Chapter 288: Wish of Futsu (1/2)

Chapter 288: Wish of Futsu

‘Well then, over here please’, the moment those words reverberated in his head as always, the landscape around changed completely.

The faint red world disappeared, and a forest overflowing in natural beauty appeared.

The shadow of animals could be seen in the corners here and there.

At the place where a tree that was thicker than the rest was located and the sunlight was shining, Aznoval finds a stump and immediately takes action. In other words, he walked to it and sat on it.

His moves felt practiced as if this wasn’t his first time.

And then, he looks at his right, and as if this served as a signal, the contour of a pale blue woman comes out from the shrubs.

That figure didn’t have any specific individual traits, it simply had the figure of an adult woman.

At her hands, she holds 2 mug cups.

There’s no other people here.

There was no Makoto or Tomoe.

“Looks like you were beaten up pretty badly, Azu.”

“Futsu… Even though it has been so long since the last time we met, why are you appearing in such a half-assed appearance?” (Aznoval)

“There’s no point in putting on airs using my figure with you guys anyways. I have already used up all my surprises.” (Futsu)

“What a regret. Truly a regret.” (Aznoval)

“Even if it is something important, I refuse. And so, are you going to answer me? That person, did you finally piss it off?” (Futsu)

She gives one of the mugs to Azu, and while at it, points at his shoulder.

“This is the result of an unlucky encounter. The misunderstanding has been resolved.” (Aznoval)

“‘The misunderstanding has been resolved’? It is been awhile since I have heard that classic phrase of yours. Should I interpret it as your muscles pushing through? Why did you even end up fighting against an apostle of the Goddess?” (Futsu)

“…It was to protect the lineage of my little brother. Well, it was one the few connections I have. Have to treasure it.” (Aznoval)

“I see. Sorry.” (Futsu)

“Being one of the few friends that know my favorite dishes, there’s no need for you to apologize.” (Aznoval)

Inside the mug, there’s a completely white liquid.

It is letting off warm steam.

It is hot milk.

“…It is just milk. But well, it is true that providing a feast for a person that can actually eat is pretty hard in this place though.” (Futsu)

“There was no need to prepare my share, you know. It is the same anyways.” (Aznoval)

“I have to provide the best warm reception for the person that will be bringing the guests I have been waiting for after all. The matter of the shoulder is fine already. Other injuries are…from him?” (Futsu)

“…Yeah.” (Aznoval)

“Fuh~, I was prepared for this, but seriously, he truly is a fearsome outstanding one.” (Futsu)

The mug of Futsu was filled with a blackish brown liquid that looked muddy.

Without hesitating, Futsu drinks from it and sighs once.

“I completely agree with you. Truly fearsome. If I hadn’t surrendered at that moment, I wouldn’t have been able to come here for sure.” (Aznoval)

“Even in your state where you had learned the name of the Princess?” (Futsu)

“…So you really did know. No, I won’t ask you about about how you know about me knowing the name of Princess, okay?! No way I will!” (Aznoval)

Maybe Aznoval remembered something of his past, he screamed as if in a spasm.

“Yeah yeah, I said something unnecessary there. And so, about the future you might have ended up in…” (Futsu)

“First of all, Makoto-kun stopped in the middle of evading the Iai I unleashed. It is the technique that was activated when I first heard of the name of Princess Seoritsu.” (Aznoval)

Aznoval recalls the fight.

The fight that he was doing just a while ago.

It still remains vividly in his memories.

“He purposely received an attack that he could avoid? A technique that you yourself had unleashed for the first time? Isn’t that just you misunderstanding?” (Futsu)

“In my eyes, that’s how I saw it.” (Aznoval)

“What was his aim?” (Futsu)

“In order to bring me down.” (Aznoval)

“…He should have known you are immortal, right?” (Futsu)

“But I do get injured. If I receive a grave injury, there’s the need for time to recover. The worst the wound, the longer it immobilizes me.” (Aznoval)

“…”

“He stopped evading in the middle of it, and received my sword with his head. It cut the meat at his forehead and the blade slipped from his skull. But well, I don’t know at all how much of it was calculated. But for him, that must have been the ideal moment to go on the offensive.” (Aznoval)

…

“And then, before I can shift the katana and seal the battle with a reverse swing, Makoto-kun would create distance by shooting an incredibly powerful arrow that had several ring-like things added to it.” (Aznoval)

“…Was that his trump card?” (Futsu)

“Next, he would shoot four rapid-fires of the light arrows that incapacitated Rokuya at the *openings of my armor*, and in those few seconds restrained, the silver arms would be appearing at both of my sides.” (Aznoval)

“Silver arms? What’s that?” (Futsu)

“I don’t know at all. I have never seen them before or heard about them. It seemed to obey the Elder Dwarf, so maybe it is a treasure of them, or maybe it is something Makoto-kun had them make.” (Aznoval)

“So he is controlling armor designed for giants with magic power?” (Futsu)

“…Might be the case, but my intuition is telling me otherwise. Rather than calling it an equipment for giants, it was more like…the arms of a robot.” (Aznoval)

“Robot. Aah, an evolved version of a Golem? The Japanese people called them Robots.” (Futsu)

“Umu. But even so, I felt that even for something like that, it consumed an incredible amount of magic power. He didn’t look like the type who would wish for robots, and it didn’t looks as if he was utilizing equipment for giants. The one point I am certain of is that it possesses dreadful efficiency.” (Aznoval)

“To the point that it would make you unable to act for a long period of time?” (Futsu)

“…No doubt about it. And then, I would be captured in some sort of barrier-looking thing, my whole body would be steadily crushed by some superhuman strength, and in the end, me together with my sword Princess Seoritsu…would be wrung into meat paste.” (Aznoval)

“…Uh, that’s quite the image.” (Futsu)

“Of course, in that time, he continued looking at me with eyes as if he wouldn’t miss any sort of opposition or obstruction as he maintained his bow locked at me, and then…a bizarre conclusion was reached. Seeing that much into the future, I decided on surrendering. Because if I let him go that far, what would be waiting after would only be bad for everyone; the worst end to it all. Nothing good would be left.” (Aznoval)

“Decisive judgement…maybe?” (Futsu)

Was that honest praise, or was it sarcasm?

Futsu looks at Aznoval’s face with a bitter and complicated expression.

“I was about to be made unable to move for half a century.” (Aznoval)

“Against a youngster that hasn’t even been here for a decade?” (Futsu)

“…That’s the part that makes it the scariest. The three this time, counting the heroes, are all a group of excelling individuals. But within them, he is a special one. He is a person that I think fearsome from the bottom of my heart.” (Aznoval)

“I agree that he is special. Even from my eyes, there’s no doubt about it. Yeah, to the point that even if we were to fill up the place with warning posters all around, it would never be enough.” (Futsu)

“Well, that’s why I brought him here ‘while at it’. I wish that he will be able to obtain some sort of experience in this place.” (Aznoval)

“Yeah, I am truly grateful. You have finally brought Makoto to my place. My request has been fulfilled without room for complaints.” (Futsu)

“I am a superb adventurer after all –is what I want to say, but this time was completely a godsend. Also, don’t call it a request. I was simply fulfilling the favor of a friend. Ah, refill for the milk please.” (Aznoval)