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Arifureta After IIA World That is Relatively Finished
It was a place of large spring, surrounded by forest of trees There was no sound that could be heard other than the rustling leaves
It was Kouki's question that brought the silence In front of Kouki as crawling on all fours at the edge of the spring while coughing, there was queen Moanaa bewildered expression
Suddenly the sanity of the existence that they greatly respected and loved was being questioned The question was an extree if they snapped toward the one who asked
In fact, the at around the queen――six men and women arrior appearance, and two man and wo And one wo was different with the others, her attire soave the i into one that couldn't be said to be pleasant
Although, not even one of them tried to reproach Kouki's impolite statement, they didn't look like "fanatic" Was that because of healthy religious faith, or else was it because they were holding back because they were in front of the queen, the reason wasn't clear
Kouki felt the at and saw the bewildered expression of Moana whose hand was still presented at hiized in panic
「I, I' that so suddenly I aod……」
「Tra, trauod? Or rather, you had met that kind of existence before?」
The words of Kouki as once involved with a supernatural existence that was called god caused Moana and her people toreat that was also chosen by another great existence different from Foltina, they wondered
But, Kouki's next words turned theh, it hen he was in a state of possessing an acquaintance He thought nothing of huaot bored he sent in his apostles to od That's absolutely an evil sonificent tsukkoed By any chance, that
Kouki s 「Perhaps」 and he took Moana's hand
「Eerr Let's see, Foltina, sama? I think you said that person was the one who su…… But first thing first, I only wish to confirinal place?」
Frorip in his handshake, Moana felt the strength of sohed once She recovered her disordered
After that she lowered her eyebrows looking a bit troubled and,
「I'm sorry But honestly, we too are currently also baffled We have never heard the voice of Foltina-sama that clearly before, and someone like you who visit from a different world, it is like a fairy tale」
「In other words……」
「Yes It's just as you though, if the "original place" that you said us really in another world, then we don't have the method of how to return you back there Or rather, you really came from another world huh?」
「Eerr, I think that's the case but……」
As a test, Kouki tried doave no reaction Perhaps this place was an unknown continent that was also in Tortus……such possibility couldn't be denied, but seeing that Moana and her people had no power of su contact with this Foltina-sath
(Or perhaps, will that guy coht show up all of sudden with troubleso of "that guy" that floated at the back of his mind――Hajime, caused Kouki to smiled wryly If it was him who possessed both the method to cross over worlds and theimpossible
Moana and her peopleKouki's state, they wondered whether he was cornered fro but laughing
Seeing the good character of Moana and others that soh fro to show that he was fine
「I'm sorry Come to think of it, I haven't introduced awa Kouki ――Just a mere swordsman」
「Swordsman……」
Moana and her peoplewhy he didn't introduce himself as the hero But, before that bewilderment could turn into spoken out question, Kouki stood up and continued his words
「If this is another world, a place that doesn't know about o home, then that can't be helped Can I ask you to please teachthe reason why I was called here, your ht It looks like you were really suddenly tossed into the spring, ill give you explanation as much as we can Also, you also don't need to worry about any basic necessities Even like this, I am a queen after all There won't be a probleuest」
Moana pulled herself together and said that while winking at hihtly and the people who seehtly
「And also, I don't uest that Foltina-sama entrusted to us It should be fine if you think of your status as higher than me That's why, it's fine to not humble yourself like that」
「Aa~, perhaps so But there is also theoutsider so……, please let e……for the e as it is」
「Mu, I see……」
Moana's shoulders dropped in a bit of disappointment The expression of Moana's followers looked like they had headache right after Moana said to hirateful when they heard Kouki's reply Seeing that, Kouki felt relieved that his response wasn't mistaken
It appeared that this queen had a really unconventional character, as could be seen froree that she had scars on her body
「Then, I'll have you let me call you Kouki That will be fine I believe?」
「Yes, of course」
「Right Well then Kouki There is a bit of problem with the safety of this area, if possible I want us to be on the move quickly If we hurry we should be able to arrive at the capital before the sun set」
Kouki nodded showing that he had no objection, to which Moana also nodded back 「Great」 And then, she aze at the woman in attendant attire beside her
「Anneal We cannot keep being like a drowned rat like this all the tirace of the sun and the wind――"Wind of Embrace"」
The woman as called Anneal looked to be in her htly calm atmosphere Her eyes were droopy, and when she replied her voice was also soft, which spurred such impression even more
Different fro that looked like weapon, in exchange she was carrying a large satchel on her back and several bags that looked like shawl
Whether it was Moana or her followers, they all were basically wearing pants and protectors above their clothes hite undertone But it was only Anneal earing so like an apron in the place of protector That was the reason Kouki got the impression that she was like a lady attendant
When that Anneal whispered in a faint voice, right away a part of the pattern on the back of her right hand shined faintly
「This is……」
Kouki looked down on his body with a slight surprise His clothes aying froentle ind From the sensation of wind his skin felt, it see with his body as the center The sa also happened with Moana and the followers that entered the water just now
「Fumu, it see art too She is praying, or perhaps offering her wish to the power that dwell in nature――the blessing power, to have that power shared with her」
