He who Protects the Transforming Heroines from The Shadows - Chapter 6 - Male God Ralva

The day after eating sweets with Kouji and Miya, Youka found herself lost in thought.

It was currently afternoon class, but her thoughts had nothing to do with the lesson at hand.

(Kounomiya-kun said he’d arrange us to meet this “Ralva-sama”… but when will that actually happen?)

Of course, she understood. It had only been a few days since she asked Kouji about it. She couldn’t expect to meet Ralva so soon.

And more importantly, the person she wanted to meet was a god, just like Soleil.

But even so, Youka couldn’t suppress her impatience. And the reason was simple:
She wanted to see him again.

(Spriggan…)

The mysterious man who saved her. Like herself who transformed into a Lightguide Princess, he possessed inhuman physical abilities and mysterious powers. All Youka knew about him was the name “Spriggan.” That name was surely not his real one. Still, she had no other way to refer to him.

(Lately… I’ve been thinking about him all the time.)

Ever since that day she was saved and met him, there hadn’t been a single day when his presence left her mind. Thinking of him filled her with a strange feeling—warmth in her chest, her heart beating faster than usual.

(…It’s a weird feeling.)

Youka didn’t know whether this feeling was love or not. She had considered that it might be love a few times. But still, she wasn’t certain.

That was because Youka had never experienced love before. When other girls her age had started showing interest in romance, Youka had remained more drawn to delicious food and physical activity (and honestly, that hadn’t changed much).

Because she had kept that tomboyish personality all the way until now, Youka didn’t understand her own feelings. What a pathetic thing, really.

(…And besides, we don’t even know if this Ralva-sama knows anything about Spriggan.)

After seeing Kouji in action as a Guardian, Youka guessed that Spriggan might be one too—but there was no way to be sure. He truly was a man wrapped in mystery.

(I wonder… will I ever see him again?)

Before she realized it, the bell signaling the end of class rang through the room.

♦

“Ah, Asamiya-san, Tsukishita-san.”

As they were about to pass through the front gate after class to head home, Kouji called out to them. It seemed he had been waiting there.

“What’s up, Kounomiya-kun?”
Miya asked, tilting her head in confusion. Since the calligraphy club was off today, she and Youka had planned to walk home together.

The students heading home nearby were drawn by the sight of Fuuraku’s famous duo talking to a well-known figure. Curious eyes turned toward the three.

“Mind if I borrow you two for a bit?”

With that, Kouji began walking away without any further explanation. It was clear he wanted them to follow.

Youka and Miya exchanged glances, nodded, and went after him. Since getting to know Kouji, they both trusted he wasn’t the kind of person to do anything suspicious.

After following him for a while, Kouji stopped in front of a certain café.

It was a small, old-fashioned shop nestled in a quiet residential area. The building was made of brick, and next to the entrance, the faded name “Sierra” was written. That seemed to be the name of the café.

“We’re here. I’ll explain once we’re inside, so just bear with me a little longer.”

Looking a little apologetic, Kouji opened the café door. A pleasant chime of bells rang out.

Since he was holding the door open for them, the two girls thanked him and stepped inside.

To be honest, neither Youka nor Miya had even known this café existed. But the interior was just like any ordinary café. There were no other customers.

There was a counter with five fixed stools lined up in front of it. There were also two four-person tables and two two-person ones—standard layout. Classical music played softly from somewhere.

“…Welcome.”

As Kouji let go of the door and it shut with a soft bang, a voice called out.

Looking toward the voice, they saw a single woman behind the counter.

She was polishing a glass, casting only her eyes toward them. In one word, she gave off a gloomy aura. But her jet-black hair, her unnaturally pale skin that looked untouched by sunlight, and her finely sculpted features gave her an air of tragic beauty—a perfect image of a “melancholy beauty.”

“Good afternoon, Sierra-san.”

Kouji greeted the woman with his usual refreshing smile. She responded only with a muttered “…Nn,” then went back to polishing the glass.

“…He’s already in the back.”
“Thank you. Asamiya-san, Tsukishita-san, this way.”

Sierra murmured those words, and Kouji thanked her before leading the two further into the café.

The girls had expected to sit down and receive an explanation here, so they were a bit confused. Still, they followed Kouji as he walked toward a hallway near the restroom. There, he opened a door marked “Authorized Personnel Only.”

“K-Kounomiya-kun!? Are we even allowed in there…?”
“It’s fine.”

Miya’s worried voice was met with a cheerful response. As the door opened, warm light suddenly flooded Youka and Miya’s vision.

“! Wow…!”
“Amazing…”
“Haha, yeah. It’s always a surprise the first time.”

What lay beyond was a beautiful garden.

A lush array of flowers in every color. Carefully pruned trees. Bathed in sunlight, everything shimmered and sparkled.

