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Arifureta Chapter 481
🕑 Added 2024-01-14 20:56:05 +0000 UTCCommon Holiday Brief Story Tio’s Case
AN: Sorry I’m late! I wrote this in a hurry so I might revise it a bit later.
Putting that aside, happy New Year!
Please treat me well in this year too!
An extensive woodland was spreading below their sight.
Needle-leaved trees and broad-leaved trees, pseudo-palm trees and fruit trees. They all had varied colors, and there were even strange trees that had never been seen before, also with varied sizes where some could be mistaken as a great tree or only as tall as a normal person.
「It’s completely chaotic huh.」
『Kukuh, just like its creator mayhaps?』
Tio in her black dragon form and Hajime who was sitting on her back cross-legged were exchanging words while flying leisurely on the sky of “Miniature Garden”.
Hajime’s expression turned really conflicted in respond to Tio’s teasing tone.
They were at the sky approximately 4000 km south of the Treasure Tree that was the center of this world.
On their way here, Hajime and Tio were already witnessing many contradictive environments that would make anyone doubted their eyes, like wetland area and desert area that were next to each other, or lava spewing tall volcano that was smackdab in the middle of a freezing giant lake, etc, etc.
There wasn’t any disorderly sight like those a thousand and several hundred kilometers around the Treasure Tree, so it seemed that the weird spectacles were becoming more frequent the further away they were traveling.
「The distinction of day and night is possible with the operation of the pseudo-sun, but I haven’t been introducing season to this world. In addition, the factor nurturing nature here also isn’t sunlight or nutrient after all.」
That was why, what happened here didn’t reflect the creator’s ethos of 「Let’s take in everything here yeah!」 by all means, maybe. In the end this was something that couldn’t be helped with the structure of the “Miniature Garden”, Hajime said like he was making an excuse.
In fact, the content of that excuse itself was correct.
The energy that was released from the Treasure Tree was everything that was nurturing the “Miniature Garden”. Fundamentally the factors that were required for natural growth in the original world of nature weren’t required here.
Furthermore, that energy didn’t consist only of willpower that was flowing into here from earth. Anticipating the immigrants from various worlds, the element conversion system was releasing all of the other known energies too.
In other words, “Miniature Garden” was a world where unique energies of each other world were intermingling.
Because of that, well, it was understandable that the state of the world became like a hodgepodge of the nature of other worlds.
「I’m basically leaving the management of the nature environment to Enti and others wholesale but……are they still not starting with the distant areas? In any case, sorting this out looks like something worth doing.」
Hajime looked somewhat excited.
The creation of “Miniature Garden” was a difficult act that was equal to creating a whole world. In addition it was an isolated world that didn’t have rotation or revolution like a normal planet.
Even though Enti and others were divine spirits who were governing over nature, governing an artificial world with completely different environment was something that they hadn’t completely worked out all of the kinks from it.
The near areas surrounding the Treasure Tree being a natural environment that were pleasant for Hajime and others to stay at was definitely because of Enti and others adjusting them to be that way.
『Sorting out, is it. Art that necessary? I think nature art called nature because its growth art entrusted to nature though? Perhaps the divine spirits art not doing anything with the distant areas exactly because of such reason.』
「Makes sense. That way will also satisfy my adventurous heart. But, I’m also a gamer who love simulation game very much. As I thought, this current situation is just making me itchy no matter what. The feeling of wanting to, like, making this world more properly is boiling up inside me.」
It seemed that Hajime’s desire to sort out the environments was because of a very personal reason.
『W-well, this art Goshujin-sama’s world. I believe it’s fine for thee to do as thou please……』
「At the very least, I want to try making one of the four sides to fit my preference. Of course, it’ll be after the adventure. I’ve promised Endou too about it.」
Hajime was someone who kept his books and packaging tidily in the shelves. There was the opinion that downloaded version was better in this modern time, but he ignored that and if the physical version came out, he would definitely choose to buy that one. That was his ideology.
Also, sometimes he would gaze at this collection while grinning by himself.
Inside her heart Tio imagined that perhaps one day a readjusted natural world……natural (?) world that was like a theme park might get created somewhere in this world.
Perhaps Hajime noticed what she was thinking. He cleared his throat several times to gloss up the matter. Then he talked a bit rapidly.
「Besides, field work like this time might become necessary with great frequency if this world is too disorderly.」
『Fumu……if I remember correctly, there was a talk of how areas that Enti couldst not observe hath appeared before she knew it, correct?』
「Yeah. Originally that should be impossible though.」
Hajime crossed his arms and groaned a little.
It was only natural. Enti was the goddess of the Treasure Tree. She had the authority to sense all the places that were connected to the Treasure Tree even if she didn’t go to take a look directly. In other words, the whole “Miniature Garden” was within her sensing range.
But, not long ago it seemed that she became unable to sense a part of the area that was near the edge of the southern side.
Enti reported it while her gaze was darting around and she was rubbing the fingers of her hands together. Together with her slightly nervous expression, she looked like a child who failed her errant for the first time.
I-It’s not my fault! It’s not because of my rank as goddess is insufficient okay! That’s why, y-you aren’t going to fire me or anything aren’t you? Aren’t you? Your goddess is me right? Right?
Hajime intentionally reacted with silence and expressionless look. The figure of Enti who became slightly teary at the end while pleading was truly the embodiment of “pitifully cute”.
It was to the degree that she invoked the protective desire of Yue and others. They all looked coldly at Hajime.
Also, it went without saying that Tio was the only one who went haa haa seeing Hajime’s sadism.
「There’s an area with its connection severed, or almost severed from the Treasure Tree? Was it an error in the space or gravity’s adjustment? Or perhaps unique energies are interfering with each other?」
Hajime was muttering to himself while immersing his mind into deep thought.
