Aisha holds her knees in the corner of the room.
　If this happens, she won't be able to come to her senses for a while.
　Nacht had no choice but to face the two women in front of her.

''But you arrived earlier than I thought you would.

You're in the right place you're doing that to your beloved squire in a fancy hotel.... ...

　Filnelia was tired of paying attention to Nacht, for goodness sake, and she was sarcastic as if she ignored the power relations.
　She has a very weedy look in her eyes, perhaps after running around in various ways because of Nacht.

　Her appearance is sensational, though, as she is only a succubus after a hot water bath. Her hair, which was an otherworldly shade of pink that applied to the law of lewdness, was watery and shiny. The large fruit that Aisha would have envied was bouncing and swaying when she moved in the slightest. Normally, this would have aroused her lust, but she was even more limp than that, and her eyes like a dead fish made her feel like she was losing her s*x appeal.

..........

　By all accounts, it would be Nacht's fault for imposing all the hassle on her without refusing a word.
　She wanted to be the first to complain to Nacht, so she stormed into the bathhouse even though she knew that Nacht and the others were bathing.

'The two of us - we ran around all over the place. A samurai family can be pretty hard-headed, so it was hard work. However, we've made an appearance externally, and Haruka and the others are finally taking a break~.

　Haruka said in a leisurely voice.
　Haruka, who had washed away the fatigue and grime from her journey in the hot spring, was generously exposing her healthy body through the hem of her worn-out yukata. It's a good thing that you're able to get the most out of this article.

''Yes~, tomorrow~, a great person from Tachibana will be coming, so Nahato-chan should be in attendance as well. I invited you all the way over here~, you don't want to run away, do you?

　There are no plans for Nacht in the Land of Harmony.
　Just as long as you can enjoy an unexpected trip, that's all that matters.
　In order to enjoy a comfortable Wa no Kuni life, there is no better way to have the backing of an authority figure.
　Nacht nodded at Haruka's words.

''I don't mind that much. There are some things I want to ask you about.

　Yes, Nacht said.

"Hmmm, if you want, I'll ask you, Haruka-chan, ask me anything you want~

　Nahato thinks for a moment as Haruka says to him.
　After closing his eyes once, Nacht says something he wants to ask Haruka.

'Was it your insurance that brought us here?'

I'm not sure...

　The calm Haruka narrowed her eyes and gasped, if only for a moment.
　A reaction so minute that only Nacht would have noticed it.
　On the surface, she remained smiling, but her inner turmoil and astonishment was transparent to Nacht.
　As far as Harka's reaction was concerned, Nacht's thoughts were almost certainly correct.

''What do you mean?''

No need to hide anything, no need to be ecstatic. We're enjoying the festival and the spa, we're not complaining.

　Haruka took a slow breath and mended her soft expression and opened her mouth.

'They're going to notice - I knew you were amazing, Nacht-chan - when did you notice?'

"That's when we arrived in town. The most uncomfortable part was the grand welcome and the sight of you - I'm a Dragon Man of the Spiritual Dragon, it's impossible not to notice.

The best thing about this is that it's not a demon race, it's a dragonborn. I don't know anything about the dragonborn because this place is so closed off, but I wonder if you know much about magic?

.........

　Haruka nodded in agreement with Filnelia's explanation.　
　It was as if she was a monster, well, not that she wasn't aware of it.

''Hm, that's rude. I'm just an ordinary girl everywhere, I am!''

It's a lie!

　Nacht chuckles at the breathless rush.
　Of course, there is no doubt that Nacht is just a normal human being, but he is also a normal dragon. There's no lamenting about it, no resentment, no confusion right now, so it doesn't matter what others think of him, Nacht doesn't care what Nacht thinks of him.
　Nacht looked lovingly at the depressed Aisha.　

　Since I met her, I don't even think about what I am anymore.
　'I am Nacht Schatten,' Nacht thought, 'and that fact alone is enough.

'Well, it's a confusing art form in its own way. I don't understand it all either, but the key is a being like you, isn't it?'

