After Story 1: Victorious Return -welcome back-

In a classroom at the Royal Academy in Parnam...

"I'm beat," Yuriga groaned, collapsing on top of the desk.

Having been deported and sent back to the Royal Academy before the

battle with Ooyamizuchi, Yuriga was subjected to two hours of

supplementary lessons with her professor as punishment for having skipped

class. In addition, though the eight-day week normally included two days

off school, she was forced to come in on her days off to study.

"That woman with the glasses is merciless. She even made me write a

letter of apology."

"Ha ha, you're lookin' mighty tired there," Lucy said with a wry grin as

Yuriga grumbled to herself.

Lucy, the girl who was like a miniature Roroa, took a bottle filled with

all sorts of colorful round things out of her bag.

"Well, you've been workin' hard. Here, want a candy?"

"Give me one. I really need something sweet right now."

Yuriga opened her mouth like a baby bird, and Lucy hurled the candy in.

At the same time, their friend, the dark elf girl Velza, let out a sigh.

"You're too sweet, Lucy. Yuriga needs to reflect on her actions more."

"I-I have been, okay? I even wrote that letter."

"Of course you have. I'm saying you need to reflect more. Now listen

here," Velza thrust a finger towards Yuriga. "They only took issue with your

absence, but you also stowed away and illegally entered another country,

right? Normally, that would be a major incident."

"Urkh..."

"I doubt that any other student has ever come so close to sparking an

international incident before. The school has to be strict with you.

Normally, you'd be expelled. I'm sure the only reason you've been let off

with just supplementary lessons is because His Majesty is showing you

mercy."

"Well... Yeah."

The fact was, the only reason her stowing away aboard the ship and

illegally entering the Nine-Headed Dragon Archipelago didn't also lead to

trouble was because it had actually been covered up by Souma and his

people. If Yuriga, who Fuuga had entrusted them with, got expelled from

school, it might escalate to a dispute between nations. Velza and the others

knew the details because Yuriga had told them, but the school itself

remained in the dark about it.

"You should be more aware of how much trouble you caused for

everyone."

"...I'm reflecting on it, okay? Sir Souma got really mad," Yuriga said,

dejectedly this time.

It seemed she really did understand the severity of her actions. There

was an oppressive silence in the room... Then, Lucy broke it by lobbing a

candy in Velza's mouth, too.

"Mmph... It's sweet."

"They're our newest product. Made with ginger and honey, so they're

good for your throat, too. Anyway, Yuriga seems contrite, so how about

lettin' it go for now?"

"...Very well. I'm sorry. I was taking my frustration out on her."

"Frustration?"

"If I'm being honest... I wanted to go to the Nine-Headed Dragon

Archipelago, too." Velza said, looking slightly deflated.

Yuriga blinked. "You did? Why?"

"Um... Ooyamizuchi, was it? Someone important to me was taking part

in the mission to slay that creature. I'm well aware that my presence

wouldn't have helped at all, but... I was worried..."

"Oh! Is this about that Hal guy you like, Velie?" Lucy asked, looking

excited.

During the recent costume event, they had seen how fannish Velza acted

in front of Halbert. It was easy to see she had feelings for him.

"You sly dog." Lucy playfully elbowed her in the ribs. "You're

attractive, and I hear that ya get all sorts of offers from the sons of knights

and noblemen, but ya shoot them all down, sayin' you've already got

someone in mind."

"Urgh... People talk about that...?"

"Ya must really be head over heels for him, huh?"

"Oh, absolutely. He's so strong and cool." Velza clasped her hands

together in front of her chest, imagining Hal's image as she spoke. "He

holds a spear in each hand, wreathing them in flames, as he fearlessly takes

on hordes of enemies. That horned headband must remind his foes of his

sobriquet. It's fitting for the 'Red Oni' who rides his red dragon partner into

battle."

"O-Okay...?" Lucy seemed a little weirded out as Velza waxed poetic

about her intended. Granted, Lucy would have sounded pretty much the

same if you got her talking about Roroa...