As the two of them stood in awe of the dreamlike garden, a voice called out from somewhere.

“Nice garden, huh? I like it too.”

Approaching them with that line was a young man.

He looked to be in his twenties. Dressed casually in a hoodie and jeans. But what set him apart from the ordinary was his overwhelming beauty.

His golden hair, most likely natural, shimmered as if it radiated light. His eyes were a deep blue like the boundless sky. His face was perfectly balanced, almost too perfect to be real—yet his warm smile gave him a genuine, boyish charm.

Youka and Miya were left speechless by the sight of this impossibly beautiful young man. Even celebrities or idols would pale next to him.

“Hah… Honestly, even these two became amazed.”
“Hm? By what?”
“Your appearance!”

Kouji, in a rare display, dropped his usual polite tone and spoke casually to the young man. Then, clearing his throat, he turned to the two girls again.

“Ahem! Er, sorry about that, Asamiya-san, Tsukishita-san. First, let me introduce this person—no, this god. This is the parent and creator of us Guardians. The male deity, Ralva-sama.”

““Eh?””

The sudden revelation made both Youka and Miya raise their voices in unison.

“Hey there, young Lightguide Princesses. I’m Ralva. Nice to meet you.”

With that, Ralva bent slightly at the waist and greeted them like a butler.

““Eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeh!?””

Their screams echoed through the beautiful garden.

♦

“Ah—my bad, my bad. Looks like I surprised you two a little too much, huh.”

Laughing heartily, Ralva scratched his head. The setting hadn’t changed: they were still in the beautiful garden of Café Sierra. Seated around a white round table under a garden tree, Ralva, Kouji, Youka, and Miya were enjoying tea together on finely crafted chairs.

“Well, first things first, how about some tea to relax? The black tea here is really good.”

Saying so, Ralva poured tea from the pot placed in the center of the table into the prepared cups. He filled his own cup to the brim first, then reached to pour tea into Miya’s.

“Ah—no, I’ll do it myself! Having a god pour me tea is way too much!”

Flustered, Miya tried to stop him, but Ralva waved it off with a chuckle.

“No worries, no worries. Leave it to me. Believe it or not, I’m actually pretty good at pouring tea.”
“B-but…”
“No need to be so formal, Tsukishita-san. That’s just how Ralva-sama is. Though… this is the first time I knew he’s good at serving tea.”
“You just had to say that, huh, Kouji? Then you better savor this tea real good.”

At Kouji’s teasing, Miya reluctantly offered her cup, and Ralva poured her tea. Next came Youka’s, and finally Kouji’s.

“Alright, drink up before it gets cold.”
“W-well then…”
“Thank you for the tea…”

Youka and Miya took their first sips. The warmth of the tea gently spreads through their mouths.

“Ah, it’s delicious.”
“It really is! Super good!”
“Right? Right? Heh, see that, Kouji? I’ve got real tea-pouring talent!”

Ralva grinned smugly at Kouji, clearly fishing for praise. Kouji took a sip and replied plainly,

“It is good… but isn’t that just because Sierra-san’s tea is good, not your pouring?”
“Hey now! Sure, 99% of the taste is thanks to Sierra, but that last 1%—that’s my finesse!”

Seeing the god puff up like a sulking kid made Youka and Miya smile. What a childish god.

“Ahaha… Kounomiya-kun, you’re acting kind of different today.”
“Yeah, like… more your age or something.”

Ralva didn’t miss their whispered conversation.

“Oh? And what’s Kouji normally like?”
“Ralva-sama, please…”

Kouji turned away awkwardly, but Ralva gestured for him to relax.

“U-um… He’s always really polite…”
“He’s the undisputed #1 among the girls at school.”

Following Youka, Miya added confidently. Ralva gave Kouji a mischievous grin.

“Oh? You’re that kind of guy now? It’s kind of weird—someone I’ve known since he was a kid has a whole side I didn’t know about. Ah, you made me sad, Kouji.”
“…Please spare me.”

Turning away with a huff, Kouji drank more tea. The way he moved felt so childishly sulky.

“Um… Ralva-sama, have you really known Kounomiya-kun since he was little?”

Miya asked hesitantly. From the way they talked, it seemed like they had a long history.

“Yeah. I can’t say too much, but I’ve known Kouji since he was a kid, and he’s known me for a long time too.”

Ralva gave Kouji a side glance and smirked. Kouji kept sipping his tea, silent.

“Now then… shall we get to the real reason you’re here?”

Suddenly turning serious, Ralva looked straight at Youka.

“Asamiya Youka, right? I hear you have something you want to ask me?”
“Y-yes!”

Right. Kouji had arranged this meeting just for her. Honestly, she had a ton of questions—Why was a god here in the human world? Why did he look like a human? Such and such—but those didn’t matter right now.

