be tracing my behavior, it’s far more amiable than the usual me, or it feels like she’s doing my work more smartly than me……」
「What, did you perhaps also imagined “my ideal self” when imprinting your soul into it?」
Hajime said that jokingly, but Aiko’s gaze wandered around. ……Perhaps he hit the bull’s eye.
Originally, that kind of thing shouldn’t give any influence to a clone, so the expressions of Hajime and others changed as though to ask 「Eh? Seriously? Isn’t that just your imagination?」.
「My, isn’t that a good thing? You can now leave the school without worry.」
Sumire didn’t really understand about this kind of magic, so she said that nonchalantly. Aiko nodded energetically as though getting a push on the back from those words.
「T-that’s right! Yep, it’s a change for the better so it’s fine! Surely!」
「Doesn’t it feels like you’re trying to persuade yourself?」
She couldn’t say that actually, the clone that was made three days ago had been taking care of her during these three days by perfectly doing all the housework and kitchen work.
Not to mention when she secretly observed the clone for the final check, the clone was dealing with everything with a properly adult aura that was even better than herself, from casual greeting to the neighbors to even interacting with the teachers and students at school.
There were also normal problems caused by the clone’s unintentional conduct but……
(It’s hard seeing my clone readjusting what us objectively my hoplessness……)
The hopeless Aiko averted her eyes because of such reason.
By the way, Aiko had no way of knowing at this point of time. As the result of her averting her eyes, she didn’t learn that the clone Aiko got called as “Super Ai-chan Mode” or “Awakened Ai-chan” by the students, but Aiko’s inherent small animalness was definitely still remaining in the clone, and because of that gap her popularity that had been high from the beginning was increasing even more explosively.
The evaluation on her from the teachers was also excellent. Their expectation score on her kept climbing up. The vice principal was also getting led around in various senses even more by the clone.
Not only that, sometimes the clone would show a bewitching atmosphere like a certain vampire princess somewhere. The gap from Ai-chan-sensei’s baby face & petite appearance threw the emotions (or perhaps fetish?) of some of the students into disarray regardless of gender. The newly appointed teacher was also sending a heated gaze toward the clone Aiko now.
The resolution of those situations would have to be entrusted to the trembling like small animal Ai-chan-sensei (the real one) at the new term.
Getting back on topic.
The breakfast was completely finished and everyone drank time while passing time for a bit. Then the clock’s hands pointed at five minutes before the appointed time.
Ding-dong The chime rang out as though in anticipation of that.
It seemed the comrade who would participate in the travel this time in the place of the parents had arrived.
「Myuu will go out nano!」
Myuu jumped down from her chair. Her twintail that she asked Kaori to tie up her hair into was fluttering.
She landed with both her hands raised high to the air like a gymnastic athlete. Then she rushed toward the interphone while pushing her chair and jumped up on it pyon again.
When Myuu peered into the screen, she saw a person standing there wearing denim short pants, high laced sandal, and off the shoulder blouse.
The person was fidgeting and fiddling restlessly with her brown hair that was tied up with a scrunchie. Her toes with their nails that had been cutely colored were also tapping the ground restlessly.
「It’s Yuuka-oneechan nano!」
Myuu reported so while pushing the speaker button.
There was the electronic sound of a connection being made which must be audible from Yuuka’s end too. She panicked and leaned forward to bring her face closer to the camera and mike.
『Uhmm, it’s-, Sonobe! Good morning-. T-today I come to participate in the trip──』
She was fumbling her words for some reason. Perhaps, it was that. She must be under the impression that it was Shuu or Sumire at the other side of the interphone.
Different from interacting with Hajime and others, Yuuka was still excessively bashful in front of Sumire and Shuu. Not to mention that her visit this time had the objective of going to an overnight trip with their son objectively speaking, so there was no doubt that she was strangely conscious about it.
Well, something like that didn’t matter at all.
「Say the password, nano.」
『Eh? ……Ehh!? Password!? What’s with that, I don’t know……』
Yuuka was fiercely shaken from Myuu’s abrupt demand. Well of course she would. Even Hajime and others were also tilting their heads 「Password?」, so it was only natural she didn’t know.
「Answer the question that’s going to be asked from now nanoda! Otherwise, that gate won’t be opened mon-」
『N-no way-. Even though I had gathered new clothes since one month ago and even went to beauty salon and hairdressing salon!』
It wasn’t about “password” anymore, and Yuuka-chan, she was really gung ho about this……putting aside such retort.
