Heavenly Castle

Extra Chapter 1

That day, I, whose body felt unusually heavy, turned over on my bed lazily and was slacking off until I completely lost my sleepiness.

「…… Aah, I don’t feel like doing anything.」

I muttered that and looked up at the ceiling absentmindedly.

A ceiling with a bit rough wallpaper, walls and a wooden floor. There’s a bookshelf close to the wall and when I turned to the side while lying down on the bed, a TV is also placed ahead.

While squirming to move, I reached out the remote control on the bedside and switch on the TV.

Then, the screen remained dark, and white letters 『Video』 was being displayed in the upper right.

「Why does the Angel knows contents which can only be understood by humans……」

I muttered while looking at it with my half-opened eyes and controlled the remote.

Then, the Blu-ray player moves and some movie is being played.

It’s an old anime movie.

In Japan, it is a masterpiece that boasts popularity and great reputation. The old but good tempo development and dream worldview is a wonderful movie that attracts viewers of all ages.

When I was a child, I watched this movie and remember that I was strongly yearning for that world.

Magnificent scenery and huge airship. Protagonists who moves forward with all their might even though they were being made fun of by the adults.

Honestly, I think it has a lot of information and it’s probably impossible if I’m asked if it can be completely absorbed just by seeing it once. However, despite that, the motives and conspiracies of several groups and organizations blends, and the way they clash is going to be thrilling.

It’s also intense when the unknown historical relics and ancient weapons comes alive.

It was a magnificent movie that I didn’t even know how many times I watched. I appreciated that movie until the end and finally get up from bed.

While listening to the movie’s ending theme song, I went to the refrigerator good for one person and took out the cola from inside.

I pour it into a glass and pour the black liquid that pops small bubbles into my mouth. A cola first thing in the morning is a bit strong, but it felt somehow refreshing when my body feels heavy.

「……Yup」

I felt somehow refreshed.

I put the glass in a white plastic dishpan that was left in the sink and soak it in water.

I lazily prepared a bread in the kitchen and put it in the toaster.

I prepared the jam and the butter before the bread is toasted, and made an instant coffee.

The bread was toasted.

I place the toasted bread on a flat round plate and spread the jam and butter on it. I put the butter on the half of one piece of bread and the jam on the other half. And fully spread it.

I fold it in half.

It’s delicious if I will eat it this way. It can’t be done outside, but this is how I eat occasionally in my home.

I put some milk in the coffee. I enjoy the fragrant aroma and hold the slightly mild coffee in my mouth. It’s very delicious.

After finishing my breakfast, took a rest and tidied it up, I brushed my teeth, washed my face and changed my clothes.

I threw my clothes into the washing-drying machine, switched it on, and went down to the control room.

A1 has been waiting for me in the control room since yesterday.

「Good morning, A1」

When I greet him, A1 raised his face.

「Will it rain today?」

I laugh while saying such foolish thing and move to the front of the screen.

「I’m above the clouds so things like rain will not fall.」

I retorted my own joke and put my finger on the screen while feeling a little empty.

I touch the letters floating in the screen and the screen shows the situation within the island.

The serious and diligent robots seems to be working hard while I’m slacking. The robots are already walking around inside the garden and pruning it carefully.

There were no sign of people at the two residential areas where the white houses are lining up and gave me an impression as if it’s a ghost town. When I first came to this world, I was impressed that it looks like a beautiful city facing the Mediterranean Sea, but the impression which the scenery brings might be determined by the emotion of the observer.

Now, the wide and beautiful townscape is very sad.

「It’s lonely isn’t it, A1」

When I said that, I look and laugh at the profile of A1 who stares silently at the screen.

「No, I’m still fine because you’re here, but what I trying to say is it’s lonely that nobody is walking even though there’s a bunch of houses.」

After vaguely saying an excuse, I switched the camera to the distant view camera.

The ocean and the horizon is fully displayed in the screen.

