I woke up, in my bed.
　The light from the orange nightlight comes into my vague vision.
　I look around.

　The light coming through the blinds is weak.
　Scattered across the flooring are video games and a few comic books.
　I'm going to sell all the games I've completed and all the comics I've finished reading.
　So the only thing in the room is what's currently in progress.
　My schoolbooks and reference books are neatly lined up on my desk.

　A drab room.
　A landscape I'm tired of seeing.
　The clock is ticking past 6:35.

(...high school, get ready to go?)

　I wandered to the living room.
　No one is there.
　Did our parents come home yesterday?
　My parents often leave for work early in the morning and come home after the last train.
　...No, more often than not, they don't come home in the first place.

　There was an envelope on my desk, with money inside.
　This is my budget for the week.
　So it's Monday.

　Unwilling to bake the bread I forgot when I bought it, I pressed the remote and turned on the TV.
　There was some entertainment news I wasn't really interested in, but it was lazy.
　I changed the channel and turned on the weather forecast.
　The weather is raining.
　Yeah it's going to be a pain in the ass.
　I need an umbrella ... an umbrella?

...and you don't need an umbrella.

　Yes, I don't need an umbrella.
　I used to hate the rain, but now I like it.

　Because--


'True!　How long are you going to sleep!

　The door just popped open!　And it opened.
　Lucy, dressed in her Tokyo Metropolitan Higashi-Shinagawa High School uniform, came zipping in.
　Hey, take your shoes off.

Come on!　It's time to get up for breakfast... what's going on?　You look weird.
　I almost laugh at the uncomfortable feeling of Lucy with her bright red hair and pointed elf ears wearing a uniform.
　I realize now that I'm not the only one.
　Apparently, I'm dreaming.

'What ... you look so weird ... yikes!
　I hugged Lucy.
　It was a dream anyway!

(Thank God I thought I was dreaming of being in another world.)
　I hug her as hard as I can.

I'm not going to stop hugging you!
Hmm?
　A shock hits my head and I'm brought back to reality all at once.
　Lucy is posing with her head in a hatchet with an angry face.
　There's the King's Wife, who's frozen in my embrace, and Lucy, who's posing with her head in a pose with an angry look on her face.　

"Ah, um..... I'm sure you're not the only one. We have to get up soon.
　Princess Sophia's breath catches in my ears as her face turns bright red.
　I mean, what the hell are you doing!

Excuse me!
　He hurriedly raised his hands and released Princess Sophia.
''Then I'll wait for you in the dining room...''
　With a red face, knocking, Princess Sophia ran off.
　Oh man, I've been s*xually harassing you all morning.

Why don't you wash your face, you slut?
　Lucy, who doesn't hide her grumpiness, has her arms folded.
　Of course, she's wearing her usual clothes, not her high school uniform.

(Lucy in her uniform, that was erotic.)
　I'm supposed to be less exposed than usual.
　Is it because of the overflowing feeling of cosplay?

What?　Giggle. I wonder if Princess Sophia's embrace was that good?
　No, I'm in a bad mood.
'No, I'm not. I thought it was Lucy, you know. I've made a mistake.
　Is this excuse really a good one?　
　Isn't he a scumbag?　I thought, but in my sleepy head, all I could think of was.

'Heh?　Is that so?　.........Hmmm, I guess it can't be helped when you're pregnant.
　Lucy climbed into bed, combing her hair as if she was embarrassed!
'Ruh, Lucy?'
See? You won't go wrong this time, will you?
　As he said that, he put his hand around my neck...

Roo-chan?　Takatsuki-kun, what are you doing?
"?

　--Danger warning!

　There's Saa-san with the knife, and he's looking at me!
　And Tsui yawns above Sa-san's head.
　You need to get a sense of urgency...

I'm ready to eat!
Okay, okay, Aya, don't be angry.
Moo!
I'm sorry!
　The two girls left for the living room.

(Let's get up...)

　Wash your face with the water magic method.
　Sleeved up the clothes I'd hung up last night.
　Put your jacket on.
　Brush the dagger lightly with a cloth.
　A ten-second prayer to the Goddess.
　Forty seconds exactly.
　I'm ready.


　I stepped into the living room and dining room.


"Good morning, Sa-san.　
Good morning!　Takatsuki-kun.
　Sa-san, in her pink apron, turned around with a smile.
　Have you forgotten your anger from earlier?
　She ties her hair back and makes a big ribbon around her waist.
　The apron seems to be handmade by Sa-san.
　Clever.

"Hey, hey, it's late!　My knight.
　Mr. Furiae is tinkling his teacup with his chopsticks.
　Where did you learn that? That's it.
　Don't be silly.

