Episode 43 — Melancholy of the Queen
～ Part 2 ～
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“Ne~, Kyousuke-kun. Akai-san, isn’t she irritated recently?”
Since Rin started saying so, Kyousuke looked at Akai Asuka, who was sitting in a place some distance away in the dining room.
Certainly, he could confirm that she sullenly was clanging her teeth. It was ill mannered gesture for that Queen. In the tray in front of her, forest rabbit steak and vegetable garnish, then the staple potatoes were arranged. Akai didn’t show any sign of putting her hands on those at all. He had certainly often see her like that these days.
Even if he said these days, it had been only a few days. One week had yet to pass since the battle fierce battle with Suou and the others ended and they left that old castle and started heading for the east.
“It may be the fault of not sucking blood.”
∗Fuyo fuyo∗, while floating, Akira said such a thing. Kyousuke crossed his arms.
“Speaking of which, Akai is a vampire. After coming here, she still hasn’t suck blood even once, yeah?”
“At least, it’s the case for human’s blood. Not that there’s no possibility of her stealthily sucking blood during the stay in the knight kingdom, however.”
“She has just been eating only the same food as us until now, isn’t she?”
Akai Asuka was a vampire. Even so, it wasn’t the case that she became a ‘vampire’ by passing through Transference Denaturation Gate like Kyousuke and the others. She was a natural born vampire. And although she hadn’t declare it for sure, she should have sucked human’s blood under the cover of night even when they were in the former world.
That, she couldn’t do for more than one and a half month. For her and the vampires, the lifeblood of human would be something like luxury goods?
“But, it’s that, isn’t it. If she unskillfully suck blood, she will increase the vampires, isn’t she?”
“They won’t particularly increase even if she sucks blood–.”
When Rin muttered, Inugami Hibiki holding a tray said so from behind with a spitting voice.
Kyousuke surprisedly looked at what was on her hand.
“Huh, Inugami, you’ve started to cleanup the dishes by yourself.”
“It’s because Sakuma is noisy.”
“Ne~ ne~, Hibiki-chan, what do you mean by ‘they won’t increase even if she sucks blood’?”
Rin tugged at the hem of Inugami’s sailor uniform. Kyousuke and Akira also nodded.
In the image Kyousuke and the others had of vampire, they quench their thirst by sucking blood, and then the sucked partner changes into a vampire. They were discussing based on such a major premise in their mind, but Inugami said different.
Inugami Hibiki, similar to Akai, was a werewolf girl even at the time in the former world. With the reason that she had a deep destiny with the vampire clan, she would have a reasonable knowledge of their mode of life. Inugami clicked her tongue a little, but soon thoroughly taught them.
“Like I said, it doesn’t mean the other party will become a vampire just by sucking blood. It’s just sucking blood. Well, it seems bearable even without sucking if it’s about a month though.”
“He~.”
∗Tapotapo∗, Rin, while hopping up and down, backchanneled.
“Certainly, it would be like a rat formula if they become vampire every time you suck blood, and the Earth would be covered by them in a blink of an eye.”
Akira also nodded, seemingly convinced.
“Even so, one month has already passed long ago.”
“So she reaches the limit of her patience, doesn’t she? Well, it got nothing to do with me though.”
Saying that much, Inugami briskly walked away.
After seeing her off, Kyousuke, Rin, Akira, the 3 people met face to face. No, no one had face beside Kyousuke, but let’s go with face to face for now. First to open his mouth was Kyousuke.
“What do you think?”
“About that, I would like to hear the independent opinion of Kyousuke-kun who outgrew the troublesome puberty.”
“I agree. Kyousuke, what do you think?”
“It’s certainly frank being treated like that, but…. No well, Akai is simply too preoccupied to suck blood because of the various tension so far, since that was solved in one go just recently, the blood sucking impulse has returned or something, I guess?”
Akai had revealed her lineage and true identity to the classmates. Although confusion had more or less been born in the class, they finally started accepting her. But then, there were many students who didn’t know the fact that Akai was «trying to use the classmates to kill the King». Nevertheless, by talking to Kyousuke, Ryuzaki and Sakuma, etc., a considerably burden should have been been lifted from her shoulders.