"He's so strong, and yet usually so gentle. When I go to play with him

on my days off, he takes the time to dote on me... Though, only as if I were

his little sister."

Suddenly, Velza seemed depressed. She was prone to intense mood

swings where her intended was involved. The gap between this and the

usual cool-head Velza made Lucy snicker.

"You're a real maiden at heart, y'know that, Velie? Here, have another

candy."

"Nom, nom."

Hal the Red Oni, huh...? As she listened, Yuriga was reminded of events

not too long ago. "He was definitely a strong, brave warrior. His red dragon

was tough, too."

"Oh, have you witnessed Hal fighting, Yuriga?"

"Yeah, when the Union of Eastern Nations was facing the demon wave.

He was definitely strong."

"Wasn't he though?"

For some reason, Velza puffed up her chest, her nostrils flaring with

pride. Her attitude rubbed Yuriga, who had a competitive streak, the wrong

way.

"Well, be that as it may, my brother is strong—wha?!"

Yuriga was about to launch into one of her usual boasts about her

brother, like she always did around Tomoe, but the flash of sheer murderous

intent that came her way from Velza stopped her in her tracks.

What?! This is kind of scary, you know?! Yuriga screamed internally.

Instinctively sensing it was dangerous to carry on with this topic, she said,

"I-I think my brother is strong, too, but Halbert is a good fighter. Yeah..."

"Ah. Heheh, of course he is," Velza smiled, carrying on as if nothing had

happened.

Yuriga turned to Lucy, who seemed as taken aback as she was, and

whispered in the girl's ear, "I've heard that the second primary queen,

Madam Aisha, has a tendency to lose her composure when King Souma is

involved, too. Tomoe told me about it, but... I'd forgotten."

"...They say love can make a person blind. That's gotta be it."

As the two of them were receiving a lesson in just how terrifying a dark

elf in love could be, a familiar face came by.

"Oh, there you are, Yuriga."

"...Huh? Tomoe?"

Tomoe rushed over to them. She wasn't in her uniform, but instead wore

one of Souma's handmade outfits.

Yuriga cocked her head to the side and asked, "What's up? Weren't you

off school today?"

"I came to pick you up. I figured your supplementary lessons would be

ending around now," she explained and extended a hand to Yuriga.

"To pick me up?"

"Yeah. I thought you'd want to see what happened afterwards, even if it

was just the final result."

"Afterwards? The result? What are you even talking about?"

"It's okay. I made sure to get permission from Big Sister and the school.

Come on, let's go."

Tomoe took Yuriga by the hand without waiting for a response.

"Huh? Wait a second!" Yuriga protested.

"See you later, Lu, Vel." With a bid farewell, Tomoe dragged Yuriga out

of the classroom.

"...Our friends sure are free spirits, huh?"

"...They sure are."

Lucy and Velza watched in surprise as the pair left them behind in the

classroom.

◇ ◇ ◇

The following morning, the wyvern gondola carrying the kids had lifted

off from Parnam in the evening, and after a number of stops to rest at cities

along the way, arrived near Lagoon City.

"We're almost at Lagoon City, you two."

"Nnghhhh, we're there?"

Shaken awake by Ichiha, Yuriga, who had been sleeping in the gondola,

let out a big yawn.

"Mmph... Looks like it. Yeah," Tomoe replied as she rubbed her sleepy

eyes.

It had been a long flight, so they had all been napping. Then... Bang!

"Eek!"

"Tomoe?!"

It looked like the gondola had set down. The impact had made Tomoe

fall into Ichiha's arms.

"A-Are you okay?"

"Th-Thanks, Ichiha."

Yuriga watched the two of them with exasperation.

"What're you doing? You're as slow as ever."

"Murgh... That's not true."

"Come on, stop fighting, and let's get out of the gondola, you two,"

Ichiha urged.

