Arc 26: What can be done for tomorrow

Chapter 261: The Lunch Box Made by the Beloved Wife, and A Woman on Each Side

They havent come yet(Luu)

No, they havent(Touya)

I reply to Luus mutter whos sitting on a rock.

The place we are currently at is referred to as the Isrem plains located to the northwest from the imperial capital Gararia in the central part of the Regulus Empire.

The verdant plains looking just like the Mongolian plains spread all around with the rocky mountains visible from far away. The sky is so clear that theres not a single cloud.

Its already the fourth day since we deployed Frame Gears and set up the headquarters in this place. Its a good thing that the adventurers guild in Regulus has foreseen the appearance of frazes with the perception board, but our ambush has been lengthened since they have a long arrival time frame from the next day up to a week.

Though its not that I want them to appear. Its just that waiting for them like this is... We dont know when they will appear, so theres no way for us to return to Brunhild as well.

The girls take turns returning to the castle with the fixed gates installed in headquarters.

As for today, the ones coming here are Luu, Rin, Suu, and Linzie. Yumina and Sakura are house-sitting at the castle while Yae, Elzie, and Hilda should be sleeping inside their own rooms after theyve finished their turn patrolling the area.

We cant afford to relax since an advanced-cla.s.s will also be among those arriving this time. However, to constantly stay tense and alert is also...

Touya-sama. Its lunchtime, so how about eating a bento?(Luu)

Oh. Sounds good. I guess we should get some(Touya)

Luu takes out two bentos and two canteens, a big one and a small one, from the bag and places those on the flat surface of the rock. She pours each of us soup from the large canteen and tea from the small one and hands me one of the bentos. Having opened the lid of the lunch box Ive received, I see a line-up of a delicious-looking rice and various side dishes.

Hey, it looks delicious. Did Luu make it?(Touya)

Yes. Early in the morning. Ive requested Clair-san to make it for the others though(Luu)

Luu smiles as if shes embarra.s.sed. This princess of the Regulus Empire has a talent for cooking and she developed it after coming to Brunhild. Thats because she is being lectured by Clair-san all this time, and is being taught the recipes from my world, trying out to make them in her spare time.

Thanks for the food. I place my hands together and start eating the fried prawns from the bento. Delicious. It doesnt lose to the ones made by Clair-san.

Its really delicious. Youve become really skillful(Touya)

Thank you very much. Im happy to be able to receive such words(Luu)

The tamagoyaki and karaage are delicious too. Say, I feel like I understand the meaning of The way to a mans heart is through his stomach. The nikujaga is even more supreme.

Its really delicious. I think I even want to eat it every day(Touya)

I-I think I will do that as much as I can once we get married(Luu)

Luu starts eating her bento with her face dyed red. Im grateful. Im grateful to G.o.d in a whole lot of ways. Hm, that reminds me.

Sakuras frame is the one being constructed right now, but what fighting style do you want to use, Luu? I suspect itll be a style that has a high mobility which makes the best use of a pair of swords, right?(Touya)

Let me think of that... That style is good as well, but I want to fight in such a way wherein Ill be able to adapt to whats required at the moment depending on the situation. Elzie-san, Hilda-san, and Yae-san are vanguards while Suu-san, Sakura-san, and Rin-san are rearguards. In that case, I believe its better for me to act as a commando, same as Linzie-san(Luu)

A commando?(Touya)

It would be ideal if I can change weapons depending on the situation, or being able to support either from long range or close quarters. Something like that(Luu)

Fumu. I guess that fighting style will require a transformable frame wherein it can transform from a high mobility mode to a firepower-centric or heavy armor-centric mode, making the said frame a commando unit. The transformation can be done with movement magic, so well likely be able to reduce the loss of time. A transformable type for unconventional warfare, huh? It may be not bad.

Yep. Then lets try going in that direction. Its too bad we only have the dragoon as the high mobility unit for this time though(Touya)

I gaze at the green-painted dragon knight standing still on the side of the headquarters. Although its the same type as the one End has, this one here is still an old modeled frame gear.

Everyone else has their own personal frames, so theyve given the remaining dragoon to Luu while saying If its Luu, you should be able to make the best use of its mobility. Well, its sort of a loaned vehicle just until Professor completes her own personal machine.

