Anime: Date A Live, King of Elves

Original

Tokisaki Kurumi

One day under the cherry tree, Gokawa Shido met a girl named Tokisaki Kurumi.

What he doesn’t know is that Tokisaki Kurumi is the so-called “elf”, an existence that will bring disaster to the world.

What he didn’t know was that Tokisaki Kurumi was approaching him with some “long-cherished wish”

Later, Shidao discovered that he had a special physique, which was the ability to seal the absorption of spirit power through kissing.

Then came the beginning of a long dating war between the two.

For them, perhaps the story has only just begun.

But all this is so tortuous

As for Kuang San, she is not a person who will compromise. She wants to achieve her long-cherished wish and win love.

The two people’s desires seem contradictory at first glance, but upon closer inspection, they are surprisingly similar.

Kurumi longs to fulfill her sad wish, but she also wants to get Shidao

Shidao longs to possess Kurumi, but is also willing to do his best to fulfill her wish.

What will this encounter bring, and how will this complicated dating relationship develop?

The legendary king of elves is called Gokawa Shido

Anime: Date A Live, King of Elves
Prologue Destiny
time.
That is a world law that cannot be undone and should never be tampered with.
It is inevitable that the passing of time cannot be reversed, and denying this is an act of disobedience to God.
———This is a story about a young heroine who tries to rebel against the gods, and a young hero who wants to save her.
—————————
“Is that person really in this city?”
The girl asked as she tapped her feet to a brisk rhythm, her skirt swaying like the waves.
Between the neon-lit high-rise buildings and residential areas, she was wearing a red and black dress—her beautiful, almost enchanting figure was particularly eye-catching.
“—It is said that it can seal the existence of spirits.”
When she turned around, a clock consisting of numbers and hands appeared in her eyes, which looked like they were carved from rubies, reflecting the figure of her interlocutor.
“Yes, he is indeed here… that [he]”
Pure white.
If the girl in the dress represents the night, then the respondent is like pure daylight—his entire body is shrouded in a white robe that even obscures his face, and only the female voice can barely identify his identity.
But the girl in the dress didn’t care about the other person’s attire and continued to talk.
“This is truly delightful. It seems the day for my long-cherished wish to be fulfilled is finally approaching.”
“But the sealed spirit is almost non-existent now. It’s like an empty container.”
“…If you are teasing me, I am happy to play along.”
The girl had raised the antique pistol without her knowing when, with a sweet smile on her face.
But the faint blue veins on his temples proved that this was not a genuine smile.
“Oh my, I only said that [there are humans who can seal elves], but I didn’t say [elves have been sealed]?”
“…That’s enough. You’re still as sharp-tongued as ever. But please stop saying such spoiling things.”
The girl in a dress sighed helplessly, and at the same time, the gun in her hand disappeared in an instant like a magic trick.
The girl in the robe snickered like a child who had succeeded in a prank.
“Hehe, but I think that’s not a far-fetched story. That’s why I’ll lead you here—Kyousan.”
“Ah…Ahhh!! Ahhhhh!!”
The dress-dressed girl known as Kurumi cried out in delight, then burst into laughter.
Is it the joy of realizing a long-cherished wish, or is it——
“Hehehehehe!! If it weren’t for this, I’d be in trouble!!”
———Literally, insanely tragic.
“No matter what happens, I will definitely reach the end, absolutely!”
“Then let’s start over.”
The girls in black and white stood side by side, overlooking the earth.
As if to announce it to the world, like the sound of a bell ringing a story, the girl wove a declaration:
“Your [Long-cherished Wish] and… My [Plan]”
——————————
April 3rd.
Whether it is called spring or any other season, the warm air and gentle breeze are symbols of peace.
Naturally, this would induce normal sleepiness in humans, and even the extremely healthy high school student Gokawa Shido was no exception.
“Ah… I’m so sleepy.”
Walking on the path where there were not many pedestrians, he yawned loudly without hiding his tiredness.
If he had been traveling with others, he would probably be stunned by this, but unfortunately, at this moment he was wandering alone in this familiar land – Tiangong City.
“Suddenly moving up the work schedule, isn’t that too heartless…?”
The reason is simple and clear.
As his parents went out suddenly, he had to take care of all the housework, especially going out to buy groceries to satisfy one of the three major desires of human beings: appetite.
His parents, who work at a large electronics company, are often not at home, so Shidao is responsible for most of the housework, not only cooking.
Incidentally, during the spring break, Shidou, who had zero dating experience (years = age), should have been fast asleep, but was ruthlessly forced to turn on his phone by his beloved sister with a screwdriver (butt version).
“Kotori develops new moves every year, huh?”
While muttering to himself on the deserted street, a petal fluttered down into Shidou’s sight.
“The cherry blossoms…are already in full bloom.”
Countless cherry petals slowly fell on the open palm.
While thinking something unromantic like “it will be troublesome to clean up”, Shidou suddenly had an idea.
“We’re not in a hurry anyway, so let’s just enjoy the flowers for a while.”
It was purely a spur of the moment thing, with no other purpose than to kill time.
There was still plenty of time until noon, so this was just a spur-of-the-moment walk.
He had no idea that this casual choice would lead him into a huge whirlpool of fate. When the encounter was about to overturn his life, Gokawa Shido walked towards the destined encounter without any preparation.
“——ah.”
Words have failed.
No, to be more precise, he lost the ability to speak.
What exists there is not human.
No, it is an existence that is so beautiful that it is unbelievable.
Of course, the blooming cherry blossoms were no longer in his eyes.
In Shidao Itsuka’s pupils, only the standing girl was reflected.
“——————————”
Quatrain——
Nothing in his life so far could surpass this shock.
It can be said that the girl’s beauty is so terrifying.
Her long black hair was tied into two strands, with her left eye covered by her long hair. She wore a black shirt and a short skirt.
black—
The uniform color scheme might have suggested mourning, but the vibrant hue of the snow-white skin created a violent, even innocent, combination.
No matter how many words you use, it will never be enough to express your highest praise.
In Shido Gokawa’s eyes, the beauty of the girl in front of him even surpassed the peerless beauty depicted in the painting.
“oops…….”
Shidou, who seemed to have experienced an eternity, was suddenly brought back to his senses when the standing girl suddenly spoke.
Although his stagnant mind began to function, his body had not yet recovered from the shock.
“—-Hello.”
A sweet smile.
This should be a standard social greeting.
But to Shidou, even this smile is beautiful—
“Ah, um… uh… good morning, good afternoon, good evening?”
··········silence.
Objectively speaking, it’s a completely inexplicable greeting.
The silence that lasted for several seconds seemed to freeze in time.
[…It’s over. I don’t understand what’s going on, but it’s over.]“————Hehe, puhuhu. What a funny greeting.”
“Eh, ah… Sorry! Please pretend that never happened!!”
“Haha, what are you talking about? It’s so funny that it makes me laugh.”
Something seemed to be coming to an end in Shidou’s heart, and the girl suddenly showed a smile that was different from before, and she even covered her mouth with her hands and chuckled because of his mysterious apology with his head lowered in panic.
Even such behavior makes my heart beat fast. What on earth is going on?
The thought of whether I was sick flashed through my mind only for a moment.
“Hello… My name is Itsuka Shido.”
Why did he suddenly introduce himself after causing strange laughter?
The target was a girl who was stunned by a chance encounter.
Thoughts like these floated in his seething mind. In other words, he had already given up on himself after just a few seconds of meeting her.
“Oh, oh, oh, it’s really serious.”
I don’t know if it was Shidao’s funny words and actions that worked, or if it was just the girl’s spur of the moment.
The girl gracefully lifted her skirt and saluted, her posture so graceful that anyone would be stunned, and then she said her name.
Itsuka Shido’s fateful day is about to begin.
The name of the girl I first met, whose name is unforgettable, is——
“My name is Tokisaki Kurumi.”
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ActivityRegister as a Filo member and receive 200 points![Register Now]Chapter 1: Meet Again (Old Version)
Wuhe Shidao.
By the end of this spring break, he would be a sophomore at Metropolitan Raizen High School.
He was troubled by the bangs that fell in front of his eyes because he was too lazy to get a haircut, and the slightly fierce look on his face due to his declining eyesight.
Apart from that, he had no special features worth mentioning and lived an ordinary life. If there was anything special about him, it was probably that he had a collection of notebooks hidden under his bed. In short, he was an extremely ordinary high school student.
Of course, he has never had a girlfriend.
“Ahhhhhhhhhhhh…”
He rolled over in pain on the bed, just tossing and turning.
Rolling around in the familiar bed.
If my younger sister saw this, she would definitely cause a commotion—the scene was so strange and shocking.
“[Good morning, good afternoon, good evening] and all that… this is so stupid!! I feel like an idiot!! Uwaa …
This noise is almost a nuisance…
But for him, this was indeed a heartfelt and extremely serious worry.
Tokisaki Kurumi.
This girl whom he had just met a few days ago—or to be more precise, whom he had only met once—was the source of his irritability.
Her eyes, which seemed to see through everything, made people so uncomfortable that they almost got goosebumps.
To use Shidao’s limited vocabulary to describe her, Tokisaki Kurumi is beautiful.
No, that’s not enough.
Long, silky hair, and fair, smooth skin that seemed like it would break if touched.
The most unforgettable thing is those eyes.
The crimson eye color alone is enough to fascinate people, but when the breeze blows by, the “golden” pupils that are revealed in a flash drive Shidao even more crazy.
It is no exaggeration to say that I am obsessed with it.
“Could this be… No, no, calm down, Itsuka Shidou. It’s too early to panic now.”
He sat up suddenly and shook his head for no reason on the bed.
Let me say it again, although Gokawa Shido is at the young age of 16, he has been a single boy since birth.
However, he would hide pornographic books under his bed and his heart would beat faster when girls did something to him. He was a healthy high school student who was not completely uninterested in love.
But the feeling of my heart pounding at this moment was completely different from anything I had experienced before.
Just thinking of her makes my heart beat faster and my face turns red enough for anyone to see.
Yes, it’s just like—
“…….hateful!!”
He buried his face in the pillow for the umpteenth time.
I don’t understand.
What kind of feeling is this… It’s just a girl I met by chance, who witnessed my embarrassing behavior and smiled with interest.
For the first time in his life, he experienced such a surge of emotions.
And the target was a girl he had only met once.
To understand the true nature of this feeling, just look at Shidao’s reaction. Ten out of ten people will give the same answer—simple and clear.
But for some reason, he himself was inexplicably unwilling to admit it.
[You must be joking. How can I do that to a girl I just met for the first time? No, no, absolutely not!]…Well, in the final analysis, it’s just the self-esteem that is common among adolescent boys.
That being said, there’s no point in tossing and turning in denial like this.
Although the young man Gokawa Shido is ordinary, fortunately he is a proactive and proactive person.
“Since you can’t figure it out… let’s go and see for ourselves.”
————————
“If I could meet you in a flash of inspiration, why would I have to work so hard…”
Under the dazzling clear sky, Shidou looked up at the sky and whispered softly.
Starting from the cherry blossom forest where he met Kurumi, he traveled to every corner…
But naturally, not even a trace of the girl could be found.
This is no wonder. In this vast city, a girl with no contact information and only met once would be a mystery unless he was a professional detective.
No, it’s only a stalker who can—
“……Huh? I’m not going to be like this now—”
He shook his head suddenly to interrupt his thoughts.
This is a forbidden area that should not be considered further.
Since we were in front of Tiangong City Station, surrounded by a crowd of people, it was inevitable that we would be looked at with suspicion or as if we were weird.
He must first convince himself that looking for someone is still safe.
“Wu…wu…wuwuwu…sob…”
“Um?”
I discovered this scene purely by chance—or perhaps it came into my field of vision when I shook my head violently.
In front of the fountain, a girl who looked less than ten years old was sobbing.
This was supposed to be a crowded meeting point for a date, but no one offered a helping hand to the girl, not even a glance of concern.
Shidou felt a sharp pain in his temple.
His vision was as blurry as if the signal was bad, but the crying girl and a certain figure gradually overlapped and slowly emerged in his cognition.
The girl was crying just like she was back then.
This alone is enough to be the reason for Shido Gokawa’s actions.
“Are you okay? What happened?”
“Are you okay? Are you having any trouble?”
“Huh?”
“oops?”
The two greetings are perfectly synchronized.
Then, the two of them turned their heads at the same time because of each other’s voices—
“Ah…Ahhhhhhhhh!?”
“Haha, nice to meet you again, Mr. Itsuka Shido.”
The person standing there was the person Shidou was looking for, someone he would never, ever mistakenly admit was Tokisaki Kurumi.
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Chapter 2 Wizard (Old Version)
“Thank you… um, Tokisaki, Miss.”
“You’re welcome. I’ve only just arrived in this city and I’m not very familiar with it… If you want to say thank you, I should be the one.”
The girl’s problem was solved unexpectedly easily.
Shidou’s loud shouting calmed the girl, whose tear glands had completely broken down, and she asked about the situation, only to find out that it was just a common case of an elementary school student getting lost.
Everything went smoothly afterwards. Regardless of what Shidou felt when he ran into Kurumi unexpectedly, based on Kurumi’s judgment that “since he was separated from his parents, the other party must be looking for them”, Shidou explained the situation to a nearby station attendant, and the incident was resolved shortly after the station broadcast.
“No, no, that’s not the case… No, I really wasn’t able to help. I definitely wouldn’t have been able to come up with a solution right away if I were alone. I’m really grateful to Tokisaki-san.”
“Haha, let’s just consider it a mutual help. Speaking of which… Mr. Gokawa is really gentle.”
Shidao was smiling bitterly and felt that the phrase “help each other” didn’t seem quite appropriate when Kurumi suddenly said this.
Even Shidao himself felt that this turn of events was so abrupt that he didn’t know how to respond.
“Suddenly saying this…”
“Isn’t that right? No one helped the child, no one even looked at her, only Mr. Itsuka was the first to approach and talk to her without hesitation.”
“If that’s the case, then Miss Tokisaki—”
“Just call me Kurumi.”
“Eh?” Shidao looked at Kurumi with a stunned expression, but the girl showed him a smile that could fascinate any man and continued:
“There’s no need to use those awkward honorifics. Just talk like normal. In exchange… can I call you Mr. Shidou?”
“…Ah, yes, of course…”
What is going on?
Itsuka Shido, a single boy for 16 years, was trying hard to digest Kurumi’s words.
It is doubtful whether he has really digested it, as his brain is currently overloaded and on the verge of bursting.
Please put yourself in their shoes.
No, really, please think about it.
Although I don’t understand the reason, my chest feels strangely hot. This peerless beauty, whom I just met for the second time, is asking me to call her by her name?
In other words, Shidao’s brain came to the following conclusion at this moment—this must be a dream.
“…Shidou-san, what are you doing?”
“No, no, no, let me see if I’m dreaming.”
Of course, the answer that Shidou’s poor brain came up with couldn’t be correct, as he was currently performing the funny act of pulling his cheeks.
“Gu, hehehe… Mr. Shidou, you’re truly a wonderful person… Phew.”
“Is that so? I’d be happy if you could be happy.”
It seems that Shidao’s bizarre behavior accidentally hit Kurumi’s funny bone (Shidao’s subjective judgment).
The way she covers her lips with her sleeve (from Shidou’s perspective) is truly charming and lovely.
Although he did not do it intentionally to make the beautiful woman smile, it was a pleasant surprise that such a lovely expression was imprinted in his mind – but the young man was obviously terminally ill and did not know it.
“Hehe…Ah, speaking of which, Mr. Shidao is here today, but what’s the matter?”
“Uh… well, since the weather is nice, I’m going out for a walk. Ahahahaha—”
This guy’s acting is just horrible.
It’s impossible for me to honestly say “I actually came here just to find you”, right?
Faced with Shidao’s poor performance, Kurumi tilted her head in surprise, but she clapped her hands and chuckled softly, saying, “It just so happens that I have a favor to ask of you… As I mentioned earlier, I’m new to Tiangong City and am not familiar with the geography here. Could you please, Mr. Shidao, act as a guide?”
“Eh…me?”
“Of course. If it bothers you, you can refuse.”
“No no no no!! It’s totally fine, leave it to me!”
“Oh my! It’s really reliable~~”
Seeing Shidao patting his chest and making a big promise, Kurumi kept her hands together and laughed so hard that her body shook.
…….Is this a dream?
Shidou grabbed the other cheek fiercely to verify, and finally added a sentence in the remarks column: “Only the cheeks are red and swollen.”
The so-called guide work has its unspeakable secrets in this Tiangong City.
The city is vast, and everywhere you look are brand new buildings—commercial streets, restaurants, theme parks, shopping malls, cinemas, aquariums, and so on…
Without exception, they are all bright and beautiful, without any trace of time.
“Oh my! Everywhere I look, there are brand new buildings.”
“Ah… that’s all due to the space quake…”
Seeing that Shidao’s answer was not in high spirits, Kurumi, who was walking side by side with him, also looked a little gloomy, and nodded slightly in understanding.
Spacequake
As the name suggests, it is a natural disaster called a “space earthquake.”
The cause of its outbreak is unknown, the time of occurrence is uncertain, and the scale of destruction is unpredictable. It is a general term for various phenomena such as explosions, vibrations, and disappearances.
The disaster was first recognized about thirty years ago.
The center of the Eurasian continent disappeared overnight as if it had been hollowed out.
Yes, not metaphorically, that area really became deserted.
A rough estimate of the number of casualties is 150 million.
There is no doubt that this is the worst disaster in human history.
“So, after the spacequake thirty years ago, Tiangong City was rebuilt because another spacequake occurred in this area, right?”
“I see… Mr. Shidou is truly knowledgeable. I’ve benefited greatly from your teachings~~”
“N-Nah! That’s not true! I just know a little bit about it because I live nearby.”
She scratched her cheek shyly to cover up the sudden compliment.
In fact, the spacequake that occurred thirty years ago was repeatedly emphasized in the school curriculum, and the spacequake that occurred locally half a year later was an event closely related to Tengu City. Even Shidao, who was not proficient in academics, naturally knew about these situations.
It is worth mentioning that the Self-Defense Forces’ post-disaster reconstruction troops were able to restore the collapsed facilities to their original state in a very short time, which was like magic. This must be related to this city.
While the details appear to be top secret, to onlookers it looked like they were watching a large-scale magic show.
“Ah…this topic has become too heavy. There are still many places I want to show you, so let’s keep going!”
“Hehe, then I’ll leave it to you, Mr. Shidao.”
“Hmm!?”
The moment she smiled and called my name, my heart started beating uncontrollably.
Even Shidou himself could feel his cheeks reddening all the way to his ears.
It makes one wonder if there is something wrong with his brain—he is so excited inside.
Chapter 3 Agreement (Old Version)
“Oh my… this is such a wonderful place.”
“Right? This is a little world that I personally particularly like.”
At dusk.
After taking her to visit as many places as possible – putting aside the awkward look on Shidou’s face as he frequently made a fool of himself due to his unfamiliarity with the place – and considering that time was running out, he finally brought Kurumi to the park on the high platform.
This is a place that Shidao secretly loves. Perhaps because he has overcome the intense struggle in his heart, Kurumi, who is now holding the anti-fall railing and looking at the street view, reacts quite well.
By the way, even though they had only known each other for a short time, he brought her to a place that was almost a dating sanctuary. Just as Shidao’s expression was twisted with distress, the episode where Kurumi tilted her head with a puzzled look was no longer important at this moment.
“Ah, this is wonderful, truly wonderful. I didn’t expect you knew such a place—”
“Wait, wait! That’s really enough! It’s too weird to keep praising me here!”
Shidou hurriedly interrupted Kurumi’s slightly exaggerated praise.
The word “continue” is indeed correct.
Previously, when they were shopping, Kurumi kept praising him in various ways.
At first, Shidao was normally shy, but now he can stop Kurumi who over-praises even trivial things, which shows that he at least still has basic judgment.
“This isn’t a place that only belongs to me. It’s too much to praise me specifically.”
“Haha, I really mean it when I say this place is wonderful… And Shidou-san’s tension seems to have eased quite a bit, huh?”
“Eh…”
Could it be that her actions just now were all to relieve my tension?
He had thought that he was going to be her tour guide, but ended up being cared for by her. Shidao’s cheeks flushed for a different reason than before.
“…Haha…I actually let a girl take care of my emotions. How pathetic!”
“That’s not true. After all, I’m quite confident about my appearance.”
As if declaring that “it’s natural for the Shido Kai to be nervous,” Kurumi said this with a grand yet not arrogant attitude and a tone of certainty.
Her black skirt swayed lightly as she looked up at Shidou with an extremely charming smile.
That every move, the way she looked up at him with her hands behind her back—ah, if I were to list all the charms of this girl, Tokisaki Kurumi, I’m afraid I would never be able to finish—
“—Ah, yes. I’ve never seen such a beautiful sight before.”
“!?”
Perhaps the only way to describe it is “overwhelmed by the heat.”
At least “at this moment” Shido Itsuka does not have the advanced skill of chatting up women.
So this is his pure true feelings.
It was his personal praise that burst out from the bottom of his heart when he was caught off guard.
But because of this…Tokisaki Kurumi was shaken for the first time…
“…Shi-Shidou-san is quite eloquent. I’m a little… a little embarrassed.”
“Ah… No, no!! It’s not wrong, but I accidentally said the truth!!”
“Is that so…”
Kurumi covered her mouth with her hands and looked away as if to hide her feelings.
It wasn’t because of the setting sun, but the girl’s cheeks were indeed flushed… maybe even the tips of her ears were red.
“Bad decision”—Kyousan thought as she tried to cool her burning skin.
I thought it was just a casual conversation…but I never expected to receive such a blunt counterattack from the boy.
What’s more, judging from the subsequent reactions, this was completely his natural behavior.
After all, he was still gesturing frantically in front of him.
Even so, the girl immediately regained her relaxed and playful smile:
“This is the first time… I’ve been praised so directly by a man…”
“Wow…! Um, um, by the way, why did you come to Tiangong City? There have been a lot of space quakes lately…”
Although the topic change was abrupt, Shidou felt that it was better than being teased about the truth that he blurted out.
“————That’s true.”
“Eh…?”
At that moment…the air changed.
To be precise, the atmosphere surrounding Kurumi changed.
It was neither the look she showed today, nor the hint of shy tenderness she had just revealed.
It was a dark, bottomless aura that was totally incompatible with this pitiful girl.
“…I, your concubine, have something…that must be accomplished.”
“Something that must be done…?”
“Yes, yes, the [thing] I seek is right here in Tiangong City. To obtain it, no matter what I must trample upon, no matter the price I must pay… even if my body falls into the abyss of hell—I will accept it completely.”
“Hmm…”
Completely suppressed.
Itsuka Shido was completely overwhelmed by the oppressive feeling emanating from the girl who was overlooking the city she lived in and weaving words in front of him.
Those were words filled with all his emotions—his heart, which was extremely sensitive to certain emotions… could sense them so clearly.
Dark, thick as ink.
As if to connect with him, it surged over me like a tide.
It was a chaotic interweaving of despair that could not be described in any words… and a clear will to refuse.
As if stepping into quicksand, his feet retreated slightly.
Looking at the shocked Shidou, Kurumi showed a fleeting lonely smile.
“————How rude. I shouldn’t have said that to Mr. Shidou.”
“…….ah!?”
“Today, I had a great time. Goodbye… Mr. Shidou.”
Before she finished speaking, she suddenly turned around and walked away in the opposite direction of Shidou.
【I…….】
Looking at Kurumi’s figure gradually going away.
The strong will to refuse just now emerged again.
It seemed to be declaring: If they parted at this point, Shido Itsuka would forever lose the possibility of meeting Tokisaki Kurumi sincerely.
【I…….!!】
This kind of thing is absolutely unacceptable.
He clenched his fists and stepped forward with his retreating foot.
It has nothing to do with affection, nor is it a personal relationship.
Shidou couldn’t ignore that despair.
Even if he is rejected thousands of times, he will still move forward and lend a helping hand to others.
“————Kyousan ahhhhhhh!!!”
The boy named Itsuka Shido is just such a goody-goody idiot.
“…Mr. Shidou?”
“As long as I can help with something, I’m willing to be Kurumi’s strength!! Even if it’s the smallest thing!! So no matter when – just rely on me!!!”
……..
Kuang San turned around in surprise.
This reaction was understandable, but Shidou had already poured out everything he wanted to say, gasping for breath due to the sudden increase in volume, and just stared straight at Kurumi.
What was Tokisaki Kurumi thinking at that moment?
Faced with the boy’s confession that was so immature and almost rustic, what did the girl feel and think?
After all, that is something only the girl knows.
Even so, Gokawa Shido’s cry…maybe it did make Tokisaki Kurumi smile.
“Hehe… Mr. Shidou is really too honest. You might regret what I said in the future, right?”
“No. Not if it’s for Kurumi.”
“…If Mr. Shidou continues like this, he might become a playboy.”
“? What did you just say?”
Later, when she regained her senses, she said this line that was so corny that it made her dig her toes into the ground, which made Kurumi mutter softly.
Fortunately, Shidou didn’t hear clearly【?!】
“Nothing.”
Shaking her head, Kurumi turned and walked towards Shidou.
———It was just a spur of the moment thing.
I just wanted to have some fun while achieving my goal so as not to get too exhausted, and I used this stupid boy…that’s all.
She convinced herself so.
“Then, please allow me to rely on you whenever I encounter difficulties. Are you prepared, Mr. Shidou?”
“Ah, a man’s word is out… Please teach me, Kurumi.”
Yes, it was Kurumi’s spur of the moment decision with Shidou.
These two things completely changed the fate of the two people.
Chapter 4 Begins (Old Version)
April 10th.
Tiangong City.
A girl in a red and black dress and a girl in a white robe stepped onto the ground.
Although it wasn’t ordinary land, but rather a ruin covered with rubble… that’s how it should be.
“What a blatant arrival! The legendary [Princess] seems to be in a rather bad mood.”
The girl in the red and black dress, Tokisaki Kurumi, revealed her yellow clock-shaped eyes that were originally hidden on the left side, and her asymmetrical twin ponytails swayed gently in the wind.
She looked around at the scattered building debris and spoke as if this scene was natural.
“It shouldn’t matter whether she was in a good or bad mood when she appeared… but it’s true that she was in a bad mood.”
The girl in the white robe responded in the same nonchalant tone.
In front of their sight was a huge crater like that formed by a falling meteorite—the trace left after all the original objects had “disappeared.”
But what really caught their attention was the “girl” standing in the center of the pit.
A figure sat upright on a throne that looked like purple armor, with his legs resting on the armrests. His black hair swayed in the wind as he raised his face, which was filled with melancholy and displeasure.
Peerless—words like these seem pale.
This girl has a beauty comparable to Tokisaki Kurumi.
“Is that the Princess? Besides the Hermit, she’s another spirit confirmed to have been spotted in Tiangong City.”
“It seems so… huh?”
Kurumi nodded slightly at the words of the white-robed girl, and suddenly tilted her head slightly.
Although they were far away from the girl called the “Princess”, this distance was difficult for humans to distinguish, but it was easy for them.
And vice versa—as it should be.
But when the girl who was lazily looking around suddenly cast her gaze over, her focus was not in their direction.
The AST troops have not arrived yet. What can attract the girl’s attention at the scene of the “spacequake”?
Kurumi followed her line of sight and moved her gaze——
“—―――――――――”
Then she gasped.
impossible.
Because the person standing there was someone that Kurumi knew well, someone who should never be there, let alone exist.
“——Shido, sir?”
It was none other than Itsuka Shido himself.
“Kyousan, do you know Gokawa Shido?”
“Huh…?”
“I didn’t expect you had seen him before I told you.”
The girl said in a surprised tone.
Kurumi turned her gaze to the side with a look of astonishment.
It was rare for her to be so visibly shaken—or rather, to show such confusion—but the girl continued her declaration.
After all, for her, knowing Gokawa Shido was a matter of course.
because—
“The one standing over there, Itsuka Shido… is the only human who can seal spirits.”
————He is the unique existence that is necessary to fulfill Kurumi’s “long-cherished wish”.
“…Hee, hee, hee hee hee hee hee hee!! Ah, how happy, how happy!! It seems that sooner or later I’ll fall to a place where even the bottom of hell will seem warm!!! Hee hee hee hee hee hee hee!!”
Laughing wildly, laughing like crazy, how can I not laugh in this situation?
Ahhh, without a doubt.
The sinner named Tokisaki Kurumi will eventually fall into an abyss deeper than hell—an abyss where even hell itself seems warm.
After all, isn’t it obvious?
Tokisaki Kurumi actually wanted to “save” the good-for-nothing idiot boy who claimed to help this inexplicable woman.
“……Kyousan, please make your choice again. I will only follow your decision.”
“Hasn’t this been decided long ago?”
She danced playfully, crazily, as if escaping from something.
Ah, nothing has changed since then.
Fate is so cruel… so absurd.
“I’m going to eat Mr. Shidao up.”
This is the beginning of the story of Gokawa Shido and Tokisaki Kurumi.
Come on—let’s start this long, long war date.
Chapter 5 Shura Field (Old Version)
Shura Field—Although it is a simple word to describe it in one word, its meaning is diverse.
What the world generally refers to is probably the “entanglements” in relationships between men and women.
However, for an ordinary student like Gokawa Shido, the so-called Shura Field was just a common plot in TV dramas – until a month ago…
“Calm down, you two.”
“Hmm…whose cookies does Shidou want to eat?”
Facing Shidou who made a stunned sound, two beautiful girls simultaneously handed over containers of cookies, which were sharp enough to pierce through people’s sight and came straight at him.
That’s right, they were the beautiful girls who made all the boys in the class look at him with hatred that was enough to kill Shidou.
“Come on, Shidou!”
On one side were long hair that flowed down to the waist like the night sky and eyes as clear as crystal.
That appearance was truly peerless—[although Shidou felt that the word “peerless” was losing its value recently]—the beautiful girl Yatogami Tohka.
“…………..”
On the other side, she has shoulder-length hair and lightly pigmented skin.
Tobiichi Origami is a beautiful girl with very regular facial features, but her lack of expression makes her look as delicate as a doll.
「This, this is…….! !」
Facing two piercing gazes, Shidou broke out in a cold sweat and retreated—but when he felt the “murderous” gazes of the boys behind him, he instantly realized that there was no way out.
This is indeed a textbook “Shura Field”, but if the opponent is just an ordinary beautiful girl, Shidao might be willing to endure this murderous aura…
However, the two people before him were by no means ordinary.
Yatogami Tohka.
A special disaster-designated life form that appears from an alien world called “Critical” and causes spacequakes when it descends, commonly known as “elves”.
He wears armor called “Spirit Suit”, which is woven from spiritual power and cannot be damaged even by modern weapons. He also possesses the ultimate weapon “Angel” that transcends the laws of physics and truly embodies supernatural powers.
This absolute existence is the incarnation of what was once called “the disaster that destroys the world.”
Tobiichi Origami.
A magician who belongs to the Ground Self-Defense Force’s anti-spirit unit “Anti-Spirit Team” (commonly known as AST).
This special force uses equipment called “manifestation devices” to use force to annihilate the elves that have powerful combat capabilities and have suffered huge damage from space earthquakes.
And she——for some reason, she has an unusual feeling for Shidou……
It’s impossible for two people who should have fought to the death to have such a peaceful Shura scene…
But as the core figure of this Shura field, Shido Gokawa turned the impossible into possible.
In stark contrast to the AST, which fights the elves by annihilation, this organization was established to achieve a peaceful resolution to the spacequake disaster through dialogue.
Its commander turned out to be Gokawa Shido’s “sister” Gokawa Kotori.
The organization established to support Shidou is called Ratatoskr.
With the full support of the distinctive Ratatoskr, Gokawa Shido, the only one who can [seal] spirits, transcends the literal near-death experience through a war date and seals the spiritual power of Yatogami Tohka into his own body.
This method was so romantic that it was terrifying, and the guilt after executing it tortured Shidao like a thousand arrows piercing his heart—but now Tohka had obtained a body that was no different from that of a human.
Kotori once said that the AST to which Origami belongs would not openly take the lives of ordinary people whose spirit reactions have not been detected.
This is the magic that created the current Shura field.
Even though it happened just last month, Shidao still felt it was unreal.
Back to the point, in front of Shidao were the objects in Tohka’s hand that could barely be called biscuits—they were twisted and burnt;
And the cookies made by origami that perfectly reflect the maker’s personality and are impeccably perfect.
[You’ll die if you eat either…]Before his war date with Tohka, Shidou fought against the biggest nightmare tragedy of his dark history being made public, while completing the love game specially made by Ratatoskr.
Perhaps thanks to this effort, he now foresaw his own death flag.
“……..!!”
The hesitation lasted only a moment.
He suddenly opened his eyes wide, and following his survival instinct, he quickly grabbed the biscuits in the container with both hands and stuffed them into his mouth at the same time under the burning gazes of the two people.
“Mmm, mmm!! It’s delicious. Everything you two cook is delicious!!”
Shidou observed the two’s reactions with a serious expression, and they stared at him for a while—
“Hmm. You’re eating my cookies a little faster!!”
“I’m 0.02 seconds faster.”
———The two of them declared this once again, in perfect sync…
“…….that…….”
Looking at the two people staring at each other quietly (or it would be more appropriate to describe it as “staring at each other”), Shidou had already foreseen what would happen next.
After all, this kind of “Shura Field” is not the first time he has encountered it.
Since Tohka transferred here last month, similar situations have been repeated countless times.
Shidou didn’t even have time to sigh—in the gap between the fists aimed at each other’s vital points at the speed of sound, he could only twist his body awkwardly to avoid.
[…Kyousan, are you doing well now? ]At the moment when the fist was about to hit his head and abdomen, the image of the girl he had not seen since “the agreement on that day” flashed through his mind like a kaleidoscope.
Chapter 6 Declaration of War (Old Version)
“…A-choo!!”
“Oh, are you catching a cold? That’s a rare thing.”
“How could an elf catch a cold… Maybe someone is talking about me behind my back.”
Kurumi added nonchalantly, although in her heart she had a good guess that it was some clingy “puppy” causing trouble.
The hooded girl sitting across the table from her seemed to understand what she meant and nodded as if she suddenly realized something.
The place where the two girls chatted elegantly was an apartment suite.
Since she moved her base of operations to Tiangong City, this has become the most “main” room among the many bases she has prepared.
“By the way…what happened between you and Itsuka Shido?”
“…Why are you asking this all of a sudden?”
“Because I’m concerned. I clearly didn’t tell you about ‘his’ appearance and name, but I didn’t expect that…Kyousan would actually know Gokawa Shido, who was still an ordinary person.”
“Nothing special. We just happened to meet and became acquaintances… And we haven’t even met in person for a month. The only thing about my relationship with Shidou-san is that I ‘devour’ his spiritual energy – that’s all.”
Kurumi asserted decisively, her expression so calm that it seemed as if she was declaring that she didn’t care at all.
There was no sign of hesitation in her expression, not even a flicker of emotion could be detected.
However, the hooded girl continued to ask in a playful tone: “But even so, when Gokawa Shido was shot through the abdomen… you could hear the panic through the communicator, Kurumi.”
“Ugh…! You should know my purpose clearly. I just can’t let him die!!”
“Yes, that’s right. It’s the same reaction now. At that time, he was also so obvious and panicked.”
“Can……!!”
The perfect poker face she had previously worn had long since vanished, and Kurumi was now glaring at the hooded girl with gritted teeth—although her cheeks were slightly red—revealing an expression of unwillingness.
Although the hood obscured the girl’s expression, judging by the way her shoulders trembled slightly, she was clearly laughing with uncontrollable joy…
After all, having known Kurumi for such a long time, the opportunity to tease her so openly was a rare one, so naturally, it was difficult to restrain himself.
However, it was not the girl’s intention to tease too much.
Furthermore, if we were to tease Shidou and the [Princess] about their subsequent romantic…actions, it would probably be too stimulating and lead to bullets in response.
“Hehe… But it really makes me curious. What kind of charm does Gokawa Shido have that can make Kurumi care so much after just a few encounters?”
“I’ve already told you! I don’t have that kind of…wait, didn’t you already know about Shidou-san?”
Kurumi changed the subject and showed a suspicious expression.
The reason why she appeared here was because the girl told her that she needed Shidao to fulfill her “long-cherished wish”.
Logically speaking, the other party should understand Shidao better than herself, but now it seems that this is not the case, which makes her feel confused.
