Chapter 346 Interlude I Wanted to Introduce You
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
(Megumi’s POV)
(Um… where am I…?)
I wake up and slowly try to sit up.
A soft bed.
A very light blanket.
I can tell right away that it’s more luxurious than the bedding at home.
”Oh, you’re awake?”
Koichi rushes over to the bed.
He looks worried, but I can’t help but grab his shoulder and ask, “Are you okay!?”
”I’m fine, but… Mom, you’ve been asleep for quite a long time, you know?”
(That’s right… not just Koichi, but AelAel and I were also caught by the priest, Azradelius)
”Is AelAel okay?”
”I’m fine.”
When I turn around at the sound of the voice, AelAel is making tea for us.
”I’m glad… both of you, are you okay?”
”We’re fine, and I won’t let anything happen. I’ve made it so that Azradelius thinks I’m completely revived as the Demon King, except for my ‘power’.”
Koichi is smiling proudly.
”I’m sorry, Koichi… both Dad and I have been silent for so long…”
”Don’t worry about it. It was necessary to raise me as a human, right?”
”Koichi…”
He’s really grown into such a kind child.
”And… Hiroya will definitely come to help. It must be tough not being able to see Dad, but I’ve told Hiroya to ‘figure something out in 3 years’.”
”Three years…”
It’s certainly not a short period.
However, considering Azradelius… and the surviving subordinates of the Demon King who will likely gather from now on, no matter how strong Hiroya is… it should be tough with his current abilities.
”So, is this Azradelius’s base?”
”Yeah. I think it’s somewhere in the Welnia Empire territory, but I don’t know the exact location…”
I approach the window of what seems to be a room in the mansion.
Even when I open the curtains, I can’t see anything from the window.
There is only pitch black darkness.
”While we were being transported, Mr. Koichi and I were pretending to be unconscious… I think we might be in some underground labyrinth.”
Saying that, AelAel offers a mug to me and Koichi.
”I found some coffee, so I made some. Here are the sugar and milk.”
She placed the sugar jar and milk pot on the table with the tray.
”Thank you, AelAel. And… I’m sorry for dragging you into this.”
”N-no! It’s totally fine! As long as I can be by Mr. Koichi’s side, I don’t mind where I am…”
AelAel covers her flushed face with both hands.
* * *
After calming down with the coffee AelAel made, there was a knock on the room’s door.
”Has Megumi woken up?”
Saying that, the succubus Doll entered.
”Oh, looks like you’re awake. I wanted to consult you about something, Megumi.”
Saying that, Doll sat down at our table.
”If it’s a strange consultation, I’m rejecting it, Doll.”
”Haha! So you’re already acting like a Demon King, huh, mister?”
”I-I didn’t mean it like that!”
”Well, please forgive my rudeness. To me, you’ll always be Hiroya’s big brother.”
Doll laughed heartily.
”So, I wanted to consult you, Megumi.”
”What is it? I’m bored while being captured, so depending on the content, I might consider it.”
Since Hiroya seems to be in her care, it would be fine to return the favor.
”You say that, but… I’m sure it’s something that would make you happy…”
Doll looked at me with a smirk.
Something that would make me happy?
What could that mean?
I couldn’t help but brace myself.
”Recently, I’ve made a friend from another world… His name is ‘Obu Shinshi’.”
”!”
I was so surprised to hear Mr. Shinshi’s name from Doll that I almost spat out my coffee.
Wait, did Hiroya meet him when his consciousness flew to ‘that world’ with Mr. Shinshi?
”No way… You mean you like Mr. Shinshi because he’s wonderful…!?”
”There’s nothing to worry about. We’re just friends in a pure relationship. ──I admit he’s a good-looking guy, though.”
Hearing Doll’s compliments about ‘Mr. Shinshi,’ I couldn’t help but smile… and now Doll, Koichi, and AelAel are all looking at me with narrowed eyes.
”So, what about that good-looking friend?”
I turned to Doll and asked with a serious face.
”Don’t you want to see him? I mean, staying over there for a while might be a way to escape from Sir Azradelius…”
”Can I meet him!?”
I leaned forward, getting close to Doll’s face.
”You’re really eager, huh? To cut to the chase──yes, you can meet him. I’m working hard for that…”
”Working hard?”
”No, it’s nothing. I-I can use that kind of magic, you know.”
I was curious about what she was about to say, but my mind was filled with the thought that ‘I might be able to meet Mr. Shinshi.’
