ch61-ch80 · 069-ch68

Chapter 68: "The Emperor"

　...That's right, why did I forget?

　When Rock-san performed Unison, his personality changed just like before.

　That means his base personality is the same as it was fifteen years ago.

　There's no way someone that kind would kill Satchio-san just because he wanted to escape to Limilaru...! Unthinkable!

　More than anything, if he had really killed Satchio-san, there would be no meaning in saving me. He could just ignore enemy infighting.

　Rock-san isn't a Great Sinner!　

　　―　◆　―

"Uwah!"

　Shudo takes a roundhouse kick from Fuchsia and falls sideways. Having been kicked in the head, his consciousness was wavering.

　Ignoring Shudo, who couldn't stand up, Fuchsia switched her dagger to a reverse grip and approached the fatally injured Rokuro.

"Huh, this way!? But you were aiming for the blonde lady earlier!"

　Kiriko panicked, but even so, she didn't try to move away from Ai and Rokuro.

"Hey, don't come over here!"

"If you do anything more, I won't forgive you, you know"

　Sumi throws a stone she picked up.

　Kanna stands firm like a guardian deity in front of Rokuro and Ai, trying to block the enemy's path.

"Papa, Papa, hang in there!"

"Please be strong! The ambulance is coming!"

　Ai desperately tries to stop the bleeding, pressing her hands against Rokuro's side, turning them bright red.

　Leaning against Ai, Reiya continues to speak to him.

　Rokuro looks at the children with hazy eyes and thinks.

'Ah, so none of these children are trying to escape... They're strong. Much stronger than me, who left Satchio behind and ran...'

　Risking their lives for a friend and his father. It's a truly beautiful sight.

　However, as Ai's father, he couldn't allow them to be endangered.

'Move, my body... Not yet, I can still move... Because I'm Ai's father, right?'

　He gets on his hands and knees and strains, but in a state where he can barely even speak, he can't even raise his body.

"Papa, don't overdo it!"

　Feeling Rokuro trying to move, Ai hugs him to stop him.

　But the merciless blade approaches this parent and child. In an instant, Sumi is driven back with a slap, and Kanna with a leg sweep.

"It hurts!"

"Uwaa!"

　Ignoring the two in pain, a dagger is raised... But a white, beautiful hand hugs that arm from behind.

"Fuchsia, come back to your senses! You must not harm these people!"

　Chartreuse, who could barely even walk, desperately clings on, making Fuchsia drop the dagger.

　But that was her limit.

　With an expressionless face, Fushima shakes off Chartreuse's hand and drives a knee kick into her abdomen.

"Guhh!"

"Onee-san!!"

　Fuchsia follows up with a kick, sending her rolling.

　Chartreuse, who had rolled to Rokuro's side, groaned but lay motionless on her back.

　Meanwhile, Fuchsia picks up her dagger and approaches again.

"Stop it!"

　Ai stood up unconsciously, spreading her bright red hands as she shouted.

"I won't let Papa or Onee-san die! I won't let anyone else get hurt either! There's no way I'll allow something like that!!"

　　―　◆　―

　There's nothing I can do.

　But I want to protect Papa. And I don't want the onee-san who tried to stop him to die.

　I won't let Sumi, Kiriko, Rei-chan, Kanna-kun, or Shudo-san get hurt any more than this.

　I was angrier than I had ever been in my life.

　I can't forgive this, no way I can forgive this! Making my precious people suffer like this——

"There's absolutely no way I'll forgive youuuu!!" 《That's exactly right!!》

　Huh, what was that voice just now??

　I thought it was Melkid, but it was a different voice. No, it's not so much a voice as something that echoed in my head...

　　　Flash!! Flash flash!!

　...The pocket of my cardigan is glowing super bright blue.

　No, it's the contents that are glowing. When I pull out my smartphone—the penguin mascot attached to it, Penta, is glowing like an LED.

　Whoa, it's bright. It's so bright that the black-haired onee-san is even backing away a little.

《How insolent to defy Ai, who is this great one's Arji! This Pentaankool shall deal with you!》

　Huh, it's flashing in time with the voice. Is Penta... talking?

《...or so I would say, but I have not yet grown. I shall leave this to my vassals. Hey, Crow! Alcedo! This is no time to be sleeping! In the name of this Emperor Pentaankool, I command you. Do something about that insolent one!》

　As Penta's? voice echoed especially loud, the 'eggs' of Papa and the blonde onee-san, which had turned back to stone, suddenly grew, and the crow and green bird were born again.

"Unison!!"

　Truly, in the blink of an eye.

　The Black Knight and Green Knight stood up sharply, as if they had never been lying fallen before.