Thanks for the food(Touya)

I hope you liked it(Luu)

I cover the emptied bento and rewrap it with the cloth. We then take a short rest while sipping on the after meal tea.

Your Majesty The Sovereign King, Princess, is now a good time?(Gaspar)

Ah, welcome, Gaspar-san(Touya)

As I look at the place where that voice came from, right there is the one-eyed Gaspar-san, the commander of the knight order of Regulus Empire, standing still. The incident this time will be happening within Regulus territory, so quite a number of knights are partic.i.p.ating from their side.

I am relieved to see that your relations.h.i.+p is good. With this, both Regulus and Brunhild will be at peace as well(Gaspar)

Gaspar-san gives a hearty laugh while saying so.

Has something happened?(Touya)

Well, its not like something happened, but... Your Majesty, may I request that the number of companies for our Regulus Empire be increased a little more? (Gaspar)

? Even more than what we have currently? Why?(Touya)

On this occasion, Ive granted a larger number of units to Regulus than usual, consisting 27 units of Chevaliers and 3 units of Night Barons, but hes must be feeling that the current line-up is still insufficient, huh?

As a matter of fact, Regulus has employed new members to its knight order same as Brunhild, and we want them to get experience on the battlefield as well. However, we cant afford to let the newcomers be part of the vanguards on a battle where an advanced-cla.s.s will be appearing as well. So Im requesting if its possible to add one more company composed of those new knights who would then be paired mainly against the lower types while having the more experienced knights lead them(Gaspar)

I see. Its true that our side is also deploying a company of new knights in order to make them experience the fight against the frazes this time. I obviously have no intention to pit them against an advanced-cla.s.s. Their duty can be described as them personally experiencing the atmosphere of battle and the way to fight using frame gears as per our instructions.

Youre saying theyve finished training in the frame units, arent you?(Touya)

Yes, theyve already finished training with it. Thats because this proposal wouldve been out of the question unless theyre able to make the frame gears move in the simulations at the very least. I think they will be able to adequately deal with the lower types if they dont allow themselves to be surrounded(Gaspar)

Well, I can still send them off when they get done in, but... I guess itll be fine if we get them to be properly guided.

I understand. Ill lend you an additional Black Knight unit and nine more Heavy Knight units. Ill be requesting the materials fee for their repairs in case they get destroyed (Touya)

Thank you very much(Gaspar)

Ive decided to contact Monica from Babylon and ask her to transfer ten units to the ground from the Hangar.

Although there will be an advanced-cla.s.s this time, their numbers dont seem like itll reach up to 10.000. Well also be using the new models this time as well. I think the battle wont become a really fierce one, but I wont know for sure until I see the battle itself starts.

I ask Luu for one more cup of tea after Gaspar-san leaves.

So Regulus has also admitted new people, huh?(Touya)

Seems like it. The war potential of Regulus has dropped significantly due to the armys insurrection before, so... (Luu)

That general has gone too far that time (Touya)

General Bazur has aimed for the life of His Majesty The Emperor, used the [Imbibe Demons bracelet] and the [Bracelet of Defense], summoned devils, and raised a military coup.

After that incident, both he and the officers who sympathized with him were executed, and a considerable number of army officials were punished. The Knight Order and the army were separate ent.i.ties in Regulus, but it seems that the army is now under the control of the knight order. Well, theyre guilty of dishonoring themselves, so they cant help but be placed under observation for a short while, I guess.

Thankfully, Theyve also interposed me in their relations with foreign countries, and friendly relations, which were considered unlikely thus far, have been built. Due to that, they dont seem to need the protection of foreign countries that much. Its natural in the case of Belfast, but theyre also skillfully a.s.sociating with Rodomea and Ramisshu. Although they do occasionally turn to me for problems that both countries in question cant resolve by themselves.

That incident was a sad event for the empire, but it was a deeply memorable event for me as I was able to meet Touya-sama. Its imprudent of me though(Luu)

Guess so. Certainly, I mightve never even met Luu if that incident didnt happen. When I think about it like that, I may even be thankful to that general. Though it was just my indiscretion(Touya)

We exchange glances between ourselves and smile. I believe from the bottom of my heart that Im glad that Ive met this girl.

Luu is unyielding and a hard worker. Shes also stubborn enough that she doesnt easily change her mind once she has decided on something. However, shes a gentle girl who can place other people before herself.

