Chapter 395

Tortus Travel Journal ㉕ Yosh, You Pass! by Demon King

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The imperial princess Tracy activated “Limit Break” which should be impossible.

Muddy black aura burst up like a tornado. The figure in the center of it sported a grin that split her lips like a crescent moon. Coupled with her harsh beauty and giant scythe, she looked exactly like a “fallen villainess”.

Compared to Shia’s cute figure and bluish white magic power, she looked like a hidden last boss who was standing in the way of the heroine.

In fact the strength flooding that body was immense. From the pressure she radiated her specs had definitely increased by several times. To the observer, they somehow hallucinated that her blond drill hair had somehow increased in number. They looked like they were twisting and meandering.

Anyway, it was also certain that this wasn’t just a bluff or illusion from Shia’s grumbling 「Mumumu-」 and her wary expression.

Hajime also checked with his magic eye stone. He learned that Tracy wasn’t using any kind of artifact and she was really activating the “Limit Break” with her own strength.

「Now, here I come! Shia Hauria! Has you finished preparing for the fun, fun overtime!?」

「I already have more than enough though?」

「Myy-, how unfriendly! But, that side of your is also lovely desuwa!」

「Aa, she is really Altina’s kind desuu. My words won’t go through desu-」

Shia didn’t even try to hide her disgusted face. Tracy made a smile of wild joy and raised her giant scythe in overhead position for a vertical down swing.

「Please I ask you, to accept this seething passion of mineeee!」

「It will be a bit hard to deal with this using just Level II……why is there so many degenerate pervert who turn out to be abnormally superhuman I wonder?」

Shia let out a long sigh, but Tracy completely ignored her and let out a magnificent loud laugh「Ooo-ho-ho-ho-ho-ho-」 with her tension increasing through the roof. She was in a perfect condition. She began to rotate her giant scythe in high speed.

By doing that, the muddy black torrent of magic power was converging into her giant scythe.

「Muu, this isn’t normal. Hajime-kun, is it alright to not stop them?」

Shuuzou who hadn’t said anything at all since the match started and only watched with his eyes blazing fierily finally let out a worried voice from feeling the aberrant pressure. Koichi and Kirino also stopped watching the battle gleefully with their gaze alternately looking at Shia and Hajime with a bit of worry.

Hajime, no, Yue, Kaori, Shizuku, Tio, and then Aiko, Myuu, Remia, and even Liliana were tilting their head as though to say 「Just what are you saying?」

They noticed a second later.

Come to think of it, Shuuzou and others had never seen the bugged bunny Shia before.

From the past replay they had only watched Shia’s hopeless rabbit performance at her first meeting with Hajime, the way she fought desperately in Raisen while looking like she wanted to cry, and even at the battle against Tio in the northern mountain range and against the giant army of monsters, she was overshadowed by Hajime and others. She was doing her part in those battles, but she still wasn’t at the level of bugged character at that time.

It was understandable then that they were feeling somewhat concerned just from Shia facing an opponent of this level. In fact, Tomoichi, Kaoruko, and even Akiko were also looking slightly worried.

And so Hajime smiled wryly and replied with only a short sentence.

「It’s fine. You will understand if you watch.」

He urged them with his gaze to look at Shia and Tracy after saying that. Shuuzou and others followed his gaze toward that direction……

And then,

「Now! It’s time for massacre desuwaaa――EGXESSSSSSSSSSSS!!」

The giant scythe that was rotating in high speed overhead fired innumerable jet black blades. Those blades drew a giant arc and a part of them passed above the head of Hajime and others to circle around. The blades attacked Shia from left, right, above, and even from the back.

Originally this technique must be for carving apart the whole area around the user. Tracy’s technique to control it to form a cage of magic blades was astonishing.

But……

「Nuhn」

Shia lifted her foot, and dropped it. She entered the state of body strengthening Level V just for an instant.

A tremor that felt like an earthquake shook the palace. The floor――it was the floor of the throne room, so the surface was made from a hard mineral material, added with steel plate and magic barrier that automatically activated from impact――turned into a crater with cracks spreading like spider web. At the same time a shockwave also radiated out around Shia.

With just that, the majority of the jet black magic blades rushing toward her were erased. Even the rest was blown away to every direction.

Just in case, Shia had sent a short gaze toward Yue. She blocked the shockwave toward the audiences with perfect timing, even so the pupils of Shuuzou and others including all the empire nobles turned into dot in shock.

But, the bugged bunny didn’t obtain her numerous nicknames just from something of this level.

The true absurdity happened right after.

