Once Chloe parted with Hinata and Ruminas, she returned to Yuuki’s side.
Upon departure she took off her bracelet and handed it to Hinata.
「This is…?」
「A piece of my equipment. It was passed down to me when our souls were one… So it’s yours to begin with, is it not?」
The spirit equipment bracelet.
Because it was linked to Hinata’s soul, upon merging with Chloe it was also sent to the past.
Now it was a Divine piece of equipment; Chloe’s personal piece.
Indeed, when they were one Hinata was able to use it. However, this piece of equipment has shared many years with its master Chloe.
Thus, with a sigh,
「It is yours, Chloe. I can no longer use it.
It fits you better」
Hinata said with a warm smile, and returned the bracelet.
Chloe took it in her hands and held it close to her heart.
「Huh… sensei made this? Is that so…
「When I meet Rimuru I’ll tell him that you’re doing fine and holding onto that bracelet.
「Thanks… I’ll treasure it」
Chloe responded with a smile and nodded.
The two souls who have fought together for so long would no journey separate.
Without a word to the other children.
For Chloe the four kids are irreplaceable.
But now is not the time.
So Chloe will no waver.
For she was yet cursed by Yuuki.
Meeting old friends will certainly consume time. Though she is permitted some freedom of movement, she should not stay separate from Yuuki for long.
Although he is obligated to give her specific commands, she must still obey his orders.
Though Yuuki never gives out orders without carefully thinking of the consequences, he just may order her to fight Ruminas.
Upon exiting Chloe dispelled her spell.
Since Hinata and Chloe awakened only three minutes in the world have passed. Chances are that Ruminas noticed, but did not mention it.
The world’s destruction was caused by Yuuki’s actions.
Even Chloe’s strength is far above what it used to be.
She recalled the future where she was powerless to protect anything.
She said her prayers and set off.
Having thus been born, awoken, and with her resolve set,
The Hero Chloe began her rebellion.
A young lad relaxing in an expensive cahir,
In the chamber of the Freedom Association’s master appear Yuuki and Kagali.
「Hero Chloe seems to have completely awoken.
Though it seems we are still able to control her thanks to the restraints placed upon her
Seriously, nothing is going well.
There should have been more chaos by now.
What do you think, Kazalim?」
Clearly amused the lad called out behind him.
Turning towards the inquirer,
「You ask me that?
The plan is a failure.
There’s no way to sow discord among the demon lords now.
The countries surrounding Jura’s forest are also moving differently than we wanted.
He’s got to have some terrifyingly smart friends to have managed things so fast.
Even the monster’s activity has been stifled by Tempest.
In short, it’s complete opposite of what you had expected」
Kazalim replied with a bored expression.
「Hey, why did you choose a pretty girl but are talking with so crudely?
「Don’t mess with me. It’s cause I am Kazalim!
‘Tis a matter of appearance, Master」
Kagali suddenly finished the sentence.
Strength was everything and Kagali’s master possessed it. Therefore, all was well.
So Yuuki had said, but his plan seems to have gone poorly.
Expression and tone aside, mastering one’s limbs was not a matter for a single day.
One of those effects was to gain a cooking and tea brewing skill.
So playing her role as Yuuki requested, Kazalim, no, Kagali spent her time learning to interact with people.
「You… for someone who doesn’t fight, you’re surprisingly good with your hands.
But seriously, to have things go so poorly… breaks my heart.
「Don’t do that!
「Aren’t you crafty.
「What do you expect?
「And considering that we use your ability and my wisdom, I wonder how we ever fail!」
I have a hypothesis: I fear there is a superior calculating ability at work here」
We’re heading east. Everyone will depart from the headquarters」
「It can’t be helped. If we don’t cut our tracks now who knows how much we’ll lose.
We have secured the “Hero” who could have killed me」
Understood. I will prepare proper personnel to be left behind.
「Yeah. That’s fine.
But that’s too dangerous for now.
And using the hero here would be a waste. So we move」
Thus Yuuki made the order to evacuate his chambers.
Without a doubt, Yuuki did it solely to advance his goal.
Kagali received his order, and departed to make it happen.
Watching her leave with cold eyes,
「But damn, Chloe, to think you would become that much stronger than I am.
A waste, but I fear I’ll have to order you to never use your abilities against me」
He muttered.
Wearing a smile of utter delight, Yuuki began to think.
(How exciting it is!)
Completely ignoring his recent failures, Kagurazaka Yuuki was enjoying the current situation.
Thus the bringer of chaos was released…
When the kids awoke Chloe was already gone.
The one most upset at her was Alisa.
「Chloe grew up first!
I bet the only reason she did it was to get Sensei’s attention!」
She grumbled furious; the other children were upset for another reason.
Watching those kids Fritz’s only thought was relief that he didn’t have to deal with them.
But in the end,
「Fritz, we’re headed to to Tempest. I want you to come along」
Hinata said, implying that he would be babysitting them from now on.
But not all was amiss.
Cardinal Nicholas cannot leave the Western Saint’s Church. So, this was a chance to make some more memories with Hinata!
Hinata who (was? now appeared?) nicer felt even more womanly and truly became an unattainable flower for the templars.
For Fritz who was in his twenties, Nicholas (30s) was an old man. To allow that old man to have Hinata would hurt Fritz’s Templar pride.
Feeling their earnest support (Actually, deluding himself into believing they supported him), he accepted her request.
Oh, and Hinata did ignore the fact that someone’s hand was injured.
(Fritz, I forbid you from laying a hand on Hinata!)
Ah, well, that’s the conversation they did not have, as they were silent, and clearly cannot communicate with their thoughts.
「Nicholas-sama, what would that injury be?」
Fritz asked noticing that Nicholas was desperately trying to hide the injury.
The injury he located as if by smell. Perhaps Fritz developed that skill when avoiding all those attacks from Ranga.
「Umph! Th-this doesn’t matter.
Do not fail me a second time!」
Nicholas avoided the question.
Then he got particularly bold and touched her chest.
Just when he had intended to use her return as a pretext to invite her to his chamber!
As a child he just couldn’t contain his desire any longer.
In reality, they will be traveling on a carriage prepared by Demon Lord Ruminas with her hand picked guards guarding them. So there should be no problems.
But still, Nicholas was worried.
「We’ll be fine, Nicholas. I’ll be back!」
In the end, Hinata departed with a smile, and Nicholas could express his worries in no more than
「Be careful!」
And the other knights too watched depressed as Hinata departed.
The time of the great Saints-Demons alliance would be coming soon.
But that alliance also signalled the beginning of great chaos.