Chapter 1720: Evening Founding Festival with Shallow Vernal ③

At the royal castle of Hydra Kingdom, Laguna and Lilia sensed a strange presence and went outside the castle just to be sure. After all, they couldn’t sense that peculiar presence since a while ago, and exchanging glances with each other, they tilted their heads in confusion.

[Is something the matter, Your Majesty?]

[Ahh, no, it’s nothing. Don’t mind us, just go back to your duties.]

[Hah!]

Laguna, who was approached by the knight guarding the entrance, casually responded that everything was fine, and just as they were about to return to the royal castle, a girl suddenly appeared at that very spot.

The girl with one mechanical wing and rainbow-colored eyes…… Makina literally appeared on the spot without any warning. Of course, teleportation inhibitors not working on Makina is inevitable, but for those who do not know her, what was happening at the moment was an abnormal situation.

[Wha!? An intruder!!!]

[……Huh?]

[ [ [ ———-!? ] ] ]

Thus, it’s not surprising that the guard knight reacted immediately. However, immediately afterward, a pressure unleashed by Makina made the space creak, and the three of them, including Lilia and Laguna, gulped.

Instinctively, they understood. That what was before them was clearly a being of a different dimension……

[Well, aren’t you disrespectful? Who gave this lump of flesh permission to talk to me? I had promised Shallow Vernal and Kuromueina, so I’ll magnanimously tolerate this one time, but there will be no next time, okay?]

[……U- Ummm…… M- M- M- May I say something?]

[Unnn? It’s alright, Lilia. What is it?]

When Lilia timidly spoke. Makina eased the imposing aura she had been emanating. Makina generally wasn’t as lenient as she was with those she called her children, but she was open-minded with Kaito’s friends and lovers. No, there’s a world of difference between how she treats Kaito’s friends and Kaito’s lovers, but even then, when compared with how she treats the others, they are still comparatively better.

Anyway, when it comes to Lilia and Laguna, being close companions of Kaito, Makina wouldn’t show any displeasure even if they had suddenly called out to her. That especially goes with Lilia, as being able to sympathize with her situation and being Kaito’s lover, Makina exempts her from most things.

Before such a Makina, Lilia asks a question.

[……A- Are you perhaps…… Eden-sama?]

[Unnn? Arehh? ……Ahh, I see! I went to my beloved child’s home to show this appearance, but I hadn’t gone to Lilia’s place, didn’t I? That’s right. Well, when I have this appearance, call me Mana, not Eden.]

[Y- Yes. Understood, Mana-sama.]

While Lilia was talking to Makina, Laguna, seeing the trembling knight, motioned for him to step back and then kneeling down on one knee, she bowed her head. With Lilia mentioning the name “Eden”, her response was already determined. As one of the most dangerous entities even within Laguna’s knowledge, she couldn’t make a careless remark here, and instead entrusted the situation to Lilia.

Lilia, aware that she was the only one Makina was somewhat friendly towards, endured the pain in her stomach and interacted with her.

[So, Mana-sama. May we ask the purpose of your visit today……?]

[Ahh, my business here is actually with that king over there, but I’ll just tell Lilia. Shallow Vernal had asked me to make her an “authentic onsen inn”, so I’m gonna use some of the land here. It’ll be restored to its original state when they’re done…… Well, I don’t really think all this talk is necessary with how this timeline will turn out, but I’ll tell you this just in case.

[U- Understood. As for the location……]

[Ahhh, we’ll just decide that ourselves, so you don’t have to worry about it. With that said and done, best regards.]

[Yesh……]

After saying only what she wanted to, Makina waved lightly and disappeared. After confirming this, Laguna stood up like a shaky revenant, and at the same time, Lilia turned towards Laguna with movements resembling that of a broken tin doll.

[……Or so she said.]

[……A being that even the Gods couldn’t handle, someone whose actions we couldn’t predict…… Give me a break…… Also, what is this onsenin? Is that onsen part of that word that onsen people bathe in?]

[H- Hmmm, I think it’s some sort of hotel with an onsen people can bathe in…… but since she said “authentic”, it may be different from what we know.]

[I just hope it’s something on a sensible scale……]

[……Yes, indeed.]

As the two looked at each other as they said this, the both of them unconsciously held their stomachs at almost the same time.

<Afterword>

Serious-senpai : [A shocking new fact…… Makina was actually softer towards Kaito’s friends when compared to how she deals with others……]

~ ~ Activity Report Article ~ ~

The annual release of character roughs, kindly provided by Shinkigesha-sama and Ochau-sama! Here comes the second one!

As previously announced, the second character rough of Volume 14 features Zwei, one of Kuro’s family members.

The Light Novel’s Volume 14 will be released on December 19th! Well then, here we go~~

Well, isn’t she quite cool? Indeed, if someone gets glared by her, even Kaito would get scared.

Now then, next up would be Kaito’s mother, Miyama Akari (Luce)! Look forward to it~~