Chapter 1: The Hero Returns (Part 1)

It was a truly surreal sight. Hundreds of beastmen stood huddled together, pinching their cheeks or slapping their faces or staring out the window in disbelief. The wind howled past their ears and an endless sea of clouds spread out beneath them. From the few gaps in cloud cover, they could make out the ground speeding past them at an unbelievable rate.

Unbelievable as it seemed, they were actually flying through the sky.

More specifically, they were riding Hajime's gravity-manipulating

airship Artifact, the Fernir. He had attached a large gondola to its bottom,

which was where they were currently stationed. The reason they were riding

the first airship in Tortus' history was because of another historical event that

had concluded just yesterday. All of Hoelscher's slaves had been freed

following a battle that would later come to be known as "The Haulia

Rebellion" or "The Crimson Ball" by the people of the empire.

Shea's father, Cam, had led the Haulia in an attack on the empire's

capital and felled it in a single night. He'd demanded the emperor free all of

the empire's slaves, and those former slaves were now riding Hajime's Fernir

back home to Haltina.

Hajime had actually already set up a warp gate in the sea of trees, so he

could have teleported them all home instantly if he'd wanted to. The reason

he'd chosen not to, and instead brought Fernir down outside the capital was

because he'd needed to make a big show of the whole emancipation.

Basically, he'd wanted to emphasize to the citizens of Hoelscher that freeing

all the slaves really was something that god himself had decreed. And it had

worked as intended. Seeing a giant flying ship descend to take the beastmen

back home had left the empire's residents in awe.

Naturally Hajime was just using god's name. In truth, Ehit had nothing to

do with this. Hajime was just following through with his principle of "When

in doubt, just pin all the blame on god." Whether or not Ehit took issue with

that wasn't something Hajime particularly cared about. At any rate, while it

did make for an impressive spectacle, moving an Artifact as complex as

Fernir took up a lot of concentration.

"Aaah..."

Hajime sighed lazily as he lounged on the bridge's sofa. He didn't look

like he was concentrating in the slightest. His arms and legs were sprawled

across the sofa, and he looked more like an office worker on break than

someone piloting an airship. However, the fact that he was enveloped in

layers of crimson mana made it obvious that even now he was still expending

a lot of energy to drive Fernir.

In truth, he was actually having a bit of a hard time. The more weight

there was loaded on Fernir, the more difficult it was to pilot. That being said,

his posture, combined with the fact that he was surrounded by beautiful girls,

made it seem like he was just lording his superiority over people.

"Oi Hajime Nagumo, don't you think you're being rather rude, relaxing

like that in front of the emperor?"

The bridge's door slid open with a mechanical whir, and Hoelscher's

emperor, Gahard D Hoelscher, strode into the room, glaring angrily at

Hajime. With Yue and Shea to either side of him, and Kaori behind him,

Hajime really did look like a king indulging in his harem. Especially

considering how closely the three of them were sticking to him. They claimed

it was so they could keep replenishing his mana, but everyone knew they

didn't need to be glued to him to do that. Considering that Hajime was

burning through vast quantities of mana each second, and operating an

extremely complicated machine on top of that, one could say he was training

seriously, it just didn't look like that at all. It was a bit of a shame, really.

Neither Gahard nor any of the other people present realized just how much

effort Hajime put into getting stronger.

"I wish I could be the— Ahem, you shouldn't act so indecent in public,

Nagumo-san."

"Liliana-sama, your letting your real intentions slip again."

The princess of Heiligh, Liliana S B Heiligh, and her maid Helina

followed in behind Gahard. The reason she was also coming along to Haltina

was because she needed to be a witness to Gahard's oaths.

The battle the other day hadn't been between the empire and Verbergen,

but between the empire and the Haulia, which was why Gahard needed to

head to Verbergen and swear the same oaths he'd given to Cam. That had

been one of Cam's conditions, after all.

The other people in the room included Kouki Amanogawa, Ryutarou

Sakagami, Shizuku Yaegashi, Suzu Taniguchi, and Tio, who was lying on the ground twitching in pleasure. The reason she was on the floor this time was

because she'd tried to leap into Hajime's arms a few moments ago. Disgusted

by the perverted dragon's antics, Hajime had reflexively kicked her away,

then strangled her until she nearly fell unconscious. As she seemed to be

enjoying it, no one had bothered to stop him. In fact, her ecstatic expression

had caused everyone to look away in disgust.

Following Liliana's remarks, Shizuku and the others started to rebuke

Hajime as well. Unwilling to listen to their nagging, he quickly changed the

subject.

"Gahard, did you finish exploring the ship?"

"Yeah. This thing is insane. I don't even understand how this giant lump

of metal can fly. Either way, this is one hell of an Artifact you made! Oi,

Hajime Nagumo. Make one for me too. I'll pay you as much as you want."

Gahard settled into the sofa across from Hajime, his eyes brimming with

excitement. Hajime frowned in annoyance.

"I don't need money. Give it a rest already. This is the only time I'm

letting you ride Fernir. Enjoy it while it lasts."

"Come now, don't be like that. I'm just asking for one measly ship. It can

even be a small one."

"There's nothing in it for me, so no."

"Mrr, fine if you don't need money how about women? One of my

daughters is of marriageable age now. Her name's Tracy, and she's a bit of a

battle nut, but she's definitely a looker. She'd make a good addition to your

harem, right? What do you say?"

Gahard seemed to think Hajime was a hardcore womanizer. Considering

how Hajime was surrounded by three girls at the moment, it was a hard claim

to deny. That being said, the last thing Hajime wanted was Gahard's battle-

crazy daughter pushed onto him. He looked disdainfully down at Gahard, but

before he could refuse, his harem came to his defense.

"I'll turn you into ash if you try." "I'll crush you!" "That was a joke,

right emperor? Right?" "Please don't put Nagumo-kun in the same category

as you, Your Majesty." "Absolutely not! I won't allow it! Hajime-kun

belongs to me!"

Hajime shrugged and continued.

"There you have it."

"Tch, showoff... Hm? Wait, did I hear Princess Liliana's voice mixed in

with the rest?" Gahard clicked his tongue, then suddenly turned back toward Liliana. The others followed his gaze.

"Huh? O-Of course not. You must have been hearing things."

"Kuku. Come to think of it, you ignored Baius entirely during the ball

too. Though you seemed to be enjoying yourself dancing with a certain

someone. Hey, Hajime Nagumo. Just how fast do you work? Even I'm

getting tired of seeing everyone fall for you."

"Wh-Wh-Wh-Wh-What are you saying, Your Majesty!? N-Nagumo-san

and I don't have that kind of relationship. Isn't that right, Nagumo-san?"

"Yeah. Hell'll freeze over before that happens."

"You didn't have to be so blunt about it..." Liliana's shoulders slumped.

She sulkily looked away, making it obvious that she wasn't against the idea

of being Hajime's lover. Though, everyone who'd seen her dance at the ball

had already known she was enamored with him.

Naturally, Hajime wasn't oblivious either. Yet he'd still shot her down

without mercy. Yue and the others gave Liliana sympathetic looks, then

turned to glare at Hajime.

