Guard duty. It’s an unavoidable path for men. But there are detours. The thorny path that should exempt you if you’re injured or sick.
To Harmonia. Travel Day 1, Night.
Two people in heavy armor walk through the night forest. I’m being led, my steps unstable, as if one of them is injured.
“Priscilla, you’re joking, right? I can’t see. If it’s guard duty, let’s just enjoy it normally.”
Priscilla, who had been pulling me along, stopping me from bumping into branches and tripping over roots, finally halted.
“Are you really unable to see? You dived into a really interesting spot during the day.”
An interesting spot? Were you referring to your cleavage, Priscilla? That was truly a wonderful place. I’d even consider staying for a double booking if possible.
“I really can’t see. I can’t even swing a sword like this. Let’s just be normal, okay? I don’t mind losing. I give up, I’m sorry.”
Don’t call me pathetic. How am I supposed to fight Priscilla when I’m blind? Trees are dense all around, making the footing treacherous. If I used Godspeed here, I’d hit a tree, pass out, or worse, die.
“Gaaah!”
An intense pain shoots through my left leg. You idiot, you actually stabbed me.
“So you really can’t see. I thought you were faking.”
I can’t see! If I could see, I’d dodge! The tip of the Halberd is stuck in my leg. If I move carelessly, the wound will open. I have to endure this, to not move even if it hurts.
“Priscilla…”
“Open your Mind’s Eye. Now, let’s fight.”
What nonsense are you spouting? Leave that to Miyamoto Musashi. I can feel the lightness in my leg as the Halberd is pulled out. It dug in quite deep, will I be alright? Can I still use Godspeed?
I have to get into a stance. Priscilla is serious; she’s not the type to joke around after stabbing someone. She’s really going to do this. I’m blind, I can’t see.
I draw my trusty second-hand Sword and channel Super Vibration into my ultimate defense, the shield. Priscilla should be about two or three meters away.
Priscilla is right-handed, and if she’s swinging that heavy Halberd, it’ll be a downward slash from upper right. A side swing would be obstructed by the trees. She’ll aim for my head from the first strike…
“Vwooooom!”
My Super Vibration Shield repelled the Halberd’s strike in empty space. She really did aim for my head. Stopping Priscilla’s overhead attack is one thing, but her gaining momentum is problematic.
“Hahaha, you’re not bad. Did you open your Mind’s Eye? You really are the best man. Good, entertain me.”
If you want to be entertained, do it by yourself. I’ll help you if you need it. …Still, the first strike was just a guess, mere conjecture. If Priscilla were serious, she’d clear trees and swing sideways.
It’s not Mind’s Eye, but I really need to feel Priscilla to survive. The wind blows through the forest, rustling the leaves. I can hear insects chirping. I can even feel my own heartbeat.
I see… This is what I perceive now that I’m blind. With focused consciousness, I can faintly sense things around me. Even Priscilla’s ferocious presence.
I push my shield forward, adopting an offensive stance focused on a One Strike kill. Bring it on if you dare! Don’t underestimate me just because I’m blind!
The next day, Alana found me discarded like a wet rag.
To Harmonia. Travel Day 2, Night.
This is a calm time, completely different from yesterday. I like this kind of Guard Duty; I don’t have to worry about my life or injuries, and above all, it’s a happy, enjoyable time.
Inside the soundproof Tent, I have a quiet conversation with a slightly underdressed Christine. A tender moment. Until it approaches certainty…
“Is this it?”
“…Yes, the Captain’s heart.”
Christine carefully holds something in both hands. Even though I’m blind, I can sense something powerful. My heart.
“I can feel it too… Is this my heart?”
“…Yes, I was able to do this while thinking of the Captain.”
“Do this”? What does that mean? Did you manifest a heart? Did you take someone else’s heart? I hastily put my hand on my own chest, but there’s a heartbeat. It’s beating properly.
“…When I’m alone like this, I take out the Captain’s heart. …I touch it, lick it, and rub it there.”
She’s casually confessing something incredible, but is it okay to take someone else’s heart?! Knowing Christine, she could probably crush it easily. And where is “there”?!
“Hahaha, take good care of it. You only have one.”
“…I will. It’s my most precious heart…”
No, it’s my heart. Is this why I sometimes feel palpitations? The manifestation of a heart, is this Christine’s new Special Move? What would happen to me if she accidentally dropped it?
“…Ah, Captain…”
I collapse from Christine’s kiss. I can feel my heart in her right hand; please take care of it. Though, I’d be happier if you put it back for now…
I try to reciprocate, entwining our tongues, but I can’t concentrate because I can’t stop thinking about the thing in her right hand. My heart, played with in her hand until I pierce it with my Buster Sword.
Just as I was about to pierce it, Christine, of all things, ate my heart. Or rather, she took it into her mouth.
“Ah, Mikael, Mikael…”
I pierce Christine with my Buster Sword. My heart is in Christine’s mouth. Please, don’t bite it, and don’t swallow it.
The sharpness of my Buster Sword today must have been dulled.
To Harmonia. Travel Day 3, Night.
Vengeance belongs to me. I haven’t forgotten about this whole blind incident, Sophia! If I’m wronged, I’ll get even. Don’t think I’ll just endure it forever.
Even so, I have no intention of drawing swords. I need to get revenge on Sophia in a way suited to her. I have two doses of aphrodisiac from Orietta; I’ll make her take these.
She said one dose would be enough, but just in case, I’ll make sure she has such a wild night that her memory is wiped clean. Be prepared, I’ll even do some exhibitionism!
“Sophia, I got some drinks from Priscilla. Would you like a glass?”
“I’m not much of a drinker. But, just a little…”
She fell for it! Now, she’ll become a lustful Sophia. I’ll do things, unspeakable things that can’t be put into words… I will! Two cups, one pill, which one did I put it in?!
Wait, wait, don’t panic. I put it in the first one, so did I put it in the one on the right? But which one is right?!
Mind’s Eye!
How could I possibly know? I can’t feel any pressure or presence, so what do I do… Think! One of the cups definitely has the medicine in it. The answer is half, and the other half is more medicine.
Let’s do it. I used Godspeed to put the medicine into the cup I think is on the left. Now all the medicine is gone, but both cups have it.
“Here you go.”
I accepted the cup Sophia offered, but which cup did she just hand me?! This is bad, I have no idea. It won’t be revenge if I end up taking the aphrodisiac myself.
Damn it! Did she notice me putting the medicine in? That can’t be right. Sophia shouldn’t have the ability to see through Godspeed.
“Itadakimasu.”
Sophia drinks the alcohol. Damn it! I hurriedly downed my drink too. Both doses of the sleeping pill, made by Orietta, were in my cup.
Revenge is a futile thing. I’ve decided to stop.
