Chapter 97 - I'm Getting Closer to Kuro......

The winner of the harvest festival spends the night in the Spirits Forest.

Ive never camped out in the wild before, so I came to the shrine with a lot of anxiety in my heart, but then, for some reason, Kuro showed up, as if she just coincidentally pa.s.sed by.

[Seriously, you really show up out of nowhere every single time, Kuro.]

[Ahaha, I wanted to see Kaito-kun, so I went along with the flow and came here with you.]

[Rather than that, how did you know Im here?]

[Eh? Thats because of the technique used in Kaito-kuns neck Of course, its through my intuition!]

[Oi, wait a minute there, what were you going to say just now]

You were just talking about a technique you used, right? Eh? What? Is she about to say that she used some kind of magic on this necklace to track my whereabouts?

How should I say this I feel like thats something that shouldnt be overlooked, but the one in question, Kuro, just had a smile on her face before she spoke.

[Ahh! Kaito-kun, I heard you were hurt, are you okay?]

[Eh? A- Ahhh Its all over now.]

[I see~~ Im glad youre safe, Kaito-kun. Ahh, thats right! I heard you won in the harvest festival! Thats amazing, Kaito-kun! Congratulations!]

[Eh? A- Ahhh Thanks.]

I nodded my head, forgetting what I was going to ask, overwhelmed by Kuro, who told me those in rapid succession as if she was a machine gun.

Ad also, how should I say this, unnn what the hecks happening

Congratulations for your victory, Ive been hearing those words enough times already that I feel like theyre still resounding in my ears. Im sure Ive already said this to the big shot elves, but Im not feeling worthy of that victory at all.

However, when Kuro said those words to me, what surged up from within my heart was joy.

Those words may be pretty simple, but it feels like my hard work paid off I felt so fulfilled that Im feeling that I have worked hard all day just to hear those few words.

Seeing me like that, Kuro let out a smile as bright as the sun, before taking out a familiar paper bag.

[For such a Kaito-kun, here, you can have this!]

[I knew you would come out again, baby castella.]

[Fufufu, the baby castella is Kaito-kuns victory congratulation version! This is different from the usual!]

[The hecks with that?]

I thought it was going to be the reappearance of the usual baby castella, but Kuro said that this times baby castella was special.

Seeing the smug smile on Kuro while shes puffing out her flat chest, I wanted to ask her if she couldnt do something about her naming sense, but I held back and just picked up a baby castella.

It looks the same as usual, but is the filling the one thats different? Or is this one of those foods that was filled with strange things like that wasabi-filled baby castella I ate back at s.h.i.+ro-sans place?

[Stare~~ Stare~~]

[Youre not supposed to say that with your own mouth!]

[Staaaaaarrrreeeeeeee~~~~~]

[T- Thank you for the food.]

Kuro looks at me with expectations in her eyes, saying the onomatopoeia with her own mouth.

It seems that I cant choose not to eat it, so I made up my mind and brought the baby castella to my mouth.

[Arehh?]

[What do you think?]

[No, its delicious as usual but Its kinda different than usual?]

The baby castella I tried wasnt particularly different from the baby castellas I ate before, and I would have normally thought it was the same as the usual baby castellas.

However, how should I say this I just felt that there was something different from the baby castellas I usually eat.

Its hard to describe, but the taste was a little rougher than usual, and I could really feel like this baby castella is handmade To be honest, I like the taste of this one more than the usual.

[Hmmm. As I thought, it isnt as tasty as the usual?]

[Eh? No, as far as Im concerned, I like the taste of this one more]

[Really!? Thank goodness~~ thought I would be no good since I cant compete with Ein in cooking.]

[Unnn? What does that mean?]

[Ah, well Actually, I was the one who made those baby castellas. Im glad it came out great~~]

Apparently, these baby castellas were made by Kuro Or rather, I thought Kuro had been the one making them all these times, but it was Ein-san who was making them!? Even those baby castellas filled with wasabi!?

While I was taken aback by Kuros statement, I couldnt say anything since these baby castellas really fit my taste, as I popped them into my mouth one after another in a pace faster than usual.

After we finished eating baby castellas, I sat next to Kuro on the tatami mat, watching the beautiful moon through the hole in the ceiling.

Come to think of it, when I first met Kuro, didnt we also look at the moon together like this? I dont know why, it should have only been a month ago, but it feels like that happened a long time ago.

[Ah, thats right. Kaito-kun, Shalltear praised you before.]

(T/N: / Sharutia)

[Shalltear? Whos that?]

[The society calls her The Phantasmal King, No Face.]

[Huh?]

[Shes a good friend of mine, and she would sometimes come over to hang out with me The last time I met her, she praised Kaito-kun, saying youre promising. Its really rare for Shalltear to praise someone, so receiving her praise is amazing!]

[N- No, wait a minute there, will you!? I dont think Ive even met that Shalltear-san person before though?]

(T/N: As I mentioned before, the Phantasmal Kings gender isnt specified. Im just a.s.suming her gender here based on her name.)

I never thought the name of the Phantasmal King would suddenly be mentioned here.

However, for her to be praising me even after thinking about all the people I met before, I still have no idea which one she is.

[No, I think you never really met her before?]

[Eh?]

[Shalltears ridiculous amount of subordinates wer spread out all over the world, and they are really everywhere. Shalltear is the most informed person in the world. She probably even knows Kaito-kun from the day you came to this world.]

[The heck is that, that sounds scary.]

Apparently, the Phantasmal King is a being that seems to know everything.

In short, there were agents lurking all over the world, and all kinds of information were being gathered by the Phantasmal King Honestly, in a way, she might be the most fearsome among the Six Kings.

[I feel like shes also interested in Kaito-kun, so she might come and meet you soon.]