"Why're you all looking at me like that? Besides, the princess' already

engaged. I mean, her fiance got beheaded, but she still needs to get married to

someone from the empire, right? Gahard'll just find another prince for her to

marry."

"Oh, about that..."

Liliana trailed off, and Gahard turned to Hajime with a bitter expression.

"To be honest, my family's in no position to be making political ties right

now. We're kind of busy dealing with these cursed necklaces that'll kill us if

we break our oaths." He pointed to the ruby dangling from his neck. The

Necklace of Vows was an artifact that forced its wearer to adhere to any oaths

they made. It carved the vow into the pledger's soul, so any attempt to break

their promise or take the necklace off caused them to go insane and die.

"According to our contract, if my subjects try to attack beastmen, we

won't lose our lives as long as we punish them for it. But that doesn't change

the fact that the entire empire is being held hostage. I need to make radical

changes to our government and start imposing strict punishments on my

people. On top of that we still have to inform the rest of the empire about our

new policy and find a way to free all the remaining slaves. Me and my family

are too busy to think about marriage." Gahard leaned back in his seat and

scratched his head.

"And it's not like I can marry the princess off to someone who might die at any minute. Besides, without slaves we've lost our biggest supply of labor.

Your speech might have worked for the capital, but I guarantee the other

cities will riot. My soldiers are going to be busy getting the empire under

control, so we wouldn't be able to send reinforcements to the kingdom

anyway. If anything, we're the ones who need help now."

"I see. So basically, the princess isn't getting married anymore."

"More or less. Once things calm down and the imperial family isn't in

danger of being wiped out, Prince Lundel will probably be old enough that it

would be better to give him one of my daughters to cement our alliance

instead."

Hajime and the others nodded in understanding. Incidentally, the reason

Gahard's family was willing to follow along so obediently was because one

of his relatives had tried removing their necklace earlier. As expected, they'd

gone crazy, rampaged around the palace for a few minutes, then fell limp,

like a doll with its strings cut.

"That's wonderful, Lily!"

"Yeah... I don't know if you'll be able to marry someone you truly love

now, but at least you've bought yourself some time."

"Yep! Isn't it great, Lily!?"

Kouki, Shizuku, and Kaori all said excitedly. Even Yue and the others

congratulated Liliana on getting her engagement annulled.

"Th-Thank you," Liliana replied awkwardly. While she was glad she

didn't have to get married to Baius anymore, his father was sitting in front of

her, and Baius himself had been decapitated the night before. Still, she was

happy she wouldn't have to deal with the man who'd tried to rape her

anymore. Normally she hid her feelings, but this time she let her happiness

show. Even Gahard couldn't help but smile.

"Anyway, that's how it is. So Princess Liliana's free to do as she pleases.

Hajime Nagumo. If you really want her, I'll use my authority as emperor to

make it happen."

"Wha!? Your Majesty, what are you saying!? I-I don't..." Shaken, Liliana

looked to her maid for help.

"This is your chance, Princess! Make him yours!" she replied excitedly.

Not noticing Yue's dangerous glare, Liliana looked bashfully toward

Hajime. The slight blush that colored her cheeks gave her just the perfect

amount of cuteness. Naturally, Hajime wasn't fazed by it in the slightest. Her

charms did nothing to sway him, and he casually turned back to Gahard.

"And in return you want me to make you a ship, right? How many times

do I have to say it, there's nothing in that for me. In fact, I'd only be losing

out in an exchange like that."

"What's that supposed to mean, Nagumo-san!?" Liliana screamed.

Hajime ignored that too.

Shocked, Gahard replied.

"Come on, we're talking about the princess of a kingdom here! How can

you call yourself a man if you don't want her!?"

"Don't lump me in together with you. I'm not trying to collect a bunch of

girls here. If anything, the fact that she's a princess would make things more

of a pain."

"Heeey, over here! I'm still here you know! Please stop talking about me

like I'm not in the room! Listen to me!"

Liliana waved her hands in the air, trying to remind people she existed.

Unfortunately, she was still ignored.

"You really have no interest in authority, huh? Or perhaps you're just not

interested in the princess."

"Both."

"Okay okay, I get it, you're ignoring me. I'm not important enough for

anyone to listen to. I guess it's because you're not interested in me,

huh...Sniffle... Even though I'm the princess..." Tears trailed down Liliana's

cheeks and the hope vanished from her eyes.

"Liliana-sama... you poor thing..."

"Lily... Even though you're the princess. I'm so sorry..."

"L-Lily! I'll listen to you! Please, cheer up!" Helina dabbed at her eyes

with a handkerchief while Shizuku and Kouki tried to console her.

Hajime watched them out of the corner of his eye while simultaneously

monitoring Gahard's reaction. Seeing as he had no intention of giving up,

Hajime sighed and spoke.

"Right now, there's nothing I want so give it up. Maybe you'll stumble

across something you can use as a bargaining chip later... so just wait until

them."

"Nnngh, is there really nothing you want? Nothing I can do for you? Tell

me truly. All humans want something. The only people who say they want

nothing have stopped being human, or are plotting something. Then again, I

suppose you are a devil."

"You trying to pick a fight? Well, I guess I get what you're saying. But..."

Hajime wrapped his arms around Yue and Shea.

"As you can see, everything I want is already in my arms. What else

could I possibly ask for?"

So stop wasting your time trying to negotiate. Yue snuggled up to

Hajime, while Shea was still in shock over the fact that Hajime had hugged

her just as tight as he'd hugged Yue. A second later, her ears and tail started

twitching happily, and she hugged Hajime back. Her eyes met Yue's and the

two of them giggled happily to each other.

"Ah, so that's how it is. Tch, I can't stand to watch this flirting. I'm

going up to the deck for some fresh air..."

Gahard got to his feet with an annoyed huff and stalked off. Hajime once

again leaned back into the sofa and returned to looking like he was doing

nothing. Shizuku and Suzu snuck bashful glances at him, while Kouki and

Ryutarou were unable to look at him. Flirting so openly had made the

atmosphere rather awkward. It didn't help that Liliana was looking up at the

ceiling with dead eyes. However, the girl standing behind Hajime and the one

at his feet were unaffected by the uncomfortable atmosphere.

"Uuu, how come it's only Yue and Shea!? H-Hey Hajime-kun, when you

said everything you wanted was already in your arms, you meant that

figuratively, right? It's not just Yue and Shea you care about, right?"

"M-Master. I understand it's an odd request to make moments after being

kicked by you, but would you please embrace me as well? I, too, wish to be

in your arms..."

Kaori hugged Hajime from behind while Tio lifted herself off the ground

and begged. Yue lifted her head off Hajime's chest, looked at the two of

them, and said, "Too bad."

"Wh-What's that supposed to mean!?"

"Wha!? I cannot let that go unchallenged, Yue!"

Kaori and Tio bristled at Yue's remark. Yue titled her head and put a

finger on her chin, thinking. Then she pointed to herself and Shea.

"Winners."

Then she pointed to Kaori and Tio.

"Losers."

She then went back to nuzzling Hajime's chest. It was at that point that

Kaori snapped.

