513 Homecoming and Punishment

"I am not someone worth naming, huh... Well, I’m not interested in your name, little girl. You’ll be gone soon anyway."

The iron-masked woman chuckled, and the half-mechanical demons in the abandoned factory lunged at Yakumo.

Yakumo, who was standing outside the broken window, turned on her heel and distanced herself from the factory. The demons leaped over the window, chasing after her.

"Ugh!?"

Yakumo stopped a short distance away from the factory. More demons of the same kind had appeared in front of her.

Creak...

With a metallic screech, the demons in front of her extended their claws. Their arms transformed into sharp blades, which they swung down at Yakumo.

"Hmph!"

Yakumo drew her beloved sword. The blade, shimmering with a crystalline glow, cleanly sliced through the demon’s torso as they passed each other.

The demon’s upper body fell to the ground, leaving its lower half behind. Its torso seemed to be flesh and blood, as blue blood stained the ruined ground.

Without even glancing at the fallen demon, Yakumo continued to cut down the next demon with a diagonal slash.

This crystal sword, imbued with the magical power of her father, Touya, possessed immense sharpness. Only weapons made of the same crystal material could withstand it. Even demons enhanced with mechanical parts couldn’t defend against it.

...Or so it should have been.

"Wha—!?"

Yakumo blocked a metallic orange war mace that had been swung down at her from behind with her crystal sword.

"My, my? How strange. My 'Halloween' didn’t shatter it. That’s quite a sturdy sword you have there."

"...Your companion said something similar."

Yakumo retorted to the iron-masked woman, who had somehow caught up to her while deflecting the war mace.

"Companion? Who are you talking about?"

"The guy with the blue axe and the round helmet."

"Ah, Indigo. Hmm, so you fought him? Well then, let’s have some fun together too!"

The iron-masked woman swung her war mace down again. The speed wasn’t impossible to follow. Yakumo raised her crystal sword and blocked it head-on.

"Guh!?"

Yakumo’s arms screamed in pain. This strike was heavier than the last one. Had she not been using her full strength before? Yakumo deflected the mace again.

"Come on, come on, what’s the matter?"

"Ugh, guh...!"

The war mace came down repeatedly, each strike heavier than the last. This was strange. It was as if...!

The image of the crushed mutant she had seen in the factory flashed through Yakumo’s mind.

This time, she rolled to the side to avoid the war mace as it came straight down. The mace struck the paved ground, creating a large crater.

"That war mace... It gets heavier with each strike, doesn’t it? Or perhaps it can change its weight instantly?"

"My, my, you figured it out. Just who are you, little girl?"

The iron-masked woman gave Yakumo a probing look. She raised her metallic orange war mace and pointed it at Yakumo again.

Yakumo had realized the war mace’s ability because it resembled her younger sister’s attack style. Although her sister Linne’s attacks were much heavier.

By now, the half-mechanical demons had surrounded her. Even for Yakumo, fighting these many demons and the iron-masked woman at the same time was too much.

In that case, there was only one thing Yakumo could do.

"[Gate]."

She opened a small transfer gate beneath her feet, just big enough for one person, and dropped through it, disappearing from the scene. It was frustrating, but retreating was also a strategy. As she transferred, she caught a glimpse of the iron-masked woman’s surprised expression, which gave her a small sense of satisfaction.

The place she transferred to was a desolate area where Professor was nervously looking around. Yakumo landed on the ground from the transfer gate that appeared in midair.

"Whoa!? W-what the—!? Don’t scare me like that!"

Professor was startled by Yakumo, who had suddenly appeared in front of him. He stumbled over some rubble, but his knight-like attendant, Soldato, caught him.

"We’ve been found. We’re retreating!"

"O-oh, got it!"

Professor quickly understood the situation and nodded. The place where Yakumo had been surrounded wasn’t far from here. The demons would be here soon.

Creak...

As if on cue, the demons arrived. They flapped their bat-like wings and flew toward them. Behind them was the iron-masked woman.

