“Kenturi, you’ve returned safely! Seleneis… I’ll leave that one to you! Everyone, even if it won’t work, this is just to help! Open all cannons! Aiming is irrelevant! Fire all of our remaining ammunition!”
The deck of the Kenturi was lined with the latest artillery crafted by the Dwarves, all firing at once.
The cannonballs landed in the area where I had just been!
The Kenturi… it was equipped with something like this too! But this isn’t the kind of enemy that something like this would affect!
“Latrie! It’s no good! I have to go back there too! At least, I have to support Master… That guy… Demon God Roa is not normal… not even Master can handle him!”
The Transfer Gate that brought me here was already collapsing.
Lady Seleneis’s Transfer Gate should remain for a while once set up, but the fact that it’s collapsing like this means…
This might be to prevent Roa from pursuing through the gate, but it was also a message to me that I should never return, and a demonstration of Master’s unwavering resolve.
…I understood.
But I couldn’t accept it.
I immediately generated a Water Boat and stood up, intending to return to the sea.
However, a sudden dizziness… sharp pain shot through my numbed right leg, and I involuntarily knelt.
“Gah… This is no joke. I can’t possibly be defeated by something like this! As long as I can move, I still can!”
Exhaustion from complete Magic power depletion… dizziness and a severe headache.
Then, all the strength drained from my body, and I grew weak.
The wounds I had sustained all over my body worsened instantly due to the Magic power depletion, and blood began to flow from various parts of me.
“N-No! Master… you have no Magic power left at all! Your wounds are reopening… S-Stop it! You’ll die! Please, just stay still!”
Selma (Female) clung to my arm, tears streaming down her face.
“That’s right! There’s nothing Master can do in this state! We have to escape from here, no matter what! We’ll provide you with Magic power recovery and first aid for your injuries, so please just sit down…”
“Indeed. Your Excellency… We will handle what comes next! Latrie, Selma… can I entrust Master to you? I must be prepared for unforeseen circumstances.”
“Yes, we will take care of Master. Listis… I apologize, but given the current situation, we must consider the worst-case scenario. If it comes to that… I’m counting on you.”
“Ah, I leave it to you. I will provide rear guard surveillance… I doubt I can buy much time against a Demon God, but if the time comes, I will cover your retreat! I’ll protect Takakura, no, Master!”
Listis (Female), her cheeks faintly flushed, ran towards the rear of the deck with several Marines.
I tried to follow, but Selma hugged me with surprising strength, preventing me from breaking free.
Latrie (Female) clung to my other arm, forcibly making me sit down.
She skillfully activated Magic Power Transfer, channeling Magic power into my Magic power organ tail.
Thanks to that, my headache subsided, and I felt strength returning to my body.
Selma (Female) used Healing Magic on my numbed right leg and the reopened wounds, and they healed in an instant.
The pain in my leg subsided, and the numb sensation disappeared.
The Three Girls each took on their respective roles, fulfilling their duties without being told.
…They’ve become quite reliable in such a short time.
I couldn’t help but feel emotional.
Still, I learned that the damage from Harmonic Resonance lingers far more than I had imagined.
Well, given its nature, it wouldn’t have been strange if my leg had been blown off.
And I also learned that my own sustained healing would have its damage rebound intensely if my Magic power ran out.
Truly, there are many things you can only understand through life-or-death combat.
Even though I thought I had grown accustomed to battle, I still have a long way to go.
…Perhaps it’s a wonder I could even stand this long.
I might be sent to the Sanitarium again…
“Latrie (Female), Selma (Female), thank you… I feel a little better. I appreciate your concern, but I still have to fight…”
What they did was merely first aid.
I wanted to lie down completely, but I mustered my will and stood up again!
…Not yet.
I was about to relax, but the battle isn’t over yet…
That’s why I can’t fall yet.
…I will stand up once more… and return to the battlefield!
“…Kentaro! It’s alright now! We understand the situation. Lady Seleneis is using all the Magic power of her clones to try and seal that Demon God so she can let us escape… She said she will surely perish as a consequence. She believed you were worth that sacrifice… We all feel the same way. Please, don’t let her intentions… her sacrifice be in vain. This is nothing short of a retreat… but if you collapse, I won’t know what to do either. Please… endure this!”
As I shook off the two and tried to stand, Kuroie suddenly hugged me from the front, as if to deliver a final blow.
“E-Emperor Kuroie…”
…If even Emperor Kuroie asks me, there’s nothing I can do…
I can’t push her away, and her word is absolute…
I relaxed my shoulders, smiled at Emperor Kuroie, and placed my hand on her small head, stroking it.
Then, I fell backward.
It looked like Emperor Kuroie had pushed me down, but I’ll consider it a fair trade.
But as Emperor Kuroie said, this was a retreat.
I… was allowed to live by Lady Seleneis.
That’s what it was.
I… couldn’t do anything.
Suddenly, tears of frustration welled up, and I instinctively covered my eyes with my arm…
“…Master… I understand your feelings… Please.”
Latrie (Female) pretended to do it casually and then offered me her lap, cradling my head tightly.
Oh well, to be cared for this much by girls who look like my own children…
At this point, I was completely defeated… I had no words to respond.
