[Elven Kingdom, Kretouvell]

The four of them were in Ersune Castle, a situation that reminded them of when the whole cultist mansion raid was announced. Though this time there were significantly less people in there than there was last time. The group had a bad feeling about all of this, but tried to keep an open mind.

Marle: Two months ago, our simultaneous raid on Karnatus' bases occurred. We managed to defeat a majority of the cult's forces at the cost of a lot of our own.

Haru: We? I, and everyone else in my team, were fighting for our lives. While you sat there in your shiny throne doing nothing.

He thought, angrily wanting to lash out at the king right at that moment. While the girls came in closer to him, wanting to hold him back and prevent him from making a stupid decision. All as the king was talking to them and everyone else in the room.

Marle: Tch, the brat killed Velia. He's even more powerful than I expected, I might have to take him out myself if necessary.

He thought, glaring at Haru like he did last time. While keeping up his "Nice King" persona in front of everyone else in the room including him. Though with the "Raid" going mostly to plan, by that he meant turning it into a massacre of those summoned here along with people who he thought were onto him, it was still kind of a success.

Marle: For those of you who are here right now, you'll be split between us and several other kingdoms. Before the raid we had a little meeting and we decided to split the summoned and their parties equally amongst the kingdoms.

Haru: Let's just hope we hit the jackpot on this.

Eventually he would dismiss most of the people there aside from Haru and his group. Haru silently activated {Bone King} as it was just them and the king, he had some bad feelings about it already but this just made him more anxious.

Marle: Sir Kanzaki, you're going to be heading first seeing as your ride is already here.

Haru: Eh, you're kidding me? We're going right now?

Marle: Apparently so, I was shocked too when I found them already by the port in their airship. The elf king seems to have taken a liking to you.

Haru: I see...c'mon now you three, let's go to the port.

As the four of them leave the room, Marle changes from a kind looking face into a more neutral looking one as he keeps glaring at Haru. Angry that he's still alive when he's the one he wanted dead the most. As another figure appeared, talking to him from the dark hallway nearby.

???: Now, now, Marle. You're forgetting that we've already set up multiple spies in that kingdom. We'll still be able to watch him, even if you yourself aren't there.

Marle: You already know what I'm gunning for, Velia already told me. It shouldn't be that surprising that I'm dissatisfied with this.

???: That's true, but regardless, I do want to test out Kanzaki Haru myself.

Marle: Even you, huh. The brat's pretty powerful, he killed Velia, should give you some expectations.

???: Noted then, this will be fun. Though before I take my leave, I will remind you that you're contracted to me. You wouldn't have been able to be a king here if I hadn't pulled some strings around this kingdom and given you your human form.

The Leader of Karnatus disappears into the air as Marle sighs, incredibly tired. His leader basically telling him that he's nothing more but a part of his plan, along with reminding him of his past as the Volcanis Dragon prior to meeting that man.

But still, he hoped it wouldn't come to him having to kill Haru, since he thought it was a waste of his abilities. His true goal still being to kill the demon lord personally and take their place as the new one.

Meanwhile, Haru and his party were now at the port. Looking at a massive elven airship. Did they really need something this massive just for the four of them? They thought as someone approached them, wearing white and gold armor, the helmet obscuring their face.

Haru: Wait, don't tell me that-

Grimmwald: Yo, Haru. I've been sent here to be the bodyguard for you guys.

Haru: Aren't you the kid's personal bodyguard?

Grimmwald: The king put me up to this, seeing as how I already know you and Ms. Airi. Don't worry too much about it.

Haru: I'll take your word for it, We'll head in- Dammit.

He finds that the girls are already in the airship, waiting, Haru sighs and walks ahead, Grimmwald pulls him back, telling him that he should help out with moving their things. As the boy looked at him, with an annoyed look on his face.

He reluctantly agreed, it surprisingly wasn't too hard as they had a teleportation crystal which helped speed up the process. He just had to pack up in a wooden crate and let the crystal handle most of the work, putting it into the cargo area of the airship.

Though he did manage to smuggle in the remaining few books that he hadn't gone through yet from the mansion, along with the book he kept the notes in. And explaining why he went off and came back with them away with a very flimsy, but still effective, excuse.

When the two finished and headed into the airship, the ship finally began its journey back to Kretouvell, the four's new home. The cool breeze of the air was a nice treat for him and the girls as it flew across the cloudy sky, the clouds almost acting like the sea to the airship.

