Arifureta Shokugyou de Sekai Saikyou

Chapter 480

Common Holiday Brief Story Shia’s Case

Around a week after the priest who was blasphemous in various meanings did his bugged things at Vatican.

「Soareee! Follow me to hell-, desuu!!」

『Yes, with pleasuree♡』

In the world inside treasure warehouse──”Miniature Garden”, a loud spirited shout and a sticky and heated voice of delight resounded.

They were Shia and, the red slime aka the “divine spirit of the fire circle” who governed over sunlight and heat who was also a heavy Shia lover, Soare.

A second later, light of bluish white magic power and light of spiritual power that was like the sunshine pierced the sky.

The cloud above was blown away in a circle by the two pillars of light.

「Magic power in the right hand」

The light pillar of magic power converged into Shia’s right hand.

「Spiritual powerr──in the left handdd!!」

Funnuu Shia showed a strained look while converging the spiritual power of sunshine into her left hand.

「Fighting spirit explosionnn──fusionnn!!」

*GANN* A sound that was unthinkable coming from a flesh body rang out as Shia hit her fists together.

The Miniature Garden was filled with an intense light. The impact became powerful waves that were radiated to everywhere.

The branches of the Treasure Tree that boasted absurd thickness and toughness were shaken violently by the shockwaves. The grassy field in front of the Treasure Tree billowed as though there was a storm passing by. Water from the many rivers that were flowing from west to east were scattered around.

And then, one more second later.

The flashes and shockwaves settled down. At the center of them,

「KUKUKU-, finally, finallyyy!」

There was the figure of Shia clad in faint black aura. She was looking down on her own hands with a fearless smile tugging her lips.

She somehow looked like, that. Like a villain who had stolen power and awakened, and became drunk with the sense of omnipotence.

Also, her clothes didn’t burst. The outfit she was wearing today was her battle outfit (her normal wear) during her Tortus era to psyche up herself. Its robustness was in difference level from priest outfit.

「I succeed desuu!!」

Her rabbit ears went * PINN*. The vigor of her guts pose pierced the sky. Her raised up fist passed through the speed of sound very easily and caused an explosive sound to ring out loudly. The sky was also split from the after effect.

No, surely it was just a hallucination, no doubt about it. It only looked like there was a crack at the sky just for an instant.

This place was the “Miniature Garden”. Although the sky looked the same like the earth outside, there was a limit. There was a spatial wall up there but……it wasn’t so soft that it would be cracked just from someone making a guts pose──maybe.

In any case, a second passed.

「「「「「Oooooooooooo!!」」」」」

Loud cheers rose up all at once. Hooray hooray, accompanied by thunderous applauses.

Actually, there were a lot of people other than Shia and Soare here.

A week ago, these people came to amuse themselves──err, to watch over Shia who suddenly came here to continuously explode herself under the guise of training, but before they realized it they were looking forward to the result of Shia’s effort.

「Amaaazing, amazing!!」

「Shia-sama is wonderful!!」

「Not bad missy!」

「What power! It’s sending violent shivers until my soul man!」

『Incomprehensible. How can she succeed? Or rather isn’t it ominous?』

『C-child on man is terrifying……』

From the top in order, they were the fairy sisters Rune & Cino, the onis who looked up to Shuten Douji as boss, and the dragon gods who came from the same fairy world like them.

Other than them there were also a lot of fairies and apparitions sitting on the branches and leaves of the Treasure Tree. Around Shia there were also “immigrants to the Miniature Garden” surrounding Shia in a circle, cheering her thunderously even though they didn’t really get what was going on.

Shia responded to that with 「Thank you than you desuu!」 while waving her hand.

Shyness and happiness and sense of accomplishment were flowing out from her whole body. Her expression was brimming to the brim with radiance that was unique to those who had accomplished something.

It was only natural.

Even though Yue stopped her because it was dangerous, she lectured her back 「My passion is unstoppable-」 instead and repeatedly did trial and error over and over.

Each time she would vomit blood, or became unable to move, or got blown up to the sky like in a gag manga due to unexplainable reason, or ended up yelling 「banana!」 in repeat with an utterly stupid look on her face but……

After a week of unremitting effort (?), a total of one month because she also used Hour Crystal due to needing to go to university too.