He wouldn’t return to his sense for quite some time at this rate, even though this was the long-awaited date! And so Tio changed the topic with a bit of panic.
『By the way, Goshujin-sama. How big art the size of the Miniature Garden currently?』
「In that case……ah? Size? It’s more or less, around the size of earth I guess. The expansion stopped there. The Miniature Garden itself is a spherical space. However, the construction is like the application of the flat earth theory.」
Whoops, Hajime thought while returning his mind to reality.
Willpower that was imported practically by root and branch from the earth’s King Tree plus unlimited magic power.
The amount of energy was overflowing. If automatic brake wasn’t applied to the expansion, the “Miniature Garden” would expand without end. And so for the time being, Hajime kept the size to be similar to some degree with earth as the model.
However, it didn’t mean there was a spherically-shaped land like a planet. The sphere in the end was nothing more than the shape of the space.
At the center of the spherical space was the Treasure Tree. The “surface” part when the space was split into hemisphere state was the land. That was the whole picture of the “Miniature Garden”.
And so, the sky became lower the further one went toward the edge. Below the land there was also a vast space where there was nothing in the shape of hemisphere.
That was just for the time being though.
『Mu, so it hath turned out that big. Then, perhaps I shouldst speed up my wings now?』
「You’ve been holding it back huh?」
Tio craned her neck to look back over her shoulder. Her eyes were filled with expectation that was containing excitement somewhere behind it.
Their objective this time was the investigation of the area that was outside of Enti’s sense.
But, in reality, what Hajime said 「It’s a date while we’re at it」 when they met up at the start was actually the complete opposite of their objective.
Yes, actually it was the investigation that they were doing “while they were dating”.
Of course, this was an unexpected situation that occurred in the “Miniature Garden” so the investigation was important.
But, Hajime who was someone really busy with a lot of things didn’t actually need to do this investigation personally. Originally someone like the divine spirit of thundercloud Udar would take initiative to investigate and Hajime just needed to wait for the report. After all he could move with lightning speed.
He put a stop to that and went out of his way to go personally was because of nothing else than him making time to go to a date with Tio.
『Fufu, I couldst not helped it. After all it hath been a long time since I couldst stretch out mine wings to mine heart’s content. I also like earth’s sky but, it’s just a liiitle bit noisy for me. Moreover──』
She loved flying through the night sky while gazing at the lights of the city but, the sky of earth was covered with electronic webs that were outside of human’s vision spectrum and planes coming and going incessantly. Although there were a lot of ways to slip through them all, it seemed the sky there was a bit stuffy for Tio. Emotion-wise she even felt that it was a “cramped sky”.
And most of all.
『It hath also been a long time since I carried Goshujin-sama on mine back.』
「……Now that you mention it, I hadn’t rode you ever since the “dragon incident” huh.」
『Umu. After Goshujin-sama gets out of thy current busy schedule, I asketh thee to ride me at least once a week.』
「Got it. Perhaps we’ll stroll the sky of different world each week then.」
『That art a good idea!』
Hajime was swamped with works and found it hard to even leave earth. It would be pointless for Tio to go fly in the sky of other world if she had to leave him behind.
Because what Tio truly liked wasn’t flying in the sky itself. It was to fly “with Hajime on her back”.
She loved her time conversing leisurely with him while taking a sightseeing flight.
She hopelessly loved how Hajime alternated between happiness and anxiety watching her doing aerial acrobatic moves or challenging her speed limit.
Of course she also loved the time she spent together with family but……
Even so, Tio too was a woman.
This time when she could “monopolize her beloved man” was special. It was truly a blissful time. That was also why her tension was rising.
Hajime guessed Tio’s feeling and narrowed his eyes. He caressed her glamorous dragon scale with a terribly gentle hand.
Even though it was a scale that boasted greatest world class endurance, she must have felt that touch. Tio squinted her eyes pleasantly. If she was a cat then she might start purring in this atmosphere.
*Pon*, Hajime patted her back with kindness again. Then his expression changed 180 degree into a provocative grin.
「Now then, Tio. If we’re on earth, the distance to our destination will be as far as crossing through the continent and the ocean to arrive at Antarctica.」
『Umu-』
Tio’s voice sounded eager. Her draconic body shined faintly with black magic power, transforming her form. Into a sleeker streamline shape that was specialized for speed.
「You also don’t need to worry about magic power or me. ──Fly as you please.」
Those words sounded like he was testing her “Show me how much you can fly as you please” rather than words that were said in consideration for her.
At the very least, that was how Tio interpreted it as she smiled. It was a fearless smile. She was surging with drive to surpass Hajime’s expectation and scared him silly.
『Acknowledged! Then, allow me to use the new power that Goshujin-sama bequeathed to me as I please!! Don’t get thrown off mine back okay?』
Magic power surged out from Tio. The wind whirled. She spread out her wings fully.
Once, she showed flight ability that surpassed the speed of sound in the world of the sky.
Not only her special technique decreased the wind resistance to the limit, she even used the wind to clad herself with tornado that acted as propulsive force to fly faster than sound.
And right now, she activated it──not.
In exchange what was produced was,
『──”Black Vortex”』
Invisible gravitational field.
Yes, it was gravity magic. The basic of the basic of the age of god magic, that enabled the user to do “pseudo-flight” by free-falling to the direction they chose.
Tio fell off to the front. At the same time,
『Here I goooーーーー!!』
A flap of the wings. The compressed wind was liberated and it transformed into propulsive force like a rocket start. Meanwhile she glued her body close together to enter her straight descent mode.
She went straight forward, just like a cannon ball.
The explosive sound of air thundered. She broke through the speed of sound in the blink of eye.
