The Trial of Princess of Prophecy Himika

The trial that the legendary Garumon, Prophecy Princess Himika, would impose on me… what on earth could it be?

"The other S-Class Masters vying for my succession all have rich experience.

Thou, on the other hand, hast far too little experience… too few accomplishments.

To rank thee alongside the others as a successor candidate is not enough, she says."

"! Yes, yes! As expected of Mother! That's right, exactly so!

Such a greenhorn is unfit to be Father's successor!

Now, tuck thy tail and scurry on home!"

So Himeno rattled off, as if vindicated.

… So this child spoke politely when addressing her own family, but fell into "no ja" speech when speaking haughtily.

"Ah, but Suzanne Onee-sama, stay here! And Ursula-sama too, stay!

Suzanne Onee-sama, Ursula-sama, it's been so long — let us talk together until nightfall today!"

Charmingly, Himeno clutched Suzanne's and Ursula's hands and showed every intention of not letting go.

At me, she stuck out her tongue. Bleh.

So this child was fond of Ursula too.

Leonhardt gently stroked Himeno's head…

"Tame this wild filly, and show that thou canst handle her, she says."

So he said.

"…?"

Eh, that was the trial? No, that wasn't a trial at all…

It meant it was fine to make Himeno my companion, right?

For most Masters, something like that would have been nothing but a reward.

… No. If Himeno really, sincerely hated me, then for me, someone who never wanted to do anything his companions disliked, it might actually be a fairly nasty trial.

A Himeno who didn't want to be my companion, and a me who absolutely refused to do anything Himeno disliked… with such a me having to make her into a companion.

More than nasty, it was a logical contradiction.

Well, since it was a trial, I just had to arm myself with theory and have her accept it…

"To wish to make Garumon happy.

For thou who so wishest, to make Himeno, who doth not truly acknowledge thee, thy companion, would surely be a sufficient trial?

Himika said as much…

And I too, after our exchange just now, am convinced that it is indeed a trial for thee."

She must have wanted to convey that much herself.

But her condition was worse than expected, and she couldn't.

"… I see. Understood."

So she had given me a trial after seeing through me to that extent.

In that case, I had no choice but to accept it.

… But really, was that it? Maybe "trial" was a pretext for the outside world, and the truth was she'd simply entrusted her precious daughter to me…

No, I shouldn't think such convenient thoughts. This was a trial. I had to accept it with all due respect.

"D-disagreeable! I refuse!

Father! Mother! Such a dull man is not fit for me!

The Master fit for me is surely elsewhere!"

Himeno wailed in fierce rejection.

… Hmm, to be hated this much.

I'd been, all things considered, surprisingly popular with Garumon up till now…

So in reverse it was rather fresh and interesting.

Making her into a companion would be the first trial.

"Hey, Himeno."

I crouched down and met her eyes.

"… Wh-what is it?"

"This is a test, you see. Whether I'm truly unfit for you… I want you to look hard with your own eyes and judge me.

So as my examiner, I want you to come along.

I promise I won't do anything you dislike. What do you say?"

So I asked.

… Himeno's white cheeks dyed red.

She seemed rather receptive.

"… Wh-what, that! Even told such things, thou shalt not deceive me! Thou art no good! Absolutely no good!"

… Hmm, what was it? I didn't quite understand, but it seemed Himeno had her own reasons, Himeno's reasons, for disliking me.

Which meant if I could just learn that reason, I might be able to stop her from hating me?

"… Himeno, um…"

If she had such reasons I wanted to hear them, but…

"… F-fine! It can't be helped. This great I shall test thee!

Such a man as thou aspiring to be great Father's successor… this folly, I shall make thee abandon!"

… So Himeno said.

It seemed she would become a companion after all.

Well, in that case there was no need to press Himeno right now.

"… Mn, then, please take care of me."

I held out my right hand.

"… M-mn… Th-thou shalt not deceive me. Thou art absolutely… unfit. No good…"

So saying, Himeno took my hand and held it back.

… Nerves, or fear? She was sweaty and trembling.

I gently squeezed her hand.

"… Hyaaaaa!"

In that instant, Himeno screamed.

"… Aaa…"

Thud. Just like that… she collapsed.