Because of that, the blood sucking impulse she had endured so far bounced back in go. It’s that sort of thing, Kyousuke guessed.
“Well–, nothing other than that, isn’t it?”
Rin also nodded.
“I guess it’s no good if it’s not human. Can she not solicit blood from Sakuma or Harui or someone, I thought, but.”
“Impossible, isn’t it? Since even the blood of captured animals around here seems fine if she can do that.”
Human’s blood? Thinking about the future, it was something difficult to obtain.
The heavy cruiser branch school that the students were riding was heading toward the sea after this. Once they reached the sea, they would use the materials secured in the old castle to renovate the branch school. Afterward, they would journey to the east.
On the south side of the continent, the influence of the Empire was firmly rooted so there was a possibility of causing unnecessary conflict. Therefore, they would bypass the seaside and take a roundabout path to the place of destination in the east. In the south, greatly protruded from southeast of the continent was Werneus peninsula where the influence of the Empire was thin even for the southern part. From there, they were going to go northward along the coastlands of the east, which summed up the plan Ryuzaki presented.
That is to say, they were going to go out to sea. The sea where there was no human.
“Perhaps, we’re going to approach an island country as a stopover so she’s going to have to endure until then, isn’t she?”
“As for when we arrive at the island country, whether we can have people obediently share blood is another problem…”
«Homework is as much as a mountain» was the slogan of 2 year class 4, and a new homework had just been added again. Kyousuke was a high-school student as well. Both homework and assignments were something he would like to refuse at all cost, but no matter how much he refuse, homework, like a devil, would still rained down on him nonstop.
Akai was still irritated. Her teeth clanging, she stabbed the steak and carried it to her mouth. The vegetable garnish and potatoes weren’t touched at all. Without cleaning up the dishes and left it as it was, she roughly stood up from her seat and left the dining room behind. Even if she was being silent when she got into a bad mood, anger would still dwell in her, so the other classmates fearfully cleared away from her path.
“Ne~, Kyousuke-kun.”
Rin pecked at Kyousuke’s bone a little.
“Nn?”
“Kyousuke-kun, supposing you weren’t a skeleton, I thought about how Akai-san gave you blood? And, if I saw that scene, I would get a little unpleasant feeling, so I thought but, since it’s Kyousuke-kun, anything could happened, and…”
“Himemizu.”
Faster than Kyousuke could answer, Akira spoke out.
“Ah, yes. What is it legal wife-sama?”
“You should say such a thing steadily. Kyousuke is the Happy Prince (wiki) who will unsparingly give every golden leaf covering his body to others, but if you say you hate it, he wouldn’t do that. You, are the one who grasps the reins of Kyousuke now. Think of it as a big deal.”
“I see I see.”
Such a story isn’t what you should say in front of the person himself, don’t you think?, Kyousuke thought.
He thought but, well, he couldn’t deny it.
Rin accepted the empty Kyousuke, and if there were anything lacking, she said she would compensate for it. Thanks to that Kyousuke was able to recover. If said if there was any dramatic change compared to before then such a thing completely didn’t exist, but at least, his awareness concerning Rin had changed. If she said she hate something, he would make it a rule not to do it.
If there was something she said she hated, yet he still wanted to do it, in that case it means his contents were growing so it would be a delightful thing. The would be conflict, but for such a day to come itself, was something Rin felt like welcoming as well. Because Kyousuke would be able to stand comfortably.
“Well, it’s as Akira said. Since I’m such an idiot as ever, the brake won’t work in such places though.”
“I will put the brakes on. All righty. Leave it to me.”
Rin made a fist with her whole body, then took a gesture of hitting his chest. She was a slime with dynamic emotional expressions as ever.
“Well, in the end, I feel that it doesn’t really change from up to now, though. But I’m expecting a lot from Himemizu. If you, you’re going to change Kyousuke.”