Finally, she was able to accomplish “fusing energies of different worlds with her own strength” using her fighting spirit, a phenomena that originally should be impossible.

By the way, on Shia’s head was,

『Nngii, fuheehaah, kuoooh』

For some reason, the red slime on her head was jiggling *myon myon*. To describe it without any sugarcoating, she looked like she was writhing in pain.

「Mu? Show your guts, Soare! I’ve grasped the trick of fusing the energies themselves. I also feel like my resistance to the burden of using them is improving bit by bit desu! What’s left is simply keep doing it frequently to accustom my soul to it! I’m counting on you to shoulder the burden with me until I’m used to it!」

『S-Shia is relying on me……fuheh, this is a trivial requestt』

It seemed, it was something like that.

Soare (main body) commited the act of tearing off a part of her soul while screaming──to create a fragmented spirit to accompany Shia without any hesitation.

Then, even if it was a technique that ought to be called a taboo the way it put a tremendous burden on the soul itself and might cause serious damage from overdoing it, just shouldering the large part of that burden wasn’t a big deal at all–. That seemed to be what she was saying.

How terrifying──err, how beautiful her passion was. This divine spirit, it looked like she would really do anything if it was for Shia’s sake.

In fact, there was already an abundance of spiritual power due to the unlimited magic power and the element conversion system, so there was no more need to stay in slime form, but Soare was the only one who kept using the slime form by choice just so she could stick closely to Shia in such form.

Divine spirits originally had pride that was even higher than Everest Mountain, and Soare’s pride had gone through the stratosphere even among them.

But it seemed that her Shia luv luv level knew no bounds and kept fermenting days by days.

Perhaps, depending on the situation she would even pick a fight against her own mother Lutria?

The one here was just a fragmented spirit in the end but……

One day she would go back to the star spirit world. Surely she would then share her memory with her main body. What kind of reaction the main body would display? It was a scary thing, but also something to look forward to.

Well, putting that aside.

「Seriouslyy……?」

Hajime was leaning on the treasure tree and folding his arms while watching over Shia. He was muttering while his cheeks were twitching a little.

──I feel like I’ll be able to do it somehow today desuu!!

Shia had proclaimed that before this.

Hajime also coincidentally had a business in the “Miniature Garden”, so he decided to watch over her until the scheduled time but……

To think that she really succeeded.

He was thinking that if it was Shia then she would accomplish it one day. But, although she was having Soare shouldering the majority of the burden, she didn’t have the accumulated half century of foundation like Director Dime, and only a month had passed.

His mind had already gone passed being shocked and into exasperation. Really, just how far this bugged bunny planned to go……he thought.

「H-hey. That thing, is fine isn’t it? That Soare, she looks spiky for some reason.」

Two tufts of brown hair fell down and blocked Hajime’s sight.

The divine spirit of flowing sky and the goddess of Treasure Tree, Enti still liked to place her bottom on Hajime’s head and sit there. She was peering on him from above.

「It’s like there’s constant blast from inside her huh.」

「This isn’t the time to speak nonchalantly like that though!」

The red slime was flickering like crazy while growing spikes like a sea urchin. Certainly her state looked dangerous.

But, what they heard from her was 『It’s for Shia! It’s for Shia! When I think that even this pain is auhh♡』.

「Isn’t she fine?」

「H-hmm~……」

Enti-chan looked terribly conflicted.

Soare was a divine spirit no matter how rotten she was so she would be able to endure but, it didn’t change the fact how dangerous the technique was. Originally the technique was something impossible, so it was unknown what would happen even if the user was a divine spirit.

But, the brethren(Soare) in question was accepting it joyfully. She had even declared I won’t concede this role to anyone else no matter who they are—with a threatening and slightly wicked aura.

Furthermore Shia was even cheering her on 「Hang in there hang in there, So – a – re! Desuu」 which made Soare looked happy. To describe her without any sugarcoating, she was totally making an ahegao face. It was unbearable to watch.

Enti averted her gaze from her brethren.