「Ahah. Receive thisssss! This is my full power in full throttle! It’s time for beheading desuwaaaa! ――EGXESSSSSSSSSSS!!」

With a slight delay after the magic blades attack from all directions, Tracy appeared behind Shia. It seemed she had even cut through the shockwave. Apparently she was convinced that Shia would be able to endure her attack and she closed the distance by using the magic blades as cover.

Tracy sported a happy smile of wild joy when Shia looked back across her shoulder and their eyes met. However, there wasn’t the slightest hesitation in her swing.

The giant scythe’s sharpness had been explosively increased due to the thick jet black aura wrapping around it. It swung toward Shia’s slender neck――

*Gakii—-nn*

A sound like metal clashing on metal echoed.

Time also felt like it had stopped.

「……I think I just heard a sound that should be impossible coming from human body though」

Tracy-san’s mad joy vanished for an instant. It seemed her mind was blown away by the completely unexpected, no, the completely absurd occurrence.

Even now there was the sound of *creak creak scrap scrap* that shouldn’t be made from human body. She looked at Shia’s completely unprotected neck that had been hit by her strongest and greatest slash. Her expression turned blank.

This was one of the reasons why Shia was a bugged bunny that blew away even the madness of a battle maniac.

――Shia-style Metamorphosis Magic Steel Coating(Fighting Spirit Defense)

Throw away your blade and come at me barehanded! What’s wrong……you scared?

But it’s fine! Shockwave will pass through so it’s still effective! This fragment of absurdity seemed to say that.

The eyes of Shuuzou and others flew out like in a gag. Their face seemed to say 「Something like this is possibleee!?」.

I understand. I understa~nd your feeling, Hajime and others seemed to stay with their faraway look. Then in front of them Shia slowly pulled back her fist.

「Passion, ideal, principle, intellect, elegance, refinement――you have enough of all those. But, however-, you are overwhelminglyy~ lacking in “fighting spirit”–!!」

Tracy came back to her senses with a gasp and stepped back with convulsing expression. Even so she reacted swiftly.

She took a short chain from the dream breast pocket.

There were ten rings on that chain. She instantly put her fingers into those rings and poured her magic power, activating a barrier that was worth ten “Holy Severance”……

「This is how you put your fighting spirit into it desuu! SHAORAAAAAA——!!」

「There is no way this is――hidebuu!?」

*Papapapapann* Continuous sounds of breaking echoed, then right after that Shia’s fist pushed forward as though no barrier was on its way at all. That fist landed on Tracy’s chest immediately after.

Tracy was blown away while spinning in the air. She crashed on a pillar inside the throne room and bounced, then she hit another pillar and bounced again, she bounced all around like a pinball, and in the end she crashed on a furniture vase that looked absurdly expensive and came to a stop with only her butt sticking out.

Her body was convulsing *Twitch-twitch-twitch*

She looked dead no matter how they looked at her……

No, she moved just a single arm by squeezing out her last strength. She lifted her hand behind even though that hand was shaking fiercely……

「M-my deepest, gratitude. Niceee, fiiighttt~ desuwa――slump」

She made a firm thumb up and firmly spoke her praise and satisfaction, and then she fell limp at the end of the death match.

No, that’s you. You have done really well. Everyone couldn’t help but send her their praise and applause inside their heart.

Even the interviewer Hajime reflexively grinned at the imperial princess’s brave fight.

「She passed.」

「Passing what huh?」

「Passing of what!?」

Hajime paid no mind to Gahard’s stare. He also didn’t listen to the questioning of Princess Liliana.

While they were doing that, Shia slowly lowered down her outstretched fist.

「She is an outrageous pervert but, well……she has a good fighting sense.」

She lightly brushed away her rabbit ear *fuasa* with one hand. Shia smiled fuh and coolly turned around. Her gesture was a bit savory. A bit like a certain lord.

The dumbfounded Shuuzou and others remembered to breath seeing her action. Yaegashi family’s eyes were sparkling, no, blazing. Tomoichi and others were also smiling faintly seeing the reason why she was called bugged.

「Wait, this isn’t the time to just watch! First aid! First aid! Your highnesssss! Are you aliveeee-」

「T-that’s right! Kaori, let’s help out!」

Slowly, blood was spreading from inside the vase where Tracy’s vase was buried into. Kaori and Shizuku ran toward her in great panic.

「H-Hajime-kun! Is the princess alright!? Look, she is twitching like a fish that is fished up to the land――」

「Ah, her convulsion stopped……」

Tomoichi and Kaoruko went deathly pale.

「It’s fine. Even if she really die, it’s possible to revive her if she is still freshly dead.」

「Your appreciation for life is too low! Do you need rehabilitation starting from your moral value!?」

「Reviving the dead is so easy like preparing an instant food huh……」

The common sense of the adults with good senses was crumbling into dust that vanished into the wind. Tomoichi’s gaze stabbed at Shuu and Sumire as though to say Just how did you raise this guy!, but the two of them averted their gaze away in a flash and mumbled vaguely.