Poelling in all living things and the whole nature Moana and others called that power as blessing power, and the technique thatwas na on their body was so that represented their prayer and vow as letters which made it possible to shorten the invocation procedure
As for Fortina, she was thought to be the aggregation of those powers of nature, an existence that possessed will Soreat blessing" like in the fairy tale, or heard her words
By no uely thought that such existence existed
In the teaching since the ancient tiratitude to not just Foltina, but to the whole nature was planted into the people
Therefore, rather than calling the people's feeling toward Foltina as religious faith, it should instead be called as ecological sense of values to treasure the nature
Kouki listened to such story during the ti until their clothes dried up
(I see Rather than faith, they are offering respect……or perhaps gratitude, so like that……)
Like that, his conviction that Moana and her people weren't fanatic was getting stronger inside Kouki Although, Kouki still hadn't let go of his wariness toward Moana and others His polite language and title of honor toward Moana displayed that
When their clothes dried up co was also mostly over and Moana raised her voice
「Now then, let's depart We will keep talking about e should teach to Kouki in the way Spenser, I'll leave the vanguard post to you」
「Understood, yourwarrior that pulled up Kouki fro before this see all the people here, his short black hair without any grey hair gave a youthful ih, his body that was obviously trained even through his equiphter deep in his eyes gave a weight that this person couldn't be underestimated by any means
When Kouki asked, perhaps it should be said that it was just as expected, it seemed that other than Anneal, all of the people here should be called as the uard of Moana And Spenser was the leader of the royal guard force
Following Spenser's lead, they advanced through the thick forest The temperature and huht created froaps between leaves were beautiful Kouki narrowed his eyes pleasantly thinking 'What a verdant world'
Kouki talked toward Moana while they were advancing with the soldiers surrounding Kouki and Moana at the center
「The nature is really abundant here The spring before this too, even though it was quite deep, but the water ws really clear until the botto power that filled this world, right」
「……That's correct」
For some reason Moana's expression turned co if he had said so around There, he saw everyone including Spenser and Anneal were alsoa complicated expression
Kouki wracked hisMoana showed a wry siveIt's just, I was thinking to explain it after this but……place abundant with nature like this, only numbered a little」
「Eh?」
Kouki was perplexed Moana's bitter smile deepened while she explained further
「Outside this forest, there is a desert continuing as far as the eye can see This place is special」
「De, desert?」
「Yes the blessing power is being stolen from the world Because of those <Dark People>」
<Dark People>――According to Moana, they were a grotesque race that e power Theylike monster if a comparison was made with Tortus It seemed they were called Dark People because they were constantly enveloped inPower> just by existing, stealing life force fros They were truly the natural enemy of not just mankind, but also nature
「We don't understand what are they, and from where they came But, let's see, if we are asked 'what is your history?', then we ought to answer "fighting the Dark People" That is just how long we have been fighting them since far in the past」
It felt like inside the eyes of Moana as having a distant look, there was deep and heavy so inside Kouki only stayed silent without saying anything,to what she said
「A lot of nature lost blessing power Because those Dark People areprudently fro the nature co power disappear fro However, they have afro hule hule tree or a single animal Therefore, the <Black People> liked to eat hurowth of plants and ani But, even so the Black People's appetite was above that Also, a lot of blessing poas consu poas lost to the degree that there was no prospect of recovery, nothing would remain in that place The place would only become a world of sand
The supply and de so that the blessing poouldn't dry upof full stomach
That hy, so that it wouldn't be a problem even if the animal and plants were eaten until they ran out, the Black People raised human as livestock
「This is a battle where our survival and dignity are on the line Our great ancestors createdart, and like that life continue until it come to our time ……But, perhaps that too has reached the li dwelling inside those eyes that reflected hireat mother nature, Foltina-sas like hope, didn't exist there There was also no expectation What was inside those eyes, was mortification, and then disappoint power that should even be called as the will of the world――Foltina had ment That it was impossible to resist with just the human of this world That was how much this world had been cornered
The fact was, there was no other country around Synclea kingdom There were only feudal lords in each territory, where they all answered to the kingdom Countries that once called themselves as empire, federation, holy country, and so on, all of them were perished Across several mountains, or at the continent across the sea, there were other countries that were still resisting, but it was unclear how long they would be able to keep at it
'All of you is no good already', it couldn't be helped even if the world thought so about theh there wasn't any shadow on Moana's expression, but those eyes told of Moana's feelingelse In Kouki's eyes, it looked as though the queen before his eyes was s
――It's fine I swear I'll save this world!
If, he said such thing without thinking of anything, surely Moana with her personality would laugh livelily while also saying 「That's really reliable!」 to hi to cry just like nohile feeling disappointed at herself, while getting hurt
Kouki was glad that he didn't say anything like that But, however, then, what should he say instead?
It's still not over yet? There should be so that you can do?
Foltina-sa at you?
It's just a coincidence that I was summoned you know?
He didn't understand