The moon, far larger than Earth's own, illuminated a vast sea of ​​clouds in the night sky. The mysterious shadows cast by the pure, soft white clouds, and the brilliant silver light piercing the darkness, created a scene reminiscent of a mythical world.

"How is it, Master? Has the 'boy's dream' come true?"

The soothing sound of breaking wind filled my ears as a dark figure soared through the moonlit night sky. With dragon scales the color of night and golden eyes—it was the black dragon Tio.

The heroic figure soaring in the moonlit sea of ​​clouds, with its gorgeous black scales and smooth flight that seems to embody freedom, will surely captivate everyone who sees it.

On her back was a white-haired boy in a black coat. Hajime sat relaxedly on Tio's back, his eyes closed in comfort.

"Ahh, sitting on a dragon's back, flying high in the sky, I never thought I'd have such a magical experience one day... It's amazing. Thank you, Tio."

Hearing the unusually frank words of gratitude, Tio wagged her tail, seeming embarrassed.

Then she said with unconcealed joy:

"No need to thank me, just being ridden on by my master makes me... huhu, hehe."

Hajime said something.

"Hey, useless dragon, stop talking for the rest of your life."

"!?"

In the mysterious night world, roars of joy were heard for some unknown reason.

Please, don't drink too much.

"Alright, everyone, take your seats. Now, let's toast to the discovery of the seventieth-floor teleportation array!"

Inside a bar in the inn town of Holyard, the spirited voice of Meld, the Knight Commander of the Kingdom of Heilig, echoed through the bar. This was a place Meld had recommended, and while it wasn't booked out, the entire team had gathered to celebrate completing the Great Labyrinth's clearing.

As expected of a recommendation from the Captain of the Kingdom's Knights, every dish served was exquisitely delicious, and the accompanying amber drink also whetted one's appetite.

Kaori was initially restless, preferring to train rather than attend a celebratory banquet. However, she seemed to enjoy the amber drink immensely, even gulping it down.

In reality, it was a wine made in another world. While its alcohol content was zero by Earth standards, it gave the same feeling as being drunk. This was Captain Meld's idea, hoping they would forget their daily training and enjoy the food.

The result is...

"Hey, are you listening, Captain Meld? I'm telling you about Nagumo-san's strengths, but you're ignoring me. What's the point? Do you want me to attack you from behind with my healing magic?"

"No, no, Kaori, I'm listening. Is that a threat? Even if you cast healing magic, it'll only make my condition better. It's meaningless—"

"You actually said it's meaningless! That's outrageous! Is Nagumo-kun unimportant to you? Captain Meld, that's outrageous! As expected of the Knight Commander! That's outrageous!"

"Calm down, Kaori. You've been talking so incoherently since just now. Besides, what do you mean by worthy of being the Knight Commander—"

Kaori ignored the explanation, her face flushed and her head dazed, as she swung her white staff to entangle Meld. There was only the sound of whirring wind as the staff was swung at breakneck speed, and for some reason, a cute special light effect appeared.

The unlucky unknown adventurer, the store manager, and Endo Kousuke were knocked away by the white staff, but the special effect light restored them in the blink of an eye.

Meld sighed, but still tried to rescue the victims who were being indiscriminately beaten, and to comfort Kaori, who was occasionally emitting magical girl effects. However...

"Hurry, burp, Captain~!"

"Oh! It's Shizuku. Eh? Why are you crying!?"

Shizuku sat on the ground, clutching Meld's hem, tears streaming down her face. Meld was startled, dodging the whirring white stick and squatting down to look into Shizuku's eyes.

"I can't take it anymore! Shizuku-chan wants to go home~~! Uwaa ...

"H-Hey, Shizuku!?"

“Daddy~! Uwaaaaaaaaa!”

"D-Dad!? I'm a little...ah, wait, wait, don't cry, Shizuku! Damn it, Kaori gets drunk and becomes violent and talkative, and Shizuku's behavior regresses to that of a child and she cries all the time!?"

Shizuku, who was supposed to be an icy beauty, was now grabbing Meld's clothes, speaking incoherently, and crying loudly. Meld was at a loss as to what to do.

So, as the older brother that everyone trusted, even though he was a coward, he could only admit that he couldn't handle it. So Meld used his bare hands to catch the white staff that was swinging down from behind, and at the same time asked the hero for help.

"Hey, Kouki! Your precious childhood friend—"

"Tian Xiang Flash!"

Then, a pure white slash shattered the wall of the store.

“Hey~~~~~!? Kouki, you! What are you doing!?”

