While continually doing a dogeza after Yumika's battle, Jinrai confessed to having had Night Practice with Louise two times. By the way, Kazane was a witness. Jiraid was astonished, but he didn't say anything. The poisonous feelings he had been infected with were cleared up by his battle with Yumika a little while ago, and he thought he should cool his anger before doing anything else.
Then Jiraid did a dogeza like his father and apologized to Kazane and Yumika. Jinrai was still in the middle of his dogeza, so it was a parent and child dogeza. It was unmistakably an awkward atmosphere for their children/grandchildren. Kazane and Yumika had bitter smiles.
Then Jiraid left to return to the capital city and report to Cindy. Kazane could see Jinrai's shoulders trembling when Cindy's name was said as he continued doing his dogeza.
◎ Lake Shirodieh, Shirodieh City Area
「I'm sorry.」
Jinrai was continuing with his dogeza. Yumika had a troubled face as they faced each other.
「So, are you talking about the meaning of the battle I fought? No, I already know, so please stop and raise your head. Hey, you're planning to earnestly talk with your wife, isn't that right?」
Yumika was considerably embarrassed as she recalled her battle some time ago. Her master was also a human being. She was in the middle of reflecting about the negatives of deifying him too much.
And then, the grandchildren,
「Well, grandpa is also a man. Yeah, so it goes.」
Lyle said. In the Barnes family, he was a young man with a light mood, and he didn't really care...or more precisely, he was fully displaying his puberty, as he seemed a little envious.
「I think such things are private... this is between him and grandmother, so it isn't our place to say anything. Or rather, older brother, why are you envious?!」
As might be expected, Emily thought it was improper, but, well, adult matters should be left to the adults. The two of them really liked Jinrai, since even though he looked severe, he was never strict with them. He was a good grandpa, regardless of any philandering.
「So then, Kazane knew, right? About that.」
「Well, yeah...」
Yumika was somehow released from Jinrai's dogeza, so she was now gazing at Kazane resentfully. By the way, Jinrai was now in dogeza mode toward his grandchildren. He liked to dogeza. He should be awarded a Dogeza title.
「You're not going to say I should have told you, are you? It's not like I wanted to know.」
「Nnn. Well, that's right, but...」
It was just as Kazane said. Was she supposed to deliberately make her best friend sad by saying「Your master is cheating?」Nonetheless, Yumika feeling resentful couldn't be helped. She couldn't change her emotions so simply.
「Well, Jinrai-san's problem is Jinrai-san's problem, so even when we go to the capital I don't think we need to get involved.」
For the time being, the『misunderstanding』was solved. The other problems aside from the misunderstanding weren't any of Kazane's business.
(Come to think of it, Jiraid-san said he believed the rumor about Jinrai-san's harem because he talked with someone. I wonder who he heard that from?)
For now, Kazane planned to ask Jiraid about that matter once they reached the capital city. It was uncertain whether a certain beastman somewhere would sneeze at that same time.
「Well, what to do now is more important than thinking about the circumstances of the adults.」
While saying that, Kazane looked at Lyle and Emily. Yumika was lured in and also looked at the siblings.
「Those are master's grandchildren, which means they're Naoki's companions, aren't they?」
「That's right.」
(So that girl is Emily? Umm, that means…)
When she heard the story, Yumika's maiden sensor started telling her that Emily liked Naoki.
(I wonder if it would be better to tell her that there's nothing between me and Naoki now?)
Knowing what to do about that matter was difficult. She didn't want to be disliked, and first impressions were supposed to be important. There was also the matter with Tiara.
「Isn't it an interesting surprise?」
「There have already been enough surprises, haven't there?」
Yumika sighed at the nonchalant Kazane. Her best friend didn't notice Tiara and Emily's feelings, since she believed from the bottom of her heart that there was no way her little brother could be popular with women. Although when Yumika became his girlfriend, Kazane said「Naoki was actually able to get a girlfriend...I'm truly glad」with happy tears in her eyes, so Yumika thought she would probably welcome whoever became his girlfriend.
「Ah, Naoki. Found.」
And, as Yumika was lost in her thoughts, such words leaked out of Kazane's mouth.
「You found him?」
「Tiara is also with him.」
Since some time ago, Kazane had been using Information Link and the previously cleaning Tatsuyoshi-kun Normal to look for Naoki.
「Should I guide Naoki and Tiara here right away?」
「Umm. No, don't.」
After Kazane's question, Yumika groaned and shook her head. Yumika thought that Emily seeing Naoki and Tiara alone together wouldn't be a good surprise, so she told Kazane to tell them to return to Louise's villa. It wasn't lunchtime yet, but Yumika suggested they have a surprise party.
Kazane agreed to that and discussed it with Lyle and the others. Naturally, when Naoki's name came from Kazane's mouth, they were surprised, but when Kazane named herself as Naoki's older sister they were even more surprised. That was natural.
Well, this and that happened, and Naoki and the Barnes siblings reunited without any problems, and a buffet party was held on the terrace. Naturally, it was hot spring time after the meal.
◎ Shirodieh City, Special District, Louise Villa, Indoor Hot Spring, Morning
「..... Nothing happened.」
Yumika said while soaking in the bath. This party is loved by trouble... Yumika thought. Although she had a hunch that Emily would witness Naoki and Tiara together and shriek, or Louise would flirt with Naoki and make Emily shriek, nothing happened.