I'm afraid you know everything.

Not everything, just what I know.

　Saying that, Nacht casually looked at Aisha to see if her mood would return soon, but she was still crying in a whisper.

''Well come to think of it, what happened to your little girl?''

　Filnelia asked if he was concerned about Shtel not being here.

'Shtel just went out to play. He's a good boy, and he'll be back by dusk.

Hmmm.......are you sure you want to let her go alone.......?

My daughter?　There's nothing wrong with that.

"...I'm not worried because she's your daughter...

　I feel like I've been terribly rude, but I don't think there's anything wrong with Shtel.

'Come to think of it, Haruka, you were allowed to ask me anything you wanted, right?

　When Nacht cut in like that, Haruka seemed to be wary for a moment, but she immediately smiled and smiled.

''Okay~, even if it's relationship advice~, even if it's how to make your boobs bigger~, ask me anything you want!

You know, I'm just wondering... if you could tell me what this princess miko thing is all about.

　Nacht asked Haruka, who was bracing herself as she thought of her beloved daughter.






◇





　The Land of Wa is currently in an ongoing state of isolation.
　There are no open ports other than Minato in the west, and it is in a state that blocks trade with all countries except for some of the kingdom's merchant ships.

　Originally an island nation in the far east, it was not a country that people would come to from other countries. It is generally agreed that the main reason for the country's isolationist policy was because it did not want the entry of Shintoists into the country, even though it has a unique culture and does not have deep ties to the continent.

　The religions of the country of harmony are various, and although it is a polytheistic religion, perhaps the religion called "Shintoism" is involved in all of its ideas.
　In view of the deism's teaching that everything in the world has the possibility of having a god in it, the elective religions are water and oil.
　They find and believe in God in nature and even in the lives of people.
　At the pinnacle of such deism were the three priestesses, known as the princess maidens of the three worlds.

The Three Realms is the great nature that is the whole of the Land of Harmony - the ocean, the mountains, and the forest. In each of these three worlds, a priestess offers a prayer. That's why she's called the princess miko of the three worlds. I used to be one of them. I was the princess miko of the sea, a beautiful girl that everyone admired, but in the past tense.

　The true nature of the authority she possesses, that is the position of being the pinnacle of ex-theism.

''You were in the same position as that woman called Hyuki?''

"Hyuki-chan~ is the current princess miko of the mountain. She's cute, hardworking, and extremely talented...

　The words that were spat out were somehow bracketed with a slightly weaker tone.
　Halka looks away from her gaze as if she's thinking about something.

'Is it okay to say this~?　But I feel like they've already figured it all out, so it's too late now~

　Nodding in agreement, Haruka is convinced by one of them.

The role of the princess maiden isn't often publicized - it's part of the foundation of the Land of Harmony.

　But~" her expression tightens a bit as she continues with a distracted voice.
　That's the face she shows from time to time, the face of an authority figure.
　The dignity shown by one who stands above others. The grave intimidation that is unconsciously radiated. It's a hegemonic force, as if to say that he or she is a resident of another world.
　Nahat is looking at Haruka like she's enjoying herself.

''You can say that you are all related to the Demon King who came through the door. I also have a position as a benefactor who saved this country, so if it's a little.

　Halka said, then took a cup of tea from her teacup and slowly opened her mouth.

The country of harmony, you know, is very closed-minded and hard-headed. They are very closed-minded and hard-headed, and yet they think they have to be noisy because everyone else is noisy. That's why this island has its own traditions, or rather its own way of thinking.

　--The land of harmony must be governed by the blood of the warrior family.

　Those who do not shed blood are not qualified to stand above others.
　It is natural for those who are above to take the lead in fighting, and everyone thinks so and does not give in.

'I don't think that idea in itself is wrong. You can't use someone in power who doesn't know what's going on in the field, and people won't follow you if you stand on your haunches and say big words. But I don't think it's a good idea to be too adamant about it.......

　Harka says this with a bit of a dark look on his face.
　You'll be able to find a lot more than one way to go about it.

