by Hiro Ainana
Copyright
Death March to the Parallel World Rhapsody, Vol. 6
Hiro Ainana
Translation by Jenny McKeon
Cover art by shri
This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, or persons, living or dead, is coincidental.
© Hiro Ainana, shri 2015
First published in Japan in 2015 by KADOKAWA CORPORATION, Tokyo.
English translation rights arranged with KADOKAWA CORPORATION, Tokyo, through Tuttle-Mori Agency, Inc., Tokyo.
English translation © 2018 by Yen Press, LLC
Yen Press, LLC supports the right to free expression and the value of copyright. The purpose of copyright is to encourage writers and artists to produce the creative works that enrich our culture.
The scanning, uploading, and distribution of this book without permission is a theft of the author’s intellectual property. If you would like permission to use material from the book (other than for review purposes), please contact the publisher. Thank you for your support of the author’s rights.
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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Names: Ainana, Hiro, author. | Shri, illustrator. | McKeon, Jenny, translator.
Title: Death march to the parallel world rhapsody / Hiro Ainana ; illustrations by shri ; translation by Jenny McKeon.
Other titles: Desu machi kara hajimaru isekai kyosokyoku. English
Description: First Yen On edition. | New York, NY : Yen ON, 2017–
Identifiers: LCCN 2016050512 | ISBN 9780316504638 (v. 1 : pbk.) |
ISBN 9780316507974 (v. 2 : pbk.) | ISBN 9780316556088 (v. 3 : pbk.) | ISBN 9780316556095 (v. 4 : pbk.) | ISBN 9780316556101 (v. 5 : pbk.) | ISBN 9780316556125 (v. 6 : pbk.)
Subjects: | GSAFD: Fantasy fiction.
Classification: LCC PL867.5.I56 D413 2017 | DDC 895.6/36d—dc23
LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2016050512
ISBNs: 978-0-316-55612-5 (paperback)
978-0-316-55618-7 (ebook)
E3-20180816-JV-PC
Ringrande
Satou here. When I think of mokuba, wooden horses, my mind automatically goes to merry-go-rounds. But for some reason, most of my friends think of some card game. Very mysterious.
“A hooorse?”
“It’s a horse, sir.”
Tama, a white-haired girl with cat ears and a tail, and Pochi, a girl with a short chestnut bob and dog ears and a tail, were staring at the sky from the deck of the large ship carrying us downriver.
The rest of the group, sprawled on the sofas we’d placed on deck, looked up with interest.
“Hmm? That little white spot there? I can barely see it.”
Arisa, her lilac hair hidden by a blond wig, narrowed her violet eyes to squint at the sky where Tama and Pochi were pointing.
“Master, I would like a telescopic vision expansion, I entreat.”
Nana’s head popped up behind me, her golden hair tied back in a ponytail. She was expressionless as always, but I was starting to get the hang of reading her emotions.
She put a hand on my shoulder, her substantial chest pressing against me. Normally, this would suggest an attempt at seduction, but since she was a homunculus and technically zero years old, it was probably more like a child demanding attention from a parent.
That said, it would be a waste to move away from such a pleasant sensation, so I let her do as she liked.
However, not everyone was so forgiving.
“Too close.”
Mia, who’d been playing a gentle tune, stopped to glower at Nana and wedge herself between us.
Her long, pale turquoise pigtails swayed, allowing a glimpse at the pointed elf ears beneath her hair.
I felt a slight tug on my sleeve, and I turned around.
“M-master, does this mean that you prefer…you know, bigger…?”
Speaking to me with tears welling up in her dark eyes was Lulu, a beautiful black-haired girl who could easily pass for Japanese. A girl that lovely could make any expression look good.
I wished I could preserve this moment forever as a painting or something, but I wouldn’t let one of the kids in my care stay sad, so I gently wiped her tears with a finger.
If you asked me, it was downright sinful that the beauty standards in this world meant this beautiful girl was considered homely by most.
“Master, it appears that someone is riding the horse,” added Liza of the orangescale tribe, standing alert at my side with her magic spear at the ready.
Behind her crimson hair, her dignified profile was just visible. Her orange tail flicked slightly with tension.
“Are we under attack?”
“A single horseman would not attempt to rob a ship.”
Miss Karina, the daughter of Baron Muno, brushed back her blond curls before peering at the sky from the neighboring sofa.
The calm male voice that answered her came from Raka, a silver amulet that glowed blue at her breast. It was an “intelligent item” that enhanced the wearer’s strength and created a powerful barrier to protect them.
Though most of the group was on the alert, I could tell from the detailed information next to the point on my map that whatever was approaching us from the sky wasn’t an enemy.
However, no one would believe this unless I explained the workings of my Unique Skill “Search Entire Map,” so I couldn’t say anything to my group with the likes of Miss Karina and Raka around. They’d be able to see for themselves soon enough; I decided to just keep enjoying the relaxing boat trip for now.
Still, though…
This peaceful scene made it hard to believe that a demon lord had been resurrected in the depths below the old capital just last night.
It felt like ages ago that I’d met Sara of the Tenion Temple.
