(part 1 )
Though it was only two months since they left this place, Isagi already missed the Demon Lord’s castle.
That night, Isagi who had returned to his room, looked around the room and then made a sigh.
(...Yosh, it seems that this place didn't get ravaged.)
All of his belongings are still like they used to be.
In the end, there's nothing worth money among them. Surely not any adventurer will bat an eye on them.
He opened his bag and spread out a map.
It's a map of the eastern part of the dark continent.
They were able to take back the Demon Lord’s castle which was their base.
Next is marching.
Lead by Dyutyu, their army will march toward the Minfest City.
While at it, they planned to have Renzou and Shirbenia take down the commercial city relic.
Shirbenia will use long-ranged attacks to burn down the town while Renzou will blend in the midst of the confusion and slaughter all of the adventurers.
That was the complete copy of the strategy that defeated them before.
Though it will take quite a bit of time ---for sure, the relic will become hell.
Surely, the human race that had nothing to do with it will also die in the process.
More than that, even the demon race that stays in that city in the first place wouldn't come out unscathed.
(Though the fact that they came attacking the dark continent, it means that there are no unrelated humans in those cities, I guess...)
Isagi pressed down his chest.
If they didn't want to get involved they just had to return back to their own homeland.
If they tried to take things from others, surely, in the end, they will receive the same fate.
There's also the possibility that Ira is detained in one of those cities.
About that, Isagi will leave all the work about the dark continent to Renzou,Yoshinobu and Dyutyu.
Even if he said something right now, nothing will change.
Then, the door was knocked on.
[Come in] - Isagi
He let them in.
The one who came is Rimino.
[[Good night onii-chan!]]
[Aah, good night] - Isagi .
Rimino gave Isagi a look at the blackboard that she held.
She hid the wound on her neck with a choker, but her voice still didn't return.
Isagi sometimes felt worried, that perhaps, Rimino will remain like this for the rest of her life.
However, Rimino just let out a refreshing smile on her face.
[[Hey, onii-chan, are you free now?]]
[Hm? Yeah.]
Now that he thought about it, he hasn’t spoken to Rimino lately.
She took a chair and sat side by side with Isagi.
Ehehe, she scratched her cheek.
Somehow, this felt nostalgic.
When Yoshinobu was still here, with Lolishia, also...the time when Shuu was still with them, all of that felt like it was already long in the past.
*poke poke*, she poke his shoulder.
[Hn] - Rimino
Rimino pointed at her blackboard.
[[Onii-chan, recently Rimino got praised by Kyaschi-sama you know. She said that Rimino is really talented with magic. If Rimino trained diligently, perhaps Rimino could get good as Shirbenia is in magic.]]
[Hee, isn't that amazing.]
Isagi honestly felt amazed.
Since a great magician like Kyaschi was the one who said it, there's no way it's wrong.
However, for her to be good, she will need guidance from Kyaschi.
[...is that so. Rimino, you...]
Rimino still had a bright smile plastered on her face.
[[Yep, you know, onii-chan. Rimino decided to stay in this castle. That's why onii-chan, I'm sorry that Rimino can’t go together with you.]]
[...is that so.]
Isagi realized that he, for some reason felt dejected by that.
In the first place, he never said whether or not he would bring her along with him at all.
But even so, he already deciding inside his heart that she would definitely follow him.
He was aware of Rimino's feelings toward him. Perhaps, all of that was just Isagi who got too conceited. Look, even though they were talking about separating their ways, she still had that smile on her face.
Isagi made a lonely smile.
[...I understand, Rimino.Take care of yourself. If something happens to you, I'll definitely come no matter where you are!]
Rimino nodded several times in bliss. That's right. The things that Isagi can do for her right now is only limited to a few things.
Rimino squints her eyes and smile.
Then she moved the chalk on the blackboard.
[[Ah, but don't misunderstand okay, onii-chan? If Rimino wasn't a queen, Rimino will surely follow onii-chan, you now!]]
Rimino wrote the words then showed them to him.
(part 2 )
[[It's said that it's dangerous for elves to roam around in the Suraosha continent, at that time, it can't be helped that Rimino will have to act as onii-chan’s slave, right? Don't worry onii-chan, Rimino surely will do her job properly. Rimino will call onii-chan Master, kay ~]]
That's a bit embarrassing.
Rimino stuck around Isagi's arm, playing around with him.
But she immediately separated herself from him and wrote on the board.
[[But, Rimino is a queen. Rimino has to stand up for the sake of the elf race. That's why Rimino will work hard and become stronger no matter what happens.]]
Those beautifully written words were slanted as if trembling.
Rimino was still smiling though.
[[That's why Rimino still can't join onii-chan, but Rimino will become stronger. Rimino promise, so that she can protect the elf race.
That Rimino can even be compared to onii-chan when we stand side by side.
So that Rimino can stand by her own self.
Rimino will become like Plenee chan.
That's why...]]
The chalk slipped off from Rimino's hand.
She hanged her head.
On her eyes, he could see a glint of light.
There were no words that Isagi could give to her.
He knew that these months, she was continuously doing her best.
But, if what she aims for is Plea, then it's all too far for her.
She whom was called a 'Wizard', the girl who stands at the top of magic in the whole Arbarisus Continent.
That was the girl called Plea.
But even so, even though Rimino is alone. She will keep moving forward, without relying on anyone.
Rimino has something that she has to carry on her back.
