Rokujouma no Shinryakusha!? - Volume 43 - Chapter SS

Bonus Short Stories

Theia

Over a thousand years had passed since the Holy Forthorthe Galactic Empire modernized, making computer knowledge—knowledge about ancient basic technology that had no compatibility with modern technology—a necessity for archaeologists.

Since that level of technology was still in circulation on Earth, these were reference materials that archaeologists were desperate to get their hands on.

“So, this is what I bought for my mother,” Theia said, carrying a large box. Inside was a computer and various appliances. All were things that she’d bought on Earth.

“That reminds me... El was an archaeologist.” Koutarou peeked into the box and nodded understandingly. He had been wondering why Theia was carrying such a large box, but if it was a gift for Elfaria, he could understand why she wanted to carry it herself.

“Indeed. When she was young, she caused a lot of incidents by digging up your territory.”

“I don’t think that’s something to brag about.”

Elfaria was known for her wise policies now, but when she’d been an archaeologist, she’d been known for her extreme behavior. For example, she was the only one to have laid a hand on the special territory that Alaia had declared “inviolable.”

Koutarou knew that better than anyone and smiled wryly as Theia spoke so proudly. “I will leave this box to you.”

“It’s a souvenir, isn’t it? You should be the one to have it.”

“I will later, but can you bring it to my room? I have more things to carry, you see.”

“Even more?” he asked.

Theia pushed the box at Koutarou and returned to the hallway. He tilted his head and followed behind her.

“This is my luggage.” Theia proudly showed her new luggage to Koutarou. It was an entire arcade machine.

“That is quite big...”

“I bought it for myself.”

“You were studying this kind of thing, weren’t you?”

It was common for Forthorthe royalty to receive a university education and complete their studies before entering government service. Just as Elfaria had majored in archaeology, Theia had a field of study of her own: the history of ancient games. Elfaria studied archaeology broadly and shallowly, while Tesfia studied a narrow field in more depth.

“However, this is more like a decoration,” she continued.

“Hahaha, I don’t hate this kind of decoration,” Koutarou admitted.

Theia had bought a very early shooter game on Earth. Invaders came from the top of the screen while a cannon at the bottom shot them down. However, it had a lot of historical value, with plenty of fans on Earth.

“If anything, you’re one of those invaders,” he remarked.

“Shut it, you. Just help me set this up.”

“Don’t get so angry, it was just a joke.”

“Many of your jokes don’t sound like it!”

Theia put the arcade on a hand truck and headed for her room. Koutarou followed with the box in hand. Before long, they arrived.

“So, where do we put it?”

“Over there, next to the computer. I will be studying it after all.”

“You’re surprisingly on the ball.”

“You don’t have to say surprising!”

The two of them cooperated to set up the machine. Ruth had prepared a special electrical adapter, so they were able to get it done without any difficulties.

“Now that’s it up and working, let me give it a try,” said Koutarou.

“Hmm, in recognition of your services, I will allow you the first play.”

“All right.”

Koutarou pulled over a nearby stool, which didn’t suit the room but was convenient for research, and sat down in front of the machine.

“Dammit, I don’t have any coins.”

“Don’t worry, I have changed the settings so that you can play for free.”

“Hmm, free play, huh? It doesn’t have to be now, but you should change it to need a coin to play. It helps make the atmosphere right.”

“Now that you mention it, it does sound better that way. Very well, I will fix it later,” Theia said, then climbed up onto Koutarou’s lap and sat there like it was her rightful seat. “Good, you may start.”

“It’s hard to play when you’re sitting there.”

Theia leaned back into Koutarou so that the two ended up watching the screen cheek to cheek.

“You’re so pointlessly big, I can’t see anything from behind,” Theia commented. “So make some compromises for my sake.”

“Well, there’s not much I can say to that.” He couldn’t tell her to simply not watch, so he resigned himself to the situation and started the game. As he did, he could feel how happy Theia was from their cheek contact.

“Aha, you missed!”

“Don’t move! You’re blocking my view!”

“Ah, you suck! Let me take over!”

“It’s your fault!”

From there, the pair both cooperated and got in each other’s way to prevent aliens from invading. As they were both busy, it was only for a brief moment, but it was a good refresher, and they returned to work with light steps.

Kiriha

It was rare for Kiriha to ever depend on someone. She was doted on by Koutarou at times, but only when they were alone. Whenever someone aside from him was nearby, she calmly watched over them like a mother or sister. However, even Kiriha had her exceptions.

“Do you have a moment, Koutarou?”

“Hmm? Sure, what do you need?” Koutarou agreed before even hearing what she wanted. Unless it was mischief, he felt it was best to do what she said. Moreover, today was the day before Ralgwin would be moved, so there was no time for shenanigans.

Kiriha slightly narrowed her eyes at Koutarou’s reaction and sat down, leaning against his back.

“You don’t have to do anything, just stay like this, please.”

“I see. Do what you want.”

Kiriha’s request was simple, so Koutarou didn’t ask anything and went back to his work. Since returning to Forthorthe, he had seen a rapid increase in his workload, and he was currently in the middle of a staring contest with the documents on the floor.

“Thank you, Koutarou.”

Kiriha wasn’t doing anything. She was just leaning against him and looking up at the ceiling. Time silently passed. At times like these, the other girls wouldn’t do anything because they knew why she was doing this.

“All right...”

Koutarou was the first to move. His job was done and he now had free time. So he reached out to Kiriha and took her hand in his, and she lightly squeezed it back.

“I’m sorry about this, Koutarou.”

“We’re pushing all the trouble onto you. So you should just do what you want, Kiriha-san.”

“Then I will do just that,” Kiriha said with a soft smile, and held his hands with their backs still touching. She closed her eyes. They looked like a couple playing around, but the reality was different. She was currently in the middle of considering important plans.

This isn’t really something a teenager should be thinking about... Koutarou thought to himself while sensing Kiriha through his back.

She was, without a doubt, a genius. Once she got serious, she could find a solution for just about anything. Even so, she was still a young girl. The only times she ignored the eyes of others and was doted on by Koutarou was when it was inevitable that other lives would be lost. When making tragic calculations with human lives in the balance, she wanted Koutarou’s help.

This girl is amazingly together...

Since she was taking over the Blue Knight’s role, she should have been requesting more from him. But she adamantly refused to ask for anything. She accepted that it was inevitable and that it was her duty. It was that beauty that made it impossible for Koutarou to be cold toward her.

“Kiriha-san.”

“Hm?”

“I probably have a lot of things I need to tell you. And so many things I need to do for you.”

“That’s not true.”

“Yeah, you would say that, but I just can’t think of something good because I’m dumb...” Koutarou said and squeezed her hand. “So how about something like this?”

“This is more than enough.” Kiriha entwined her fingers with his and squeezed back.

“I see.”

After that, Kiriha fell silent. Once she stood back up again, she left the room with powerful steps. It appeared she’d recovered.