Full Clearing Another World under a Goddess with Zero Believers (LN) - Volume 9 - Chapter Pr

Prologue — Lucy’s Musings

◇ Lucy’s Perspective ◇

“Look, Takatsuki! I peeled an apple ♡ Open wiiide!”

“Mmmm.”

“Good?”

“Yeah.”

“Eh heh heh! Eat up!”

Aya was feeding fruit to Makoto, who was currently lying in the infirmary bed. No fair.

“Say, mage,” Furiae interjected. She was relaxing on the nearby sofa with Twi in her lap. “How long do we have to stay here?”

“Nrow, nrow.”

“I suppose...until the ceremony?” My response came out somewhat questioning, and because I didn’t really know the answer, I decided to keep it vague. “I think that’s about a week from now.”

At the moment, we were all shut away in the royal infirmary in Highland’s capital. Our party leader, Makoto, was hospitalized... Or, that was the official reason for him being here. In reality, he hadn’t wanted to attend the award ceremony that would commemorate Zagan’s defeat. He’d tried to depart for Roses, but Princess Noelle and Princess Sophia had caught him trying to flee.

And so, Makoto had been admitted to the infirmary suffering from “magic fatigue.” Technically, he had strained himself by using too much magic, so he was on bed rest. But...

“I’m bored. Gonna go solo some goblins,” he announced before trying to slink out. By now, Aya had already caught and stopped him more than a dozen times. Even the doctors had told him to rest. He really needed to listen. Aya and I were so worried about him!

“No running, Takatsuki,” Aya said firmly. “I’ll chase you down wherever you go.”

I nodded. “You won’t get away from my good hearing, even with Stealth.”

“You cheaters,” he said, slumping.

No matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t run away from this.

The entire continent was abuzz with news of the Hero of Light’s triumph over demon lord Zagan. Highland’s position as the leading force in the alliance had been further solidified. But that’s where the problems started—the Hero of Light had said that he was able to defeat Zagan because the Hero of Roses had come to his aid. The Grandsage had backed up this telling of events, making Makoto’s participation seem even more vital.

It was different from the attention he’d gotten after the last battle—Makoto had indeed already made a name for himself in Springrogue by defeating demon lord Bifrons. However, no one had personally witnessed that, so the notoriety he’d gained had been relatively mild. In the end, the victory had been credited to a joint effort between Mama and Springrogue’s hero, Maximilian. Particularly harsh people had said that Bifrons’s death was only a matter of time—Makoto had just gotten lucky enough to be there.

This time, no one doubted his contributions. The otherworlder hero Makoto Takatsuki had been instrumental to the Hero of Light’s triumph over Zagan, and even the Grandsage had acknowledged it.

The Hero of Light was already going to be marrying into the Highland royal family. And now, people wanted the second hero, the Hero of Roses, to be just as successful. In other words, some aristocrats wanted Makoto to marry into their houses, thus gaining their family names a ton of prestige.

The nobles of Highland—no, of the entire continent—wanted Makoto.

It’d been decided that he would remain a patient in the infirmary until the awards ceremony was over. At least the nobility wouldn’t be able to proposition him while he was here...

◇ The Next Day ◇

“Princess Sophia! You should announce your engagement at the award ceremony!” Chris exclaimed.

She had come to visit us all in the infirmary, along with Princess Sophia and Fujiyan.

“Erm...” Princess Sophia looked uncomfortable. “Are you sure about that?”

“Indeed! You most certainly should!” Fujiyan exclaimed. “Already, there are over a dozen noble families surreptitiously attempting to contact him.”

“Well...” Princess Sophia turned, offering Aya and me a considerate look. “I cannot make such a decision solely by myself.”

It was true—Aya and I were technically engaged to him as well... I guess. Not that he acted like it.

“I don’t mind,” Aya chirped. “As long as I can be with Takatsuki.”

Despite her light tone, I knew how few connections she had in this world. That’s why “being with Takatsuki” was an absolute requirement for her. Sometimes, she scared me—she would wear this grim expression when she talked about what she would’ve done if she hadn’t met Makoto again.