Perhaps because of how shaken she was, even the fact that the one Yuuka-chan was talking with was Myuu was out of her mind. Myuu sighed fuh and gave the question.
「List up three things that you think are cool about papa nanoda!」
『Err, err……he’s reliable, he’s decisive, he’s quick to take action, he doesn’t has optimistic view, he can think up countermeasure right away, he’s thoughtful with others regardless of what he say, the way he drink coffee looks cool, after that──』
Even though Myuu only asked for three, Yuuka was listing her answer while counting with her fingers. Yue and others were going 「Hohou?」 or 「Yep yep, she gets it」 while nodding with expressions like job interviewer.
Hajime saw his parents getting a nasty grin on their face, so he felt extremely awkward.
Meanwhile, as expected it seemed she realized at the middle so,
『──Wait, just what’re you making me say!!』
「O-ou, sorry about this nano.」
Yuuka became bright red and yelled angrily.
Myuu herself was shaken up. She had an expression like someone who got showered with fierce rain of blows when she only asked for a right straight!
Also, behind Yuuka was the madam of the family at the other side of the street who coincidentally went out to pick the newspaper at that timing. She was sending a gaze this way with eyes that were brimming with curiosity as though to say 「Oh myy! Just what kind of commotion is brewing there today I wonder! Now, continue?」.
Yuuka was erupting with anger while──no, perhaps she was just covering up her embarrassment? Anyway, she entered Nagumo residence with her face still being bright red.
「Good morning-, the weather is nice today!」
Her greeting was filled with a kind of energy of desperation.
「Yuuka-chan, morning. Thank you for praising our son right from the morning.」
「Haha, even though it’s our own son it’s still making us proud hearing him getting praised like that.」
「Uu, Sumire-san and SHuu-san too, good morning-!!」
She ignored the meaning of the words said by the parents and firmly bowed her head while greeting. It was clear to see that she was trying to ride out the teasing by bulldozing through, but Hajime made sure to not make any mention about it.
「Sonobe」
「What-? Just so you know, I was only listing out the common view!」
「I get it, I get it. More importantly, my bad. Having you to come here directly」
There wasn’t a door shaped gate at Yuuka’s home. But, Hajime or Yue could simply open a gate to her place by their own, and yet why did Yuuka come here on her own?
「It’s fine about that……more importantly where are the others?」
Yuuka looked up at the clock hanging on the wall of the living room. Next she looked around the inside of the room.
Kaori was walking toward her with smiling face.
「You know, Yuuka-chan.」
「W-what, Kaori?」
Yuuka stepped back. She knew. The subtle difference of Kaori’s current smile from the usual.
This was, this was a wicked smile!
「I told you that Ryuutarou-kun and Suzu-chan, then Taeko-chan and Aikawa-kun, also Nana-chan and Tamai-kun are coming didn’t I?」
「Y-yeah, that’s right. What about──」
「I lied.」
「!?」
Yuuka’s eyes widened like saucer. Her gaze ran over Yue and others to confirm the truth of that statement.
Yue smiled sweetly and answered.
「……Nobody else is coming. It will be just us and Yuuka.」
「!!?」
Yuuka stepped back even more. There’s no way, her expression said. Well of course she would look like that. Because,
「You guys are lying right? Wait a second. Then what? This is you guys’ first family trip after marrying right? It’s practically something like a honey moon right? And I’m the only one getting mixed in among that?」
「Something like that desuu.」
「It’s something liketh that.」
「It is something like that indeed.」
Yuuka checked the fact with a convulsing expression. Shia, Tio, and Liliana were nodding yep yep in confirmation.
Yuuka took a deep breath. And then,
「I’m taking my leave home-」
She turned around and dashed. Of course, Yue and Kaori caught her.
「Let goo! Let me go homee!」
「「It’s fineee, it’s finee~~」」
「Nothing is fine! Do you think I’m that kinda gal who can’t read the mood at all! Besides, you guys are going to flirt out the whole time of the trip anyway! The powered up version even! And I’m going to be the only outsider there! Stupid-, it’s going to be painful for me to be there!!」
Of course she would, Hajime, Shizuku, and Aiko thought while looking at each other. They looked like they didn’t know what to say. Remia alone was going my my, ufufu like usual.
Kaori calmed down Yuuka with a quiet expression.