"Himeno!?"

I hurriedly caught her.

Himeno had completely fainted.

"Um, this is…"

"… My apologies, Naoto-dono.

Himeno possesses powerful prophecy, but she cannot yet control that power.

For that reason her mind is unstable, and she sometimes loses consciousness like this.

For Himeno, the things her eyes see, whether they are scenes seen in reality or scenes seen through prophecy, she cannot tell apart.

… Thou must feel troublesome matters have been thrust upon thee, but…"

Leonhardt apologized.

"So that was it… Himeno had such circumstances…"

I saw. Part of the reason for Himeno's strange words and conduct had become visible.

Thinking about it that way…

"If that's how it is, it's no problem. Wanting to be a source of strength for Garumon in trouble is at the very root of me.

I don't think it's a bother at all.

If anything, I feel strongly that I want to be of strength to her.

… As for Himeno, please leave her to me."

I spoke those words from the heart.

"… Mn."

Leonhardt narrowed his eyes and nodded.

His eyes were deep, and I couldn't tell what he was thinking. Only… I felt he was placing his expectations on me.

"Well then, my talk ends here… Now relax and converse with everyone."

So saying, Leonhardt withdrew.

Mercheada accompanied him and left as well.

"Ah, Father…"

Suzanne, too, accompanied them.

It would be good for them to have some uninterrupted family time. I waved Suzanne off.

Suzanne happily waved back, then followed after Leonhardt and Mercheada.

And so we concluded, for the time being, our meeting with the hero Leonhardt.

But we'd received permission to come again if ever we had business.

Well, Suzanne and Himeno would need to come back home now and then; we'd drop in from time to time.

I wanted to hear more of Leonhardt-san's stories too.

… And so, Prophecy Princess Himeno became a companion.

These were Himeno's skills.

The daughter of Prophecy Princess Himika, the Garumon who could foresee Demon God attacks, the one once held by the legendary Master Augusta.

Following Suzanne, Mercheada's daughter, for me to be entrusted with another such important child…

This trial, I had to see it through no matter what.

So I resolved.

But what exactly were the completion conditions, again? Tame her and master her use… was it?

If I could just remove that pitiable trait of Prophecy & Foolishness, would that be enough? After that, raising her LV properly so she could fight as a full-fledged Garumon… and after that, just getting along normally should be sufficient, it seemed…

That wasn't hardship at all…

Well, in any case, I'd do my best.

"… Hah."

Himeno woke up almost immediately.

"… Akai Naoto! Mmmm, thou knave — whilst I slept, what hast thou done! Speak!"

Suddenly clutching her chest, Himeno cried out. A lively child.

I didn't make moves on people without saying anything.

In the first place, the current Himeno was still a flat-chested loli…

… Well, going forward, no matter how I thought about it, I'd probably end up wanting to make a move.

"I didn't do anything… Everyone's watching."

… This was the courtyard party venue.

In one corner of the room was a bed, where a wondrously beautiful silver-haired girl slept soundly, motionless.

… So I'd had Himeno laid down beside her.

It had been several minutes since she'd woken.

"… Beside Kuya, huh…

Then, me and Kuya, the two of us together…? You can't! No matter what Kuya does, she won't wake, but Kuya is still a virgin! I shall not allow thee to lay a hand!"

So saying, Himeno spread her hands to shield the sleeping girl.

"Just what kind of guy do you take me for?

I don't make moves unless the girl wants me to."

"Lies! Thou dost thrust thy base desires upon me! I have seen it!"

So Himeno shouted.

… Hmm?

Could it be she'd seen the future through prophecy?

… Which meant in the future we'd grow intimate and start doing such things.

The current Himeno, having foreseen that future, couldn't believe it, and saw me as someone who'd suddenly tried to do something weird, and hated me.

… If that was the case, it kind of made sense.

Sure, to the present Himeno, I was nothing she liked.

Even if her future self thought it would be fine to be held by me, holding her right now was just a perverted act.

Her affection meter would max out into the negatives.

… Whoa… this might be a bit of a tricky one.

A romance with a girl who held future-sight was tough.

This could be a new genre!

Such was the otaku's sad nature.

