The meeting with Sara's family, my future in-laws, was a good one.

We ate a fancy dinner.

Games for rich people.

And a lot of other things.

I'm sure I could never have a moment like that if I was alone with Siegwald, that man is scary. But Mr. Randolf is different.

Sara's mother said she would take care of all the preparations, the engagement date is in two weeks.

We have to invite many people, relatives and especially people from the Kingdom. Will the Prime Minister want to come?

The evening came and we went back to Erselica's mansion.

I gave them a souvenir and before I asked Alisa how was the meeting with Randolf, the artificial intelligences approached me to say.

"Master, tomorrow please accompany us somewhere."

What would they want to have whispered that to me?

◇

A new day came, I was in the sky over the territory of the destroyed Vermillion Household as Ixion and Bell told me we should come.

Today I left very early to ask Mr. Randolf's permission to allow me to enter.

As it turns out, the entrance to the territory is guarded by knights of Rosenberg Household, of course, it is only to the areas that have to do with something related to the sacred tree to the government itself. Among them Lucy's family mansion.

As I expected, it was a huge castle.

Mr. Randolf asked me what I wanted there, I told him what Ixion told me.

"I would like to know more about the guardian."

He had no problem with that answer. Or maybe he didn't want to probe too much into it.

We arrived at the entrance, the place was as I expected.

There were roots covering the place that was burned.

Much of the structures were destroyed or collapsed.

The door was sealed by someone using an emblem.

Ixion beside me said.

"To remove the seal from the entrance, only someone of a higher status can do it... I can also destroy it myself, due to the fact that I analyzed it."

"Why didn't you do it then?"

"It has to be special since someone will enter here after a long time."

Ixion pointed his lens at the other person who accompanied me. It was Lucy, who for some reason came.

Her attire was not appropriate for someone returning after more than ten years to her home.

Her blouse was thin, which showed her pink bra, that bra lifted her breasts more.

A thin coat to hide them, sandals and cloth shorts, which I loved as I could admire the plump thighs she had.

Lucy noticed I was looking at her, and thinking I was looking at her because Ixion said.

"I'm fine, it just feels weird coming back here after all this time. It looks unreal too."

I walked over to her and hugged her.

"You didn't have to come."

She in response hugged me, I could feel her hands shaking as she played brave.

"I'm fine. I came because you did, I don't know what you're looking for in this destroyed place. But I'll help you in any way I can."

She's a good girl, I want her to be happy.

"Thank you Lucy, you are very brave, I love you more for that."

Lucy's face was so red, she hid it in my chest.

She really is very cute, her cuteness I can say without anyone hearing me, it reaches a level that surpasses those two.

So I grabbed her hand and together we stood in the doorway. The back of my right hand I showed it and there, the guardian's emblem manifested behind me.

It was so large that it almost surpassed an armed unit.

We entered what came out to be Lucy and Diana's house, the burned out Vermillion residence.

◇

"This is the place where I used to hide from my grandmother."

"This is where Diana used to keep her candy from my dad."

"In this room me and my mom used to go in to sleep when my dad and grandma wanted to sermonize us. It brings back so many memories."

I thought Lucy would be sad to see her old house burned down.

But I was surprised by the opposite effect.

We would walk through every room and place in the castle that is accessible.

Lucy would point out to me what it was that she or her sister did in this place.

Her smile recalling the wonderful moments as we looked at the burnt structure made me understand that she really wanted to come back at least once.

I'm glad she got her wish.

Ixion told me that there were still bodies of the people who died here.

Together with Bell he took them out and buried them all in a place far away from the castle.

He said the only odd thing was the marks on the ground of all the bodies, there was only one that was missing. Someone had stolen it.

Apparently... that was Lucy's mother's.

I'm overthinking things so I better not think anymore.

"Here we are."

Ixion stopped us in the room that Lucy indicated was the priestess's office. But that her father was occupying it instead of her.