“And you, Lucy?” the princess asked after a pause.

“I don’t mind.” Having him tied to Roses was way better than Highland taking him—Roses didn’t discriminate against elves. It was closer to home as well.

Although, I have to admit... I really want him for myself. He’s too damn popular now. Pisses me off.

“It does not bother me,” Fuuri remarked, though no one had asked her. “It has nothing to do with me.”

Reeeeeally? I wasn’t entirely sure about the truth of her comment, but I also didn’t feel like kicking that particular beehive.

Finally, everyone’s gazes went to Makoto. He stared back at us oddly, halting his water magic practice.

Did he...even realize what we’d been talking about?

“Makoto, were you listening?” I asked, obviously exasperated by how little he seemed to care about any of this. After all, it deeply concerned his future.

“O-Of course I was!”

He’d definitely been tuning us out. Princess Sophia walked over and took his hands, pulling him in close.

“Hero Makoto...would you be my husband?” She was adorable with her red-tinted cheeks and shimmering eyes.

Wait, she’s proposing?! In front of everyone?! Why now? I was in shock—Aya’s mouth had dropped open as well.

“G-Gladly...” Makoto answered.

Ah, damn him. He just got swept along by the moment. Y’know, he’s really weak to pressure like that! If anyone pressed him for an answer, he’d just give them an okay right away! He hadn’t even said it unambiguously!

It got me thinking though... When could I ask him?

◇ The Next, Next Day ◇

“Okay, Takatsuki!” Aya exclaimed. “Pull up your shirt and I’ll wipe you down.”

“Mhmm.”

With his skin exposed, I could tell that he’d put on some muscle lately. When we’d first met, he’d been even spindlier than me.

“Wow, you’ve gotten way more buff since junior high,” Aya gushed. “Like...around here.” She ran a finger along his skin.

“That tickles, Sasa.”

She was all over him. No fair... I want to join in too.

To distract myself, I turned to Fuuri. “Want to go out somewhere?”

“I don’t have any acquaintances in Highland. Everyone I know is in this room.”

“What about the Hero of Light?” I knew she was on good terms with him—he’d supported her while she’d been imprisoned by Highland.

“I won’t be able to see him,” she retorted. “Besides, she’ll be with him.”

“Princess Noelle?”

“Right. The princess who detained me.”

Apparently, her affinity for the Hero of Light was matched in equal and opposite intensity by her loathing of Princess Noelle. I couldn’t think of anyone I disliked that much.

Suddenly, in a moment with “speak of the devil” timing, someone else strode into the room. He’d been present at Zagan’s defeat; he had come from the same world as Makoto, and they’d been friends as kids. This was the Hero of Light, Ryousuke Sakurai.

“Hi, Takatsuki. I came to see you. Looks like it’s my turn.”

“Ah, Sakurai,” Makoto answered.

Two women followed the Hero of Light into the room.

“Heya, Takatsuki!” The knight called Saki Yokoyama gave a wave. “Things going well with Aya?”

“Good day, Sir Makoto,” said Princess Noelle.

“Hi, Yokoyama, Princess Noelle.” After offering his greetings, Makoto fixed his eyes on the Hero of Light. In a casual tone, he asked, “Hey, Sakurai—wanna go somewhere?”

“Somewhere? Uh, sure. With you, I’ll go anywhere.”

“Oh, anywhere?” Makoto grinned. Yeah, that was the face he always wore when he was about to say something stupid. “Then how’s about we tackle the last dungeon, the Seafloor Temple?”

Almost everyone uttered noises of shock as they turned to Makoto. However, the Hero of Light just looked thoughtful.

“I only really know about Labyrinthos. Is the Seafloor Temple somewhere we can just go to on a whim?”

“It’ll be fiiine,” Makoto answered easily. “I’m not planning on clearing it yet... I just wanna scout things out. You defeated the demon lord, so this should be a piece of cake.”

The Hero of Light nodded. “Okay, then.”

“Y-You can’t, Ryousuke!” Princess Noelle panicked, hurriedly stopping them in their tracks before they rushed off into peril.