As we started gazing at each other without minding anything, one of us began approaching and the other responded. Luu closed her eyes. Before long, I closed mine, and...

Oooh~. Aint both of them bold ~ja...(Suu)

Sh~, Suu. Be quiet(Linzie)

Such a thing, I am a bit jealous....(Rin)

We open our eyes and quickly turn our heads towards the small voices weve heard from somewhere.

Suu, Linzie, Rin, and Pola are peeking over here while hiding in the shadows of a rock in the back.

Y-Y-You girls, since when have you been peeking ?!(Luu)

The red-faced Luu snaps at the single animal(?) and the three people.

Since the time when weve pa.s.sed by commander Gaspar-san, I guess?(Suu)

W-Were wondering about lunch, so once we came to ask you two and, it is like, the atmosphere was good, so(Linzie)

Ive told them that we shouldnt be a hindrance, you know? (Rin)

The three people reply just like that while Pola, whos standing at Rins feet, simply places her hands on the waist and sticks out her chest, saying Whats up?. No, this isnt the place for you to feel proud of yourself.

Luu crouches down with both of her hands covering her face beet red from embarra.s.sment.

Uuu.... How embarra.s.sing...(Luu)

I dont think its something to be embarra.s.sed about. Touya is our husband ~ja. Whats shameful in improving the relations of a married couple? (Suu)

Suu tilts her head as if she doesnt completely understand the situation.

I still havent reached that high level of relations.h.i.+p...(Luu)

Luu averts her eyes from the riled-up innocent gaze of Suu. Thats certainly true. Honestly speaking, even I havent reached that level yet. Though Ive broken through it in a certain sense.

Our darling doesnt do such things with us that much, so theres no way for us to get used to it as well. As for me, Id like him to get physically closer to me even more(Rin)

Thats right. I think that Touya-san should flirt with us more(Linzie)

Eeh?!(Touya)

For a j.a.panese person from a modest nation even among the countries of my former world, this sort of hurdle in incredibly high though... Flirting in public will earn someone quite a lot of animosity, you know? The people around him will tell or write stuff to him like Riajuus should explode or Go die, you know?

Thats right ~ja. I want him to embrace me so-o tight too(Suu)

Me too. Walking in the streets while holding hands, I want to do stuff like say A-ah in cafes(Linzie)

Oh, sounds good. Isnt it fine if its about this much?(Rin)

Thats why Ive said before, that hurdle is high for me to do those things in front of everyone. Ill be told Arent you being lovey-dovey there or Go die, you know?

How many times have I had the same thoughts about guys flirting inside the train carriages, huh? Thats why I know those things. About their wailing. About the screams of their souls and bitter tears that they shed. I dont think I can agitate them in vain with that, you know.

Isnt it fine now that theres no one in here? If there are many of people here, then I will cling to you a lot right now ~ja!

Suu rushes over and starts clinging to me from the front. Hey, not having anyone here doesnt mean that it wont be embarra.s.sing!

Ah, m-me to(Linzie)

Ara, then I will join(Rin)

Hey, oi?!(Touya)

Linzie and Rin tightly cling to me from left and right. Chi~, Ouch~, It hurts! Both of them arent big by any means, but theres a presence which feels soft in itself. As I thought...

Say, why is even Pola clinging to my leg now?!

S-so sneaky! Me too!(Luu)

Eeh?!(Touya)

Saying this, Luu starts clinging to me from the back. Whats this?! What kind of situation is this? To be surrounded not by enemies on all four sides but by young girls!

Its not like Im not happy, but I feel embarra.s.sed. Just as Ive feared! Someone! Help me!

A crack in the sky has been confirmed! There are signs that the frazes will arrive soon! All combatants, prepare for battle

An alarm goes off, and the headquarters become noisy. Linzie and the others separate swiftly from me and run to their respective frames.

I wonder though, should I feel grateful to the frazes for that or not....? Its a delicate situation.

You see, its not like I dont want to flirt with them. All 9 of them are my fiancees, and socializing with them in moderation is... something thats too late to be saying now.

Well. As I thought. Lets restrain myself from flirting outside. I dont want to either die or to explode. It might very well happen in this world where I can be fired at with Explosion.

I breathe out a sigh and start running to the headquarters.