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Recently, I have been reading the newspaper often.

It's because the name of my childhood friend, who now lives somewhere far away in the world, fighting for the world and for humanity, often appears there.

''Ho~u. Forna Elfars.h.i.+a, who broke general Gyanza's record of the youngest general, was appointed as one of the『Ten Heroes of Light』. Ho~, she's working hard~.'' (Velt)

A photo of Forna is decorating one page of the newspaper.

She's still 15 years old.

However, she's become quite a lot more like an adult since I last met her.

At that time, I thought of her as a precocious brat that acted grown up, but now, she has a resolute expression, s.h.i.+ning blond hair, clean, pure white skin, and a slender, thin body.

''She's become quite a good woman. Well, I'm glad she's alive.'' (Velt)

I haven't met Forna ever since I was 10 years old.

It's because Forna herself hadn't returned home to her country.

According to rumours, after entering the empire's national military academy by skipping grades, she skipped even more grades, and graduated as the top student. After enlisting in humanity's great allied forces, she was very active in her first battle, and contributed greatly to victory.

She got promoted every time she got an achievement, and now, she became one of the ten people of humanity's highest military strength, which has immensely more honour than a general rank.

That is, the『Ten Heroes of Light』. The champion that was once called the boy hero is one of them, and it without a doubt has enough honour to have their names left behind in human history, being talked about for eternity.

''Kuhaha, well, she has probably forgotten me already, but I feel happy, and somewhat lonely at the same time about her efforts. Besides, how are the other guys going?'' (Velt)

In these five years, although the different race conflict has been continuing as always, time has unmistakably advanced forwards.

I've become able to properly feel that, from just a newspaper.

''What the h.e.l.l are you doing in a place like this!''

Ah? Who's the one interrupting me while I'm going through such complicated feelings? When I raise my face, I see men wearing filthy armour, who had reeking, rotten eyes.

There’s around twenty people.

''This place is our, Kamuaseinu group's hideout!''

A large, old man who seemed like the boss of the group, tries to intimidate me.

When I realized that, I finally remembered my objective.

That's right. I came to this cave deep in this forest of monsters to find these guys.

''Ahh, so it's you guys, huh. The underdog thief group that fled from the battle.'' (Velt) (TL Note: He calls them 'Kamase Inu' (噛ませ犬), which basically means underdog, and it's an insult to them because it sounds like their group name.)

''The name's not underdog! We're the Kamuaseinu group! Who the h.e.l.l are you!'' (Kamuaseinu boss)

''I'm an employee from the ramen shop in the royal capital. Since you fleeing soldiers ran from the war and a.s.saulted a village near the royal capital to steal crops, I was made to go round you guys up.'' (Velt)

''Haa? An employee? Don't f.u.c.k with me! Why is a guy like you!'' (Kamuaseinu boss)

I didn't feel like listening to his whole story, nor talking to him.

I lightly pointed at the big crowd behind the group's boss, and then pointed my finger to the sky.

Then,

''! O, ooooo! What, what is this!''

''My bo, body is voluntarily, u, u!''

''I'm floating! Why is this happening! I can't, I can't move my body!''

It's not that big of a deal. I just casted levitation (floating) on everyone's armour and clothes.

''Don't talk. I'll end it quickly. Fuwa fuwa panic!'' (Velt)

It ended like that.

By just moving my finger a little, a bit less than twenty men who were floating in the air fainted in an instant.

The thief group's boss is in a daze. It seems he can't even let out a voice.

''Yo, you, eh, wha, what, right now.'' (Kamuaseinu boss)

''It's not that much of a big deal. I just shook everyone's body back and forth at high speed. Since it's just to the extent of a cerebral concussion, they haven't died.'' (Velt)

''Wha, wha wha, what!'' (Kamuseinu boss)

''Obviously, I'm not going to let you off with just that much. To farmers, crops are a crystallisation of their sweat and mud. Since you stole that, I need to make you all b.l.o.o.d.y, don't I.'' (Velt)

Since when did I start not being as scared of people that can calmly kill as I was in the past.

Since when did I start becoming curious about being able to freely manipulate everything in this world.

