Meljeene Bottom Sea Ruin
Northwest, 300 kilometers away from【Sea Town, Elisen】.
It was the location of one of the Seven Great Dungeon, 【Meljeene Bottom Sea Ruin】, that the party once heard from Miledi Raisen.
However, the party didn't have much time to listen to Miledi at that time, so she only told them that the "moon" must be accompanied by "Guryuu-en's proof" without the detailed location.
And so, Hajime's party only advanced through the vast ocean in accordance to the direction and distance they were told. However, they didn't find anything when they searched the pointed location in the bottom of the sea during daytime. The party had thought they'd be able to find some kind of trace because it was a bottom sea ruin, but it seemed they were too naive.
The pointed location was rather shallow compared to the other place in circumference of 100 kilometers, so it must be the correct place... that was what Hajime thought.
Reluctantly, the party decided to stop the search and wait until night, when the moon has come out, as Miledi had told them. The current time was sunset. The sun was shining in red with half of itself hidden beyond the horizon, brightening the world for the last time today. The sky and sea were dyed in orange while a straight road was produced by the reflection of the sun on the sea from over the horizon.
A beautiful spectacle of nature no matter whichever world it was. Hajime was watching the setting sun on the deck of the moored submarine. Abruptly, he thought of something unbelievable, which was whether it was possible to return to Japan if he advances on the road of light leading towards the sun. He smiled wryly as he was thinking about something.
"Did something happen?"
Noticing the change in Hajime, Kaori called out to him.
Because she was taking a shower inboard a while ago, her hair was damp. No, not only Kaori. Yue, Shia, and Tio had gone up to deck before he was aware of it. Everyone had taken the shower inside the sub that Hajime took pride in. Their flushed cheeks, the damp hair stuck on their cheeks, and nape, made their figures truly captivating. The water from the shower room was set to rain right from the ceiling, so it wasn't a problem for the four of them to shower all at once.
Incidentally, the reason why Hajime was on the deck, looking at the sunset was because of the possibility of taken into the shower room if he was careless.
When the girls were about to take the shower, Tio invited Hajime which gained approval from Kaori, Shia, and of course, Yue. Then, the four cut off the escape routes of Hajime's refusal. Hajime, who will not embrace any other woman except Yue, had clearly said he won't have a naked skin ship with other woman.
However, the girls ignored Hajime as they smiled. Leering at Yue who was blushing while making a flirtatious smile, Kaori and Tio who were pinning Hajime from the sides, and while Shia tried to put Hajime unconscious using Doryukken from behind. Feeling the impending danger of his body, Hajime seriously ran away and went to the deck... but, isn't it a shame for a man to deny the placed meal before him?
Hajime thought that was a foolish question and shook his head, then he replied to Kaori.
"I am just recalling a little about Japan. After all, the scene here isn't that much different from there."
"... I see. Yeah, it really is. It is just like the evening sun I have seen in the sea before... somehow it makes me feel nostalgic. Though not even half a year had passed, eh."
"That's because the everyday here is too eventful."
Having seated beside Hajime, Kaori was agreeing Hajime's words while looking at the distance. She must be recalling the days she went through in Japan.
Maybe because she felt the loneliness from the conversation of the two, Yue trotted her still flushing body towards Hajime and sat on his lap. She entrusted her back to Hajime's chest even though she must be feeling hot. Then, she began to watch Hajime right under his face.
Her eyes were obviously expressing she wanted them to let her join their conversation. Yue was feeling lonely, and at the same time she wanted to hear about Hajime's hometown. Hajime, while inwardly knocked out by Yue's cuteness, stretched Kaori's cheek, who was sitting beside him, to scold her because a Hanya had appeared.
With only that, her mood became better which made Hajime felt complicated. Hajime thought, 'Why would she do this much for someone who won't accept her feelings...' Though he thought of that, he won't say it out loud. After all, it would be rude to her feelings if he did.
While he was stretching Kaori's cheek, and at this time, Shia drew closer to him from opposite Kaori with sparkling eyes. She was obviously signaling she wanted to be cared, too. With his empty other hand, he stroked Shia's rabbit ear. "Ehehe~," Shia made a relaxed smile.
His back was leaned to by Tio. She didn't demand anything in particular, just quietly sitting back to back against him. However, he understood Tio was relaxed, and she entrusted her weight to him. It was slightly unexpected, since Hajime's only thought was to throw her into the sea if she makes a perverted demand.
Then, maybe because she felt something from Hajime's aura, Tio's body shuddered and trembled for a moment while her breathing turned rough...
Hajime's party cuddled close to each other above the vast sea. It would take a while until night time came, and the moon will begin to shine. So to kill time, Hajime began to speak a little about his hometown.
Hajime's story fascinated Yue and the other two while Kaori was supplementing him with a radiant smile. Time passed swiftly as they enjoyed the peaceful atmosphere and the sun had completely gone down to the other side of the horizon, and the moon had began to shine in its place.
Thinking it was about the time, Hajime took out the pendant which was the proof of having conquered 【Guryuu-en Great Volcano】 from his breast pocket. The design of the pendant was of a woman hanging a lantern and there was a hole on the lantern, becoming hollow.
Even while staying at Elisen, Hajime had taken out the pendant and held it towards the moon, and also supplied it with magic power, but there was no change in particular.
'Just what should be done to the moon and pendant?', was what he thought while tilting his head. For now, Hajime tried to hold the pendant towards the moon. The moon could be seen from hole of the lantern design.
He waited for a while, but there was no change. Hajime, not understanding what to do, sighed and began to try another method.
But at that time, change appeared in the pendant.
"Waah, the light is gathering in the lantern. It's beautiful~."
"It is... a mysterious sight. Even though the lantern part is actually hollow..."
Shia was admiring the sight and Kaori, with shining eyes, agreed with her.
Just as the two said, the lantern part was absorbing the moonlight and light began to accumulate inside it. In accordance to that, the hollow part was filled by the light. Also becoming interested in it, Yue and Tio watched the pendant Hajime held up.
"Even though I've also tried it last night..."
"Hmm, Master. It might be because it won't do if it isn't here, right?"
It might be just as Tio guessed. Before long, the lantern finished accumulating the light and the pendant was now clad in light. At the same time, a light shot straight from the lantern, pointing to a certain location on the sea's surface.
"... What an exquisite production. Truly different from Miledi's."
"It is. It really is fantasy-like, even I'm rather impressed by it."
"Guided by the moonlight," it was such a romance-like thing which made not only Hajime, but also Yue and the rest raised voices of admiration. The impression gained by Shia, just like Hajime and Yue, was strong as someone who had entered Miledi's 【Miledi Great Dungeon】.
The party didn't know how long the light would be released from the pendant's lantern, so the submarine immediately sailed, lead by the light.
The sea at night was dark. Or maybe it would be better to say that everything was black. And even though the surface of the was still bright because of the moonlight, they were lead into the waters and thus everything instantly turned dark. The light released by the submarine and the pendant was the only thing cutting through the dark sea.
The light, passing through the glass made from front crystal (a type of sturdy and transparent ore) in front of the submarine, was pointing at the bottom of the sea.