"Fufufufu...You're a weird one, Yue. Sometimes you say things that just don't make any sense... Did you hit your head somewhere?"

Kaori swayed back and forth, and her sword-wielding demon stand flared

to life behind her in a flurry of wind and snow.

"Indeed, there appears to be something wrong with Yue. It falls upon us

to correct her, Kaori."

Tio staggered to her feet. A black dragon wreathed in an aura of pitch

spread its wings and roared behind her.

"And there's one simple way to do that."

"Indeed, when something is broken..."

"You beat it back into shape!" "One must beat it into shape!"

Fighting spirit started oozing out of the two of them. Kouki, Ryutarou,

and Suzu hugged each other tight, terrified of the pressure Kaori and Tio

were emitting.

"I-Is that really Kaori?" Kouki muttered.

Yue once again lifted her head off of Hajime's chest and grinned faintly

at the two of them.

"Don't do it. You know you don't stand a chance if I got serious, right?"

It really irritated them to hear that familiar phrase come from Yue's

mouth.

"Bring it on!" "I'd like to see you try!" As expected, neither of them

were backing down.

"Mmm, do your worst."

Yue provoked them even further. Dark clouds formed behind her, and her

trademark lightning dragon appeared to complete the trio.

"W-Wait, you three! Calm down! And Nagumo-kun, don't just sit there,

help me stop them!"

Shizuku desperately tried to mediate between them. Unfortunately, even

though they should have just been illusions, the pressure coming off of the

demon, black dragon, and lightning dragon was all too real. She backed off

and looked to Hajime for help. However, Hajime's response was none too

promising.

"Can't do it. Too tired..."

He sunk deeper into the sofa. He obviously wasn't going to move. In the

first place, fights like these were an everyday occurrence. It was how the

three of them communicated, really. Hence why Hajime didn't particularly

mind.

"Y-You lazy little—"

Shizuku, who wasn't privy to the background behind their fights, fumed

at his response. Just then, one of the fighters asked for her assistance.

"Shizuku-chan, I'll leave the vanguard to you!"

"What!? Why do I have to get mixed up in all this!?"

And so, Shizuku was smoothly integrated into their quarrel. Seeing that

Kaori had enlisted reinforcements, Tio decided to find some of her own.

"Come, Princess. We shall wade into battle together! You are a master of

barrier magic, are you not? I shall need yours and Suzu's assistance!"

"Wait, you want me!? Why!?"

"Did you just include me!?"

The perverted dragon grabbed the two crying girls and hauled them into

the fray using her monstrous strength. She looked almost like a mother

disciplining her children.

"Even though I'm the princess... no one listens to me..." Liliana mumbled

sadly. She looked to her maid for salvation, but Helina simply cheered her

on.

"Go for it, Liliana-sama! This is your chance to make yourself his wife!"

It appeared not even her maid understood her. Liliana once again reverted

to looking at the ceiling with dead eyes.. Suzu, too, beseeched Kouki and

Ryutarou for help, but they both awkwardly averted their gazes. They had no

desire to get in the middle of a fight between these girls. It wouldn't do for

guys to butt in, after all.

"Are you really abandoning me!? You are, aren't you!? I won't forget

this!"

Poor Suzu was doomed to the same fate as Liliana.

"Shea, be my vanguard."

"Roger! I won't let anyone get close to you, Yue-san! I'll turn them all

into mincemeat!"

Shea was raring to go. Her bunny ears stood straight up and her lips

curled up into a fearless smile. She smacked her fists together, causing a

shockwave of mana to ripple outward. Yue smiled at Hajime, much like a

wife smiling at her husband before marching off to war. Wasn't it supposed

to be the other way around, normally?

"I'll be going, Hajime. It's time to teach them the difference between us."

"Yeah, have fun. Just don't break anything."

"Will you give me a reward when I come back?"

"Yeah, so don't take too long."

"Okay..."

Their little exchange riled up Kaori and Tio even more. They could

hardly hold back their bloodlust. The group filed out of the bridge, taking

their unwilling conscripts with them. Above the clouds, the weather was

always clear. Which made every day a good day for fighting. Before long, the

sounds of rumbling thunder and exploding breath could be heard outside.

Kouki and Ryutarou both jumped every time there was another bang. Is it

really okay to leave them alone like this?

"They sound like they're having fun."

However, Hajime remained utterly unconcerned.

"You're fine even after hearing all that!? Ngh, so this is the difference

between me and Nagumo."

"Uhh, I don't think that's quite it. Just calm down, Kouki.

Kouki ground his teeth, frustrated that he was getting worked up while

Hajime continued lying on the sofa. Meanwhile, Ryutarou just sighed. His

voice carried through the bridge which had been emptied of all but the guys.

The sea of trees came into view around the same time that Yue and the

others' bout came to a close. The beastmen, terrified by the sounds they'd

been hearing for the past few minutes, eagerly crowded near the front of the

gondola. Oddly enough, a few of the beastmen could have sworn they'd

heard the emperor's screams during the fight, but they chalked it up to their

imagination.

They arrived just as the sun was finishing its trek below the horizon.

Verbergen's streets were filled with warm, natural light emitted by torches

placed at regular intervals. The torches were created from a wood that burned

easily and last a long time. There was also a plethora of lamps that used

caged phosphorescent insects for light.

Thanks to Kaori's assistance, Verbergen's recovery had progressed quite

smoothly. It now resembled the same fantastical city of fey illusions that

Hajime had been awed by on his first trip to the city. At a glance, it almost

seemed as if the demon army's invasion and the empire's assault had never

happened. One would have expected that all of Verbergen's residents had

returned to their former, peaceful lives and were happily spending time with

their families. And indeed, that's how it should have been.

"Does anyone know how many supplies the western settlements have

left!?"

"Have you guys still not finished allotting everyone houses!? We don't

have any time, hurry it up!"

"Eeek!? One of the Haulia— Oh, you're just a normal rabbitman..."

"Stop gushing about Kaori-sama and get back to work, you slackers!"

The city was as busy as Fuhren's streets on market day. Everyone,

regardless of age, race, or occupation, was working on some task or another.

However, while they were clearly busy, no one appeared to be panicking. In

fact, they all seemed strangely hopeful. One of Verbergen's elders, the elf

Ulfric Heipyst, watched the proceedings through an open window and sighed.

He let the night breeze wash over his face for a few seconds longer, then

rubbed his eyes tiredly. He once again looked down at the documents in his

hand, his expression unreadable. The documents were reports on how to

integrate a few thousand of their brethren back into Verbergen's cities, and

requests for all manners of supplies and personnel.

"Hey, Cam. Are all they all really coming home?"

At Ulfric's muttered question, a figure materialized in the room, as if it

had appeared out of thin air.

"How many times are you going to ask that question? Nothing I say will

be able to confirm it for you. So stop worrying and get back to your

preparations," Cam Haulia said sharply.

Cam and the others had returned to Verbergen ahead of time using one of

Hajime's portals. They'd needed to warn the city of the beastmen's upcoming

return, so they'd be ready to hold them all. Thanks to the telepathy stones that

only the Haulia could use, they were able to quickly inform all of Verbergen

and its outlying settlements. Incidentally, the reason why Cam had been

hiding his presence was because it had become a hobby of his.

