Storia of Angels and Rabbits - Chapter 6

[bakemonoremy]

Location: Mehterhane

Feyle: This place is…

Teufel: Vice Commander. This is without a doubt the Holy Capital. We have safely returned to the world from whence we came.

Feyle: I see… So we finally made it back.

We were only gone for a short while, but somehow it feels like we spent much longer in that other place.

I guess it only goes to show what a lively time we had over there…

Ravial: Feyle.

Feyle: Ah, Commander! We’ve returned to the Holy Capital, see!

Ravial: It appears that way… I’m glad to see that Orthos returned safely, too.

Orthos: Sure, it’s a relief that we were able to return here, but if other people wander into that alley, they might end up in that other world by accident too.

Feyle: That’s true. For the time being, let’s warn people that this area is off-limits…

But it’s a path that the citizens of the Holy Capital use all the time, so even if we blocked it off, I don’t think they’d just accept that without any explanation whatsoever.

Ravial: At a glimpse, the townscape of the Holy Capital looks as it always does. But there may be a trick to it, so I’ll check out the alley once more.

Feyle: Huh!? C-Commander, you can’t! What if we only returned here by chance just this once, and it won’t work a second time!?

What’s going to happen to the Holy Palace Guards if you leave and never return, Commandeeer!?

Ravial: I won’t investigate it without a plan. Also, the Guards would be fine, because they’d still have you.

Feyle: B-but, I can’t lead the Holy Palace Guards all by myself. We wouldn’t be the same Holy Palace Guards without you, Commander!

W-well, I know I can’t keep relying on you forever…

In your absence, I protect the Holy Capital and Palace, as well as Her Highness together with the deputy, Teufel, and the other Guards.

But just as you said, Commander, I still haven’t grown enough to be left in charge of your duties.

If we were to lose you at a time like this, our future would be pitch black!

Ravial: I’m back.

Feyle: Already!? Eh, d-did it all go well?

Ravial: Yeah. There was no need to worry, that path no longer connects to that other dimension.

Orthos: Really? ...Well, the city does look like it always does.

Ah, is that the restaurant Feyle-san was talking about?

Feyle: Y-yeah. That’s the one. It’s the restaurant I wanted to bring Commander Ravial and the others to. So it really was on this street…

Orthos: Guess the mysteries never cease, huh. No idea if it led to that other dimension before, or whether it was just by chance that we were summoned to that world.

Miracles that can only happen here in the Holy Capital of the Sky Kingdom…

Just like I was granted wings on the Day of Saint Michellia, I met the inhabitants of another dimension this year.

Looks like God enjoys surprising me at every turn.

I never could’ve anticipated a birthday present like this.

No, no one could have seen this coming. To think that not just Ravial-niisan and the other Guards, but even inhabitants of another dimension would celebrate my birthday…

Ravial: ...Do you think it’s going to be a good birthday?

Orthos: Yeah. Before I came to the Sky Kingdom, Yuu and the others congratulated me, then Nii-san and the others celebrated with me here in the Sky Kingdom, and then even in that other dimension…

I guess I’m the only one who’s ever gotten to celebrate such a lavish birthday.

Ravial: Wrong, Orthos. We still haven’t celebrated your birthday yet.

Orthos: Don’t worry, I didn’t forget. You promised that we’d celebrate with a feast of fish dishes, right?

Feyle: Commander, Orthos-kun. The two of us will go ahead and book a table at the restaurant. Let’s go, Teufel.

Teufel: Yes, sir.

Orthos: ...Fufu.

Ravial: What’s the matter?

Orthos: When I imagined what kind of faces Yuu and the others make when I tell them about this experience, I couldn’t help but laugh.

We went to a place that probably even Yuu, who taught me about the beauty of the world, has never been to before.

Yuu was the one who taught me that there is beauty to be found all over the world, not just in the Holy Capital. And thanks to him, I learned the joy of wandering the Earth.

When I traveled the Earth, I was the one who was constantly surprised at the stories Yuu would tell me, but now it’s my turn.

When I tell him about the things I experienced first-hand in that other world, he’ll surely be shocked speechless!

Fufu, he’s probably going to be wide-eyed when I tell him that I sang and danced together with Ravial-niisan and the others.

Ravial: Sounds fun.

...I’m really glad that you’ve made such good friends.

Orthos: Thank you, Nii-san.

From my tower, this Holy Capital always seemed so beautiful. And even now that I’ve travelled the Earth, I still believe that it’s as gorgeous as ever.

But now that I’ve known the freedom you can only gain by flying away from the nest… I can’t find it in me to stay here forever.

Of course, this will always be my home town, and nothing can change that, though.

Ravial: That’s already enough for me.

You can come back here anytime you like. Sudden visits are fine, too. I’ll be at ease as long as I get to see your face once a year like this.

I’m sure there are many things you want to tell me that you couldn’t fit into letters. I feel the same way. There are so many things I want to tell you about.

Orthos: Then tell me, Nii-san. There’s still a lot of time left until my birthday is over.

And if we still haven’t said everything we wanted to say by then, there’s always next year.

And if we can continue like this the year after that, and in the future beyond that, then there’s no greater happiness I could wish for.