....
　Princess Sophia looked at me and pouted with a red face, looking away.
　Later, I'll apologize.

(.........yeah, this way is better.)
　I'll do my best in another world.


　◇


　I take a seat and look at the food on the table.

'What's on the menu for breakfast today...'

　Rice cooked in a pot
　Grilled fish (whitefish)
　Fried eggs (there were chicken-like ones in my world too)
　miso soup
　pickled radish-like root vegetable

(Is this Japan?)
　It seems the supplier of the foodstuffs is Fujiwara Trading Company.
　Fujiyan, you're not half bad.

　They're opening a ramen shop soon.
　I've got to go there!　

You're a brave soul. This soup has a strange taste to it.
"Hey, my knight. How do I use these wooden sticks called 'chopsticks'?
'Huli, that's an alien dish. We can use our forks.
　For now, each person in the other world is enjoying their meal.

'I'm sorry, Sa-san. You always make me a meal.
'No, I've always been the one making breakfast for my brothers and sisters.
　It's mind-blowing.
　Also, Sa-san in her apron is 20 percent cuter than usual.

　By the way, about the cooking skills of all the girls except Sa-san.

　Princess Sophia doesn't (naturally) cook.
　Furiae has never held anything heavier than a spoon (according to her).
　Lucy can only cook baked food. Also, it's generally 'charred'.　
　Me?　I do have 'cooking' skills, but.......in fact, I haven't cooked since I came to the other world because I've been eating out all the time.

(I'm so glad you're here, Sa-san.)
　I think to myself, "Takatsuki-kun, I'll make you miso soup every day.
"Takatsuki-kun, I'll make you miso soup every day.
Yeah, that's great.
　I don't remember eating miso soup in the morning, even in my former world, almost never.
　I knew it was Japanese food in the morning!　

"...why is that?　I feel like I shouldn't go through the lines now.
''Princess Sophia, me too. Aya, what did you mean when you said that?
Yeah, I don't know what that means.
　Oh, the soft morning sunshine, the warm meal and the warm conversation.

It's so peaceful...
''The 'causal thread' is twisting in front of my eyes...?　My knight.
"?　What does that mean?　The "Princess
Congratulations....
　He gave me a cold look.


　After a while.　
Hey, Makoto. What are you going to do now?
　Lucy asked me as she ate a forkful of egg rolls.
　By now, I guess she means her next goal.

'I've got a job for you to go to the land of the trees or the land of fire and meet the brave men of other countries. Isn't that right?　Sophia.
Yes, that's right, my dear hero. But there has been a mass exodus of demons, so...
"You'd better get to the tree country first, my knight. It's just a hunch.

　Hmmm, that's a statement from Friae, who can see the future.
　Can't ignore it.
　Also, speaking of tree country.
Lucy, you have a family home in tree country, right?
Yes, that's right. A place in tree country called 'Canaan's Land'.
'The village of Canaan. Is that, if I may ask, the village of Canaan, where the Red Lotus Witch is located?
　Princess Sophia reacts to Lucy's words.

'Yes, but...'
'Miss Lucy, are you by any chance related to the Red Lotus Witch?'
My mother....
　Lucy's reaction was poor.　

'You're a brave man, Makoto. Let's go from tree country!　With the Wind Tree Brave, the Tree Priestess, and the Red Lotus Witch on our side, it would be very reassuring!
　Princess Sophia's tension is high.
　But I'm kind of stuck on it.

'Sophia-chan, why haven't you talked to me before?'
　Yes, that's it.
　I've heard that the Land of the Sun has been preparing for the Northern Expedition project for years, if not longer.
　Isn't that part of the laying out of the groundwork something that should have been done long ago?

'Ugh ... and that's why I've sent messengers a few times now, but they've always been absent ...'
　Be dazed, Princess Sophia.

Oh, they're so fickle. They're probably not home.
'Is the wizard close to the wind-tree brave and the tree maiden?
The Tree Priestess is a relative of the Walker family. We went to school together, the hero of the wind tree. He's the older one.
　Oh, come on, Lucy.
　You're so well-connected.
　I barely knew you were a girl.

It's settled. Lucy, show me the way.
Well, that's okay. Princess Sophia. I haven't seen my mother in three years, so how can I expect to see her?　He's always on the road.
Not a problem. Then Leo will be in town in a few days. Then we'll leave.
　That's what was decided.

　So we've come to an agreement.

