Chapter 70 (Presents)

"ーPlease wake up, Kurohiko-sama." 

Someone is shaking my body. 

"Nn...." 

Mia-san? 

I can"t open my eyes; I feel so sleepy... 

I"m unable fighting against my drowsiness. 

I was trying to wake myself up; however, my consciousness keeps on resisting. 

"Just like what Kurohiko-sama said himself last night, he"s as if unable to separate himself from the bed. to understand his own nature, as expected of him..." 

Mia-san said those words as if in admiration. 

I wonder what? 

Then I was being greeted by Mia-san smile. 

"Ahー... Good morning, Mia-san." 

"It"s perfect! You really helped me!" 

I raise my thumb toward her. 

I feel like all my tension within my body being released after taking a bath. 

Though I do feel ashamed, but, I have no confidence that I would be able to wake up on time with this condition after all. 

I also feel heavy on my left arm. 

"A-Are you alright?" 

"Please don"t force yourself ne~?" 

After saying that, Mia-san bowed her head slowly. 

"Well then, Mia will prepare the breakfast now. please take your time to prepare yourself Kurohiko-sama." 

*Tatata* I can hear Mia-san step entering my ears. 

Then I fill my stomach with Mia-san handmade cooking. 

It makes the things that had happened inside the sacred ruin yesterday feels like a lie. 

There"s still a lot of time before school hours. 

After saying he thanks, Mia-san sits down on the chair while minding her skirt position. 

"Yes, does Kurohiko-sama need something?" 

"The thing that I like the most, is it?" 

Mia-san looks speechless. 

The truth is, yesterday after we defeated the giant and small monsters, I picked up some crystal that the monsters have dropped. 

Currently, I left the crystal in Kyurie-san custody. 

Though I want to make the presents being a surprise, but, if there"s something that they like, I would also like to know. 

"L-Let"s see... Iー..." 

While she put her hands atop of her lap, Mia-san shrinking her shoulder looking embarra.s.sed. 

"Yes?" 

What? 

"Au..." 

Mia-san fidgeting. 

As expected, like this, It seems like I have to explain things to her huh. 

"Yes..." 

"No no, that is not Mia-san fault. It was I who"s being vague." 

Mia-san then opened her mouth naturally while pressing her hand on her chest. 

"A present for me... just the thought Kurohiko-sama put into it is enough for me." 

"Entrust it to me, is it?" 

The expression she shows is similar to that of an expression of trust. 

"Yes... if it"s something that Kurohiko-sama choose for me then, no matter what, it would make me happy." 

U-Umu... 

Since in other words, everything rests within my choosing power. 

Since I"d already went this far. 

"It"s alright. emm... well then, please look forward to it, but not to the point of expecting too much." 

"Such as casual wear?" 

"I see, accessories huh?" 

"But you know, even Makina-san too, she would be happy no matter what Kurohiko-sama give her you know?" 

"Yes... that"s why, Kurohiko-sama does not have to think too deeply about it alright? I"m sure Makina-san would feel happy to get something which 『Kurohiko-sama had thought and choose by himself』." 

"Yes, that"s how it is..." 

*Fufufu*, Mia-san smiled once again. 

I guess, she"s right. 

I left the house and went to the academy with Mia-san send me off, 

............................................. 

A pleasant clear sky. 

When we entered the cla.s.sroom, Cecil-san and Aira-san have already inside. 

I felt like the air surrounding the cla.s.smates have change. 

And I don"t feel anything bad from them. 

Both are about follow up of yesterday incident. 

First is about the academy forbid any sacred ruin exploration for a while. 

The sacred ruin itself will be opened as soon as the investigation finished; however, it was still undecided how long the investigation would take place. 

Because it"s unclear how long the sacred ruin will be blocked. There"s the possibility that we could not make any ranking result in the first half of semester. 

The first lion cla.s.sroom student that have to dropped out from the academy, Viburk Maro. 

By the way, Viburk colleagues in the same cla.s.s who have been cut off from the group due to lack of ability, I don"t know if that was unlucky or lucky, 

Though thanks to that they narrowly escape death. 

It was the usual cla.s.s... 

But still... 

Expect the battle practice lesson. 