Taking a deep breath, Youka looked directly into Ralva’s captivating eyes and spoke clearly:

“Ralva-sama, is there a Guardian named Spriggan?”

She asked with a certain determination. In her heart, a small hope bloomed. Maybe…Just maybe… She told herself. But Ralva’s response wasn’t what she had wanted.

“Spriggan? No. I remember every Guardian I’ve ever given a title to, and I’ve never had one with that name.”
“I… I see…”

Her only possible clue was denied. The mystery called Spriggan once again eluded her.

“So this Spriggan person, what kind of fellow is he?”

Ralva asked naturally. So Youka explained everything she knew about the boy who had saved her.

“…I see. Inhuman physical ability, mysterious powers… Indeed, if I were a newly awakened Lightguide Princess like you, I might mistake him for a Guardian too. But he can’t be one.”
“What? Why not?”

Miya voiced the same question Youka was thinking.

“Guardians exist to protect the Lightguide Princesses. They might have enhanced physical abilities, but they don’t have your kind of special powers. Aside from being able to summon a single weapon, Guardians don’t really have much else.”
“Th-then, who is Spriggan?”
“That, I don’t know either. A man can’t be a Lightguide Princess, and I’m the only one who can create Guardians. I’m not saying I don’t believe you, but… if this Spriggan fellow really exists, then he’s an enigma even to a god like me.”

Ralva looked serious, a hint of unease in his expression. Even Kouji looked shocked.

“Have you talked to Soleil about this?”
“Ah, yes. I’ve already spoken with her. But… Soleil-sama didn’t know anything either. She also said Spriggan probably isn’t a Guardian… Even so…!”

Youka forced the words out. Deep down, she knew. Soleil had already told her Spriggan wasn’t a Guardian.

But she couldn’t give up. Maybe—just maybe—he was one after all. Having been saved by Kouji, a Guardian, she had projected that same role onto Spriggan.

“Youka…”

Miya murmured her friend’s name. To be honest, she didn’t fully understand why Youka was so desperate to see him again. She herself did want to meet Spriggan again, but just to properly express her gratitude. He had saved their lives, and Miya had only managed to say a cold, brief word of thanks.

“…You really want to see him again, do you?”

Ralva seemed to pick up on something in Youka’s behavior and asked gently.

“Y-yes! I… I want to see him—Spriggan—just one more time!”
“!?”

Seeing the blush spread on Youka’s cheeks as she confessed her feelings, Kouji felt a sharp pain in his chest.

(What… Why does my heart hurt?)

As Kouji struggled with this strange ache, Ralva looked up at the sky with a slight smile.

“I see. That’s youth for you.”
“Eh?”

Youka looked puzzled. It seemed she still didn’t quite understand her own feelings.

Watching her, Ralva felt a warm fondness rise in his heart. He turned back to Youka and said:

“All right, I’ll look into it on my end too. That Spriggan fellow has got me curious now.”
“Really!? Thank you so much!”
“That’s great, Youka!”

Beaming like a blooming flower, Youka thanked him. Miya cheerfully patted her on the shoulder. Only Kouji wore a complicated expression.

“Well then, now that the serious talk is done—let’s enjoy this tea party!”

Ralva clapped his hands and grinned. And so, the tea party resumed.

“Oh, by the way… this is kind of sudden, but—why is Ralva-sama able to be in this world?”

Miya finally asked, after finishing her tea.

“Hm? Oh, yeah, normally we gods stay in the Divine Realm. But it’s not like we can’t come here. It’s just… a bit inconvenient since we’re bound to human bodies while we’re here.”
“I see… So that means Soleil-sama could come here too?”

Youka followed up on Miya’s question.

“She could, sure. But… it’s hard.”
“Huh? Why?”
“Because Soleil is too busy. She’s the deity who births the Lightguide Princesses—the only ones that can purify the dark spawns of Reizeroll. Even now, dark thralls might be popping up somewhere in the world. Soleil has to constantly detect them and alert the Princesses, sometimes even teleport them to the site. To do that, she has to stay in the Divine Realm. She can’t use her divine powers in this surface world.”

Ralva spoke slowly, his seemingly calm expression shadowed with quiet sorrow.

“No way… So Soleil-sama doesn’t get any time to rest?”

“It’s not like she has none. Reizeroll probably rests too. But any free time she gets is very limited. And since gods don’t need sleep or food in the Divine Realm, she just keeps going. It’s been hundreds of years since she last came here.”

Youka and Miya were speechless. They hadn’t sensed that at all when they’d visited the Divine Realm. The image of the kind and gentle goddess came to their minds, and a deep sadness welled in their hearts—but stronger than that was a profound gratitude toward her.

“Soleil-sama… She’s always doing so much for us humans.”
“Yeah… There’s only one thing we can do for her, Youka.”
“Right, Miya.”

