??: Oh my..? Something has happened outside, it seems..?
Ha Yura: Yes. A warp ship flowed in with unknown rankers inside..
??: Pardon!? // A warp ship came into the mothership?
Rachel: That's quite a rare incident. // And the drifters' identities?
Ha Yura: The exact identities are unknown since all their pockets are disabled. But I heard they are all at least rankers.
Rachel: Hm.. I wonder what is the probability for rankers on a floating boat to drift and enter this carrier? //I am quite curious to know.. Shall we check it out after getting family head's permission? // Right after we finish our tasks..
Ha Yura: Okay..! I would like to, Rachel.
Rachel: Let's go!
[At the same time]
[Mothership of the Lo Po Bia family]
Khun: Wait.. // That silhouette.. don't tell me..
Vicente: ..Do you know who that is?
Khun: I do.. // But if it really is that person I'm thinking of.. We're not really supposed to run into him by chance like this, no..?
Gustang: ... What is this floating ship that just apppeared out of nowhere? // It teleported here through creating a Lo Po Bia's gate, so it must be either from the Lo Po Bia family or the army of Zahard. // But looking at its appearance, I'd assume it's from the army of Zahard.
Call: My lord..!!
Gustang: ..? What is it?
Call: A floating ship has just been discovered drifting over the mothership.
Gustang: ... A drifted floating ship, you say?
Call: Yes, m'lord. All the passengers are rankers, and they’re refusing to reveal their identities clearly, but // Speculating from the identification number on the warp ship, there is a high possibility that they are from the Lo Po Bia family.
Gustang: Lo Po Bia? // ..Understood. Keep them captured alive.
Call: Yes, m'lord!!
Gustang: .. A drfited floating ship from the Lo Po Bia family at this timing, huh.. // Then the floating ship that just apperaed in front of me.. // There's a high chance of it coming from the nest. // Send the coordinates after moving the docking ship that was anchored nearby as close as possible. // I will also be bringing a floating boat.
Call: Then the visiting of head of the Lo Po Bia family will be-
Gustang: Postponed for next time. // It seems that I've already achieved today's goal. // I'm on my way.
Call: Yes, m'lord!!
Right after the warp]
[The warp ship that Baam and Traumerei are on]
Ha Jinsung: Damn it.. Warping with the family head.. // I wasn't expecting a situation like this..
Traumerei: Where was I warped to? // Doesn't seem like anywhere around the mothership.. // However, I can clearly feel it. //He's not that far from here. // Gustang.. // Don't be too nervous.
Ha Jinsung: Ugh...!
Traumerei: Do you think I'd be really killing the person who will soon be my son-in-law?
Ha Jinsung: Son-in-law!! You're still on that!!
Baam: There's no way!!
Traumerei: Well, if you're that persistent, then everyone here has to die. // Irregular, you are sure to become an entity that will be of threat in the future, now you even possess the beast that I wanted to hide from the world the most. // If you refuse to stand on my side, then I can't really find a reason to let you live.
Ha Jinsung: Then, family head. Since you have offered that option to Viole, ...how about we offer you something in return? // The most important thing in a marriage is the willingness of the two people getting married. We won't continue to unconditionally deny the marriage with Lo Po Bia family, // So how about giving Viole a choice?
Traumerei: A choice?
Ha Jinsung: Yes. I think it's important to at least know whether the people proposed by Lo Po Bia are suitable for Viole's or my terms. //There needs to be a place for them to prove their worth, right? So.. Uhm.. // How about we open a 'competition'. // Receiving participants outside of the Lo Po Bia family, // And putting the marriage with Viole as the ultimate prize of the 'competition'.
Baam: What is this person saying.. The prize of the competition is what..? // Am I some kind of a prince from an outdated kingdom or something? // Why are you people trying to open up a competition putting my marriage as the prize without even asking me!? // Master!! What are you saying right now!?
Ha Jinsung: Viole- Shh-!!
Baam: This is crossing the line!! You never even asked for my opinion!! And why would you want to open up a competition putting my marriage as the prize!! I don't like this idea!!
Ha Jinsung: Viole! I'm not actually trying to find a spouse for you right now. I'm just trying to buy some time. // Moreover, what kind of woman would want to enter this crazy competition? Marrying with a slayer candidate? Even I wouldn't want something like that.
Baam: You're the one who put me on this candidate thing!!
Ha Jinsung: Even so, if someone really particiaptes, I promise you there's a plan for that. So don't worry. // I'll make sure that there won't be anything like marriage.
Traumerei: Hm.. // I say your opinion holds quite a point. // Alright. // Let us open up a tournament.
[What-?!]
Traumerei: I'll even allow participants outside our family too. And if the final winner of the competition is still the Lo Po Bia family after taking all these measures, // Then you are also fine with it at that point, correct?
Ha Jinsung: Yes, understood.
Baam: M.. Master!! // Th.. This is actually happening?! // You are also out of your mind!!
Traumerei: That's right. From my point of view, it is rather good to have an excuse to show to the external world. // However, I'd like to finish it quick. // I also have other important tasks to do ahead, so I wouldn't want to waste any time. // The date will be 1 month from now. We will provide the space for the competition. // I'll be sending notices to each families and organization confidentially, and the participants will compete with each other. The winner of that competition gets to marry the irregular. // Do you agree to this?