Elleth: Haru, wait, what are you-

Haru: Hold on, I want to do something quick.

He picks her up and by her waist, panicking in his arms as a smug grin makes its way onto his face as everyone else just watches, not really doing anything about it. Until he threw her off the airship, where only then they rushed to look out of the railings, seeing her drop into a cloud and go out of their sight.

Touka immediately grabs him by his collar, asking him why he did that as wings could be heard flapping from below, getting louder and louder as it got closer and closer to the airship. Elleth reappeared in her partial dragon form, her sharp black wings flapping about as her arms were crossed. Haru looked at her slightly disappointed she wasn't in her full dragon form.

Elleth: You could've just told me, idiot.

Haru: Just transform into your dragon form already, I'll treat you to something when we land.

Elleth: Can't believe this is the same guy I made a contract with, but oh well.

She reluctantly transforms into her dragon form, probably for the first time in a long while since they went over to that port town for that quest. Light covered her as her wings grew and her body changed into her natural form, that of a black dragon whose scales have a vein-like crimson pattern and a sharp tail.

Haru activates {Bone King} and uses a bone tendril like a rope to swing onto her back. All as Grimmwald, Airi, and Touka watched on, the two sisters being slightly envious of Elleth, since Haru promised to give her something.

Elleth flew next to the airship, following it towards Kretouvell, as Haru enjoyed his time on the dragon girl's back, which was surprisingly comfortable and soft feeling. Even with her distinct scales covering a majority of it.

Grimmwald: Is he usually like this?

Airi: Yeah, we're kind of used to it being his childhood friends and all. That aside, you're still wearing his coat, my dear little sister. Isn't that cute.

Touka: I-it can't be helped, weather's been pretty cold since yesterday so he insisted, that's all.

Airi: But still, congrats.

Touka: Huh? What do you mean by that?

Airi: He finally confessed, didn't he? That's why.

Touka: How did you-

Airi: I heard it just today, Haru was sleep talking and let that slip.

Touka: I see...

Haru: Oi, you two, I think I see it from here!

Speak of the devil, Haru butted in and got the two's attention as he saw Kretouvell from a bird's eye view. Noting that it's around the same size as Ersune as the two sisters looked out to see it for themselves.

A little later and they finally land in the port. With Elleth dropping herself and Haru off on the ground, going back into her human form as the other three get out of the airship. The two sisters walked over to them, as Grimmwald got their things out of the cargo bay.

Grimmwald: I'll take these to your guys' new place here, you can go ahead.

Haru: Eh? But we barely know this place. Shouldn't you come with us?

Grimmwald: Don't worry, there should be some other knights here to guide you. They're past this place if I recall correctly.

Haru: Alright then, let's go you three. Wonder if there's an ice cream place here...

The four of them walk off, as Grimmwald takes the crates of their things onto a horse-driven cart. Heading off to drop it off in their new home within the kingdom. While the four meet up with the knights who were sent to escort them to the castle.

They walked through the town, the citizens looking and staring at them as they passed. It was like this up until they reached the castle, is it really that uncommon to see a human in their kingdom, the four thought, as they are finally face-to-face with the king.

Elf King: Welcome to my kingdom, heroes from another world!

He says in a large booming voice, reminiscent of the King of Ersune, Marle's voice when they first arrived in this world. Which immediately gave Haru, Airi, and Touka a chill up their spines. Remembering the grueling six months they had to go through in training.

Elf King: I'm glad that king of yours actually agreed to split the otherworlders, you guys, between the rest of us.

Haru: But why us specifically? I'm sure the others would've been a bit better than me. Even with everything I and these three have done up to this point.

Elf King: To answer your question, young man, I saw potential in you four. You especially, considering what you've done during that raid your former kingdom conducted recently.

Haru: About that I-

Elf King: Regardless of my reasoning, you'll be enlisted here as part of our military force. Meaning you'll have access to the best armor and weaponry our blacksmiths can provide.

Touka: Nice, now I can get some new armor. The boots from my old set are the only usable parts left.

Airi: Good for you. Personally, I might still stick with my trusty rapier. Though I will need to get a new one as well.

Elf King: Though I will say, I wanted you to meet my daughters, but it seems like they're out for the day. So unfortunately this will be it, after this you're free to roam around this castle and the town if you want.