If one sharpened their hearing, they would hear excuses like 「No, well, with the fantasy encroaching into the real like this, something like resurrection is just a small detail isn’t it? Even in video game the characters often die in battle, yep」「If it’s a game then the real hurdle will be making a come-back from 1 HP, yep」 being muttered.

This is why Nagumo family is just-! These damn game maniacs! Tomoichi held his head in his wits’ end.

The mini Tomoichi in his heart was peeking out saying 「Isn’t it fine already? There won’t be any hardship if you just accept it you know?」. Hopefully Tomoichi-san would win his battle against his inner self here.

A slight distance away, Akiko was alternately glancing at Tracy who was lying on a sea of blood and her father Gahard with an uneasy look while pushing on Aiko’s shoulders.

「H-hey, Aiko. If it’s Kaori-chan then she can heal her highness right? It will be fine right?」

「Y-yep. It will be fi――」

「Ah, her soul slip away――」

「Shirasaki-saaaan-. Do you need any helpppp!?」

「Ai-chan-sensei~, please dooo!」

Aiko broke into a dash. She jumped *pyon* to the rescue scene. Then 「Haaih」 she let out a yell of fighting spirit like a master of kenpo. Her hand shined in light pink color and hit something down as though she was performing a volleyball smash.

Right away, Tracy’s body jerked and bent backward like a shrimp.

「……Shia, did you mistake your strength control?」

「Don’t tell me, Shia, thou……wisheth that if circumstances permit it……? 」

「N-no way! It’s not like I was thinking of something like Try dying one time! just because she is an imperial princess!」

「……Shia-oneechan……scary……」

「Myuu-chan!?」

Hajime turned his gaze toward Gahard while such conversation was going on.

「So, empire. What is that artifact? Is that some kind of the empire’s secret treasure? Also, how can that princess use “Limit Break”?」

「Really, just how thick is the skin of your face?」

Gahard let out a deep sigh in complete exasperation.

「――”Magic Eater Scythe Egxess”. It’s an artifact that the first emperor discovered at the bottom of Ur’s lake.」

「Ur’s lake?」

「Err, your majesty? If that’s true, Ur is in the kingdom’s territory so the kingdom should have the right of possession for it isn’t it?」

「「Just shut up you black hearted princess who is hungry for benefits」」

「Why are you two in sync like that!? Or rather, I’m telling you I’m not black hearted!」

Gahard ignored the protesting Princess Liliana and continued explaining. According to him, the first emperor was a leader of a mercenary group. It could be understood that he was an extremely ambitious person from how he built a country despite such status.

Him discovering Egxess at the bottom of Ur’s lake because his ambition was pulling him toward that coincidence.

「There is a legend that “something precious” is dwelling in the bottom of Ur’s lake since the ancient time because of spirit or whatever. You might have heard about it if you ever went there.」

「Aa. I heard that from the owner of the “Inn of Water Fairy”. It seems the inn’s name was also taken from that legend……aa, I see. So the first emperor sought even that kind of legend, in order to obtain new strength.」

「Yeah. He didn’t know what might possibly become his strength after all. I heard that he even directed his ambition to rule toward the church deep inside.」

「So your weak faith came from your bloodline huh.」

Gahard shrugged. Tracy also resumed breathing at that time. She had recovered to a degree where she groaned 「Uu~n uu~n desuwaaa」 with her unique end of sentence that was as firm as Shia.

Kaori continued her treatment while Shizuku was giving the princess a lap pillow. Aiko was staying on standby in preparation for the worse with her soul magic. They were sending creeped out glances that said 「Uwaa, there is far fewer places that are alright in the princess compared to not?」 at Shia.

It seemed that the princess’s whole body was far more beaten and messed up than her appearance at the outside suggested.

Even so, she recovered successfully so Tomoichi and others patted their chest in relieve while Yue and others were listening carefully to Gahard and Hajime’s talk from the start.

「And so, it seems there was a small ruin that looked like a church at the bottom of that lake. That scythe was left there together with a lithograph.」

「Church? Lithograph? The holy church also built a church in that kind of place?」

「No, I heard that the building’s style was completely different. It was a ruin from who know which era. Most of all, the letters that were written on the lithograph was teh proof of that.」

――Magic Eater Scythe Egxess. I offer it to those who bear a grudge to the god.

