244 242. This is Snow.txt (2/2)

'Capture, ......?　Indeed, you may be grateful for the capture. You can examine the weaknesses of this pesky monster. However, I've never done anything like this before, so it's doubtful I'll be able to make good use of this: ......

With relief that the crisis was over, he discussed the future with Chloe.

Just in the middle of it all, Titi, who was looking at the centimeter dreadnought with amusement, suddenly looked up at the sky. She reacted with the agility of a cat.

Feeling the wind on the plains, her expression is grim.

It was the first face she'd seen since she'd been on the ground.

''--Kanamin!

And then she called my name.

I break off my conversation with Chloe and listen to her, amazed that someone could make Titty look like that.

'What's the matter with you all of a sudden?'

There's a child-level flyer coming this way!

'Like Titi?　Which direction is it?

Since the battle was over, he had narrowed the scope of the Dimension. He immediately tried to expand it, but it was denied.

''There's no more time to check it with the Dimension!　For now, get ready!

Spitting those words out, Titi spread her wings through the gap in her clothes and flew.

A gust of wind blows upward as Titi soars into the sky.

Continuing on, more gusts of wind blow. It was a gust from the direction in which the centimeter dreadnought had appeared - a gust to the side.

''Stop for a moment!　You're a nobody!

I see a small object coming through the sky at a speed that exceeds the centimeter dreadnought.

Titi stood in the direction of the object's progress, urging it to stop.

With a sudden brake, the apparent being stops in mid-air.

Then, the figure is shown to all of them.

'Wings that Shine in Green ......?　In this hurry: ......!

It was a familiar voice and a familiar face.

A girl was spreading her blue wings. Unlike Titi's feather-centered green wings, her blue wings closely resembled those of a dragon species (dragon). They sprouted from between the multiple layers of traditional clothing and a large, majestic cloak.

The girl's long hair is a slightly lighter blue. Her eyes are a little languid, but I can sense a strong, fiery will from the cherry-red color of her eyes.

Immediately I scream out.

'Wait, Titi!　That's Snow!　It's Snow Walker!　It's not our enemy!

He shouts from the earth for both of them to hear.

Hearing that, Titty falters in her wariness, ”What?” and Snow's mouth pops open.

''--What?''

Snow looks at me as if she's seeing something unbelievable.

I could tell that she still hadn't fully accepted the situation, and Chloe continued with her explanation.

'Lord Snow!　Welcome home!　But there's no need to hurry anymore!　Master Snow's friend Kanami has taken out the enemy!

Hearing his own colleague's words, and realizing that this was not a fantasy scene, Snow, who had come to a complete stop, slowly started to move.

'What, eh ......?　Huh?　Is that ......?

He utters a question mark over and over again, and with a flap, he slows down his wings and comes down to the ground.

Then, with its feet on the ground, it slowly approaches me.

--And now, a year later, the blue dragon girl, Snow Walker and I meet again.

Snow calls out her name as if to confirm it.

'Ka, nami ......?'

Yeah, it's me. I'm sorry, Snow. I was late getting back.

I would call his name back and say my apologies first.

First and foremost, I knew I should. This is confirmed by the tears that flow from Snow's eyes in the next moment.

Snow fills both eyes with tears.

He can no longer see anything but me.

He screamed out his name repeatedly, as if there was nothing else to say.

'Ugh, wow, wow!　Ka-Kanami--!　Kanamikanami Kanami!　My kanami!　It's Kanami! ----!

Sobbing and sobbing, Snow comes right in front of me.

'Ugh, ugh ......!　I believed it!　I believed it!　I swore to Kanami that I wouldn't give up anymore, so I kept believing and working hard all year long!　I worked really, really hard on this--!

From his cries, he learned a part of the year's hard work.

However, my colleagues around me seem to have learned another part of the story.

''Su, Lord Snow ......!

Many soldiers, including Chloe, were surprised to see their own top abomination. From their reactions, they could see for the first time that they had seen Snow's pathetic appearance - and how well she had fought for the past year.

So there was no way he could avoid her hug.

'Kanami, praise!　Pat me on the head!　Stroke, stroke, stroke, stroke!　Petting and praising me a lot!

If that scream is a year's worth, then so is that indulgence.

Leaving his entire body to me, Snow asks me to look up at him from below.

I can't refuse it.

But I can't completely ignore the eyes of the people around me, so...

Oh, yeah, I'm petting you. See, I'm stroking you. So, just relax for a minute. No, I'm pretty sure I was wrong: ......!　There's no doubt about it, but it would be great if you could calm down: ......!

He strokes Snow's head as if to soothe her.

The gazes of the people around me looking at it are painful.

However, only Titi comes down from the sky with an amused expression.

''Oh, oh?　She is quite a eccentric girl. It's a loss to be wary of her. But, hmmm ....... It looks vaguely like Seldora's ....... Her character is too different. She's more like a child.