Ulfric smiled wanly and said, "I know. But it's just so hard to believe. To

think the empire, of all people, would release all their slaves..."

"Well you'll be able to see the truth for yourself in a few hours. It's not

like I don't get where you're coming from. If it weren't for our boss, we

wouldn't have been able to come this far either."

"By boss... you mean Hajime Nagumo, don't you? If what you say is

true, he's saved not only my granddaughter's life, but the lives of all

beastmen everywhere. We owe him a debt we can never hope to repay..."

"Boss doesn't want you to repay him anyway. Now get back to work.

You've still got a bunch of reports to sort through."

At Cam's blunt words, Ulfric turned to look at him. The rabbitman was looking off into the distance, likely conversing with his comrades via

Telepathy, yet he had no openings. In fact, he was wrapped in a dignified

aura, befitting his status as chief of his tribe. It was hard to believe he hadn't

even been noticeable moments ago.

To think this is the same man who prostrated himself before me only a

few months ago, begging me not to execute his tribe... It was hard to fathom.

His former gentle nature was nowhere to be seen. Now the air around him

was so sharp it felt as though just touching him would cut you. And Ulfric

had seen firsthand what happened to anyone who opposed him.

When Cam and the others had first returned to Verbergen, the elders,

Ulfric included, hadn't believed their report that they'd defeated the empire

and forced them to free all of its slaves. Their doubts were understandable.

After all, it was unthinkable that a single clan would be able to take on the

might of the empire and survive, much less achieve victory.

Sure they might have taken out an elite unit of bearmen in the past, and

also saved Verbergen from the demon onslaught, but defeating an empire was

on a completely different level. It was a difficult claim to believe. Most of the

elders had dismissed Cam's story and his request that Verbergen prepare to

receive the thousands of beastmen that would be returning as falsehoods.

Some of them even went as far as to say that the Haulia were still holding a

grudge over the fact that Verbergen had exiled them and at one point

attempted to execute them, and that this was all part of some elaborate

revenge plot. That had been a mistake.

Zel, the tigerman elder, had gotten heated up and accused Cam and the

others of plotting rebellion. He then had unsheathed his weapon, which had

led to the incident that nearly saw him beheaded. Haulia had sprung up out of

nowhere, and ended the fight before it even started.

Zel had found himself with a short sword pressed against his windpipe,

and it was only thanks to Ulfric stepping in and mediating that he hadn't lost

his life then and there. Still, the fact that a seasoned warrior like Zel hadn't

been able to do a single thing, and that the Haulia had slipped past all of the

elders guards proved that the Haulia were far stronger than the elders had

given them credit for.

The elders were forced to accept that maybe there was some truth to the

Haulia's claims that they'd toppled the imperial capital. After what they'd

seen, they had no choice but to believe. Besides, no one wanted to argue with

the Haulia when they were that scary. More than one elder had wet their pants when they saw the Haulia pop out of nowhere.

Regin, the bearman who'd led the ill-fated raid on the Haulia, had been

guarding the hall and had broken out in a cold sweat and hidden in a corner

when they'd appeared. For nights afterward, he'd been tormented by

nightmares where rabbits chased him down and killed him over and over.

After seeing one of their strongest warriors cower because of the trauma he'd

received at the Haulia's hands, the elders quickly bowed their heads and

quietly listened to what Cam had to say.

Just thinking about that incident left Ulfric in a cold sweat. He looked

back down at the documents Cam had told him to start working on, but

before he could start someone walked into the room.

"Grandfather, we've gathered enough emergency rations. This is how

much is left in our granaries now."

A gentle voice, like the pealing of a bell, interrupted Ulfric. His

granddaughter, Altina, handed him another sheaf of papers. She had long

blonde hair that reached down to her legs, and pure green eyes that looked

like the depths of a forest. Her skin had regained much of its lost luster after

she'd been rescued by Hajime and brought back home. After returning to

Verbergen, she'd enthusiastically thrown herself into work, helping Ulfric

with his duties. Still, Ulfric was worried the kidnapping incident had left deep

scars on Altina's psyche. She was just a young girl, after all.

"Thank you. But Altina, it's only been a few days since you came back.

You don't have to push yourself so hard. Why not rest for a bit?"

"I'll be fine, grandfather. Our comrades are coming home, I can't just sit

around doing nothing."

Altina gently but firmly reassured Ulfric. Seeing her dazzling resolve,

Ulfric couldn't help but be amazed. Though she'd been raised as a sheltered

princess, she was far more capable than her upbringing would suggest. She

possessed quite a bit of grit too. And if Ulfric was honest with himself, he did

appreciate the help. It warmed his heart to see the granddaughter he'd written

off as dead being so lively, but at the same time— Fidget, squirm, glance

There was obviously something on her mind. From what Ulfric could

tell, she was elated about something.

Where did that serious expression from earlier go? Ulfric followed her

gaze, and realized she was staring at Cam. He sighed wearily and made his

point.

"Altina, if you're worried about him why not just ask Cam?"

"I-I don't particularly care about what Nagumo-dono's doing or..."

"I never said I was referring to Hajime Nagumo."

"Grandfather, please don't tease me like that!"

Ulfric grinned, but inwardly he thought, Surely she hasn't truly fallen for

him? It was a worrying prospect to consider. Thanks to her personality,

status, and looks, Altina had had many suitors, but she'd turned them all

down. Supposedly the reason she gave each of them was that she had wanted

to inherit her grandfather's position and devote herself to serving Verbergen.

This was the first time Ulfric had seen her look like this. He couldn't help

but be a little concerned, and his overprotective side came out a little.

"Mmm. While Hajime Nagumo may have saved your life, you would do

well to remember he doesn't consider you anyone special. Furthermore, the

ones who actually rescued you were the Haulia, not him. Personally, I don't

think he would make a good match for you..."

"Like I said, I'm not interested in him! Sheesh, I was just wondering

when he'd come back with all the other beastmen. That's all!"

Altina huffed and looked away. It appeared Ulfric had touched a nerve.

Or rather, Altina was just trying to hide her embarrassment at having been

seen through.

Sweating, Altina tried to sneak out of the room before her grandfather

interrogated her any further. At least she's not aware of her own feelings yet.

Ulfric thought with a weary sigh. If she actually tried to chase after him,

she'd have an impossible road ahead of her. Ideally, Ulfric wanted his

granddaughter to pick the safer road.

To his surprise, Cam called out to Altina as she ducked under the

doorway.

"Lady Altina."

"Huh? Wh-What is it, Cam-san? Did you need something?"

A knowing smile played across Cam's lips, and Altina instantly went on

guard.

"Our boss may look like he has a harem of girls surrounding him, but in

truth he's only interested in one of them. And she's the only one who'll ever

be truly special to him. If you want to have even a chance of reaching his

heart, you'll have to invest a lot of time and effort into gaining his trust."

"U-Uh... okay?"

Cam's lips curled even further upward, and he grinned triumphantly.

"By the way, the person closest to becoming the next special person to him is my daughter—Shea. After all, the only reason he assisted us and made

an enemy out of the empire was because he didn't want her smile to vanish."