That's why there has to be something that will she sacrifice.
--- Her love, perhaps.
That's why Isagi stretched out his hand.
Then patted her head.
She raised her head and looked at Isagi's face.
On her moist eyes that shined like that of a gem, Isagi’s face was reflected.
Even though half a year ago, she looked like a little princess that could only wait for help to come.
Isagi thought that she is now quite different from before.
[Rimino, thanks for all this time. Do you know how much you saved me just by being at my side?]
She held her board high.
With her moist emerald green eyes, she looked at Isagi.
She closed her mouth tightly, holding the tears that wanted to come out.
[...I'll do something about the adventurer guild and then I'll surely find Plea. At that time, for sure, I'll meet with you again.]
Her face crumpled, Rimino laughed while crying.
She picked up the chalk and impatiently wrote on the board with it.
Then she looked at Isagi.
[[Bring it on! At that time, Rimino will be a queen!
Rimino will take away onii-chan from Plea nee-chan fair and square, remember it!]]
She smiled.
It was the brightest smiled that she made.
Isagi thought from the depth of his heart, he wanted to always see that smile of hers.
(part 3 )
◆◆
The ones who marched out from the demon lord castle were Renzou, Shirbenia, and Isagi.
Dyutyu and Rimino will depart later marching toward Minfest.
In other words, this is the place where Isagi will be separated from Dyutyu and Rimino.
He stood face to face with Dyutyu who came to see him off at the front gate of the demon castle.
He felt like he had many people seeing him off lately.
that's showing how many partings that he has gone through.
Dyutyu was wearing her usual white one piece.
she looked toward Isagi with upturned eyes and with both of her hands clenched in front of her chest.
[Issama, I already heard about your story from Renzou-sama]
[Ah, yeah]
[For the sake of us demon race, to think that Issama will march alone toward the Suraosha continent, where the human race is gathered...
Towards such a bravery filled act, I can only give my praise ... !]
Did Dyutyu forget about Isagi's race?
Did she not regard Isagi as a demon race half way?
Well, that's doesn’t really matter, Isagi thought.
In the end, he wouldn't get into a sad mood when he's with her.
[Well, you know, Dyutyu. After this probably everything will become really bothersome, but do your best.]
[Yes! I will do my best!]
Hearing such lively answer from her, Isagi felt worried instead.
Yoshinobu walked on his road together with Lolishia.
Rimino started to learn about magic from Kyashci.
But Dyutyu never changed at all.
It made Isagi ended up worrying about her.
Surely, she still got easily stranded as usual.
[...Your dislike of the human race, perhaps it's about time you do something about that you know.]
[Eeh!?]
[Well, there will be a lot of the human race coming out at the war, right?
If everytime you look at them you are paralyzed, you will become unable to fight right?]
[Well, that's indeed just as Issama said but...!]
Isagi stretched his hand toward Dyutyu who's trembling.
He touched her cheeks with his hand.
Dyutyu's body trembled even more for a moment, but then she overlapped her hand over Isagi's.
[Ah, umm, this...Issama?]
[Even I am one of the human race you know.]
[That's indeed true but...]
Dyutyu cast her eyes ways as her face became redder.
[Meeting Issama made me understand that there's still those among the human race that has a good personality. But, as I thought...something scary, is still scary...]
[ ...Is that so?]
From the story that Isagi has heard, Dyutyu's mother was brutally killed right in front of her by the hand of an adventurer.
That accident is what binds Dyutyu's heart.
Surely, that was something that Dyutyu has to face by herself.
Isagi thought that there's nothing that he could've done for her but Dyutyu shakes her head as if rejecting his feelings.
[...However, I can't be frightened forever, right? Even I understand that.
Even the fact that someday, I will probably have to fight in a battle against the adventurers.]
The daughter of the demon emperor caught her breath.
After that, she looked up to Isagi and said:
[That's why, umm, Issama...for the sake of that time, will you lend your power to me?]
[Eh? But I...]
Will go on my own journey.
Even though Dyutyu made that request, he can't do anything about that.
But, he was wrong.
[There's something that I've never said to Issama.]
She muttered with such a low voice that's very unlike her.
[I am the daughter of the succubus race. By stealing the magical power from other people, I will grow up.]
[Hmm?]
He has never met any of her race in the middle of wars.
In the first place, it was a race that was scarce in number.
And then, Dyutyu's logic take a huge leap.
[That's why, Issama...please, have a *chu chu* with me]
[ pardon ?]
[It's alright. I already know how it works. That's why just relax and let loose.]
[Pardon?]
Dyutyu moved to put her hand on Isagi's trousers.
The light on her eyes was one that looked serious that he had never seen before.
To the extent that Isagi felt slightly scared.
Even her tails moved crazily left and right.
She was desperate for the sake of the demon race.
Thinking about that, Isagi felt that he could...
(Not agree to this!)
As he having a one-man skit by himself inside his mind.
His mind is filled with chaos.
---- ---- ----
Isagi:
He started to take action to put the end of this 'I'll go on a journey' fraud.
Next time, he will go on a journey.
No lie.
For sure, he will go on a journey.
[[News Flash]]
Isagi, go on a journey!
Rimino:
For the sake of becoming a magician, she became the apprentice of Kyashci.
Her farewell with Isagi was a clean one.
Dyutyu:
Her first chu chu ~ Chu chu with you.
Once again, her setting is a succubus after 40 chapters...