A membrane of white atmosphere was formed. But, even that vanished in the next instant. *Gunn* an acceleration that felt like it left behind even their consciousness was applied.
If they looked back, they would see glittering black magic power light trailing behind like the night sky. With the addition of the free-falling, the jet propulsion by the wind element magic was also used in parallel.
If an example had to be made, perhaps it was like a fighter jet flying down vertically while the afterburner jet was also blazing in full force.
Her speed was already in the realm of supersonic. No, it surpassed twice of that and still accelerated even further. Into the realm of Mach 3, and then Mach 4.
『Fufufuh, fuhahahah! Great! It’s great! I hath been wishing to use it ever since before but, as expected gravity magic art wonderful!!』
Once, when she was chasing after an aircraft in the sky dragon world, Mach 2 was the limit with her strength. If Hajime rode her and put her into her full throttle state by whipping her to activate her “Pain Conversion”, she could also enter the realm of Mach 4 for several seconds but……
In the end, the aircraft got away from her.
In addition, in the matter of delicateness and sharpness of trajectory change for air battle, she was also inferior compared to Yue who could freely manipulate gravity.
She couldn’t help but feel how shaky her throne was as someone who thought of herself highly as the supreme ruler of the sky but……
『Feast thy eyes on this! Now I hath completely surpassed fighter aircraft!』
A high-tensioned roar that conveyed her excitement thundered.
Instantly, Tio’s figure that accelerated like a laser cutting through the sky vanished.
No, she executed an extreme trajectory change that made it looked like she vanished.
If there was someone who was watching from afar, their jaw would definitely dropped seeing the scene that was like the black laser got reflected by a mirror surface.
A sharp turn under the speed that was four times faster than the speed of sound.
Forget the earth’s fighter jet, even the battle aircraft of the sky dragon world was assured to get reduced into scraps together with its pilot if they faced such insane mobility.
It wasn’t just because of gravity control. It was a special move that was only possible because it was executed by the “black dragon” who boasted the world’s greatest endurance.
『Barrel ro~ll! High Yoo-Yoo~! Scisso~rs too Immelmann Tuu~rn!』
A black comet was dancing in the sky to every direction freely.
Subtle shift of the dragon scales on her body surface, slight turn of the folded wings, exquisite balance adjustment using tail.
Just like how a skilled magician was controlling cards, Tio’s flying skill put the atmosphere and wind under her complete control.
Tio rivaled Yue’s gravity control flight with just her wind magic. What would happen if that gravity control was also added there?
The answer to that was being shown right now.
(To go this far-)
Hajime had at least avoided being thrown off using artifacts of spatial anchoring and barrier, but the burden from the flight forced even his inhuman flesh to scream. Hajime unconsciously gritted his teeth.
It was incomparable to anything from before. An ordinary person wouldn’t even be able to follow Tio’s rapidly varying mobility.
If he had to describe it, perhaps it was like laser that was fired at high angle to a mirror room where it got irregularly reflected.
Detailed and sharp mobility like Yue that was performed with the speed of a fighter jet.
The terrifying thing was that, Tio’s current state was the “normal mode”.
Yes, Tio still had strengthening using “Pain Conversion” and also sublimation magic saved as reserve.
『How’s that!? Goshujin-sama!』
Lively and eager voice rang out.
Her flight ability had evolved not only by one stage, but by two or maybe even three stages. And then there was the feeling of freedom from being liberated from the power of gravity. It seemed that her excitement couldn’t settle down because of those. She was like a girl who had been finally given a toy that she had been wanting all this time.
It was heartwarming for Hajime. He then gifted her with an exaggerated praise.
「No one can argue anymore now. You’re, the supreme ruler of the sky.」
『Kuffuuhh!!』
Certainly, when it came to pure moving speed, there was still Kaori’s “Godspeed”. But, that technique in the end was a magic to shorten the traveling time.
So to speak, it wasn’t a “pseudo high speed magic” but “pseudo teleportation magic”. Strictly speaking it wasn’t even flight.
Also, flight technique by god’s apostles using their silver wings also couldn’t perform acrobatic flight with Mach 4 speed. There was also nobody who could outdo Tio when it came to controlling wind.
She was flawlessly perfect in the far away sky.
Truly, there was no way anyone would try to argue that such description suited Tio if they could see her right now.
『The, Goshujin-sama.』
「Yeah. It’s time to settle down──」
『I shall apply sublimation magic too on top of this!』
「EH, wait-, you──」
『I shall become a streak of light now! Here I go-! HII──HAA───!!』
「You’ve completely turned damn hig──nnnnnnnn!!!?」
Free-falling? Weak.
Jet from compressed wind! Not enough!
Gravity field that endlessly dragged her to the front!
Explosion of compressed flame that also served as propulsion!
*DOON DOON DOON* Consecutive explosion sounds were left behind at the far distance while Tio sped up sped up sped up.
The strength of the pulling gravitational field increased drastically. The propulsive force from the wind jumped up by several times. In addition, the wind blast that was produced from the sole of her foot slammed away the draconic body just like a cannon ball.
Mach 5──
Mach 6──
Mach 7──
『Science art nothiiiiiingg!!』
「……」
There was no comment from Hajime. Because he was busy taking out more artifacts to neutralize the burden with all his might.
Even during that time, the challenge toward the speed limit was progressing to even greater height.
Like that──
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「You reached Mach 11 at the end huh……what’s more without “Pain Conversion”.」
『I wouldst not mind even if thee whip me hard.』
「Please let me postpone that until I can prepare a bit more.」
By that he meant mental preparation.
Even Hajime who always had sadistic feelings at he ready found it tough to look at a dragon flying in Mach 11 while letting out perverted moaning.