Not far from the banks of this peaceful river, the demon lord cult Wings of Freedom had used her as a sacrifice to resurrect one of the evil creatures. Fortunately, I defeated him, and Sara was revived with help from the head priestess of the Tenion Temple and the Treasure of Resurrection.
According to my map, Sara’s current status condition was Weakened, but she should be fine, since there were plenty of priests at the temple who could use Holy Magic. I’ll have to go visit her once she’s recovered a little more.
The next “Season of the Demon Lord” wasn’t for another sixty-six years; I was planning to enjoy a nice peaceful journey from now on. Besides, there are supposed to be all kinds of rarities in the old capital where we’re heading next, so I think I’ll stay awhile and enjoy the sights.
This would extend the trip to take Mia home to the elf village, but they already knew she was safe, and Mia herself had said that even an extra year or two made no difference to elves. We’d just say she was broadening her horizons before going home.
We’d also be parting with Miss Karina at the old capital, since she had been tasked with delivering a letter from Baron Muno to the royal capital, but wi
th Raka and her two armed maids, I expected she’d be perfectly fine.
While my thoughts were wandering, the ship guards and knightly passengers noticed the shadow approaching from the sky.
The guards began preparing magic and bows to defend the ship, and some of the birdfolk and batfolk among their number took off to scout out the situation.
My group began to follow suit and arm themselves with bows and stones as well, but I quietly stopped them.
“Don’t worry. We’re not under attack.”
I already knew the flier’s identity; I’d checked on my map as soon as Pochi and Tama pointed it out.
My “Telescopic Sight” and “Long-Distance Vision” skills meant I already had a clear view.
A white golem shaped like a wooden horse was galloping through the sky. It probably used a similar principal to my “Skyrunning” skill. My AR display labeled the contraption a wooden Pegasus.
Riding on its back was a slender knight clad in silver armor. The helmet hid the rider’s face, but the feminine outline of the armor hinted at the beauty of its wearer. If the curves of that breastplate were anything to go by, she was probably around an E cup, too.
Her name was Ringrande Ougoch. Level 55. Judging by the configuration of her skills, she seemed more like a magic knight than a mage.
At twenty-two, she was seven years older than her sister—Sara of the Tenion Temple. She was also a follower of the hero Hayato Masaki.
I had no idea why a grandchild of Duke Ougoch, one of the most powerful men in the Shiga Kingdom, would be working for the hero of the Saga Empire, but I was confident she would be a beauty with a strong resemblance to Sara, at least.
Naturally, I kept these high expectations to myself when one of the birdfolk who’d gone to scope out the situation hurriedly returned.
“It’s Lady Ringrande!” the scout exclaimed. “The Witch of Heavenly Destruction has returned!” With that, he took off around the ship to excitedly repeat his message.
His beak garbled his speech a little—it sounded more like “Lay-hee Lin-glad”—but I managed to figure it out.
The sailors, ship guards, and even the knights repeated her name to one another. Sara’s sister must be pretty famous.
“Riiin?”
“Glad, sir?”
The murmurs from all sides set Pochi and Tama on edge; they glanced around uncertainly.
“Lady…Ringrande?” Miss Karina repeated. “The one who travels with the hero?”
Jumping to her feet, she stared at the approaching rider like she was about to meet her biggest idol. She must have heard all kinds of gossip in the hero-crazy Muno Barony.
“Have you met this Lady Ringrande, Arisa?” I asked quietly.
“Never. I must have met Hayato before she joined up.” Arisa shook her head, then paused thoughtfully. “But if she knows what Japanese people look like, she might realize where you’re from.”
“Good point. I guess I’ll just say I’m descended from a Japanese hero, like Lulu.”
I made a mental note of this new addition to my made-up backstory.
Miss Ringrande and her wooden Pegasus approached the ship.
She removed her helmet, her long hair cascading like silver threads. Unlike Sara, whose hair was closer to a platinum blond, Miss Ringrande’s hair was the color of pure silver. It was so beautiful, it almost didn’t look real.
Her face was indeed similar to Sara’s, but while the features of the oracle priestess brought to mind a sweetly blooming flower, Ringrande’s had the commanding charm of an elegant rose.
“I am Ringrande, granddaughter of Duke Ougoch! I hereby request permission to land on your ship!” she cried with a sharp, booming voice, and the captain quickly granted permission from the stern.
Her voice reminded me of Sara’s, too, but it gave a completely different impression.
“““Ringrande!””” Perhaps stirred by the sound of her voice, the people on board cried her name in welcome. “““Ringrande!”””
Their stamping and flailing were so fervent that I couldn’t bring myself to join in.
Overwhelmed by the noise, Tama and Pochi flattened their ears and looked at me anxiously, so I sat them on my knees and patted their heads.
Except for my party and myself, the only passenger who wasn’t hopping up and down was Imperial Knight Sir Ipasa Lloyd, Sara’s former escort. His gaze was warm, as if he was fondly watching a grown younger sibling.
