Rokujouma no Shinryakusha!? - Volume 41 - Chapter 2

The Blue Knight’s Return

Saturday, September 24th

Forthorthe was the third of eight planets in the Forthorthian system, so sailing for the final few hours of the voyage instead of warping was primarily for safety. It was over four billion kilometers from the outer edge of the system—from the proximity of the eighth planet to the third—and long-distance warps near densely populated areas were strictly forbidden by law, as any error could have disastrous consequences. Only short-range warps, like the kind the Corona House crew used on a daily basis via the gate aboard Blue Knight, were permitted in the vicinity of population centers. Such trips had a much smaller margin of error (and were therefore much safer) than warps across the astronomical distances covered during longer jumps.

That said, since preparations for longer jumps took the better part of a day, there was also a very practical reason for simply sailing while within the solar system—it was faster. Thus Koutarou and the girls were currently cruising toward Forthorthe by the power of regular rockets. As they closed in, the image of the planet grew larger on the monitor on the bridge. Koutarou stood staring at it.

“We’re finally here...” he muttered. The galactic journey had seemed like nothing more than a long day aboard the Hazy Moon thanks to the ship’s ability to freeze time, but to an active boy like Koutarou, spending a whole day reading in the lounge was exhausting.

Clan, who was seated in her captain’s chair, overheard him and smiled. “We actually made it here in shockingly little time, you know?”

“Space is just too big for me,” he replied with a laugh and a shrug.

Like Clan said, a journey across the universe in a single day (or ten, strictly speaking) was unbelievably fast. Koutarou knew that, but he still had trouble grasping the sheer vastness of space. He couldn’t get his head around traveling to a different galaxy in the time it took to travel to a different country.

“That’s awfully small-minded for a man who could own half this galaxy,” Clan ribbed him.

“It’s just too big if you ask me. Room 106 is much more my size,” Koutarou said in return.

Indeed, the entirety of Forthorthe was simply too large for his liking. He had no desire for all that. He wanted something more his style—something cozier.

“If there’s a place for me there, I don’t mind how small it is,” Clan replied.

“That’s awfully small-minded for a woman who could own half this galaxy,” Koutarou ribbed her now.

“Veltlion, you should be honored I’d say that,” she said, narrowing her eyes. In truth, she felt the same way he did. She wanted something cozy, and she happily would have traded her share of the galaxy for it.

“I am flattered you staked your life on someone like me,” Koutarou said with a small smile. He could no longer deny what Clan and the other girls had risked for his sake.

“Oh, so you acknowledge it now,” she replied with an even brighter smile. She placed a hand against her chest and felt something warm blooming within her.

“Yeah, that’s the problem,” Koutarou said plainly.

It was because Koutarou now acknowledged the girls that he couldn’t choose between them. Before he’d realized it, all nine of them had taken a place in his heart. They’d all put their lives on the line for him in the past year too. He had every reason to accept each of them and nary a reason to turn any of them away, making it infinitely impossible to choose between them.

“Heh, cornering you wouldn’t be a good idea, so I’ll leave it at that for the time being,” Clan relented. The warm feeling in her chest was enough for her, and she knew that she might lose it if she pushed too far.

“Thanks... So, where are we headed now?” Koutarou asked, changing the subject with a forced smile. He really was up against an impossible dilemma and talking about it was hard, so he appreciated Clan’s consideration.

“Why, we’ll be landing on Forthorthe, of course,” Clan answered him with a chuckle.

“That’s not what I meant. Are we going to an orbital spaceport, or are we landing directly on the surface?”

“Ah. We’ll be touching down in Fornorn.”

Fornorn was the Forthorthian capital—and the Hazy Moon’s current destination. There were primarily two ways of getting from a spaceship to the planet’s surface. The first was docking at a space station and using a transfer gate to warp there. The second was to land directly on the surface of the planet. Clan had the ship on a course for the latter.

“Elfaria-san said that it wouldn’t feel right for a hero to make his grand homecoming via warp gate,” Clan explained.

“What is she up to this time?” Koutarou grumbled. He wouldn’t have thought much about landing in Fornorn if Elfaria’s name hadn’t come up.

“Heh, don’t worry,” Clan assured him. “I believe she simply planned it this way because we need a large hotel.”

“A large hotel? For what?” Koutarou asked.

“You know we’ll be having a press conference upon our return, don’t you?” she asked in turn.

“Yeah. That’s what I’ve been getting ready for this whole trip.”

“There weren’t any venues large enough in space, so we’ll be proceeding to the largest event space at a bayside hotel once we land.”

“We don’t need anything that big,” Koutarou objected.

“Of course we do,” Clan insisted. “There will be over ten thousand reporters.”

“Th-There will?!”

Indeed, over ten thousand members of the press would be present for the press conference. The number staggered Koutarou. He’d expected a few dozen or so reporters like any press conference, so a five-figure attendance blew his mind.

“And that’s after cutting back for safety reasons,” Clan informed him.

“That Elle... She’s trying to turn this into a huge event, isn’t she?”

“I don’t believe Elfaria-san had to do anything in particular under the circumstances,” Clan muttered, suddenly evasive and red in the face.

“What’s that supposed to mean?” Koutarou asked.

“W-Well, um... Theiamillis-san and I left for Earth in order to bring you back to Forthorthe... so the citizens will naturally assume, erm, you know...” Clan looked away, fiddling with her hair.

Seeing this, Koutarou grew uneasy. “No, I don’t know. What’s going on?”

“Well... Take a look at this.”