"I-Is that really true!?"

"It is. Our boss was willing to take on an entire empire for Shea's sake,

and Shea's sake alone. Fufufufu."

"Ah!"

It was obvious what Cam was implying. "You don't stand a chance

against my daughter!"

Incidentally, Altina was the same age as Shea, 16. So naturally, Altina

felt a little angry when Cam told her she didn't even stand a chance against

someone her own age.

"Shea-san... is that girl with pale blue hair, isn't she? This may be

arrogant of me to say, but I don't see how I'm inferior to her in any way. It's

true that she may have spent more time with Nagumo-dono than me, but...

given time I'm sure..."

"Oh no. You see, our Shea's more special than you think. I'm only

warning you now so you don't waste your time. If you waste your time

chasing after an unattainable dream, you'll grow old alone, you know?"

"Well I don't need your advice!"

"Haaah... Cam, please stop teasing my granddaughter..."

Ulfric sighed as he saw Cam's childish smirk. The reason Cam had

bothered poking his nose in at all was because he wanted to help his daughter

out a little.

When Shea had first left with Hajime, it was obvious to everyone that her

crush was a one-sided affair. But when he'd seen them the night before the

battle, the two of them had been much closer. After facing so many hardships

together, it seemed their bond had grown. Their relationship had progressed

to the point where another push from Shea would be enough to get Hajime to

fall for her.

And so, Cam hoped that by provoking Altina into trying something

drastic, it would nudge Shea into taking that final step. Of course he knew

that were his daughter to ever find out she'd be furious with him, but he still

wanted to support her.

Seeing as he'd succeeded in riling Altina up, Cam chuckled to himself.

The fact that he was willing to use an innocent maiden's first love—even if

she wasn't aware of her own feelings—to further his own agenda proved that

he was every bit the devil his boss was.

Just then, the three of them heard a commotion outside. It was different

from the usual tumult of people working; something strange was clearly

going on. In fact, some people were even yelling.

"What's going on!?"

Ulfric ran over to the window and looked outside. Seconds later, he

realized what the source of the commotion was.

"A pillar... of light?" A beam of light far brighter than any the sun could

produce rained down from above the trees and illuminated Verbergen's main

square. Ulfric stared in awe, unable to comprehend what he was seeing.

Behind him, Cam reassured him in a calm and arrogant voice,

"Don't worry, Ulfric. That light means Boss's here."

The intense beam of light shining down on the city square was Fernir's

searchlight. Verbergen's residents scurried away from the light as fast as they

could. Once they were safely under the cover of darkness they looked up

timidly to see what was going on. The soldiers gingerly unsheathed their

weapons, determined to die in the defense of their homeland.

Hajime's massive airship descended on the now-empty square, snapping

branches and crushing leaves as it passed through the trees.

Naturally, none of the beastmen knew what an airship was, so they were

worried that some new kind of monster had showed up in their midst. Hajime

slowly lowered the gondola attached to Fernir to the ground, then with a

shower of red sparks, separated it from the main ship. He then landed the

airship itself next to the gondola.

After seeing that, the citizens of Verbergen realized they weren't dealing

with a monster. But then what were they dealing with? And what did it want

with them?

Even if it wasn't a monster, there was still plenty of reason to be afraid.

All of Verbergen's residents nervously watched Fernir to see what would

happen next.

After a brief pause, there was a loud clang, and the front and back of the

gondola slid open. Everyone shrunk back, including the soldiers. Their ears

stood on end, and every beastman with a tail had it tucked firmly between

their legs.

As the citizens watched, a single figure stepped out of the gondola's dark

depths. Naturally it was no monster, but a timid-looking rabbitman. Her ears

drooped a little as she saw everyone staring at her with grim expressions on

their faces.

That was the kind of reaction most people expected from a rabbitman,

not the boundless bravado shown by the headhunting Haulia. Once they

realized they weren't up against an unknown monster, the residents of

Verbergen relaxed somewhat. After a few more seconds, it finally hit them.

"They really came back..." Someone muttered.

Many of the residents still hadn't been fully convinced, but now they

realized that their dreams had really come true. Starting with the rabbitman,

former beastmen slaves started pouring out of the gondola. They were finally

able to step foot on the homeland they had thought lost to them forever.

As they walked out into the square, they examined their surroundings in

disbelief. It still didn't feel real to them. But it was the same crisp air they'd

used to breathe, the same trees that had given them a sense of security, the

same nostalgic lamps that lit the streets, and the same friends and family they

thought they'd never see again.

Their surroundings forced them to accept that this was reality. They'd

really come home. The residents of Verbergen were just as amazed. A

woman in her mid-thirties timidly stepped forward, her dog ears drooping.

With tears in her eyes, she called out to one of the young dogboys that had

exited the gondola.

Upon hearing his name, he looked up, and tears sprang to his eyes. He

was the same boy that Kouki had tried to save back at the capital. He ran over

to the woman and screamed.

"Mom!"

The woman knelt down and scooped the boy up into her arms. She

hugged him tight, as if trying to make sure he was really there, and not just an

illusion. The two of them wept openly, rejoicing at this reunion they thought

would never come.

That seemed to be the signal for everyone else, and beastmen from both

sides rushed toward each other, crying tears of joy. Friends, family, lovers—

each time a group was reunited, another deafening cheer rang out. The streets

of Verbergen were more lively than ever. Rarely had this tranquil capital

been the sight of such boisterous cheering.

Amidst the chaos, Hajime and the others descended Fernir's ramp. When

the elders spotted them coming out, they all rushed toward Hajime at once.

"Hajime Nagumo... you really know how to make an entrance."

"Ulfric. Yeah, that probably just made more work for you, huh. Sorry

about that."

Ulfric smiled wanly as he looked up at the broken tree branches Fernir

had left in its wake. Hajime scratched his cheek awkwardly and apologized.

Using so much mana had left him drained, and unable to control Fernir as

precisely as he would have liked. That being said, walking all the way back

or sending all of the freed beastmen back in groups through portals both

would have taken more time, and been more of a pain. Especially since

Verbergen was difficult to locate. Hajime had only known where it was

because he'd given Cam an Artifact that broadcasted its coordinates at all

times. Naturally this meant he'd been planning on landing Fernir inside the

city the whole time. Despite his apology, he'd done this on purpose.

In some ways, he was a little insane. After all, when he'd first visited the

city he'd found it unbelievably beautiful. Yet he had no compunction about

destroying its scenery for the sake of convenience. Though for once, it

appeared he did at least feel somewhat remorseful. He turned bashfully to

Kaori and asked for help.

"Sorry Kaori, but could you fix this up for me?"

"Thank goodness. It looks like you haven't gone completely insane yet."

Wait, did she just casually insult me? Hajime was surprised by her shift

in personality, but he didn't want to get burned so he didn't mention it. And is

it just my imagination, or are Yue and the others snickering too? Kaori raised

her hand toward the shattered foliage and spoke a single word.

"Tetragrammaton!"

Tetragrammaton was a spell that restored any object to its original state.

