Chapter 151: Reunion with a Best Friend
The Astoria Empire — Capital City, Will.
Arden Viscount House — Second Residence, Guest Reception Room.
A certain lecherous samurai sat slumped in a chair, shoulders drooping so heavily one might have mistaken him for a defeated warlord awaiting exile.
“Haaah… I have been treated most cruelly…” he muttered in utter dejection.
“Heh heh heh… That was quite the spectacle.”
“Ka-ka-ka! Truly pitiful, truly pitiful indeed!”
After descending dramatically from the sky, Ryoma had been immediately apprehended by the Stingray Battalion. Bound tightly in layers of rope, he had been immobilized with professional efficiency. Only after Ryu and Esther had thoroughly enjoyed the sight of the legendary samurai trussed up like contraband had they finally informed everyone that this was, in fact, the genuine Sakamoto Ryoma.
…And thus we arrive at the present moment.
“M-My deepest apologies!” Stingray bowed so low her forehead nearly struck the floor. “Had I known you were that Sakamoto Ryoma-dono, I would never have—!”
Her reaction was only natural. For any swordsman, the distant land of Hinomaru was a realm of reverence. And among its figures, the samurai crowned the strongest in history, Sakamoto Ryoma, was a being so exalted that words failed to capture the awe he inspired.
For some reason, Ryu answered instead.
“Don’t worry about it, Stingray. He’s the one who fell into someone else’s property without warning. Self-inflicted Samurai.”
“You’ve given me yet another strange epithet…! And besides, you and Esther were the ones enthusiastically shouting that you didn’t know me and to seize me at once! Therefore, you there—ah, what was your name again?”
“Stingray.”
“Yes, Stingray-dono is not at fault.”
“Indeed,” Esther nodded solemnly. “All blame lies with this Self-Inflicted Samurai.”
“Correct. This is the Empire. The customs of Hinomaru do not apply here.”
“Guh… After enjoying Hinomaru to your heart’s content, you return home and treat me thus…!”
“I am, technically, the head of a titled viscount house.”
Stingray stared blankly at the three of them bantering so casually.
(So it truly was not a rumor. They genuinely befriended the legendary Sakamoto Ryoma during their Hinomaru expedition… and judging by this, they are remarkably close.)
“Oh, by the way,” Ryu added casually, “Esther and I are engaged now. Just so you know.”
“We have even completed our honeymoon and spend each day basking in lovey-dovey bliss,” Esther chimed in smugly.
“W-What?! I was not informed of this!”
“Well, we didn’t inform you.”
Ryoma proceeded to interrogate them thoroughly about the engagement. When he learned that Ryu had also become engaged to his younger sister, his astonishment reached new heights.
“Not only the genius elixir-loving alchemist, but also that beautiful younger sister… Ryu, you are a most dangerous man.”
“Hmm? Did you just call me elixir-loving?”
“I said no such thing.”
(Stingray observed quietly. Which is more remarkable, that my lord befriended Ryoma-dono… or that Ryoma-dono befriended them? Truly, birds of a feather…)
“By the way,” Ryu said, “be careful, Stingray. Ryoma is a lecherous samurai.”
“L-Lecherous…?”
“This man laid waste to every woman in Hinomaru.”
“E-eh… W-Well, they do say heroes favor beauty…”
“My reputation is being slandered beyond redemption! I even taught you swordsmanship!”
“I saved Hinomaru.”
“Guh…”
“To challenge this one in verbal combat,” Esther declared loftily, “is to accept defeat before the first strike. You have grown rusty, Ryoma. Use this opportunity to retrain.”
The guest room doors burst open.
“Everyone! The head chef made crepes!”
Lena entered, arms full of delicate, fragrant crepes. Homura sat perched atop her head as usual.
“Gyau!”
(Lord Ryoma! It has been far too long!!!)
“Nuhhooo~! Crepes truly are divine!” Esther beamed, cheeks stuffed.
“Honestly better than the ones we had in the Kingdom,” Ryu nodded approvingly.
“Were these recipes stolen from the Kingdom of Garcia?” Ryoma asked between bites.
“Yes. Onii-san said he acquired them during the honeymoon.”
“They’ve caused quite the craze in our battalion lately,” Stingray added.
“Gyau,” Homura agreed, munching enthusiastically.
Ryu tossed the tail end of his crepe into his mouth and swallowed.
“Speaking of the Kingdom of Garcia, there’s something I need to tell you, Ryoma.”
“Is it important?”
“Very. Especially for Hinomaru.”
Ryoma listened in silence. Lena and Stingray already knew the story, but listened again.
Several minutes later—
“Hmm… The Demon King. To think one would arise again after a thousand years.”
“More like a new one was born.”
“The timing suggests the Hero’s fate has turned once more.”