We entered, as I imagined, everything was destroyed.

In the midst of the rubble my feet felt something that made a sound of glass breaking.

I checked my feet and found something which I showed Lucy.

"Lucy, this belongs to you."

It was a picture about her with Diana as children.

Diana wasn't smiling, while Lucy was flashing that energetic smile as always.

Behind them were some people with their upper bodies burned, I imagine they were her parents.

Lucy received the photo as if it was the best gift in the world.

Ixion illuminated a special part.

A burned bookcase was removed by an invisible force which was provoked by Ixion.

Behind that bookcase was a steel door.

I asked Lucy.

"Do you know what this is?"

She shook her head causing her twintails to shake.

"No, I've been here many times, but this is the first time I've seen something like that."

"My parents used to hang out here all the time, so I have no idea what it could be."

(How I wish I had Erselica here to ask her details.)

I ordered Ixion to open it.

"I did it yesterday, my curiosity for the occult was greater than my desire to help him."

"You're an... open it."

"Done."

After getting angry at this junk, the door opened, we entered and the inside was full of dust.

It was amazing that this place was the only one that wasn't destroyed by flames.

The structure is no big deal, but it seems to have been built to hide some important secret.

Dust and cobwebs covered the place.

Ixion was analyzing the contents of the room to see if there was anything important.

Lucy and I were also looking around when she tugged on my shirt sleeve.

"Rudel look."

She pointed to a wall. Turning to look at it, I was shocked.

In pristine condition was a huge portrait of a woman in ceremonial robes.

The size of the frame was the same size as the guardian's emblem.

But the truly amazing thing was the woman.

She... was identical to a certain person he knew, it was Ixion who said.

"She looks a lot like Ada."

Allen's sister.

The woman in the portrait is what she would look like in her thirties.

That includes that huge chest. The proper term would be to say they are rocket breasts.

The center part is hidden by her clothes, I'm sure they must stick out because of the length of those fruits.

"Hey, I can feel where your gaze is."

Lucy pinched my cheek as it was obvious where I was looking.

"Ih'm sohrryh."

I said to ask for her forgiveness.

Ixion stepped closer and pointed with the light of his lens to a description in the square.

It was written in the ancient language of Aster.

Lucy reached over and touched it.

"I remember being taught these letters once. It says..."

"Here lies the face of the first generation, to the new generations I leave my will, please. Beware of the faker who lies in heaven. If it returns, all will be over."

We all said the same thing we were thinking.

"Faker?"

I looked at Ixion, even he didn't know what she meant, Lucy continued reading.

"There are two of them staring at us always, day or night. They appear to be twins, but one of them is a fake, if the day comes where it return. Ask the maiden in white on the other side of the world for help."

"Maiden in white?"

This must be an epitaph, a last wish before death to someone. But to whom was it dedicated? And what the heck is the content about?

I can't tell if it's ambiguous or the message is not understood.

We decided to investigate further.

I took one last look at those rocket breasts.

Lucy said to Ixion.

"Hey, this one looks like you."

She pulled out a picture that was on the floor, in it was a strange drawing of some people prostrated in front of something similar to a glowing sphere with an eye in the center.

On top of the sphere something similar to an apple was sent to the sky.

Ixion stared at it and then said...

"That's a very ugly picture of worshipping a being you don't understand. I wouldn't be surprised if the new humans had found more artificial intelligences and worshipped them."

Ixion replied that it was an absurd drawing, but he stared at it intently despite that.

◇◇◇

Elsewhere at the same time, a meeting was taking place.

A group of men in armor gathered in a large, lighted room were harshly criticizing one of their own.

"How could you allow the Acting Chairman to do something like that?"

"I expected more from you, after all these years of hearing how you bragged about being Randolf-sama's right hand man, you disappoint me."

"My lord may be trash, but the Acting Chairman is giving that foreigner too many liberties, as his right hand man you should have stopped him!"