I sighed. “Makoto...you can’t take the Hero of Light somewhere so dangerous...”

“Takatsuki,” Aya added sternly, “stop being silly and rest.”

“Awww...” Makoto pouted and flopped back down onto the bed. “But Sakurai said it’s fine.”

“My knight...” Fuuri leveled him with a look of disbelief. “Did you really intend to delve into one of the last dungeons?”

Oh, he definitely did—there’s no doubt in my mind that he wanted to go.

Word of his invitation had apparently reached Princess Sophia—she came rushing back to the room.

“Makoto Takatsuki!” she yelled. “What are you thinking?!” After that, she launched into a lecture. Her being angry pretty much went without saying. After all...

The survival rate for those dungeons was pitiful.

By order of his superior, Princess Sophia, he was forbidden from challenging the Seafloor Temple.

◇ Even More Days in the Future ◇

Princess Sophia had come every day to see Makoto. She really loved him, huh? Though, I had a feeling that she might’ve just been keeping an eye on him—she had to make sure he didn’t slip away.

General Talisker from Great Keith had shown up to visit, along with Maximilian. The Hero of Lightning had stopped by as well—Gerald Ballantine.

Makoto is incredible.

These were important figures wielding huge amounts of influence who were all famous across the continent. But...Makoto just complained to everyone, saying that he wanted to get out of the infirmary. He received some really worried looks in response.

Luckily, after that initial burst, the number of visitors calmed down. However, with less to distract him, Makoto was getting more and more restless. At least Aya was still forcing him to let her play nurse.

“Are you thirsty?” she asked.

“Hmm, kinda.”

“I’ll get you some juice.”

She trotted over to the fridge. Yes, the fridge—it was something Makoto had made with elemental magic, and it was super convenient. Maybe I should learn the spell for it.

Soon, Aya walked back over to him. “Open wide.”

“Mm, later.” He was lounging on the bed practicing his magic—probably focusing on the spell.

“Jeez, you’re so lazy! Guess I’ll give it to you mouth-to-mouth.”

“Yeah, sure.”

Uh? That...sounded like a weird answer. Mouth-to-mouth? Nah, I must have misheard.

“Okay! Here I go!”

I heard a single gulp. Makoto let out a noise of pure shock, and my own voice sounded much the same. Makoto—who hadn’t been listening to Aya’s words—was about to get his juice. She’d put some into her mouth and was closing in on him.

“Wait right there!” I yelled. This was a hospital room!

I grabbed hold of her head.

“Hm?” I heard her swallow the juice, and then she started pouting. “Aw, you made me stop.”

I folded my arms and looked down at her. “Hey! What were you playing at?!”

She didn’t flinch at my tone and sent me a glare in return. “I wonder who snuck into the room last night for ‘training.’ Trying to get some ‘Synchro’ in with Takatsuki, huh?”

“Urk.”

How did she know?! I pivoted to look at Fuuri, who was playing with Twi.

“Yes. I told her.”

“Guh... I said it was a secret.”

“That wouldn’t be fair,” she retorted. Fuuri had used her Future Sight to see me trying to sneak into Makoto’s bed, and she’d stopped me. I thought she couldn’t see the specifics well!

“Luuuuu?”

“Urk.” The shoe really was on the other foot now... “It was just training! Makoto didn’t mind!”

Makoto shrugged. “I was half asleep.”

“Well, this is just nursing!” Sasa protested.

“Maybe you have been nursing him...” I conceded. “But you’re all over him all the time! It’s not fair!”

“It’s just mouth-to-mouth!”

“That’s not nursing!”

At that point, Fuuri cut off our squabbling. “Both of you, quiet down.”

Then, suddenly...

“I see things are noisy today as well.” We all turned to see that Princess Sophia had just walked in—without knocking. She’d really made herself at home.

“Princess Sophia!” Makoto exclaimed. He rolled out of bed and strode over to her, grabbing her hand.

“Wha?! Y-Yes? What is it?”

“I’ve got a request for you.”

It looked like the stress of the hospital stay had gotten to him again.

Not another weird idea...