「A heretic huh. Could it be……」

「By the way, since the empire’s founding those who can use Egxess at the level that can be called as “master” is only Tracy other than the first emperor.」

「Is it because the scythe will forcefully devour the user’s magic power once they touched it and even after they let go of it?」

「Hah, as expected from the greatest transmutation master. You get it just from looking at it.」

There was also how it was very difficult just to handle a scythe as a weapon. But more than that, the magic power amount that the weapon demanded was absurd even when it wasn’t in use.

It was to the degree that only owner of magic power in the level of Hajime and others could use it. Otherwise――

「The user will have to fight until they die. To fight and fight in order to continue devouring the magic power(enemy).」

「It’s really a cursed tool huh. I feel something like a deep-seated grudge from it. As I thought, it’s a relic from the era of the Liberators……no, perhaps it was from even more ancient time. It seems the holy sword has existed far longer than the era of the Liberators, so perhaps this thing is also something as ancient as that.」

「……Muu. Although my lightning sphere was weakened so it would only shock the target unconscious, this thing was still able to devour my magic.」

Yue’s gaze was attracted by curiosity toward Egxess that was lying near Tracy.

Perhaps because they had just heard the story, even though Tracy’s hand wasn’t holding it right now, the scythe was clad in an aura that was like miasma and it felt like they could hear a groan of deep-seated grudge Ooo from it.

Then after that, that muddy black miasma stretched out slowly……and touched Tracy’s leg *chon*. Right after that, Tracy’s body jerked and convulsed,

「F-fightt~, fight moreee~ desuwaa~」

「Y-your highness!? What’s the matter…….eh!? Her magic power is rapidly slipping out!?」

「Don’t run away from the ancient battlefieldddd~ desuwaa」

「What do you mean ancient battlefield!? Your highness, get a hold of yourself!」

「I-I’ll use the magic of magic power transfer!」

The treatment seemed to become flurried for some reason. It was like a field hospital there.

Hajime pointed at Tracy and looked at Gahard.

「She is completely cursed isn’t she?」

「Don’t mind it. That’s not really different from her usual behavior.」

「Just how did you raise her huh.」

「That’s the result of me not raising her.」

「Raising a child properly is important isn’t it, dear?」

Remia mama casually entered the conversation. Her lovely smile stabbed into Hajime papa. Eh? What did you say? Hajime pretended to not hear anything.

「So, about the Limit Break. Of course she didn’t have it originally. It’s something she acquired. It seems she obtained it from that legendary decisive battle. In all likelihood, the artifact that you supplied for us must be the trigger.」

「But, it’s strange that the princess is the only one if that’s the case isn’t it? At that time, the whole mankind’s battle strength should be put through Limit Break. Or are you telling me that now there are a lot of other people who have Limit Break too?」

「I also thought so and investigated, but Tracy is the only one. ……This is just my guess, but there are two causes. First that she is using Egxess on top of being in Limit Break state where her body was strengthened like crazy. The other cause is that she didn’t receive Shirasaki Kaori’s healing……that’s the only thing I can think of.」

What do you mean? Hajime and others tilted their head in puzzlement. Gahard recalled that time and he looked like he got a headache.

「Originally I didn’t intend to bring that girl into the battle. The crown prince and the second prince had passed on at that time, so that girl was the next emperor candidate based on her real strength and also her right of inheritance’s ranking.」

「Certainly. The other countries all left behind their children who would shoulder the future. I also sent Randell and mother to evacuate to the empire at that time.」

Gahard himself was prepared to die in battle at that time, so his decision was only natural, Liliana said with an understanding nod.

「Come to think of it, if she participated in the final battle, it was strange that we didn’t meet her in the meeting inside the fortress. Or rather, various people came to meet me before the final battle started but……the princess wasn’t among them.」

Hajime’s gaze turned toward Shia and Tio. His gaze asked them whether they had met her without him knowing about it. From Tracy’s personality, she looked like she would definitely head to meet Shia or the Hauria clan at the very least but……

Even so, it was strange that they never heard about her at all until now.

Shia and Tio also shook their head as expected.

「No, I don’t remember ever meeting her.」(Shia)

「I was the one who joined up with everyone last at that time.」(Tio)

「I was also the supreme commander after a fashion at that time but……I didn’t remember her coming to greet me. Or rather, I don’t remember meeting her even after the battle was over.」

Gahard nodded, saying that it was only natural.

「That’s because she not only ignored my order to participate in the final battle, she even took out Egxess that was sealed in the deepest part of the treasure vault without permission.」

Also, at that time the loyal soldiers of the empire who were guarding the vault all received the Princess Smash without exception.

And so, because all in the vault belonged to the emperor, it was completely a robbery even if it was done by an imperial princess.

