Invaders of the Rokujouma!? Volume 39

By Takehaya and Poco

Koutarou and the girls prepare to chase Ralgwin back to Forthorthe, but one critical mission remains before they can leave Earth behind again—they must oversee the welcome ceremony for the next wave of intergalactic transfer students. Little do they know that someone is watching their every move from the shadows, someone with a keen interest in both Koutarou’s sword and Nalfa... Indeed, the Gray Knight is getting dangerously close the group and the truth about what happened back in the ruins. Will their rematch with him be their final showdown?

• Language: English
• Publisher: J-Novel Club
• Release date: Mar 30, 2022
• ISBN: 9781718312807

Book preview

Nalfa’s Ordeal

Wednesday, August 31st

With hobbies like fishing, maintaining one’s tools was essential. Sea angling gear was constantly exposed to saltwater, so there was a perpetual risk of it rusting. To prevent this, Koutarou made time to clean his kit after using it. He took good care of his baseball equipment too, so the sight of him doing such maintenance wasn’t all that unusual in room 106.

Nevertheless, the people of Forthorthe were curious about the pastimes of Earth—and their interest was especially keen in anything involving Koutarou, the Blue Knight. Thus Nalfa was almost always recording, no matter how mundane the scene... Today, however, was an exception. Rather than her camera, she had a handwritten note in her grasp, and she wore a serious expression as she passed it to Koutarou.

Koutarou-sama, is this how you spell the princesses’ names?!

Let’s see, Theiamillis Gre and Clariossa Daora... Yeah, that’s right. But you know, this is a speech. Nobody’s even going to know if you misspell them.

Koutarou glanced at Nalfa’s note and smiled before turning back to his tools. He was in the middle of reassembling a reel he’d taken apart to clean. Experience guided his hands in smooth, steady motions. The work was familiar to him.

You make it sound like it’s no big deal, but this is my first time ever giving a speech.

But you’re always talking on camera, right?

That’s different. The spotlight’s not on me then.

Nalfa’s head was spinning. In a few days, the second semester at Harukaze High would begin with a second wave of Forthorthian transfer students, and she’d been chosen as a representative to give a speech at their welcoming ceremony. The decision was like a bolt out of the blue to her. She’d never imagined that she would be asked to take center stage like this.

I think there are already lots of people watching you, though.

Only because I’m close to you.

You need more confidence in yourself, Nalfa-san. You’re a good, wonderful girl, and I’m sure everyone appreciates that.

Please don’t tease me. I need your help.

Y’know, you’re kinda acting like Yurika today...

Koutarou paused his handiwork and looked back at Nalfa. She was gripping the note in her hands as tears welled in her eyes. Indeed, she looked just like Yurika when she was cornered.

You could at least stand by my side!

What good would that do...?

It would help me!

Nalfa was uncomfortable taking a leading role like this. She preferred to be behind the scenes filming. Even when she made a cameo, Koutarou and Japanese culture were always the focus of the show. She was nothing more than a supporting character. Never once had she been the main character, until now. For her speech, she’d be sharing her own thoughts and experiences. It was a first for her—and a major hurdle.

Don’t think too hard about it, Koutarou encouraged her. Just say what’s on your mind.

Ugh... How do you do it, Koutarou-sama?

Well, my speeches are normally political, so Clan and Kiriha-san write them for me. Can’t really afford to get that stuff wrong, y’know?

But they still express your feelings, right?

Yeah. Clan and Kiriha-san just write down what I want to say so it’s clear. Should we ask them to help you out too?

I don’t think so. They’re busy enough as it is... I wouldn’t want to waste their precious time with this.

That’s exactly what I’m talking about.

Huh? What is?

You’re a good girl. You want to give this your all.

Well... if I don’t, it’d cause trouble for a lot of people.

If that’s your mindset, I’m sure you’ll be fine.

In perfectly frank terms, Koutarou wasn’t worried at all. Nalfa may have looked rattled, but she was keeping her chin up. Yurika would still be clinging to Koutarou and begging for his help, but Nalfa wanted to give it her best shot. Even if she failed, Koutarou didn’t think she’d do a bad job.

That’s big talk, said Nalfa. You’ll make it up to me if things go awry, won’t you?

Sure, sure.

You’re not seriously listening to me, are you?

You can tell?

Jeez!

Nalfa put her hands on her hips and frowned. She was pouting almost like Shizuka or Harumi.

It feels like just yesterday she seemed so scatterbrained, but she’s doing well for herself now...

In the first few months after meeting Koutarou, Nalfa had made a rather hopeless and hapless impression. She’d apparently had a sheltered upbringing, and she was so reserved that she could barely do anything for herself. Moreover, she was a walking disaster, prone to tripping over nothing and falling in ditches. Every time Koutarou took his eyes off her, she managed to find trouble. But things had changed since then. In the last couple of months, she’d grown dramatically. She was more dependable now and tried to take care of herself.

Seeing her like this... Wouldn’t things have turned out the same in Forthorthe too?