“…I do know what kind of existence ‘he’ is. But as for the young man [Itsuka Shido], I don’t know anything either. That’s all.”
“That’s a really intriguing statement.”
“When the time is right, you’ll understand. Precisely because it remains unknown, it intrigues me even more. What is the true nature of that young man who, in his mortal form, bravely stood before the spirits and saved the heartbroken Princess?”
Elves are a threat.
For Shido Itsuka, who was just an ordinary high school student a month ago, this should have been an unshakable fact.
However, not only did he face the elves with his flesh and blood, he also successfully conquered the girl with a “date” that was almost childish.
Even if the [Princess] had no ill intentions, such behavior was still abnormal.
Even if the elf’s power has been sealed…looking at the situation, he doesn’t seem to know about it.
The girl wrapped in the robe had the strange vision that occurred after her abdomen was pierced.
“Reborn”.
This was no metaphor, as the fiery “spiritual power” enveloped him, erasing the fatal wound without a trace.
The spiritual power that even Kurumi couldn’t detect was probably in a semi-dormant state due to long-term disuse.
But judging from Shidao’s panic when he woke up, he was obviously unaware of the regeneration ability.
What’s worse, he may not even know that he has the special ability to seal the power of elves. Even so, he still declares to the world: Even if all humans deny the existence of the girl, he will do everything he can to affirm her.
This was tantamount to a global declaration of war. If this decision had been made without knowledge of the sealing method, this reckless and utterly masculine declaration would have been sheer madness.
“……Mr. Shidou, he——”
Chapter 7 Another Kurumi (Old Version)
“Why, you seem to be talking about quite pleasant things, ‘I’.”
The voice that interrupted Kurumi’s words was exactly the same as hers…
Of course, that was not done by herself, but by “another Kurumi” who opened the door and appeared.
That’s right——For some reason, Kurumi, wearing a maid outfit… was standing there holding a tray with teacups on it.
“…I am wearing a rather cheerful…outfit.”
“Haha, I’m honored by your compliment.”
“I wasn’t praising you at all…!!”
“Oh, oh, what a pity… How about a cup of black tea?”
“You’ve already poured it before asking the question!!”
Kurumi’s glaring gaze almost made veins pop out of her forehead, but the “other Kurumi” was completely unmoved. She calmly placed the teacup on the table and began to pour tea with perfect movements and manners.
The previous tense atmosphere had long since disappeared, and with this outfit, it seemed like the scene had turned into some kind of special store…
To those who don’t know, one might think that they are identical twins talking to each other.
But Kurumi’s situation is naturally different.
This “other Kurumi” is exactly Kurumi herself.
It was Kurumi herself who was created from the past… although for some reason she was wearing a maid outfit.
“I really…can’t keep you company.”
Although it has also created various distortions…
An individual born at a certain point in time, but the one in front of us should not belong to that category of existence.
Kuang San rubbed her temples and sighed, then stood up and walked straight to the door where the maid Kuang San appeared.
“Oh, where am I going?”
“Not in the mood for further conversation. I’ll be back before evening.”
Without waiting for a response, Kurumi walked through the door, slammed it shut and left without a second thought.
Facing the original body that was obviously in a bad mood, the maid Kurumi still maintained a relaxed smile, and sat down elegantly in the chair she had just sat on, savoring the aroma of the black tea she brewed and enjoying the afternoon tea time.
“Haha, ‘I’ am really grumpy.”
“That situation just now is probably your fault…”
The imitator, dressed in a maid outfit, teases the original—
Faced with this rare and strange scene in the world, the girl in the long robe seemed stunned, but she did not chase after the real body of Kurumi as usual. She just took the black tea handed to her and presented a leisurely scene of afternoon tea with the maid Kurumi.
That calm demeanor seemed as if he had experienced similar scenes countless times.
“So? What are you going to do with it?”
“It’s too abrupt to say this suddenly.”
“Of course, you’re referring to [my] business. Or perhaps it would be more appropriate to say [about Shidou-san]?”
Click.
The crisp sound of cups and plates colliding echoed in the room.
The atmosphere at this moment is completely different from the previous conversation between the robed girl and Kurumi.
“Our collective goal… To achieve it, I have been patiently lying dormant, constantly accumulating time, and waiting for the arrival of the moment you spoke of.”
“That’s right… Because the [moment] has come, I will guide Kurumi to Gokawa Shido.”
“Ah, yes. He’s so wonderful, so wonderful—so wonderful that one can’t help wanting to eat him right away.”
The action of licking lips is accompanied by a crazy smile.
This is not only a desire in the literal sense, but also the “nutrients” necessary for Kurumi to achieve her ultimate goal.
Logically speaking, I shouldn’t have any unnecessary feelings towards Shidao—it should be this way.
“It’s a shame, but it wasn’t me who carried out the execution, but [I]… But that [I] seems to be particularly fond of Shidou-san?”
The implication of the maid Kurumi’s words was naturally different from the “nourishment” just now.
She hinted that the original Kurumi, as the real body, actually showed signs of opening her heart to Shido Itsuka who was about to be [devoured].
“If it were me, it wouldn’t be surprising… but for a Devourer to fall in love with its prey is like someone looking for a mummy and then becoming a mummy. Did you expect all this?”
“This is truly unexpected. I just told Kurumi that even though I knew of his existence, I knew nothing about this young man, Itsuka Shido.”
Even for the robed girl, Kurumi’s reaction to Shidou was beyond her expectations.
“Perhaps it should be called fate? It seems that Gokawa Shido was born with the [destiny] to encounter spirits. Otherwise, he would never have been able to break through the defenses of that stubborn Kurumi by chance.”
“You were the one who brought me here, yet you’re being so perfunctory. But, I do agree that I’m stubborn.”
“Haha, huh?”
In a sense, although he was talking about himself, if the original body heard these words, he would probably be punished without saying a word.
Hearing the words of the maid Kurumi, the girl couldn’t help but smile under her robe.
Even the clone had to admit that the elf Tokisaki Kurumi did have a stubborn side.
But who is that young man who sneaked into Kurumi’s heart without her noticing – Gokawa Shido?
“If it were me when I was younger, it would be a different story, but to say that I would open my heart to ordinary humans is simply impossible.”
“That’s true. Even if it happens on a whim, at most it would just suck up the other person’s [time]——or, in other words, just clearly reject the other person in Kurumi’s way and that’s it.”
“I’m really worried… That person named Shidou who disturbed my feelings.”
Tokisaki Kurumi is definitely not so naive that her presence can be impressed by her nice-guy personality alone.
Determination, obsession, and a hatred that burns her body and bones. Tokisaki Kurumi, transcending despair, continues to move forward.
It was as if stopping was a sin, as if she was not worthy of stopping at all, and she has been carrying the sin to this day.
For the sake of [Sad Wish], she gave up everything and even willingly fell into the abyss of hell. The reason why the girl would trust Shidao a little bit was something that even Kurumi’s clone couldn’t understand. Then the answer is probably only——
“Could it be—love at first sight?”
It did not specify who said it.
The girl in the robe sipped her tea nonchalantly, as if it were just a casual remark.
Upon hearing this, the maid Kurumi was stunned at first, and then suddenly in the next second—she burst into laughter as if she had heard a huge joke.
“Haha… Ahahahahahahaha!! If that’s the case, it would be so exciting!! Absolutely amazing!! That’s right, it’s incredibly funny!”
“As for laughing like that… But in the final analysis, since even you, the clone, don’t understand, then only I know. After all, the only one who has really met and talked with Itsuka Shido is Kurumi herself.”
“Well, what are you going to do?”
“I?”
“Ah, let’s get back to the original question. Don’t you have your own ‘plan’? Now that ‘I’ and Shidou have met in an unexpected way, what are you going to do? — Miss Nameless Elf?”
Resting her face on her arms resting on the table, she tilted her head and asked the black-robed girl a question in a cute manner.
Even though he was facing a girl who was even smaller than the maid Kurumi, his scarlet eyes only reflected the unnaturally thick darkness wrapped in the black robe.
Even the maid Kurumi cannot understand the true meaning of it.
“Nothing will change. I am only acting for Queen Kurumi.”
Chapter 8 Reunion (Old Version)
“……….”
———What exactly do you want to say?
As Kurumi walked forward aimlessly, the unfinished words from a few hours ago lingered in her mind.
Mr. Shidou——what exactly is the second half of that sentence?
To be honest, even Kurumi herself doesn’t know.
No, maybe she was just pretending not to understand.
“As long as I can help, I will definitely be Kurumi’s strength!! No matter how small it is!! So no matter when – please rely on me!!!”
Those were the most straightforward words spoken by a foolish and ignorant boy.
But Kuang San couldn’t completely deny or ignore it.
An existence that must be utilized in order to realize one’s “long-cherished wish”.
At the same time, he was also the good-natured fool who wanted to save even the elves and offered her a helping hand—
“It has nothing to do with me…”
She closed her eyes and pushed away unnecessary thoughts.
That’s right, it doesn’t matter who the other person is or what the reason is.
Just like in the past… At that time, Saki Kurumi will use these blood-stained hands to kill Gokawa Shido——
“…Oh no. It’s raining.”
A cold touch on the back of her neck interrupted Kurumi’s thoughts.
Just a moment after she whispered as if it had nothing to do with her, raindrops as big as beans poured down from the gloomy clouds.
In a flash, the road was soaked with rain, and Kurumi’s whole body was exposed to the rain without any protection.
However, even so, she did not panic, but instead stopped as if she sensed something.
[There’s someone nearby…]———It’s nearby.
A being with the same “power” as oneself.
She was sure of this, based on years of experience and intuition.
Following this feeling, Kuang San took another step forward.
The power of the [Princess] has long been sealed…so the one waiting ahead must not be her, but another “elf” known to date.
In that case, it might not be a bad idea to observe it a little.
After all, this kind of reconnaissance work is usually left to “them” or “that child”, but at this moment, a rare curiosity arose.
Because the target’s aura was too obvious, Kurumi quickly reached her destination.
Then, what caught her eye was——
“Please…don’t hurt me…”
“Well…….”
――――The scene before him was too shocking. No matter how he looked at it, it looked like Shido Itsuka was plotting something bad towards a pitiful girl.
“…………Oh my.”
Even Kurumi couldn’t help but look confused at the scene, but she quickly regained her composure and began to analyze the situation.
Judging from the scene, it’s not a manifestation caused by a spacequake, which means Shidou just appeared here by chance… right?
This is too much—it seems like a carefully designed “coincidence”.
“————I never thought that Mr. Shidou would have such an ‘interest’.”
“Huh?………….K-Kyousan!?”
Perhaps because she deliberately concealed her presence, Shidou was unable to detect it immediately.
Even amidst the clamor of the rain, the sound still reached his ears clearly.
When he turned around, standing in front of him was Tokisaki Kurumi.
“I didn’t expect Mr. Shidou to be this kind of person… I’m so sad, I’m about to cry.”
“W-Why are you here… No, that’s not the point! I’m not interested in that at all… I helped the child up because she fell, so—”
Shidou frantically tried to explain himself.
The violent shaking of the puddle under his feet showed how panicked he was, no words were needed.
Seeing this scene that was exactly the same as a month ago, Kurumi even temporarily forgot her original purpose and unconsciously relaxed her cheeks and smiled.
“Haha, I’m just kidding. I know what kind of person Mr. Shidou is.”
“…..Let’s not play this kind of life-shortening joke. It could actually get someone killed.”
In this era, making such a joke is really fatal – Shidou didn’t even care about the joy of reunion, he was just glad that he was not misunderstood by Kurumi and breathed a sigh of relief.
When he turned to the girl he had just helped up again—
Although there was no cute “thump thump” sound of footsteps, the girl with her face covered by a rabbit-ear hood retreated repeatedly like a frightened little animal.
“that…….”
“Mr. Shidou, look at that.”
“Eh—ah.”
Suddenly I found that Kuang San had already approached me, and my heart started pounding….
But now is not the time to worry about that.
He forced himself to remain calm and looked at where Kuang San’s slender finger was pointing.
What fell to the ground was a white hand puppet.
Shidou was certain that this was the one the girl had been wearing on her left arm before she slipped and fell on her back.
Just before Shidao turned around, the girl approached him, probably to pick up the puppet.
In that case——In order to avoid startling the girl, Shidou slowly picked up the puppet and gestured to her to hand it over.
“This, is it yours?”
“…….!”
The girl stared at Shidou’s actions with wide eyes, and although she wanted to run over to him, she suddenly stopped and began to carefully keep her distance.
Shidou couldn’t help but smile bitterly at the animal-like look on his face.
It seemed that Kurumi felt the same way and offered gentle words of help.
“Don’t worry—this gentleman won’t hurt… you.”
Kurumi stared at the girl and gave a sweet smile that dispelled her guard.
Perhaps it was just same-sex attraction—or perhaps it was something else—the girl’s shoulders, though trembling slightly, seemed a little more relaxed than before.
Watching her approaching cautiously, Shidou waited patiently.
If I make any unnecessary moves at this moment and cause the girl to become more alert, all my efforts will be wasted.
This patience was finally rewarded, the girl suddenly snatched the puppet from Shidao’s hand and put it back on her left hand.
Then, as if performing ventriloquism, he made the rabbit puppet open and close its mouth and say:
[Ahaha——Thank you uncle and beautiful sister for your help~~]Chapter 9 Wet Temptation (Old Version)
The other party was speaking ventriloquistically, and the shrill voice of the rabbit was truly amazing.
Not to mention that it deliberately only praised Kurumi as “beautiful” – although this point is indeed indisputable – such glib words made people wonder if it was really the girl in front of them who was speaking.
Without waiting for Shidao’s confirmation, the puppet continued:
“Speaking of which~~ When you were helping me up, it seemed like you touched a lot of my body, didn’t you?… How did it feel? Tell me honestly, how was it?”
“Ah…Huh!?
This definitely didn’t sound like something the girl in front of him would say, and Shidou was stunned.
If he were alone, he would just be confused.
But at this moment, Kurumi was standing next to him. He turned his head hurriedly, but what caught his eye was not Kurumi who was looking at him with contempt as he had expected, but her with a slightly troubled expression.
“Please don’t worry. I know Mr. Shidou didn’t have that intention. Didn’t you say it was just a joke?”
“Yeah, yeah. Sorry.”
“Besides, Mr. Shidou doesn’t look like he has that kind of ability right now.”
“…That’s pretty hurtful to hear.”
“Haha, this is also a joke.”
While teasing Shidou, Kurumi’s expression kept changing like a kaleidoscope.
The figure he saw again after a month was still incomparably adorable in Shidao’s eyes. For some reason, he was afraid of being misunderstood by her and hurriedly explained, but then he scratched his head unconsciously because of his embarrassment.
“Dahaha! You two are really showing off your affection so blatantly~~”
The girl who was watching the interaction between the two people once again interjected teasingly through the doll with her shrill voice.
“oh oh…….?”
“For the sake of this considerate and beautiful girlfriend, I’ll treat the lucky pervert incident just now as a special gift~”
“Girlfriend…!?”
“Bye. Thank you so much!!”
Leaving Shidou completely bewildered—unfortunately he didn’t get to see Kurumi’s reaction—the girl turned and ran away after she finished speaking.
Although Shidao immediately tried to persuade him to stay, the figure had already disappeared without a trace.
“…So what’s going on?”
“Who knows? Maybe she’ll be a cute fairy lady?”
“A fairy…”
After all, Shidou had witnessed the existence of elves with his own eyes, so it was difficult to assert that this was just a joke.
“…Long time no see. How are you, Kurumi?”
“Well, as you can see, everything is fine. Shidou-san also – no, there seems to be some changes.”
After receiving such a response from the greeting he managed to force out with all his composure, Shidou subconsciously touched his face to confirm.
Then he realized that what Kurumi was referring to was not appearance—and sure enough, a chuckle came from the side.
“That’s not what I’m talking about. I just feel like… her temperament is a little different. Has anything happened in the past month…?”
“Ah… well… a lot of things happened.”
His gaze drifted off into the distance, as if to say that the intensity of this time had already exceeded the limits that words could carry.
Although I know that comparison is meaningless——first, I encountered a girl who was as beautiful as Kurumi and appeared in the center of the space earthquake, and then I almost lost my life at her hands;
In order to “capture” that elf, he was forced to undergo special training with Ratatoskr and play through all the Galgames, even his dusty dark history was publicly punished;
Finally, with Tohka——
[Damn it, no, forget about it! ! ]That was something that had to be done in order to save Tohka.
Since Tohka’s spiritual power has been sealed, it shouldn’t happen again.
He shook his head vigorously, trying to dispel the guilt of having taken away the innocent girl’s first experience, as well as the one-sided guilt he felt towards Kurumi for some reason.
“What’s wrong with you?”
“No, nothing. Compared to this, Kurumi, why are you here——”
Although Shidou had experienced a lot, he met her by chance in a place like this after not seeing her for a month. When he was about to ask this question, the moment his eyes met Kurumi, he suddenly realized the current situation.
In the pouring rain…Kyousan didn’t hold an umbrella and let the rain soak her whole body.
She tilted her head with a cute confused expression and stared at Shidou who had suddenly fallen silent.
“Hey Kurumi? Where’s your umbrella? You’ll catch a cold.”
“Oh?…It started raining suddenly so I forgot to bring it. But it’s okay, I’ve never caught a cold before.”
“That’s not the problem…”
Even if you haven’t had a cold before, it’s hard to guarantee that there won’t be any problems after getting wet like this.
Regardless of whether the other party was Kurumi or not, Shidou couldn’t just watch the girl get wet in the rain – not to mention that the wet school uniform sticking to her skin was really unsightly – he wasn’t such a bastard.
The problem was that Shidou himself was soaked to the skin, and he couldn’t even lend her his coat to temporarily keep out the rain.
“So…would you like to come to my house?”
As soon as I finished speaking, I realized that this statement could easily be misunderstood, but words once spoken cannot be taken back.
Seeing Kurumi’s fair skin visibly flushed, Shidou realized from her hesitation that he had spoken out of turn and hurriedly made amends.
“Shi-Shidou-kun…?”
“No, no, no! That’s not what I meant! I was just worried you’d catch a cold, so I took you to my house to avoid the rain! I absolutely had no evil intentions!”
“That’s true. I misunderstood. I’m very sorry.”
“It’s all my fault for saying things that make people think the wrong way… I’m the one who should apologize.”
“It’s not like myself. It’s really not like myself—” Kurumi felt ashamed of this.
Although it happened suddenly, I actually misunderstood Shidao’s good intentions in an instant. What’s wrong with me?
Every time I talk to Shidao, I always feel like my rhythm is disrupted…
Faced with this unprecedented experience, Kuang San forced herself to suppress her pounding heart.
[I have to make him fall at my own pace… That’s all, nothing more.]“…Thank you for your kindness, Mr. Shidao, but please allow me to decline today.”
“I see…”
Hearing Kurumi’s answer, Shidou felt that it was indeed the case.
No matter how well-intentioned, it’s against common sense for a man to suddenly invite a woman to his home.
But the regret in my heart may be because I want to prolong the time I spend with Kurumi who I rarely meet again…
He laughed at himself and said that this was not goodwill at all, it was clearly a superficial idea.
“It’s not that I don’t trust Mr. Shidou, okay? It’s just that I told my family that I have to go back before dusk. If I’m too late, they’ll worry.”
This was probably Kurumi’s kind of consideration—implying that she would have accepted the invitation otherwise.
But this made Shidao feel complicated.
“I see… Ah, I’m glad you trust me, but even if there’s no agreement, a girl shouldn’t easily accept a man’s invitation.”
“Haha, that’s why you’re so gentle, Shidou-san. You’re very special.”
Kurumi placed her index finger lightly on her lips and smiled seductively. This time, it was Shidou who couldn’t hide his blushing cheeks.
[I almost misunderstood when I was told “special.”] But he knew that wasn’t the meaning.
It’s just an evaluation of how good a person he is.
He made the invitation and said contradictory things, only to be smoothed over by the girl – it was so embarrassing for a man.
Shidou sighed in frustration: [The special training is totally ineffective.]“Well, I’ll take my leave now.”
Kurumi, who saluted gracefully even in the rain, turned and left.
Although I am reluctant to let her go, it would be bad if I tried to keep her and made her catch a cold out of selfishness.
Just as Shidao was about to say goodbye, Kurumi suddenly turned around—
“Oh, I forgot the most important thing—I’m really happy to see you again, Mr. Shidou.”
――――She said these words with a smile as bright as a flower.
Just this alone made Shidou the most excited person today.
“Ah!! Nice to see you too, Kurumi.”
Although I was worried that I might show a strange expression, my high emotions finally calmed down when I saw the response words and the handshake returned – it seemed that his response was quite appropriate.
They waved goodbye to each other at the corner until each other’s figures disappeared from sight.
But the attachment in Shidao’s heart lingered for a long time.
Kuang San’s words just now made him so happy.
The few words from the girl he liked were simple but extremely useful to the adolescent Shidao.
“Really? I’m so understanding.”
He scratched his hair to hide his snickering, causing water droplets to splash everywhere.
I was just worried that Kurumi would catch a cold, but if I caught a cold instead, it would be putting the cart before the horse.
Shidao forgot his usual fatigue and set out on his journey home with a brisk pace.
……As for the fact that he was not able to ask Kurumi why she appeared here, it was soon destroyed by the upcoming “training”. That is a matter for later.
Chapter 10 I’ve Seen Her (Old Version)
“Ah, you two are here. The spirits will appear soon. Lingyin, please get ready.”
“…….OK.”
Shidou and Kotori had just arrived at the bridge when a voice from above made Murasame Reine nod slightly.
This woman, with dark circles under her eyes and looking as if she would collapse at any moment—the analyst of the [Ratatosk] organization—slowly walked to the lower control console and sat down.
The flying battleship “Fraxinus” is the pride of “Ratatoskr”, an organization whose highest purpose is to protect the elves and fully support Shidou.
The girl sitting in the captain’s seat at this moment was tying her long crimson hair into two ponytails with black ribbons.
She is the captain of this battleship and also Shidao’s sister—Kotori Itsuka.
“Time is running out, so I’ll be frank—Shidao, have you made your decision?”
Kotori asked the silent Shidou.
The reason he was summoned here was naturally for the new elf “strategy” mission.
Shidou originally thought that everything was over after sealing Tohka, but… who said that “there is more than one spirit”?
Indeed, Shidou couldn’t just stand by and watch Tohka die.
Even after experiencing the threat of death and witnessing the terrifying power of the elves, he still couldn’t abandon her.
Because she is just like me…a lonely existence.
“…….!!!”
But what if there is another elf?
Unknowingly, he has been entrusted with the important task of deciding the fate of the world.
This heavy responsibility made it difficult for Shidao to answer lightly at this moment.
However, time never stops for confusion.
A shrill alarm suddenly rang out across the bridge.
“What happened?!”
“Ultra-high intensity spiritual wave reaction detected! It’s coming!”
“OK, the main screen switches to the predicted location.”
Kotori snapped her fingers and ordered calmly.
The screen immediately displayed the scene of Tiangong City, which had become a deserted city due to the space earthquake alarm.
Then, the center of the picture suddenly “distorted”.
Shidao initially thought it was a signal failure, but immediately realized: it was a real physical distortion, and the entire space was rippling like the surface of water.
“W-What’s going on…”
“Oh? Is this the first time Shidou has seen this with his own eyes?”
――――In an instant, the bright light engulfed the screen and the roar was deafening.
Although he knew it was just a scene on the screen, he still subconsciously raised his arms to cover his face.
After the roar and light subsided, the young man opened his eyes tremblingly and saw…it was no longer the street scene just now.
“Space shock……!”
This firm whisper came from Gokawa Shido, who had witnessed a similar scene a month ago.
The space was distorted like an earthquake, and the torn parts formed “disappearance” marks like craters.
“Yes, this is the spatial distortion caused by the spirit’s appearance. It’s a sudden, catastrophic phenomenon.”
“……..”
Witnessing the ruins and facing the explosion directly are completely different feelings.
This was where people lived their daily lives…but it was reduced to ashes in the blink of an eye.
Although I already knew the theory, seeing it with my own eyes still gave me chills.
If he gave up his mission now, this apocalyptic scene would continue indefinitely. This realization stabbed him like a sharp knife in the heart.
“But the scale of this explosion was relatively small.”
“Indeed.”
The one who responded to Commander Itsuka Kotori was the tall man standing behind her—Kannazuki Kyouhei, the battleship’s deputy commander.
By the way, this person is a pervert.
“It’s a fluke… but if it’s a [Hermit], this level wouldn’t be surprising.”
“After all, he is considered a gentle type among elves.”
“Wait, Kotori. What exactly does [Hermit] mean?”
Suppressing the shock of learning that what he just saw was just a “small-scale” space tremor, Shidou grasped the key words in the conversation that caught his attention and asked questions.
“Ah, that’s the code name for the spirit that just appeared. Wait… can you zoom in?”
While responding to Shidou, Kotori gave instructions to the crew.
The image gradually focuses on the center of the crater.
“Is this…rain?”
As the camera moves forward, the picture gradually darkens.
Suddenly, raindrops began to fall. It was like yesterday all over again…
When the screen finally captured the petite girl standing at the center, Shidou’s eyes widened in shock.
“That’s…”
“……? What’s wrong with you, Shidou?”
He knew. How could he forget?
At that time, the moment I saw that girl, I felt a familiar feeling that I had felt somewhere before.
That is no illusion.
Hiding her blue hair is a hood decorated with rabbit ears, and she wears a rabbit puppet on her left hand.
There was no way I could have mistaken her… because that girl was exactly—
“I… have seen her before…!!”
————It was the girl I met on the day I reunited with Kurumi.
Chapter 11: The Hermit (Old Version)
“Alas, the [Hermits] aren’t resisting, yet they’re making such a fuss.”
On the roof of a building that was spared from the spacequake.
The girl in a white robe looked at the battle unfolding higher up—or rather, it was doubtful whether it could even be called a battle—and murmured as if it had nothing to do with her.
Her robe fluttered in the wind, and no one around her responded to her whisper…but only the girl could hear a reply.
“As they should be. To them, elves are an absolute threat…an enemy of humanity that must be eliminated.”
“I understand that…but it’s really not pleasant to watch.”
“I deeply agree with this.”
The person on the other end of the line—Kyousan—was probably frowning slightly.
After she agreed with a hint of displeasure, the girl stared ahead at a crushing scene that couldn’t even be called a battle.
Heavily armed soldiers unleashed a terrifying barrage of bullets from all manner of firearms, chasing the dodging [Hermit]. Finally, the bullets mercilessly shot towards the girl, as if drawn in, sending flames soaring into the sky.
“…Will he come, Itsuka Shido?”
“He will come. If it’s Mr. Shidou, he will definitely come.”
In the smoke and dust, the [Hermit] leaped into the air… but still had no intention of fighting back, and just started to flee again.
Witnessing this one-sided devastation before his eyes, would that young man really charge into the battlefield?
Faced with the girl’s question, Kurumi firmly asserted that he would definitely come.
“Your opinion of Itsuka Shido is quite high…”
“It’s not trust. I’m just convinced that Mr. Shidou will show up to save her…that’s all.”
“…………”
Isn’t this attitude generally what we call trust?
Although the girl wanted to complain, she knew it would only lead to rebuttal, so she decided to remain silent.
Indeed, his previous response to the “Princess” was enough to show that Shido Itsuka was a good guy.
But after actually experiencing near-death experiences, would you really put yourself in danger for others again and again?… The area before you has completely become a battlefield.
Even so, Kurumi still firmly believed that Shidou would appear – it was really puzzling that Kurumi could say this.
“Besides, I need Mr. Shidou to seal the spirits no matter what. If he doesn’t come, I’ll be in trouble.”
“That’s what I said… However, since Kurumi has said this, I can only believe her.”
As Kurumi said, if Shidou is not asked to seal the spirits, nothing can be done. This is an indisputable fact.
That’s why I brought Kurumi to this place where “he” exists.
Now we can only pray that Shidao can continue to fulfill his duty of sealing the spirits.
Both for Kurumi’s “long-cherished wish” – and for her own “plan”.
The fleeing [Hermit] and the pursuing AST troops.
After tracking and observing for a while, the [Hermit] hid his body and fled into a building.
“Hidden in a building… If Itsuka Shido wants to contact the Hermit, now is the best time.”
“Oh my, this is Shidou-san’s only chance to talk to that kid before those dangerous guys lose their patience. Please don’t do anything stupid that would expose your whereabouts, okay?”
“Of course. That level of security is useless.”
Before she finished her words, the girl “jumped” from the roof of the building like a phantom.
It cannot be perceived by any display device or other detection means, let alone captured by the naked eye.
Because of this, the task of monitoring Gokawa Shido was not given to Kurumi, but was undertaken by herself.
The girl in a long robe sneaked into the department store where the “Hermit” was hiding as easily as if she were in an empty place. The AST encirclement seemed non-existent to her.
Just as she was about to follow the scent to find the [Hermit]——
“? …I can hear voices.”
The girl picked up faint sounds of conversation and guessed that two people were talking.
She followed the sound, and finally—
“……As expected, you’re here, Itsuka Shidou.”
“Haha, didn’t I say…it would definitely be like this?”
What caught the girl’s eyes was Shido Itsuka who was trying to contact the spirits in the same way as a month ago. In other words, as Kurumi said, he came to seal the spirits, no, it should be said that he came to save them.
Should we say he was extremely courageous… Although it was exactly what she wanted, the girl still felt a little surprised by his courage.
However, when she hid herself and observed again, she found that the state of the [Hermit] was a little abnormal.
“…I always feel like the murderous aura of the Hermit is particularly strong.”
“Oh my, she’s not a violent spirit. What on earth did Mr. Shidou say?”
Rather than calling it murderous intent, perhaps it would be more appropriate to call it a sense of oppression.
The docile [Hermit] who had never even fought back against AST’s attacks actually released a sense of oppression towards Shidao at this moment. This abnormal phenomenon not only made Kurumi, but also the girl tilt her head in confusion.
“I thought I said something just now… ‘Could it be that you can only speak with ventriloquism…'”
“Ventriloquism…”
As an elf, the girl was quite confident in her hearing and could clearly capture even the conversation between the two people she had just discovered.
After hearing the few words the girl relayed, Kurumi repeated them thoughtfully on the other end of the communication.
While Kurumi was lost in thought, the girl continued to monitor the situation.
Shidou seemed to have successfully coaxed the [Hermit] into a good mood, and was inviting her out on a date using a rather awkward method—most likely a direct copy of the person he was communicating with.
The [Hermit] did not mind his uninformed words and actions and accepted Shidao’s invitation.
“Looks like things are looking up. Did you find anything from our conversation just now, Kurumi?”
“It hasn’t been confirmed yet. We need more information.”
“Then continue to follow them.”
……..Speaking of which, what kind of “hypothesis” can be constructed based on the word “ventriloquism” alone? The girl was both helpless and admired for Kurumi’s sharpness, and at the same time quietly began formal surveillance.
Naturally, you won’t make low-level mistakes that get discovered.
“…Hmm, the initial tension seemed fake, but things are going surprisingly smoothly.”
“Yeah, it went so smoothly it was almost weird…”
Nearly an hour had passed since Shidou and the [Hermit] started dating.
As the two of them said, they chatted and laughed as they walked around the department store, and the way they got along seemed so smooth that it was unsettling.
Seeing that Shidao did not encounter any resistance, the girl thought that this might soon meet the “conditions” for sealing.
but–
“So? What’s the matter with Kurumi…even though that’s a bit strange to say.”
“Alas, I can’t say anything without confirmation. I’m sorry I can’t tell you until I get some concrete evidence.”
“……..keeping things in suspense is your bad habit.”
“Oh, what a surprise. It’s far inferior to someone else’s.”
The girl groaned when her sore spot was touched.
She did often hide things from Kurumi… and acted mysteriously, so it was clear that she had little chance of winning the debate.
Chapter 12 Dating (Old Version)
“Wahaha, what do you think, Shidou? Handsome or not? Super handsome, right?”
“Hey, hey, it’s dangerous to stand in that place.”
While the two were having this conversation, there was movement on Shidou’s side.
The [Hermit] had somehow climbed onto the children’s climbing frame, and was boasting about it loudly and proudly. Shidou’s figure hurriedly ran over and came into view—
“Really~~ I’m asking if this is cool———Wow, wow wow wow wow…!?”
“What!?”
How should I put it, this development was completely predictable—the girl thought indifferently.
The Hermit lost his balance due to the swing of his hand, and fell straight down towards Shidou who was charging towards him and crashed into him violently.
“…Oh my,”
“Ugh!!”
———The two fell heavily to the ground in a perfect kissing posture.
Although I want to explain it as a coincidence, it is too scary that they can form such a standard kissing posture.
Just looking at the footage, it’s a perfect kissing scene between a young girl and a high school student, and it’s definitely something that should be reported to the police.
“Ah—Kyousan?”
“What can I do for you? It’s none of my business who Shidou-san kisses~~ It’s completely irrelevant~~ I did the same thing with the [Princess]~~ It’s okay~ Really~~ It doesn’t matter~~”
“…I haven’t said anything yet.”
Even through the communicator, she could feel a strong sense of oppression. Faced with this barrage of speeches, the girl ultimately did not dare to stir up a hornet’s nest—as the saying goes, don’t mess with Kuang San to stay safe.
Having said that, even if it was an accident, a kiss is still a kiss.
According to previous observations, the other party is not completely closed off. It stands to reason that at least a partial seal can be achieved.
“It hurts, it hurts~~ I’m sorry, Shidou-kun~~ I was careless~~”
Just as the girl was thinking this, she saw the [Hermit] manipulating the doll as if nothing had happened, speaking in the same lively voice as before, and she couldn’t help but tilt her head in confusion.
Although it is unrealistic to complete the seal in a short period of time, she judged that at least some of the power would flow into Shidao’s body.
However, at this moment, there was no sign of the Hermit’s spiritual power weakening, nor was there any sign of Shidao absorbing spiritual power.
“I thought the Hermit’s favorability towards Itsuka Shido would be enough to at least partially seal him… It seems I misjudged that.”
“That’s true. But this way, my ‘hypothesis’ has even more basis in reality.”
Listening to Kurumi’s slightly smug tone, I thought that after experiencing this kind of thing for the second time, I really recovered faster…
Of course, I couldn’t say that out loud. Just as I was about to ask her to elaborate on the hypothesis she had just mentioned, I suddenly heard the sound of footsteps on the ground.
“——Shido.”
No matter how engrossed she was in the conversation, she couldn’t fail to notice the presence approaching from behind.
In that case, the source of the footsteps and calls can only be Shido Itsuka himself.
Even if heard from a distance, the sound still made people shudder unconsciously.
Being called by his name, Gokawa Shido must have felt a chill down his spine.
“——What were you doing just now?”
“W-what…?”
The soaked girl——the [Princess] rushed towards Shidou with all her might, probably because she was worried about him.
Facing her question, Shidou touched his lips reflexively…then realized his mistake and hurriedly put his hands behind his back.
But it was too late.
The girl’s sensitive heart was broken by this action alone.
The expression on her face as she tried to hold back her tears was like that of a child about to collapse—at the same time, one could clearly feel the spiritual power surging within her body.
“…Ah, this is going to be a backflow of spiritual power…”
“What’s the point of making me so worried—you’re actually flirting with another woman? Aa …
boom!!!
The destructive power far exceeded that of a high school girl, and the ground around where she stomped her foot instantly cracked like a spider web.
This scene simply embodied the Princess’s anger and sorrow.
“……Is this the Shura Field? This is the first time I’ve seen it with my own eyes.”
“This is my first time seeing this… It’s rare to see such a desperate Shura field.”
The sealed spiritual power is flowing back… Previously, the spiritual power of the “Princess” was indeed sealed in Shido Itsuka’s body.
But to put it simply, this seal will form a spiritual power channel between the sealer and the elf.
When the spirit’s mental state deteriorates—when it feels intense pressure—then spiritual energy flows back into the spirit’s body, causing the seal to loosen.
“Well, the spiritual power of the reverse flow is also quite cute. I can only let Gokawa Shido continue to work hard. But compared to this, I would like to hear the [hypothesis] of the famous detective, Tokisaki Kurumi.”
“What’s with this weird name… Never mind.”
The girl casually passed over the topic.
While she was chatting leisurely with Kurumi, the Shura field on the opposite side continued.
Although she did keep a watchful eye, it was impossible for the girl to intervene on the scene unless the situation was extremely dire.