Airi: I see, then how about the four of us go explore the town.

Touka: I'm up for that, but I'm going to head for an armorer first to see if I can get something custom-made.

Elleth: I'll go with you then, Touka.

Airi: What about you dear?

Haru: I'll stay here for a bit, you three can go ahead. I'll catch up as soon as I can.

Touka: Eh, why? Aren't you needing a new sword as well?

Haru: This will be quick, I swear.

And with that the three of them were off, leaving only Haru, The Elf King, and the other knights in the room. The king looked intrigued and curious as to what the young man was about to ask him. As Haru breathed in, before opening his mouth to speak.

Haru: I want to ask about the "Dragon-Guarded Temple". A Goddess by the name of Drodia told me to ask you about this.

Elf King: Ahh, so you're the one our Goddess Drodia has chosen, interesting. Very well, I'll tell you all I know.

Meanwhile Elleth, Airi, and Touka were now in an armorer's, finding themselves staring at a gruff-looking elf man with a beard. Who was most likely the owner of this place himself, who seemed quite happy that there were some new faces in his shop.

Touka walked up to the man, as the other two looked, eying the various kinds of armor and weapons to be found within the dozens of wooden shelves, open chests, and crates scattered around this fairly sizable shop.

Elf Armorer: Hey there, what can I do for you young ladies?

Touka: I was wondering if you do custom armor? Looking for something thin and light, yet extremely durable. I have a bit of an Idea what I'm going for.

Elf Armorer: Thin and light, but durable, huh. Those are pretty common in this kingdom, I'm sure I have something that fits that description, wait here.

The man goes into the back of the shop, seeing if he has anything leftover from previous customers. After a while, he comes out with a set of silver-colored armor on a stand, it looked more like a suit thanks to how thin it was. Touka looked at it, and as she expected it was what she wanted.

Elf Armorer: Is this what you're looking for? As thin as it looks, it's as strong as our kingdom's military armor. They use this for some of the joint areas for more mobility even with armor on.

Touka: This is what I wanted, but aside from that, I'm wondering if you could do something for the right arm?

Elf Armorer: Right arm? What do you mean by that?

Touka unravels the bandages on her arm a bit, just enough to expose her hand. The dark blue skin and glowing blue cracks catching the curious eye of the armorer. She let him look at it for a little while before putting the bandages back on, luckily nothing went wrong.

Touka: This is what I meant. The arm is a bit unstable so I want something that can contain or at least regulate its power.

Elf Armorer: I see...well I don't really have anything for this. So this will have to be custom-made, it'll take around a day or two at best. In any case do you want to take the armor now or?

Touka: I'll pick up the armor as well when the new gauntlet is finished.

Elf Armorer: Thank you for your patronage, see you then.

She turns back, seeing that her sister and Elleth were waiting for her. She then walks towards and out of the shop with them. Seeing that a lot of the citizens were chatting amongst each other. They overhear someone, talking about how the eldest princess challenged someone in the colosseum.

The last word reminded the trio of Haru, who has stayed behind to do something he said was going to be quick. But has yet to actually meet up with them again. Then they overheard another person. Black Bones? The three girls sighed, before heading over there themselves to see if it was actually him.

Touka: There's no way right?

Airi: It's fifty-fifty, as much as I love him, he's a bit of a magnet for trouble.

Elleth: I get that, but fighting a princess? How does that even happen!?

And unfortunately, it was him. He was fighting the princess in his Captain's Orders form, using its massive speed boost and general firepower to his advantage against an elf girl with mint-colored hair tied up into a ponytail, who was wielding a pair of large dark green clawed gauntlets. And clad in gold and white armor, similar to Grimmwald's, albeit thinner. Like the one Touka would be picking up from the armorer, but with slightly more armor on the legs and torso areas.

The girl then trapped him in a sphere made of darkness when she had the chance, only for it to be shattered by his guns. She quickly followed it up by firing multiple beams made of darkness at him, which he dodges quite easily thanks to the aforementioned speed boost.

Elf Princess: That ability of yours...interesting...

Haru: I can say the same for you.

The ground clearly showed that they've already been fighting for a while now at this point, the wounding on their bodies being minimal in contrast.

Gouges, claw marks, craters, scratches, etc. Any attack of theirs that missed ended up as a mark on the ground as the two continued to duke it out. While the sound of cheers and applause from the crowd watching backdropped the whole scene.