『Well, I was able to fly to mine heart’s content after so long. I’m satisfied.』
「That’s great.」
Even for Hajime, it was his first time directly experiencing pure “speed” that was greater than ten times the sound of speed, a speed level that sounded like a joke. He was able to sympathize with Tio’s good mood, and he himself would be able to enjoy it after preparing proper countermeasure against the burden to his body.
That feeling of his must have gotten conveyed. Tio’s dragon tail was waving left and right. It seemed that her mood had gotten even better.
「Putting that aside, it looks like you’re able to use gravity magic without problem huh?」
『Umu, no problem. It seems there art no difference in knowledge, because there was also no problem when I confirmed it with Yue. There art no need for worry.』
「I see……then, it was worth it to experiment on Amanogawa beforehand.」
『U-umu』
Tio’s gaze darted around a little hearing about the human experimentation (only to hero) that Hajime carried out really casually.
He should do it with a little bit more consideration……such though had crossed her mind but, the experiment was done under the consent of the person involved, and as someone who received the benefit from it she couldn’t argue against it too strongly.
Yes, Tio was able to use gravity magic wasn’t because she had conquered Great Dungeon Raisen. She learned it with the same method that previously broke Kouki, made him fainted in agony, and ascended to heaven in order to learn regeneration magic.
「As I thought, a test sub──Tio who can use sublimation-soul-regeneration magic beforehand definitely had easier time in making the magic latched on you.」
『Just now, didst thee almost say test subject?』
「I want to find out the effect of aptitude. Both Amanogawa and Tio have high magic aptitude, so my next subject will be someone with low magic aptitude.」
『It sounds like, I’m the test subject for the second stage experiment though……say, Goshujin-sama. Thou carried out the experiment after establishing its safety correct? It’s fine for me to believe in thee correct?』
「……I already have all the age of god magic after all. Someone with low magic aptitude that won’t break from just some damage. And also one who doesn’t has all of the age of god magic……fumu」
『Run awayyyyy! Shiaaa, run away fast immediatelyyyy-』
「Then eventually, being able to plant magic power too into a subject who doesn’t have any magic power. That’ll be even better. With that the new technique will be completed.」
『Is it Myuu!? Art thou talking about Myuu!? Now then that must be thy objective from the start isn’t it!? To not care even if all of us became sacrifice to achieve that! This damn mad papa scientist-』
「By the way, Tio. How’s it going with your attempt to shorten the black god dragon transformation? Any progress?」
『A blatant change of topic-, no, art thou perhaps really treating this as simply a trivial matter……?』
It’s fine, it’s fine, I had tested it thoroughly on the hero so it’s safe! You wanted it right, the gravity magic? It was troublesome to defeat Super Miledy G right? Come ooon, you’ll be able to obtain power easily if you take my hand! You’ll be able to fly as you please through the sky even more than before you knoww~.
Thinking back now, Hajime when he was saying the tempting line above didn’t look that dissimilar with a certain white bastard animal who mass produced magical girls by offering suspicious contract……
Even though she was slightly shaken up, well if it was for Myuu’s sake then she guessed it was alright. Tio cleared her throat while trying to not think too deeply about it.
She was flying to the southern edge with cruising speed around Mach 1 while answering Hajime’s question.
『I hath been practicing just as Goshujin-sama told me. It looks like I wouldst be able to do the dragon god transformation even without heightening my strength to the degree like before.』
「I see……I got a fright when you got affected during the dragon incident, but this might be a silver lining from it.」
Actually, Tio was also awakening to a new power other than the inheritance of gravity magic.
That was the “simplification of black god dragon transformation”.
During the incident where the shocking fact that Japan itself was a “dragon” came to light, Tio was in a state of being unable to move in the “Miniature Garden”.
It was because the “Dragon” possessed the authority that could interfere with all kinds of dragon. Even when it was only in a state of waking up from sleep, even mythological existences got quasi-revived under its control. That threat was still fresh in their memory.
In addition, Tio who was from a dragon race also wasn’t an exception from that influence.
Due to “Miniature Garden” acting as an isolated space, as well as numerous artifacts defending against the influence, and Tio herself using her age of god magic as well as her own mind resistance, she got off unscathed from the episode but……
『Even so, I’m amazed Goshujin-sama got such idea.』
「……Perhaps it’s divine revelation thing? Somehow, it just suddenly flashed in my head. Well, even without the “Dragon” happening, it’s something that might normally come to mind if you just ponder about it a little.」
Tio and other members of dragon race could transform into dragon was because they as a race had “dragonification factor” mixed into their soul.
That story was something that Hajime and Tio had confirmed between them during the time before the final battle in Tortus, when Tio was learning how to transform other races into black dragon as her new magic.
After all, that magic worked by Tio duplicating her “dragon factor” and inserting it into the target.
「Not to mention, as the result of you continuously enduring the interference of the “Dragon”, you became able to sense your “dragon’s factor” even stronger than before──no, you became able to sense “dragon’s factor” even in other people. Anyone else would also easily reach the same idea if they know that.」
Hajime shrugged and easily spoke something absurd.
「──Even Tio, should be able to do similar thing even if not to the same degree like the “Dragon” shouldn’t she? That kinda idea.」
『Uumu, that might be so thanks to the hindsight but……』
To be talked like she was at the same rank like Hajime, with his Creator disposition, whose inventiveness could be said to be his greatest strength without exaggeration……a strained laugh seeped into Tio’s tone.
『It’s the power of a monster that couldst destroy not only a planet but even the universe thou realize? Normally, nobody wouldst dare to think that, I couldst also do the same thing!』
「That so?」
That was so. An out of bounds existence that had the means to do “pseudo-revival and subordination” of mythological dragons, not only existing dragons, and to do it in a world-wide scale. Normally nobody would easily reach an idea of comparing themselves to such existence. And even if somebody could, they wouldn’t go as far as carrying out the idea.