I was going to do my best at sacred ruin exploration since it was the most evaluated for junior saint rank, yet, it got restricted. 

I straighten my posture and fix my eyes to the blackboard. 

L-Let"s do my best... 

The cla.s.s ended just like that, while I"m fired myself up. 

................................................. 

"Well then, everyone, thank you very much for everything." 

After standing from the chair, Aira-san bowed her head deeply. 

It"s after school. 

Well, you can say, this is a victory party. 

Our seat, in a clockwise direction, at twelve o"clock there"s Aira-san, then me, Kyurie-san, Cecil-san, Zix, Hirgiz-san, and Rei-san. 

And before everyone eyes, there"s cup filled with milk and honey. 

It"s just that today, was supposedly Aira-san treat. 

I give her, a light applause. 

"I-Is this kind of thing... ok?" 

While sitting down on the chair, Aira-san asking me. 

"Isn"t this good enough, I think?" 

But still, these members... 

Everyone then took the drink silently. 

"Waaai! thank you!" 

*Kotsun*, my cup and Aira-san cup makes a sad sound. 

"......................." 

"... Good job~." 

Then Cecil-san raises her cup while leaning her body forward slightly after thinking for a while. 

"Yes, cheers for the good work..." 

Then I drink from my cup. 

I see now. 

Now that I think about it. 

Well, what Kyurie-san is doing I wonderー... 

Unn, I guess, she"s feeling embarra.s.sed? 

It is clear that she"s not used to this kind of situation. 

This is just the result of me feeling a sense of duty to follow up Aira-san. 

"Is that so?, then I"m glad..." 

I"m glad... 

"Unn... I also never dreamed that the giant subjugation operation would turn this way either. As it is, having two exploration group fighting each other is already strange; furthermore, there"s also a monster who can climb the layers. But then againー." 

Aira-san directed her line of sight toward Kyurie-san and me with full of grat.i.tude. 

"For the both of you to defeat the giants. It"s really amazing you know? Even Beoza and the others have no match against them." 

Though I said that. 

At that timeー at the time when the giant in our way. 

Then I thought this while feeling cold ran down on my back. 

ーHow powerful Hibigami is, I wonder? 

Just right when I stood before the giant, I was able to recognize that man monstrous strength. 

Or should I say, my sense of danger have become dull? 

The giant whom even the strongest magic art user unable to compete with. 

Instead, I was able to realize the man that I will face three years later is at a higher place. 

At that moment, I was able to understand the unknown limit of Hibigami. 

What should I do to be able to defeat that man? 

"Kyurie-san... I wonder, how can I defeat Hibigami?" 

"Yes, a straight fight." 

She put my hands on the table, and then Kyurie-san drops her line of sight down. 

"First for the sake of getting close to that guy strength, you should fight against those who"s stronger than you. And on top of that, you have to gain power more stronger than him. Well, that"s how I feel roughly. Though I"m sorry, that I"m only able to think that much." 

Right now, to respond to a direct-confrontation, I only have a simple method. 

The problem is, whether that method is possible or not. 

There"s Kyurie-san... 

But still, 

"I wonder what kind of people that are stronger than Hibigami?" 

"Well yes, I guess... It"s just that the existence of that 『Empress of the end』 in itself is doubtful. If I have to say it then, her existence is like that of a G.o.d." 

Ooh... right, she has a bitter memory of him I guess. 

She seems don"t know the detail about that incident. 

Thus, 

"He"s a bad guy." 

"Definitely, A bad guy." 

Kyurie-san, Cecil-san, and I. 

And then, Zix also followed casually said 『Yeah... a bad guy』 with subdued voice.... 

And then Hirgiz-san also added her opinion by saying 『I as well, have the same opinion』. 

"Hahaha... that guy is really hated eh?" 

I wonder why... 

Is it because they are old friends, I wonder? 

Though the sacred ruin access might be restricted, the a.s.sembly hall seems to have still operated normally 

Now then, the result of the conversion is important but. 

And then, when we talked on the way to the academy, we decide to divide the money together. 

"Me as well." 

Aira-san and Rei-san declined consecutively. 

"W-Why?" 

I was at a loss... 

"Ah, I also decline." 

"Same as the one who sits on my right." 

