Ch. 7: The Scarecrow's Rampage
Leeya: “Great Scarecrow No. 1, launch…-!!”
Along with Leeya’s loud voice…
A sound so furious it sounded as if it would split the sky rang out, and the Great Scarecrow No. 1 moved forward.
In order to fight against the crows that were antagonizing the village, we headed towards the town.
Leeya: “Alright, so far so good. At this rate we’ll stomp through the city and teach those bastards a lesson…!”
Leeya spoke with enthusiasm as he steered the scarecrow, but…-.
Villager 1:” U-aaa!!”
Villager 2: “S-save us!”
As the crows attacked, a giant fist bashed through the town wall and mowed down the streetlights…
As if threatening the crows, eyes sparkled and fired real laser beams.
…
……
Leeya: “D-damn! It’s on a rampage…!”
Leeya violently jerked on the control stick in a panic.
He tapped on the calculator, turned screws, and on top of that he started reciting some kind of magical incantation…
Leeya: “How do I get you to stop…!?!”
Leeya punched the control stick…
(Really though, what should we do? At this rate the town will be completely…)
The destruction of the town continued, and his impatience only grew.
Ch. 8: Spark of Intelligence
The yet-incomplete giant scarecrow was running wild…-.
After trying absolutely everything he could think of, Leeya sat in the cockpit and hung his head.
Leeya: “It’s still no good… Damn…I…I…really am an idiot. No matter how much smarts I get, an idiot is always an idiot!!”
OO: “Pull yourself together Leeya!”
Once more, he desperately punched the control stick, then stopped.
Leeya looked at me, his eyes full of pain.
Leeya: “But at this rate, the town’ll be destroyed, even without the crows…”
OO: “Please don’t give up…!”
Leeya: “…what’d I just say…?”
OO: “Leeya, you’ve worked so hard, and before this you went in search of intelligence right? You did everything you could so you wouldn’t be made fun of… And now, this is your duty as a ruler of a country, right?”
Leeya: “That’s…”
His expression turned to anguish.
Leeya: “You say that, but these smarts were given to me by Oswald. They’re not mine …”
OO: “Even so, it was your own strength that allowed you to obtain it. You’re the only one who could have done that Leeya, nobody else.”
I was absorbed in what I was saying as I argued with him vehemently, praying my words would reach his heart.
Then…-.
Leeya: “…it’s no good…”
Leeya’s expression slowly started to change.
OO: “Eh…?”
Leeya: “This way’s no good… Half of this thing’s moving with my magic. So…-“
There was a momentary flash of light in his eyes, and I was sure…that was the special spark of intelligence that Leeya possessed.
Feeling uplifted, my heart gave a loud thump.
Leeya: “Come on OO!!”
OO: “Eh…?”
Suddenly, Leeya forced me out of the cockpit and began running.
I had no idea what he’d just done, but I was pulled along by the hand…-.
Regardless, we exited the giant scarecrow and stood in front of the eyes.
OO: “L-Leeya…?”
Leeya: “There’s no other way… Get behind me.”
I picked up on Leeya’s aura, which said not to argue, and moved behind him.
(What on earth…is he going to do?)
I felt an intense uneasiness, and a strange excitement fill my heart…
We alighted in the ruined town, and as I stood there, I stared fixedly at Leeya’s back.
Ch. 9: The Desolated Town
Leeya stood facing off against the rampaging Great Scarecrow No. 1 as it continued to destroy the town.
OO: “Leeya, look out…!”
Leeya: “I told you to stay behind me! Right now, the inside of that thing is more dangerous.”
A deafening bang rang out, loud enough it made me plug my ears, then Leeya shouted.
Leeya: “How’d ya like that! Oswald’s magic is just tricks, but MY magic is the real deal…!”
Leeya looked back at me, a triumphant smile on his face.
That face was brisk, yet masculine.
(Leeya…)
After that, Leeya drew a magic square on the ground with lightning-fast speed…
And just like when we first met, he started speaking strange words.
At that time, the scarecrow continued to destroy the town, and just as I thought it would step on the magic square and destroy it too…-.
Leeya: “Come forth! Spirit of the Wind!!”
OO: “…!”
A gust of wind burst forth, attacking the scarecrow as if to tear it to pieces.
With violent jerks, the scarecrow started to sway…
(Has it stopped…?)
But…-.
Leeya: “Not yet huh…!?”
This time, Leeya started to draw a magic square in midair.
But before he could finish, the scarecrow swung its enormous arm down…
Leeya: “Uaaaa…!!”
OO: “Leeya!”
Leeya: “Stay back…!”
Leeya looked rough after having endured the attack, but he took a great shuddering breath and stood up, clearly in pain.
Immediately, he started drawing something in the air again.
Leeya: “Break…!!”
With that short command, a sharp blade of paper appeared and turned towards the scarecrow.
The scarecrow took the blow head-on…but still it wouldn’t stop.
Leeya: “Tch…I’m not done yet…!”
And still Leeya faced off against the scarecrow…-.
Afterwards…-.
Leeya and the scarecrow continued their battle, both looking worse for wear…
As I was beginning to think it was hopeless, at last, the scarecrow stopped moving…-.
OO: “Leeya! It stopped!!”
I called out in joy and rushed over to him, his whole body covered in injuries. However…
Leeya: “Yeah…”
Looking around at the desolated town, Leeya dejectedly hung his head.
Leeya: “It’s my fault…that the town ended up like this.”
(Leeya…)
Supporting him, we returned to the inside of the scarecrow…no, to the inside of the castle…-.
…
……
After that, Leeya locked himself up in the castle for countless days.