「Now now, Yuuka-chan. Try imagining it?」
「Imagining what!」
「This is a good chance.」
「Just what do you mean!」
「……Yuuka. Recently, aren’t you on the fence thinking that your relationship with Hajime that is neither too close or too distant is also might not bad?」
「…………I’m not on the fence!」
Nobody touched on why there was some pause there. Yue who was slightly taller than Yuuka in her college student mode brought her lips closer to Yuuka’s ear over her shoulder.
「……I don’t dislike you Yuuka.」
「Wai-, don’t whisper into my ear! Your breath──」
「……Rather, I like you.」
「Nnn-」
「……That’s why, okay? Yuuka, let’s make it clear soon?」
「Ugyuuu~~~」
Yue’s sweet words were whispered from her lips that was almost touching Yuuka’s ear.
Due to the natural “Autonomous Sensory Meridian Re(ASMR)” that wasn’t using either magic or machine, a pleasant sensation that was sending shivers directly into the brain was assaulting Yuuka!
She turned red and hung her head down. Yuuka endured by clenching her hands and her toes tightly into a ball.
Myuu went 「Hyaa~~h」 and covered her face with her hands (of course, she was staring unblinkingly from the gaps of her fingers). That was just how yuri yuri the air was.
Shuu made a praying posture with his hands while saying 「They’re so precious right from the morning」. Sumire was breathing hard with bloodshot eyes while recording the whole thing with her smartphone.
「I-I won’t lose-. B-because, it’s not like, I have anyone I likeee!」
「No way-, she withstood Yue’s whisper!? That’s impossible-」
「……Absurd. Is Yuuka’s tsundere power at monstrous level!?」
For some reason Kaori was shaking in fear. She must be aware of the power of Yue’s ASMR. Perhaps she had experienced it herself by some chance? Furthermore she had gotten defeated by it? Sumire and Shuu wanted to ask her about it in detail.
Putting that aside, Yue herself must be confident about it in her own way. She was looking shocked.
There, a lifeboat was tossed.
「You two, that’s enough already. She agreed to help after we insisted but, Sonobe’s too pitiful if you go any further than that.」
「N-Nagumoo」
Yuuka’s cheeks were flushed and her breathing was a bit rough. Her body was shivering and fidgeting and her eyes were moisty. It was quite a fiendish sight in various senses.
Hajime somehow averted his gaze. Shizuku grabbed Yue and Kaori’s collars in the same beat and dragged them away from Yuuka like holding cats.
「Our bad, Sonobe. Also, it’s a lie too that it’ll be just you so don’t worry and come with us.」
「Fuwaa?」
Yue’s ASMR was terrifying. Yuuka’s head was still somewhat in the cloud. Aiko smiled wryly while applying “Soul Repose” on her.
Yuuka returned to her sanity (?). Either way she was still assaulted by embarrassment, so she covered her face with both her hands.
Look at what you did, apologize, urged like that, Yue and Kaori both apologized 「We’re sorry」 while still being held up like a cat from their collars. Hajime glanced at them while opening a gate with Crystal Key.
Then, the other side of the gate──a room of an apartment somewhere came into view.
「Hehe, something like password is pointless y’know, Sakagami. I’m gonna completely expose the inside of your PC using the hacking I learned from demon king division’s cyber team.」
「Noboru……you’re not half bad! I’m seeing you at better light now! Bring down the death penalty on the bastard who get a head start in living together with a girl! He’s definitely hiding ne or two disgusting fetishes!」
「Don’t screw with me you guyssss!! Get out of my wayyy!」
There, Noboru, Atsushi, and Ryuutarou were prattling about something around a desk there. At the same time,
「Kyaaaaah, Suzu-chan, so bold!」
「Suzu-chi……you, have changed completely. In the past you didn’t have this kind of erotic under──」
「Uwaaaaaaah!? Don’t just open someone’s drawer as you please like that!」
Taeko, Nana, and Suzu were being really boisterous in front of a closet.
Yes, this was the room where Ryuutarou and Suzu were living together. The other travel participants, Atsushi, Noboru, Taeko, and Nana were on stand by in their room until they were picked up with gate.
At the same time, they started investigating in order to learn the actual situation of Ryuutarou and Suzu’s cohabitation.
「Ah, Nagumo!」
「Ah, is it time? Come on, return back the underwear! It’s time already!」
It looked like Ryuutarou & Suzu had snapped because their friends were doing whatever they pleased in their home. They looked at Hajime like he was the messiah.
It couldn’t be helped if the pick-up had arrived. 「Let’s come with more manpower next time」 Atsushi and co were having such terrifying understanding with each other while passing through the gate.