Meld was so shocked that his eyes almost popped out of his head, and he fiercely complained about Guanghui.

However, Guanghui, with a red face and dazed eyes, showed a fierce look for a moment in the next moment.

“I can see it! I can see the enemy too! Take it! Sky-Soaring Flash! Sky-Soaring Flash! More Sky-Soaring Flash! Another Sky-Soaring Flash! Watch out! Sky-Soaring Flash~~~~~!”

He yelled, and began randomly slashing with light in the store!

"Calm down! Ahhhh the walls! The ceiling! And the manager, the unfamiliar adventurer, and Kousuke!"

The poor victims were caught in the explosion and flew away, especially the burly bald store manager, who had tears in his eyes... It was really sympathetic.

"Ahh, they actually did this to my favorite shop... Ugh, Ryuutarou! I'm sorry, please help stop them—"

"Hmph, look at my muscles!"

Meld couldn't help but ask Ryutaro for help, but when he turned around, he saw Ryutaro with his upper body naked for some reason...

And for some reason, he even struck a bodybuilding pose! A sideways chest flare. Ryuutarou had a smug look on his face, his teeth gleaming.

"What are you doing!? No, what about your clothes!?"

"Captain Meld, your muscles are impressive. However, I've been training constantly since coming to this world, so my body won't lose to yours!"

"So, what are you talking about!? Don't take off your bottom, idiot!"

Meld yelled. The muscular idiot, sporting a confident smile, suddenly dropped his pants, and no wonder he let out a cry of pain. He was still wearing his underwear, so the fatal disaster wasn't exposed. But, as Ryutaro flexed his biceps, he muttered, "Hmm, this thing's in the way," and reached for the last bastion...

"Damn it! I won't let the hero's childhood friend become a public molester!"

Meld used his exceptional magic, which was almost chantless, to unleash a powerful gust of wind, and managed to blow Ryuutarou away, thus averting the worst possible outcome.

However, the physical specialists in the brave team could not be defeated by such an attack. Ryutaro said, "As expected, you have a trick, Captain Meld! But I won't lose!", and still wanted to take off his underwear.

Meld hurriedly tried to stop Ryutaro, but...

"Listen to me!"

“Woooaaaaaah, Daddy~~!”

"Uwaa!? Hey, Kaori! What are you tying me up for!? Ah, Shizuku, call me daddy if you want, but please stop crying! Come on, blow your nose! Ah, Kaori! Stop stabbing me with the staff! What! Your moves are getting even more powerful!? This is already at the level of a natural spearman!? What the hell is going on!?"

The chains of light wrapped around him unnoticed, Shizuku clinging to him, restricting Meld's movements. Using only his upper body, Meld dodged Kaori's increasingly powerful white staff thrusts, sending out wind gusts with one hand to prevent Ryutaro from removing his pants.

It seems the alcoholic beverage from another world isn't suitable for the heroes. "I should have known I wouldn't have given them any!" Meld lamented.

"Alan, Kyle, anyone! Hurry up and stop Kouki and...them?"

Meld called out the names of his reliable subordinates, but he couldn't sense any presence and looked around in confusion.

“Everyone’s gone…”

That's right, no one was there. Not only his proud subordinates, but also the members of Nagayama's team, Suzu and Eri, and even the other adventurers. Inside the store, the bald store manager and Endo were emitting flashing special effects, their bodies trembling.

In reality, when the radiant "Sky Flash" bursts were unleashed and Ryuutarou began stripping, Knight Allen, Meld's right-hand man, had already led everyone to the evacuation area. By now, they were probably celebrating again at Knight Allen's favorite shop, and they were also treating the other adventurers to drinks as an apology for the disturbance.

“Aaaaaahhh, I’m so lonely, Daddy~~!”

"Are you listening!? Are you!?"

"Uooooh! Skyflash!"

"Look at my latissimus dorsi, isn't it thick!?"

Meld was stunned by the unexpected betrayal of his trusted subordinates and the drunken madness of the brave men.

"God, this trial is too cruel..."

His words were also lost in the emptiness of the noise.

The next morning, seeing Captain Meld burned to ashes, the heroes angrily asked, "Who on earth would do such a thing?"

Don’t drink too much②

"A tree with pink flowers...reminds me of cherry blossoms."

During the journey, Hajime's eyes happened to rest on a tree, and he uttered these thoughts.

The tree was not very tall, but its sides were spread out widely. The flowers on the branches were indeed light pink in color and looked like hearts in shape.

