Chapter 169 - All of Them were Kuro's Baby Birds

The 29th day of the Tree month. The door of the miscellaneous goods store, which I should be used to visiting, feels extremely heavy today.

I’ve got my date with Kuro tomorrow, and following what Alice told me before, I went to her shop but…… I wonder what the heck is about to happen?

Alice told me it’s really important…… Moreover, the expression on her face when she said that was serious.

The fact that Alice, who would immediately mess around when the situation looked serious and leaving with that tense expression still on her face…… That shows how important this is.

Feeling unspeakable anxiety, I slowly opened the door, feeling the cold sweat running down my back.

Alice was quietly sitting at the counter of her miscellaneous goods store, as if the usual noisy atmosphere around her were a lie.

[……Alice.]

With my voice slightly quivering, calling out Alice’s name…… but I received no answer.

[……Alice?]

[……Munya……]

[……………….]

……This freaking b*tch. You’re calling people here, why the heck are you traveling to Dreamland……

I was wondering what I was so nervous about earlier…… but I felt like I would lose if I just keep worrying about it.

However, what’s going on…… She looks comfortable sleeping, and I don’t feel comfortable interrupting her sleep……

[……Umyuu…… Kaito-san…… you perv—— Fugyaaahhhh!?]

[Get up already!!!]

I felt like my honor was being tarnished in this woman’s dream, so I hit her as fast as I could.

After receiving my falcon knuckle strike at her head, Alice let out a scream and turned her gaze towards me while holding her head down.

[That hurts, Kaito-san! Couldn’t you please wake me up more gently!? There are lots of other ways, right!? How about a morning kiss instead!?]

[……Want to get another one?]

[Ah, no, I’m lying! I’m sorry, I’m awake already!]

I feel like all the nervousness I felt about this situation disappear at the same time, and I let out a sigh as Alice gets up.

Seriously, I don’t know if it’s in a good way or in a bad way, but she’s always betraying my expectations……

Seeing the dumbfounded expression on my face, Alice smiles, and getting up from her chair near the counter, she slowly walks over to me.

The atmosphere she was clad in now completely changed from the loose atmosphere she had earlier to a cold one that sends shivers down my spine, though I could also feel some warmness in her expression.

[……Kaito-san. Let me confirm one thing.]

[…… Y- Yeah.]

[Tomorrow, Kaito-san…… Are you planning to “tell Kuro-san your feelings”?]

[ ! ? ]

Even as she asked me with a calm and gentle voice, my heart greatly leaped.

Her words seemed to see through all of my thoughts…… and the answer was inadvertently stuck in my throat.

After I returned from Isis-san’s castle, I seriously thought about my future.

And after the Festival of Heroes ends, as for how I’m going to act, I need to make my own answer…… and that’s why I made up my mind.

To her who I’ve spoken most compared to anyone else since I came into this world, and she, who before I knew it, has become the most important part of my life…… My benefactor who pulled me out of my shell and affirmed my feelings when I was full of contradiction.

The most dazzling “treasure”…… that I…… have found since I came to this world…… I’m ready to tell Kuro about these feelings, so I gathered up my courage and asked Kuro out on a date.

Yes, it’s as Alice said…… In tomorrow’s date, I plan to confess to Kuro.

Reaffirming my feelings and determination in my head, I felt refreshed.

As Alice quietly waited for me, I looked straight at Alice and nodded my head.

[……Unnn. I don’t know what the outcome will be, but I’m going to tell her.]

[……Is that so……]

When Alice heard my words, she smiled and nodded…… and after a moment, she looked up, the smile on her lips disappeared.

[……I’m glad my preparations weren’t in vain.]

[…… Preparations?]

[Yes, for the time being, let’s change locations. Everyone’s waiting for us.]

[Everyone?]

Approaching me, who tilted my head in response to her, Alice gently touches my body.

Immediately after that, the scenery blurred and as if the surrounding was engulfed in static, a slight breeze caressed my cheek, probably due to the fact that I had moved from indoors to outdoors.

[……!?]

Where Alice and I moved to…… was on Magnawell-san’s face.

And we’re not the only people here. There were also three shadows on Magnawell-san’s face that were staring at us…… Isis-san, Lillywood-san and Megiddo-san.

[……Everyone, thank you for your patience. As I expected, we’re going as we planned……]

“Is that so, it’s a lot sooner than we expected…… Where’s Ein-san?”

[……She refused. If there’s any chance that it might harm Kuro-san, she really won’t comply……]

[……I see…… I will…… respect…… Kaito’s wish.]

Hearing the words Alice slowly told them, Lillywood-san and Isis-san spoke with serious expressions on their faces.

I can feel the tension in their voices…… Lillywood-san mentioned that it was under their expectations, but does that mean they had originally expected that this situation would happen?

[Isn’t it fine!? We don’t have to waste time on this! Isn’t this that situation where we can just bet on whether it’s a hit or a break!?]

“……No, you’re not breaking anything. Are you even trying to be witty, Megiddo?]

In response to Megiddo-san boldly saying that, Magnawell-san replies, somewhat dumbfounded.

When I’m tilting my head, not understanding the situation, Alice turns to me and opens her mouth.

[Kaito-san, I know you’re confused by the suddenness of the situation…… But we really want to tell you a story before tomorrow.]

[……A story?]

[Yes, I’ve said it before. When Kaito-san is going through ordeals…… is to when you present yourself and challenge her depths……]

This situation looks so serious right now, so I’ll hold on to the tsukkomi that it was the fake Phantasmal King who told me that, not Alice.

Kuro’s depths…… Could it have something to do with Kuro’s identity that’s wrapped in mysteries?

As I was thinking about this, Alice kept her eyes on me and continued to speak.

[First of all…… Kaito-san…… I’m going to tell you a secret that only a select few in this world know.]

[……Secret?]

[Yes, have you ever heard of us Six Kings being so close?]

[Eh? Y- Yeah……]

What Alice said was something I’ve heard from Lilia-san, and not only that, I’ve seen them being close to each other with my own eyes.

The Six Kings are all very close, all of them call each other out, and they look more like friends rather than fellow kings.

[……Us being close, in a way, you could say that it’s natural. After all, even though we are of different species, we are “family”……]

[……Eh?]

The words Alice announced startled me. Family? The Six Kings are to each other? ……Putting aside their appearance, their races are clearly different, but it doesn’t feel like she’s lying at all.

The proof of this is that Isis-san and the others are nodding in silence to affirm Alice’s words.

And as for me, those words…… I think the words “even though we are of different species, we are family” sounds familiar. I also heard those words when I went to that barbecue…… That means……

[Yes, it’s as Kaito-san imagines. Me, Isis-san, Lillywood-san, Megiddo-san and Magnawell-san…… She may not be here, but also Ein-san…… All of us used to be “Kuro-san’s baby birds”.]

[ ! ? ]

[All of us here and Ein-san are Kuro-san’s first baby birds…… And who, 20,000 years ago, fought alongside her in her fight against the God Realm.]

[ ! ? ! ? ]

My feelings right now…… the word “speechless” perfectly fits.

The Six Kings are all baby birds raised by Kuro and it seems that they’ve also participated in the battle between the Demon Realm and the God Realm that Chronois-san spoke of.

Dear Mom, Dad—— Alice brought me to a place where almost all the Six Kings gathered together. And the fact spoken by Alice had quite surprised me…… The Six Kings—— All of them were Kuro’s baby birds.

<Author’s Notes>

Kuromueina’s Arc begins.

If you’re sharp, you may have already noticed Kuro’s identity.

T/N: And it was me, Dio!

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