After that, Ryuutarou & Suzu pair also passed through with the tired look of someone who had somehow weathered the storm.
「Yuuka! Long time no see!」
「Eh, ah, yeah. Long time no see, Taeko?」
The hug from a close friend who had been in Britain this whole time was making Yuuka flustered even as she reflexively hugged her back.
「Excuse uss! Nagumo, thanks for the invitation!」
「Another world that isn’t Tortus huh. I’m totally pumped up.」
Atsushi and Noboru greeted Sumire and Shuu while slapping Hajime’s shoulders with their tension at the max.
「It would be better if only everyone can go too, make this a proper class reunion.」
「Everyone is also busy so it can’t be helped. Although it’s summer break, this’ll be a long trip where others won’t be able to contact us easily.」
Taeko and Nana said that while surrounding Yuuka with high tension too.
「W-wait a second! Eh? Kaori? Yue-san? You said that Nana and others coming is a lie……」
「I’m sorry. That’s the lie.」
「……I think, it’s the not honest Yuuka who’s the bad one.」
「You two, I’ll give you a slap so present your face to me gracefully.」
It seemed that they intentionally made Yuuka came by herself without a gate in order to startle (?) her and checked her honest feeling (?) while telling the other participants to standby at Ryuutarou & Suzu’s home.
Yuuka realized that and a vein throbbed on her forehead.
Yuuka drew near while Kaori and Yue walked backward sususu- with beautiful synchro to escape.
Hajime watched that from the corner of his eye while turning toward Taeko and Noboru.
「Half of this is like work you know? It’s fine to get excited but, keep it in moderation okay?」
「Geez, we told you we get it. Director Magdanese has briefed me too.」
「This is also a chance for us after all. Having detailed knowledge of various worlds will be super advantageous to improve our career. I’ll give a report that satisfied Hattori-san too. ……Everything is so that Liu-san will recognize me.」
The last line that Noboru muttered in small volume was a bit scary in various senses……
Putting that aside, actually Noboru and Taeko’s participation was the idea of Hattori and Director Magdanese.
Both departments had also heard from Hajime that the degree of easiness for coming and going between worlds would improve. In that case, they greatly desired personnel in charge of other world matter in preparation for the future.
Of course, they couldn’t possibly ask Hajime for something like allowing a member of their department to come along in Hajime’s private trip. But, there was a chance if it was Noboru and Taeko.
When that idea was considered, Liliana also suggested bringing along Ryuutarou and Suzu too in preparation for the future. At that time she passionately desired for them to come too if they could.
As for Yuuka, it seemed that Yue and Kaori planned to bring her too from the start.
Yuuka would look our way with a longing expression of wanting to go together when we were talking about the trip in college or other places! They had witnessed such thing several times, however, personality-wise Yuuka absolutely wouldn’t bring up such thing from herself. Not to mention it would be a trip for just family, so she absolutely wouldn’t be okay if she came along alone. That was their conjecture (which was perfectly correct).
And so, they involved Nana and Atsushi to come together and as the result, these members were gathered.
By the way, it was the truth that the majority of their former classmates were busy and couldn’t participate, but that didn’t mean there weren’t others who greatly desired to come along.
For example, a certain duo whose heads were filled with nothing but the hope of being able to get closer with beautiful women from other worlds, or some girls who were still holding abnormal ulterior motive toward Hajime, or a kouhai who was aiming for a chance with Onee-sama.
Of course, all of them were rejected.
The reason of the rejection didn’t even need to be said.
They were really vexed and jealous toward nana and others who were selected as members who could come along in the trip that it seemed those people strongly conveyed to them how 「We actually want to go too but we’re really busy~」.
Getting back on topic.
Liliana took Ryuutarou and Suzu’s hands and spoke strongly.
「That’s right! After all it will be troubling if both of you who will be in charge of my country’s knight order in the future doesn’t know about other worlds in detail and build a lot of connections there!」
「That future, is already fixed in Lily’s head huh……」
「We’re only thinking that we would be able to play with Kaorin and others after so long and want to come too if it’s not a bother though……」
Ryuutarou and Suzu wore a wry smile. But, that only lasted for a moment.
「As expected it’s better to go with a lot of people when travelling nano! Everyone, thank you for coming nano! Let’s have a lot of fun nano!」
Shuu and others couldn’t come like during the Tortus travel. Hinata too unfortunately didn’t participate because she became very busy when summer break started with things like Bureau of Onmyou’s work, Tsuchimikado clan ritual, or fulfilling her role as a young lady of a large company.