It was frustrating to run, but there was no need to push herself in enemy territory. She could handle it alone, but she had Professor with her. "Of the thirty-six strategies, running is the best," as her father used to say (though she didn’t know the other thirty-five).

"[Gate]!"

Yakumo sent Professor through the transfer gate, followed by his attendant knights.

The demons, not wanting to let her escape, shot out their arms like bullets, chains attached, aiming for Yakumo.

Yakumo easily sliced through the arms with a horizontal swing of her crystal sword.

But the next moment, she saw the iron-masked woman behind the demons raising her orange war mace. Yakumo took a quick step back and jumped into the transfer gate.

As the gate disappeared, something invisible landed with a loud thud, creating a deep crater in the paved ground and causing numerous cracks to spread.

"...She got away. What a shame. I wonder if Indigo will be mad at me?"

The iron-masked woman, Tangerine, sighed and muttered in a melancholic voice.

---

Emerging from the back alley where she had transferred, Yakumo stepped out onto the main street. From this street, which extended from the central square with its tall clock tower, she could clearly see the castle standing on the hill.

The castle she had been familiar with since birth... or rather, her family home.

As she looked up at the castle, Yakumo let out a gloomy sigh.

"I’ve come back..."

Without thinking, she had transferred to the safest place she could think of—Brünhild. The transfer point was the back alley she often used to sneak out of the castle with her sisters.

"Ah, this is Brünhild. Little girl, I’m acquainted with the king here, so we’re safe."

"Yes, I’m quite familiar with it too..."

Yakumo felt a complicated emotion as Professor spoke cheerfully.

At the very least, she had accomplished her goal of bringing back information about the evil god’s apostles. All that was left was to boldly meet her parents of this era, but given that she hadn’t been in contact with them for so long, she couldn’t help but hesitate.

Feeling down, her stomach growled.

"Ah, I’m hungry. Oh, that inn over there seems to serve food. Shall we eat something?"

"Yes... Wait, no! Let’s not go there. I have a feeling there’s a delicious place over there. Let’s go that way."

Yakumo hastily pushed Professor in a different direction.

The inn Professor had pointed to was called "Silver Moon," a state-run establishment under the Brünhild royal family. As such, knights and others serving the kingdom often dined there. In terms of safety, there was no safer place.

But for Yakumo, it was a dangerous place where her father’s subordinates might be present.

If she had already been reported, her father would come rushing over in an instant. And her mother too...

At this point, she wasn’t planning to run away, but she wanted a little more time to sort out her feelings. In her flustered state, she didn’t notice the cats sitting in front of the Silver Moon, watching them intently.

A few of the cats began to follow Yakumo and the others, while one ran off toward the castle to inform their boss.

---

Meanwhile, at that time...

The magic train we were on arrived at Paliston Station, the first station in the Refreese Kingdom, where we were greeted with another grand welcome. Due to geographical reasons, the next stop after Paliston would be the capital, Bern. In other words, the final stop.

Our short journey would end at the next station. Overall, the train itself seemed to be functioning well. It should be fine.

From here, the tracks would extend to various regions within Refreese and Belfast. It was like a local train line in another world.

Separately, the tracks would eventually extend to neighboring countries like Regulus, Mismid, and Panaches, increasing the flow of people and goods.

I imagined that more people would start traveling for tourism. Maybe tour companies would even pop up.

As if reluctant to reach the final stop, Yumina gazed out the window at the passing scenery.

"From Arefis to Bern in five hours... It’s hard to believe that the same journey used to take days by carriage."

"It’s expensive, but safety is guaranteed. I think wealthy people will use it."

Taking the magic train eliminated the worry of being attacked by bandits. You could reach your destination safely. Once freight trains started running, it would be possible to transport large amounts of cargo.

From now on, the magic train will become a key part of transportation.

Master.

"Hmm? Kohaku?"

Just as I was imagining the future, Kohaku, who was supposed to be guarding the castle, contacted me through telepathy. Had something happened?

"What’s wrong? Did something happen?"

Yes. One of the subordinate cats reported that a girl resembling Yae-sama has appeared in the town...