Considering that the [Princess] only experienced a slight reversal of spiritual power, and the [Hermit] had a gentle temperament, the worst-case scenario would not occur.
So the girl decided to give priority to listening to the hypothesis that the Hermit had not been sealed.
Faced with the girl’s playful words and actions, although Kuang San seemed a little helpless, this time she did not keep the girl in suspense like before, but concisely explained the content of the [hypothesis].
“——Let me be frank. I’m afraid there’s another personality inside that puppet.”
Chapter 13 Dual Personality (Old Version)
“You mean a dual personality that can talk?”
“Exactly. When that child holds the doll, a communicative and independent personality forms within it… That’s why Mr. Shidou can’t complete the seal. Because—the one he’s trying so hard to please is actually the doll lady.”
Kurumi added, “As for why this situation has come about, I’m sorry, it’s hard for me to guess.”
Hearing this, the girl held her chin in her hand and suddenly realized.
If Kurumi’s reasoning is correct, the contradiction of Gokawa Shido’s failure to seal the “Hermit” can be explained.
Just as Kurumi said, the person Shidao opened his heart to was the doll and not the [Hermit] himself, so naturally he could not complete the seal.
but—-
“…Kyousan? Even for you, it’s impossible to immediately construct this hypothesis based on the word “Ventriloquism” just mentioned… Are you hiding something?”
Kurumi is indeed very intelligent and good at observing people’s expressions…
But the child only knew about the Hermit through information and on-site footage.
However, she was able to construct this set of reasoning so easily, and even used a tone as if she knew the [Hermit] well… This made the girl feel a strong sense of disobedience.
Faced with the questioning, Kuang San let out an “Aiya” without any shame and began to reveal the secret frankly.
“You worry too much. It’s just that I happened to have a chance to talk with the Hermit yesterday evening.”
“…I haven’t heard of that.”
“Of course, because I didn’t mention it at all.”
————The girl held her head and groaned. The Queen before her showed absolutely no remorse.
Although this was obviously a deliberate concealment, since there has been contact, it makes sense that a hypothesis could be quickly constructed.
If the opponent is a [Hermit], there will be no problem even if Kurumi comes into contact with it.
If it turns into a battle between spirits, the possibility of Kurumi being defeated is simply one in ten thousand…
However, this is a different time now – facing the very few Pokémon that could harm Kurumi, and letting them come into contact without her knowledge is truly terrifying.
“I hope you won’t make me worry too much—”
“…[Ice Golem (Zadkiel)]…!!”
The moment the [Hermit] raised his hand and waved it down, the girl immediately raised the alert level to the highest level.
At the same time, a huge human figure suddenly appeared as if tearing the floor apart.
Carved with white patterns and with rabbit ears like a doll, it is the strongest spear wielded by the elves.
—“Angel”.
“The moment the Princess grabbed that doll, the Hermit became unstable… Could it be that the other personality is her spiritual support?”
“It’s too early to tell – it’s coming.”
Almost at the same time as Kuang San warned, the ice puppet that was emitting terrifying cold air suddenly raised its body and roared.
In an instant, the glass windows of the department store shattered one after another, and countless raindrops flew in…
No, those were no ordinary raindrops, but pellets of completely frozen ice.
As the ice bombs scattered in all directions, some of them had already hit the [Princess]—
“Ugh…Tohka!!”
“What… Shidou!?”
Before the screams could reach him, Shidou grabbed the “Princess” and rolled to the ground, narrowly avoiding the barrage of bullets.
With the reflexes of an ordinary human being, if he had even the slightest hesitation to protect himself, it would be too late—the girl sincerely admired his recklessness.
“You’re really reckless. You have the ability to regenerate, but if you hadn’t made a single mistake just now, you would have been shot to pieces.”
“The Hermit is about to reveal himself. It’s all right to admire Mr. Shidou, but please prioritize the current situation.”
“clear.”
The giant body grabbed the discarded doll with disproportionate agility, smashed the window, and rushed out of the mall.
The girl also silently jumped onto the rooftop where Kurumi pointed and looked down at the battlefield again.
“ah–!!”
The moment the elves’ hearing caught the faint cry, the AST, which had been surrounding it for nearly an hour, launched a homing missile that had directly hit the frozen puppet. Amidst a terrifying explosion, flames engulfed the target.
The barrage of comments that followed was merciless——
But the [Hermit] did not launch any counterattack in the end, and his figure disappeared without a trace in the critical flash.
“…Even after the angels appeared, they retreated without a fight. It would be easier to simply chalk it up to cowardice.”
As the girl spoke, she vaguely felt that this statement was somewhat incongruous.
If they were just timid and cowardly, they would have launched a counterattack against AST long ago.
She clearly had an “angel” within her body that was capable of such a feat, but the only act that could be considered an attack was the raindrops that she had just showered on Shidou and the others.
[Although I already knew it from the data, after actually meeting it, I realized it was truly an incredible spirit.] She leaned against the railing, gazing at the ruins left by the spacequake.
“I thought the seal would be successfully completed this time, but it seems it’s not that easy. Even the Princess is involved. I’m sure Itsuka Shido is having a headache.”
“That’s right… Can I ask you a favor?”
After agreeing with the girl’s words, Kurumi was silent for a moment, as if thinking about something, and suddenly blurted out this request.
In response to her question, the girl had only one answer.
“Of course—as long as it’s Her Majesty the Queen’s order, I’ll go through fire and water without hesitation.”
Chapter 14 Encounter (Old Version)
“Hmph, leave me alone… Get out of the way right now – idiot, idiot!!”
“well……”
A night had passed since the war date with Yoshino. As Shidou went out to buy things in the rain, Tohka’s upset words and his own helpless sighs echoed in his mind.
Although Shidao was determined to save the girl and set out on a war date again, the result can be said to be a failure.
It was a complete accident—if it was intentional, the commander would have even expressed his praise—although he successfully kissed Yoshino, for some reason, even though his favorability had increased to a certain value, the power of the spirit was not sealed at all.
What made Shidao even more headache was that Tohka saw this scene… The result can be imagined, her mood completely fell to the bottom.
Logically speaking, it would be natural for Shidou to go and cheer up Tohka, but the analyst Lingyin said that in this case, it would be better if the person involved was not present.
Although she also mentioned that this was the subtlety of women’s psychology, Shidao still found it difficult to understand.
So, Shidao entrusted Tohka to Reine, and since he had nothing to do, he decided to go out shopping – after all, he was unable to finish it yesterday due to various things.
Just like that, he was walking in the rain, and when he turned the corner inadvertently, his eyes suddenly widened.
“Y-Shiono……?”
The green hood was adorned with rabbit ears, and there was no mistaking it: the spirit [Yoshino] was standing there.
She seemed to be searching for something, groping on the ground with her hands. After hearing Shidou’s whisper, she turned her head——
“……..!!!!”
“Ah…wait, wait a minute—!”
The moment she recognized Shidou, she immediately ran in the opposite direction.
Shidou then realized that he shouldn’t speak rashly and should observe the situation first, so he hurriedly tried to call her – however, a shadow suddenly fell in front of the girl.
No, that’s not a shadow.
It was just the Gothic-style black outfit and black umbrella that gave Shidou an illusion for a moment.
The true identity of that shadow is——
“K-Kyouzo…….!?”
“Mr. Shidou? And this child is——”
She was blocking the end of the alley, and when Shidou called her name, she slightly widened her eyes in surprise, then looked at the girl whose way she had inadvertently blocked, and whispered thoughtfully.
However, just as Shidou was shocked by the appearance of Kurumi, Yoshino, whose retreat was blocked, turned pale and was obviously in a panic.
And at this moment, the hero who always comforted her was not there.
“…Ugh…Ah…!!”
———She raised her hand.
Just this one action made Shidou’s heart freeze as if it was being gripped directly.
He remembered it clearly… This was the posture Yoshino used when she summoned the “Angel” a few days ago.
“No, Yoshino!!!”
Oops.
It would be fine if I was the only one, but I absolutely cannot involve the completely unaware Kurumi.
Although she shouted this out instantly, the anxious Yoshino didn’t listen at all.
The girl’s hand ruthlessly waved down—
“—It’s okay.”
Thinking stopped.
It wasn’t because of Yoshino’s attacking gesture. It was because of the scene before her eyes—
No, the moment he saw that expression, Shidou’s brain almost shut down.
“…….Ah……Wu…….”
“Neither I nor Mr. Shidou will ever… hurt you. So please calm down—”
The two thrown umbrellas rolled to the ground.
Even though he was drenched by the pouring rain, Shidou felt no emotion at all, not even the slightest discomfort.
After all, after all.
He laughed at himself in the corner of his mind: I have indeed become abnormal.
That expression on Kurumi’s face as she held the girl in her arms and whispered to her as if she was comforting a child.
The appearance that only Shidou could glimpse was truly, truly – as sacred and solemn as the Virgin Mary.
…….The chill that had originally permeated the air had dissipated at some point.
Kurumi continued to hug the girl until she calmed down, and during this time, Shidao just stared at Kurumi’s figure in a daze.
Shidou has encountered so many situations in just over ten chapters. Is he really okay?
I think it’s okay. This is just the beginning. Come on, Shidou.
Chapter 15: Umbrella (Old Version)
“—I see. You mean you lost the doll during the AST attack, right?”
“Well, that seems to be the case.”
“Understood. I’ll mobilize all available cameras to assist in the search.”
“Please, Kotori.”
After Kurumi successfully calmed down the frantic Yoshino, Shidou finally got the whole story out of her.
At this moment, he was using the special headphones he carried with him to communicate with Kotori on the [Flaxinas] – this device was something his sister had repeatedly told him to carry with him.
His eyes inadvertently passed over the hands clasped not far away.
After moving to a shelter from the rain, Shidou was responsible for contacting the command center, while Kurumi held Yoshino’s hand the whole time to comfort her.
Although it was an emergency, he still felt scared when he recalled the scene of the girl approaching the runaway elf without any precautions – if Kurumi had not been there, the situation might not have been resolved so smoothly.
This gratitude made him afraid to even look at the other person.
Moreover, the expression she showed when she hugged Yoshino tightly was also——
“——By the way, that kid called Kurumi is really amazing. She can actually suppress the runaway spirits. Maybe she’s more reliable than you, Shidou?”
“…….Hello.”
“Just kidding…but it’s really surprising. Shidou, what is your relationship with her?”
“What’s the relationship—”
The origin of their chance encounter when Shizuo first appeared in the world, and how he gained Yoshino’s trust as a result, have been explained, but Kotori naturally had no idea of the details of what happened before that – that is, how Shidou and Kurumi met.
Faced with his sister’s teasing question, the boy’s words suddenly froze.
Kurumi is…what?
They met by chance a month ago, and he intruded into her life and made promises to her, but now he has become an unreliable man who has to rely on her.
More importantly, to Shidou, she is——
“——Just ordinary friends.”
“…Hmm. Okay, let’s just leave it at that.”
“What kind of answer is that?”
Although she couldn’t help but complain about her sister’s meaningful response, Kotori obviously didn’t intend to continue the topic and gave new instructions instead.
“I don’t have any special intentions. You should also cooperate with the elves in the search operation. Just waiting around will only make her more uneasy.”
“I understand…Kyousan she——”
“While it’s not ideal, forcibly separating someone who has earned the elves’ trust would be even worse. Observation data indicates she’s just an ordinary human… Let’s ask her to assist in the search.”
Shidou gently pushed the earphone in understanding and turned his gaze towards the two of them.
Although Shidao did not want to involve the ignorant Kurumi in this matter, as Kotori said, he also understood that for Yoshino, who was in anxiety due to the loss of her doll, forcibly separating Kurumi, who had stabilized her mental state, would only have a negative impact.
“Okay… sorry to have kept you waiting. I’ll help find the dolls too, Yoshino.”
“……..!!!”
The girl who had been lowering her head and tightly holding Kurumi’s hand, suddenly raised her head and nodded vigorously after hearing Shidao’s words——
“I’m… Yoshino, not… Yoshina. Yoshina is… my friend…”
“Yoshina…?”
The girl introduced herself in a weak but clear voice.
When Shidou called out her name in a rhetorical tone, the girl who called herself Yoshino nodded slightly.
“Then it’s even more imperative to find her. A friend of Ms. Yoshino’s.”
This voice made Yoshino and Shidou turn their heads in surprise.
Kurumi responded to their gazes with a smile and continued softly:
“Please allow me to do my bit.”
“……Ah, thanks, Kurumi. Let’s go, Yoshino.”
“–Thanks……”
Before Shidao could say anything, Kurumi offered to help find the doll.
Feeling the gentleness, Shidou expressed his gratitude, and Yoshino bowed to the two of them in a voice as soft as a mosquito’s buzz but clearly audible.
The moment he looked at Kurumi and nodded, Shidou realized that even if they put aside their identities as elves, they could not ignore the girl in distress.
“By the way, this is for you. It might be wet, but it’s better than nothing.”
“…….?”
Just as Yoshino was about to run away, Shidou handed her the transparent plastic umbrella he was holding.
The moment the confused Yoshino was tucked into the umbrella handle, she looked up in surprise at the sudden cutoff of raindrops.
Looking at the raindrops bouncing on the umbrella and refracting the light, she waved her free hand excitedly up and down.
“…….!!……..!!”
“Oh, as long as you like it—?”
Shidou suddenly realized that the rain was no longer falling on his head. He looked up in confusion and found a black umbrella hanging above his head.
The person holding the umbrella is naturally its owner, Kurumi.
“You’ll get wet if you keep going like this, Shidou-san. Please use this umbrella.”
“Ah, I’m fine. And if I use it, you’ll get wet, right, Kurumi?”
“That won’t do. I’m completely fine with this, Mr. Shidou, please use this umbrella.”
“So I can’t do that either.”
It was just getting wet—but seeing a petite child like Yoshino getting soaked in the rain was really unbearable.
The same goes for Kurumi.
It is true that as a man, he has some self-esteem, and Shidao could not accept letting Kurumi shield him from the rain no matter what.
“So please, Mr. Shidou—”
“So, Kurumi, you——”
“…Ah…Ugh…”
Just as the two of them were in a comical stalemate, pushing each other’s umbrellas, a slight whimper brought Shidao back to his senses.
Unable to bear it any longer, Yoshino timidly tried to offer her umbrella, looking so pitiful.
It’s totally putting the cart before the horse.
But letting Kurumi get wet in the rain is absolutely unacceptable.
Forced into a desperate situation, Shidao finally made the choice—
“It’s okay, Yoshino! Kurumi and I… just the two of us can do it together!!”
———In common sense, it is the so-called “matching umbrella”.
Chapter 16: Oyakodon (Old Version)
“!”
Shido’s words showed a little surprise on her face, then she nodded slightly and ran to find her doll impatiently… Shido.
The moment he breathed a sigh of relief, Shidao glanced at the person beside him—the close distance between him and Kurumi made his heart beat faster.
“S-Sorry, Kurumi, this is the only solution I could think of…”
“…It’s alright. To avoid losing track of Yoshino-san, let’s get going quickly, Shidou-san.”
“Okay, okay.”
Now that I’ve said it, I have no choice but to continue sharing the same umbrella to look for Yoshina.
His face must have been red—Shidou prayed that Kurumi wouldn’t notice, and tried not to care about it as he walked forward.
Kurumi also followed silently.
Because of this, he failed to notice that although she remained unwavering in her words, her cheeks actually had a faint blush.
“—So we’re just… just ordinary friends.”
[It was just a communication, but I could almost see the smirking expression on my sister, the commander.]Shidou decided to selectively ignore it and continued to move forward in the direction of looking for Yoshino.
“Guwuwuwuwu…” A cute sound came into Shidou’s ears. At this time, about two hours had passed since the search for Yoshina began.
He couldn’t help but exchange a look with Kurumi who was also looking for Shionai beside him.
In this case, the owner of this sound naturally cannot be Kurumi.
So….
“Yoshino…? Are you hungry?”
“……………!!!”
Hearing Shidou’s words, Yoshino blushed and shook her head in denial.
But just at this moment, the rumbling sound of her stomach, louder than before, sounded again. This time she squatted down and shyly pulled down her hood to cover her face.
Faced with such a cute gesture, Shidou and Kurumi couldn’t help but smile knowingly.
“Mr. Shidou, would you like to take a short break?”
“Ah, that’s right. Yoshino, let’s take a break.”
Shidou nodded in agreement with Kurumi’s suggestion – it seemed that she had the same idea, and called out to the hiding Yoshino.
Perhaps wanting to find Yoshina as quickly as possible, Yoshina initially shook her head vigorously to reject their suggestions, but…
“……..!”
As the saying goes, two things lead to three.
Another cute belly rumbling sound was heard, making her already red face even redder to her ears. She lowered her head deeply.
“Don’t push yourself, Yoshino-san. If you collapse from exhaustion, you’ll be blamed when you find Yoshino-san.”
“She’s right. If you collapse, we won’t be able to continue looking for Yoshina. Don’t push yourself too hard.”
Perhaps the two’s excuses about Shiona worked.
Shion hummed hesitantly a few times, and finally nodded hesitantly.
“Okay. Then—”
As soon as he said that, Shidou suddenly fell into deep thought, putting his fingers to his chin and pondering.
Although I brought my wallet with me when I went out, paying for the meal for three people was not a problem.
But the problem is that the area they are searching now is near where the spacequake occurred yesterday, and most of the shops in this area are still closed.
“……..Hey, Kotori. Can you come to my house and rest?”
He tapped the headset lightly, lowering his voice so that the two of them wouldn’t hear.
I thought my sister had anticipated this situation, and sure enough, a response came immediately from the communicator.
“Wow. You’re getting bolder, Shidou. While there’s really no other option to approve it—but with Kurumi here, is that really okay?”
“!!!!”
Not forgotten.
He was just focused on letting Yoshino rest, and deliberately didn’t consider anything else.
That’s right, letting Yoshino rest at Shido’s house means that Kurumi will definitely go along with her.
The girl who had just been rejected a few days ago was about to do the same thing again, although the situation was different.
It’s too difficult, the threshold is ridiculously high.
However, there is little time left for hesitation.
Facing Shidou’s sudden silence, Kurumi just stared at him quietly, while Yoshino tilted her head… More importantly, Kotori must not notice.
Otherwise, he will definitely be teased – no matter whether it is related to the elves or not – all of Shidao’s dignity will be played with in the palm of his hand.
“Ah—that resting place… come to my house… okay?”
Who cares!
Shidou pretended to be calm and turned to the two of them and asked.
Yoshino nodded in agreement without hesitation.
The problem was Kurumi’s reaction. When I looked up… I saw her blinking and suddenly bursting into laughter.
The intention behind that smile was hard to understand, and it only made Shidou more confused.
“Hehe… Mr. Shidou is still brooding over what happened a few days ago.”
“Ouch…”
“I trust Mr. Shidou very much. I’m very happy to accept your hospitality—after all, it’s a special invitation.”
Shidou, whose thoughts were seen through, turned his eyes away awkwardly, but Kurumi lifted the hem of her skirt and saluted gracefully… Then, just like that day… she placed her slender fingers lightly on her cherry lips and whispered in a voice that only Shidou could hear.
Men are such simple creatures. Faced with Kurumi’s carefully planned actions, Shidao could only blush and pretend to scratch his cheek to cover it up.
I secretly laughed at myself, thinking that the time I spent being shy in front of Kuang San would be getting longer and longer——
“–Oh? It happened a few days ago. I’d really like to hear the details, Shi Dao?”
“Woo! Alright, alright, let’s go!”
Not good.
I must interrupt my sister’s questioning immediately.
Shidou pretended not to hear what Kurumi said and spoke loudly.
……Although he knew that he would be questioned afterwards, Shidou decided to stop thinking.
Don’t accuse this of being an escape from reality. After all, survival sometimes requires such wisdom—probably.
“Look, it’s done. Fill your stomach and go find Yoshina soon.”
“Even my share….Thank you very much.”
“Don’t worry about it. There’s no difference in the effort required to make a serving for two or three.”
He walked towards the living room with the rice bowl in both hands and placed the bowls on the table in front of Kurumi and Shiono.
After returning home, Shidao handed the curious Yoshino to Kurumi’s care, and with his skillful hands, he made a bowl of golden…
No, that’s an exaggeration, it’s just a regular Oyakodon [chicken and egg rice bowl].
Although it was just a makeshift dish made with ingredients from the refrigerator, it was a piece of cake for Shidou, whose housework skills far exceeded those of ordinary people.
“Okay, I’ll start then.”
Shidou also brought his own bowl and placed it on the table just like he prepared for the two of them. After he put his hands together and said, Kurumi also said, “I’m starting.”
Seeing this, Yoshino also imitated the gesture of bowing her head, then picked up the spoon and tasted a mouthful of the oyakodon.
“………….!”
The next second, Yoshino’s eyes suddenly widened, and she slammed the table, trying to express something to Shidou and Kurumi who were looking at her—then she smiled brilliantly and gave a thumbs-up.
It seemed to suit her taste quite well. Shidou also gave the same thumbs-up gesture in return.
Looking at this heartwarming scene, Kuang San smiled knowingly, and followed Yoshino to put the Oyakodon into her mouth—
“………!!!!”
———The delicious taste instantly overwhelmed me and some inexplicable lines flashed through my mind.
Kurumi, who was originally quite confident in her cooking skills, somewhat looked down on Shidao’s cooking skills, thinking that they were just average…
But now she realized she was wrong.
This is definitely not something that can be mastered in a day or two.
In just ten minutes, he can create such a sophisticated taste, a shocking feeling that makes your taste buds tremble… He uses the real stuff.
However, the girl’s modesty would not allow her to give in easily.
“……Mr. Shidou.”
“What, what’s wrong? Is it not to your taste?”
Shidao was a little flustered when he saw Kurumi suddenly fall silent and call his name after taking a bite.
Although he was confident in his cooking skills, looking at this girl who exuded the temperament of a “young lady”, he couldn’t help but worry whether the common dishes would suit her taste.
But Kurumi slowly shook her head to deny Shidao’s question. In Shidao’s confused eyes, she continued:
“No. It’s very, very delicious. It’s just—I won’t give in.”
“…Oh? Come on…?”
【What are you competing for? 】
Although he was full of questions, Shidou could only remain silent as he watched Kurumi silently devouring the specially made Oyakodon with an unwilling expression.
At this time, Shion was already concentrating on stuffing her little mouth with food, eating without thinking.
Chapter 17 Tenderness (Old Version)
“Would you please rest for a while? We’d like to learn as much as possible about the spirits. Could you please take this opportunity to ask Yoshino a few questions for us?”
Kotori’s voice came through the headset just when they were taking a short break after dinner.
“A question?” Shidao responded softly, but he couldn’t ask about the spirits directly in front of Kurumi…
“I’m so sorry for your hospitality. Could you please let me clean up?”
Just as he was thinking this, Kurumi suddenly stood up, clasped her hands together and said these words.
It was as if he saw through their intentions.
“Ah, no, how can we let customers do this…”
“Wait, Shidao. This is something we would love to have.”
“Please don’t worry about it. Besides—”
Before Kotori could finish conveying her instructions, Kurumi had already folded the dishes and headed towards the kitchen.
The moment we passed by——
“———Please enjoy a good chat with Miss Yoshino now.”
She left these words in Shidao’s ear.
Swish—in every sense…it sends chills down one’s spine.
Perhaps because of the numbing voice of Kurumi still lingering in his ears, Shidao pretended not to notice that his ears had inexplicably turned red.
[…I’m amazed. How perceptive is that child? Who is she?]“Well…”
……Looking back now, when Yoshino was telling the story, there were clearly some unnatural words used, but Kurumi didn’t say anything.
The voice was very low at that time. Unlike Shidao who was facing her, Kurumi who was holding her hand might have just not heard it clearly…
But maybe she understood but pretended not to know?
If that’s the case, in addition to being amazed at Kurumi’s sharpness, we should also be grateful for her considerate silence.
With a slightly uneasy premonition, Shidou decided not to let down the opportunity created by Kurumi, and turned his gaze to Yoshino, who was breathing a sigh of satisfaction after finishing her Oyakodon.
“Um, Yoshino. I have something to ask you… Can I ask you a few questions?”
“……..?”
Kotori had already explained the content of the questions.
Facing the elf who tilted its head in confusion, Shidou began to question him.
“Um… you seem to cherish her very much – what kind of existence is Shionna to you…?”
This is something that Shidou has always been concerned about.
Although she called me a friend, I never heard her mention the specific details.
The personality displayed by that doll is indeed very cheerful and lively, but…
In response to Shidou’s question, Yoshino stammered but uttered words firmly.
“Is Yoshina…a friend…or…a hero?”
“hero?”
“Yoshina is… my ideal… my aspiration. She’s… not weak like me… nor indecisive like me… but strong and handsome…”
“My ideal self…”
Shidou recalled the time when he met Yoshina in the department store a few days ago.
Yoshino wearing a doll—Yoshina is indeed more lively and talkative than Yoshino, with a cheerful and energetic personality, but—
“I actually like Yoshino more now…”
At the moment when Shidou said this, a clanging sound was heard from the kitchen.
Following the sound, I saw Kuang San washing dishes. It seemed to be just the sound of dishes colliding.
When Shidou turned back to Yoshino, he found that she had curled up without him noticing, with her hands pulling her hood up to cover her face.
“Y-Shiono? What’s wrong?”
“…..It’s the first time…..I’ve been told that…”
“Is that so?”
Looking at Yoshino nodding her head like crazy, Shidou suddenly understood.
Indeed, this reaction is normal for elves who rarely communicate with humans.
Just as he was thinking alone, Qin Li’s voice suddenly came from the headphones.
[Shidou, was that… calculated?]“Huh? Calculate what…?”
[…It’s okay. It’s okay if it’s not.]“W-What…?”
Although he was confused by his sister’s inexplicable words, Shidou decided to continue questioning Yoshino first.
“And… Yoshino, I heard that you almost never fight back when attacked by AST? Is there a reason for that?”
Yoshino is a “spirit” just like Tohka.
If she wanted to, she should be able to easily defeat AST just like Tohka did when her power was not sealed.
But not only did Yoshino not fight back, she didn’t even respond with the same ease as Tohka.
For what reason… Facing Shidou’s question, Yoshino clutched the corner of her clothes and answered in a voice even weaker than before:
“I… hate pain. And I’m afraid… of getting hurt. I think… those people must also… hate pain and be afraid of getting hurt. So, I—”
“That–“
A sound so faint that it was almost missed.
But Shidou’s ears did catch that voice, and then he fell silent.
What is that, what on earth is that…….!!
Her feelings were too strong—
“But… I’m weak… and timid… so… I can’t be alone… No. When it hurts… I get scared, and when I don’t know what to do… my mind becomes a mess… I’m bound to do something… excessive… to everyone.”
———It’s really, too gentle.
“So… Yoshino… is my hero… Yoshino… when I’m scared, she tells me… it’s okay. And then… everything becomes okay… So… so…”
He bit his lip and clenched his fists until they were almost bleeding.
If he didn’t do this, Shidou felt that he wouldn’t be able to bear the words of this overly gentle girl.
The girl said she was weak and timid.
No, that’s absolutely wrong—Shidao denied it in his heart.
Facing the merciless spear of murderous intent, facing the existence that pours out such malice.
Even so, Yoshino still cares about the other party…
That is what it means to be strong.
The girl is stronger than anyone else and has a heart that is gentler and more compassionate than anyone else.
This kind of thought is more precious than anything else—yet it makes people feel extremely twisted and heartbroken.
Chapter 18 Negative Points (Old Version)
“…Uh…ah, that…”
Before he could think, he had already stood up and sat next to Yoshino, stroking her hair gently.
I can’t stop anymore.
To this sad girl with twisted tenderness, Shidao——
“I…will definitely save you.”
Absolutely, I will save you and show you.
“I will definitely find Yoshino. And… bring her to you. Not only that, I will make sure you no longer need Yoshino’s protection. I will never let [pain] and [fear] get close to you again. I will be your hero.”
He also realized that he was uncharacteristically excited.
But the words could not stop.
The overly gentle girl’s mercy was completely denied to herself.
So, who can give her tenderness? This is both simple and extremely difficult.
It can only be given by others.
Shidou knew very well how difficult this was for the elves.
Even so, even so…if there is no redemption for this overly gentle girl—he absolutely cannot accept it.
“…….Thank you……”
“Um.”
Seeing that Yoshino accepted his feelings, Shidou relaxed his expression and nodded….
At this moment, he accidentally caught a glimpse of the girl’s lips and hurriedly looked away.
“Ah—um, sorry about what happened earlier. I kissed you out of the blue.”
This was a confession that had to be made, and Shidao was determined to tell what he had to confess.
Putting aside the men for now, the girl who had her first kiss taken away must have been deeply hurt.
However, after hearing Shidou’s confession, Yoshino suddenly opened her eyes wide and tilted her head.
That expression didn’t seem to indicate she cared, but rather that she didn’t understand what he was saying at all…
“…Kissing, what is it?”
“Eh? Ah, just… touching with lips like this—”
“Like this…?”
As if she didn’t understand Shidou’s explanation, Yoshino suddenly put her face in front of him, so close that her lips were almost touching.
Shidou was so frightened that his heart almost jumped out of his chest, but remembering the content of the “training”, he managed to maintain his composure.
…He seemed to hear a “click” sound louder than before, but he had no time to pay attention to it now, and Kurumi didn’t look over here either.
The most important thing is that ordinary people should not be able to hear the conversation at this distance, so he continued to focus on the conversation with Yoshino.
“Ugh… Yeah, yeah. That’s it.”
“—I don’t quite…remember clearly…”
“…Huh?”
Upon hearing Yoshino’s answer, Shidou let out a distorted exclamation.
This answer made him feel a sense of disharmony—but in the next second, this feeling of disharmony was completely dispelled.
“Shidou——!! I’m sorry——”
“ah…….?”
The door was suddenly kicked open, and Tohka, who was supposed to go out with Reine, rushed into the living room, but froze in the middle of her words.
No wonder.
Because at this moment…Shidou and Yoshino are facing each other at such a close distance that they could kiss at any moment.
“Ten ten ten ten ten fragrant?!”
The overwhelming murderous aura made Shidao sweat all over, and even Yoshino, who was not afraid when her puppet was taken away, let out a small scream.
…….Although I was simply shocked by this feeling of oppression.
By the way, when the elves’ emotions worsened, the alarm of [Fraxinus] had already been ringing through the sky.
“……Oh.”
Tohka smiled a creepy, calm smile and walked straight to the living room—
However, the first place they went to was the kitchen instead of where Shidou and the others were.
“Wait, Tohka, wait a moment—”
The words stopped as soon as they came out.
Itsuka Shido, who turned towards the kitchen instead of being interrupted, suddenly froze in place—
He had clearly spoken with the intention of stopping Tokisaki Kurumi, but the girl in spirit attire had disappeared without a trace.
In the blink of an eye, Yatogami Tohka had already cleared out the refrigerator and cupboards, and rushed out of the living room like a whirlwind, carrying a mountain of food.
Accompanied by the sound of climbing the stairs.
“Bang!!” The sound of a door slamming, which shook the window frames, announced the end of this farce.
…….It seems I have to start the strategy from the beginning again.
“—Your life is truly interesting, Mr. Shidou.”
“Wow!?”
The sudden presence of a slender hand on his back and the sound of breath beside his ear made the boy scream and almost bite his tongue as he jumped back.
Looking at his miserable appearance, Kuang San, who was in the kitchen just now, was laughing softly with her hands covering her lips.
“Kyou-Kyou-san? What did you just do…”
“Haha…hide and seek is my specialty.”
“…Is that so?”
[This is basically space movement…] Shidou glanced at the place where she had just sneaked around behind him and secretly criticized it in his heart.
“Compared to this…” Kurumi’s eyes swept across the empty sofa, “Where is Miss Shiono?”
“Eh? …Strange? Yoshino…”
After she reminded him, Shidao realized that the blue-haired girl who had been sitting obediently had disappeared silently like morning dew.
[When Tohka got close, her spiritual power reached a critical point, forcing her to teleport! Anyway, let’s just fool around for now.]Kotori’s anxious instructions came through the headphones.
“fool…….”
[That’s easy to say…] Shidou stole a glance at Kurumi who narrowed her eyes in front of him. The girl’s probing gaze made cold sweat break out on his forehead.
Finally, he forced himself to laugh:
“He must have been scared away by Tohka. Ahahaha……”
———Negative points.
I heard my sister sigh “idiot” through the headphones.
This excuse is so fake that even I can’t stand it.
Just when Shidao was ready to be exposed, Kurumi stared at him meaningfully for a long time, and finally sighed softly:
“…Since you put it that way, Mr. Shidou and Ms. Yoshino…I guess both of you have something to hide?”
“…….Feel sorry.”
When Kurumi said this with a wry smile, Shidou bowed his head and apologized.
After all, there was no way he would tell the truth about the elves.
She absolutely did not want to and could not involve the clueless Kurumi in this.
So at this moment he bowed his head and accepted her consideration with gratitude.
Chapter 19 Prelude (Old Version)
“Please don’t apologize. In exchange, when I encounter difficulties, you will fulfill your promise, right?”
“!Ah…I will definitely become Kurumi’s strength by then. This is a promise.”
Facing the smiling Kurumi, Shidou nodded vigorously in response.
She still remembers the “promise” she made.
Even now, the reason is still unclear.
I don’t know what she is carrying… or even what my feelings are.
But the desire to be her strength that day was real and without any falsehood.
Then the boy would definitely reach out to the girl without hesitation.
Whatever awaits ahead…
“–If the oath I made to Miss Yoshino is sincere, then I…”
“Um……?”
In a trance, he seemed to hear Kurumi murmur something softer than Yoshino’s voice, and Shidou subconsciously asked.
But Kuang San suddenly looked up, put on a smile again and immediately evaded the question.
“Nothing. I just think… Shidou-san is really an expert at making women laugh and cry.”
“What…! This is a misunderstanding, Kurumi!! Tohka is…?”
This misunderstanding cannot be ignored.
Shidou started to defend himself like a husband who was caught cheating.
Of course, since we must never mention anything related to elves, this explanation would probably be quite difficult.
[Kyousan’s inner monologue]…When that feeling is proven to be true, I will definitely…
————————————
“I think I found it. The doll held by the Hermit.”
The robed girl who was watching Kurumi’s homework with her chin in her hand spoke in a casual tone as if chatting with her family.
“…Is that so? So, where is this thing that even we couldn’t find after searching the entire city?”
“You are really rude to call on “your own people”, Miss Kurumi…”
Although the phrase “ordering one’s own people around” is a bit subtle, it is not surprising considering the existence of Kurumi and others.
She sighed, “Forget it,” and then began to share information with Kurumi.
“―――――Origami Tobiichi. She’s a member of the Ground Self-Defense Force’s anti-elves unit, the AST, with the rank of Staff Sergeant. By the way, she’s said to be a beautiful girl in the same class as Gokawa Shidō.”
“The second half of the report is completely superfluous. Is that Miss Tobiichi Origami the person who found Yoshino’s doll…that day?”
“Exactly. It seems that Gokawa Shido is heading to Tobiichi Origami’s house to try and ‘take it back’.”
Kurumi didn’t comment on the girl’s unnecessary information and pretentious answers, but when she heard that Shidou wanted to “take it back”, she suddenly stopped working and looked up with a confused expression.
“Why did you specifically ask Mr. Shidou to go? Just one item made those bigwigs behind Mr. Shidou…”
With a swish, the girl silently placed her palm in front of Kurumi to interrupt her, and gestured a number with her other hand.
Kurumi’s doubts are indeed reasonable if the opponent is just an ordinary AST member.
But it needs to be added that…if it is just an ordinary team member.
“Six. It’s said that this number of people have been sent to the hospital from the team attempting to recapture it.”
“…Mechanical lifeform?”
“It doesn’t look like an enemy capable of causing that kind of time delay. ――― Infrared sensors, tear gas, and even the automatic tracking Sentry Gun deployed throughout the room. What enemy is she guarding against?”
Although her expression was still hidden under her robe, the girl’s tone clearly revealed her speechlessness.
After hearing the report, Kurumi couldn’t hide her confusion.
Even they didn’t go to that extent.
It looked like an armed room prepared for war, and anyone who heard it would be shocked.
What’s more, some people were actually hospitalized because of this, which shows that it is not an exaggeration.
“Mr. Shidou, are you going to such a dangerous place?”
“Are you worried?”
Faced with the girl’s somewhat playful question, Kurumi showed an unhappy expression for a moment, but quickly returned to normal and continued with the work at hand, responding in a stern voice.
“Please don’t make me repeat myself. If the current Gokawa Shido dies, it will cause me trouble. That’s all.”
“I see. But I don’t think there’s any need to worry too much. It seems that Origami Tobiichi has a special obsession with Itsuka Shido.”
———Although he added in his heart, “I am not responsible for whether his chastity can be preserved.”
The word “obsession” is an understatement, but the degree of obsession is already beyond common sense.
However, the girl thought calmly that if Shido Itsuka couldn’t resist the temptation…it would be his own fault.
Although I feel compassion, that’s all I can do at this moment.
Having said that——
“…By the way, why is Kurumi making Oyakodon?”
“————I absolutely cannot lose.”
……..Who did you lose to?