In seconds, the bent and broken trees had returned to their original shape. No

matter how many times Hajime saw it, he couldn't help but be amazed by the

spell.

Furthermore, Kaori truly did look divine, wrapped in glowing silver

mana. It rose up from her in a spiral, that ascended past the trees and high

into the sky.

"Whoa, our Kaori-sama just performed another miracle!"

"All hail Kaori-sama, Verbergen's goddess!"

The beastmen started cheering for Kaori. Some of them even knelt before

her, tears streaming from their eyes.

"Stop! Please, don't look at me like that! I don't want to be worshiiiped!"

Kaori ran from beastman to beastman, forcibly hauling each one to their feet.

"It appears yet another goddess has been born. I must say, it's quite a

surprise to see so many new deities popping up on the continent where only a single god is meant to be worshiped. First Aiko-dono, now Kaori."

Hajime couldn't tell if Tio was moved, or just nonplussed. She was the

one who'd obliterated the head temple along with Aiko after all. On the other

hand, Yue stroked her chin and made a comment.

"Mmm... So this is how you're going to pick a fight with god. I like your

style, Hajime."

"Thanks, Yue. You know, I feel like something like this happened back

in Ankaji too."

"Oh yeah, I remember. The citizens made a 'Kaori-sama fan club' or

something."

Said fan club's present president was the duke of Ankaji's son. He was

probably fervently praying for a chance to meet Kaori again.

"Kaori's... really grown."

"You sound like her mom, Shizushizu. Also don't you think it's kind of

dirty for Kaorin to gain fame for fixing things Nagumo-kun himself broke?"

Suzu pointed out the harsh truth to Shizuku, who was starting to get

emotional. She's got a point! Kouki and Ryutarou thought simultaneously.

Though the beastmen were supposed to be nonreligious, it really did seem

like they would soon convert to the church of Kaori. Amidst the chaos, Altina

came up to Ulfric and whispered,

"Grandfather, Isn't it about time we..."

Altina nodded to the last party descending Fernir's ramp—Gahard,

Liliana, and her royal entourage. Of the three, Gahard was unrecognizable

because of the mask he was wearing. In order to prevent any information on

Verbergen from being leaked to the empire, Hajime had made him a golden

mask—in the same power rangers style as he had the others—that blocked

out all light and sound.

Though his face wasn't visible, Altina could tell that he and Liliana were

both high-ranking nobility just from their attire, and the fact that they had

attendants following them. Since Cam's claim all the slaves had been freed

proved to be true, the elders realized his insistence that he'd forced the

emperor to surrender must have been the truth as well. And so, while Gahard

looked like nothing more than a masked pervert, they were able to guess he

was indeed the emperor.

All of Verbergen's leaders had been informed of Gahard's arrival, but

none of the citizens had. They had feared that someone might try to kill the

emperor had they made that information public. Especially now that he'd arrived in this ridiculous mask. Verbergen's citizens would probably think he

was trying to make fun of them. The last thing Verbergen's elders wanted

was the emperor dead. Even if they despised him, they needed him alive and

bound to the Haulia's contract if they wished for peace with the empire.

It was also for that reason that Altina was in a hurry to get Gahard out of

the public eye. Though her worries weren't nearly as great as her confusion.

Why on earth is the emperor wearing such a ridiculously colored mask? Next

to her, Shizuku twitched. As the infamous pink ranger, seeing that mask

brought back unpleasant memories.

"Hmm, I suppose you're right. Hajime Nagumo, no, Nagumo-dono. Cam

has already explained the situation to me. Though I find it hard to believe, it

appears our brethren have truly been freed from the empire's grasp. As

Verbergen's representative, I thank you from the bottom of my heart."

"You're thanking the wrong guy. It's the Haulia who did this, not me.

Try not to forget that, will you?"

Hajime casually waved off Ulfric's thanks as he put both Fernir and the

gondola into his Treasure Trove. The beastmen who'd been busy celebrating

blinked in surprise as two massive objects vanished right before their eyes.

They then focused their attention on the group the elders were talking to,

Hajime and the others.

"I can't tell if you're trying to be humble, or really speaking the truth.

Regardless, it's not like you," Ulfric replied with a wry smile.

"At any rate, I understand. I'll give my thanks to the Haulia. Though I

find it hard to believe that the weakest of all races, the rabbitmen, were able

to defeat the empire... I suppose if you live long enough you really do live to

see everything. This is certainly a historic moment for Verbergen."

Ulfric turned to his people and declared that it was the Haulia who'd

defeated the empire and rescued everyone's friends and family. Upon

learning who their saviors were, the residents all turned to Cam, who was

standing next to Ulfric. They were looking at him not with scorn, but with the

unique mixture of respect and awe reserved for heroes.

Even though the Haulia had been forced to flee from their home, lost

many of their brethren, had been exiled from Verbergen upon their return,

and had been considered traitors by most residents of the city, now they were

being treated like heroes. Shea felt an swell of emotion as she watched her

dad bask in the cheers of the people. She was so happy, and so proud. As

tears pooled in the corner of her eyes, she felt someone take hold of her hand.

"Yue-san..."

"Mmm..."

Yue didn't say anything. But just holding Shea's hand was enough to

convey her feelings. Shea turned to Yue and saw her looking back with a

more gentle expression than she ever had before. Her bunny ears hopped

back and forth.

"Why not stand with him?" Hajime said casually.

Even though she'd started out as a worthless rabbit, she'd conquered

numerous labyrinths alongside Hajime. The number of trials she'd faced were

far greater than anyone here. She had just as much right to be hailed a hero as

her father did. Show them how far the girl they called a monster's come, his

gaze seemed to say.

His supportive attitude came as such a shock to Kouki, Shizuku, and

Liliana that their jaws dropped open. They'd never seen Hajime act that kind

to anyone other than Yue. Upon seeing his expression Kaori grumbled to

herself and lapsed into thought, while Tio looked on happily and muttered

"Oho." Heartened by her comrades' support, Shea smiled and said "I'll be

going then!" She boldly strode forward and stood next to her father.

However, to her surprise, Cam ignored her. He seemed to be pondering

something as he observed the expressions of his fellow beastmen. After a few

seconds, a crafty grin spread across his face. He raised his right hand high,

and in an instant, there were Haulia all around the square. There was no

visible cover nearby, and it looked as if they'd popped out of thin air. They

lined up in front of Cam and stood at parade rest. All around, the residents

started muttering to each other.

"Whoa, where'd they come from!?" "How'd we miss them!?" "Hiii not

them! Someone get me my medicine!"

"H-Huh? Dad? What are you—"

"Listen up, my brethren!"

Shea trudged back to Hajime and the others, a dejected expression on her

face.

"I knew it. I knew dad would ignore me right when it mattered most,"

she muttered sadly.

Hajime and Yue stroked her ears and comforted her. Cam didn't even

seem to notice Shea's sad expression as he glared sharply at the people of

Verbergen—specifically the rabbitmen.

"For centuries have we been scorned, humiliated and disparaged. Hear me! For the first time in history, we were able to defeat the empire. But know

that no peace lasts forever. Before long, your futures will be threatened once

more."