“I agree. Frankly, much of this is the Kingdom’s fault. I met their First Special Division Captain—Lily. From what I gathered, even within the Kingdom there are circles critical of the royal family’s incompetence.”
“Oh? So they have sensible individuals after all?”
“She’s exceptional.”
“…You have once again captured interesting talent, I see.”
“Anyway, the reason I summoned you is to invite you to conquer a dungeon in the Gran Federation. Care to join?”
“Should you not invite me before summoning me?”
“Good. Then you’re coming.”
“Such tyranny…”
Thus, Ryoma’s participation was decided.
The final issue remained.
“What about Alice?” Lena asked eagerly. “She’s extremely motivated.”
“Honestly… I’m not sure I can take responsibility. A dungeon is unpredictable.”
“That will not be an issue,” Ryoma said calmly.
“Why’s that?”
“Because you and I will both be present. This is not arrogance. There is no one who can defeat us.”
“…Alright. Then we’ll take her. Lena, can I leave the explanations to you?”
“Leave it to me! Yay! I get to go with Alice!”
Lena rushed off toward the Blanc Count’s second residence with Homura.
“So,” Ryoma said thoughtfully, “who exactly is this Alice? I presume Lena’s classmate.”
“A count’s daughter aiming to become the strongest knight.”
“The strongest knight! Splendid ambition!”
“She worships you like a god. During the journey she’ll probably cling to you nonstop. Congratulations.”
“…Perhaps we should reconsider bringing her.”
“Rejected. I want to see your troubled face.”
“Eh…”
“Ka-ka-ka! Ryoma is forever unfortunate!”
“I am revered across all Hinomaru…”
And yet, despite his complaints, Ryoma’s expression was radiant—an expression seen only when he was with Ryu. A face of a man who genuinely delighted in life.
(So this is Ryu-sama’s dearest friend. When battle comes, they become dragons in truth… It is terrifying.)
“There’s a room in this residence reserved for you,” Ryu said. “Use it as you like.”
“Excellent! This shall be my villa!”
“You may visit anytime. Just use the gate next time.”
“Understood!”
“Let’s go choose carriage rooms.”
The four descended to the magical carriage.
Such magical carriages were relics—only a handful existed across the continent. Hinomaru, founded merely a thousand years ago, possessed none. Ryoma gazed like an awestruck child.
“It appears ordinary from outside… yet inside lies a mansion…”
“The world’s big.”
Inside lay a spacious living room. Private chambers to the right. Kitchen facilities to the left. Even Axel could fit if the entrance were widened.
(Hmm… If Axel took the same potion as Homura, could he stay inside too? A miniature Axel… two birds with one stone.)
“Which room will you take, Esther-sama?” Stingray asked.
“I shall choose whichever room is beside Ryu’s.”
“He is likely thinking the same.”
“Then the far right corner…”
“Then I’ll take the one next to it.”
Ryu appeared as if on cue.
“See? Told you,” Stingray whispered.
“At times like this, his hearing sharpens unnaturally,” Esther sighed.
Ryoma wandered, inspecting every detail with fascination.
“Ancient continental craftsmanship… extraordinary.”
(Undoubtedly built by one akin to Sanjo Kokaji Munechika—one who ascends through skill and intellect, becoming dragon through creation.)
“…Hm?”
“What is it?”
“There is a strange groove near the entrance. I scratched it, and part of the wall opened. A curious button appeared.”
“That wasn’t listed.”
Esther arrived.
“Then Ryoma shall press it.”
“What if it explodes?”
“You suppress it with wind. I’ll protect Esther and Stingray.”
“…Very well.”
Ryoma pressed the button.
“…Nothing?”
Then faint screams sounded outside.
Ryu hurried to the door—
“…The carriage is transparent?”
“It is true?!”
They stepped outside.
Not only transparent—
“I cannot touch it!”
“…We may have acquired something extraordinary.”
Spatial expansion. Invisibility. Intangibility.
A magical carriage in every sense.
“Incredible,” Stingray breathed. “It feels as though the space itself has shifted elsewhere.”
“Spatial magic, perhaps,” Ryu murmured.
“Remarkable craftsmanship.”
“This journey will be enjoyable,” Ryoma grinned.
“Oh, I forgot to mention,” Ryu added lightly. “The Kingdom’s Hero Party is currently active in the Gran Federation.”
“…That is information you should have shared first.”
Later—
“So which room did you choose, Ryu?”
“Beside Esther’s.”
“Of course… you are married. Wait… hold on…”
Ryoma folded his arms, deep in thought.
“D-Don’t tell me… with that size difference…?!”
“Ryoma,” Ryu said gravely, “learn how vast the world truly is.”
The next day, the carriage departed, first heading toward the Blanc Count’s estate to pick up Alice.