There was no way Myuu felt dissatisfied of going to a trip with just family, but, there was no denying that there was a bit of loneliness growing in her. There, some big brothers and sisters who she knew really well joined their trip in high tension.
It seemed that it turned the meeting time into the best time for Myuu.
The radiant smile without even an ounce of worry in it made even the demonic Yuuka turned into jelly. Ryuutarou and the other boys chuckled 「Heheh」 shyly, while Suzu and the other girls also became all smiles feeling like their hearts had been shot.
「Yes yes, now that the ice is broken, it’ll be time soon right? Have a nice trip. We too need to go working soon.」
「Yeah. Be careful, but have fun with your all!」
Sumire clapped her hands and stood up from her chair. Shuu gave everyone a thumb up.
Hajime nodded while,
「Yeah, we’ll do that. There’s a plan for party at the last day. I’m thinking of doing it at the miniature garden but, Endou, Amanogawa, and the other guys and their family will also join in.」
「we get it. We’ll finish up our works before then.」
「I also mentioned it just now but don’t forget to bring a lot of souvenirs okay? Give your hardworking parents some rewards.」
「I think that line should be said by the children though.」
「……Fufu, please look forward to it.」
Hajime looked exasperated while at his side Yue held her head high and gave back a thumb up. Shia and others also said their farewell respectively before departing.
Like that,
「Then, let’s depart.」
In respond to those words, the reply 「「「「「Ooooo-」」」」」 echoed with high tension as expected. Hajime and co went to the entrance of “World Door” underground and finally departed for the other world travel from there.
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A gigantic tree clad in sublime radiance could be seen at the other side of the door.
The great tree of the star spirit world that towered high to the sky and covered the whole field of vision──the Star Tree.
Its avatar welcomed Hajime and co who had just crossed over the world. The goddess of this world since its creation.
The way she was looking down from the far above height with pure white radiance enveloping her and a halo on her back, and also coupled with the seven divine spirits radiating divine might while attending her, aa, certainly, anyone who was facing her would reach an understanding.
She was definitely a god. An exalted and grand being where they had to lower their head in her presence.
The people who were having audience with her for the first time──especially Yuuka and others were holding their breath. They were freezing like a frog that was being glared by a snake.
In contrast, Hajime who was standing at the forefront narrowed her eyes. He didn’t feel hostility. But, he also didn’t feel any welcoming mood. Also, the feeling of pressure was weighing down on his soul without any reservation.
She should have been notified beforehand through the offshoots of the divine spirits. They had also received permission for the visit. And yet, what was this stinging atmosphere? What was she thinking?
A feeling of high tension drifted between Hajime and the avatar of Star Tree──Lutria. As though to intentionally ignore that, or perhaps in order to change the atmosphere, Shia leaped forward with full of pep & deeply affectionate smile.
「Lutria-san! Long time no see desu!!」
Right after that. Perhaps, it was a reflexive act.
Goddess Lutria, with a terrific speed──
「HIH, don’t punch my stomach anymore-」
Pressed her hands on her stomach and crouched.
The place froze in a different sense this time. Shia too was freezing with her smile still fixed on her face.
Looking closer, the divine spirits (main bodies) looked like they were looking everywhere but forward?
In any case.
It seemed, this world’s goddess-sama.
Was holding a serious trauma.
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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.
I’m thinking that I want to make different members of Tortus Travel Journal participating, so this time I added the former Ai-chan bodyguard squad (Nimura-kun sorry) and the main story’s second half member (Kouki-kun sorry).
There are also movements in Kouki side and Kousuke side and I intend to write those stories too one day. Each happening will also get connected to Hajime side at the end, maybe? It’ll be nice if I can make that happen. (It’s common knowledge how easily Shirakome’s plot go astray so I can’t make any guarantee! (strong declaration))
In any case, it’ll make me happy if everyone will enjoy this story together till the end! Best regards!
※Material introduction
– Won’t open mon
From game [Sekiro]. The boss’s 「Ootemon, won’t open mon……」 and the player’s 「No, I’ll open it mon!」 are a set I think. (TN: The kanji for gate is read as “mon”)
– That’s a lie
I don’t know anymore how many times it is already, it’s a famous line from [Commando].
※Notification
The new key visual for Arifureta anime third season has come out in the official homepage. Shia, so gallant…. Also, it seems the news flash preview has come out too.
If you like, please go take a look!
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