「Although it’s for Shia’s sake, I don’t want to become like that.」

「Don’t be okay? I don’t wanna the goddess of my world to be something like that.」

「uu」

Enti-chan reacted to the words “the goddess of my world”. Her face was dyed red, however she had a scowling expression. Her bare feet started pinching Hajime’s cheek and rubbing it. She was also slapping his cheek *pechi pechi* with her hands’ fingertips as though she was playing a drum.

In contrast with her expression, her embarrassment and good mood were seeping out into her gesture. What a very easy to understand tsundere.

It was irritating so Hajime-san grabbed her leg and tossed her away.

「Kyaa~~h!? W-what’re you doinggg! Really you, just when are you going to start revering me properlyy!」

Enti floatily spun around through the air, then she completely ignored gravity and lightly returned back on his head like expected.

Coupled with her outfit that looked like a dancer, her movement itself was so refined that it would captivate anyone, but regrettably, her somewhat childish personality came out in her face so her dignity was nonexistence.

「I’m revering you, really. Oh mighty Enty-sama, banzaa~i」

「That’s wrong! Not like that! Put your heart into it more and say “My love and respect to you”! Add “Enti-sama is truly lovely” too and it’ll be perfect! Say it-, say itt-」

Hajime was handling the frolicking child (?) while looking toward Shia once more because there was more cheering for some reason.

The apparitions were gathering and forming an improvised round arena. Shia and a huge oni were facing each other at the center of it.

It seemed she was trying out her new ability. Perhaps she thought that real battle would be best to make her flesh body and soul got used to the technique. Or perhaps, it was the oni who felt the wave of power that Shia was radiating and it stimulated his battle instinct.

Both sides cracked their fists and wore fearless smile as they faced each other. Right after that, the huge oni made the first move. He stepped forward with an uncommon speed and struck with his large fist.

The oni’s height was more than three meters, so from the outside it would look like a huge rock was falling from above the head but……

A sound of impact. And then,

「W-whaattt-」

「Just now, did you do something?」

Shia didn’t even defend. She was still standing straight without even moved at the slightest. She kept wearing the fearless smile while speaking a villainous line just as expected.

The huge oni’s fist that was like a bolder hit her head, but it seemed that it only felt like a breeze to her.

And then, and then.

Did anyone notice? This woman, she was barely using her normal physical strengthening.

In other words, this still wasn’t her best……KYAAAAAAH!! (by Hajime’s heart)

Even from afar it was clear that the huge oni’s expression was twitching. His mouth could be seen muttering 「Is this a dream?」.

Shia’s hand slowly moved forward. It was a gesture of giving a light push.

With just that,

「Uooooooooo!!?」

The huge oni was blown away powerfully. His oni friends who were watching as well as serving as wall hurriedly caught him, but even those onis were getting pushed back as their bracing legs left a trail on the ground.

The huge oni coughed out and grimaced as his hand was pressed on his solar plexus.

He lifted up his face with a somewhat dumbfounded look. Ahead of his gaze was Shia whose pal was still held forward toward him.

That hand turned around. Then her fingertip made a come hither gesture.

It was a very obvious provocation.

A vein pulsed on the huge oni’s face.

「Bring it ONNN!!」

The oni’s demonic energy burst out explosively. Dark red aura enveloped his whole body. His physical body that was already huge originally swelled out even more. The muscle statue closed the distance with twice the speed than before.

He swung down his fist and created a crater on the ground. Shockwave and tremor were radiating through the Miniature Garden.

It was a tremendous strength. Perhaps that strength wasn’t at all inferior even compared to Shia’s Level VI. It seemed this oni was quite a famous one.

「Kuh, where did she goo!?」

「Here desu.」

The oni gasped and turned around. There he saw Shia standing calmly several meters away.

「Fast little thing ain’t you! But you know, you dodging it mean that it’s gonna hurt if it hit you huhhh!」

「No? I just don’t want my clothes get dirtied.」

「Are you looking down on oni!? How dare you making fun of us! How about you come at me with everything you got aah」

「Very well. ……Don’t blink for even a moment, desuu!」

Instantly, Shia vanished. At the very least that was how it looked like to the huge oni. The moment he realized that, she was right in front of him.