As the kids stepped outside, the sea breeze tickled their noses. The

gondola had been set down on a beach next to Lagoon City. Disembarking

from the gondola, they realized they weren't the first to arrive. Surrounding

them were guards, well-dressed noblemen; a woman in a red military

uniform and a dragonewt in a maid dress were there, too, each holding a

baby.

"Oh! Liscia. It looks like Tomoe and the other children are here," Carla

said, nodding her head towards the gondola.

"You're right. I'm glad they made it."

Liscia and Carla waved to them, and the trio rushed over.

"Big Sister! Is the ship here?!"

"Not yet. I think it should be coming into sight soon, though." Liscia

said, and Tomoe's shoulders relaxed.

"The ship...? Oh, I get it now," Yuriga commented. "This is the day Sir

Souma returns, huh?"

Souma had been away with the Kingdom's fleet on an expedition to the

Nine-Headed Dragon Archipelago Union. News had already spread that the

kaiju Ooyamizuchi, which had been attacking the Archipelago Union, was

recently put down by a combined assault by the Kingdom and Archipelago

Union's fleets. However, cleaning up after the battle—which primarily

involved butchering Ooyamizuchi's remains—had dragged on, keeping

Souma from returning. Today he was coming back.

When Tomoe talked about "what happened afterwards," she had been

referring to the battle in the Nine-Headed Dragon Archipelago. Yuriga had

been able to see Ooyamizuchi, but was deported before the battle itself, so

she was curious what had happened next.

Tomoe blinked repeatedly. "Huh? Didn't I say?"

"No, you did not! Not one thing I would have wanted to know!" Yuriga

exclaimed before pulling on Tomoe's cheeks.

"Shtop, thah hursh!" Tomoe protested.

Liscia watched the two kids go at it with a little laugh. "I see you two

are getting along, Yuriga."

"Huh?! Y-Yes. We are, Queen Liscia... Your Majesty," Yuriga replied

tensely after unhanding Tomoe.

"Just Liscia is fine. You're a princess yourself, aren't you?"

"I... don't think I can do that."

"...Does being around me make you tense? Am I that intimidating?"

Liscia cocked her head to the side questioningly, and Yuriga vigorously

shook her head in denial.

"N-No... I feel a certain similarity to you, Lady Liscia. It's like you can

see right through me. How should I put this...? I don't have an older sister,

but I feel like a little sister when I'm in front of you... I guess?"

Liscia had been a tomboyish princess like Yuriga, and they shared some

personality traits, like a stubborn streak that was ameliorated by flexible

thinking. Sharing a lot in common put Yuriga somewhat on edge.

Tomoe, who was watching this exchange, puffed up her cheeks angrily.

"Big Sister is my big sister!"

"I-I wasn't saying I want to become her little sister."

"Oh, why don't you? I'll bet Father would be delighted to have another

daughter," Liscia said, smiling.

"P-Please, don't tease me!"

They say women are noisy, and this is why. Ichiha, who, being a man,

felt he couldn't keep up with the conversation, was gazing out towards the

sea. He saw something rise above the horizon and pointed it out.

Yuriga squinted in its direction. "Is that a mountain? No, an island?"

"Heheh, that's the island-type carrier Hiryuu. Souma and the others are

back," Liscia told Yuriga.

Once the thing that rose above the horizon approached, Yuriga was able

to tell it was a ship shaped like an island. This was her first time seeing the

Hiryuu, and she was dumbfounded by the shape of it. The other warships

surrounding the Hiryuu came into view, too. The splendor of the ships gave

off a feeling of a "grand fleet." Some of them were iron ships pulled by sea

dragons, while others were wood reinforced with iron and pulled by horned

doldons. They varied in size, so it was like a trade fair for nautical vessels.

Looking at the flags, some flew the standard of the Kingdom of Friedonia,

while others carried that of the Nine-Headed Dragon Archipelago Union.

Based on the number of ships, almost all of both countries' fleets must have

been gathered here.

Yuriga stared intently at the sight before her. Her mind was a whirling

vortex of question marks right now.