According to some of the mister soldiers who were clinging and pleading to Tracy even while trembling from the pain of their son below, when Tracy tried to take out every single artifacts that could be used for the battle, suddenly muddy black aura overflowed from the deepest part of the vault.

In other words, Egxess responded to Tracy’s heart that was seeking strength……or perhaps it sensed that it was “time for the last battle”……

The truth would remain buried, but anyway, Egxess had never radiated out miasma by itself until then, so the soldiers there who couldn’t participate in the final battle because they were too weak felt that it was destiny and they couldn’t bring themselves to stop Tracy anymore.

「Because of that she even made use of my disguise artifact to camouflage herself and slipped through the gate easily. After that the stupid girl hid all the time so that she wouldn’t get forcefully send back. After all Egxess stood out too much even if she was hiding her true form.」

So that was what happened, she couldn’t show herself to anyone else. No wonder that nobody recalled meeting her there then.

「W-why did she go that far?」

A person with common sense, Kaoruko-san asked that question. She implicitly asked, Even though she is a princess, why……? Even after she had seen how Tracy acted, she was still unable to wipe the fantasy of “If she is a princess shouldn’t she not act like that?”.

It must be because the first princess she saw was Liliana whose exterior was completely “a lovely princess of a fantasy world”. As expected from the black hearted princess who had mastered the 108 uses of the mask of smiling face. She perfectly manipulated everyone’s impression on her.

And then the one who answered that question of Kaoruko-san wasn’t Gahard who was about to open his mouth……

「The answer is obvious desuwa! It was a grand battle that would only happen once in this lifetime! The great decisive battle that would be deeply carved in mankind’s history! There would be nothing more unfortunate than being unable to participate in such battle! Desuwa!」

「E-eee?」

It was Tracy. 「Reeevived!! I’m reeeviveeed!!」 She stood imposingly while being surrounded by Kaori and others. Even though she almost died, no, she had plainly died just now, her expression was looking extremely refreshed instead!

「Shirasaki Kaori, and the other two! My thanks! It was annoying when my dead elder brother Bias waved at me from the other side of the river saying 『Come over hereeee! You should come over here tooooo!』, so I was busy throwing the rocks in the riverbed but……well, I should overlook that matter! Be thankful!」

No, are you grateful or do you want other to be grateful to you, which is it? Everyone there did their best to swallow that tsukkomi inside their heart.

Because, she had clearly gone through a near-death experience, but nobody there felt like performing a comedy anymore by making a tsukkomi about it.

「Eerr, I guess I should at least ask, are you alright? Especially in your head.」

Shia spoke out words that sounded quite horrible depending on how one listened to it.

Tracy’s expression burst into happiness because Shia talked to her. It wasn’t a face of ecstasy or arousal. It was a cute and refreshing smile like a girl who was celebrating her birthday. She was pointlessly beautiful, so she looked excessively charming.

「There is no problem with my body, Shia Hauria. Thanks to you even my gloomy heart has also been cleared up. If I’m not mistaken, the gentlemen called this state of mind as……that’s right, this must be what they called “sage mode”! I’m completely like a sage right now desuwa!」

All the male there starting from Hajime averted their gaze toward the distant sky with beautifully synchronous movement. You don’t need to perform the role of ignorant princess at this kind of timing you know……they seemed to want to say that.

「Is that so. Please stay like that forever if possible.」

「Oh my……to say that “I’m fine the way I am” like that. Fufu, Shia Hauria, you really are a smooth talker aren’t you desuwa?」

「There is no change at all with your Altina brain desuu……」

Shia quietly hid behind Tio. A pervert for a pervert. A pervert meat shield! That was what she was doing.

Hajime asked once more in order to return the conversation to the right track.

「And princess. What’s the reason you can use Limit Break?」

「Yes, yes. It’s definitely just as his majesty said.」

According to her, she hid and then joined the battle, experienced an extreme situation in the middle of the final battle, and in the end she survived. As expected, there was no way she didn’t stand out with the way she swung around Egxess right at the center of the battlefield. In the end Gahard easily captured her when she was exhausted and unable to move.

And then, the mankind allied army that was in a ragged state both in mind and body due to forcefully using “Limit Break” and the fierce battle later on would receive the treatment for their soul and body from Kaori and Aiko after their magic power recovered but……

「Good grief! Even though I only sneaked to the frontline of hell just for a little, his majesty gave me a punishment instead desuwa! Irrational! Unreasonable! A parent who doesn’t understand his daughter’s heart! You’re stu~pid-stu~pid desuwa!」

「By the way, this girl had been belligerent and dislike losing since she was little but, the screws in her head only became this loose since the incident of Hauria attack.」

Gahard’s dry stare caught Shia who was peeking out from above Tio’s shoulder. *Pyoko-* Shia’s face pulled back. It was as though she was quickly saying My rabbit ears doesn’t hear anything~.