Ha Jinsung: Yes.
Baam: ....Th... // This is insane. // Seriously..!!
Lillal: What..? What is happening? // Why is it so cold all of a sudden.. // This area is summer right now..
Kirin: M'lord-
Traumerei: .. Kirin?
Kirin: M'lord, it seems that you do not have to return to the ship in a hurry. // I am not quite so sure of the situation, but as soon as a warp ship from the army of Zahard appeared, //Gustang took that ship and disappeared.
Traumerei: ... Gustang.. Disappeared? // After taking the floating ship?
Ship: Answer! // Drifted floating ship! Do you hear this? // This is the floating ship from the Lo Po Bia family. Are you a ship from the Lo Po Bia family? //It looks like you've warped to a wrong place after losing your coordinates in an accident, // Reveal your name, we will rescue you.
Lilial: Judging from the size of the ship, it could be an important person from the family.. // Well, that person can't be as important as me, a Zahard's princess. // Why would such a person be drifted..
Ship: Answer. Princess Lilial Zahard is currently on this floating ship. // Come and show your courtesy to the princess of the family.
Baam: Li.. Lilial Zahard!? That Zahard's princess that was at the 'Name Hunt' station!! Why now!!
Traumerei: The princess is on the ship? That's a good thing. // Tell the princess to connect the passage to the warp ship, and wait at the entrance.
Ship: What!? // How rude! Who could you possibly be to order around without revealing your identity!!
Traumerei: I am- // The family head.
------------
Lilial: Family head? What is this? Like I expected.. // Just a family head.. // Hm? // F.. // Family head, did he just say!? // Why would the family head be here!? // F, family head!? I.. I'll come right over right now!!
Traumerei: That's okay. This warp ship had already lost its driving force, so I'll cross over.
Lilial: F, family head, you will be crossing over yourself!?
Traumerei: Why, should I not?
Lilial: N, no no, there's no way you shouldn't!! It's an honor!! I'll be preparing a drink for a welcome!!
Traumerei: No need. I don't really drink anyways.
Lilial: M, my sincerest apologies!!
Baam: I guess the family head really does have a great influence. To make that snobby Zahard's princess behave that way..
Ha Jinsung: Of course.
Traumerei: That's okay. // Now, shall we? // Perhaps, you may meet someone who might become your future spouse // Sooner than I thought.
Baam: ......Ugh!
[10 minutes later]
Lilial: F.. family head!! // I.. I, the Zahard's princess, Lo Po Bia Lillia Zahard, // send my greetings to the great family leader of the Lo Po Bia family. // It.. it is such an honor to have your presence in front of me like this.
Baam: ..... She's really nervous.
Lilial: H.. Honestly, I'm so nervous right now.... that I'm not really able to talk straight..
Traumerei: ...Yes. // I understand. // Raise your head.
Lilial: I.. I cannot! How could I even dare to witness your appearance...!!
Traumerei: I'm not telling you to look at me. I have someone to show to you. // He may become your future partner..
Lilial: Pardon..!? // A partner of a Zahard's Princess.. // Who could that possibly...?! // Jyu Viole Grace..?
Baam: This person is Lilial Zahard..!
Lilial: Why is that guy here!? // Slayer candidate!! // [She knows Viole because she saw a picture of him.] // Why are you with the family head!!
Traumerei: ....Hm-
Lilial: My sincerest apologies, family head!! How dare I make a fuss in front of you.. // I.. I'll make sure to behave from now on!!
Traumerei: Have you met him before? It seems that you two know each other. // It seems like it's a meaningful coincidence that we met like this, so let's talk about it right now. // As you just said, he is a slayer candidate for now, // However, he may become your husband in the future.
Lilial: Excuse meeeee!?! Wh.. what does that mean, family head!? // Husband!? // With the person who will become the head of that heinous criminal group!? Why would I marry such a cruel and shameless person!!
Baam: Wait a minute. Recalling back at the Name Hunt station, I recall you were the shameless one?
Lilial: Shut it!! You are a bad person, and I'm a kind princess!! // That's just how it works in this world!!
Traumerei: Well, though it is not confirmed yet. You must stand victorious in the competition against many others, only then can you finally marry him.
Lilial: Whaaaat!? // A competition?!
Traumerei: .... Aren't you a loud one.
Lilial: M.. my sincerest apologies! But this is so sudden that I.. // Family head!! I do not know how you've come to that decision, but he is the slayer candidate which is the lowly leader of a heinous criminal organization!! How could I, the Zahard's princess, ever marry someone like him!! // That alone is outrageous enough, but to compete against others in order to marry him? I cannot accept such..!!
Traumerei: Accept it. It is what I have decided. // I shall invite those who would want to marry him and open up a compeition. And if a winner emerges from the Lo Po Bia family, // I will take him from the FUG, // And take him as my 'successor' to the family. // So you have to participate in the competition too.
Lilial: What is he saying? // Successor? // Marrying a slayer cadidate??! And I have to compete for it?! // I know it's an order from the family head, but I cannot follow this one. // It's anachronistic, humiliating and insulting!! This just makes no sense!! // To compete for a marriage with a guy like him, // as a Zahard's princess
Baam: This situation.. is rather difficult...
Lilial: I cannot stand to that!! // I'd rather kill him!!