Nagai Koto Chapter 003

The Long Journey Until I Reunite With You

Seems Like My Future Wife

I remembered something from a little while ago.

『*Waaaaaaaaaaa*』 (????)

『Shut up already. Stop crying～ If you came this far then it’s a place you know right?』 (????)

『Hey, Velt! Be friendly.』 (????)

『Making a young girl cry is bad!』 (????)

Five years ago, our family found a very young girl while on the way to the capital. The child was the princess of the kingdom, who stealthily escaped from the royal capital to the outside and had gotten lost in a wheat field, whom we then took care of.

『But, but, I thought I wouldn’t find anybody.』 (Forna)

『What, so weak.』 (Velt)

『Eeeeh!? I’m scaaared.』 (Forna)

She continued to roam around while nobody was walking through the fields, and her loneliness, anxiety, and fear had reached its peak In the instant she was reassured by meeting me, all of her emotions were let out as tears streamed down her eyes. However, even though I didn’t have Asakura Ryuuma’s memories, I was still a rebellious kid that wasn’t sensible nor gentle when I spoke.

『Hey, you, think I’m scary?』 (Velt)

『Fue? ......No.」 (Forna)

『Then, it’s alright. You don’t know right? In this field I’m the number one baddest guy around you know?』 (Velt)

When I think about it now, I honestly didn’t understand the meaning of my words. Rather, it’s embarrassing.

『......Yeah!』 (Forna)

And so, the brat felt something reassuring from me and was for some reason relieved, causing her to regain her composure. After that she tightly squeezed my hand, refusing to let go until we reached the castle. Even Forna was a cute kid at that age. However, a few days later, Forna had discovered that her magical talent towered above the rest. Since she realized that she was also stronger than the average me, she completely changed her attitude, and now acts as if she is the older sister.

「Hey, Forna」 (Velt)

「What is it?」 (Forna)

「Have you umm, ever been to another country?」 (Velt)

Before I knew it she had joined her hand with mine, humming a song. When I asked, she had a surprised look, then smiled.

「I am a princess. It is natural that I attend parties and events in foreign countries, even though we are at war with them right now, I have interacted with demons and demi-humans before.」 (Forna)

Although she was a brat who lost her way in a wheat field and cried, in just a few years she had become a splendid individual that I admired a bit.

「*Sigh* Whatever country and whatever race, it seems like just another trivial matter for you doesn’t it? Just like going out and visiting a commoner’s house.」 (Velt)

「No, I used to think that way as well, but when I spoke about it to the prince of another country, he laughed at me with scorn. That really irritated me! No matter how much I told him about Velt, obasama, and ojisama, being intimate with low class commoners was impossible for high class nobles like him to understand, I was in a crisis I could not manage. Either way I was really irritated!」 (Forna)

(TN: Obasama and ojisama refer to Velt's parents, Aruna and Bonapa respectively.)

Well, what the prince said was the truth, wasn’t it?

「Even though that prince told me he was my fiancé, I completely refused him.」 (Forna)

「*Sigh*」 (Velt)

「Wait a minute, Velt, are you listening?」 (Forna)

「Aah, the prince pissed you off right?」 (Velt)

「Not that part, the part where I refused him as my fiancé!」 (Forna)

「Oh, I see.」 (Velt)

「W-Why, even though I refused the engagement, you do not want to know the reason?」 (Forna)

「Because he pissed you off right?」 (Velt)

「T-that is true, but, you see, since a few years ago I had already decided who was going to be my husband.」 (Forna)

「*Sigh*」 (Velt)

「*Fufufu* Velt, do you know? Do you know who I am going to marry in the future?」 (Forna)

「I don’t particularly mind who it is.」 (Velt)

「Do mind it!」 (Forna)

This precocious brat. And she’s noisy too. Although our bodies were of the same age, even if someone proposed marriage to her it wouldn’t be surprising. Well, whoever her partner is, it’d probably be the same. As expected, for me, I loved that person.

「Kimino......Mina......」 (Velt)

「Kimino Mina? What’s with that all of a sudden? Who is that?」 (Forna)

「Huh?」 (Velt)

Who? That’s right, she was someone nobody knew, she was a girl from Asakura Ryuuma’s school back in his world.

「I have...... someone that I like.」 (Velt)

「Aah, I see...... Eh?」 (Forna)

Even now I remember. From how loud she was to the fussy smile that matched her, it was a spectacle that never escaped my eyes. But I can’t do anything. It’s annoying that I couldn’t do anything, and since I remember Asakura Ryuuma’s memories, no matter how many times I remember, it still frustrates me. If anything, if I were reborn in my original world, I would be crying in front of her grave.

