Having defeated Elexis, Koutarou and Ruth headed deeper into the park while being guided by Clan. While Koutarou was fighting, she had managed to identify the heat sources corresponding to Theia and the five men using her observation device.
“This is as much as I can help. I can't leave any evidence that the Schweiger family was involved.”
If Clan did anything more, there was a high chance that Elexis and the military would find out that she was helping them. This was where her turn ended.
“Thanks, Clan”
”You just keep owing me more and more, Koutarou”
“I know, I know”
”Thank you very much, Clan-sama”
“Why am I being thanked by Pardomshiha, geez...”
Since Clan wasn't used to associating with people, she was troubled by having someone she wasn't used to thanking her. Dealing with her was not the same as dealing with Koutarou. As a result, the hologram of Clan, created by the bracelet, blushed ever so slightly.
“...I'm confused myself”
Ruth put her hand on her chest and smiled gently. Ruth's earnest feelings seemed to have an effect on Clan as she smiled embarrassingly.
“One last warning, Koutarou. DKI are trying to sell weapons far more powerful than that gun to the army”
“So what should I do?”
“I would 'use any method we can'”
“I understand. Thank you”
By quoting Koutarou, Clan conveyed the magnitude of the situation to Koutarou. He pulled himself together and began thinking in preparation to the upcoming fight. Seeing Koutarou get so serious, Clan smiled gently.
“...You came back through all those hardships, now protect her until the end, Satomi Koutarou”
Saying that, Clan terminated the hologram. At the same time, the observation headed back towards the Cradle. The rest was up to Koutarou and Ruth.
Part 6[edit]
Not long after Clan had vanished, Koutarou and Ruth reached their destination. There they saw scorched trees and traces of explosions. The sight told them that the fight that had taken place here was fierce.
“Her highness is... there! She's over there, Satomi-sama!”
“Theia”
A bit away from Koutarou and Ruth, past some trees, was a spaceship even smaller than Clan's Cradle. It was about the size of a large truck. Right next to the ship were the five men, and they were carrying Theia. She seemed to be unconscious and one of the men were carrying her over his shoulder. Theia looked like a doll being carried by the large man.
“Oh no, if we don't hurry they'll take her away!”
”So there's no time for petty tricks, huh...”
Theia would be stuffed into the spaceship any time now. If they just stood around and waited, she would be taken away. However, Koutarou and Ruth only had the weapons for self-defense that Clan had left behind. They couldn't use any powerful weapons that would tip the men of that Clan was involved. So facing five men from a special forces team with cutting edge technology would be difficult. They had been able to do something about Elexis because he was on his own, but not even Koutarou could dodge all attacks if the five men decided to attack him with lasers at the same time.
They had to go right now, but they stood no chance of winning as it was. There was no time to call for backup, and having reached a standstill, Koutarou mumbled the words Clan had mentioned.
“Use any method we can, huh...”
They were the words that Koutarou spoken when facing off against Maxfern. Just like now, back then they were also at a standstill. So Koutarou had told Clan to be ready to use their last resort. That's what using any method meant.
Back then, Clan's last resort was the super-space-time repulsion shell. Then what is my last resort...?
And when Koutarou had just reached that thought, Ruth spoke to him.
“Satomi-sama, I'll act as a decoy and draw them away. Meanwhile, please save her highness. I'm sure you can do it, so please, save her highness!”
Ruth couldn't wait any longer and quickly explained her plan. However it was a dangerous plan with almost no chance of Ruth surviving.
“Ruth-san...”
Koutarou definitely understood Ruth's determination. He didn't even need to look at her aura. It was obvious just with one look at her face.
Ruth is prepared to even die for this. She wants to save Theia, even if she were to die, because she would regret it if she didn't. Because she can't be happy without Theia...
“Here I go! I'll leave to rest to you!”
Ruth didn't fear her own death, because she knew that even if she died, Koutarou would definitely save Theia. And when faced with Ruth's determination, Koutarou made up his mind.
There's no meaning in keeping the secret if it will lead to Ruth's death. And I'm sure her majesty will forgive me for using it in this situation. It's for the sake of the people her majesty fought to protect after all!
Koutarou was prepared to use any means necessary to protect Ruth and Theia.
“...Please wait, Ruth-san”
Koutarou grabbed a hold of Ruth's shoulder as she was about to rush forward and called her back.
“Satomi-sama?”
Having suddenly been stopped, Ruth gave Koutarou a puzzled glance.
“Ruth-san... if possible I'd like you not to mention what you'll see from now on to anyone else”
Koutarou smiled at Ruth. It was his normal smile; though awkward, it was an earnest smile without anything hiding behind it. It was the smile Ruth loved to see.
“Satomi...sama?”
Ruth didn't understand the meaning behind Koutarou's smile so she instinctively questioned him. However, instead of answering her, Koutarou thrust his right hand forward.
“Cradle, give me my sword”
“As you wish, my lord”
The gem on the bracelet Koutarou was wearing blinked repeatedly and executed his order.
Satomi-sama's sword? Saguratin should be onboard the Blue Knight right now... And his face... I've never seen Satomi-sama with such an expression before...
It was the expression Koutarou made when he compelled himself to fight. This was the first time Ruth had ever seen him make that expression.
“Come, Signaltin”
“Call sign confirmed, coordinate axis fixed. Commencing transfer of Signaltin”
“Wha―?”
Before Ruth could even be surprised by the name of the sword Koutarou had whispered, the transfer had commenced.
Just in front of Koutarou's extended right hand, a black hole about ten centimeters in diameter appeared. From that hole, a sword still in its sheath appeared. The sword had a complex design that made use of many curves. The white and silver colors blended together and it looked as graceful as a work of art. Without hesitation, Koutarou stuck his hand into the black hole, grabbed a hold of the sword’s handle and pulled it out.
The moment Koutarou grabbed a hold of the handle, the sword began releasing a pure-white glow. The sword covered everything around it in light. It was almost as bright as the sun.
“What is this sword!? Alaia's crest is engraved on the handle!! And the royal family's crest is engraved on the sheath!!”
The most and second most famous crests were engraved into the sword. Those were the royal family's crest using the goddess of dawn as its motif and Alaia's personal crest using silvery white snow as its motif.
Despite the powerful white glow, the crests shone beautifully as if making their presence known.
“Your excellency, Blue Knight, this ship, the Cradle, will pray for your fortune and glory in place of the nation of Forthorthe”
“...Thank you”
Koutarou was stood in the center of the light, holding the sword in both hands. In his right hand was the handle, and in his left the sheath. Koutarou turned back to Ruth and spoke out to her.
“Ruth-san”
“Signal...tin? And your excellency, Blue Knight...?”
Ruth was unable to respond to Koutarou as she was just so surprised by this development.
It's a replica... no, it's too well made for that... and this light... and why did the Cradle call Satomi-sama, Blue Knight... A code name? No, this is...
Without waiting for Ruth's reply, Koutarou smiled and continued speaking.
“I... will protect everyone's future with my life, and these two swords”
And it wasn't just Ruth and Theia. Koutarou wanted to protect everyone who suffered in his presence. He couldn't protect everyone in the world, for he was no god, but he at least wanted to make those who had made him smile, smile in return.
That was Koutarou's oath, and his wish.
Koutarou had returned from the past Forthorthe to fulfill that oath.
“So let's go, Ruth-san. Theia is waiting”
”U...Uhm...”
Koutarou pulled Signaltin from its sheath as Ruth struggled to come up with something to say.
Its silvery white blade seemingly responded to Koutarou's feelings as it shot out its white light.