Clan used her computer to bring up a news feed from Forthorthe. They were close enough to the planet now that they could pick up live broadcasts. On screen was a massive crowd packed around the spaceport. There were tens, if not hundreds, of thousands of people, all excitedly awaiting the return of the princesses and the Blue Knight.

“The citizens of Forthorthe... Wait, what’s this?!” Koutarou gasped when he noticed something peculiar.

Many members of the crowd were holding up three-dimensional banners and placards inscribed in Common Forthorthian with messages like “Congratulations on your engagement, Your Excellency and Your Highness.”

Indeed, the people of Forthorthe believed Koutarou was getting married.

Theia and Clan had both spoken of marriage before embarking for Earth, so naturally, Forthorthe presumed they’d returned victorious in their conquest. People were speculating about whether Koutarou would be taking Theia’s, Clan’s, or even Nefilforan’s hand. And since it was the chief question on everyone’s mind, the reporters at the press conference naturally got straight down to business.

“As I’m sure we’re all dying to know, has the Blue Knight returned to Forthorthe to wed one of the princesses?” Danesford Laren from Economics Mastir asked. Despite his young age, he was highly regarded for his sharp analyses and smart writing style. After producing numerous high-quality articles during the civil war, he’d been awarded Journalist of the Year—which included the honor of asking the first question at this prestigious event.

“Unfortunately, that isn’t the case,” Theia answered nervously. She was no stranger to press conferences and would have been as cool as a cucumber under any other circumstance, but Danesford—the reporter she hated most—put her on edge. “But we have indeed returned with the Blue Knight for other reasons.”

“Your Excellency, is marriage truly not among those reasons?” Danesford pressed.

“That’s correct,” Koutarou answered. Unlike Theia, he was perfectly calm. He’d prepared himself for the question after hearing what all the uproar was about. “It’s still too early for that. I’m too young to get married.”

“I don’t know about that, Your Excellency. You’re the leader of a band of knights,” Danesford continued.

In Forthorthe, knighthood was a familial honor passed down through the generations. When knights were the vanguards of the army, Forthorthe had held that the sooner they got married, the better. Though the nation and its traditions had modernized over the years, it was still a celebrated occasion when the heirs to long-respected lineages like the Pardomshihas got married. And that joy would only be amplified if it were to the Blue Knight.

“Then let me add that it’s not a decision to be made lightly,” Koutarou replied.

That said, if Koutarou wanted to marry, he would face two tremendous obstacles. The first was a legal hurdle. According to Forthorthian law, royals were only allowed to wed other Forthorthians. This was a technicality to prevent the royal families from being taken over. Anyone who wed into royalty would have to become a Forthorthian citizen. Of course, a special exception could be made for the Blue Knight—but that would fly in the face of tradition, which the Blue Knight himself sought to honor. The easiest solution would therefore be to have Koutarou become a Forthorthian, but since neither Japan nor Forthorthe recognized dual citizenships, that would mean having to renounce his homeland. As he’d said, it was not a decision to be made lightly.

The second obstacle was purely a question of who, exactly, he would marry. And while that appeared to be a simple matter of choice on the surface, it was just as nuanced and complex of an issue in Koutarou’s heart. Choosing between the girls would be the hardest decision of his life.

“I think I speak for all of Forthorthe when I said that we’re eagerly awaiting news of your marriage, Your Excellency,” Danesford said solemnly.

The situation was equally frustrating for the people of Forthorthe. The Blue Knight was effectively guaranteed a position as an honorary member of the royal families due to Alaia’s decree, but they longed to call him one of their own, and the easiest way for him to join Forthorthian society was to marry into it. Danesford had specifically asked about the princesses, but in truth, Koutarou could marry any Forthorthian—including Ruth, Elfaria, or a girl he met on the street. That said, because of Koutarou’s special legal status in Forthorthe (which was only vaguely defined in several respects), there would inevitably be bureaucratic headaches if tried to marry without obtaining citizenship first. People thus assumed that would be the natural order of things...

Yet the Blue Knight himself had just announced that he’d returned to Forthorthe with no intention of getting married. Hearing this, some reporters dashed out of the conference in order to be the first to deliver the news. The event was so high profile that many news organizations had sent multiple representatives. Most of the reporters who ran out of the building still had colleagues in attendance. Once they heard the next bit of breaking news, they too would make a swift exit. With this method, they could continually report the latest as it was announced. It was an old-school tactic they had to rely on when restrictions were imposed on communication devices at the event.

“I’m sorry to disappoint you,” Koutarou apologized.

“If marriage truly isn’t the reason you’ve returned... then what is?” Danesford inquired. It was a natural question. Earth was ten million light years away, so there had to be a reason the Blue Knight had chosen to come back.

“I primarily have two reasons,” Koutarou answered with faltering. He’d expected this as well. “The first is to inspect the construction of the new Blue Knight. The details were conveyed to me on Earth, but I felt the need to see it for myself.”

During the civil war triggered by Vandarion’s coup, Theia’s flagship, Blue Knight, was virtually totaled. It could still fly, but it was in such sorry shape that scrapping it was cheaper than repairing it. Therefore a plan had been proposed to construct an entirely new ship for her as well as a new Blue Knight, which would be the Blue Knight’s own personal battleship. Theia had already shared the details with Koutarou, but he still wanted to see it with his own two eyes.

“Understandable, certainly,” Danesford replied, nodding as several reporters ran out. It only seemed reasonable that the Blue Knight wanted to oversee the construction of his own personal ship, after all. Perhaps it wasn’t a compelling enough reason to cross the universe—but Koutarou had said that he had two reasons for coming. “And what might the second be?”

“The second is to take responsibility.”

“Responsibility?” Danesford cocked his head, unsatisfied. Koutarou’s answer was too vague to comprehend.