She tilted her head in confusion as she had the same question as someone else, but when she saw Kurumi seriously preparing the Oyakodon, she didn’t ask any further questions.
Perhaps it should be said that he was shocked by the burning concentration emanating from the other party.
Anyway, it was all free time before Shido Gokawa got the doll, so the girl once again held her chin in her hand and watched Kurumi cooking. Suddenly, they both felt a strange and tingling atmosphere, and they looked at each other for a moment.
Soon, space earthquake alarms rang throughout the city…
“Whether Itsuka Shido can arrive in time or not is not the point for now—”
“I will go with you.”
Kurumi interrupted the girl, took off her apron and stepped forward.
“Since you’re manipulating our actions, my presence will be exposed sooner or later. So, there’s no harm in showing up on my own initiative… Do you have any objections?”
———Shadows clung to it like living things.
The shadow spreading from Kuang San’s feet wrapped around his body, transforming into a black dress dotted with scarlet light patterns.
Elohim.
Tokisaki Kurumi is the armor of the elf, the spiritual armor of protection.
Wearing a blood-red dress, Kuang San raised the corners of her mouth fearlessly.
Those red eyes inlaid with a golden “clock” seemed to penetrate the girl’s soul.
“yes.”
Those pupils declared that this was the only answer she wanted.
“Oh, really…”
The girl couldn’t help but complain softly.
But since Kurumi had made her decision, her answer was destined to be like this from the beginning.
Even without considering this point, the combat capability of the [Hermit] had been basically understood as early as “last time”.
The girl had neither the reason nor the means to stop it.
In the final analysis——
“If something unexpected happens, I will act alone. Will you please stand aside and watch?”
“Hehe, I’ll follow your instructions~”
———When Saki Kurumi said yes, that was the girl’s truth.
Chapter 20 Rampage (Old Version)
Malice. Murderous intent. Malice. Murderous intent… these are eating away at the girl’s heart.
The overly gentle girl could not withstand or resolve the surging murderous intent on her own.
Spinning and twisting, the world and the self are gradually going crazy.
The silent cry echoed in the gloomy sky with continuous rain.
She was surrounded only by malice and murderous intent, nothing more.
The hero who gave courage—Yoshina was not present.
The heroine who gently embraced her, Kurumi, was not here either.
The hero who would come to save her—Shidao…still hasn’t appeared.
“ah……..!”
If it weren’t for the protection of the spiritual outfit, the existence called Yoshino would have been wiped out long ago.
The bullet, fired solely to take her life, exploded with the force of the impact, mercilessly smashing the girl’s petite body to the ground.
So scary, so scary, so scary, so scary, so scary…!
Who comes, who comes, who comes, who comes, who comes to save me————There is no one.
“ah–“
The murderous intent poured down.
Fear consumes everything.
The girl’s gentle heart is being completely stained black.
“——【Ice Golem (Zadkiel)】……!!!”
The devastation begins.
“…….ha?”
When she saw the “angel”, the cloaked girl couldn’t help but let out a scream.
A puppet with rabbit ears… There was no doubt that this was the “angel” of [Hermit] that I had seen before.
So there was indeed a reason why the girl stared at the doll in a daze, even if it was only for a moment.
Because the doll was so huge that it was terrifying—
“HOOO …
———It’s really huge…
“Hey, this is way too big. It’s easily taller than the building. Even during its growth period, it shouldn’t be this long. This is ridiculous.”
“Oh my, the elves’ ‘angels’ are not ordinary things.”
Even when standing on the top of a distant building and looking out, the hugeness is still oppressive.
Although the girl was well aware of the “angel” standards of the elves, she felt more speechless than shocked.
Kurumi didn’t seem too surprised and was tentatively stepping on the icy ground with the soles of her boots.
“That’s true, but it can’t be that big, right? A conservative estimate is that it’s dozens of times the original size, that angel.”
Looking around, they immediately realized that things were not as simple as the “angel” getting bigger.
The roar of the “Angel” continuously releases cold currents centered on the doll, freezing the streets of Tiangong City endlessly.
What’s worse, the torrential rain has intensified since the doll appeared, and every drop of rain will expand the frozen area the moment it hits the ground.
Yes, endlessly…
At this moment, Tiangong City is no longer a place where humans can survive. Everywhere you look, you see a world frozen in time.
“——So, Yoshina is a safety device.”
Kurumi murmured softly, staring at the doll—staring at Yoshino with a hint of melancholy in her eyes…
To the girl, that look was heartbreakingly sad.
The asymmetrical braids protected by the spiritual outfit still swayed in the wind with glossy beauty even in the cold current.
“Yoshina…that doll that houses another personality has been suppressing the power of the Hermit?”
“Exactly. You previously speculated that she was a spiritual pillar, right? But there’s more to it than that.”
Kurumi continued to analyze.
It really has to do with a girl who is too gentle and too twisted.
“I don’t want her to experience the pain I’ve endured. Yoshino created Yoshina to fulfill this childish fairytale fantasy.”
“Well…that kid…”
“Limiter—even when facing an enemy attacking her, Miss Yoshino-san created a second personality to prevent harm… to suppress and control the power of the spirits… That is the conclusion I have come to.”
The word “saint” passed through the girl’s chest.
This tenderness never asks for anything in return, for humans respond to her tenderness with murderous intent, but there is nothing that can be done about it.
[Absolute Threat]——This is their final conclusion about the elves.
“——What a twisted tenderness.”
This gentleness cannot be redeemed, and this gentleness cannot be rewarded.
Although it seemed absurd, and although she felt pity… even Kurumi didn’t have the power to save her.
If there is anyone in this world who can save her, it is only this person————
“oops.”
The one who stomped on the ground fiercely was the girl, and the one who jumped up lightly like a dancing butterfly was Kurumi.
Although their movements were different, they witnessed icicles bursting out from the frozen ground at the moment of taking off.
These ice spikes are strong enough to string the human body into a candied haws, so it is not an exaggeration to call them ice “spears”.
One, two, and another…
The ever-growing icicles are growing at an accelerating rate.
When the girl deftly landed on one of them, Kurumi, who was floating on the side, was staring at Yoshino.
“Now that Kotori-san is no longer here… Yoshino-san is no longer able to control herself.”
“That led to the Angel’s true awakening, and in turn, the creation of this silver world—that’s what happened.”
All I could see was ice, ice, ice…
The [barrier] that completely engulfed Tengu City was the very [castle] that Yoshino had invaded.
As the two watched, the ice puppet (Zadkiel) that had previously suppressed AST suddenly changed its action mode.
It let out a shrill roar and its huge body leaned back violently.
As if it was about to devour something…it maintained a bloody mouth posture.
Kurumi and the girl felt something strange at the same time.
The girl still remembered this aura clearly—the precursor to the runaway [Princess] releasing the [Angel] ultimate skill a month ago was reappearing at this moment!
“—That’s not good.”
Chapter 21: Passing Elf (Old Version)
What Shidou got after visiting Origami Tobiichi’s house was not just a doll.
Origami’s heart.
What did she carry on her shoulders and what thoughts did she have in mind when she fought against the elves?
Shidou finally knew all this.
【Five years ago, a large-scale disaster occurred in Tiangong City.】
Shidou also vaguely remembered it.
It was because of that fire that he moved to his current residence.
And that fire—Origami said—was caused by elves.
And—she lost both her parents in that fire.
In order to prevent the tragedy from happening again and to avenge her parents, Tobiichi Origami has been fighting.
Shidou couldn’t say that she was wrong, and he had no right to say so.
Because she took up arms precisely to prevent others from experiencing the same fate as herself.
Who can deny this nobility?
【But, I…….!!】
Be it Tohka, Yoshino, or Origami…
Why do these girls who are so gentle, considerate and caring of others have to kill each other?
Origami said that she would only attack after confirming the spirit’s reaction.
The only one who can meet this condition is Shidou himself…
No need to hesitate.
Shidou hid his determination deep in his heart and rushed out of Origami’s apartment.
“——Why is there birdlime in the entrance?!!!”
———Just as he was about to leave, he was inexplicably trapped in a birdlime trap that had been set in advance.
By the time I finally got away, I had already spent a lot of time.
But this trap is set up really strangely, Shidao thought with his head tilted.
It’s almost like it was designed to prevent anyone from escaping from the inside.
Adding to this the various high-level “energy supplements” discarded in the trash can, and combined with Origami’s behavior, the answer we can deduce is—
“Well!! Let’s not even think about it!!!”
It would be dangerous to think further.
He praised himself: Shido Gokawa, you have endured very well.
It was really too dangerous. If the contemptuous look of the black-haired beautiful girl had not appeared in his mind—of course, it was Shidao’s delusion—he might have died on the spot.
Mainly Shidao’s chastity.
Shaking off all distracting thoughts, Shidao opened the door with the recycled doll, and what appeared before his eyes was…
“What…what is this…”
A frozen world.
The ordinary street scene of Tiangong City a few hours ago no longer exists, and a beautiful silver world comes into Shidao’s sight.
“Shi…dao——”
Just as he was stunned by the scene before him, a mixed voice came from the headphones that had remained silent since entering Origami’s house.
Although the noise was so severe that he could only hear fragments of words, he was sure that it was the voice of his sister Kotori.
“Kotori!? The doll has been collected!! Yoshino–“
“No….Don’t…Run away!! Brother!!!”
The moment the noise dissipated, what came clearly into his ears was the shrill scream of his sister abandoning the commander’s dignity.
“—ah.”
Then, a pure white “chill” that was enough to obscure the entire field of vision came.
——It’s over.
He understood instantly. There was no escape.
As if played in slow motion, the chill completely enveloped Shidou’s vision.
No matter how hard he struggled, he would be swallowed up by the cold current and “die”.
Faces appear and disappear like a kaleidoscope.
No, I can’t die here.
Yoshino would still be waiting for his rescue. Tohka would be left alone. Kotori would cry for him.
And——there were feelings that he hadn’t been able to convey to her.
Time passed relentlessly. Facing the approaching wave of death, he subconsciously closed his eyes.
“—Huh?”
Instantly, the feeling of weightlessness… made him open his eyes. What he saw was not the deathly cold current, but the streets of Tiangong City covered in silver…
“Wow…!?”
Before I could come to my senses, my body fell rapidly again and landed near the apartment… I thought I was going to fall on the ice, but I was gently put down and just sat down on the ground.
“——Are you okay? Itsuka Shido.”
Amidst the dizzy cries of pain, Shidou looked up at the sound and what he saw was – a pure white.
“–Who are you…….”
The girl standing there asked him a question.
But the reason why Shidou made a dull sound was completely different from when he was facing Tohka.
Pure white. A girl dressed in a pure white robe.
He is about the same height as his younger sister Kotori, and his outfit makes him look like a magician in an RPG game.
However, what he wore around his waist was not a staff, but a “katana”.
From the scabbard, the hilt to the handle, the whole thing is “white”.
That white wasn’t pure white…it was closer to transparent.
The texture that seemed like “nothingness” gave him vague associations.
The reason why he lost his mind was because of the special presence of the girl in white robe.
Kurumi, Tohka, and Shiono.
They all impacted Shidao’s cognition with their distinct presence—but this girl was the exact opposite.
It’s like a contradictory feeling of “being here” and “not being here”.
The girl with such a unique temperament snorted softly, and after pondering Shidou’s question for a moment, she announced in a contrived tone like a comedian:
“——Just a passing elf.”
Chapter 22 Mysterious Elf (Old Version)
“…Spirit…?”
“Yes. It’s the [Elf] you’re familiar with.”
Facing Shidou’s bewildered question, the girl in a long robe confirmed it in a calm tone.
[Elves]————A being called a special disaster designated life form, a being that appears from a critical point.
He understood this.
But at this moment, Shidao’s mind was in chaos.
[Ratatoskr] is an organization established to protect elves. With its support, Shidao has taken the initiative to contact elves twice.
However, the girl who called herself “Elf” and seemed to have saved his life said, “Are you okay, Gokawa Shido…” These words were undoubtedly calling his name.
Then he claimed to be a “passerby”, which is simply unbelievable.
Why did she know Shidou’s name? Why did she save Shidou? Why—
【——Shidou!! Are you okay!?】
“Uh…! Kotori?”
What pulled him out of the mental quagmire he had fallen into after his near-death experience was his sister’s voice, calling his name in a voice that almost ripped the air apart.
Hearing this familiar voice, Shidou was finally able to calmly assess the current situation.
Indeed, now is not the time to stand still.
“No, I’m fine. At least I’m still alive… I’m sorry for worrying you.”
【…Hmph, I’m glad you’re alright. Shidou, what happened just now?】
It seems that even from [Fraxinus], it is impossible to fully grasp the situation in the ice.
After confirming her brother’s safety, Kotori’s voice returned to her usual “Commander Mode.”
Shidou hesitated slightly, but still began to report what happened concisely.
“Well…a passing elf saved me.”
[——Elf!? What are you talking about just passing by?!]“She said so herself…!!”
Shidao wasn’t joking, but no matter how he sorted out the situation, this was the only explanation, and he couldn’t do anything about it if he was questioned.
Although Kotori was momentarily shaken by this report, she immediately instructed Shidou to wait.
For Shidou, the only thing he could rely on right now was Kotori’s analysis, so he stood up and waited for the communication, but——
[——Shidou. Is she really calling herself a “spirit”?]“……? Yes, absolutely. Any questions?”
After a few seconds, Kotori replied, but she was inexplicably hesitant and kept confirming.
Just when Shidao was puzzled, the analysis results came quickly.
“…Completely unanalyzable. I can’t even tell if it’s an elf…
“…….ah?”
【Since she saved Shidou, we can at least assume she has no hostility towards us…】
————The final conclusion was simply that [it was impossible to resolve].
Shidou couldn’t help but look at the girl in the long robe, but the girl just stood there leisurely without saying a word.
I couldn’t even see her face, let alone judge her intentions from her expression.
Who exactly this girl is…it’s really hard to guess.
Even [Flaxinas], which is equipped with the world’s most advanced equipment, is facing the same dilemma at this moment.
“No! There’s no way to parse the target data!”
“What’s going on… Lingyin, how’s the situation over there?”
The figure of a white-robed elf was displayed on the main screen of the bridge.
Normally, the various elf parameters analyzed by the display device should be displayed here—however, at this moment, all the data columns are showing the word “ERROR”.
In this way, not only is it impossible to measure the elf’s favorability, but even whether that existence is really an elf becomes doubtful.
However, if we lose our composure because of an irrational elf, it would be a disgrace to the name of “Ratatoskr”.
Kotori, holding her favorite lollipop in her mouth, asked Reine, who was sitting on the lower deck of the bridge.
“…Same here. All analysis of the manifestation device ‘Realizer’ has failed. I’m afraid it’s due to the power of that spirit.”
Reine, tapping on the console, shook her head, explaining the current situation. The confusion on her face was something even her close friend, Kotori, had never seen before.
If we believe that it calls itself an “elf”, then as Lingyin said, the elf’s “angel” is invalidating all our means of interference – this speculation is the most reasonable.
It was too early to jump to conclusions, but unfortunately, Kotori and the others were running out of time.
Although protecting the elves is Ratatoskr’s mission, the sudden appearance of new elves within the tightening “time limit” is extremely abnormal.
Just as Kotori was lost in thought, the robed elf who had remained silent all this time suddenly spoke:
“Itsuka Shidou. Instead of worrying about me, don’t you have other things you should be doing?”
Please give me some feedback, there will be more updates in the next few days.
Chapter 23 Don’t Bite Your Tongue (Old Version)
“Oh, by the way…where’s Yoshino!?”
She is currently battling AST. As you can see, she is responsible for this situation.
Hearing Kotori’s quick answer, Shidou looked around the frozen streets again.
The entire city had turned into a frozen city, and even the apartment he had just been in was completely frozen, turning into a huge ice crystal.
He couldn’t help but shudder when he thought that if he hadn’t been saved by the girl, he would have turned into an ice sculpture by now.
“…We must hurry to Yoshino’s place!!”
Now is no time to be afraid.
Shidou knew very well that this situation was definitely not what the gentle girl wanted.
Before an irreparable tragedy occurred, he anxiously wanted to rush out——
“Stop it.”
“Varied…….!?”
Shidou was suddenly grabbed by the back of his neck and was pulled back to where he was.
Before Shidou could protest, a “spear” of ice burst out of the ground in front of him.
If I had continued to rush forward, my legs would have been pierced through.
“This, this is…”
“These things are constantly appearing all over the street right now. They’re called icicles… but their size is ridiculous. They must be the product of Yoshino’s spiritual power. Be careful, Shidou, or you’ll be skewered.”
Just as Kotori said, if these icicles, which were as tall as a person, were to pierce directly from under their feet, they would definitely cause more than just minor injuries.
Moving in this environment of indiscriminate attacks is like walking through a minefield.
“If you act rashly, you’ll get hurt. But you won’t stop even if I tell you.”
“Ah…thanks, you saved me again.”
“……Yeah. Do you need help?”
“Eh?” Shidou looked at the girl in confusion, but her expression was still hidden in her robe and could not be seen.
But he heard the words “Do you need help?” very clearly.
“You want to go to the Hermit’s location? I don’t know how long it would take you to get there alone. I can help you until I can get you there.”
The girl added, “The choice after that is entirely up to you.”
For Shidao now, this proposal is exactly what he wants.
“Really?!”
“Wait, Shidou, this is too dangerous. We still don’t know anything about that spirit, huh?”
Even though she was rescued twice, it cannot be concluded that she is Shidou’s companion.
Good intentions or bad intentions?
What is her purpose even?
With all of this still unclear, the risk of entrusting Shidou completely to her is too high.
The girl has grasped Shidou’s intentions, but they have no bargaining chips in their hands.
“But, there’s no time.”
“Ugh…this…”
Hearing Shidou’s low rebuttal, Kotori was speechless for a moment.
Even bystanders could see that if this abnormal situation continued, it would inevitably lead to serious consequences, and Shidao naturally understood this.
Furthermore, [Flaxinas]’s predictions indicate that if the situation continues to deteriorate, it is very likely to affect the foundations and even the underground shelters where people take refuge.
Although Shidao has a strong recovery ability for some reason, it has its limits after all, and he is almost unable to resist if attacked by elves.
If the other party understands Shidao, they may take advantage of his laxity to kidnap him.
By then, not to mention saving Yoshino, all efforts will be in vain.
The danger Shidou faces and the safety of Yoshino and the town—even the capable Kotori cannot balance the two and make a decision in an instant.
“If you want to use your teleportation device to go directly there, that’s fine. However, given the current situation, I don’t recommend it.”
“…He even knows everything about our situation. What is the origin of this elf?”
She referred to them as “your side” in the plural form. Although the scope was unclear, she was obviously aware of the existence of [Flaxinas].
Thick rain clouds obscured the view, and making the ship visible was too risky; and using a teleporter to transport the recovered Shidou into the chaotic scene would have even more unpredictable consequences.
Perhaps it was slightly less risky than Shidou’s on-foot assault, but if one wanted to arrive quickly and safely, it was still—
“—I understand! Please help me. Take me to… where Yoshino is!”
Before Kotori could make a decision, Shidou had already given her the answer. No, perhaps his choice had never wavered from the very beginning.
Knowing that there are many risks, he is willing to do it even if it means relying on the power of strange elves.
The boy had already vowed in his heart that he would save the overly gentle girl, Yoshino, no matter what.
Those determined eyes without any confusion.
Faced with such blunt words and gaze, the girl in the robe nodded slightly—but firmly.
“Then let’s go. – Be careful not to bite your tongue.”
The sudden feeling of floating and strong wind pressure.
However, unlike just now, this wasn’t an aerial jump where one could overlook the street view.
A girl, about the same height as her younger sister Kotori, was carrying Shidou on her back at an astonishing speed.
She dodged the icicles that rose from the ground one after another with ease, sometimes even using them as footholds to fly past. Shidou could only cling to the girl’s back with all his might.
“Wow, that’s amazing…”
“———Really? They made this decision without even discussing it with us.”
Shidou managed to squeeze out a sound of surprise, but then heard Kotori’s helpless voice.
It’s no wonder—Shidou acted on his own without even consulting Kotori.
“I’m sorry. But…”
[Forget it. Cleaning up your mess is our job. Let’s go crazy with you.][——Shin. I have something to tell you.]The reliable commander’s words were replaced by a sleepy voice coming from the communicator.
The owner who always calls Shidao by strange nicknames is undoubtedly the analyst Murasame Reion.
Regarding your previous question, the investigation results prove that your intuition is basically correct.
The so-called doubt should refer to the “sense of disharmony” that I felt when Yoshino came to visit me a few days ago.
When reporting to Kotori afterwards, she had said that she would let Reine investigate.
Time is running out, so I’ll keep this short. Yoshino-san—
Chapter 24: Killing the Duke (Old Version)
That was the heart of an overly gentle girl.
But in fact, Shidao was not surprised.
Instead, there was a sense of recognition that “this is very consistent with Yoshino’s style” and an increasingly strong belief that he must save Yoshino.
This girl suppressed her power not for herself, but to avoid hurting others.
Shin. She must be saved. It would be absurd if such a gentle girl could not be saved.
“—clear!!”
If such a girl cannot be redeemed, then this world is a lie.
Facing Reine’s encouragement, Shidou responded with a firm voice.
“I see.”
The girl’s whisper came faster than Shidou’s answer.
She continued to move at an incredible speed, breaking the frozen ground and suddenly leaping up.
Shidou, whose face was distorted under the heavy pressure but who still managed to keep his eyes open, also saw it.
Although it appears blurry due to the change in size and the obstruction of heavy rain and thick fog, there is no mistake about the slow figure.
It was the angel Zadkiel controlled by Yoshino.
“The rest is up to you, Gokawa Shido.”
“clear!!”
Hearing Shidou’s response, the girl who had leaped high into the sky dived down rapidly as if riding a flowing stream, and landed precisely on the top of the building that Yoshino was about to pass by.
Even though the ground was icy, she stepped on the ice to break it and dissipate the impact, taking off Shidou from her back.
Shidou immediately rushed to the guardrail, leaned forward with all his strength, took a deep breath, and shouted with all his might:
“Yoshino————————!!”
“——! Shidou…sir…!!”
Upon hearing the call, Yoshino suddenly stopped the [Ice Puppet] sliding on the ice track.
The girl lying on the back of the giant doll raised her tear-stained face.
Shidou couldn’t help but smile in relief after confirming her presence.
“Yoshino, I have something to give you.”
But there was no time to lose.
Facing the girl who tilted her head in confusion, Shidao was about to take out his treasured hand puppet——at this moment.
“Itsukawa Shidou!!”
【Shido! ! 】
The moment the black-robed girl’s and Kotori’s voices shook Shidou’s eardrums at the same time, a ray of light streaked across the sky from behind him and headed straight for Yoshino.
“Ah—! Origami!?”
Shidou saw the beam of light brushing past Yoshino and turned around hastily, only to see Origami, wearing AST equipment, who was different from usual, with a huge cannon pointed at the sky.
No, it’s not just Origami… The AST wizards chasing Yoshino have formed a circle and surrounded Yoshino.
“Those two people over there! They’re in danger, get out of here!”
The sound coming through the mechanical loudspeaker was exceptionally loud, and someone in AST warned Shidou and the girl.
But Shidou immediately turned his attention back to Yoshino, who was in an abnormal state.
“Uh…ah…”
“Yoshino!!”
“————————Nooo …
Fear took over the girl again.
Even Shidou’s voice couldn’t completely dispel the murderous intent surging in her heart.
Shion went into a frenzy, manipulating the [Ice Puppet (Zadkiel)] to release a terrifying amount of cold air in all directions. Then, the puppet suddenly leaned back with a sound, and as if gathering strength… it opened its huge mouth.
“Wa …
“Excessive work enthusiasm is also a problem…!”
Forced back by the cold air and heavy oppression released by the [Ice Puppet], Shidou slipped and fell onto the ice.
The girl couldn’t help but utter a sarcastic gasp at AST’s futile, or rather overly proactive, actions, and rushed towards Shidou.
Although the surrounding AST members launched attacks at the same time, they were blocked by the rain curtain with spiritual energy, and could not even delay the attack, let alone cause any damage.
In the girl’s perception, although this wave of attack was milder than the previous destructive beam-type cold energy, it was still enough to easily take Shidao’s life.
“hateful—-“
The next second, a torrent of cold air swept towards Shidou and the girl.
Even though he knew it was futile, Shidou still subconsciously took a defensive stance.
The girl sighed and prepared to pick him up again and evacuate—although it would be troublesome if AST witnessed them, they would be exposed sooner or later anyway.
Just as she was about to take action——
“!This is–“
The sudden sense of “spiritual power” made her stop.
Then——the approaching cold air was “blocked” in front of the two of them.
Blocked by a huge throne…
“Is this Sandalphon?…”
Shidou muttered the name of the throne in a daze.
This is no wonder – the one protecting him is none other than the sealed spirit Yatogami Tohka, the strongest angel possessed by [Aosha-Kou] himself.
Why would it… Just as Shidao could no longer hide his shock, Kotori’s communication and explanation sounded in his ears.
During this time, the girl in the robe looked up at the throne, making sure that her previous perception was correct.
To be honest, even she herself could not hide her surprise.
In such a short period of time, she was able to trigger the appearance of an “angel” and even caused Shido Gokawa to explode to such an extent due to a sense of crisis… This undoubtedly proves that she has a good impression of him.
As expected of a young man who once risked his life to make the whole world his enemy for the sake of the “Princess”—she secretly admired this uniqueness.
With the appearance of [King of Killing and Tyranny], the frightened Yoshino began to flee by controlling [Ice Puppet and Frozen Armor], and the AST troops also launched a collective pursuit.
Only Origami cast a fleeting glance at the throne before leaving, but it was only for a moment before she quickly followed the troops in pursuit of Yoshino.
At this moment of transition——
“——Shido!!”
“Tohka!? …Huh?”
The master of the throne, Yatogami Tohka, appears.
But the moment he saw her appearance clearly, Shidou’s eyes widened.
The girl with long twilight hair, wearing a high school uniform and with a thin film of light wrapped around her joints, landed lightly in front of Shidou.
Chapter 25: Promise (Old Version)
“Um……”
Not far away, the girl in the long robe held her chin and observed Tohka’s condition and spiritual power.
Although it was only a drop in the bucket compared to the Princess’s original spiritual power, it was a world of difference compared to the previous state of spiritual power reversal.
At this level, even fighting against AST should not be a problem – just as she was thinking this.
“I’m…I’m sorry, for those…inexplicable things.”
“I! I lost my temper because I didn’t understand the situation… I didn’t even have time to thank you properly. I caused you so much trouble – I’ve always wanted to apologize…”
“No, it’s all my fault…”
The conversation between the two eased the originally tense atmosphere.
Shidao suddenly clenched his fists, his Adam’s apple rolling as if he had made some kind of decision.
It was only for a brief moment, but he did glance in the girl’s direction while he was lost in thought.
When Shidou was facing Tohka, he spoke in a resounding voice:
“…Tohka, I have a favor to ask of you.”
“Hmm…? So serious all of a sudden?”
“Please lend me your strength. I want to save Yoshino!!”
So that’s it—after hearing this, the girl immediately understood the meaning of that look just now.
Indeed, her agreement with Shidou only lasted until Yoshino was delivered.
Perhaps he thought the agreement was no longer valid, or perhaps he wasn’t sure whether the strange spirit would be willing to help again… Now that things had come to this, confessing everything to Tohka, who had recovered her spiritual power, was a last resort and not a bad choice.
However, Tohka’s eyes were filled with sadness because of these words.
“You mean… that child? ——As expected, she’s more important than me…”
“No, that’s not it! That child is—Tohka, she’s a spirit just like you!”
“!? That kid… too?”
Tohka’s face showed a mixture of surprise and confusion.
Qin Li’s dissuading voice came from the headphones, but she nodded indifferently, determined to pour out all her thoughts.
There is nothing you can do alone.
But—
“That guy… Yoshino is just like you!! Forced to possess a power she can’t control, she’s constantly suffering!!”
If we can use Tohka’s power, maybe we can still make it in time.
Shidou was well aware that he was making an unreasonable request—even though he knew it was an unreasonable expectation, he still begged her to use her power again.
Even so, even so.
“I swore… to save that guy, to become a hero. But I can’t save Yoshino alone—please, Tohka. Lend me your strength!!”
He bowed his head deeply and pleaded desperately.
Looking at him like this, Yatogami Tohka felt as if the thorns in her heart were gradually falling away.
Tohka was called an “unwanted child” by the doll and was told that this was wrong, but she was unable to open her heart to Yoshino who came to visit as a new friend.
There was no reason to be angry, but a “feeling of disgust” surged in his chest. When he saw Shidou trying to save Yoshino, he felt that he was indeed a superfluous existence… But, that’s not the case.
That’s right, why didn’t I notice it?
Why did I forget——
“——I see. It was this man who saved me back then…”
This whisper was not directed at Shidao, but more like a soliloquy.
The words were blocked by the sound of rain and could not reach his ears, so he just tilted his head slightly in confusion.
But there was no longer any confusion in Tohka’s eyes.
“Are you done talking?”
“Who is it!?”
Hearing the sudden interruption, Tohka immediately turned towards the source of the sound with caution.
Shidou hurriedly inserted himself between the two of them, thinking that the girl’s unique aura was no illusion—she had managed to hide until this moment without being noticed.
“Wait! She’s a spirit just like Tohka, and she just saved me from danger!”
“Elf…this guy?”
Tohka studied the girl sharply with her dusky eyes, and glanced at Shidou who nodded in affirmation.
The girl didn’t even touch her weapon, and spoke in the same clown-like tone as when they first met:
“Yes, it’s a passing elf. Please advise… Is that the right way to put it?”
“——I see, it’s someone passing by…right. I’m Tohka Yatogami.”
Without showing any wariness or anger at being slighted, Tohka simply accepted the comic role and gave her name.
Shidao couldn’t hide his surprise…
No, not only Shidou, but even the girl in the long robe seemed to be a little surprised.
Since the white robe concealed his expression, it might just be Shidou’s illusion, but he always felt that it was true.
While the two were still stunned, Tohka walked towards Sandalphon without hesitation and kicked the throne away without any hesitation.
“T-Tohka!?”
“—Come up. Aren’t you going after that girl?”
She leaped onto the backrest of the throne that had been kicked and fallen, and shouted to Shidou in a refreshing voice.
Facing Tohka’s urging words, Shidou first showed a stunned expression… then he tensed his face and nodded vigorously.
There was a hint of joy in that expression.
“Okay!! Thank you, Tohka.”
“No need to thank me. Let’s go—hold on tight!!”
Although she said there was no need to thank her, Tohka’s face showed an unconcealable joy, but she quickly regained her stern expression – [Sandalphon] suddenly accelerated, carrying the two of them into the sky.
Boom!
The giant sword landed with astonishing momentum and did not stop, gliding across the ice track like a surfboard breaking through the waves.
The speed was no less than that of the long-robed girl when she escaped earlier. Shidao held on to the carvings on the backrest tightly to prevent himself from being thrown off.
“If you slow down, you’ll lose me! Just like that—”
“Tohka, front!!”
Braving the painful wind that cut his face, Shidou interrupted Tohka and issued a warning.
As if to block the path of [Sandalphon], countless giant icicles rose from the ground one after another, blocking the passage.
Tohka naturally knew it all.
But if you slow down, you will inevitably lose the target.
Just as she was about to draw her sword——
A swift shadow has already passed by.
“Oh——A friend passing by?!”
“It doesn’t matter what you call me—I’ll lead the way. You just keep going.”
Faced with Tohka’s unhesitating response, Shidou’s eyes were firmly attracted by “that thing” that the girl pulled out.
The swift shadow easily surpassed the speeding [Sandalphon] and cut through all the icicles in front of it… The girl was holding a long sword.
“It” that emerged from the pure white scabbard was colorless…
No, to be more precise it is an indescribable color, seemingly white and transparent, yet neither true nor false.
Just as the girl gave people the impression of “nothingness”, the blade also reminded Shidao of the same quality.
“What is that!? Shidou!!”
“Varied……!?”
As the two men advanced at full speed, smashing icicles with the girl’s help, a startling sight suddenly appeared before their eyes.
[…The barrier constructed by Yoshino. Hmm, it’s very well done.]Listening to Reine’s indifferent tone during the communication, Shidou once again confirmed the “snowstorm” in front of him.
The hemispherical barrier was composed of wind and snow—according to Reine’s brief explanation, this was a defensive mechanism that automatically attacked when Yoshino sensed magical and spiritual energy.
Logically speaking, no one can get close.
Approaching with magic or spiritual power is purely seeking death, but if you enter the storm created by the elves with your flesh and blood body… the consequences are self-evident.
Yes, that’s how it should be for ordinary people…
“Itsuka Shido, Yatogami Tohka! Watch out above!!”
Following the guidance of the girl’s voice, Shidou suddenly looked up and saw a floating skyscraper—or to be more precise, the terrifying sight of origami holding up the top of the skyscraper.
And she brought the entire building down without hesitation.
【What a messy style! 】
“——Don’t even think about getting in Shidou’s way!!”
Before Kotori’s shout of shock and anger had faded, Tohka had already taken action.
She grasped the hilt of the [Sandalphon] and yanked it out, lifting the massive sword as if it were nothing and soaring into the sky, heading straight for the building Origami had thrown it at.
“Tohka!!”
But in the end, it was just a hair’s breadth away.
The moment Tohka swung her sword and split the building apart—no, perhaps even a moment earlier, the wreckage of the building had already touched the blizzard barrier.
It’s too late.
At the moment Shidou realized this intuitively—
Time has stood still.
“–Why?”
The next moment, the building that had not yet formed a barrier was cut in half by Tohka, and even the flying fragments were shattered by the sword energy.
Caught up?
This may be what ordinary people see.
But Shidao clearly saw that the trajectory of the building’s fall had an unnatural delay—
“That girl… Really!!”
“Woo…!”
Aosagong, who rushed into the storm due to inertia, was sensed by spiritual power and his sword blade was rapidly freezing.
The girl who had passed by earlier hurriedly picked up Shidou and dropped him back to the ground.
Amidst the howling wind and rain, she seemed to say something, but the sound barely reached Shidou’s ears.
“Sorry, I’m saved again…”
“No need. Although Yatogami Tohka also contributed…but I did fulfill the promise, Itsuka Shido.”
“Ah. Thank you so much, in every way. It’s been a real help.”
Without the girl’s help, Shidao would have been unable to reconcile with Tohka and would have died by now.
He thanked her briefly and solemnly, and carefully hid the doll he brought into his lapel.
Among them is Yoshino.
Then, there is only one action Shidou should take next.
Shidou took a step forward towards the barrier.
“Shidou, wait a minute! Are you planning to enter the barrier in your physical body? Relying on your recovery ability? That’s too reckless! Stop now!!”
“Hey, when I heard I was shot… you weren’t shaken at all?”
Shidou half-jokingly responded to Kotori, who rarely showed her anxiety in commander mode.
That’s right, although the reason is unknown, even after suffering fatal injuries… he still resurrected.
Shido Itsuka possesses cheating abilities that even undead monsters cannot match.
Because of this, Kotori never showed any sign of wavering when Shidou was shot earlier.
[This time is different from that time!! It’s not a single shot… It’s like going into battle with a shotgun blast! Moreover, if “spiritual energy” is sensed within the barrier, it will freeze! Even wounds can’t be healed midway!?]“Spiritual power… huh? So my recovery ability is the power of spirits.”
【…….! ! ! 】
I could feel Kotori gasp.
He was well aware of his sister’s worries. As an older brother, he naturally didn’t want to make her worry.
But—he didn’t stop.
“Kotori—I’m leaving.”
[No! Stop it, bro!]Shidou took off the headset and put it in his pocket. When he took another step towards the blizzard, he heard a voice from behind.
“—you’ll die.”
Shidou chuckled at the girl’s blunt and cold declaration.
Yes, it is indeed stupid and reckless.
It’s understandable that she would feel helpless.
“I made a promise. To save Yoshino. I’m going to be that guy’s hero. I won’t break that promise.”
———So, there is no time to die.
Looking at his back as he stepped into death without hesitation…the girl suddenly understood why the other girl was attracted to him.
So dazzling.
If that girl is the one who dwells in darkness, Shidou is the light itself…
This boy will embrace people’s despair and pain, and innocently extend a helping hand to them.
I don’t know if it was instinct or some other reason…the girl who noticed this was deeply attracted to him.
———Perhaps, we were attracted to each other.
She was sure.
The young boy Shidou will definitely stand before the young girl Kurumi.
What kind of outcome will this unexpected encounter lead the two of them to? Is this fate a blessing or a curse? Even she has no way of knowing.
However, new hope…has emerged.
If this wish could come true—the girl threw words at his back.