[Eh? W- Would that be alright? Its just that Lillywood-san told me to be careful of the Phantasmal King]

[Hmmm. Its true that Shalltear can be dry in some ways but I can talk to her easier compared to Megiddo, so its okay.]

[Megiddo was the War King, right? Eh? Is that Megiddo-san worse than her?]

[The first thing hell probably say to you when you meet is Lets have a fight. He loves to fight after all.]

[The heck is that, that sounds scary.]

For him to suddenly challenge someone right as he met someone for the first time, thats one heck of a berserker he is. Or rather, if someone like him is being compared to the Phantasmal King, doesnt that mean that the Phantasmal King is quite dangerous!?

I still havent met the War King, the Dragon King and the Phantasmal King but for two out of those three to be dangerous N- No, but well, it isnt decided that Im going to meet them and that doesnt mean Im going to meet them soon, so its alright. It would be alright.

[Kaito-kun, your hearts beating pretty fast.]

[Unnn? Whats with that, all of a sudden]

When my mind was in chaos because of the Phantasmal King and the War King, Kuro muttered with a gentle tone in her voice.

[Kaito-kun has been working harder and growing up more than I ever thought you would]

[.]

Kuro, who muttered that, didnt turn towards me, her gaze was still fixed on the moon in the sky.

Probably because she was originally cute, her figure as she basked under the moonlight looked something out of fantasy, as if it could only be found from artworks.

[Theres something I want to acquire.]

[Eh?]

[Ive wanted it for a long, long time, but I couldnt find it, and wasnt able to get it Ive been searching for it for a long time. Probably, even right at the moment I was born in this world]

It was hard to imagine the answer to those words she quietly muttered.

She is powerful enough to fight against the G.o.d of Creation, has the most money in the world, is well-liked by her family and followers, and has the reputation of being the pinnacle of the Demon Realm.

What is it that Kuro, who has everything, hasnt been able to get since she was born? Is it something very valuable? Or could it be something else that doesnt exist in this world?

Perhaps sensing my thoughts, Kuro turns to me and smiles.

[It isnt something that unusual. Im sure that everyone else, including Kaito-kun has it. However, I cant get my hands on it no matter how many times I tried, I wasnt able to get it. I couldnt even find it.]

[What in the world is that]

[Its a secret. However Lets see. If Kaito-kun finds it I will probably be happy.]

[.]

Under the moonlight, the girl with many secrets smiles.]

Its a smile so beautiful that I cant take my eyes off of it, though its as fleeting as the moonlight.

[Well, leaving that aside, I think its about time for Kaito-kun to sleep, right? You must also be tired from all the things that happened today.]

[Eh? Ah, well Unnn. Youre right.]

Kuros words, which abruptly changed the topic felt more like a plea to not step into it any further.

In the end, my question remained unanswered as usual, and there are still many things I dont know about Kuro.

However, I do know of one thing. Shes looking for something, something she truly wants I felt like if I knew that, I could get a lot closer to Kuro.

[a blanket and tatami mats, I guess I wouldnt get a pillow, but I think this should be enough for me to sleep.]

[What are you talking about, Kaito-kun? If its a pillow, theres one here.]

[Eh? Where?]

[Look, here.]

Saying that with a smile on her face, Kuro pats her lap.

[N- No, as expected, that is]

[Its not like its the first time you slept on my lap, so you dont need to be that reserved.]

[Uuuhhhh, alright.]

[Unnn, yeah, just being upfront really is the best.]

In the end, I wasnt able to resist again, putting my head in Kuros lap, feeling embarra.s.sed.

Thereupon, a small hand was immediately on my head, gently stroking my hair.

Thats all it took before I closed my eyes, feeling all my consciousness leave my body and letting myself get drowned in pleasant drowsiness.

While feeling Kuros warmth from behind and in front of my head, my consciousness slowly sinks into a slumber.

[Good night, Kaito-kun.]

[Unnn Good night Kuro]

Dear Mom, Dad- Kuro is still the usual, someone hiding many secrets. However, I can feel it for sure. That little by little, step by step Im getting closer to Kuro

Stroking the head of Kaito, who was peacefully sleeping on her lap, Kuromueina have slightly lonely smile on her face.

[Seriously, what a cruel child you are, Kaito-kun Even though I should have given up long ago]

Gently and compa.s.sionately stroking Kaitos head, Kuromueina murmured to no one.

The expression on her face seemed to show the complexity within her heart, as she didnt know whether she should be sad or happy.

[Even though youll be gone in a year Why do you trouble me so much?

Her beautiful voice echoes in the quiet shrine, a voice that somewhat sounds like its crying.

A voice filled with very deep feelings, slightly lamenting, and yet, filled with happiness.

[How many times has Kaito-kun betrayed my expectations? That conversation with s.h.i.+ro that encounter with Isis that time when Chronois-chan told you about me]

Thereupon, Kuromueinas hand that was gently stroking Kaitos head stops, and slowly so as not to wake him up, she hugged his head.

[Because of that, I began hoping That perhaps, if its Kaito-kun]

Continuing her embrace as if she were handling a treasure, her cheeks dyed red, and Kuromueina said her thoughts that she would never have told Kaito directly right now.

[I love you Kaito-kun.]

=============================================================================

Mysterious Phantasmal King => Real Name easily discovered

Shes aiming for Kaito => rather than what other people thought, she have a favorable impression of him

All the serious flags before were just smashed apart in this chapter.

Anyway, this is the end of Sieg Arc along with the Sacred Tree Festival Arc, and the following chapters will be about the appearance of the remaining members of the Six Kings.

Also, in an Activity Report in the following chapter, the current Affection meter for the girls should be published soon.

(T/N: I wonder which chapter this is? I cant find it.)

T/N: 7/15