Check out advanced chapters on P@treon: [email protected]/CosmicKaminari
----------
"Boom!"
A thunderous crash echoed across the ground as the airship touched down, kicking up a massive cloud of dust that spread in every direction.
"Ptooey, ptooey, ptooey... How dare they call this thing a spaceship? Isn't it just an airship?"
Kaito spat out imaginary dust, glanced back at the vessel behind him, and grumbled in dissatisfaction.
"You should be grateful you even had something to ride in. This thing was thrown together in an emergency."
Willem immediately fired back after hearing Kaito's complaint.
"Hmph. One of these days I'll show you what a real spaceship looks like."
Sensing the fleet waiting in orbit, Kaito puffed out his cheeks and replied.
"Yes, yes, yes. Officer Kaito's invincible spaceship. Please let me see it soon."
"Hey, you actually dare to make fun of me? I..."
"Alright, Mr. Kaito, let's get off the ship first. Willem and I both believe you."
Chtholly interrupted with a smile.
"Hehe, I'll give Chtholly face. As for Willem... hmph, hmph... he'll come begging me someday."
Kaito flashed a mysterious grin at the two of them.
"Nephren, I didn't expect you to be the one who came to rescue us!"
Nopht, an adult Fairy who had been working outside with the salvage team, rushed forward and excitedly wrapped Nephren in a hug.
Then she patted Nephren's head as if she were still a child.
"You're still so tiny. Honestly."
Despite the affectionate treatment, Nephren showed no reaction beyond a quiet response.
"Mhm."
"Since Nephren is here, that means the giant Sixth Beast was defeated, right?"
"Chtholly opened the Fairy Warehouse's gate. Even though the two of us never really got along."
"Looking back now, I should've talked with her more."
Nopht's voice grew subdued. Just as sadness began creeping into her expression, a hesitant voice came from behind her.
"Um..."
"What is it? I'm busy missing Chtholly right now..."
Nopht crossed her arms and answered irritably.
"Nopht, long time no see."
The familiar voice made her freeze. She spun around, pointed at Chtholly, and screamed.
"Wahhhh!!! A ghost?!"
She staggered backward in panic before turning around and running.
"Wait, don't run!"
"There's a ghost here ahhh~!"
"Listen to me!"
"Don't come any closer!"
Watching the two chase each other around, Willem and Kaito exchanged looks.
"They're really energetic."
"Indeed..."
Only after Chtholly finished explaining everything did the commotion finally settle down.
"Long time no see, Rhantolk. I'm glad you're safe."
Nephren quietly greeted the Fairy with long dark blue hair.
"You too."
Rhantolk's calm response was as brief as ever.
A moment later, she glanced toward Chtholly, who was still catching her breath.
"By the way, Chtholly, your hair..."
"Ah, that's..."
Before Chtholly could explain, Rhantolk turned toward Kaito and Willem.
"And who are these two?"
"Willem Kmetsch, administrator of the Fairy Warehouse."
"Kaito. Also an administrator of the Fairy Warehouse. By the way, I'm this guy's superior, oh."
"Hey, you don't need to emphasize that!"
"It's the most important part, Willem, Second Class Technical Officer!"
"You bastard!!!"
Watching Willem lose his composure from Kaito's teasing, Rhantolk looked surprised.
"These administrators seem very different from the previous ones. And there are two uninfected people. Are they ogres?"
Nopht, who had been squatting nearby, immediately jumped to her feet.
"Cannibals? Are they Nygglatho's husbands?"
"No, they're not!"
Chtholly hurriedly interrupted before the misunderstanding could spread.
Kaito found her reaction amusing. Holding back a laugh, he introduced himself properly.
"Willem and I are both humans."
"Humans...? You're joking, right?"
Nopht stared at the two of them in disbelief.
Even though he knew they were understandably suspicious, Willem answered seriously.
"Let's leave our circumstances aside for now. There are some things we need to ask you first..."
Just as Willem began questioning them about their condition, a completely different battle was unfolding aboard the fleet stationed in orbit.
"Hehe! The fleet commander can only be me! I'm a Demon Lord!"
"Impossible! Milim, get down from there! I'm the Empress of the Jura Tempest Federation, and I'm a Demon Lord too!"
Rimuru shouted as she tried to pull Milim off the commander's chair.
"I don't wanna! I don't wanna! I want to be commander! It looks so cool!"
"No! I want to look cool too! Let go already!"
The actual commander stood nearby, helplessly watching the two powerful Demon Lords fight over his seat.
"Hmph. Removing you from the commander's position was truly the most correct decision Rimuru-sama made, you lucky dog."
"Sakazuki, if you don't provoke me at least twice a day, are you incapable of sleeping peacefully?!"
Sengoku, dressed in a spotless white commander's uniform with three general stars on his shoulders, roared angrily at Sakazuki.
"Whether you got lucky or not, you know the answer yourself."
Sakazuki exhaled a puff of cigar smoke and sneered.
He had nearly ground his molars to dust when Sengoku suddenly went from Air Force Fleet Admiral to Space Navy Commander.
To make matters worse, Sengoku constantly wandered around flaunting the promotion and making sarcastic remarks whenever he saw him.
"Sakazuki, that's called jealousy. Plain and simple."
"I'd be jealous of an old man who's one foot in the grave?"
"You bastard! I used to be your leader!"
"You said it yourself. Used to be."
"Damn it, Sakazuki! I'll fight you...!"
Nearby stood Azazel, former Governor of the Fallen Angels and current Space Navy Vice Commander.
Watching his commander glare furiously with his beard practically standing on end, Azazel could only sigh.
"Oh dear. The Commander can't win an argument, yet he keeps volunteering to embarrass himself."
"Hmph. Instead of wasting time on that, why don't you figure out how to secure more military supplies?"
Uriel, who never missed an opportunity to argue with Azazel, shot back coldly.
Even though his master had been revived and had finally found someone willing to take care of her, it did nothing to stop him from picking fights with Azazel whenever possible.
"Sigh... If things keep going like this, maybe I should ask Admiral Rengoku Kyojuro whether the Army needs more personnel. Slacking off over there sounds much better than staying here!!!"
Borsalino, who was seated nearby playing chess with Fujitora, immediately reacted when he heard Azazel mention slacking off.
A golden glint flashed across his glasses as he stared down at the chessboard and muttered:
"How frightening. He wants to slack off too. That's a truly profound skill..."