「Aa~, in other words, that punishment was not receiving any healing and recovering from the weakened state of Limit Break by your own strength huh. We never met you after the final battle because you got immediately sent home and unable to move all that time while recuperating then?」

「That was what happened, demon king-sama! Furthermore, Egxess too, it mercilessly kept taking away my magic power even during my recuperation, so my recovery got even more delayed……my stomach was bloating thanks to drinking magic power recovery potion everyday desuwa.」

Really this child is a real glutton! Tracy lifted up Egxess and slapped it *pechi* as though to say that.

In actuality, she was in a state where it wouldn’t be strange even if she died anytime. For the whole month her whole body would be wracked with pain intermittently, and intense feeling of fatigue continued to torment her without showing any sign of healing. Her treatment period was truly harsh to the extreme. An ordinary person would undoubtedly go mad first before their flesh body died. That was how bad her condition was.

But, with her insatiable longing and rivalry toward Hauria, she overcome that hellish boundary of life and death and she also became able to adjust the degree of magic power that Egxess devoured from her. And then when she completely recovered, it seemed she awakened to “Limit Break” with her own strength.

Also, the gazes of many people especially the maids toward Gahard became extreme~~~ly cold because even though they had won the legendary decisive battle with much effort, the princess was the only one who kept suffering continuously like that.

As expected, even Gahard thought that the punishment was sufficient already after three days passed. He also didn’t want to throw a damper on the victory mood anymore than this, so he planned to request Kaori for healing. But,

「It was this girl herself who refused. She said things like she has the feeling something will wake up inside her if she overcome this trial.」

「She was also awakened to something else wasn’t she? It absolutely wasn’t just Hauria’s attack that caused her screws to turn loose like this, but also because of that hellish month.」

「I can’t deny that.」

This time it was Shia’s blank stare that pierced at Gahard. Gahard quietly averted his gaze.

「Originally, I wanted to go meet Sha Hauria and demon king-sama and party immediately but……when I arrived at Fea Bergen, everyone had already returned home desuwa.」

If only I could hijack his majesty’s Fernir at that time, how frustrating desuwa! Tracy said while glaring at her father.

「I see, and so your highness kept training until now so that you can make your challenge when one day when you meet her.」

「I also use kusarigama(sickle and chain) but……it’s impossible for me to use a scythe of that size. Your highness, your battle just now was truly a sight for sore eyes.」

Koichi and Shuuzou and then Kirino gave her their heartfelt praise.

There Tracy’s eyes finally caught sight of all the parent~s. She tilted her head with the question of Eh? Who could this people be?

Everyone smiled wryly and introduced themselves once more.

「My! I see! Then once more, my name is Tracy D Hoelscher desuwa. It’s truly an honor to be able to meet with the family of such truly powerful people.」

Tracy bowed with a beautiful courtesy. She was seriously an imperial princess just from her apeparance.

Certainly, she had some serious screw looses in her head but, “at least” she was able to discern how she should act at any given time. It was just as Hellina-san investigated!

Eh, who is this girl? Tomoichi and others made such face seeing Tracy’s complete one-eighty, however she ignroed them and her hand shyly touched her cheek.

「However, if that’s the case, it’s embarrassing to show such shoddy battle to everyone for your first sightseeing here.」

「No, our praise just now is genuine.」

Tracy’s face became like an embarrassed maiden at Shuuzou’s words. However, her words next contained really dangerous words.

「But, in the end I was unable to reap Shia Hauria’s head. Far from that, I couldn’t even put a scratch on her. I’m truly ashamed of how lacking I am. I wish that next time I’ll be able to take her head with *splat*, like this desuwa.」

「I’ll wrench off your head before that. Desuu」

Oh my, I’m happy! Tracy’s face became like a maiden who had just gotten confessed. As expected she was still Tracy.

「I had also went to a warrior journey to sharpen my skill in order to have the greatest tryst with Shia Hauria, and yet……」

As a fellow princess, Liliana’s expression convulsed while she looked like she wanted to say That ain’t what a princess should do……

「T-Tracy-sama, you went out to such a journey?」

「The people of the empire really is no good just as I thought desuu. If I don’t quickly do something with this princess at least……」

「……Shia, give up already. It’s already too late for this princess. I think she will chase after Shia until she die.」

「Assassination is a no okay? Right now you are making a really bad face, Shia. You’re completely an evil bunny.」

「……I realize once more that Hauria is a race that is specialized for assassination. How terrifying.」

All the empire nobles started to tremble fiercely when they heard the words assassination by Hauria. Look, this goosebumps on my arms……they were showing each other’s arms.