The hundreds of rabbitmen in the crowd started shivering in fear. They

looked to Cam in supplication, begging him to prevent those horrible days

from ever returning.

"And once it is, your lives will go back to the miserable existences they

were until yesterday. And that's not all. Next time, your friends and family

who escaped will be captured too."

This time all of the beastmen looked down in worry.

"Are you willing to accept that?"

Of course not! They thought simultaneously. No one wanted to return to

those days where they'd been beaten and humiliated on a daily basis, where

they'd had their pride stepped on over and over. Nor did they want any of

their fellow beastmen to taste that same pain. But what could they hope to do

about it? Seeing everyone's downtrodden expressions, Cam raised his voice

and continued.

"Of course you're not! So the question is, what are you gonna do about

it? The answer's simple. If you want to protect the people close to you... then

fight. If you're tired of just resigning yourself to your fates... then stand and

fight. If you want to change the way the rabbitmen are treated... then fill your

heart with rage! That's what we Haulia did! Rabbitmen are not the weakest!

So long as you have the resolve, you can grow as strong as you want! We're

living proof of that!"

Someone in the audience gasped. Everyone was once again reminded of

the fact that their savior hadn't been some special, all-powerful being, but one

of their very own clans. One by one, the rabbitmen lifted their heads.

"Remember the humiliation you suffered at the empire's hands. Don't

just take it lying down! Protect those you love with your own two hands! If

you have time to lament your fate, then spend that time sharpening your

fangs! Light a fire in your heart and fight!"

The faintest glimmers of hope began to shine in the eyes of the

rabbitmen. Their drooping ears stood on end, as if they'd been imbued with

new life. Cam's lips curled up into a grin.

"If you don't know how to fight, we'll teach you. If you have the will to

resist, if you desire power, come to us. The Haulia will welcome you with

open arms!"

With that, Cam ended his speech. The Haulia lined up in front of him all

smiled fearlessly. Their eyes seemed to be silently inviting the others to join

them. Cam gave a second hand signal. Like ninjas, the Haulia dispersed and

vanished into the darkness.

Upon seeing such an impressive display, the rabbitmen in the crowd

grew even more determined. A few of the younger ones looked ready to run

out and join the Haulia this instant.

Cam chuckled to himself. Perfect, now we've got more fresh recruits!

Once they've signed up, I won't let any of them escape. They'll be stuck in

boot camp hell until they're one of us!

"Sorry for interrupting your conversation, Boss. This was just the perfect

opportunity to scout out some new talent."

"I-I see. I don't really mind, but..."

Hajime trailed off. For some reason, the thought of the Haulia

propagating didn't sit well with him. Even though the root cause of the

Haulia's transformation was him, he didn't necessarily want Haltina to

become filled with bloodthirsty rabbits. Cold sweat poured down his back as

he realized far too late what kind of monsters he'd unleashed into the sea of

trees.

"And so, the kind rabbits of the forest went extinct..."

"Please don't say that, Yue-san! As a member of the original Haulia, I

won't be able to show my face here if that really happens!" Shea screamed in

despair.

In the near future, the kind and timid rabbits of Haltina would most likely

be replaced by wild, aggressive rabbits who loved nothing more than

beheading people. If anyone ever asked her in the afterlife "Who was the one

who turned the rabbitmen into killing machines!?" she would have no choice

but to say: "My husband and my dad."

Her embarrassment was certainly understandable.

"Mmm. At any rate, we should probably head inside. Altina, if you

would be so kind as to guide us."

Ulfric was just as terrified of the Haulia multiplying as Hajime, but he

managed to put the thought out of his mind and returned to the matter at

hand. His composure was commendable. While the other elders, especially

the bearman elder, looked ready to faint, he alone maintained the presence of

mind to lead everyone back on topic. There was a reason he was the eldest of

the elders.

"This way, Nagumo-dono. I'll take you to the conference hall. Come,

follow me."

For some reason, Altina smiled and held her hand out to Hajime. She'd

fallen for Cam's taunts hook, line, and sinker. Naturally, Shea stepped in and

slapped Altina's hand out of the way.

The two of them locked eyes. Sparks flew between the two of them.

"Thanks so much for guiding us Altina-san."

Shea smiled at Altina. It was a warm smile, befitting of a rabbitman of

Haltina. However, her bunny ears betrayed what she was really feeling. They

were projected outward in an attempt to intimidate Altina.

"No problem, Shea-san. But the crowd's rather dense, so I think it would

be best if we held hands. It wouldn't do to get separated, would it?"

Altina smiled back. It was a warm smile, befitting of a princess of

Haltina. However, her pointed ears betrayed what she was really feeling.

They were twitching rapidly in protest.

Everything's going according to plan. Cam grinned to himself,

something Hajime didn't miss. He guessed what was going on, and gave Cam

a smirk that could cause nightmares. A torrent of cold sweat poured down

Cam's forehead, and his grin vanished. He gave Cam the evil eye, and

pointedly took Shea's hand.

"Ah..." she gasped. A second later a smile split her face and she hugged

Hajime's arm.

Surprised, Altina looked up at Hajime. His gaze was colder than ice. He

didn't seem the least bit happy that a beautiful girl like her was trying to flirt

with him. "Just take us to the conference hall already," his eyes said.

Crestfallen, Altina dejectedly led them out of the square. She'd known

from the start that she had no chance against Shea, who'd gone through all

sorts of hardships together with Hajime, but she'd still wanted to have hope.

And Hajime had crushed that hope so ruthlessly that everyone aside from

Yue gave him a somewhat reproachful look. While they didn't want any

more girls vying for his affection, they still thought he could have been nicer

about it.

When they arrived at the hall, the elders took their customary seats at the

head of the room. Cam and a few of the Haulia sat across from them. They

sandwiched Gahard between themselves, and Hajime, who'd sat to their

right. It was only when the emperor himself confirmed that he had indeed surrendered to the Haulia and agreed to their demands that the elders finally

had to admit this was all real. They all reacted to this historic event in

different ways. Some howled with joy, others looked up at the roof, while yet

others covered their eyes and sighed deeply.

One of the elders, the tigerman Zel, narrowed his eyes and glared at

Gahard. He didn't like how the emperor was still smiling fearlessly despite

being smack in the middle of enemy territory.

"For a defeated emperor, you sure look pleased with yourself. Do you

even realize how much most of the people here despise you? You don't

honestly think we'll let you go home in one piece, do you?"

Zel's pupils narrowed to slits, and he made no effort to hide his hatred.

Bloodlust oozed from his every pore. Most of the other elders and beastmen

soldiers in the room were the same. Gahard was their sworn enemy. It was

impossible for them to stay calm in this situation. However, Gahard didn't

seem the least bit perturbed by their glares.

"Of course I do. There's no way you'd dare to kill me. Unless you're all

just a pack of morons anyway."

"What was that, you bastard!?"

Ulfric held out a hand to hold Zel back.

"Calm yourself, Zel. I understand full well how you must be feeling. But

remember, the reason the Haulia brought Gahard here was to prove to us that

his oaths are as binding as they claim. If we kill him here, the victory the

Haulia risked their lives for will become meaningless."

"Grr..."