Haru cocks his arm back, as black bones begin to come through it. And thrusts it forward, launching a point blank Hundred Impale right at the elf girl. Who only barely managed to defend by using her gauntlets as a shield, some getting through and piercing, mainly her legs.

After this, the two engaged in hand-to-hand combat, with the princess clearly having the upper hand even with her legs having been wounded prior. As Haru was more used to having a weapon in his hands while fighting at close range.

But it wouldn't stop him from trying to land a punch or two, along with throwing in a couple of kicks for good measure. However, these were only mildly effective on her at best, and only served to give her more openings to attack him from.

He jumps back, narrowly avoiding being clawed, firing off his torpedoes as he did so. The explosions from which were being swallowed up by what was clearly darkness emanating from her large gauntlets imitating the general form of a black hole.

This limited most of the damage it would usually cause, only leaving a shallow crater on the ground and smoke puffing up. She then used that to charge up her claws before slashing at him, releasing blades of darkness aimed towards him.

Said slashes moved extremely fast, and even with the boosted reaction time he has thanks to {Hunter}, they still cut through his dress shirt and tie. Blood soaked through it, even dripping onto the ground as he gasped in pain. All before making a hasty decision and deciding to unload his guns on her and jump in, creating a lance made out of black bones before doing so.

The elf girl breaks the bone lance almost instantly and quickly swats away most of the smoke caused by his gunfire, only to find him missing. He had disappeared, her yellow eyes showing her confusion as to what she just saw, or didn't see in this case. This wouldn't last long however, as she felt something poke the back of her head.

Haru: Not a single step, one move and the king loses a daughter.

It was Haru, his voice was slightly deeper as he tried his hand at threatening her, having the barrel of one of his cannons on the behind her head. He was actually going to do it, or at least was intending to so she wouldn't catch on to this obvious bluff. Clutching his wounded and bleeding chest as he did so.

Elf Princess: So...it's over, huh?

She turned her claws back into their standby form, that of normal cloth gloves in the same dark green color as the large gauntlets themselves as the remaining smoke faded away, giving the crowd a clear view of the pair.

Before turning around, lunging at him, and giving him a warm embrace as Haru deactivated Captain's Orders.

Elf Princess: As expected of my suitor.

Haru: Eh?

The sudden hug and reveal caught Touka, Airi, Elleth, and the rest of the crowd off-guard. As Haru was completely dumbfounded by this, when the hell did he become her suitor? He thought, shouting even, inside his head. But, unbeknownst to him and everyone else, a devilishly smug grin appeared on the princess' face.

And without missing a beat, she picks him up, carrying the poor confused boy on her shoulder, and makes off with him. Breaking the crowd even more as not a single person tries to stop what is arguably a straight up kidnapping occuring right in front of them.

Luckily for him, the three girls regained their bearings quite quickly and ran off as well. Intending to cut her off somewhere, both metaphorically and physically judging by the very infuriated looks on their faces as they chased the elf princess.

They chased her all the way to a field, where they surrounded her as best they could given that there were only three of them as Touka started to unwrap her bandages, leaving a bit behind still wrapped as the bandages flowed in the wind.

Revealing her unstable dark blue arm, she then activates {Wave} for the first time, the dormant cracks beginning to glow as she charges up a shockwave. As holds said arm outstretched, loaded and ready to fire at the princess.

Elf Princess: My, looks like someone's chased after us.

Her monotone voice didn't really match what she was saying as the girls were on edge. All as Haru was struggling to get out of her gorilla grip, blood still dripping from his wound earlier.

Elf Princess: Oh well, I've already done what I needed to do anyway.

Touka: What?

She walks over to Elleth, handing Haru over to her like a mother handing her child to their aunt to do something. With the dragon girl using her Repair Virus to seal up his wounds, preventing any more bleeding. Although by the time she did this, he was already feeling very weak, needing her to hold him up as Touka and Airi looked on.

Elf Princess: I should explain myself, probably.

Airi: What's this about a suitor, then?

Elf Princess: My father, the king, has been trying to set me up for a while. Unfortunately he isn't the wisest when it came to picking, since most of them were nothing but greedy weaklings who couldn't hope to best me in combat.

Touka: And Haru's any different?

Haru: Oi, I can hear you!

Elf Princess: So I decided to pull that stunt earlier, with that crowd, it's bound to reach my father's ears and finally get him to stop. Sorry, to get you involved in all this.