Although it was startling, even the huge oni was an ancient oni who boasted long combat experience. His body reflexively moved. Faster than even his thought, his fist that could even pulverize steel became a hook that moved through the shortest route with the fastest speed toward Shia’s head.

But, she vanished as expected.

And then, a shudder ran through his back.

In that moment, the huge oni’s field of vision became slow motion. His body reflexively tried to turn around, but his instinct was telling him. 「Ah, I’m boned……」 it said.

Over his shoulder, the first thing he saw was the figure of Shia who had circled behind him and cocking her fist back like an archer preparing to fire an arrow. Her eyes were tinged with light. That light’s trail looked beautiful and also terrifying──

The instant his mind registered such thought, his field of vision was completely filled by a giant fist.

It was like a wall. If a human was asked to describe it they would say that it felt like seeing a truck approaching right before their eyes.

He noticed that it was an illusion that his heart showed him from his fear of Shia’s fist’s pressure only after the fist stopped still just before it hit him.

A beat later, tremendous sound of shockwave reverberated. That sound was also overlapping with screams of 「「「「「Gyaaaaaaaaaaaaah!?」」」」」.

When the huge oni fearfully looked back across his shoulder, he saw the grassy field gouged out in the shape of fan, and a hill at the north had gotten blown away as though the place had been excavated. He also saw the apparitions who were acting as audiences whirling in the air like tree leaves.

Only the impact passed through the huge oni and came out from his back.

If it hit him directly, just what would happen to him?

There was no need to even think about it. Cold sweat burst out like rivers from his body.

「You still, want a go?」

「…………………………………….I, surrender」

Shia’s friendly smile was terrifying. The huge oni stopped radiating demonic aura and could only stand bolt upright with twitching expression.

Seeing that sight, the apparitions and fairies who were at the opposite side of the impact──those who were at the Treasure Tree’s side let out thunderous applauses and cheers. Meanwhile Enti was half crying 「Aa~~-, my gardennn-. Shiaaa! What’re you doinggg!! Nature is important! Righttt!?」 while flying toward her.

As for Hajime……he was muttering with an expression that looked completely the same like the huge demon.

「Is she, On* Punch Man?」

She was a girl, so perhaps One P*nch Woman. Eitehr way,

「FUHAH, FUHAHAHAHAHAHAH, wonderful!! Truly wonderful!! I can head toward even further height with this power–. Now it feels like I can do anything desu-. FU-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA-」

Perhaps she had become completely high, or perhaps the fusion technique had the side effect of berserkerization just like what happened with Director Dime.

Shia was genuinely turning into a character that fell into darkness for real so,

「Now then, it’ll be fine if she can still listen to sense but……will I be able to stop her in the worst case?」

Hajime said that with a bit of worry, even so he started walking toward Shia.

.

.

.

.

.

.

Several minutes later.

「Ahaha, sorry. Perhaps my sense got blown away a bit there desu.」

Shia laughed in embarrassment.

「As expected it looks like the technique is affecting the soul huh. Perhaps I’ll create an artifact to forcefully reset the mental state.」

「I think I’ll get used to it after doing it several times though.」

「Although, there must be a limit. ……Even at most, you can only last around three minutes?」

「H~mm, I wonder. For the time being it’s around that long but, I somehow have the feeling that limit can extend after repeated training.」

「Repeated……Enti will cry every time after that.」

Hajime who was standing at the base of the Treasure Tree turned his exasperated face toward the east.

The geography had changed. Just like with the north side where a hill was erased, the ground at the east was also gouged into the shape of a half-pipe. The water of the adjacent river was flowing into that trench, forming a new branch of river.

When Hajime went to stop Shia-chan, she was in a complete high-tension and wouldn’t listen to him at all. She then wanted to show off to Hajime and carelessly let out a punch. The pressure of said punch was the cause of that trench.

She did that while saying something like “Please look-, Hajime-san! Shichijou Ooyari M*onkee~~nn, just kidding” and laughing.

To repeat one more time, it wasn’t a punch where she put in her full effort into it. It was just an attack that she unleashed casually.

It produced a result like when ultra big laser like Burst Hyperion was fired. However, it was a jet black laser that absorbed light, the opposite of sunlight.