「In the end, I couldn’t even conquer a great labyrinth……I was able to reach the deepest part of Great Labyrinth Raisen but, I was completely helpless before the last guardian.」

「「「「「!?」」」」」

The gaze of everyone’s in Hajime’s group snapped toward Hajime. Hajime let out an 「Ah……」.

「It attacked just like demon king-sama. When red magic power burst out, it moved with super speed……at present I can’t imagine how I can possibly win against it no matter how much I struggle. Shia Hauria, you conquered such enemy didn’t you? As I thought, I’m still a novice desuwa!」

「H-hahaa, that’s not really true I think? Right, Hajime-san?」

「Y-yeah.」

「Come to think of it, I got the feeling the color of that that magic power’s light was exactly the same like demon king-sama……」

Gahard seemed to guess something and glared at Hajime. His gaze was completely saying 「You again!」.

But, it was a matter of the past. Super Miledy G had self-exploded. Now the guardian there was the Normal Miledy G. In other words, it was something that had ended. It was statute of limitations, statute of limitations!

Hajime attempted to change the topic in order to distract Tracy from arriving at the truth of the matter, and also in order to escape from the blank stares of his family.

「Princess! Great Labyrinth Raisen is the trial of the Liberators’ leader Miledy! It’s obvious that the it can’t be conquered that easily!」

「! I see desuwa!」

Tracy-san, what a honest girl.

「You have no need to feel any self-depreciation! You have excellent skill! I was moved!」

「My-, a praise from the demon king-sama personally!? It’s an honor desuwa!」

「In line with that, I have a proposition for your……」

「?」

Hajime quickly moved to Tracy’s side to escape from his family’s gazes.

Tio muttered 「Ah, this scene, I hath seen it before. It’s the same like that time with Venri!」. Liliana was saying 「Again-」 while puffing out her cheeks like a squirrel.

Amidst that, the two turned their back to everyone else and secretly conversed about something……

「If you accept now, I’ll also throw an improvement for that Egxess. What’s more the maintenance will be free of charge, forever. Demon king quality guaranteed.」

「W-what an offer! But, what kind of improvement……」

「I’m thinking something like bombardment mode or form transformation to make it easier to carry but……other than that, let’s see……how about a function to make the cut wound splatter like rose petals?」

「What in the world! What in the world with such lovely option! That’s stylish!」

「If taken to the extreme, it’ll be possible to also use the shooting recoil for high speed movement or midair movement. I also got various other items for you. If you’re a magician then……this is an unprecedented treatment that isn’t just for anyone, you get it right?」

「But……I won’t be able to fight Shia Hauria with that.」

「On the contrary. Rather, there will be far more chances to fight her under the pretense of training from here on!」

「Agreeeddd. You are my master desuwa!」

Hajime had put on soundproofing as the countermeasure of Shia’s hell rabbit ears, so everyone couldn’t hear what they were talking about, but in the end teh two exchanged a firm handshake with a nice smile, so Hajime’s scheme had succeeded it seemed.

Tracy’s gaze turned toward Shia just for an instant and she licked her lips. Shia’s rabbit ears stood on end with chills running through them.

Next her gaze turned toward Liliana. For some reason her expression turned kind like a big sis, so shivers and chills also ran through Liliana’s back.

All the empire nobles were watching their princess and the demon king handshaking with a dreading gaze. They were sending glances at Gahard were undoubtedly to insist 「Isn’t this bad? Her highness is making a deal with the like of the demon king! It absolutely won’t end well!」.

Gahard also felt the same!

Hajime took down the soundproofing and he came back toward the group with a pleased smile on his and Tracy’s face. Gahard demanded an explanation with pulsing vein on his forehead. Liliana cheered him on!

「Oi, Nagumo Hajime! What the hell are you talking with her! That girl is my precious daughter so that I can be free――not that, she is the one who will shoulder the future of the empi――」

「Ooops, my hand slipped!」

「By your will, my hand slipped desuwa!」

Gahard’s words that leaked out his true feeling were interrupted by the two who displayed a synchronized action like true master and servant.

In addition, Egxess was swung in a flash *hyun*. Magic blade flew out and went passed right above Gahard’s head to behind him.

It was already too late when Gahard gasped in realization.

「S-someone stop ittttt—-」

Gahard turned around while ordering his imperial guards with a desperate look, but at that time the jet black magic blade was already cutting off the red curtain hanging behind the throne that was embroidered with the empire’s crest. The curtain was cleanly slashed in a straight line.

And so, what appeared from behind the falling curtain was――

「Hih, what’s that painting!?」

「W-why is such repulsive painting is decorating the back of the throne……」

「I-is this the art culture of the empire?」

「ABSOLUTELY NOTTTTTTTTTT!!」

The words of Kaoruko, Akiko, and Tomoichi were denied by Gahard’s yell with all his might.