"Eh!?"

I couldn’t help but exclaim loudly, drawing the attention of everyone around me. Yumina, sitting next to me, blinked and asked.

"W-what’s wrong, Touya?"

"Ah, well... Kohaku contacted me. She said a girl who looks like Yakumo has appeared in the town..."

"W-what!? R-really!?"

Yae stood up with a clatter. Everyone around us stopped talking and turned to look at us.

"Kohaku, where is she now?"

I don’t know the exact location, but she doesn’t seem to be heading toward the castle. The cats are tailing her, so I’m heading there now, but—

She’s not heading to the castle? She hasn’t come back?

Yae, looking anxious, pressed me.

"Da-Danna-sama! We need to catch her quickly! If we don’t, she might escape again!"

Wait, wait, don’t make it sound like she’s a criminal. She’s your daughter, right?

Still, Yakumo can use [Gate]. She can escape.

"Alright, let’s use [Gate] to go to Kohaku’s location. Then we’ll contact the cats tailing her and—"

"W-wait, wait, wait! Touya, no, Your Majesty, you can’t just disappear! The Emperor of Refreese is waiting for us in Bern!"

Duke Ortlinde, who had been listening, stopped us in a panic.

Oh, right. I had been thinking of this as a casual trip, but this was technically a ceremony.

Damn it, why now of all times!

If it were just the Emperor, I might have been able to handle it, but this time, important officials from Refreese were also present. It would be bad for the king of a country to disappear after being invited.

"W-well, at least let Yae return to Brünhild. As the queen, it shouldn’t be a problem if not everyone is present..."

Linze timidly suggested to Duke Ortlinde. The Duke pondered for a moment, then said,

"Well, if His Majesty is here... We can tell Refreese that one of the queens felt unwell and had to return. That should be fine..."

"Then that’s what we’ll do! Danna-sama, I’m feeling unwell, so I’ll return ahead of you!"

Yae declared in a tone that didn’t sound unwell at all.

Hmm, I want to go too, but given the situation, it’s impossible...

"Father, I’ll go with her. It’s about time we caught Yakumo-neesama."

Frey, feeling a sense of responsibility as the second daughter in the absence of the eldest, offered to go with Yae. If Frey went with Yae, I could rest easy.

"Alright. ...Yae, stay calm and collected."

"I am calm. I’m perfectly calm."

Yae, who looked anything but calm, said this. Are you sure you’re okay?

I opened a [Gate] to the castle gate of Brünhild, where Kohaku was waiting. Yae eagerly jumped through, followed closely by Frey.

"I hope everything’s okay..."

With a sense of unease, the train we were on continued toward the capital of Refreese, Bern.

---

Yakumo wandered the streets of Brünhild after parting ways with Professor.

Professor had gone to the castle to greet a golem engineer he knew—likely Elka—so Yakumo decided to go her separate way.

She should have gone with him, but she still hesitated to enter the castle.

"At this rate... Maybe I should have gotten permission from Mother before going on my training journey..."

Yakumo sighed deeply as she aimlessly walked through the town. Although it was a town from the past, it was the town she had known since birth. There was no way she could get lost.

As she sighed again, wondering what to do next, a shadow blocked her path.

When she looked up, she saw a familiar face.

It was younger than she remembered, but there was no mistaking it—her mother, Yae.

"I found you, you runaway girl...!"

"N-no, Hahaue (mother - term used in samurai families prior to the Meiji period)... I didn’t exactly run away..."

Yakumo took a step back, flustered by Yae’s emotionless glare.

The silent pressure emanating from her mother made Yakumo shrink back. Though she had become a gold-rank adventurer and prided herself on her strength, she knew she stood no chance against her mother.

"Where have you been wandering all this time...?"

"W-well, you see, Hahaue, there’s a reason..."

Yakumo froze like a frog stared down by a snake. Her mother’s anger was so intense that her legs felt like they might give out.

For a moment, she considered using [Gate] to escape, but that would only pour oil on the fire.

In that case, she had no choice but to brace herself and accept her mother’s wrath. She closed her eyes, but the next moment, Yae pulled her into a tight hug.