Well, I'm going out for a bit. Princess, come with me.
What, me?
"?
　Friae, who was giving the black cat a piece of grilled fish skin, turns around and looks at me.
　Lucy, Sasan and Princess Sophia are coming to look at me.
　...What... what is it?

We're going to see that snake cultist we heard we caught. Let's find out what the cult's purpose is.
''Brave man, Makoto. As for the captive cultists, the ones in the temple said that they seem to be specially trained and don't talk about them at all, but...
　Princess Sophia says ruefully.

'It's all right then. Maybe we can make it work. Princess, let's go.
Huh, you're a guardian knight, but you've got a rough hand with the princess.
Is that right?
　They complain about it, but they are willing to cooperate.
　Well, the purpose of the cult would be of interest to Friae-san as well.

''Ru-chan, what do you want to do today?''
Hmm, I think I'll go to the hot springs.
'Nice!　I'm going with you!
All right, let's get ready to go.
　The two girls seemed to have plans elsewhere.

'Brave girl, I will follow you,'
I understand.
　Princess Sophia is coming with us.
　Well, I guess I'll be going then.


　

　The temple of water.
　It's a prison located underneath the temple.

　I greeted the guard and asked him to unlock the door to the basement.
　The staircase leading down is dimly lit and the faint light from the magic candle illuminates the footing.

''Sophia, is it a good thing you came with me to this place?''
If you want to find out what the Order is up to, I'll be there.
I want to go home!
　Mr. Furiae is no good.

　I arrived in front of the prison.
　The woman of the snake cult who is being held captive.
　There is a jailer standing in front of the cell.

May I come in?
Don't get too close to it.
　While being warned, we go in.
　It's me and Miss Freyae going in.
　Princess Sophia was asked to wait outside the prison.

So you are the brave soul of Roses?
　He stared at me with a hateful stare and said... "I've seen this happen before.
I've got nothing to say to you.
　I can sense a strong will in his tone of voice.

"Princess, nice to meet you.
Okay.
　Friae casually approached the woman of the Order.

''Eh, isn't it dangerous...''
　Princess Sophia is a little flustered.

Hey, honey.
　Mr. Furiae crouches in place and makes eye contact with the woman of the Order.
''....Who's that, Oma?''
Good girl.
　And then he touched her cheek a little.

　At that moment, the woman of the Order freaked out and trembled.

'Can you tell me your secret?'
　To Mr. Furiae, who smiles and smiles.
'Yes~!　You can ask me anything you want!　Hey, lady!
　It's as good as it gets.
　That's a quick drop.

"?
　Princess Sophia and the gatekeeper stare at them with a surprised look on their faces.

Hey. I'm not sure what to do after this.　My knight.
What did you let the demon attack McAllen for?
　I ask the woman of the Order.

'Huh!　Don't let anyone other than your lady talk to you, dammit. Die!
....
　In case you're wondering, I have 'fascination' too.
　Hey, Friae. Don't laugh.

Can you teach me?
Sister!　I'm thrilled that you would speak to my lowly self!　I'll tell you everything!　It's all ordered by Archbishop 'Isaac'!　Our orders are to kill the brave men of Roses in McAllen!　He wants you to destroy "Makoto Takatsuki" and his companions who failed in their mission with the horn and sinfonia!　The 'Black Dragon' had full control of the operation!　I'm the messenger who confirms that McAllen has been destroyed and reports back to the Order of the Serpent!

　He spoke very quickly and explained it all to me.

''Well you didn't come for me, did you?''
　Murmuring to himself, Mr. Freyae.
"It was me, wasn't it?
　Actually, I had a feeling that was the case.
　After all, the population of the town was growing because of the presence of the brave men of Roses.
　Usually, the target is me.

(Isn't that him, High Priest Izak?
　In the capital of the Water Kingdom, rampaging abominable giants.
　In the City of the Sun, the mastermind behind the suicide bombing and the summoning of the demon horde.

(Vindictive...)
　I don't know how I feel about it, though, since it's destroyed a decade of planning.

''Sophia, let's use this information to make a plan for the future.
''Yeah, yeah..... I didn't think I'd spill my guts so easily.
　Princess Sophia still looks surprised.
　Hmph, Friae-san stretched her chest.

''The conversation you just had, I'll record it!
　The jailer is taking notes in a hurry.

　After that, she asked some questions to the woman of the Order, but she didn't have any more information.
　Apparently, she was a terminal person.

　Having gotten the information we needed, we went up from the basement to the ground.


'Well, I guess my work is done then,'
　Hmmm, Friae stretches and tries to leave somewhere.
'Hey, wait a minute.'
　Also, there's one more thing I need to check.

"Princess, let's synchronize with me.