Little Mayuna, the baby with the “Oracle” skill, was peering out from her mother Hayuna’s arms in excitement. Hayuna’s husband, Tolma, was still seasick in their cabin.
“Sit.”
“H-hey, me too!”
Mia and Arisa sat down on either side of me, snuggling up to me with satisfied faces.
“Sh-she’s very popular, isn’t she?”
Flushed, Lulu settled onto the soft fur rug laid out in front of the couch. Her excited expression was cute enough to preserve forever, too.
“Master, I desire a plush toy in the shape of that horse, I assert.”
“Sure, I’ll make you one. There’s not much else to do while we’re on the ship.”
Behind me, Nana stared intensely at Miss Ringrande’s wooden Pegasus. A few simple plush toys should take only a half hour or so, even if I made enough for everyone.
“Thank you, master!”
Delighted, Nana expressed her gratitude by embracing my head, her ample breasts pushing against my face.
Of course, the ever-watchful barrier of Arisa and Mia was quick to pull her away, but just a moment in paradise was enough.
I’ll have to make the cutest plush toy I possibly can.
“Sir Knight, I apologize for the sailors’ noisy behavior.”
This apology came from the tour guide who was taking care of us on the ship.
In addition to being the resident guide for our vessel, she was a civil official in the service of its owner, Viceroy Worgoch of Gururian City.
“It’s quite all right. Lady Ringrande must be very popular,” I said, casually broaching the topic.
Miss Ringrande had landed her wooden Pegasus on the afterdeck and was chatting with Sir Ipasa and the ship’s captain.
“Are you not familiar with her, Sir Knight?” The guide, evidently a big fan, approached me with her fists raised to her chest in excitement.
I shook my head politely, and she promptly regaled me with various tales of Miss Ringrande’s exploits.
Some of them I already knew from reviewing her information on the map, but the story went something like this:
Miss Ringrande was the eldest daughter of the next duke and a princess of the Shiga Kingdom—making her the granddaughter of a king as well as a duke. This didn’t give her the right to inherit any throne, as it turned out, but she still came from an impressive bloodline. On top of that, she was a prodigy who entered the royal academy at just ten years of age and graduated within two, and she’d mastered both Wind and Blaze Magic to advanced levels. After graduation, she even became a researcher at the academy, and by the age of fifteen she’d revived the lost arts of Destruction Magic and Explosion Magic. During the course of her research, she brushed up on her magical techniques in the Labyrinth City Celivera.
“She was granted the rank of honorary baroness as thanks for defeating a floormaster in Labyrinth City.”
“Did she do that all by herself?”
“Not even Lady Ringrande could do that on her own!”
The tour guide explained that she had the help of Holy Knights from the royal capital.
Because of her accomplishments, when the beloved prodigy turned eighteen and left the Shiga Kingdom to work with the hero of the Saga Empire, the kingdom went into an uproar. I didn’t care about that part so much. I just nodded along without really listening.
I did learn, however, that this was the first time she’d returned in four years.
The clink-clank of armor heralded Miss Ringrande’s approach, along with Sir Ipasa.
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It seemed rude to stay seated, so I stood up to greet her.
At the urging of her maids, Miss Karina rose to her feet, too, her knees knocking with nerves.
“Nice to meet you. I’m Ringrande Ougoch, follower of Hero Hayato Masaki.” Introducing herself, Miss Ringrande bowed politely to Karina.
“N-n-nice to meet you…”
That was as far as Miss Karina’s introduction went before she stammered to a halt and turned bright red. I stepped in to give her some backup.
“Pardon my intrusion. This is Karina Muno, the second daughter of my lord Baron Muno. It seems she is so overwhelmed with emotion at the chance to meet you that she has forgotten herself; allow me to apologize on her behalf.”
“Oh, not at all! Baron Muno—you mean Uncle Leon, right? Why, that would make us second cousins, then. The books he wrote back when he was a researcher were the reason I decided I wanted to work with a hero! Please treat me as an equal.”
Miss Ringrande gave Miss Karina a warm smile.
Like a fan whose favorite singer had smiled at her, Miss Karina was so red that she could have been on the verge of fainting.
Picking up on this, Miss Ringrande tactfully shifted her gaze toward me. “Might I ask your name, then?”
“Certainly. I am Satou Pendragon, an honorary hereditary knight and vassal of the Muno Barony.”
Miss Ringrande’s eyes widened at that. “You’re Uncle Leon’s vassal? Haven’t you heard the rumors about Muno Barony?”
“Yes, of course. But the curse that was afflicting the barony has been broken now.”
Naturally, I left out how the one who removed the curse was the “silver-masked hero.”
Since she worked for the hero Hayato, bringing up the appearance of a new hero would probably result in a lengthy explanation.
“Well, that’s splendid news. Who was the one who…?”
Before Miss Ringrande could finish her question, I shifted my gaze toward the tour guide, who appeared to be itching to say something.
“What’s the matter?”
“Well, we’ll be entering the Dreamglow Cavern shortly…”
The Dreamglow Cavern was a man-made tunnel about two miles long in the middle of the river and ran through the Grapevine Mountains.
