"Huh?"
"Lord Setsuna!!!—"
Two hours later...
Yasuharu Tomotake, the head of the Tomotake family, climbed out of bed at the shrine in the middle of the night and rushed over in a panic to pay his respects to Setsuna.
"I noticed that the shrine's barrier had weakened considerably, and I heard several strange noises..."
"Do you mean that the Tomotake family's curse has now been removed, and no new corruption or curses will ever appear in Hoori Town again?!"
"Yes. They originated from the Tomotake bloodline. I expelled the curse from Yoshino's body and completely destroyed every cursed god that currently existed."
Setsuna patted Yoshino's head and answered casually.
"From now on, no new cursed gods will appear even without performing the votive dance."
A monster that could only fight ordinary people on even terms posed less of a threat in his eyes than Aqua during one of her bouts of stupidity.
"Mm-hm. Master has completely cleansed the corruption from Hoori's land."
Murasame placed her hands on her hips and nodded. With Setsuna's assistance, she could now manifest before Yasuharu Tomotake.
"I saw it myself. Master gathered every cursed god together and then, with a single attack, truly only one! He destroyed them all!"
"Ah... I wish Master had arrived several centuries ago. The Tomotake bloodline would not have needed to endure the curse for so long."
"Isn't now still soon enough?"
Setsuna rubbed little Murasame's head.
"Ah..."
"Lady Murasame? Since Lady Murasame says so..."
Yasuharu Tomotake looked at the loli blade. Having received confirmation from their deity, there could be no mistake.
He immediately bowed deeply to Setsuna.
"Thank you very much!!! You are... You are Hoori Town's benefactor!!!"
"Um, according to the final wishes passed down through the Tomotake family, Ikuta Shrine will offer incense and pray for your blessings from now on..."
"Enough, enough. It's a minor issue."
Setsuna waved his hand and told the emotional head of the Tomotake family to rise.
"Forget the incense and prayers. Don't you usually worship Hoori's local god and Murasamemaru? It would make more sense for me to bestow blessings upon them."
"Huh?—"
Yoshino and Yasuharu were stunned once again.
That was true. The difference between the two sides was far too great.
Murasame was Setsuna's sword spirit. Even if Hoori Town possessed a local god, that deity would probably still have to become a subordinate of the Starsea Empire.
"Um..."
After thanking him for quite some time, Yasuharu Tomotake did not leave. His gaze wandered between Murasame and Murasamemaru in Setsuna's hand before he hesitantly spoke.
"My lord, you are the person chosen by Murasamemaru, correct?"
"More precisely, he is my master!"
The loli blade answered energetically.
"..."
The head of the Tomotake family pondered for a moment.
"Since you have drawn the divine blade and eliminated both the curse and the threat to Hoori Town..."
"Then, according to the traditions of the Tomotake family, I have a presumptuous request."
"Speak."
Setsuna raised his chin.
"Please marry my daughter, Yoshino Tomotake!!!"
Yasuharu Tomotake requested with complete seriousness.
Pfft—
The little gray-haired girl, who had been drinking nearby, sprayed her drink all over Gudako's face.
"Whaaaaaaat?!"
"M-M-M-Marry?! Father, what are you talking about?!"
Yoshino Tomotake's face instantly turned bright red. She waved her hands helplessly, completely flustered.
"Yes!"
Yasuharu Tomotake wore a more serious expression than ever before.
"This is the tradition of the Tomotake family and Ikuta Shrine. Every generation's princess of the Tomotake family must find a suitable marriage partner to continue the bloodline."
"You drew the divine blade Murasamemaru. You are the man chosen by Hoori Town and Lady Murasame, which naturally makes you the ideal candidate for the Tomotake family."
"Yoshino is also approaching marriageable age, so..."
"..."
Setsuna gave Yasuharu Tomotake a peculiar look.
It was hardly surprising for an isolated countryside village like Hoori Town to retain several strange traditions. Elders arranging marriages for their children was not uncommon.
"Wait! Wait, Father!! Marriage... This isn't right, is it?!"
Yoshino Tomotake was so anxious that she could barely speak clearly.
"W-We only met recently! And they come from another universe. They're... They're aliens!"
"Uh..."
Yasuharu Tomotake thought for a moment before looking toward Setsuna.
"Could it be that you are already married or have a girlfriend?"
"Quite a few."
"Huh?"
The natives all froze.
"Ahem—"
Gudako cleared her throat, patted Yoshino, and gestured for Yasuharu Tomotake to stand.