Touka sighs as she lowers her arm, deactivating {Wave} and wrapping it back up in its bandages. The tension between them all dropped to almost nothing.

Touka: Though, I have to wonder why you picked Haru. For a princess like your-

Elf Princess: Celica von Scharnhorst, that is my name.

Touka: Eh?

Celica: It's just that I find it weird that people around my age refer to me "Princess" instead. So feel free to call me Celica if you want. It's the very least I could do since I got you guys involved with my whole situation.

Touka: If that's how it is, then how about you join our party. I'm sure your suitor wouldn't mind.

She glares at Haru, who was sitting on the grass just watching the whole thing unfold before his eyes. He gives a nervous laugh before caving in and letting her join. Not like he had much of a choice to begin with, given Touka's tone of voice.

Though just as he was about to say something else, he heard someone running towards them. Getting the five of them to look to their side and see that it was Grimmwald. By the time he got to them he ended up collapsing on all fours, tired from all the running he's been doing.

Haru: Grimmwald, you okay there?

Grimmwald: I've been trying to find you guys, but instead I- Eh? Why's the princess here?

Celica: To put it simply, I joined their party.

Grimmwald: I s-see then.

Haru: What did you want with us exactly?

Grimmwald: I came to guide you guys, again, to your new place here.

Haru: Is that so? Well...Let's get going then. C'mon now.

He gets up, still feeling the pain of his wounds even if Elleth's already healed or at least stopped it from getting worse. And follows Grimmwald as the five girls tail just behind the two. He asks Haru what they were doing with the princess, to which he explains the whole "suitor" situation she's placed him in. Hearing this, Grimmwald mutters an apology on her behalf to him.

Though Haru just responds to this by patting him on the back and telling him that he doesn't really mind at all, and almost letting slip the whole "Dragon-Guarded Temple" thing that he asked the king about. But luckily, he caught himself and said that he found Celica quite cute instead.

Eventually they would reach their new place, and just in time too as it was already afternoon when they finally got there. It was a fairly sizable two-storey medieval house, likely somewhere in the same size range as their previous place.

Haru: So this is it, huh?

Grimmwald: It's got about six bedrooms, should be enough for your entire party. Plus one more person if need be, though I'm not sure if the princess would be-

He finds that they've already gone inside the house, setting their stuff on the small coffee table as they make themselves home. With Haru immediately going towards the bathroom, seeing a nice porcelain bathtub and smiling to himself.

Celica: Tell my little sister to get my stuff ready.

Grimmwald: Eh? You're really moving in here as well?

Celica: Yep, at least tell her to get my nightgown. The rest can come in the next few days.

Grimmwald: Ugh, fine...

He walks off to do just that, mumbling something about her little sister Aria. Within the house, Touka enters the bathroom and sees the bath filled and dips her hand into it, finding that it was warm water. She asks the others who filled it up, with Haru telling her that it was him and that he was going to take a bath first.

After saying this, he went into the bathroom and was now in the bath that he filled up for himself, basking in the nice warm water as everything that happened in the day finally set in. With what he asked the king about, the Dragon-Guarded Temple, being the thing that stuck out the most.

Haru: Five dragons, and with five of us it should be easier than if I went in myself.

He thought, as he splashes and plays around with the water in front of him, before poking at the scar on his side. The one from when he fought Arke quite a while ago actually. Chuckling to himself a bit about how long it's been since that time.

Haru: That Goddess....just what is she going to tell me that I have to go and fight a literal dragon just to meet up with her in person.

Haru wondered if it was going to be worth it regardless, hoping that it wouldn't be something vague that he'd have to figure out by himself. Before telling himself that it's not like he was going to head there the very next day. As he wanted to enjoy a slow life for around a month in the kingdom before anything else.

He stayed in the nice and warm bathtub for a while, thinking silently to himself. Eventually he would head out of the bath and go on to wash his body, his head still somewhat in the clouds as he did so. Before finally drying off with a towel, putting on some clothes, and walking out. Now that he was out of the bath, he and the four girls discussed who gets which room.

This ended with him getting the last room to the left of the second storey, the right remained empty but was somewhat agreed as a storage room. Where he would spend much of the early parts of the night setting the books on his desk, along with putting his other clothes in a drawer nearby his bed. When he finished he finally laid down on said bed, lying awake for a little while before falling asleep.