「Apologize to Enti later. After all she was hit hard by shock seeing Shia destroying her place.」

「Au, I’m really reflecting. Pointless destruction of nature is no good, absolutely! I’ll apologize properly.」

Her rabbit ears flattened down despondently. It looked like she was seriously reflecting.

「But, Hajime-san……」

「Hm?」

「How you stopped me, wasn’t there any other way?」

Shia pulled down her rabbit ears to hide her face. Her cheeks were blushing. She was also fidgeting shyly.

「There was no other way, after all you were making merry without lending your rabbit ear to anyone. The way things went even I almost got dragged into fighting you.」

「T-that was completely my fault desu, buut~, as expected doing that in front of everyone like that, geez!」

Shia glanced up. Then she immediately looked down again in embarrassment.

Hajime followed her glance and looked above their heads. There the fairy sisters(Rune & Cino) were peeking at them from the branch above. They were covering their eyes with their hands while completely watching from the gaps of their fingers. The two of them were completely red faced. At the same time they also looked hopeful. 「The continuation? Hey, where’s the continuation, hey?」 Their eyes seemed to be saying that.

The other fairies were also acting the same. They were hiding behind the cover of leaves and branches while peeking this way with deep interest.

The apparitions who were working to restore the roughed up land back to normal under Enti’s command were also stealing glances this way in curiosity.

Among them there were also those──mainly the onis──who were openly staring their way with vulgar grins.

The cause was the way Hajime stopped Shia.

「Not only I got groped here and there but, I even got pushed down and kissed……how can I show my face anymore in front of all the fairies and apparitions of Miniature Garden desuu!」

Well, it was something like that.

In front of Shia who ignored any words asking her to stop and looking like she would get into a fight happily if force was used to stop her, Hajime saw no other choice and attacked her in a different meaning.

The shrill shouts 「Hyaaa~~h」 of the fairies echoed. The jeers of the onis flew around. The divinities like the dragon gods and the like were giving them exasperated looks. Meanwhile after the kissing that lasted for almost a minute, the fusion technique automatically went off and Shia herself was having a dazed expression that appeared intoxicated.

Hajime tentatively said sorry even while smiling wryly. He patted Shia’s head lightly while speaking more words with a bit more seriousness.

「For now the fusion technique──aa~, have you decided the name for it?」

「Of course, it’s Kanka*──」

「Rejected.」

「Hell and Heav*n──」

「That kind of things are all rejected due to copyright!!」

「Muu……then we can call it Fusion Skill (temp) for now desuu」

Shia looked a bit dissatisfied. Hajime cleared his throat while pulling himself together and continued.

「The Fusion Skill is──」

「Fusion Skill (temp)」

「Cough! Fusion Skill (temp) is proven to work, so from now refrain from anymore recklessness and train systematically. I’ll also try researching it for how it work or how to reproduce it to reduce the danger. Everyone is really worried for you.」

「Uu, I understanddd. Soare also looks like she’ll need rest for a while, so I’ll do as Hajime-san said.」

「No, she doesn’t just need rest……」

It seemed that Shia’s seething and boiling passion after watching Director Dime’s feat had finally cooled down. The war god bunny obediently listened to what she was told.

But, it looked like the cost was heavy. ──For Soare.

『banana!』

「Soare! Soare, can you hear me!? Get a hold of yourself!!」

『baanaaNAA!!』

「No good, she can only say banana. It’s too late for her.」

「……Look, at her face. She looks happy right? And that is a divine spirit.」

A slight distance away, there was the divine spirit of thundercloud Udar calling out to the red slime on his palm.

For some reason his brethren would only say 「banana」 no matter what he said to her. The divine spirit of ice and snow Barahu and the divine spirit of earth Oros were also watching with pitying expressions.

They had the appearance of ice eagle and rock golem, so their expressions weren’t understandable like the humanoid Udar, but even just from their tones and atmospheres it could be felt that they were feeling something like 「I don’t want to end up like this」.