''The same with the princess miko, it doesn't matter what you want or don't want, it was vital to just offer it up. The princess miko is a proper high-priority position nowadays, but originally it was not. The princess was a pitiful sacrifice. Offering one, trying to grab the ninety-nine, a painful choice made by man--

　--The Princess of the Sacrifice--

That's still the essence of being a princess miko, isn't it?

　Harka put his hands around his shoulders to hug his own body.

'I still don't think I regret my choice, but...'

　Gently letting go of the hand that was hugging her tightly and trying hard to fix a smile, Haruka looked sharply into Nacht's eyes.

''Hey, Nacht-chan.......the hero on the other side of the door.......!　You only need to work for one person, for your own ugly ego!　Can we leave a million people to die...?

　Harka's eyes were shaking.
　Eyes filled with the fragility of a sobbing child, still and waiting for the moment when a warm hand is presented to her.
　She was still a child.

　She hid it behind a smile, a phantom in a heavy spirit, falsifying the margin with words.
　She was both an authority figure and an adult, and I felt I was getting a glimpse of her essence now.

　I know the words she wants.
　She wants affirmation of the choices she has made. An inner self that she would not be able to say to anyone but Nacht, an outsider, not a resident of this country. I must be proud to say that it is indisputably the right thing to do, but somewhere in my heart I am sure I regret the choice I made.
　So, I want you to affirm it.
　You're right, no one else can do that, you're worthy, and I want comforting words like that.
　But Nacht took the hand that was anxiously held out to him.

"Ha ha!

　He laughed.

'That's a foolish question. I would turn even the world against you if it were for my own importance?

　Even so, Nacht says, as a matter of course.
　In fact, for the sake of Shtel and Aisha, whether it's a million or two million, Nacht would not hesitate to kill them.
　Nacht never misjudges what is important to him.

''Well..........''

　The words sounded deeply sunk.
　A painful silence came.
　Nacht's response to such silence was.

But...

　'I'm going to give you a terrible smile.

'Yes, but I'm selfish!　If someone is willing to cut down one to save the ninety-nine!　I shall laugh it down, pick up one, and by the way, save the ninety-nine, and pick up the two hundred or three hundred beyond that, and show them!
　Carrying his unshakable confidence, Nacht simply said.

'Oh, that's so f*cked up!　How can you--
　Harka is desperate to deny it.
　But Nacht is happy to push through the recklessness. Pushing through is what Nacht is all about.

'--It can't be done!　I will!　I'm the one!　It's Nacht Schatten, after all.

　Its name is synonymous with unreasonableness.
　The name of a foreign object that can easily twist what someone else declares to be impossible. Nacht is aware of this.
　That's why Nacht never fails to strive for the best possible future for the sake of what he cares about.

'It was hard, wasn't it?　If you need help with something, you don't have to ask for it specifically, do you?　I owe you a favor for arranging a place to stay.

　Yes, Nacht said softly.

"...Mr. Eiyuu.........

　Halka muttered in dismay.

My hero!

　Without hesitation, he hugged Nacht without hesitation.
　On the contrary, he grabbed her single-mindedly and pressed his chest and face to hers.
　It was like a spoiled child.
　This is a good feeling, though.
　Yes, Nacht thought.

N-ha-tah-tah-tah-mah.

　There was a demon in front of me.

'Hey, Aisha, good morning ... this isn't ... well ... it's not ... it's not ... it's never ... It's not that I wanted--

　Yes, Nacht said falsely, but Aisha was beyond cheering up and was severely crowned.

'Hero-sama!　It was hard!　I love it!　So, do yourself a favor, Halka.

　Ignoring Aisha like that, Haruka would spoil Nacht even more.
　Aisha's rage was certainly visible in Nacht's eyes.

'U-wa-ki-su?'

　The fire of menace was burning on Aisha's back.
　The intimidation is that of a dragon that has been touched by a reverse scale.
　There was only one thing Nacht could do for Aisha in this situation.

''I'm sorry.''

　Nacht was forced to get down on his knees for the first time after coming to another world.