''No, no way, you! That twisted look in your eyes, and that reddish hair colour. And then, that ability! Are you that『Remote Control Velt』from the Elfars.h.i.+a Kingdom, who is called the Remote Controller!'' (Kamuaseinu boss)

So I really am called that, huh.

I became very frustrated.

''d.a.m.n it, it's not over yet! Who was the guy that gave me such a lame as nickname!'' (Velt)

It's not like I'm a brat, so I don't need really cool names like the golden comet, the giant killer, or names like that.

But what's up with『Remote Control Velt』.

It's not scary at all, and what? Is it for an air-conditioner? A TV? What is it!

''Don't say that too much. I don't like that nickname at all. Rather, I'll just end this already.'' (Velt)

However, even though he knows my alias, the man slowly calms down.

That expression looks like he's hiding a trump card.

''Tch, to think you would appear in a place like this. However, you're an idiot, because it's going to be the end for you!'' (Kamuaseinu boss)

''Ahh?'' (Velt)

''In our Kamuaseinu group, we have those『100 Demon Killing Zauko Siblings』! It's over for you!'' (Kamuaseinu boss)

What, so they had more comrades, huh.

In that case, I'll need to finish it now, or else it'll get even more troublesome.

''Zauko siblings? Ahh, those guys from before. They've fainted.'' (Velt)

No, I didn't even need to worry.

Pus.h.i.+ng through the thicket in a bush, a man that I knew well came out.

A man with an unchanging sharp glint in his eye, and characteristic scarlet hair that looks like the evening sun.

''Yo, Farga, I found their hideout the fastest.'' (Velt)

''Tch, I didn't think these s.h.i.+ts were only of this extent. I guess I didn't need to ask you guys for help.'' (Farga)

Farga Elfars.h.i.+a.

The strongest Hunter in the continent, and Elfars.h.i.+a Kingdom's strongest prince.

Because he has such a famous name, the man lost his self control.

''Farga? The sca, scarlet dragon slayer Farga! Wh wh, why, why is this guy!'' (Kamuaseinu boss)

And why does this guy have such a cool alias, but only I get a lame one? I feel kinda let down.

Then, even while shaking, the man in front of me looks like he's still about to do something.

''Kuh, even the Za, Zauko, siblings, s.h.i.+t! s.h.i.+t! s.h.i.+t! However, I can’t let myself be caught in a place like this!'' (Kamuaseinu boss)

What is it this time? The moment I thought that, the man loudly blew the ivory-looking small flute hanging from his neck.

What was that? Is he going to call for his comrades again? No, I don't think so.

''Kukukuku, it's already over for you a.s.sholes. In the『Blackmarket』, by paying a large sum of money, we bought a monster that's even ferocious in the demon country, a Pantherion!'' (Kamuaseinu boss)

Pantherion? I've heard of it before.

If I remember correctly, it's a carnivorous monster that lives in the demon country.

I've seen it before in a picture book, but it was quite a major beast that seized game with it's strong leg strength, and teared them up.

Then, after feeling the loud footsteps and shaking from deep in the forest, a pitch black, huge beast appeared in front of us while spilling drool.

''Uwaa~, scary.'' (Velt)

''Tch, you d.a.m.n beast.'' (Farga)

It really looked like it was going to eat us. We would be teared up from being touched by those sharp nails, bitten by those sharp fangs, and easily broken.

We reflexively put ourselves on guard, and the Pantherion flew at us in that moment.

However,

''Sit!''

''Guru-!'' (Pantherion)

I suddenly heard a woman's voice.

Reacting to that voice, the Pantherion suddenly corrected its posture and sat down.

''Oh.'' (Velt)

''Hmm.'' (Farga)

''Wha, whaaaat! What, what's wrong, Pantherion! Kill these guys!'' (Kamuaseinu boss)

The man felt shaken from the Pantherion's unexpected action. However, we immediately knew what happened.

''That's bad manners.''

''Ku~nn, guruu, ku~nn.'' (Pantherion)

Together with the woman's voice we heard again, someone appeared from behind the Pantherion.

No, even if I say someone, there could only be one person.

She's beautiful enough to make me get fascinated by her and forget about this situation with this criminal. Flowing silver hair and red pupils.

For some reason, there's a strange gap with that, as she's wearing a white cook's ap.r.o.n.