Just in case, Hajime had handed artifacts to safeguard or heal soul. And regardless of what they said, Udar and others were making effort to heal Soare, so they thought that she would return back to normal with time but……

「Asking someone to shoulder the burden for you. Normally you won’t ask someone else to do something like that, but here you asked without any hesitation. Doesn’t it feel like you’re cold only to Soare?」

「That’s right.」

「That’s right!? You’re treating her crudely intentionally!?」

「That’s right.」

「That’s right!?」

That answer really wasn’t like Shia at all. Shia’s pleasant smile looked a bit scary.

「Did something happen?」

「Not really……just, there’s this place that’s like Soare’s personal room inside the Treasure Tree but, that room’s walls are completely covered with photos of me that she took secretly. But I’m not thinking anything like “If it’s her then perhaps it’s fine no matter what I do to her?” just because of that desu.」

「You’re definitely thinking it.」

It seemed that Soare-san was doing a full-blown stalking.

Just in case, Hajime had placed in the Treasure Tree several artifacts that allowed the user to print their thought onto paper and the like. These artifacts were for fairies and apparitions so they could investigate and made record of “Miniature Garden” but……

It seemed Soare-san ignored the proper way of using the artifact and used it to fulfill her own selfish desire.

There was no ground to defend her there.

「More importantly, won’t it be time for Hajime-san’s appointment soon desu?」

「Ou, you’re right. Even so, it looks like that fellow hasn’t come though.」

「Are you going to push more work on her? After all she’s the one who’s like a “working adult” the most among us.」

「Yeah. I never even dreamed that there would be someone from a completely different civilization who can be entrusted with work to this degree in just so short of time. This must be what they called the wisdom of age.」

「You mustn’t say that in front of the person herself okay?」

「As expected I know at least that much.」

Hajime shrugged in respond to Shia’s reproachful gaze.

「But, it also can’t be helped even if I’m thinking that she’s really a respectable and good woman if only it’s not for her usual perversion right?」

「That’s, ahaha……I can’t deny it.」

Shia smiled wryly while making a thinking posture. U~mm She let out a small growl and ran her gaze at her surrounding. Then she nodded with resolve Yosh.

「What’s up?」

「It looks like we have a little bit of time.」

Shia suddenly made her treasure warehouse shined. Vire Drucken came out.

Hajime wondered what she was up to with surprise. Shia ignored him and activated her weapon’s Divine Equip mode. Seven colored magic circles manifested around the warhammer.

Shia rotated Vire Drucken with only her wrist and struck the darkness colored circle with the hammer’s flat side. Then she pounded the hammer on the ground as though to push a stamp.

Immediately, *DOPA-* darkness flooded out and whirled around to enclose Hajime and Shia’s surrounding in darkness.

「Oi oi, what’re you doing?」

「The surrounding can’t see us like this! Let’s make out until it’s time♪」

Shia was radiating magic power to act as light that shined the space with faint bluish white radiance. She smiled widely and hugged Hajime from the front.

Hajime was slightly surprised, but his expression immediately softened and he put his arms around her.

The sensation of being hugged back made Shia’s rabbit ears lost strength *funyan* and leaned on Hajime’s shoulders. Her expression also loosened into happiness. One of her legs casually entangled around Hajime. They were pressed so tightly as though to say that no gap was permitted.

「It’s fine desu. I won’t push you down and assault you.」

「That should be a man’s line──」

「Just the tip, just a little bit of the tip desu-」

「That’s why, that’s not a line that a girl should be really saying──」

*Chon-* They kissed several times with only the tips of their lips touching. It seemed that she had gotten worked up from what Hajime did before. Although, in consideration of Hajime’s schedule after this, she was stopping with only light kisses that were for showing deep affection between family members.

「I think that I had flirted a lot with you just the other day though?」

「It’s Hajime-san’s fault for pushing me down suddenly desu. Besides, the touring date the other day was, you know, the plan got changed a little.」

「Shia is really loved huh. They mustn’t be able to feel completely reassured with just words.」

Actually just two days ago, Shia and Hajime were going to a day trip touring date with just the two of them.

They would race through the coastline, had their fill of hot spring and foods, then went back home. Their plan was to have such half-day date but……

She messed up by happily telling her circle friends about that plan.

Astonishingly, her friends in the university bike circle “Gouon!” where she was a member were going on ahead to the hot spring inn and disguised their presence there as coincidence.