“That’s right. While we were thankfully able to put a stop to the coup last year, too many people were still hurt in the process. And while Vandarion and his men were to blame for that harm, I still bear responsibility for the soldiers who followed me and any citizens caught in the crossfire. In an attempt to make things right, I asked Princess Clariossa to design and invent something special.”

An image popped up on the three-dimensional monitor behind Koutarou. It was a small metal and plastic box attached to a woman’s waist. Anyone with military experience would have recognized it immediately as standard issue in the Forthorthian army.

“A spatial distortion field generator?” Danesford muttered. He wasn’t a soldier, but he’d done plenty of military reporting. He immediately knew what the device was, although he couldn’t connect it to what Koutarou said about taking responsibility.

“It is indeed a barrier generator, but it’s a special one,” Koutarou explained. He then whispered into his bracelet, “Take it away, Nana-san.”

“Yes, my lord!” Nana answered in a playful tone, knowing that only Koutarou could hear her. The next moment, she appeared on the far right side of the platform where Koutarou was answering questions. “How about this?!”

When Nana hit the stage, she started running. A few meters before reaching Koutarou, she threw herself forward and pushed off the ground with her hands, lifting her entire body up into the air. She did several flips before silently landing right next to Koutarou. Her entire performance was displayed on the large monitor behind him for all the crowd to witness.

“Nice work,” Koutarou offered.

“You honor me, Your Excellency,” Nana replied.

The audience erupted into a unified cheer when she smiled at him. After Nana had come to a stop, they realized why such a petite girl was showing off such flashy acrobatics.

“As you just witnessed, this isn’t a defensive barrier generator,” Koutarou explained. “It’s a new medical device we’re calling a power assistance field, or PAF, that uses selective distortion fields in place of traditional prosthetics.”

Nana currently wasn’t wearing her artificial arm or leg. A distortion field, slightly colored for visual effect, was deployed in their place. This was how she’d performed her gymnastic feat, and thanks to that, everyone instantly understood the purpose and power of the PAF.

“I guess no one’s listening, huh?” Koutarou remarked under his breath.

“Isn’t it great? That makes this a smashing success,” Nana replied with a giggle.

At this point, the reporters felt they knew why the Blue Knight had come back to Forthorthe. They began rushing toward the exit in droves. He may not have been getting married, but the reason for his return was nevertheless big news—and everyone was anxious to be the first to report on it.

In the blink of an eye, headlines about the Blue Knight entering the medical equipment market spread throughout Forthorthe and all across the galaxy—meaning word reached even them.

“Here I was, thinking he’d finally come chasing after us. But he’s here to peddle medical equipment,” Ralgwin grumbled.

“Medical equipment...? But Ralgwin-dono, this appears to be a variation of the energy field that you are using for defense,” observed Grevanas.

“That’s right. To make this easier for you to understand... the invention is like the Blue Knight’s armor but made purely from mana so that it can be turned on and off in an instant. Granted, its performance is worse in exchange.”

“In other words, it prizes practicality... Interesting.”

Ralgwin and Grevanas were watching the three-dimensional monitor in their command room. Displayed was a reporter excitedly talking about the Blue Knight’s return. Ralgwin and Grevanas had anticipated he’d arrive in Forthorthe eventually—but they’d never imagined it would be because of medical equipment.

As Ralgwin sat there bemused, a voice called out to him. “Ralgwin.”

Ralgwin knew the voice and replied without the slightest hint of surprise, “You’re back again, Gray Knight.”

“Only just,” the new arrival replied.

It was indeed the Gray Knight. He’d departed for Forthorthe ahead of the Corona House crew, but both parties had arrived at about the same time. Koutarou and the others were able to take the shortest possible route, while the Gray Knight had been forced to take a detour out of caution.

“So, were you able to confirm what you wanted?” Ralgwin asked.

As things stood, Signaltin shone with all the colors of the rainbow—but its light was weak. And the Gray Knight had stayed behind on Earth to figure out why. He’d only followed Ralgwin and Grevanas to Forthorthe after investigating the matter to his satisfaction.

“I have a better grasp of the situation now. And I know what I need to do next,” he explained.

“And what’s that?” Grevanas asked with a gleam in his sunken eyes. He, too, was interested in Signaltin and its many colors. He knew firsthand just how dangerous the sword was, and he knew it stood to cut short his plans for the future. His cagey mind wanted to learn everything about it. “Dealing with Signaltin’s true power is no mean feat.”

“That’s right. I’ll need to prepare—and I’ll do so while helping you,” the Gray Knight replied.

While the Gray Knight had uncovered the reason for Signaltin’s weakened glow, he’d yet to accomplish his true goal. Nevertheless, he now saw a path to doing so. He simply needed the time—and quite a bit of it—to get ready. Meanwhile, he saw no harm in continuing to assist Ralgwin.

“It sounds like you have quite a plan in mind,” Grevanas remarked.

“That’s good news for us. But are you sure?” Ralgwin asked. “About helping us, I mean.”

“It wouldn’t be fair to offer nothing in return,” the Gray Knight replied.

Ralgwin would assist the Gray Knight with his preparations, and in exchange, the Gray Knight would help Ralgwin achieve his goals. Those were the terms the Gray Knight offered to Ralgwin. It was a good—even necessary—deal in Ralgwin’s eyes. For better or worse, he had no reason to refuse.

“I shall gladly accept your aid,” said Grevanas, equally accepting of the deal.

“Even if you’ve changed your stance, you’re still chivalrous in your own way,” added Ralgwin with an approving nod before turning his attention back to the monitor.