"Really? Come to think of it, we didn't go to the flower viewing this year because everyone had something urgent to do. Shizuku-chan was really looking forward to it."

The person who answered Hajime was Kaori, who was gazing at the cherry-like trees with a nostalgic look in her eyes.

"...Cherry blossoms? Flower viewing?"

"Is that the flower from your world, Hajime-san?"

"From what you guys said, is it a custom to go see the cherry blossoms once a year?"

Yue, Shia, and Tio tilted their heads and asked.

Seeing Myuu, who was hugging him, looking at him questioningly, Hajime smiled at her and explained that cherry blossoms are the representative plants of his home country. Since the flowers bloom in season every year, people go to see them under the pretext of enjoying the flowers.

"But rather than just cherry blossom viewing, the main reason is to use the cherry blossoms as an excuse to hold a party, because the cherry blossom season also marks the beginning of the year. In short, I just want to indulge myself under the pretext of viewing the flowers."

"Because it's true, I can't deny it... But there are people who really come just to enjoy the flowers."

Perhaps remembering the news about a young man being sent to the hospital due to acute alcohol poisoning, Kaori smiled bitterly and tried to make the most basic defense.

"Admiring the flowers while playing... I want to try it! Daddy, Daddy! I want to enjoy the flowers!"

"Huh? Eh, really? We were just eating and chatting under the tree, huh?"

"Even if that's the case! I want to give it a try!"

Mu was fidgeting and acting like a spoiled child in his arms, and he began to feel embarrassed and looked at his companions.

They were in no hurry to travel, but rather they would be separated from Myuu after arriving at the [Maritime City of Enison]. With this in mind, Hajime wanted to create more memories of being with Myuu.

“…Well, I think that’s a great idea. Let’s have a picnic under the blossoming trees. It’s lunchtime anyway. Besides, I won’t allow any shared memories to exist that belong only to Hajime and Kaori.”

"Yue? I don't think you need to say that out loud, okay?"

“…I think it would be best if the memories of Hajime and Kaori disappeared.”

"How can you say that? Yue is so mean!"

Ever since Kaori started going with them, they've been seen arguing frequently. Hajime ignored them and consulted Shia and Tio, who seemed to agree with the flower viewing.

As it was noon and they didn't need to spend much time preparing, the group immediately decided to enjoy the blossoms under the otherworldly version of the cherry blossom tree.

Shia cooked a more elaborate meal than usual, with Tio and Kaori helping out, while Hajime, Yue, and Myuu were busy setting up the venue.

About thirty minutes later, a large mat and a simple dining table were laid out under the otherworldly version of the cherry tree, and the table was filled with dishes.

As if the moon was about to end, she stretched out her fingers and chanted a spell. Suddenly, a gentle breeze caressed the cherry blossom tree of the otherworldly version, inviting the lovely and beautiful flowers to dance in the air.

Countless petals flutter, creating a fantasy world.

"Wow~ So beautiful~"

Myu exclaimed frankly. Then, a petal landed on Myu's small nose. Myu panicked, not knowing what to do. For some reason, she didn't dare move to prevent the petal from falling, and her gaze wandered everywhere. Everyone, including Hajime, couldn't help but laugh at Myu's adorable expression.

It was a peaceful and gentle time.

But that’s all.

About an hour later—

“Hey, are you listening, Hajime-san?! What I’m talking about right now is very serious! Speaking of which, Hajime-san—”

"Master, I feel very comfortable around you. Can I move closer?"

“—Hajime, why are you looking away? Look at me here, hold me tight.”

“Hajime-kun, you’re an idiot! Why are all the girls surrounding you?! I love you so much! Uwaaaaaaaaa!”

Shia's face flushed red, her bunny ears perked up, and for some reason, she kept lecturing the cherry tree. Tio's usual perverse personality had vanished, and she exuded a mature and charming aura, flirting with Hajime.

As soon as Hajime's gaze turned to them, Yue, who had been clinging to Hajime since a while ago, immediately burst into tears and threw a tantrum like a child; Kaori cried loudly and made high-speed thrusts with her white stick.

“Why did it turn out like this…?”

Hajime held his head with his hands, feeling a headache. There were several bottles of wine on the ground beside him.

They were high-proof, fine liquors that could also be used as disinfectants. This rare opportunity had everyone trying them, but they were surprisingly delicious and ended up drinking too much. The result was that all the female members were drunk. Incidentally, Myuu had taken refuge in a tree. She watched the sisters' disgraceful behavior from above, a look of fear on her face.

"Hey, hey, Tio, if you leave, Yue will cry."

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