Well, now I had no means to publish anything.

"No, hold on a sec. That's a future story…"

"Lies! For all eternity to come, I shall never — never — do such strange things with thee!"

Himeno was stubborn. What kind of future had she foreseen, I wondered.

… Hmm, can't be helped. For now, let me change the subject.

"Well then… Himeno. You're the examiner. If you, truly and seriously, judge me unfit as a candidate, Leonhardt-sama will respect that thinking and remove me from the candidates.

So could you set me some kind of test?

If I clear it, you give me one acknowledgment. If I can't clear it, one mark off.

Once the marks pile up, you can tell Leonhardt-sama I'm unfit."

"… Ho-ho."

Himeno found my proposal amusing. She considered.

"… Very well. Then we shall do it thus.

In this room are gathered nearly all of Father Leonhardt's twenty-four Garumon.

Wert thou to become his successor, six of them would be thine.

… Whom wouldst thou choose? Speak."

So Himeno posed her question.

… Leonhardt's Garumon in the room turned to look at me.

The only ones not present were Himika-san and Mercheada-san… Including Himeno, twenty-two were assembled.

"Daughters of nobility are under no obligation to be sent to school. If they can be educated at home, they are educated at home.

Furthermore, as long as they've awakened to their power, they're free to debut without waiting until they're 15.

Though once they turn 15 they must debut without fail.

There's a rule that one must be 15 or older to debut as a Master, but for Garumon there's no such rule.

… Himeno is 12, but she's already awakened to her power. There's no problem with her debuting as a Garumon."

Ursula taught me about Himeno that way.

"Naoto. Shall I explain Leonhardt's Garumon?"

So she offered.

"No, I'm supposed to pick particularly strong-looking Garumon by intuition, right? I think I'm fairly good at that sort of thing.

Then, first… well, the highest priority is Himeno."

"…!? Me!?"

Himeno was surprised.

"Mn. Because the idea of having to part with a child who'd once become a companion… I'd absolutely hate that.

So she's the absolute top priority."

"… T-trying to curry favor with such things is… useless!"

Himeno reddened. Her mouth loosened into a faint smirk… She really might be cute after all.

If I just knew the reason for her strange attitude, I could forgive it.

"Second is, of course, Mercheada. Up to here is, well, obvious, right?"

"… Hmph, indeed it should be obvious. One who'd misread this is beyond consideration!

Inheriting the world's strongest Garumon, the very symbol of Father, is what qualifies one to call oneself Leonhardt's successor!"

She seemed to acknowledge my answer.

"Third is… that one. The one over there with green-and-gold hair. The one wearing armor."

"…!"

When I pointed her out, she noticed my finger and stood up.

"… Spear-God Princess Mistilteinn. Pleased to meet you."

… Ohh, what a cool name!

… But she seemed rather brusque. She said only that and immediately sat down again, returning to her food.

"Mn, pleased to meet you, Mistilteinn-san."

"Mistilteinn is fine. Words are unnecessary. I am a weapon."

"…?"

"… Hm-hmph. Playing dumb. Thou knewest, didst thou not? That Mistilteinn is Father's most prized, strongest spear — an Armed Divine Princess!"

"… Armed Divine Princess?"

I really didn't know, but…

"In this world, there exist Garumon who can transform into weapons like swords or spears.

By equipping the transformed weapon, the wielding Garumon powers up dramatically.

They are called Armed Princesses.

Spear-God Princess Mistilteinn, among such Armed Princesses, is of the highest class.

Well, even among Leonhardt's Garumon she ranks among the finest."

"Heh… amazing. Mistilteinn."

"…"

A nod. She must have been confident. Mistilteinn nodded at my words.

A beautiful girl with hair mingling green and gold, and odd-eyes also in green and gold… truly brimming with otherworldly flair.

Transformation… how exactly did she transform? If I ever got a chance to see it, I'd look forward to it.

"Gnu… who's next!"

"Then that one… Kuya, I suppose."

I pointed at the sleeping beautiful girl… Although, this kid had been sleeping straight through from the start…

"… Hu-hmph, that Kuya is one of the Fantasy Princesses, the Sleeping Princess… 'tis obvious at a glance!