The footage had switched to Princess Clariossa, who was giving a technical explanation of the PAF.

“Distortion field generators monitor the user and their surrounding environment to deploy the field as well as adjust its strength and range. With this model, we’ve improved function so that the distortion field transforms in real time with the user. It doesn’t use any new technology, and as a piece of medical equipment, our goal was to make it as reliable as possible.”

Ralgwin listened to the princess and stared at the man standing behind her—the Blue Knight. His mortal enemy. The biggest obstacle between him and taking over Forthorthe. And the person he’d sworn revenge on for the death of his uncle.

“What do you make of this, Gray Knight?” Ralgwin asked, both out of curiosity and in hopes the Gray Knight would be able to see through Koutarou.

“It’s a diversion for the public. Unveiling it wasn’t his real goal in coming here, and it poses no threat to us,” the Gray Knight answered simply. The device was worthless in his eyes.

“Really? It looks quite effective to me,” argued Ralgwin, who saw things differently. The PAF functioned like a power-assisted suit that allowed free movement. It only used energy when force was input, so it lasted a long time too. On the battlefield where anything could happen, it could prove useful in all kinds of ways.

“Maybe for a normal army, but not for us,” said the Gray Knight.

“You mean magic or spiritual energy technology would be more effective,” Ralgwin mused.

“Hahaha, shall I make us something similar with magic?” Grevanas offered.

Ralgwin and the Gray Knight now had both magic and spiritual energy technology at their disposal. Between the two, they could easily create something better than the PAF. So regardless of its practicality as a tool, they did not perceive it as a threat. It would make no difference in their fight with the Blue Knight. The Gray Knight had a much more logistical concern.

“The truly disconcerting part is that they could deploy the military under the guise of moving the product given the massive demand this will create,” he explained.

Both the reconstruction of the Blue Knight and the introduction of the PAF would have supplies and manpower traveling across the solar system. Koutarou clearly intended to galvanize the economy after the disruptions caused by the civil war, and Forthorthe’s military could stealthily be mobilized in the background. Ralgwin, who was still in hiding, kept a vigilant eye on the Imperial Army’s movements. If the army was about to start moving in secret, that posed a danger far greater than the PAF itself.

“The Blue Knight owns DKI, which would make the perfect front for the army,” Grevanas added, agreeing with the Gray Knight’s assessment of the true danger.

“What a thorn in my side,” Ralgwin grumbled, likewise agreeing.

“The Blue Knight is one thing, but Elfaria will undoubtedly make a move. She’s exceedingly shrewd. With so many cards in her hands, it would be stupid not to play,” said the Gray Knight. He understood that the empress was the biggest threat of all. He knew she might use the deployment of the PAF as more than just cover for something.

“I see you’re familiar with that vixen,” Ralgwin remarked.

“It’s an old story,” the Gray Knight replied after a pause.

“Well then, we’ll need to develop some kind of countermeasure,” said Ralgwin.

“Hmm,” Grevanas hummed pensively. “For starters, we should increase surveillance around the port. It’s an old-fashioned tactic, but we won’t be able to catch the royal families just by monitoring paperwork.”

It was easy enough to disguise a paper trail—but not the actual transport itself. There was an obvious difference between spacecrafts meant for transporting cargo and passengers, so simply keeping tabs on the port was a surefire way to gather information about their movement. That much hadn’t changed from two thousand years ago.

“They’re calling the shots here, so all we can do is play along... but so be it,” Ralgwin acquiesced. He immediately called up his chief of intelligence and instructed them to monitor all nearby ports and warp gates.

As Grevanas observed this, he realized something was unusual.

“By the way, Ralgwin-dono, where is that aide of yours?”

He’d noticed the absence of Fasta, who typically passed on the details of Ralgwin’s orders and plans. It was unusual for the commander to do so himself.

“She’s on a mission in a remote location. It’s not her specialty, but we’re short on pawns and she’s the only one I could entrust the job to,” Ralgwin answered matter-of-factly, briefly looking up from his work.

“I see... So it’s something you couldn’t trust us with.”

“Take it that way if you like.”

“Ohoho, how terrifying.”

Grevanas had taken Ralgwin’s words at face value, but the Gray Knight sensed more to them. He watched Ralgwin working away at his computer... but said nothing. He simply stared for a few moments, then turned and left the command room. He had plenty of work to do himself.

Danesford Laren was Nalfa Laren’s older brother. He’d come to the Blue Knight’s press conference for work, but he saw no reason not to say hi to his sister while he was there. Once he’d wrapped up his business, he went to see her for the first time in months.

“Brother!”

“Nalfa?! Stop, don’t run!”

The moment Nalfa laid eyes on him, she began dashing toward him—and Danesford immediately foresaw the consequences. He ran forward to meet her before she could fall. And sure enough, she tripped over a slight bump in the floor.

“Eee—”

“What did I tell you, Nalfa?!”

“—eek! I’m fine!”

Danesford, his arms outstretched, rushed to catch his tumbling sister, but something strange happened. Even though she yelped in a panic, she managed to catch and right herself all on her own. She held her arms out like a ski jumper who’d just stuck a landing.

“It’s been too long, brother,” she called in greeting.

“And you’ve certainly grown in that time,” Danesford replied.

He gave her high marks for not falling. In the past, she would have ended up flat on her face. Nevertheless, she proceeded to leap up into Danesford’s arms. After not seeing him for so long, she didn’t see the harm in having him dote on her a little bit.

“Hup!”

“...I take it all back. It seems you’re still just a child.”

Danesford didn’t mind his sister hugging him, but there was quite a crowd around them. His colleagues were nearby, and so were her friends. He was keenly aware of all the eyes on them. One such observer—a young girl—approached.