“——————Goodbye, Itsuka Shido.”
That confident voice…disappeared without a trace along with Shidou who was gradually engulfed by the blizzard.
Chapter 26: Contradictory Heart (Old Version)
“—Didn’t I say I’d act alone?”
In the rain, a girl in a long robe returned with light steps. Although her face could not be seen, her displeasure could be felt.
She folded her arms deftly, her robe unruffled, and stared at Kurumi with a questioning look.
The person being watched responded with a comforting smile.
“Aiyah, welcome back. Looks like you got Mr. Shidao safely.”
“I’m back. …Do you think this will change the subject?”
Kurumi’s concern might be genuine, but that’s another matter at this moment.
The girl sighed and held her forehead.
This Queen always likes to use her own will as a shield, she is really too free and easy.
“… [Second Bullet: Double Speed]. You used it back then, didn’t you? It was only for a moment, but Takamiya Shin’a would have noticed.”
“Oh, what are you talking about? I don’t understand at all.”
Facing Kurumi who was determined to play dumb, the girl let out a light breath.
Ironically, being discovered by Somiya Mana is not actually a big problem.
With her strength, she can neither kill Kurumi nor stop her.
Although it is annoying to waste clones pointlessly, this does not hinder Kurumi’s “long-cherished wish”.
The girl knew very well that even if she continued to argue until Kurumi admitted defeat, she would only be brushed off with a “spur of the moment” excuse.
In fact, she had already guessed it—Kyousan was willing to expend her precious angelic power to help, simply because…
After coming into contact with Shidao the day before yesterday, Kurumi’s presence made the Hermit’s mental state unusually stable.
That’s right, it’s too stable… When this stability loses its support and instantly turns to despair—it goes without saying.
The spirit crystal of the elves will respond to this emotion and release excessive power.
If Kurumi hadn’t intervened, the situation might not have deteriorated to this point.
Of course this is just an assumption.
But Kurumi is so smart…but she is also a willful and dishonest girl.
“What a stubborn child.”
“Oh, what did you say?”
“No, nothing at all,”
————Suddenly, the rain stopped.
“This is……”
The dark clouds that had just covered the sky now dissipated as if they had run out of energy…and the sun was pouring down.
“It’s over.”
Squinting her eyes at the magnificent rainbow in the dazzling sunlight, Kuang San finally understood—the oath had been fulfilled.
“You are such a… gentle and cruel person.”
————How great it would be if it weren’t for you.
“My mission is complete. Time to take my leave.”
“Kyouzo?”
With her skirt fluttering, Kuang San walked with her back to the sun.
The girl looked at her back and called out in confusion.
Suddenly, Kurumi stopped.
The breeze blew her black hair, as if reflecting her wavering mood.
She held her messy hair in annoyance and declared without turning her head:
“A ‘vessel’ that gathers the spiritual power of three elves. Ahhh, I’m almost dying waiting for this.”
“The time… is ripe. I’m going to ‘eat’ Mr. Shidou. –Hehe, hehehehehehe!”
Amidst the joyful laughter, the girl could detect some traces of deliberate acting.
There was no way she wasn’t aware of the contradiction in the words.
As for Kurumi’s “long-cherished wish”, can the spiritual power of just three elves really achieve her goal?
Kurumi herself should be the one who knows best about this uneasiness.
“……Okay. I will follow Kurumi’s choice.”
But the girl chose to remain silent.
Even if the spiritual power is insufficient, the worst that can happen is that it will be more than usual… I can just make up for it with my own strength.
Even if it means exhausting everything——for the “plan”.
But this time, she slightly, really just slightly… wanted to take a gamble on the possibilities brought by Gokawa Shido.
“Hmm….what a nice weather.”
Pushing open the entrance door, dazzling sunlight poured in like a tide.
Shidao stretched his body, lazily feeling the long-lost warmth of the clear sky, and fully enjoying this hard-earned good weather every day.
“Haa …
Several days have passed since they successfully sealed Yoshino’s power with the help of the mysterious spirit and Tohka, and rescued the girl from danger.
After returning to the Gokawa family, Shidao finally regained his peaceful life.
Although my misbehavior made my sister cry with worry—and although I would definitely deny it—it is finally over.
“Next…”
Tohka and Yoshino have both been saved by Shido.
Initially, he was simply dragged into this turmoil and forced to accept ridiculous requests…but after going through all the things with them, Shidao’s heart had already been firmed.
not to mention–
“——Shidou, please. If spirits like me or Yoshino appear again in the future… please save them.”
[Another promise…I absolutely cannot break it.]Thinking of Tohka’s slightly complicated expression at that time, Shidou couldn’t help but press his lips, his cheeks burning.
No matter how many times I experience it, this throbbing feeling and the guilt of being a man never go away.
“Hu…” He took several deep breaths to calm himself down.
Now that I’ve made up my mind, I have to get used to that method…
But when the face of the black-haired girl appeared in his mind, his shoulders drooped like a deflated ball.
[I still can’t do it…]By the way, is that girl okay now?
Yoshino, who is still undergoing examination and unable to move freely, must also want to see her.
Shidou himself also wanted to tell her in person that he had successfully found Yakuya.
[Hope we can meet again soon…] Just as I was thinking about this as I walked through the courtyard wall to go out shopping –
“You seem to be in good spirits, Gokawa Shido.”
“Bunny, bunny, bunny, bunny!?!”
The greeting frightened his heart so much that it nearly jumped out of his chest, and the scream that came out of his mouth became extremely funny when he caught a glimpse of the rabbit ears decoration.
Barely suppressing his pounding heart, Shidou looked back, and his eyes widened the moment he saw who it was.
“Your successful rescue of the Hermit is commendable. Please allow me to pay my tribute.”
“Why are you here……”
The girl wrapped in a white robe still greeted him in a pretentious tone.
Since when, she has been leaning against the wall of the Gokawa family with her arms folded, even though her expression cannot be seen.
Facing Shidou who was asking the question in a daze, the girl seemed to be saying “What’s the big deal?”
But this reaction is understandable.
As far as he knew, the girl had easily escaped the monitoring system of [Fraxinus] and disappeared without a trace since their last separation.
Finally, what is the girl’s purpose, what kind of “spirit” is she, and why does she know about Shidao…
Everything remains a “mystery” and she disappeared.
However, at this moment she appeared in front of Shidao again.
It was not caused by a space shock, but probably by the girl’s own will.
“Why… did you come?”
“Of course, it’s to see you.”
“Meet me…?”
“Yes. I need you.”
Facing the question “What’s the matter?”, Shidou looked confused, causing the girl to laugh softly.
What on earth is going on… Shidou secretly clenched his fists.
Although he was wearing a communicator, he couldn’t wear it when confronting the girl. Moreover, the girl seemed to know something about Ratatoskr, so he could only handle the conversation alone.
Even though his identity remains a mystery, he is still an “elf” after all.
Then what Shidou should do will not change.
Since the other party came to see him specially, it was just what he wanted—he made up his mind.
Perhaps the agreement he had just made with Tohka was also supporting him invisibly.
“Is that so… Then let me say this first. …Thank you. Without you back then, I would have been in real danger. Please allow me to thank you again.”
“Haha, you’re so polite. Well, I’ll accept this thank you with gratitude.”
“—Can you tell me something else? Why did you save me?”
The farewell was too hasty, and at this moment Shidao bowed his head solemnly to express his gratitude, and then raised this question that was not only on the mind of him, but also of the entire Ratatoskr members.
Why did the girl save Shido Gokawa?
At least I want to find out the reason.
It would be easier to explain it with pure good intentions, but when faced with an elf girl who is completely different from Tohka and Yoshino, isn’t this idea too naive?
In response to Shidou’s question, the girl thought for a moment and then quickly responded.
“Well… just consider it a whim of the Queen.”
“My Lady Queen?”
Facing Shidou’s bewildered reaction, the girl replied seriously, “That’s right.”
The girl doesn’t look like a queen at all, so she’s probably just making excuses.
Perhaps his question was too direct—just as Shidou was thinking this, the girl who was originally leaning against the wall lightly shook her robe and turned to him.
“Now it’s my turn. In return for saving you, I have a favor to ask.”
“ask……?”
Shidou couldn’t help but tense up, wondering what conditions the other party would propose, but the girl continued in a calm tone:
“Don’t be so defensive. I just want you to answer a question.”
“…Problem? That’s it?”
“Yes. Itsuka Shido, you saved the two spirits, Yatogami Tohka and the Hermit. But they both belong to the side of ‘good’, right?”
“Ah, ah…”
Shidou was a little confused, but still responded to the girl’s question.
Neither Tohka nor Yoshino caused a spacequake on purpose, and were then brutally wiped out.
They are clearly gentle beings who can sympathize with others——It is precisely because he cannot tolerate this absurdity that Shidao is determined to save them.
This feeling has not changed to this day.
However–
“Then, on the other hand… suppose there is a spirit that does ‘evil’. Even if the whole world denounces it as ‘evil’, even if it is destined to the lowest depths of hell… she will not stop. If such a ‘worst spirit’ really exists—”
“——What would you do, Itsuka Shido?”
“…You must be joking.”
He would have liked to have declared that this was an impossible hypothesis.
But the words stuck in my throat. My body felt stagnant and stagnant, like rust.
Some parts of the girl’s questioning sound strangely familiar…it even makes people feel that the body itself is resisting the total denial of this proposition.
He couldn’t answer immediately.
The original intention of Shidao’s actions was to save the elves who were treated unfairly.
Faced with this horrifying question, the boy has not yet found the answer.
“You don’t have to answer now. How about this… tell me next time we meet. See you later then—”
“I’m looking forward to it, Itsuka Shido.”
“wait……”
The girl who unilaterally raised the question vanished cleanly before Shidou could reach out to her.
He withdrew his sweaty palms and stared blankly, not even understanding why he felt so uneasy.
He scratched his hair in anger, but his depressed mood did not dissipate.
The bright and cheerful mood from before was gone without a trace…even the sky seemed to have darkened in response to Shidou’s mood.
The boy didn’t notice.
Or rather, unwilling to notice.
The sense of déjà vu in that question was no illusion.
He finally realized that although he had longed for a reunion, he was now inexplicably afraid of meeting her.
The boy’s frantic heart was about to be reunited with that girl.
Chapter 27: Kurumi (Old Version)
“Please don’t interfere in the matter between me and Mr. Shidou.”
The moment Kurumi said this was when she put on the uniform.
Wearing a brand new uniform and carrying the school-designated backpack in both hands, Kurumi looks like a rich lady who is concentrating on her studies.
If ten people passed by this extremely beautiful girl, I’m afraid twenty of them would look back repeatedly.
But in the eyes of the girl in the robe, she was more detached than usual at this moment, even a little stubborn.
Therefore, the girl who usually never hesitated to respond to Kurumi’s instructions could not help but hesitate at this moment.
“……Since Kurumi said so, I will comply. But is it really okay?”
“Oh? Aside from me, aren’t you the one who understands this power best?”
Of course I know.
If we put aside the “exceptions” that have not yet met, the combat power is only the two sealed elves and the AST which is not to be feared, plus Takamiya Mana who may appear after Kurumi’s action.
What the girl is worried about is not these people, but Gokawa Shido… or Tokisaki Kurumi herself.
“I’m very clear about this. What I want to talk about is you, Kurumi. Even if I don’t say it clearly, you understand, right?”
“Haha, that’s strange. I’m no different than usual.”
She spun lightly in front of the mirror, checking whether her clothes were appropriate.
Suddenly the frame freezes and turns to the girl, whose uniform skirt sways gracefully.
She stared at him with a charming smile and said:
“I’ll leave the cleanup of using me against the Puppies to your advantage, but don’t worry about me. Even if the opponent is an elf… that won’t change.”
“…Haha. Got it. I’ll do as Her Majesty the Queen wishes.”
“Thank you very much. Well, I’m off now.”
Unconcerned with the artificial response mixed with a sigh, Kurumi bowed gracefully and left the room.
There is no doubt that she really wants to go…to school.
The girl looked at the door through which Kurumi left and sighed again.
At this moment, a dark shadow quietly appeared behind her.
“———Hee, hee. I look very happy.”
Emerging from the dark shadows like stains was another “Kyousan”.
But unlike the one who just left, she was easily distinguishable in her maid outfit.
But even without this outfit…the girl could immediately recognize this Kurumi.
“Happy? Kurumi?”
“That’s right, that’s right. This is the first time I’ve seen such a cheerful ‘me’. ——But, it seems your feeling is right, right?”
“……….Happy, huh?”
The girl murmured softly as if she hadn’t noticed, responding to the maid Kurumi who still ended her words with her signature laugh.
Maybe he was a little conceited, but even he himself unexpectedly failed to catch the subtle changes in Kurumi’s emotions.
What’s even more intriguing is that it was “another self” who noticed a fact that even Kurumi herself might not be aware of.
In the girl’s eyes, Kurumi seemed to be stubbornly wearing a certain “mask” – to put it bluntly, she was deliberately hiding something.
Maid Kurumi once commented that Kurumi “looks very happy”.
This almost contradictory quality that even the person himself is not aware of——
“…Well, I don’t know what Kurumi is planning to do, but I won’t change the fact that I will act according to my way.”
“Hehehe…you’re really overprotective~~”
Chapter 28: Crazy Story (Old Version)
“M-Morning…Good…”
“Oh, good morning!”
Faced with Tohka’s energetic response, Yoshino was trembling with fear, but she managed to stand still and not run away.
It was early morning and Shidou and Tohka were going to school.
Of course, there was a reason why Yoshino and Tohka greeted each other like this.
[Ratatoskr]’s goal is to peacefully resolve the spacequake disaster through dialogue with the elves, but the subsequent care work will naturally not be neglected.
According to the commander on the ship, he hopes that the elves can master social skills and live a happy life.
Therefore, in order to allow them to live in the elf-only apartment built next to the Itsuka family overnight in the future, they are now conducting morning greetings under the name of “conversation practice with future neighbor Tohka.”
But Shidao smiled and thought that there was no need to worry so much.
The shy and timid Yoshino who had to rely on Yoshina even for conversations, is now able to greet and talk to people quite clearly [by Yoshina’s standards].
Although they have experienced many twists and turns, Tohka didn’t take it to heart at all. If this continues, Yoshino’s remaining fear of Tohka will soon disappear.
Just as I was thinking this, Kotori’s voice suddenly came from the headset:
“Hey, Shidou, what are you daydreaming about? Yoshino seems to have something to say to you.”
“Hey…ah, um. What’s wrong, Yoshino?”
After being reminded, I realized that Yoshino was frequently looking over here.
As Shidou approached, thinking she needed help, he heard her hesitantly speaking:
“Um, that… Miss Kurumi… she…?”
“——!”
This was probably the question Yoshino had always wanted to ask.
The Shidou of a few days ago would have been able to answer easily, but at this moment he suddenly froze, and for some reason he was speechless.
“Then on the other hand… a spirit that does “evil”. Even if the world unanimously judges it to be “evil”, even if its body falls to the lowest level of hell… it will never stop. If such a “worst spirit” exists – what would you do, Itsuka Shido?”
What flashed through my mind were the girl’s words.
She knew the answer to Yoshino’s question clearly.
But for some reason, the girl’s words remained in his heart like a bruise, making Shidao unable to respond.
There is no need to hesitate at all.
Because Kurumi has nothing to do with elves… right?
Just look for her on the street and she will surely appear with her usual smile on her face.
If you tell her that Yoshino wants to see her, she will definitely nod and agree happily. She is such a gentle girl.
If that’s the case, why can’t I answer?
“Shi-Mr. Shido…?”
“What’s wrong with you, Shidou?”
“………”
When he came to his senses, not only was Yoshino looking at him anxiously, but even Tohka came over and looked at his expression worriedly.
Oops, seems to be more lost in thought than I thought.
“Ah, it’s okay, it’s okay.” Shidou quickly waved his hands and gently patted the head of Yoshino, who was wearing a white straw hat, to comfort her.
“Don’t worry, I’ll definitely bring Kurumi with me next time. Kurumi will definitely want to see Yoshino too!”
“!…Yes, yes!”
After hearing Shidou’s words, the uneasiness in Yoshino’s eyes instantly disappeared, and she nodded vigorously with sparkling eyes.
It seems that ever since she lost Yoshina and met Kurumi, she has developed a deep attachment to the girl who has always been by her side. This heartwarming scene made Shidao smile.
“Hmm… Shidou. Who is Kurumi?”
Perhaps she felt alienated and left out, or perhaps she sensed some other reason… Tohka puffed up her cheeks slightly and asked unhappily.
Shiri naturally assumed it was the former, and when he hurriedly tried to explain—
“Fufu~ Tell Tohka-sister~ Kurumi-chan is actually Shidao-kun’s future—”
“Waaaaaaa!! Yes, they’re friends! Good friends! I’ll introduce them to Tohka next time! Right!?”
Seeing that the silent Yoshina was about to make a shocking statement, Shidou hurriedly stepped in between Tohka and Yoshina to explain.
Although he secretly cursed the rabbit doll for being nosy, he then remembered that he had caused a misunderstanding with her when they first met and it had never been clarified.
Of course, the faint joy that Shidao felt in his heart was a secret that he could never tell anyone.
“…I see, we’re friends…?”
“Uh-huh…….”
It seemed that Tohka accepted this explanation for the time being.
Although she still seems to be bothered by some details…but for Shidao, there is really no more appropriate way to express it except “friend”.
[…Shidou, you didn’t forget about today’s training, did you? I accidentally mentioned Kurumi and made Tohka jealous. What are you going to do?]“Huh…? Why do you get jealous when you mention Kurumi Sanshika?”
This is already the nth time that Kotori has had her routine “training”.
Today’s theme is to be mindful of your words and actions to avoid making Tohka jealous…that’s how it should be.
For this purpose, he even wore a headset to listen to Kotori’s communication at any time, but Shidao really couldn’t understand why mentioning his friend Kurumi would make Tohka jealous… He scratched his cheek in confusion and couldn’t figure out the logic.
“…It’s hopeless. Fine, this is a punishment.”
“Why?!”
Faced with such an unreasonable verdict, Shidao protested, but all he got in return was a long sigh from Kotori, who threw his appeal into the trash can.
……..Well, only a brother like this can conquer the elves, but one thing is one thing—this is the attitude of my sister.
“Hey, good morning, Yuan——”
“………….”
“…Good morning, Origami.”
“Good morning, Shidou.”
I was almost eaten alive.
In the classroom early in the morning, Shidou broke out in a cold sweat due to the strong sense of oppression.
After finally avoiding the various traps set up by the members of the [Ratatoskr] organization to make Tohka jealous, he was about to say hello to Origami, who was sitting on his left… but suddenly remembered their previous agreement and changed his words at the last moment to finish the greeting.
During the battle to “recapture” Yoshino, Origami once asked her, “Why do you only call Tohka by her name? It’s unfair.” So they agreed to call each other by their names from now on.
Rather, perhaps because so many things happened in her home, she subconsciously wanted to forget this memory.
Origami nodded slightly, seemingly quite satisfied with Shidou’s response, but when she noticed Tohka standing behind him, her eyes instantly sharpened.
“You guys went to school together?”
“Eh? …Y-yes.”
“Yeah.”
Still that poker face.
But for some reason, Shidou felt a terrifying oppressive feeling all around him that was completely different from just now.
Perhaps she noticed this, but Tohka, who was about to take the seat to Shidou’s right, noticed Origami, and a standoff immediately ensued between the two.
“……Is there something wrong?”
“No.”
Fight between dragons and tigers.
Tohka and Origami’s sharp gazes confronted each other, even giving people the illusion that they were both surrounded by an aura formed by the pressure exerted by each other.
Being caught in the middle, Shidou was in great pain.
Although this has become commonplace, it is not entirely true to say that he has completely accepted his fate – it is better to say that he has gradually accepted this “daily life”.
Tohka doesn’t harbor ill will towards anyone, with Origami Tobiichi being the only exception.
After all, they were fighting for their lives not long ago, and Origami harbored an extraordinary hatred for elves.
It’s really hard to ask them to live in harmony… Of course, the actual conflict surrounding Shidao himself is also involved.
Sadly, those caught in the vortex are unaware of this.
Just as the two continued to stare at each other, the bell for the class meeting rang.
Shidou took the opportunity to urge Tohka to return to her seat, and finally resolved the conflict.
For Shidou, being dragged into the regular quarrels between these two always gave him a stomachache.
But at the same time, he deeply realized that being able to maintain this state of affairs was proof of peace.
Perhaps this idea is too optimistic.
But he sincerely hoped that the peaceful days he spent with Tohka and the others would continue, and that one day he would be able to let “her” join in the joy…
“———Hehe, I have good news for everyone! There’s going to be a transfer student in our class!”
“…….Um?”
What brought Shidou back to reality from his lost thoughts was the announcement of the petite teacher Okamine Tamae (commonly known as Tamae), who wore glasses and had natural curly hair, and the earth-shaking exclamations of “Uooooohhhhh!?” from the entire class.
Transfer student.
This is a rare and grand special event in campus life.
It was understandable that the whole class was in an uproar.
Shidou didn’t join the noisy crowd, but just tilted his head in confusion.
It was unnatural to arrange for a new transfer student to be assigned to Tohka shortly after she arrived.
It’s as if I was planted here just like Tohka… Thinking of this—
“…No, that shouldn’t be the case.”
He immediately rejected the idea.
How could such coincidences happen one after another in reality?
Although I have encountered some surreal elf-related events recently, my judgment has obviously been affected by these experiences.
Shidou shook his head as if to shake off distracting thoughts.
Following Teacher Xiaozhu’s greeting, the transfer student waiting in the corridor slowly opened the door—
“——Huh?!”
The classroom instantly fell into a silence as if time had stood still.
Only Shidao let out a soft cry.
Just like when we first met…
The girl is still extremely beautiful, the girl is still breathtakingly beautiful, the girl is still so charming… it’s creepy.
Nothing has changed.
And Shidou once again realized that even if all these praises were added together, they were still far from enough to describe her peerless beauty.
But for some reason, he always felt that there seemed to be something else mixed in this time.
“——Tokisaki Kurumi, greetings.”
Ahhh, so familiar.
How could I not know him?
Since the day we met, there has not been a single day that I haven’t thought about her.
Long black hair as smooth as a shadow, and crimson eyes that seemed to be able to draw people in.
However, only that smile…seemed different from what Shidou remembered.
It was a devilish smile that made people fall into delusion.
More importantly, it was as if Shidou’s thoughts came to an abrupt end here.
She continued to speak, and these words overturned everything, pushing Shidou into the abyss, the end… no, the beginning… that declaration.
“I am an elf…”
——Mr. Shidou.
In the end, the call failed to turn into a sound, only her lips trembled slightly.
“……..Why…….”
The noisy students’ discussions and Tohka and Origami’s exclamations could not reach Shidao’s ears at this moment.
The boy just stared at the girl’s smile.
Elf, elf,—elf. Ah, how could I have heard it wrong? She did, indeed, say that.
【————What are you going to do, Itsuka Shido?】
The thumping sound echoed in my mind.
Shut up, shut up, shut up!
This was as if she was confirming that she, Kurumi, was————the [worst elf].
Impossible, he vehemently denied.
But no matter what…that voice never disappeared.
At this moment——the crazy clock begins to tick.
Kurumi’s true identity is finally revealed.
What choice will she make? And how will Shidao respond?
Chapter 29: Far Away (Old Version)
Elves——
A special disaster-designated life form that exists at a critical point.
Countermeasure 1: Destroy them by force.
Solution 2: ————Go on a date and make her shy.
[Hello——Brother?]“Is that Kotori? It’s me.”
As soon as the morning class meeting ended, Shidou walked to the window without looking back, took out his mobile phone, clicked the screen, and called his sister Kotori.
Fortunately, the other party seemed to be in a convenient time to answer the call, and the receiver came with the usual “sister’s” slightly lazy voice, different from the commander’s mode.
“If this is a scam call, I don’t have time to play with you—why are you calling at this hour? If it were ten seconds earlier, the ringing would have been interrupted by the teacher—”
“————Kyousan is an elf.”
【………….】
Shidou didn’t have the time to listen to Kotori’s jokes.
He stated his purpose directly. After a brief silence, the sound of fabric rubbing against each other came from the other end of the phone.
Maybe my sister switched to “commander mode”.
Just as Shidou expected, Kotori’s tone suddenly became serious.
[…This joke isn’t funny at all. Shidou, you’ve finally gone crazy, haven’t you? -]“This is not a fucking joke!!”
Shidou suddenly came back to his senses when he heard Kotori gasp on the other end of the phone.
He looked around hurriedly, but fortunately all the classmates around him were immersed in the topic of “transfer students” and no one noticed his loss of composure.
“……Sorry for yelling at you so suddenly.”
【…Judging from your reaction, it doesn’t seem like this is a bad joke.】
Yeah, if only this were a joke.
Shidou even hoped that Kotori would tell him now that all this was fake.
The transfer student and friend of Gokawa Shidao, Tokisaki Kurumi, is actually an elf?
How is it possible that…
“Today, a transfer student came to our class. It’s Kurumi… She said it herself. [She’s an elf]… Like this.”
[…What’s going on? [Flaxinas] When I checked before, I found no spirit reaction in the child. But why is it now…]“I don’t know… I really don’t understand. Why is Kurumi a spirit… What is going on…?”
He ruffled his hair in frustration, unable to conceal his inner anxiety.
Kurumi, who has met Shidou many times and helped save Yoshino, is actually an elf?
It would be strange if he could still remain calm in this situation. Since a while ago, his thoughts have been in a mess and he can’t sort them out at all.
“Calm down, Shidou. Anyway, I’ll start an investigation immediately. This situation may be very special, so we must respond calmly.”
“O-Okay. Please, Kotori.”
【That’s it.】After saying that, Kotori hung up the phone.
What if…what if Tokisaki Kurumi is really an elf?
There is only one way to deal with elves.
But since her purpose in hiding her identity is unclear, it is impossible to even know whether that method is effective.
More importantly, if——if Kurumi is really the elf that the girl mentioned——
“Shido?”
There was only one person who called Shidou’s name with a unique tone.
He hurriedly turned around and saw Tohka standing behind him, looking at him with a worried look on her face, as if she was uneasy about his condition.
“Oh, oh. What’s wrong, Tohka?”
“You’re asking me what’s wrong… Shidou, what’s wrong with you? You look so bad.”
———Is that so?
I subconsciously touched my face, but of course there was no way I could tell what my complexion looked like that way.
No, compared to this, it seems that his condition has become so bad that Tohka is worried.
If this causes Tohka’s mental state to deteriorate, it would be really unbearable to watch.
“It’s okay, nothing serious. Just a little…thinking.”
“Really? …Are you thinking about that woman named Kurumi?”
“! Ah, ah. I guess so.”
The topic of Kurumi was suddenly brought up, and after answering instantly due to hesitation, Shidou suddenly frowned as if realizing his mistake.
Kotori once said that Tohka would get upset when she saw Shidou getting close to other girls, so she shouldn’t have answered honestly, but should have responded with more clever words.
Even though she thought so, Tohka didn’t get upset when she heard the answer. Instead, she had a complicated look on her face, as if she was thinking about something.
“Hey Shidou. Kurumi is your… ‘friend’, right?”
“——I guess so.”
The reason why I am speechless is that it is impossible to make such an assertion at this moment.
My friend—if that were indeed the case a few hours ago.
Then, Shidao was shocked to realize that he knew nothing about Kurumi.
All I know is that she said she was looking for something.
Unable to leave the abnormal atmosphere of Kuang San alone, he made a “promise” with her to help her——
Other than that, I know nothing.
“Friends…or something…”
Looking at Kuang San who was surrounded by everyone.
She, who always smiled and exuded friendliness, now seemed so far away.
Chapter 30: Doubts and Calculations (Old Edition)
“Let me be frank. Tokisaki Kurumi is a spirit. There’s no doubt about that.”
“…I see.”
Faced with the report that reached his ears, Shidao had to accept reality this time.
It was neither a lie nor a joke, Tokisaki Kurumi was indeed an elf – if this was a dream, he would want to wake up immediately, but it was already time to go home from school.
If this was really a dream, it would be time to wake up.
“Although I don’t know how she disguised herself at the time, as long as the other party is a spirit, Ratatoskr’s duties will not change. I understand your confusion, but you must be mentally prepared, Shidao.”
“…Yes, I understand.”
Even after school, I still couldn’t sort out my thoughts.
Thanks to this, he barely listened to anything in class, and couldn’t even look Kurumi in the face, keeping his head down the entire time.
But standing still won’t make things better; time will just keep on ticking.
For the mission of [Ratatoskr] and for the protection of the elves that Gokawa Shidao expects, he must come into contact with the elf – Kurumi Tokisaki.
“That’s a good answer. You seem calmer than I thought, which is good. Since there’s no spacequake alarm, AST can’t easily intervene. Now is the time to contact Tokisaki Kurumi—no, it seems she’s coming here on her own initiative.”
“——Shidou-san.”
My heart skipped a beat.
Shidou suppressed his suddenly restless heartbeat with his hand, and slowly turned to look at the owner of the voice that could make one feel soft just by hearing it.
“…Kyousan.”
“Yes. Long time no see… I’ve always wanted to see you.”
“…Ah, me too.”
Although this was the first time he had looked directly at her since early morning, there was no mistaking her.
Every gesture was filled with elegance, and her beauty was so stunning that even man-made objects might not be able to replicate it.
If he wasn’t in this situation, he really wanted to stare at her forever—this girl was undoubtedly Tokisaki Kurumi herself.
Hearing Shidou’s response, Kurumi let out a soft “Hehe” laugh.
This smile that was once commonplace now made Shidao feel something strange.
“Really? Shidou-kun has been keeping his head down today. I thought you didn’t want to see me.”
“That’s…”
“—Elf.”
Hearing this whisper, Shidou’s eyes suddenly widened, and Kurumi chuckled again as if she found it amusing.
Then he said with a provocative expression he had never shown before:
“You heard me right. Like Yoshino-san and Tohka-san… I’m an absolute threat to humanity.”
“Why……!”
Why, I couldn’t say the rest of the words.
There are so many things I want to say and ask, but I can’t express them smoothly.
Why did you hide your elf identity? Why reveal the truth now?
Why——why did I have to intersect with Shidao?
Due to the lack of words, the two fell into silence… At this moment, Kuang San suddenly clapped her hands, and showed a happy expression as if a flash of inspiration had occurred to her.
“Mr. Shidou, I’ve just transferred here and I’m not very familiar with this school yet. So, I’d like you to show me around.”
“Huh? What did you suddenly say……”
“Haha, let’s go.”
“Wait, wait!”
Before Shidou could respond, Kurumi walked out of the classroom lightly, leaving Shidou standing there in a daze.
What’s even more outrageous is that she poked her head out from the crack of the door and waved as if urging “hurry up” – to be honest, she was too cute.
“Hey, why are you standing there like an idiot when someone else has taken the initiative? Stop making that stupid face and chase after them.”
“Ah… who’s making a stupid face?!”
“You look stupid no matter how you look at it. We will provide necessary support as usual, but if your previous sharp judgment is correct, then this action could be dangerous. We recommend that you do not respond to the call for now.”
Indeed, although it is not clear how much information Kurumi has, it would be troublesome if she discovered the communication of [Flaxinas]——perhaps she had even anticipated this.
After all, she knew at the time that Yoshino was also an “elf”.
clear.
After briefly replying to the communication, Shidou chased Kurumi into the corridor.
I don’t know if she was waiting for him, but the girl was standing there, and when she saw him, she immediately smiled brightly.
Just standing there is like being in a painting, which is really amazing.
“Oh my goodness, don’t run off so suddenly. You scared me… I’m fine with leading the way.”
“Hehe, I’m so sorry. So, Mr. Shidou, where would you like to show me first?”
“……Hmm. How about we go to the cafeteria first? We might need it often in the future.”
“Okay, as long as Mr. Shidou leads the way, we can go anywhere.”
Saying “Let’s go”, Kurumi naturally walked to Shidao’s side and started walking side by side.
…….Shidou thought about this habit of speaking casually and making people’s heart beat faster while trying to stay calm and move forward at her pace.
Although choosing the cafeteria was a spur-of-the-moment decision, Kotori’s comment that it was “a very safe choice” came through the headphones, so it seems that the choice was not wrong.
If Kurumi was meeting him for the first time, [Flaxinas] might have offered a more proactive solution…
Shidou secretly glanced at Kurumi beside him.
The girl, noticing the gaze, smiled back.
That’s right, that’s her usual smile…that I can never get used to no matter how many times I see it.
“What’s wrong?”
“Um, no, nothing…”
“Haha, that’s really strange, Mr. Shidou.”
Covering her mouth and sneering softly, she is still the familiar Tokisaki Kurumi.
If you only look at this scene, perhaps you can ignore the sense of incongruity that arises in your heart.
The crimson eyes that reflected his own figure, the snow-white arms that seemed to break at the slightest touch, and even the unique fragrance wafting from his side, all shook Shidao’s heart irresistibly.
Ah, Tokisaki Kurumi is here.
Even in such a situation, emotions still rise uncontrollably——
“……….!”
Calm down, don’t be like usual.
It’s precisely because I’ve encountered her so many times, and every time I’m completely captivated by her…that this is particularly troublesome. Isn’t this putting the cart before the horse?
“Mr. Shidou?”
Must stay awake.
How much does she know? To what extent does her knowledge intersect with her own?
“Mr. Shidou, what’s wrong with you?”
She deliberately used the word “elf” as a provocation.
Could it be that even Shidou’s plan—just like that girl—was already known to him?
“……Shi-Dao-Mr.-Sir-?”
The more I thought about it, the more suspicious I became.
Such suspicion is unpleasant.
But even if she knew about Yoshino, the expression she showed at that time… was definitely not false to Shidou.
……………..Hmm?
What’s this touch?
The brain that was immersed in serious thoughts just now was instantly cleared by this wonderful touch.
This touch, which could be called the most precious treasure of mankind, this heavenly softness that made one almost declare that “there is no greater happiness for men than this”, originated from Shidao’s arm.
Specifically, it was the feeling coming from Kurumi’s arms that were tightly hugging her.
“——Miss Kuang-san!? What are you doing!?”
He was so shocked that he even stumbled over his honorifics.
Being able to have physical contact with Kurumi and organize words in this state, Shidao felt that he had performed exceptionally well.
“…..It’s because no matter how I called out to Shidou-san, he didn’t respond.”
In stark contrast to the relaxed atmosphere just now, she now blushed and hugged Shidou’s arm tightly with a slightly sullen expression.
Oh no—oh no.
This is really terrible.
That expression is too cunning.
Specifically, it is dangerous that the Kurumi folder in Shidao’s brain will be permanently saved.
Superficial words like angel are simply not enough to describe this cuteness. Tokisaki Kurumi is the best. Thank you Tokisaki Kurumi————
[Hey Shidou! You’ve been captured! What are you going to do?! Cheer up! !]“Ah! S-Sorry, Kurumi!!”
After being scolded by Kotori – correction, Shidou returned to the real world and finally pulled his arms out of Kurumi’s embrace, distanced himself and regained his posture.
……..The soft touch he felt when he pulled his arm out was so lingering that he secretly vowed to take this feeling to the grave.
「Ahh! No, Shidou-kun!! I’m so sorry for making my dear feel lonely, you should hug me right back, my sweetheart────」
【snort!!】
[Puff! !]Following a pleasant sound like a punch to the abdomen, the faint sound of someone (Kannazuki) falling to the ground was heard.
But Shidou, with his face flushed red, was busy cooling down his burning body and had no time to investigate.
No, I should say that I have no intention of pursuing such an embarrassing matter in this lifetime.
“…K-Kyousan? Doing this to a man…will lead to misunderstandings.”
“Huh? That’s unexpected. I only do this to Shidou-san, you know?”
“S-Stop teasing me……!”
Just when I thought she was shy, she turned around and seduced Qi Shidao like a little devil.
The feeling of being elusive and distant, sometimes close and sometimes far away from Kuang San.
……..But in the final analysis, the ending where Shidou is fooled around will not change.
“I’m not teasing you. So, what were you thinking about, Mr. Shidou, when you left me behind?”
“That’s… uh, thinking about Kurumi.”
“We’ve become distant again…”
——Hearing Kurumi’s whisper, Shidou hesitated whether he should retreat, otherwise he might be completely thrown off… But then he turned from defense to offense and uttered harsh words.
……..As soon as the words came out of her mouth, she turned her face away out of embarrassment.
Amidst the whistle that seemed to say “Isn’t this quite capable” coming from the communicator, he looked at Kurumi tremblingly—
“—Oh, oh, oh,”
“babble……!?”
What caught his eyes was the enchanting smile that appeared on the girl’s lips—that devilish smile that was enough to capture Shidou, no, every man in the world.
The distance that had just been widened was quietly shortened the moment he looked away.
Just as he was about to take a step back, Kurumi’s hands had already covered his wrists.
“Miss Kuang-Miss Kuang-San?”
“I’m so happy. I’m really happy. I didn’t expect that Shidou-san would think so much of me… I’m so happy that I’m about to cry~~”
“Cry, why are you crying……!”
“Haha, it’s true. ——Hey, Mr. Shidou.”
(Shudder)
When that voice, those moving red lips, that bewitching expression—when all of this assaulted his senses at the same time, Gokawa Shido’s ability to think was completely devoured.