Although they had accepted the relationship between Hajime and all the girls in that informal social gathering, in the end it was only tentatively. As expected, it seemed they were worried whether Shia was being treated as a convenient woman or not.

They were all the type of people who normally wouldn’t stick their nose into other person’s love relationship but, the relationship between Hajime and everyone was too unique, and as expected all of them were genuinely liking Shia as their junior, so they couldn’t stop themselves from checking the two’s date with their own eyes at least once.

「It was a rare time where we should be able to be alone, so originally I should get angry there but……」

When the two arrived at the hot spring inn, Shia thought 「Eh? Those bikes look familiar for some reason……」 while entering inside. Sure enough, there she found her circle friends hanging out.

Her most boyish senpai shamelessly greeted her 「Yaa, what a coincidence, Shia」 then. As expected even Shia snapped but……

「It would be infuriating if they were just simple peeping tom.」

「Desuu. I know that they’re genuinely worried for me, and they also apologized after that so……hehe, it made me a bit happy instead.」

「Yeah. You got some good friends. I’m also happy for you.」

「Eheheh」

By the way, Shia wanted to go into mixed bath so they reserved a room that had bathing place attached.

If two youngsters──right now they were effectively husband and wife being naked in such place, then there was no way nothing wouldn’t happen!

They had dinner together with the circle members after soaking but, well, all the circle members were female, and they were all closely observing Shia to see if she really wasn’t forcing herself or not.

They easily noticed. Like Shia’s reddened cheeks that didn’t feel like simply because of the hot spring, or her moist eyes, or her relaxed atmosphere.

The night──or rather, this short time has been really fun for you isn’t it? A fourth-year senior with soft and gentle bearing said such thing. Her friends all slapped her head in respond.

Shia who had gotten found out was of course staying quiet throughout the dinner like a rabbit slinking back into its den.

「Besides, as expected touring is fun when done with a lot of people. On the way back, running along the coastline while speaking through the radio with the setting sun illuminating the background was the best desu.」

「I was on edge wondering if anyone might point out something though……」

Actually Hajime was riding on Schutaif during the trip. If he was facing someone completely unrelated, he would be able to dodge the question using the built-in perception blocker. If it was just for riding the bike for half a day, that would at least be enough.

But, it was a different story when he was among a gathering of bike lovers.

Once their attention moved to the bike, it would be difficult to trick them unless he hypnotized them with a different artifact. And naturally, there was no way they wouldn’t pay attention to his bike.

Even if they wouldn’t notice as much as the bike’s impossible construction that was powered by magic power to move, it would be obvious from a glance that his bike was an illegal make that didn’t exist in the market, so naturally their gaze toward Hajime would turn cold. There was no doubt that their suspicion of his relationship with Shia would get revived.

And so, he also used other artifact other than the built-in one at full power in desperation so their attention wouldn’t even move toward Schutaif in the first place.

「As I thought, perhaps I should think to buy an actual commercial bike too for that kind of situation?」

「Nice idea desu! What will you ride!?」

「You’re really getting into it huh.」

Shia’s magnificent breasts were pressed *munyuu~~* so much on him that they might spill out. Meanwhile Shia herself was looking up to him with sparkling eyes. She looked absurdly delighted.

Hajime was looking troubled, even so Shia was cute like this that he unconsciously caressed her head.

He then asked with a very gentle gaze.

「Then, how about we look around bike dealers at our next date? Help me choose a bike that suit me.」

「Is there any lovelier pick-up line than that in this world? There’s only one answer! Happily!@!」

She really really loved bike.

Shia was so overly happy that her cheeks reddened and she pressed her face on Hajime’s chest and rubbed affectionately.

Then right after that, another light kiss. *Nihee~* Shia put on a slovenly smile and her rabbit ears also flopped down on him clingingly.

Inside the darkness that was only illuminated by the ephemeral light of bluish white magic power, the two were happily whispering and talking to each other while snuggling close together until the time came.

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Like that.

The talk that the two were immersed in reached a stopping point when suddenly, no, finally they noticed. Of the familiar and cherished presence outside the veil of darkness.