The grand fleet she was seeing in front of her was something that

Yuriga, as the only one who hadn't been told about the series of events that

unfolded in the Nine-Headed Dragon Archipelago, could not understand.

First of all, it had been her understanding that relations between the two

countries had been stormy. She had witnessed the threat known as

Ooyamizuchi, but believed the diplomatic situation was a powder keg. That

was why she assumed the reason Souma had sent in the fleet was not just to

slay Ooyamizuchi, but to destroy the Archipelago Union's fleet, and gain

control of the sea. But now, before her very eyes, the Kingdom and

Archipelago Union's fleets were sailing together like they were longstanding allies. Yuriga was confused.

What? How did things end up like this? she thought. It was like being

presented with a math problem, and then shown just the solution. The

answer was one she didn't expect, too. Yuriga had no idea what kind of

arithmetic could lead to the result she was seeing. And... What in the world

is that?

Yuriga looked at the island-type carrier Hiryuu in the middle of the

group leading the fleet. This was her first time seeing it. Why did they build

a giant battleship shaped like an island? How is it moving without any

creatures pulling it? As questions that Liscia and everyone else had long

since learned the answers to popped into her head, the biggest thing was...

"What's with those bones?"

There was a massive skull occupying the very front of the Hiryuu. The

carrier looked strange enough already with its island-like shape, but this

only made it seem weirder.

"I don't know what to say... It looks like some new kind of monster."

"It's like the Great Island-type Kaiju, Hiryuu."

Even Liscia and Tomoe, who knew Souma well, were a bit

dumbfounded by the gargantuan skull on top of the Hiryuu. Ichiha, a

specialist in the monster identification system, however, knew exactly what

Souma's intentions were.

"That's Ooyamizuchi's skull," he said. "It's massive, but its shape is a

match with the type sea dragons have. He likely mounted it there to show

Ooyamizuchi was slain successfully."

"I knew that, but... it's bound to spark weird rumors," Liscia slumped

her shoulders in exasperation.

There had been plenty of strange rumors, like "the kigurumi adventurer"

(Little Musashibo), and "the great black shadow that descends on the castle

at night" (Naden), thanks to Souma and those involved with him. Liscia

always gave Souma a lecture when it happened, but this great island-type

kaiju might give rise to another one. It had kaiju-like fins on it, too.

"Your father just can't help himself, can he...?" Liscia smiled wryly and

said to Kazuha, who was reaching out and cooing happily. Looking beside

her, she noticed Yuriga was clutching her head. "What's wrong, Yuriga?"

"...I don't know how I'm supposed to report what I'm seeing to my

brother."

"Hm? We haven't put any limits on your ability to send letters, have

we?" Liscia said, giving her a blank look.

No one had forbidden Yuriga from contacting Fuuga. They kept her

away from places with classified information, and had decided that letting

Fuuga see the Kingdom through her eyes would act as a check against him

without making him feel threatened. The reason she was being allowed to

see the Hiryuu, which had been concealed from her until now, was because

it stopped being a secret when it was deployed into battle in the NineHeaded Dragon Archipelago. Even if they didn't show it to Yuriga here,

Fuuga would eventually hear rumors, so they decided it was better to let her

see it properly and give an accurate report. That way things wouldn't get

unduly exaggerated.

Yuriga let out a little sigh. "I know that, but... I don't feel like I can

explain this..."

Would Fuuga be able to properly understand it when the person who was

standing right here couldn't? The same could be asked about the two fleets

moving together. It seemed likely that there was some kind of complex

negotiation beyond Souma and his people just fighting and winning that led

to this situation. Would Fuuga and the steppe state Malmkhitan, who had

repeatedly subjugated their enemies, be able to fight and defeat an opponent

who had other options?

I can't imagine my brother losing to King Souma, but... I feel like it

would be better not to fight this country. I don't know if I can convey that,

but I need to caution him...

That was what Yuriga, who was a wiser, more flexible thinker than

Fuuga, resolved to do.