All the while, Snow presses her body into mine to spoil me. Perhaps because of her monstrous strength, she's about to fall backwards at any moment, but she's still desperately straining her legs to hold on.

Kanamiii!　Heh, heh, heh!

Yeah, great. Really good. You've done well, Snow. In fact, I really mean it.

He praised Snow from the bottom of his heart.

When we parted, I told Snow that I would leave everyone in charge. And from what I've heard from Rastiara, she has fulfilled that admirably. Furthermore, I can see that she has worked very hard in many places to do what she could.

She hasn't stopped or neglected to move forward.

--That Snow (・・・・・・).

I continue to pat Snow's head, feeling a little emotional.

That's when Chloe-san finally comes to herself and approaches me with a weak step.

''Su, Snow-sama ......, what in the world is that person ......?''

'Yes!　It's my husband I've been looking for for a long time. Ehehe.

To which Snow replied with a big smile.

He didn't wipe away the tears that were streaming down his face, and with a disheveled smile, he bragged about me to his own staff.

I thought that this was the moment when everything Snow had built up over the past year was going to collapse.

I thought it was a bit of a shame, but I also thought it was inevitable.

The dignity he must have built up was too much for him.

On the other hand, Chloe and her friends don't seem to think that Snow is a good fit. They shouted loudly and crowded in.

'Sir!　Ki, keep your head up!

What?　I'm not crazy, okay?　Chloe knows about the heroics of the frontier, right?　Kanami is the one who freed me from bondage. She's the one who blew up my house, my fiancé, everything. So, sir. Ehehe.

Resurrecting a nickname that had been sealed in the past, Snow introduces me to everyone.

The clarity of her speech proves her sanity and makes those around her simply cringe.

But amidst the raptures, there is one person who shows anger. Chloe, who was probably the closest and most respectful of Snow, was glaring at me.

''This is that legendary natural womanizing hero, 'Aika Wakanami Christ Eurasian Waldhusiers von Walker'--!

Yeah. This is bad.

I wanted to keep praising Snow as much as possible, but I realized that it was time to stop.

'Hey, Kanami. A story, a story!　And listen to my hard work!　Listen and praise!　Praise, praise, praise!　And fall in love with it again!　Marry me if you can!　Or children!

I also notice that Snow is starting to break through many of his limits as well.

Well, okay, let's settle down again, Snow. Breathe, breathe, breathe. It's time for me to get my social standing back on track. Very, very bad.

Yeah, I'm calm, okay?　Now that we're settled, why don't we get back to the city?

Unable to wait to chat with me, Snow giddily turns back to the cork.

'No, you have a lot of things to do. Like that monster over there.

He pointed at the motionless centimeter dreadnought.

Then Snow, after hesitating for a bit, slowly approached and shook his fist down.

'......ei.'

The head of the sticky centimeter dreadnought was crushed.

''Ah.''

Okay, done. Work's over. So, let's go back to the cork first. We can talk about it later.

Snow laughs with the monster's return blood on his cheek.

Everyone except me gasped at his hesitant action.

I've grown up, but it seems that I'm still the same in some ways.

But why are my friends so good at sending shivers down people's spines?

However, I've gotten used to this kind of thing myself, so I'm no longer upset by this degree. ......

With such calmness in my hand, Snow waded through the soldiers and headed for the cork. On the way there, like a boss, he gives instructions to Chloe and the others.

''Ah, from today onwards, you are not to enter my room without permission. This is an order from the Commander-in-Chief. If you break it, you will be punished to the extreme. Or I will cry.

'You're going to cry, Snow-sama!　...... No, I've been told I'm not allowed to enter, but I'm about to get a report on monster defeats and the hospitality of the princesses of Sestia and Legia!

Chloe scowled at the incomprehensible command.

Hmm. Then you have until morning. It's until tomorrow morning, please. Especially at night. Just don't come in at night!

'Dear Lord Snow, please refrain from saying that!　Now you are the head of the 'Cork', the commander-in-chief of all of the 'Confederacy' and the 'hero' that people want to see!

Chloe was doing everything she could to stop Snow from walking home at her own pace.

From her voice and face, I could tell that she was trying with all her might to get Snow back to normal.

However, Snow's--.

Yeah, well, you know. Hmm. ......

He groaned, hesitated ...... and finally got bothered with a smile on his face.

'So, can I stop being a commander-in-chief and a hero now?'

--in front of his own men, he asked to retire.

'Master Snow ah! ----!

Chloe screamed and a groan went through the soldiers.

The heroes they were relying on were going to stop being heroes. It was only natural.

In that scream, I just missed it.

Emotions that I hadn't felt during Rastiara's time.

This is what Snow is.

She's lazy, uninhibited, a runaway, and at her core, a useless person. That's what makes her who she is.

I know I have to follow up with Chloe and the others.

But I couldn't help but smile at the thought of one of my friends finally coming back.