“Ahaha, Nal-chan, I see you turn into a baby around your brother.”

“Oh, you’re...” Danesford recognized the girl. She’d appeared in some of Nalfa’s videos. He couldn’t remember her unusual name, however. Before it could come to him...

“It’s nice to meet you. I’m Matsudaira Kotori, Nal-chan’s friend,” she said, politely introducing herself with a deep bow.

Danesford hurriedly set Nalfa down to return Kotori’s greeting. “I’m Danesford Laren. Thank you for looking after my little sister.”

His manners made a favorable impression on Kotori. Since he seemed to get along with his sister, she imagined that he was a good brother.

“Oh, I hardly have to look after her,” Kotori replied. “We’re always having fun together.”

“But haven’t you been in danger...?”

“We have not!” Nalfa insisted.

“Ahaha, Kou-niisan is in charge of Nal-chan when things like that happen.”

“‘Kou-niisan’? Ah, if I recall correctly, you have a brother as well, don’t you?” Danesford remembered as much from Nalfa’s messages, so he naturally assumed that’s who Kotori meant.

“I do, but that’s not... Kou-niisan, can you come here for a moment?” Kotori called.

“Hmm? What’s up?” Koutarou replied.

“Kou-niisan is my childhood friend and—” Kotori tried to explain, but...

“Y-Y-Your Excellency?!” Danesford sputtered when he saw who was approaching.

So the “Kou” in “Kou-niisan” comes from His Excellency’s real name! Wh-Who’d have thought?!

Danesford’s face went pale. He was an excellent reporter with a good intuition, so he immediately put two and two together. The Blue Knight himself had been watching over his little sister.

“Oh, aren’t you...” Koutarou began.

“Your Excellency, thank you most graciously for looking after my sister!” Danesford had been so bold during the press conference, but now he was acting like a child who’d been caught by his parents in the middle of some mischief. Knowing a legendary hero had been taking care of his sister humbled him that much.

“Your sister? I don’t quite follow...” Koutarou confessed.

“Koutarou, that is Danesford Laren, Nalfa’s older brother,” Theia explained.

She’d grasped the situation right away. Danesford was a capable reporter who’d given her no end of trouble during the civil war. She loathed him enough that she distinctly remembered his face. She was also aware that he was Nalfa’s brother, as his good reputation had played a small part in Nalfa being chosen as one of the first transfer students to Earth.

“You’re... Nalfa-san’s brother?” Koutarou repeated.

“He is! He’s so brilliant, it’s hard to imagine we’re related!” Nalfa jumped in, apparently quite proud of Danesford. She’d been thrilled for him when he was recognized as a journalist, and she was equally thrilled now to be able to introduce him to her new friends.

“And he’s mortified after learning you’ve personally been protecting his sister,” Theia continued to explain.

“I’m not doing anything special, Danesford-san,” Koutarou reassured him with a smile.

With the conclusion of the press conference, Koutarou had changed from his knight uniform into plain clothes. He was also speaking freely and casually as he did in his daily life. Right now, he wasn’t the Blue Knight—he was just an average high schooler. Not that Danesford was in any state to appreciate that.

“Still, Your Excellency, I’d never dream of asking you to—”

“I know lots of unreliable girls, so what’s one more?” Koutarou countered with a smile, glancing over his shoulder at some of said girls.

“I’m not unreliable!” Sanae-chan insisted.

“That’s right! We Sanaes won’t stand for this slander!” Sanae-nee agreed. They both proudly thought of themselves as Koutarou’s guardian angel.

“I don’t know... I think he has a point,” Sanae-san argued. The other Sanaes ignored her.

“Who else did you mean besides me?” Yurika asked. She knew good and well that she was counted among the unreliable girls, but if the Sanaes weren’t on the list—as they insisted—then she wanted to know who was.

“I think he meant me,” Maki said with a smile. She saw herself as unreliable.

However, Yurika shook her head. “No way, Maki-chan. You’re so dependable.”

“I think my problem is my unstable mentality. I too easily fall into a negative spiral.”

Yurika thought of Maki as a role model, both as a student and a magical girl. But Maki was talking about something much deeper than that. Something within her. A dark side that she was all too familiar with.

“Not lately,” Yurika argued. “Especially since you got Snoozy.”

“Really...? I’m glad...”

Maki smiled again. She hadn’t seen it for herself until Yurika pointed it out, but she had been a lot more positive with Snoozy in her life. She’d probably just been too busy taking care of the cat to be negative, but it was still a good thing. Her smile was accordingly a bright one.

Meanwhile, Danesford remained unconvinced by Koutarou’s polite reassurances. He was too shaken by the development, and he was taking it out on Nalfa.

“That’s why I said it was too early for you to study abroad!” he fussed.

“Hngh, you were right... I’m sorry,” Nalfa apologized, shrinking back. She’d felt her brother was a worrywart before she left Forthorthe, but after all the mishaps in Japan, she had to admit there was merit to his worries.

“Really, just being Kin-chan’s friend is more than reason enough for me to protect Nalfa-san. And now that she’s my friend too, I don’t even need a reason,” Koutarou continued to try to talk Danesford down.

“That’s right, Nal-chan! If you’d never come to Earth, I would have had one less friend! And I’ve never once thought you were a burden.”

Nalfa had first been introduced to the Corona House crew as Kotori’s friend, but she’d long since befriended Koutarou and the other girls personally. He saw that as a good reason to take care of her—not as an inconvenience. Kotori felt the same way, and her willingness to express it was a positive effect of her friendship with Nalfa, who’d helped draw her out of her shell.