Normally, this did not happen despite everyone being of the same rank. Great Knights, the title given with an emblem to the strongest and most loyal knights of the six great nobles.

Five of them were angrily pointing at one of their companions. His name was Baltort, a tall, stout man, with blond hair and brown eyes.

His face was very serious, with a long chin and little facial hair. He was an antagonistic character in the game, the right-hand man of the Acting Chairman, Baltort.

Always once a month a meeting of great knights occurred to talk about their accomplishments committed or done by their lords.

Baltort would always brag about what the Acting Chairman was doing.

But now it was different. His peers were criticizing him.

Like hot cakes the news of the engagement between Sara and Rudel spread, as did the fact that Rudel entered the mansion of Vermillion Household.

Randolf himself threatened whoever tried to enter, that he would punish him severely.

There are several knights on patrol, and that such an order would happen, annoyed them much of the treatment of a hated foreigner.

Even the great knight of Jude's own house, who was hurt by him, mentions that the embarrassment caused by the Acting Chairman is greater than what Jude did.

Baltort in the game was a man who would carry out any order given to him by his patron. That is why he was a minor antagonist.

He could not defend himself as it was all true.

As he received the complaints without being able to defend himself, Baltort thought.

(Why does he favor him so much to that country noble, Randolf-sama?)

(Doesn't he realize that the favorable treatment he gives him, makes everyone look down on the Rosenberg family, you, me as his right hand man and above all his governorship.)

(Please stop giving others reason to be angry with you.)

Baltort was like Linus. A proud patriot, he not only had to duck his head after the Jude and Derrick case, he also had to keep quiet when he protested Rudel being sent back to the Kingdom.

And now it's worse with the fact that Rudel will become the fiancé of the Acting Chairman's daughter.

"Don't be quiet, say something Baltort!"

Baltort's mind was in chaos because of Rudel and Randolf.

◇

"So... spiritual world, huh?"

Night fell before we knew it.

Lucy and I went through all the contents of this secret room.

Most of it was junk to me, it was just old stories and letters to friends.

But there was one very interesting book, it was one that had the Vermillion emblem on the cover.

It was written in the ancient language.

Ixion couldn't decipher it... yet. He said it would take time.

While Lucy and I sat on a piece of furniture that Ixion cleaned.

She was telling me several things about Aster and its founding that we didn't know.

For example, there were seven clans that came from different places looking for a place to live.

The seven clans fought for dominance of this country.

Of those seven clans, one of them stopped the unnecessary bloodshed.

The person who stopped and unified them was a woman by the name of "Nonna", who said she heard the voice of the grand tree that lies in this land.

She demonstrated her sacred powers and then all stopped to worship her.

Thus was born the priestess and some time later the guardian, the man chosen by her to protect her.

I also discovered that every great noble has a magical power either strong, or unique.

For example: Derrick's bastard and his father can shoot energy bolts, Zack's family can use powerful water magic, Linus' idiot family use air magic while Jude's family use fire.

Then comes Lugh's family with their earth magic, apparently from them came the first guardian. That just leaves the main families of this story.

Rosenberg's family can use ice magic, I didn't know that. While Lucy's can use sacred magic, which is something like intense prayer power.

In the words of Nonna, the first priestess, she could access something called the "Other Side" or " Spiritual World". A world that is not in this place.

Ixion wanted to know more about it, but not many details left.

Lucy said there was one more thing, but there are some black spots in the book and she can't almost read, but she said it said...

"The 'Land of the Dead' a place where those who can neither be saved nor punished go. Apparently it's because Nonna managed to get in there that she ended up with trauma when she returned."

"She says she left this country to go live with her friend, the maiden in white."

The land of the dead, just hearing it scares me.

A place where those who die can't go to the equivalent of heaven and hell. Wait, did Nonna confirm that there is a heaven and a hell?

That scares me, Ixion would certainly destroy both places if he found out.