"Eh, um, Hahaue...?"

"You foolish girl...! Do you know how worried I was...?"

Even if she was a gold-rank adventurer, Yakumo was still just an eleven-year-old girl traveling alone through foreign countries. It was impossible not to worry.

Yae had no memories of raising Yakumo as a mother, but hugging her now, she was certain that this girl was her daughter—a precious existence.

"Finally... I’ve found you..."

"Hahaue... I-I’m sorry..."

"Kufufu, Yakumo-neesama, you’re blushing."

"Wha—!? F-Frey!?"

Peeking out from behind Yae was Frey, Yakumo’s younger sister. At her feet was Kohaku, her father’s summoned beast.

Even Yakumo felt embarrassed to be seen being hugged by her mother in front of her sister.

She squirmed, trying to break free, but Yae held her tightly.

"M-Mother! Can you let me go now...?"

"...You’ve worried everyone, Yakumo. You’ve been a bad girl."

"Huh?"

Yakumo’s face clouded slightly at Yae’s sudden change in tone. Yae’s arms tightened around her, making it harder to escape.

"W-wait, Mother! You’re holding me too tightly...! Ouch, ouch, ouch!"

"...Bad girls need to be punished, don’t they?"

Hearing her mother’s low voice, Yakumo felt the blood drain from her face. She had heard this voice many times before.

When she didn’t return to the castle by the promised time.

When she lied to cover up a mistake.

When she threw a tantrum and troubled everyone in the castle.

The punishment was always the same.

"Nooo!? W-wait, Hahaue! Please, not that! Anything but thaaat!"

Yakumo squirmed in Yae’s arms, but Yae’s grip didn’t budge.

"F-Frey! Help me!"

Abandoning her dignity as the eldest sister, Yakumo pleaded with her younger sister.

Frey smiled sweetly at her teary-eyed sister.

"Yakumo-neesama, you’re being a sore loser."

"Noooooo!?"

"Now, let’s return to the castle. We’ll have plenty of time for punishment later..."

"Eeeek!? Chichue (father - term used in samurai families prior to the Meiji period)! Help me!"

In desperation, Yakumo called out to her father, who wasn’t even there. For a moment, Kohaku considered informing her master through telepathy, but Yae’s intimidating smile made her think twice. Even Kohaku wanted to avoid disaster.

Yae hoisted Yakumo onto her shoulder and began walking back to the castle, looking quite pleased.

The girl on her shoulder, however, was filled with despair.

---

"Uuu, uuu~..."

"Welcome back, everyone."

"Ah, yeah..."

After barely managing to suppress our impatience and finish the ceremony in Refreese, we immediately used [Gate] to return to Brünhild.

When we stepped into the living room, we were greeted by Yae’s cheerful smile, a girl who was presumably Yakumo lying face down on the sofa groaning, and Frey holding an ice pack to her butt.

It seemed Yakumo had been subjected to a spanking. Yae was strict, after all...

"What on earth is this..."

"Just a little punishment for the runaway girl."

Yae’s response was met with a small protest from Yakumo, who muttered, "It’s definitely not a little..." but Yae ignored her. Her smile was terrifying...

"Yakumo."

"Y-yes!"

At Yae’s call, Yakumo, who had been lying on the sofa, quickly sat up in a seiza position. Her butt must have been sore, as she was slightly lifting her hips.

"Everyone, I’m sorry for causing you all so much worry..."

Yakumo bowed her head while still in seiza. No, no, you don’t have to go that far!

I cast a healing spell on Yakumo, who was holding her butt, and the pain seemed to fade, making her look a bit better.

"Are you okay?"

"Phew... Thank you... Chichiue."

Yakumo, still embarrassed, thanked me while avoiding eye contact.

Like the others, Yakumo closely resembled her mother, Yae. She seemed like a serious child—perhaps a bit too serious, to the point of being inflexible.

Still, I was glad she was safe. That made seven. Two more to go. I wonder where my son and youngest daughter are under the vast sky.