Kuang San’s hands clasped his wrists in a wrapping manner, and her soft and nimble fingers entangled around them like vines.
(I’m going to be eaten…)
Such a surreal premonition flashed through my mind, but I also felt that if it was Kurumi, it might not be bad.
Just when the charming lips were about to open——
“I want to say to Mr. Shidao——”
Clang! A loud noise like an entire locker being overturned echoed through the corridor, accompanied by two familiar screams.
“……….Huh?”
Shidou and Kurumi both had dazed expressions.
It’s no wonder—from the direction where the sudden loud noise came from, Tohka and Origami were lying on the corridor in a stacked posture.
The charming atmosphere and myriad thoughts that had just been brewing had all vanished at this moment.
[…I sensed someone was following me, but I didn’t expect it to be these two.](If you knew, you should have told me earlier!)
Although he thought so, Shidao knew in his heart that he probably didn’t notice it because he was completely focused on Kurumi.
At this moment, he was thinking about these things as if it had nothing to do with him.
By the way, this is completely off topic – the rumor that spread on campus the next day about “the scumbag who hooked up with girls on the first day of transferring to school” was really just a random thought.
Chapter 31: Thoughts, Wishes, and Plans [I] (Old Version)
“Thank you both for your thoughtful guidance. I am truly grateful, Mr. Shidou and Ms. Tohka.”
“It’s just a small matter, you’re welcome.”
“Exactly! Totally effortless!”
At dusk when the sun sets.
In front of Kurumi who saluted elegantly in front of the school gate, Shidou and Tohka responded one after another.
Shidou gave a wry smile to the slightly exaggerated Kurumi, while Tohka was smug about having done a good deed.
It eventually turned into a situation where Tohka also joined the school tour… and Origami hurriedly left due to a sudden phone call, and it was unknown what happened.
Although it was a completely different development than expected, Shidao was only grateful for Tohka’s companionship.
After all, if he continued to be alone, he would probably just be led by Kurumi and would have no time to explore the truth.
Although improving favorability is the fundamental goal, Shidao urgently needs time to think.
Besides… maybe it was an illusion, or maybe it was just his wishful thinking – when Tohka joined the conversation, Kurumi’s expression seemed…
“Then I’ll take my leave. Shidou-san, Tohka-san, see you tomorrow at the Academy…”
“Oh, okay. See you tomorrow.”
“Well, see you tomorrow!”
With a slight bow, Kuang San waved goodbye to the two and left in the opposite direction from which she came.
Watching the beautiful figure melt into the sunset, Shidao breathed a sigh of relief.
The only confirmed information today is that Tokisaki Kurumi is an elf.
This alone nearly overloaded his brain.
Just as he was planning to sort out the information with Kotori as soon as possible, Tohka’s strange behavior caught his attention.
“…Speaking of which, Tohka, you and Kurumi surprisingly get along well.”
Tohka, who was clearly wary of Kurumi at first, now has become able to talk to her naturally without Shidou’s mediation.
It was this kind of scene that made Shidao feel that Kurumi seemed to be… enjoying it.
“Hmm? Isn’t Kurumi also Shidou’s “friend”? Isn’t it natural for them to get along well?”
“That’s true…”
Even though they had a conflict over Yoshino not long ago, she was particularly straightforward when facing Kurumi, who was also a “spirit”…
Shidou couldn’t help but tilt his head in thought.
Could it be that her experience with Yoshino caused her to resonate with Kurumi?
Seeing that Shidou was still confused, Tohka also hummed as if lost in thought.
“Tohka?”
“…How should I put it, Kurumi… Guwu, I’m sorry Shidou. As expected, I still can’t express it in words…”
“It’s okay! I’m happy that you can get along so well!”
Looking at Tohka who was wilting like a lost puppy, Shidou stroked her head gently to comfort her.
Although the reason is unclear, it is indeed a happy thing that the two of them are on good terms.
Even so——I still can’t figure out Kurumi’s true purpose.
The girl hummed a little tune and walked happily on the road at dusk.
She looked so cheerful that she seemed like she would dance at any moment—Tokisaki Kurumi was on her way home.
Ah, that’s the school that adult attends. And her classmates. That adult’s ordinary daily life. It must be an ordinary day with nothing special about it.
However, that was the peaceful scene that the adult was protecting.
What was that adult thinking when his identity was exposed?
She must be thinking only of herself.
When we walked side by side, how did that adult view me?
Ah, even though it was only a short time, being able to spend school life with that adult like this is truly overwhelming.
——Just now, what were you thinking about? “That” is something that Tokisaki Kurumi can never say.
“That” is a thought that Tokisaki Kurumi has no right to have.
Remember the fate you bear.
Do not forget the sins you have borne.
Only after committing countless serious crimes can Tokisaki Kurumi stand here.
Everything is to wipe out that elf… Everything is to completely rewrite that tragedy…
For this, I am willing to give my all.
For this, I am willing to sacrifice my life…
To this day, whenever she closes her eyes, the “big sin” will keep flashing back in Kurumi’s mind.
Anger, passion, hatred…all kinds of emotions wash away unnecessary distracting thoughts.
Even when she heard some…distorted sounds, she didn’t care and let herself be lost in them.
Tokisaki Kurumi has waited for too long, really too long.
And as that child…said, hope…has appeared.
How ironic that the elf who controls “time” has to wait for the “time” to be ripe.
And the hope of realizing that “long-cherished wish”…is now in Kurumi’s palm.
What is there to hesitate about?
The child just told me the “tool” that was handy, that’s all.
So, why—
“…Ah, aha.”
Kurumi felt her deep thoughts being forcibly cut off.
She stopped without realizing it, and was surrounded by an unusual feeling.
Very familiar, so familiar.
After all, this is the casual area of ​​the woman who killed me many times…
“You’ve discovered me, [Nightmare]”
“Blue hair” tied into a lock.
The figure of that woman whom I had become accustomed to seeing—now it inexplicably irritated my nerves.
“…Ha. Even someone like you would make that kind of expression.”
“Oh? Do you think so? I’m not sure myself, so could you please tell me what expression I have right now?”
“I have no obligation to do that. —Go to hell, Nightmare.”
“——Haha, how cold.”
Chapter 32: Thoughts, Wishes, and Plans [Part 2] (Old Version)
“Shidou, you!!”
“Do you like your real sister or your adopted sister?!”
“…….You, you guys………….”
Kotori, Shido’s sister, and Takamiya Mana, who claimed to be Shido’s sister, pressed the issue with an almost murderous expression.
Shidao held his head, feeling his headache getting worse.
Let’s first clarify the current situation.
After seeing off Tohka and Kurumi, Shidou and Kotori went out to buy ingredients for dinner.
After all, “you can’t fight a war on an empty stomach,” and having successfully bought discounted meat, Shidao was originally in a good mood and was about to go home…
But at this moment, Takamiya Mana suddenly appeared.
———She threw herself into Shidao’s arms, shouting “Brother-sama”.
What followed was a complete mess.
As the quarrel got out of hand, Shidao had no choice but to take her home, but she actually called Origami “Sister-sama”——
Of course Shidou tried his best to deny it——
And Tohka’s existence has triggered a series of incredible misunderstandings, and now there are so many messes in his head that he can’t even solve them.
Logically speaking, Shidou wasn’t so naive as to trust a girl who suddenly appeared and claimed to be his sister.
But the problem is that the Gokawa family was not Shidao’s real family…so he could not completely deny Mana’s statement.
……..However, when Shidou tried to ask about the mother who abandoned him, Mana said that she only had memories of the past two or three years. Somehow the topic turned into a “stepsister vs. real sister” dispute between Kotori and Mana.
For Shidao, this was pure torture.
“Ah—by the way, Mana, where are you living now? If there’s someone taking care of you, I might have to go visit…”
Seeing that answering honestly would only make the situation worse, Shidou reluctantly found an excuse to change the subject.
Unexpectedly, upon hearing this question, Zhen Na, who had been eloquent just now, suddenly began to stammer.
“Uh… well…”
“Why? Living in a shady place?”
“No… well, it’s a special company dormitory…”
“Enterprise? Are you really working?”
Although she looks about the same age as Kotori, how will she solve the problem of going to school since she has a job?
——But on second thought, Kotori, who can be a commander and go to school normally, seems even more outrageous.
Under the questioning of Shidou and Kotori, Mana’s eyes became more and more hesitant… and in the blink of an eye, she ran out of the door.
“Um, um… I’ll come visit you another day!!”
“Hello? Wait—”
Before the last word of “wait a minute” faded away, Mana rushed out of the entrance like a rabbit.
In the end, the girl who claimed to be her sister swept away like a storm, leaving behind more mysteries than when she came.
“…What on earth is going on? What on earth…”
“I’ll investigate her. Rather than this, Shidou.”
Kotori stood up and, while collecting the teacup that Mana had used for some reason, stared at Shidou with a serious expression.
Seeing her expression, Shidou immediately understood what Kotori wanted to say.
“……Is it about Kurumi?”
“Um…are you okay?”
This sentence, which is not something Kotori would say in commander mode, contains a lot of meaning.
She was worried that Shidou was being played around by Kurumi all the time…but more importantly, her concerned expression made Shidou feel relieved and he couldn’t help but smile.
“I’m fine. Although I’ve been very flustered today…but tomorrow I plan to take the initiative to ask her about the situation.”
In order not to worry Kotori, Shidou tried hard to put on a cheerful smile.
Although he acted so awkwardly today and may have lacked persuasiveness, he has become more determined now that he has calmed down.
“And…I want to know what Kurumi is thinking. If she’s troubled by something, I want to help her.”
Why did you confess that you are an elf only now?
Why did you appear in front of Shidao?
What exactly are those feelings of disharmony that I occasionally feel from Kurumi?
If Kurumi doesn’t tell you herself, you won’t understand.
But the only thing that is certain is that Kurumi’s appearance must have some purpose, and she is definitely related to it.
So Shidou wanted to be her helper——because this was also the “promise” between him and Kurumi.
At the same time, he also wanted to confirm.
She was not the “elf” the girl had described.
“…Don’t get too involved.”
“? But isn’t it true that conquering elves requires dedication?”
“That’s right… that’s correct…”
As the commander of [Ratatoskr], it is gratifying that Shidou is so active in the spirit strategy.
But perhaps it was her intuition as a younger sister…Kotori felt an uncontrollable unease at Shidou’s unusual devotion when he talked about Kurumi.
Even if Shidao realized the problems Kurumi was carrying, with his character of never ignoring the despair of others, he might…
Seeing Shidou-nii smiling and saying “What a strange guy” as usual…Kotori’s uneasiness still couldn’t be dispelled.
“——I can leave it to me to clean up after this…but there’s no need for you to personally rescue me before I perish completely, right?”
The dark shadow that crawled from beneath Kurumi’s feet gradually swallowed her as she fell to the ground.
Although she was injured by the woman’s attack, this [Tokisaki Kurumi] still had breath and would be able to recover soon.
“Since Kurumi has come into contact with Gokawa Shido in his original form…, there is no need for me to hide my existence anymore. Therefore, minimizing unnecessary consumption is the best policy.”
“…That’s true.”
Cutting [time] to create a clone is by no means without cost, and naturally requires corresponding spiritual power support.
Since the girl is still able to move, there is really no reason to waste it even if it is just a clone.
If we consider the path of [Long-cherished Wish], it is wise to save consumption as much as possible.
“…How is your school life with Itsuka Shido?”
“Well, it’s quite interesting.”
“If you like, you can just focus on experiencing student life for a while. I’ll take care of Takamiya Shinna.”
The girl, who was always used to joking and making things difficult, said something that sounded like a joke but also serious. After blinking, Kuang San suppressed her laughter.
“Haha, what a funny joke.”
“If Kuang San wishes me well, I’m serious. Although I’m not as powerful as you, I’m still considered an elf. I’m just a wizard, so I’m nothing to be afraid of.”
“Fufu, you’re too modest. But… please don’t worry.”
Campus life with that adult and his friends.
Ah, what sweet words—even considering this feeling as [sweet] is a [sin] for Tokisaki Kurumi.
Time is limited and time is precious.
As the spirit of [Time], she understood the weight of these words better than anyone else.
“For my [long-cherished wish] and your [plan]—I won’t keep you waiting long.”
Leaving behind a broken sneer, Kuang San completely disappeared into her own shadow.
Only the girl in white robe was left standing alone.
In the silence, as if she was alone from beginning to end, the wind blew through the girl’s robe, causing it to sway gently.
“…Itsuka Shido. You will eventually become what I planned–“
The whisper was swept away by the sudden gust of wind and disappeared without reaching anyone’s ears.
Chapter 33 Let’s Start a War Date (Old Version)
“Good morning, Kurumi. …You’re here really early.”
“Good morning, Mr. Shidou. Hehe, it’s a rare opportunity to experience campus life. Wouldn’t it be a waste if I overslept and ended up being late?”
Said Kurumi with a sweet smile.
So that’s how it is… Shidou thought to himself that there wouldn’t be anything interesting to do even if he arrived at school early, but as a transfer student who was an “elf”, perhaps he did have different ideas.
To be honest, it’s hard to associate Kurumi with the concept of sleeping in…it’s purely based on a certain impression.
In short, seeing Kurumi arrive at school safely, Shidao secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
Tohka, who followed closely behind, also noticed Kurumi and greeted her with great energy.
“Good morning, Kurumi!!”
“Good morning, Ms. Tohka. Haha, seeing you so energetic so early in the morning, even I feel refreshed.”
“Oh, really? Look all you want!”
This is just like a large dog and its owner…?
This rude metaphor flashed through Shidou’s mind, and he even had a vision of Tohka’s tail swaying behind her skirt.
They had just met yesterday, but they were so close that he felt both happy and inexplicably complicated.
…….They were so familiar with each other that Shidou could only tilt his head in confusion.
“Good morning, Tobi-Origami.”
That was a close call.
I almost triggered that mysterious feeling of oppression again.
Shidou greeted Origami, who arrived in the classroom later than them.
Origami maintained her usual iron-masked expression as she walked towards her seat—
“Good morning, Shidou.————!?”
……..Shidou clearly saw that the iron mask instantly turned into an expression of astonishment.
Others might not be able to see the change, but based on their daily interactions, Shidou was sure that she was staring in a certain direction with her eyes slightly widened.
Sensing her hesitation, Shidou frowned and followed her gaze.
What came into view was the scene of Tohka and Kurumi having a pleasant conversation.
If the subject was Tohka, Origami shouldn’t have reacted this way.
Then the only reason why she was shocked was…
“Hey Origami. What’s wrong Kurumi?”
“……..nothing.”
She looked away as if nothing had happened and returned to her seat.
This abnormal look made Shidao look at Kurumi again, but the one in front of him was indeed the Kurumi Tokisaki from yesterday.
Completely confused as to why Origami was so shocked, Shidou could only tilt his head in confusion once again.
————The answer to this question will soon be revealed.
“Why did you call me here all of a sudden? Didn’t you say you had something to show me…”
During lunch break.
After receiving a call from Kotori, Shidou came to the school’s physics preparation room – this room with a false name had long been transformed into a luxurious base by [Ratatoskr].
Waiting in the room were Kotori, who had summoned him, and Reine Murasame, the analyst of Ratatoskr and physics teacher of Metropolitan Raizen High School.
What exactly is going on?
Shidou finally managed to get rid of Tohka by saying “I have something important to do” and originally planned to take advantage of her good relationship with Kurumi to have lunch with them…
Moreover, this room would bring back bad memories of the “training” two months ago, and I just wanted to end things here as soon as possible.
“Something unexpected happened… Before that, Shidou, is there anything unusual about Kurumi today…? Did she come to school normally?”
“Eh…ah. She got to school earlier than me this morning. Is that a problem?”
After hearing Shidou’s answer, Kotori put on a serious expression and fell into deep thought.
Could it be——
“……Kotori. Did something happen to Kurumi?”
“……Yes. Although it may be a little cruel, please be strong and watch this video.”
As soon as Kotori finished speaking, Reine operated the device to light up the display screen on the table.
What exactly does Kotori want Shido to see that makes her take it so seriously?
Soon, the images playing on the screen made his eyes widen.
“Kyousan? And… Mana? Why are the two of them…?”
In the video, Kurumi is facing off against Mana, who she just met yesterday and claims to be Shidao’s sister.
Just as he was confused by the inexplicable meeting of these two people, he suddenly noticed that they were not the only two in the picture.
“AST…….!?”
Origami’s figure is clearly visible among the team wearing mechanical armor.
Having seen this outfit many times, Shidou would never mistake it.
This group of superhumans are hovering around Kurumi in a surrounding manner.
As an ominous premonition swept over him, a faint glow shone around Mana in the image—and in the blink of an eye, he was enveloped in pure white mechanical armor.
In response, Kurumi’s form also began to change drastically – the shadow completely swallowed her.
Instead, she wore a red and black dress shrouded in a film of light.
Even through the screen, I can feel the thrilling…extreme beauty.
Shidou suddenly woke up from his trance and realized that it was Kurumi’s “spiritual outfit”.
The next moment, Shidou’s mind went blank.
“Varied——–“
The beam released by Mana pierced through Kurumi’s body without mercy.
Once, twice, three times, the attacks continued—
“Kuang, Kuang San!! Kuang San!?”
“Calm down Shidou!”
“But, but! Kurumi…!!”
He stretched out his hand towards the screen out of control, repeatedly calling out Kurumi’s name like a naughty child.
Qin Li’s exhortations were no longer audible to her.
Amidst the pounding heartbeat, the image continued: the beam of light continued to penetrate Kurumi’s body, again and again, and again and again.
The picture freezes at the scene where the wounded Kurumi lies in a pool of blood.
No, this is absolutely not possible.
As her existence gradually faded, Shidou’s heart cried out in grief under the heavy burden—
“——Shido, calm down.”
As Lingyin’s voice rang out, she embraced him in her arms…
Lingyin soothed the trembling boy.
He was surrounded by a warmth that seemed to heal his soul and an inexplicable feeling of nostalgia.
However, even so, the image of Shidao that was imprinted in his mind still remained.
In order to comfort him, Ling Yin continued to speak slowly in a steady tone:
“Shidou. This is a video from yesterday… Didn’t Kurumi really appear in front of you today?”
“ah…………”
That’s right…Shidou did talk to Kurumi this morning.
It was neither an illusion nor anything else, she was undoubtedly Tokisaki Kurumi.
Didn’t I just confirm this with Kotori?
Tokisaki Kurumi is still alive.
Shidou tried to calm himself down and accept this fact, and finally calmed his pounding heart.
He gently broke free from Lingyin’s embrace and took a deep breath to calm himself down.
“……I’m sorry, Miss Reine. Kotori, I’m sorry too.”
“…Don’t worry about it. Seeing someone you know go through something like this would shake anyone.”
“It’s alright with me. …I was a bit inconsiderate.”
Hearing Kotori’s considerate words, which went against her commander mode, Shidou smiled wryly and finally returned to his normal state.
“It’s okay now. Please continue.”
“…Understood. If you feel uncomfortable, please feel free to tell me. If you don’t mind, my arms are always open to you.”
“Thank you…”
Although he found the statement a bit strange, it was an indisputable fact that Reine’s comfort had indeed calmed him down, so Shidou thanked her honestly.
Kotori gave him a sharp look, as if saying “Why do you look so intoxicated?”, but this kind of nitpicking was too far-fetched, so Shidao chose to ignore it.
…….Although I have to admit that I don’t hate this.
Restart the paused video.
In the picture, Mana was emotionlessly swinging her light blade at the lying Kurumi.
Shidao clutched the corner of his clothes tightly, suppressing the strong urge surging in his chest.
If you look away, you won’t understand anything.
“That’s where the problems start.”
“……………!?”
Shidou, who was concentrating on the screen, suddenly looked surprised when he heard Kotori’s words.
The light blade that was swung down without hesitation—it should have easily taken Kurumi’s life, but it failed to touch the girl and instead pierced deeply into the concrete floor.
Disappeared.
It was neither an illusion nor a hallucination, the dying Kurumi just disappeared out of thin air…
Even Mana, who was acting like a machine, and the AST members surrounding the scene showed obvious surprise and vigilance at Kurumi’s disappearance.
“What on earth… happened?”
“…This is the most crucial frame in the slow-motion video.”
“!This is…….!”
Shidou’s question was answered, and Reine operated the mouse to switch the screen, showing a photo.
What was reflected on the screen was an unknown figure in a white robe holding Kurumi and flying into the air.
That figure was no stranger to Shidou, Reine, and Kotori.
“The one who saved me back then was…”
“That’s right. On the day Yoshino went berserk, she somehow suddenly appeared and saved Shidou’s [Spirit]. And yesterday, she inexplicably… saved Kurumi.”
“I really don’t understand this at all.” Kotori murmured.
The girl in long robes who had rescued Shidao and then asked him questions, now saved Kurumi’s life for unknown reasons.
Why?
Is it that you can’t just sit back and watch your fellow elves being wiped out?
Or did she know Kurumi from the beginning?
“…But even if she escaped with her own strength, Tokisaki Kurumi must have been seriously injured at the time.”
“Hmm. Even with the spirit’s self-healing ability, that kind of injury can’t be healed in one day. I don’t know if Kurumi’s [Angel] has this ability, or if there’s something else going on…”
Listening to the conversation between the two, Shidou fell into deep thought.
Today, there were no visible scars on Kurumi’s face, nor any signs of suppressing pain, and her behavior was exactly the same as yesterday.
No wonder Origami was so shocked this morning – Kurumi, who should have been killed by Mana, not only disappeared in an instant, but also came to school the next day as if nothing had happened. It was simply a bizarre unsolved case.
But what Shidao cares about most is always Kurumi’s safety.
Thinking of how she almost died at Mana’s hands, Shidou felt as if his heart was being torn apart.
Is it because he hates Mana’s mechanical behavior of hurting Kurumi, or is it because he simply can’t bear to see Kurumi get hurt… maybe it’s both.
That kind of thing—absolutely, must never happen again.
“In any case, time is running out. Since the connection between the white elf and Kurumi cannot be confirmed, a second rescue may not come. AST and even Somiya Mana must have obtained the information that Kurumi is alive. Before the next attack——”
“——To make Kurumi embarrassed.”
Sealing the power of the elves through dating, the seemingly normal actions face a completely different situation.
If she fails, Kurumi’s life will be in danger.
But there was no fear in Shidao’s eyes.
I don’t want to see her get hurt again… I also want to find out what she meant by “the worst elf”.
Shidou was eager to prove that she had nothing to do with that title.
“……It seems you know exactly what to do. It’s settled then.”
Looking at Shidou, who clenched his fists and had a determined look in his eyes, Kotori smiled fearlessly as a commander.
[Ratatoskr] will definitely respond to this realization.
There is only one thing to do –
“—Let’s start a war (date)?”
Chapter 34: Same Kind (Old Version)
“……Um, what can I do for you? I’m about to go have lunch with Tohka-san…”
Facing Kurumi who frowned anxiously, Origami stared at her expressionlessly.
In this empty space at the rooftop entrance… to others, one might think that a timid girl was being interrogated.
Her adorable demeanor truly makes her look like a transfer student who inspires a desire to protect her.
But Tobiichi Origami knew very well that the girl in front of her was by no means so innocent and cute.
“Why are you still alive?”
“——How did you escape from that place?”
Tobiichi Origami had indeed witnessed it with her own eyes.
The scene where the girl was fatally wounded when Takamiya Mana, who joined the unit on a temporary transfer, attacked.
And, the figure that disappeared in an instant from Mana’s sight and the net set up to prevent the elves from escaping.
That was definitely a fatal injury.
Mana’s attacks pierced her body many times, and she was already dying and waiting for the final blow.
Not only did she break through the encirclement, she now appears in school as if nothing had happened.
Even Takamiya Mana, who claimed to have killed an elf and who had some interactions with Tokisaki Kurumi, was shaken by Kurumi’s disappearance…
All of this is so unnatural.
“…Ah, ah. You’re the one Mana-san was with yesterday, right? Oh, right, you’re Tobiichi Origami-san.”
“………!”
In an instant, Origami leaped back with her amazing reflexes and physical fitness.
There is no clear basis for this action.
It was just her intuition that was warning her—the aura around Kurumi Tokisaki had changed.
The atmosphere was different from the gentle one just now, and it was also completely different from the Kurumi I saw yesterday…
However, Origami was suddenly clamped by something all over her body as she retreated, and she couldn’t help but hold her breath.
“Gu…!?”
“I’m so sorry. I don’t have the time to bother with trivial matters right now.”
It’s the hand.
Countless pale, slender arms stretched out from the “shadows” spreading across the wall, wrapping around Origami’s limbs and neck, and covering her mouth.
Origami couldn’t break free with her strength, and now the only things she could control freely were her mind and eyes.
“Heh, heh, heh! You dared to approach me alone even though you knew my background. You’re even more… naive than I thought. Or did you decide I wasn’t a threat after meeting Miss Mana?”
“Oh…….!”
Facing the provocation of Kurumi’s twisted smile, Origami felt ashamed of the mistake she had made.
Seeing herself being easily defeated, she realized that she might have underestimated her enemy.
No, what shocked her even more was that although she had always regarded elves as threats and enemies, the presence of the elf Tohka beside her had unconsciously diluted this hostility a little bit…
“Or perhaps, you came here specifically to dedicate yourself to me?”
————The moment Kurumi’s words reached her ears, Origami’s thoughts became boiling hot.
Did you come here to dedicate yourself to the elves?
“——————!!!”
What a joke.
Elves are the enemies of the world, elves are the enemies of mankind.
It was a disaster that had taken away everything from me—a disaster that must be destroyed.
The emotion called murderous intent filled Origami’s body, giving her strength.
The shadow hand that originally bound her was pushed back slightly, making a creaking sound as it could not bear the weight.
Origami, who was unable to resist just now, was now in such a posture that made Kurumi’s red eyes tremble slightly, revealing surprise.
As she stared at Origami’s “eyes” staring back at her, she suddenly understood and whispered:
“Ah, you are the same kind as me.”
The boiling murderous intent and the rage that is not enough to burn this body to ashes.
Those eyes reflected everything like a mirror.
“That” must be killed.
“That” must be erased.
Because this is the whole meaning of my existence.
The only difference between the two is whether they can regard the “beginning” as “never existing”.
Suddenly, the shadowy hand that was restraining Origami silently melted into the darkness.
“Ahem… ahem… what do you mean…?”
After breaking free from the restraints, Origami collapsed to the ground due to excessive exertion, but she still desperately asked questions to Kurumi who was looking down at her.
However, Kurumi didn’t respond, but turned gracefully and prepared to leave.
“wait–“
“I’ve changed my mind. I’ll let you off this time. …And by the way, a word of advice. If you want to achieve your ‘goal’, it’s best not to do anything too reckless.”
“Ugh…!!”
“Well, I’m not in a position to judge anyone. I don’t think Origami-san will listen to my advice.”
He was spared by the elves and even had to accept advice that was almost like charity.
The extreme humiliation made the blood in my body boil again.
Contrary to her intense emotions, Origami couldn’t even move her fingertips.
———Too weak.
He had vowed to kill all the elves and never let a tragedy like his happen again, but this body was in such a state.
“——What exactly is your purpose?!”
While her consciousness was hazy, Origami screamed at Kurumi’s back.
Kurumi, who was walking down the stairs, seemed to hear the hoarse voice and suddenly stopped and looked back.
When she turned around, the hair covering her left eye lifted up, and in an instant, the pupil came into Origami’s sight.
No, that can’t be called a pupil at all.
The golden compass is engraved with twelve numbers and two pointers.
As the name suggests, it is the “clock” itself that measures “time”.
“Purpose…that’s true.”
Originally, she thought that even if she told her, the girl would be powerless to change anything, so Kurumi planned to deal with it casually.
But when she saw Origami’s “appearance” kneeling and gasping for breath, she suddenly remembered what the child had said.
She has a special obsession with that adult, she is beautiful and in the same class with that adult…
“—I have no comment to make.”
The one who was shocked by these words was not Origami who heard the answer, but Kurumi herself… Before she could catch Kurumi’s hesitant expression, Origami fell to the ground exhausted.
Although he has not completely lost consciousness, he may find it difficult to move in the short term.
Pursing her lips tightly, Kuang San left no room for reassurance this time and turned around and walked quickly down the stairs.
As if trying to shake off the disturbed heart.
———At that moment, she looked away as if to escape the feelings that were sprouting from the bottom of her heart.
Chapter 35 Shyness (Old Version)
“ah…….”
Dong, the two people collided lightly and made a sound at the same time.
Shidou was walking quickly in the corridor and didn’t notice the students coming down the stairs, so he bumped into them.
Perhaps because he was anxious, although the other party appeared from the corner, it was entirely because he did not look forward.
“Sorry, it was my fault—Kyousan!?”
“No, I should apologize… Shidou-kun?”
Shidou bowed his head and apologized, then took a step back in surprise when he realized the other person was Kurumi.
Kurumi also recognized Shidou and her eyes widened.
Seeing her like this, Shidou felt a little doubtful.
Putting aside herself, it was rare for Kurumi to show such obvious hesitation—or anxiety?
Especially since he had just seen such…images, it made him even more concerned.
“…Did Kurumi come down from above? Could it be that something happened…?”
“Well, it’s just a few trivial matters… I’ve already taken care of them. Don’t worry, Shidou-kun.”
trivia?
There was nothing upstairs except the rooftop where almost no one went. What on earth was Kurumi doing there?
Although I cared, seeing the gentle smile on her face at that moment, my previous anxiety seemed like an illusion, and it seemed inappropriate to ask further questions.
“But Shidou-kun, what are you doing in such a hurry?”
“Ah… me…”
Shidou was speechless when asked this question.
The reason for his hurry was simple—or rather, the object of his hurry was standing right before his eyes.
He thought Kurumi was still in the classroom, but when he suddenly ran into her, he was so nervous that he couldn’t speak.
If it was Shidou a few hours ago, he would have been incoherent when facing the girl he secretly loves…
But he is different now.
His mouth was dry from nervousness, and he swallowed to hide the trembling in his throat.
Thinking about what I was going to say next, my heart beat faster than ever before and tension swept through my body.
Even so, Shidou still has words that he must convey to Kurumi.
“……I have something to say to Kurumi.”
“? You have something to say to me?”
“Well, that might not be accurate… Tomorrow is the school’s founding anniversary, so the school is closed, right? So… if you’re willing, why don’t you two go out for a walk together or something…”
“this–“
“Wait a minute!”
Before Kurumi could respond, Shidou hurriedly called a halt and took a deep breath to calm himself down.
After calming down a little, he realized that there were some things he had to say first.
This is probably…the inexplicable persistence of men?
…….He was not unprepared.
Putting aside things like elves, Shidou had already secretly “trained” many times for this day.
Of course, it wasn’t special training from [Ratatoskr], but rather “training” he conducted on his own in front of the mirror.
Although the plan was advanced a lot, his desire to invite Kurumi at this moment had already surpassed all kinds of emotions and interests.
So this is a sincere invitation.
Shidou expressed his feelings with the most serious expression.
“——Kyousan, go on a date with me.”
Sincerity, directness, and simplicity—that’s the starting signal for a war date.
Facing Shidao’s sudden barrage of invitations, Kurumi’s reaction was—
“…………..Eh…………ah……!”
Blushing face and ears.
Kurumi’s eyes widened instantly, and the moment she digested Shidao’s words, her whole face turned red at an alarming speed.
Although Shidou had seen her embarrassed twice before due to gaffes, this was the first time she had blushed so red that you could hear the sound of smoke coming out of her mouth…
For some reason, even Shidou’s cheeks began to feel hot.
“Um, um…Kyousan?”
Whether it was the momentum or the atmosphere—it was like being suddenly pulled back to reality.
In short, facing Kurumi’s unexpected reaction, Shidao was completely at a loss.
He originally thought that even if he would not be rejected outright, he would at least get a relaxed response from her.
But at this moment, this shy and lovely girl’s reaction was like a bullet hitting the heart of the brain.
After all, this is consistent with her usual style.
“! O-okay! I understand, I totally understand! A-a date, right?! Yes, that’s right, of course I understand this kind of thing!”
“Oh, oh anyway, calm down first!?”
Although she was shouting at the other party to calm down, the speaker herself, Kurumi, was obviously also in a state of panic.
However, Shidao’s words did not seem to be completely ineffective. Kurumi took short breaths and tried to calm down.
Compared to her usual calm self, this wavering look was simply unbelievable.
“I’m… I’m so sorry. This is the first time I’ve been invited so seriously by a man… I’m sorry I’ve let you down.”
“No, it’s my fault for inviting you so suddenly…”
It wasn’t a loss of composure at all—for Shidao, it was simply a blissful visual feast.
The permanent storage program for Kurumi’s exclusive folder in Shidao Gokawa’s mind immediately started.
“S-So…how is it?”
“…It’s my honor. If you don’t mind, I will gladly accept Mr. Shidao’s invitation.”
“!Very good…….”
He let out a sigh of relief.
Half jokingly, I thought that if I were rejected, I would probably be devastated.
Although Kotori said that the favorability level is definitely up to standard within the observable range and the possibility of being rejected is very small…I still feel uneasy.
In any case, the most difficult first level was finally broken through.
However, they both fell silent suddenly.
To be more precise, Shidou was too embarrassed to look directly at the other person and was scratching his cheek to look away to hide his embarrassment.
It’s worth mentioning that Kurumi is actually in a similar state—but for Shidao, is it a good thing or a bad thing that he didn’t notice this?
But now it’s lunch break.
Doing something like this in the corridor would definitely attract attention no matter what—Shidao, who had been involved in scandals for the past few months, and the rumored transfer student Kurumi were standing opposite each other with blushing cheeks.
Ambiguous glances and conversations poured down like raindrops.
If others don’t know the inside story, they will just think that Shidao is another playboy with a harem, but if the misunderstanding is further deepened at this moment… (regardless of the actual situation, a misunderstanding is still a misunderstanding) it will be a big trouble.
“Anyway, let’s go back to the classroom! Tohka is still waiting!”
“That’s right. Tohka-san is waiting for us.”
The two of them kept a subtle distance as they walked, but they inexplicably exuded the youthful innocence of a young couple before their first date… However, this evaluation came from the testimony of a bystander afterwards.
[That’s all for today. I haven’t slept a wink all day and night. I really can’t take it anymore. The next chapter should be out tomorrow morning.]Chapter 36: Sleepless Night (Old Version)
“Shidou… Uh, that…”
“oh oh……?”
Why did it turn out like this.
This is a sentence that has repeatedly appeared in Shidao’s mind in recent months, and its frequency has increased again at this moment.
Before his eyes was the figure of Tohka, half-dressed, holding the ticket between her plump breasts, her face redder than a tomato, trying to seduce Shidou with the “Trouble Killing” attack.
————————Really, why did it turn out like this?
A series of recent events has made him extremely quick in grasping such situations, and he doesn’t know whether to be happy or sad about it.
He dispelled the distracting thoughts in his mind while sorting out the current situation.
Ever since he returned to the classroom with Kurumi, he had vaguely sensed some awkward gazes.
But until school was over, he chatted happily with Kurumi, and that was all.
After the class, he quietly told Kurumi the time and place to meet tomorrow – although Origami cast a particularly sharp look at Kurumi –
Then, when I returned home with Tohka and were preparing dinner…it turned out like this.
The curtains were drawn and the door was locked.
The whole atmosphere was like someone preparing to do something unspeakable.
“W-What happened…?”
“…Date…Do you want to go?”
“…….Dating?”
If this continues, Shidao’s mental state will be very dangerous——in many ways.
He made up his mind to ask, but was left speechless by the word that Tohka uttered tremblingly.
In this case, “discouraged” might be a more accurate description.
If it was just a date, there would be no need to go through so much trouble, and Shidao would of course agree without hesitation – why did it turn out like this?
In short, the ticket tucked against her chest should be a signal that she hopes he will accept it.
There’s no reason to refuse, and it would feel even worse if you didn’t accept it.
He reached out to the ticket carefully with trembling hands——
“Yeah! Go on a date with me tomorrow!”
“——!!”
————————The trembling stopped.
No, not only was he trembling, even his outstretched hand was frozen in mid-air.
The anxiety I had just felt disappeared instantly, and my mind calmed down.
Tohka says tomorrow…but…no.
“……Not tomorrow.”
Shidou murmured unconsciously, and Tohka immediately showed an extremely sad expression.
Shidou didn’t want to see Tohka’s expression like that, and he didn’t want her to show such an expression.
But, no.
Only tomorrow…it really won’t work.
“Isn’t this okay…? Then—”
“No. Listen to me, Tohka.”
When Sandu shifted his gaze to the papers on the table and made up his mind to take the next step, he held her shoulders and met her eyes.
The exposed shoulders were deadly soft, as violently beautiful as ever. All kinds of thoughts swirled in Shidao’s mind, but he forced himself to shake them off and made up his mind to weave words.
