Alright, so it"s the holidays now! And my Kaif.u.ku Jutsushi readers know what this means. It means it"s time for a marathon of chapters! Well, I"ll at least try to translate one a day. Also, the t.i.tle for this chapter actually is written in english, and says "DOGEZA" in case some people think I capitalized the t.i.tle of my own accord. Thanks for reading~

I had come to the throne room lightheartedly many times, but just for today, it looked different.
The atmosphere of the place was tense.
My childhood friend"s father showed his face as a king, and the castle guards that always tease me showed faces of soldiers that will protect the king and the country.

"Pardoning the daughter of demon king Sharkryu, Ura Vesparda, and, also sheltering her in this country, is what you are asking for?" (King)

He"s not the usual, kind old man. He is unmistakably the king.
Wearing his clothing of authority, he is putting out an atmosphere that says he wouldn"t allow a half-hearted response.
Dodging the question wouldn"t work.

"Velt. I really cannot believe it, that you are Sharkryu"s friend. As someone who even changed your diapers, I thought there was nothing I did not know about you. No, that is not just for me. Of course, that is the same for the princess, Tyler, Galva, Forna, and that foolish son there. When did you meet the demon king?" (King)
"I can"t say. Or rather, I met the『Demon King』today. However, we got along." (Velt)
"You are telling me to believe that? No, you are telling me to consent with an answer like that?" (King)

There"s no way I could tell him that he"s my acquaintance from my past life.
Besides, what the king is saying is correct.
Of course he wouldn"t believe such an absurd story.
But that"s all I"m going to say.

"Velt……" (Ura)
"Don"t worry, Ura." (Velt)

All I"ll do is desperately protect what was entrusted to me.

"Yeah……… sorry about this……………… Velt." (Ura)
"Why do you have to apologize." (Velt)
"Because of me, I"m giving trouble to Velt………" (Ura)
"A brat doesn"t need to worry about me. This isn"t for your sake or anything. If I had to say, it would be something like a man"s stubbornness." (Velt)

That"s right. She is just my stubbornness.
So, a brat shouldn"t be looking downwards like that with such a worried face.

"Velt………………" (Ura)

Saying that, she tightly grips my hand and grip her hand back.
To comfort a crying child; my friend"s daughter. Thinking about it like that, I wondered if a father"s mental state is this sort of thing.
A paternity instinct, so to speak.
So………………

"……………… Tch………………" (Forna)

So, don"t glare at her with an oni-like face, Forna.
It"s spoiling her face that I just recently thought was cute.

"I hold responsibility for Ura. From here on, I"ll take care of her. So, I want you to forgive me." (Velt)

However, as expected, the biggest barrier right now is the king.
Sorry for thinking you were a king whose only redeeming feature was his kindness.
He"ll easily refute my half baked answers.

"Velt. Certainly, as far as I can see right now, princess Ura might not be worrying. However, princess Ura is a demon, and the fact that she is a demon princess will not change. It is also true that her father has killed many humans, and was destroyed by humans." (King)
"Ye, yeah, I know. But Ura was told by her old man not to live for revenge. She has also engraved that in her heart." (Velt)
"For now, that is. However, what about in a few years? Her wisdom and field of view will spread, and yet, would you still be able to guarantee that she will not harbour hatred against humans again? No, what do you plan to do about the humans who find her existence unpleasant? What will you do if a survivor of the demon king army, or the Vesparda Kingdom proposes for her to revive the kingdom?" (King)
"Tha, that is, well." (Velt)
"What will you do if the officials of Bolbardie try to take revenge on her?" (King)
"I, I will, do something……" (Velt)
"What will you do if this causes other countries to lose their trust in us, and our country is exposed to danger? In reality, it is not an exaggeration to say that this matter has caused the trust of humanity"s great allied forces towards our country to fall greatly." (King)

I can"t refute any of those points.
Obviously, as a delinquent who threw punches before debating, none of my words have any persuasive power.
Besides, realistically, I have nothing to show my determination as a powerless 10 year old.

"I know. No, I know there are plenty of things that I don"t know. But, even so, even so!" (Velt)

If there"s something I can do, then this is it.

"Pl………… please! Lend Ura………… no, please lend me power!" (Velt)

Including my past life, this is my first time ever prostrating myself.

"I couldn"t do anything! Without being able to listen to what problems he had or what suffering he went through, nor did I find out what he thought as he lived! Since I wouldn"t understand even if I listened………… with that kind of reason, I dodged it." (Velt)

To be honest, I didn"t want to do something so miserable.
However, I don"t have any other methods to pet.i.tion, nor show my feelings.

"Despite that, he called me his friend. Even though I"m not special at all, a guy who is fighting with the world as the stage, thought of me as his friend. A guy like that even went as far as lowering his head, that definitely isn"t trivial, to entrust everything to me, while saying he believes me, and that it"s a request he wants me to do no matter what!" (Velt)

Pride? Something like that doesn"t mean anything to my current self.
In the first place, I have already lost all pride that I should have protected.

"So, I want to at least save her no matter what! But, I can"t do anything by myself! So, so, I"m begging you! Please lend me power! As long as it"s something I can do, I"ll do anything!" (Velt)

I"m pathetic. Even though she was entrusted to me, in the end, all I can do is lower my head like this.
But right now, if all I can do is lower my head, then I"ll lower it no matter how long.

"………… Velt………… raise your head." (King)

What will the king do to me?
Will he laugh scornfully at this child that can"t think of anything?
However,

"This is the first time that you have requested something so much that you would lower your head to us." (King)

The king was smiling, and that expression was the one I knew well, a warm, fatherly smile.