Koutarou pondered Nalfa’s development as he stared into her face. Since she’d been able to pull herself together on Earth, after all, wouldn’t she have been able to do the same back home? It was interesting to think about, but he didn’t think it mattered all that much one way or the other.

It was probably just disorienting to be thrust into a whole new world. I mean, she literally came from another planet...

Perhaps Nalfa had always been a little flighty and shy, and perhaps being in an unfamiliar situation had exacerbated those qualities. It wasn’t like they’d completely disappeared, even now. Koutarou thus had to wonder if it was less that Nalfa had grown over the past few months and more that she’d simply returned to her normal self.

What’s the matter, Koutarou-sama? she asked, her head cocked to the side. She wasn’t sure why he was looking at her so intently.

Ah, it’s just that you...

He couldn’t tell her he’d been thinking about how unreliable and passive she was just a few short months ago, so he stopped to think of a better reply. Saying that was enough to set a girl off—Koutarou had learned better over the past few years.

I what? Nalfa pressed.

E-Er, I was wondering about your hair.

Koutarou glanced at Nalfa’s locks, which had happened to catch his eye. Her hair was almost translucent, but looking at it closely, it shone with the colors of the rainbow. He’d always wondered about it before, and this seemed like the perfect time to bring it up and change the subject.

You mean the color? It’s natural, Nalfa said with a smile as she touched her long hair. As a girl, she made a point of taking care of it. She was pleased Koutarou had noticed.

I guess it’s okay, then, he said.

What is? she asked.

During ceremonies and stuff, the teachers can be real sticklers about dyed hair that goes against the dress code.

Ah, they can be like that in Forthorthe too. They really don’t like it when you style it up during formal events.

But your hair color is natural and you wear it down, so I don’t think we have anything to worry about.

You have a good point, though... That had completely slipped my mind.

Nalfa smiled again as she played with her hair. She’d been so preoccupied with her speech that she hadn’t given a thought to her outfit or hairstyle for the ceremony. Seeing her twirl her tresses, Koutarou’s eyes naturally wandered to them again.

It really is an unusual color, he remarked.

Do you think so? she replied. It seems perfectly normal to me.

I was sure there had to be some kind of technology behind it.

Oh, we have that too. People love to change their hair color as they please. Kind of like this...

Nalfa picked up her phone. It was an Earth-made smartphone, but she’d moved pictures of her friends and family onto it. She brought up a few to show Koutarou, yet just before she could turn the phone around for him...

Let me see... Oh.

Nalfa went wide-eyed. Rather than waiting for Nalfa to show him, Koutarou had leaned in to see for himself. He put his face right next to hers, just like he would with any of the other nine girls.

Y-You’re close! Too close! That’s way too close!

Nalfa was beside herself. She’d led a sheltered life and hardly knew how to act around men aside from her brother. Moreover, Koutarou was the Blue Knight. As a Forthorthian girl, how could she not be shaken being so close to him?

E-Eeek!

She reflexively backed away, losing her balance in the process. Since she was sitting down, she could have just stuck a hand out to catch herself—if she hadn’t been holding her phone, that is. She floundered, then began to fall.

Nalfa-san!

Seeing her topple over, Koutarou instinctively grabbed her shoulder and pulled her close. He was worried that she might hit her head. Even if they were on tatami mats, that wasn’t something he wanted to see. With a soft thump, she collided with him instead. It looked like he’d embraced her.

Are you okay? he asked.

I-I’m so sorry... she muttered.

Nalfa had tried to get away from Koutarou, but now they were even closer than before. He was just relieved that she was safe, but Nalfa hardly knew what to do. Her expression and tone turned stiff. It wasn’t that she disliked Koutarou. If anything, the problem was the opposite.

I take it all back. Nalfa-san is still a klutz...

Recently, Koutarou had intentionally gotten bolder around the girls. Living with them for so long had changed him, and it was starting to have an effect on them in turn. Koutarou was none the wiser, however. Even now, he was completely oblivious as to what was going on inside Nalfa’s head.

Nalfa’s ordeal continued after that. She’d previously seen Koutarou as both a legendary hero and a normal boy (a combination of her feelings as a Forthorthian and Kotori’s friend). But now there was something else in the mix. She saw Koutarou as a man, and the very thought shook her to her core.

Wh-What should I do? He’s a legendary hero... Moreover, the princesses and the other girls love him.

Nalfa had been conscious of vague feelings for Koutarou taking root in her heart, but given his relationship with the other nine girls, she believed it was best not to nurture them. Yet against her will, those feelings were now growing with a fervor. If she allowed it, they would burst into full bloom. That possibility, that prospect, was the source of her current anguish. She had no idea what to do.

All right, done! On to the next one.

Koutarou, meanwhile, remained blissfully unaware of all this and continued cleaning his fishing kit. (Granted, it would have meant a different set of problems if he had noticed.) Once his reel was back together, he moved on to repairing his lures. He filled any cracks with putty, fixed up their coatings, and changed out dull hooks. It was detailed work, but he was enjoying himself.

Ah, gosh!