“Danesford, I’m sure that Nalfa’s other friends on Earth feel the same way. Of all the transfer students, she’s doing the best in spite of her flaws. She is without a doubt spearheading good relations between Forthorthe and Earth. You should be proud of your sister,” Theia interjected.

“Your Highness... What an honor,” Danesford replied, finally calming down.

Nalfa had made all kinds of friends on Earth, and each bond she fostered helped forge a connection between all Earthlings and Forthorthians. In that sense, she really was the superstar of the transfer students—and that would have been true even without her video work.

“I’m glad to hear you’re doing well on Earth, Nalfa,” said Danesford.

“I had no idea what I was doing when I first got there... Heehehee.” Nalfa giggled giddily upon being praised by her big brother. It tickled her.

Good for you, Nal-chan... Kotori understood how she felt, so she smiled as she quietly watched over the siblings.

“I forgot to say it earlier, Nalfa, but welcome back,” Danesford finally told his sister.

“It’s good to be home!”

The small family reunion turned out to be a warm one indeed, but it was short and sweet. Danesford still had work to do, so he departed shortly afterward. He’d have plenty of time to catch up with Nalfa at home once things settled down, after all.

Koutarou and the girls had plenty to do as well, so they quickly set out for their next destination.

“Danesford-san is a nice guy,” Koutarou mumbled, staring out the window of a vehicle somewhere between a helicopter and a luxury car. It used spatial distortion technology to fly, so the scenery was zipping by outside.

“He’s terrible! I despise him!” Theia shouted, emphatic about her grudge against the reporter for giving her such a hard time at a critical press conference during the war.

“He was just doing his job,” Koutarou reminded her. “Wouldn’t it be a bigger problem if he were friendly at times like that?”

“I don’t care!”

“Well, I like him.”

“You would,” Kenji cut in. “He’s just like you—a real worrier.”

Like Koutarou, Kenji had walked away from their encounter with a positive opinion of Danesford. As a fellow older brother, he deeply sympathized with the man. He could still recall being worried out of his mind when Kotori started high school. Danesford also reminded him a bit of Koutarou, which was a huge plus in Kenji’s book.

“I think we’d get along,” said Koutarou. “Not that he has the time to hang out or anything, I’m sure.”

“I mean, you did just create a ton of work for him by coming back here,” Kenji ribbed him.

Koutarou was plenty busy in Forthorthe—meaning Danesford and the rest of the Forthorthian press would inevitably be busy too. They’d scarcely have any time to socialize. Koutarou thought it was a shame.

“Speaking of work, Satomi-san...” Nana called out to him. She was riding along in the vehicle with the group, en route to her next job now that her role during the press conference was over. She flashed the green light on her bracelet, which indicated incoming mail. “We’ve already got an order from our side.”

“You mean from Nefilforan’s squad?” Koutarou asked. Nana was still serving as Nefilforan’s adjutant, so he knew she hadn’t meant Folsaria when she said “our side.”

“Yes,” Nana replied. “The commander decided to bring in the PAF after seeing its specifications.”

“That was fast. We practically just released the specs to the public.”

Koutarou was surprised by Nefilforan’s quick decision—and rightfully so. Details about the PAF had only been released after the press conference an hour prior. That meant Nefilforan must have approved the device almost immediately upon seeing it.

“Besides, it was military tech to begin with. What does she want with more of it?” Koutarou wondered aloud.

It was a valid question. The PAF was nothing more than a modification of existing military equipment. Koutarou couldn’t see what need Nefilforan would have for it. Clan, however, solved the riddle rather easily.

“The Imperial Army uses distortion field generators and power-assisted suits. But the idea of using distortion fields as portable power-assisted suits is quite novel,” she explained.

Indeed, it wasn’t the technology that mattered here—it was the application. It merged the concepts of two previously existing devices to create a never-before-seen product. That was what the military wanted.

“Master, I believe it would be very useful in the event they suddenly needed to transport heavy items,” Ruth offered.

“Like moving injured people, setting up large guns, removing obstacles and changing tires... Even I can imagine a few different uses after thinking about it,” Koutarou mused.

The PAF’s portability and ease of use were what had caught Nefilforan’s eye. They made the tool extremely handy in various emergencies.

“It would also be useful when they can’t carry a lot of gear. Powered suits are big and stand out. I could see the PAF being used for reconnaissance, ambushes, and paratrooping,” Theia added.

“While still relying on traditional suits when defensive capacity needs to be taken into account?” Koutarou asked.

“Of course. They dominate in terms of power. The point is to choose the right equipment for the right task.”

The battle-hardy princess made a good point. Depending on the circumstances, there were several situations where the PAF could prove more viable than conventional power suits. Koutarou could see that now, and he was certain Nefilforan had seen it as well.

Meanwhile, Kiriha believed Nefilforan had primarily seen the PAF for its strategic defensive potential. “It would also be effective against magicians. If we had models equipped with oxygen tanks, they could immediately respond to gas or poison attacks,” she said.

Nana nodded at this assessment. “I believe that is what the commander is after.”

“Being able to defend against magic is a matter of life and death for normal soldiers, after all,” Koutarou replied. He realized that any men accompanying him or the girls would be up against spells—and the PAF could be the key to dealing with them.

“It could probably be used in place of a life jacket, or even an emergency space suit,” Kiriha surmised.

“Yeah... No wonder the military wants their hands on it,” said Koutarou, changing his tune. “You really made something incredible, Clan.”

“I appreciate the praise, but those are all just clever applications of the device. It’s not like I designed it with any of that in mind.”

