Elfaria had gotten Koutarou angry by asking if she could go sightseeing.
A loud thud rang out.
“Ow!?”
”Of course you can't! Elle, have you forgotten who you are!?”
“After being chased out of my country by a coup d'état I'm now an unemployed hikikomori, Reios-sama”
“You bastard, have you forgotten about your own mission!?”
”I haven't forgotten. I am continuing my information gathering to be able to retake my country. However, it is without a doubt the truth that I am unemployed”
”Those hundreds of people would be completely lost if anything were to happen to you”
Koutarou vehemently objected to Elfaria's sightseeing. The threat of Elexis still hadn't passed, so it was possible that she might get attacked if she walked around the city. Theia was a princess so the risk for her was lost, but Koutarou didn't have the courage to let the empress, who held the most authority, out into the city.
“That's why I'm asking you to be my guard, Reios-sama”
“Koutarou, I'm asking you too. Mother is tired after living in space for so long. Even if the enemy doesn't attack her, it would be the same if she gave up mentally, right?”
“Ugh...”
However, upon hearing Theia's intercession, Koutarou began thinking that might be for the better. Like she said, it was necessary to lessen the strain on Elfaria's mind.
“That's right Reios-sama, if I collapse everything will be for nothing!”
However, seeing Elfaria's eyes sparkling he began having second thoughts. The danger in those hadn't changed after 20 years.
“Let's go sightseeing on Earth so I don't collapse!”
”Hey Elle, stop using yourself as a hostage to threaten me”
”I would never threaten you. Mental health is an important problem”
“...You're still the same way you were back then”
”I'm still a teenager in mind and body”
”Geez...”
Koutarou held his head. Having latched onto Theia's words, Elfaria's claims were correct. However it was still dangerous. Koutarou was reluctant to let her walk around crowded areas. After thinking for a moment, Clan gave Koutarou a helping hand.
“Phew... Bertorion, why don't you change your way of thinking for a moment?”
”What do you mean?”
”Rather than you alone, all ten of us will protect Elfaria-san. If we do that, then the chances of Elfaria-san being attacked will lower”
Sanae's spiritual powers, Yurika's and Maki's magic, Kiriha's spiritual energy technology and brain, Theia's, Ruth's and Clan's advanced technology, Shizuka's dragon powers and Harumi's Signaltin. If all of these powers gathered to protect Elfaria the chances were that they would be able to allow Elfaria escape before they get attacked. It was also hard to imagine Elexis and Maya to attack someone so heavily defended. Just focusing this defense would let them protect Elfaria.
“...I guess that's the only way...”
After thinking over it carefully, Koutarou reluctantly agreed to Elfaria stepping out.
Sanae, Clan and Ruth could detect any approaching enemies, Yurika could then bring Elfaria to a safe place using magic prepared beforehand while the rest of the members dealt with the attackers. If they left the command to Kiriha they would be able to guard Elfaria with even more certainty. That kind of plan appeared in Koutarou's mind.
“Then let's go, Reios-sama! To explore an unknown planet!”
”...Elle, you won't die in a pretty way”
“You'll kill me yourself, Reios-sama!?”
Elfaria's smile was so very bright.
“...You bastard... you're saying that knowing I can't, aren't you...”
As Koutarou held his head in pain, Clan began laughing for some reason.
“Ohohohohoho!”
”W-What now, all of a sudden?”
”Serves you right! That's how you always make me feel. Ohohohoho!”
Elfaria was now making Koutarou feel the same thing he made Clan feel and Clan couldn't stop herself from laughing.