It was the same like someone who had a hobby of doing some kind of sports, thinking 「I can also do something like that am I not?」 after watching a godlike-feat of an undisputed and absolute champion of that sport who had left their name in history.
But, even though Tio’s expression convulsed as she said 「That’s impossible」 when she first heard the idea, Hajime told her 「It’s possible if it’s Tio」 with a strange conviction.
「But, thinking it again it’s not that unreasonable of an idea right? You can even transform other race into black dragon and turn them into your subordinate. Controlling power-wise, that’s a similar thing with the “Dragon”’s authority right?」
『Goshujin-sama spoke like it’s so simple……well, I’m honestly happy that thou hath such high expectation on me though.』
「Yeah, I have high hopes for you. I also trust you.」
If it was only limited to dragon race, her controlling power was an overwhelming one that surpassed “Divine Word”.
She had the absolute advantage even if she was facing a being that possessed divinity.
It was possible if it was Tio. She would answer his expectation. Definitely. Then──
「You’ll be able to suppress even the “Dragon”. If it’s Tio then no doubt about it. No, it’s absolutely so.」
『As I thought, that art Goshujin-sama’s final objective.』
She was happy with his high hopes on her, but she wondered if perhaps it was just a bit too~ heavy for her. Another strained laugh seeped out into her voice.
Yes, the biggest reason of why Hajime suggested Tio to go through even further training was that.
『Certainly, that time, a part of me was filled with embarrassment seeing everyone running around busily whilst I alone was unable to move but……』
As expected wasn’t this unreasonable? Sure enough she couldn’t wipe out that kind of thought from her mind.
In the first place, even now the Dragon could be suppressed. There was the many layers of seals that were laid out by the strongest onmyouji, added with strict security. In addition, all the willpower that was absolutely required for the revival was within the grasp of Hajime in the first place.
The sealing couldn’t be anymore perfect than that.
But, it seemed that Hajime couldn’t be satisfied with it even then.
「There’s nothing absolute in this world. You can’t go wrong with having as many insurances as you can.」
『Well, that art true.』
She thought that it was really like Hajime to be like that. It wasn’t just for show that claiming something outrageous like mass production of trump cards was his favorite trick was his default style.
As she accepted that,
(Fufu, it’s rare that dear husband art putting his wholehearted trust on me like this. It doth not matter how unreasonable it is, let’s do it shall I.)
Tio’s motivation was charged up even more.
But, Hajime’s next words made her unconsciously scrunched up her expression.
「Besides I want to prepare so there won’t be any problem even if I’m gone.」
『………………”Even if I’m gone”? What’s with those ill-omened words?』
After a bit of shock, Tio spoke with anger reflexively filling her voice.
For Hajime himself, he must be saying those words without really any special thought or awareness behind them. He was puzzled by the change in Tio’s tone.
But, a second later he looked back at his own remark and showed a thinking posture for a bit before he said 「Aa……」 and shook his head with a wry smile.
「That’s not what I meant. In the future, there might be times where I go to other world for a while and can’t return back immediately right? Like this current situation where I can’t leave earth.」
『A-aa……so that’s what thou meant. Forgive me. Of course that’s what Goshujin-sama meant. For some reason, the other meaning was what entered mine mind.』
「No, it was also my bad. Somehow those words just slipped out. There’s a better way to word it.」
『Umu, it slightly startled me up.』
「I’ll pay attention. ……But, yeah. Thinking really carefully, certainly, countermeasures for that kind of case are also necessary. Like Myuu’s future, or if I’m thinking even further ahead of that」
『Mu?』
Tio slightly slowed down and craned her neck behind. She stared at Hajime over her shoulder.
「It has been slightly on my mind recently. I haven’t even talked to Yue about it but……」
『Tell me about it, Goshujin-sama.』
Hajime’s atmosphere was somewhat quiet. Tio too also asked back with a calm tone.
He didn’t really hate her usual perverse action but, at this kind of time, the atmosphere of Tio calmly and seriously lending her ears to him was something that Hajime liked.
Content-wise, this topic wasn’t really something that he needed to bring up right now but……
His honest words flowed out of his mouth when he was faced with Tio who was in this kind of atmosphere.
「It’s about when we’re going to end.」
『Fumu……thou meant about our lifespan?』
「It’s great that you’re quick on the uptake. To be honest, us dying from old age, no, you won’t have any argument even if I say that it’s not possible anymore for us dying unexpectedly from other cause right?」
『I guess. Right now we couldst continue to live as long as we wish it.』
The quintessence of age of god magic, holy precincts’ technique like apostleification, and then limitless energy. There was no way for lethal wound or sickness to completely kill off Hajime and others.
In that case.
「One day, we will choose by ourselves the day of our end. I’m not so laudable that I’ll be able to be satisfied with just several hundred years but, living for eternity is also……it’s a bit unimaginable to me.」
『True. That day wouldst definitely come one day. That time when we art completely satisfied with living.』
A beat later, Tio nodded in understanding.
『I see. At that time, Goshujin-sama doth not want to leave behind worry for those left behind or the future correct? Goshujin-sama wish to reduce the matters that only thou couldst deal with.』
「Yeah, that’s right. I hadn’t really thought about it before but, Tio’s misunderstanding, made me thought about it now.」
What if the “Dragon” started waking up again when Hajime was gone?
What if the seal was undone and the willpower also wasn’t under anybody else’s control?
With such situation in mind, then Tio’s absolute superiority over dragon race only was certainly attractive. If Tio could establish such technique and it could be applied to an artifact that was left behind for future generation, then someone else would be able to do something about it.