Leeya: “…”
Within the scarecrow that would no longer move, Leeya fell to despair.
(I wish…I could cheer him up.)
Then one day, I made up my mind and headed into town.
Ch. 10: Everyone Rebuilding the Town
A few days had passed since the fateful event in town.
Great Scarecrow No. 1 had gone on a rampage, and since then Leeya had been brooding…-.
Leeya: “…OO, I heard the crows haven’t attacked again.”
Leeya suddenly spoke, as if he’d been thinking about it for a while.
OO: “That’s right. It seems all is peaceful.”
Leeya: “I see…”
OO: “It’s thanks to you Leeya, don’t you see that?”
I tried to put it mildly, but Leeya only gave a small smile.
Leeya: “And I heard the suffering is over, and the ton of injured have been taken care of…”
OO: “Yes.”
Leeya: “I think I’ll set out on a journey.”
OO: “…!”
I was confused, and for a second I thought I’d imagined what he’d said.
Leeya: “It’s been a while…maybe I’ll go check up on Oswald…”
OO: “…Leeya…”
I couldn’t handle hearing him like that, so I took his hand and walked out.
Leeya: “OO…?”
OO: “Just come with me.”
We headed towards the center of town…-.
Then…-.
Leeya: “What’s this…?”
Leeya’s eyes went wide and he stopped.
There were a great many people rebuilding their homes.
Leeya: “You’re kidding…this can’t be real…these guys did all this on their own…”
OO: “I called them to do it.”
Leeya: “You did…?”
OO: “Yes. But just a little. Afterwards, everyone worked on their own…”
Leeya looked around, his eyes still expressing disbelief as he watched them work.
OO: “Everyone thought for themselves, and rebuilt the town for you Leeya.”
(So now you won’t say these are things you have to do on your own …right?)
Villager 1: “It’s Lord Leeya!”
The villagers who were laying brick noticed Leeya.
Villager 2: “Lord Leeya! Lord Leeya!!”
In the blink of an eye, Leeya’s confused expression turned to a scowl.
Leeya: “…aren’t you mad at me…?”
Villager 3: “Mad? Are you mad Lord Leeya?”
Leeya: “That’s not what I meant! I…I’m the one who wrecked everything with the huge scarecrow!”
Villager 4: “Aah, you wrecked them all!”
Villager 5: “You wrecked all the crows Lord Leeya!”
Villager 6: “Lord Leeya! Lord Leeya!!”
I slowly moved closer as Leeya stood stock still, his expression still troubled.
OO: “They don’t think of you as a hero Leeya. They want you to be happy, and to express their gratitude. That’s why they all rebuilt the town…”
Leeya: “You guys…”
OO: “And they all said they want you to teach them construction, no matter what it is. That way it can all go back to how it was.”
Leeya: “I see…yeah…”
Leeya’s voice was shaking as he pulled his hat down to cover his eyes.
And in the next instant, he lifted his head and broke into a huge smile.
Leeya: “Hey, you! Is that really how you’re supposed to build that? Hey hey! Don’t add any more dirt to that!”
And just like that, the usual Leeya had returned.
With expert instructions, Leeya reassured them and guided them.
OO: “Leeya, you really are the only leader for this country.”
Leeya: “…but I’m still an idiot.”
Villager 1: “Lord Leeya, you’re amazing. A genius…”
Leeya: “What’d I say, that’s not–“
Villager 2: “But you fail too. You even wrecked the town!”
Villager 3: “You made a mistake. Just like us!”
Everyone’s faces lit in dazzling smiles.
Seeing all that, Leeya smiled in embarrassment.
Leeya: “You guys… are seriously idiots. But I guess so am I.”
His smile was a bright and brilliant as the sun.
Leeya: “I always thought I was alone, but I’m not. Together with everyone, no matter who needs help, or advice, or is suffering…we’ll take care of it.”
His smile then was like a refreshing breeze, blowing away the darkness that had clouded his heart.
Leeya: “Right! I’ll help out too!!”
With renewed interest, Leeya began working on the construction projects alongside the villagers.
(I’m glad…)
I watched them work with a pleasant feeling in my heart…-.
Leeya: “That sun’s pretty intense…you okay?”
Leeya suddenly shoved the hat he was wearing onto my head.
OO: “Y-yes, I’m alright.”
I was helping out at the time, but my hands stopped their work and I looked at Leeya.
I was caught up in his gaze, clear and kind.
Leeya: “Thanks OO.”
OO: “I only did what I could…”
Leeya: “And that much made me super happy. I know that this is all thanks to you.”
OO: “But I didn’t…”
Leeya: “Come on, just take the compliment.”
Leeya gently touched my cheek.
(My heart’s pounding…)
I couldn’t control my heart as it sped out of control, and I felt my face burn up…
Leeya: “Haha…you’ve got some dirt on ya. You’ve gotten pretty messy.”
Leeya looked at me with such kindness in his eyes.
He gently wiped away the smudge, and I thought he was just going to press down on the hat I now wore when…-.
OO: “…!”
Hidden by the hat, he kissed me roughly.
That kiss was full of passion, and then we slowly parted…
Leeya: “You’re not gonna wander off anywhere right? Keep helping me out…and stay here.”
Along with a quiet kiss, he told me his desires, and I couldn’t find a reason to refuse…
Leeya: “You will right? Until you say ‘yeah’…I’ll keep kissing you, got it?”
OO: “Y-yeah…!”
Leeya: “What the hell, why’d you answer so fast? That hurts…!”
We laughed and joked together…
And the promise we made for afterwards lit a fire in my heart.
END