“Ye–es, I will do my be–est.”
“Like I said, don’t say such things in front of the person himself…”
In order to cleaned up the dishes, Kyousuke, for now, took his tray and stood up.
The heavy cruiser branch school was going favorably toward the east. That fact that the caterpillar was mowing dow trees seemed like destruction of nature so it didn’t feel very good, but since they couldn’t advance otherwise so it couldn’t be help. They departed the ruined country a few days ago, salt water was gradually mixing in the wind. The sea should be close.
Sea? Sakuma Sachiko, while absentmindedly gazing at the scenery on the deck, thought.
Kumosaki Itomi, who was in charge of sewing, had started making swimsuits for women. Although it was the sea, it didn’t mean they were going to go swimming in the sea, but it seemed that it seemed to not matter for her if there was a chance to make clothes. Boys are boys, they were greatly delighted, Hakuba for example, was visiting Kumosaki’s sewing room almost everyday, in addition to his visits to Washio’s portrait.
These past few days, there was no big battle and and things were calming down, for Sakuma as well, various things to think about had increased.
About Akai Asuka. About Inugami Hibiki. About Utsurogi Kyousuke.
In addition to those, about Okama Kaoru as well. According to Goubayashi story, , who was called Kaoruko in the class, seemed to have promised to meet in the east. Before going out to sea, she would like to link up with Kaoru somehow.
“Kaoru-chan, is she well…”
“Well, definitely not well. It’s that guy after all.”
Answering her soliloquy was Akai Asuka who was standing beside her before she knew it.
Akai and Sakuma had known each other since kindergarten, but adding Okama Kaoru here was from the time of primary school. Gender, there wasn’t much awareness of such a thing. Kaoru’s girl power had always been high since the old day. Building up Akai’s make-up and fashion sense, teaching cooking and sewing to Sakuma, everything was Kaoru’s deeds.
Kaoru was always energetic and bright, but when reincarnating as an incubus, he was seriously depressed. «If it’s like this, becoming kraken or Malboro would be much better», was the speech of the person himself.
“Goubayashi has returned, Kaoru has surely faced down his problem as well. Sachi, I’m much more relieved about him than you now.”
“Re–really…”
“If Kaoru sees the condition that Himemizu is sticking to Utsurogi, won’t you be told something again?”
Being told so, Sakuma unintentionally felt like becoming smaller.
Certainly, he would say it. «Because you keep standing around like an idiot, Utsurogi-kun has been stolen, isn’t he!?» It would seemed normal for him to say that. Sakuma didn’t particularly think that he was stolen, not the least bit, but surely something would be said about such a halfhearted attitude of her.
Let’s change the topic. The topic. Let’s change what to think about.
Yes, it’s Akai. She who had came next nearby unnoticed. There was something about her that Sakuma would like to asked too.
“Asuka-chan, your condition seems bad lately, are you okay?”
“I’m fine. Is not what I can say. It’s because I haven’t sucked blood recently.”
∗Gachigachi∗, Looking at Akai’s teeth clanking, Sakuma surprisedly opened her eyes wide.
“Really, Asuka-chan…”
“When entering the Knight Kingdom, I should’ve sucked at least one person even if forcibly. Well, I’m enduring but, it’s also dangerous if it pass 2 months.”
Dangerous, what did she mean by that? It was something Sakuma was unable to judge. Was it in an emotional meaning, or possibly a more serious meaning of affecting her life? Sakuma motionlessly gazed at her arm peeking out from the sleeve of her once piece, then she enquired Akai.
“Asuka-chan…. My blood, suck…?”
The one to open her eyes wide this time was Akai.
“Eh, no…. It’s okay. I mean, since it doesn’t mean it can be appeased even if I suck blood of those other than human.”
“Ah, that’s right. Sorry…”
“If it’s Sachi when you’re human, there were several times I thought I want to suck blood though.”
“Eh, eehhh–…”
It was difficult whether or not she should think of it as an honor. She think it wasn’t the case that she was only seen as food in particular, but would the phrase «a friend charming even as food» really be established as words of praise between human and vampire? For Sakuma who had read many fictions, episodes coming out from several stories came to her mind, but this here was a true story.