It wasn’t like Hajime had never considered such thing at all until now but, it seemed that Hajime’s awareness of it had become even stronger than before while exchanging words with Tio.
Tio glanced at Hajime who was in such state.
『……Fumu, is that so. I see. “For the future” huh.』
「? What’s wrong?」
Just when he thought that the talk had reached a stopping point, Tio’s state seemed to be somewhat strange.
Should he say that she was being restless, or that she seemed to be hesitating whether to speak out or not.
She looked like she was fidgeting, like she was being slightly nervous.
Before long she looked like she had made some kind of decision. Tio’s atmosphere quietly settled down and she looked back across her shoulder once more. Hajime tilted his head even while accepting that gaze.
『Goshujin-sama, there art one thing that I wish to ask thee.』
「Ou? What?」
『Goshujin-sama art──』
Tio was going to ask something with an unexpectedly serious tone. But before she could ask.
「Ah?」
『Oh?』
Tio’s words stopped. Both of them turned their gazes forward together. In addition, they also let out puzzled voices together.
「Tio」
『Acknowledged』
They temporarily stopped their conversation and Tio switched into a hovering state. Hajime also stood up on Tio’s back.
「It looks like we’ve arrived to our destination.」
『Looks like it. It’s obviously unusual just from a glance.』
The two narrowed their gazes and glared to the front.
From a glance, there was nothing there. There was only nature with vegetations that were all messed up like usual.
A mountain range could be seen at the distance. There was a giant lake at the east, and there was only woodland as far as they could see at the west.
It was a sight of peaceful nature with nothing out of place at all.
The scenery only looked like that but……it couldn’t trick the two’s senses.
「Is it space magic? No, other than that there’s also a type of illusion to show this idyllic scenery.」
『Mayhaps it’s a type of soul magic? Either way』
「Yeah.」
The two’s atmosphere changed dramatically. Their mind was switching to expecting battle. Wariness seeped out into their eyes.
It was natural.
After all, the invisible gap before their eyes was a “barrier” that was created with a super advanced technique.
This wasn’t the natural phenomenon or disorder of “Miniature Garden” itself that they assumed to be the case.
This was clearly the work of outsider that was done intentionally to deceive the eyes of the goddess Enti.
At the same time this meant that an existence with such advanced technique was there at the other side of the spatial wall. Furthermore that existence was hiding from Enti to do something.
「Just what’re they doing in someone else’s garden.」
『I doth not wish to suspect an insurrection.』
Hajime took out Crystal Key from his treasure warehouse and connected a gate to the other side of the spatial wall.
Hajime and Tio also anticipated the worst case and nodded to each other as OK signal before stepping in resolutely. And then──
「This is……」
『I doth not know what to say……』
They witnessed a miserable sight from the changed scenery.
The world was red. Everything as far as they could see was covered by hellish flame. There wasn’t even a shred of abundant nature here. The sky was stormy and covered with thunder and lightning. Parts of the ground were greatly bulging or cratered or cracked. The air was raging violently.
It was truly a sight that was like the end of the world.
Hajime and Tio reflexively turned speechless although they were still keeping their guard up.
Their gazes naturally got drawn to the cause.
There was a gigantic bloody wind that was whirling like tornado. Another gigantic silhouette was projected on that red vortex. It was a humanoid silhouette with six pairs of wings.
A demon. Anything else would be impossible. The being was radiating a vicious and terrifying presence that anybody would understand just from a glance that this being could only be a demon.
But, the cause of this battlefield’s hellishness wasn’t solely because of his presence.
There was an existence facing the demon.
It was gigantic coiling snake dragon with a halo on its back. Its figure that was controlling the rain pouring down from the sky and raging torrents whirling obediently around it was truly sublime and beautiful. Most existences would naturally harbor feelings of awe and veneration toward it due to the divine majesty it was radiating.
And then,
「Oi oi, what’s going on here? Just what’s the situation……」
『A-art this perhaps war?』
Around the two beings there were also dozens of demons who had taken off their Grim Reaper skin and displayed their true nature in the open, and also dozens of dragon-kinds, eastern and western in a fierce battle against each other.
Every one of them were named great demon or legendary dragon.
No wonder this scenery that was like the end of the world was formed with them as the participants.
『In any case, Goshujin-sama. We hath to intermediate.』
「Guess so.」
Perhaps one side tried to rebel and the other side tried to stop them. Or perhaps both sides simply became unable to tolerate each other’s existence.
Either way, it was the fact that they were trying to kill each other.
It didn’t look like it would be easy to stop them, even so it had to be done. For the time being Hajime kneaded his magic power to make them notice his presence. He intended to hit them with a loud “Telepathy”.
At the same time, he also summoned Burst Hyperion.
It would be great if he could listen to their story and intermediate. But, if that was impossible and they also turned their hostility toward him……he would hand down a cool-headed judgement.
Like that──
『Dirty! As expected from demon! Truly dirty! Now is the time for you to pay for the sin of violating our territory!』
『How dare you call this your territory! In the first place we had our eyes on the southern land first!! You god pretending snake-lookalike!!』
『Y-you bastarddd-, how dare you mock me once more! You are just a mere dog of a toddler! What Deadly Sin Ranger! Know shame!』
『Youuu bastarddd, your words have gone too far!!』
『It’s far more dignified than malice covered words! You damned fool!』
『Even you are always always looking condescendingly this way! Today is the day I beat up that arrogance into shape!』
『I don’t want to hear that from you who’re governing over arrogance-!!』
Nnn!? Hajime and Tio tilted their heads in puzzlement.
Horribly childish trade of insults rang out from the middle of the murderous conflict that could be mistaken as Ragnarok.