「*U-u-u, UWAAAAAAaaaaaaaaaaaaaa*」 (Forna)

「Oi, why are you crying all of a sudden!?」 (Velt)

「*Hic* *Hic* W-who is it!? Who is that girl!? Who in the world is she!?」 (Forna)

「Huh? She’s doesn’t have anything to do with you.」 (Velt)

「No way, never! Velt, Velt is mine! No! NO!」 (Forna)

Why, and for what reason, was I reborn in this world? I want someone to tell me what I should do.

「Oh, Velt made the princess cry!」 (Soldier A)

「Oh my, keep your lover's quarrel in moderation, you two.」 (Soldier B)

I then realized that we finally made it to the royal capital. A large circular wall encased the capital, with a gate located in each of the cardinal directions. Guards were stationed at each one of these enormous gates. However, there was no need for formalities, a commoner child and the princess were holding hands and entering was a charming sight that made them smile.

「Aah, it’s Velt, and he’s holding the princess’ hand～ They’re husband and wife～ Hyu Hyu!」 (Soldier C)

「Forna is crying! Velt made her cry! That’s no good, no good you know!」 (Soldier D)

「Oi, Velt! Some good fish came in boy. The other day, your dad took care of us. Come take our reward for him later!」 (Soldier E)

Stalls and houses were lined up on our right and left, and people were going back and forth. In a way that’s how a large country should be, but everyone greeted Forna and me like it was natural, I felt bitter. Full of smiles and overflowing with energy, it was representative of a great country.

「Oi, quit crying already.」 (Velt)

「Uu, but, but.」 (Forna)

「Fine, if you become an amazing woman in the future, I’ll marry you then.」 (Velt)

「Really?」 (Forna)

「Uh huh.」 (Velt)

「It is a promise then! It is an absolute promise!」 (Forna)

「Yeah yeah.」 (Velt)

Well, if by that time you still love me, we’ll talk then. To be honest, there probably isn’t much of a difference between kids and their first love in this world and my previous world. As for me, things going on around me are going to become a pain. Hurry up and stop crying so I can finish this errand, I want to go home.

Then, at that moment, I heard the sound of hooves gradually approaching from a distance. As I turned my head, there was a knight straddled on a horse, but he vigorously passed through the gate without stopping.

「A messenger!」 (Civilian A)

A great number of people had noticed, and the knight shouted.

「The Bolbardié Kingdom has collapsed! It was devastated by 『Demon King Vesparda’s Forces』! The nation’s alert level has been raised! Please refrain from leaving for a period of time!」 (Knight)

Something like this unexpectedly happened, and hearing the report of the collapse of another country, the expressions of the carefree group of people changed.

「Bolbardié did? That’s the country on our western border!」 (Civilian B)

「By Vesparda, you mean 『Dragonshark』 of the 『Seven Great Demon Kings』’ country? There was a rumor they brought some very tough demon warriors with them, but what happened to the people at Bolbardié? Don’t tell me, did they kill all of them?」 (Civilian C)

「Wait a second, then will this country be next......?」 (Civilian D)

「It, it’ll be fine right? Bolbardié is a fair distance away from this country.」 (Civilian E)

Forna said it before, war. Along with this war came the phrases 'magic' and 'other world,' I was drawn to the things that would normally be at the edge of our reality.

「That Bolbardié Kingdom was destroyed? Unbelievable.」 (Forna)

「Hey Forna. Was that country also at war?」 (Velt)

「T-that is...... Do not worry. With this country’s strength and the presence of heroes on the 『Human Continent』, the demons and demi-humans will not be able to easily move their forces.」 (Forna)

Our hands shook as we held them together. We’re just kids. I myself understand this fear fairly well.

「It will be alright. If push comes to shove, I will protect you, Velt.」 (Forna)

Even though she was surprised, she told me she would protect me. I could only admire this elegant figure. More than that, I was pathetic.

「That’s no good, to be a brave girl and think like that.」 (Velt)

「What do you mean?」 (Forna)

「Even if you protect me, I’ll be troubled if you die for me.」 (Velt)

We should have been similar, but I felt as though the war between different races had nothing to do with me. However, since my memories as Asakura Ryuuma returned to me, I could only understand this much.

「In this world, having my precious woman die in front of my eyes is more painful than death.」 (Velt)

Even now, I recall the injured figure of Kamino many times over. I won’t let something like that happen again. What the? Why is this brat making such an intoxicated expression?

「*Ufufufufufu*」 (Forna)

「Huh?」 (Velt)

「*Fufuun,* Velt!」 (Forna)

「Wha- stop clinging onto me!」 (Velt)

「Velt, I promise I will never die. Whatever it is, demons, demi-humans, I will not lose.」 (Forna)

「Uhh, maybe you misunderstood something?」 (Velt)

「Velt is so manly, it’s lovely.」 (Forna)

I don’t particularly mind what you said, but if I tried to clear up the misunderstanding you’d probably cry a lot, so won’t you stop?

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