This is nothing to be surprised about!"

"Ah, is that so…"

Sleeping Princess Kuya.

A beautiful silver-haired girl. Since she was asleep I couldn't confirm her eye color. A transparent, beautiful face.

… She'd been sleeping all through the commotion.

Her large breasts quietly rose and fell.

"… Speaking of which, when does she wake?"

"Hmph! For thee to see Kuya awake is a hundred years too early!"

"I see, so I have to wait a hundred years… that's a long wait.

Before making her a companion, I want to confirm with her whether it's okay for her to come to me…"

"… H-hmph! If by any chance there's such a thing, just wake her in that case!"

Ah, so she'd wake if I woke her. Then I'd talk with Kuya at that time.

"N-next!"

"Then how about that one. The one with elf ears…"

"… Elf Hero Olivier. Well, she's famous! … Though thou seemest ignorant, thou hast some knowledge, it seems!"

"A Hero, huh. That's amazing."

"Hmph! Playing dumb!"

"Olivier desu. It's a pleasure to meet you."

Tossing her smooth, transparent golden hair, Olivier smiled gently.

… Beautiful…

Being an elf, did she happen to know Meifa, I wondered?

If we got a chance to talk someday, I'd try.

"Nu-nu-nu… next!"

"Next is…"

A beautiful girl with rainbow-colored hair… by normal logic, she was the one to be drawn to no matter how I looked at it… I thought.

But somehow…

"That one, then."

"!? M-me…!"

That black dragon-girl reacted fiercely.

She glared at me with reddish-black eyes and came closer. Swaying her dragonkin horns, dragon wings, and tail, she approached as if angry.

"Why me!"

So she demanded.

"… Well, you'd been staring this way…"

"I-it's not that I was looking at you! I was looking at Saria behind you!

… Well, I was looking at you too, thinking 'so this is Saria's new Master.'"

"Ah, you're close with Saria."

She seemed strong too… but she didn't look to have as much power as the Dragon God. Probably young in age, too. About the same age as Saria, maybe.

"… A fellow Dragon King?"

"Do not lump me in with her! … I am Evil Dragon King Yorm! Saria and I are rivals!"

So she declared. So she was a variant of Dragon King, then.

"… I see. Pleased to meet you, Yorm.

Speaking of which, in that case you should chat with Saria more. She's over there."

"S-stupid! Saria's talking with other people… Saria lived here for a year. She has many friends…

It'd be… rude to interrupt…"

… She was holding back.

This kid was kind of cute. She looked tough but was actually shy.

"It's fine. Hey, Saria."

"Oh my, what is it?"

"It's been a while since you've seen Yorm, right? Try chatting with her."

"Ah, yes. Yorm-chan, long time no see～"

Saria smiled warmly.

"… M-mn… I-it's been a while…"

Yorm looked down, bashful.

She seemed tough, but in front of Saria she went meek.

"What kind of relationship is it, you two?"

"We're fellow Dragon Kings, Yorm-chan is one year younger… we trained together～

The two of us also taught Safa, who's two years younger, various things, and the three of us trained together. So nostalgic～"

So Saria smiled gently.

Even being called a fellow Dragon King by Saria, Yorm didn't particularly correct her.

… Hmm? It was just a feeling, but from Saria I didn't sense that much closeness toward Yorm.

It felt more like classmates who'd studied together, no more, no less.

From Yorm, it was the kind of vibe that screamed "one-and-only best friend"…

… A one-way friendship?

That was sad.

I was an introvert too, so I sort of understood the feeling. This kind of one-way thing was pitiable.

… But Yorm turned her face away, striking the pose of "it's not like I think anything of it!"

Ahh… at this rate they wouldn't get any closer…

"Well, anyway, since it's a good chance, please talk with Yorm more."

"? Well, if Naoto-chan says so… All right? Yorm-chan."

"M-mn… I-it's not… it's fine, I guess…"

She couldn't quite manage honesty, but she looked happy.

And the two of them headed off together.

… I hoped the conversation would go well.

… But while Saria chatted warmly, Yorm came across as brusque.

Ahh, that introvert-specific, embarrassment-driven coldness…

At this rate, Saria might think Yorm didn't like her much and grow distant from her…

It made me anxious.