When they sharpened their hearing really really well, they could faintly hear other demons and dragons too in between of the thunderous roars of the battlefield saying things to each other.
「…………I’m hearing things like, being looked down, or favorite place getting taken, or tricking or getting tricked…………」
『U-umu. They art saying things like simply being unable to stomach the other’s attitude, or how boring it was recently, how shouldst I describe this……』
Very personal reasons for fighting were flying back and forth.
Hajime looked at Tio. Tio also looked back over her shoulder at Hajime. They both nodded together.
『Nu?! Isn’t this your majesty the demon king! I ask you to listen! Nowadays these dragon gods ──』
『What? Isn’t this Creator-dono! I beseech you listen carefully! If you are the master of this bunch, then properly disciplining them is also──』
This wasn’t anything special at all.
It was obvious from seeing the silhouette and white dragon pointing their claw tip to each other while voicing their complains.
This wasn’t a war.
It was just a, yes──a squabble.
『Your majesty! Are you listening!?』
『Creator-dono! Are you following me!?』
Hajime and Tio both let out a very long sigh. And then, together they yelled in harmony.
「『Meaningless-!!』」
It went without saying that the feeling of exhaustion they felt became even greater due to how worked up they were from wondering at the start just what was going on.
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The farthest end of the south side.
Several thousands more kilometers south from the place where the demons and dragons were having a big squabble due to truly silly reasons, an end point of the “Miniature Garden”──just a little before it.
「Good grief……good for them being able to have fun everyday.」
「Now now, isn’t it fine? They art not doing anything bad, and they art also choosing the place to be far away from everyone. They also put up a barrier so their quarrel wouldst not bother the Treasure Tree and other immigrants.」
At the middle of a grassland as far as the eyes could see with gentle breeze blowing, Hajime who was sitting on the ground with one knee raised was grumbling with a tired expression.
Beside him was Tio who had dispelled her dragon form. She was also relaxing and sitting at ease.
「They hath also mended the nature they destroyed each time. Though this time they got a little bit too heated up and the matter turned serious because “the location got detected because it was undetectable”.」
Actually, it seemed that great squabble between races had broken out many times.
Although they had the enthusiasm to “make the other understood which side was superior”, apparently they had no intention of seriously eradicating each other, so they, especially the low ranked demons and the majority of the dragons were thinking of it like a revelry that was carried out periodically.
That was the story that Hajime heard from “Lusifer~” and the white dragon after he beat both of them equally with his Soul Break Punch (A punch of his artificial arm that directly impacted the soul, created for use against Shia who was too solid. It was painful but it didn’t inflict any injury at all and could be said as a punch for gag).
He reached one conclusion. Just do whatever.
Hajime warned them that it would be only as long as they didn’t harm the “Miniature Garden” and other races, but then he left them to their own devices.
Because, both sides who were vehemently arguing things like which race was more superior, or which territory belonged to who and who Hajime recognized as valid. And they were doing it while quarreling for every single thing. It felt very tiresome to mediate between them.
He couldn’t believe that they were a demon king who was mentioned in bible and a legendary dragon king with the way they acted.
(They must be in high spirits seeing this new untouched world. It looks like Goshujin-sama didst not notice but, they art cut from the same cloth with him.)
Tio was thinking that, but she kept her thought to herself.
In any case, they had contacted Enti about the situation and the case was closed.
Though Enti got infuriated to high heaven from learning that destruction of nature from petty squabbles were being done periodically even if they all got fixed at the end, and how in addition her sensing ability also got completely deceived.
「That Enti, she was saying all sorts of things like segregating the races again, making agreement for when there’s dispute, or building a goddess approved public arena. I hope nothing like this time happen anymore.」
「Mayhaps this art how a culture start forming? Before long societies and cultures might get formed with immigrants from each world coming here.」
Tio squinted her eyes in anticipation of how this world would develop from here on while looking up to the front. Hajime got drawn by her gaze and also looked up.
Ahead of their gazes was also one of the possibilities of this world.
The outlandish, but grandly amazing sight that showed the “end” of this world.
It was ground. A wall of ground was towering up until far above.
It wasn’t in the sense of a mountain towering up. It also wasn’t in the sense of them being in a valley and looking up to a cliff.
Just as the words stated, it was like the ground got bent in the middle and continued on vertically. The trees were growing straight toward them, in other words they were lengthening horizontally. The tree leaves also weren’t falling down, but falling perpendicularly toward the ground they were growing from. The gravitational direction was changing.
「I’ve gotten the report, but it’s amazing seeing it directly like this.」
「Even though the space’s expansion hath stopped, the energy flowing in from the Treasure Tree art making the ground growing. And the result, the ground art expanding to above and below along the spatial barrier……it seems.」
「Yeah. At this rate we might be able to see a sky of reversed ground after several years.」
「Just like a colony in SF anime that Goshujin-sama like to watch, is it?」
「Yeah that.」
Just like how a plant’s ivy or root would extend up a rock or building or wall and kept growing to above direction, “Miniature Garden” too would one day became a spherical land like earth.
However, it would become a unique planet that contained life within its inner side rather than its outer side.
The created land was made so ore that generated gravitational field was included in it, so there was no doubt that one day it would also be possible to walk on the ceiling.
Like that the two were enjoying the scene that they had never seen before in any other worlds.
「New life might also be birthed wouldst not it?」
Tio muttered such thing. She said it with a voice that was filled with implication.
「I guess. The possibility of this world is limitless. If that’ll happen then I’m looking forward to it.」
「I see, thou art looking forward to it. Then, Goshujin-sama.」
「Hm?」
「How about creating new lives with us rather than simply waiting for the possibility?」
「……Really you」
Even though they had gone through the trouble to come until the end of the world for a date and relaxing leisurely in front of a sight that couldn’t be seen anywhere else……
Hajime thought that Tio was making a perverted move again without reading the mood. He turned his gaze to his side with such thought.