Day after day, it’s a scene which I have seen to the extent that it will become strange if I didn’t get sick of watching by myself.

At that time, I’m honestly surprised because a huge sea snake like a water dragon and an absurdly big turtle monster are also showed occasionally.

However, honestly speaking, I already got sick of seeing it as well.

「…… There’s nothing here.」

After briefly watching the north, south, east, and west, I touch the screen and retrieve the distant view cameras.

I got up from the chair and turned around to A1.

「Yosh, let’s also patrol inside the castle. After that, maybe we should try doing a teatime at the white house today.」

I said that and passed by A1’s side, and head to the elevator.

I patrol inside the silent castle quiet enough to hear my very loud footsteps. Although it’s a large castle, I have been touring around here for so many times, so I will finish looking around in about 2 hours even if I visit all places.

Then I went outside and slowly descended the slope where the white houses lines up.

I descended the gentle stairs and walk on the stone-paved road which is lined with white houses. The scenery is certainly superb. A beautiful townscape lined with white houses that doesn’t even have dirt and clouds floating below in the blue sky that spreads out endlessly.

With such a superb view, I choose one of the white houses and enjoy the black tea by the window.

I wonder if there’s such a luxury? The time is infinite and I can comfortably gaze at the sky for as long as I like.

「…… Fuu」

I place the tea cup and narrow my eyes.

A1, who can’t enter the house, is standing up outside the window, facing his back at me and gazing at the sky.

I have no complaint to the scenery and the black tea is also delicious. The simple white house’s table and chair are also splendid to use.

However, it’s empty.

I can’t help, but feel empty.

I live in a comfortable castle that has everything and I can do what I want every day, but something important is missing and I can’t enjoy it.

No, I know what is missing.

「…… I want to talk, with someone」

I want to meet a person. I want to have a conversation with someone.

I can probably say it if it is now. There are various pains in this world, but the most painful one is loneliness.

「Someone……」

I muttered that and sighed.

「What’s wrong, Taiki-sama?」

Hearing that, I raise my face.

Before my eyes is the figure of Ayla who eats the omelet rice which cooked by herself. She sweep her beautiful red hair back and looks at me while tilting her lovely face

「…… Hmm? It’s nothing.」

I said that and laughed, and dig the spoon into the omelet rice that was made by Ayla.

「Itadakimasu」

When I put it in my mouth, the sweetness of the egg, the sweetness of ketchup, and the sourness are mixing together in my mouth. However, it’s slightly too salty and I can tolerate the small eggshell that was mixed in the eggs.

However, a meal that I can eat with someone is more luxurious than anything else.

「…… It’s delicious.」

When I muttered that, Ayla becomes delighted and eats her omelet rice.

Then, she knits her brows.

「…… I, I am sorry. The seasoning is a little bit…… Ah, there’s also a shell!?」

I smile to Ayla who become flustered and shake my head from side to side.

「There’s no way that the food that was made by Ayla is bad. Certainly, It might be a bit strong, but it’s really delicious. Well, it’s probably delicious because I’m eating it together with you.」

When I said that and smile, Ayla have froze up for some reason.

She’s looking at me fixedly with her wide eyes and raised eyebrows. She stop completely just like a video that was paused.

「…… What’s wrong?」

When I asked her, Ayla raised her face in surprise and blinked her eyes, and immediately shift her eyes to her own omelet rice.

「T, tha, thank you……」

Being thanked with a voice that seems to vanish, I tilted my head.

I spoke what I really thought from the bottom of my heart, but I wonder if it was weird?

Maybe because she’s feeling embarrassed of her failed cooking, Ayla turned bright red up to her ears while glancing repeatedly at me. I smiled at her and resumed my meal again.

It was a really delicious meal that was unimaginable until some time ago.

「…… It’s happy isn’t it, A1」

When I said that and looked at my buddy, my buddy looked at me silently.