"Do you think marrying the Commander is that easy? You can't simply say she's marrying him and make it happen... There are many people waiting in line."
"Yoshino, should you become interested, remember to draw a number after we return."
"Huh?"
"You need to draw a number to get married too?!"
Mako and Yoshino had never heard such an advanced theory before. Gudako's explanation left them utterly confused.
"Of course! Plenty of little girls have already reserved their places in advance."
Gudako began counting on her fingers.
"Probably around three million... Oh, some of them have already used biological procedures to grow up."
"What?!"
Yoshino inadvertently learned something that sounded highly criminal.
"Please take good care of Yoshino in the future!"
Yasuharu Tomotake began muttering his request once again.
Yoshino felt as though her father genuinely intended to package her up and deliver her to Setsuna.
To the natives of Hoori Town, marrying the princess of the Tomotake family would be reaching far above one's station. Before the Starsea Empire, however, the Tomotake family amounted to little more than natives among natives.
"..."
Setsuna was speechless. He reached out and rubbed Yoshino's head.
"There's no need to force anything. Let her decide for herself."
"We only met recently. An unreasonable demand like this will make her uncomfortable. We should get to know one another first."
"Mm... Thank you."
Yoshino froze for a moment before gently nodding.
"...The Commander is very considerate."
Mako leaned over and whispered.
She had not expected Setsuna to be so calm and reasonable. With only a few sentences, he had dispelled the awkwardness.
Otherwise, when faced with the ruler of another world, she would neither have been able to agree nor refuse.
"We will remain in Hoori Town for several days to rest, then continue searching for Elysia, Albedo, and the others."
"Notify the Trailblaze team. We are temporarily taking a vacation."
Setsuna snapped his fingers.
There was no need to rush when exploring a world. A peaceful adult-game world like Senren Banka was perfect for taking a brief rest and spending some time with the girls.
"Oh!"
"I want to soak in the hot springs with Master!"
Jibril immediately grew excited and ordered the Angeloids to clear the area.
"Mm..."
After breathing a sigh of relief, Mako thought for a moment and volunteered.
"Then... Should it not inconvenience you, may I serve as everyone's guide?"
"Consider it repayment for destroying the cursed gods and protecting Hoori Town?"
She found Setsuna mysterious and interesting.
As a local native, it was only proper that she entertain their guests.
"Certainly."
Setsuna pinched Mako's cheek. He rather liked this adorable ninja girl.
"Come to think of it, there is somewhere I truly want to visit. We'll take a look when we have time."
...
"Ugh—"
By the time Setsuna and the Trailblaze team departed, it was already deep into the night.
Inside the Tomotake family residence, Yoshino lay sprawled across a table with a hopeless expression.
She patted her cheeks, feeling as though everything had been a dream.
The Tomotake family's curse, the destroyed cursed gods, aliens, and the inexplicable marriage arrangement...
She had absorbed far too much information over the past two days. Her mind could barely keep up.
"How could Father do something like that?! Marriage... Ugh..."
The girl puffed out her cheeks and repeatedly poked the table.
The more she thought about it, the redder her face became and the more embarrassed she felt.
"This must be what people call an absurd plot twist, right?!"
Mako poured Yoshino a drink.
"We were merely ordinary people living in a tiny rural village, then suddenly encountered aliens from another world flying a spaceship."
"Ah, it feels like our everyday lives will never return."
She flipped through the information Setsuna had given her, page by page.
"Lady Yoshino, looking on the bright side, we're now the richest people on Earth, aren't we? Mm, it feels like we could buy the entire town of Hoori without any trouble!"
"Mr. Alien is truly rich. He's wealthier than anyone in films or manga."
"Mako!"
Yoshino lightly punched Mako.
"Is this about money?!"
"...Uh..."
Mako Hitachi rested her chin on one hand and thought again.
"Then Mr. Alien is also quite handsome? He's incredibly strong too, and even Lady Murasame acknowledges him."
"Should a young, wealthy, handsome man who saved Hoori Town propose marriage to the Tomotake family, neither Lord Yasuharu nor Lady Yoshino would be likely to refuse, would they?"
"Mm, it feels like the sort of scene that could only appear in manga..."
Mako let her imagination run wild and began daydreaming.
The commander of an empire who arrived aboard a spaceship was far more exciting than the aristocratic young masters in ordinary shoujo manga.
"Guh!—"
Yoshino choked on her words.
"Why do you sound as though you support Father?!"
"I'm thinking about Lady Yoshino's happiness! No matter where you go, Mako will always protect you!"
"Hey!!"