But, what he found there wasn’t a pervert breathing hard haa haa like he expected.
Tio took advantage of that opening and pushed Hajime down.
「O-oi, Tio.」
「I missed mine chance to ask before this, so let me ask it once more.」
Tio hovered over Hajime who was lying down spread-eagled and met his gaze from very close.
As he thought it wasn’t her usual screwing around atmosphere. He was made to understand that she was asking seriously.
「What doth Goshujin-sama think about children?」
「……」
Even without her providing anymore detail than that, Hajime wasn’t so dense that he wouldn’t notice that Tio was asking that question to ask him about having children with Tio, or with Yue and others. In other words she was asking him what he was thinking about the future.
「See, we hath been talking about it between ourselves.」
「With Yue and the others?」
「Indeed. We wish to have children one day. And, if we wouldst have children then it wouldst be great to have them in the same timing. Because it wouldst be desirable for our children to spend the same time together as much as possible.」
「I see……」
「The problem art, “when” art that “one day” wouldst come.」
「And the conclusion?」
「At the very least it wouldst be good for it to happen after graduating from university. That was our conclusion.」
「I see?」
But, if that was the end of it then he wouldn’t be getting pushed down like this right now. If it was Tio then surely she wouldn’t do something like stealing the march from others.
Hajime’s expression became questioning. Tio lovingly caressed his face while continuing with a voice that started being filled with heat.
「However, if I couldst speak out mine honest feeling? I wish for it to happen right away.」
That was, something very unusual for her. For Tio to show an undisguised desire like that.
She looked like someone with a personality that was loyal to her desire based on her usual perverted move, but actually Tio was more patience than anyone else when it came to personal as well as important feeling. After all it was her nature to prioritize other people’s desire first.
That must also be why she agreed to the majority opinion in the discussion with Yue and others too.
「Honestly speaking……at the very least Yue too must be the same. However, Yue’s principle is to constantly prioritize Goshujin-sama above all else. Even whilst she’s expressing that desire in a roundabout way, in the end she’s prioritizing Goshujin-sama’s wish to enjoy university life.」
「I, guess……」
「That was why, I also agreed. However, Goshujin-sama said it. Of what thou couldst leave behind for the future.」
Those were clearly words that were said while thinking about his own children, or perhaps even descendant of even further ahead.
Perhaps Hajime, was more conscious about having children with them than they were thinking? Wasn’t he wishing for it himself? In that case, perhaps he wouldn’t be troubled even if they strongly wished for children?
With such thought in mind, she couldn’t stop herself from saying it.
「Goshujin-sama」
「……Yeah」
「I, hath learned about the society in Goshujin-sama’s birthplace. Mine standing art different from student.」
Hajime couldn’t take off his eyes from Tio who was whispering her honest feeling to him.
「Thou hath graduated from high school correct? We hath also marired. Mine work hath gotten on the right track and I also hath more time than Yue and others. I hath the confidence to raise children. Not just mine own children, I’m confident that I couldst also take care of all thy children with Yue and others too when it’s required as much as required. And most of all, I’m very strongly desiring for it.」
Her voluptuous breasts were flattened on Hajime’s chest. That was how much she was pressing herself on him. With a closeness where their lips almost touched, Tio’s golden eyes pierced through Hajime.
「What art left? The thing necessary to have thy children. Couldst you tell me about it?」
Hajime and Tio were staring to each other in distance where their breaths were mixed in.
Hajime honestly thought that she got him.
Just like Tio said, it wasn’t like he wasn’t conscious of it. Rather, recently thoughts of the future, and children by extension were crossing his mind very frequently.
He hadn’t been thinking deeply about it with how swamped with works he was but……
He felt apologetic if he was making everyone acting considerate because of that. At the same time, he felt like his heart was shot through by Tio’s wish.
That was why, Hajime asked himself. In order to give the answer right here right now.
Several seconds passed. Or perhaps it had been dozens of seconds.
Tio was waiting patiently for the answer. Then Hajime finally opened his mouth.
「It’s impossible to do it right away. I have a lot of things on my plate, and I myself don’t want to have children with a simple thought like I can just leave it you to take care of everything.」
「……I see.」
Tio casted down her gaze. Her long eyelashes were quivering in sadness.
Hajime put her hand on Tio’s face while she was like that. He made her met his gaze again and continued 「But」. He proclaimed with a serious gaze.
「I won’t make you wait until four years.」
Tio’s eyes widened. He caressed her face while returning her feeling.
「I myself, want it very much. That’s why, I’ll clear up the problems we’re having right now……let’s see. How about we decide it with everyone after going back from the other world trip? Let’s hold a cheerful family planning.」
「……Good. Umu, that’s truly a good reply! Truly a glad tiding! Fufu, I’m looking forward to it very much-」
A beautiful smile formed on Tio’s face. Like a flower in full bloom. That smile on her face right now really made Hajime thought of that image.
They kissed with overflowing love and happiness for a while.
Then Tio rubbed her face on Hajime’s chest while thoroughly digesting the happiness she was feeling.
A while after that.
Enti got worried because Hajime and Tio hadn’t returned even after much time had passed and used her goddess authority to sense the two. Until she yelled (telepathically) at them angrily with bright red face, the two was spending a blissful day off at the end of the world.
AN: Once again, happy New Year. I’m happy that we can have a good time together this year too. Please treat me well!
※Material introduction
– The ground rising vertically
The image is from the scenes of a town folding like puzzle vertically, like in the movies [Inception] or [Doctor Strange].
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