I feel a lot of interest in that “world” and that land, as a transmigrator, I better than anyone else can confirm that there is life after death. But no one wants to die to find out, so let's hide this secret forever.

I told Lucy let's go back to the ship to go home.

But she took my hand and with a warm look she said.

"Rudel...do you want to do it?"

I was speechless at that sudden wonderful proposition.

I couldn't help but contain my joy.

"W-W-Why the sudden proposal?"

Lucy was so embarrassed, she was making the effort to look at me.

"I heard you three having fun recently... then came your engagement to Sara, I know she could be your second wife, but I don't want the Vermillion Household back. I don't want to stay tied to this country."

"That is why, I am supporting Diana to become the next head of the house, Lugh has a younger brother, I am sure, with my proposal, his family would accept."

"That's why I don't mind if you want Sara as yours, just for you, I am willing to put up with being with the girl who tormented me for a year."

Sara was the villainess of the game, Lucy was the real heroine, she suffered the harassment and mockery of the villainess. We found out later it was to protect her from Jude and Derrick.

I told Lucy very excitedly.

"I really want to do it with you, you're so beautiful!"

"... I can feel your burning gaze on my chest."

"Sorry."

"No problem. I'm already your girlfriend, and I want you to see me from now on."

Before I said yes, I looked at Ixion who was standing near us.

He seemed to disappear to give us space.

I answered Lucy since that guy wasn't here.

"Let's go to a hotel or if you prefer to my house."

"No. I want on the ship."

"The ship? It's not romantic there and I'm sure you want it to be romantic."

"I want... but, I'm sure if we go back, those two won't let us be alone."

Lucy looked annoyed after looking at the floor, I don't understand who she means by those two. Wait, is she talking about that two?

But they accepted her, so there shouldn't be a problem anymore.

But my desire to be one with Lucy was so great that I didn't want to hold on anymore.

"Lucy, I promise to be gentle!"

"... If you want to be rough... I wouldn't mind."

She said in an obscene tone after playfully touching the slave necklace Jude placed on her.

She should be able to take it off by now through Ixion, but she hasn't.

Apparently, she doesn't want to take it off even in this situation.

I feel like I have found Ellen's counterpart.

I took her hand and then we quickly went to the ship. Before we entered the room, we kissed, I lifted her up like a princess... and we both entered the adult world together.

I won't lie, it felt better than it did with Alisa and Airi, but it doesn't even come close to the smallest part of what it was with Lecia.

When we were done. Lucy was staring at the wall while ignoring me.

"Sorry."

I begged her forgiveness as she hid with the sheets.

"I told you, you can be rough, but I never said you could do weird things to me in the wrong place. I'm in a lot of pain in that place you idiot."

(You say that even though you enjoyed it because you never told me to stop...)

"Sorry! I'll pay you back!"

"Again."

"Huh?"

Lucy took off the sheet and with an innocent expression, but with her eyes for some reason in the shape of a heart said.

"I'll forgive you if we do it one more time. And this time be gentle, I want to kiss while we give each other love."

I couldn't hold it in any longer and assaulted her.

"Lucy, I love you!"

"Kyah!"

◇◇◇

"Lucy, I─"

"Rudel."

At Erselica's mansion, in a room which was secured so no sound could be heard.

Alisa and Airi were watching a recording.

Bell was playing it as she secretly spied on Rudel and Lucy.

Both were drinking tea, Airi said to Alisa who was chewing on a cookie harder than a frozen apple.

"Rudel-san looks very happy."

"I can see it perfectly. That face says he's enjoying it."

"Looks to me like Lucy-san is enjoying it most."

Both of their gazes were very subdued, they were more focused on Lucy showing a pleasurable expression, than on Rudel-san enjoying himself.

One of them muttered for the other not to hear her.

"Get away from me man, you boyfriend thief."

◇◇◇

The nights in Aster were warm and pleasant.

Until without any explanation, high up in the sacred tree. A strange protuberance was growing little by little.