“————I’m going on a date with Kurumi tomorrow.”
“Ugh…! Shidou…”
Hearing Shidou’s words, Tohka opened her eyes wide in shock, then her eyes gradually became moist and her gaze wandered like an abandoned puppy.
…….Oops, this expression is so inadequate.
He suppressed his anxiety.
“Don’t get me wrong. It’s not a matter of order. I’m going on a date with Kurumi tomorrow… and I want to save her.”
Shidou certainly understood that this was a cunning statement.
But he believed that Tohka would understand.
After all, Tohka once lent a hand to save Yoshino, and this time she will definitely do the same…!
“Kyouzo is a spirit just like Tohka and Yoshino. But she is being hunted by AST and has nowhere to go…!!”
Tohka, who could easily defeat AST like breaking a baby’s arm, might find it hard to believe these words.
Even so, he still wanted to speak out his words.
Because I don’t want to see Kurumi get hurt again…because I want to have a good face-to-face talk with Kurumi.
“If we delay any longer, that guy might get attacked again, and this time it might be… truly irreversible. So!! At least give me time tomorrow! I’ll make you as much delicious food as you want! If it’s not tomorrow, I’ll go with you anywhere on a date!!”
“Shido…”
“——Please give me time to save Kurumi.”
He lowered his head.
It is understandable that this kind of excuse that uses Kurumi as a shield is seen as lacking sincerity.
But Shidao had no choice.
Apart from “dating”, he didn’t know any other way to save the “elf”.
…….A silence that seemed to last for seconds and minutes enveloped the surroundings.
“…………..This statement is too cunning.”
“…….Hmm…….”
It was Tohka’s voice that broke the silence.
Shidou looked up and saw that although she was not angry, she was pouting slightly and looking away from him.
At the same time, he straightened his clothes and stood up, preparing to leave the living room as usual.
“Hmph, Shidou, just go ahead and have a date with Kurumi happily. Idiot, idiot!”
“Wait, wait Tohka!?”
Is it still not working?
Just as Shidou hurriedly stood up, thinking about his explanation to Kotori and other follow-up matters, in short, he had to appease Tohka – he was stopped in front of the entrance.
The girl who was about to step out of the living room suddenly poked half of her face out from behind the door.
“…….We must save Kurumi.”
———Like, save me.
As soon as she finished speaking, Tohka disappeared on the other side of the door in an instant.
Although the voice was faint, it clearly reached Shidou’s ears, making him smile with relief.
“…Thank you, Tohka.”
This was their previous agreement.
Tohka asks him to save the elves.
Now she even forced herself to understand this feeling.
We must rescue Kurumi.
After everything is over, I must have a grand date with Tohka and listen carefully to all her willful requests – Shidao thought with a wry smile.
He firmly believed it.
This wish will definitely come true, and Kurumi will definitely be rescued.
“…Haha.”
A soft sigh.
It was just past nine o’clock in the evening. As a healthy high school student, Shido Gokawa should have been full of energy, but at this moment he turned off the lights early and lay on the bed, staring blankly at the dark ceiling.
It’s not that he has a habit of looking at the ceiling, he just feels uneasy.
I wanted to go to bed early to conserve my energy for tomorrow, but my high emotions refused to subside.
As soon as I close my eyes, my mind is filled with the image of my date tomorrow.
“I’m going on a date with Kurumi…tomorrow…?”
It’s like talking about other people.
But as soon as he finished speaking, his heart started beating uncontrollably again.
That’s right, tomorrow Shido Itsuka will have a date with Kurumi Tokisaki.
In a sense, this might be what he had hoped for from the beginning, but it was realized in a completely unexpected way.
Make her shy by dating.
Let that indescribably beautiful girl, that mysterious beautiful girl, be shy because of herself.
What a terrifyingly difficult date this is.
But if he fails, it will not be Shidao but Kurumi who will face the danger of his life——this is simply a date like a war.
Never retreat.
He had to impress her on this date, and then—
“………………Um?”
Suddenly woke up.
It seemed that it was not until this moment that I realized that I had forgotten the most crucial thing.
What are the prerequisites for making an elf shy?
What to do next?
Of course…
“…and Kurumi…kiss?”
The next second, warm liquid flowed from Shidou’s nostrils without any warning.
Needless to say, it was just an ordinary nosebleed.
“Shit…!? Wait wait! Calm down, me!!”
He hurriedly pulled out a tissue and wiped it roughly.
This look is no longer calm.
Sadly, even after many dates, the young boy Gokawa Shido, who is just beginning to fall in love, is still a pure virgin with zero experience in interacting with women.
Just imagining kissing the girl I like makes me excited.
The eve of the decisive battle.
Itsuka Shido was unable to fall asleep after all—in the sense of tossing and turning.
Chapter 37: Nightmares and Sweet Dreams (Old Version)
“Itsuka Shido asked you out on a date?”
“Well… in simple terms, that’s it.”
“It’s still a date, even without simplifying it. Isn’t that great? Being alone will get you closer to your goals.”
No one will disturb you and it’s all good.
But even so, Kurumi, the person invited by Shidao, was inexplicably unhappy… or seemed reluctant. In any case, she sat on the sofa in the living room with a complicated expression.
That expression definitely didn’t look like he was dissatisfied with the date itself.
“That being said…”
“What’s wrong? Could it be that you were trying to tease him, but ended up being mesmerized by Gokawa Shido’s serious expression—”
“Woo!” Kurumi’s shoulders trembled violently, and the obvious wavering reaction made the black-robed girl stop moving. Although she lowered her head and couldn’t see her expression clearly, the slight tremor that was completely different from her usual self said it all.
No way. This sincere complaint came to the girl’s mind.
“…..I’m so shocked. Kurumi, you can’t really–“
“How is that possible? I, I would be fascinated by Mr. Shidou? This joke is not funny at all. It was just some trivial things that happened and I was attacked unexpectedly, and I was careless and revealed my flaws!”
Facing the girl who sighed silently, Kuang San, uncharacteristically, pounded the sofa anxiously and repeatedly argued, which made the girl under the black robe smile bitterly.
This reaction seems like a disguised admission—
Although I thought so, saying it out loud would only make Kurumi even more stubborn.
Having seen her always at ease in the past, it was unbelievable that she would lose her composure like this.
Even considering her disturbed state…it was still surprising enough.
No–
Perhaps ever since Gokawa Shido met Kurumi, the girl has been constantly surprised by her changes.
“Come to the bottom of it! Why are you talking like you saw it with your own eyes?!”
“Don’t get mad at me… I didn’t see it, but if it was Shido Itsuka, he would definitely practice how to ask him out in front of the mirror.”
Kurumi cast a suspicious look at her, but the girl knew she couldn’t give any further explanation, so she changed the subject as if nothing had happened.
Although the expression hidden under the robe is completely invisible.
Okay, being bewitched was just a joke, but it’s true that Gokawa Shido would practice invitations—this wasn’t based on the girl’s own experience, but an inference from memory.
However, Kurumi was so shaken by a date invitation… The joke she made to her clone might not be entirely a joke – the girl knew in her heart that this relationship might not be entirely beautiful.
They met, were attracted to each other, fell in love, and finally kissed to usher in a happy ending.
Ah, if Tokisaki Kurumi was such a simple spirit, they would not be here now, nor would they meet Gokawa Shido.
This feeling is extremely poisonous.
A forbidden fruit that can sometimes drive people—even elves—mad and change the world.
Although the girl didn’t know what this feeling was, she knew it very well…
However, these alone cannot stop Tokisaki Kurumi…Her unshakable determination will devour the thoughts that conflict with it and continue to move forward.
But this obsession could not be completely digested even by her resolute will, and continued to erode her as she continued to move forward.
“……Fine. For tomorrow’s sake, I will take my leave.”
She must still be suffering at this moment.
But in front of this girl, she would never reveal a single bit of it.
Perhaps, she didn’t even notice her own creaking heart—or perhaps, she deliberately ignored it.
Then at least——
“————Good night, my queen. May you have sweet dreams tonight.”
“Ha, wishing for a good dream for a nightmare like ‘Nightmare’ is such a bitter irony.”
Please grant my queen at least a moment of peace.
As the night deepens, like the ever-moving hands of the clock, dawn approaches step by step.
And the fateful war date (DATE) is about to begin.
Chapter 38 Begins (Old Version)
The sky is clear today.
It’s perfect weather for a war date, and Shido Itsuka’s mood… is of course a mess.
[…..Your emotions are so intense that they’re almost breaking our observation equipment. Is that really okay?]“No, no problem! Don’t worry!!”
[How dare you say such a thing when the surroundings are shaking like an earthquake?]Even he was surprised.
Even a new recruit going into battle for the first time probably wouldn’t tremble to this extent.
On the day of the date, Shidou was not in perfect condition when he went to the agreed location, Tengu Station.
The worst thing is that the tension has exceeded the limit.
Even the commander sighed and held his forehead – he never expected that Shidao’s will to save the elves would conflict so violently with another emotion in his heart.
He did think a lot during the sleepless night.
What is Kurumi thinking? How does she see herself? Will this date really make her happy?
And other things about Kurumi…
After all, no matter how I try to hide it, my mind is full of things about her.
As to whether these thoughts are useful – the answer is self-evident.
[However, last night I was so excited I couldn’t sleep like a monkey in heat, but now I’m quite energetic, which is commendable.]“What a ridiculous analogy! How do you know I have insomnia…”
“Since we can monitor emotional values, of course we know this. By the way, we also saw clearly how someone caused Tohka to lose her temper yesterday.”
“Ugh… that’s my fault…”
For Ratatoskr, Tohka’s mood swings must have made them worried.
From Kotori’s sigh in the communicator, one could sense that Shidou was still filled with guilt even though he had no choice.
“Forget it, Tohka is in a good mood right now. But after this matter with Kurumi is over, I must go on a date with her.”
“Yeah, that was the plan.”
He would have done it even if Kotori hadn’t said it.
But now, he had to concentrate on dealing with this date with Kurumi, even turning down Tohka’s invitation.
[Good to know… Anyway, run quickly. Your date is already waiting.]“T-Tell me this important information sooner!!”
He quickened his pace at a trot.
Originally, there was still half an hour until the agreed time of ten o’clock, so we could have walked at a leisurely pace, but since Kurumi had arrived earlier, it was a different matter…….
Although specifying a time seemed meaningless, he obviously had no time to think about it now.
Soon, the destination came into view – the bronze statue of a dog commonly known as “Pachigong” in front of the east exit of Tiangong Station.
By the way, this nickname is so well-known that few people remember its official name.
And nearby, she was—
“Here it comes—”
He raised his hand, but the sound he wanted to call out stopped midway.
Ah, here we go again.
Once again – his mind was taken away by Tokisaki Kurumi.
For a moment, only his eyes reflected the still world.
In that world, only she—Tokisaki Kurumi—exists with color.
She was so beautiful in her gorgeous black clothes that it was as if the color “black” was created for her.
What is this state called?…
Yes, that’s what they call…dizzying.
Then, the elegantly standing Kurumi turned around and smiled like a flower.
“Good morning, Mr. Shidou.”
That’s all.
Just with these words, Shidou’s heart beat so hard that it almost jumped out of his mouth.
Although this is always the case when facing Kurumi, it is especially strong today.
Throbbing, throbbing, throbbing, my heart continued to beat as if it was about to explode.
But his mind was extremely clear, even calm to a frightening degree.
There really is something wrong with me.
“Good morning, Kurumi. …You’re really early.”
“Yes… Actually, I was so excited about my date with Shidou-san that I accidentally arrived too early. But you, Shidou-san, arrived much earlier than the agreed time.”
“Ah, well…actually, I was feeling the same way. I was so excited that I couldn’t sit still, so I thought I’d wait here first. I didn’t expect you to beat me to it.”
「You’re such a talker. I kicked you out of the house because you were too restless.」
“Oh my, I’m so happy to be able to connect with Mr. Shidou.”
Shidou ignored the Commander-sama’s valuable remarks and just smiled shyly at Kurumi’s words.
…….It’s not a lie to say that I left early because I was looking forward to it.
But to be more precise, Kotori kicked him out of the house.
Kurumi smiled as she saluted while holding up her skirt.
Although she often behaves and speaks like a rich lady, these actions are indeed extremely elegant and appropriate.
“Thank you very much for inviting me today. I’m really happy to be able to date Mr. Shidou——but…”
With the sound of light footsteps, Kurumi suddenly approached Shidao.
This overly abrupt action——and the subtle fragrance wafting from her body so close to him, made Shidou’s thoughts stop instantly.
In this gap of less than a few seconds, the scene that came into view made him open his eyes wide in shock.
Like magic, the communicator that was just on his ear appeared at her fingertips.
“This is my date with Shidou-san. There’s no need for unnecessary interference…right?”
She deftly slipped the micro-communicator into Shidou’s coat pocket, patted the pocket, and smiled a dangerous smile that was completely different from before.
From this moment on, Shidou lost the means of communication and “assistance” with [Flaxinas].
This is exactly what is meant by unnecessary intervention.
Before the date even started, he had already lost his strongest support.
It seems that Kurumi also knows about Ratatoskr.
What to do, how to respond?
Just as Shidou was thinking with a bitter face——a small hand gently grabbed the corner of his clothes.
“Or is it that Mr. Shidou… is worried about his date with me…?”
Looking at Kurumi with moist eyes looking up and asking questions, Shidao felt a shock as if his heart was pierced through his body.
No, it’s more than that.
Whether the upward gaze and moist eyes were carefully designed – none of this matters anymore.
But he could indeed see the uneasiness flickering in Kurumi’s eyes. For Shidao, who had made up his mind – this alone was enough.
“——————That’s not the case.”
“ah……..”
Holding Kurumi’s delicate hand.
Small, soft, cuddly hands.
Unable to get support from [Fraxinus]?
Ah, so what…it’s just something like this.
Although the other party is an elf…but first and foremost, she is a girl.
As a man, how could I make her feel uneasy?
The awakening is set.
What Shido Gokawa needs to do at this moment is to let this girl get pure happiness, and all the shyness and sealing power are put aside.
This is a war date initiated by his own will.
“Let’s go, Kurumi–let’s start our war date.”
Fingers intertwined, we walked forward.
A handshake in your palm is the best answer.
Chapter 39 War [Date] (Old Version)
“I say…are you sure it’s here…?”
“Yes. I want to go and see it.”
Shidou asked again to confirm, but Kurumi smiled and said that this was indeed the destination.
Since she said so, it shouldn’t be wrong.
However, when Shidou was thinking about where to go first, he widened his eyes after hearing Kurumi’s suggestion, and even wondered if he had heard it wrong.
At this moment, in front of the two of them stood a glittering, dazzling building that was so noisy just by looking at it – yes, it was the game center.
I never expected that this elegant and graceful lady like Kuang San would propose to come to a place that is completely contrary to her image…
But since she took the initiative to propose it, there is naturally no reason to refuse.
But if you ask whether this solves Shidao’s doubts, the answer is obviously no.
“…Why the arcade? Ah, I’m not dissatisfied, I’m just curious…”
He couldn’t hold it in any longer and asked tentatively while emphasizing that he was not complaining.
In fact, there is no need to be so cautious. After all, Kurumi will definitely understand his intentions.
Facing his question, Kurumi did not show any displeasure, but answered suddenly:
“Please don’t overthink it. It’s just… it’s hard for me to come to a place like this alone, and since you’re with Mr. Shidou, I wanted to take this opportunity to experience it.”
She explained with a hint of shyness, and Shidou suddenly understood.
Considering her special identity as an “elf”, it goes without saying what consequences would be caused if Kurumi appeared alone in such a place.
With her inhumanly beautiful face, she was lucky to just be approached.
But now that I am by your side, this worry is unnecessary.
Being relied upon by her with the excuse of “If I’m with Shidou-san…” doesn’t feel bad at all.
…Men are creatures that will become elated as soon as they hear words like this.
“Okay! Let’s have fun today!”
Shidou clenched his fists and smiled enthusiastically, and Kurumi nodded happily in response.
The two of them walked through the automatic door together——
“Wow… that sound is amazing…”
“Yeah, it’s like this every time you come to an arcade for the first time… Is it okay?”
“Yeah. I’m a little scared… but it’s okay to that extent.”
It’s like another world inside the door.
Various game machines are displayed all around, and the noise that comes with them is deafening.
Shidao was quite used to it since he often visited there with his friends, but Kurumi, who was experiencing it for the first time, couldn’t help but cover her ears and frowned slightly.
However, she quickly adjusted herself and smiled in response to Shidou’s concern.
“That’s good. Let’s just walk around for a bit. If you feel uncomfortable, tell me immediately.”
“Okay, thank you for your consideration.”
After all, it would be meaningless if Kurumi couldn’t enjoy it, Shidou reminded her again.
However, she completely ignored his concerns and looked around at the various gaming equipment with great interest.
The two of them were moving between various machines such as music games, fighting games, and racing games, when suddenly – Kurumi stopped.
“Well, what happened?”
“Ah, no… that’s not the case…”
Although she said this, her eyes were fixed on a certain direction with intense gaze, which was really unconvincing.
Following Kurumi’s gaze, there were claw machines lined up there.
Focus further and you’ll find a cute cat stuffed animal.
“…Do you like cats?”
“! That’s not the case. It’s just that, well, I’m a little interested…”
Isn’t this just saying you like me? Looking at Kurumi, whose cheeks were slightly red and whose voice was trembling as she made vague excuses, Shidou couldn’t help but burst out laughing.
The contrast with Kurumi’s usual calm demeanor was just too adorable, and he was thrilled to discover a new side of her that wasn’t quite as forthright about things like this.
“Okay, since it’s so rare for you to come to the arcade, let me catch it and give it to Kurumi.”
“Oh… no, that’s not necessary. I can’t trouble you enough…”
“Aren’t you interested? Then don’t hesitate.”
Besides, in secular terms, capturing a man and giving him as a gift should increase your favorability.
Although I can’t get the option support from [Fraxinus], this is Shidao’s own judgment, but it shouldn’t be wrong…
He thought so on the surface, but in fact he just wanted to see Kurumi’s happy expression.
Without saying anything, he exchanged the banknotes for coins and put them into the claw machine.
He had played this kind of game several times. All he had to do was hook the doll and push it out. It shouldn’t be too difficult—yes, that’s what Shidao thought at the moment.
Little did they know that this was the first step towards the abyss.
First attempt.
“Ah…it moved a little bit.”
“Oh, just push it out slowly like this. Come on, keep going.”
Second attempt.
“…Not moving at all.”
“It’s a small mistake… It’s okay, I’ll definitely do it next time.”
Fifth attempt.
“…No, it’s okay. Look, it’s moving slowly, isn’t it? Don’t worry.”
Tenth attempt.
“Mr. Shidou…!”
“T-This claw is too loose, this store….Ahahahaha.”
The twentieth attempt——
“Shidou-san! That’s enough!! I’m so happy about your kindness! So please stop now!!”
“It’s okay! Didn’t you see it move just now? It will definitely fall off next time. Don’t worry, just leave it to me!”
“ah…….!”
Ding Dong.
Kurumi froze more still than ever before, and another one-yuan coin was mercilessly swallowed by the machine. Shidao thought to himself that this was how the economy worked, as if it had nothing to do with him.
He is already on the edge of a dilemma; this is a battle where his dignity is at stake…!
What about cheap dignity…I seem to be able to hear the commander’s hallucinations, but who cares?
He looked like a loser boyfriend who was addicted to gambling and couldn’t stop himself, shaking off his girlfriend’s attempts to dissuade him and insisting that he would be able to do it next time.
Before she knew it, Kurumi had tightly grasped the corner of Shidao’s clothes, watching the movements of the mechanical arm with bated breath.
Shidao also operated the joystick with his sweaty hands, repeating the scene he had seen dozens of times – click, the doll fell.
“”ah…….””
Two dull voices overlapped.
“It fell down…”
“It fell down…”
The sudden situation made the two of them murmur in confusion and look at each other.
Then their expressions gradually changed…they all smiled at the same time, almost jumping for joy to show their happiness.
“It worked! It worked, Kurumi!!”
“Yeah, yeah. It worked, it worked! Congratulations, Mr. Shidou!!”
Amidst the joy, they had already forgotten the original agreement to give gifts, and even excitedly high-fived to celebrate.
It even makes people feel that they are no longer obsessed with the doll itself, but are obsessed with making it fall.
Regardless, having successfully achieved his goal, Shidou took out the cat stuffed animal from the access port and solemnly handed it to Kurumi.
“You put a lot of effort into this. You should cherish it, right?”
“Okay! I’ll treasure it very much… Thank you very much, Mr. Shidou.”
“Hmm…!”
Faced with the joking words, Kurumi still responded with a smile, hugged the doll tightly and showed a truly happy expression.
Looking at her like this, Shidou felt his heart beating violently again.
At the same time, he realized that the tense and uncomfortable feeling he had felt from her at some point in time…had disappeared.
Although I didn’t understand what it was in the end…but as long as I could see her happiness from the bottom of her heart at this moment, it was enough.
I want to see her smile and know more about her.
Following this impulse, Shidou took Kurumi’s hand as he did at the beginning.
Although Kurumi was a little surprised… she still shook his hand back with a smile on her face.
“The date has just begun. Let’s continue to enjoy it, Kurumi.”
“Okay. …I’m very happy now, Shidou-san.”
【Ahh, Kurumi is calling my name. 】
Such a simple thing could bring him such indescribable joy.
When Shidao took her hand and walked forward, what flashed through his mind was this extremely ordinary happiness.
———————————
“Hmm…..mm….”
Tohka rolled around on the bed restlessly, from left to right, then from right to left, and finally lay on her back in a spread-eagle position.
Even so, the “restlessness” in her chest showed no signs of dissipating, and she couldn’t help but groan in distress.
At this moment, Shidou must be “dating” Kurumi.
This is obviously…a good thing.
In order for Kurumi to live a stable life like himself, Shidou is trying to do what is necessary.
But why can’t I get rid of this “irritability”?
Whenever something involves Kurumi, Shidou always has a complicated expression.
But when he was with Kurumi, he seemed so happy…
As a “good friend”, I should be happy for him… Why do I feel so “annoyed”?
…….This “irritation” is not directed only at Shidao.
Tohka also feels the same way towards Kurumi.
She intuitively felt that Kurumi was a good person and very similar to herself.
Not just fellow elves.
When Kurumi and Shidou were together, the happiness in their smiles was exactly the same as hers… yet they were completely different in one fatal way.
Although she felt conflicted, Tohka did read this message from Kurumi’s smile.
Why can Kurumi laugh so…painfully?
“–Um?”
What interrupted her thoughts was the knock on the door.
However, the sound did not come from the door, but from… the window.
Tohka hurriedly stood up and looked out the window—what she saw was a familiar pure white.
“Who are you…the one passing by!?”
“Long time no see, Yatogami Tohka.”
The girl still had an aloof temperament, floating outside the window and waving leisurely.
——The two who were once known as “Nameless Elves” now met for the second time.
Chapter 40 Shyness (Old Version)
“Okay… what should I do next…”
“Ah, Mr. Shidou. Regarding this matter…”
It was late afternoon, and as Shidou had just walked out of the restaurant and was listing several alternative destinations in his mind, Kurumi heard his whisper and spoke.
In the process of experiencing various games, they not only discovered the new fact that Kurumi is particularly good at shooting games, but also experienced many interesting things together.
The intense time spent with Kurumi in the game center passed by at an alarming speed.
When they came to their senses and checked the time, they were both surprised at the same time.
So now, after a late lunch, they were faced with choosing their next destination.
“Well, is there anywhere you want to go?”
“Yes. I’m sorry for making such unreasonable requests…but I hope Mr. Shidou can choose clothes for me.”
“Let me choose? That’s not impossible…”
Shidao originally thought that it was normal for women to choose their own clothes while men were responsible for carrying bags, so this request made him a little confused.
To be honest, he had no confidence at all that he could match suitable clothes for the peerless beauty Kurumi.
But at the same time, it would be a lie to say that I had no expectations for the scene of [she wearing the clothes I chose], which would be the envy of all men.
“…I’m not very confident in picking out cute clothes for girls, but if you think I can do it, I’d be happy to accompany you.”
“Oh, I just want…Shidou-san to choose.”
She smiled a breathtaking smile and said words that made her heart beat faster.
Even this kind of daily conversation would make him overreact—Shidao hid his already red cheeks while hurriedly catching up with Kurumi who was already saying “this way please” and walking forward.
If my sister saw me like this, she would definitely laugh at me.
“Kyousan.”
“Didn’t you say you wanted me to help you pick out clothes?”
“Yes. Because I wanted Mr. Shidou to help me choose clothes…that’s why I brought you here.”
“Ah, I see—that’s weird! This isn’t clothing, it’s underwear…!!”
Shidou’s face flushed red—in a completely different sense from before—and he cried out from the bottom of his heart.
As a result, the smiling Kurumi remained unmoved, which only attracted more curious glances.
But normally a man would never step into such a place, and Shidou couldn’t remain silent.
“Haha, you’re too particular about details. Aren’t they all the same in terms of covering the skin?”
“That’s all! That’s the only thing they have in common!!”
“Okay, okay, what’s the matter, what’s the matter.”
This theory is simply ridiculous.
The gap between outerwear and underwear is as vast as the world.
But now that we have stepped into this place, there is no turning back.
Faced with Shidao’s fierce complaints, Kurumi easily changed the subject and started to choose underwear.
Shidou swallowed unconsciously.
She said she would let him choose…but she took him to a lingerie store.
Was she teasing him, or did she really want him to choose underwear?
“Oh my, Shidou-san’s face is so red. Are you feeling unwell?”
“Hmm… maybe the air conditioner is on too high…?”
Facing Kurumi’s almost malicious smile, Shidou managed to squeeze out a clumsy excuse.
That was a close call—he really wanted to congratulate himself for not having a nosebleed like last night.
He was almost about to awaken the [Sandalphon] hidden in his body.
Oh, something so exaggerated can only be considered as [Ao Sha Gong (laughs)] at most, right?
My mind flashed to my sister’s ridicule, but I had no time to care about it right now.
If he continues like this, he will be completely suppressed by the effortless Kurumi.
That’s right, seemingly calm and unhurried…wait?
“…Hey, Kurumi.
“?What’s wrong?”
“————Actually, you’re shy.”
This straight shot is a confident assertion.
Although Kurumi maintained a smile on the surface, her cheeks were flushed – a detail that only Shidou, who had engraved Kurumi’s database into his mind, could notice.
The evidence was that the faint blush spread rapidly as he spoke, and in the blink of an eye it dyed her entire face.
“…That’s not the case. Shidou-san is just being overly suspicious.”
“Oh, you’re shy. You’re definitely shy. You’re just holding on, right?”
“I’m not shy, and I’m not trying to be forceful. Please don’t be unreasonable.”
“But you’re blushing. And you’re talking faster. Don’t push yourself.”
“Ugh…! So I’m not forcing you!! But Shidou-san, stop being embarrassed and choose your products quickly!! Come on, choose quickly!!”
“What are you saying with such a red face!?”
“The air conditioner is set too low!”
“That was clearly my line just now!? That’s why I told you to stop being so stubborn.”
“So it didn’t work at all—”
Chirping and noisy.
The two of them blushed as they were discussing the topic. Kurumi approached Shidou with her underwear in hand. Shidou tried to push her away, considering Kurumi’s situation, but ended up being in a tightly pressed position.
At this moment, the women in the store who witnessed this scene reached an unprecedented consensus in their hearts—both of you explode.
Chapter 41 Misunderstanding [Escape] (Old Version)
“Ah, Itsuka-kun. Why are you here…?”
What stopped the couple who seemed to be arguing but were actually flirting was a familiar girl’s voice.
Shidou immediately sensed something was wrong with his intuition.
This is… murderous intent!
“……The person standing there is the transfer student Tokisaki-san?”
“Aren’t we going on a date with Tohka to the aquarium today?”
“Hey, did you stand up Tohka and then hook up with the transfer student in a place like this? This is really disgusting—”
Shidou’s classmates Ai, Mai, and Mii were already standing in the store, and all three of them were staring at him.
At this moment, sensing the crisis, his brain began to work at full speed.
How did they know that Tohka asked her out on a date… Well, maybe Tohka discussed it with them.
Thinking back to how Tohka came back to the classroom during lunch break and the ticket, and considering that it was Tohka who took the initiative to invite him out this time—this was an unprecedented move, so it was normal to infer these things.
Now calmly analyze your situation.
In their eyes, he was obviously a super scumbag who stood up Tohka’s date and then hooked up with the transfer student to date him in the lingerie store.
Indeed, even I have to admit that this is extremely despicable behavior.
If you don’t understand the “inside story”, the situation will become like this, and to explain this “inside story”… is simply impossible.
“Kyousan, can you run?”
In this case, there is only one answer.
Shidou made a decision in an instant and asked Kurumi in a low voice.
He believed that with her keen sense, she would be able to understand it with just this one sentence.
Although Kurumi opened her eyes wide for a short while…but just as he expected, she nodded slightly in understanding.
“Okay—that sounds really interesting…”
“Is this true? Hey!!!”
He grabbed Kurumi’s hand and ran away.
Shidou’s response was not to make excuses but to run away.
This form of almost eloping made him think that if he and Kurumi were to go together, it might be really interesting…
“—Stop right there, you bastard! Aa …
“How could I possibly let you guys get away!!!!”
“Let me stab you to death or shoot you, it’s your choice!!!”
“I knew it would be like this!!”
It doesn’t matter if you pretend, the reality will not change anyway.
When the three stunned people came to their senses from their shock, they immediately chased after the two people who rushed out of the store hand in hand with terrifying momentum.
That hideous face was so frightening that even evil spirits would be ashamed of themselves, and Shidao was so frightened that his legs almost went limp.
“I’ll explain the details next time… It seems like they’re not listening at all!! Aren’t these guys running too fast?!”
“Oh my, this is incredible~”
Looking at Kurumi who was running inexplicably happily, Shidou thought to himself that as long as she was happy, but his stronger thought was that he must not be caught.
If he is caught, he will definitely be cut into pieces – more importantly, he will never allow anyone to disturb the time he spends with Kurumi.
No matter what kind of retaliation will be suffered afterwards, no matter how bad the reputation of the school will become, let’s leave it for later.
At this moment, he only wanted to cherish every minute he spent with her and feel the warmth from her palm for a longer time – he wanted to be with Kuang San more and more.
“Damn it, it’s too annoying!!”
However, the reality is harsh, and the trio is like a thorn in their bones that is difficult to get rid of, and Shidao can’t help but complain.
Although he was not caught up, he was still unable to widen the distance.
Is this what they call a cornered dog?
Just as he was secretly sighing, his physical strength was constantly being depleted.
But Kurumi followed closely behind with even breathing… Although I know that she is an “elf”, as a man it is still a bit shocking. Let’s just keep it a secret.
If this continues, he will be exhausted to death sooner or later.
Just as I was struggling to breathe and my head was starting to feel dizzy from running at full speed—
“Wow.”
“Wow—”
Following a series of characteristic screams, Shidou couldn’t help but look back to confirm although he didn’t stop.
Kurumi also turned around at the same time…they both exclaimed in unison.
“Yoshino!?”
“Ms. Yoshino!?”
The waving puppet in the distance made the girl certain—Yoshino was waving at them through the puppet, Yoshina.
…By the way, we also saw the trio falling into a pile of giant display dolls.
Do you want to turn back?
Shidou and Kurumi hesitated for a moment.
“………….!!!”
[Hurry up, hurry up—keep running, both of you!]But Yoshino’s energetic shaking of her head and her resonant voice pushed them forward…
When they saw the girl’s thumbs-up, they were more motivated.
The moment they looked at each other and nodded, they started walking again—
Shidao responded with a thumbs up, and Kurumi waved…
I will always keep this gratitude towards Yoshino in my heart.
Chapter 42 Dream (Old Version)
“Huh, I finally got rid of them…”
“It seems so… Thank you for your hard work.”
“You’ve worked hard, Kurumi… I’m sorry, it’s all because of me.”
The two who had managed to escape from the three with Yoshino’s help were now taking a short break on a park bench.
Although they said they were taking a break, Shidou was the only one trying hard to regulate his breathing. Kurumi ran the entire course without changing her expression from beginning to end.
(Is it time to exercise…?)
Shidou pondered secretly, while Kurumi shook her head as if she didn’t care about his apology and said:
“That’s all right. Thanks to you, I can see Miss Yoshino and Miss Yoshina in such good spirits.”
“Ah, about Yoshino—”
“I understand. He must have rushed out to help because he couldn’t bear to watch. That child has always been gentle.”
Shidou breathed a sigh of relief after being caught first.
Just as the perceptive Kurumi said, Yoshino should still be monitoring in [Fraxinus], and only came to help because she could no longer hold back.
This was not a support operation by [Ratatoskr]. Seeing that Kurumi also knew it, Shidao breathed a sigh of relief.
Thinking that the introverted Yoshino actually stepped forward to help, he couldn’t help but smile with relief.
“By the way, Mr. Shidou… you originally had an appointment with Ms. Tohka today, right?”
The smile froze instantly.
He had thought that this matter had been over during his escape, but it seemed that he could not escape it after all.
“…You chose to date me first.”
“…I guess so.”
Seeing Shidao nodding in agreement, Kurumi said softly, “Is that so…”
Although it had nothing to do with the trade-off, in the end he did choose Kurumi first—this way of answering made him feel guilty.
I repeatedly emphasize that this is not a comparison, but girls who are treated preferentially will always feel uncomfortable.
“W-Would you like something to drink? I’ll go get some drinks, Kurumi, you rest here!”
“Okay. I’ll be waiting for you.”
Watching Shidou leave in a hurry, Kurumi exhaled lightly and suddenly found that there was an unconscious smile on the corner of her lips.
“I’m…”
The fingertips touching her cheek finally made her feel the throbbing sensation.
———He chose me over Tohka-san. This feeling shouldn’t be there. It’s ugly. Even though I’m feeling guilty.
But deep down in my heart – there was indeed an irrepressible joy.
I understand, ah, of course I understand. If Tohka-san and I were to switch places—if our identities as “spirits” were to be reversed, that person would undoubtedly make the opposite choice.
To save the “elves”.
He must have prioritized himself only to fulfill the “promise” he made at the time.
He was just that kind of person, and I knew it all too well from spending so much time with him. I was fully aware of his selfless tenderness, yet I nearly misunderstood it.
“Really… the worst elf.”
He murmured, as if mocking himself. But at this point, it didn’t matter.
To take away the time that belonged to her from such a wonderful child who cherished her with all his heart, and even in the end…what else can be called if not ugly.
It is obvious, I know very well that this is ugly, I should have told myself long ago that I am not qualified to have such thoughts, but the uncontrollable emotions still continue to overflow.
That’s right, now I am——
“—Ahh, this is really… delightful.”
Even with her constant self-reprimands, the emotions that were eroding Kurumi’s heart continued to spread. She didn’t understand it in the past, and she didn’t want to understand it.
Why is he so hesitant about having to “devour” that person in order to fulfill his “long-cherished wish”?
At this moment, Kuang San finally expressed her feelings.
Ah, so you are enjoying it?
The time spent with that person, knowing her unknown side, touching her tenderness, being called by her name – all of this makes people feel uncontrollable happiness and joy, and their emotions gradually get out of control.
Even today it is the same.
I wanted to take the lead in the date, but things never went as I wished, and I always showed awkward reactions like a girl’s first love.
Whenever I see him, those inexplicable emotions will disturb my mind and I can no longer maintain my normal self.
This feeling should not be known, I don’t want to know, and I cannot know it.
If I truly understood, I’m afraid there would be no turning back… This fear is suffocating.
Holding tightly to the doll she got from him.
If I don’t do this, the pain will crush my heart, making it almost unbearable. I must seal this emotion. Return to the self who didn’t know this feeling yet.
Because his warmth, the gifts he gave, and even the encounter with him – all must be treated as “never happened”.
“—Oh my.”
Just at this moment, an inappropriate “noise” came into my ears.
She stood up swayingly, and her face no longer looked like the girl who was just immersed in a dream.
The girl put on the “mask” that was about to slip off again, carrying the despair on her back, and completely sealing up the longing that she didn’t even know the name of, swayed and took a step forward.
For a Nightmare like me, this is ultimately too luxurious a dream.
So I have to end it myself.
Come on, put an end to this sweet delusion.
——As the name suggests, give them a nightmare.
I beg you to feed me some information. If you haven’t added it to your collection, please do so. If the data is not good, it will not be put on the shelves at all. No matter how much I write, it will be in vain.
Chapter 43 Lies (Old Version)
Shidou returned to the park bench with the drink he just bought in his hands, frowning and tilting his head slightly.
Although Kurumi had said she would wait here, she suddenly disappeared.