"Velt. Ever since you were young, you have been changing little by little. When you talk with Forna and I, or anyone else, you would behave without keeping up appearances. However, you have never requested something from the bottom of your heart. When you were troubled, you would either conclude it within yourself or give up. At the very least, you have never begged someone before. It was the same towards your parents as well." (King)

Certainly, that might be true.
I have never seeked enough help for me to lower my head.
I would either do something about it by myself, or judge that I wouldn"t be able to do it and give up.
That especially was the case ever since I regained the memories of Asakura Ryuuma.
It"s because in this world where no one knows my real self, even if I had been superficially a.s.sociating with them, in my mind, I thought they were unrelated people.

"The only exception, was Melma-shi. When your parents pa.s.sed away, you said you wanted him to take you in, enough to lower your head. You relied on him. To be honest, I was envious of Melma-shi of that. Even though you only just met him, you trusted him that much." (King)

Yes, sensei was an exception.
The person who truly knew me.
For that reason, I relied on him and depended on him.

"Therefore, Velt. I want to live up to your request as much as possible. However, even if we hold such feelings, there is no guarantee that the citizens would agree with us. Do you understand that?" (King)
"Yeah, I understand." (Velt)
"We will also do as much as possible. However, I want you to resolve yourself as you two might be the ones that go through the most painful feelings." (King)

I know. Since the moment I high fived Samejima, I had already prepared myself for the worst.

"You"ve been rambling for too long, d.a.m.n dad." (Farga)

At that moment, in between us, Farga, who had been silent the whole time, cut into our conversation.
His line of sight was not pointed towards me, but to Ura, who is hiding behind me.

"The problem here, is the feelings of that d.a.m.n demon." (Farga)
"!" (Ura)
"Since before, my d.a.m.n dad has been rambling on, and none of the content has been wrong. But you know, you d.a.m.n demon, the most important thing here is your feelings." (Farga)

Farga"s sharp, bloodl.u.s.t-like aura was mercilessly concentrated on Ura.
With her body becoming slightly stiff, she firmly gripped my hand back and stood in front of Farga.

"My feelings?" (Ura)
"That"s right. How will you respond to our………… no, my stupid younger brother"s feelings? Can you swear that you won"t betray Velt, my stupid younger brother?" (Farga)

Ura"s feelings.
Come to think of it, I hadn"t confirmed that either.
Although I silently brought Ura here as Samejima told me to, I hadn"t asked Ura what she really thinks.

Then, Ura………

"What I really think……… I don"t want to cause trouble to Velt…… and I also don"t think it"s fine for just me to be helped. Even though my father, and Ruuga, and everyone pa.s.sed away……… it"s just me." (Ura)
"Oi, Ura!" (Velt)
"But! ……… Even so, if I can be selfish……… I don"t want to be alone……… so, I want to be together with Velt." (Ura)

What Ura really thinks. No, her state of exposing her weakness.
For the first time today, I felt like I saw Ura show an appearance suitable for her age.

"In that case, the answer is simple. You won"t betray my stupid younger brother. And, as long as my stupid younger brother says he"ll protect you, I"ll brush away all the d.a.m.n hindrances." (Farga)
"Farga………" (Velt)
"d.a.m.n dad, and my stupid younger sister. Are you fine with that?" (Farga)

Sooner or later, will I be calling Farga "aniki"?
I would seriously call him that though.

"I will not oppose a request from Velt"s heart." (Forna)
"Forna………" (Velt)
"However! However! I will just say this to princess Ura! I do not mind if Velt protects you. But……… I will not give Velt to you." (Forna)

Even while having a sulky look, Forna was nodding.
Tyler, Galva, and the imperial knights were all nodding while similing as well.

"……… Thank you, everyone, I am indebted to all of you!" (Velt)

This time, I"m not requesting for anything. I"m thanking them.
It is strange.
Even though it felt that uncomfortable when I prostrated myself to request, if my feelings of grat.i.tude is fill while I prostrate, it"s still not enough to show the feelings filling up my heart.

"Well then, Ura Vesparda-dono!" (King)
"Ye, yes!" (Ura)
"Welcome to the Elfarshia Kingdom! We give you a heartfelt welcome!" (King)

Ura was at a loss of words at the king"s words as he smiled.
She repeated saying "thank you," while lowering her head.
And then,

"Velt!" (Ura)
"O, oi." (Velt)
"Velt, Velt, Velt, I……… I, might cause you trouble, but………" (Ura)

She must feel relieved, since the mask that was supporting her came off, and she burst into tears, exhausted.
I felt that Ura"s body that was strongly clinging to me was truly small.

"You aren"t trouble! It"s fine for you to live! Laugh like a brat, cry, and get angry, since you can grow older normally!" (Velt)
"Uu, uuu, ah, a, uwaaaaaaaaaaa." (Ura)
"Listen, there are a few conditions. First, don"t lie to me. The same for secrets. And, immediately consult with me." (Velt)
"Yeah." (Ura)

Haha, I heard this somewhere…… no, it"s a phrase I was told before.
Is this fine? Samejima…… watch over me for a while.

"Uuuuuu, muuuuu, uuuuuuuuuu." (Forna)
"Forna-sama, well, I can guess how you feel, but please be big-hearted for today." (Galva)
"I know that, Galva! I, I ob, obviously, have a big, hea…… and will overlook…… however! It is just, just, just, just, just for today!" (Forna)

And, Forna seems to be furious, so I"ll need to do something about that……