However, the aura and elegance coming from her was so filled with majesty, enough to make the monster that's known to be ferocious show it's stomach, its pose of submission.

''Mu, even though Velt and Farga are already here, for me to be last.'' (Ura)

''Yo, Ura. Since when were you a demon tamer?'' (Velt)

''I have not become one. When I coincidentally met it in the forest and gave it a glare, it immediately fawned on me.'' (Ura)

Ura Vesparda, who grew enough to be able to join the group of adult women.

From her name, the man in front of us completely shrivelled, and was paralyzed from fright.

''Ura? Did you just say Uraaaa!? That Silver Masenkou (demon flash), Ura!'' (Kamuaseinu boss)

Like I said, why is only my alias lame, and these guys all get cool ones?

''Why, why! The Scarlet Dragon Slayer, the Silver Masenkou and Remote Controller trio!'' (Kamuaseinu boss)

Like I said, stop repeating it! Why is it remote control!

Good grief, why did it end up like this? Even now, Ura and my main jobs are ramen restaurant employees.

And yet, ever since we started helping Farga for his jobs as a Hunter, before I knew it, we were treated as a party of three, and Ura and I both got aliases in the Elfars.h.i.+a Kingdom area.

It's advantageous since it earns me extra money and piles up actual fighting experience, but it's troublesome.

''With this, we've subjugated the d.a.m.n Kamuaseinu group. Let's hurry up and call Tyler, so that we can take them all away and get our reward.'' (Farga)

While looking down at everyone from the group that has fainted, Farga puts a rope around each person.

''Honestly, Velt and my main job are not Hunters, but ramen restaurant employees. If you take us away at such a busy time, like lunch time, I can't help but want to complain.'' (Ura)

''It killed time, didn’t it?'' (Farga)

''Though, you would've been able to instantly kill them all.'' (Velt)

''Yeah, but the other day, that d.a.m.n Tyler was complaining. He doesn't mind me moving freely, but it's worrying to let me move by myself. If I keep doing that, he said he'll make someone observe me.'' (Farga)

''You are a prince after all, so there's no helping it.'' (Velt)

Ever since when I was 10 years old, I haven't met Forna and my other cla.s.smates.

Instead, by the time I realized it, I started hanging out with Farga and Ura.

As always, Farga lived a freewheeling life, coming in and out of the country, and Ura has already become like a part of the family.

However, probably because of p.u.b.erty, Ura herself hasn't clung onto me and behaved like a spoilt child like when she was a brat.

I don't remember since when that started, but I was made to feel that time really has pa.s.sed since then.

And, I have finally become 15 years old too.

''What's wrong, Velt. Recently, even if we're together, you're always looking somewhere far away.'' (Ura)

As expected of Ura. She has good observations.

Certainly, I have been lost in thought recently.

To be honest, my current life is satisfying. I don't have a single complaint about it.

Living in the safe Elfars.h.i.+a Kingdom forever, without being involved in war, continuing the ramen restaurant, and well, I can't really marry Forna anymore, so I'll marry someone else, have a kid, and welcome my remaining years as an old man. There might be happiness in that.

No, the majority of the people in the Elfars.h.i.+a Kingdom probably think I'm going to live that sort of life.

Recently, there have been times when I myself actually thought that that might be nice.

But I can't do that anymore. I've become 15 years old.

''I've been thinking for a long time. Five years have pa.s.sed since I chose a different path to Forna and the others. And it's like, I'm feeling that it has finally come.'' (Velt)

Being 15 years old in this world is a big thing.

It's socially an age that has responsibility, can marry, and can even officially find employment.

''Come? What has?'' (Ura)

''My objective for living. I've finally reached the age to freely live in this world. Travelling, and entering other countries. I can even make applications to travel to the demon continent or demi-human continent by myself now. I can take action alone. I'm basically able to become independent now.'' (Velt)

''Velt, what are you?'' (Ura)

What I really want to do. Well, not even Ura and Farga who have been with me know what I want to do.

I didn't tell Forna the exact thing either.

The only person that knows, is only sensei.

And, I was confident. That the time has come.

''Ura, Farga. I'm thinking of leaving this country, and travelling this world.'' (Velt)

It was my first time in five years, seeing Ura's dumbfounded and hardened face.