“That’s just how progress works,” Kiriha assured her. “On Earth, vacuum tubes were created in the process of inventing light bulbs. All their other uses were, as you said, clever applications after the fact. So you should hold your head high, Clan-dono.”

“Kii... Really, I’m flattered.”

Clan was a little embarrassed, but her shy smile said she was proud too. Kiriha had specifically brought up vacuum tubes because she knew Clan had one in her room. It was an extremely diplomatic play on her part. She knew Clan would both easily understand and accept the comparison. And thanks to that, Clan puffed up her chest a little.

“By the way, Princess Nefilforan isn’t the only one who’s taken a shine to the PAF,” Ruth, who’d been staring into the computer, looked up to say with a bright expression. As a knight, she was equally proud of the PAF and Clan’s work.

“What do you mean, Ruth-san?” Koutarou asked with interest. Though he wouldn’t admit it, he enjoyed hearing people sing Clan’s praises too.

“DKI’s stock is on the rise again. The subsidiary in charge of producing medical equipment is increasing the most, but on the whole, everything is trending upward. That includes our suppliers.”

Ruth projected the data in hologram form, displaying key stocks all at once. As she’d said, DKI’s were sharply on the rise. After just one press conference, they’d nearly hit the ceiling on allowable single-day gains. There were also notable increases for DKI’s manufacturing units, who would presumably be producing the PAF, as well as any suppliers who had a history of business with DKI.

“If this continues spreading to other sectors, it could reverse the economic setbacks of the war,” Ruth predicted.

“So this is a great first step for Elle. No wonder she made sure it was such a big deal,” Koutarou remarked.

“Indeed, she’s channeling the buzz about the PAF reveal and the construction of the new Blue Knight to revitalize Forthorthe,” Theia explained in more detail.

Either announcement might not have had much effect on its own, but there would undoubtedly be people circulating to come see the new ship or try out the PAF. And people traveling meant increased use of transportation and restaurants—even shopping. Since the economy was influenced by people’s moods, Elfaria had preyed on the joyous occasion to generate both excitement and business across the solar system.

“I swear... Elle’s no ordinary woman,” Koutarou muttered as he watched the stocks skyrocket. Elfaria’s plan was so clearly a success that even a layman like Koutarou could appreciate it. He had to respect her willingness to use any and every opportunity to her country’s advantage.

“Heh. Do you understand how incredible my mother is now?” Theia asked, grinning—albeit for different reasons than Koutarou. She was pleased her mother was succeeding, of course, but she was even happier to hear Koutarou praise her. She knew little of their history together, but she loved them both dearly.

“I suppose I should expect no less from an empress... By the way, how’s construction of the new Blue Knight coming?”

Unaware of Theia’s feelings, Koutarou turned his attention to his ship. Theia didn’t mind, however. She could press him about her mother later when they were alone.

“It’s proceeding smoothly,” she replied with a smile. “The construction platform is finally finished and assembly has only just begun, so the ship is in pieces, but the project overall is about 40 percent complete.”

“So the design’s done and all the parts are in place, huh?” Koutarou remarked.

“Coordinating the building of the new Blue Knight and the unveiling of the PAF was truly superb. I have to commend Elfaria-dono,” Kiriha added. As far as she could tell, the hype would only build from here. Elfaria’s precision in aligning the two events was truly impressive.

“Your Highness, we are approaching Nefilforan’s regiment garrison,” Clan’s AI informed her via her bracelet.

“Oh, already?” said Koutarou. “We’re almost there, Nana.”

“Got it!”

Nefilforan’s garrison was merely a stop on the way, where Nana would be departing. She proceeded to gather her luggage and head for the exit.

“Wait, Nana! I’d like to give you a PAF! Please make good use of it!” Clan called after her.

Since Nana had artificial limbs, Clan thought the device would be a welcome gift for Nana. Nana, however, shook her head.

“I appreciate the thought, but please give it to somebody who really needs it. You probably need as many as you can get right now, and I already have a body that was custom-built for me,” she said.

Her smile was strong but gentle, like that of an angel. It would have charmed anyone who saw it. Even Clan faltered for a moment.

“B-But surely it’s inconvenient to remove your limbs to bathe and things...” she stammered.

She’d specifically thought the PAF would be useful for Nana in her everyday life. There was no denying that, in fact. But nevertheless, Nana shook her head again.

“I’ll be counting on help from Yurika-chan and the others. Lately I’ve come to realize that it’s okay to rely on them—moreover, that their help is a blessing.”

In the face of Nana’s unrelenting smile, Clan backed down. “I see... In that case, I suppose you don’t need it. I’m sorry for holding you up, Nana.”

“Don’t be. I’m honored you’d worry about me. But with that, I’ll be off, everyone!” Nana bowed one last time and exited the vehicle.

Theia stared at the hatch even after it closed behind her. Nana had made quite an impression. “That’s a former prodigious magical girl for you... How admirable.”

“Heeheehee, yup! That’s my master!” Yurika squealed as if she’d been praised herself. She’d be more than happy to help Nana bathe, or anything else she needed.

“She both looks and acts like an angel. That’s cheating,” Shizuka lamented with a sigh. She felt defeated after seeing Nana. She had to wonder how a girl so pure—even if she was older—could even exist.

“She has plenty to worry about too, Landlord-san,” Koutarou reminded her. He knew that Nana wasn’t always so perfect. She got scared and upset too. Like Shizuka, she was really just searching for her own path in life.

Hearing this, however, Shizuka quietly stared at Koutarou. She hadn’t failed to notice the fond glance Nana had given him as she left. It made her wonder if Yurika wasn’t the only one present that Nana wouldn’t have minded getting a bath from.