I hoped the misunderstanding would clear up eventually.

"Um… ah, that makes six."

I'd actually wanted to pick that rainbow-haired girl too… Not just her — those twin-looking girls had caught my eye as well, but…

If I let myself, I'd be drawn to everyone. Among Leonhardt's companions there wasn't a single weak or unbeautiful one.

… But with the six-Garumon limit, it couldn't be helped.

"… Hah-hah-hah! Thou hast given thyself away! To choose Yorm of all Garumon!

… Yorm is still a newcomer among Father's Garumon, and still quite the novice!

The one to choose ought to be the Goddess who, alongside Mercheada, stands as one of Leonhardt's twin pillars. Leaving out the Goddess Dumina is unthinkable folly!

Hah-hah-hah! Truly, thou hast no eye!

That thou art even a successor candidate is a great mistake!"

Goddess Dumina…

The wry-smiling, rainbow-haired beautiful girl, apparently.

So she had been the Goddess Dumina.

… Now that she mentioned it, I hadn't seen Dumina, and when I searched, there was only that girl as a candidate.

I was an idiot for not noticing.

I'd known about Goddess Dumina, because last year she'd been listed alongside Mercheada among the world's strongest 24 Garumon.

But the Goddess Dumina in the photo had white hair… her hair color was entirely different, so I hadn't noticed.

As for her face… since photo quality in this world was still low, and the real thing was vastly more beautiful than any photo, it had been surprisingly hard to tell.

But now that it had been pointed out, certainly the face I'd seen in the photo matched in features.

I'd been a fool not to notice. But the sparkle factor was about 10x different!

… As the world's strongest existence, the Goddess, certainly she'd be a presence you couldn't leave out.

… Well, since all of Leonhardt's Garumon were strong, that was obvious.

In fact, the one I'd hesitated over with Yorm had been her…

"Even told that, well…"

Dumina was wondrously charming and I'd been drawn to her from the depths of my heart, but more than that I'd been drawn to Yorm's desperately-pleading eyes.

… But being told I failed on that one thing alone, I couldn't accept it.

"But Yorm's talent isn't inferior, you know.

In the first place, 5 out of 6 right… isn't that enough to pass?"

"Gnu… what specious reasoning…"

"Himeno… To me, besides veterans Mercheada and Olivier, picking the young and promising Mistilteinn, Kuya, Yorm, and thyself doth not seem so bad a choice.

Certainly if measured by current combat strength alone, Dumina in Yorm's slot would be correct. But the future is unclear.

In any case, Naoto has a strong likelihood of acquiring many Goddesses evolved from Seraphim.

But for Dragon God candidates, only Saria is on hand, so there is a shortage.

Considering such household circumstances, I too think choosing Yorm is correct, no?"

Ursula threw me a lifeline.

"… G-guh… if Ursula-sama says so…

I-I'll grant it as a bonus correct! Naoto! But I do not acknowledge thee!

That sham of thine, I shall surely tear it off, so be prepared!"

… Well, fine. For now I'd cleared the trial.

"… Naoto. Thou seemest to have misunderstood, but in truth Himeno is not yet one of Leonhardt's Garumon.

So she was outside the choices. Had this been pointed out, it would have been bad…"

"… Eh?"

Was that so…!?

Ah, so that was why Ursula had explained Himeno was a child raised under Leonhardt.

I hadn't noticed…

Yikes — if she'd pointed out "Picking a Garumon outside the choices is beyond consideration!", I'd have had no excuse for the blunder.

… Lucky Himeno hadn't noticed either… she seemed to have forgotten in her flustered state at being chosen.

… And so, the somewhat troublesome Himeno became one of our companions.

For now, I had to start by getting her acknowledgment.

… The meeting with Leonhardt was extremely fruitful.

After all, my next goal — after fighting Eclair — had been set.

Leonhardt's successor, the Second-Generation Hero.

It was an excessive title… but I thought it was worth aiming for.

It would surely help greatly with my goal of making my Garumon happy.

And above all, for the Mercheada-and-Suzanne mother-daughter combo!

… Just a joke… A little bit of one.