Zel's face twisted in frustration, and he slammed a fist into the ground.

Gahard simply harrumphed in response. The atmosphere in the room was

quickly becoming dangerous. In an attempt to smooth things over Ulfric gave

Gahard a warning.

"Gahard, you will afford us the proper respect. Or else we may have to

become the morons you claim we are. Many of the people here are having a

difficult enough time holding their emotions in check as is. Know that that is

the extent of the pain you caused us."

Ulfric's voice was even, but his words carried weight. Enough weight to

wipe the smirk off Gahard's face. He had lived longer than any other

beastman in the room. That also meant that he'd experienced the most pain,

the most suffering, the most anger, and the most hatred.

Gahard stretched his legs lazily and observed Ulfric for a time. Finally, he straightened his posture and spoke.

"If you want my respect, then draw your sword."

Ulfric looked at him suspiciously, and Gahard explained,

"I, along with everyone else in the empire, only pay respect to the strong.

If you don't like my attitude, then make me obey by force. Petty words alone

mean nothing to the emperor of Hoelscher."

Gahard felt absolutely no remorse about enslaving beastmen. Unlike

Heiligh, he didn't look down on them because they were an inferior race that

couldn't use magic and had been abandoned by god. Nor did he have any

issue with their bestial nature. He simply looked down upon them because he

considered them weak.

"I didn't lose to the beastmen of Verbergen. And so, I have no obligation

to show you any respect. The ones who risked their lives to defeat me are the

Haulia, and the Haulia alone! It's only their strength that I recognize!"

Gahard's spirited shout sent tremors across the room. His stare clashed

with Ulfric's, and invisible sparks danced through the air. The tension in the

room was so thick you could cut it with a knife. The two of them were

engaging in a silent battle of wills. In the end, the one who broke this strained

silence was none other than Hajime.

"Oi, Gahard. You're making everything a huge pain, so you can go back

now."

"Huh?" As always, he didn't even bother trying to read the atmosphere.

Ulfric looked at Hajime in confusion, while a suspicious frown formed

on Gahard's face. Ignoring Kouki and Liliana's incredulous looks, Hajime

grabbed Gahard by the scruff of his neck and opened a portal in front of him

using spatial magic. Beyond the portal, the familiar landscape of the imperial

capital was visible.

"H-Hey! You're not really gonna just throw me outta here are you!?

Wasn't this supposed to be a historic meeting between our two countries!? I

can't believe I'm the one saying this, but read the damn atmosphere for

once!"

"Like I give a shit. I only brought you here so you could testify to the

elders. I'm not here to babysit your meeting. I was gonna have to send you

back eventually anyway, so there's no point in waiting." Hajime didn't bother

waiting for a reply, and further drove his point home.

"You guys have had different values and been at odds with each other for

centuries... It's not like a single talk's going to make all the bitterness and resentment magically go away. Or are your feelings really that shallow?"

In truth, Gahard and the elders' discussion was going nowhere. They

wanted him to show remorse, or at least promise to change his ways, while he

continued to assert the righteousness of his doctrine to the bitter end. They

were two parallel lines that would never cross. It would take a number of

long conversations by level-headed leaders on both sides to work through the

massive gulf between races, governments, and ideologies. And Hajime had

no interest in sticking around to wait for them. Like Gahard had said, it was

the Haulia who had defeated him, not Ulfric and the others. He was only hear

to corroborate their story as per his contract. Nothing more, nothing less.

"Ngh, you do have a point, but..."

"And so, I'm gonna send you back before you start a fight."

"You bastard, don't treat me like some rebellious kid! Hey, stop pulling!

Let me go!"

Hoelscher's emperor struggled with all his might, but he was no match

for the inhuman strength of Hajime's artificial arm.

"Nagumo-san, that's the Emperor you're holding by the scruff of his

neck. You shouldn't treat him like that~"

"Why do you look so happy about this, Princess Liliana!?"

Liliana remonstrated Hajime in a singsong voice; she clearly wasn't the

least bit mad about his treatment of Gahard.

"Even an emperor's just a kid to Nagumo-san~ I'm not the only one he

treats like that~" Liliana hummed softly to herself in an impromptu tune.

Were she to give a name to this new song, she would have called it

"Comrades in arms."

"Lily... Oh, you poor thing."

"Hajime-kun, you could at least be a little nicer to Lily!"

Shizuku dabbed at her eyes with a handkerchief, while Kaori tearfully

pleaded with Hajime. Unable to watch their princess, Helina and Heiligh's

royal guards turned away. Reality was too cruel to their poor mistress.

Even Yue felt so bad for Liliana that she tried to heal the princess with

spirit magic. One of spirit magic's signature spells was one that stabilized a

person's mental state. A sympathetic golden light washed over Liliana.

However, it appeared to have no effect, and she continued singing her

deranged song.

Desperate, Tio tried to help with her own spirit magic. It was just as

ineffective, however. The princess had been scarred deeper than anyone expected. Even Gahard gave her a pitying look. He then turned to Hajime and

said,

"See, look. It's because you don't treat royalty with the respect they

deserve that your princess ended up like this. Now hurry up and let me down

—"

"Not my problem," Hajime replied bluntly. Then, without warning, he

threw Gahard through the gate.

"I won't forget this, Hajime Nagumooooooooo!" Gahard yelled as he

vanished. Hajime's irreverent treatment of Gahard had given Verbergen's

elders a vicarious sense of satisfaction, temporarily satiating their desire for

revenge. Kouki was the first to realize this, and he leaned close to Ryutarou

and muttered,

"Don't tell me this was his plan from the start?"

"Nah, I think that's just how he is."

"I'm with Ryutarou-kun on this one."

Though neither Ryutarou nor Suzu agreed with him, Kouki still wasn't

convinced. It was only when Hajime then tried to throw the still humming

Liliana through the same gate that Kouki was forced to admit defeat.

Fortunately for Liliana, she narrowly managed to convince Hajime that

she still had unfinished work here and that he couldn't send her back just yet.

Like she did with Gahard, Liliana explained to Verbergen's elders what

had happened in the kingdom along with the truth about Ehit. She then went

on to discuss what kind of relationship she wanted to have with Verbergen in

the future. While the kingdom hadn't kept slaves like the empire, it was only

because they'd considered beastmen subhuman. Naturally, the beastmen were

aware of that too, and it made it difficult for talks to proceed smoothly.

However, the beastmen still had less hatred for Heiligh than they had for

Hoelscher, meaning they were at least willing to hear Liliana out.

"Haaah, fine. We'll go exploring Verbergen for a bit, so just find me

once you're done talking. And don't cause any trouble, Princess. If you make

a scene, I'll throw you back to Heiligh on the spot."

"Nagumo-san, I'd like to remind you once again that I am the kingdom's

princess."

"And?"

"Yes yes, I already know you don't even care about status or royalty. It's

my fault for expecting anything different from you. Fufu, I guess you just

throw princesses back into their castles on a daily basis. Ahahaha."

Liliana was obviously sulking. It would be a difficult road, conveying the love that had blossomed during the ball. In an attempt to cheer Liliana up, Helina brought her one of her signature teas, while Shizuku and Kaori comforted her.