Wasnât there somethingâŠâŠsomehow, I feel like my last memory was me falling or something similar. What was it.
âŠâŠ Oh right, I fainted. I donât know what happened to Hiragi,[1] but when I had swallowed all the pearl pieces on my palm, I had fallen into a semi-rampant state and when I awokeâŠI was laid down in this place without Hiragi.
âŠWhat are you doing swooning, me!? Now!? Now of all times!?
What was it that made me faint? I am glad Iâm regaining consciousness though.
Well, setting that aside. I feel like I was thinking about something similar last time I was fainted and began to gradually regain consciousness.
Letâs float up. Thatâs it, leisurely.
My awareness began to return, and first was my hearing. I could hear the sound of waves. It also felt like my body was shaking slowly, left, and right. Like the left goes down and then the right goes down. I wonder what it is.
My nose twitched. There was the scent of the ocean. Yeah, I seem to be on the coast or on a ship. Since I am swaying, I must be on a ship.
âŠâŠâŠâŠWhy?
With a groan, I opened my eyes.
The sky was filled with stars. I see, it was probably the evening after fighting Veloce, so it wouldnât be strange if it was already nightâŠ. By the way, I canât move. Even just moving my neck was difficult as I felt incredibly lethargic. Ah, itâs like that; Itâs a very similar feeling to when you canât get up from a massage chair.
âOh, are you waking up?â
I heard a familiar voice.
ââŠHng?â (Shuten)
My body seemed to have been laid down in a narrow space, and as I turned my head I saw there was a girl who sat down in front of meâŠwhat?
âVeloce, what are you doing?â (Shuten)
âIâm rowing a boat.â (Veloce)
âI can see that.â (Shuten)
âŠâŠ
âVeloce, why are you and I on a cruise date?â (Shuten)
âYouâre making me blush. But no, weâre running away. Iâm completely out of magic, and Shuten wonât be able to do anything for awhile because of my Chaotic Moon spell.â (Veloce)
âIt is Shuten who is too strong. I donât like doing this, but you forced me toâŠâ (Veloce)
âWait, what were we doing before, I donât remember.â (Shuten)
This situation is very similar to a little while ago when it was me and Hiragi coming in to Narcissus port.
Our surroundings are enveloped in darkness, and even an island can be seen in the distance. It really looks like the middle of the sea.
âDo you know if my kindred is safe?â (Shuten)
âIf your connection is unbroken, she is safe. I didnât do anything to her.â (Veloce)
ââŠâŠI see.â (Shuten)
Putting my hand on my chest, I can feel that my contract has not disconnected. So she is safe? I canât really remember anything after I put two pearl pieces at once in my chestâŠIs Crane-kun still alive?
âHm~huhmmâŠâ (Veloce)
âYou sound happy.â (Shuten)
âIs that so?â (Veloce)
Veloce rowed the boat while humming to herself.  Hm, itâs pretty obvious Veloce is in a good mood.
Although her expressionless face should be the default, one corner of her mouth is raised slightly while she hums. Itâs not a complicated song. Looking at her in such a good mood, I wonder what made her so happy.
There are a lot of questions I want to ask, but first what is she going to do with me?
I donât know why Iâm here. I should ask her that since I wanted to know since I woke up.
âWhy did this happen?â (Shuten)
âShuten and I fought, and you promised that if I won, then I could take you under my umbrella, and I won, so I brought you here. I will give you a lovely tour of the Demon Kingâs Castle!â (Veloce)
âWhat kind of comedy are you putting on!?â (Shuten)
âEh?â (Veloce)
I know I lost the fight because I fainted. By the way, Iâm so tired that I canât lift my arms. What did I promise, when? And what is with this boat to Demon Castle?
âShould I swim back?â (Shuten)
âCan you do it?â (Veloce)
âNo, itâs impossible, but you know how Hiragi gets when alone.â (Shuten)
ââŠIs Shuten going to leave a struggling girl with no magic behind, and break your promise?â (Veloce)
âGehâŠâ (Shuten)
She stared at me. Uh, I canât say anything if you look at me with those eyes. In the first place, I still canât do anything at all, itâs impossible. Even so, itâs not a good idea to leave Hiragi alone.