”He’s your husband from the ‘previous world,’ right? Because of Azradelius…”
”Yeah. We had to part ways with tears… What am I saying to my son?”
”It’s fine. I know because it was in the memories of the Demon King.”
Mr. Shinshi, who lost not only me but also Hiroya… ended up all alone over there.
”Shinshi seems to be doing well and is cheerful… but seeing a man putting on a brave face makes me want to help him… Is that maternal instinct?”
Doll closed her eyes and spoke with a smile.
Ah, this woman… she’s definitely in love with Mr. Shinshi.
”So, what will you do?”
”I agree with Doll. It’s much better than being here. I was planning to protect mom from Azradelius, but…”
Koichi encouraged me from behind.
”I could send you back from here, but then Sir Azradelius might start bothering Hiroya and the others again…”
”I see. If we go to the other world, Azradelius won’t be able to reach us… right?”
”That’s right♡”
”…Can I ask you for that?”
I ask Doll in a small voice, almost like a whisper.
”Got it. Well, make sure to get a good night’s sleep. When you wake up… you’ll be in Shinshi’s bed.”
Doll stands up and offers me a silver bangle.
”This is a magic tool that will convey your coordinates to me. Just wear it on your wrist while you sleep.”
I take the bangle and put it on my wrist.
”It looks great on you. See you later.”
Waving lightly, Doll leaves the room.
* * *
”It’s you again. ──I appreciate your intention to comfort me, but… I can’t embrace you, Doll. I think such things should be done with someone you love.”
I hear those words as I drift off to sleep.
(That familiar voice… Am I still dreaming…?)
”Come on, you’re going to drink again, right? I thought it was about time, so I prepared some good liquor.”
The voice is unusually clear.
This isn’t a dream.
──I sit up abruptly!
”I don’t know what kind of alcohol you have in your world, but this liquor is…”
I take a bottle from the cabinet and turn around, locking eyes with the man.
”M…Megumi…?”
”Mr. Shinshi…?”
We both freeze, as if time has stopped.
”Mr. Shinshi… Mr. Shinshi!”
I jump out of bed and dive into the chest of the person I love.
”Megumi!”
I am embraced by that large chest.
(Ah──it’s Mr. Shinshi. I’m in the arms of the Mr. Shinshi I love.)
”How… why are you here?”
”I don’t know. But Doll said, ‘I’ll let you meet Mr. Shinshi’…”
Mr. Shinshi’s expression, which has aged a bit, changes from surprise to tears.
”…How old are you now… have you become so emotional?”
”You’re the one who’s crying a lot, aren’t you?”
”I… I finally got to meet Mr. Shinshi!”
Yeah.
I was already crying tears of joy.
It’s okay to cry.
I don’t know how I got here… but it doesn’t matter now.
”Huh…!”
I pressed my lips firmly against the beloved Mr. Shinshi.
* * *
(Doll’s POV)
”Sorry, mister. Without your magical power, I wouldn’t have been able to do ‘Forced teleportation’ between worlds.”
”It worked, huh? I’m glad I could be of help, Doll.”
I desperately learned advanced-level magic because I wanted to bring the two of them together someday.
I managed to learn it, but it seemed that using it between worlds required ‘ultimate-level’ magical power consumption, and even with the coordinate confirmation from my magic tool, the silver bangle, it was quite difficult to reduce that magical power consumption.
I trained in various ways to increase my magical power, but… it just wasn’t enough.
That was when it happened.
Koichi, the brother of Hiroya, the reincarnation of the Demon King, and Megumi were captured.
(Now it’s possible. If it’s Koichi as the Demon King, then his magical power…)
As expected, it was more than enough.
By having Koichi assist with the magical power consumption for Megumi’s teleportation, ‘Forced teleportation’ was successfully achieved.
(This should bring peace to Shinshi’s heart.)
My chest hurts a little, but thinking of Shinshi makes me happy.
(No good. I’m seriously in love with Shinshi.)
Hiroya has 3 years until he becomes stronger.
How those 3 years here will translate into time over there… I can’t predict since it changes from moment to moment, but──
(To not leave Shinshi alone… they should just have a child or 2.)
”Anyway, thank you. This should make both Megumi and Shinshi happy.”
I thanked Koichi once more and left the room.
(Now, I need to think of a clever way to deceive Sir Azradelius.)
While thinking about such things.
Please bookmark this series and rate ☆☆☆☆☆ on here!
Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
Thanks for reading.
Leave a Reply