Arifureta Shokugyou de Sekai Saikyou (LN) - Volume 10 - Chapter SS4

Super Tio 

“What... did you say?” 
A shocked voice rang out through the living room of Vandre Schnee’s hidden palace. 
“A-Are you okay!? Do you feel sick!?” 
“Did the fear get to you!? Should I cast healing magic on you!?” 
Trembling, worried voices followed the shocked exclamation. The first voice had belonged to Hajime, while the second and third came from Shea and Kaori, respectively. 
“Are you not being a tad too cruel!?” Tio hotly protested. 
Yue gulped, everyone’s gazes were fixed on her. 
“Yue! Why do even you seem so shocked!?” Tio gave Yue a hurt look. And with trembling hands, Hajime— 
“And Master, why are your hands trembling!?” 
Hajime massaged his temples, then turned to Suzu and Ryutarou. 
“Taniguchi, Sakagami... You’re sure that’s what you saw?” 
“Yep. I know it’s hard to believe, Nagumo-kun, but... it really was Super Tio-san!” 
“Yeah. The really scary thing is she was even more amazing than that time in Haltina...” 
“Impossible.” 
“Master, I am nearing the end of my patience. If you keep this act up, I really will punch you in the face.” 
Tio cracked her knuckles, something no one had seen her do before. But Suzu continued to ignore her and exclaimed, “That was, without a doubt, Super Tio-san: Royalty Edition!” 
This was the reason for the tension in the room. While they were having tea, Suzu and Ryutarou had told everyone about the regal, dignified Tio they’d witnessed during her trial. The story had left Hajime and the others speechless. 
“Dammit, how come I keep missing it!? God, this is all your fucking fault!” 
Hajime cursed as if he’d missed a once in a lifetime opportunity. He really wanted to see Super Tio, and this was the second time he’d missed his chance. He hung his head in despair, and Tio gave him a glare that was even more disparaging than Yue’s. 
“I do not understand. I have always been this way. Even when we were in Haltina, I simply did what needed to be done. Why are you all acting as though this is some hidden side of my personality that never otherwise appears?” 
Tio had a point, but it seemed she wasn’t aware of how ridiculous her normal actions seemed. Ignoring her question, Yue smiled reassuringly at Hajime and placed her hands over his. 
“Now that I’ve obtained all the ancient magic, there’s nothing I can’t do...” 
“Huh!? Can you really do it, Yue!?” 
“Yep! Just leave it to me!” 
Yue turned to Tio. Her obsession with Hajime was so great that she’d do whatever it took to grant his wish. 
Sensing that her life was in danger, Tio quickly got up and muttered, “I-I have somewhere I need to be...” 
“Where do you think you’re going?” 
Unfortunately, Yue circled around to cut her off. 
“S-Stop—” 
“I’ll make you show your true colors with spirit magic! Become normal!” 
Tio screamed as a flash of white light filled the room. A moment later— 
“Fufu, what a troublesome child you are.” 
“Mmm!?” 
When the light faded, Hajime and the others saw Tio carrying Yue in her arms. She looked admonishingly down at Yue, like a mother scolding her naughty child. Hajime swallowed his surprise and attempted to rile Tio up to see what would happen. 
“Hey, pervert.” 
“Master, why the acerbic words? Have I done something to displease you?” 
Instead of panting happily, she actually looked hurt. Hajime was so shocked he slid out of his sofa. Then, he glanced over at Shea and the others, who all nodded to him. 
“It’s Super Tio-san!” 
“My, you are all so energetic today.” 
Tio smiled gently at everyone. This was, without a doubt, Super Tio. 

“T-Tio? Can you put me down now?” Yue looked a little embarrassed as she asked. 
“But Yue, even if you did this for Master’s sake, you still need to reflect on your actions.” 
“Huh?” 
“Do not ‘Huh’ me. You are the oldest person here, after me. If you do not act responsibly, what kind of example will that set for the others?” 
“U-Umm... I’m sorry?” 
Yue hadn’t expected to get lectured by Tio, of all people. Furthermore, Tio had a good point. There was nothing Yue could say to argue back, especially with how mature Tio looked. Seeing how easily Tio cowed Yue, everyone present realized that Super Tio was even more impressive than they’d imagined. 
Suzu’s pupils turned into hearts and she whispered “Onee-sama...” in a husky voice. Even Kaori and Shizuku were enamored by this new, improved Tio. 
Yue, who was still in Tio’s arms, glanced up at her and muttered, “S-So this is... a real dragonman... Amazing.” 
Kouki was entranced by this new Tio as well. Ryutarou, however, was sitting in a meditative pose, repeating, “Don’t let her fool you! This is all a ruse!” to himself. 
“Haaah, I forgot that this is what Tio-san is like when she gets serious. If only she’d act like this all the time, we... Wait, Hajime-san? What’s wrong?” 
Shea had already seen Super Tio once before, and thus was less shocked. She turned to Hajime, but was surprised to see an expressionless look on his face. No, upon closer inspection, she realized he seemed almost frustrated. A second later, he got to his feet and pushed Suzu and Kaori, who were crowding around Tio, aside. 
“Hey, Tio.” 
“Yes, Master?” 
Tio smiled gently at Hajime. However, he gripped both of her shoulders and shouted, “That’s not the reaction I want! This is all wrong! Tio!” 
“Wh-What is it, Master? Please, calm down and—” 
Though she was shaken, Tio quickly regained her composure and tried to calmly deal with Hajime. But he interrupted her with an anguished shout. 
“You have to remember who you truly are!” 
Even though it was his own fault Tio had become like this, Hajime couldn’t bear to witness Super Tio. 
“You’re a pervert! A completely hopeless pervert!” 
“E-Even if you are my master, I cannot allow you to—” 
Hajime pressed down hard enough on Tio’s shoulders that they started to hurt. Tio, in turn, scrunched her face up in pain, but Hajime ignored her. 
“You’re the only person in the whole world, no, the whole universe, who’d be happy to receive a pile driver in the ass!” 
“Th-That was an unfortunate moment of indiscretion...” 
“Wake up, Tio! You’re the kind of creepy pervert who’ll slide out of the bars of your cage and get your ass stuck and strip at inopportune moments! That’s who you really are!” 
Yue and the others were speechless. They couldn’t believe Hajime was actually saying all of this to Tio when she was being serious for once. But, at the same time, he looked so desperate that they couldn’t bring themselves to interrupt him. They just looked back and forth between Hajime and Tio in confusion. 
“You’re a worthless, perverted dragon who finds pleasure in even the most heinous of punishments!” 
“...Heh.” 
Huh? Is it just me... or does Tio-san suddenly look different... Shea though. 
“You’re the beloved princess of the Klarus clan, aren’t you!?” 
“Haaah... Haaah...” 
“A Tio who’s just mature and understanding is like a hamburger without the patty! Or like flat soda! Or curry rice without the rice! You’re not Tio without the perverted parts of you!” 
Tio looked up at Hajime, a look of ecstasy on her face as she waited for him to deliver the final blow. 
“Return to your senses! I want the one and only super masochistic, perverted, Tio!” 
“Aaaaaah! Please, insult me more, Master! Punish this perverted dragon!” 
The old Tio had come back. Smiling, Hajime said, “Welcome back, Tio.” 
Drooling, Tio smiled lovingly. 
“I have returned, Master. And you have cleared yet another one of my trials. I love you.” 
“I don’t love you, though.” 
“Oh, Master...” 
Tio and Hajime both chuckled. Everyone else watched on, thinking, You better take responsibility for this, Hajime. 
However, at the same time, they hated how they felt a little relieved at the return of normal Tio.