âThe transition gate used for the Demon King Armyâs invasion has been closed by RecklessâŠâŠâŠ I have no mana left for a transferâŠmy magic is empty because of the battle with ShutenâŠâ (Veloce)
âNo, honestly, I understand it might be frustrating, but I canât let Crane die.â
She sighed.
If I only looked at her with her lips pursed, she seems like a normal girl. I wouldnât think she was the âImperatorâ with 36 Ancient Spells.
Although, I already know who she is. Did she steadily increase her magic power and become stronger until she broke her limits and became the âImperator?â I feel like thereâs more to it than that though.
âAh~ well~ Iâll have you working hard for me from now on.â (Veloce)
âNo, waitâ (Shuten)
âWhat is it?â (Veloce)
âI donât even remember our battle in the first place. But, if I made you a promise, wellâŠLook. I donât know anything about the Demon Kingâs Army. Let me take a proper look. Then I can consider it further. Yup.â (Shuten)
ââŠâŠ Mu âŠâŠâ (Veloce)
âNo, really. Right?â (Shuten)
While rowing, Veloce seems lost in thought.
No, I really didnât remember that promise. In the first place, I am so busy thinking about how I can reunite with Hiragi that Iâve started to get a headache. I wonder if there is a smartphone lying around? No, there isnât any point in having one unless she also has one.
If I can get in touch with the Adventurerâs Association, maybe I could try posting on their request board? However, I have no magic aptitude to escape from my current situation.
âAhâŠâŠâ
Even so, itâs honestly uncertain whether Hiragi would think to check with the Adventurer Association. Well, she gets along with Haruna, so if she consults her then she should see it.
*Cho~*[2]
But, at this point itâs very possible that sheâll decide to set off on her own.
Speaking of, I vaguely wonder what she will do once she no longer wants to travel with me? As someone who lives properly, sheâs very helpful to someone like me, but it would be nice if she lived a little more freely and selfishly.
âShu-Shuten!â (Veloce)
âHm?â (Shuten)
âItâs a bit dangerous now.â (Veloce)
âWhat⊠Wow!â (Shuten)
When she called at me I looked over at her.
Veloce had a flustered expression on her face, which I thought was rare. And while I was thinking that, her expression illuminated by the stars was suddenly covered by a shadow. Looking up I saw that there was a huge Kraken above us.
âŠâŠ What?
âIt, ItâŠâ
âGigaaaaaaahh!!â (Kraken)
UhâŠit seems to be reacting to my pearl piece sensor. I donât know why. Apparently, the host of this pearl piece has lost control. The giant cephalopodâs eyes are filled with madness.
ââŠItâs so biiiiiiiiggg!!â
Really!
âItâs rocking the boat! Ah, stop it!â
âUwaah!â
Whatâs with monotone voice Veloce!
Aaah!! Water entered the boat!! Come on!!
âI failed. I really wanted to kidnap Shuten with this boatâŠâ (Veloce)
âThe shocking truth comes out!â (Shuten)
Is that really something to talk about right now!?!
âAh, I still canât move!â (Shuten)
âI also canât do anything.â (Veloce)
There was a buzzing sound as the wind was cut through. Looking up, the squidâs tentacles were crashing down. The boat was smashed, then I and Veloce were drowning in seawater.
I couldnât move my arms. My legs wonât move either.
âŠNot good.
âŠâŠHuh?
Somehow Iâm alive.
Look, Iâm conscious. I am Shuten!!
â-tto!â I said as sat up suddenly.
âŠâŠ There was an unknown ceiling above me.
Looking at my surroundings, I am in a somewhat fancy room. Itâs probably a girlâs room, with a pink dresser and closet. Iâm also tall enough that my legs stick out from the end of the bed.
Where is this?
This could be anyoneâs room. Uh, whereâs Veloce?
The light coming in through the window is so scaryâŠas the moon is red.
Oh, maybe Iâve arrived at the Makai underground empire?