He subconsciously wanted to tap the headset – but then remembered that he had put it in his pocket at the beginning, so he took out the headset and stared at it.
As long as we have this, we can contact [Ratatoskr], and probably we can also locate Kurumi’s position through surveillance.
But after staring at the headset and hesitating for a moment… Shidou stuffed it back into his pocket.
[This is a date between me and Mr. Shidou.] She once said this.
In this case, the correct attitude is to insist on carrying it through to the end without relying on external forces.
Anyway, let’s look around first—he shouted her name and ran.
「Shidou! Please answer! Shidou!!」
———But he didn’t notice his sister’s shouting coming from the headset.
“————!!”
The running footsteps suddenly stopped.
He was breathing heavily, staring at the woods near the park exit.
No, to be more precise, he was staring at me with a sharp gaze that seemed to penetrate the depths of the woods.
Something was moving.
Shidou vaguely sensed that there was “something” that was unusual ahead.
–Danger.
This is a warning stemming from the survival instinct.
It’s dangerous to go on, turn back, now.
My whole body is sending out this alarm.
This was absolutely right. He knew it was right, but he was still attracted by “something” and stepped into that field.
“……..!?”
The first thing that caught my eye was the figure of a man lying prone on the ground.
There are more than one, there are two or three people that can be seen.
Shidou, who had confirmed the situation, was about to rush over——but he froze when he saw the wriggling “black shadow”.
That “black shadow” seemed familiar.
No…it’s more than just a sense of déjà vu.
After all, how could I forget everything related to her.
“Ahh, you’re here after all—”
What a nostalgic sound.
But at this moment I sincerely hope that this is just an illusion.
He looked up as he prayed like this—and finally froze in place with an expression of near despair.
“——Mr. Shidou”
The dark red color, like splattered blood, contrasts with her symbolic blackness.
A “spiritual outfit” woven with exquisite contrasts.
Gorgeous black hair tied up in an asymmetrical style.
Heterochromic eyes, left red and right gold.
She didn’t care about the man lying at her feet – Kurumi Tokisaki, smiled.
“Kuang San——”
“Yes. This is the first time I’ve seen you like this. I’m a little… shy.”
“You, actually……!”
It seemed like Shidou was breathing heavily and throwing out fragmented questions in front of the casually chatty Kurumi.
Please, I hope it’s just a misunderstanding, I hope it’s just an illusion—his fragile wish was shattered by the other party as if nothing had happened.
“Hmm. It was me who [devoured] them—is there anything wrong with that?”
“ha…….?”
He couldn’t understand.
I even doubted whether she really said it herself, or if there was something wrong with my ears or brain.
Because she wove her words so calmly, as if she was stating something that was self-evident.
“Weak humans are [devoured] by powerful spirits, that’s all. What’s so surprising about this?”
“You’re kidding…!!”
It was like a nightmare.
Shidou came here with the feeling of not wanting to see her get hurt.
But what is she saying now?
The “elves” who wanted to save people turned into disasters and attacked humans.
What’s even more ironic is that the person who said this was Tokisaki Kurumi herself.
A disaster that destroys the world.
This word that he had heard over and over again now existed before Shidao’s eyes in a concrete form.
But what instantly gripped his heart wasn’t fear—
But it was sadness…purely, he felt the overwhelming sadness.
“Kyousan, I—ow!?”
The movement came to an abrupt halt as he staggered.
The legs that took a step without thinking were firmly clamped by countless pale arms that emerged from the shadows.
There were more than just one or two arms. No matter how he struggled, these arms held his legs tightly and refused to let go.
“Hehe, hehehe! Ah, but… only Shidou-san is special.”
Click, click.
She approached Shidou step by step.
When the slender hand slowly stretched out before his eyes, he could only stare with bated breath.
Kurumi’s right palm gently stroked his cheek, just as she said, as if it were a fragile object, full of pity.
“Remember? I said there was something to look for,”
Of course I remember.
How could Shidou forget what Kurumi said?
But what’s the point of bringing this up now?
“I’ll tell you right now. The thing I’m looking for is none other than you, Mr. Shidou.”
“What…….”
“I’m really troubled right now. Extremely troubled. So, Mr. Shidou——that [promise]. You will fulfill it, right?”
What are you talking about?
As a “spirit”, Kurumi deliberately sought her own reasons, and Shidao originally – no, he really existed.
A certain quality that only you possess.
His eyes shot open as the realization hit him, a reaction that seemed to please her, causing Kurumi to let out a small chuckle.
“Have you been discovered? Haha, yes, my target is none other than Mr. Shidou… the wonderful [Spiritual Power] within you.”
“—Don’t you find it strange?”
Cluck, cluck, cluck.
Kurumi laughed maniacally and was about to continue her story happily.
No, I can’t listen to it anymore.
An alarm several times louder than before exploded throughout Shidou’s body.
“I appeared before you at the perfect moment. I was there to witness your encounter with Yoshino. Appearing at this very moment, when both Tohka-san and Yoshino-san were sealed… Such an extraordinary coincidence, do you really think it was just a fluke?”
Don’t listen, cover your ears!
The moment his brain issued the command, his arms became unable to move as if he was possessed by a ghost.
“shut up…….!”
“Because this is not a coincidence at all. Everything so far——”
“Please stop talking!!”
“——These are just lies I made up just to enjoy Shidou-san.”
The boy’s feelings were easily trampled upon.
Although they could touch each other by just taking a step forward, the girl in front of them seemed so hopelessly far away.
Their eyes met.
All that came into view was a bone-chilling smile.
That was a poisonous laugh that could devour a person completely.
But even so – she is still breathtakingly beautiful.
Chapter 44: Darkness (Old Version)
“—That’s it, villain.”
A strange feeling suddenly enveloped Shidao, and a familiar voice came into his ears.
In the blink of an eye, the situation changed drastically.
The stunned Shidou only had time to see clearly – Kurumi leaped back gracefully, and the fully armed girl, Takamiya Mana, landed in front of him instead.
“It was a close call. Are you okay, Onii-sama?”
“S-So…”
The wiring suit she was wearing was the very weapon designed to defeat the [Elves]—Chaos’s thoughts suddenly cleared.
No, this is the only thing that is absolutely not allowed…!
“Ah…it’s really surprising. How should I put it, there are some complicated reasons——”
“Wait a minute, Mana! I know everything! Whether it’s about AST or the [Elves], I know everything!!”
“Huh?” Mana looked at Shidou with suspicion, but he was still on guard against Kurumi.
…….Even though he knew that Kurumi was acting in order to “devour” him, he still couldn’t tolerate her being hurt, and he was even more unwilling to let Mana hurt her.
It was with this obsession that he shouted out.
“So let me talk to Kurumi! She is actually-“
“That’s impossible, Brother-sama.”
Mana cut off his plea without hesitation.
Her expression revealed a certain exhaustion and numbness… The girl pointed the blade at Kurumi and continued as if spitting out filth.
“I don’t know what kind of magic potion this woman has put into you, but trying to communicate is a waste of effort. This guy is a scum who won’t hesitate to hurt anyone. If you don’t kill her, you will be killed – she is such a ‘worst elf’.”
“this…….!”
“The worst elf” – this word made his blood freeze instantly.
The nightmares that lingered in his mind now turned into reality and tore at Shidao.
As if his feet were sewn shut, he was firmly imprisoned by this cruel reality.
Kurumi is actually the “worst elf”, an “elf” who does not hesitate to hurt others.
This fact was ruthlessly tearing his heart apart.
“Oh, that’s an exaggeration. It’s Shidou-san and I’m having a tryst right now… Miss Mana has no right to interrupt.”
“You have all the power you want. How dare you treat someone else’s elder brother like a toy?”
“That’s a harsh thing to say. Ah, but—it’s not entirely wrong.”
Shidou listened to every word Kurumi said lightly.
Even though his heart was broken, he couldn’t resist her voice.
However, this is just——
“After all, I have never admired Mr. Shidou at all.”
“…….ah.”
――――Those were words that shattered the young man’s heart.
He was completely exhausted and fell to his knees.
For some reason, my vision began to distort.
He should have crushed the “elf’s” despair, but at this moment his heart was filled with despair.
This reality brought the young man heart-wrenching pain.
Just one sentence pierced through the boy’s body like a bullet.
For some reason, this power, like the power of the word spirit, was more powerful than anything else… as if it was trying to seal the boy’s firm will – it was suffocating.
“—Shut up, elf.”
Shidou, who had lowered his head, suddenly found himself floating in the air, and he raised his face in astonishment.
Mana, with an angry look on her face, was trying to move him to a safe area using her Territory.
“It’s not enough to attack humans, but you even dare to deceive my elder brother—Go to hell, you evil heretic.”
Following these last words, Shidou was thrown away by the power of the random field that Mana unfolded.
“Mana! Ugh—Kyousan!!”
His vision blurred rapidly. He instinctively reached out his hand.
Of course, that hand ultimately couldn’t reach anyone.
Mana rushed towards Kurumi with a knife, but Kurumi didn’t even glance in this direction, just stared at Shidou –
Then his consciousness sank into darkness.
Chapter 45 Cats and Dogs (Old Version)
“…………Am I doing well……?”
This is not a question to anyone.
If you must investigate, it is nothing more than the inner voice expressed to yourself who is not your clone.
Naturally, self-questioning is unlikely to receive a response.
That child…is not here at the moment either.
If she had witnessed all this, what would she have said?
Ah, she would probably say with a sarcastic smile, “Oh, this is such a lame third-rate farce for Kurumi.”
In the mottled shadows of the trees, Tokisaki Kurumi released all her strength and leaned against the tree trunk.
To be precise, it was because he couldn’t even muster the strength to support his body at this moment.
At this moment, the annoying “puppy” should be happily playing a game of tag with its former alter ego.
So there is no need to worry about resting here – suddenly, the girl’s words reappeared in his mind.
“Go to hell—”
Ahh, that kind of thing——I’ve already prepared myself for it.
If I could realize my “long-cherished wish”, I would be willing to go to hell forever.
For the sake of that “long-cherished wish”, she would not hesitate to trample on the young man’s affections and break the agreement she made with him.
By then, even the lowest level of hell would seem too merciful to Tokisaki Kurumi, this hopeless woman.
But so what?
I have been aware of this since the very beginning.
That human must hate me.
A natural disaster that wantonly “devours” others and brutally harms them—there is no reason for anyone not to hate it.
Expect him to save you from the disaster you brought upon yourself?
No matter how good a person is, it is impossible for him to have such an absurd idea.
The next time we meet, I’ll probably be greeted with either a hateful glare or an angry rebuke.
That’s perfect.
As long as that emotion can pour out, I can continue to stand firm.
Just imagining that scene—
“Meow~”
“! Oh, you are…”
While Kuang San was lost in thought, a kitten came to her feet.
The cat that was struggling to move with its injured front leg was the poor creature that had just been used as a target by the group of men with their imitation guns.
“No, running to a place like this with injuries.”
“Meow……”
It’s nothing more than venting pressure on the weak.
There was no need to hesitate to devour that kind of dregs.
Even if I swallow a few more than usual…it’s no big deal.
Gently hold the kitten in your arms.
Being able to find me hiding here means I’m much more capable than a certain “puppy”—that’s what I was thinking.
“Ah… Stop, stop licking, it’s itchy!”
The kitten in her arms suddenly licked Kurumi’s cheek.
She couldn’t help but laugh and tease the little guy, but suddenly she realized that her cheeks were wet.
One side of the face is understandable, after all, he is playing with the cat.
But why… the other cheek as well…?
It’s impossible for it to rain with such a clear sky.
So what exactly is this… Trembling fingers touched her cheek – Kurumi finally understood what it was.
“Ah, ah, am I—————crying…?”
The overflowing words seem to be talking about other people’s affairs.
To her, “that” was no longer something she had any destiny.
I thought I had given it up a long time ago.
This kind of thing is not necessary for a woman who has transformed into a Shura.
Even so, the tears could not stop.
She didn’t even bother to wipe it.
A woman who had long lost the right to cry was being so pretentious at this moment. She was laughing at herself in her heart.
The endless outpouring of “that thing” seeped into the ground and into her palm, and was swallowed by the red and black.
However, there is no one here who will wipe away her tears and accept her.
Because just now——the girl personally cut off the boy who was willing to do this for her.
“What a foolish woman.”
It doesn’t even get sympathy, it’s simply the worst one-man show.
Even so, no matter how embarrassing it was, no matter what the cost, she had made a vow.
I have to start over again… I have to completely rewrite everything.
Even if I have to sip muddy water, even if I am hated by the whole world——even if I have to “devour” Shido Itsuka.
Tokisaki Kurumi continued to move forward.
Even though her heart could no longer bear the heat and pain, she had no choice but to move on.
This is the meaning of her existence and the value of her life.
That’s all right—is it really that way?
The tears are still flowing.
The boy who would wipe her tears would no longer run to her side – at least not now.
The girl Tokisaki Kurumi is gentle.
If not, she wouldn’t have to continue fighting to achieve her goal.
I always think she is clever yet clumsy.
I hope to show her inner conflicts, longings, and uncontrollable emotions.
Of course, we will also describe the cuteness of the other side that is not in the original work!!
Although this depends on my writing ability (lower your expectations first)
Can Shidao finally pull himself together? What broke his heart? Stay tuned.
You can leave more comments, send flowers, monthly tickets, evaluation tickets, and remember to add them to your collection.
Even criticism is fine.
These two chapters have fewer words, and the next chapter will be posted at 1 a.m.
Chapter 46: Total Defeat (Old Version)
“————Wu…”
With a soft groan, his eyelids fluttered open.
The first thing I felt was an unusual heaviness in my head.
I barely pried open my eyes that were about to close again, and what came into view were all kinds of exposed wires and a ceiling with a strange structure.
“here it is……?”
“Are you awake?”
A hoarse male voice came from the side.
Woo… He forced himself to turn his stiff neck and saw a pale-faced woman sitting on a chair.
There seemed to be a similar scene before – when I met Tohka.
But this time – when I tried to recall, my chaotic thoughts were like a thick fog, unable to focus.
“Ms. Lingyin….
“…Yes. Fatigue and mental shock led to coma. To be on the safe side, please continue to rest.”
He was about to push himself up when he was stopped, and he tilted his head in confusion.
I have absolutely no idea what the other person is saying.
Why would I sleep in a place like this?
The most fundamental question swirled in his mind.
…Don’t you remember? Lingyin asked, observing his reaction.
“You were sent to Ratatoskr in a coma.”
“Unconscious… me…?”
He repeated Lingyin’s words in a daze, but he couldn’t remember the reason for his coma.
No, every time I tried to remember, a dull pain would invade my head and become an obstacle.
It’s like my brain is resisting the memories…
Facing Ling Yin who was looking at him worriedly, he couldn’t even muster the strength to reply.
Normally, he would at least be attracted for a moment by the mysterious beauty of this woman, but now he doesn’t even have the luxury of that.
“Looks like you’re awake, Shidou.”
The door of the infirmary suddenly opened, and footsteps and voices rushed in at the same time.
Ah, there’s no mistaking this voice.
It was my sister—but judging by the stiff tone of her voice, it was now in commander mode.
He couldn’t have heard wrong.
As expected, Kotori appeared in the field of vision, wearing a black ribbon.
“Being safe is better than anything else. I’m sorry I just woke up, but I need you to explain the situation. After the call ended… seeing you unconscious, my heart almost stopped beating.”
…After the call ended? What exactly was Kotori talking about?
The chaotic thoughts of questions that kept popping up made his face frown anxiously, and he tried desperately to recall what had happened.
Since my sister is still here as the commander, it means the war date is not over yet.
But who on earth was he with—
“What happened between you and Kurumi?”
“————————”
The moment this name was recognized, memories came rushing back like mist dissipating.
Yes, that’s right.
I remembered everything.
The reality I shared with her was like a dream and a nightmare.
What finally escaped his mouth was a dry laugh that seemed to cover up the trembling in his entire body.
“Ha ha ha ha…….”
“Shido…?”
“I’m sorry, Kotori.”
The action of covering his eyes with his arms prevented him from seeing the expressions of Kotori and Reine.
But from the sound, I can imagine how uneasy my sister is at the moment.
Even so, he couldn’t force a smile that would reassure his sister.
Kotori had said this was a war date.
He thought so too and wanted victory more than anyone else.
So there is no doubt that –
“—I was dumped.”
——Itsuka Shido was completely and utterly defeated.
Chapter 47: Firm Belief (Old Version)
“…Are you worried?”
“I’m serious. You have that expression on your face.”
Kotori stared at the empty hospital bed, and Reine spoke to her with a concerned look on her face.
It seemed that my daze was so obvious that people could see through my worries.
Shidou was no longer in the ward.
Originally, he should have rested at this moment…
“…Leave me alone for a while.”
Kotori couldn’t say anything to him.
Perhaps, as a commander, she simply couldn’t find the words to say to Shidou right now.
She could only clench her fists tightly and pretend to be calm and answer “I understand”.
Letting him return to his home where he could find the most peace was the only thing Kotori could do now.
“Yes. If Shidou loses his value as Ratatoskr like this—”
“That’s not what I meant.”
Kotori shook her head, denying Reine’s words.
Reine’s serious yet caring expression seemed to be saying that she was the only one standing here at the moment…Kotori even had this illusion.
Ah, I really can’t beat Reine in this regard – Kotori thought with a wry smile.
It had nothing to do with external objects like the manifestation device; she was simply someone who could perceive other people’s emotions so keenly.
Kotori sat down on the bed as if in surrender and took off her commander’s mask.
“…………Of course I’m worried. I promised to support him, but in the end, I let him face the elves alone, and it ended up like this. What’s even more hateful is that I can’t even say a word of comfort.”
Whether Shidao can return safely is just a result-based statement.
Kotori and the others existed to fully support Shidou and prevent the situation from developing to this point.
But now, his actions were blocked by Kurumi’s words, which hurt Shidao’s heart.
This is extremely embarrassing.
Everything is undoubtedly my responsibility as the commander.
“……This is not your responsibility alone. It is the responsibility of all of us. Besides, Kurumi’s purpose is beyond our expectations.”
“Well, maybe that’s the case… Hey, Lingyin, I shouldn’t say that…”
“…It’s okay, go ahead.”
“—I curse my position as commander.”
Kotori Itsuka is the commander of Ratatoskr.
In order to save the “elves”, she took on this duty and responsibility.
For a thirteen-year-old girl, this title was too heavy.
But in order to save others and the elves, Kotori still took on this identity.
However, when Shido, her beloved brother, was hurt, Kotori couldn’t even say a word of comfort.
At that moment, the girl cursed her position.
“If Shidou… said something as useless as ‘I can’t do it’ or ‘give up’, I would have slapped him. But, Shidou’s state is not like that at all…”
Be it fear of the spirits or hesitation—if it was such a problem, Kotori, as the commander, would have intended to use stern words to cheer Shidou up.
After all, he dared to face even more terrifying elves.
As a commander, I absolutely cannot tolerate being depressed over something of this magnitude.
But this time is different.
What was tearing Shidao’s heart apart and stopping him from moving forward must be something simpler than those things… yet more complicated.
As a younger sister…she had indeed felt uneasy about Shidou harboring feelings for Kurumi.
And at this moment, that uneasiness became a reality.
In a trance, she felt that she had seen Shidou with such an expression somewhere before.
That was a long, long time ago.
That’s right—it’s exactly the same expression as my brother’s when he first came to this family after being abandoned by his biological mother.
It’s so similar to the despair of having your existence denied by someone important.
To lecture him as a commander at this moment would be like adding insult to injury.
Although she should have been by his side as his younger sister, Kotori was unable to do so due to her position.
Ah, only at this moment she couldn’t help but hate her own identity.
“But Lingyin…I’m worried, but I’m not uneasy.”
“…….oh?”
Reine, who had been quietly listening to Kotori’s monologue, made a sound of interest.
Of course she was worried.
I was also upset about not being able to accompany my brother.
But Kotori always believed that her brother, who had stood up again from his initial despair, had already grown into a gentle person who could not turn a blind eye to the despair of others.
So this time, even if he stops temporarily, he will definitely be able to stand up again.
She believed so firmly.
Most importantly—Kotori suddenly broke into a brilliant smile.
“Because—how could that idiot brother be so devastated after being dumped by a woman once?”
Chapter 48: The End of the World (Old Version)
Melancholy.
Shidou casually lay on the bed, trying to think, but he finally came to that conclusion.
Even looking up at the ceiling became difficult. I closed my eyes but couldn’t fall asleep, and there was no point in keeping them open.
After returning home, this situation kept repeating.
Kurumi’s target is Shidao—the spiritual power sealed in Shidao’s body.
Kurumi is a spirit that can harm humans.
If she stood by and watched, Kurumi might just make the same mistake again.
If that happens, Zhenna will show up again…it’s a vicious circle.
Judging from Mana’s tone, she had obviously fought with Kurumi more than once or twice.
Therefore, Shidou, who cannot tolerate this, must stand up even when facing Kurumi who wants to take his life – this is how it should be.
“…It’s really tough.”
But even so, the body was completely out of control.
Kurumi’s gentleness and smile are all fake… This fact is so painful that it almost makes people cry.
But if that were all, Shidao would probably still be able to take action.
With the sole reason of “saving Kurumi”, he stood in front of her again.
Shidao’s obsession with Kurumi is so strong that it is even enough to make him unconsciously ignore the threat and fear brought by the “spirit”.
Therefore, it was not fear that bound his body.
The sound of knocking on the door (knock knock) completely imprisoned the young man who had the noble belief of saving others, and he suddenly came back to his senses.
Who is it?
Kotori did say she had work to do today and wouldn’t be going home.
Although I was in no mood to meet with anyone, pretending to be away was not an option.
He managed to hold up his heavy body and responded.
“——Shidou, are you there?”
“…Tohka?”
There was no mistaking the voice that responded to him.
Tohka, who was supposed to be staying at the Elf Apartment, was standing outside the door.
“…Can I come in?”
“Ah, yes. No problem.”
After he answered subconsciously, the door was gently pushed open and Tohka cautiously stuck her head out.
Seeing Shidou sitting on the bed, she breathed a sigh of relief and walked quickly into the room, then trotted over and sat down next to Shidou.
“T-Tohka…?”
“……..What happened between you and Kurumi?”
Shidou, who was confused and couldn’t understand her intention, widened his eyes in shock at these words.
I didn’t expect that she could see through it at a glance.
Although Tohka knew about his date with Kurumi, it was surprising that she kept it to herself to this extent.
“…Is my expression that obvious?”
“Hmm. It’s like the end of the world.”
…….It has actually reached this extent.
After hearing what Tohka said, he covered his face and sighed.
He had clearly boasted in front of her that he would go on the date, but now his embarrassing appearance of defeat was exposed. This subtle feeling of embarrassment was lingering.
Of course, Tohka had no idea of Shidou’s thoughts and just tilted her head with a puzzled look.
“I see… Actually, a lot of things have been going on here too. I haven’t been able to sort myself out yet, so I feel a bit confused.”
“…Would you like to talk to me?”
“What happened between you and Kurumi…tell me. I owe Gokawa-kun so much. So, let me at least give you something in return. I don’t know if I can help, but maybe talking about it will make things easier.”
Tohka said this with a gentle expression that showed genuine concern for Shidou.
Shidou didn’t save Tohka out of a favor.
He just felt that her situation was too unfair and wanted to help her no matter what…that’s all.
Moreover, regarding the matter of the elves and AST, his superiors had warned him that it might affect Tohka’s unstable mental state and should be avoided.
At this moment, I should have pretended to be strong and said that I was fine.
But facing her gentle words and expression, the tears that Shidao had been holding back almost burst out.
He tried his best to suppress the tears that were about to overflow and looked at Tohka.
I should have said “I’m fine”.
But as if confessing, and as if relying on her, Shidao couldn’t help but start telling her what happened today.
Chapter 49: Unwilling (Old Version)
“…I see. Kurumi actually did that kind of thing…”
“……I vowed to save Kurumi, but was rejected so bluntly.”
Shidou smiled self-deprecatingly.
After confessing to Tohka, he seemed to feel a little relieved.
But on second thought, I found it ridiculous.
He longed to save Kurumi, but she almost made it clear that she didn’t need his salvation.
Not only that, Kurumi also declared that she wanted to take away Shidao’s spiritual power – that is, his life.
Even with his extraordinary recovery ability, Shidou, who is ordinary both physically and mentally, is completely vulnerable to the murderous intent of the elves.
Maybe Kuang San was secretly laughing at her defenseless self, and such negative thoughts kept coming to her mind.
“—Is that really the case?”
“Eh?” Shidou, immersed in dark thoughts, turned to Tohka.
She was staring at him with extremely serious eyes as she said this.
“What’s the meaning……?”
“Is everything Kurumi said really sincere…? …I don’t think so.”
“this…….”
This idea is too wishful thinking.
If Shidou said this out of escapism, it would be understandable, but Tohka’s words only sounded like words of comfort.
However, her serious expression clearly declared: This was by no means perfunctory comfort.
“Kyouzo, you looked really happy when you were talking to Itsuka-kun. And itsuka-kun too.”
“Me too……?”
“Yeah. Although unlike Kurumi, Gokawa-kun was smiling like a nympho at that time!”
This isn’t the same at all, is it?
Where did you learn such words? Shidao felt a little hurt, but thinking that he really couldn’t deny the expression on his face at that time, he had to use a wry smile to get away with it.
“But it seems to me…Kyousan is in just as much pain.”
“Kyousan looks…in pain?”
He was obviously very happy, but he also had the same painful expression.
To describe it with words alone would only appear contradictory.
But in Tohka’s eyes, that’s how she is.
Just like me…Kyouzo must also “like” Shidou.
When I saw her smile and realized this, for some reason…a hint of sadness rose in my heart, but more of it was the joy and trust in Kurumi that went beyond being a fellow elf.
Seeing Shidou smiling and Kurumi smiling as well, this fact made him happier than anything else.
So I have always cared about it.
When Shidao couldn’t see her, Kurumi would occasionally reveal a gloomy and painful expression.
Why would he look like that when he was obviously so happy?
It’s as if she’s saying…I can’t be with Shidou.
It was as if she was declaring that she had no right to stand beside Shidou.
That kind of Kurumi is deeply imprinted in Tohka’s heart.
“I don’t understand why she looked so painful. But to me, the smiles Kurumi and Shidou shared… were definitely not fake.”
“But…even so, I can’t believe that Kurumi’s attempt to kill me was false.”
After all, when Kuang San confessed her purpose, she exuded a terrifying determination.
That sense of reality made Shidou unable to question it.
But if—if Tohka is right, and her so-called “lies” are the real “lies”—
“……Assuming that what Kurumi said is true, would Shidou find her scary?”
If Shidou answered that he thought Kurumi was scary, an evil spirit, and felt fear – Tohka would have secretly vowed to protect him.
She vows to protect Shidao from Kurumi at all costs.
“–You think Kurumi is scary?”
However, Shidou’s reaction when asked was strange.
That expression seemed to say that this kind of thing was nothing to worry about…even a bit of surprise.
“No… I never thought Kurumi was scary or terrifying…”
“So, what is Shidou worried about?”
Since he had no fear, he should have bravely moved forward like he did when he saved Tohka and Yoshino.
I clearly thought that he was afraid of Kurumi because she was a spirit who would attack humans without hesitation, but this was completely denied.
So what exactly is binding him?
“I…….”
Shidao recalled his memories again.
After thinking about it, Tohka was right.
Being hunted for one’s life, facing an elf that would actively harm people – it’s only natural that ordinary people would be troubled by this.
But I just denied this.
That’s right, this wasn’t the source of the trouble in the first place.
So what exactly am I worried about…?
What is holding Shidou back, who is described as having an “apocalyptic expression”?
——Just feel sad.
Don’t want to see her “devour” humans.
Shidao finally remembered that this was his truest thought at the time.
Chapter 50: Unbound (Old Version)
Beautiful…he had thought so.
When she said that everything was “hypocrisy” and that she appeared only to devour Shidao – those cold and poisonous eyes that were consistent with his beliefs were so beautiful that it was heart-wrenching… It was not until this moment that he finally remembered.
At that time, at that moment, what surged in Shidao’s heart as he was entangled by Kurumi was not fear.
Only the almost destructive desire of “It doesn’t matter even if I’m killed by Kurumi” boils in his chest like a crazy passion.
But that won’t work.
If he is killed, there is no way to save Kuang San.
No, isn’t it a contradiction to desire salvation while not wanting to sacrifice oneself?
Although this is an extreme view, there shouldn’t be people around Shidao who agree with self-sacrifice.
But what prompted him to transcend the impulse of destruction was probably a simpler and more impure reason.
Finally, let’s recall.
Why did he stop? Which of Kurumi’s words breaks your heart the most?
——————I remembered. I realized. At that moment, Shidou… couldn’t help but laugh.
“Ha…hahaha!! Ahahahahahahahaha!!”
That wasn’t a dry laugh directed at Kotori and the others, but a smile that came from the bottom of his heart, feeling that it was extremely absurd…
“Shi, Shidou, what’s wrong with you? Are you okay? Are you crazy?!”
“Hehe…ah, sorry, sorry. I’m fine—though I’m definitely crazy.”
Waving off the panicked Tohka, he replied with a suppressed smile.
Although I felt guilty, I couldn’t help but laugh.
After all, for someone whose life is threatened, worrying about such things is definitely not normal… That’s the only way to think about it.
Finally, finally I understand.
Only at this moment did Shidao truly realize his long-standing entangled feelings towards Kurumi.
What hurt him more than Kurumi’s intention to “devour” him was her behavior of hurting others.
If that were all, it might just be sympathy for their situation.
Ah, so Shidao’s troubles are actually very simple, probably completely beyond Kurumi’s expectations.
「Because, I have never admired you, Mr. Shidou.」
That’s all I have to say.
Just these one sentence made Shidao suffer from despair as if the world was ending.
The colorful world seemed to fade suddenly.
Being hurt by Kurumi’s words that were almost like rejection was deeper than any other hurt.
Looking back, Shidou knew the answer from the very beginning.
After all, he said it himself – he was dumped.
When did I start harboring this feeling? From the very beginning.
That’s right, I must have been abnormal since the beginning of everything.
Long before the appointment, at that unforgettable encounter, from the moment he was bewitched by that devilish girl, Tokisaki Kurumi, Gokawa Shido must have gone crazy.
“Thanks, Tohka. Thanks to you, I pulled myself together… I’m fine now.”
“Hmm… I don’t quite understand the situation… Did I help Sergeant Do?”
“Ah. Now I’m full of energy. Even if I have to fight Kurumi head-on and get smashed to pieces, it doesn’t matter!!”
“Will I be shattered to pieces? No, Shidou!!”
There are “lies” hidden in Kurumi’s words.
…….What Tohka said might just be a beautiful conjecture.
But at this moment, Shidou felt that this was fine.
I want to take a gamble and bet that the gentleness shown by Kurumi is real.
I want to believe that the truth presented by Kurumi may not be false…I not only believe Tohka’s words, but also believe her appearance that I have seen with my own eyes.
Even if that’s not the case——Shidou still has a voice in his heart that he hasn’t been able to express.
The desire to save Kurumi, to save this girl who is trapped in the cycle of killing, is absolutely genuine.
But what was surging in Shidao’s heart was far more than just such noble emotions.
His feelings were simpler, even impure—and he knew it well.
Yeah, so what?
The original intention was to save the world by using such a ridiculous method as making the elves shy.
At this point, no matter if it’s impure or not, I might as well just throw the jar away.
As long as he holds this feeling in his heart, Shidao can face Kurumi again.
If I cannot convey this almost crazy longing and uncontrollable passion, I will die with regrets.
Go ahead and save her.
In order to witness her legendary happy smile again, and to know the reason behind her forced smile.
If she is telling a “lie”, she will expose it and complain bitterly, “That trick doesn’t work on me.”
Then he declared to Kurumi – Shidao’s feelings.
——The fictional nightmare could no longer restrain this young man.
Chapter 51: The Mysterious Girl’s Request (Old Version)
“I hope to encourage him——Itsuka Shido.”
The sudden words made Tohka tilt her head.
The girl in a white robe, who had clung to the window frame of the elf’s apartment with one hand with acrobatic dexterity, said this right after she had greeted him. Tohka was left with nothing but confusion.
What’s more, the other person’s robe covered his face, making it impossible to read any emotions from it.
“He’ll probably come back dejected. Please support him.”
“Did something happen to Shidou and Kurumi!?”
“Ah… Rather than saying it has already happened, it’s more like saying that child… Kurumi might do something out of the ordinary next… I’m sorry, but I can’t say for sure.”
【Shidao should be on a “date” with Kurumi right now. 】
Tohka subconsciously said Kurumi’s name, but the girl in the robe continued her ambiguous remarks without caring.
This statement clearly shows that she knows about Kurumi’s situation.
“You…know about Kurumi?”
“I’d say I’m that kid’s ‘accomplice’. Or maybe a follower would be more accurate… If Itsuka Shido returns safely, I’ll just pretend I never said anything.”
Although I think it is unlikely,
The girl added this even though she had just said there was no confirmation, causing Tohka to nod in confusion.
Although what he said was a bit difficult to understand, he just wanted her to support Shidou.
Although she had a lot of questions, Tohka had already had this idea even without saying it.
When Shidou, who saved her, fell into pain, she wanted to become his strength.
This feeling had already sprouted naturally in Tohka’s heart without anyone reminding her.
“Thank you very much. One more thing… This is a personal request – please don’t hate Kurumi.”
“……What does this mean?”
The intention is completely incomprehensible.
Kurumi is the same spirit as himself, and Shidao is now on a date to save her.
As it stands, Tohka, who is in a similar situation, has no reason to hate Kurumi.
Facing the confused Tohka, the girl seemed to show a hint of hesitation, but quickly continued:
“…That girl is stubborn and obstinate, and she’s also a bit dishonest. She might cause a lot of trouble for everyone later…but she’s really a very gentle person. So—”
“—Leave it to me!”
Patting her chest, Tohka agreed before the other person finished speaking.
The gesture seemed to say, “This is natural.”
“Whether it’s Shidou or Yoshino, they definitely “like” Kurumi. I also “like” that Kurumi who smiles so gently…! Is that all right?”
Such a simplistic response leaves people speechless.
This kind of emotion that is almost animal instinct – to put it more bluntly, Yatogami Tohka is simply “straightforward” to the extreme.
She has complete trust in Itsuka Shido.
Therefore, he can believe what he believes in Kurumi, and has also “witnessed” the true nature of Kurumi’s smile with his own eyes.
[Although the classification of “like” is still vague.]This was completely unexpected.
Just a few months ago, the girl who was full of resentment because of being hunted can now express her emotions so frankly and grow… I guess this is also his influence – the influence of Shido Gokawa.
It seems that the girl’s worries were unnecessary.
“……Yes. Yatogami Tohka, I sincerely thank you.”
“Don’t worry about it. It’s just my personal opinion.”
“Even so, thank you. One last question – why are you willing to trust me?”
This isn’t just a question for the moment.
Ever since her time as the Hermit, she had harbored doubts about the hooded girl who spoke to her without any precautions.
Logically speaking, Tohka had no reason to trust her.
Without seeing the true appearance, I don’t know what it means.
Although she did rescue Gokawa Shido, the girl’s suspiciousness at the time was not enough to make people trust her immediately.
Faced with the question, Tohka’s eyes widened, and she crossed her arms in thought.
As the girl stared in silence, Tohka, who had been thinking deeply for a long time, finally spoke:
“…I can’t quite explain it, but you smell like me…”
“You and I…?”
“Besides, you came here because you’re worried about Shidou and Kurumi… right? Then I can’t neglect you.”
“…There’s no such noble reason.”
She definitely didn’t harbor the gentle thoughts of pure worry that Tohka had described.
The girl is just coveting the potential of Gokawa Shido…To put it bluntly, it seems like she wants to use him.
If Kurumi really only regarded him as a tool – the girl would not hesitate to squeeze out his value for her own long-cherished wish.
Ah, but the same smell?… That’s a pretty convincing explanation.
——Suddenly, the girl smiled.
Although Tohka couldn’t see her face, she could definitely sense that smile.
“Thank you again. Well, see you later… Queen with a beautiful name—”
The girl let go of the wall and jumped out of the window.
As she fell to the ground under Tohka’s astonished gaze, she bid Tohka a farewell that sounded like a prayer:
“——Please, get along well with my dear Queen Kurumi.”
Q. Didn’t Shidou-kun realize it himself?
A. I wasn’t aware of it at all.
The protagonist finally awakens.
After all, up to now, he has never even expressed his true feelings to Kurumi in his heart (if I, as the creator, remember correctly).
But, Kotori had seen it clearly a long time ago.
To add some information on the timeline: The two of them go on a date → During the date, a girl (a mysterious character) contacts Tohka → Kurumi commits a violent act → Tohka rushes to Shido’s side.
This is roughly the development.
In a sense, this girl plays a role close to that of the original Kurumi, but her true intentions remain a mystery…