“Well, since that’s the reason, I would like to suck human’s blood but…”
Akai said so, her teeth clanking. Sakuma’s consciousness was brought back in one go.
“…Ahh, it’s okay. Since I can pay attention so that I won’t become a lethal dose.”
“Y–yes? It’s good if that’s the case … isn’t it?”
“The problem is how long is it going to take until we meet human…”
Her muttering voice slipped into the wind and disappeared.
Nevertheless, Akai’s wish would be granted only one day later.
I saw the sea, when hearing that report, the students crowded into the deck all together.
“Finally the sea. My fins are ringing.”
“It’s not your arms?”
Uozumi Sakeichiro muttered with heartfelt enjoyment, Nekomiya Miya questioned him. The students’ reaction was diverse, but most students appeared like their heart was dancing to the opening horizon before their eyes. Only Hanazono who kept the vegetable garden on the deck was making a complicated expression, and started preparing the enclosure to protect the crops from the salty sea breeze.
Naturally, Kyousuke group also came to the deck. Rin was happily bouncing but Akira’s face is turning little blue … wasn’t what happened, he was making a face that seemed low in fire power. He who was a mass of flame would probably die if he fall in water, in the first place, he wouldn’t be released from seasickness for quite a while after this so that feeling of his too was understandable.
“Oi Akira, you okay…?”
“It may be no good. Since we’re going to live on shore for a few days for renovation, I decide to enjoy it as much as possible…”
The voice was trembling to the point of pitiable.
“Ah–, everyone, please listen!”
Class rep Ryuzaki came along the as the classmates were bing noisy, naturally, together with Goubayashi.
“We’re going to the beach after this! Once arrive, I plan to divide into the renovation team centered on Kuremori, and the exploration team to look for Kaoruko as well as explore the surrounding! Then Uozumi siblings and Rin, since there’s something I would like to request, please stay!”
“Oh, I was nominated.”
At his feet, ∗taapon∗, Rin bounced. Akira, his flames still pale, gave explanation.
“Probably he’s going to experiment if Himemizu can take in sea water. Thereafter, if she can separate salt and water, the voyage will be comfortable as well.”
“Ouou…. I’m completely being treated as a filtration device…. But, what will Kyousuke-kun do? If I unified with this entire ocean…”
“What will I do … what should I do? For now, it seems like it will be a lot easier to get back Kogane.”
However, Rin was going to take independent action in this case. Since Kyousuke would probably be added to the exploration team, it would be reasonable. Just that Kyousuke was powerless without his combine partner, so Akira would be forcibly dragged along.
Ryuzaki continued further.
“The specific members will be decided after this, according to Kuremori the renovation team will need fire power. Hino, is your motion sickness okay?”
“Nn, ahh…. I’m okay. If rest a little, I can put out until about 1000 degree.”
Apparently, Akira was going to enter the stay behind group as well. And now that it came to this, the two of them would break up unless Kyousuke was put into the renovation team. Just little, panicked.
“Oh no, it appears to be the time for Kyousuke’s solo debut as well…. I’m so moved…”
“Eh, no. Wait a bit. It’s impossible alone as expected.”
“There’s nothing impossible now. You can say it’s a good chance to try the effect of Characteristics Amplification to others as well. As expected, EX combine seems difficult unless you have good coordination with each other. Since you was able to be independent from me, next is independent from Himemizu.”
This feels you’re been thoroughly pampered so far then so suddenly you’re thrown away.
Well, I guess there isn’t any strong monster in this area, it may be time to learn a new battle style that doesn’t rely on these two, surely. It may be hard for Ryuzaki to put together the parties as well if the combination is fixed no matter how long time passes.
Kyousuke, looked at the students whose heart was dancing to the sea, and started to examine them quite seriously, with whom will it be easy to try the effect of Characteristics Amplification?
Next Episode: Saa-chan Is the Group Leader
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