No, but I was sure that I and Veloce had been smashed into the sea by the Kraken, without arriving at Demon CastleâŠ
While I was thinking about what happened, I heard a door open. A girl entered through the only door in this room.
â⊠Oh, you woke up. I picked you up because you were unconscious on the shore. How are you feeling?â (Girl)
Is the girlâs age about fifteen or sixteen? Well, Iâve learned that you canât judge a girlâs real age by her appearance in this world. Well, you could say thatâs just how she looks then?
Sheâs in a gray sweatshirt that resembles a hoodie.
It really feels like something she would lounge about in at home.
âOh, thank you. Thanks a lot. Youâve saved me⊠Was I alone?â (Shuten)
âYes. Oh, you had an axe with you. Itâs not a good ax. Itâs a little strange for you to have a magical tool that is specifically meant for killing Oni, you know.â
Seeing her with her hands in a thumbs-down gesture, itâs certain sheâs talking about my Demon Slayer.
Itâs surprising enough that she would bring an unidentified guy in her house, so it makes sense that she wouldnât keep weapons within reach.
However, itâs impressive she can determine the effects of the Demon Slayer just by looking at it. No, maybe it was more than just observation.
âHow long have I been asleep?â (Shuten)
âItâs been about three days? Since I found you.â (Girl)
âIs that soâŠhuh? Did you carry me?â (Shuten)
âMhm. Well, I didnât know what else to do. Fufu~â (Girl)
The girl puffs out her chest in pride. She is completely flat though.
At the same time, she shook the hood part of her jacket off of her head, revealing pink hair. It was shockingly pink hair cut in a bob, and her eyes were ice blue.
âYouâre staring at me. Am I cute?â (Girl)
âYeah, youâre very cute.â (Shuten)
âI donât like to use charm or illusion magic, as I think Iâm cute enough as is. But Iâm also confident in my makeup, though today Iâm not wearing any. What do you think?â (Girl)
âOh, yep. Yes.â (Shuten)
âWhatâs with that reaction? Please ooh and aah. Because there is such a cute girl in front of you.â (Girl)
She fluttered her eyelashes at me coyly. Her expression was full of confidence, which added to her appeal. What a beautiful girl. Is she an idol?
âI wonder if you are as cute as a little dog?â (Shuten)
âWha-! W-what kind of nerve you have, comparing people to beasts?â (Girl)
âGeh-!! I didnât mean to â I definitely didnât say dog!!â (Shuten)
âOh, really? Then what did you mean to say?â (Girl)
ââŠKettle.â (Shuten)
âI was compared to a tea kettle!?â (Girl)
âNo, itâs just that youâre cute. Uh, um, too cute!â (Shuten)
I admit sheâs cute, but itâs slightly mortifying to obediently compliment someone. I have no hidden agenda.
Then as if my thoughts had leaked through to her, she gave me a blank look.
ââŠPffâ She couldnât hold her laughter in.
âHuh?â (Shuten)
âHahahahaha!â (Girl)
The girl in front of me was suddenly holding her stomach and laughing. She must have thought it was pretty funny, considering that her laughter brought her to tears, which she is now wiping away with slender fingertips.
That carefree smile is also very cute, though not in the way of attraction.
âHuh. Youâre the first one who has spoken to me like that in a long timeâŠI like you.â (Girl)
âWell thanksâ (Shuten)
âNevertheless, Oni are rare.â (Girl)
âWouldnât you, a human, be rarer than me?â (Shuten)
When I looked over, she shrugged her shoulders as if I were being ridiculous.
When our eyes met, she seemed a bit taken aback. Then as if it were obvious, she said, âThere are no humans in a place like this. Iâm a fallen angel.â
Unfolding three pairs of black wings on her back, she told me her race. Shouldnât such a race would be quite powerful in a fantasy world?
âOh, thatâs quite amazing..â (Shuten)
âYes? Thatâs right. Huhuu~â (Girl)
She likes to be praised.
Even though a fallen angel never appeared in Grimoire Lancer, I am not surprised to meet one here.
âŠ.Hmm?
With pink hair, and a fallen angelâŠ
âI am Shuten, thank you for your help. How about you?â