“Nyah! Master! Are you alright?!”
Manager leaped in and forcefully pushed me down, then hugged me tightly.
A tackle from four girls… it was a mess, and I was confused.
While completely bewildered, we were all pushed down together.
This power without any Goddess cheat! Truly remarkable, Manager!
My right arm felt strangely loose and comfortable.
I looked and found my arm caught deep between Selma (Female)’s impressive cleavage.
“M-Master… t-that’s… ahh!”
Moreover, my hand had slipped significantly under my clothes… meaning, it was bare skin.
And it was right in the cleavage, how did that even happen!
Selma (Female) blushed crimson, but didn’t try to pull my hand away… No, no, now isn’t the time for this…
“I-I’m sorry. Master… I got too carried away and this happened… W-What should we do…”
Latrie (Female) was straddling my waist, and things were getting complicated…
And she was subtly moving her hips, giving my “that” just the right kind of stimulation…
“Latrie (Female)… Stop! Don’t move right now! A-Emperor Kuroie? You don’t mean she was blown away by Manager, do you?”
Latrie (Female) silently pointed to my left arm.
Emperor Kuroie, in fact, was resting her head on my arm next to me, her face bright red.
…No! This isn’t a scene for closing your eyes tightly and thinking “do as you please”!
Aage was also glancing over, looking envious, but seemed to be enduring it, understanding that now wasn’t the time.
…All in all, it was quite ruined.
Thinking that, I naturally started to laugh…
“Hahaha! Ah, this is so undignified! …Everyone, I’m back.”
That’s right… I should be celebrating that we survived.
I can cry over my regrets later.
Our eyes met with Monjirou (Male), who was sitting in a corner of the deck with his legs pulled up to his chest.
He had been looking down dejectedly until then, as if completely exhausted, but when our eyes met, he grinned, as if to say, “It wouldn’t be sportsmanlike to interfere.”
However, for some reason, his gaze had sharpened slightly, giving him a more mature aura.
There were several new, fresh scars running across his face… I wonder if he did something to Manager again?
You really never learn, do you?
Judging by his appearance, Monjirou (Male), who was supposed to be weakened and not fighting, must have also joined the battle and fought his way through…
I realized anew that I had survived thanks to the thoughts and feelings of many people.
My life… is not mine alone.
‘–Only those who survive and stand until the end are the victors.’
Lady Seleneis’s words echoed in my mind.
This… is not a retreat, but a triumphant return.
I should think of it that way.
From the place where a fierce battle had just raged, a dazzling cross of ice suddenly shot upwards into the sky, and then silently sank into the waves…
At the same time, the black mist that had enveloped the area disappeared…
It seemed that everything was finally over.
“…Aage, Takakura. I have a report. Demon God Roa’s Magic power has completely vanished… The seal seems to have been successful. However, Lady Seleneis’s presence… also…”
Listis returned from her lookout post and reported with a serious expression.
…I could tell that a sense of relief washed over everyone at her words.
“Ah, I have confirmed it as well. Lady Seleneis… as expected of you. You accomplished it splendidly… I will never forget this debt… Marquis! Full speed ahead and withdraw from this sea area! I believe we are likely safe now, but knowing Roa, he might have some trick up his sleeve. Do not let your guard down?”
“Yes! Understood. We have arrangements for a fleet to meet us shortly, but for now, we will retreat at full speed!”
“Also, from now on, maintain constant surveillance in this area and allow no one to approach it. Understood? We have sealed that Demon God Roa… It would be utterly unacceptable for the seal to be broken over something trivial. I apologize, Marquis… but please consider this your new duty.”
“Aage, understood. As the mission of my Roxius family, I swear to watch over and protect that seal. Also, we will handle minor tasks such as area surveillance and ship control, so please rest, Aage. And Takakura… Emperor Kuroie, everyone. For now, please all rest in your cabins. Latrie, I’ll leave the guiding to you!”
“Yes! Master… can you stand? If not, we’ll carry you.”
“Nyah! Manager will carry Master!”
Without question, Manager scooped me up onto her back.
…I must say, she’s powerful.
If I let my guard down, I might start crying, but her carefree demeanor felt like a salvation.
Aage came up beside me and whispered.
“Kenturi. I understand how you feel, but future kings do not shed tears in such places… Also, before you withdraw, thank everyone. These people accompanied you all the way, knowing they would face the Leviathan. And they fought with their lives on the line, protected your back and Emperor Kuroie, and never tried to flee even when facing the Demon God. …Naturally, there are casualties. It may be painful, but this is your duty… You know what you must do now, don’t you?”
I turned and saw Marquis Roxius and the rough-and-tumble Marine knights lined up in formation.
…And I understood that they were waiting for my words.
Doing what must be done… It seemed to be my turn now.
“…Everyone, you have worked hard… no, you have worked hard.”
My body ached from the after-effects of Magic power depletion, making it hard to stand straight, but I lowered myself from Manager’s back and stood at attention, straightening my spine.
I almost gave my usual casual greeting, but seeing the covered object in the middle of the soldiers, I quickly corrected myself.
That’s right… this is a situation that requires it.
…I have to act as someone befitting this occasion.