Gripping each other’s hands tightly, they declared in unison:

““We’ll defeat Reizeroll and free Soleil-sama!””

Seeing their determination, Ralva’s eyes widened, then softened into a warm smile.

(Soleil… you chose some very kind girls…)

Ralva thought to himself, then turned teasingly to Kouji.

“Did you hear that, Kouji? You’d better protect these girls with your life.”
“I will! I’ll protect them both!”

Kouji responded with a serious look. The girls smiled and thanked him—“Thanks, Kounomiya-kun!” “We’re counting on you!”

“Of course. You can count on me.”

Kouji replied with his usual refreshing smile.

“Well then, I guess I should get going.”

Ralva stood up.

“Eh? You’re leaving?”

“Yeah, I’ve got a bit of sightseeing to do. Actually, part of why I came to meet you was ‘cause I was heading to Japan next. I’m not as busy as Soleil, so I like to enjoy this world from time to time.”

Smiling, Ralva walked toward the door they had entered through.

“Oh, and don’t worry about the tea bill. I always put it on Sierra’s tab. Later, ladies. Let’s meet again.”

With that, he opened the door and left the garden. The girls sat there in a daze. It had all happened so fast.

“Seriously, that god… Ah, and like Ralva-sama said, don’t worry about the bill. Even though he said that, I already paid ahead of time.”
“Huh? No way! The tea was so good—we should pay too!”
“She’s right, Kounomiya-kun. Let us pay, okay?”

Youka and Miya quickly reached for their wallets, but Kouji stopped them.

“Really, it’s fine. I had fun too. But… yeah, you won’t be satisfied with that, huh… Okay, how about this? Just come back here again sometime. I’m sure Sierra-san would like that too.”

Realizing they wouldn’t back down, Kouji smiled wryly and offered a compromise. The girls reluctantly accepted.

“Well… if you say so…”
“Yeah. That’s probably best for the café too…”

They looked at each other, then turned to Kouji and spoke with gratitude.

“Thanks for today! That tea was amazing! I’ll definitely come again!”
“Thanks, Kounomiya-kun. I’ll tell my friends about this place too.”

Kouji replied, “You’re welcome,” and then added seriously,

“Just so you don’t get the wrong idea—Ralva-sama’s not just sightseeing. Since Soleil-sama can’t leave the Divine Realm, Ralva-sama shares stories and brings her souvenirs. He’s not exactly living a carefree life either.”

Ralva was a gentle, warm-hearted god. Kouji had known that since childhood. And he didn’t want these kind girls to misunderstand that.

Hearing this, the girls blinked—then burst into laughter.

“Ahaha! You don’t have to explain—we know! Ralva-sama’s a wonderful person!”
“No misunderstanding here! But wow, you really love Ralva-sama, huh, Kounomiya-kun?”
“Wha—!? That’s not true, Tsukishita-san! I just didn’t want you to think the god of the Guardians was irresponsible—!”

Flustered, Kouji blurted out something that wasn’t quite what he meant. His face felt hot. I’m definitely blushing, he thought, embarrassed but detached.

And so, the tea party with the god came to an end.

♦

It was a night lit by a shining crescent moon. After parting ways with Kouji and the others, Ralva had gone sightseeing around Tokyo and was now gazing up at the night sky from a small park.

(The mysterious being… Spriggan, huh…)

With inhuman physical abilities and a special power, he was a strange existence—almost like a male version of a Lightguide Princess. Ever since hearing Youka’s story, Ralva’s mind had been consumed by thoughts of this boy.

(If he saved a Lightguide Princess, then maybe he’s not an enemy… But still, he’s an unknown figure, one that neither I nor Soleil know anything about. It’s best to stay cautious for now.)

He felt bad for Youka, but if such a being truly existed, then the proper response was vigilance—even if that being had once saved a Lightguide Princess’s life.

(A few days ago, Soleil asked me to assign a capable Guardian to the new Lightguide Princesses… I thought it was a bit strange at the time, but… could Soleil be planning something?)

Ralva considered it—then shook his head firmly.

(No, no way.)

He and Soleil had known each other for thousands of years. She wasn’t the kind of god who would scheme behind someone’s back.

(Besides, what kind of idiot doubts the woman he loves, even for a second!?)

He shook his head even more vigorously. The truth was—Ralva had been secretly in love with Soleil for a long time.

Wanting to cool his head, he sat on a park bench and let the night breeze wash over him. At that moment, the crescent moon was swallowed by a cloud, and the park grew darker than before.

“…Is something happening behind the scenes, outside my knowledge?”

The words slipped out, quiet and solitary, and melted into the emptiness of the park. For a while, the lone god continued to gaze up at the sky, now hidden behind clouds.