All the empire nobles were yelling things like 「Even though I don’t want to see it anymore! Or 「Even though, even though it had stopped showing up in my dream anymore-, but now-」 or 「O-oi! Guards! Watch the surrounding carefully! Check whether there is Hauria here or not!」 while looking like they would lose their sanity.

Yes, there was a huge painting of zombie like humans tormenting the rabbit race that looked like zombie the way their rabbit ears wilted like shriveled carrot――it was a very heart-warming painting that was gushing out with advocacy of anti discrimination――adorning the back of the throne.

The feeling of oppression from it was overwhelming. Certainly it felt like this picture would reduce the sanity of anyone who saw it.

「Eh? Why is Ume○-sensei’s painting is here?」(TN: Umezu Kazuo, a horror manga artist.)

「T-that’s nasty……nn, come to think of it, there was a time when Hajime took a liking to this style and drew a lot of it for practice……」

Nagumo spouses looked toward their son with a gaze as though they were looking at a criminal. The answer came from Liliana.

「Yes, the culprit is Hajime-san. At first it was hanged without permission in our Heiligh Kingdom’s palace, but I swiftly took it down and after discussing it with Hauria, I asked them to hang it here.」

In a sense, she was really a demon……everyone there thought that.

「Shit-, someone! Isn’t there anyone! We need a new curtain! Hurry!」

Gahard yelled loudly while doing his best so that the painting wouldn’t enter his sight.

But, his voice that sounded urgent and overflowing with uneasiness brought even further chaos.

The many people on standby outside the throne room――a lot of soldiers and retainers were gathering because the emperor’s angry yells and thunderous sounds of combat kept coming from inside――rushed in because they finally received permission to enter and they would finally be able to check what was going on inside――

「「「「「Hiih!? What in the world!?」」」」」

The completely wrecked throne room. The glimpse of rabbit ears. And then, the terrifying giant painting that was displayed in its full glory once more……

It went without saying that the throne room fell into pandemonium.

And so,

「Yosh. It looks like the emperor is busy, let’s go sightsee to other place without delay.」

This guy was a demon……everyone thought.

「I shall show the way! My maste――cough. Maou-sama, everyone!」

Even though she should be a person of the empire, Tracy began to show the group the way cheerfully as though she was completely unconcerned with what was occurring there.

Yue and others had a lot of things they wanted to say, but for the time being it would be troubling to stay in the middle of this chaos, so they immediately followed the two. The adults, Shuu and others looked at each other, then they turned toward Gahard apologetically before they also exited the throne room quickly.

From behind the group,

「As I thought that guy is really a demon-! Shit-!! One day I’ll absolutely retire from being the emperor and become freeeeee—」

Gahard’s voice was oozing with hardship. It was completely removed from his daring figure in the past. That voice echoed futilely inside the throne room.

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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.

About Egxess. it’s the favorite weapon of the vice leader of the Liberators, Badd Virtus who appeared at the fourth volume of spin-off light novel “Zero”. In other words “what happened to Egxess after that” is a story that I haven’t written even in Zero. I’ll write the continuation of Zero starting this month, but I might revise this chapter too depending on the development there, so regarding the details of Egxess, it will help if you readers don’t take it that seriously for now!

Also I’m going to enter writing period again, so the update will become unstable again. I also have a lot of personal businesses so I’ll be busily occupied this year (sweat). Even so I want to update this story as long as there is time even if only a little, so forgive me but I hope everyone can wait patiently.

Also, at the 25th this month Arifureta comic volume 7, Zero comic volume 5, and Arifureta academy volume 1 will be on sale. To be honest, I want to advertise! So I’ll update this story at 24 or 31 even if have to go Limit Break!

※Material introduction

– Come over hereee

From the former knight in one of the demon king’s army leaders whose head was reaped (?) in that wonderful world. I really like Bel-san. (TN: Konosuba reference)

Don’t run away from the ancient battlefield!

From Granblue. By the way Shirakome haven’t played the game and only watched the anime and manga. I only know about the ancient battlefield as a hearsay. I’m sorry.

Passion, ideal, principle~

From big bro Cougar. (TN: Straight Cougar of Scryed)

Good sense

From Metal Gear.

Egxess’s improvement plan

From RWBY’s Crescent Rose. It’ll be nice if I can write it one day. There is someone who wrote it in the comment page and my tension climbed up. As expected you also think so isn’t it! lol Thank you very much.

※Main story chapter 44 & Academy chapter 8 are updated at Gardo Comic! Please take a look!

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.