“What’s the matter?” Koutarou asked.

“Oh, nothing...” Shizuka replied. Yet despite her words, there was a slight pout on her face. She wasn’t entirely pleased with Koutarou.

But her dissatisfaction wouldn’t last, for his next words blew it away: “Besides, you’re just like her at times, Landlord-san.”

“R-Really?! Do you really think so, Satomi-kun?!”

“Yeah, you just can’t see it for yourself. It’d be a totally different story if you could.”

Nana looked like an angel, but she was none the wiser about it. If it was something she did on purpose, Koutarou thought, then it would merely be an act. He felt the same way about Shizuka too. The fact that she was unaware of her angelic qualities was only a testament to how genuine they were.

“Oooh, you, Satomi-kun! C’mon!”

Shizuka suddenly slapped Koutarou’s back. The unexpected blow from her strong arm knocked the wind right out of his lungs.

“Agh!”

“Everyone’s listening, so don’t say such embarrassing stuff! Jeeeeez!”

“Ouch, Landlord-san...”

“Koutarou, you have a red handprint on your back,” Sanae informed him.

Shizuka’s emotions had been running wild when she’d swung her arm, unable to hold back. So when Sanae peeked inside Koutarou’s clothes, she clearly saw the red mark the blow had left. Still, it was a sign that Shizuka was in a better mood, so Koutarou decided to let it go.

“Hey, Kotori...” Kenji piped up.

“What is it, Nii-san?” she answered.

“No matter how you look at it—”

He wanted to point out Koutarou’s overly friendly vibe with the girls. No matter how you looked at it, they carried on like he was dating them all—exactly the behavior that had earned Kenji his sister’s scorn. He wanted to know why, exactly, Koutarou was such a special exception. Before the words could leave his mouth, however, he stopped himself when a terrible premonition flashed through his mind.

“No matter how you look at it, that building has to be at least two kilometers high.”

“What? Wow, you’re right! It’s so tall!”

He put his tact to work and said something else entirely. He wasn’t foolish enough to destroy the trust they’d rebuilt by saying something stupid. It was a good call.

Ralgwin’s forces had made it to Forthorthe two weeks ahead of the Corona House crew. Upon their arrival, Fasta left her commander’s side and traveled to an agrarian planet in a faraway star system.

“Sorry, we don’t want you around here,” she muttered before taking casual aim with her rifle.

The bullet she fired traveled over a kilometer and struck the ground in front of an endemic creature not dissimilar to a hyena. The bullet then cracked open with a loud sound, and red smoke began filling the air. Fasta had used a special round meant to scare off animals or serve as a warning shot. Startled, the hyena ran back to its pack, and the lot of them dove into the brush they’d emerged from. Fasta fired two more shots in that direction. The brush shook, then fell still. The hyenas had retreated into the forest beyond.

“Good... And don’t come back.”

This was Fasta’s mission. After chasing off the animals encroaching on the farm, she was to walk around and inspect it for damage. In other words, she was functionally a ranger. The farm where she was stationed wasn’t even affiliated with Ralgwin in any way. It was a perfectly normal civilian business.

“I saw that, Fasta-san. You’ve got great aim for someone so young,” an old man walking down the farm road called, greeting her with a smile.

Fasta lowered her rifle. “Thank you very much,” she said, smiling back and bowing.

Fasta had been at the farm for a week now. The farm itself was automated, so the old man and his wife were enough to run the facility, but as they’d aged, they’d begun to have trouble watching over the grounds alone. That was why they’d posted an ad for the job and how they’d subsequently found Fasta.

“It seems we’ll be able to keep going for a few more years thanks to you,” the old man said.

“Hardly. Please keep up the good work,” Fasta replied. “But I’ll support you in any little way that I can.”

“Ohoho, I’m tickled... I guess since His Excellency the Blue Knight is cooking up something nice, I can hang in there.”

“What about the Blue Knight?”

“Haven’t you seen the news? Ohoho, you really do get lost in your work, Fasta-san.”

The old man pulled out a mobile terminal to project the latest news for Fasta. All stations were covering the same story, except for Fornorn Culture, which stubbornly stuck to broadcasting children’s cartoons. Other than that, everyone was running footage of the Blue Knight.

“What’s going on?” Fasta asked.

“His Excellency returned to Forthorthe to debut some new kind of medical device,” the farmer explained, fiddling with his terminal to bring up a video of the device in question.

Is that... a distortion field generator that’s been modified to function as a portable power-assisted suit?

As a military woman, Fasta identified the device on sight. The various modifications meant it wasn’t as powerful as a normal barrier generator, but it was easy to carry and versatile. It was a breakthrough in power-assisted equipment.

“With one of those,” the farmer began, “I could work a little longer.”

“With one of these, you might not need me anymore,” Fasta replied.

“Ohoho, after seeing you shoot, I doubt that. I don’t think His Excellency’s invention will help my aim any.”

“Then I’m glad I did all that target practice.”

“You can say that again!”

After that, Fasta and the farmer began walking. With the sun already starting to set, their surroundings were growing dim. It would soon be time for dinner, and the farmer’s wife was cooking for them. The elderly couple had taken a liking to Fasta, so even if they got PAFs, they had no intention of saying goodbye to her. They were happy to have her around.

So the Blue Knight has finally come after us. Is this invention meant to distract the citizens and Ralgwin-sama? Either way, if the Blue Knight’s back in Forthorthe, then...

However, Fasta was thinking the exact opposite. The night she learned of the Blue Knight’s return, she secretly arranged for a ticket to Planet Forthorthe. There was something she needed to do.