「Sorry about yesterday. It really was just a joke.」
「It's already fine. It's also my fault for watching another person's home.」
It seemed a misunderstanding that had occurred without Yumika's knowledge was also solved. Everyday life without conflict was the best.
「So, I heard Emily-chan has already been in a party with Naoki for two years? I also heard he was quite useful, is that true?」
「Um, that's right. I think you already know with the nickname Magic Sword Operator, but he's quite the swordsman, and his success rate for quests is also high, so Naoki is acknowledged by everyone.」
Louise nodded as Emily spoke happily. Yumika thought that Louise was smiling because she had found something interesting.
「But it seemed that sometimes he would remember his hometown, and I've heard him say the name Yumika while he was sleep-talking before. Ah, that sleep-talking was when we were camping out, of course.」
While saying that, Emily sent a piercing gaze at Yumika. Her eyes weren't smiling.
「He, hee.」
Of course, Yumika was in a cold sweat as she replied.
(That idiot, what superfluous things are you letting slip!)
While thinking that, Yumika had a bad premonition, so she looked at Louise and saw her smirking as she casually dropped a bomb by saying「She's his ex-girlfriend, so shouldn't that be expected?」
Emily reacted to the word girlfriend, and Tiara also jumped and her shoulders trembled. Yumika glared at Louise, but Louise said「Oh my, did I say something bad?」with an extremely shameless expression. She wanted to hit her.
「Eh, no, I'm just an ex. Now there's nothing?」
As might be expected, Yumika couldn't say「I don't want someone with such a revolting older sister fetish as a partner」in front of Emily, who sent such yearning looks at Naoki. But to the side, a shorty dropped an even bigger bomb.
「If I remember right, didn't Yumika say you went as far as deep kissing?」
「What are you doing, this isn't the time to say such a thing!?」
Yumika said with a flustered voice, and Emily said「Deep, deep kissing?」in shock. Tiara didn't know the meaning and was tilting her head, so Louise brought her face close to her ear and whispered to her. As soon as Louise's words were over, Tiara's face turned red.
「No, enough already, that was a long time ago. There's no reason to talk about that now.」
Although Yumika said that, Emily didn't take those words seriously. Because Emily had noticed that Naoki had a loved one in his hometown. She had already thought that the name that came out when Naoki was sleep-talking was that person, but now that thought changed into conviction.
(This person is Naoki's loved one)
Emily observed Yumika. She was a girl around the same age, but she fought Emily's father and won. Emily honestly felt she was an amazing person, since she possessed enough power for her grandfather to choose her as a disciple. Her face wasn't absolutely exceptional, but she was the beautiful type. Her figure wasn't bad, especially her chest. Emily discreetly looked at her own chest. Speaking of chests, both Louise and Tiara had dreadful volumes. What did they eat to get so big? And...
「What?」
Kazane asked in response to Emily's gaze, but Emily panicked and said「It's nothing」and looked away from Kazane's chest. It was a smooth cutting board.
(Umm, well... excluding Naoki's older sister, mine are the most meager)
Emily sadly thought. Well, it felt like her thoughts took an extreme digression, but Emily considered Yumika her love rival. Even though she said she was an ex, she was unforgettable to Naoki. Emily expected that he still liked her.
Name: Yuihama Kazane
Occupation: Magic Swordswoman
Title: Ogre Killer, Dragon Slayer, High Beast Summoner
Equipment: Staff 『White Blaze』, Two Handed Sword『Black Fang』, Adhesion Sword『Gum』, Spell Dagger, Dragonscale Breastplate, Drake Gauntlets, Silver Sheep Clothes, Sylphyn Skirt, Plasma Pants, Dragon Ogre Greaves, Indestructible Cloak, Mysterious Pouch, Crimson Saint Coffin, Heroic Spirit Summoning Ring, Circlet of Wisdom, Aim Bracelet, Magic Accumulator, White Magic Accumulator
Level : 30
Health: 107
Magic Power: 181+420
Strength: 52+10
Agility: 43+4
Endurance: 29
Wisdom : 57
Dexterity : 38
Spell : 『Fly』 『Torch』 『Fire』 『Heal』『Firestorm』『Healer Ray』『High Heal』
Skill : 『Warrior's Memory』 『Night Vision』 『Crushing Blow』 『Dog’s Sense of Smell』 『Golem Maker: Lv3』 『Rush』 『Fire Principle: Third Chapter』 『Healing Principle: Fourth Chapter』 『Air Jump: Lv2』 『Killing Leg: Lv3』 『Fear Voice』 『Invisible』 『Tiger Eye』 『Wall Walking』 『Intuition』 『Cheat Death』 『Nimble』『Charge』『Material Shield』『Information Link』『Optical Camouflage』『Dash』『Bloodsucking Blade』『Dragonization』『Regenerate』『Soul Breaking Blade』『Stealthy Placement』『Thunder Chariot』『Sturdy Teeth』『Crystallization』
Kazane:「This time prioritized talking about boobs and deep kissing over Naoki and Lyle's moving reunion.」
Yumika:「It was an awful conversation. In addition, it seems like there is also a terrible misunderstanding.」