The two looked to each other, and then they looked to their watches. It was mysterious. The time had passed over twenty minutes of the scheduled time.

Shia hurriedly dispelled the darkness. Right after that, a very displeased voice was thrown at her.

「The two of thee art really having fun in there. Art those the words that I shouldst use for this kind of time?」

It was Tio. Her eyes were really looking reproachful.

She was wearing a blouse and a tight skirt along with a black stocking. The outfit made her looked completely like a woman who had just come home from work. She was crossing her arms.

Hajime and Shia looked at each other once more. They wondered since when she had been there.

If someone entered “Miniature Garden” from outside, the creator Hajime would notice it immediately. Even Shia had the best sensing ability among their group.

Even so they didn’t notice. That was just how much they got absorbed with their flirting.

「For the two of thee to flirt intimately before a date with me, well, I’m also at fault for being late so it’s fine, but just what kind of deed it is to still ignoring the person in question even after she hath arrived? Abandonment play? Art this an abandonment play? Eh? How about the two of thee say something?」

There was a pulsing vein on her smiling face. It seemed this abandonment play didn’t make her feel good.

It would be a different story if they did it intentionally, but as expected she would be offended if they simply forgot about her.

Even so, Tio’s good nature could be felt from how she was waiting conscientiously instead of charging through the veil of darkness that didn’t offer any physical protection at all.

And so, Hajime and Shia nodded to each other and said.

「「One more hour extension please.」」

「Nn—fuu!!? I-intentional further abandonment in this situation!? Haa haah, what advance play──very well! I shall obediently wait further! On mine knees! No matter how long-」

Tio-san woofed and sat down with seiza posture. Her displeased mood before this had vanished to nothing. Her face was blushing and she was going haa haa. Apparently the one just now felt really great for her.

Abandonment play must be like this–, her expression seemed to say that.

Seeing that Hajime and Shia nodded to each other seeing that Tio’s mood had gotten fixed. They then high-fived. Tio’s bad mood case was solved!!

Like that,

「Then, I’ll help out Enti-san before going home!」

「Ou, see ya」

「What!? To stop as easily as turning the palm of thy hand! Mine feeling is being toyed withhh!!」

Shia ignored Tio who was writhing while doing seiza and left to where Enti was.

「Then Tio. Let’s go to our date.」

「Acting like nothing hath happened!?」

「Well, investigating the Miniature Garden is more important though.」

「Wouldst not it be better to not tell me that intentionally!?」

Cruel! But, it feels a little gooddd! It was obvious that she was thinking like that from Tio’s slovenly expression as she stood up. Then she,

「Goshujin-sama, art thy preparation finished?」

「No problem.」

「Didst thou bring the whip?」

「I got it.」

「Thy sadistic desires?」

「Always.」

「And a spare panty for mine use!?」

「I forgot──」

「What!?」

「But, Yue brought it for me just before I entered here.」

「Then there art no problem! It’s time!」

Tio only checked those for the last time before transforming into dragon excitedly.

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AN: Thank you very much for reading this every time.

Thank you very much too for the thoughts, opinions, and reports about misspelling and omitted words.

About my plan from now.

I’m thinking to enter the last long arc soon. But, that’ll be a waste so before that I want to write some kind of stories about each of the main characters like Hajime and Yue and others. It’s just short stories of common holidays but, I’ll be happy if everyone will read along!

(I’m thinking of touching some of the characters like Hinata or Hidzuki during the long arc)

Also, there are a lot of things I’ll have to do during the year-end and New Year holidays, so I’m sorry but today will be the last update for this year. Next chapter will be……please allow me to do it at 13, tentatively.

In any case, thank you very much for having a good time together with me this year too!

Merry Christmas! & Have a happy New Year!!

※Material introduction

– One Punch Man

Imagine Saitama VS Genos at the fifth episode of the anime. I was blown away when the live filming was played in short video. The quality was so great I was shocked.

– Shichijou Ooyari Muonken (Seven Streaks Great Spear Silent Fist)

From Takamichi-sensei of [Negima]

– Hell and Heaven

From [The King of Braves GaoGaiGar].

This chapter upload first at NovelBin.Com