Cecil-san and the others also declined. 

Aira-san then added that, after all, she did not need any large amount of money for inviting someone to her group anymore. 

"But, if it"s like this everyoneー." 

"And the one that dropped the highest quality of crystals are the giants, right? and those giants, you both are the one who defeats it, if you both didn"t defeat it, then we don"t know if we will be okay by now or not... by that, I think it is enough reason to accept it, you see?" 

Umu... 

Furthermore... I feel like I can"t refuse it anymore if she put it like that. 

"Well, then I as well. to be frank, my pocket is also not that warm either." 

Like that, we split the money between Kyurie-san and me. 

Now then. 

Currently, it"s already 4 o"clock huh? 

I would like to hear more about the 『empress of the end』 and 『four beast of evil』, but let"s try asking Kyurie-san next time. 

"Emm, by the way..." 

Aira-san began talking suddenly while putting her cup. 

"Next week holy day, if possible can all of you make a free time?" 

"The truth is, I"ve reserved a room in Silas bathhouse." 

From the name of it, it seems to be a public bathhouse, but? 

"Ah, Kurohiko don"t know it? Silas bathhouse isー." 

I receive a brief explanation from Aira-san. 

Looking at the everyone reaction, expect Kyurie-san, they all seems to know it. 

"Is it alright? since yesterday and today as well, we"ve depended on you?" 

Thus Cecil-san said that. 

"It"s fine it"s fine! It"s just me wanting to do however I like! Or rather, about that..." 

Aira-san scratched her cheek shyly. 

"I was really happy. Everyone was working together as my friend in that way... somehow, I want to give thanks, in some kind of a form. That"s why, I would be happy if all of you accept it?" 

Aira-san then lowered her head expressing her thanks. 

".............................." 

If she said that far then, there"s nothing I can say. 

Everyone then said their thanks without making any boorish remark. 

But still, hot-spring huh? 

"I see..." 

Cecil-san seems to have found it slightly disappointing. 

"Is there something?" 

"Hee, With Kyurie-san?" 

"I don"t need for you to tell me, you"re really..." 

"Well, yes... somehow, lately it was hard for me to refuse Cecil whenever she asks for help." 

Then Cecil-san talked to Kyurie-san from behind and touching her waist as if making a secret agreement. 

"Fufufu, Didn"t I tell you the 『secret of being more ladylike』, in exchange for that?" 

"... I don"t know." 

As if feeling shaken by her own self, Kyurie-san put her hand on her own forehead. 

"Kyurie-san, do you hate us?" 

"Fufufu, I like Kyurie when you"re like this you know?" 

Kyurie-san then dropped her shoulder as if in resignation. 

"Sure... I also like you too... d.a.m.n it..." 

"I guess so..." 

We then parted ways after we walked together for a little bit more. 

They will also go to practice their sword with those two. 

I began walking by myself. 

Since she seems to be busy lately, will she have the time, I wonder? 

.................................... 

I arrived in front of the headmistress office. 

"This is Kurohiko. can I have your time?" 

A familiar interior entered my view. 

I then sit down on the sofa. 

"This is rare of you, isn"t it? To have you visit me. But I guess, you come in perfect timing. Since I have something that I want to tell you about." 

"Ah, right, come to think of it, we do have that promised isn"t it?" 

Back then, they said they would do it in later date if I"m not wrong. 

"Though we don"t know who will come yet... but well, since they are currently here, maybe David and the others will come. well, since I am planing to be present at that time, you can take it easy." 

I finished told her anything that I needed to. 

"Oh right, I"m sorry. You come here because you have business with me right?" 

Wait a moment. 

Though I can"t do it to Mia-san anymore, if possible, I want to give surprise to Makina-san after all. 

No, wait, do they even have a 『size』 concept here? 

"Foot... right foot! don"t you feel your foot stiff?" 

"See, you said that you want to relax your body and other stuff the other days right?" 

"O-Of course desu yo!" 

"My pleasure!" 

After getting off from her desk, Makina-san head toward her own room. 

We do it inside her bedroom? 

"Y-Yes, I"m coming." 

Then I stood up. 

Alright... 

Just you watch! 

I entered her bedroom while staring at her foot from behind.